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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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Things to Do in Aruba with Kids (or without them)

July 7, 2017      Aruba, Caribbean, Destinations

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.

Aruba, dubbed as One Happy Island is exactly that. This Caribbean island is below the hurricane belt so you can enjoy it year round without fear of a natural disaster. Here are some things to do in Aruba with kids or without them to help you plan a trip to Aruba.

mom and daughter standing in front of I love Aruba sign

How To Get Cheap Flights to Aruba

If you’re looking to cheap flights to Aruba, Skyscanner will help you. Skyscanner is how we found our cheap flight to Aruba on a holiday weekend. In my case I wanted to take advantage of 4th of July and have a 4 day weekend with only having to take 1 day off work as the holiday was on a Tuesday. Taking advantage of paid holiday’s is how I travel frequently with a full time job. 

For this trip I actually didn’t care where we went as long as it was affordable and that’s why I used Skyscanner.  It allows you to find cheap flights two ways. 

1. If you have specific dates but don’t care about the destination you can search your home (and nearby) airports and select the destination as everywhere. Just enter your dates and Skyscanner will tell you the cheapest places to fly to during those dates.

2. If you have a specific destination you want to visit but are flexible with dates you can search the cheapest month to travel to that destination and Skyscanner will do all the work for you. Their app is just a great as their website, download it here.

You May Be Interested in Reading: The Best Websites for Flight Deals

​Where to Stay in Aruba

We chose to stay at the Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino. Our main reason for this decisions was to have access to Aruba’s Flamingo Beach on the hotels private island. It’s where you see all of the infamous photos of people feeding flamingos in Aruba.

If you don’t stay here but want to visit Aruba’s Flamingo Beach you will have to pay $100 per person for a day pass. If you’re going with your child, kids are only allowed on the beach with the flamingos from 9-10AM as it’s on the adult only side of the island. The price of the hotel was the same and in some cases cheaper than the other options nearby making more sense to just stay there. 

Renaissance Aruba Resort is in a great location; there are shops, restaurants, and a movie theater in the outdoor mall attached to the hotel. It is also directly across the street from the I Love Aruba sign. It’s ten minutes from the airport and the taxi will cost $18. Be aware that if you fly in on a Sunday their is a surcharge for taxis and the price will be $21.

Things to Do in Aruba with Kids (or without them)

Things to do in Aruba Day One: Hotel Pool, Exploring our Hotel Area and Sea Salt Grill

We got to Aruba mid-day but our room wasn’t ready when we arrived at the hotel. We grabbed lunch and then hung out at the pool.

pool with palm trees

Before dinner we walked around our hotel area a bit and came across the cutest little house. There are tons of bright colored buildings in Aruba and this one was too cute not to snap some pictures in front of.

mom and daughter in matching outfits posing in front of a pink and blue building 

Looking for the best restaurants in Aruba? We loved the Sea Salt Grill so much we ate their twice. They have live music at night, the food was really good and prices were reasonable.

Things to do in Aruba Day Two: 4×4 National Park Tour

As beautiful as the beaches in Aruba there are more things to do in Aruba with kids like exploring the National Park. We booked this half day 4×4 tour through Viator. After booking, a follower who saw we were in Aruba said visiting the California Lighthouse was a must.

When we met our tour guide I asked him if this was something we would see and he said it wasn’t apart of our tour. I let him know I was disappointed as it was recommended and he said not to worry he would make it happen. He did, along with some other surprises. I was so appreciative of this and it really made a difference. Our tour guide was Andrew if you want to request him!

mom holding daughter in front of a lighthouse

​After a quick visit to the California Lighthouse, Andrew made a second bonus stop to visit the oldest Catholic Church on the island, which is in the middle of nowhere. They still have mass every Tuesday and some people get married here.

church in the desert 

Next was was a stop to see the Natural Bridge which is a rock formation on the coast that looks like a bridge. After a brief stop we made our way to the Gold Mine Ruins, which was the place to dig for gold at the height of the gold rush in Aruba.​

Our final stop and the main attraction was the Natural Pool Aruba which is right along the coastline. Here we spent an hour and you can swim, snorkel, or jump off the small 3ft cliff.

people in a natural pool in Aruba by the ocean 

Things to Do in Aruba with Kids ​Day Three: Relaxing at Palm Beach and Eagle Beach

Palm Beach and Eagle Beach are rated as two of the Best Beaches in Aruba and we’d be exploring both in one day. The water at Palm Beach Aruba is calm and shallow making it a great beach for families. 

