• I planned for the type of birth I wanted with my daughter, but nothing happened like I wanted it.
• Hailey Bieber's interview in Vogue about her struggles as a new mom took me back to my experience.
• I wish regular moms and celebrity moms didn't have to struggle postpartum.

As soon as the two bright pink lines on my home pregnancy test appeared, happily and suddenly, I knew what kind of birth I wanted.

I was committed to bringing my daughter into the world as gently as possible without interventions or pain medication. I spent nine months preparing, learning how to relieve the pains of childbirth naturally, and mentally committing to holding my daughter skin-to-skin, chest-to-chest, and nursing her moments after birth.

I did everything I could to stay healthy and prepare my mind and body for the marathon of giving birth. I ate right, gave up caffeine, exercised, and went to prenatal yoga several times a week.

And when nothing went as planned, I struggled with my life postpartum.

I left the hospital without my baby

Despite my meticulously detailed, carefully crafted idea of how my daughter's birth would unfold, nature took a different turn. My water broke, and I needed Pitocin, a drug that starts contractions.

Things got worse when my baby showed signs of distress. Instead of being able to move around the room as I had hoped, I needed to stay in bed, hooked up to monitors and oxygen.

Inexplicably, the doula I had hired to help guide me through the birthing process didn't answer her phone for hours as I continued to labor throughout the day. Although my husband did his best to help, I felt as though I had been abandoned, left to navigate this new and frightening experience on my own.

I kept reminding myself that even though nothing leading up to giving birth was going as planned, it would all be worth it once I held my happy, healthy baby in my arms.

That didn't go as planned either. Shortly after my daughter was born, she was whisked away to the neonatal intensive care unit. She stayed there for weeks, in a clear isolette that helped keep her alive, as she was diagnosed with one complex medical issue after another. She was fed through a tube. I needed permission to hold her and help to put her in my arms without disturbing the various monitors and wires attached to her tiny body.

Hailey Bieber's words resonated with me

Not having the type of birth I wanted was difficult, but leaving the hospital without my baby caused a tremendous amount of grief. The NICU staff and my OB all suspected that I had postpartum depression.

My husband had to go back to work before our daughter was released from the hospital, and I was mostly left to cry alone. I lost all of my baby weight and then some quickly. People told me how great I looked, but it was hard to take the compliment well.

The pounds fell off, not because I was lucky or focusing on my health. Instead, I was overwhelmed and depressed, unable to find the motivation to nourish myself.

When I read about Hailey Bieber's traumatic experience giving birth to her son Jack, I was immediately brought back to my daughter's birth and the aftermath. Like me, Bieber's labor started with Pitocin rather than with the natural waves of contractions many women are taught to expect. After giving birth, she faced a life-threatening complication.

Instead of spending the hours after giving birth bonding with her son, she faced invasive interventions to save her life and stop her from hemorrhaging. Bieber has opened up about how hard it has been for her to face what happened and the aftermath, along with the difficulties of adjusting to being a new mom in a new body.

Celebrity moms and regular moms both struggle

Too many women have had similar experiences. Bieber, a model and entrepreneur who is married to one celebrity, Justin Bieber, and is the daughter of another, Stephen Baldwin, has access to the best care available and a "team of experts" to help her recover, find her identity as a mother, and feel like herself again. I am glad that Bieber has this support, and wish it had been available to me and the countless other mothers who go through similar experiences.

Things weren't much better when I had my second child, a surprise baby. After my son's birth, the hospital staff largely ignored me when I told them I was in tremendous pain that was unlike anything I had experienced when I had my daughter.

When I asked for help lifting my son and changing his diaper because the pain made it so hard to move, I was admonished. Nurses told me it wasn't their job to hand me my child, and I would need to work through the pain. I was bleeding uncontrollably, but was told that I could get no more than my allotted share of ultra-thin maternity pads, which were disappearing at an alarming rate.

About an hour after I arrived home, I passed something extremely large, the size of my child's head. My husband called an ambulance, and I was diagnosed with a retained placenta, a potentially life-threatening condition if not caught and treated. I needed to be admitted to the hospital for several days for IV antibiotics to treat the infection that had already set in. This shook my confidence in the medical system and robbed me, once again, of the precious first days home with a newborn.

While I wish that Bieber and all mothers could have the type of labor they want, sometimes the best-laid birth plans are impossible. Hopefully, Bieber's bravery in being vulnerable will help other mothers get the support they need when things don't go according to plan.

• For the past six years, I've been taking my kids out of school to travel the world.
• During our trips, they've learned lessons through experiences that can't be taught in a book.
• Their teachers aren't always happy when they miss school, but so far, they haven't fallen behind.

With two advanced degrees and a side job as an adjunct professor, I value learning and take school pretty seriously.

So, even before becoming a mom, I knew I'd be laser-focused on ensuring my future children get a great education. I even smugly assumed they'd get perfect attendance awards every year and never miss a single lesson.

However, parenting rarely plays out the way we intend. Now that my kids are a little older, I regularly take them out of school so we can go on trips.

I saw firsthand how much my kids learned through travel

At first, I was reluctant to pull my children out of school to explore the world. However, the more I saw the tremendous benefits of it, the more comfortable I became with taking them out of class.

In my opinion, teaching them how to convert Moroccan dirhams into dollars was a better math lesson than sitting in class solving equations that they struggled to relate to the real world.

Additionally, there are some lessons that I don't think can be learned in a book — they need to be experienced to be fully understood.

For example, although my kids learned about the Holocaust in school, visiting museums and gas chambers in Auschwitz elevated their understanding of it and taught them even more about the horrific genocide.

Additionally, the reality of the climate crisis was never more real to them than when we stood before a rapidly melting glacier in Iceland.

Of course, there is great joy in our travel as well. Seeing how life adapts and thrives in the desert in Dubai taught them more about evolution than any textbook.

My kids have missed class to visit places like India, the United Arab Emirates, and Istanbul, but in exchange, they've learned about new cultures, languages, religions, and foods.

Eventually, I realized I had to pull them out of school to fit in all the trips we wanted to take

When we started traveling together, I quickly learned we couldn't see as much as we wanted during school breaks alone.

My kids' spring and winter breaks are usually about a week long, which I don't feel is enough time for an international trip. Summer breaks are longer, but some destinations, like Egypt, are too hot to be enjoyable in July and August.

Plus, my kids attend different schools, so their time off doesn't always line up. So, six years ago, I started taking them out of school to travel at least a few days out of the year.

Teachers aren't always happy when my kids miss school to travel. I understand why, as teachers work hard to develop lesson plans and keep students on track.

They often express concern about the lessons my kids will miss and how they will catch up on their schoolwork. Although I share their concern, so far, my kids haven't fallen behind.

To mitigate this concern, I even try to plan our trips so they're absent for no more than a few days at the beginning or end of school breaks. That way, they don't miss entire units, and there is less to catch up on when they return.

For now, we have a system that works and no plans to stop

Luckily, some of my kids' teachers have responded positively to our travels, commenting on what a nice experience our trips will be.

One teacher — a parent herself — even acknowledged how great travel is for bonding as a family. Speaking from experience, I couldn't agree more.

I've also found that when I take the kids out of school for a trip, they return more curious and eager to learn. If that ever changes, I'll revisit my approach to travel. But for now, it works.

And until my kids head off to college, I have no plans to stop taking them around the world with me.

• I'm an American who visited Poland for the first time and was surprised by a few things.
• I was impressed by the public transportation options I found and the tasty food.
• The country had more communal gathering spaces than I expected and lovely architecture.

Many Americans planning summer trips to Europe head to popular tourist spots in Italy or Greece.

However, I've wanted to visit Poland for years to learn more about the country's history and explore some of my own Polish roots. This summer, I finally had the chance to go.

What I found surprised me, and Poland defied all of my expectations in the best way.

I was surprised by how well some of its cities mix old and new architecture.

I had always imagined Poland as a stark, gray country with a sterile Cold War feel — perhaps because much of what I know about it is based on its roles throughout history.

Instead, I was astonished to find that its cities, like Kraków and Warsaw, which I visited, had a modern vibe, charming neighborhoods, and a fascinating mix of old and new that blended seamlessly.

Although the cities I visited in Poland have plenty of nondescript Cold War-era buildings, they are interspersed with a handful of ornate pre-World War II buildings, charming old towns, ultra-modern glass skyscrapers, and impressive Soviet-designed structures.

The country's landscape is also more diverse than I imagined.

Although Poland is surrounded by land on three sides, it still has beaches and a beautiful range of landscapes.

I was particularly astonished by the beauty of Zakopane, a town at the base of the Tatra Mountains.

After taking a cable car up thousands of feet, I was greeted by incredible views of Zakopane's aqua-blue lakes and verdant valleys that impressed me more than the Swiss Alps.

When I visited in the summer, this mountain town seemed like a true haven for hikers and nature lovers.

Public transportation options also impressed me.

I was especially impressed by the local public transportation systems in the two major cities I visited in Poland.

