Baby, JetSet, Go! Destination Review: Munich, Germany

When we were planning to get our Schengen Visa, Germany wasn’t among our top choices of countries to visit that were listed among the member states. It only happened that my husband was there for training that we ended up getting our visa from the German embassy. We also decided to enter Europe through Munich to meet my husband and to spend a day or two in the city. And it was such a great experience that I now rate it among our top vacation spots. Munich is known for its world-famous beer gardens and as host to Octoberfest activities. But it is actually much more than that. I highly recommend visiting this city when traveling with a child to Europe.

If we rate this on our Baby-friendly scale, we would put it at 9/10. Getting through the Franz Josef Strauss International Airport is relatively easy because the layout is easier to navigate than most international airports (although it is the second biggest in Germany and the seveth biggest in Europe). Plus, it is very well appointed. It gives easy access to public transport (train system) and has additional amenities like shower areas. Munich is the third largest city in Germany but is easy to explore because of its super efficient trains and trams — when the counter says the train will be there in one minute, you could literally count it down to the second. It has been rated as the world’s most liveable city with the highest quality of life and is also considered among one of the safest cities in the world.

Munich International Airport

This capital city of the state of Bavaria offers many astounding sights to behold due to its medieval architecture that are still very well preserved. Even with the great transport system, we enjoyed just walking around the city with our two-year-old. We stayed at a hotel just a corner off the main train station (Munich Hauptbahnhof) in the city centre. Yet, on our first day in, we just walked from Karlsplatz all the way to Hofgarten, passing through the main square of Marienplatz. It’s amazing to see medieval fortifications standing the test of time. Rathaus-Glockenspiel, Isartor, Sendlinger Tor and Karlstor are all must-see attractions. The weather is cool and crisp during the onset of summer, so even if the entire walk took about 5 hours back and forth, it was well worth it (and take note, we did this with a toddler on a cloth carrier)

Toy store in Karlsplatz

Karlstor in Munich

Neues Rathaus, Marienplatz

Hoftgarten, Munich

Our second day was spent mostly at the Englischer Garten. This beautiful garden in the city is huge! They say it’s even bigger than Central Park in New York. We saw the famous Eisbach surfers, had our picnic in the park and dipped our feet in the frigid water of the river that ran through the city. Towards the end of the day, we walked to the famous Chinese Pagoda Biergarten. It would have been another amazing night with great food, relaxing music in a fun environment, too bad we were rained in and had to leave early.

Picnic in the English Garden

A river runs through the Englischer Garten. Anyone can swim but the water is soooo cold.

People in Munich are extremely nice and helpful. Despite the language barrier, a lot of the residents would approach us to talk to us in German when they see us carrying a baby. BTW, we visited Germany at the opening week of the 2014 World Cup, so the beergardens were always a great place to hangout in whatever time of the day. For those who are hesitant about bringing little kids to a beer garden, set your worries aside, it is perfectly alright to do so. In fact, my baby loved the lip-smacking food and the gigantic pretzels. Some beer gardens even have a play area for kids.

Munich is a great place to visit even for those with infants and smaller kids.

Baby, Jet Set, Go! Destination Review: Rome, Italy

We spent 3 days in Rome during our recent European vacation. There is much to see in this see, but I wouldn’t exactly call it baby-friendly. First off, hotels in Rome are expensive so we opted to stay with a gracious host/friend. This is a first for us since we usually spend a chunk of our travel budget on hotels and serviced apartments. It feels nice to have someone to rely on when on holiday in a strange city where you don’t speak the language. Plus, we spent our hotel budget on sight-seeing and dining instead.

The first thing you should do when in Rome is to eat! 

It is just a fabulous place for food. My daughter tasted the authentic versions of two of her favorite dishes: Spaghetti and Pizza. It’s not what one more used to the American version of this dishes would expect. The ingredients were basic but flavorful. The simplicity in which these dishes were cooked were so humbling that you get to experience all of that Roman experience just by eating out.

Jellybean enjoying an authentic Italian pizza.

