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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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Exploring Tulum, Mexico on My First Solo Trip

January 26, 2019      Mexico, 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.

For my 31st birthday I treated myself to a solo trip to Tulum, Mexico. It would be my first experience with solo travel and while I was a bit nervous I was also extremely excited. This trip would give me much needed time alone as a wife and mother of two toddlers. I would be able to rediscover all the things I love to do without having to compromise on anything. While I am obviously an advocate of traveling with kids I also believe in taking time for yourself as a parent. After finding a cheap flight to Cancun on Spirit Airlines and knowing how easy it is to get from Cancun to Tulum it was a no brainer. Here’s how I spent my 4 days in Tulum.

You may be interested in reading: 6 Ways to Maximize Savings When Flying Spirit Airlines.

Solo Trip to Tulum, Mexico

How to Get from Cancun to Tulum

Hire a Cancun to Tulum Airport Transfer

Cancun Airport is 90 minutes from Tulum so you will need to book a Cancun Airport transfer, rent a car, or take the bus to get from Cancun to Tulum. I planned on getting around Tulum by bike so I booked a Cancun Airport transfer through Cancun Airport  Transportation. They were on time, my driver was polite, and the vehicle provided was very clean. I even changed my pick up location last minute with no issues and no additional fees.

cancun airport transportation cancun to tulum

Rent a Car to Get From Cancun to Tulum

If you’d like to rent a car to get from Cancun to Tulum you’ll have many options including affordable options from American rental companies like Alamo.

Take the ADO Bus from Cancun to Tulum

If you are on a budget taking a bus from Cancun to Tulum will be your cheapest option. The bus company is ADO and the ride from Cancun to Tulum costs about $15 depending on the time you take the bus. The bus ride from Cancun to Tulum takes two hours with buses leaving every 90 minutes to two hours. The first bus sis at 10:55AM and the last at 9:45PM.

Car Rental in Tulum, Is It Necessary?

When I was planning my trip to Tulum everything I read said to just get a bike rental in Tulum. So that is what I planned to do which is why I booked the airport transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. However when my airport transfer was arriving into Tulum I realized everyone was riding their bikes on the street. Bikes aren’t allowed on the sidewalks in Downtown Tulum and I didn’t feel comfortable riding in the street. It was also hot and I couldn’t imagine riding all day in the sun. If you don’t plan on exploring far from your hotel a bike might be the way to go. Since I wanted to really explore Tulum I decided to rent a car.

I asked my driver to drop me off at Alamo instead, looking up the prices on the way. I was shocked how affordable they were. There were rentals for as low as $5 a day, much cheaper than a taxi with control of your schedule. I got the highest level of insurance possible where I’d be responsible for nothing ,even if the car was stolen. My total was a mere $100 for my 3 day rental. The price online was cheaper than what the agent at the counter offered me so check both. I booked my reservation while at the desk and although I had service on my phone the agent offered me the WiFi password.

Where to Stay in Tulum, Mexico

Tulum has 3 main areas people choose to stay in. These are the beach hotel zone, “town”, and the strip where the all-inclusive resorts are located. When researching where to stay in Tulum I decided to stay in town. This decision was mainly based on budget as the beachfront hotels were extremely expensive.

I booked Casa de Piedra on Booking.com which is an apartment building ran like a hotel. After booking it I found out they also rent the units on Vrbo and Airbnb. If you’ve never used Airbnb before you can sign up here to save $40 on your first stay. My unit was clean, had amazing natural light and I loved the huge hammock on the second floor. You can see it in the photo below above the living room.

Casa de Piedra offers free parking, has a rooftop pool, and has a secure gate which requires a key to enter. The building is well lit at night so I felt safe coming in alone in the evenings. It is off a side street with limited street lights at the start of the block. If you arrive at night the road is dark when you immediately turn but once you get closer to the building it’s well lit.

You may be interested in reading: Travel Safety Tips You Don’t Want to Skip

Where to stay in Tulum Casa de Piedra Tulum

Nervous about staying in an Airbnb? Here are 8 ways to guarantee a great Airbnb experience.

How to Spend 4 Days in Tulum: Things to Do in Tulum

Having 4 days in Tulum I researched the best things to do in Tulum. I decided I wanted to spend time on Tulum’s beaches, scuba dive, get a massage, and eat delicious food. I’m happy to say I accomplished all of that and more!

