When Plans Fall Through

On March 10, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Writing, Trip Planning9 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?

14 Gifts for Your Travelling Valentine

On February 4, 2016February 7, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips1 Comment

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching (11 more days, oh my!) which means it’s time to shower those you love with, well, more love. Last year, I happened to be away from home at this time, celebrating Valentine’s Day over FaceTime with Mike. He handled it very well and gave me the perfect Valentine’s Day gift to support my choice to travel, even if it meant spending the day apart. If you and/or your valentine happen to be of the nomadic variety, here are a few (14 to be exact) suggestions for tokens of your affection:

Vintage Postcards to stay in touch with while you’re apart. Bonus points if you include stamps! ($7 for the set)
Photo Courtesy of Amazon.com
FujiFilm Instax Mini Camera to add some whimsy to the no doubt endless amounts of photos they’ll be taking. ($70.00)
A Pretty Notebook to journal their adventures. ($19)
Photo Courtesy of Anthropologie.com
Scratch Off Map to chronicle the places you’ve been together, plus some fun home décor. ($36)
Photo Courtesy of UncommonGoods.com
A Toiletry Bag to help them carry the essentials. ($38)
Photo Courtesy of Flight001.com
A Book to keep them company on a long flight without you. ($10)
A Rollerball Version of Their Preferred Perfume to help them carry-on only with their favorite scent. ($20)
An iPad Travel Case to help them travel with information and style at their fingertips. ($13)
Photo Courtesy of Amazon.com
Luggage Tag to save time at baggage claim. ($10)
Photo Courtesy of Flight001.com
Shadow Box Frame to hold their plane tickets, train passes and polaroids. ($35)
Photo Courtesy of HipLittleSquares on Etsy.com
Cozy Socks to keep them comfy and warm on their travels. ($10)
Photo Courtesy of Stance.com
A Beautiful Scarf to liven up their outfits and keep them cozy on their flights. ($65)
Photo Courtesy of Aritzia.com
Solid Headphones to fill their head with music and drown out annoying passengers. Bonus points if you include a playlist. ($180)
Photo Courtesy of Amazon.Com
A Globe to help them map out their next adventure. ($129)
Photo Courtesy of UncommonGoods.com

Now that you have my best recommendations, go forth and make your better halves’ wandering hearts soar. Bonus points if you can sneak it into their luggage before they leave (unless it’s a bottle of wine in their carry-on). If you’re out a significant other, buy yourself all of these trinkets because, damn it, you deserve it. Happy Early Valentine’s Day!

What’s the best travel-related gift you’ve received? How or where do you plan on spending your Valentine’s Day?

Spa Day Chicago

On January 27, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Chicago, Illinois, US Travel5 Comments

I don’t often get to treat myself, but I fully understand the importance to do so (and you should too!). Today I treated myself to a Spa Day. My very good friend, Amber (you may know her as the mom of adorable Manny the Frenchie), and I made appointments to get pampered at the Mario Tricoci Spa on Michigan Avenue a few weeks ago and today was the day. I had been so looking forward to this! Amber picked me up bright and early this morning and we drove over to the Gold Coast, specifically, the 900 North Michigan Building. We checked in at the Front Desk twenty minutes early for our appointments
and were shown into the cozy locker room. We changed into the provided robes and slippers and waited in the lounge for our massage therapists. I was greeted by Judith, and she was absolutely amazing. The massage was wonderful and so relaxing; she really fixed all of my aches and pains (computer neck is an actual thing that happens, apparently). Afterwards, I met Amber in the “Quiet Room” where there was comfy couches and mood lighting.

I tried to soak it in but soon it was time for me to rinse off, change, and head to the nail suite for my pedicure. The Spa is fairly large, so I had to stop at the desk to ask where exactly I was supposed to be. A very friendly guest service agent showed me up to the nail suite where I was greeted by my pedicurist, Gwen. She very sweetly brought me a cup of green tea and got to work on my feet. I have to say, I don’t typically have very pretty feet but after this pedicure, they looked pretty dang good. I chose a handsome purple polish by the name of Bahama Mama.

