Category Archives: inspiration

Why you should Choose to Cruise with a Baby

Admittedly I had never cruised before our Mini-Hobo came into our lives. A backpack and passport are more my style. Parenthood got to me though and I couldn’t justify sneaking my baby into a hostel. Hubby Hobo and I decided the best way to travel with our baby was to try a cruise. Here are 7 really solid reasons to cruise with a baby.

Always an Appropriate Excursion – There are lots of options for excursions once you

Totem Poles in Sitka, AK

get to port. Cruisers book these ahead of time and we found there were many baby-friendly day trips available. Since we did an Alaskan cruise we opted for a hike to Mendenhall Glacier, a 14 Person Pedal Bike Tour, and a Duck Tour where our vehicle meandered around town and then drove into the water to boat around the harbour. Mini-Hobo just hung out in a carrier on my back. There are lots of great options for scenic hikes or simply exploring the shops and restaurants in each town.

Doting Elderly People – Let’s face it, the majority of cruisers are seniors. This isn’t a bad thing though! Elderly people LOVE babies. You will never be short of hands on a cruise. If you need a minute to grab something out of your diaper bag there are lots of Grandmothers and Grandfathers who jump at the chance to hold your wee one. People even bought our baby souvenirs and gifts!

Room Service – This was a lifesaver. Any parent probably knows that babies can be

Mmmmmmm

early risers. Add in a time change and you might just find yourself up at 5 am everyday with no access to food until the dining hall opens at 7. The solution? Room service, my friend! It is free on ships and you can put in a standing order. We had coffee, eggs, fresh fruit, and pastries delivered to our door at 6 am sharp every day. And the best part is that it is all included so no extra fees!

Balcony Naps – My advice to you if you are going to cruise with a baby, splurge on the

A little wine on the balcony during nap time

balcony! While baby is napping you can sneak out onto your little deck and enjoy the sunshine and scenery instead of being trapped inside a dark quiet room on your vacation.

Same Room Every Night – The beauty of a cruise is that you get to travel to many different ports or countries but your little one can sleep in the same familiar room every night. This is especially amazing considering how much gear babies need. You only need to pack and unpack once. Most cruise lines will provide a crib for your baby to sleep in.

Lots of Onboard Entertainment – There is no shortage of things to do on a cruise. Whether it be hanging by the pool, watching the evening show, testing your skills at trivia or bingo, or simply wandering the ship and taking in all the sights…. you’ll find lots of ways to entertain yourselves and your bambino.

Babysitting Service – Most cruise lines offer a babysitting service. Some cruises only offer babysitting while in transit so check with your cruise line ahead of time. The rates are fairly reasonable (about $10/hour). Put baby to bed and go catch the evening show or book a fancy dinner so you can enjoy a little time with your travelling companion.

There you have it! 7 Reasons you should Choose to Cruise with a Baby. Travelling with a baby is never perfect but for us this was a great combination of a vacation that was stress-free and manageable while still enjoying the splendour of new and stunning sights.

Camping with a Baby: 10 Packing Must-Haves

2 Replies

This past week Mini-Hobo and I braved the great outdoors and went camping for a week. Here are 10 Packing Must-Haves for a camping trip with a baby.

Pop Up Play Tent – This was a lifesaver! The pop-up tent with the screened in walls and attached floor gave Mini-Hobo a spot to crawl around without us having to worry about bugs, too much sun, or him eating fistfuls of sand and twigs.
Wipes, wipes, and more wipes – Expect that your baby will get dirty while camping. The whole family used these wipes for cleaning hands, tidying the table and high chair, and wiping up food so birds or other critters don’t find leftovers.
Sunscreen and Bug Repellant – No matter how much you try to stay in the shade, baby will be exposed to a bit of sun. If it’s too hot to cover up the little bambino with clothes keep some sunscreen on hand. Also, a natural bug repellant to spray the high chair, stroller, or baby’s legs and arms can prevent a lot of itchy bites later.
White noise machine – When camping one is supposed to enjoy the quiet serenity of nature but we know that doesn’t always happen. The birds sing early in the morning and fellow campers may stay up singing around the campfire late at night. Bring a white noise machine to help baby block out all the unfamiliar sounds.
Stroller/Carrier – Having a way to transport baby is key. The stroller is nice if the trails are smooth enough to meander on. The carrier is perfect for hiking or completing tasks around camp. Hopefully your wee one can catch a nap in one of these too!
Sunhat and Sunglasses – See point #3; despite your best efforts baby will be exposed to the sun. Bring a sunhat with a brim and sunglasses with a strap. Now good luck trying to get your little one to keep them on!
UV Blanket – Every afternoon we would walk Mini-Hobo around the campground or down the beach. And every afternoon he would fall asleep. Having a UV blanket is handy in order to drape over the stroller so no sun or bugs have access to your little babe. The blanket is breathable and semi-transparent too.
Storage Bin – You are probably using one of these to pack your belongings; did you know it can do double duty? When Mini-Hobo got overheated or needed a bath we would simply fill the bin up with water and stick him in it. He had a grand time splashing around!
Clip on High Chair – On uneven terrain a high chair that clips onto the picnic table is perfect! We left ours on the picnic table all week and simply took the tray off to give it a wipe (see #2) before every meal.
An Easy-Going Attitude – Heading into the wilderness without electricity or easily accessible running water can seem daunting; especially with a baby. Don’t worry, the fun you will have watching your little one take in all the joys of the outdoors will outweigh any less-than-luxurious living conditions you will endure. Relax, have fun, know that there will be a few hard moments, and enjoy every minute of your adventure!

