We had every intention of making that 6:50am flight. The night before, we drove down to JFK and stayed at a nearby hotel to make things easier. But we clearly underestimated how much time it would take to return the rental and get through check-in.
We arrived at the airport at 5:45am—but with hubby off to drop the car, check-in had to wait. And by the time he got back… it was too late.
Just like that, my worst travel nightmare came true: we missed our flight.
I looked at my kids’ faces, and in that moment, I knew I had to stay calm and come up with a Plan B—fast.
But one of the reasons I love this points-and-miles game is because of moments like this. I opened up my favorite tool, ROAME.travel, and within minutes, I found a backup option: 4 nonstop seats to Barbados on JetBlue for just 22K miles each. 💃 I still had some JetBlue miles chilling in my account — booked the flights on the spot. The original award booking? Fully refunded. Points AND taxes. Just like that, the trip was back on.
I have been to Barbados with hubby but this time, we came with the Whole Squad
Touchdown in Barbados! It felt so good to be back — this time with the entire family. Our lovely transfer driver, Donna, was waiting for us at the airport (shoutout to in-flight Wi-Fi for making that arrangement possible!). We arrived at our hotel and were instantly in love. The kids were knocked out cold, but hubby and I happily took our welcome drinks and soaked in the peace.
The cherry on top? Thanks to hubby’s Marriott Titanium Elite Status, we got upgraded to an Ocean View Room. When I tell you the view was breathtaking — I mean that literally. Sunset over the water, ocean breeze, and palm trees waving like they knew we’d been through it to get here.
After a lovely meet and greet with the hotel managers and a late dinner, we finally called it a night.
On the second day, I woke up early to catch the sunrise — just me, my Abide journal, and the sound of early morning waves in the background
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After journaling, I took a quick tour of the property (content creators, you know the drill 😉). Then it was breakfast time with the kids. I’m not even going to pretend — I ate the exact same thing every day and had no regrets: fried plantain, eggs, and baked beans. Perfection.👌
Then came beach time! The resort offered complimentary water activities — we hopped on a Hobie Cat for a quick sail, and afterward, the kids dove straight into the ocean. Snorkeling, swimming, and even jet skiing with them was such a core memory. Laolu rode with me, and Nifemi went with dad. Their energy? Unmatched!!
Later that evening, we went local — hopped on the bus to the famous Oistins Fish Fry. The vibes were top-tier, but whew — the line for fish? Two hours long. Was it worth it? Let’s just say… I’m still thinking about it 😅.
We Had A Splash of Adventure
This was our official “Adventure Day,” and of course, it had to involve the ocean.
I started the day with a quick workout and breakfast (my usual, you already know). Then we headed out to Rascals Water Park — think huge inflatables in the middle of the ocean. As we rode the boat out there, I could literally hear my mum’s voice in my head: “You better hold those kids o!” 😂
The kids had an absolute blast climbing, sliding, and plunging into the ocean. Did I try it? I did. Just once. That was enough. Dad didn’t even attempt — but he was our MVP, ready with a clean cloth every time Nifemi screamed, “Salt water in my eye!”
Post-water park, we grabbed lunch at Chefette (hello, roti and indoor playground), and closed out the day with a beautiful dinner at Dosa, an Indian restaurant right at the resort. Every bite was packed with flavor — definitely one of the best meals of the trip.
Day 4: Poolside Goodbyes + Chicken for the Road
Our last morning was easy and slow — a bit of pool time, lots of laughs, and packing up way too many things we somehow didn’t arrive with.
Before heading to the airport, we made one final stop at Chefette (again, yes). I wanted to grab food for the flight, and baby girl demolished that chicken mid-air. No crumbs left behind. 😂
Final Thoughts
This trip wasn’t perfect. We missed our flight. We waited two hours for fish. I nearly drowned trying to act like I was 12 at a floating water park.
But it was perfectly ours. Every moment — from sunrise journaling to sandy Jet Ski rides and sunset dinners — reminded me why I love traveling with my family. And why I’ll always say yes to points and miles.
Until next time, Barbados. You’ve got a piece of our hearts now 💛🌴
