Let me start by saying this: One of my favorite things is traveling with my sister. We love seeing new places, experiencing different cultures, trying new foods, taking pictures and having those “I can’t believe I’m actually here” moments.
Usually when we travel internationally, it’s just us and occasionally, our partners. We leave state side traveling with the kids. That has always been our thing—we plan, explore, eat, laugh and make memories together.
We recently took a trip to Singapore but this trip was different because it was our first time bringing the kids. The whole purpose of the trip was to sail on the new Disney Adventure Cruise that only sails out of Singapore. It was the kids first international trip and we were excited for them.
However spending a week and half in Singapore with my 14-year-old, 10-year-old nephew, my sister and her family, We both came home with one very clear realization:
We are not traveling internationally with kids again for a while.
And honestly? I’m okay with that. The trip was great and I truly enjoyed myself and so did the kids… But it was not without its frustrating moments and lessons learned.
Singapore was beautiful, clean and full of things to see and do. The people were also very nice. We tried different foods (the adults cause the kids would not) took in the sights and made memories. If you ever find yourself in Singapore my top recommendation (especially if you have kids) is Sentosa Island. It’s amazing place with so many fun things to do with the family and honestly the highlight of the trip for me. You can check out our full itinerary here.
However, with teenagers means you have to contend with attitudes, complaints and constant bickering. The hunger strike my nephew and niece decided to go during this trip drove us crazy!
The Culture Shock Was Real
Prior to leaving I spoke with my son about going to a different county where there is not many people who look like us or speak the same language. But he was very much still overwhelmed once we got there. He was curious and enjoyed parts of the experience, but being surrounded by unfamiliar people, languages and customs sometimes made him feel out of place, especially while on the cruise. He LOVES cruises (especially Disney) but it said it was too much. I will admit, Americans were few, especially POCs. That’s something that I’m used to and does not bother me but for him it was too much and although he had fun, he was ready to go home.
And honestly, I understood but still a little disappointed internally. He had fun, made memories and experienced something new, but home felt comfortable and reassuring. You can appreciate an adventure and still be ready for it to end.
The Bed-Wetting Surprise I Was Not Prepared For
One of the more stressful parts of the trip involved my 10 yo nephew.
Before we traveled, I wasn’t told that he had a bed-wetting problem when traveling. He had an accident at my house before we left, then wet himself on the plane and again at the hotel in Singapore.
I’m not sharing this to embarrass him. He’s a child, and accidents happen. But parents need to communicate important information before someone else is responsible for their child—especially during a long international trip.
I would much rather know too much before a trip than find out in the middle of a flight.
And Then There Was the Disney Cruise…
Because why take a perfectly ambitious international trip and not add a cruise to it?
The Disney cruise was fun, and the kids enjoyed having so many activities. There was always something happening, which made it feel like an adventure within the larger adventure.
But I’ll be honest: the food was not the best.
It wasn’t terrible, but it was more average than amazing and always cold for some reason. Since you eat most of your meals on a cruise, the food can make a big difference in the experience. Especially with picky eating teenagers and my nephew already barely eats anything state side so you can only imagine in another county how that went.
The cruise also added another layer of logistics. Making sure nobody was missing and where they were suppose to be. Which wasn’t bad at times but the kids would wonder off and not be where they was supposed to be at certain times (dinner and shows) and my nephew got lost at one point before dinner and we had to hunt for him.
My Biggest Takeaway? I don’t want to do this again anytime soon.
Not because I didn’t enjoy the trip, regret going or don’t want my kids to experience the world.
I just realized that enjoying a family adventure and wanting to repeat the exact same kind of adventure are two different things.
My two-year-old son didn’t come with us, and after experiencing the trip with the older kids, I’m glad he stayed home. I love traveling with my little one but he not the best traveller on planes so two weeks of international travel, multiple flights and a cruise would have been a completely different experience.
Leaving him home made the trip easier, even though I missed him. I didn’t have to manage toddler naps, snacks, diapers, tantrums or the constant need to keep a two-year-old entertained.
For this particular trip, staying home was the right decision for both of us.
Would I Travel Internationally With My Kids Again?
Of course, but it will be more beaches vs European. In fact, we planning to celebrate our toddlers bdays at Nickelodeon Resort in Mexico next year. I want my kids to see the world, experience places outside of what they know and make those memories.
But I also learned something about myself:
I don’t have to do everything right now. For now, I’m perfectly happy making international travel a twin-sister adventure, just like it has always been.
So, What’s Next?
I’ll still travel. I’ll still dream about destinations. I’ll probably start researching my next vacation before I’ve even unpacked from the last one.
But this trip also showed me that good travel planning is about more than booking flights and choosing activities. It’s about preparing for the unexpected, leaving room for flexibility and creating a way to remember what actually happened—not just what was supposed to happen.
There were things I wish I had known before we left and moments I want to remember exactly as they happened. I also want to keep track of what worked, what I would change and what I’d recommend to someone planning a similar trip.
That’s why I created my travel journal and planner.
It gives you one place to organize the practical details—destination research, flight information, accommodations, budgets, packing lists and itineraries—while also leaving room to record the memories, surprises and lessons that don’t fit neatly into a schedule.
It’s especially helpful if you’re the person who starts researching months before a trip, makes a packing list early and wants to feel prepared without losing the fun and spontaneity of traveling.
Because if this trip taught me anything, it’s that preparation matters. You can’t plan for every unexpected moment, but having the important details in one place can make those moments much easier to handle.
If you’re planning a trip of your own, traveling with family or simply want to be more intentional about remembering the trips you’ve already taken, check out my travel journal and planner.
Start planning the trip, organizing the details and documenting the memories before you leave—so you can spend less time scrambling and more time enjoying where you are.
I’ll still be honest about the good, the bad and the “why did I think this was a good idea?” moments. 😂
But my next international trip?
We’re leaving the kids at home.
No offense, kids. ❤️
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