And don’t even get me started on the gelati. Whether you get it from a street corner truck, in a bar or inside the Vatican, it was just amazing. It’s not ice cream. It’s not sherbet. It’s something in between that bursts with so much goodness you forget your own name. I think we did 3 or 4 gelati breaks a day.

We could eat gelato all day!

Most people in Rome are considerate of those traveling with a baby. For instance, in a bus when they see you standing with a baby, everyone around you will automatically offer you a seat — young or old. It’s even funnier when there are young people busy with their phones or in conversations and older ones see them not offering their seat, they really get a screaming from the older folk.

The difficulty comes in the actual transportation. There is a subway system but most commuters take the buses as there are several lines crisscrossing the entire city. A word of warning though, bus drivers are NOT friendly at all. Our host walked us to the station and talked to the driver in Italian to drop us off near the Vatican entrance. Of course he did not. And to make matters worse, when my husband stood beside him to ask where it is, he started shouting in Italian. After ending up in the terminal, we did find our way to where we wanted to go. It was very fortunate for us that there were several friendly Filipinos riding the bus that day. One of them even walked us right to the Vatican gate. So a good tip when you are trying to find you own way around the city, get a day pass for the bus or one-week pass if you are staying longer. Just remember to validate it for the day on the first bus you ride as this would result in a fine if you don’t. Also, grab a map that shows the bus numbers for specific tourist destinations. I thought the first incident with the bus driver was just a one-time thing, but I was wrong. My husband was scolded / ignored by bus drivers around 5 times during our trip. Some of the Filipinos we met said that it’s common because they don’t really understand or speak English and sometimes its just the way they speak, as such it is best to find your own way when commuting.

Rome is a densely populated city plus the influx of tourists is unbelievable during the summer months. Expect big crowds or super long lines at each tourist destination. With the number of people in the area, expect also that you may get stuck in traffic jams here and there. We spend an average of 4 to 5 hours a day stuck in buses trying to get from one destination to another. You will also be warned of pickpockets as this often happens in the city.

Roma Central — along the ancient forum structures of Rome.

Jellybean enjoying a stroll along one of the pedestrian streets while looking out into the enclosed ancient structures.

Don’t miss out on the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and of course, the Vatican (which we will rate separately). For those with toddlers who love to run and climb, they will have a grand time chasing pigeons and just enjoying the cobblestone streets. The way to the Colosseum is a a closed pedestrian street, Fori Imperiali runs about 1.1 kilometers and while enjoyable to walk at a leisurely pace, your toddler may soon tire out. There’s a nice gelati shop on one side where you can also find the Tourist Information Center.

We got lost for a few hours before we found our way to Fori Imperiali — the closed off road heading to the Colosseum

The Colosseum itself is a sight to behold. This 2,000 year old forum is where many mock battles, gladiator contests and other public spectacles were held in the ancient times. For those with smaller children, there is an elevator that could take you to the third floor at the very back. Of course we were not told about this and only found out after we climbed 3 flights of uneven steps. Inside, my daughter (unaware of the bloody history of the place), enjoyed jumping from one rock to another and dangling near the edges secured by wires and flimsy bars where she could fall two to three stories high…yes, it could trigger any parent to either go insane or have a heart attack.

Brave little girl looking down the three story drop.

Inside the Roman Colosseum

View from the top of the Roman Colosseum.

The Trevi fountain is inside a few small streets near nice little cafes and spice shops. Unfortunately, they were doing construction when we were there. It was closed off in plexiglass but we still saw how amazing it was even with no water. The funny thing was, people were still throwing in coins and the construction workers kept shouting “Oi” and “Ei” because they were getting hit.

I would give Rome a 7/10 in our Baby-Friendly Scale. It is a good experience for young couples and tour groups, but you are traveling with small children, you need to plan your vacation well. The traffic situation, the number of tourists as well as the rude bus drivers make the city difficult to navigate with a toddler. But the amazing food and the breathtaking ancient sites are worth the hardships.

