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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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THINGS TO DO AT THE REVAMPED COCOCAY (ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S PERFECT DAY BAHAMAS ISLAND)

June 3, 2019      Caribbean, Destinations, The Bahamas

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.

We first visited CocoCay, in June 2018 when we sailed on the amplified Mariner of the Seas from Miami.

Since then, Royal Caribbean has spent $250 million dollars renovating their private island in the Bahamas, in an effort to really make it the perfect day in CocoCay. These improvements to CocoCay included adding the Thrill waterpark, wave pool, zip-line, a lagoon pool, and two dedicated kids playing areas.

We had the opportunity to revisit on a press trip where we were hosted on Navigator of the Seas. And we were not disappointed! I can truly say we had the most amazingly perfect day in CocoCay!

Now we fully understand the island’s new name. Check out this video of our Perfect Day at CocoCay. We spent the day doing all the things so I could come back here and give you an in-depth review detailing all the things to do at Perfect Day at CocoCay for toddlers, older kids, parents, and the whole family!

 

What’s the Difference Between the New CocoCay and the ”Old CocoCay”?

Pretty much everything. When a company, like Royal Caribbean, invests 250 million into an Island that is under a mile wide and is roughly 125 acres you end up with an extreme Island makeover.

No acre was left untouched! The first time we visited CocoCay the main focus was the beach and water activities (snorkeling, jet skis, etc.). Where Thrill Water Park now sits was just a bunch of brush and vines. To say that the change was drastic is an understatement. The old CocoCay was just a relaxing day at a private beach, they’ve really made it perfect for people of all ages and interests.

Planning Your Perfect Day in CocoCay Ahead of Time

If CocoCay is on your cruise itinerary you will want to be proactive and review the Island and activities in your Royal Caribbean Cruise planner dashboard. Due to the pandemic cruising has changed quite a bit and most excursions are being booked ahead of time. It’s one of those situations where if you snooze you lose, and CocoCay is definitely an experience you don’t want to miss out on!

Is a perfect day at CocoCay included in the cruise price? What Costs Extra?

While there are free things to do in CocoCay (I will list them out below!) the main attractions like Thrill Waterpark, The Zip Line, and Up, Up, and Away do cost extra as well as any shore excursions you want to participate in. 

If you want to rent a Cabana in Thrill Waterpark, Chill Island or Oasis Lagoon pricing usually starts at $299 and goes up from there. You can get discounts and package deals so be on the lookout for those in your cruise planner dashboard. It’s best to book excursions as early as possible as the fees can and do fluctuate – thank you supply and demand! 

What can you do for free at CocoCay?

The good news is you can still have the perfect day in CocoCay without spending an extra penny. There are several free things you can do (and eat!).

  • The Beaches
  • Oasis Lagoon pool
  • Captain Jill’s Galleon 
  • Splashaway Bay
  • South Beach Sports Court
  • Use of umbrellas, pool, and beach loungers are free
  • Food and drink at Chill Grill, Skipper’s Grill, and the Snack Shacks

How to Get to CocoCay, Bahamas

Since CocoCay is a private island in the Bahamas, owned by Royal Caribbean, you can only get here on a Royal Caribbean cruise. If you want to visit you’ll need to book a ship sailing to the Bahamas, Caribbean or Bermuda. You can check Royal Caribbean’s website.

Thankfully Royal Caribbean’s renovation budget including adding a pier to CocoCay island. Previously guests had to tender onto the island, meaning the ship was anchored in the ocean and small boats took guests to and from the dock. This is a major improvement as now you can just walk on and off the ship as you please.

Do you need a passport to go to CocoCay?

Nope! You do not need a passport to go to CocoCay since it is privately owned by Royal Caribbean. BUT you’ll still want to take one anyways! With closed-loop cruises, you don’t technically need a passport but if you get sick at any port and have to get off the ship or miss the cruise and get stuck on an island you will need a passport to get a flight home. Royal doesn’t have any cruises that only go to Cococay so passengers should always travel internationally with a passport. I worked for Royal and know way too many horror stories to ever recommend cruising on a birth certificate only.

aerial view of CocoCay island in the Bahamas

Things to Do at Perfect Day at CocoCay with Young Kids

Previously CocoCay really only had the beach as an option for parents with young kids. While the beach here is gorgeous, we were very happy to have much more to do this time around. Perfect Day at CocoCay has 3 dedicated areas for those traveling with younger kids.

Captain Jill’s Galleon

Captain Jill’s Galleon is a pirate ship with 16 water cannons and 3 slides for little ones to enjoy. You’ll see the pirate as soon as you walk off the pier so good luck exploring the rest of the island once your little ones set eyes on this! My girls loved navigating through the ship trying to find hidden treasures and splashing me with water. Captain Jill’s Galleon is free of charge for guests!

young girl in front of pirate ship water park called captain Jillian's galleon a free thing to do at cococay

Splashaway Bay

Splashaway Bay is also free of charge in CocoCay and is an open play area for kids. It has five waterslides and 2 drench buckets plus plenty of space for kids to run around and play on a soft surface. Don’t worry parents you can get in on the fun here too as my girls definitely had me going down the slides with them.

Royal Caribbean's splash away bay for toddler and younger children on Cococay

Thrill WaterPark The Highlight Of CocoCay (Perfect for Older Kids & Adults!)

