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I mean c’mon there is not one reason, look at th I mean c’mon there is not one reason, look at this view from the top of the Kloof Corner hike! The biggest way we’re able to afford traveling so much is by letting the deals dictate where we go. Cape Town has been on our bucket list forever but with flights typically costing $1,200-$1,800 it hasn’t been a priority. But when Scott’s Cheap Flights (now called Going, I don’t like the new name but that’s besides the point) dropped this Cape Town deal for less than half of what it normally costs we jumped on it!

So often I hear “but there are no deals during school breaks”, YES THERE ARE! We went to Cape Town for Thanksgiving and the girls get the entire week off of school so they missed no days. Plus since there seasons are opposite it was late spring and the weather was amazing. Scott’s emails deals directly to your inbox for the airports you choose (we select our home airport and airports we can easily fly direct to and always have cheap flights because sometimes it’s worth flying to a city for a deal (known as a repositioning flight). They offer a free version but you don’t get all the deals so we have the Premium subscription which costs $49 for a year and you can tap the link in my bio and use code TRAVELINGCHILD20 for 20% off. They have an Elite membership level for business class seats. Because someone always asks, yes they give deals for nonstop flights but please remember you can’t fly everywhere nonstop. Beloved if you’re going to Thailand from the US you’re going to have a layover.

Anyway when in Cape Town you must hike, there are so many amazing ones! This Kloof’s Corner hike is perfect for sunset. It’s not stroller or wheelchair accessible as there are stairs but if Jordyn and Kennedy can hike it in 40mins (one way up) I promise you don’t have to be super fit!

P.S. when booking a flight from the US you have 24 hours to cancel & get a refund (on flights booked 7 days in advance). So many ppl told me they hesitated on this deal because they had to see if they could get off work/what dates worked for their travel partners. Always book first, think second & just cancel within 24hrs if you can’t make it work! What’s the best flight deal you’ve booked?
Hello from Cape Town, South Africa! Here’s every Hello from Cape Town, South Africa! Here’s everything you need to know about getting into South Africa (save + share this post):

1. Your passport must be valid for 30 days after your scheduled date of departure.

2. You must have 2 consecutive empty pages in your passport.

3. There is no visa required for US citizens for visits less than 90 days.

4. There are no shots required to travel to South Africa, unless you are traveling from or transiting through yellow-fever deemed countries, then a yellow fever shot is required. You can find a list of these countries online.

5. South Africa has opposite seasons than the US so our winter is their summer. December to February are peak travel due to the weather but if you visit in November like we did you’ll get good weather and avoid the massive crowds of peak season.

Have you visited South Africa? If so, which part? If not, is it on your list?
Because why do y’all do this to us trip planners Because why do y’all do this to us trip planners? Are you the one in your group that plans the trip or do you just show up? If you’re the planner tag your friends 😅. If you just show up do you look at the itinerary or ask all the questions even though the info was given to you 👀?

Original reel idea credit goes to @kryssedeal, sis really nailed exactly how I feel!!
#sponsored Last year we were able to cross some am #sponsored Last year we were able to cross some amazing places off our bucket list. We want you to do the same so we’ve teamed up with @vrbo to give you the opportunity to win $3,500 and turn your bucket list trip into a book-it-list one! 

Just head over to the giveaway post on @vrbo, make sure you’re following them and tag 3 people you’d want to join you on your trip! 

So what is your book-it list vacation this year?

*T&Cs apply – link in bio

 #VrboTogether #BookItList
Things to do in Istanbul (save and share this post Things to do in Istanbul (save and share this post):

1. Visit the various houses of worship like Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque. Suleymaniye Camii, Ortakoy Mosque, Chora Church and the Camlica Mosque

2. Tour palaces like Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace

3. Climb the Galata Tower for amazing views of Istanbul. You can even enjoy a meal here at the restaurant on the top floor.

4. Take a cruise of the Bosphorus to see both the European and Asia side of Istanbul.

5. Visit the cities Bazaars, the Grand Bazaar where you can shop your heart out and the Spice Bazaar where you can eat your heart out. Don’t leave without trying a Turkish delight!

6. If you want to go shopping Istiklal is the place to do so. They have a wide range of stores including international chains like Zara.

7. See a Dervish show at Hodjapasha.

8. Walk across the Galata Bridge to see fisherman at work and then walk under it to taste their fresh catches.

9. Take a day trip to the Princes’ Islands.

10. Experience a Turkish Hammam.

11. Explore the neighborhood of Balet, enjoying the colorful building and have some traditional Turkish tea or my favorite Apple Tea.