Warsaw's public transportation network includes buses, trams, and subways. I used an easy-to-use app to seamlessly navigate around the city throughout the trip.

In my opinion, the public transportation options in Warsaw were as good as those in my hometown of Washington, DC, and Philadelphia, where I grew up.

Kraków felt very walkable, but I also appreciated the city's robust bus and tram system. Trains connect Kraków to several popular nearby sites, including the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial and museum.

I came across many communal spaces and loved seeing them filled with people.

Many stereotypes I'd heard painted Poland as a cold place, but I was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness and numerous communal spaces I encountered in the country.

Places I visited, like Kraków, had many lively parks and town squares filled with restaurants, shops, and open spaces where people could gather.

I saw families playing and groups taking yoga classes in parks. One evening, I visited a vibrant open-air food market and enjoyed seeing many people lingering over drinks to chat and listen to live music.

Even smaller towns, like Zakopane, had main streets designed for pedestrians and promenades with seating areas that seemed perfect for gathering.

The food was great and fairly affordable.

Before my trip, I wasn't super familiar with Polish cuisine beyond pierogi, the country's beloved dumplings that are often boiled and filled with mashed potatoes.

I ate plenty of them throughout my stay, and was delighted to find that most of the food I ate in Poland wasn't as beige or basic.

In reality, the country surprised me with its wide selection of diverse and modern cuisine.

I found many high-end restaurants, some serving Polish fusion cuisine and others serving classics like pasta and steak that I'd find back home. One Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant served me dishes that looked almost too pretty to eat.

Because Poland is a relatively affordable country compared to the US, I felt like I could eat like a queen here, even though I was traveling on a budget. It was awesome to dine at Michelin-starred restaurants that I would never have been able to afford in the United States.

For example, a five-course tasting meal in Kraków's Michelin-starred Bottiglieria 1881 starts at about 60 euros, or $68. A similar dining experience in the US can easily cost more than double that.

With the exception of one mediocre fast-food restaurant my kids insisted on trying, every meal I had in Poland was delicious.

• I travel a lot, and I like to use credit cards to earn points and save money.
• Credit cards earn rewards on everyday purchases, helping me save money without sacrificing travel.
• Opening new cards usually comes with bonus deals, but it's not the only way to get the best perks.

Now that I've figured out how to use points and miles to pay for airline tickets and hotels, I travel more than I ever did before.

Over the past year alone, I saved about $20,000 in travel costs by strategically earning and using points and miles.

I've found that the best way to quickly earn them is by opening new credit cards with generous sign-up bonuses. However, having a bunch of credit cards can make it difficult to manage your spending and feel overwhelming.

Plus, I'm not always able to spend enough to qualify for a new sign-up bonus if I don't have a big expense coming up.

So, I've started using other techniques to keep quickly racking up points and miles that'll help me continue traveling.

I use points multipliers strategically

Many travel credit cards give users one mile per dollar spent.

A few are more generous and give cardholders one and a half or two points or miles per dollar. This can add up through regular spending, but using multipliers helps me accrue miles more quickly.

For example, when I use my Chase Sapphire Preferred card at restaurants or hotels, I earn three points per dollar. My Chase Freedom card earns five points per dollar on rotating quarterly categories, which sometimes include groceries or gas.

By staying on top of which card earns the most miles for different purchases, I can earn more points faster than if I just pull out the first card in my wallet.

I try to book my vacations through travel portals

Many frequent travelers recommend booking hotels and flights with the provider rather than going through a third party.

This is generally good advice since it's usually easier to handle problems, like delayed flights, when dealing directly with the company providing the service.

However, I often ignore this advice and book hotels and flights through travel portals. After all, I earn five points per dollar when I book trips through the Chase travel portal with my Chase travel card.

To me, getting the extra points is worth the risk that I may need to make an extra phone call or two if something goes wrong.

Additionally, my American Express card gets me 35% of my points back when I spend them through the travel portal at the preferred airline that I selected when I opened my account.

Shopping portals help me get more points on purchases

When I first started seriously earning points, I didn't understand the power of using credit-card shopping portals.

However, I recently had a revelation when I went to send my mother flowers for her birthday. While using the Capital One app to pay my credit-card bill, I stopped by its shopping portal to see if I could find a florist.

I was astonished to find that I could earn 35 points per dollar just by ordering flowers through the portal. I've since earned more miles on everything from coffee to make-up by buying them through the Capital One portal.

I've found the Capital One shopping portal to be particularly generous with points, although other credit-card issuers, including Chase, also have shopping portals.

Rakuten is also my secret weapon for racking up points

Before getting into points and miles, I was a sporadic user of Rakuten, a different type of shopping portal that also offers rewards.

However, once I discovered that I could earn American Express Membership Rewards points instead of cash back, I started using Rakuten more often.

To earn American Express points, I only needed to link my American Express credit card to my Rakuten account.

Just like the Capital One shopping portal, Rakuten frequently runs great promotions. I recently earned 12 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar by booking a tour using Rakuten.

Even better, I don't need to use my American Express card to make a purchase to earn those points, which allows me to earn points on two cards at once.

For example, when I used Rakuten to book a tour, I earned 12 points per dollar for making the purchase through Rakuten and another 3 points per dollar by using my Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which offers elevated points on travel purchases.

• I went to India for the first time on a group tour with my kids.
• Our trip was great, but I wish I'd packed more hand sanitizer and medications from home.
• I also wish I'd tried the delicious street food sooner and extended my trip.

India has been on my list of must-see destinations for years.

I have always longed to see the Taj Mahal and the Bengal tigers that roam the country's vast forests. Yet, I put off visiting because I found the idea of navigating a country populated by over a billion people intimidating.

Nevertheless, I recently took the plunge and booked a group tour of India with Intrepid Travel with my kids.

Thankfully, most things went well, and we had a great trip. However, our trip could've been even better if I had avoided these four mistakes.

Not trying street food earlier and more often

When I was planning my trip to India, multiple friends and my doctor warned me repeatedly about "Delhi Belly," also called traveler's diarrhea.

They advised me to be extremely careful about what I ate and drank lest my stomach revolt. I worried that if I slipped up, even once, I might spend several days of my trip in the bathroom.

I knew the risks were real, but I went overboard with my precautions, which caused me to miss out on some of the country's great street food.

At first, I only watched as others in my group enjoyed samosas and lassies from street vendors.

Eventually, I decided that Indian street food is an important part of local culture I didn't want to miss out on. So, I started indulging in the delicious offerings.

I followed common-sense safety rules, including making sure my food was served hot off the grill and that the stalls I was buying from looked clean.

I didn't get sick, and I wish I'd taken the plunge sooner.

Failing to pack enough medication and hand sanitizer

India has some of the most polluted cities in the world, so I knew to expect some air quality or sanitation issues during my trip. Still, I felt underprepared.

Throughout our trip, we encountered many public bathrooms without soap, hot water, or toilet paper. I packed a ton of hand sanitizer, but it wasn't enough, and I couldn't find more to purchase anywhere I looked.

Partway through my trip, I had to ration my use of hand sanitizer, which made me nervous.

Moreover, even though I brought far more medication than I usually do when I travel, I wish I'd brought more. I packed everything my travel clinic recommended for tummy troubles but nothing for coughs or colds.

This was an issue in Delhi, our first stop in India, where my son started coughing almost immediately, which we attributed to the pollution. He also developed a runny nose, which can be caused by pollution.

We managed, but medication to ease these symptoms would have helped. I also wish I'd packed more masks that we could've worn to help filter out some of the pollutants.

Not staying long enough

Although I often travel independently, I went to India on a group tour.

I figured this would make our trip easier since India can be a challenging country for Americans to navigate due to cultural differences, language barriers, and sheer number of people who live there. I think was the right move, especially with children.

However, by the end of the tour, I felt fairly well-acclimated. Although I initially found the prospect of being in India alone overwhelming, on the last day of the tour, I took the Delhi metro with ease and navigated the city confidently without a guide.

I even hailed a tuk-tuk like a pro — I was a far cry from the nervous traveler I was when I first boarded a crowded train in Delhi.

I wish I hadn't been afraid to tack a couple of extra days onto my trip to explore more on my own and see more of the country.

Not learning more about India's culture and history ahead of time

Although I had loaded my Kindle with books about or set in India, I didn't get to read many of them before my trip. This left me scrambling to catch up.

For example, while I knew the Taj Mahal was perhaps the world's most profound symbol of love, I wasn't aware I could go inside before I arrived.

Throughout the trip, I found myself asking basic questions on tours more often than I would have liked instead of using them as an opportunity to dig deeper.

I think I would've understood more about the places I saw and the people I met if I had gone into the trip with a better understanding of India's complexities, history, and people.

• I was born in the US but have ancestral ties to both Poland and Portugal.
• Gathering all the necessary documents to apply for dual citizenship took time and effort.
• I'm glad I hired local immigration lawyers and joined social-media groups to make things easier.

