The Traveling Tinsleys

Tag: europe

  • The Perfect 48 Hours in Door County (Save This Before You Go)

    The Perfect 48 Hours in Door County (Save This Before You Go)

    Door County is an easy weekend or week trip if you live in Chicago or Wisconsin. If you aren’t located close, you can fly into Chicago or Milwaukee. We just did 48 hours and it was perfect. I’m handing you the exact itinerary so you don’t have to figure it out yourself. Save this one, you’ll want it later.

    Arrival day:

    We checked into our adorable cottage and were immediately obsessed. Then we rolled into Fish Creek in the late afternoon and headed straight to the cute little market in town to grab groceries for a simple backyard dinner. No reservations, no rush — just settling in, letting the kids run around, and cooking something easy while we watched the sun go down. This is the move we usual do: we don’t plan anything big for arrival night.

    Day 1: Bikes, Beaches, and Yummy Pizza

    We rented bikes and biked through Peninsula State Park — genuinely one of my favorite things we’ve ever done as a family. Stop at the lighthouse, then land at Nicolet Beach for a swim break. Pro tip: Nicolet Beach has a food truck, a little store, a changing station, bathrooms, and even showers, so you can spend the day there. We were renting our bikes, so we only stayed an hour.

    From there, we grabbed a late-afternoon sandwich and ice cream at the Creamery in Sister Bay (this is a MUST in Door County), then headed back to the cottage to relax in the sunroom before dinner — because a 48-hour trip still needs a slow moment built in.

    For dinner, we drove to Baileys Harbor for Inland Sourdough Pizza and it was SO good. I’m already thinking about it. We ran out of time to hit Sway Brewery right nearby, and Baileys Harbor also has Chive and the Chive food truck — both on our list for next time.

    A few extra notes for your back pocket: if you’ve got kids, there’s no shortage of mini golf — Pirate’s Cove and Evergreen (which has glow-in-the-dark mini golf, a total hit) are both nearby. And Not Licked custard is a certified family favorite — don’t skip it.

    Day 2: A Quick Trip to Washington Island

    Here’s my honest hot take: there isn’t a ton to actually do on Washington Island, but I’m still glad we went.

    We started with breakfast at KK Fiske Restaurant, Granary Saloon & Coop hangout — very local, great food, and shockingly cheap. We were drawn there because my step-brother and step-sister (yes, the Top Chef ones) did a residency at Hotel Washington, and this happened to be their last week before heading to Maine. Coming to see them gave us the perfect excuse to explore the island.

    The two must-do’s: Schoolhouse Beach and the lavender farm. We also drove past the clock tower (so random, in the best way) and climbed the mountain tower for the view. Beyond that, there’s a lot of time to kill — it was still fun to cruise around and look at the houses, but I wouldn’t recommend spending a full day here.

    Schoolhouse Beach has the smooth stones and the perfect color water

    My real advice: go for breakfast, the beach, and the lavender farm, then take the ferry back. If you don’t have kids along, the Bitters Bar is worth a look — it’s the oldest bitters bar around with a lot of history, but it’s a dive, so we skipped it with our crew this time. And if you’re there for dinner, I hope the next chef lives up to Jennifer and Justin — honestly, I doubt it.

    The BEST dinner at Hotel Washington with Chef Jennifer Jackson and Justin Tootla

    Then it’s back on the ferry and back to Fish Creek for one more night at the cottage.

    One Last Stop on Your Way Out

    Before we left Door County, we swung by Cultured for bagels — amazing, don’t skip it — and made a stop at Cave Point. It is genuinely so pretty and an absolute must-visit if you’re heading out of the peninsula. Build in the extra 20 minutes, you won’t regret it.

    Where We Stayed: The Cherry Cottages

    We stayed at The Cherry Cottages in Fish Creek and it made the whole trip work. Two bedrooms that including bunks for the kids, a great backyard, a huge and brand-new kitchen, and — the actual best part — a sunroom I never wanted to leave. The location puts you right close to everything including the adorable Fish Creek.

    If you book direct, use code CHERRY15 to save 15%. I’ll share photos of the space so you can see exactly what I mean. It’s the perfect size for a family of 4 or 5 (the couch turns into a sofa bed!)

    Door County in 48 hours is completely doable, and honestly prefect for a family getaway. Save this post, send it to a friend, and go book your trip.

  • A Paris Birthday Dream: How I Took My Daughter to France Using Points & Miles

    A Paris Birthday Dream: How I Took My Daughter to France Using Points & Miles

    There are moments in motherhood that feel like they belong in a storybook—the kind you wish you could bottle up forever. For me, one of those moments was watching my daughter turn ten… beneath the sparkling lights of Paris.

    And the best part? It was all made possible with points and miles.

    From Chicago to Paris in Business Class

    If you’ve ever thought international business class was out of reach, I’m here to tell you—it’s not.

