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Our World Mosaic

travel that's once in a lifetime - every time

Our World Mosaic

travel that's once in a lifetime - every time

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Step-by-Step Strategy to Find Your Dream Hotel for Any Trip

Resorts & Experiences | Tips & Tricks

Step-by-Step Strategy to Find Your Dream Hotel for Any Trip

A Busy Mom’s Guide to Prioritizing Self-Care While Traveling with Kids

Self-Care

A Busy Mom’s Guide to Prioritizing Self-Care While Traveling with Kids

8 Expenses You Can Cut Today to Save More Money for Travel

8 Expenses You Can Cut Today to Save More Money for Travel

Mentally Preparing Kids for Long-Haul Travel: Setting the Tone for a Happier Trip

Kids Travel

Mentally Preparing Kids for Long-Haul Travel: Setting the Tone for a Happier Trip

Kids travel Self-Care Tips & Tricks Resorts & Experiences Couples Travel

Recent Posts

Resorts & Experiences, Tips & Tricks

Step-by-Step Strategy to Find Your Dream Hotel for Any Trip

My “bucket list” is eternally long and always growing and changing. But usually the inspiration for each location grows from a desire to have a…
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Self-Care

A Busy Mom’s Guide to Prioritizing Self-Care While Traveling with Kids

It might be our true love, but we all know travel can be pretty stressful. Especially over extended periods of time. We’re away from our…
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Tips & Tricks

8 Expenses You Can Cut Today to Save More Money for Travel

For most of us, one of the biggest barriers preventing us from being able to travel more is our budget. Travel can be super expensive!…
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Kids Travel

Oceania

Mentally Preparing Kids for Long-Haul Travel: Setting the Tone for a Happier Trip

If you’ve traveled much with your children, you probably have a few nightmare stories like I do. Burned in my memory is the bathroom stall…
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Welcome to Our World Mosaic!

We're a little family travel business that believes any trip can be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. We specialize in unique experiences and balancing luxe & low-cost.

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ourworldmosaic

✈️ Adventure • Fulfillment in Travel • Self-Care
🌋 Unique Experiences & Hotels Around the 🌎
🪷 Follow for Inspiration + Tips + Sarcasm

💥 Unpopular Opinion: Abu Dhabi >>> Dubai 💥

💥 Unpopular Opinion: Abu Dhabi >>> Dubai 💥

🤑 Hear me out… UAE is definitely one of the most opulent countries I’ve visited. *speaking only for Dubai and Abu Dhabi as those were the only two Emirates we visited* We had ultra luxe accommodations in both, at not-insane prices.

🏙️ I think Dubai is an experience in its own league and category, and of course you can’t skip it on a visit to UAE!

🕌 But in my own experience… I enjoyed Abu Dhabi more. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I thought it still had all the beauty and luxury of Dubai, but with a little less of a congested-city feel.

🤩 The Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan, and the Emirates Palace resort were some unforgettable highlights there for us!

🛥️ What do you think?? If you’ve been to both, what were your pluses and minuses?

Hey guys, I’m Mary! 👋🏼 Thanks for visiting

Hey guys, I’m Mary! 👋🏼 Thanks for visiting our page! Thought I’d introduce us and tell you a little about our family. Hope you’ll follow along with us! ☺️

🔹 We live in Texas, and we’re a pretty Texas-y bunch. We own a horse, we love our Blue Bell ice cream, and we’re very particular about our BBQ and our tacos. 😜

🔹 We own a business (completely non-travel related) that allows us to have a flexible schedule for our adventures. We’re super thankful for that flexibility!

🔹 Before having kids, I worked in social work and special education. Having been a stay-at-home mama for several years now though, I’m enjoying blogging as a new creative outlet.

🔹 I’m a major homebody except when it comes to travel - I have a hard time staying put for too long. Boarding an airplane brings me so much joy. ☀️

🪷 Okay, your turn - tell me something about you! Do we have any of these things in common?! Tell me in the comments or shoot me a DM!

🤔🤔🤔 ….Is that not what we talked about?

🤔🤔🤔 ….Is that not what we talked about? 😜 Sometimes that flight deal is just too good to pass up!

