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How many of you have heard you will no longer be a How many of you have heard you will no longer be able to travel once you have kids? I find most people who say these things don’t even have kids or if they do they have never traveled with their kids!

I’m not really into counting countries and we enjoy visiting places more than once, seeing the beauty all over the US and right in our state too. You don’t have to travel far to give your kids amazing experiences but you can also take them wherever you want. Y’all know my motto, if kids live there kids can visit!! 

Where have you been that people said you were crazy for taking your kids (or your parents for taking you) but you were so glad you didn’t listen to them and went anyway.

#travellingwithkids #familytravel
Everything you need to know about visiting Chichen Everything you need to know about visiting Chichen Itza, one of the 7 Wonders of the World (SAVE + SHARE this post).

Chichen Itza is 2.5 hours from Cancun, 2 hours from Playa del Carmen, and 90 minutes from both Tulum and Merida.

You can get here by renting a car, booking a private tour on Airbnb Experiences like we did, coming on a tour bus or for budget travelers taking the ADO bus. 

Most tours from Cancun are all day long, leaving as early as 7/8 am and as late as 9 pm drop off. This is because you’ll visit cenotes outside of Chichen Itza and the town of Valladolid. Since we only had 4 days in Cancun we didn’t want to spend a full day on the road but also really wanted to visit so booking private transportation allowed us to skip all the other stops and just go there and back. We were picked up at 9 and back at the hotel by 4 so we could have a relaxing evening.

Current admission is $533 Mexican pesos for adults, $80 for kids 3-12 and free for kids under 3. That’s about $30 US for adults and $5 for kids.

Once inside there is the main attraction that everyone comes to see but there are also other Mayan dwellings and a cenote. I recommend coming with a guide or hiring an official guide once on site so they can give you information on the history.

Have you been to any of the 7 Wonders? If so, which one(s)?

Hubby and I climbed the Great Wall of China together in 2007, Jordyn, James and I have been to the Colosseum in Rome, the girls and I have been to Petra and we all visited Machu Picchu, Christ the Redeemer, Chichen Itza and the Great Pyramids of Giza together!

#chichenitza #7wondersoftheworld
Today is the last day of school and I could not be Today is the last day of school and I could not be more proud of Jordyn! Look at all those awards she racked up at her end of the year ceremony. She’s reading 3 grade levels above hers, was only 9 points away from a perfect score on her state reading test and made the Honor Roll every quarter of the year. It’s time to celebrate, let summer begin!!!
We’ve been to 34 states and while we haven’t v We’ve been to 34 states and while we haven’t visited them all yet these are 4 states you should consider visiting this summer. (SAVE + SHARE this list for inspo)

📍Idaho- Last year we explored Southern Idaho and it blew us away. City of Rocks National Reserve, Kayak to Shoshone Falls, white water rafting, and walking behind Perrine Coulee Waterfall are musts!

📍Alaska- We visited the South East part of Alaska, Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan and WOW talk about stunning. You’ll love exploring ice caves, walking on glaciers, canoeing through ice bergs, seeing the volcano and hopefully spotting some bears!

📍Utah- From the famous national parks like Zion and Bryce to the lesser known areas like Kanab, Utah is stunning. You can’t miss sand boarding through Coral Pink Sand Dunes and ATVing through the gorgeous landscape.

📍California- Where else can you surf and ski/snowboard in the same day? California has the most national parks in any state so you know the beauty is beyond amazing. Having lived there for 3 years I’ve explored so many cities and there is something for everyone!!

Would you like me to share my website link for our itineraries for each of these trips in stories? Have you been to any of these? Which state intrigues you the most from this list? What city/state would you like to see us cover?

#visittheusa #bucketlisttrip #travellingwithkids
We have been traveling with our girls since they w We have been traveling with our girls since they were 6 weeks old. Is traveling with kids always easy? Nope! Are there added costs to traveling with kids? Yes! But having status with World of Hyatt has helped elevate our travels, making things a little easier and saving us money, here’s how (SAVE + SHARE this post).

1. Being a family of 4 standard hotel rooms can be kind of cramped. Having status with World of Hyatt means we’re eligible for free upgrades when available including suites as a Globalist.