I was born in the United States but travel widely and often think about moving abroad. I also want my children to have the option if they ever want to leave the US.

In more recent years, as I became increasingly concerned about the political landscape in America and the impact it could have on my family's lives, I got serious about looking for ways to gain citizenship in another country.

This process isn't possible for everyone. Among other obstacles, some people are unable to trace their roots because their ancestors were brought to the US as slaves.

However, after doing a lot of research and submitting so much paperwork, I was granted citizenship in Poland and Portugal before ever setting foot in either country.

Here are the steps I took.

I started by creating a detailed family tree

To build my tree, I did research on where each of my ancestors was born and the date they immigrated to the US.

Then, I filled in the gaps by asking relatives and conducting research online. US government databases and Ancestry.com were my main sources for verifying things I'd already been told and looking into further immigration information.

In my experience, details as small as the exact year someone immigrated or where they were buried were critical.

After looking into immigration laws, I found the documents I needed

Once I had my tree, I researched immigration laws.

Through my research, I found a few paths to citizenship but focused on Poland. My grandfather was Polish, and I had his Polish passport, so the process was straightforward.

Most countries require original documents issued in that country, such as a birth certificate or baptismal certificate, to successfully apply for citizenship.

In some cases, immigration attorneys can help track down these types of documents.

It was worth it for me to look into alternative paths to citizenship, too

Although a common path to citizenship is through descent, several countries offer alternate avenues. It's worth looking into different immigration laws, especially if tracing exact roots and finding original documents isn't possible.

I was able to get Portuguese citizenship by proving I'm a descendant of Sephardic Jews who were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th Century. Though the deadline to apply for nationality under that specific Portuguese law was January 1, 2024, similar laws may exist in other countries.

For example, Spain grants citizenship to those who fled the Franco dictatorship during the Spanish Civil War and their descendants. Austria and Germany also offer it to the descendants of Jews who fled the Nazis.

In some cases, countries will even give you citizenship in exchange for a sizable investment, such as real estate.

Connecting with others going through the same process helped

One of the best decisions I made was joining social-media groups for Americans looking to gain dual citizenship.

I regularly received tips and swift answers to questions from people who were experiencing the same thing as me. It was also a great way to connect with people with similar heritage.

Hiring a local immigration attorney gave me a lot of peace

Before investing a lot of time and money in the citizenship process, I wanted to get an honest assessment of my chances.

To ease my mind, I had free consultations with an attorney in Poland and one in Portugal. From there, I hired them to help me troubleshoot problems.

Although hiring an attorney isn't always required, I thought it was time and money well spent. I was also glad I used local attorneys who were experts in their country's process.

I had to gather a lot of documents before submitting my applications

Poland and Portugal required a ton of documents to apply for citizenship.

In both cases, my local attorney filled out the necessary forms, but I was responsible for obtaining everything else. I needed to submit my birth certificate and marriage certificate, among others.

Because my Polish citizenship is based on descent, I also needed to submit documents proving that I was descended from my grandfather, including my grandparent's marriage certificate and my parents' birth certificates.

For my Portuguese citizenship, I was able to submit a letter from a rabbi about cultural practices and proof that my grandfather was buried in a Sephardic section of a cemetery. I also needed to submit an FBI background check.

Once I gathered all the documents, my attorneys submitted my applications for me.

It took a long time to get citizenship

After submitting, there was nothing to do but wait.

My application for Polish citizenship was granted in about a year. I didn't get Portuguese citizenship until nearly three years after I applied.

Waiting was the most frustrating part of the process. Once I held my new passports in my hands, however, I forgot about it.

I love having the freedom to move abroad. Now that my children have dual citizenship, I rest easy knowing they have the same opportunity.

This story was originally published on November 7, 2024, and most recently updated on March 7, 2025.

• Before I had kids I had visited 80 countries.
• I knew I wanted to show my kids the world once we could all travel.
• Now that they are teens, they rather stay at home and stare at a screen.

I was born with wanderlust. Before I had kids, I visited over 80 countries. Once I had children, I knew I wanted to show them the world. I hoped that by doing so, I could instill in them a love of travel and help them become curious, empathetic humans.

For years, they loved to pack their suitcases. They eagerly listened to me explain the basics of the history and culture of wherever we were headed.

However, once they hit their teen years, things changed. They decided they would rather stay home, usually attached to a device. Getting them to willingly go on trips became a struggle. However, I refused to give up. I changed how I thought about traveling. Ever since, our trips have been much better.

I ask them where they want to go

When my teens started complaining that they didn't like the destinations I chose, I asked them for input. I am a more adventurous traveler who would rather explore trails and ruins. My daughter, on the other hand, is a city girl through and through. She told me she prefers urban destinations.

Although I had been eyeing an African safari, once my teen suggested Tokyo, I started doing some research. I am now close to booking a trip to Japan, and I think we will all be happy.

My teens have been less grumpy once I started planning trips that consider their wishes instead of simply expecting them to enjoy the same things as me. Plus, if they grumble, I get to remind them that the trip was their idea, not mine.

I make time to do things they enjoy

I would rather hike than shop, but my teenage daughter has yet to find a mall she doesn't like. I try to work in some time for her to browse local shopping areas wherever we go. I wanted to pull my hair out when she brought me to the same chain store that we have close to our home when visiting Rome.

However, at times, I am glad I followed her lead. I'm not sure I would have visited the jaw-dropping Mall of Dubai or the high-end Connaught Place shopping area in New Delhi, complete with a huge underground shopping area full of faux-designer goods directly underneath. Both were cultural experiences.

I always give my daughter a budget or insist she spend her money. She still walks away happy, and the rest of the trip goes more smoothly. As much as I detest shopping trips, it's a small price to pay.

I find ways for them to connect with other teens

When they travel, my teens miss their friends. While I would like to think that their siblings and parents are great company, I know they don't see things the same way.

To make up for it, I try to find ways for them to connect with other teens when we travel. This has meant altering my usual independent, always on-the-go travel style. Although I first booked a group tour reluctantly, I am getting ready to book a third family tour with Intrepid Travel. On these tours, my teens find other kids their age to connect with and are much happier.

When we want a more relaxed pace, I've sought out resorts like Beaches with dedicated teen clubs. My teens have made friends from all over the world this way. They are much better travel companions when sharing part of the experience with their peers. I'd be lying if I didn't admit I like some alone time, too.

I try to accommodate their need for alone time

Even when things go smoothly, my teens still need time away from me. Although I find this a little hurtful, I try to give them space.

Sometimes, this means leaving a teen alone in a hotel room while I play Uno with a sibling in the lobby. Other times, one of my teens might take a shuttle bus from an amusement park back to the hotel by themselves or stay in our room at a resort while the rest of the family goes to the pool.

It's not always possible to give my teens time alone exactly when they want it, but finding some way for us to be apart makes the time we are together better.

I remind them of the ways travel enriches their lives

Like most teens, my kids are reluctant to admit they learned anything or had fun. However, my daughter recently showed me her high school art portfolio. I was surprised and pleased to see that it included a painting of a door inspired by our trip to Morocco and a whale inspired by our trip to Iceland. I've overheard my son talking about a trip to the Caribbean.

Although these moments are rare, I take the opportunity to remind my teens of the value and fun of travel.

• I accidentally booked a stay at a resort in India that had very limited WiFi access.
• I panicked at first, especially since I planned on doing some work at night.
• Surprisingly, I adjusted quickly, and I'm thinking about ways to unplug on future trips.

Some people disconnect when they travel, but that's never been my style.

As a freelancer, I usually have to work while I'm on the move, and I also like having a way to stay in touch with family and friends back home.

I knew we'd be traveling to remote locations when my family did a tour of India with Intrepid Travel.

However, when we arrived at the Desert Resort in Mandala, I realized I'd failed to notice the fine print that WiFi would be extremely limited at this stop.

Surprisingly, I adjusted much more quickly than I expected

My first instinct was to panic when I learned that the resort intentionally doesn't provide WiFi in any of its guest rooms.

Even though we were only there for a couple of days, I was convinced my stay would be stressful and difficult without 24/7 access to the internet.

Shortly after arriving, I learned there were a few small areas with WiFi on the property and quickly scoped one of them out to answer a few emails that couldn't wait.

Then, instead of hunkering down to do more work like I might have otherwise, I put my computer back in my room and explored the resort.

To my surprise, my stress about the WiFi melted away quickly.

While my kids swam, I walked around the resort and marveled at its lovely buildings made out of mud and hand-painted by local artisans. I checked out the resort's collection of vintage cars, and before dinner, my kids joined me to get henna tattoos from a local artist.

Almost everyone else from our tour group was also out of their rooms — something that hadn't happened at any of our other stops.

It took being forced to unplug for me to really unwind and be present

At first, I wasn't prepared to give up my evening routine of responding to emails and catching up on work.

It may not be the most relaxing way to end the night on vacation, but I find that it's usually worth the trade-off so I don't fall too far behind when I get home.