Baby, JetSet, Go! Destination Review: The Vatican

Considered a separate country from Rome (and the world’s smallest sovereign state), the Vatican is an exciting experience by itself and we feel it deserves its own review. On the baby-friendly scale, I would rate it an 8 out of 10. There is plenty to see and do within its walls and a toddler as young as 2 can easily enjoy this destination.

Getting in the Vatican City

The first thing you need to know when traveling to the Vatican is how to find it.As we’ve mentioned in our review of Rome, bus drivers in the city aren’t exactly the friendliest of people. The major sign that you will see is the bridge leading to St. Peter’s square. If you are unsure about how to get there, most bus riders are pretty friendly and it would be best to approach them instead to ask any commuting questions you may have. There are several buses that pass by the Vatican, namely:

• 40 (Limited stop express) – Termini – Piazza Venezia – Argentina – Piazza Pia (for St Peter’s/Vatican)
• 64 – Termini – Piazza Venezia – Argentina – Vatican
• 62 – Repubblica – Spanish Steps – Piazza Venezia – Argentina – Vatican
• 81 – Vatican Museums – Piazza Imperatore (Spanish Steps) – Piazza Colonna (Trevi Fountain) – Piazza Venezia – Circo Massimo – Colosseum
• 19 (Tram) – Piazza Risorgimento (Vatican) – Villa Borghese

If you plan to go by the Metro, the adjacent Prati district is served by line A.
Do take note that visitors and tourists are not allowed to drive inside the Vatican and even for residents, only those with official business inside the city are allowed to take their car inside.

Best Time To Visit

Since we were staying with a host who has lived in Rome for years, she told us that the best time to go to the Vatican would be at noon on a Sunday. There is a mass and the pope gives his blessing from his apartment. If you are in the area on a Wednesday, arrive early to see him in the popemobile at 10:30am.

Whatever time you arrive, do expect a large crowd. During mass, the entire square is filled to the brim. They quickly disperse shortly after. The line to get into the Basilica or any other Vatican museum for that matter, is legendary for being a long arduous one.

A massive crowd gathered for the Pope’s noon mass.

If you’re visiting at the peak of summer prepare to bring water as the heat can be sweltering and buying bottled water is costly. Vatican water is potable but I really don’t want to risk it when traveling with a toddler.

What to do in the Vatican

The Vatican is really a place not just for the religious but for art and history lovers as well. It can help give your child early exposure to such beautiful paintings and sculptures.

One of the thousands of beautifully detailed marble sculptures inside St. Peter’s Basilica

While small in size, there is still a lot to see and do in the area. Right outside the Vatican walls, there are flowerbeds shaped as huge images. Your young one might enjoy just seeing the Swiss Guard in their colorful uniform.

Kids will have a blast chasing after birds in St. Peter’s square and getting a refreshing splash of water from one of the four fountains. For school-age children, you might want to look up the history of Nero’s circus, the crucifixion of St Peter and the Egyptian obelisk prior to your visit so you can teach your child about when you get there. There are guided tours in the Vatican for EURO 32 which you should consider when traveling with older kids.

If you’re on a limited time frame for your Vatican visit, we would highly suggest going inside St. Peter’s Basilica.  There is a dress code that is strictly enforced in St. Peter’s Basilica. No shorts, bare shoulders or miniskirts.  Make sure to visit the website to find out all the details you need prior to your visit.

Once inside, pay the additional fee to use the lift so you don’t tire out your kids early into the tour. The first major thing you’ll see are the mosaic cherubs upfront and exit near the cupola. It can be a tight squeeze if you want to go up further into the cupola (dome) so you might want to just stick to the first level if you’re with smaller children. While waiting for adults in your party to come back from their cupola climb, go the the official souvenir shop inside the Vatican. You’ll find the the prices for the items there are about the same as those you would find outside the gate, except everything there is already blessed by the pope.

View from the top deck prior to the climb into the dome (cupola)

There’s a bar right next to the souvenir shop, so you can grab a gelati. If we haven’t mentioned it enough in our Rome review, the gelati experience is not something you should miss when traveling with kids in Rome. We literally had 10 in one day — it’s that good!

