Skip to content
  • Destination
    • North America
      • Canada
        • Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
        • Whistler, British Columbia
      • U.S.A.
        • Big Sur, Pebble Beach, Carmel
        • Cape Cod, MA
        • Cape May, NJ
        • Jackson Hole, WY
        • Kauai, HI
        • Lake George, NY
        • Lake Placid, NY
        • Orlando, FL
        • Santa Barbara, CA
        • Sedona & Scottsdale, AZ
        • Twin Farms, VT
        • Watch Hill, RI
        • Woodstock, VT
      • Mexico
        • Riviera Maya
    • Europe
      • Florence & Tuscany
      • Munich
      • Puglia
      • Rome
      • Sicily: Syracuse & Taormina
    • Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Middle East
      • Turkey: Istanbul & Cappadocia
  • Hotels
  • Guides
  • Services
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
FacebookPinterestInstagramEmail
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
Compass Roam
  • Destination
    • North America
      • Canada
        • Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
        • Whistler, British Columbia
      • U.S.A.
        • Big Sur, Pebble Beach, Carmel
        • Cape Cod, MA
        • Cape May, NJ
        • Jackson Hole, WY
        • Kauai, HI
        • Lake George, NY
        • Lake Placid, NY
        • Orlando, FL
        • Santa Barbara, CA
        • Sedona & Scottsdale, AZ
        • Twin Farms, VT
        • Watch Hill, RI
        • Woodstock, VT
      • Mexico
        • Riviera Maya
    • Europe
      • Florence & Tuscany
      • Munich
      • Puglia
      • Rome
      • Sicily: Syracuse & Taormina
    • Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Middle East
      • Turkey: Istanbul & Cappadocia
  • Hotels
  • Guides
  • Services
  • Shop
  • Subscribe

Posts Tagged ‘valle d’itria’

Villas in Puglia are Serving Up the Sweet Life

drone picture of villa in puglia

Right now everyone canโ€™t stop talking about two booming travel topics. First, destination radars have zeroed in on a seductive slice of the Italian peninsula — Puglia, Italy.

Read More

Hi, I'm Jillian

Welcome to
Compass Roam!

Exclusive

Downloadable

Itineraries

Please enter your name.
Please enter a valid email address.
Submit

Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.

Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.

GET ON THE LIST!
You will receive an email with sample itineraries for each destination featured on Compass Roam. ย I'll also send occasional updates!

Latest
Destinations

Munich, Germany

Twin Farms, VT

Riviera Maya, Mexico

 

