Part one: FT4RL 5 Updates and Speaker Info! Aug. 19, 2016
Happy summer everyone! I’m just back from a long stretch of travel and wanted to update you on our next FT4RL conference. (Insert cliche here about it being #5- I truly can’t believe it!). To recap, Family Travel for Real Life #5 will be held November 5th, 2016 at the Hyatt Place DFW Airport.
If you’ve never been to an FT4RL here’s the elevator pitch:
FT4RL is the first seminar for frequent travelers (and those who wish to be) specifically tailored to the needs of families.
Created by Dia Adams, who writes the family travel blog The Deal Mommy and is resident Travel Hacker on TravelingMom.com, FT4RL brings together experts in various aspects of family travel to teach and, more importantly, to learn from each other. We cover topics from using miles/points programs strategically to destination inspiration to mastering the logistics of travel with kids. The event fills a giant hole in travel advice for families, which tends to swing from “Sleeping at your in-laws house is a great vacation” to “Fly your baby in First Class or stay home”. The speakers at FT4RL are all parents who, while having different modes and methods, share one belief:
Travel with kids is not only possible, but necessary. By sharing the world with our children, we expand both their minds and our own, creating a lifetime’s worth of wonder that can come no other way.
Confirmed Speakers:
Rich Kerr from Travel Hacking 101 on miles and points for 4 or more. A topic dear to his heart now that he’s a family of 4! Rich is a senior writer for The Points Guy and also is resident miles expert at TravelingDad.com.
Kenny Burrows from Miles4More on Getting Back to Nature on Miles and Points. AT FT4RL 2 Kenny demonstrated how he got PAID $1200 for a year’s extensive travel with a family of 4. Best mic drop I’ve ever seen.
Mom of 4 Toni Southam on Camp Mom- solo parent long term travel with kids. Toni just spent two months with 4 under 10 in Europe so she knows her stuff! And I won’t even start about the time she hiked the Inca trail pregnant…
I’m doing a session this time! Hotel Points Alternatives- for trips where the Hyatt just isn’t gonna cut it. I’ll be sharing tips and tricks I use to save up to 90% on lodging all over the world.
A session from you! I’m recruiting a number of you to speak for 5-10 minutes on a topic you know inside and out but don’t want to talk about for an hour. If you have a topic idea- let me know! It could be a miles/points trick, a destination you hold near and dear, a logistics hack…every FT4RL I’m blown away by the talent in the room and want you to have your moment in the sun.
We will also have social events specific to attendees including a Friday happy hour meetup and a Saturday night dinner. For Friday night I’m partnering with Rich and his Travel Hacking 101 Facebook group. Rich throws a terrific happy hour and FT4RLers are guaranteed a ticket. If you’re in the group and don’t have a ticket to FT4RL yet be sure to watch his page! Saturday night’s dinner will be for FT4RLers (and their families) only. More info to come…
Once the event goes live on Rich’s group I expect the few tickets remaining will be scooped up quickly. If you were on the fence about coming, now’s the time to act. This time we’re capped firm at 70 but I may close registration earlier as I’m on the fence about the right number being more like 60. My favorite part is having time to talk to all of you and if we get too big I’ll lose that chance. I’d love your thoughts on this.
Any questions? Leave a comment below. Also, if you’re an FT4RL alum, how would YOU describe it?
Part two: Random FT4RL DFW Thoughts, FT4RL 6 Ideas and a Twitter Party Nov. 8, 2016
I’m awake from my 24 hour post FT4RL DFW nap and am ready to share some thoughts both about the weekend and about the event moving forward. Imagine throwing a Bar Mitzvah every six months or so and you get a feeling for why I hibernate for a day or two after each FT4RL. The events are great fun- and I’m excited for the next one- but there is about a week every time where I swear this FT4RL will be the last.
Twitter Party!
Let’s hang out on Thursday November 10th at 9PM EST for 30 minutes or so using the #FT4RL hashtag. I might even have a couple of prizes to give away… Not sure how to do a Twitter party or what one even is? Here’s a handy guide put together by Traveling Mom.
Random thoughts from FT4RL DFW
- I have to start by thanking the speakers: Rich, Kenny, Toni and Jason. Each brought a unique point of view and an expertise to their topic- and more importantly each demonstrated so much dedication and passion for travel with kids.
- Thanks to the folks who attended. I’m thrilled how many of you
arewere newbies- we get lost in an echo chamber if we don’t hear some new voices from time to time. - Thanks to our drinks sponsor Friday night- they were a big hit (but went down a little TOO easy for this old lady).
- The one bedroom suites at Hyatt Place DFW are comically large.
- Best travel hack on Southwest? Have an even number of kids to maximize your companion pass opportunities!
- You don’t want to deal with an abscessed tooth in Croatia on your own. Allianz, Allianz, Allianz.
- I need to make plans NOW for August 21, 2017. Nuff said.
- New Caledonia went up much higher on my must ticket list.
- I also need to brush up on my Scandinavian language skills and make some friends in India.
- Years from now I’ll be having nightmares about redeeming points for wool socks.
- Here’s my review of Las Alcobas, the SPG hotel in Mexico City with the soap butler.
- Here’s my post on Sheradill, the Euro hotel site that goes to 90% off with social sharing. There’s also a 20 Euro referral link in there.
- A helpful summary of Skyauction, including more details on those certificates we discussed.
- A rant on why you should NEVER use Wyndham Rewards on timeshares that includes info on Endless Vacation Rentals.
- Links to AFV Club (military and vets) and Heroes Vacation Club (1st responders) for timeshare rentals.
Thoughts for FT4RL #6
Location: I got numerous requests for Ohio (one intrepid FT4RLer promised me a pony!) and I hear you. Pittsburgh might be a nice compromise. It would be nice to come home to DC as well. I don’t see going any further west anytime soon and further Northeast just gets too pricey.
Timing: Is twice a year working for you? It’s hard as any date I throw out there is good for everyone and no one at the same time. Six months out from now is the beginning of May- and I know May gets challenging with graduations, exams, etc. but then we’re into summer and schedules go out the window. April just seems too close. Try for May or push back into late August?
Size: I think 50 is about right- do you think we could go to 60 or even 70 or is that too big? Did everyone get a chance to talk to me (meaning did I meet you, not did you have the privilege of meeting me) and meet everyone else?
Happy Hour: I’m of two minds about opening up the happy hour. I’ll reserve judgement till I hear from you.
You guys are the reason I do this and without your support I’d stop. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
Please share your thoughts- what worked, what didn’t (I’m a big girl, I can take it!), what will…
