Unpacked with the Blinks (Diana Blinks)

In part two of this affording travel series, you'll learn travel tips for every budget. Tune in to learn how they saved on their family trips to Thailand and Greece, including their strategies for credit card hacking, accommodations, flights, and dining. Don't miss out on their tips on making and saving money so you can start planning your vacations in 2024 and beyond!

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In this episode, we cover the following:

• How to save money at the airport
• Credit card hacking for travel and what to look out for
• Thoughts on budget airlines
• Benefits of early morning flights
• Using public transport vs. a taxi
• Accommodations 101
• Finding discounts and upgrades
• Budget breakdown of their 3-week trip to Thailand
• Budget breakdown of their high-season trip to Greece
• How Diana and Scott became full-time content creators
• How to actually make the money to travel

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Resources:

• Download Travel Spend
• Read: The Best of Bangkok Thailand with Kids: Family Travel Guide

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Connect With the Blinks on Socials

Instagram: @WithTheBlinks, @MrsBlinks & @Mister.Blinks

TikTok: @MrsBlinks

Website: WithTheBlinks

How do the Blinks travel as much as they do? Tune in to find out! In today's episode, Diana and Scott answer this frequently asked question and shed insight on how they prioritize having a travel lifestyle to allow them to travel with their kids over 20 times a year.

You'll learn the main ingredients to traveling on a budget, from small, impactful money changes to being flexible with your travel dates to maximize seat sales. Plus, learn why traveling isn't the same as vacationing and what makes them both unique experiences.

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In this episode, we cover the following:

• The three ways to afford to travel
• Making slow and small money changes to start saving for your next trip
• Travel-friendly Christmas gifts
• Executing your budget: finding good flight deals
• Planning trips during the off-season
• Stretching your budget by packing light
• Vacationing vs. traveling (No, they're not interchangeable!)
• Living like the locals when traveling

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Resources:

• Track flight prices with Google Flights

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Connect With the Blinks on Socials

Instagram: @WithTheBlinks, @MrsBlinks & @Mister.Blinks

TikTok: @MrsBlinks

Website: WithTheBlinks

Are you ready to activate your inner wanderlust and spark a new awe in your family's life?

Welcome to Unpacked with the Blinks: the travel podcast on a mission to make family travel budget-friendly and accessible

We're your hosts, Diana and Scott Blinks: a couple who travels full-time with their family of five, and we're here to share our favorite stories and tips with you to inspire you to make those magical memories with the entire family.

You might know us from our now famous "Snackle Box," our road trip hacks, or more likely, the crazy (and life-changing!) 5-week European excursion we took with our three girls, Lucille, Edith, and Hazel, with just a backpack each.

Together, let's book that first-class ticket out of your comfort zone! 

We're back with Part 2 of the Blinks' recent backpacking trip across Southeast Asia! Hear about the highs and lows of their adventure, from visa setbacks going to Vietnam to stunning sunsets and cultural immersion to handling the entire family getting dengue fever in Bali. Discover the kindness and hospitality they encountered and their resilience in making the best of each moment.

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In this episode, we cover the following:

• Unexpected visa complications entering Vietnam
• Extended stay in Bangkok
• Arriving in Vietnam and their luxurious resort
• Experiencing Hội An
• Unique experiences in Da Nang: Ba Na Hills & lively boardwalks
• What makes Bali special
• The entire family getting hit by dengue fever
• Traveling to Gili Trawangan while everyone's sick and not adequately diagnosed
• Diana's scary experience that prompted the official diagnosis of dengue and salmonella
• Recovery and falling in love with Singapore

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Resources:

• The Best of Bangkok Thailand with Kids: Family Travel Guide
• The Best Family-Friendly Villas in Vietnam
• Vietnam Travel Cost Budget Hacks For a Big Family Adventure
• The Best Villas in Bali For Families

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Connect With the Blinks on Socials

Instagram: @WithTheBlinks, @MrsBlinks & @Mister.Blinks

TikTok: @MrsBlinks

Website: WithTheBlinks.com

"Are travel vacuum bags worth the hype?" "Can I pack minimally and still have enough things to keep my kids entertained?" "What if I forget something important?" If you've asked yourself any of these questions, you'll want to tune in today because we're doing a Q&A with all your top questions on minimalist packing. You'll learn tips to implement today to make packing more manageable and the top products we can't leave home without. Because remember: more stuff, more stress.

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In this episode, we cover the following:

• "How do I decide what to pack for my kids?"
• "What are your tips for packing toiletry items."
• "How do you pack minimally and bring enough entertainment for the kids?"
• "How do you pack for multiple kids?"
• "Tips for packing baby essentials."
• "I'm worried I won't have everything that I need."
• "What are your best space-saving hacks?"
• "If you have vacuum packs, how do you not go overweight?"
• "Do you do laundry on the road? How?"
• "What do you do about souvenirs?"
• "What do you prefer: backpacks or rolling luggage?"
• "What products can you not live without?"