2. Eating out for breakfast everyday on a vacation starts to add up really quickly. As a Globalist we get free breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children.

3. At hotels with club access Globalists also get free access which includes drinks and snacks, the perfect way to hold kids over until dinner without spending money.

4. I don’t know who decided 9 or 10am was a good time for check-out, hello we’re on vacation, we want to sleep in! Having status with World of Hyatt means you qualify for late check out at 2pm or 4pm depending on your level of status. So whether you sleep in, hit the pool or use the other amenities at the hotel you can enjoy a little longer. It especially helps us when we have flights later in the day.

5. After paying for our hotel room we hate having added fees. Thankfully when you have Globalist status with World of Hyatt resort fees are waived on free night awards and/or eligible rates.

6. Free hotel nights! There is nothing like booking a hotel and not paying a penny! Having joined World of Hyatt we rack up points (on more than just stays) and the higher your status, the more points you earn to get free stays faster.

7. As World of Hyatt members we even earn American Airlines miles on our Hyatt stays, getting us free flights faster to save even more money!

From being more comfortable to finding more ways to earn, you’re missing out if you haven’t joined World of Hyatt!

@hyatt #HyattPartner
4 Ways to Redeem Points at Hyatt Hotels & 7 Ways t 4 Ways to Redeem Points at Hyatt Hotels & 7 Ways to Earn World of Hyatt Points & (SAVE + SHARE):

Ways to Redeem
1. Redeem points for rooms at Hyatt hotels. There’s nothing like experiencing luxury without the cost, so glad I could redeem Hyatt points for this stay with one of the best views of Tokyo.

2. Redeem points to cover your meal at participating restaurants at Hyatt hotels.

3. Redeem Hyatt points to cover your spa treatment at participating spas at Hyatt hotels. 

4. Redeem points through World of Hyatt FIND experiences. With over 200 experiences like cooking classes, tastings, & walking tours there are so many activities to choose from!

Ways to Earn
1. Are you an elite member with American Airlines? If so, you can earn 1 Hyatt point for every $1 spent on AA flights. These are in addition to the normal miles you’ll earn on American, just sign into your AA account & link your World of Hyatt account.

2. Rent a car through Avis & can earn 500 Hyatt points per rental. Just provide your Hyatt membership number when making the reservation & use AWD code K817700.

3. Book a FIND experience by World of Hyatt and earn 10 points per $1 spent. Hyatt offers over 200 experiences such as culinary classes with celebrity chefs, hot air balloon ride in Arizona, guided bike tour over the Golden Gate bridge and more.

4. Even if you aren’t staying at a Hyatt property, if you eat at the hotel restaurant or book a spa treatment you can earn 5 points per $1 spent. We actually ate at a Hyatt restaurant in Kyoto & even though we weren’t staying there I gave my World of Hyatt number & received points!

5. Earn points on everyday spending with a World of Hyatt credit card: 2 points per $1 spent on restaurants, airline tickets, local transit, rideshares, & gym memberships plus earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

6. Transfer points earned on other credit cards who partner with Hyatt such like Chase Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Freedom Unlimited & Freedom Flex. 

7. Book a cruise with Lindblad Expeditions & earn 5 points per $1 spent.

Are you doing any of these?

📍Andaz Tokyo

@hyatt #HyattPartner
If you visit Lisbon or any mainland city in Portug If you visit Lisbon or any mainland city in Portugal I highly recommend adding a trip to Madeira! It’s an island off the coast of Portugal, actually closer to Africa than Portugal. Here’s how I spent 6 days in Madeira (Save + Share this post):

🇵🇹Day 1: Pool day at my hotel (NEXT Hotel) for most of the day and then I went running up the crazy hills of Madeira to see Funchal by foot.

🇵🇹Day 2: I explored the NW part of the island visiting Seixal Beach, Ponto Moniz, Fanal Forest and Ilheus da Ribeira da Janela.

🇵🇹Day 3: I went on a sidecar adventure where I explored Valley of the Nuns, the Cabo Girão Skywalk, and the fishing town of São Pedro with @madeirasidecartours.

