Join Christina and her family on a summer trip to Portugal, Paris, and Germany.

Summer and vacation go hand in hand; this summer, my family and I were blessed to visit friends in Germany. We went to Portugal first, took a pitstop to Paris, and then traveled around Germany with our own private tour guides. It was the perfect mix of downtime, family time, and reconnecting with old friends.

This trip isn't our first time going to Europe—we went to Italy for our anniversary seven years ago and to Greece two years ago. As a family, we've had some major health events that have just encouraged us to take these moments. For us, traveling and going overseas and experiencing new cultures is the most unforgettable adventure.

THE ITINERARY:

Portugal
Paris
Germany

TRAVEL: My Tips for Stress-Free Trip Prep

How you prepare for vacation sets the tone for your trip. Here are my favorite tips for traveling:

TIP #1: KNOW THE ESSENTIALS

I'm not a minimalist packer, but I do try to be intentional about what I bring on a trip. Vacation is the time to let loose and wear what makes me feel good that day. The AnyList app is my secret weapon for stress-free trip prep. I keep lists on there for every season, including anything I need to do before leaving on vacation. When it's time, I can go down the line and know everything is good to go.

I packed a carry on with my trip essentials that I keep on hand for monthly travel including my favorite pill case that I use daily.

Since we were traveling for about three weeks to three very different clients and accommodations I packed a checked bag with my clothing as well as overseas travel needs.

I’ve created a list of everything I use as well as some top team favorites for you here!

TIP #2: TIMING IS EVERYTHING

We flew from Charleston to JFK, JFK to Belgium, and Belgium to Portugal. We were very deliberate about timing our departure for late afternoon, which gave us plenty of time in the morning to wrap up any last-minute work and housekeeping before heading to the airport. It also meant we could sleep on the plane and head into our first day abroad with minimal jet lag.

TRAVEL TIP: I like to keep a few essentials on hand when staying at a hotel, including this handy pill case, wrinkle release, travel-size detergent, Rael wipes, and my favorite collagen creamer.

TIP #3: LOYALTY PAYS OFF

We are big Marriott fans. We've been very loyal, and it's paid off very well when planning accommodations for our trips including Italy, Canada, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica and more. We use their credit card to book and are strategic about getting as many points as possible.

TIP #4: LET YOUR KIDS DO THEIR PART

We started traveling abroad with the girls when they were four and five. Our first trip was to Costa Rica, and we've worked up to longer trips like this 18-day vacation. Over the years, they've learned to pack and do their own thing. They are now way better packers than I am!

COSTA RICA 2019

GREECE 2012

FEELING INSPIRED?

You can also check out more packing tips here, here, and here.

PORTUGAL

Luxury by the Sea

Our trip began in the Algarve, a southern coastal region known for its stunning beaches, picturesque villages, and towering sea cliffs. Our time in Portugal was full of swimming, fine dining, and some of the best gelato we’ve ever tasted.

Top Activities in Portugal

Fish Exfoliating
Boat tour
Dinner at Austa

The Resort: Our Home Away from Home

We stayed at Pine Cliffs Ocean Suites. From daily trips to the onsite juice bar to relaxing poolside, Pine Cliffs was the perfect place to call home during our time in Portugal.

SPA DAYS

The amenities at this resort were incredible. I like to work out five days a week, packing a few fitness essentials any time I travel to keep me accountable (even if it's made for a few interesting trips through airport security).

Local Adventures in the Algarve

THE TOWN

We loved exploring the local shops and restaurants. We ate in Praia dos Pescadores, and then walked around downtown. We went earlier in the day, which is the perfect time to go out with kids in tow.

FISH EXFOLIATING

Our family is always up for an adventure and trying new things on vacation. Here we are doing something called fish exfoliating, where you sit at these tanks and let these little fish nibble at your feet.

BOAT TOUR

The Lagoa boat tour was the best way to take in the caves and historic churches along the coast. I highly recommend this tour over other options because it’s more intimate—we were part of a small group of around 30 people that day. We started on a yacht and then moved to a small buoy boat to explore the unique landscape. They even included a tasting of local spirits during the tour.

The caves are a popular spot for kayaking and canoeing. You can see how they developed over the years—we were able to spot a few fossils.

FAMILY DATE NIGHT

One of my absolute favorite nights in Portugal was our family dinner date!

Austa is a lovely combination restaurant, coffee shop, and furniture store run by a husband and wife team. It was an hour away from our resort but well worth the trip. Every dish was excellent and felt like a presentation!

THIS IS A MUST FOR ANYONE IN THE ALGARGVE AREA!

WHAT I WORE IN PORTUGAL

Packing for Portugal was really fun and I was excited that every outfit will be something I will take with me to future beach resort vacations. I love finding really good staple items and after being asked quite a few times how I pack I have realized that my best packing strategy is to pack basics, pair them with fun prints, load up on print sets that i can mix and match and rely on my very favorite 3-4 shoes and 1-2 bags!

When I travel I want to feel myself! For me, its not the time to try new. trends but rather a time to feel great! I want my energy and focus to be on the people I am with the new places I am experiencing!

PARIS

A Parisian Pitstop

Before heading down to Germany, we met up with our friends in Paris to take in the culture, cuisine, and of course, the Eiffel Tower. Our friends not only live in Germany but have traveled all over Europe many times and were the perfect tour guides to maximize our two nights in this beautiful city!

