HEY, WE’RE STACEY & IAN 🩴
Leaving Flip Flop Prints Everywhere
More than 30 years ago, we were introduced by a mutual friend. That friend, my best friend, his girlfriend at the time left, this world far too soon. We truly think that she brought us together, and we think about her every time we get to do something wonderful. We like to think she’d have loved every adventure we write about here.
But let’s back up.
WE’VE ALWAYS BEEN TRAVELLERS
We started exploring early in our relationship and never really stopped. After we got married in 2002, the travel bug only got worse (better?). Beaches, cruises, coastal towns, family trips… if it involved sand between our toes and somewhere new to explore, we were in.
Then COVID happened. Like a lot of people, we were grounded for longer than we’d like to admit. The original Flip Flop Files quietly fizzled out — turns out a travel blog is tricky when there’s nowhere to go.
But in 2026, we’re back. Relaunched, recharged, and with a lot of lost travel time to make up for.
SO WHO ARE WE, EXACTLY?
Ian works in the transportation industry and is, by his own admission, mostly along for the ride. He is also constitutionally incapable of arriving at an airport less than three hours early. (We’ve never missed a flight. Coincidence? He thinks not.)
Stacey is the planner. The researcher. The one who genuinely enjoys the spreadsheet phase of a trip just as much as the trip itself (ok, maybe not quite). Also an over packer, but working on it. Not sorry about it.
Together we are a real couple with real jobs, a real budget, and a very real obsession with finding the best beach we haven’t been to yet. Oh, and we’re Disney people. Proudly, unashamedly, absolutely Disney people. Between Disneyland, Disney World, and Universal Studios — both Florida and Hollywood — we’ve made more theme park trips than we can count, and we have zero regrets about any of them.
Sand between our toes OR a FastPass in hand; honestly, we’re happy either way.
WHY THE FLIP FLOP FILES?
It started to take shape during the planning stages of a spring break trip back in 2019… one week in Barbados, one week on a Caribbean cruise. Somewhere between researching excursions and comparing cabin categories at midnight, it hit us: we should be writing this down.
Not because we’re experts. But because we’re exactly the kind of travellers most people actually are — budget-conscious, experience-hungry, occasionally chaotic, and completely hooked on the feeling of somewhere new.
If you’re here because you love travel but have to think about what it costs. If you’re part of a couple trying to find trips you’ll both love. If you want honest reviews from real people rather than polished content from someone staying in a suite they’d never actually pay for — you’re in exactly the right place.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND HERE
🏖️ Beach destinations and coastal getaways worth actually visiting
🚢 Honest cruise content — ship tours, port days, the good and the not-so-good
🎢 Theme parks — Disney, Universal and beyond, because grown-ups love magic too
💕 A real couples travel perspective — including the moments that don’t make the highlight reel
💰 Budget tips that make more travel genuinely possible
🗺️ Coastal towns and hidden gems that deserve more attention
We’re so glad you found us. Pull up a beach chair and stay a while.
Stacey & Ian 🩴
~ Leaving Flip Flop Prints Everywhere