Finding Unique Souvenirs

On July 19, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning1 Comment

Souvenirs are abundant, with gift shops around every corner in most destinations, it’s not hard to locate something to remind you of your vacation. What is difficult is finding something that isn’t kitschy or cliché, something that won’t sit on your shelf unused and unloved, collecting dust. After all, how many mini spoons, snow globes and I ❤ Wherever shirts do you really need? Now a days the souvenir trends are shifting away from things that loudly proclaim where they’re from and towards more understated items that bring back memories from distant lands. I always have such a hard time getting rid of things I bought as souvenirs, so all of the old items are in a Tupperware container under my bed. Not ideal for remembering the place I bought them fondly. Lately, when I travel, I look for more practical things to bring home. And when I say practical, I mean things like the Elvis clock we bought in Memphis, the one that his hips sway with each tick and tock. Things like that.

We also have a tendency to buy magnets because they’re cheap and easy, but we’re running out of real estate on our fridge so they won’t be a practical souvenir much longer. With that said, the following are some ideas for alternative souvenirs from your upcoming travels:

Home Décor – Make your home décor unique and fun by having pieces you’ve curated yourself through your travels. These kinds of souvenirs will adorn your home and bring back memories every time you look at them. I like to look for unique wall art or travel themed antiques. When we traveled to Grand Rapids, MI, I got a beautiful antique globe that is now on my desk.
Food and Beverage – Food and drinks make great souvenirs because you can enjoy them and then they are done, not cluttering your shelves or gathering dust. I like to bring back beer or wine from different destinations, specifically Spotted Cow Beer every time we go up to Wisconsin.
Photos – The best and cheapest souvenir is, of course, pictures from whichever destination. The key is actually doing something with them instead of leaving them in the paper envelopes from the photo counter. Frame your favorites and hang them up or create your own album for each trip with Shutterfly!
Books or Albums – Books, albums, or whatever form of entertainment you prefer make great souvenirs. You’ll enjoy them as you read/listen/watch and remember the destination where they were purchased. I prefer books, which is why I usually pick one out for each trip, like “Wilderness Essays” by John Muir from the John Muir Woods book shop.
Everyday Items – I recently read this article about buying everyday items from your travels that you will use constantly, and therefore be constantly reminded of where you got them. I think it’s a genius idea! Everyday items are typically less expensive than your usual souvenirs and you will actually get a lot of use out of them.

What do you think? What kind of souvenirs do you like to get when you’re away?

Happy Father’s Day!

On June 19, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel TipsLeave a comment

An Ode to My Dad, The Adventurer

My Dad influences me in a lot of ways. He’s just the epitome of what a dad should be: honest and hard-working, encouraging, adventurous and fun. He has always been an excellent role model. Of course one of the biggest ways he has influenced my life is instilling a love of travel in me. Growing up, as I’ve said before, we traveled a lot, usually going to National Parks and doing outdoorsy things. My Dad was always the one climbing over fences and across rivers, waving at us from a place we couldn’t quite reach, adventuring further in the wild than the National Parks typically allowed and then coming back with a huge, trouble-maker grin on his face. To me, he’s the original adventurer. While we were in Tennessee this past week, we sat in rocking chairs on the porch of our cabin in Gatlinburg and talked about travel and how it has influenced his life.

RW: What generally inspires you to pick the destinations that you travel to?

“What there is to do outdoors, like golf, kayak, explore outside. National Parks are big for us.”

My mom sat out there with us, sipping coffee and chiming in when needed. When I had asked how they chose where they took us when we were kids, she explained that it was such a treat for her parents to take her to Disney world when she was young, so they took us there twice within the span of a few years. After the second time, my dad had had enough and explained that he did not want to see animatronic animals and hear canned music, he wanted to go somewhere real. This is how our trips to National Parks started. This first one we went to was Yellowstone, and we road-tripped there just as my dad had done when he was young.

What did you like most about going to the National Parks when you were a kid?

“I always liked the hikes. Sometimes we would go on guided hikes with a ranger, sometimes on our own. They would always have a movie in the outdoor theater area where they’d show movies at night. We’d always go to those. They were nature movies about birds or about wherever we were, about the park.”

My dad’s parents would take him, his three brothers and two sisters on road trips out west to National Parks and they would camp wherever they went.