Follow Me

We havenโ€™t aged a day, right? ๐Ÿคช As a travel We havenโ€™t aged a day, right? ๐Ÿคช As a travel advisor, parents tell me all the time theyโ€™re concerned their family trip just wonโ€™t measure up to what travel was like pre-kids. Try not to compare! Trips with kids are justโ€ฆdifferent. After having traveled to 25 countries and embarked on over 65 adventures, hereโ€™s a more realistic take on what you can expect: ๐’๐ก๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐š ๐ฉ๐š๐ซ๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ง๐ž๐ž๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ž๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ! TRAVEL CHANGES BUT ITโ€™S STILL REALLY FUN: Your rhythm will shift. You wonโ€™t sleep in after a late night outโ€ฆ but you will see the sunrise with your toddler. Date nights? Maybe not. But family cooking classes? Definitely. Adjusting expectations is key. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป MINDSET MATTERS: IG makes family travel look effortless, saturated with incredible photos. But, just like real life, the unexpected happensโ€” weโ€™ve experienced delays, sick kids, rainy weather, and more that Iโ€™ve probably blocked out of my brain ๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธBut, I learned that the sooner I could roll with it, the better the trip. Iโ€™ve never regretted going โ€” despite the times weโ€™ve faced hurdles. SET YOUR VACATION UP FOR SUCCESS: Know what works for you. Hate jet lag? Start with a drive trip. Need slow travel? Stay in one spot longer. Love sitting by the pool? โ€œResort vacationsโ€ are awesome. Love adventure? Go for that epic hike. Donโ€™t compare your trip to what you see others doing. HAVE A PLAN-ISH: Over-scheduling = stress with kids. No plan = chaos with kids. So I aim for one big thing a day, then make sure to schedule in some relaxation or exploring. THERE IS NO โ€œRIGHT TIMEโ€ TO TAKE THE TRIP: A friend told me heโ€™s waiting until his kids โ€œappreciateโ€ Italy to go (theyโ€™re in middle school). IMO, appreciation is relative. Find what your family lovesโ€”hiking, relaxing, exploringโ€”and just go. Trust me. ๐…๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ž ๐Ÿ๐š๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐ฏ๐ž๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฌ FAMILY TRAVEL | TRAVEL WITH KIDS |TRAVEL PLANNING TIPS | MOM TRAVEL
5 GREAT ACTIVITIES IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ WITH LITTLE K 5 GREAT ACTIVITIES IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ WITH LITTLE KIDS โฌ‡๏ธ Scottsdale, Arizona, is one of my favorite winter escape destinations for familiesโ€”especially if you have little kids! With over 300 days of sunshine a year, you can count on blue skies, sunny weather, and perfect 70-degree temperatures in winter. Weโ€™ve visited Scottsdale many times, and while April and May are prime pool weather, winter brings cooler mornings (it is the desert after allโ€ฆ) with afternoons perfect for pool time. Mornings were spent exploring the area before the kids made their way to the waterslide after lunch @fairmontscotsdl Here were our favorite family-friendly activities in Scottsdale: ๐ŸŒตHIKING: Pinnacle Peak and Gateway Loop are two great kid-friendly options. My kids especially loved Pinnacle Peak because of the fun story installed along the trailโ€”it kept them engaged the entire time! TIP - go in the morning, then have brunch at Proof @fsscottsdale ๐Ÿš‚ MCCORMICK STILLMAN PARK: Maverick declared this the โ€œbest day of his life!โ€ Thereโ€™s a carousel, mini train rides, a playground, module trains, and even the former Presidential train turned into a museum (my personal favorite part). ๐Ÿฆ‹ ODYSEA/BUTTERFLY WONDERLAND: Odysea Aquarium is fun, but Butterfly Wonderland stole the show. Imagine walking through a giant greenhouse with hundreds of butterflies fluttering around youโ€”and even landing on you! Both attractions are in the same complex, so itโ€™s easy to see them in one day. ๐ŸŒต DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN: This is a great option if youโ€™re looking for flat trails, beautiful desert flora, and a chance for kids to run around and explore. Maverick loved โ€œnavigatingโ€ with his map and turning it into a game. ๐ŸŽจ WONDERSPACES: This is not your typical art museum! This interactive experience lets kids touch, explore, and immerse themselves in the exhibits. NEXT TIME: On my list -the Phoenix Zoo, Childrenโ€™s Museum, Music Museum, and McDonaldโ€™s Ranch for horseback riding. Have you been to Scottsdale? What are your favorite things to do with kids? FAMILY TRAVEL | SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA | THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN ARIZONA | TRAVEL WITH KIDS | PLANNING TIPS
A LUXURY KID FRIENDLY HOTEL THATโ€™S WORTH THE SPL A LUXURY KID FRIENDLY HOTEL THATโ€™S WORTH THE SPLURGE ๐Ÿ“Œ๐’๐š๐ฏ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐ž๐ฅ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐š ๐Ÿ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ฉ This year, we skipped the Caribbean crowds to try a desert Christmas escape @fairmontscotsdl. Did you know Scottsdale has over 300 days of sunshine a year?! Itโ€™s one of the best winter destinations for reliable weather โ€” think blue skies, sunny days, and perfect 70-degree temps. Our days were the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation: morning hikes or excursions followed by afternoons unwinding at the heated pools. Hereโ€™s why @fairmontscotsdl is a perfect hotel for families โ€” year round ๐Ÿ˜Ž 5 HEATED POOLS: Each pool offers something unique. Thereโ€™s a pool with waterslides, another with a sandy beach, and another overlooks the desert terrain. Thereโ€™s also a private spa pool and an adults pool. FAMILY FRIENDLY CASITAS: Choose from standard hotel rooms, luxe Fairmont Gold rooms, or the spacious โ€œPrivado Casitas.