Afterwards, I had some time to relax and read (“American Gods” by Neil Gaiman”) while I waited for Amber to finish her second appointment. I waited in the lounge where there were apples, hot tea and lemon water. In hindsight, I should have booked more time between my massage and pedicure so I could have enjoyed the quiet room a little more. I should have known better though, because I used to work in a spa, so I know a thing or two about spa etiquette. Here are a few tips to ensure your own spa day goes off without a hitch:

Always, always book your appointments in this order: massage, facial, nails. Do you want to put your facial fresh face in a face cradle? No you do not. Do you want to worry about wet nails while you’re enjoying a facial? Nope!
Arrive early for your appointments and enjoy the amenities in the spa, especially the steam room.
Typically, if you’re doing a shorter massage (50-60 minutes) the massage therapist will be pressed for time to do a whole body massage. Let them know what areas, if any, are hurting so they can make sure they work on them
Try to tip your massage therapists, estheticians, and nail technicians with cash if you can

Once Amber was finished, we settled up at the front desk and went to Frankie’s Scaloppine on the fifth floor. There, we had some dynamic pizza and good conversation, both agreeing that we need to do this more often. It was a perfect day.

Where do you go for your perfect Spa Day? What do you like to do to pamper yourself?

Trip Planning: San Francisco

On November 10, 2015November 10, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning3 Comments

Trip Planning: San Francisco

I cannot tell you how excited I am for my upcoming trip to San Francisco. One more month! I booked the flights three months ago, but have only just begun to plan the actual trip. I will once again be travelling with my boyfriend, Michael, and we’ll be celebrating my birthday (ahem, my 26^th Birthday) while we’re there. Right now, I have one hotel booked, but only for two out of our three nights there, and a long list of attractions I want to see. Here’s what I have so far:

Flights: Frontier Airlines – Previously, I had a not so great experience with Frontier (see SLC Punks), but was willing to try them again because the price was so right. I plan on doing a full review on them this time to set the record straight.

Hotels: Hostel International San Francisco Downtown – 2 nights booked. We are on a little bit of a budget for this trip, which is why we chose to stay in a hostel for the majority of the trip. However, I tend to like to stay in a hostel for a couple nights to save money, then book a nice-ish hotel for the last night, just to get both perspectives (I did this in North Carolina too). I think our second hotel will be Hotel Vertigo, but I have yet to book it out of sheer procrastination.

Attractions: The Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, The Mission, Cable Cars… the list goes on and on. I would really like to bike across The Golden Gate Bridge, shop in Haight Ashbury, eat some good seafood by the ocean, and find the Full House house. We are also planning on driving to John Muir Woods to hike and Sonoma for some wine tastings. There are a lot of things to check off and I’m hoping we can get to them all without going crazy.

Restaurants: I have had two recommendations that were pounded into my brain by insistent friends: 1. Dottie’s for breakfast and 2. Yank Sing for dim sum. I plan to try both, and as I said before, I really want to east some good seafood in Fisherman’s Wharf. I don’t want to pick too many restaurants that we absolutely must go to so we can ask around when we get there to see what the locals recommend.

Typically what I do for trips like this is to write down my must-sees/must-eats, which I choose from Pinterest and Travel Blogs, and use Google maps to see how far away from the hotel each one is. That way, I can group attractions together based on what’s near what. I try to make a rough, but not too binding, schedule of how I can make it to everything. This is especially important for this trip, because we have to rent a car for a day to get to a couple of our must-sees (John Muir Woods and Sonoma). I haven’t made the car reservation yet, or our last night hotel reservation, BUT I did get “On The Road” to read on the plane before we visit the historic Jack Kerouac Alley. So that’s settled. Even though not everything is organized quite yet, I am beyond thrilled to be able to visit and experience this gorgeous city.

I’ll keep you updated on this trip, but in the meantime, enjoy these photos from the first time I was ever in San Francisco in 2002. We only stopped there for a couple of hours on our way to Yosemite National Park, but I guess it was long enough to make me want to go back!
Feel free to leave all of your best San Francisco travel tips in the comments!

