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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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Tips for Surviving Long Haul Flights With Kids

February 20, 2017      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.

Unless you’re some weird type of parent breed that I wish I could channel, hearing “Are we there yet?” 50 million times on a 14hr flight is not something I look forward to. We’ve taken some pretty long trips with one or both of the girls including flights to Kenya, Europe, Australia and Thailand from the US. While I have general tips on flying with babies and flying with toddlers, here is how we’ve managed their short attention spans and our sanity on long haul flights with kids.

two toddler standing in the aisle on an airplane

Surviving Long Haul Flights with Infants

Select the right airline!

Some airlines really cater to families while others make you feel like your child is a burden. Read my review on Qatar Airlines to find out the type of airline you want to be flying when traveling with your kids. Although we haven’t flown the following airlines, they received some amazing feedback on our Instagram conversation on the best airlines to fly when traveling with your kids:

International Flights

  • Emirates
  • Air Canada
  • Norwegian

Domestic Flights

  • JetBlue
  • Hawaiian
  • Alaska
  • Southwest

You can view the post here to read the personal stories from parents who’ve flown these airlines and others with their kids.

Request a Bassinet

Once you book your flight call the airline to reserve a bassinet. This will allow you to sleep hand-free as your infant will have their own bed. Usually the weight limit is 25lbs but honestly, even if your baby is over the weight limit or refuses to sleep in the bassinet you will be very thankful for the extra leg room you get with the bulkhead seat and the storage basket the bassinet becomes :-).

baby bassinet on airplane baby sleeping in a bassinet on a plane

Be Prepared with Your Own Food 

Unfortunately a lot of airlines don’t provide meals for unpaid lap infants regardless of age. Be sure to pack enough food to last your child for the entire flight if you’re not exclusively breastfeeding. My first long-haul flight with kids was when my  daughter was 15 months and she was only eating table food. We were flying Delta and when the food service began a meal wasn’t provided to her. I asked for something for her the flight attendant rudely let me know “We don’t feed lap kids.”

There are some airlines that do provide baby meals such as Qatar Airways. This is just one reason why the airline you choose can make a significant impact on your experience and what you have to pack. Even when we flew Qatar Airways the flight attendant asked if I wanted an extra yogurt or croissants for youngest daughter. She was 11 months and past the pureed food stage. This service was greatly appreciated.

Pack all Your Supplies 

Be sure to pack enough diapers and wipes for the entire flight and then some in case of delays taking off or in between landing and getting to your final destination.

Have Entertainment Prepared

Usually once your infant is past 4 months they have become active and just sitting still is a thing of the past. Pack some soft toys for them that don’t make too much noise as not to distract the other passengers. If they are on the higher end of the under 2 lap child age, wrap a few new toys (from the dollar spot at Target) as it will keep their attention longer and unwrapping the toy will be a task in itself. I’ve seen some parents who have the bulkhead seat put a blanket on the floor with toys and allowed their child to play in that space.

Comfort 

If you’re breastfeeding be sure to nurse on take-off and landing to prevent the change in air pressure from hurting your child’s ear. If you do not give them a pacifier or bottle or have then sip on some water or chew something. When kids are sleeping there’s no need to wake them up, they’ll be fine. The bassinets may be fully reserved or your baby may not be feeling them. Pack your carrier as it still allows you to be hands-free making it easier for you to use the bathroom, eat or hold your baby if they have gone to sleep. On long-haul flights, most airlines provide blankets and pillows so don’t your carry-on luggage with these items.

For general tips on flying with babies click here.


Surviving Long Haul Flights with Older Children

Select the right airline

Some airlines really cater to families while others make you feel like your child is a burden. Read my review on Qatar Airlines to find out the type of airline you want to be flying when traveling with your kids. Although we haven’t flown the following airlines, they received some amazing feedback on our Instagram conversation on the best airlines to fly when traveling with your kids: International Flights

  • Emirates
  • Air Canada
  • Norwegian

Domestic Flights

  • JetBlue
  • Hawaiian
  • Alaska
  • Southwest

You can view the post here to read the personal stories from parents who’ve flown these airlines and others with their kids.

Be Prepared with Entertainment 

Unless you’re flying a budget airline most aircraft’s traveling across the world have personal TV’s at each seat with movies or shows specifically for kids. Be sure to bring over the ear headphones for your child as in the ear ones aren’t as safe for younger kids and most likely won’t even fit your toddler. We bought a pair of volume controlled headphones so my daughter couldn’t listen to anything too loudly especially if we fell asleep and weren’t able to monitor the volume.

Kids get bored easily so packing a variety of items is necessary. I always pack their coloring books, crayons, stickers, books, flashcards, tablets etc. to keep them entertained. I don’t want to have to buy new things for every flight we have so I love things like the new Etch A Sketch and Melissa & Dough reusable coloring books and sticker pads that make these items last a little longer.



Pack Snacks from Home

Unless you’re flying an airline that caters to families, your child will receive the same meal as you which isn’t always appetizing to the little ones. Packing a few sandwiches or purchasing something at the airport you know they will eat is a good idea as once you’re in flight there are no options of getting them something to eat other than what is being offered. Even with the in-flight meal you’re limited to eating only when the airline provides service. I usually get hungry before they serve a meal but as an adult I don’t start yelling about my hunger, usually anyway :-). Be sure to pack tons of snacks to hold your little ones over in between meals.

Make Your Child Comfortable

The more comfortable Jordyn is in her own seat always means I’m more comfortable. Since she’s too big for a bassinet getting her to sleep comfortably usually involves her laying on myself or my husband which works great for her but is uncomfortable for us. I was so happy when we discovered Fly LegsUp, which is a flight hammock that allows her to lay flat and sleep comfortably in her own seat. Use promo code FLY CHILD to save 5% on your purchase.

little girl sleeping on the plane

For general tips on Flying with Toddlers click here.


What tips do you have for surviving a long-haul flight with kids? Drop them in the comments below!

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. Heather says

    February 22, 2017 at 3:57 pm

    For my daughter’s first long haul at exactly four months old, I did my best to keep her bed time routine. It was a red eye, so right before boarding I changed her into her PJs, nursed her through take off, and got her to sleep. At that age it worked out well.

  2. Jordan says

    January 1, 2018 at 8:10 am

    I’ve been loving everything I’ve read on your blog so far, but I have one burning question:
    How and when did you get that amazing shot of your baby in the cockpit with the pilots?
    Thank you!

    • Monet says

      January 1, 2018 at 4:49 pm

      Hi Jordan,
      Thank you so much, so glad you are enjoying my posts. So we got this on an American Airlines flight on the way home from Vegas. We were boarding and the flight attendants actually asked if she wanted to go inside. I didn’t even know they still let people do that and was more shocked when she said I could take pictures.
      Monet

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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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