I wouldn't be able to travel as much as I do if I couldn't work, at least a little, almost every day.

After dinner, instead of settling into my laptop, I grabbed a book and started reading under the stars. The kids played soccer and took turns on the resort's swings instead of heading off to scroll on their devices.

After a relaxing and restful evening where I was truly unplugged, I slept better than I had in a while. The next morning, without the pull of my computer calling to me, I woke up early to enjoy the sunrise.

I went on a short hike before waking my kids up for breakfast — it was the perfect way to start the day.

Unplugging ended up being such a gift

Although I was only at the Desert Resort for two days, it was enough to remind me that I don't need to be tethered to a phone or computer all the time.

I left vowing to be more intentional about when and how I use WiFi, especially while traveling. Although I haven't been perfect, I have a new understanding of the hold my devices really have over me and what I'm missing out on as a result.

Because of my career, I can't necessarily make staying in places with limited WiFi a habit, but I'm already eyeing another short stay at an unplugged resort this summer.

• I've traveled to 90 countries, and I've been lucky enough to take my kids with me to 19 of them.
• Poland and Turkey have been some of our favorite places to explore as a family.
• However, we're not rushing to book return trips to Italy or the Dominican Republic.

I've traveled to over 90 countries and been fortunate to take my kids with me to 19 of them.

I can't wait to explore some of those destinations with them again. However, there were other spots I don't think I'd return to with children.

Here are five countries I'd take my kids back to ASAP and five I'd skip until they're older.

Poland was a surprise hit for us.

Poland may not be at the top of many must-see European destination lists, but I think it should be.

When I visited the country with my children, we went to Kraków, Warsaw, and Zapkone.

Our trip was relatively short and largely centered on seeing Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. However, we also visited some amazing historical sites like Wawel Castle and took a beautiful hike along the Polish-Solovkain border.

I really didn't expect Poland to be so charming, and we can't wait to go back to see more. Plus, I think it's a great base from which to explore other parts of Eastern Europe on multi-country trips.

I can't wait to hit the beach in Turks and Caicos again.

I've taken my kids to several Caribbean islands. Although they were all nice in their own way, I dream about returning to the crystal-clear waters and white-sand beaches in Turks and Caicos.

When my family visited, we spent most of our time at our resort, which was fantastic. Next time, I'd like to explore more of the island.

Even if I just sat on the beach on a return visit, though, I'd be very happy. I've visited beaches all over the world, and the ones in Turks and Caicos are among the most beautiful.

We'd go back to Iceland in a heartbeat.

From its welcoming, hip city of Reykjavík to its gorgeous glaciers, Iceland captured my heart. My kids and I explored the country's capital city before heading out on an expedition cruise.

We learned about the cultural legends of trolls and hidden people who are believed to live throughout the country and saw landscapes I could barely believe were real.

I felt very safe everywhere I went in Iceland, and I can't wait to bring my kids back to explore more. Next time, I hope we're lucky enough to see the northern lights or a volcanic eruption.

Dubai wowed us in the United Arab Emirates.

We only spent a few days in the United Arab Emirates. Before I visited, I thought of Dubai as a stopover city rather than a destination.

However, almost as soon as I landed, I knew I wanted to return. From desert safaris to seeing the tallest building in the world, there was so much for all of us to do together as a family.

Even though we did a lot, we still have yet to explore many of Dubai's best attractions and beaches. Next time, I'd also like to visit nearby Abu Dhabi and other emirates.

Turkey is near the top of our return list.

My kids and I had a magical trip to Istanbul. We all fell in love with Turkey's charm, and it was so fascinating to see the mix of European and Asian cultures since the country falls on both continents.

Taking a night-time ferry across the Bosphorus Strait and looking out at centuries-old landmarks bathed in warm light was a sight none of us will forget.

Wandering Istanbul's cobblestone streets while eating Turkish ice cream was a wonderful afternoon I hope to replicate soon.

I can't wait to go back and explore more of Turkey with my children. I know they'd love to check out more of the country's beaches, caves, and ancient ruins.

On the other hand, I don't feel compelled to go back to India with my kids.

We recently had a great trip to India, and I even wished I'd stayed longer. It's an incredibly big and diverse country with plenty to explore.

However, I wouldn't rush back there with my kids.

It was a little anxiety-inducing to ride in cars around New Delhi that regularly had to dodge wild cows on roads where most vehicles didn't stay in their own traffic lanes. Plus, the crowded city was just difficult to navigate in general.

I want to get a better handle on the country myself before I bring my children back.

I'm not rushing to bring my kids back to Italy.

This is an unpopular opinion among my friends, but I wouldn't bring my kids back to Italy. Because it's so popular, everywhere we went was incredibly crowded.

We mostly stuck to major cities like Rome and Venice, and we visited during a high tourist season in the summer, so it wasn't entirely surprising. However, my kids only have so many school breaks for international vacations, so we didn't have a ton of other options.

The stifling crowds made it difficult to get around, and some of the attractions we planned on visiting were sold out.

Moreover, although my family loves Italian food, it's pretty easy to find good pizza, pasta, and other specialties elsewhere in the world.

I'm glad we went once, but I'd rather explore other parts of Europe than return.

There are other places we want to hit before returning to the Dominican Republic.

I'm glad I took my kids to the Dominican Republic, but it didn't stand out to me as somewhere I need to return to. We stayed at a lovely resort, but it kind of felt like we could've been in any Caribbean destination.

It was ultimately our fault for staying in a touristy hotel and spending so much time on its property — the best part of the trip was when we ventured out to explore the country's beautiful mountains.

That said, I'd rather see a different part of Latin America or visit a new-to-me Caribbean island before going back.

We found places we wanted to explore more than Austria.

Austria is a beautiful country, filled with castles, world-class shopping, museums, and natural beauty.

However, my kids and I were more impressed by the brief stops we made in two of Austria's neighboring countries, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Before going back to Austria with my kids, I really want us to spend more time exploring those countries instead.

• When my kids were little, people told me I'd miss them when they were young.
• Now that three of my four kids are teenagers, I realize how much of myself I gave up to raise them.
• I regret not focusing on myself more and losing my identity to motherhood.

When my kids were young, I kept hearing the same things.

"Enjoy them while they are little. You will miss these days when they are gone. The days are long, but the years are short," seemed to echo from every corner.

I jumped into motherhood fully.

Most days, I enjoyed my kids and had no regrets. However, now that three of my four kids are teenagers, I realize how much of myself I gave up. I regret not focusing on myself more and allowing myself to lose my identity outside motherhood.

I am still facing the impact of my decisions from years ago, and correcting the course is difficult.

I gave up a job I loved

Even though I had doubts, after I had my first child, I left a job I loved. I felt pressure from friends and family to be a stay-at-home mom.

I was good at what I did and worked with colleagues I adored. Giving up the salary was hard, but I found that giving up a career I had worked hard to build, dear friends I got to see daily, and a core part of my identity as a lawyer was even harder.

Even if it didn't work out, I regret that I didn't try to continue working and didn't look hard enough for a part-time job in my field. Now that my kids are older, I feel this loss acutely, especially as so many of the colleagues I left are at the pinnacle of their careers.

I didn't spend enough time fostering friendships

After I started staying at home with kids, my social life largely revolved around them. I started spending time with other parents I met at the playground or grabbing coffee with other parents who happened to enroll their kids in the same music class as mine.

I made some good friends this way. However, I regret not spending more time fostering the friendships I already had, especially with friends who didn't have kids. Without realizing it, my kids started dictating nearly every aspect of my social life.

On the rare occasions, I went out without my kids, it was always for a "Mom's Night Out," and the conversation largely centered on children. Now that three of my kids are teenagers, I am no longer a part of their social lives. They hang out with friends and go to lessons without me. That's how it should be, but I acutely feel the loss of the friendships I let slip when they were younger.

I should have fostered my own interests more

I used to be someone with hobbies. I would hike, read, take photos, and even dabbled in knitting. After having kids, my hobbies fell by the wayside one by one.

Hiking was easy with babies but harder with toddlers. My toddlers were willing to be photography subjects, but my tweens were not. Many nights, I was too exhausted to read more than a page or two.

I became completely subsumed by my kids' interests. It was fun, but my deep knowledge of Lego, Marvel, and American Girl dolls is largely useless now that my kids are teens. I could fill some of the time I have to myself now that my kids are older with hobbies.

However, it's hard to pick up where I left off except for reading. If I had continued to foster my interests outside kids, even in a small way, I would have a better sense of who I am outside of a mother.

I should have taken better care of myself

Before having kids, I worked out daily and enjoyed preparing dinner every night. I occasionally treated myself to massages.

After having kids, I was obsessive about their health but let my own fall by the wayside. I wouldn't hesitate to take my kids to the doctor for a sniffle, but I skipped my own annual physical for years. I stopped going to the gym because I couldn't figure out how to work it into my schedule. I enrolled my kids in sports to keep them active but sat on the sidelines, exhausted. I pureed fresh fruits and vegetables for my kids but ate pasta and microwavable food myself. When I was achy or stressed, splurging on a massage didn't even cross my mind.

