About Me
WELCOME TO STACK THE MILES!
Meet Mel — your family travel guide
Hi, I’m Mel — a mom of two (a tween son and a teen daughter), wife, full-time teacher, and lifelong travel lover. During the school year, you’ll find me in the classroom helping kids explore the world through books. But when school’s out? My family and I are out exploring the actual world one memory-filled trip at a time.
We’re your typical busy family of four: school days, travel sports weekends, kid commitments, teaching responsibilities, and everything in between. But even with a packed calendar, we’ve learned how to make travel a priority without blowing our budget.
🌍 Where My Love for Travel Began
My passion for travel started early. I used to sit on the floor flipping through my parents’ RCI timeshare magazines, circling all the places I dreamed of visiting. At 12 years old, I told my parents:
“I’m going to be a teacher and when I retire, I’m going to be a travel agent so I can help everyone plan vacations.”
(And honestly? I’m kind of that person!)
Travel has always been my dream, but as a teacher and mom, I needed to make those dreams affordable and realistic. That’s what sparked my passion for points, miles, and smart budgeting.
How I Started with Points & Miles
My journey began in 2014 with the Disney credit card, using it to earn our way to partially pay for magical family vacations.
Then in 2021, everything leveled up.
I discovered the world of strategic points & miles, and I became obsessed (in the best way). I devoured every resource I could find and started using points for:
✔ Airfare (domestic + international)
✔ Hotels and all-inclusive resorts
✔ Rental cars
✔ Disney and Universal tickets
✔ Caribbean getaways
✔ Multi-city Europe itineraries
✔ Family vacations, couples trips, and girls’ weekends
Learning how to stretch our travel budget completely changed how and how often we travel.
Now I’m sharing what I’ve learned so other families can do the same.
What You’ll Find on Stack the Miles
This blog is where I share real, practical travel advice for real families, including:
✔ Family-friendly itineraries
Kid-tested, tween-approved, with pacing that actually works.
✔ Budget-conscious travel tips
Make the most of what you have and make it stretch further.
✔ Destination guides
Across North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and theme parks.
✔ Points & miles strategies for families
From beginner-friendly to advanced stacking.
✔ Real-life travel stories & honest reviews
Nothing copied, automated, or generic, just our actual experiences.
✔ Tips for balancing travel with a packed family schedule
Because school, sports, and life don’t stop.
Why I Started This Blog
As a teacher and mom with two very busy kids, I know what it’s like to crave travel, but feel limited by time, budget, or the logistics of everyday life.
That’s exactly why Stack the Miles exists.
Families deserve to take vacations together.
✔ Travel doesn’t have to be expensive.
✔ Points and miles can change everything.
✔ Kids remember experiences far more than things.
✔ You can travel more even with a full schedule.
This blog is my way of helping other families make travel possible, affordable, and unforgettable.
Where We’ve Traveled So Far
Travel is how we recharge, reconnect, and create memories at every stage of life — whether it’s with our kids, with each other, with friends, or with extended family.
Some examples of places that our adventures have taken us to:
🌍 Europe: Italy, France, Germany, Austria, United Kingdom, and more
🌴 Caribbean: Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Bermuda, etc.
🇺🇸 North America: Boston, NYC, Orlando, Canada, cities, beaches, and more
👨👩👧👦 Family & Multi-Generational Trips: Traveling with kids, grandparents, and extended family
🎢 Theme Parks: Disney, Universal
⚾ Sports Travel: Tournament weekends, travel sports, and trips built around sporting events
👯♀️ Girls’ Trips: College friends and weekend getaways
💑 Couples Trips: Because my husband and I believe it’s just as important to reconnect as a couple
Why You Can Trust My Travel Advice
Every guide, tip, and itinerary on this site is based on:
✔ Our real trips
✔ Our actual photos
✔ Mistakes we’ve learned from
✔ Kid-tested experiences
✔ Years of using points & miles personally
✔ A teacher’s love for breaking things down simply
You’ll never find AI-written fluff, destinations I haven’t personally been to or researched, or recommendations I don’t stand behind.
Your go-to Family Travel Blog for unforgettable adventures!
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All content © Stack the Miles. Photography and imagery include original family travel photos and select licensed stock for visual storytelling.