From Vessi Shoes to Passport Chaos — Let’s Talk Travel Moms


Dear Reader

Happy Friday, Everyone!


This week's e-mail includes:

  • Mother's Day for Moms who Travel
  • Worst Airports in the World

FOR MOMS WHO'D RATHER BE BOARDING A PLANE THAN OPENING BATH BOMBS

Bath bombs? No thanks. New experience? You bet! You know the kind of mom I’m talking about... The one with a suitcase packed months in advance; ready to conquer a new location.💼


🎟️The one who’s got flight alerts set, passport ready, and dreams in miles—not mimosas.

(Okay, it’s me. I’m that mom. And maybe you are too.)

With Mother's Day coming up, I thought I'd skip the fluffy candles and share what travel-loving moms actually want — gifts that make our next trip better, smoother, or just a little more fabulous.

Because let’s be honest… we’re usually the ones planning the trip in the first place.

🧳 My Favorite Gifts for Travel-Loving Moms:
👉 Vessi Waterproof Shoes – I wore them through Cologne’s Christmas markets and never looked back.
👉 Monos Metro Tote Bag – Snaps right onto your carry-on. Chic and smart.
👉 SafetyWing Travel Insurance – For peace of mind, especially if you're planning big family adventures.
👉 Amazon Basics 21” Hardside Carry-On – My kid’s go-to bag (lightweight and affordable).
👉 Travel Experience Gift Cards – Check out my curated Mother's Day Shop from Viator with some of the BEST experiences from around the world.

This list isn’t just for dropping hints — it’s your permission to treat yourself.


You’ve earned it.

And if someone does ask what you want this year?
Send them this email.

THE 5 WORST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

🤦‍♀️Ever landed somewhere and instantly regretted your life choices?

Some airports are sleek, smooth, and almost make you forget you’re flying economy.


Others… feel like they were designed as an endurance challenge.

Today, let’s talk about the second kind.

I’ve flown through over 20 countries, and two airports stand out as the most frustrating experiences I’ve had:

  1. Charles de Gaulle (Paris)
  2. Cancun International (Mexico)

This winter, I flew in and out of Charles de Gaulle four separate times.

It’s the most confusing layout I’ve ever seen! We had to go through passport control three different times going to England — in three separate zones — before reaching our gate.

Speaking of gates… they’re often a 45-minute walk from the check-in desks. I’m not even kidding.

🫸There’s a line-up for everything: to drop your bag, scan your passport, get to security, get on an elevator, re-scan your boarding pass, and breathe.

The only saving grace? The French people I encountered there were genuinely lovely. Friendly, helpful, and totally patient — even when we were frantically trying to figure out where to go.


As for Cancun,

let’s just say I’ve never been so aggressively pitched timeshares and shuttles while dragging a suitcase and a child through a humid crowd of chaos and NEVER ENDING LINE-UPS!!

Does anyone remember the red light/green light immigration system in Cancun? What utter nonsense. 🔴🟢


Round-up of the Worst International Airports - Worldwide.

Here are 5 of the lowest-rated international airports in the world (and honestly, I can see why):

  1. Kuwait International Airport (KWI) – Poor signage, chaos at immigration, and endless delays.
  2. Jeddah King Abdulaziz International (JED) (Saudi Arabia) – Overcrowded, under-maintained, and often described as “utterly disorganized.”
  3. Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) – Hello again, my nemesis. Confusing layout and passport purgatory.
  4. Luton Airport (LTN), England – Yes, it’s international. And yes, it’s ranked terribly for customer experience and facilities.
  5. Simón Bolívar International (CCS), Venezuela – Lacks basic amenities and has a reputation for being extremely chaotic and stressful.

If you've got a contender for worst airport in the world, hit reply and tell me — I’m always curious where other travelers have had their “never again” moments.

And if you’re planning a trip soon? I’ll help you dodge the nightmare hubs whenever I can.

Happy early Mother’s Day,
Tanya

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The T Word on Travel

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