As my kids got older, so did I. The impact of neglecting my own health is apparent. It hits especially hard seeing my healthy, active teenagers at the peak of their physical fitness and knowing that I could have done more to take care of myself.

• On a recent trip to India, I went to Starbucks, Domino's, McDonald's, and Burger King.
• I would eat at Domino's and McDonald's more if they had similar menus in the US.
• My Starbucks experience was similar to home, but it felt much more like a sit-down restaurant.

One of my favorite things about traveling is getting to try new foods.

However, I often travel with my kids, who aren't very adventurous eaters. That means I find myself frequenting popular fast-food chains around the world more often than I'd like.

On a recent trip to India, we ended up at Starbucks, Domino's, McDonald's, and Burger King. In a way, seeing how the country adopted these familiar concepts was its own kind of cultural experience.

Here's how the American fast-food chains' locations in India compared to ones we're used to in the US.

The first familiar chain we visited was Starbucks.

On my first morning in India, I desperately needed coffee, and I had a feeling Starbucks would be reliable and easy to navigate.

When I walked in, it looked similar to almost every other location I've been to. The menu had many US standards, with some Indian-inspired drinks and food items mixed in, which I appreciated.

I stuck to the basic latte I usually order at home. However, I was more adventurous when it came to my meal: a delicious masala potato puff.

Sitting down to eat at Starbucks isn't all that familiar to me.

After ordering, I quickly realized there was a key difference between this Starbucks and the one down the street from my house. Instead of waiting around for my name to be called, I was told to take a seat, and my order would be brought out to me.

Drinks were served in mugs and glasses rather than disposable cups, and meals came on dishes rather than in thin wrappers.

I liked that my Starbucks experience in India felt more like a sit-down restaurant than a quick-service coffee shop.

Another notable departure is that the Starbucks I visited in Delhi didn't open as early as I expected.

I assumed the chain accommodated morning caffeine fiends like myself everywhere in the world — many locations in the US open as early as 5 a.m. — but I had to wait for this Starbucks to open at 9 a.m.

Domino's in India surprised me.

I find Domino's locations in the US to be mediocre, but my kids love the chain. I was intrigued when I saw the American pizza place scattered throughout India, and eventually, we stopped at one.

I had a hard time deciding between the peppy paneer, indi tandoor, and cheese volcano. I love cheese, though, so I went for the volcano, which included a huge cup of cheese in the center of a pizza topped with a variety of veggies.

I really enjoyed it — I wish Domino's would bring volcano pizzas to the US.

The tables were turned when it came to who enjoyed Domino's more.

My son ordered a kids' meal (which came with a drink and dessert) and stuck with his normal Margherita pizza.

He said it wasn't as good as Domino's at home because the crust didn't seem the same, but overall, he was happy. Domino's chains near us in the US don't even sell kids' meals, and he liked the novelty.

I wish McDonald's back home had some of the Indian offerings.

My family rarely eats at McDonald's in the US, but we went to two different locations in India. One was in an abandoned mall, and the other was in the upscale Connaught Place shopping area.

The ambiance at each was different, but the Indian-inspired menu was the same.

One of my biggest takeaways was that it felt odd to be at a McDonald's that didn't have hamburgers. Cows are considered sacred in Hinduism, the most common religion in India, so many places don't serve beef.

Instead, the chain had chicken, potato, and veggie burgers. My kids and I shared a few different types, all of which we enjoyed.

My favorite was the McAloo tikki burger, which consisted of a patty made out of potato, peas, and spices topped with a tangy tomato-mayo. I'd go to McDonald's more often if it had something similar back home.

My pizza-loving son tried a McPuff. The pizza puff looked promising, but we ultimately deemed it mediocre.

We got special drinks at McDonald's, too.

My kids and I shared fries and sodas at McDonald's that were nearly identical to what we have in the US. However, we also had the option to add ice cream to our drinks, which was new and exciting.

My daughter really enjoyed her orange soda with vanilla ice cream.

Burger King had all sorts of unexpected menu items.

On our final night, my son and I got takeout from Burger King and met friends who were eating at a nearby KFC. It seemed like an odd last dinner to have in India, but it was convenient and quick.

Similar to McDonald's, Burger King had a menu full of chicken patties and veggie burgers. The chain also served mutton in place of beef.

The menu included some locally inspired dishes, like a paneer wrap, but I was more surprised to see tacos and an extensive selection of desserts for sale.

Our food was flavorful and good.

I was tempted to try the tacos. However, my favorite curry in India was makhani dal, so I decided to try a crispy vegetarian makhani burger. It was very good.

I paired my burger with cheese fries and a side of Fiery Hell Dip, which luckily wasn't as spicy as it sounded.

I'm actually kind of glad my kids have made these fast-food visits a habit.

I wouldn't want to eat every meal at American restaurants when I'm abroad. However, I have to admit occasional visits to familiar chains are fun.

It makes my kids happy, but more than that, I feel like paying attention to the little (or big) differences helps me learn a little more about our destination.

Plus, it's always fun to try specialty items we can't get back at home.

• I love planning trips and am an independent traveler who looked down on group tours.
• My perspective of group tours changed when I took one with my kids to Morocco.
• I quickly booked another group tour to India.

I've always been an independent traveler. I've traveled to five continents and over 90 countries, planning nearly every aspect of each trip on my own. For years, I was happy with having complete control over my trips and the flexibility to make changes on the fly.

Group tours never interested me much. I thought they were for people who found planning overwhelming and didn't want to do the research to make sure they created a trip that aligned with their interests.

Then, I accidentally found myself on a group tour, and my perspective changed.

I was an accidental participant in a group tour

In the winter of 2024, I had planned a bucket list trip to Egypt and Jordan for my family. I had booked a tailor-made trip with Intrepid Travel that I had to cancel suddenly when war broke out in the region. Suddenly, I was faced with seeing my long-awaited trip disappear. To ensure we had somewhere to go over the holidays, I switched gears and applied my payment to a family group tour of Morocco.

I wasn't sure what to expect. I wasn't used to ceding complete control over my trip to someone else, and I was alson't sure how my kids and I would tolerate spending more than a week with total strangers.

I was pleasantly surprised

After spending three fantastic days in Marrakesh alone, my kids and I hopped on a train to Casablanca to start our group tour. I was immediately relieved to find several kids around my kids' ages.

A couple of days in, I was hooked. I was astonished that this trip, which included an incredible night of glamping in the Saraha and hiking the Torda Gorge, took almost no effort on my part and came with built-in friends.

I enjoyed having other adults to talk to, something I often miss when traveling alone with my kids. It was also a nice change of pace for my kids to have someone else to play with, especially when they started getting on each other's nerves.

The trip changed my perspective on group travel

Not everything was perfect. Some of the hotels were farther out than I would have chosen, but they were all clean and safe. We just drove by a few places I would like to have stopped. Once or twice, I got stuck waiting for others to shop when I would have rather been exploring.

However, with a very busy schedule that sometimes makes planning trips difficult, I thought these trade-offs were worth it. After my first group trip, I also learned some lessons I could use to make future group trips better.

I booked another group trip for the following year

I quickly booked another group trip for the following year. This time, I booked a trip to India, a country I had always wanted to visit but found intimidating. I thought this was the perfect choice for my family's next group tour. After exploring Morocco with a local guide, I felt confident I could tackle India with the same kind of support and guidance.

I looked at several options but decided to book with Intrepid Travel again. I liked that their specialized family tours ensured that I would travel only with other families, so I didn't need to worry about my kids bothering other guests. The family tour to India I selected also included family-friendly activities like a Bollywood dance class and a traditional block-printing class in Jaipur that aren't included on typical tours geared toward adults. The family tour included more downtime than typical tours and no late-night activities.

My second group tour experience was even better

After taking one group tour, I knew how to improve my second experience.

Although one of my favorite things about group tours is not having to do all the planning, the second time around, I did a little more research about where we were going and deviated from the group a couple of times. One detour I took to India's famous Rat Temple was a highlight. This sacred temple is filled with thousands of well-cared-for rats believed to be reincarnations of people and gods, was a fascinating look into Hindu culture and the deep reverence many Indians have for all living creatures.

Another time, some other adults and I explored a small town alone. I was warmly invited into a Hindu ceremony in progress and quickly adorned with a bindi, a red dot between my eyes meant to open my third eye and help me see beyond the physical world. This was only possible because early on, the parents on the trip had decided to trade off watching each other's kids. I also researched restaurants I wanted to try and made suggestions when it made sense.

I had another great experience, and I'm already planning my next group tour.

• I took my kids to Dubai, and our first trip to the city was amazing.
• However, I should've budgeted more time and money because we didn't get to do everything.
• I also wish we'd spent more time in the desert and had a little more downtime.