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Resources:

Packing Videos: 

• Packing for 2 Months in Europe
• Packing for 3 Months in Portugal
• Packing for Iceland
• Picking my Travel Backpack
• Favorite Travel Backpacks for the Kids

Packing Blog Posts:

• Europe Capsule Wardrobe
• 30 Days in Europe
• 5 of the Best Travel Backpacks
• Best Travel Backpacks for Kids
• Best Travel Strollers
• The Just in Case Bag - What It Is and Why You Need One!
• What to Do When Your Kids Get Sick on Vacation
• Packing Hacks for Families: 30 Days in Europe with Just a Backpack
• The Travel Gear for Our Move to Portugal

Favorite Product Links:

Can we let you in on a secret? Traveling is NOT as effortless as content creators make it seem. Today, Scott and Diana share what they couldn't on social media from their 12-week Southeast Asia trip. From financial setbacks in the Maldives to the beauty of Sri Lanka and the surprises of Thailand, this episode is all about going with the flow, the importance of reading the fine print, and the thrilling adventures they had during their first time in Southeast Asia.

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In this episode, we cover the following:

• Planning the trip and Diana's 40th birthday
• Breaks in communication in the Maldives
• Traveling to a hidden gem: Sri Lanka
• Thoughts on Phuket
• Snorkeling and boat tours on the Phi Phi Islands
• Visiting Maya Bay
• Chiang Mai, the Elephant Freedom Project, and Michelin-Start restaurants
• Family-friendly Bangkok
• Stranded at the Bangkok airport
• What to expect in Part 2!

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Resources:

• The Best of Bangkok Thailand with Kids: Family Travel Guide
• Chiang Mai with Kids: Family Travel Guide
• Krabi Thailand with Kids: Family Travel Guide
• Best of Phuket with Kids: Family Travel Guide
• Sri Lanka with Kids: Family Travel Guide
• Visa Mistake Part 1
• Visa Mistake Part 2
• Visa Mistake Part 3
• Visa Mistake Part 4

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Connect With the Blinks on Socials

Instagram: @WithTheBlinks, @MrsBlinks & @Mister.Blinks

TikTok: @MrsBlinks

Website: WithTheBlinks.com

Let's unpack everything about homeschooling. Today, Scott and Diana share the pros and cons of homeschooling and worldschooling their children. From the flexibility and personalization of homeschooling to interacting with the world firsthand through homeschooling to the challenges and stresses it can create. You'll hear insights into their unique approach, including weekly goal sheets and tailored schooling schedules based on travel.

Boundless Life has offered a special coupon to our listeners! Use the code: BLINKS for 400€ off your first cohort. Apply now!

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In this episode, we cover the following:

• Why we decided to start homeschooling
• The amount of time homeschooling requires
• The flexibility homeschooling offers
• Forced covid homeschooling vs. what it's actually like outside of lockdowns
• The lack of resources and individualized attention in public schools
• The impacts homeschooling has on the parent-child dynamic
• Socializing your kids while homeschooling
• Navigating the loss of routine with wordschooling
• What wordschooling looks like for us on the day-to-day
• Our experience so far with Boundless Life
• Worldschooling: interacting and learning about the world around you

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Resources:

• Get your copy of The Homeschool Beginners Guide: HERE
• Here's our Favorite Curriculum from The Good and the Beautiful: HERE
• Read our latest blog post: What is the Difference Between Homeschooling and Worldschooling?
• Episode 06: Backpacking Southeast Asia with Kids (Part 2)

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Connect With the Blinks on Socials 

Instagram: @WithTheBlinks, @MrsBlinks & @Mister.Blinks

TikTok: @MrsBlinks

Website: WithTheBlinks

Welcome to the With the Blinks podcast!

Are you dreaming of a life filled with excitement, cultural immersion, and unforgettable experiences? Let's make it happen! Today, Diana and Scott share their story: from honeymooning throughout Europe to their first adventures with their kids. You'll hear how they prepared for 5-weeks backpacking through Europe with the whole family. Plus, be the first to hear their exciting news on how they'll be truly embracing the nomadic lifestyle in 2024.

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In this episode, we cover the following:

• Revisiting Diana and Scott's honeymoon and how it all started
• Having kids and reintroducing travel with cruises
• How the pandemic shifted their perspective
• Going backpacking with their kids for the first time
• How they've adapted their lifestyle for travel
• The big step the Blinks are taking in 2024 toward their dreams
• Finding community and roots while traveling
• Legalities of long-term travel
• Travel hacking for flights
• What to expect in future episodes

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Boundless Life is offering us a discount just for our listeners. Use the code: BLINKS to get 400€ off your first cohort. Live and learn around the world with the whole family with Boundless Life! Apply now here.

