The mom behind it
Six of us, one love of warm water.
Hi, I am Rachel. I started Flip Flop Fam because I was tired of watching families talk themselves out of trips they could absolutely afford.
My story
A normal Canadian family who figured out travel
Hi, and welcome. We are a pretty normal Canadian family with two school-age boys and two little girls. We have always loved to travel, but as the family grew, so did the price tag. So I got good at one thing: finding ways to travel more, and finding amazing places that are worth every dollar, often off the usual tourist track.
When I was eighteen I lived in Panama for a year on a student exchange, then came home, took Petroleum Engineering Technology and landed a good job. That paid for a lot of travel, and I backpacked through Central America before I met my hubby and we started our crew.
We live up north, so it is winter for most of the year. That means I am usually hunting down the smartest way to get us somewhere warm, so we can go more often or stay longer. The dream is to become a snowbird family one day. For now, I help other families do the same.
What I believe
Honest beats glossy. Every time.
Budget is not a dirty word
There are more affordable ways to travel with kids than people think. I will always show you the value option, then the splurge if you want it.
I only review what I have lived
If I say somewhere is worth it, it is because we went. The good, the messy, and the impound-lot stories included.
Your trip, not a template
No curated bespoke nonsense. Just a trip I plan around your family, your dates and your budget.
Why you can trust me with it
Lived experience, not brochure copy
First-hand expertise across Mexico, Jamaica, Panama, Colombia, Central America and the US. Places we have actually been, not researched.
Mom of four, travels as six
The big-family niche, lived daily.
Lived it, not just visited
A year in Panama, and weeks at a time across Latin America.
Commission, not fees
I get paid by the resort or operator, so advice stays free for you.
Let us do this
Ready to go somewhere warm?
Tell me about your family and I will start sketching a trip. No pressure, no fee, just a plan that fits.