Dubai boasts the tallest building, the biggest mall, and the water park with the most water slides in the world. Despite these claims to fame, I still considered it a stopover city, not a full vacation destination.

When I booked my family's flights to India, which included a stop in Abu Dhabi (less than an hour from Dubai), I decided to extend the layover so we could explore for three days.

My kids and I had a great time, but now that we've seen all the city has to offer, I wish I'd done some things differently.

I should've booked a longer trip.

Once I started looking into how to spend our time in Dubai, I realized that the three days I planned were not nearly enough.

If I had to plan the trip over again, I'd schedule at least four or five days in Dubai.

Even though I am not a big shopper, I surprisingly wish I had more time to explore the Dubai Mall. In particular, I wanted to try the indoor skating rink and ski slopes and explore more of the impressive indoor Chinatown.

I also should've planned further in advance.

Since this was just a stop on the way to our larger vacation, I didn't do much advanced planning.

Unfortunately, that meant we weren't able to do everything we had originally hoped.

I discovered too late that tickets to Dubai's Museum of the Future, which I'd wanted to visit, sell out months in advance.

We definitely needed more downtime throughout the trip.

Since our time was limited, I felt pressure to be constantly on the go. Nevertheless, I wish I'd squeezed in a couple of hours of downtime to relax.

That also probably would've helped us acclimate to the time difference from the East Coast.

I carefully selected a beautiful hotel, Andaz Dubai The Palm, that's right on the beach and has a gorgeous infinity pool. However, it would've been nicer if we'd had a little more time to actually enjoy its relaxing amenities.

The city was even more expensive than I'd budgeted for.

I knew Dubai was expensive, but I didn't realize how pricey it was until I started looking into activities.

I originally planned on taking my kids to the top of the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, and visiting its observatory. However, once I saw the price of the tickets, I abandoned the idea.

I couldn't imagine shelling out nearly $200 for the three of us to have what would probably be an hourlong experience.

Even though we skipped it, my kids and I posed for plenty of photos in front of the Burj Khalifa and appreciated its height from afar.

Other activities were more expensive than I expected as well, including the Dubai Mall Aquarium. Tickets started at about $50 a person.

I didn't realize how far apart some of our must-visit stops would be.

The Burj Kalifa is right next to the Dubai Mall, but the city's famous mosque, markets, Global Village shopping area, and local cultural center are all fairly spread out.

The distances between sites made getting around time-consuming and expensive. I wish I'd paid more attention before booking activities to make better use of my time and cut down on transportation costs.

For example, since we visited the Dubai Mall during the day, we weren't able to see its spectacular evening fountain show. I thought we'd be able to dash over one night, but we always found ourselves too far to make the trip worthwhile.

We didn't spend nearly enough time in the desert.

Some of my favorite travel experiences have involved being in the desert, so a desert safari was at the top of my list for our Dubai trip.

I booked the least expensive option with the luxury tour company Platinum Heritage.

Although I enjoyed everything I did in Dubai, this was the most fun and unique. My family spent a fantastic evening climbing sand dunes, spotting wildlife, getting henna tattoos, riding camels, enjoying a traditional Arabian feast, stargazing, and more.

When it was over, I wished I'd booked more time in the desert — or at least had us spend the night.

• My kids and I flew from the US to India in economy on Etihad Airways.
• The seats were comfortable, our meals were good, and there were plenty of entertainment options.
• It was a great experience, but I'd do things a little differently next time.

When my two kids and I went to India, I knew we'd be flying economy. However, I wanted to try to make the long-haul experience a little more enjoyable, so I splurged on flights with Etihad Airways.

The airline is known to offer luxurious, comfortable flights and famously has planes with first-class "apartments." I knew flying economy wouldn't match that experience, but I still expected an above-par journey.

Since I booked close to our travel date in December, which is already a popular travel time, our tickets were fairly pricey — almost $10,000. Luckily, I was able to use credit-card points to cover three round-trip economy flights from Washington, DC, to New Delhi.

Our trip was divided into four legs: 12 hours and 40 minutes from DC to Abu Dhabi, three hours and 25 minutes from Abu Dhabi to New Delhi, four hours from New Delhi to Abu Dhabi, and 15 hours from Abu Dhabi to DC.

Here's how our 35 hours in Etihad economy went.

There were nice amenities on every flight.

On all four of our flights, Etihad had soft blankets tied with a ribbon, fluffy pillows, and good-quality headphones waiting on our seats when we boarded.

All the flights also had meals and full-size screens for entertainment.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the shorter flights had almost the same amenities as the longer legs — I'm used to bare-bones.

On the longer flights, we even got special take-home kits.

On the longer flights, Etihad also provided amenity kits with things like eye masks, earplugs, and toiletries.

I especially appreciated the included dental-hygiene kit. Brushing my teeth on long flights helps me feel less grimy.

There was even a special kit for kids themed after the DC Comics superheroes. It came with a water bottle, a coloring book, and a small pouch.

The food was good and plentiful.

Everything I ate on Ethiad was good — and not just good for airplane food.

Each meal was big, including a hot dish, sides, bread, and dessert. I had everything from pasta with pesto to the traditional Indian dessert of gulab jamun.

My picky kids and I appreciated the variety of options.

On our longer flights, we also got hot snacks, including pizza, which was a huge hit with my kids.

Entertainment options felt extensive.

The big touch screens on the seatbacks offered an extensive selection of movies, TV shows, games, and music. They also had some other bells and whistles, like a "do not disturb" function to cue the flight staff and a flight tracker.

I watched several movies and spent some time playing Uno with my son.

The integrated Bluetooth system meant I could use my own headphones without any special equipment. I also had the option to use my phone as a remote.

We were comfortable throughout our journey.

I'm not that tall, and neither are my children, but we had enough room to stretch our legs fully and move our feet around when we got antsy.

The seats were also well-padded and reclined enough that I could doze off easily.

Another nice touch was that the windows had options beyond open or closed. We could darken them, keep them clear, or select a calming blue tint that allowed some light in without being overly bright.

This helped keep me awake without having to deal with blinding light.

Overall, I'd happily fly with Etihad again.

I made a few mistakes along the way, but I still think flying Etihad was a great choice.

Because I booked my flights late using miles through my credit card's travel portal, I missed out on some benefits that make Ethiad so well-loved.

For example, the airline offers a free hotel stay to some economy passengers with longer layovers. However, I wasn't eligible because I didn't book directly.

Regardless, the provided amenities made all four of our flights more comfortable, and my kids and I had plenty of entertainment options. We also had access to good food throughout the journey.

The airline's economy class may not be anywhere near as luxurious as its in-air "apartments," but we still had a great time.

• I went on a trip to Venice with two of my children and made travel mistakes I wish I'd avoided.
• Our gondola ride felt overrated and I wish I'd researched more about the best places to eat.
• The hotel I booked was actually on a different island in Venice, not the main one.

I've visited more than 65 countries and consider myself an experienced traveler.

Sometimes, I prepare for trips by doing exhaustive research, and other times, I wing it and hope for the best. I've been to Italy a few times so, on a recent trip to Venice, I decided to play things by ear.

I thought it would be a better use of my time to concentrate on other parts of the trip, which involved taking two of my children through Europe from Rome to Warsaw.

Although my kids and I had a great time in Venice, there are five travel mistakes I wish we'd avoided.

Not staying on the Venice mainland

Most visitors to Venice, including us, come for the sites on the main island, like Piazza San Marco and Doge's Palace.

However, Venice is made up of over 100 islands that all include "Venice" in their address. This confused me when I was booking hotels and I ended up accidentally selecting an accommodation in Murano.

We had to take ferry rides to get from there to the main island of Venice and back throughout our trip, which ate into our travel time and budget.

I met plenty of people who intentionally chose to stay on quiet, laid-back Murano, but I wish I'd booked a hotel on the main island.

Going on a gondola ride

Like many visitors to Venice, I was convinced the highlight of our trip would be being paddled through the city's serene canals by a gondolier. However, our gondola ride was anything but the bespoke experience I'd been dreaming of.

Instead of leisurely floating through picturesque waters, our ride along Venice's main canal was mostly spent bumper-to-bumper with other boats while we listened to our gondolier chat with the gondolier in front of him.

Fortunately, we found a better way to enjoy the waters of Venice.

Later in the trip, my children and I took a laid-back rowing lesson with Row Venice, which was more fun than the gondola ride.

We learned to row a traditional Venetian boat on a nearly empty canal, and the instructor gave us a ride as part of the lesson.

Next time, I'd skip the gondola ride and book another rowing lesson.

Not getting up early

I'd heard Venice gets crowded (especially in the summer) and that getting there early is important to try to dodge crowds, but I'm a night owl.

I ignored this advice and figured that, as an experienced traveler, I'd be fine to navigate the crowds.

However, I was not prepared for just how crowded Venice's narrow streets would get during the day. We regularly found ourselves squeezing around other sweaty tourists in the narrow streets or waiting behind groups of people to look at landmarks.