You could spend a good 30 to 40 minutes inside St. Peter’s Basilica without getting a single yawn from your kids. The paintings and sculptures are exquisite. They really captured my child’s attention. Or as my daughter did, they could always just run around the vast corridors and look through the peep holes into the Vatican Grottoes below where numerous popes and saints are entombed. You can actually go down into the Grottoes but make sure your kids can observe silence and please do not take photographs as this is considered a sacred place.

Little girl in a big world: My 2 year-old running around the halls of St. Peter’s Basilica

A look into the Vatican Grotto down below.

All-in-all, a visit to the Vatican is a great experience for kids. The lines, the heat, and lots of walking can be tiring but it’s all worth the effort.

Baby, JetSet, Go! Destination Review: Paris, France

I named my daughter after the City of Lights because I’ve always been in love with the place. So, when we had the opportunity to go to Europe, we just had to make a brief stop in lovely Paris. Spring time in this area means warm afternoons but cold nights. Like most of Europe, it is difficult to tell if it is baby-friendly or not when you first set foot in the place. With all the rumors about how Parisians are, I would honestly say I was a bit scared that we’d have a hard time. We were pleasantly surprised with how nice people really were.

We were there at the time when the airport workers had a massive strike, so things were a bit slow in the airport. There were delays in flights to and from Paris but we had a very short flight, so not a big deal. We took Swiss Air and had a stop over from Rome to Switzerland to change planes to get to Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Public transport from the airport was a breeze. We got a pass for the trains and the buses for 3 days even if we were only staying for 2 days. Kids ride free. On the short train ride into the city, there were musicians playing in the train! It was very Parisian and my daughter really enjoyed it. Every subway we rode actually had musicians playing and asking for money – up to you if you want to give them some, but it really made commuting very enjoyable.

There are several places to see and things to do when in Paris. We were very fortunate to have stayed in a very lovely apartment about two blocks from Louvre Museum. The area is in the 1stArrondissement, which is the center for contemporary culture. I got the place via AirBnB, which I will talk about in another post.

Since it was one of the nicer neighborhoods, we felt really safe walking around town and getting on a bus as easy

Traveling by bus in Paris is pretty easy, even with a kid in tow

(since the bus stops right in front of the historic building where the unit was). People in any of the public transportations were very considerate to couples travelling with a baby and would often get up to offer you their seat.

Now, I was talking about how nice people were earlier. One testament to that was the kind elderly lady we met on the bus. We got lost trying to find out apartment after walking for a few miles, so we asked the person sitting in front of us if she had any clue where the street was. She said we were way off. So she got down in one of the stops with us and walked with us for a mile! All the while talking about life in Paris and comparing it to Nice (where she originally hails) and didn’t mind taking us to the closer bus stop to where we should take our next ride. It really was very kind of her.

It really was a preview of how people were in general. Through the next two days that we were there, we had people opening doors for us, giving up seats and even offering to carry our very heavy luggage (loaded with sausages from Germany).

As for places to see in Paris when travelling with a kid, I would recommend the Jardin des Tuileries. This sits next to the Louvre and is a nice open space for walking around and enjoying the nice Spring air. There are a few modern sculptures, some cafes, the giant ferris wheel and a play area for kids. You could also just lounge around the seats and look at the calm pond waters. Do watch out for solicitors who will ask you to sign some petition and ask money from you.

Jardin des Tuileries beside the Louvre Museum

Musee de Louvre is a great place for art lovers, but isn’t really for kids. There are modern commercial establishments (yeah, like a Starbucks) inside were kids can comfortably hang around while parents take turns visiting the museum exhibit, but kids will enjoy just staying at Jardin des Tuileries just as much as being inside the museum.

Outside Musee de Louvre with the infamous pyramid

Walking along the Seine River is another thing to do with toddlers. There are a bunch of cafes in the area so taking a quick stop to rest is always very relaxing.

Love locks on the Pont des Arts. One of the things to see if you walk along Seine River.