Did you take us to the same parks to relive those memories?

“No, we took you there because they’re beautiful, they’re a part of the big wide world. I think everyone should see them.”

Did we influence where we went on the trips?

“Well, obviously we did things that you would be able to do. We didn’t go on ten mile hikes…well, yes we did sometimes. But we tried to gear it towards you kids and not do something you couldn’t do.”

While I do love those hikes now, I remember liking those long hikes as a kid ONLY if we could go to the gift shop at the end of them.

Why do you think it was important to take us on trips when we were kids?

“I don’t know, it was just ingrained. My parents took us on trips. I think it makes you appreciate things better.”

What motivates you to travel now?

“There’s still places on the list that we want to see. It’s never going to be empty. We look forward to our trips. We don’t need to take big trips either, you know, we take little trips on the weekend. We take off for a day or overnight or whatever. If we aren’t tied to the house for whatever reason, for chores or managing life, then we’re going somewhere.”

I think it’s also important to note that during this trip, my parents towed a trailer all the way to Tennessee and beyond that contained their motorcycle, kayaks and golf clubs. They moved on to Asheville after the rest of us went home to have a few more adventures. If that doesn’t sum it up, I don’t know what else could.

Which destination has been your favorite so far?

“Italy, by far.”

My parents took a trip to Italy in 2010 for their thirtieth anniversary. While there, they traveled to Rome, Tuscany and The Amalfi Coast, right on the Mediterranean.

What was your favorite part about Italy?

“A big part of that was being some place new, a new culture, but also to see things that are so old, so important in history.”

What would be your dream destination right now?

“I don’t think I can pin one down, there’s still so many things we want to see.”

Just pick one.

“I’d love to go to New Zealand. It’s supposed to be beautiful for motorcycling. I think because my dad was stationed there in the service (The Navy). The other one that comes to mind is not very exotic, but your mom and I want to go soon: The Southwest National Parks: Zion, Bryce and the Arches.”

What is your best travel advice?

“Be patient. Enjoy the moment, it’s so easy to get caught up with getting from one point to another point, you get frustrated. It’s an old statement, but it’s not about getting from point A to point B, it’s the whole thing. That’s true. I’ve been guilty of getting caught up in the destination part.”

“Just get out there and do it. There’s too much world to see, don’t be a hermit crab.”

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL THE DADS OUT THERE! Especially mine. Thanks for everything, Dad – keep on exploring.

Top Five Friday #13

On June 3, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Top Five Friday, Travel Tips3 Comments

Lessons From Traveling as a Couple

I remember the first trip Mike and I ever took together like it was yesterday. It was actually in August, 2014, and we had only been dating for four months at the time. We made the fourteen hour drive to New Orleans and spent three amazing days there. We had stormy afternoons, drunken nights, ran out of money, dealt with some car issues and endured what turned out to be an eighteen hour drive home. In short, we really tested our fairly new relationship. And I’m so glad we did. That trip meant a lot to both of us and we still talk about it frequently; comparing all other vacations to that first perfect trip to NOLA (even despite the bumps in the road). Traveling as a couple can make or break a relationship, but when it’s done right, it can really bring you closer together. Each trip Mike and I take together teaches us something new, whether about each other or how we travel as a couple. We’ve finally gotten a good rhythm. For example, I know not to drag him around to different attractions when he is hungry, and he knows to be patient with me when I am trying to take pictures, and so on. Though I do enjoy traveling solo, Mike will always be my favorite travel buddy. Here are our best tips for couple’s travel so far:

Always discuss the activities and attractions you want to visit beforehand: You would be hard-pressed to find a significant other that enjoys all the exact same things you do. That’s a good thing though, right? Opposites attract! When talking about what you want to do while you’re on vacation, make a list together and make sure both of your interests are equally represented. You will both be much happier to do these things together when you know it was a joint decision.
Stay hydrated and fed to avoid nonsense fights: This might be the most important tip I could give. I cannot tell you how many times Mike and I have bickered over nothing, just because one or both of us was hungry. It seems like such a small thing, but it will save you a lot of grief along the way, I swear.
Plan the financial aspects ahead of time: There is nothing that will sour your vacation together faster than arguing over who will pay for what. If you are splitting the costs, decide who is paying for what before you even leave. Make a list of potential costs and split it up however you want: pay for alternate meals, split the hotel bill at checkout, however you want to divide it up. Just stick with the plan to avoid awkwardness on the road.
Split the responsibilities: Whether it’s dividing the driving hours for a road trip, carrying the backpack, or being in charge of the map, don’t make one person take all of the responsibility. Splitting it equally means that you both have equal amounts of fun. I do not really enjoy driving, but I will take my turn so Mike can rest and enjoy the scenery too.
Always have a Plan B: No matter how much you plan or how evenly you split your costs, there’s bound to be something that doesn’t go exactly as planned. Always have a Plan B to get you through. For example, when Mike and I had planned to go to Toronto earlier this year, we ran into some unforeseen circumstances and had to cancel the trip. Fortunately, we bounced back and went to Grand Rapids instead. Things fall through, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be for the better.

