Siobhan Reeser

Five days in Costa Rica is enough time to have a very good family vacation. It is not enough time to have every Costa Rica vacation. That distinction matters because Costa Rica makes it incredibly easy to over-plan. You start with a volcano. Then someone mentions hot springs.The kids want zip lining. You find the wildlife tours. The beach looks incredible. Suddenly you have three hotels, four transfers, six activities, and a vacation that appears to require project-management software. For...

A nonstop flight isn't automatically the best flight for every family. Here's what I compare before deciding whether the nonstop is actually worth it.

The cheapest hotel on the booking screen isn’t always the cheapest stay. Here’s how to compare hotel prices using the costs, convenience, room setup, and tradeoffs your family will actually experience.