Planning the Perfect Staycation

On November 4, 2015November 4, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning1 Comment

I firmly believe that it’s really important to explore your own city. It would be such a waste of a perfectly good destination if you didn’t. This is where the staycation comes into play. It’s a great way to get the feel of a relaxing vacation when you don’t have the time or funds for one. While travel is obviously something that I’m passionate about, I have a fondness for staycations and the vacation vibes they provide in between big trips. There are two ways to plan a fantastic staycation: 1.) think of yourself as a tourist in your own city and venture to unchartered territory (to you, anyways), or 2.) book a hotel with some sort of spa/pool facility, get yourself a good book and chilllllllll. When my boyfriend and I staycationed at The Freehand earlier this year (see staycation blog here), we chose the first option. We went to a popular restaurant we’d both never been to and wandered around the city, popping into bars and enjoying the River Walk. I have to say, staying downtown and enjoying the city lights and attractions definitely made me love Chicago even more than I already do. It’s about time we try the second option, but more on that later. Whichever option you choose, you are sure to have an amazing time and a whole new appreciation of your hometown. Plus, you get the added bonus of having the knowledge and experience to play concierge to your friends and family when they ask for accommodation or restaurant suggestions. Below are my best tips for planning the perfect staycation, take them as you will and let me know what you’re favorite staycation plans are in the comments!

Choosing the hotel: This is most likely your first step in planning your staycation. Base this decision on what kind of experience you’re looking for, i.e.- if you want to relax, book a hotel with room service, a pool and/or spa and a comfy bed, or if you want to explore, choose a hip hotel in the center of the action. If you live in a big city like I do, the options for hotels are endless and can get a little pricey. As I am not made of money, I usually check if there are any deals on LivingSocial or Groupon first.
Planning activities: Since you’re familiar with the lay of the land, I’m sure you already know exactly what you’d like to do. Choose something that you’ve always had on your hometown bucket list, but haven’t made time for yet. Maybe it’s finally caving in and checking out that city attraction all the tourists rave about, or seeing a play at the local theater or even trying out a trendy bar. If you aren’t planning on venturing out, make a spa appointment or check if your hotel has any special in-room features you can utilize.
Doing dinner: Whether you’re relaxing or exploring, you gotta eat. For the relaxing type – kick back in your hotel room with some room service or order delivery and eat it in your robe. If you’re feeling adventurous, go out to a restaurant featuring a style of cuisine you’ve never tried. Either way, order decadently and enjoy.
Sleeping in: I don’t really have a whole lot to say on this topic, other than, if you are staycationing, it’s imperative that you sleep in at least a little bit. Bonus points for you if you order breakfast in bed.
The morning after: Take your time in the morning and don’t rush to leave the hotel. Go for a dip in the pool, go out for breakfast, have a morning shopping spree… whatever you want! Squeeze every last bit out of this staycation, and don’t even think about checking out early.
Going back to reality: Of course returning from any sort of vacation is always rough, but since you were only a few miles from home, it should be easier to get back into the swing of things. Take the rest of the day to soak up all the good staycation vibes and go back into your weekly routine feeling refreshed and happy to know your city a little better.

Top Five Friday #3

On October 2, 2015October 6, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Top Five FridayLeave a comment

Carry-On Essentials

I like to think of myself as a pretty organized packer. I make lists, I pack ahead of time, and I have a straight forward system for the morning of the trip to pack up my last minute items. I always strive to only pack carry-on when flying, due to my impatience with baggage claim and fear of having luggage lost. However, when I’m forced to check a bag, there are a few things that absolutely need to be in my carry-on for the flight. I’m a pretty low-maintenance traveler, but I do get a little cranky if I forget to pack any of the following items:

1. Make-Up Remover Wipes: I absolutely need these for every trip. I always feel so greasy after a flight, and it makes me feel infinitely better to be able to wash my face. These wipes are an easy way to freshen up without much hassle. I prefer Simple Brand, but any kind will do.