12. Turkey has some amazing food so go on a food tour or take a cooking class. If you don’t do either just make sure not to leave without having a traditional Turkish breakfast!

I recommend at least 5 days in Istanbul but you can easily spend a week or more exploring the city.

Have you been to Istanbul? If not is it on your list? For those that have been what was your favorite thing to do?

#istanbul #bucketlistadventures
Our Egypt Itinerary (save + share this post): 3 n Our Egypt Itinerary (save + share this post):

3 nights Siwa: Shali Fortress, 4x4 safari in the Great Sand Sea, sunset on Fatnas Island, emple of Amun and Temple of the Oracle, take a look or a dip into Cleopatra Spring, Mountain of the Dead, House of Siwa Museum, float in the salt lakes.

5 nights Cairo: Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx,  Egyptian Museum, Saqqara, Khal Al Khalil, Old and Coptic Cairo: Hanging Church, Mohamed Ali Mosque, Al Azhar Mosque and the Fortress of Babylon, see an Al Tannoura Egyptian Dance Heritage Show at Wekalet El Ghouri. For a break from the historical things with kids spend a day at Dreamland Park, Kidzania, or Ski Egypt. Stay at Marriott Mena House.

3 nights Luxor: Hot air balloon ride, Luxor Museum, Mummification museum, Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor, Colossi Statue of Memnon and Hatshpsut

3 nights Aswan: High Dam, Temple of Philae, Nubian Villages, Sail on the Nile by Felucca, Nubian Museum, Abu Simbel

On the way to Aswan from Luxor you can also stop to see the Temple of Horus and Kim Ombo Temple. If you have extra time visit Alexandria, Bahariya Oasis, and White Desert National Park to see the White Desert.

Have you been to Egypt? Is it on your list? There is so much to see outside of Cairo! 

#bucketlisttravel #cairoegypt #luxoregypt #aswan
OUR MOROCCO ITINERARY (save + share this post):

🇲🇦2 nights Chefchaouen- painting class, hiking, enjoying the Blue City and more.

🇲🇦3 nights Fes- Royal palaces, Moroccan dance class, visit the tannery and more

🇲🇦6 nights Marrakech- Majorelle Gardens, explore the Medina, explore the various mosques, stay in a riad, take a Moroccan cooking class and more.

🇲🇦3 nights Sahara Desert- ATV tour, sand boarding, Bedouin experience and more.

For all the details of each trip tap the link in my bio for the itineraries of each city. Have you been to Morocco? Is it on your list?

P.S. the girls were 3 and 5 on this trip

#moroccotrip #thisisafrica #travellingwithkids

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The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Portland Jamaica

July 13, 2019      Caribbean, Destinations, Jamaica

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.

Portland, Jamaica is the most underrated parish on the island. Like the rest of Jamaica it often gets overlooked by Ocho Rios, Negril and Montego Bay, but it shouldn’t. There are so many amazing attractions in Portland and it’s more than worth a visit. If you’re ready to explore the side of the island most people don’t here is the ultimate guide to visiting Portland, Jamaica.

How to Get to Portland, Jamaica

Portland, Jamaica is on the east side of the island and two and a half hours from Kingston. The airlines that fly into Norman Manley International Airport are American, Jetblue, and Spirit, Delta, Caribbean Airlines, Air Canada, British Airways, Cayman Airways, Copa, and WestJet. You can rent a car at the airport from Alamo, or hire a private shuttle. If you do plan to drive yourself I highly recommend landing with plenty of sunlight left in the day as the roads are pitch black after the sun sets and there are a lot of potholes on the roads in Jamaica. There are two paths from Kingston to Portland, one is along the coastline going through St. Thomas. The other is going through St. Mary’s Parish. Either way if you have service on your cell phone you’ll be able to use GPS to get to your final destination. 

You May Be Interested in Reading This Packing List for Jamaica

Attractions in Portland, Jamaica

Reach Falls

You cannot visit Portland, Jamaica without going to Reach Falls. It’s one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the island. You can hang out at the bottom of the fall or get a guide to help you climb and go to the rabbit hole. I highly recommend doing this as the pathway is gorgeous. You can swim in the natural pools of crystal clear water to get there or walk along the path. Once you get to the rabbit hole you can jump into a hole and come out on the other side. It’s quite thrilling but not scary at all.

Please note it’s closed on Monday’s so plan accordingly. As of June 2019 it cost $10 for adults, $5 for kids, and children 4 and under are free. If you have a Jamaican ID or passport you’ll pay half price.

