Trip Tales | A Family Travel Podcast

I’m officially hooked on airport lounge life! The food, the quiet space, the drinks, the CLEAN bathrooms!In this episode, I’m sharing exactly which credit cards I opened to get lounge access, how I’m using Priority Pass, and the perks that are making airport travel a million times better.If you’d like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: [email protected] Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Capital One Venture X referral link: https://i.capitalone.com/JMxfRZaqs- American Express referral link: https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/business-platinum-charge-card?ref=KELSEGDw7n&xl=cp01- Chase Sapphire referral link:  https://www.referyourchasecard.com/19y/CFF6FUKQE5- American Express credit cards and lounges- Capital One credit cards and lounges- Chase Sapphire credit cards and lounges- Cleveland Airport (CLE)- The Club Airport Lounges- The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett- The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson- Priority Pass Lounge Network- Points and Miles

Nikki Packer from Utah is back on Trip Tales, and this time she’s sharing her family’s spring break trip through England and Paris!Mostly booked on points, Nikki’s family started in London with classic sightseeing, Borough Market treats, and the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour before making their way to Oxford, Bath, and the dreamy English countryside. But the true surprise of the trip? The Cotswolds.From wandering storybook villages to hiking through meadows, exploring old churches, eating gelato on bridges, and staying in a tiny ancestral village, Nikki makes a strong case for why the Cotswolds can be a magical destination for kids — especially families who love to wander, hike, and explore without an overpacked itinerary.They ended the trip with one whirlwind, dreamy day in Paris, complete with crepes, gardens, Montmartre, and watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle!This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you’d like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: [email protected] me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Nicki Packer: @packinpoints on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/packinpoints/- Kelsey's Hotel Upgrade Guide https://kelsey-graves.kit.com/e1c6074077- LONDON: Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars, Tower of London (Beefeater Tour), Borough Market (viral chocolate covered strawberries!), Padella Borough Market (Italian restaurant), Thames Path, St. Jame's Park, Buckingham Palace, Parliament Square, Westminster Abbey, Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Covent Garden, Millennium Bridge, The Globe Theater- OXFORD: Addison's Walk, Botanical Gardens, Rozana (best Mediterranean wrap of Nicki's life!)- Blenheim Palace (Winston Churchill's childhood home)- BATH: Abbey Hotel, The Bath Abbey Church, Bathwick Trail (The Bathwick and Claverton Down Circular, popularly known as the Bath Skyline, is a spectacular 6 to 7.5-mile loop offering sweeping views over Bath, ancient woodlands, and wildflower meadows)- COTSWOLDS Painswick: Painswick village, St. Mary’s Church, The 99 yew trees at St. Mary’s Church, Nikki’s family’s Airbnb was near St. Mary’s ChurchStroud: Stroud Farmers’ MarketBourton-on-the-Water: Box Bush GelatoUpper & Lower Slaughter: Walking path between the two villagesOther Cotswolds Villages Mentioned:  Chipping Campden, Bibury, Stow-on-the-WoldWalks, Hikes & Scenic Stops: The Cotswolds Way, Broadway Tower, Beacon PathGloucester: Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester Cathedral Cloisters — Harry Potter filming location- PARIS: Hyatt Paris Madeleine, Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile, Eiffel Tower, Crepes, Louvre Museum, Tuileries Garden, Musée de l'Orangerie (Monet's Water Lillies), Sainte-Chapelle Cathedral, Notre Dame, Shakespeare and Company Bookstore, La Crème de Paris (crepes), Jardin du Luxembourg, Montmartre    

I’m unpacking TSA PreCheck Touchless ID - what it is, how to set it up, and why I couldn’t actually use it thanks to my very complicated name situation. Plus, a little summer catch-up and my latest can’t-stop-watching Netflix recommendation.Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879

In this episode, I’m recapping our family of five’s first all-inclusive trip to the Dominican Republic and our stay at Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana. I’m sharing why we booked it, how we used points, and whether this popular resort lived up to the hype. I’ll walk through the rooms, pools, beach, food, activities, water park, Scape Park excursion, nightly shows, and all the little details you'll want to know before booking. Spoiler alert: we may not be cruise people, but we are officially all-inclusive people!If you’d like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: [email protected] Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Hotel Room Upgrade Guide: https://kelsey-graves.kit.com/e1c6074077- Packable Hammock Floats: https://amzlink.to/az0SlaCwsUzUA- Hyatt Ziva Cancun- How to book Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana on points- Room we originally booked: Junior Double Suite with a Sofa Bed- Southwest Airlines- Dominican Republic E-Ticket- ChatGPT Packing Lists- TSA Precheck Touchless ID- DAT Transfer- Favorite Restaurants: Tempest Table, El Mercado, Coffee Republic, Noodle & Thread, Prontoz, Journey's- Scape ParkTrip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal’s Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and U.S. National Parks. Listeners get real travel tips, itinerary recommendations, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation, especially when traveling with kids.

