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Accommodation for families: what works, what doesn’t, and how to choose

Published 2 months ago • 2 min read

Hi from Anthony and Jodie! We are the Learners and Makers. Traveling the world full time since 2022, we empower families and people with mobility disabilities to travel confidently, their way.

So, we’re not quite freaking out… but we are very excited.

In less than two weeks, we’ll be closing up our wee Japan condo and leaving Japan for the first time in almost three months.

Our condo now feels so much like home. The kids have loved being in their rooms. We’ve gotten more familiar with our neighborhood and the broader area too.

But now it’s time to head somewhere new.

2025 was a chance for us to enjoy follow-up visits in countries we’ve enjoyed, such as Malaysia and Vietnam.

2026 is a year more focused on the new: Jodie getting a new leg. Us settling fully into our Japan home we bought last year.

And for July and August, we’re planning to visit 5 new countries:

  1. Finland
  2. Estonia
  3. Latvia
  4. Lithuania
  5. Poland

We’ll be in Finland for a month. The rest of our time in Europe will be a faster, speed-dating sort of travel. As much as we prefer to travel slow, we find that a quicker initial trip can help us know where we’d like to return for a longer visit.

That also means that we’ll be booking all sorts of accommodation. Which leads us to a new guide on Learners and Makers, all about helping families understand different accommodation, and when each can be a good fit for your trip.

​Accommodation for families: what works, what doesn’t, and how to choose​

There are no single best types of accommodation for families. The family that understands what each option offers, and where each falls short, books the right stay every time, for every trip.

SPONSORED

​Make more than dumplings​

Laughing while trying to cinch up a soup dumpling with its 18 classic folds in Taiwan.
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Wandering the grounds of a centuries-old hilltop winery in Portugal.
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Enjoying the cookies we had just baked while gazing at an ancient medina in Morocco.
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Many of our family’s favorite travel memories came from classes or small group tours.
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As much as we love to travel independently, we typically book at least one class, tour, or other organized activity wherever we go. We can engage with our guide or teacher. By getting hands-on with a class or exploring an area with someone who knows it deeply, we gain so much more understanding from the activity at hand, and from the destination’s broader culture.
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Whether a trip this summer or the travel you’re still dreaming of, Viator brings together activities from all over the world, for any interest and any traveler.

As for us? We have a long way to go on our dumpling folds. But our cooking class was a fun way to spend a rainy morning.

Thank you for using our links! Using our links supports our work, keeps us traveling, and helps us put together advice and stories for you.​
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More

How to save money on Airbnb, VRBO & other vacation rentals

May spend for a full-time travel family

How to plan a family vacation on a budget without cheaping out

Thanks for reading! See you next time, and happy travels

Anthony & Jodie

P.S. Before you go, check off your trip to-do list here

✔︎ Stays Booking | VRBO | Expedia | Airbnb | Agoda | More

✔︎ Tours, activities & more Find experiences​

✔︎ Services & gear for your trips All our fave travel resources​

What travel questions or ideas are on your mind? Hit reply and let us know!

Learners and Makers

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