Day One: Lunch at Burrito Amor Tulum and Kin Toh at Azulik Tulum

After checking in to my Tulum Hotel I had lunch at Burrito Amor Tulum at the recommendation of the check-in agent at Casa de Piedra. It is an outdoor restaurant with a nice chill vibe. They have options for everyone including vegan and vegetarians. The best part is my meal was under $5!

Where to Eat in Tulum Burrito Armor Tulum

After a late lunch I headed to Kin Toh at Azulik Tulum. It’s said to have one of the best sunset views Tulum has to offer. Kin Toh is a restaurant at the Azulik Tulum hotel and if you want to eat dinner here you need to make a reservation. I overheard other trying to get a table without a reservation and the wait was 2-3 hours. The restaurant is also quite expensive so be sure to check out the menu first. If you just want to see the sunset like I did you do not need to make a reservation. There is a one drink minimum and two shared tables with the perfect sunset view. These shared tables aren’t just any tables but tree nests for a unique experience.

Kin Toh at Azulik Tulum

On my way home I stopped at the grocery store, Super aki, to pick up breakfast food to save on dining.

Day Two: Exploring the Best Cenotes in Tulum (Casa Cenote & Gran Cenote) and Scuba Diving Tulum

There are over 6,000 cenotes in Mexico and on my second day I would be exploring the best cenotes in Tulum.  Scuba diving is something I love but don’t often get to do when traveling with my kids.  I’ve heard cenote diving in Tulum was phenomenal so I chose to explore the cenotes that way. I went scuba diving in Tulum with Agua Clara Tulum Diving and had an amazing time.

I did the Discover Scuba Course which does not require a diving certification. You will have the opportunity to dive Casa Cenote with the option for a second sea dive afterwards. Diving Casa Cenote was amazing and one of my favorite dives thus far. The water is shallow so if you have issues equalizing your ears this is the perfect dive for you. The water was very clear and I saw an abundance of sea life including crabs, eels, and colorful fish. My guide at Agua Clara was very informative and gave us general information about Tulum on our drive to Casa Cenote.

Best Cenotes in Tulum Casa Cenote Tulum

tulum scuba diving best cenotes in tulum casa cenote

After diving I had lunch at La Chula Tulum. The atmosphere is nice, the service was excellent and my food was good. It was twice the cost of Burrito Amor Tulum at $11 for my meal but still quite affordable!

I wanted to check out another cenote and Gran Cenote is said to be one of the best cenotes in Tulum. There is $10 entry fee and there is an entire complex with hammocks, a large grass field, and volleyball court. Life jackets are available to rent for an additional fee.

The Best Cenotes in Tulum Gran Cenote Tulum

After falling asleep reading on the hammock in my room I went back to Burrito Amor Tulum for dinner. I was too lazy to look up something new and it was close and affordable. The vibe at night was great with nice music playing and a lively atmosphere.

Day Three: Tulum Ruins and the Best Beach Clubs in Tulum: Coco Tulum and La Zebra Tulum

I had previously visited the Tulum Ruins on a trip to Cancun where I did a guided tour. This time I decided to explore on my own. I paid 100 pesos to park and 70 pesos to enter the ruins, about $8.40. The Tulum ruins are open from 8AM-5PM daily. It gets crowded quickly so arrive early to beat the crowd and midday heat. The ruins are right on the beach and you have access to it with your entry. Bring a bathing suit and towel if you want to take a swim!

I contemplated visiting the Coba Ruins as well on this trip as I haven’t been before. However, it’s an hour away from Tulum, not terribly far but I was being lazy on my solo trip so I skipped it. If you’re interested in visiting, read this guide on visiting the Coba Ruins.

Tulum Ruins Things to do in Tulum

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

After spending the morning enjoying the Tulum Ruins it was time to relax on the beach. Since I wasn’t staying at a beachfront hotel I had to decide where I wanted to go. While there are free public beaches in Tulum like Las Palmas and Playa Pescadores I wanted full service. I researched the best beach clubs in Tulum and decided on Coco Tulum. It has free parking, beach chairs and umbrellas and cute swings facing the water.

There is a minimum spend of $25 at their bar/restaurant to enjoy these services.  I’d have to eat lunch so I thought it was worth it. My order ended up being less than $25 (around $15) and they did not make me order anything else. I’m not sure if they aren’t strict on the minimum spend or if I just got lucky. The restaurant is cash only so be sure to have some. If not you’ll have to pay the $8 ATM fee like I did. 

