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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.

The Traveling Child

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Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort, Our Favorite Orlando Hotel

July 1, 2019      Destinations, Florida, Hotel Reviews, North America

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.

After three stays at Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort I’ve finally come around to writing a review. We have enjoyed each stay and even after straying away and staying at the Margaritaville Resort to check out the new Island H2O Live water park on our last trip to Orlando it only solidified it as our favorite resort to stay at in Kissimmee. Here are all the reasons we love Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort.

The Best Location for Disney World

The Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort is located just 15 minutes from Disney World. The resort offers a shuttle to and from Disney for your convenience. Going to Disney? Here are 6 tips to for a pleasant Disney experience. If you’re Disney’d out here are some things to do in Orlando besides theme parks.

Standard Rooms and Villas at Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort

Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort has standard rooms as well as 1, 2, and 3 bedroom villas. While the standard rooms don’t come with a living room, dining room, patio and separate kitchens they do have a kitchenette. The kitchenette has a stove top, a dishwasher, a microwave and mini fridge but no oven.

I love that the villas have a washer and dryer allowing us to pack light. They even provide detergent if you didn’t pack any or don’t feel like purchasing. The kitchens are also fully stocked with dishes, utensils, pots, pans, sponges, paper towels, and dishwashing liquid.

North Village Two Bedroom Villas

The first time we stayed at Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort we stayed in a two bedroom villa. The North Village was recently renovated so all of these villas have beautiful granite countertops and new furniture. Besides the renovations I love that the North Village are made up of two story buildings versus the massive apartment style building in the other villages. It makes it easier to get to and from your room with no waiting for elevators or walking down long hallways.

Master Bedroom with King Bed

 

Master bathroom

 

Second Bedroom

 

Second Bathroom

East Village Two Bedroom Villas

On our most recent visit we were assigned a two bedroom villa in the East Village. This building is the apartment building style with multiple floors. While the layout of the rooms are exactly the same as the North Village these rooms are older. They are still very clean but you don’t have granite countertops in the kitchen and the bathrooms have an older countertop. Here’s a video of the villa so you can see for yourself the differences.

Book early and save up to 15% with Your Rate. The best deal, plus all the benefits you love when you book directly with Holiday Inn Club Vacations.

The Pools at Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort

There are seven pools on site at Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort spread out throughout the property. No matter which village you’re staying at you’re bound to be near one. The pool at North Village is best for families with young children. There is a small water slide, splash pad and dedicated kiddie pool.

Each of the pools at Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort are heated to 82 degrees. This provides comfortable swimming year round! The pool at River Island has a larger water slide older kids will enjoy. For those looking to relax River Island is also where you’ll find the resorts lazy river pool. 

Considering other Florida Destinations: Here are our itineraries for Panama City Beach, Tampa, Fort Myers, and Key West

Things to Do at Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort

Play Real Golf The resort has a true 18 hole golf course and you’ll see plenty of golf carts cruising around the property going from hole to hold.

Work Out If you’re looking to stay fit on vacation don’t worry, Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort has two fitness centers and one exercise room. These are spread out throughout the resort at East Village, West Village and River Island.

Play Mini Golf Enjoy a round of put put or mini golf at either of the two locations at the resort. 

Enjoy the Arcade The arcade is the perfect place for a rainy day. Enjoy tons of games and even a small two lane bowling alley.

Go Rock Climbing Test your rock climbing skills at the rock climbing wall at River Island.

Play at the Playground Little ones are so easy to entertain and the playground at the resort is perfect for them to play and burn off energy.

Where to Eat at Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort

With 8 on-site restaurants you might never leave Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake! We’ve dined at Breezes Restaurant and Bar, Tradewinds Bar and Grill, Paisan Pizzeria, and River Island Grilling company and enjoyed our meals at all four places.

River Island Grilling Company serves breakfast and dinner but we’ve only dined for their breakfast buffet. Buffets have never been my favorite just because I prefer to customize my meals however kids 12 and under eat free and I’m more about savings!

Breezes Restaurant and Bar is by the West Village and right in front of one of the pools. They only serve lunch and dinner and have both indoor and outdoor seating. In the evenings they offer live music which my daughter really enjoyed as she joined the singer on stage and sang baby shark. Even better up to two children eat free with every paying adult and prices are very reasonable with most meals under $18.

If you’re poolside chilling at the North Village pool you can order pizza from Paisan Pizza. They also deliver, perfect for eating in!

Parking at Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort

Finally an Orlando resort with free parking! An abundance of parking is available in front of each building and you’ll get a parking pass for your car as not to get towed. Your guests can also park for free, just let the front desk know you’ll be having visitors and they will let security know.

I’m sure you can see why we love Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake Resort. After three amazing visits we know we’ll be back the next time we visit Orlando. 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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