2. A Good Read(s): I refuse to travel without a book to keep me company. And while I love actual paper books more than I love electronic ones, my iPad is more space-friendly when I travel. I tend to burn through books with that much time on my hands so my iPad allows me to bring back-ups without bringing an extra carry-on full of paperbacks (yes, it’s happened before).

3. A Scarf: It really is one of the more versatile and useful things you can bring with you on a flight. You can accessorize with it, use it as a blanket, put it up as a makeshift curtain between you and your seat mate…whatever you want. I like wearing a scarf on the plane because it jazzes up my usual travel outfit of leggings and an over-sized t-shirt.

4. Concealer: Like I said, I’m not all that high-maintenance, but I do prefer to step into a new city with the confidence of having hidden under-eye circles and pimples. I like to have a good concealer on hand to handle these problem areas, which somehow always seem to worsen after a flight. I prefer Benefit Erase Paste, but again, any brand will do.

5. Empty Water Bottle: I think this is a pretty well-known airport hack, but it’s definitely worth over-mentioning. Bringing an empty water bottle in your carry-on allows you to take it past security and fill it up by your gate to avoid overpaying for an airport bottle of water. The water fountain is free, people, take advantage of it! I won’t bore you about the importance of staying hydrated while traveling, so just think about it on your own.

What are your carry on essentials? Do you have any baggage/airport hacks you stand by?

P.S.- Things that didn’t quite make the cut: headphones (an obvious choice), ZZquil (only necessary for the really long trips), snacks (another obvious choice, for me anyways), Notebook/pencils (duh) and Nivea Crème (no need for more emphasis on the importance of hydration).

P.P.S- The products are linked for your convenience, not for my benefit. 🙂

10 Tips for Planning a Trip from Scratch

On September 3, 2015September 25, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning1 Comment

Sometimes when the travel bug bites, you don’t feel pulled in any one direction. This can prove to be a fantastic opportunity. To plan a trip from scratch, meaning with no destination in mind, can be a beautiful thing. Picking a destination through throwing out a wide net and finding what deals are out there is a great way to start planning a trip you may not have been able to imagine before. I’ve tried this tactic a few times with amazing results. This is actually how I planned my trip to North Carolina earlier this summer. Below you can find my top ten tips for completely planning a trip from scratch:

Budget, Budget, Budget: This may be a boring first step, but it’s necessary. Set a budget for how much you want to spend on your airfare and hotels to help narrow your options. I’m not saying you should shoot for budget travel, but just try spend within your means or credit card limits.
Explore your options: Use the Kayak Explore function, or something like it, and see where you can go within your budget. You can put in your home airport and check flights to anywhere. Don’t rule out a road trip! Check mileage with google maps or try roadtrippers.com to help plan the ultimate road trip to wherever you choose.
See what each option has to offer: Once you have options, check out the attractions in the area to see which you find most appealing. I like to use Pinterest to have good visuals and links to the top lists of attractions in each list.
Check Transit: Another thing to check before making any decisions is your destinations transportation options. Is it a walkable city? Is there public transportation? Will you need to rent a car? And those are all things to think about budget-wise, as well.
Lodging: Check hotel prices in the area. I like to use Tripadvisor for reviews and pricing, but I also use websites like Livingsocial or Groupon to find any deals on hotel rooms. Trivago and TravelZoo also have good deals to be found.
Ulterior Lodging Options: If the hotel prices are too high for your budget, take a gander at Airbnb.com or check out if there are any hostels in the area. For me, hostels are always a great budget option with great locations.
Book it!: Once everything fits the way you want it to (locations, prices, attractions), start booking! I usually book airfare, then hotel and finally choose any additional events or attractions (tours, boat cruises…) later on.
Take note: Be sure to write down all of your important dates and times, as well as cancellation dates to avoid charges should you need to cancel any portion of your travels. Having all the details in one place will help you keep organized.
Loose Itinerary: Make a rough plan of things you want to do while you’re there. You should make sure to take note of any special events happening in the area or days certain attractions may be closed.
ENJOY!: You planned this whole trip from start to end and you deserve to enjoy every minute of it. Don’t forget to relax and take in all the amazing details. You earned it.

