Shelly Rivoli's Blog

On this day in 2007, I published my first Travels with Baby Tips post.

Flying Gulf Air with a baby or toddler? Say hello to your new Sky Nanny…

Are you considering flying Gulf Air with a baby or toddler–or any kids under 12? Lucky you!

Most of the airlines featured in this Need-to-Know Airlines series so far are here for very specific reasons–the kind of reasons that might be deal-breakers for the family flying with babies or toddlers. In the case of Gulf Air, however, the reasons are more likely to be deal makers. Let’s take a look. UPDATED for 2018.

Rodeo Night at the Alisal is a summer tradition that dates back decades–to the  1940s in fact. Once a week, guests of the Solvang, California, guest ranch who opt in for the special BBQ dinner-inclusive event can mosey back through the stables to where the music plays, the cold drinks are poured (and snow cones are scooped for the kids), and settle into a spot on the bleachers to get ready for the show.

My daughters were thrilled to be included in the inaugural Alisal Dri...

On a recent trip to Branson, exploring all the great activities I could pack in for families indoors and out, I couldn’t help but notice something unusual on my visit to the famous Dolly Parton’s Stampede dinner show, touted as the most visited dinner attraction in the world.

No, it wasn’t just the the wild west costumed characters, the buffalo stampede suddenly taking over the floor, the canine capers performed by adorable rescues, or the fact that the gynormous dinner was served without a...

Sure, all babies need passports to fly over the U.S. border and back, but if you think you can slip through airport check-in and onto the plane for a domestic flight without presenting any ID for your child under 2 years old, you might be making a costly mistake in time as well as in money. Updated for 2018.

One of the most frequent misconceptions I hear from parents preparing to fly with their babies and toddlers is that they don’...

Flying solo with a baby or young child presents its own set of logistical considerations. For example, how do you get your carry-on bags, stroller, and possibly a car seat—oh, and your shoes, and your coat—onto the X-ray scanner while you juggle your child (and now they ask to see your boarding pass and photo ID for a second time)?  How do you fold your stroller at the gate with your child in your arms? What do you do with your baby while you use the lavatory? And how do you install the car s...

Just in time for spring and summer travels with baby, the “Babyni” portable baby play gym or baby-size play yard is ready to help ease your family’s adventures. It folds into a disc to travel in its own carry case with shoulder strap, and pops up quickly with side-support “stays” and shade canopy–with zipping, fitted mosquito net to cover the opening when desired. The fabric provides anti-UV sun protection rated to SPF 50.

Of course, mastering the art of the quick-fold to fit it back into its...

Though its open seating (after all the A-list flyers with numbers before yours have boarded) policy has caused many a family to  question the “family friendliness” of Southwest, especially for those flying Southwest Airlines with a baby or toddler, there is still one big reason Southwest Airlines deserves the praise of some family travelers: Southwest is one of the last U.S. airlines offering a significant discount for infants flying in their own seats. In some cases, a child fare may also be...

As part of my “Need to Know” airlines series for parents flying with infants and young children, here are some important points to be aware of (and be prepared for) if you will be flying American Airlines with a baby or toddler. UPDATED for 2018.

First, there is one stand-out difference from other airlines you should be aware of before heading to the airport. American Airlines will not accept strollers weighing 20 lbs. or more at the gates of its f...

Sunset in Jamaica, at Franklyn D Resort and Spa. Read on for tips on booking the best all-inclusive vacation with babies and young children. Click photo for the full resort review.

When you vacation with a baby, toddler, or preschooler, relaxation is the driving force between most families’ decisions on where to stay. And few scenarios sound as completely relaxing as staying at an all-inclusive resort. However, what families with babies and young children will get from one self-proclaimed “fa...