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3 places to see Mt. Fuji (save + share this post): 3 places to see Mt. Fuji (save + share this post):

If you don’t have enough time to spend days in Hakone visiting Mt. Fuji it’s easy to take a day trip here from Tokyo. It’s only about 90 minutes by car and we spent the day exploring the area. There is a swing at the top for an additional fee where you literally swing into Mt. Fuji and they have a souvenir shop and small food vendor to purchase snacks.

Location 1: Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway which cost 900 for adults and 450 for children for a roundtrip ride on the cable car. They do sell one way cable car tickets if you want to hike down the mountain.

Location 2: Kawaguchi Asama Shrine, there is a small fee of 100 per person but children are free. This place is really only for pictures besides the view there isn’t anything else to do. They have it set up with a line to capture photos in front of the tori gate and each group has 3 minutes to take pictures, yes they actually time you, to make sure the line keeps moving.

Location 3: Arakurayama Sengen Park where you’ll need to climb 398 stairs or take the curved paved path to the top for views of the mountain and Chuerito Pagoda. The stairs are a straight shot but the path makes it accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.

We were truly blessed to be able to see Mt. Fuji as it’s often not visible. When I visited in 2015 we made the trip here and it was gloomy and cloudy and we couldn’t see anything. We did go to the base of the mountain on that trip and do the ice cave exploration so all wasn’t lost but I am so happy Jordyn and I got to see the full mountain with our own two eyes on this trip!

There are lots of other places you can view Mt. Fuji but with only one day we couldn’t visit them all. The other 7 best places to see Mt. Fuji are on a boat tour on any of the 5 lakes that surround the mountain (Kawaguchi, Yamanakako, Saiko, Shojiko, or Motosuko), Koyo-Dai Lookout Platform, Sanko-Dai Lookout Platform, Oshino Hakkai Springs, Fuji Q Highland Amusement Park, Rooftop of Fujisan Station, Shin-Fuji Station Platform and in Hakone.

Have you ever seen Mt. Fuji’s beauty? Would you add this to your Japan itinerary if you haven’t?

#mtfuji #lakekawaguchiko
How we spent 48 hours in Kyoto (save + share this How we spent 48 hours in Kyoto (save + share this post):

1. Start your day at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. We arrived here at 7:30am and there were quite a few people here already. We didn’t visit but in Arshiyama you can also visit the Monkey Park to see the Japanese Macaques (snow monkeys).

2. Head to Kinkaku-ji to see this stunning Temple of the Golden Pavilion. They open at 9am and we arrived at 8:45am and by time the opened the door at 9am the line was extremely long.

3. Walk through the gorgeous Tori Gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha. Before or after your visit be sure to walk through the street vendors for some amazing food. We tried noodles, mochi and just enjoyed learning more about the local foods. We visited here around 11am and even though it was so crowded if you want photos without people wait until you’re walking through the gates to exit and there are often moments where the area is empty, just be a little patient. 

4. Book a session at @kyoto_samurai_experience to learn about the history of the Samurai, watch a demonstration and get to try your hand at using the samurai sword yourself.

5. Eat your way through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka. You will be able to walk through these narrow streets (with some hills) and try ice cream flavors such a matcha, green tea, white peach, Sakura (if in season), Black sesame, caramel and more and yes, we tried them all! There’s also tons of mochi and other treats. You’ll find the Starbucks with a traditional Japanese home interior here as well as Yasaka Pagoda and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, be sure to visit.

6. Walk around Gion and catch a Kabuki show at Minamiza Theatre.

7. Visit Daigo-ji temple, it’s not frequented by a lot of tourists so it’s rarely crowded and you can have a moment on zen here!

While we didn’t have time this visit as the weather altered some of our plans on my last visit to Kyoto in 2015 I also visited Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion), Nijo Castle which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ryoanji Temple and highly recommend going. 