You May Be Interested in Reading: Travel Safety Tips You Don’t Want to Skip

Winnifred Beach 

If you’re looking to relax Winnifred Beach is the place to go. It’s a beach frequented by locals and is a free public beach. There are a few restaurants on the beach in case you get hungry.

Rafting on the Rio Grande

Rafting down the Rio Grande is a must do attractions in Portland, Jamaica. There are two options, you can do a 90 minute round trip raft which only covers part of the rio grande or you can take the two hour one way route. Unless you have a tour guide who can pick you up at the end you’d have to get back to your car on your own with this option. Up to 3 people can ride on each raft so if you have two kids or more you will have to get two rafts.

dad rafting on the river with two daughters

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Taking Family Vacation Photos

Blue Hole

While there is a Blue Hole in Ocho Rios, this one is different. There are no waterfalls to jump off but the water is as blue as the sky and stunning. You can go rafting here as well although it’s not an official rafting site, rent a kayak or swim in the water.

Frenchman’s Cove

Who doesn’t want to spend the day at a private beach? As the name states Frenchman’s Cove is a cove so it’s not the widest beach. Still it’s beautiful and has a river adjacent to it that runs into the ocean. The river is much colder than the ocean but it’s refreshing on a hot day. It also has a few swings in the river which obviously make for a great photo.

Thinking of Visiting Other Islands: See Our Itineraries for Aruba, Cuba, The Bahamas, and Grand Cayman

Where to Eat in Portland, Jamaica

Each time I’ve visited Portland my hotel or Airbnb have provided breakfast so I’ve never purchased breakfast here. However, for lunch and dinner here are some of the best places to eat in Portland, Jamaica.

Boston Jerk Center

If you’re looking for the best jerk anything in Jamaica the Boston Jerk Center is the place to eat. It has all the best jerk shops in Portland and you won’t be disappointed! If jerk isn’t your thing you can still find many other options like conch, lobster and fish.

You may be interested in: Your Guide to Visiting St. Elizabeth Jamaica 

GeeJam

GeeJam sits on a big hill so I suggest eating here for lunch or an early dinner. This way you can enjoy the gorgeous ocean views while you eat. Besides the great ambiance, the food is phenomenal!

Frenchman’s Cove

It’s best to eat at Frenchman’s Cove the day you spend some time there as there is an entry fee. Still the restaurant right on the beach is very tasty. When you order they will bring a table and chair right to you so you can stay on the beach and enjoy the breeze.

Trident Hotel

The Trident Hotel has two restaurants on site and even if you aren’t staying there you can dine. If you want a nice sit down meal in Portland this is definitely the place to eat.

Where to Stay in Portland, Jamaica

Since Portland, Jamaica doesn’t get as many tourists as other parts of the island you won’t find any all-inclusive resorts here. To be quite honest you won’t find any household name hotels at all and your options for luxury hotels are limited. 

Luxury Hotel

If you do want a luxury hotel you’ll want to stay at Trident hotel. The property has 13 villas, each with a private backyard, huge bathroom and shower along with an outdoor tub. There is an infinity pool that overlooks the ocean, spa, movie theater, gym, and playground. There are also two restaurants on site that serve delicious food. We ate here for Father’s Day brunch which also granted us a day pass to stay and enjoy the property for the rest of the day. 

Boutique Hotel

If the Trident isn’t in your budget, as it wasn’t in ours there are plenty of boutique hotels to choose from. I’ve previously stayed at the Sea Cliff Resort (pictured below) but I can’t say that I found it worth the $300/night we paid. Still it has air condition and WiFi, which you won’t in all hotels in Portland, Jamaica. Our rate did include breakfast and all the rooms overlooks the ocean. While I haven’t personally stayed at either I have heard good things about GeeJam.

Airbnb

The other option for places to stay in Portland, Jamaica is Airbnb. You’ll find quite a few to choose from. We stayed in this Airbnb and while it had amazing views I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. If you’re driving yourself it’s important to note it’s up a very steep hill and parts of the way up it’s a narrow road on the side of the mountain so if you’re not used to driving on these types of roads you may feel uncomfortable. If you’d be relying on taxis while you could get one to come back to the house getting one to go into town could be difficult. There is also no WiFi or air condition although fans are provided. Nervous about Airbnb? Here are 8 tips to guarantee a great Airbnb experience. If you’re new to Airbnb you can sign up here and save $40 on your first booking.

I hope the attractions in Portland, Jamaica listed has convinced you there is more to Jamaica than Ocho Rios, Negril, and Montego Bay. Portland remains one of my favorite parishes on the island. Another overlooked parish is St. Elizabeth but it’s gorgeous, check out what to do there here. Did you find 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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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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