What are your best tips for traveling as a couple? Where was your favorite trip together?

For further reading, here are all of the trips Mike and I have gone on together: New Orleans, New York, Milwaukee River, Dubuque, Memphis, San Francisco, and Grand Rapids.

Trip Planning: Tennessee

On May 29, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Tennessee, Travel Tips, Trip Planning, US TravelLeave a comment

In less than two weeks, I will be heading to Chattanooga, Tennessee for a few days, and then moving on to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Mike and I will be driving the nine hours to meet up with my parents, sister, brother-in-law and niece there. We are spending two nights in Chattanooga to visit with my mom’s side of the family that lives there. I’ve been to Chattanooga a couple times before, so I’m excited to go back to this beautiful city! From there, our three-car caravan will drive three hours up to Gatlinburg, to a cabin near the Smokey Mountains. The gorgeous log cabin that we’re staying in has three bedrooms, an idyllic porch with a mountain view, a hot tub, and a pool table. I have purposefully not planned anything for while we’re in Tennessee, mostly because I don’t want to drive my family crazy with my overambitious to-do lists. I am so excited to get away from the city for a few days to relax, hike and enjoy the outdoors. This will also be my first trip with this camera, so I’m hoping to get some good photos of the scenery. It’s been a long time since we’ve been on a family vacation, and I couldn’t be happier that we’re finally making up for lost time. Tennessee here we come!

Here is what I’m packing:

Clothing:

(2) pairs of jeans
(1) dress
(2) pairs of shorts
(1) pair of leggings
(2) pajamas
(4) t-shirts
(2) blouses
(1) swim suit
(2) tank tops
(1) sweatshirt
(8) underwear
(3) bras
(7) pairs of socks

Shoes:

(1) pair of gym shoes
(1) pair or flats
(2) pairs of sandals

Toiletries:

Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Make-Up Bag with the essentials
Deodorant
Paul Mitchell Texturing Sea Spray
Make Up Remover Wipes
Allergy medicine
Sunscreen

Everything Else:

My Nikon D3300 with battery charger
iPad
Audiobook TBD
Phone Charger
Pencils and Pencil Sharpener
Notebook
“Slouching Towards Bethlehem” by Joan Didion
Car Snacks

Have you been to either of these two Tennessee cities? Do you have any recommendations?

2016: A Year in Review, RebeccaWanderlusting

Amman Day Trips

On May 24, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn International Travel, Jordan1 Comment

The following Amman Day Trips guide is brought to you by
Ms. Gracie Barrie, check her out on Instagram: @standbyflygirl

After thoroughly exploring Amman, you may feel the need to get out and explore more of the country. Jerash is about a 45 minute drive north of the city and it is worth every minute and more. Often called the Pompeii of the East, Jerash is a must-see for anyone with even the slightest interest in history. It is awe-inducing in size and preservation. Walking down the main street you practically hear the Roman vendors and merchants arguing about prices and sales. You can walk through the temple of Zeus and sit on the steps of the temple of Artemis. The best part about it is that it’s so big that you can often wander for a few moments without seeing another person, completely losing yourself in the process. The amphitheater is the most incredible part of it all. It stands in near perfect condition, its height daunting and causing legs to wobble at the top. Sometimes a group of musicians waits inside to serenade you with a song and to show you where to stand to get your voice to echo throughout the entire stadium. You will most likely encounter some men waiting inside for tourists to tell you a few facts or show you around for a second in exchange for a few dinars. Some of these guys have worthwhile facts, like the guy who will show you the hollow pillar that echoes when hit in just the right spot, but others may just be trying to sell you something. Keep your wits about you and you’ve got nothing to worry about, they won’t pester you if you politely say no. Jerash is like traveling back in time for a day, so plan for plenty of hours to spend back in the 2nd century.

