Trish Friesen

Trish chose an unlikely profession given her fear of flying and propensity toward motion sickness. Thanks to Gravol and cruise ship stabilizers, she stuffs her carry-on and jet-sets with her entourage: her husband, two toddlers, and a good cup of java.
    The Best Gift to Give Yourself Before Vacation
    Tips from The Kitchn
    Because most of us are out of practice with this whole "vacation" thing, I'm sharing my single best strategy to ease the transition back to real life.
    Trish Friesen
    May 26, 2021
    3 Rules of Travel Souvenirs (or How to Avoid Bringing Home Junk)
    One of my very favorite parts of travel is bringing that experience back with me and enjoying it in my home. Sometimes we need a dose of a different destination (i.e., to imagine life outside of crying toddlers or sticky kitchens), when getting on a plane isn’t in the cards. That’s why every time I travel I set aside part of my trip budget for a special find that triggers memories whenever I need to be transported (even for a second).
    Trish Friesen
    Jun 6, 2019
    Why I’ll Always Choose Hotels Over Vacation Homes
    When I had kids, I was told my longstanding relationship with hotels was over. So long, lavender-scented cold towels! Bye-bye, crisp sheets! See ya, infinity pool! Arrivederci, lobby bar of my dreams! It was nice knowing you. Based on the advice of many parents I know, vacation homes seemed to be the only option in the 2.0 version of my life. “When you have a family, it’s just easier with a kitchen, you’ll see,” they told me.
    Trish Friesen
    May 24, 2019
    I Took My Toddler to a Restaurant with a Michelin-Star Chef and Here’s What Happened
    I didn’t set out to give my son his first bite of pizza made by a Michelin-rated chef in Italy — it just happened. It was my family’s first visit to Rome and my husband and I had hungrily made a list of must-eat pizzerias, trattorias, and gelaterias we wanted to visit throughout our two-week stint. The fact that our almost 1-year-old was with us didn’t sway our sweet, savory, or star-level proclivities toward the Eternal City’s great food establishments.
    Trish Friesen
    May 24, 2019
    How Becoming a Mom Changed My Mind About All-Inclusives
    There’s this common misconception among soon-to-be-parents that life will be — more or less — the same after kids. As the mother of a toddler and a baby, I can say that this is most certainly not the case. Life with kids changes all sorts of things, including how I want to vacation.
    Trish Friesen
    May 24, 2019
    My Secret to Eating Better (and Cheaper) on Vacation
    My toddler and I have pretty similar eating habits, at least when it comes to frequency. Thanks to wonky blood sugar levels, I need to snack at regular intervals, and my 2-year-old has an insatiable appetite. Because we both get “hangry” (i.e., hungy + angry = not a happy camper) when we haven’t eaten enough, I’ve mastered the art of always (always) having snacks on hand. That’s (relatively) easy when we’re on home turf, but less so when I’m on the road.
    Trish Friesen
    May 24, 2019
    Why Disney Cruises Are Actual Parent Vacations
    If you’re a mom then you know that despite the many, many joys of child-rearing, it can leaving you feeling a bit haggard. If you are like me, you will find yourself day-dreaming of endless sunshine and a Cinderella-style night out in glass slippers. You will want, in short, a real vacation — and not just a trip somewhere in a car where the final destination has a kitchen and in-laws are involved. If this is the case, then I encourage you to consider a Disney cruise.
    Trish Friesen
    May 24, 2019
    7 Things Smart Cruisers Always Do
    If you’ve been on a cruise, you’ve probably spotted the savvy cruisers from a nautical mile away. They’re the ones clinking Champagne at a sunset-view bar that you only discovered on the last night, or chatting with their onboard friends via walkie-talkies. But you don’t need to be a seasoned ship-goer (or follow one around) to make the most of your cruise experience. Just follow these cruising dos (plus one don’t!) and you’re guaranteed to have a bon voyage.
    Trish Friesen
    Oct 2, 2017
    3 Ways to Make the Most of Your Cruise’s Buffet (or Any Buffet)
    Cruises are known for being really good deals. Unless, of course, you decide to upgrade your stateroom. Or go for that top-tier alcohol option. Or add on a cooking class in Tuscany. Yes, cruising can get very expensive indeed. It is possible to avoid sticker shock if you take advantage of what’s included in your base package. This includes, of course, the cruise buffet — that smorgasbord of culinary delights, from bountiful baked goods to sliced-to-order filets.
    Trish Friesen
    Sep 28, 2017
    5 Tips for Staying Healthy on the High Seas
    At dinnertime on my first-ever cruise, my server asked me: “Would you like another entrée?” I was so surprised, my jaw dropped. I was already stuffed from the appetizer, salad, and main I’d just consumed and I wasn’t sure even my second dessert stomach had any room to spare.
    Trish Friesen
    Sep 26, 2017
    My Number-One Rule for Navigating the Cruise Buffet
    With multiple sailings on several cruise lines under my belt, I now feel like I've mastered the art of the shipboard smorgasbord.
    Trish Friesen
    Sep 19, 2017
    5 Things You Should Know About Cruises from a Former Crew Member
    Have you ever been on a cruise? Perhaps your first time was on a Caribbean cruise line with thousands of passengers soaking up the sun and sipping on frosty beverages. Or maybe you opted for a smaller, more intimate experience on a river cruise ship. While I have enjoyed both (and many more in between, including a Disney Cruise, which was actually awesome), my initial foray into cruise life was as a crew member. After university I worked as youth staff on a large-scale cruise ship.
    Trish Friesen
    Sep 17, 2017