Have you tried this before? Where did you go?

The Eternal Optimist

On August 20, 2015September 25, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips3 Comments

The Eternal Optimist

I’ve been writing this blog on and off for a year now, and my friends and family have been very supportive (Thank you, guys!). However, I have received a very accurate criticism lately that has made me reevaluate my writing style a little bit. The criticism was that I never really talk about any challenges I face when travelling. I completely agree with this statement. I have always been hesitant to complain about anything, because I don’t want to put anyone out, or be negative. For example, my mom always likes to tell people that when I was younger, I would wait until my big toe was sticking out of my shoe before complaining that they were too tight. I guess it’s just the people-pleaser in me. So, after mulling it over, I’ve decided that if bringing up the negatives will help the lovely people who read this blog when they travel or bring a little more depth to my writing, then I’ll do it. I realize I have some catching up to do with my old blog posts, and I will edit them, I promise. But in short form, here are the Top 7 issues (and solutions!) I’ve faced this past year of traveling:

New Orleans: My boyfriend and I travelled to New Orleans over Labor Day Weekend last year. We had so many things we wanted to do, that some of the more time sensitive things were pushed to the end of the trip. For this reason, we were not able to go to Longue Vue House or Saint Louis Cemetery, which both were very high on my must-see list.
Lesson: You don’t have to plan out your whole trip, but pay attention to operating schedules of attractions when prioritizing what you want to accomplish.
New Orleans #2: It is very hot and muggy in NOLA in the summer months, which is a given. If you’re smart, you know that you should hydrate more when it’s hot. Especially after physical activity, like hiking through a swamp. Unfortunately, we hydrated with rum slushies and very little water one day during our trip. This resulted in an early departure from a tour and a number of stomach problems for both of us.
Lesson: Hydrate!!!
Salt Lake City: I booked this trip through Frontier Airlines during one of their (many) sales, about a month before I was to fly out. In my hurry to beat the curfew of the sale, I purchased a ticket to fly back a day later than I was supposed to (having to be back to work that day). I didn’t realize my mistake until the my last day in SLC, or so I thought, when I checked my email and noticed I didn’t have anything from Frontier to check in for my flight and I pulled up my booking summary. As a result, I spent an hour on the phone with a representative from the airline and had to pay an additional $100 to change the date of my flight. Not really a fun way to spend my last night.
Lesson: Reign in your travel excitement until the booking process is complete and correct.
Shanghai: This one is not so much of a mistake as a cultural misstep. I was in China during Chinese New Year, which, in Chinese Culture, is typically a time to be family. For us (my coworkers and I), this translated to very large crowds in the popular areas and everything closing earlier than normal. One of my coworkers and I were trying to get something special for our managers, a task that we had thoughtlessly waited to do until Chinese New Year’s Eve. We cabbed and trained to three separate locations only to find that everybody had already closed. We got so frustrated with it all that we ended up going back to the hotel and ordering cheeseburgers from room service. Once we got over our pity party, we were finally able to go out and enjoy the rest of the celebrations.
Lesson: Know a country’s culture and traditions before travelling there and it will make your trip infinitely better.

Starved Rock State Park: This day trip was mostly ideal, however there was one kind of major problem: multiple hours of hiking in Chuck Taylors. Yowch!! I stuck it out for a long time because the surroundings were so beautiful. However, by the end of our time there, my feet were so pinched and swollen I could hardly walk. When we got back to the car I immediately took them off and vowed never to make that mistake again.
Lesson: Wherever you go, whatever you do, bring the correct gear!
North Carolina: Two words: Lake Lure. I was there, I walked around, I took pictures, but I didn’t swim! Why didn’t I do it?? I had my luggage, with my swimsuit and a towel, in the car with me. In my head, I was thinking “Oh, I don’t know, maybe I don’t have time. I have to check into my next hotel all the way in Black Mountain, blah blah blah…” I should not have been so worried about time constraints and just done it. Because now I regret not jumping into that gorgeous lake at least once.
Lesson: When you’re on vacation, don’t hold back from doing things that pique your interest. Do everything possible.
Miami: Oh Miami, my solo travel before I knew how to solo travel. I never blogged about it, because it was before rebeccawanderlusting’s time. Let me first say that Miami is beautiful and vibrant, and if done right, highly entertaining. I chose to go there because I needed to be on a beach and it was a cheap flight. Overall, it was a perfectly average trip, but it could have been so much better! I was so timid about going out on my own that I spent most of my time there around my hotel. As a result, I came back feeling like a travel failure and regretted not seeing more while I was there.
Lesson: Don’t be afraid to head out on your own! Do what you want and trust your instincts.