I'm is finally answering one of my most-asked questions: What should we do in Nashville?After years of getting texts and DMs from friends, followers, and listeners planning trips to Nashville, I'm sharing it all! This episode covers Nashville as both a family trip with kids and an adults-only getaway, including where to stay, what to do, favorite restaurants, Broadway tips, live music spots, brunch ideas, and easy add-on trips to Franklin and Leiper’s Fork.Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Family Friendly Hotels: Gaylord Opryland (Parking Hack: map to Regal otels:Cinemas or Dave & Busters at Opry Mills Mall -> park -> walk toward the Expo Hall and into the back of the hotel), Drury Plaza Hotel, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Renaissance Nashville, Graduate Nashville- Things to do with kids: Soundwaves Waterpark, Nashville Zoo, Adventure Science Center, Broadway in the morning or lunchtime, Country Music Hall of Fame, Goo Goo Chocolate Company, Fifth + Broadway & Assembly Food Hall, Grand Ole Opry / Opry House / Ryman Auditorium Tours, Centennial Park + The Parthenon, The Frist Art Museum, Putt Shack, Pop Stroke, Nashville Yards, Sounds Baseball Game, The Great Big Gameshow, Lip Lap- Places to Eat with Kids: Assembly Food Hall, Edley's BBQ, Martin's BBQ, Prince's Hot Chicken, Hattie B's Hot Chicken, Buttermilk Ranch, Puckett's, Pancake Pantry (forgot to mention in episode - iconic breakfast spot!)- Nashville Adults Trip - Where to Stay: JW Marriott, The Joseph, The 1 Hotel, Four Seasons, The Thompson, The W, The Noelle, The Bobby, The Hermitage Hotel- Adult Things to Do: Broadway, The Listening Room, Rooftops, 12th South Neighborhood, The Gulch- Rooftops: Bourbon Sky, LA Jackson, Harriet's, White Limozeen, Denim- Adults Restaurants: Bourbon Steak, Bar Taco, Epice, Chauhan Ale and Masala House, Adele's, Buttermilk Ranch, O-Ku, The Optimist- Franklin, TN: Main Street, Merridee's Bread Basket, Gray's on Main, Cullacino- Leiper's Fork, TN: Fox & Locke, Crown Winery in the Fork- Arrington Vineyards

Kelsey sits down with Liz from Portland, Oregon to hear all about her family’s epic winter adventure to Ottawa and Montreal in February 2025.This trip was planned as a surprise 40th birthday bucket list trip for Liz’s husband, with one very specific goal: ice skating on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Canada (the world's largest natural ice skating rink). As a big hockey and skating family, this was a dream experience!Liz shares what it was like visiting Ottawa with both an 18-year-old and a 1-year-old in tow, staying at the magnificent Fairmont Château Laurier, exploring the city in winter, and then continuing on to Montreal for cozy, European vibes.This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you’d like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: [email protected] Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- MONTREAL: Montreal Airport Marriott, Biosphere in Parc Jean-Drapeau on St. Helen's Island, Sonder Apollon Apartments Old Montreal, Montreal Canadians hockey game at the Bell Centre rink, La Fontaine Park - ice skating, La Grande Roue ferris wheel, Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal + the Aura Experience, STASH Cafe for Polish food.- Beau's Brewery- OTTAWA: Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Winterlude, ByWard Market, ice skating the Rideau Canal, The Brig Pub, National Gallery of Canada, Major's Hill Park- PARC OMEGA: Wolf Chalet & Lodge, Panoramic Chalet Trip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal’s Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and U.S. National Parks. Listeners get real travel tips, itinerary recommendations, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation, especially when traveling with kids.

Kristen from Massachusetts is back on Trip Tales! She previously shared all about her family’s catamaran trip through the British Virgin Islands, and this time she’s taking us to Mont Tremblant, Quebec.Kristen, a mom of two, traveled with her family of four, including her 10-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son, plus a few other families, for a Presidents Day weekend ski trip in February 2026. Mont Tremblant is just north of Montreal, and Kristen shares why it felt like a European ski vacation without actually flying to Europe.From the cozy European-style base village to hearing French spoken all around them, eating crepes, skiing as a family, and soaking up the charming winter vibes, this trip felt special, memorable, and surprisingly attainable.This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you’d like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: [email protected] Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Kristen's previous BVIs by Catamaran episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/british-virgin-islands-chartering-a-catamaran-with/id1731455602?i=1000704284005- Heated Vest Link: https://go.shopmy.us/p-54614828- Mont Tremblant VRBO: https://www.vrbo.com/3645640- MONT TREMBLANT: South side (village side) vs. North side, Navigation recommendation: When you get off the shuttle bus, do not go to the first gondola (which heads to a casino). INSTEAD - go through a tunnel toward ski school and get on the Flying Mile Quad chairlift. - Mont Tremblant restaurants: La Pizzateria, Lucille's, Le Refuge du Trappeur (Trapper's Cabin on the mountain), La Rustique, Le Sushi Shack, Mogouyan (ramen), La Maison de Crepes- Ice climbing excursion- Scandinave Spa Mont Tremblant- MONTREAL: Old Montreal, AC Marriott, La Grande Roue de Montreal, Maggie Oakes restaurant in the Hotel Willam Gray, Creperie Maison Bagatelle, Sammi & Soupe Dumpling- Marriott Bonvoy credit card

If you’ve ever traveled for a soccer tournament, dance competition, or any youth sports weekend, you know these trips are never quite what you think they’ll be. In this episode, Kelsey unpacks the good, the bad, and the ugly of youth sports travel. She also talks about the mindset shift that changed everything for her and shares practical tips to help make youth sports travel smoother, less stressful, and a lot more enjoyable. Plus, a couple funny hotel moments!Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Instacart: Get $10 off when you place your first order! https://inst.cr/t/d5c55d1f0 Code: KGRAVES158EA- Amazon travel night lights: https://amzlink.to/az0mZLu9x7UtZ- Travel sound machines: https://amzlink.to/az0UC02XaLW4z- Hanging toiletry bag: https://amzlink.to/az0r965IPIWit