Some other things we were interested in but just didn’t have time for were a calligraphy class and if you are into manga you can visit the Kyoto International Manga Museum.
This is your sign to rent a kimono in Kyoto! It wa This is your sign to rent a kimono in Kyoto! It was an honor to be dressed by Japanese women & taught about the Kimono. Here’s everything you need to know about renting a kimono & a tiny history lesson on them(save + share this post):

1. Originally kimono was the Japanese word for clothing but is now used to refer specifically to traditional Japanese clothing. Kimono’s date back to the Heian period of 794-1185 and were every day wear until western culture was brought to Japan.

2. There are 8 layers in a kimono in addition to the Tabi (white socks) which are specifically made to wear with Jori (traditional Japanese shoes). Even though there are 8 layers it doesn’t take long to be dressed.

3. Today kimonos are mostly worn for special occasions such as NYE, weddings, gradations, tea ceremonies & summer festivals. But geishas, maikos, kabuki actors and a few traditional professions wear them every day.

4. We rented our Kimono’s from this shop https://kyoto-kimonorental.com/kimono/. It’s less than a 5 minute walk from Hokan-ji. We made a reservation in advance but you will find kimono rental shops all over Kyoto. They open at 9 and you have to return the Kimono’s by 5.

5. They offer multiple packages which vary in the type of material the kimono is. The package I got was the ¥4,900 ($37.50) one and Jordyn’s child price was ¥3,900 ($29.87). You can get your hair and makeup done for an additional ¥1,200. The value of the yen is down now so be sure to check exchange rates whenever you make it to Japan for accuracy.

6. This shop offers photo packages directly through them or you can take your own or hire a separate photographer.

7. If you’re worried about renting a kimono and wearing it in Japan being seen as cultural appropriation, don’t be. I obviously can’t speak for every Japanese person but from hearing it first hand from Japanese people in Japan and the large amount of Kimono rental shops all over Japan encouraging visitors to try kimonos, the Japanese are so excited to see foreigners embracing their culture and wearing kimonos respectfully! We received so many compliments from the local community as we explored Kyoto this day.

📍Daigo-ji temple & Hokan-ji
After spending 48 hours in Osaka we went to Kyoto. After spending 48 hours in Osaka we went to Kyoto. Here’s how to get here and where we stayed (save + share this post):

1. You can take the Shinkansen (bullet) train from Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto Station if you have the JR Pass and it will only take you 15 minutes. If you don’t have a JR Pass the Shinkansen ticket costs about 1,420 yen (right now that’s about $11). 

2. If you don’t have the JR Pass you can take the Hankyu Kyoto Line or Keihan Main Line. These are regular non express trains and will increase your travel time to from 15 minutes to 45-55 minutes but they only cost 400 yen (about $3) so you can save money, especially for a large group.

3. There is also a bus that leaves picks up at Hotel Keihan Universal Tower, Universal Studios Japan and Namba and goes to Kyoto Station. I’m not sure of the costs.

4. If you flew into Osaka you can also take the Haruka Express train from the airport to Kyoto Station. 

In Kyoto we stayed at The Chaper Kyoto which is a Marriott property. The rooms are on the small side but the hotel is clean and modern. There is a bus stop down the block which we could take to get to Gion in 9 minutes. The room was about $240/night since it’s busy season.

The weather this time of year is pretty sporadic. Some days it was hot and sunny and some days cool and gloomy so definitely pack a variety of attire and bring some layers and the weather changes throughout the day. Will be sharing our itinerary soon.

Have you been to Kyoto? If you have other accommodation recommendations please share them below to help others!

📍Fushimi Inari Taisha
Want to visit Super Nintendo World at Universal St Want to visit Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan? You need to know this (save + share this post):

1. Just because you have tickets to the park doesn’t mean you’ll get into Super Nintendo World, it requires a timed entry ticket. These do run out so it’s not a guarantee you’ll be able to enter! If you get your park tickets in advance you might be able to grab an advanced booking in the app but if these are all gone by time you get your tickets you’ll need an area timed entry ticket. These are only available the day you’re visiting & you can only attempt to get it once you’re actually in the park! We got to the park when they opened at 8am & there were only two entry times left so arrive early! You can get them on the app (you must grant the app permission to see your location so they know you’re inside) or you can go to one of the ticket kiosks.

