Going Places is a series from TripIt that highlights frequent travelers to showcase their unique travel styles and insider tips.
For Lauren Trimble, travel isn’t just a hobby—it’s in her DNA. Raised by parents in the airline industry (her dad was a captain; her mom was a flight attendant), Lauren grew up hearing stories from around the world and learning firsthand what it takes to navigate it.
“I always knew there was more going on than what passengers see,” she said. “It taught me to be patient and kind with flight crews—and to always have a backup plan.”
But beyond logistics, it was the stories that stuck.
“My mom traveled internationally a lot, especially to Taiwan and Korea,” Lauren said. “Hearing about the places she visited sparked my interest in different cultures, religions, and history.”
Today, Lauren lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and two kids, balancing a career in government with a deep passion for travel. She shares her family travel tips on Instagram to help other parents save money on travel. (Check out her international family travel checklist.)
Whether she’s planning a family trip to Hawaii or mapping out a wintertime adventure to Finland, Lauren approaches every journey with curiosity, intention, and a well-organized itinerary.
On rediscovering travel—and unlocking it with points and miles
Like many families, Lauren and her crew hit pause on travel during the pandemic. But a post-COVID family trip reignited her passion—and changed how she approaches planning.
“We made this huge bucket list,” she said. “But then it was like, how do we actually afford this?”
The answer: points and miles. Now, Lauren uses them to offset the cost of every trip, helping her feel like no place is off-limits anymore.
And she’s not waiting for the perfect time either: “I don’t want to wait until my kids are older,” she added. “They’re 9 and 6. This is the time to go.”
Tips for staying organized and saving time
Once her travel plans are booked, Lauren uses TripIt to keep everything organized in one place.
“I’ve been using TripIt for over a decade. It’s second nature at this point,” she said. “The first thing I do when I book anything—flight, hotel, rental car—is forward the confirmation. I’m a visual person. I like seeing the timeline: when we land, how much time we have before the next thing, and so on.”
She also had some helpful tips for using the app to maximize organization: “I always check Nearby Places to find a gas station close to the airport before returning a rental car. And I rely on the Notes section to add reminders for myself—like, pick up snorkel gear—while we’re on the go. Plus, I can easily share an itinerary with my husband so he knows what’s been booked.”
TripIt has also helped Lauren catch flight changes and avoid missed connections.
“Sometimes you don’t see the schedule change email from the airline,” she said. “TripIt flags the change and shows you if there’s a conflict.”
In addition to TripIt, Lauren also swears by Apple Maps to create destination guides for her followers.
“I use the app to keep track of the places that I want to recommend to other parents, like family-friendly restaurants or great beaches,” she said. “That way, when I’m writing a guide, I can think back on: What did I learn? What do I wish I would have known? What was great? Stressful? Where did I need a reservation? And what mistakes did I make that could save other families hours?”
Looking for more family travel tips? Read our interviews with experts Kamree Price and Jenna Hansen.
Lions, and turtles, and orcas—oh my
While Lauren would love to take more solo trips, most of her travel today is with her family—and she sees it as an extension of her kids’ education.
“They learn about Picasso in school, and then suddenly they’re seeing his work in a museum in Spain,” she said. “That’s an a-ha moment you can’t replicate.”
Her kids attend a Spanish immersion school, so travel also gives them a chance to use their language skills in real life—from ordering food to navigating new places.
“Travel helps them connect the dots,” she said.
So, what destination has stood out among the rest? For the Trimbles, it’s the Galápagos Islands.
“It’s a place that changes you,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like real life.”
Her family snorkeled alongside sea lions and sea turtles, spotted blue-footed boobies (a must-see for her six-year-old), and even saw orcas just feet from their boat. They also learned about the importance of protecting wildlife—and understanding that, as humans, we’re just visitors to their habitats.
To this day, they still talk about the trip weekly.
When to plan and what to pack (hint: it’s snacks)
For Lauren, the key to unlocking dream travel comes down to timing.
“Plan as far out as possible,” she said. “For flights, that’s about 11 months. For hotels, sometimes even earlier.”
That’s especially important when using points and miles—and when planning around school breaks. “The earlier you plan, the better the options,” she said.
And her advice for traveling with kids? “Pack your patience—and lots of snacks,” she quipped. “But really, the more kids travel, the better they become at it. Prep them to understand what comes next. Ask them to read the airport signs, or navigate from the security checkpoint to the gate.
“Knowing how to travel is a great life skill. I believe firmly in that.”
So, what’s next for the adventuring family of four? A visit to the North Pole (wink).
“We’re so excited to visit Finland and see something completely different,” she said. “Husky sledding, seeing reindeer, experiencing the Northern Lights—it will be the opposite of Texas.”
Want even more travel inspo? Catch up on all Going Places features to learn new travel tips, discover underrated destinations, and more.