What is your Camping Must-Have? Add your suggestions in the comments.

Do’s and Don’t’s of Travelling with a Baby

5 Replies

Looking to take your baby on vacation? Here are the Do’s and Don’t’s of Travelling with a Baby:

DO – Look for a deal where you little one tags along for free. There are all-inclusive resorts where children join for free. Some cruise lines offer promotions where the 3rd and 4th guest travel for free. The options are out there, you just have to find them.

DON’T – Leave your time zone. Having your baby wake up at 3:30 every morning because his or her little internal clock tells them it’s morning can definitely dampen your enthusiasm for the day’s activities.

DO – Your research on the weather during your time of travel. There would be nothing worse that being cooped up in a small hotel room with a baby for a week due to torrential downpours.

DON’T – Expect to feel like you’re on vacation. You are simply parenting in a different environment. Your baby will not understand that you just want to relax on a beach with a margarita.

DO – Bring as little as possible. Many vacation destinations will provide high chairs and cribs. On some cruises or all-inclusive resorts you can even arrange to have diapers, wipes, and baby food waiting for you upon arrival.

DON’T – Think that your baby’s sleep or behaviour is going to be unaffected. Babies love routine and familiarity. It will take more energy to entertain them or put them down for naps than usual.

DO – Fly! Why not? You bambino still goes for free on your lap. And let’s face it, several hours in a car with a wee one is not ideal.

DON’T – Expect everything to go to plan. You need to roll with the punches more than ever when travelling with a baby. Be flexible and keep an open-minded attitude.

DO – Splurge (within reason) on anything you know will make life easier or your vacation better. Get the balcony on the cruise! It will give you a space to go when the baby is napping.

DON’T – Take baby anywhere too hot. Their skin is super sensitive to the sun and heat rash can make a wee one very cranky.

DO – Go somewhere with a babysitting service. Whether this is a resort, cruise, or simply joining Grandma and Grandpa down South, make sure you get some time to yourself on your holiday.

DON’T – Let this article discourage you from taking your baby on vacation.

DO – Travel with your bundle of joy! It is hard work and there may be situations that are less than ideal but you will have those memories forever. Sometimes the unplanned parts of a trip are the ones you laugh about later.

The Roads of Travel Lead to Love… A Valentine’s Day edition

2 Replies

It’s that time of year again; either the admired or dreaded Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is a celebration of Love. So in honour of this pseudo-holiday, I present to you the reasons why the Roads of Travel Lead to Love!

Traveling with a Companion – Traveling with a partner can make or break a relationship. You witness a side of the other person that you don’t get a chance to see in everyday life. I can recall many less than ideal situations with HubbyHobo in developing countries. Racing through an airport only to find out we’ve missed our flight and realizing we have no place to sleep; enduring hallucinogenic-like fevers; or simply gaining an understanding that my definition of fun and acceptable activities varies vastly from my partners (I honestly thought HubbyHobo would enjoy waking up on a rickety floating hut in the middle of a Thai Lake on Christmas Day!). Regardless of the situation, you only have each other and you can either problem solve and work together to rectify the situation or self implode as a couple. More often than not, what seems like a crisis situation at the time turns into one of the most laughable stories you share with your friends when you get home. Experiencing the ups and downs of travel together only makes you stronger as a pair.

Who wouldn’t want to wake up here Christmas Day!?

Love for Yourself – It’s hard to be single on Valentine’s Day. But here’s the good news; just because you don’t have a partner to share your travel experiences with, doesn’t mean you aren’t on the Road to Love. Part of being open to Love (of any kind) is being able to love yourself first. If you lack true confidence, self-efficacy, and identity it is difficult to fully open yourself up to another person. Being a happy and fulfilled person will allow you to give a future relationship opportunity the fair shot it deserves. I can’t think of a better way to gain an understanding of your morals, values, and personal capabilities than by traveling. Traveling may not be the direct Road to traditional Love, but it can play an important role in self discovery and loving yourself.

Traveling Solo – No matter your relationship status, traveling alone will Lead to Love. As stated above, traveling single will help you to grow as a person. Leaving a loved one behind will also provide you with personal insight about yourself and your partner. I left HubbyHobo for 100 days. While it was hard being away from him, I found when I returned we were more in love than ever. It became obvious how much we enjoyed each other’s company and basic daily companionship. It also made us realize what each of us brought to the relationship. Just because you do things separately, does not mean you aren’t working towards a more loving partnership. HubbyHobo had no desire to travel to Africa but he understood that I did and supported me in that. If that’s not Love, I don’t know what is!

Super Solo at Vic Falls

Love for Other Cultures – Lastly, the Traveling Road can Lead to the Love of other human beings. By experiencing different cultures we gain an understanding of how others live or view life. This opens us up to becoming more loving people in general. We learn not to categorize people based on race, religion, gender, or money. People are people. Traveling allows us to open our hearts to everybody and gain a basic Love for humankind.

This lady was so happy we were in Lewoh to teach she gave us some bananas. 🙂

Who needs flowers and chocolates?! … grab a loved one and hit the road!

Happy Valentine’s Day Hobos.

The High Class Hobo

High Class Trips on a Hobo Budget