2. To really enjoy you’ll need a power band which are sold for about $35. If you don’t have one you can walk around & go on the 2 rides but you can’t play the games & collect coins.

3. The wait times for both rides are usually 1-3 hours! To avoid this you can purchase an Express Pass (most people said this reduces wait times to a mere 15 minutes). Express Passes were sold out the day we went so we only got to ride Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge but not Yoshi’s Adventure. To avoid the 2 hour wait for Mario Kart we actually went through the singles line. We did end up in two different karts but we only waited 20 minutes to ride instead of 2 hours. Yo Shi’a Adventure doesn’t have a singles line or we would have done that too!

4. If you want to eat at Kinopio’s Cafe you also need a timed entry ticket so be sure to grab this as soon as you get inside Super Nintendo World. It’s usually a 1-2 hour wait once you get your timed entry ticket.

5. Once you leave you cannot reenter (if timed entry tickets are required at the time) so be sure to do everything you want before leaving.

Universal Studio Japan is extremely popular & tickets do sell out often so buy in advance. The most popular sites to buy them are Klook (where we bought ours) & KKDay.

Hope this helps! Who has Super Nintendo World on their list?
How We Spent 48 Hours in Osaka (save + share this How We Spent 48 Hours in Osaka (save + share this post):

1. Kicked off the day trying soufflé pancakes, you’ll find restaurants all over the city that sell these. We personally had them at Belle-ville Pancakes.

2. Visit the Cup of Noodles Museum where you can make your own Cup of Noodles logo and then customize the flavor and toppings for your noodles. They also offer a ramen making class here in addition to the museum where you can learn the history of the company.

3. If you’re visiting in March check to see if the March Sumo Wrestling Tournament is taking place at Edion Arena Osaka. If so def try to get tickets in advance (they go on sale a month prior) or arrive early to get same day tickets. It’s a fun afternoon.

4. We also did a Tea Ceremony class but photos/videos weren’t allowed.

5. End the first day getting cheesecake at the infamous Rikuro’s for their jiggly Cheesecake.

6. The other day spend at Universal Studios Japan for thrilling rides, shows and to relive your childhood at Super Nintendo World.

Where to stay in Osaka? The W Osaka is gorgeous but a little pricey and the Fairfield by Marriott is more budget friendly with nice, modern clean rooms just less amenities and smaller rooms (will post stories of both so you can see).

How to get to Osaka from Tokyo: We took the Shinkansen bullet train which takes 3 hours but is such an experience as it goes up to 199mph. Be sure to sit of the right side of the train for views of Mt. Fuji. You can also take a quick flight!

Other things to do in Osaka we didn’t travel time for:

1. Visit the Osaka Castle

2. Go to the top of the Umeda Sky Building

3. Go out in the Dotonbori

4. Walk around Kuromon Market

5. Watch a show at the National Bunraku Theater

6. Explore the Sumiyoshi Shrine

Which activity would you most want to do? If you’ve been to Osaka before what other recommendations do you have?

#osakajapan #travellingwithkids #cupofnoodles #universalstudiosjapan
6 Ways to Earn Delta Skymiles without flying! (SAV 6 Ways to Earn Delta Skymiles without flying! (SAVE + SHARE this post):

1. Link your Lyft and Skymiles accounts to earn 1 mile per $1 on US rides and 2miles per $1 on airport rides.

2. When booking Airbnb stays go to delta.com/Airbnb instead and you’ll earn 1 mile per $1 spent on airbnbs.

3. Order groceries online with instacart? Go to instacart.com/delta to link your accounts and earn 1.5 miles per $1 spent. If you’re new to instacart you can also get 3 months free.

4. Link your Starbucks account with your Skymiles account at delta Starbucks.com and you’ll earn 1 mile per $1 spent at Starbucks. Plus on days your flying with Delta, you’ll earn DOUBLE stars at Starbucks.