Another day trip that would probably take about half the time of Jerash is a visit to Madaba. Only about 45 minutes away from Amman, Madaba is like a laid-back brother to the capital city. It is home to St. George’s Church which houses the oldest map of Palestine known to us today. The ancient mosaic was uncovered when the church was renovated, so the church itself isn’t ancient, but the mosaic is a special surprise. Madaba also has Mt. Nebo, the place where Moses was supposedly shown the Holy Land. On a clear day you can see Jerusalem from the top and a stunning view of neighboring Palestine. After seeing the sites be sure to stop at Haret Jdoudna for a life-changing meal. The restaurant is a legendary family-owned business housed in a restored 20th century Madaba house and it is almost as if you can taste the hard work and history in the food. Madaba will only take about half of your day so if you have the time it’s a great quick trip to get away from the noise of Amman.

Another day trip from the city worth your while is Bethany, or the Baptism site of Jesus Christ, yes that Jesus. This site even counts Pope Francis as one of its most recent visitors. I’m not and never have been a religious person, but I am an art history scholar and visiting the actual land that the names and faces I’ve come to know through endless art and scripture was inspiring. The baptism site on the Jordanian side of the River Jordan is a humble set of stairs leading into a reservoir fed by the river. You cannot go in the exact site but you can baptize yourself in the nearby river a few steps away. It is a beautiful and calming experience to feel the muddy ground of the river and feel the cold water. You also get a view of the Palestinian side of the river, now controlled by Israel and a brand new, very big tourist center. In my opinion, it took away from the experience to be so detached from the earth at the spot, I was glad to be on the side of the river where grass and water still rushed past your feet, not wet concrete. It is a good idea to dress respectfully and mindfully, and, if you’re a woman, perhaps wear a swimsuit under your baptism dress if you want to actually go into the water (as opposed to undergarments). You are lead through the site in groups that leave from a designated parking area and guided around the many paths that make up the area. Our visit didn’t take very long but it was a valuable experience and sure to be extremely moving if you are religious or interested in history. To think of how much the Christian faith and the figure of Jesus has affected our world since his time is overwhelming. Everything from wars and assassinations, the formation and destruction of empires and people, and hopefully a wide-spread message of love and acceptance has been influenced by the name of this one man who once walked the same land you can now walk today. It’s definitely a special experience regardless of faith (word to wise about the souvenir shop there, the prices are very high. You can likely find similar objects in a souvenir shop in Amman for much less).

From the baptism site we went to spend the evening at the Dead Sea. We visited Jordan in the winter so we had planned our time to only be an evening, but if I were to visit in the summer I would love to luxuriate there for as long as a week. To drive from the baptism site to the Marriott at the Dead Sea only took us about 30 minutes. We purchased a pass from the front entrance of the hotel for about 40 dinars each since it was off-season for access to the beach and pool for the day. We each changed into our suit in the hotel bathroom, as Caroline and I were determined to go in the sea despite the chilly weather and cloudy skies. It was definitely not what I had pictured in my mind when I envisioned going the Dead Sea, namely missing the ungodly sunny skies and tropical drinks with umbrellas in them, and maybe some reggaeton playing somewhere. But I wouldn’t trade anything for the experience we got. We began our walk down the path to the beach which was absolutely deserted. If Zara was any evidence, no Jordanian in their right mind wants to go into the Dead Sea in January (even though it was only 60 degrees! Practically tropical compared to the weather back home in Chicago). After covering ourselves in Dead Sea mud from giant clay pots on the shore we eventually convinced Zara to join us in the water, which was surprisingly warm and comfortable. A word of warning: it is nearly impossible to look graceful while walking into the Dead Sea. The shoreline is all small rocks with crystallized salt covering them. This, as you can imagine, is not the most pleasing thing to walk barefoot across, but it is worth it for the weightless feeling one gets when floating in that sea. I’ve never felt anything quite like it! It was even hard to swim properly because you cannot hold your legs down, everything just floats right to the top. Be very careful not to get any water in your eyes or mouth, the stinging sensation is very real and the taste is absolutely disgusting. After getting used to the floating sensation it is possible to take your phone or camera in the water to get some unreal and jealousy-inducing selfies. It is also wonderful to just float for a while unimpeded and let everything slip away.

