Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Edition: Where to Use Your Marriott Points
Luxury Travel, Marriott Bonvoy, Family Travel Kate Van Dell Luxury Travel, Marriott Bonvoy, Family Travel Kate Van Dell

Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Edition: Where to Use Your Marriott Points

If you’ve been quietly hoarding Bonvoy points, this is your permission slip to use them beautifully. We reveal the luxury Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and Edition resorts from the serenity of Lake Como to the jungle hideaway of Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, where your points don't just get you a room, they deliver truly epic redemption value.

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Pulitzer Amsterdam Review: A Family-Friendly Luxury Hotel in the Nine Streets
Family Travel, luxury travel, Netherlands Kate Van Dell Family Travel, luxury travel, Netherlands Kate Van Dell

Pulitzer Amsterdam Review: A Family-Friendly Luxury Hotel in the Nine Streets

Amsterdam already feels like a postcard, but the Pulitzer makes it even better. Stitched together from 25 canal houses, this hotel is cozy, stylish, and surprisingly family-friendly. From scavenger hunts and a hidden courtyard to a private canal boat and the kind of breakfast you dream about, here are five reasons we fell in love with the Pulitzer Amsterdam.

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Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman vs Kimpton Seafire | Honest Luxury Resort Review
Family Travel, Beach Destinations, Caribbean Kate Van Dell Family Travel, Beach Destinations, Caribbean Kate Van Dell

Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman vs Kimpton Seafire | Honest Luxury Resort Review

I’ve stayed at both the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman and the Kimpton Seafire, and while both are technically luxury resorts, the experiences are very different. The Seafire is modern, stylish, and lively, with a great beachfront taco bar and a social atmosphere. The Ritz-Carlton, on the other hand, is seamless and indulgent, with flawless service, a legendary breakfast, and the Ambassadors of the Environment program that turns kids into mini marine biologists. Both sit on Seven Mile Beach within walking distance of excellent restaurants, but if you want the kind of vacation that feels effortless, the Ritz is in another league. And if you can afford to level up, Palm Heights is the next chapter—but that’s another blog post.

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Luxury Family Stay at Martinhal Sagres: Wild Algarve Beauty
Portugal, Europe, Family Travel Kate Van Dell Portugal, Europe, Family Travel Kate Van Dell

Luxury Family Stay at Martinhal Sagres: Wild Algarve Beauty

At the very tip of Portugal, Sagres feels like the edge of the earth. We stayed at Martinhal Sagres, a family resort with calm beaches, bright blue Atlantic mornings, and endless play spaces for kids. From swim and tennis lessons to bouncy houses and playgrounds, it is magical for young families. And when you need a taste of town, Sagres delivers with surf cafés, pizza spots, and sunsets that truly feel like the end of the world.

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Netherlands Summer Travel: Heatwave Survival Guide & Dutch Culture

Netherlands Summer Travel: Heatwave Survival Guide & Dutch Culture

The other night at dinner, I asked our friends if the restaurant had air conditioning inside. They said, “Yes, I think so,” and then… nothing. No follow-up. No, “Would you like to sit there instead?” Just a polite pause, as if the question had been answered and we could all move on. And that was that. We sat outside in the heatwave, while the inside air-conditioned part remained completely empty.

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Jet Lag with Kids: Essential Coping Strategies for Long-Haul Flights

Jet Lag with Kids: Essential Coping Strategies for Long-Haul Flights

Jet lag with kids is not a puzzle you solve. It’s a slow-motion endurance test with moments of comedy, collapse, and occasionally, croissants at 4 a.m. I’ve tried every method — shifting bedtimes, no screens, magical thinking — and the only thing predictable is that it will break you a little and make you stronger, like childbirth or assembling IKEA furniture with your spouse. From Benadryl test runs at 35,000 feet to early bedtimes in Hawaii, here’s what I’ve learned about surviving the time zones with a child (and your sanity) intact.

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Why We Chose Portugal Over Switzerland for Summer: Family-Friendly Resorts & Travel Tips
Portugal, Family Travel, Summer Travel Kate Van Dell Portugal, Family Travel, Summer Travel Kate Van Dell

Why We Chose Portugal Over Switzerland for Summer: Family-Friendly Resorts & Travel Tips

This was supposed to be the summer of Switzerland — trains, Alps, sparkling water in glass bottles. But after Hawaii reminded us how much we love surfboards, bare feet, and pancakes after Pilates, we knew we needed a different rhythm. Enter Portugal: ocean air, long mornings, and resorts that actually welcome children instead of just tolerating them. From barefoot days at Martinhal Sagres to the quiet elegance of Sublime Comporta and the vineyards of the Douro Valley, it turned out Portugal was exactly what this summer needed.

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16 Best Picture Books for Little Travelers: Kids' Reading List to Spark Wanderlust

16 Best Picture Books for Little Travelers: Kids' Reading List to Spark Wanderlust

A curated list of Sebbie-approved picture books that spark curiosity, celebrate travel, and help kids explore the world through stories—perfect for little jet-setters and future explorers.

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Best Places to Visit in Paris with Kids: Starting in Le Marais

Best Places to Visit in Paris with Kids: Starting in Le Marais

Slow mornings in Le Marais, sunset boat rides on the Seine, cozy dinners at Pamela Popo, and museum visits that spark joy—this is my Paris. Whether you're planning your first trip or your fifth, here are my favorite places to stay, eat, wander, and make memories (especially with kids!).

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