The Most Bang for Your Buck... Travel

Travels with the Children

Traveling brings out the research geek in me. My personal preference is always the countryside—driving through rolling hills, pausing at quirky little churches, browsing old roadside stands, and stopping by a small sandwich shop or pub where I can trade a story or two with local community members. I find joy in quiet landscapes and simple places, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary if you pause long enough.

But when I plan a trip, it’s not all about me. My husband thrives on the exact opposite: visiting war rooms and museums, walking the city streets, attending shows, and soaking up the buzz and hum of the bustle. He loves the energy of public transportation, the challenge of navigating crowded stations, and the thrill of finding his way in the chaos of it all.

Our son and daughter, of course, add their own unique mix into the journey. They push us toward active adventures: paddling alongside storied canals of yesteryear, pedaling bikes along scenic trails, or hiking into the hills with only the promise of a view at the top. Together, our family makes quite the diverse traveling team, each of us tugging toward our own interests but ultimately weaving those threads into one memorable tapestry.

Rolling Hills or Bustling Streets? Traveling as a Family of Opposites

Having four distinct sets of interests makes finding the perfect place to share a meal a challenge—but one I secretly enjoy. Since I’ve become known in my family as “the food lady,” I take it as my personal mission to discover memorable stops along our path. That might mean ducking into a tiny bakery, finding a rustic bread shop, or uncovering a local delicatessen where treasures hide behind glass cases. With a cooler tucked into the rental car, I collect these finds, and by day’s end, we’re feasting on picnic meals that rival any restaurant.

One of the best parts is that everyone finds something they enjoy. For me, it might be a flaky pastry layered with history and butter; for my husband, perhaps a hearty cured meat or wedge of local cheese; for the kids, whatever looks most unusual or daring. Even the strange and unusual bites—like the time we tried a mystery street vendor stew we couldn’t quite name—become stories we retell years later.

The Joy of a Car Cooler: Picnics Over Pricey Meals

When you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, it helps to know where to splurge and where to save. We often save by choosing modest accommodations so we can spend more on experiences. Public transportation and walking tours let us stretch our budget further and give us a feel for daily life wherever we are. At the same time, we splurge on things that matter: a historic performance in a legendary theater, a private tour of a battlefield, or a cathedral climb that offers a once-in-a-lifetime view.

The best value often comes not from the cheapest choice, but from the memory that lasts the longest.

Splurge Smart, Save Smart: Getting Real Value from Your Trips

Some of our most memorable travels took place in our busy, younger years when the kids were still in school. Mattered not—we’d take them out early, with permission and assignments, and hit the road or the skies. Travel became our greatest teacher. It’s richer than any college course, a living classroom where geography, history, and culture come alive before your eyes.

I remember my son recognizing a historic site from a lesson in school and suddenly understanding its scale and importance in a way no textbook could convey. Or my daughter learning a few foreign words and using them proudly with a shopkeeper who smiled in return. These moments of cultural awareness—walking in the shoes of others, if only for a while—are priceless lessons in empathy.

The Living Classroom: Why Travel Teaches More Than School

After a while, every seasoned traveler discovers what excites them most. For me, it’s cathedrals, abbeys, and the ancient ruins of churches—the way the light falls through stained glass, the hush of centuries echoing in the stones, the stories carved into every arch. My husband, by contrast, is happiest at battlefields, war memorials, and nearly every historical marker that lines the highway.

And that’s the beauty of travel: it allows you to return to your passions again and again, deepening your appreciation while still discovering something new.

Finding Your Travel Theme: What Sparks Your Wanderlust?

Some of the best memories come from the things we don’t plan. A baker who slips an extra roll into your bag with a wink. A stranger who not only gives you directions but also offers to walk you there, sharing stories along the way. Or the laughter of children bridging language barriers with a simple game of chase.

These moments remind me that the greatest treasures in travel aren’t always the ones on the itinerary—they’re the ones that find you.

Stories You Can’t Plan: The Magic of Unexpected Encounters

At the end of the day—or the week—we come home exhausted, sometimes in need of another vacation just to rest. But that’s the sign of a trip well-lived. Travel enriches your life unlike anything else. It’s the stories gathered, the friendships sparked, the meals shared, and the memories tucked into your heart.

The most bang for your buck in travel isn’t found in a bargain airfare or hotel discount (though those help). It’s found in the joy of exploring together, discovering new places, and letting the world leave its mark on you.

As the saying goes: “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” And that, to me, is worth every penny.

The Last Word... Couples Travel without the Children