A very nice cafe along the streets near the river

Of course, you shouldn’t dare visit Paris and not see the Eiffel tower. I highly recommend going there just before sunset and set up a picnic at Champ de Mars – the large public green space around the tower. A lot of people go there to do just that. You can watch the light show which ends just before midnight. Trains close about 11:45, so try to catch the last one before it closes.

Picnic at Champ de Mars just before sunset

Waiting for the Eiffel Tower light show to start. Just enjoy the cold Spring weather.

Paris was one of the dreamiest places to see in Europe and even if you don’t load up your itinerary with things to do, just walking around and enjoying the sights and tastes would really be memorable for the whole family.

How to Dress Babies for Spring Travel

Jellybean’s Spring Look for Hong Kong

If you are traveling to a country with 4 seasons, it is best to do your research for the current temperature so you can pack the right clothes and have the perfect start to your vacation. Spring is one of those seasons that can be difficult to pack for if you don’t check before your flight what weather to expect. It doesn’t have the sizzling summer heat or the biting cold of winter, but it has a little bit of both — warm during the day but cold at night. Then there’s the occasional rain shower to consider as well.

Here’s our guide to choosing spring clothing to pack for your babies:

• Let the weather and temperature guide you – Continue to check on the current temperature of the area right up until your flight to get more or a less a good idea of what it will be like when you get there.
• Long-sleeves in lighter fabrics, such as cotton, can be your best friend – They protect from the harsh UV rays of the sun and can keep kids warm during colder nights (with an additional layer of clothes)
• Fleece and wool are a big no-no – These can get too hot so best to skip them when you’re packing for layering clothes.
• Layering is still a good idea – Like winter, layering is your best bet to take control of the sudden temperature drops while you’re out and about with your kid. Bring a cotton jacket or a windbreaker to keep them warm at night. Pack a raincoat too for those sudden downpours.
• Play with colors – Spring is a great time to break out those pastels and bright hues. Orange, pink are great color choices to brighten up your kid’s wardrobe. Florals are also popular for lovely little girls.
• Denims work well with the weather – Not so popular during summer or winter, your baby denims can be a hit during spring as it offers the right amount of protection from the weather changes plus its great for outdoor games
• Hats and caps help regulate body temp – While you cannot control the rapid change of temperature, you can help your child regulate it with lighter head gear like toddler caps or cotton hats. Crochet cotton looks great with those florals.
• Sunblock and mosquito repellent are part of the must-haves – Make sure you protect your child not just form the changing weather conditions but also other factors such as UV rays and mosquito bites.

Have a great spring trip!

Baby, JetSet, Go! Destination Review: Hong Kong

Disney Princess

The Hong Kong I remember from my first visit 10 years ago is very different from today’s version. A decade ago, when I first visited HK, the Handover ceremony from the United Kingdom government to China was still fresh in everyone’s mind. It was a very modern city that was super tourist friendly and had a lot of British accent. Today, they are less tourist-friendly and finding an English-speaker can be difficult. But nonetheless, it is still an enjoyable place for toddlers.

Hong Kong is the first destination we travelled to as a huge family – with 3 toddlers in tow. We also did one of our other firsts, we flew out of the country via Clark Airport. The trip was short at 4 days and we covered the two places that we were expected to visit when travelling with kids: Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park.

Getting around Hong Kong is pretty easy because of the MTR. But for those who are not very comfortable with a lot of walking and a lot of stairs (like, when you’re with a bunch of little kids), getting a cab is also fairly easy. We decided to do Disney on our first day. So here’s a good tip, if you’re coming straightfrom the airport, just grab a cab instead of taking the shuttle or the MTR+airport express. You will end up saving so much more if you are travelling with a party of 2 or more. Since Disneyland and the airport are in the same island, you wil spend only about HKD150 for the ride.

So for our first day, we booked two rooms at Disney Hollywood Hotel. I love the hotel because they have really nice facilities and amenities really meant for kids, but there are a few service-related issues they need to correct. For instance, we landed early in the morning (8am) and I requested early check-in. While I understand that my request could not be accommodated when I reserved the rooms, they really should have done a better job at finding rooms for families with tired little travelers.