5. Sign up for SkyMiles dining at  Skymilesdining.com and is link your credit or debit card. Every time you use your card at a participating bar or restaurant, you’ll earn between 1-5 miles per $1 spent.

6. And nope you don’t have to use a Delta credit card to get miles for any of the above, no matter how you pay you’ll earn BUT is you do pay for them with a Delta co-branded credit card (there are several and depending on which one you have) you can earn anywhere from a additional 1-5 miles per dollar spent on purchases, even if they aren’t Delta airline tickets.

The cash price for the flight we took to Tokyo was $2,600pp so it would have cost me over $5,000 for this since it’s peak travel to Japan (never in my life would I pay that, we would have went somewhere else). Instead I only paid $118 total by using all of these ways to earn Delta miles over the past few years which gave me enough miles to redeem even though we don’t get to fly Delta on a regular since they don’t have the strongest presence at MIA airport as it’s American’s hub.

Do you use travel credit cards and/or points and miles from loyalty programs to offset the cost of travel? If so what are your favorite ones? Let’s all travel for less!

The Traveling Child

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How to Plan a Family Trip That Won’t Break the Bank

November 1, 2016      Affording Travel, Trip Planning Tips

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.

Traveling as a family has often been seen as a luxury. While being able to travel is definitely a blessing the myth that you have to be rich to travel as a family is false. Will you have to make some sacrifices? Most likely! Will you have to get creative and be flexible? Yes, but it’s possible. Here are 6 tips to plan an affordable family vacation.

Black Family with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background

How to Find Cheap Flights

​Don’t Set Your Heart on a Specific Destination

Have an open mind for the location of your next vacation. Instead of having your heart set on a particular place keep a running list of destinations your family wants to visit and when you see a deal for one of those places book it! For instance Australia has been on my list for some time now but with plane tickets averaging $1800 from the US I was in no rush to go. In April 2016 United Airlines had a flight deal for $580 RT to Sydney for travel from September to November from multiple cities including ATL, SFO, LAX, DET, ORD. Five hundred and eighty dollars round trip, yes you read that correctly! For a family of 4 you are basically flying for the price of 1.

Christmas Eve 2014 the Etihad Airways error fare of $187RT to Abu Dhabi broke the internet. I’d be naïve to neglect the fact that parents with school aged kids have restrictions on when they can travel but don’t be discouraged these deals come up for travel year round. An example of this is the $400 deal of Delta from most Delta hubs to Amsterdam the summer of 2017.

Believe me there is ALWAYS a deal to somewhere and you can find them by following these websites that provide flight deals.  Don’t sit on these deals, they typically last for no more than 48hrs. Act fast and plan later! Remember you have 24hrs after booking to cancel any flight departing from the US to get a full refund. This will give you some time to make sure you can get the days off work or that the cost of accommodations and activities fall in your budget.

If your situation isn’t flexible enough for flight deals Skyscanner is great website for searching flights. There are many search options including searching the cheapest flight anywhere in the world from your home airport to specific dates you can travel or searching a specific destination and finding the cheapest time to travel there. They also have a mobile app you can download here if you’re on a mobile device.

Consider Flying Into A Neighboring Country (Added February 2017)

When we traveled to Thailand we actually got a flight to Singapore. For the same dates we had off Thailand would cost us $1,100 per ticket. Flying into Singapore on Qatar Airways was only $450 and a flight from Singapore to Phuket cost us only $29 on Air Asia. Yes we had to have an additional layover which I usually try to avoid when flying with the kids but for a savings of $500 per person this was a no brainer. The flight was Singapore to Phuket was only 1hr and 30mins.This same practice can be used throughout Asia and Europe. Most times it is extremely cheap to fly within these continents once you get to them. In Europe you can even travel by train which is also very inexpensive.

