Welcome to Next Stop Together!
Exploring the world around school, work and real life.
Hi, I’m Betti!
My obsession with exploring began at 17, when I somehow convinced my parents to let me spend a year as an exchange student in New Zealand. That leap of faith changed everything. Since then, I’ve explored 23 countries and counting—yet somehow, my bucket list just keeps getting longer!
Then, I had kids.
Many people assume that parenthood means putting your passport away. But I didn’t stop traveling when I became a mom—I just got a whole lot better at planning. While having a family definitely changed how I travel, it never changed my burning desire to see the world. In fact, it only fueled my passion to show my kids the beauty of different cultures.
Navigating Travel Around Real Life
Let’s be real for a second. I am a mom of two, a wife and a corporate professional. My husband works full-time too, our kids go to school and our time and budget are definitely not unlimited.
We don’t have months to disappear into the world. Instead, we have school holidays, weekends and a few precious days of annual leave. So, we make them count.
Sometimes that means an action-packed family adventure, sometimes it’s simply exploring a hidden gem closer to home.
The Reality Check (Kids vs. My 30-Item Wishlist)
I am still that person who wants to see everything. Give me two days in a new city, and I will easily show up with a list of 30 must-do activities. (Case in point: a supposedly “relaxed” three-day trip with my husband once turned into a 25-kilometer walking marathon every single day!).
However, traveling with kids quickly taught me a humbling lesson: they do not share my enthusiasm for nonstop sightseeing.
To a kid, a breathtaking 14th-century cathedral doesn’t beat a great playground, an animal encounter, a swimming pool or anything that feels like a hands-on adventure.
And you know what? That’s completely okay.
Traveling with my kids has definitely forced me to slow down. It’s a different kind of journey now—one where we might not check every single sight off my wishlist, but it allows me to truly savor what we are experiencing together. (Yes, even when someone’s legs suddenly “hurt” and they desperately need a bathroom break exactly five minutes after we leave the hotel.)
I’ve learned that you don’t have to see every single tourist trap to have an amazing, unforgettable trip.
Why I Created Next Stop Together
I launched this blog to share the places we’ve actually been, the things we’ve actually done and the real lessons I’ve learned the hard way.
Here, you will find:
- Nature & Outdoor Adventures designed for school-aged kids
- European City Breaks & exciting road trips
- Sun-soaked Beach Escapes & practical family travel tips
Everything here is built around the beautiful reality of having a job, raising children and making the absolute most of limited vacation days. I refuse to wait for “someday” to see the world—and you shouldn’t either.
So, let’s find your next stop and go together!