You see when we got in, several families were already checking out, so you’d think they’d have rooms after an hour or two, right? Nope, that was not the case here. We actually had to wait about 4 hours to get in the room. And we weren’t the only family in the lobby – there were four of five big families waiting for their rooms with kids and adults literally falling asleep on the chairs.

Free games inside Disney Hollywood Hotel

Breakfast set (HKD88) inside Disney Hollywood Hotel

The garden area of Disney Hollywood Hotel

The kids enjoying the piano-shaped pool at Disney Hollywood Hotel

Once you get over the initial annoyance of waiting that long, you will have a better appreciation of the hotel and see how magical it is. They really did allot time and effort designing it to give it that full Disney feel. From the beddings to small items like child-sized slippers, toothbrush and cups – all branded with Mickey.

The nice thing about staying in one of the Disney Hotels (they have two – one is Hollywood Hotel and the other one is Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel) is that they have shuttles going back and forth between the park and the hotels, so if you need to rest in between park visits, you can easily do that. This is really a plus factor if you are there with younger children who can easily get tired from the heat.

Food is a little bit expensive at the hotel and in the park. For instance, in the hotel, the minimum you will spend for a set meal is HKD88. Do check out the store in the hotel’s lobby if you are planning to check in at Disney Hotel, prices for items here seem to be much cheaper than what you’d find in the park.

Disneyland, is as expected, a fun place for kids. Since our kids are really Disney Junior babies, they were very familiar with the characters and enjoyed every minutes spent under the blazing Hong Kong heat. It was unfortunate that we were there during the hottest days of the year and there were barely any characters walking about like they usually do. But nonetheless, the very few that we saw were a delight to the kids. We did see them all when we watched the Golden Mickeys. We also visited some of the newer attractions in Disneyland: Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Point and ToyStory Land — all of them were very nice additions to the park. I especially appreciated Mystic Point. It was a bit scary for my three-year old, but once she gets past the light effects and the thundering sounds, it really is very well done.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Main Street

Grizzly Gulch

Mystic Point

ToyStory Land

If I were to do it again, I’d probably choose to do this at the end-tail of our trip. Getting in and out of Lantau is a bit hard. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the Central parts of Hong Kong from there via MTR or cab.

By Day 2, we decided to transfer to Panda Hotel. While the rooms are lovely and the hotel has a big commercial complex underneath (Panda Place Mall), I would choose one of a more central location than this one. Getting to the shopping areas of Mongkok meant getting on the MTR and traveling about 30 minutes (8 stops away). They do have a shuttle going to Tsim Sha Tsui, but the last one leaves around 7pm. It’s kind of difficult to go back to the hotel via taxi, the fare will set you back HKD250.

The Lobby of Panda Hotel

Be that as it may, Panda Hotel is a great choice for traveler who do not mind the commute. It is a four-star hotel easy access to food and shopping. The staff is friendly and the rooms, while a bit dated, are still very comfy.

We spent about two days just going around the shopping areas and finding good places to eat in Hong Kong. The hotel being in the Kowloon district, it had plenty of dining opportunities to offer and we did enjoy our stay in the area.

For our last full day, we decided to go to Ocean Park. This really was the best decision and our kids really had fun. They had a place with Giant Pandas where our kids spent most of the day, first because the pandas were so adorable and second because it was cool inside the sanctuary. For kids who are not afraid of heights, make sure you take them on the cable car going up. It’s such a thrilling experience and isn’t one to be missed. Use the Ocean Express going down for a different view. On the upper part of Ocean Park, they have the North Pole and South Pole exhibits. The kids were giddy with delight watching the jumping, swimming, diving penguins. I had to admit I was also pretty excited to see them.

Three toddlers and a panda bear

The view from inside the cable car

Family time at Ocean Park with our little shark

Hong Kong is a great place to take toddlers, but the country can be a bit difficult to traverse if you are just using the MTR. Try getting central hotels so you can visit the tourist attraction easier. On the baby-friendly scale though, I’d rate it an 8/10 because we had trouble getting priority boarding with the kids in their airport, but other than that, a very good experience overall.