    Using 70,000 points each, I booked us business class flights from Chicago to Paris using Aeroplan miles, flying Lufthansa. What could have been a long, exhausting journey turned into part of the adventure itself.

    And before we even boarded? The Polaris Lounge at O’Hare, which was AMAZING.

    ✨ Our Paris Home: A Room with an Eiffel Tower View

    We stayed four nights at the Hyatt Regency in Paris—and this is where the magic really settled in.

    An Eiffel Tower view.

    For 23,000 points a night. I transferred my Chase points to Hyatt.

    🥐 Wandering, Wondering, and Soaking It All In

    We didn’t over-plan. We let the city carry us.

    We saw the iconic sights, yes—but the real magic was in the in-between moments.

    This is what travel can be as a mom—not stressful, not overwhelming—but soft, joyful, and deeply connecting.

    ✈️ Flying back

    For our return, I used 30,000 KLM points each for a direct economy flight back home.

    Simple. Easy. Done.

    Because the truth is, not every part of the journey needs to be luxury. It’s about knowing where to use your points to create the most impact—and for us, the magic was in the journey there and the stay.

    🌺 Ready to Start Your Own Journey?

    If you’re curious about how to begin your own points and miles journey, I’ve got you. Start Earning flexible points (the key to make this work!). My favorite ones below.

    Chase Sapphire (A no brainer and my recommended starter card. Transfers to so many credit travel partners)

    Capital One Venture X (the annual fee pays for its self with a $300 travel credit and 10,000 miles each year. Plus free TSA Global Entry if you need it and lounge access)

    These are the exact tools I used to make this trip happen—and they can help you start creating your own unforgettable memories.

    Because one day, your child will look back and remember more than just a birthday.

    They’ll remember how it felt to explore the world with you.

    And that’s the kind of magic worth chasing. ✨

  • How We Booked a Dreamy Airbnb in Sámara, Costa Rica

    Our trip to Costa Rica was magical. I’m going to break down each part of our stay and how we used points and miles to make it happen.

    🌊 The Airbnb of my dreams

    First of all…this Airbnb was everything. Think: insane ocean views, a private pool, and the kind of peaceful jungle vibes that make you forget what day it is.

    It’s perched up on a hillside overlooking Sámara, and we were obsessed from the moment we walked in.

    Picking a mango from the tree the house was built around

    A quick heads up for families:
    This property is not designed for young kids. There’s a steep cliff, open spaces, and it’s definitely not kid-proof. If you’ve got older kids, you’ll be fine—but I’d be cautious with littles.

    That said, my kids still had the BEST time:

    • They lived in the pool
    • Loved the boogie boards provided
    • And were all about our daily golf cart rides down to the beach
    Not included with the house but Blazing buggys drops it off and picks it up
    Kids and adults never wanted to get out
    The kitchen opens up the backyard when all the doors are open. And against what I thought, there really weren’t any mosquitos
    Views are just ridiculous

    💳 How We Paid for It (Without Paying Full Price)

    Here’s where the magic happens.

    Option 1: Use a Travel Card to “Erase” the Cost

    We love using a card like the Capital One Venture X for Airbnb stays because you can:

    • Earn a big signup bonus
    • Then go back and erase travel purchases

    👉 Apply here.

    At current bonus levels, you can cover around $750 of your Airbnb stay just from the welcome bonus alone. That’s a huge chunk gone.

    Option 2: Our Favorite Hack (What We Actually Did)

    This is one of my favorite strategies for Airbnb stays 👇

    We used our Ink Cash card to:

    • Buy Airbnb gift cards at office supply stores
    • Earn 5x points on those purchases
    • Hit the signup bonus (currently 75,000 points)

    👉 Apply here and click down to Ink Cask

    Why this works so well:

    • You’re earning points fast
    • You can budget ahead of time by buying gift cards gradually
    • You’re essentially turning a big expense into a points-earning machine

    We used the signup bonus + points earned from gift cards to offset a big portion of this stay—and it made the whole trip feel way more doable.

    And if you think you don’t qualify for a business card, message me and I can share how you probably do. Sell things on FB marketplace? Have any side hustle no matter the size? You probably qualify. Have a larger business, then applying should be straight forward. Message me and I can walk you through the process.

    🌴 Final Thoughts (And the Airbnb Link 👀)

    We absolutely fell in love with Costa Rica. Sámara was the perfect mix of laid-back beach town + adventure, and this Airbnb made it unforgettable.

    Was it the most kid-friendly place ever? No.
    Would we stay there again in a heartbeat? 1000% yes.

    👉Book it here

    If you’ve been wanting to travel more with your kids, this is your sign—it is possible. You just need the right mix of planning, points, and a little creativity.

    Have questions about booking trips like this or using points for Airbnb stays? Send me a message—I’m always happy to help 💛