Fly a Budget Airline

Budget airlines get a bad rap but they can save you significant costs on flights. When looking at flights to Costa Rica Spirit Airlines was $295 cheaper per person. I’d much rather save that money on the flight to be able to spend it on activities than fly an airline that will give me a “free” soda and peanuts. Spirit Airlines offers penny fares where you will just pay the taxes like we did on our flight to Orlando. We just purchased four round trip tickets on Spirit for $410 total from Fort Lauderdale to Denver while the other airlines were $350-$600 per person. Read the rules accordingly and you’ll never pay a baggage fee, here are 6 ways to maximize savings when flying Spirit.

Using Credit Cards and Miles to Cover Flight Costs

We used the sign-up bonus from our Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card to pay for our flights to Thailand. This completely eliminating that cost so we only had to worry about our time there. For more information on using credit card sign-up bonuses and frequent flier miles check out this post I wrote.

Did you know you can earn miles without even flying? Yes you can earn miles on purchases you probably make every day like from Target and Amazon. Here are 12 ways to earn miles without flying.

How to Save Money on Accommodations When Traveling

Ditch a traditional hotel and opt for a vacation home or Airbnb or Vrbo. Why? For starters your kids will have more space to play and be out of your hair while you guys are relaxing in the morning or late evening. Budget wise it can be a huge cost savings on many fronts. Through my travels I have found Airbnb’s to be significantly cheaper than hotels.

When I traveled to Italy last year with a group of 15 family/friends we each paid $384 total for an 8 night stay.  Our Airbnb in Venice had 6 bedrooms, 8 beds, 2 pull out couches, 4 full bathrooms and 2 half baths, along with a kitchen and common areas. If we had stayed in a hotel we would have needed 8 rooms which for the month of August were priced at an average of $200/night for 3 star accommodations. For one room my family alone would have ended up paying over $1600 but instead we paid less than half of that. In Colombia we paid $50/night for a 2 bedroom, one bathroom apartment. ​Try Airbnb now and receive a $40 credit towards your first stay. Nervous about Airbnb, here are 8 tips for a great Airbnb experience.

How to Cut Costs on Dining Out When Traveling

Another benefit of renting an Airbnb or vacation home is there is usually a kitchen and cooking supplies. You can save money on food by purchasing groceries your first day and making breakfast every morning.  In addition to saving money I find this makes it easier to get out the house and start your day. If you are early risers you don’t have to struggle to find a restaurant that is open at the crack of dawn and while one parent is cooking the other can get the kids ready. If you have picky eaters in your family this is also great as your favorite hometown breakfast items may not be available in the country you are visiting.

With that being said an alternative to grocery shopping when you get to your destination and if you really want to save money is bringing some things with you. When we went to Colombia I brought oatmeal and complete pancake mix in ziplock bags and packed them in my carry on back pack. If you aren’t staying for an extended period time this helps with saving money as if you buy a full box at your destination you might not finish it, wasting money. If you already have these items at home because they are a regular on your grocery list you really aren’t spending any more money than you would have if you were home.

Don’t stop at breakfast! If your itinerary for the day allows you to easily make it back to your place for lunch and dinner you can save more by skipping on eating out for those meals too. If you can’t make it back for lunch, pack sandwiches and eat at a park. The kids can play or nap and you can rest for as little or long as you want to. Always pack an abundance of snacks for you and the kids. This not only prevents unnecessary breaks but you don’t have to buy an overpriced granola bar. Again you can buy these once at your destination or bring them with you.

Now don’t get me wrong I love trying the local food in every destination I travel to. However, I don’t need to have it 3 meals a day for my entire vacation. Have one of each meal at a restaurant spread out throughout your stay or whatever your budget allows.

 

 

How to Save on Money on Attractions When Traveling

Research to see if the city you are visiting has a multiple attraction pass. When we visited Chicago I bought the Go Chicago Card which granted us unlimited access to multiple Chicago Attractions for one price and it definitely saved us a ton of money. See if the city you are headed to has one by visiting Smart Destinations. CityPass also has a lot of great deals. Click here to see if the city you’re visiting is offering deals.

