I just returned from an absolutely amazing week long family vacation in Athens, Greece.  I went with my parents, husband and the two babes.  My dad lived in Greece for quite some time in his younger years and we were able to meet up with a childhood friend who showed us around a little.  Although Greece seems to be on everyone’s bucket lists, I’ve found mixed reviews on Athens.  My guess is that those who wouldn’t return, only visited the well known attractions (ie. Acropolis) and didn’t venture out.  I would suggest that if staying longer than a few days, to rent a car as there is so much to see in nearby areas.  Otherwise, the surrounding neighborhoods provide plenty of charm!

The hubs is a bit of a techie nerd and as for me, well, I’ve always said that technology hates me.  Really.  I haven’t met anyone who has issues with their computer suddenly stop working or their phone refusing to answer calls.  So you can imagine my eagerness to learn about a new way of capturing memories through technology when it was brought to my attention.  But I have to say that after seeing it inaction, I’m a believer.  I absolutely love it and won’t go on a trip without using it.

If you’ve been following me on Instagram (shameless plug), you know that my family went to Rome last week for a quick vacation.  Italy was one of the countries I wanted to visit before we left Europe and everything seemed to align so we made an impromptu trip.  I’m so glad we did because we were able to see so many beautiful places and eat some amazing food!  We were there for 1.5 days (I know, crazy! I wish we had more time!) and had 2 children with us (age 4 and 1). 

There are many pieces to the puzzle of how to travel and depending how you book, lodging can either help your money situation or completely blow your budget.  This is how our family is able to stay at some of the most luxurious and unique places without breaking the bank.

You’ve heard about this awesome (semi) new way of staying at your dream location other than a hotel but you’re not quite sure you’re ready to take the plunge or how to maximize your experience without taking a big risk.  Check out the amazing situations I’ve stumbled into and what I’ve learned along the way to help you on the road to booking your stay like a Pro through Airbnb or HomeAway.