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Resources:

• Live and learn around the world with Boundless Life
• Browse our traveling with kids must-haves

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Connect With the Blinks on Socials

Instagram: @WithTheBlinks, @MrsBlinks & @Mister.Blinks

TikTok: @MrsBlinks

Website: WithTheBlinks

Have you dreamed of traveling with your family but felt trapped as soon as you remembered school and work schedules? What if we told you there were tangible ways to travel, even as a big family, regardless of your schedule? Today, Diana is joined by Emily—the person behind the family travel blog, A Mom Explores. Discover the joys of family travel and its impact on language learning, cultural education, and strengthening family bonds. From regional travel to navigating accommodations for larger families to booking around school breaks, you'll learn tips and strategies to start planning your dream adventure.

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In this episode, we cover the following:

• How Emily got started traveling with her kids 
• Being in the seasons of high and low travel
• Navigating school schedules 
• Offsetting high costs while traveling during peak times
• Solo trips with kids 
• How to implement more travel into your year
• Favorite trips close to home 
• Resources that Emily uses for travel
• Emily's top travel tips for larger families
• Handling obstacles while traveling with kids
• Favorite trips Emily has taken with her kids

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Resources:

• Episode 04: Backpacking Southeast Asia with Kids (Part 1)
• Episode 05: Backpacking Southeast Asia with Kids (Part 2)
• Explore experiences for every kind of traveler with Viator

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Guest info: 

To learn more tips and tricks from Emily, follow her on Instagram and TikTok @AMomExplores, listen to her podcast Travel with Kids, or visit her website, AMomExplores.com. 

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Connect With the Blinks on Socials 

Instagram: @WithTheBlinks, @MrsBlinks & @Mister.Blinks

TikTok: @MrsBlinks

Website: WithTheBlinks.com

What's it really like being a globe-trotting kid? In the season wrap-up of the podcast, you'll hear insights from the three Blinks girls: Hazel, Lucille, and Edith. From favorite travel destinations to the challenges of being away from home, the girls share candid insights into the highs and lows of living a nomadic lifestyle. With heartwarming memories and personal reflections, this episode offers a unique glimpse into the joys and complexities of being part of a family that's always on the go.

Looking to live, work, and learn abroad? Find out how Boundless Life helps families live out their dreams as digital nomads here. Use code "BLINKS" to get 400 Euros off your next cohort.

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In this episode, we cover the following:

• "What is your favorite place you've been to?"
• "What is it really like to be a travel kid?"
• "What do you think about being homeschooled?"
• "Where is the top of your travel bucket list?"
• "What do you think would surprise listeners about your travel experiences?"
• "How has being in Portugal been?"
• "What is one of your favorite memories in the past few years?"
• "What is your biggest lesson in the past few years?"
• "How do you connect with your friends and family while away?"
• "What's the difference between moving around a lot and staying in one place while traveling?"
• "What's one thing that has stood out to you in your travels?"

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Resources:

• On the blog: Homeschool for Beginners
• Snag our Iceland Travel Guide
• Check out our Favorite Things to Do in Sintra

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Connect With the Blinks on Socials

Instagram: @WithTheBlinks, @MrsBlinks & @Mister.Blinks

TikTok: @MrsBlinks

Website: WithTheBlinks

Ever wondered how you could take your family to your dream destination? Welcome to Travel Hacking 101.

Today, Diana chats with Alex and Jess from Travel Hacking Mom, who travel the world for nearly free. They share how you can travel worldwide to places like the Maldives by strategically using credit card points. From how often to open a new credit card to tackling travel hacking misconceptions and strategies for maximizing your points, you'll hear practical advice and aspirational stories to inspire you to make travel hacking work for you.

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In this episode, we cover the following:

• What travel hacking is
• What propelled them to start Travel Hacking Mom
• Advice to people brand new to travel hacking
• Considering your flight options and what to do once you activate your travel credit card
• Transferring your points vs. using them directly in the portal
• How to strategize using credit card welcome offers
• The top misconceptions about opening several credit cards
• Do travel influencers pay for their trips?
• Strategically closing cards
• Their best travel hacking trip

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Resources:

• Check out the travel credit cards we use to earn free flights and hotels
• Snag your FREE Transfer Partner & Airline Alliance Master List
• Learn how to start traveling for (nearly) free with the Travel Hacking Mom Masterclass

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Guest info:

To learn more tips and tricks from Travel Hacking Mom, you can follow them on Instagram, TikTok, joining their Facebook group @TravelHackingMom, or visit their website travelhackingmom.com.

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Connect With the Blinks on Socials

Instagram: @WithTheBlinks, @MrsBlinks & @Mister.Blinks

TikTok: @MrsBlinks

Website: WithTheBlinks.com