I still had a great time in Venice, but I regret not setting my alarm earlier at least once to enjoy the city when it was calmer and less crowded.

Believing all Italian food is delicious

At home in the United States, Italian food is a staple of my family's diet. It's usually hard to go wrong with any pizza or pasta, so I didn't research where to eat in Venice.

I assumed all of the food in Italy would be delicious. Unfortunately, by being open to eating wherever, we wound up at a number of tourist traps with mediocre pasta and even worse pizza.

Toward the end of the trip, I started putting effort into finding the best traditional Italian food in Venice and found a few gems, including the oldest pizzeria in the city.

If I ever go back, I'll do more research about where to eat ahead of time. After all, Italy has so much incredible cuisine that there's no excuse for eating even one subpar meal there.

Not giving ourselves enough time to leave

There are no cars in Venice, so it's not possible to hop in a cab to get to the city's airport, train station, or bus depot.

On our way to leave the city, we had to navigate narrow walkways and bridges — with our luggage — on foot. Doing so took longer than expected and was stressful.

Next time, I'd allocate more time to just getting to our exit point in Venice.

• I took my 14-year-old daughter on a trip to India.
• When we arrived, she realized she couldn't access TikTok for our trip.
• At first, she panicked, but then she realized she didn't need TikTok to stay connected.

Recently, I took my 14-year-old daughter on a once-in-lifetime trip to India. When we landed, I was excited to see the Taj Mahal and embark on a safari for a chance to see one of the country's famed Bengal tigers.

My daughter was also elated when we landed in India but for a much different reason. After a long flight, she looked forward to connecting to WiFi to see what she had missed. However, her joy quickly turned to despair when she discovered that TikTok was banned in India due to national security concerns posed by the Chinese-owned app, concerns shared by the United States that may lead to a national ban later this month.

In contrast, I was thrilled. I spent years trying to limit my daughter's access to TikTok. At times, this caused my daughter to crumple in tears, insisting that she was the only one without access to the creator's "everyone" was following. Eventually, I lightened up, but I still question that decision.

I was happy that for the next two weeks, the government of India and I were perfectly aligned on this issue. They could be the bad guys in my teenager's eyes instead of me.

My daughter wasn't convinced she could live without TikTok

After a few minutes without TikTok, my daughter declared, "I can't do this. I am getting on a plane and going home right now." I reminded her that a TikTok ban is looming in the United States and that a world without the app might be her new reality. While challenges are still pending, the app could disappear as soon as January 19th in the United States.

I reasoned that our two weeks in India might be her chance to ease out of using the app and see what life is like without TikTok. That would make the transition easier if the TikTok ban goes through at home, I reasoned. She didn't find my logic compelling, but since I told her she would have to pay for her own ticket home, she decided to make the best of it and stay.

She asked her friend for updates

At first, my daughter brought up how unfair it was that she could not access TikTok several times a day. I gently teased her that skincare and fashion trends wouldn't change before we got home. She was not amused, but I was happy not to be the bad guy in this scenario.

My daughter texted her best friend, who had the good fortune to still have access to TikTok back home, to ask what she was missing. Her friend shared news about some new reels she thought my daughter would like, but nothing earth-shattering. Gradually, my daughter stopped asking and stopped complaining.

She realized she could live without TikTok

After our first week in India, I asked my daughter how her TikTok detox was going. She snapped back that she hadn't been on her phone that much. I gave her a wry smile and asked if she thought there was a connection. My daughter was adamant that the two were unrelated, but I wasn't convinced.

We were busy in India. However, I think that my daughter did not feel as compelled to reach for her phone because the pull of TikTok — which can be harmful to teens, according to the company's documents — was absent.

She found substitutes

A TikTok-less world didn't end my daughter's obsession with her phone. She told me that she started watching Instagram reels instead, which she enjoyed more than she thought she would.

We talked about what she would do if a TikTok ban were enacted in the US. Although my daughter was emphatic that she did not want that to happen, she told me that she would follow her favorite creators on Instagram but would cut some others loose. As a parent, I wonder if it'd make her reassess her relationship with social media, too.

I am not naive. I know that it's unrealistic to expect any teenager to abandon social media entirely. I know that if TikTok is banned in the United States, my daughter will fill the gap with other apps, which is what happened in India. However, I still feel comforted knowing that those apps will not pose the same threats as TikTok.

Nevertheless, I am glad that the two weeks my daughter spent without TikTok showed her that she can survive in a world without TikTok.

• I usually fly economy, but I splurged on a first-class Alaska Airlines ticket to Hawaii.
• The round-trip flight cost over $2,000, but the amenities really let me down.
• It definitely wasn't worth it for me — I hope I actually get a first-class experience someday.

I travel often and have only flown economy. However, faced with long-haul flights from the East Coast of the US to Hawaii, I decided to spring for first-class tickets.

I was traveling without my family, so I thought it might be my only chance to see what it's like at the front of the plane without shelling out for multiple tickets.

After looking at different itineraries, I picked a round-trip flight on Alaska Airlines that cost over $2,000. I'd never flown with the airline before, but I excitedly hit buy on the nonrefundable first-class tickets.

I thought the luxury experience would be worth the investment. Instead, in my opinion, what I got wasn't much better than economy.

Unfortunately, I should've done my research.

My first incorrect assumption what that my first-class ticket would automatically get me access to an airport lounge. I thought this would be especially nice since my itinerary included a layover in each direction.

Unfortunately, there weren't Alaska lounges at any of the four airports I flew through during my trip, and you have to be an Alaska Lounge+ member to access any of the airline's partner lounges.

To make things worse, I assumed the first-class seats would be as nice as those I've seen on other airlines. My heart sank when I learned that Alaska Airlines' first-class seats don't recline much and don't have seat-back screens.

I'd been looking forward to a deep recline to help me sleep and zone out while watching movies and catching up on emails throughout my 18-hour travel day.

At this point, I wondered if it would've been better to fly economy on a different airline, but it was too late to change my ticket.

Still, I tried to look on the bright side.

When I boarded my first flight, I was cautiously optimistic.

I was glad to see my first-class chair was noticeably bigger than a typical economy seat. Plus, it had plenty of padding to make it more comfortable.

Unfortunately, the seats reclined even less than I expected. I also didn't get a pillow or an amenities kit, just a blanket, which is what I'm used to on longer economy flights on other airlines.

Unfortunately, things only got more boring from there.

I packed a tablet with a big screen so I could watch movies and TV shows through Alaska's app, which seemed to have a pretty good selection. However, there wasn't a tablet holder on the seatback for either of my flights there.

Because I had only one tray table, I had to choose between watching movies or using my computer to catch up on emails. Given the limited space, things got even tighter when the food came out.

I also had to pay an extra $32 ($8 on each leg of my flight) for WiFi.

I subsisted on snack boxes throughout the long flights there.

When it was time to eat, I was hoping for a hot meal. I left my house at 4 a.m. without breakfast and was starving.

I waited to see what would be on my tray, only to discover that because I had not selected a meal in advance (which I didn't know was a thing), I was stuck with a snack box and a couple of mediocre sides.

I got the same snack box (sans entrée) on my second flight, leaving me hangry when I landed.

As I deplaned, I longingly thought about the delicious food I had on a recent Turkish Airlines flight in economy.

The return flight was slightly better but still far from luxurious.

When it came time to board my first flight home, I was happy to see that the plane was nicer.

This time, I had a tablet holder on the back of my seat so I could watch from a comfortable distance and save some tray space.

The seats didn't recline more than the other plane, but they did have footrests. My flight left at 11 p.m., and I was so tired that I dozed off easily.

Unfortunately, I was soon disappointed again when I boarded my connecting flight. The plane was an older model without a tablet holder.

I had at least preordered a meal for this leg, which was better than the snack box.

I'm looking forward to having a better first-class experience someday.

I can't totally blame Alaska for my underwhelming first-class experience.

If I had done some research before booking, it would've been much clearer that the airline is known for its no-frills planes. However, it still felt like I was paying first-class prices, so I think some disappointment is appropriate.

I won't be flying first class on Alaska again, but I hope to have a real, luxurious experience on another airline in the future.

Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• I always thought I'd only have two kids.
• My oldest has significant medical needs, and I wanted her to have lots of siblings to help her.
• I know there will be times when I can't care for her, but her three siblings can step in.

I always wanted children but never imagined having a big family. I assumed, wrongly, that I would have two happy and healthy kids.

Kids who would keep me up at night worrying about mundane, average concerns like whether they ate enough vegetables as toddlers, stayed out too late as teenagers, or didn't call me often enough when they moved away.

My job, I thought, was to launch my children into the world as independent adults.

My first child has significant medical needs

All of that changed when my first daughter, Claire, was born.

She came into the world quiet and struggling to breathe. From her first moments, she required intensive support to manage a myriad of complex health conditions. As the months wore on, Clarie did not progress along a typical timeline. She didn't crawl, sit up, or babble at the same time as other babies.

