DriftToShift

Blue Lagoon Magic – A quiet moment at Ang Thong National Marine Park. Totally worth the climb. We just returned from a family trip to Koh Samui with our two young kids. And while the island is beautiful, not everything went as smoothly as expected. In this honest review, we’re sharing what really worked for us, what didn’t, and how we’d plan it differently next time. Table of Contents Where We Stayed: Villa vs. Hotel Kid-Friendly Tours: What Was Worth It Fisherman’s Village: A Walkable Family Spot Koh Samui Airport: A Surprisingly Charming Welcome Our Koh Samui Itinerary (5 Days) What We’d Do Differently Next Time Quick Tips for Visiting Koh Samui with Kids Final Thought Where We Stayed: Villa vs. Hotel Over five days, we split our stay between a villa on Bophut Hill and one night at Hyatt Regency. Surprisingly, the villa won us over, and here’s why: 🏡 Villa on Bophut Hill Transportation: ...

Why This Travel Tip Matters I always thought the safest and cheapest way to get foreign currency for an international trip was to plan ahead, visit a bank, and exchange cash. It felt official, secure, and hassle-free. But while planning our upcoming family trip to Thailand, I did a deep dive—and what I found shocked me. Bank exchange rates? Often among the worst. If you're like me—traveling with kids and trying to avoid surprises—this post breaks down the real best ways to get cash while traveling internationally, based on recent research and real-world comparisons. I Compared Options—And Here’s What I Found Tap to view the full-size table. Not all currency exchange options are equal—this side-by-side table shows which methods cost more and which give you the best value while traveling. What Is the Mid-Market Rate? The mid-market rate is the real exchange rate between two currencies—the midpoint between buy and sell rates o...

Looking out with wonder —what she won’t remember, we always will. 1. They Won’t Remember It—But We Will My toddler won’t remember the butterflies at Entopia , the elephants at Wild Elephant Valley , or the stunning view of rice terraces in Yuanyang . They probably won’t remember the look on our faces when our 3-year-old daughter devoured four big rolls of Beijing duck. But my husband and I will. We’ll remember the joy on their faces when they saw real monkeys—black or brown. The way they giggled feeding elephants, yelled "so high!" during parasailing, or marveled at terraced fields like they were stairways to the sky. I'will remember sweating through carrying my baby boy while climbing the Zhangjiajie mountains and stressing when we got lost, again, in search of food before the next meltdown. They might not recall these places. But we’ll remember how travel softened us, slowed us, and pulled us closer. We’ll remember how these shared mome...

Traveling with young kids can be magical… and mildly chaotic. Over the years, we’ve fine-tuned our travel toolkit—one trip, one tantrum, and one too-late-to-order-takeout moment at a time. Whether you’re flying to a beach resort or taking a road trip across the country, here are our must-have tools and tips that make family travel smoother, safer, and a lot more fun. In this guide, I’m breaking things down by sleep tools, entertainment , transportation must-haves , weather gear , and more . 📚 Table of Contents 🛌 Sleep Setup 🎨 Entertainment 🚗 Transportation Tools 🏡 Rental Setup ☀️ Weather & Health Gear 📱 Travel Apps 🧡 Optional Helpers 🩺 Emergency Med Kit 📋 Downloadable Checklist ❓ FAQ 🛌 Good Sleep = Happy Family Sleep is the foundation of good travel days with little ones. Here’s what we always pack to help everyone rest well—no matter where we are. Baby Monitor Yes, we pack the monitor ...

A moment of stillness above the clouds —Penang Hill gave us views we didn’t expect. The city stretched beneath us, wrapped in mist, reminding us that travel with toddlers can be both peaceful and breathtaking. After two months of adventure through China, we landed in Penang, Malaysia—without much of a plan, but with an open mind. We didn’t expect to fall in love with it, but Penang quickly charmed us with its mix of flavors, cultures, and family-friendly pace. If you’re traveling with young kids and looking for a destination that’s rich in culture but low on tourist chaos, this guide is for you. Why Penang? When most Americans think of Southeast Asia, places like Thailand, Bali, or Vietnam usually come to mind. But on the northwest coast of Malaysia lies a lesser-known gem: Penang . This vibrant island blends Chinese, Malay, Indian, and colonial British influences into something uniquely its own. It’s full of personality and perfectly suited for family tr...