We had the good fortune of connecting with Ana Ruiz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ana, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I always felt a deep calling towards having something of my own. Even when I was little, I remember being stuck in my mind wondering why everyone walked the same path towards working for someone else. But it wasn’t until I became a mom, more than 20 years later, that I found the true motor behind it.

I loved traveling so much, and now I loved spending time with my daughter, so being an employee, and having someone decide when I got to do these things I loved, wasn’t how I pictured my life anymore.

Based on my Family Travel experience, and knowing that there were many new moms around the world giving up on travel because they had kids, I decided to start my own Family Travel Coaching Business to help these mamas become empowered family travelers.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’m the owner of Monos Viajeros and a Family Travel Coach who helps latin mamas navigate the many moving pieces of family traveling. I essentially help them close the gap between the logistics and the emotional part of traveling with kids. From understanding fears and barriers to conquering the planning process and connecting with their deeper travel goals. We work closely together through 1:1 Coaching Packages & Programs.

You probably won’t find many Family Travel Coaches around because what I do is fairly new. My main focus (unlike travel agents who plan trips or sell you packaged travel); is to show mamas how to access the transformative parts and benefits of traveling with their children.

In my business, I still find daily challenges. I take them all as signs that I’m growing, and the best ways for me to overcome them have always been to surround myself with like-minded people and protecting my energy. Sometimes the answers come when you’re not looking for them.

Through Monos Viajeros, I want other mamas to know that they can have it all! Our environment has conditioned us to think that we must choose between traveling and having kids, and we don’t have to. Combine 2 things you love and the love you’ll have in return will amaze you. I dared to do it when my daughter was just 3 months old and now, more than 30 cities later -and a new baby on board-, all I want is to keep seeing the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If we were doing a week long trip, I would probably start with 3 days in the city and then the traveler in me would use the opportunity to do a couple of 1-day and 2-day trips.

During our time in LA:
We could go to have Breakfast at Alcove Los Feliz. This is a restaurant/bar with a beautiful outdoor patio full of trees. I would have them try the best Avocado toast of their lives! Other places we would eat are The Farmer’s Market, Palms for amazing Thai Food and for something truly unique, we would plan an Ethiopian dinner in Messob.

Some places and activities we’d love to do: Visit Lake Hollywood Park for nice and not crowded views of the Hollywood Sign, take the Metro around DTLA with a must stop at The Bloc, and do a quick hike at Runyon Canyon.

Outside of LA:
I would love to take my friend on a quick day trip to the beautiful danish city of Solvang and the beachy Santa Barbara, and for a 2 day trip, depending on the season, we could go to Joshua Tree National Park or Big Bear Lake.

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Website: https://monosviajeros.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monosviajeros/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anaruizmonosviajeros/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/monosviajeros1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredtravelmama

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