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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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Your Guide to Planning a Santa Barbara Vacation

April 6, 2019      California, Destinations, 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.

My husband and I had an amazing time on our Santa Barbara vacation. While we used to live in Oakland and have visited Lake Tahoe, Oceanside, Anza Borrego Park, and Huntington we weren’t familiar with Santa Barbara. We had no idea the city had so many things to offer but are happy we got to find out. Here’s the ultimate guide to planning a Santa Barbara vacation.

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

How to Get to Santa Barbara

When planning your Santa Barbara vacation it’s important to know Santa Barbara only has a small regional airport. This means you most likely won’t be able to find a direct flight if your coming from Miami like we did or anywhere else on the East Coast. An alternative is to get a direct flight into LAX and then make the 2-hour drive. 

You May Be Interested in Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Planning a California Road Trip

How to Get Around on Your Santa Barbara Vacation

We made the mistake of not renting a car in Santa Barbara and ended up with a huge Lyft bill. While our hotel was a short drive from Santa Barbara airport it was a $25 Lyft ride to go pretty much everywhere else. Since we left the hotel quite often these added up quickly. The hotel also offered bicycles to rent as there was a nearby park.

Where to Stay on Your Santa Barbara Vacation

My husband and I were celebrating our 6-year wedding anniversary so we were looking for a really nice hotel. We couldn’t have made a better choice than The Ritz Carlton Bacara. Just ten minutes from the airport and on the coast we were blessed with beautiful ocean views. The Bacara Spa was the best spa experience I’ve had and brunch and dinner at Angel Oak was to die for. If you’re looking for a luxury hotel on your Santa Barbara vacation there isn’t a better option. Read my full review here.

Santa Barbara Vacation at the Ritz Carlton Bacara

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

What to Do on Your Santa Barbara Vacation

Go Horseback Riding on the Beach

Santa Barbara is the perfect place to go horseback riding on the beach. We went with Los Padres Outfitters for a sunset ride. If you’re into celebrity sightings this beach is lined with celebrity homes like Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. While we didn’t see them our guide said they often do on these tours and they are both very friendly.

Los Padres Outfitters

Go Whale Watching on Your Santa Barbara Vacation

Did you know you can go whale watching in Santa Barbara? Not only can you go but there are seven different types of whales that migrate through Santa Barbara. We booked a trip through Condor Express where you can also spot dolphins, sea lions and seals. Unfortunately the day we were scheduled for our tour there was extremely poor weather and our tour was cancelled. They immediately offered us a tour on a different day but it was our last day in Santa Barbara. I recommend booking your whale watching tour on your first day so you have the opportunity for a second day if cancelled for weather.

Visit the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

We really enjoyed our visit to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Here you can see a ton of California native plants. We especially loved the California poppies and redwoods section of the gardens. You can also visit the cactus display or be entranced by the sounds of the various running streams. We were able to see tons of wildlife as well including gorgeous butterflies and a few rabbits!

Santa Barbara Vacation Guide Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (1)

Enjoy a Picnic by Santa Barbara Picnic Co

If you’re planning your Santa Barbara vacation with your significant other you must enjoy a picnic by Santa Barbara Picnic Co. We had the most romantic picnic in the Island View Garden at the Botanic Garden overlooking the Channel Islands. Santa Barbara Picnic Co has a list of pre-approved locations they can set up but you can also request additional locations or have them set-up at a private event.

Santa Barbara Picnic Co

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

Go Wine Tasting

If you’re into wine you’ll have plenty of options for wine tasting on your Santa Barbara vacation. Enjoy the Urban Wine Trail which has over 27 wineries and is a self-guided trail. We chose to explore the tasting rooms in the Santa Barbara Funk Zone which has 15 of the 27 tasting rooms. Our favorite was Santa Barbara winery but Sea Deep Wines had the best view!

Santa Barbara Vacation Deep Sea Winery

Santa Barbara Courthouse

Why would you want to visit the courthouse on your Santa Barbara vacation? The courthouse in Santa Barbara is gorgeous! While it’s still an active courthouse with trials going on in it’s definitely a tourist attraction as well. There are even free daily tours put on by the courthouse where you can learn about its history. If you’re looking for a beautiful courthouse to tie the knot this is definitely it! Not only is the courthouse beautiful but so are the views you can get of Santa Barbara from the rooftop.

Santa Barbara Vacation Courthouse

Experience a Salt Cave Session

If you’re looking to relax on your Santa Barbara vacation you can obviously check out one of the many spas. However, if you’re looking for a unique experience enjoy a session at the Salt Caves. The salt caves is a meditation cave made completely out of salt. I mean every wall, the ceiling and the floor is just salt. In the room there reclining chairs that you can lay on with blankets to cover yourself. You can also sit or lay in the salt to get even better benefits.

Rent a Moke

If you want a unique way to get around Santa Barbara for a few hours, rent a Moke. We rented one and drove up and down the coast enjoying the breeze.

santa barbara vacation rent a moke

Considering Other Domestic Trips: Check Out Our Itineraries for: Nashville, Panama City Beach,  Door County, Wisconsin, Las Vegas, Tampa, Key West, Orlando, and Arizona.

Where to Eat on Your Santa Barbara Vacation

Did you know that the Egg McMuffin and ranch were both created in Santa Barbara? You can try the sophisticated version of both at Barbanero. We’ve literally never eaten so much on vacation but we quickly learned Santa Barbara has some of the best restaurants in the world. Not only was the food beyond delicious we had amazing service all around. Check out my list of the best restaurants in Santa Barbara.

Ritz Carlton Bacara Angel Oak Abalone

We absolutely loved our time in Santa Barbara and hope to return with our kids. Cheers to planning your own Santa Barbara vacation! 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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