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| An epic trip to continent No. 7 |
| by Brian Kelly |
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Happy 2026!
As you’re reading this, I’m on my way home from one of the most memorable trips I’ve ever taken — eight days ringing in the new year in Sydney, followed by five blissful days in Fiji.
Trip recommendations are below, but quick spoiler: I had the best New Year’s Eve ever! Sydney really does it right. Incredible fireworks, beaches, great food and genuinely welcoming people — put it on your list (and check out my Instagram reel for all the details and best places to visit). There’s even solid points availability at the Park Hyatt for next year; it’s the perfect location to view the fireworks in Sydney Harbour.
This trip was especially meaningful because it marked my 1-year-old son Cooper’s seventh continent. As far as I can tell, that officially makes him the youngest person to have visited all seven. We even went on the “Today” show in Australia to celebrate the milestone!
That wasn’t the plan when he was born, but after paternity leave in Southeast Asia, a summer in Europe (plus Morocco), an Antarctica cruise with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions and a visit to South America, it all came together.
And yes, points made it possible, even with two kids and a nanny.
How we flew there
For flights, I used American Airlines AAdvantage miles: We booked one-way first-class tickets from New York to Sydney (via Los Angeles) for 129,000 miles each. For comparison, United Airlines wanted 200,000 miles in business class, and Delta Air Lines was pricing awards at 375,000 miles each. I was able to book four first-class tickets for nearly the cost of one elsewhere. Economy awards can be as low as 35,000 miles one-way.
AAdvantage continues to deliver outsize value, and earning more AA miles is firmly on my 2026 goals list. I think I might finally get the new Citi Strata Elite℠ Card, which currently has a huge limited-time offer, and the points earned on the card can be converted to AAdvantage miles.
Where we stayed
For hotels, I booked through the Chase Travel℠ portal using Points Boost, redeeming at up to 2 cents per point on select stays through The Edit. While the program has changed slightly (as we reported recently), there’s still strong value — especially paired with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ and its annual $500 The Edit hotel credit. (Hot tip: There’s a massive limited-time offer on the Sapphire Reserve for Business that’s ending soon!).
In Sydney, we split our stay between the Four Seasons and the Langham. Both were nice, but the Langham was my clear favorite (and one of the most underrated brands) — it’s quieter, more boutique, and the indoor pool was a big hit with the kids. It’s tucked away on a quieter street in the Rocks neighborhood, yet still an easy walk to everything. The Four Seasons, while a bit dated in my opinion, wins on location right in Circular Quay, with unbeatable access to public transit and ferries to the beaches.
That said, my usual go-to in Sydney is the Park Hyatt. I’ve also heard great things about the new Capella, which looks gorgeous, and with a Waldorf Astoria on the way, it sounds like I’ll just have to plan another trip back soon.
Bottom line
I used to worry that having kids might slow down my travel — but 2025 proved the opposite. A second child, a bestselling book and seven continents later, I can confidently say this: If you want to travel with kids, start early. It’s more doable — and more rewarding — than you might think.
Have a great weekend,
BK
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| Photo Credit: BRIAN KELLY/THE POINTS GUY. |
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