“Travel brings out the best version of ourselves, it’s a version that’s very curious and open-minded and open-hearted. And having your children being able to see you in that mode, and you being able to see them… is a very powerful thing,” Eliza Harris shares in this week’s episode on family travel.

Indagare Editorial Director Annie Fitzsimmons and COO Eliza Harris join Melissa this week on Passport to Everywhere to explore the joys, magic, challenges, pains and practicalities of traveling with family. Annie has a four-year old daughter (who has already traveled to three continents), and Eliza has three sons ranging from high school to college who have traveled the world with her, and during this episode the Indagare trio shares some of their favorite hotels, must-have airplane essentials, destinations ideal for various ages, and questions to consider before planning a trip. They also exchange their own favorite family travel stories - from moments with the Masaai in Tanzania to seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time through a child’s eyes - and discuss how these trips have transformed each of their lives.

See below for more information on the family travel tips mentioned in today’s episode:

What to take into account when planning a family trip:

• Ages

• Schedules

• Preferences

• Goals

• Stamina for activities

• Time zones and jet lag

• Length of your stay

• How often you’re changing hotels

• How independent your kids are

• Events and sporting activities

• Cultural differences

• Time of day you plan activities

• Involving your kids in the planning process

Kid-Friendly Hotels:

• Four Seasons

• Belmond

• Marbella Club Hotel

• Märchenhotel Braunwald

• Victoria-Jungfrau

• Disney

Keep an eye out for Annie Fitzsimmons’ book with National Geographic and Disney Publishing: 100 Hotels of a Lifetime which releases in 2024.