It was near sunset by the time we got in the water. Despite being cloudy all day long, the sun came out for the last 20 minutes of its time in the sky and absolutely blew us away. It was just the three of us in the water and an adorable Jordanian beach attendant down on the shore. We felt like the only people in the whole sea and the only people experiencing this incredible sight. Technically you can’t stay down on the beach past sunset but it was so beautiful and we were begging our new friend to please, please let us have 5 more minutes. After we finally went with him back up the steps, he had had his friend/coworker bring around a golf cart to take us back up to the showers and hotel (it will definitely be necessary to shower after the sea, that much salt doesn’t feel too great once dry and you might not have gotten all the mud off). We chatted with him on the way up and he said what so many of the wonderful people I had met so far said before him, that he was so excited that we were American and we were visiting and enjoying Jordan. He wanted to be sure we had an incredible time and that we would be able to tell everyone back home how special this place is. I often think about all the amazing individuals who helped us in our journey and try to tell as many people as I can that my favorite part about the trip was meeting these people with such generous hearts. The hotel has plenty of lounge space for a post-swim drink and supper. After that we threw our sleepy selves in the car and headed back to Amman, about 1.5 hours away.

Top Five Friday #12

On May 13, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Top Five Friday2 Comments

Top 5 Tips for Getting a Hotel Upgrade

It’s always a nice bonus to get a room upgrade when you’re on vacation; like the cherry on top of an already perfect sundae. Though they don’t typically come easily, there are some tried and true ways to secure an upgrade. Whether attempted during the reservation process or during check in, these five tips can help you improve your accommodations:

Just ask: When you check in, simply ask the Front Desk if there are any room upgrades available. Don’t be forceful or demanding, keep it light and friendly. The key is to be casual and conversational. If it’s a slower day, they may have plenty of upgrades available. If it’s a no go, say “thank you for checking” and move on with the check-in.
Be nice: This goes hand in hand with tip #1. As a rule, it’s always, always better to be nice to any customer service professional. If you’ve worked in customer service, you know how many jerks these lovely people have to deal with each day. Don’t be one of them. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, right? Being kind and appreciative goes a long way.
Mention that you’re celebrating: If you actually are celebrating something, let the staff know! If you’re not celebrating any real occasion, make one up. Sure, it’s a little white lie, but it’s bound to get you at least a complimentary bottle of wine sent to your room. It works even better if you let the reservation agent know your celebrating a birthday, anniversary, whatever when you’re making your room reservation. The upgrade could be set up before you even arrive.
Book your reservation through the hotel: I am not trying to knock online booking systems like Orbitz or Expedia, I use them and love them. That being said, if you choose to book through the hotel directly, you have a better chance of being upgraded because you’re paying their rack rates. If the hotel has rooms to upgrade, guests that are paying the hotel’s rates (as opposed to the cheaper rates offered on those websites) are more likely to be upgraded.
Offer to Pay for It: If all else fails, offer to pay for an upgrade. While you are spending a little extra, you will almost certainly not be paying the rack rate for the upgraded room. Coming by the upgrade honestly isn’t the worst way to go, and spending more might mean more amenities in the long run.

What about you? Do you have any go-to tips to secure a room upgrade?

A Note on Over-Planning

On May 4, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning2 Comments

There is a delicate balance to planning a trip: under-plan and you might miss out on things you really wanted to do, over-plan and you’re apt to drive yourself crazy trying to accomplish everything. While there certainly is a benefit to creating a plan for your vacation activities, scheduling too many things to do and see is a sure-fire way to turn your relaxing trip into a stress-fueled nightmare. I’ll admit, I have a tendency to be a bit overzealous when it comes to making my vacation to-do lists, which can lead to a lot of running around and not a lot of enjoying the city I’m visiting. I learned the hard way what over-planning does to a trip once I arrive. Case in point: Washington, D.C. I booked my plane ticket two months before I was due to leave, so I had plenty of time to read D.C. travel blogs and compiled a two page, unedited, intimidating list of things to do and see while I was there.

