Hi, I’m Kristi!
Travel has always been part of my life, but becoming a mom of two—while married to a commercial airline pilot who’s often away—turned me into a solo parent traveler by necessity. Fairytale Travel Guide is where I share everything I’ve learned from navigating airports, Disney parks, hotel rooms, international trips, and everyday logistics on my own with little kids in tow.
MY JOURNEY
How Travel Became Part of My Life Long Before I Became a Mom
Travel has always been woven into who I am. I earned my degree in Travel & Tourism, worked in hotels and airports, and even spent several years as a Concierge Cast Member at Walt Disney World, helping families plan magical days, navigate the parks, and make the most of their vacations.
Before becoming a parent, I explored much of the Americas, Europe, and Africa, volunteered in small mountain villages in Peru, and chased every adventure I could. Travel wasn’t something I saved for special occasions; it was how I connected with the world.
Those years shaped the way I understand travel today—not just the logistics, but the emotion behind it. The anticipation. The problem-solving. The way a single moment of joy can make all the chaos worth it.
And eventually, all of that experience became the foundation for how I travel with my own kids today.
Fast Forward to Today
Building a Life Around Travel, Motherhood, and Doing It on My Own (A Lot)
Fast forward to today, and life looks a little different than my early years in hotels, airports, and Disney parks. My husband and I met while working together at an FBO—the part of the airport that serves private aviation. I served pilots and passengers, and he worked out on the ramp fueling and moving aircraft while building flight hours as an instructor.
Eventually, he became a commercial airline pilot, and I became a stay-at-home mom. We bought a house, had two kids, and then got married (yes, in that order!), and suddenly found ourselves in a rhythm where he traveled constantly for work… and I was the one traveling with the kids.
Some trips are to fly on his flights or meet him on long overnights in new cities. But many are just the three of us—me and two kids navigating airports, hotel rooms, security lines, and adventures on our own. What started as “tagging along” turned into something much bigger: a way of life, and a source of confidence I didn’t know I had.
The more we traveled, the more I realized how much my background—in tourism, hospitality, Disney operations, and aviation—shaped the way I problem-solved through every single trip. And I kept thinking:
If this knowledge makes my life easier… it could make someone else’s life easier too.
That’s the moment Fairytale Travel Guide really began.
Outside of travel, I’m based in Western New York, I’m a runner, a podcast loyalist, and someone who gets emotional on Disney rides because joy just hits me that way.
I’M ON A MISSION
Helping Parents Travel With Their Kids, Even When They’re Doing It Alone
Today, my mission is simple: to help parents feel capable, confident, and supported when they travel with their kids—especially when they’re doing it solo.
I know firsthand what it feels like to be the only adult managing the stroller, the luggage, the snacks, the meltdowns, the airport security line, and the mental load of “getting everyone from point A to point B in one piece.” I also know how overwhelming it can feel to want to explore the world with your kids, but not know where to start or whether you can even handle it on your own.
But I also believe this deeply:
Traveling with your kids doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.
And you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s why I’m here.
Through Fairytale Travel Guide, I share the real-life things that make trips smoother: the stroller tips, the airport strategies, the solo-friendly hotel reviews, the Disney logistics, the packing systems, the toddler-tested playgrounds, and the honest stories from the road. My goal isn’t to make travel look effortless… it’s to make it feel possible.
If you’ve ever thought, “I want to take my kids on adventures, but I’m not sure I can do it,” you’re exactly who I’m here for.
You already have what it takes.
I’m just here to make the journey a little lighter.
New here? Start With These Favorites
Flying With Kids Alone: Real Advice for Solo Parents
Flying solo with kids for the first time? This guide breaks down exactly how to survive airports, security, and long travel days when you’re the only adult, based on dozens of real flights with my two toddlers. Start here for the practical, honest tips that make everything easier.
Traveling Alone With Kids: Real Advice for Solo Parents
Traveling alone with your kids for the first time? This guide walks you through the real, behind-the-scenes parts of solo parent travel—from choosing a doable destination to managing hotel sleep, bathroom breaks, safety, and everything in between. It’s the honest, practical advice I wish I had before my first trip.
17 Tips for Traveling to Disney World Alone With Toddlers
If you’re planning your first Disney World trip alone with toddlers, it can feel like a lot—transportation, strollers, rides, schedules. This guide breaks everything down into simple, realistic steps for solo parents so you can skip the overwhelm and actually enjoy the magic. It’s the Disney starting point I wish I had on my first trip.