🇵🇹Day 4: Whale and dolphin watching tour but we only saw dolphins. In the evening I did an Airbnb Experience at a locals farm house where he cooked a great dinner where 90% of the items were picked directly from his gardens that day. He also taught us how to make poncha, a favorite local drink. The tour should already be linked in my Maderia story highlights.

🇵🇹Day 5: I toured the SE part of the island visiting Ponta do Garajau, Monte Palace, and ended the day at the most beautiful views from Pico do Arieiro (the shots of me on the clouds).

🇵🇹Day 6: I watched the sunrise from Miradouro Ponto do Rosto and then did an 8 mile hike of Levado do Caldeirão Verde. After the hike I relaxed at the pool!

If you want photos taken in Madeira I recommend @robframing.

Honestly Madeira was everything and I don’t see it dropping out of my top 5 international destinations anytime soon.

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3 Days in Rome

July 27, 2017      Destinations, Europe, Italy

This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more information. All opinions are my own.

Rome was the last stop on our Tour of Italy after visiting Venice and Florence. We spent 3 days in Rome and loved it. Rome is a great home base for day trips to the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and Pompeii. We took full advantage of this and got out of the city during our visit.

How to Get to Rome from Florence

We traveled from Florence by train and would spend 3 days in Rome. The train ride was a quick hour and a half. Once we arrived we were able to walk from the train station to our accommodations.

Where to Stay in Rome

With a large group like our Airbnb was the most cost effective option. We found the one below that housed all 15 of us. New to Airbnb? Save $40 on your first stay by signing up here. Nervous about staying in an Airbnb? Here are 8 Tips to Guarantee a Great Airbnb Experience.

bedroom with window

What to Do With 3 Days in Rome

Day One in Rome: Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon

After settling into our Airbnb and having lunch we headed to the Pantheon. After admiring it we continued to walk around the area coming across the Spanish Steps, shopping and various lesser-known points of interests. Rome is very walkable which means you’ll be walking a lot so be sure to bring comfortable shoes. After getting lost in the streets of Rome we headed to the Trevi Fountain. Little did we know it was currently under construction so there wasn’t much to see and no possibility of throwing coins into the infamous fountain. Of course, this just means we’ll have to come back! You can learn about the Pantheon’s fascinating history and how it converted from a pagan temple to a Christian church during this 35 minute audio guided tour.

fountain under construction

Day Two in Rome: Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast

On our second day we took an all day, 14hr tour of the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii. It’s a 3 hour drive from Rome to the first stop, the Amalfi Coast. Along the way there we stopped for breakfast and viewpoints to take pictures, making the time go by faster. The long car drive also allowed us time to take some naps since we had to wake up at the crack of dawn. We spent about an hour walking around Amalfi admiring the coastline, homes tucked within the mountains and the architecture.

photo of amalfi coast

After spending some time in Amalfi we continued our drive to the town of Positano which was 45 minutes away. Here we had free time to walk the shops, get lunch on our own and hang out at the beach. If you skip sitting down for lunch and grab a quick bite to eat you might have enough time to take a scenic boat tour and you can find operators along the beach.

After leaving Positano it took us one hour to drive to Pompeii. Here we spent two hours with a guided tour learning all out this infamous city buried by ash from an eruption of a nearby volcano. Seeing the ruins from something that occurred in 79 AD was a very unique experience and well worth the long journey. You can explore Pompeii and Amalfi Coast during this skip the line tour, you travel by comfortable, air-conditioned bus in a small group of less than 18 people or you can choose a private option.

man frozen in place by ashed from pompeii

Day Three in Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, The Vatican, and the Colosseum

On our last day in Rome, we took two half day tours. Our morning tour was to the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. I highly recommend this tour of the Vatican as without a tour you could be in line for hours. Besides being able to skip the line St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and The Vatican are huge. There is no way we would have seamlessly gotten through everything without a tour guide and we definitely wouldn’t have gained all the knowledge we did. Our guide knew so much about the artwork and just little things we would have no other way of knowing.

If you are doing this tour with a child I recommend ditching the stroller and using a carrier. It was so crowded when we went even though we did an early tour and I couldn’t imagine walking through with a stroller, trying to push through everyone. Also, there were many instances where there are stairs so you will have to carry the stroller up and down them.