💸 A lot of times we let flight deals determine where we’ll travel to next. Have you booked a trip you weren’t really planning on because you found an incredible deal?? Where did you end up?

✨ Have you heard of the Maras Salt Flats in Peru

✨ Have you heard of the Maras Salt Flats in Peru?? Don’t visit the Sacred Valley without seeing this!

🇵🇪 The Salineras de Maras date back to pre-Incan times and are made up of over 5,000 salt ponds that are actively used today!

🏔️ Tucked in a small valley in the Andes Mountains, the ponds are stunning to see! They range in colors from whites to pinks to browns, all with the beautiful green Andean backdrop.

🤝🏼 Members of the local communities have exclusive rights to the ponds, & they are passed down in families through generations. The salt they produce is contributed to a cooperative of the locals that helps sell and distribute the salt and its byproducts.

🧺 If you’re needing souvenirs for friends at home, this is a great place to shop! They sell salts (obviously 😅), chocolates, face and body creams, and other things made with the salt. All of your purchases go directly to supporting the local communities, so it’s a win win. 🩶

🌷 Happy Mother’s Day today to all the mamas -

🌷 Happy Mother’s Day today to all the mamas - grandmas - aunts - caregivers - teachers - friends - and everyone who gives their energy to nurturing little ones! It takes a village, and I’m so thankful for all the amazing women who contribute to my babies’ lives! 💕 I wouldn’t be the same without these women and neither would my kids!

🌼 I know for many, this day can be complicated, for a variety of reasons. 🤍 Whatever your current situation or however you grew up - I hope today you’re able to feel celebrated and appreciated for all the good that you bring into others’ lives!

🪻 Thanks for being here with me 💕

🇬🇹 Is Guatemala on your bucket list?? 🌋

🇬🇹 Is Guatemala on your bucket list??

🌋 Guatemala is an amazingly geographically diverse country! We learned that it has 37 volcanoes, 3 of which are very active! There’s lots of jungle, a wide variety of wildlife, and it’s also known for its beautiful lakes.

💧 Lake Atitlán is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Formed by ancient volcanic activity, it’s the deepest lake in Central America.

🚤 The lake itself is incredibly beautiful, but its charm is also found in the many unique towns built up around it. They all function completely independently of each other, and due to lack of infrastructure on land, they are only accessible by boat. And each town has its own distinct “personality.”

🌈 We took a boat tour of 3 of the towns and we fell in LOVE with them. There is so much color everywhere you look - every building side and even the roads themselves are works of art!

🐝 Through the tour we took, we were also able to visit a weaving co-op, a museum for Mayan stingerless bees, and a chocolate shop where we learned their process for making chocolate. These were super fun for the kids!

🇦🇪 Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque 🇦🇪 Locat

🇦🇪 Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque 🇦🇪

Located in Abu Dhabi, it’s one of the largest mosques in world, and definitely the most beautiful one we’ve been lucky enough to visit!

Know Before You Go:
🚐 There is no cost of admission to the Mosque, and no tour or appointment time is needed.

🧕🏼 As with other sacred Muslim sites, there are strict dress requirements. Women must be fully covered - arms down to the wrists, legs down to the ankles, and a head covering. Men must wear long pants, no shorts. But short sleeve shirts are just fine, and no head covering is needed for men.

⏱️ We spent a little over an hour here. We probably would’ve lingered longer taking it all in if it weren’t for the heat. UAE summer heat is no joke! 😮‍💨 Even so, it was beautiful beyond words!

🌡️ It was sweltering hot when we visited, but we were happy to dress as required, as an outward expression of our respect for this stunning, peaceful place and its traditions. One of my very favorite parts of travel is learning about religious cultures outside of our own. I love seeing the ways others show their faith and devotion to their beliefs.

🕌 What’s been an inspiring religious or cultural site you’ve visited? What made it meaningful to you?

💡 Tip for getting more out of Google Maps 💡

💡 Tip for getting more out of Google Maps 💡

🗺️ Use the Google Maps app in your phone to save interesting destinations, activities, hotels, etc. that you come across.

🌋 When I see something I love while reading or scrolling social media, I search for it in my Google Maps app and hit the save button. You can organize your pins into lists & categories and add notes on each one.

