The Tips & Tricks Travel Mom: An In Depth Interview

ByBess Hours

Looking for a little travel inspiration? Look no further! Tabetha from TWTravelTricks is my go to resource for all things toddler and family travel!

Travel Mom Tabetha By The Numbers

As if raising two young boys, ages 2 and 4, wasn’t enough of an adventure, Tabetha likes to take it up a notch by adding travel to the mix. She’s been to 20 states and 9 countries across 4 continents. Tabetha’s mission is to help you feel less anxious about hitting the road with your family while guiding you to create those magical, picture-perfect moments that will last a lifetime.

Have You Always Loved Traveling?

Growing up, my concept of travel was as simple as a road trip from Corpus Christi to San Antonio to visit family. The closest thing to international travel was a stroll across the US-Mexico border for Auntie’s prescriptions. But oh, how I craved more! Even at 18, a sneaky birthday escape turned into a four-hour road trip to Houston for some unexpected sightseeing.

Fast forward to adulthood, I found my forever travel partner in crime. We embarked on adventures to places like the iconic New York City, indulging in exotic cuisines, and immersing ourselves in vibrant cultures. But then, the tiny travelers arrived – cue the toddlers.

A sudden fear gripped me. Anxiety became a constant companion, and the adventures screeched to a halt. The fear of inconveniencing others, especially on a plane with potential pint-sized meltdowns, kept me grounded. My wanderlust spirit was caged.

However I worked through the postpartum anxiety by praying and seeing a counselor. Today, I share tips and tricks for conquering the challenges of traveling with tots. Taking my little explorers across the globe, I want to be living proof that the world is a playground for all ages. The ultimate reward is the joy of watching my kids’ faces light up after tasting new flavors or witnessing new wonders.

How Do You Find Time For Travel?


Planning ahead is crucial for me to ensure we actually get to go on vacations. What’s worked well is scheduling trips during school breaks and syncing family vacations with my husband’s occasional business travels. When he’s away for work, we often tag along, which helps keep costs down since his flight and hotel are covered. As a teacher, I’ve learned the importance of notifying my kids’ teachers at least a week before they’ll be absent. This allows teachers to prepare lessons and provide necessary materials, ensuring my child stays caught up.

What is one piece of advice you would give families who are nervous about traveling with kids?

Just do it! Take the trip. Sure, it might get messy, and you’ll likely learn a few lessons, but trust me, it’s absolutely worth it! Despite all the research I do before a trip, I still forget things or get caught off guard by small details. But I never regret going on the trip! Each vacation we take becomes smoother. When I’m on my deathbed, I highly doubt I’ll regret the time and money spent on those adventures.

Favorite travel destination and why?

I adore beach destinations, but if I had to choose one country to go back to, I think I’d pick Malaysia. It offers a plethora of activities and sights to explore. The locals are incredibly friendly, and the landscape is incredibly diverse.

What’s one travel mistake you’ve made? So we can all avoid it!

I’ve had my fair share of mishaps while traveling with little ones. One of my biggest blunders is forgetting essential items. Despite my best efforts to be prepared, I always seem to leave the house missing something. My strategy is to gather everyone in the car, ready to pull out of the driveway, and then double-check my packing list. Another valuable tip I’ve learned is to always pack spare clothes, swimsuits, and extra diapers in a carry-on bag. This came in handy during a particularly long delay when we sat on a plane for two hours, only to land at a different destination and wait hours for our next flight home. I barely made it through with just one diaper left!

Top tips for traveling with toddlers?

Remember to bring along your patience. Things will inevitably go awry, but it’s crucial to let go and try to enjoy the journey. I’ve discovered that engaging in simple games like Rock Paper Scissors or playing Tickle Monster with my toddler before giving instructions helps to establish a connection and sets a positive tone for the day. Additionally, I’ve learned to let go of worrying about what strangers think. While it’s a challenge, I’ve realized that focusing on others’ opinions of my parenting won’t improve the situation. Prioritizing my family’s experience over external judgments is what truly matters.

Top products for traveling with toddlers?

For 6 to 24-month-olds:

For 24-months to 3-year-olds:

For 3 to 5-year-olds:

One important lesson I’ve learned from my travels is the necessity of having a car seat for babies once they become mobile around 10 months old. I highly recommend bringing your own car seat to use on the plane. We usually strap ours to our rolling luggage to make it easier to transport.

Bonus Section: Disney!

How to pick between Disneyland vs Disney World?

I suggest Disneyland for younger kids or families that don’t enjoy a lot of walking. Disney World is a much bigger landscape and a tad more challenging to navigate but both are incredibly fun! You won’t regret going to either! 

WDW is more challenging to get on the property so I suggest staying at a hotel on the property. This makes it easier to get to the parks. It also gives you access to early and extended park hours. This comes in handy if you have early risers and want to avoid some crowds. It also makes it easier to get back for naps. You can also get a hotel view to see the fireworks at night from your room. This allows you to avoid crowds and be in your room for bedtime. 

Any tips for either park with young kids?

  • Bring a change of clothes
  • Map out your day
  • Use a mobile app for food or pack your own
  • Pay for Genie Plus to skip lines (skip a beverage if needed to pay for this; it is worth it!).
  • If you have a child with a disability that prohibits them from standing in long lines, you can apply for a disability access service (DAS), similar to Genie Plus. 
  • Bring small hand-held toys for long lines. 
  • Bring a blanket to cover your stroller to keep the sun off, make it easy to spot in the sea of strollers, and use it later to save your spot for the fireworks. 
  • The baby care center has everything you’ll need if you forget anything or just want a quiet, air-conditioned place to feed your baby. 
  • Rent a bob or Thule stroller. We have a travel stroller and it just doesn’t do great at Disney. There are tons of curbs and railway tracks that are difficult for the small wheels to cross. I like to rent a double bob from Babyquip when we go.

I loved getting to know Priscila more. She has been such an inspiration to me on Instagram, I hope she has made you feel like being an adventure mom is within reach!

If you’d like to learn more about adventure mom Pri check out her Instagram profile . Looking for more travel mom inspiration, don’t forget to learn a little bit more about me too!

Similar Posts