Our Last Summer as a Family of Six: Planning Our Europe Trip
A few years ago, my husband and I took a trip to Italy—just the two of us—and it was one of the best experiences we’ve ever had.
Now, with our oldest heading off to college, we knew this would be our last summer together as a family of six. We wanted to do something meaningful… something they would always remember.
So we decided to plan a big European trip.
Our kids have traveled a lot, but mostly to tropical destinations. This time felt different. We wanted them to experience culture, history, and what it feels like to explore somewhere completely new. There’s just something about being in another country—the perspective, the pace, the inspiration—that you don’t get anywhere else.
Where We’re Going
We spent a lot of time trying to balance what everyone enjoys—history for our son, relaxing for my husband, and experiences we could all enjoy together.
Sicily (Taormina area) 3 nights
This will be our first stop. We wanted somewhere that feels rich in culture but still beautiful and easy to explore. Taormina gives us that mix of history, scenery, and walkable charm. We’ll be spending time exploring the town and taking it all in.
Sardinia 5 nights
This is our “slow down” portion of the trip. My husband definitely leans more toward vacation than travel, so having a place where we can just relax is important. We’re planning beach time, a boat day, and just being together without a packed schedule.
Rome 2 nights
We felt like if we’re taking our kids to Italy, we have to take them to Rome. The Colosseum, the history, all of it. Last time my husband and I went, we didn’t do the Vatican or Sistine Chapel, so we’re making sure to do that this time.
Luxembourg / Belgium area 3 nights
This part of the trip is more history-focused, especially around the Battle of the Bulge, which our son is really interested in. It also happens that an F1 race will be nearby while we’re there, so the boys are planning to go to that, which will be such a fun experience for them.
Why We’re Using a Travel Planner
The last time we went to Italy, we used a travel planner and it made everything so much easier.
We’re working with Megan Peri Manguso with St. Hilaire Travel, and I can’t recommend using someone enough—especially for a trip like this. Everything is organized, seamless, and takes the stress out of coordinating multiple locations.
I enjoy the travel side of things, but my husband definitely does not, so this helps balance that out and makes moving around locations seamless and lets us actually enjoy the trip.
Flights & Planning Ahead
We’ve been saving our AMEX points for over a year knowing we wanted to take a trip like this. Our goal was to fly business, especially for a long trip with the kids.
We were able to use points for part of it, but we did have to pay for about half of the tickets. Still, it helped a lot and made it feel more doable.
Flights are officially booked, which makes it all feel real.
What’s Next
We have our main itinerary set, but there’s still a lot to finalize. We will have all dinner reservations and activities fully booked prior to leaving.
Next up for me is outfit planning. When my husband and I went to Italy before, I planned every outfit ahead of time and it made the trip so much easier. I love being able to just grab something and go without thinking about it, but also so important to LOVE what your wearing on a trip like this if you love fashion like I do. Now doing that for a family of six will take a little more work—but honestly, it’s part of the fun for me.
In addition to planning outfits, I’m also going to be getting really detailed with how we pack. With six of us moving between multiple locations, I want everything to be as easy and organized as possible. My goal is for everyone to be responsible for their own belongings and to have luggage that we can move around with comfortably.
I’ll also be sharing exactly what I pack for my three littles. I know there will be moments where they’re tired—long dinners, travel days, and slower-paced sightseeing—so I want to be prepared. I’m planning ahead with simple things to keep them entertained, make taking their own photos fun for them, and help them enjoy the experience right alongside us. The reality is, when traveling with young kids, there will probably be a moment where we’ve spent all this time and money on a beautiful experience, and their favorite part is something simple—like the pizza. Who would be able to blame them 😉
Stay tuned—I’ll be sharing all the details as we get closer, from packing tips to how we’re making this trip enjoyable for everyone.