🛣️ I personally use Apple Maps or Waze for actual navigation, so I have my Google Maps set aside for JUST my travel lists!

🌍 I end up using this in two ways: 1️⃣ When I need inspiration on where to go next, where to search for flight deals to, I can click through the things I’ve saved for ideas. And 2️⃣ When we actually book a trip somewhere, I can go to my map and see what I’ve already saved in that location. Then I use those as a starting point for my planning and research!

🧐 Would you use Google Maps in this way? What do you do to keep track of your travel wish lists?? Tell me in the comments!

#traveltipsandtricks #googlemapsfun #travelplanningtips #bucketlistgoals #travelapps #travelplanningmama #worldwideventures #ourworldmosaic #tripplanningtips

🩵 For me, an important part of a good self-care

🩵 For me, an important part of a good self-care routine is regularly spending quality time with my best girls. Nothing fills my cup quite the same way! I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world with them a few times too! 🌎

🇬🇷 One of our favorite stops together has been Santorini! Tons of shopping - so many fresh, delicious dining options - gorgeous weather - and of course some of the most beautiful views we’ve ever seen.

🌸 Do your close friends share your passion for seeing the world? Are friend trips part of your regular travel plans?

#bestiestravel #bestiestrip #friendswhotraveltogetherstaytogether #santorinigreece #santoriniflowers #greecetravel #adventuretravel

What you need to know before visiting Gardens by t

What you need to know before visiting Gardens by the Bay in Singapore:

🇸🇬 There are 5 attractions at the Gardens that require separate tickets or packages: the Cloud Forest, Flower Dome (the largest glass greenhouse in the world), Floral Fantasy, OCBC Skyway, and Supertree Observatory. To save you time and confusion at the ticket counters, do a little research beforehand and decide which you’d like to visit (if not all).
We were super bummed to find the Skyway and Observatory were temporarily closed during our visit due to the possibility of lightning. ☹️ Even though there was no storm or rain while we were there, they’re very safety conscious, so be sure and check conditions and closings before going.

🌌 While the Supertrees are jaw-dropping during the day, if you’re able to visit at sunset into evening time, you’re in for much more of a show! The Garden Rhapsody light show happens every night at 7:45 and 8:45pm, and it’s an amazing display of color, lights, and music.
We stayed at the Marina Bay Sands while in Singapore, and chose a room with a view of the Gardens. This way we could watch the light show from our room. It was a treat, but it’s of course much more exciting in person!

🌺 Our honest opinion was that the Flower Dome and Floral Fantasy (while very beautiful!) were much smaller than we’d anticipated and somewhat underwhelming. 😬 They’re great add-ons to your Gardens by the Bay experience! But if you’re very limited on time, I would suggest prioritizing the Skyway and the Observatory. Just my opinion. ☺️

⛴️ If you are not staying at the Marina Bay Sands but still want to check it out, there’s a walking bridge on the west side of the park that takes you directly inside the hotel. This is a convenient way to make the most of your time in this part of the city.

Is Singapore on your bucket list??

Sedona, Arizona 🏜️ is one of my favorite citi

Sedona, Arizona 🏜️ is one of my favorite cities in the United States! I don’t think it gets as much hype as it deserves!

🌵 Being less than 2 hours from both the Grand Canyon and the Phoenix International Airport, Sedona is super easy to fit into an amazing Southwestern road trip!

🥾 Sedona is obviously an incredible hiking destination. There’s also TONS of great shopping, art, and fun dining spots, all with the backdrop of those heavenly red rocks.

🏜️ Have you visited Sedona yet?
Do you have a favorite destination that doesn’t get the hype it should? Tell me in the comments! 😄

#sedonaarizona #sedonasunsets #sedonaescape #arizonaskies #sunsetphotography #southwestern #southwesternroadtrip #arizonaroadtrips #adventureswithkids #familyroadtrip

We all have our coping mechanisms, am I right? 😜

✈️🧳🌅💺🚏🚖🗺️✈️

#traveladdiction #traveltherapy #travelhumor #travelfunny #idontcare #airportlove #cuscosunset #cuscoairport #familytraveladventures #familytravelblog #adventurechasing

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. 🐴🦋 One of the most

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. 🐴🦋 One of the most beautiful places we’ve ever ridden! The greenest greens and the bluest blues!

