In Vienna, the family dove deep into World War II history. The Flak Towers, looming remnants of the war, left a powerful 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. They also found time for fun, stopping at the Prater amusement park and checking out its iconic giant Ferris wheel.
Prague delivered a fairy tale ending. “The boys loved wandering the cobblestone streets and spotting castles and old clock towers,” says Rachel. “It felt like we’d stepped into a storybook.” One unexpected favorite? The morning train rides. “Watching the countryside go by was almost meditative,” she adds. “It gave us space to decompress between cities.”
What she’d do differently next time
Even a well-planned trip has hiccups, and Rachel isn’t shy about sharing theirs. The biggest misstep? A metro ticketing snafu in Budapest. “We didn’t realize we had to validate our subway tickets before getting on the train,” she says. “We ended up being stopped by an officer and fined on the spot. Luckily, we had cash.”
The experience left them rattled but also wiser. Now, she recommends researching local transportation rules before arrival—especially in cities with older systems or more rigid rules. “It’s easy to assume you know how public transit works, but the small differences can cost you,” she says.
Another lesson: book placeholder flights only if you’re willing to lose a bit of sleep over it. “I couldn’t relax knowing we had a terrible flight lined up, even though I hoped something better would likely open up with points,” she says. It eventually did—but she didn’t love cutting it so close.
Takeaways for families new to using points
For families just getting into points and miles, Rachel’s biggest advice is to treat points like a second currency. “You have dollars, and you have points. The goal is to use both wisely,” she says. That means knowing what you have, keeping track of transferable points, and understanding your loyalty program statuses.
She also recommends setting up all your hotel and airline accounts before you need them. “You don’t want to be scrambling when a great redemption pops up,” she says. “Being able to act quickly is key.”
And while business class flights and luxury hotels can feel aspirational, Rachel encourages families to zoom out. “If you’re on a tighter budget, fly coach and spread your points out over more trips. It’s about creating memories—not maximizing luxury at every turn.”
Finally, her favorite reminder: 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. “Taking advantage of last minute opportunities is great but planning ahead is one of the best ways to stretch what you have and still feel like you’re getting a rich experience.”
The bottom line
Group size: Two adults and two kids
Days: 15
Cost: Taxes on points purchases, including flights, $1,720
Rentals: $1,606
How Many Points: 556,900
Total cost: $3,326
