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Back in January, my husband, our son (20), my cousin, her husband, their two kids (15 and 13), and I—all seven of us—jetted off to the USA together for a fun trip travelling with extended family. Now, if you’ve ever travelled with a bigger group, you’ll know there’s always a chance it can turn into a logistical nightmare. Or at best, a mixed bag of good and not-so-good moments—yikes! But thankfully for us, it was neither. We had the best time and just clicked. The whole trip felt easy, and that is exactly what you hope for when you’re on a fun holiday together, right? It would be so disappointing to spend all that time planning, daydreaming, and counting down the days, only to have it turn into an awkward experience. That definitely wasn’t our story. We’d do it all again in a heartbeat — and if the stars align, we’re hoping for round two. Yay! Why Our Extended Family Trip Worked So Well So what made it all run so smoothly, and how did we manage to have such a great time as a group? Good Vibes From The Start In a nutshell, I’d say we already genuinely enjoyed each other’s company before the trip, so that was a bonus. Our kids were probably at the perfect age for it, too. One was already an adult, and the younger ones have a really nice relationship with him, full of friendly banter and playful teasing in the best way. The Group Dynamics We also had a great mix of personalities. Some of us were super laid-back, others were happy to take the lead, and there was always plenty of open, easy communication. Things like “Do you guys want to do this?” or “Should we eat here?” or “What do you think?” were asked often. Nobody felt unheard, and there wasn’t anyone trying to control the schedule or insisting we do this or that. It just felt really easy and respectful — everyone pitched in, but no one was bossy about it. Quick and Clear Decision Making Oh yes — and we also had great decision-makers, which you one hundred per cent need when you’re travelling in a group. Everyone was heard, and then a decision was made quickly… 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 — decision! We all loved that. There’s nothing more stressful than trying to please everyone and ending up stuck because nobody can decide. Be Flexible: How We Handled the Unexpected Even when you plan everything carefully, you have to leave room for the unexpected. For us, it was the LA fires — they started the day we landed. Definitely not something any of us saw coming! Universal Studios, which we had planned for day one, was suddenly closed for two days. On our first night, we found ourselves in our pyjamas, sitting in the hotel lobby, figuring out what to do. My cousin came up with a great plan, and we shifted things around. In the end, we still did everything, just not in the order we had planned. That’s the thing about travelling with a group — being flexible is key. Communicate Openly: Making Room for Everyone’s Wishes Communication is key when travelling with a group. I had one big bucket list item: eating at the Blue Bayou in Disneyland. I’d dreamed about it forever! I shared this during our trip planning, and everyone knew upfront that I needed my wish-come-true moment. So we booked our table and spent a few hours apart. While my husband, son, and I enjoyed the Blue Bayou, my cousins rode the Incredicoaster and a few of their favourite rides. It’s perfectly okay to split up sometimes, especially when there’s something you really want to do. Being open about it means no regrets later. Respect Different Energy Levels Travelling with extended family meant we had a wide mix of ages — some younger, some in-between, and ahem… some of us a little older. My husband had a knee replacement just eight months before we set off, so throughout the trip, he paced himself and took breaks whenever needed. He also (very sensibly) stayed back at the hotel instead of doing The Narrows hike and a couple of other more adventurous walks. I shudder to think what might have happened if he’d pushed beyond his limits. That hike through The Narrows was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had — but also one of the most challenging. We navigated stronger-than-expected currents over slippery rocks, all in below 0ºC temperatures! Plan Logistics Early to Save Stress and Money My two cousins were the major force behind all the planning — and I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it: they were total rockstars! And when it came time to book the flights, accommodation, and tickets to theme parks and experiences, they came over to my place and we did it all together. They booked for their family, I booked for mine, and it made the whole process so much easier. No confusion, no crossed wires — just a clear plan, as well as the peace of mind knowing