Have you ever seen water this blue? Where was it?

Stopped off at Middle Earth on our recent trip to

Stopped off at Middle Earth on our recent trip to New Zealand! 🌿🌷🧑🏼‍🌾 When I tell you how I’ve always wanted to do this, and how it was even more green & gorgeous & bewitching than I could’ve imagined… It’s definitely a LOTR fan’s dream!!

They’ve done an incredible job of making the experience completely immersive, so you don’t feel like you’re on a movie set - you feel like you’re in the Shire! 🥰🗺️🍃

Who else has been lucky enough to visit this magical place?! Tell me your stories! 🌻🪻🍺

🍁🍂💛 We made an early-December trip to NYC

🍁🍂💛 We made an early-December trip to NYC a few years ago, and we were surprised to see we’d caught the tail end of fall foliage in Central Park! We had freezing cold weather throughout our trip, and I thought surely the trees would be getting bare and brown. So this was such a great surprise!

🏛️ Our plan that day was to visit the Natural History Museum, but attendance numbers were still heavily limited at that time due to Covid. So we walked across the street and ended up spending the day in Central Park. It was the best pivot we could’ve made.

🙋🏼‍♀️ Anyone else ever had bummer plan-changes that ended up working out for the best? Tell me in the comments!

🪷 4 gorgeous, less-touristy spots in BALI to es

🪷 4 gorgeous, less-touristy spots in BALI to escape the crowds:

1. Munduk Waterfall. Requires a bit of a hike with lots of steps, but more than worth it. This is a great place to swim & relax on the rocks.
2. Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. The bright green rice terraces stretch as far as you can see. We enjoyed seeing some local kiddos playing in the paddies.
3. Kintamani Highlands. Breathtaking setting, looking out over Mt Batur, one of two active volcanoes on the island.
4. Twin Lakes. Awesome viewpoint overlooking the adjacent lakes. This area’s also known for great fishing.

What’s your favorite place in Bali, or the one you’d most love to visit - touristy or not?

Few of my favorites from our question machines lat

Few of my favorites from our question machines lately:

❓ “Who started rabies?”

❓ “Do you think there are a lot of marbles in the sewer?”

❓ “Are shooting stars useful? …And do you say it ‘yooz-ful’ or ‘yoos-ful’?”

❓ “If blood turns red with oxygen, what color is it if you start bleeding in outer space?”

🥴😵‍💫😅🤷🏼‍♀️ idk, guys.

💥 3 Animal Encounters We Loved! 🐘 Patara E

💥 3 Animal Encounters We Loved!

🐘 Patara Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand
If you’re looking for an amazing, connective, and ethical elephant adventure in Thailand - Patara is perfection. Riding through the hills of thick Thai jungle, bathing and playing at the base of a small waterfall, and feeding them alllll the bamboo shoots. One of my favorite things we’ve ever done!

🐒 Ubud Monkey Forest in Bali
Some are sweet, some are sour. 😜 He was angry that I wouldn’t let him have my phone! They are funny little thieves, and you have to watch your pockets! The whole sanctuary area feels like a giant jungle treehouse, and there are countless macaques running around, including tiny babies hanging on their mamas.

🌊 Night swimming with Manta Rays off the coast of Kona, Hawaii
Big Island is the only place on earth that these night swims happen! The rays swoop up beneath you to feed on the plankton that’s attracted to the lighted rafts. It’s hard to tell from the video, but they are stunning gentle giants, with a wingspan of 10-12 feet!

I love animals, and I try to include some kind of animal experience on every one of our trips. What amazing animal encounters have you found?? Would you try these three?

Have you ever heard of a cloud inversion?? ☁️⛰️☁️

Definition: An occurrence when the air’s normal temperature distribution – warm at the bottom, colder as you go up – becomes flipped upside down. It results in a cold layer of air trapped at ground level, overlain by warm air.

The human result? Questioning whether you’re really still on planet earth. 🌅😶‍🌫️

📍 El Quiche, Guatemala

Any guesses what we had for dinner that night?? 🎣😄

📍 Piranha fishing on the Amazon River outside of Iquitos, Peru.

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