Best Beach Clubs in Tulum Coco Tulum

I made a 5pm appointment for a 2 hour massage with Margo in Mexico after reading amazing reviews on her services. I love massages but always feel like they an hour goes by so quickly. So when I found out Margo charges $115 for two hours I had to splurge and treat myself! Since I had a car rental I chose to go to her home studio which reduced the price a bit. Don’t worry if you don’t feel comfortable with this option. Margo will come to your Airbnb, resort, or can even offer a beach massage for an additional fee.

Feeling relaxed I headed to another one the best beach clubs in Tulum, La Zebra Tulum for dinner. While it was dark outside and I couldn’t fully enjoy the beauty the beach club offers it wasn’t my main reason for visiting. La Zebra Tulum  has free salsa lessons on Sunday nights and that’s why I really came. Like Coco Tulum La Zebra offered free parking in a private lot. After salsa lessons a live band performed while everyone danced. Even if us novice salsa dancers couldn’t remember the moves from our lesson, we had a great time! My meal was excellent but I had sticker shock in comparison to where I’ve previously been eating. My dinner came up to $30, a far cry from my $4 Burrito Amor meal.

Day Four: Casa Malca Tulum at Pablo Escobar’s Mansion

I would be heading back home today but I couldn’t leave without visiting Casa Malca Tulum at Pablo Escobar’s Mansion. It’s a beach front hotel and Instagram famous for its hanging chairs and sofa. I decided to treat myself to breakfast at the Philosophy restaurant on-site which is gorgeous. The food, like the hotels on this beachfront hotel zone are way more expensive than downtown. My french toast and scrambled eggs cost me $25 but you’re paying for the atmosphere.

Best Beach Clubs in Tulum Casa Malca at Pablo Escobar's Mansion Best beach clubs in Tulum Philosophy Tulum at Casa Malca

After breakfast I returned my car to Alamo and was picked up by Cancun Airport Transportation for my Cancun airport transfer. I had the most amazing first solo trip and highly recommend parents take at least once a year. Here are some products I recommend for solo trips which I used on mine.


Found this post helpful in planning a trip from Cancun to Tulum, Mexico? Please share it to help someone else!

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. Cicely says

    January 27, 2019 at 2:10 am

    Yes, yes, yes! Thank you for posting this! I’m planning my first solo trip and plan on going to Tulum!!!!! Your post is so detailed! Thank you! I do have one question, though. If you had to do it over, would you feel comfortable driving from Cancun to Tulum by yourself?

    • Monet says

      January 27, 2019 at 3:38 am

      You’re so welcome! So I think I would feel comfortable, the road to get there is all highway and pretty much a straight shot. I would however only do it if my flight landed and departed during the day where I wasn’t driving at night. I just had no intentions of renting a car in Tulum which is why I did the shuttle and I will admit I hate driving long distances. Yes I think 90mins in a car is long distance lol, don’t judge me!

      • Dee says

        January 28, 2019 at 12:30 am

        It is a long drive especially when the road is unfamiliar. It is about the same distance from ABQ to Santa Fe I got caught driving down those dark roads with limited GPS and the charger in my rental wasn’t working so I was scared. So yeah, great advice about making sure you start out early enough in the day.

  2. Dee says

    January 28, 2019 at 12:25 am

    Sounds like you had an amazing and refreshing solo vacation. Tulum is high on my list of places to visit this year.

  3. Kenya says

    January 28, 2019 at 4:56 pm

    How can you travel so much? I wanna travel as much as I can while I’m young. Tips?

    • Monet says

      January 28, 2019 at 4:59 pm

      Hi Kenya! Please check out these blog posts to help you,How We Afford to Travel So Much https://thetravelingchild.co/how-we-afford-to-travel-so-much/ and How to Travel Frequently with a Full-Time Job https://thetravelingchild.co/how-to-travel-frequently-with-a-ft-job/

  4. Janay says

    January 29, 2019 at 12:22 am

    I loved this! I always wanted to do solo travel before I got married. My daughter was young and I always made the excuse that she “needed me”. I love to travel, however, sometimes you want to do things by yourself. It can make for a completely different experience! Thanks for giving me the motivation to try!

  5. Tawana says

    January 30, 2019 at 4:44 am

    Thank you so much for this detailed experience! I want to take my first solo trip, but I am nervxcited! I was thinking PR, but now you got me wanting to go here.

  6. Yoline says

    February 8, 2019 at 9:13 pm

    Hello, did you make arrangements to be picked up from the airport before traveling or once you arrived?

    • Monet says

      February 8, 2019 at 10:38 pm

      I arranged it prior to arriving at the airport.

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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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