Before you buy anything direct from the company’s site check websites like Groupon or Living Social to see if you can get a discount as many of these attraction passes can be found on site like these. In addition to Groupon and Living Social whenever you are about to buy something that says enter promo code here you can probably find one online. Take the time to do a quick Google search any you’ll most likely get a 5-20% savings.

How to Save on Transportation When Traveling

Immerse yourself in the local life of the city and take public transportation. Renting a car or Ubering everywhere can be costly. See if the place you are visiting has an unlimited public transit pass for the bus and/or subway system. If you live in a big city you may be used to taking public transportation on a daily basis anyway. If you are baby wearing you don’t have to worry about elevators but if you are traveling alone with a stroller see if the train stations have elevators or determine if you can manage carrying the stroller up the stairs. In Puerto Rico a taxi to the Bacardi Factory cost $50 but the local bus and ferry totaled $2.50 round trip.

Travel Where Your Dollar Will Stretch

When we traveled to China (pre-kids), we felt like a King and Queen. Everything was so cheap, from $7 1hr massages to $5 3-course meals at high end restaurants and $20/night for 5 star rentals we were living the life and at little cost to us. There are plenty of places you can travel to for $50-$100/day and they are quite beautiful. Some options are Thailand, Cuba, and Costa Rica.

Found this post helpful? Please share it to help other travelers!

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. Philistar Bonyo-Ba says

    November 1, 2016 at 9:02 pm

    Love this!! I’ve been keeping travels out of mind since having baby…this was great insight to start at it again! Very informative post 👌🏾👌🏾

  2. DD says

    November 1, 2016 at 10:14 pm

    I love this and completely agree. I’ll have to add airfarespot.com and travel pirates to my list! Another good way to save is to travel to places where the currency exchange is in your favor. And sometimes I use tour bus companies as taxi’s.

    • The Traveling Child says

      November 6, 2016 at 10:22 am

      Oh please share the details on using tour bus companies as taxis!

  3. Annika Mang says

    January 1, 2017 at 4:06 pm

    Great tips!

  4. Sasha says

    April 14, 2017 at 10:44 am

    I absolutely love all these tips! Especially for us moms that don’t want to give up the travel bug.

  5. blossawe says

    June 11, 2017 at 12:56 am

    Great tips! As someone who travels on budget, these are very useful. Thanks for sharing

  6. RM says

    June 11, 2017 at 1:32 am

    I’ve been looking into using Airbnb so it’s great to hear from someone who has actually used them!!

  7. Neha Saini says

    June 11, 2017 at 3:52 am

    We use to go for trips with whole family twice a year. Sometimes, it become tough to manage the trips cause of expenses. But I love enjoying these trips cause this is the only time when we all use to be together. your tips are really great. Next time, we would follow these so that we don;t need to cancel our plans due to budget.

  8. Jane Martinito says

    June 11, 2017 at 4:58 am

    Awesome article! I have some plans on travelling this coming September with my family. Your article helped me to choose the better option. 🙂

  9. Natalia says

    July 28, 2017 at 12:32 pm

    Great tips!

  10. Addie says

    October 3, 2017 at 12:52 pm

    I’m so ready to start traveling with our son!! Whenever it happens, I know it will definitely have to be budget friendly, so I love these tips ❤️ Thanks for sharing them!!

  11. E. L. Lane says

    October 5, 2017 at 10:00 pm

    Hi! As part of my Blogger Recognition Award, I need to nominate some other blogs, and I’ve nominated you! Click on the link to my post about the award, then copy & paste it into a post on your blog. Just amend the content to make it relevant to you and the person who nominated you (me!) and away you go 🙂
    http://ellanewriter.blogspot.com/2017/10/accepting-blogger-recognition-award.html

  12. Johnna says

    October 27, 2017 at 2:28 pm

    I just found your blog via IG today, and can I tell you how much I absolutely love your family!? I don’t really get into bloggers or product contests often, but your blog is inspiring and has me very excited at the prospect of showing my daughter the world! Thank you! I look forward to following your continued journeys and investing in adventure and travel this year with my own family.