Perhaps if I had more than three days to work with, this wouldn’t be a problem, but as it stood, I was working with a pretty limited time frame. As a result, I spent most of my time in D.C. running from museum to monument to restaurant and back again. So much so that when I finally retired to my hotel room each night, I passed out early from pure exhaustion. I put so much pressure on myself to do everything, see everything and eat everything, that I was more exasperated than excited, which isn’t really the desired emotion during vacations. I don’t mean to say that I didn’t enjoy my time in D.C., I really did! I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to explore this new city, and there were plenty of great moments during the trip. However, on the flight back home, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed in myself for not enjoying it at a more leisurely pace. I missed out on a couple of things that I was really hoping to do simply because there were so many other things. That’s crazy, right? Travel should be freeing and exciting, not make you feel like you’re still at work. It was a hard/expensive lesson to learn but I’m glad I can move forward from it. The silver lining is, now I can work on not doing that again. For future trips, I will make my to-do lists more curated to my interests.

How do you plan your trips? Do you make to-do lists or just go with the flow?

Travel, Change of plans, RebeccaWanderlusting

When Plans Fall Through

On March 29, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning5 Comments

Sometimes, no matter how meticulously you plan, travel plans fall through. Maybe something unavoidable came up, forcing you to cancel, maybe you’ve found that you’re in a little over your head financially and need to dial it back, or maybe you just lost interest in that particular destination. Whatever the case may be, it’s okay to change plans. It happens. Heck, it’s happened twice to me in the past month. I’ve rearranged travel plans to better fit my budget, and I’ve done the opposite and splurged on a trip I will need to save up some more money for. They actually go hand in hand, really.

Back in December, Mike gave me a trip to Toronto for my birthday. Over the past three months, this thoughtful gift turned into a little bit of stress for both of us. First it was because we had to keep changing the date due to work conflicts (my fault), then we couldn’t decide whether we should drive or fly there; these little things kept nagging at us. Plus it was starting to get more and more pricey. It just wasn’t coming together. It felt like a sign that this trip just wasn’t meant to be, so we cancelled it. We still wanted to have a long weekend though, because we both had already taken the days off of work. We needed somewhere closer, cheaper, and with enough points of interest to keep us busy, but not enough to overwhelm our short time there. Enter: Grand Rapids, Michigan, home of Founder’s Brewery, Frederick Meijer Gardens, good food and antique stores galore! You might think, “that is the most random place for a romantic weekend getaway,” but it fit the bill perfectly for us. And to be honest, I’m actually a little more excited with this change because it came together so seamlessly. The fact that it will be a cheaper long weekend is a big plus for me due to my second change of travel plans this month. I’ve scrapped a budget friendly trip for the fall to splurge on a eurotrip to Iceland and Copenhagen (more on that later).

So the moral of this story is, someday, a trip that maybe you had been looking forward to will fall through, but that does not mean an equally great if not better situation might come up. The great thing about travel is anywhere you go is bound to have at least one great attraction, restaurant, book store, or whatever interests you. Every destination has it’s merits.

Has this ever happened to you? How did you overcome cancelling your plans?

Top Five Friday #10

On March 18, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Top Five Friday, Travel Tips4 Comments

Tips for Travel Budgeting

Budgeting is a necessary step in the trip planning process. It may determine the destination, or the type of accommodation, or set a goal for a trip in the far future. Whatever the case may be, a solid budget is an essential travel accessory. Below are my top five tips for budgeting for your next trip:

