The family immersed themselves in the history of World War II. The Flak towers, the looming war remnants, made a strong impression. “The kids asked so many questions—it opened up important conversations and gave the kids context around history they’d only read about in books” she says. There was also time for some fun. They visited the Prater amusement area and rode its iconic giant ferris wheel.
Prague was a fairytale ending. Rachel says that the boys enjoyed exploring the cobblestoned streets, spotting old clock towers and castles. It was like we were in a book. Unexpected favorite? Morning train rides. “Watching the landscape go by was almost meditation,” she says. It gave us a chance to relax between cities.
She’d do it differently next time
Rachel isn’t afraid to talk about theirs. Even the best-planned trips can have hiccups. What was the biggest mistake? A metro ticketing snafu in Budapest. She says: “We didn’t realize that we needed to validate our tickets before getting onto the train.” We were fined immediately by an officer after we were stopped. “Luckily, we were able to pay cash.”
They were shaken but also wiser. Now, she recommends researching local transportation rules before arrival—especially in cities with older systems or more rigid rules. She says that it’s easy for people to assume they know how the public transport system works. However, even small differences in rules can be costly.
One more lesson: only book placeholder flights if you don’t mind losing a few hours of sleep. She says: “I couldn’t rest knowing that we had an awful flight scheduled, even though I thought something better was likely to open up by using points.” It eventually did—but she didn’t love cutting it so close.
Families new to points can enjoy take-out meals
Rachel’s advice to families that are new to points and mile collecting is treat the points as a second currency. You have dollars and you have miles. She says, “The goal is to make the most of both.” This means keeping track of your points and loyalty status.
She also suggests setting up all of your hotel and airline account before you need them. “You do not want to be scrambling if a fantastic redemption appears,” she says. It’s important to be able act quickly.
Rachel advises that families should zoom out, even though business class and luxury hotels are often aspired to. If you have a limited budget, consider flying coach and spreading your points over multiple trips. It’s about creating memories—not maximizing luxury at every turn.”
Her favorite tip is to start early. “Planning as far in advance as you can—especially around school breaks—gives you way more flexibility and options with points,” she says. It’s great to take advantage of last-minute deals, but planning in advance is the best way for you to get more out of your budget and still have a richer experience.
Bottom Line
Group Size: Two adults with two kids
Days: 15
Cost: Taxes for points purchases including flights $1,720
Rentals: $1,606
How many points? 556,900
Total cost $3,326