EIFFEL TOWER

Since she started walking, my daughter has wanted to see the Eiffel Tower, so this was a special moment for us. This street is one of the best spots to get a good picture of the Eiffel Tower, which was decked out in the rings for the Summer Olympics. The tower also lights up every night starting at 11 p.m., which is amazing to experience in person.

GOOD EATS

We love a good dessert, and Ladurée is one of the best places to get macaroons in the city. They have a little Street Cafe but then they also have this incredible restaurant. They have giant and regular-sized macaroons, along with other desserts like this take on French Toast.

We tried escargot and enjoyed French Onion soup at Cafe Louise, a lovely stop for brunch.

Fanny packs, (oops! I mean “belt bags”) are a tween trend I can get onboard with! Both girls used theirs constantly throughout the trip. Here’s what we packed in them.

SHOPPING IN STYLE

No trip to Paris is complete without a little shopping. I went to Celine, my favorite store, to shop for a couple of pairs of sunglasses and this gorgeous handbag, which transitions from a bucket bag to a larger bag.

CULTURE TRIP

The Louvre is obviously a must-see in Paris. We underestimated how crazy the crowd would be around paintings like the Mona Lisa, so be prepared if you’re trying to get a good picture.

BOAT CRUISE

We took a boat ride on the Seine, which offered gorgeous city views. It was the perfect break from walking while still exploring Paris. Bring a hat if you take this cruise because it can get windy!

Our amazing tour guides, Shannon and Logan, who are famous for saying “just a little bit farther”! Crazy to believe these guys have been friends since 2nd grade!

WHAT I WORE IN PARIS

The Paris leg of our trip was nothing short of a whirlwind but I’ve linked a few easy staples that I loved including my favorite blue striped Mille shorts with a J.Crew cashmere wrap for travel.

GERMANY

Christmas Every Day

We took the fast train to Germany from Paris. My husband's best friend from second grade has been stationed worldwide, and now he and his family live on the Ramstein Air Force Base, where he works for the Air Force Fire Department. His wife had also lived in Germany in high school when her father was stationed there, so they had so much knowledge to share about where and what to see during our time there. It was like having private tour guides!

It was an incredible experience to stay somewhere with so many different people serving overseas. Everyone in the United Nations is represented on the base.

We visited at the end of June but you’ll notice our long sleeves and pants! Be prepared to dress in layers as the weather will shift quite a bit! We even had a 55 degree day (and played in snow!) so be sure to spend some time researching the upcoming weather report before traveling.

ELTZ CASTLE

Many castles in Germany sit high up on a hill, but Eltz is nestled in a gorgeous valley. The family that owns it has been there since the 12th century, so it's a fascinating piece of local history. We had a great time touring the inside of the castle (no photos allowed) and eating local German food. Their food, bathroom and staff were fantastic!

After you park there is a shuttle to Eltz Castle, but I recommend hiking because you can see the castle coming as you walk and the hike itself if fairly easy and absolutely beautiful!

THE CITY GATE

Trier is one of the oldest cities in Germany and a beautiful place to explore. We took pictures at the historic city gate and enjoyed a relaxing dinner. They also had a festival going on while we were there so be sure to check the city schedule to enjoy the fun!

RÜDESHEIM WINE REGION

Rüdesheim is a great place to grab a glass of wine on the street and walk around the local shops. You can buy Christmas ornaments and decor here year-round and we found it a great place for gifts to bring home! A chair lift is available to take you through the vineyards. Unfortunately it was closed when we went but Shannon has told me it brings one of the most beautiful views, though the views we saw were breathtaking so I can’t imagine it being any better!

OOTD: These are my favorite tennis shoes for walking around.

This area is gorgeous. We took pictures at an overlook with stunning views of the water. You can also tour the wineries or take a gondola ride down the river. I will be back and excited to spend more time here!

ROTHENBURG

Rothenburg is full of charm—there is still a wall around the entire town. We stayed at this quaint hotel with vintage furniture and updated bathrooms.

The weather was colder here, so layers were my friend. We enjoyed street treats, the Christmas Market, and the historic Night Watchman tour.

We stayed at ____ hotel and it was the most magical experience. Each part of this hotel was filled with charm. Between the hotel, the chilly weather, the Christmas shops and the amazing German food, it was easy to feel as if we had been transported to another time and season!

Roadtripping through Germany was an extra adventure that allowed us to see even more of Germany. If you see cow’s, be sure to stop because as cheesy as it sounds, listening to the cowbells is very relaxing and worth a little pit stop.

GARMISCH

We stayed at a military resort in Garmisch, where people go to reunite with families stationed abroad. Highlights from this stop included riding an Alpine coaster, watching paragliders, and taking pictures with the local cows.

On July 4th, we took a gondola up to the Zugspitze, the highest mountain peak in Germany. It was snowing, and we were throwing snowballs, which was crazy. Other people were decked out for the weather while we, the silly Carolinians, were taking pictures in shorts!

They had an impressive fireworks display for the military families staying at the resort. It was humbling to be there amongst these amazing people for the holiday.

On our last day in Germany, we went swimming. It was a fun way to end a fantastic trip. I can't recommend Germany enough—it was quaint and beautiful, and everyone was so friendly.