The Talking Suitcase

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Kids Travel Picks

Sesame Place Tips & Tricks – What to Know Before You Go!

September 15, 2018 by Dana Zeliff 4 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Sesame Street Place

The family-focused amusement park, Sesame Place, is located just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The entire park is based on the popular Sesame Street television show (currently on season 47!)   Sesame Street Place is home to a variety of dry and water attractions, shows, food, character meetings and shopping.  It’s a hit with young fans of the lovable characters such as Elmo, Big Bird and Cookie Monster.

For those experiencing the joys of Sesame Street, come to life, for the first time, we’ve put together some Sesame Place tips & tricks to help make your trip a success.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: US Travel, Pennsylvania, Sesame Place, Destinations, North America, Amusement & Water Parks, Kids Travel Picks

Sintra Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Sintra with Kids

April 23, 2018 by Dana Zeliff 3 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Royalty, wilderness and whimsy come together in the enchanting Portuguese city of Sintra. A short train ride from Lisbon, the city is bursting with 19th-century Romantic architecture. Often visited by day trippers, I think it’s worth spending two or even three days exploring the area, if time allows. To help plan your trip we put together a family-friendly Sintra travel guide.  Between the opulent palaces, castles and breathtaking landscape of the Serra da Sintra National Park, you may just find yourself not wanting to leave!

If you’ve been exploring Lisbon before your trip, a great feature of the Lisboa Card is that it includes the train to Sintra. That’s a nice extra savings for families.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Kids Travel Picks, Europe Travel with Kids, Destinations, Castles & Palaces, Portugal Tagged With: lisbon

Charles and the Chesterfield Afternoon Tea: A Family Friendly London Tea House

April 5, 2018 by Dana Zeliff 1 Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

London Tea House

Having afternoon tea is something that everyone should experience when visiting the UK and there are no shortage of places to indulge in the tradition. Our first family afternoon tea adventure was at the Chesterfield Mayfair hotel in London, England. After scouring the web for some of the best locations to have tea with kids, we decided the Charles and the Chesterfield Afternoon Tea was the perfect family friendly London tea house. What kids (even “cool” teenage boys) don’t love all things Wonka?

We arrived at the beautiful Chesterfield Mayfair hotel and were immediately greeted by a smiling doorman and escorted to the restaurant. After providing our name, we were whisked to our table in the sunny conservatory. The Wonka fun started immediately as we were presented with mini bottles of fizzy lifting drink with brightly colored straws. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the drink (too sweet) but Derrick and the kids loved it.

London Tea House

[Read more…]

Filed Under: England, Destinations, Foodie, Europe Travel with Kids, Kids Travel Picks Tagged With: London

Your Passport to the Nice Carnaval Parade of Lights Plus Fun Activities for Kids!

February 19, 2018 by Dana Zeliff Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

The King of Space has come to Nice!

After the sun goes down, Place Massena comes to life. 17 decorated Carnaval floats light up the night sky, music blares, and over 1,000 dancers & musicians from around the world parade through the streets. This year, on day one, we joined in the fun at the Nice Carnaval Parade of Lights – always a spectacular event on the Cote d’Azur.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: France, Kids Travel Picks, Europe Travel with Kids, Destinations, Festivals/Carnivals Tagged With: Nice France, Travel in Nice

Touring the Loire Valley by Car – 5 Best Chateaux to Visit In the Loire Valley

January 29, 2018 by Dana Zeliff 4 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

It’s all about the châteaux in the Loire Valley!  Part of our awesome trip through Northern France was touring the Loire Valley by car. We’ve listed 5 of the best chateaux to visit in the region. Though there are many others listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, you won’t want to miss these 5 on your tour.

Touring the Loire Valley by Car

[Read more…]

Filed Under: France, Kids Travel Picks, Europe Travel with Kids, Destinations, Castles & Palaces Tagged With: Loire Valley France, cast

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Welcome!

Hi, I’m Dana. Planning a great trip shouldn't mean spending endless evenings scrolling travel forums, watching videos, and sorting through conflicting opinions online.

I've spent years exploring the world with my husband and our two kids, and those experiences shape how I help clients plan their own vacations. Together, we've visited 48 countries across four continents and spent nearly four years living in France.

Whether you're planning a European itinerary, a cruise vacation, an all-inclusive resort stay, or a family getaway, I'll help you sort through the options and create a trip that works for your travel style, interests, and budget. Read More…

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