If you want to do sports activities Palm Beach Aruba is the best beach in Aruba for this. Activities on Palm Beach included kite-surfing, jet-skiing wind-surfing, parasailing, SUPS, kayaking and much more. We decided to rent some SUPs from Island Cabana.

Island Cabana also rents clear kayaks which is great for seeing the crystal blue see-through water while paddling. They are two-seaters but if you have a small child they are allowed to sit in front of you even if there are two adults. They do not provide child life vests so be sure to bring your own.

mom on stand up paddle board with her toddler 

Next we headed to Eagle Beach, famous for the pair of native Divi-Divi Trees. ​While there are water sports/activities available here there were definitely more options at Palm Beach. The water at Palm Beach is also a lot more calm and see-through. Whereas at Palm Beach Jordyn and I could go far out, we couldn’t go more than 5ft from the shoreline at Eagle Beach.

mom and daughter sitting under a divi divi tree at the beach 

​Things to Do in Aruba with Kids Day Four: Aruba Flamingo Beach

Renaissance Island which is where Aruba’s Flamingo Beach is located. It is open from 7:00AM-6:45PM. Boats pick up guests every 15 minutes from the dock. Although we visited Flamingo Beach each morning from 9-10AM to see the flamingos before going off to explore the rest of Aruba, today we stayed for half the day.

After our hour with the flamingos we moved to the family side of the island. It is just as gorgeous and honestly better for swimming. This is because everyone isn’t chasing the flamingos around trying to get a picture. On the island you can rent kayaks, paddle boards, and go on diving trips outside of the enclosed area. There is a restaurant and two bars.

mom and daughter sitting in a flamingo floaty in the ocean 

mom and daughter laying on a hammock by the beach 

Family side pictured above

flamingos on the beach 

Frolicking with the Flamingos

mom and daughter sipping on pina coladas on the beach

Enjoying Pina Coladas on the family side of the private Renaissance Island.

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

Leaving Aruba and Clearing Customs

Like the Bahamas you clear U.S. customs prior to boarding your flight. When you arrive at your home airport you will arrive at a domestic terminal and be able to leave the airport immediately. Due to this arrive to the airport a little earlier than you might in case there are long lines. If you end up having time to kill before your flight departs and are a Priority Pass member you’ll have two lounges to hang out in.

Money in Aruba

U.S. dollars are widely accepted in Aruba so there is no need to exchange cash. While Visa and MasterCard are also widely accepted we saw quite a few places that do not accept American Express.

Aruba with Kids: Strollers/Carriers/Car Seats

Strollers: I didn’t bring a stroller for my daughter because as I knew we’d mostly be at the beach and the little walking we would do she would be able to manage. If you plan of doing a lot of shopping or walking around I recommend traveling with one.
​
Carrier: When traveling to Aruba with kids remember it is hot! Since it’s very easy to use a stroller here so I would caution using a carrier as you and baby will most likely be sweating a lot.

Car Seats: If you will be renting a car I would bring your own car seat when traveling to Aruba with kids. Some of the taxis we got in had missing seat belts in one or all of the seats in the back. You won’t be able to use a carseat on the off-road tour. Here are tips on traveling with car seats.

We had a great time exploring Aruba. There are many things to do in Aruba with kids, I hope this helped you plan a trip to Aruba. If you found it helpful please share this article!
​

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. Tolu L'queen Oluwaseyi-Daniel says

    July 13, 2017 at 9:49 pm

    Looks like you both had a great time, the pictures look amazing 😍😍

  2. Marylene says

    December 3, 2017 at 6:25 pm

    How did you book your trip to Aruba? Did you do the all inclusive option at the resort?

    • Monet says

      December 3, 2017 at 8:27 pm

      Hi Marylene,
      I booked everything direct myself, I never use travel agents or purchase vacation packages. I did not do the all inclusive option at the resort, the plaza connected to the hotel had plenty of dining options.

  3. Sidney says

    December 29, 2017 at 11:50 pm

    Hi, your trip looks amazing!! How did you budget for your trip? On average how much did it cost total? If you could please break down the hotel & flight cost.
    Thanks

    • Denize says

      December 30, 2017 at 5:48 pm

      I was going to ask the same question! Also, what time of year did u go?

