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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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5 Tips on Traveling With a Car Seat

August 15, 2016      Tips on Traveling with Kids

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.

Car seats are very important in keeping our kids safe. However it can be a drag to travel with a car seat, especially when it’s already a pain getting through the airport smoothly with kids. Not anymore, here are 5 tips on traveling with a car seat.

mother pulling a car seat with her child in the airport

Traveling With a Car Seat: Does my car seat fly for free?

On US Airlines you can always check a car seat for free at the ticket counter or at the gate. Here are 3 reasons to always gate check your car seat. However when traveling with a car seat on international airlines the rules vary. Some count it towards your checked luggage allowance while others only allow it to fly for free if the child is under 2. Check your specific airlines website or call customer service to verify.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

How to protect your checked car seat!

When first traveling with a car seat the only thing I thought about were all the germs it would get from checking it. It would get germs from multiple people touching it, from the belt conveyor at baggage claim, and by being under the plane. Then I’d be putting my precious, clean baby in there to catch all those germs. Due to this I highly recommend purchasing a protective bag!

I forgot mine once and on my flight to my destination I asked the counter for a garbage bag and they provided me with one. However, on the way back that counter didn’t have any so don’t count on the airline providing something when traveling with a car seat. All the baby stores have several types and sizes of car seat bags depending on your needs. I bought a sturdy one as we travel a lot and didn’t want to risk the cheaper material ones ripping after multiple uses. If you don’t plan on using it much, don’t break the bank!


What are the risks of checking a car seat?

Car seats that have been in a car accident are no longer safe and should not be reused. We all know airlines damage people’s luggage all the time and there are no exceptions for car seats. The chance of an airline damaging your car seat where it is no longer safe and functional is unlikely. The problem is there is really no way to tell. You have no idea what happens to your car seat once you check it and not all car seat damage is visible.

The only way to 100% prevent the mishandling of your car seat when traveling with a car seat is to bring it on the plane with you. Unfortunately purchasing a seat for your child under 2 can be a big expense not everyone can afford so what are your alternatives?

  1. 1. Checking your car seat at the gate will eliminate a lot of handling as it’s walked over to the plane and handed right back to you upon landing but of course still no guarantee.
  2. Consider purchasing a cheaper car seat just for traveling purposes.
  3. Instead of traveling with a car seat if you plan on renting a car at your destination you can also rent a car seat through the rental company. There is an added fee (up to $13.99/day) for them to provide a car seat but if you have a AAA membership Hertz gives you one child, infant, or booster seat for free! They also have other savings which you can find here. The problem with renting a car seat is that you never know the condition it will be in.
  4. If it is a place you travel frequently, say visiting grandma/grandpa consider purchasing a car seat for their car that way you never have to travel with a car seat!

How to get your car seat to the gate!

If you are checking your car seat at the gate or having your child sit in it on the flight it can be daunting thinking of how you are going to manage. Car seats can be heavy, not to mention impossible to carry if you already have a carry-on bag plus a child to carry. Here are some ways to get your car seat to the gate:

  1. Get a car seat bag that has backpack straps so you can carry it.
  2. Snap the car seat into your stroller frame if you have an infant car seat so you can push baby in it.
  3. Get a car seat transporter (these have wheels so you can have baby strapped in a pull it and some can even be tied to your carry on suitcase so you can pull both with one hand). For details on the car seat transporter I use (video below) click here.
 


Traveling With a Car Seat? Here’s how to use it on the plane:

If you plan to have your child sit in their car seat on the plane you will be required to purchase a seat for them. Some airlines offer discounted child fare but most don’t. Your car seat MUST be FAA approved to be used on an airplane. How do you know if it is? It will read “this restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft” or “for use in aircraft”. If the label is missing or unreadable your owner’s manual will also provide this information. Worst case call the manufacturer to ask them and have them provide you with a letter stating so.

Remember that just because your car seat is FAA approved doesn’t mean it will fit in the airplane seat. Be sure to measure your car seat and check with the airline. You’ll need to determine if the specific plane you would be traveling on has seats wide enough for your car seat. This is important as many airlines have various aircrafts they fly.

Car seats are not allowed to block the exit paths of others in the row. This means the car seat will need to be installed in the window seat on a typical 2 column plane. If the plane has 3 columns the car seat could also go in the middle seat of the middle column. Please note that some NON U.S. based airlines require you to provide the car seat details at booking over the phone. Unfortunately some do not allow children to sit in car seats during the flight at all. Others require the car seat to be forward facing so be sure to contact the specific airline prior to booking or always book on a U.S. based airline when traveling internationally.

You may be interested in reading: 8 Tips on Flying with Babies

Consider leaving your car seat at home!

Instead of traveling with a car seat maybe you should leave it at home. If you are traveling to somewhere like NYC, Chicago, or Tokyo where public transportation is in abundance or everything is in walking distance decide if you really need a car seat. If you are only taking trains and buses a baby carrier and/or stroller will suffice. For toddlers in major cities, Uber will provide you with a car seat for a small surcharge. Click here for details.

You may be interested in reading: Tips for Flying with Toddlers


Do you have any other tips on traveling with a car seat? If you found this article helpful, 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. Meme says

    November 6, 2016 at 7:40 pm

    Hello,
    I love your blog and IG!!! It has inspired both myself and my husband to make a list of countries to travel to and plan to travel when the baby’s 3 months.
    Where did you get the rolling cart pictured above for the car seat and also on a video on your IG account?

    • Monet Hambrick says

      November 7, 2016 at 1:15 pm

      Hi Meme,
      Thank you so much, I am so happy to hear that! Yessss to this list of countries to travel to. You can find all the details for the car seat transporter on my Must Have Travel Gear Section of the blog, here’s the link directly for this one that includes a link to purchase the product http://www.thetravelingchild.co/travel-gear/car-seat-transporter. Let me know if you have any other questions.

  2. Labby says

    October 18, 2017 at 8:51 pm

    Great tips, does one also take the car seat base? Thanks

    • Monet says

      October 19, 2017 at 10:14 am

      Hi Labby,
      Glad you found them useful! I do not travel with my infant car seat base. You can install it with the base as long as the vehicle has the seat belts that lock (like when you are in a car that stops abruptly but the seat belt doesn’t let you go further). YouTube installing an infant car seat without the base, it will show you exactly how to. Hope my answer made sense, lol!
      Monet

  3. Sierra Dallas says

    November 21, 2017 at 12:57 pm

    As a parent, my first priority is to keep my kids safe.I have to travels a lot around the world with my a baby. Thanks for infant car seat travel bag ideas. It’s really essential for every mom to manage traveled with the baby and to feel comfortable and easier while traveling with the baby.

  4. Stephanie says

    March 15, 2018 at 6:27 pm

    Love reading all of your post. You have answered just about everything I was stressing over, so thank you very much. My husband and I are traveling to New Orleans with a 4 month old. We are staying about 1 Mile from Bourbon street. I was thinking we use the carrier since everything is in walking distance however, do you recommend bringing the car seat for the trip from the airport to the hotel in a shuttle? Or would the carrier suffice?

    • Monet says

      March 15, 2018 at 7:11 pm

      You’re very welcome and I am so happy to hear how helpful you have found my posts. Is the airport shuttle one of those shuttle buses with no seat belts or is it a van that cans seat belts and the carseat can be installed? I would see if the hotel can provide you with that information. If it can’t be installed no point in traveling with it but if it can I would recommend it for the car ride to/from the airport and then you can keep it in your hotel or Airbnb.

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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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