we were locked in as a team. We booked well in advance to get the best deals and avoid the inevitable price hikes that pop up the closer you get. There’s real money to be saved by planning ahead — prices for some of our accommodation had jumped by over a thousand dollars when we checked back later. Safe to say, we were incredibly glad we made our bookings early! Pack Smart and Light for Easier Travel Less luggage meant less hassle. With seven of us on the trip, that meant seven suitcases to haul through airports and fit into the van for our road trip. We all used the same size suitcases and made a conscious effort not to overpack — and wow, what a difference it made. Since we were on the go every few days, packing light made

It’s finally time to recap the last two days of our January trip—five months later… oops! 😅 Since I wasn’t the trip planner (more on that in a sec), and we packed so much into the nearly four weeks we were away. I had to go back, retrace my steps, and piece it all together. I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss any of the details. Most days, we managed to squeeze in more than one amazing place. And we didn’t slow down at the end either—with snorkelling (we went with Living Ocean Tours and they were brilliant), a visit to the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout, dinner at the iconic Duke’s, and a surprise stop at Hanauma Bay. Turns out, I was exactly like that person from those funny Instagram reels — you know, the one who just shows up because someone else did all the organising. If we had a script, it would go something like: “Hi, I’m my cousin J. I organised the flights, booked the accommodation, sorted the car hire, planned the road trip, booked the snorkelling adventure, secured our movie tour, mapped out hikes, and figured out which amazing places we’d visit—every single day.” “Hi, I’m Ruth.” So today, I’m covering our snorkelling trip, dinner at Duke’s, the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout, and that surprise visit to Hanauma Bay. Let’s go! Snorkelling with Living Ocean Tours This was only the second time I’d ever been snorkelling. The first was on my honeymoon, where I stayed safely near the edge of a beach on Lord Howe Island, with both feet firmly planted in the sand. Before this trip, I’d never actually been out snorkelling in the open ocean. So yes, I was a little bit terrified. But since we’d booked it before leaving Sydney, I had time to mentally prepare. I listened to plenty of guided audio that helped me move past the fear and enjoy the experience. Instead of worrying about you know, things like drowning, getting lost in the ocean, or being eaten by a shark. Why Living Ocean Tours Was a Win Living Ocean Tours was absolutely fantastic! The crew were friendly, welcoming, and clearly passionate about marine life. The boat was clean and well-maintained, with a restroom on board. There was also plenty of space to relax, and good shade for when the sun was too much. All the gear was in top shape, and they even provided snacks and drinks! Everything was laid out and ready to go when we boarded—clean, clearly labelled snorkel gear, and crew helping everyone get fitted. Nothing makes my heart sing more than when I see a setup this perfectly organised—haha! Our Deluxe Waikiki Snorkeling and Wildlife Cruise We did their Deluxe Waikiki Snorkeling and Wildlife Cruise, which took us out from Kewalo Basin, cruising along the coast of Waikiki toward Diamond Head. We stopped at a stunning coral reef (nicknamed Turtle Canyon), where we spent over an hour in the water. It was such an incredible experience to see schools of colourful fish and vibrant coral. We also spotted a Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle. And because we were there during winter, we were lucky enough to see a humpback whale! One of the crew members even brought up an octopus for us to see up close. Thoughtful Extras That Made a Big Difference Living Ocean Tours also did all those thoughtful little things that made such a big difference. Like providing anti-fog spray for the goggles and offering a whole range of floating devices. I stuck to the bright yellow banana float that wrapped around under my arms as if my life depended on it. Because it really and truly did! For the super adventurous souls, there was a very fast, fun slide — my cousins who went on it told me all about it later. As well as pink mats (lily pads) to lounge on. Living Ocean Tours also run whale-watching cruises and sunset sails—and I’d choose them again in a heartbeat. I can’t recommend them enough! Duke’s I’m pretty sure we were all riding on a huge high after getting off the boat—what a spectacular day! And it wasn’t over yet. We walked along Waikiki and ended up at Duke’s, which was absolutely buzzing with so many people. We