After getting lunch and resting a bit from our morning tour we headed to our afternoon Ancient Rome and Colosseum Tour. Our tour started with a tour of the Roman Forum which is next to the Colosseum. After spending an hour exploring the Roman Forum we walked over the to Colosseum.

The tour of the Colosseum includes a behind the scenes tour that a regular ticket will not get you. We were able to go below ground to explore the Colosseum’s tunnels, chambers and pits. The tour also allows access to walk on the floor itself which is restricted to private tours.

3 Days in Rome mom and daughter standing in front of the colosseum

How to Get Around With 3 Days in Rome

Rome has great public transportation and is very walkable. There was no need for us to rent a car or get into a taxi during our visit. The only time we didn’t ride the train, bus or walked was when we did our day trip to the Amalfi Coast. Our 3 days in Rome was the perfect amount to explore the hot spots of the city.

Found this article helpful in planning your trip? Please share it!

The Traveling Child is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

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Comments

  1. Luva says

    September 11, 2017 at 5:13 pm

    Could you please tell me what tour company was used for the Amalfi Coast/Positano and Pompeii day trip? Wasn’t sure that we could cram a visit to South Italy in our 4 day Rome itinerary, but reading your experience makes it sound a lot more feasible!

    • Monet says

      September 12, 2017 at 9:33 am

      Hi Luva,
      I am so sorry- thought I had the tour hyperlinked but I realize I didn’t. Here is the link https://www.partner.viator.com/en/23742/tours/Rome/Pompeii-and-Amalfi-Coast-Small-Group-Day-Trip-from-Rome/d511-2635POM. We booked a semi-private one since there were 6 of us but they have cheaper non-private ones.
      Monet

  2. Thanh says

    January 31, 2018 at 9:57 pm

    Adore your family philosophy and travels! I’m traveling with a 3 year old and 18 month old this September to Italy (Florence, Tuscany) and debating taking two car seats vs renting. What did you do for the flight over to Italy and when you rented cars? Thanks and love your site!

    • Monet says

      February 1, 2018 at 10:23 am

      Hi Thanh,
      Thank you for your kind words! Jordyn slept in the bassinet on our overnight flight to Italy and then sat in my lap on the way home. We didn’t rent a car at all for this trip, we took public transportation throughout the city and then our tour in Florence was on a coach bus.
      Monet

  3. Karisse says

    February 7, 2018 at 11:41 am

    Love this series on Italy. What time of year did you all travel there? It looks warm by your dress but do you recall the temperatures?

    • Monet says

      May 20, 2018 at 9:48 pm

      Hi Karisse,
      I am so sorry I am just seeing your comment. We went in August and it was HOT!

  4. Nikita says

    February 13, 2018 at 1:51 pm

    You are doing such a great job . Thank you for this !!!

  5. Tiffany Clinton says

    April 17, 2018 at 1:25 am

    We are planning a trip to Italy this summer. I see that you traveled by train, but did you have to use a taxi to get to the specific attractions? What did you do about a car seat? We have a 14 month old and will be starting in Milan and ending in Rome. We thought we were going to rent a car, but I’d love to know how you did the inner-city traveling.

    • Monet says

      May 20, 2018 at 9:47 pm

      Hi Tiffany! I am so sorry I am just seeing your comment. We did not use a taxi to get anywhere. We used public transportation or walked as our Airbnb’s were in the heart of the city. We traveled by train from one city to the next.

  6. Sarah says

    May 20, 2018 at 9:44 pm

    Hey! What did you use for your daughter to get around during the tours of the Vatican and Colosseum? A carrier? Thanks!!!

    • Monet says

      May 20, 2018 at 9:46 pm

      Hi Sarah! Yup, I used a carrier, a stroller is really inconvenient in those spaces, they were very crowded and some had narrow paths or stairs.

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Hi! We’re The Hambricks

Hi! We’re The Hambricks

If kids live there, kids can visit! That's our motto and you'll often find us exploring destinations most don't find "kid friendly". We've traveled to 35 countries on 6 continents with our children since they were 10 weeks old and share tips to make it easier and affordable. But mom and dad are people too so we also write about solo travel, baecations and girlfriend getaways.

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