Set a realistic number to start with and stick to it. Research how much the primary expenses will be, this would include your flight/gas/train ticket and your accommodations. Factor in attraction costs and tours, then add in how much you would ideally spend each day on food and miscellaneous expenses. The key is to not be stingy with your budget starting out. If you have more than you thought you might need during your trip, that’s better than the alternative. (For tips on saving money to add to your travel budget, see this blog).
Add in buffer funds. Whatever you came up with tip #1, add a few hundred to it for emergency expenses. Keep this buffer fund in a separate savings account, or in cash hidden in your suitcase somewhere. In other words, somewhere you can’t readily get to unless you absolutely need it. Hopefully you’ll never need to touch these extra funds, but it’s good to know you have them should anything come up.
Check fees and extra charges before booking. If you have a set budget, you need to account for the fees charged with airline and hotel bookings that might exceed what you’ve budgeted for. For example, budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier have fees and extra charges for pretty much everything. $5 to choose your seat ahead of time, $35 for a carry-on bag… these things add up pretty quickly. There are some hostels charge extra for luggage storage and linens and hotels that will charge for WiFi and parking. Check all of this ahead of time and factor it into the budget.
Budget for each day using cash only. You already know what you want to spend daily, so make it easier on yourself and have only that much cash on you each day. It is much easier to keep track of where you’re at when you are using tangible dollars for each purchase rather than swiping a card for everything you buy. This is a handy way to stay on budget, but you should certainly keep your credit/debit card on hand too in case you’re in need of those buffer funds.
Leave room for last minute adventures. Yes, budgeting is very important for each and every trip, however, I’ve always been of the belief that adventure is nothing without a little spontaneity. If there is something you really want to do or see, go for it! Don’t miss an opportunity to do something you’ll never get the chance to try again just because you’re budget might be a little tight for it. You’re on vacation after all, have a little fun.

What is your best budgeting tip? What adventure would you splurge on?

The Perks of Solo Travel

On March 15, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn solo travel, Travel Writing1 Comment

I don’t always travel by myself, but when I do, I revel in the untainted freedom of it. There is a certain beauty to exploring a new city on your own. It’s not that I don’t love travelling with my friends or with my boyfriend, but there is a special place in my heart for travelling alone. One could argue that seeing a new destination is best when you have someone to share it with, but I feel like sometimes I appreciate it more when I discover new places on my own. It’s so gratifying to successfully navigate an unfamiliar destination without relying on anyone but yourself. I’ve done it well and I’ve done it not so successfully, but there is no doubt that I will keep travelling solo as long as it’s an option. Below are my favorite perks of solo travel:

Being in Control of Your Own Schedule: Your time is 100% your own and you can fill it with whatever you want. There is no need to compromise what you want to accomplish because it’s your trip. If you want to lay on the beach all day and read trashy romance novels, you can do that. If you want to eat at the same restaurant for breakfast lunch and dinner, you can do that too. Your trip, your decisions, whatever makes you happy is what you can and should do.
Meeting Amazing People: It’s always easier to meet new people when you’re by yourself than with a group; maybe because you seem more approachable or maybe because you’re more open to your surroundings when you are alone. Whenever I travel alone, I meet the kindest people who are always ready and willing to help with directions, give restaurant suggestions or chat for a while about the city we’re in, or anything at all.
Never Being Bored: I think my biggest pet peeve about telling people I’ll be travelling alone is when they ask, “Won’t you be bored? What are you even going to do there?” The answer to this annoying question: I’m going to discover a place that is completely new to me, I’m going to try exciting new foods, I’m going to get a feel for the culture and the people. I will be so busy enjoying these new experiences that I won’t even think about boredom. How could anyone be bored on vacation, alone or otherwise?
Gaining Confidence: When I took a solo road trip to Asheville, NC, I was testing a lot of personal limits. I’m not a super comfortable driver, but I made it there without incident AND once there, I drove up and down mountains. MOUNTAINS. This was a very large step outside my comfort zone, however it is kind of necessary to force yourself out of your comfort zone when you travel alone. There won’t be anyone else there to do the uncomfortable things for you. You have to count on yourself for the whole trip, but then again, that’s how you find out what you’re made of.
Never Waiting Around: How many times have you tried to plan a trip, but couldn’t find anyone with the time or funds to go with you? If you travel alone, you only have your own schedule and budgeting to worry about. This makes choosing when and where you’re going a whole lot simpler. There’s also the plus of not having to compromise where you want to go with your would have been travel companions.
Learning a thing or two: Travelling alone is a wonderfully eye opening experience. You’ll learn to be comfortable on your own, and that’s a solid life skill. You will also learn how to consistently budget, the value of a back-up plan, how many pairs of shoes is too many pairs to pack, and, not to mention, how amazingly helpful Google Maps is. If nothing else, you will come back with the knowledge that this is something you can do. You can travel alone, enjoy a new place and enjoy yourself in the process.

Travelling solo is really an amazing and invaluable experience that everyone should try, more than once if possible. Yes, it may change you, but only in the best of ways.

Here are the solo trips I’ve taken lately: Asheville, Miami, Washington, D.C.

Have you travelled solo before? Where did you go? What did you like best about travelling alone?