had drinks and shared some chips and guacamole while we waited for our table. Before long, we were called and sat outside, enjoying the band playing fun cover songs in the background. The sun started to set, so I went out onto the beach, right at the edge of the restaurant, to take it all in. It was one of those soft, golden Hawaiian sunsets you see in a movie—except it was real, and we were in it. I stayed until the buildings along the shore began to twinkle. The tiki torches were lit, and I made my way back to the table for dessert. Our Last Day We began our last day at Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout on a very windy, cold, and foggy day. From there, we saw panoramic views mainly of Oahu’s windward (eastern) side—hence the strong wind! As well as lush valleys, cliffs, and the Kaneohe Bay area. All over Oahu, we saw cats and chickens just roaming around–so interesting and unlike anything I’ve ever seen over here. A lot of the time, the poor cats only had one eye—maybe the chickens were responsible… who knows? They were right there to greet us at Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout. Ha! Hanauma Bay Hanauma Bay was on our list of maybe places to visit. We’d heard it was stunning for snorkelling, but since we already had our tour booked with Living Ocean Tours, we didn’t think we’d actually make it there. It’s a protected nature preserve and only allows a limited number of visitors each day—plus, it’s ticketed, so you usually need to book well in advance. Still, we thought we’d go and chance it—just in case. We didn’t expect to be able to walk

During our recent trip to Oahu, we made a special stop at the Byodo-In Temple in Hawaii, tucked away in the beautiful Valley of the Temples. It wasn’t originally on our must-see list — in fact, I hadn’t even heard of this peaceful gem before. But my wonderful cousins kindly took us there, and I’m so glad they did. As I’ve said before, they should quit their day jobs and go on Travel Guides (an Australian travel show) or The Amazing Race — they know all the best hidden spots! Byodo-In Temple in Hawaii But wow, this place was incredible! The temple is a beautiful replica of a 950-year-old Japanese temple and sits peacefully beneath the stunning Koʻolau Mountains. When we arrived, we could hear a bell ringing softly in the distance — dong, dong, dong — and it sounded almost mesmerising. Later, we learned it was the sacred bell at the temple entrance. Visitors can ring it to bring good luck and clear their minds. I got so distracted by the incredibly peaceful surroundings that I missed the chance to line up and ring it! Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to go back again someday. Inside the Byodo-In Temple, there was a large golden statue of Buddha. Outside, the gardens were stunning. They reminded me of what I imagine a huge version of Mr. Miyagi’s garden would be like — peaceful and carefully cared for, with little paths, koi ponds, and bridges. In the gift shop, you could buy food for the koi fish, so of course, we did. The koi would follow you as you fed them. Then we ran out of fish food. But my son and cousin M discovered that the koi fish would still follow them whenever they waved their arms over the water. The fish were clearly well-trained — waving arms meant food. The koi followed them across a good stretch of the big pond, back and forth for ages as the boys waved their arms like koi masters. Their arms got sore, but the koi were persistent (or just really hungry). It was so funny to watch — a real memory and a hilarious moment all rolled into one. If you’re visiting Oahu and want to see somewhere special, the Byodo-In Temple is the place to go! It’s such a peaceful oasis — a real contrast to the usual busy, touristy spots, which are, of course, also incredible. It was so good to experience both! Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens Continuing with our peaceful and serene theme of the day, we headed over to the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens after visiting the Byodo-In Temple in Hawaii. There’s a small Visitor Centre near the entrance where we popped in briefly to look at some displays. After that, we had a look around one of the open grassy areas nearby. We didn’t explore too far; it was just a quick visit to admire the breathtaking views. Lanikai We ended our perfectly peaceful day with a swim at Lanikai. I couldn’t believe that all this amazingness was happening to me – like I was in a movie or something! The water was so clear, the breeze was calm, and the whole place felt so soft and quiet. I’m used to the beaches in Sydney being windy and a bit wild, so this felt completely different — in the best way. Dreams really do come true  🥰 Many of the photos are by my cousin J — she really is an amazing photographer!