    • Monet Hambrick says

      December 29, 2017 at 11:47 pm

      Hi Johnna,
      Sorry for my late reply but that you so much for your kind words. That really means a lot to me!
      Monet

  13. Danielle says

    December 29, 2017 at 7:01 pm

    How do you communicate with the people on all of the different countries? Are there any easy tips or tricks for this?

    • Monet says

      December 29, 2017 at 11:45 pm

      Hi Danielle,
      We always try to learn a few phrases in the native language of the country as a sign of respect. In many of the countries we’ve visited while English isn’t the national language many people speak it. We also have a few translator apps where we can speak to our phones in English and it will then repeat what we said in the language of the country so whoever we are speaking to can understand us. Then they do the same and it translates it to English for us. Hope this helps!
      Monet

      • Asia W. says

        December 30, 2017 at 10:51 am

        I am loving your family an your blog. could u tell me the names of the language translation apps you have. what one do u think is the best an easiest to use? Also can u tell me how airbnb works? is it kinda like a Bed an Breakfast set up? where u will actually sray at someone’s house while they are there too? or is it like maybe a 2nd home they rent out that they don’t live at?

      • Danielle says

        January 1, 2018 at 9:36 pm

        Thank you! That helps a lot! May I ask what apps you use to translate?

  14. Marissa says

    December 29, 2017 at 11:33 pm

    Wow! Great tips! With a 9 year old and a 6 month old, I feel as if my traveling time has come to a pause for a while but with these tips maybe traveling won’t be on pause for much longer! Thank you!

    • Monet says

      January 8, 2018 at 7:41 pm

      Thank you Marissa. That is exactly why I started this blog, I want other families to know travel with kids is not impossible if you’re willing to stalk flight deal websites lol and make a few sacrifices like not eating out every day on vacation. You’re so welcome and I am glad you found the tips helpful!

  15. Asia says

    December 30, 2017 at 10:52 am

    Could u tell me the names of the language translation apps you have. what one do u think is the best an easiest to use? Also can u tell me how airbnb works? is it kinda like a Bed an Breakfast set up? where u will actually sray at someone’s house while they are there too? or is it like maybe a 2nd home they rent out that they don’t live at?

    • Monet Hambrick says

      January 22, 2018 at 3:11 pm

      So sorry for my delayed response Asia. Airbnb varies- you can rent a private room in someone’s home while they are staying there as well or they have options to rent the entire home- either because the family will stay somewhere else during that time or they only use it for Airbnb.
      Here is an article on the best translation apps http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-translation-apps-travelers.

  16. Dana says

    January 1, 2018 at 8:00 pm

    Glad Infound this blog! My husband and I are big travelers and often do it for races we do. My son is 20 months and has been to Hawaii, Brazil, St. Croix, Florida 4x, Wisconsin 2x, and a few more local long weekend trips. This next year we have PR, Hawaii, Florida, California, Brazil and Mexico. I think we’ve gotten better at the traveling with him, but now we’ll be embarking on buying a seat for him! Ugh. But I think it will be good. I’m looking forward to reading through your blog for some tips and what to us for his seat (if anything) to strap him in. Keep traveling, I think it’s the most amazing experience we can give them and ourselves.

    • Monet says

      January 8, 2018 at 7:44 pm

      Hi Dana,
      I have been waiting to visit Brazil for so long, just waiting on a flight deal- I want to do Argentina to Iguaza Falls to Rio. Yes, once they need a seat urgh lol but it can still be done- we haven’t used the car seat too often on the plane unless domestic travel because then it’s such a pain to carry it all throughout our city hopping. We haven’t used CARES but I know it’s popular- I personally don’t like that nothing goes in between there legs so I feel like they can just slide through. Still looking for a good alternative.

  17. Leela devi says

    July 4, 2018 at 2:49 am

    Really, these are the best places for enjoying with family and friends. Pictures are very inspirational and can inspire anyone to visit there. You can find related info here:

  18. Airbnb Property Management Sydney says

    July 16, 2018 at 2:47 am

    Best traveling tips! Thanks for putting up this together.

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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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