      • Monet says

        December 30, 2017 at 6:31 pm

        Hi Denize,
        We went in July and went Saturday- Tuesday.
        Monet

    • Monet says

      December 30, 2017 at 6:26 pm

      Hi Sidney,
      Thank you, we had a really great time. I would recommend going on the hotel’s website to price it out, their prices vary depending on when you go and any potential promotions they might have. The same is true for airfare and it all depends on where you are flying from, we live in South Florida so fly from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale.
      We paid $150 each for our one way tickets to Aruba and I used points for our flights back so those were free. The hotel was $169/night and I split it with my friend who came with us. The tour was $150 for both of us and included lunch. Taxis to and from the airport were $18. The water activities were $25/hr. Meals ranged from $5 (Jordyn wanted Dunkin Donuts for breakfast lol) to $25. Taxis to the other beaches were around $20 I believe so all in all I spent about $800 for the 4 day trip.

    • Monet says

      December 30, 2017 at 6:30 pm

      Hi Sidney,
      Thank you, we had a really great time. I would recommend going on the hotel’s website to price it out, their prices vary depending on when you go and any potential promotions they might have. The same is true for airfare and it all depends on where you are flying from, we live in South Florida so fly from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale.
      We paid $150 each for our one way tickets to Aruba and I used points for our flights back so those were free. The hotel was $169/night and I split it with my friend who came with us. The tour was $150 for both of us and included lunch. Taxis to and from the airport were $18. The water activities were $25/hr. Meals ranged from $5 (Jordyn wanted Dunkin Donuts for breakfast lol) to $25. Taxis to the other beaches were around $20 I believe so all in all I spent about $800 for the 4 day trip.

      • Sidney says

        December 31, 2017 at 2:01 am

        Thanks so much for the details! We’re planning to go in December!

  4. Opal says

    January 7, 2018 at 1:11 pm

    Do I need a Visa to visit Aruba 🇦🇼???

    • Monet says

      January 8, 2018 at 3:17 pm

      Hi Opal,
      I don’t know where you live or the country’s passport you hold to give you a 100% answer on if you will require a visa. As someone holding a US passport we did not need a visa. I would recommending checking online if you need one from where you live.

  5. Nikki says

    February 1, 2018 at 12:15 pm

    How long have you been traveling with your daughter? My husband and I traveled to Disney World with our 4 month old in December. In may we are traveling to Aruba and he will be 9 months old. We are going to the Soul Fest so we have to take turns hanging at the day beach parties. Most likely I’ll hang pool side with the baby at our hotel & let hubby enjoy since I’ve been in the past. How long did you let your daughter spend outside (pool/beach) since its sooo hot. I don’t mind the heat but I know his skin is sensitive? I can’t wait to explore other destinations as he grows up.

  6. Alicia says

    March 20, 2018 at 11:09 am

    Hi Monet,
    My family and I are planning a trip to Arubu in the last week of August. I plan to stay at the Renaissance for the same reason as you – Flamingo Beach. Just one question
    – The Flamingo Float you were on, is that a rental a purchase or included as an option in your stay ( I saw a package that included that, photos at the beach, and drinks upon arrival)?
    Thanks!

    • Monet says

      March 20, 2018 at 12:35 pm

      Hi Alicia,
      It was on the beach one of the days we were there and I’m honestly not sure if it was the hotels or a guests but pretty much everyone on the beach was using it for pictures lol. Sorry I’m not much help here.
      Monet

  7. Veronica says

    May 25, 2018 at 1:54 am

    Hi Monet,
    I really enjoyed reading everything you’ve experienced in Aruba.
    My family and I are planning a trip to Aruba and we definitely want to go to the Flamingo Beach. I was thinking about staying at the Renaissance Hotel too but I was reading that this hotel is for adults only. My brother is 12 years old and I don’t know if he would be able to stay in the hotel.
    Thank you in advance

    • Monet says

      July 16, 2018 at 11:26 am

      OMG, I am sooooo sorry I am just seeing this Veronica. Yes, he can stay, Jordyn and I stayed there and she was 3. They have two buildings, one is adults only and one is for families or anyone.
      Monet

  8. Brittany says

    July 16, 2018 at 11:23 am

    Can I have andrew’s contact information?

    • Monet says

      July 16, 2018 at 11:25 am

      Hi Brittany,
      Sorry I don’t have his direct contact information, we booked the tour through Viator (I linked the exact tour). Maybe you can call the tour company to get his info.
      Monet

      • brittany says

        July 16, 2018 at 4:24 pm

        Awesome
        Thank you!

  9. S. Mayo says

    July 22, 2018 at 10:45 pm

    Thank you for this info. I’m planning to take my 12 yr old for my birthday at the end of August. I’m planning to get all Inclusive only because my son is such a picky eater. How does it work with taking the kids on the adult side, do they kick you out?

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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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