If you have older kids who want a more thrilling experience don’t worry as there are plenty of options for them to experience at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Thrill Waterpark Overview

Here you’ll find 13 waterslides between Splash Summit and Daredevil’s Tower, a wave pool, an adventure pool, beach chairs with umbrellas, and complimentary Snack Shack dining. Thrill waterpark is not free, unfortunately, but it is so worth it! There is no charge for children 0-3 years old. Price varies per sailing but as of now, pricing starts at $79 for a full-day pass for adults and children. Space is limited, Royal Caribbean only sells a certain number of excursion tickets to the water park so if it’s something you and your family really want to do while stopping at CocoCay you’ll need to buy your tickets early. If you want to rent a cabana for the day on CocoCay Thrill waterpark tickets are included for up to 6 guests. 

Splash Summit is where you can find six of the slides at Thrill Waterpark. Four of the slides are called Splash Speedway racers where you go down the slide face forward racing against the three other guests sliding down at the same time. Children must be 42” to go down this slide. The Twister seats two people and your twist and turn until you reach the bottom. You have to be 48” to ride or 40” if you wear a life vest. We didn’t make it down The Slingshot which up to four people can go at once (same requirements as the Twister) because I am terrified of drops and it’s a zero-gravity slide but everyone who went down was having a great time!

Mom and daughter sliding down thrill water park slide at the perfect day in cococay

Daredevil’s Tower has the remaining 7 of the 13 slides in Thrill Waterpark including the tallest waterslide in North America, Dare Devils Peak. It sits 135 feet up in the air and my daughter conquered it, while I cheered her on! Two of the slides at Daredevil’s Tower, the Mantaray Raycers have a 40” height minimum while the other slides all require a minimum height of 48”. If you’re really looking for a thrill be sure to try out the Dueling Demons waterslides where the ground is literally snatched from under your feet and you free fall straight down!

Daredevils tower a part of thrill waterpark on cococay
Image courtesy of Royal Caribbean

The Adventure Pool is great for kids or parents looking for a little challenge. Here you can race across the lily pads or realistically just see if you can even make it from one side of the pool the other stepping on them. There is also a small rock climbing wall in the pool and a rope swing to splash into the water.

girl walking on lily pads at the adventure pool on cococay island in the Bahamas

The Wave Pool is the best place to take a break in between all the thrills. Kids under 48” need to wear a life vest in the pool but there is a shallow area where they can run around and play.

two girls standing in front of a wave pool with life vests on at the perfect day in cococay

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

Zip Lining Across CocoCay

If you weigh at least 50lbs but no more than 300 you can enjoy Zip-Lining at Perfect Day at CocoCay. The zip-line is 1,600 feet long and broken into 3 parts flying you over various parts of the park. Just remember you need closed-toe shoes to go on the zip-line or you’ll be turned away. The zip-line isn’t included in your cruise fare and costs and additional $79-$139 per person. You can combine the thrill waterpark and zip line and get a discount for doing so.

Women zip lining across Royal Caribbean's perfect day at cococay

Things to Do at Perfect Day at CocoCay With the Whole Family

Don’t worry parents, there are plenty of fun things for you to do at Perfect Day at CocoCay as well. I personally enjoyed

Up, Up and Away

Up, Up and Away is a Helium Balloon that will take you up to 450 feet in the air. If you want the most epic aerial views of the island and Caribbean Ocean this is for you. As someone terrified of heights the ride was actually quite smooth and I remained calm the entire time! Kids 0-3 are free, kids 4-12 cost $24-$64, and for anyone 13 and up the cost ranges from $39-$99

Helium balloon ride excursion up up and away on the Island of CocoCay

Oasis Lagoon

The Oasis Lagoon is a 33,175 square foot pool at Perfect Day at CocoCay. There is a swim up bar and in the bar area you’ll hear plenty of music. There is also a shallow area great for kids and like all other parts of the island life vests are available free of charge.

Oasis Lagoon pool area at the perfect day in CocoCay

Chill Island

If you’re not into thrills or need a break from them during your Perfect Day at CocoCay check out Chill Island. Here you can relax on the beach chairs under rainbow umbrellas or wade in the ocean. You can also go jet-skiing, parasailing, snorkeling, or play a variety of games like volleyball and corn hole.

two girls swimming in the ocean off the island of CocoCay in the bahamas

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

Child Care at Perfect Day at CocoCay

If the thrills of Perfect Day at CocoCay sound too good to miss but you’re traveling with kids who aren’t tall enough, don’t worry! While there isn’t dedicated child care on the island the Adventure Ocean kids club stays open on board. Enjoy the activities on the island you can as a family and then bring them back on board. Adventure Ocean is free of charge, just double check the hours of operation while the ship is in port.

Where to Eat at Perfect Day at CocoCay

Complimentary meals are included on the island at Skipper’s Grill, Chill Grill, or any of the three Snack Shacks. These are all buffet style so lunch won’t take up too much of your fun time on the island. While Captain Jack’s is a la carte with an additional fee we heard the wings and fries were too good not to try. We definitely agree, my five year old may just have eaten 10 wings on her own! Our favorite flavors were the mango habanero and bourbon barbeque.

Can I use my drink package at CocoCay?

You’ll be glad to know if you purchased a drink package for your cruise it extends to the island. Continue to order all the drinks your heart desires, just remember specialty drinks in pineapples and coconuts aren’t included.

Little girl enjoying wings from Captain Jacks in CocoCay, Bahamas

My Overall Review Of Our Perfect Day In CocoCay

We had an amazing time experiencing the Perfect Day at CocoCay. My eldest daughter who’s birthday we were celebrating declared this is how she’d like to spend her birthday every year moving forward!

With So Many Fun Things To Do on Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay Island It Really Is a Perfect Day

Whether you are cruising with children or traveling with your partner or friends CocoCay is fun for all ages. We’ve given you a glimpse of how perfect this day at CocoCay can be. With so many free activities and unlimited food options, there’s something for everyone. What are you looking forward to doing most while on the Island? Let us know in the comments! 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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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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