With each milestone she missed, her future looked increasingly bleak. Instead of wondering where she might one day go to college, I worried that she would never be able to live on her own.

As Claire grew, it became clear that she would always need help with basic tasks most people take for granted. She was unable to feed, dress, or bathe herself. Worrying about who would take care of her when her father and I were no longer around to care for her consumed me.

She has a team to support her

As Claire got older, the amount of care she needed to get through each day was staggering. She has one-to-one aides at home and school and works with physical, occupational, and speech therapists almost daily. She sees several doctors a month.

Claire needs help with every area of her life, from taking her medication to brushing her teeth. She can't walk steadily or speak. Claire is a joyful young woman who loves the same things a lot of teenagers enjoy: going to the movies, being near water, flipping through fashion magazines, and eating big bowls of ice cream.

Yet, she requires a tremendous amount of support and attention to be able to live at home and be a part of our community. So many people are a part of making sure she stays healthy and can thrive, and I call them "Team Claire" for short.

I wanted her to have an army of siblings on her side

All of the support Claire has in place is hard-won. It is a struggle to ensure the delicate balance required to keep her healthy and happy stays in place. Resources for home care are scarce, specialists are hard to see, paperwork is crushing, and there is an ever-present threat that services will be cut.

Managing Claire's care is a part-time job. It is rewarding and necessary but often time-consuming and frustrating. Claire's father and I, naturally, shoulder this responsibility and fill in the many gaps. But we are not immortal.

When Claire was young and the amount of support she needed became apparent, I knew she would need a big family to help her when I could no longer. We first gave Claire a brother, one who still adores her. I know he will do everything he can for his big sister, but I didn't want him to have to shoulder this immense responsibility alone.

Eventually, I had another daughter, a sister who was born to nurture. She wants to be a doctor when she grows up, a career aspiration borne in part from wanting to help other kids like Claire. However, as the weight of the responsibility I would eventually leave on their shoulders grew, I thought about adding another child to our family.

I decided to have a fourth child

As years went by and I grew older, I knew the day I could no longer care for Claire would inevitably come sooner than I would like. I worried that the burden on Claire's two siblings, each with their own full lives and aspirations, might interfere with their ability to spread their wings and start their own families.

I began thinking about whether it made sense to have a fourth child, someone else, to love and help care for Claire. Even though I knew having a baby would pull me in even more directions, eventually, I decided it was the right decision for Claire and for our family.

That fourth child, now 10, has protected his sister from the start and is the perfect bookend to our family. While I don't know what the future holds, I am glad Claire has three siblings who adore her. I sleep better at night knowing that my four kids will always be a team and rally around their sister and each other.

• My kids and I went to Venice, and we preferred a rowing lesson to a gondola ride.
• The gondola ride was disappointing, but the rowing lesson I booked was exciting.
• Next time, I'd skip the gondola ride altogether.

A gondola ride in Venice is one of the most iconic experiences in Europe. When I recently visited Italy with my children, it was one of the experiences I was most looking forward to sharing with them.

I booked a 30-minute ride for 80 euros, or about $83.

When I first stepped into the gondola, I was thrilled. However, I quickly realized that my expectations were too high.

Our ride was down Venice's Grand Canal, the most famous one in the city, and I knew that was a mistake almost right away. Pulling away from the dock alongside several other boats reminded me of rush hour.

Things didn't get much better once we were on our way. Our gondola was sandwiched between two other boats, and I was worried about getting bumped the entire time.

Instead of telling us about the buildings we were passing, my gondolier spent most of the ride talking to the gondolier rowing the boat in front of us.

After the 30-minute ride, we were left disappointed and looking for more.

I didn't want to leave Venice without having a better experience on the canals

Although Venice has great gelato and pizza and a stunning cathedral, that's not what makes the city unique.

It's one of the few places built entirely along canals, and they're a huge part of life in the city.

I didn't want to leave without getting the fully immersive experience of being rowed through the city — in a way that didn't feel chaotic and rushed.

When I was looking for activities in Venice, I had initially breezed past a rowing lesson with Row Venice, an all-female rowing company. However, after our disappointing gondola ride, I gave it another look and decided to book a 130-euro lesson.

Luckily, our rowing lesson was way more exciting

After a brief delay due to rain, my kids and I hopped in a boat called a batelina with our rowing instructor. I was initially disappointed that we wouldn't be in a gondola, but batelinas are so similar that I could barely tell the difference.

Our instructor explained that batelinas are more stable — and, therefore, better suited for inexperienced rowers.

Row Venice offers lessons in the Grand Canal, but I chose to have ours in a quieter canal.

Stepping into the batelina, I immediately felt more relaxed. Our instructor was attentive and gave us her full attention — I didn't feel l like I was intruding in a private a gossip session with the boat next to us.

Within the first couple of minutes of the rowing lesson, I knew it was going to be a lot closer to what I imagined my gondola ride would be like.

I wish we skipped the gondola ride and just did a rowing lesson instead

Our lesson was cut a little short because of the weather, so we didn't get to experience the full 80 minutes in the boat. Still, it was close to an hour, which was a lot better than the 30-minute gondola ride.

During our time in the batelina, my kids and I each spent some time rowing and the rest being rowed by our instructor. We also learned about traditional Venitian rowing techniques, the different types of boats used in the city, and some of the buildings we rowed past.

Even though it was more expensive, the rowing lesson was a much better value

If I ever visit Venice again, I wouldn't hesitate to book another one, but it would be hard to convince us to give a gondola ride another try.

• I tried my regular Starbucks latte with 2%, soy, coconut, almond, and oat milk.
• The only option I wouldn't order again was almond milk, but at least it doesn't cost extra anymore.
• I've been drinking 2% lattes for years, but soy is undeniably my go-to.

I used to pay extra to have my daily lattes made with a non-dairy alternative. At the time, I preferred the taste and often felt better on days I didn't consume as much dairy.

However, the cost of the substitution — often around $0.80 a drink — added up quickly. Eventually, I abandoned the habit and started ordering my lattes with 2% milk.

Luckily, Starbucks stopped charging extra for alternative milks in November, so I decided to give them all another try.

I ordered my standard 2%-milk latte alongside ones made with soy, coconut, almond, and oat milk. Then, I tried them all with and without sugar to compare.

Here's how the lattes stacked up.

Two-percent milk is a classic that's hard to beat.

I wasn't sure if I'd really taste much of a difference between the coffee drinks, so I also brought along a friend who has received training in discerning tastes from a professional sommelier and recipe developer.

He found the 2% latte boring and lacking "personality." Adding sugar made the taste more interesting, but he didn't think he'd order it again.

I've been drinking lattes made with 2% milk for years, and I wouldn't buy one (sometimes two) daily if I didn't like the taste.

This was almost like the experiment's control group for me — something to compare the others to.

Although it didn't end up being the best of the bunch, it's a good choice for purists like me.

Soy milk used to be my go-to.

When I was drinking non-dairy lattes, soy milk was my preferred alternative. I was really looking forward to seeing if it was as tasty as I remembered.

Luckily, it didn't disappoint — I knew I was onto something back then.

My friend described the drink as smoky with chocolate notes. Although I hadn't noticed that before, I'm starting to think the hints of flavor may be why I'm drawn to it.

Sugar detracted from the taste of this one for me, which is also a plus since I'd rather not add it.

The coconut milk made the coffee a little tropical.

I strongly associate coconut with tropical drinks, so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about a coconut-milk latte. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

In my friend's words, the coconut milk had a dry, caramel taste with a slight acidity.

Adding sugar really brought out the coconut flavor, which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your tastes.

For me, a stronger coconut taste was welcome. However, my friend isn't a big fan of coconut and preferred this drink without sugar.

The almond-milk latte didn't wow me.

I like snacking on almonds and was looking forward to a latte with a nutty taste.

Unfortunately, I didn't like it.

There was a distinct almond quality, but it felt a bit watered down. I didn't think the milk added much flavor to the latte, and my friend agreed.

We both thought that adding sugar would dramatically improve the taste, it didn't.

Once I added sugar, the oat-milk latte was decent.

I enjoy Starbucks' iced brown-sugar oak-milk shaken espresso on warm days, so I was looking forward to seeing how oat milk translates into a hot drink.

Unfortunately, I was a little underwhelmed.

My friend said the oat-milk latte almost had a "cigar-smoke flavor," and neither of us liked that very much.

When I added sugar, the flavor was much better — mostly because it largely covered up the oat milk, making it taste closer to a 2% latte.

There was a clear winner for me.

Although I'll still order it occasionally, the 2%-milk latte is no longer my go-to at Starbucks. After just one sip, I knew I'd be going right back to soy.

The delicious — perhaps chocolaty — flavor is perfect without any added sweetener.

Even though the coconut-milk latte wasn't my favorite drink, it was a close second. The tropical, caramelly flavors really work.

With sugar added, the oat-milk drink was also OK, but I didn't like the almond-milk latte and won't be ordering it again.