โ€ These freestanding homes are perfect for families, with 2-bedroom options, or you can reserve the whole casita up to 4 bedrooms. FANTASTIC ON SITE AMENITIES: Winter visitors will love โ€œChristmas at the Fairmont,โ€ featuring rides, igloo dining, an ice-skating rink, mini golf, and even a tube park! In spring and summer, enjoy concerts under the stars. Year-round, thereโ€™s a PGA 18-hole golf course, a two-story spa (with a private pool!), tennis courts, and a kidsโ€™ club. QUICK ACCESS TO COUNTLESS OFF SITE ACTIVITIES: Explore nearby hiking trails, a butterfly sanctuary, an aquarium, a train park, a zoo, botanical gardens, museums, and sporting events galore. ๐‚๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ž๐ง๐ญ โ€œ๐€๐ซ๐ข๐ณ๐จ๐ง๐šโ€ ๐ข๐Ÿ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎโ€™๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ž ๐ฆ๐ž ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐ž๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐š๐ง ๐š ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ฉ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ. As a travel advisor, I can VIP your reservation by getting you access to free breakfast, spend credit, welcome amenity, upgrade, and early check in/late check out if available. BEST HOTELS FAMILIES | CHRISTMAS HOTELS | FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE PRINCESS | SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA | BEST DESTINATIONS FOR FAMILIES | USA TRAVEL
5 QUESTIONS PARENTS NEED TO ASK BEFORE BOOKING A F 5 QUESTIONS PARENTS NEED TO ASK BEFORE BOOKING A FAMILY RESORT: 1. HOW IS THE ROOM CONFIGURED?โ€จโ€œSuiteโ€ doesnโ€™t always mean a separate living area. Check the floor plan onlineโ€”or call the hotel directly. Once, a hotel misled me, but since I had proof from an email, they upgraded us upon arrival. 2. HOW DO CONNECTING ROOMS โ€œCONNECT?โ€โ€จFamilies of 5+, listen up! Not all โ€œconnectingโ€ rooms connect internally. Sometimes, they share a small private hallway, but you have to technically exit one room before entering the other. This layout may work for older kids, but might be tricky with little onesโ€”ask ahead! 3. ARE KIDSโ€™ CLUBS COMPLIMENTARY?โ€จSome brands (like @fourseasons and @rosewoodhotels) offer free kidsโ€™ clubs, while others charge a fee or require reservations. Know the cost/age requirement before you book. 4. DO KIDS EAT FREE?โ€จMany hotels let kids eat free off the kidsโ€™ menuโ€”but servers might not know your kidsโ€™ ages. Weโ€™ve had surprise charges, so now I always mention it upfront. 5. DO YOU OFFER BABY/TODDLER AMENITIES?โ€จBeyond cribs and pack nโ€™ plays, some hotels provide extras like diaper pails, bed rails, and even bottle sanitizers. Always askโ€”you might be pleasantly surprised! ๐’๐ก๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐š ๐ฉ๐š๐ซ๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐š๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐  ๐š ๐Ÿ๐š๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐š๐œ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง FAMILY TRAVEL | LUXURY TRAVEL | TRAVEL WITH KIDS | FAMILY HOTELS | TRAVEL PLANNING TIPS
HOTELS WITH BATHROOMS/CLOSETS BIG ENOUGH FOR A PAC HOTELS WITH BATHROOMS/CLOSETS BIG ENOUGH FOR A PACK Nโ€™ PLAY ๐’๐ก๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐š ๐ฉ๐š๐ซ๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐  ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐š ๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ๐Ÿ๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐ฏ๐š๐œ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ค๐ข๐๐ฌ Have you really traveled as a parent if you havenโ€™t put your kid to sleep in a hotel bathroom? Itโ€™s practically a rite of passage โ€” and one of the top questions I get from parents planning vacations. In fact, when I call a hotelโ€™s reservation team to ask them this about bathroom size, they almost ALWAYS know why Iโ€™m asking. ๐Ÿ˜‚ The truth is, room-sharing is tough with little ones. No parent wants to go to bed at 7 PM with the kids. So when planning my own trips, Iโ€™ll budget a bit more/night on a larger room, even if it means going for less time. It can make all the difference for a restful vacation with kids. SAFE SET UP TIPS: โ€จ๐Ÿผ Remove towels/gadgets from babyโ€™s reachโ€จ๐Ÿผ Leave the door slightly ajar for airflow Hereโ€™s my cheat sheet of luxury family hotels (and room type youโ€™ll want to book) where a Pack Nโ€™ Play fits comfortably in a bathroom/closet ๐Ÿ” @fschateauwhistlr โ€“ Fairmont Gold 1- or 2-bedroom suites have a spacious primary bath + 1/2 bath for parents. ๐Ÿ @seaisland โ€“ One-bedroom wing suites have a HUGE primary bath + a 1/2 bath in the living area. ๐ŸŒฟ @fscostarica โ€“ Canopy suites have a large closet for a Pack Nโ€™ Play + an extra bathroom! ๐ŸŒŠ @fsanguilla โ€“ One bedroom suites have a spacious primary bath + closet. Our 2-bedroom suite upgrade had a massive closet โ€” plenty of space for even a few cribs. ๐Ÿ›ถ @rwmayakoba โ€“ Deluxe lagoon suites have 2 large bathrooms. I love this hotel because you get great room value for the cost! ๐ŸŒ… @grandhyattbahamar โ€“The โ€œReserveโ€ 1-bedroom suites have a half bath thatโ€™s large enough to accommodate a pack an play. No need to sacrifice your nice en-suite bathroom. ๐Ÿฆž @cliffhousemaine โ€“ Best New England find! Sunrise & 2-bedroom suites offer great space + large bathrooms. ๐‚๐Ž๐Œ๐Œ๐„๐๐“ โ€œ๐ ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐ž๐ž๐ฉโ€ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐ž๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐Ÿ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ƒ๐Œ๐ฌ! Need help booking a room with extra perks (like free breakfast)? DM me! FAMILY TRAVEL | LUXURY TRAVEL | TRAVEL WITH KIDS | BEST HOTELS FOR KIDS | BABY SLEEP
Follow on Instagram
©2025 CompassRoam
  • Privacy Policy
Scroll To Top
Get on the List!

Start gathering your future travel ideas now! Sign up to receive exclusive travel itineraries and tips.

Name
email address
Jillian in sunglasses

No thanks, Iโ€™m not interested!