I am very aware that if these are my worst problems when travelling, that I am very lucky. And I’m positive mistakes will keep happening, but I will continue to learn from them, I promise.

What is a travel mistake you’ve made? How did you move past it?

Summer Reading List, RebeccaWanderlusting

Beat Your Travel Hangover

On August 18, 2015September 25, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips3 Comments

Beat Your Travel Hangover

Every time I return home from a trip, after the initial excitement of writing the blog and talking about it with friends has ended, a slow sadness seeps in. I realize now that I’m home, it’s back to work and routine, and it’ll be a while before I can leave again. In-between trips, I am a regular joe, working in an office, daydreaming about my next destination. I’ve found a handful of ways that help me through the lean travel times. Below, in no particular order, are my tips to beat your travel hangover:

Create Something With Your Travel Photos: Whether it’s picking a few shots to hang up around home, creating a collage, an album or a slideshow, it will act like Gatorade for your travel hangover. Show them to your friends and gush about your adventures. Print a few photos to put up around your desk or work-space to remind you of the amazing places your paycheck has taken you. If you’re really savvy, make a travel mug or calendar through Shutterfly.
Read Up: Take in anything travel related. Read about where you just were and compare notes. Read fictional travel stories, travel essays, travel blogs, whatever you want. This will keep the wanderlust at bay and inspire new travel ideas. If you need inspiration for a new travel read, check out “10 Books That Will Infect You with Wanderlust”.
Go on a day trip: I like to take smaller day or weekend trips in-between farther travels to alleviate my chronic wanderlust. Pick somewhere close enough to get there and back easily, but far enough that you feel like you’re entirely away from home. Getting away even just for a few hours can soothe anyone’s itchy feet. That are a number of great places that are within two hour’s drive from Chicago that help me crush my travel hangover (see my blog on Starved Rock).
Try New Cuisines: One of the best things about travelling somewhere new is sampling the food. In between trips, I like to try out new restaurants in my city and let the food serve as a travel bug suppressant. Go out to an interesting restaurant or attempt to cook something exotic on your own. You could try a new dish or one that floods you with memories from an old trip, either way it’s guaranteed to help cure your travel hangover.
Get Yourself Some New Travel Gear: It could just be me, but shopping always cheers me up, especially if it’s travel-themed shopping. Maybe you need a new backpack or suitcase, or perhaps a really great airplane outfit. It could be something as small as a cute passport cover or a travel magazine. If it gets you excited to travel again and brightens your post-trip spirits – get it!!
Start Planning Your Next Trip: For me, this is the best thing to do to calm my cabin fever. It may sound obvious, and it is, but as soon as I’m settled back into my routine, I immediately start searching for plane tickets. Even if the trip is months away, it’ll still give you something great to look forward to. Get inspired and excited for your next trip, and your travel hangover will be a thing of the past.

How do you get back into routine after a trip? What’s your best tip to get over a travel hangover?

10 Tips to Save Money for Travel

On May 25, 2015September 25, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning2 Comments

10 Tips to Save Money for Travel

I love to travel, and I will gladly devote every free penny I have to do so. However, in order to pay for my travel expenses, there are some sacrifices and lifestyle changes that need to be made. Here are my best tips and tricks for saving to fund your wanderlust:

Start a separate savings account: Set up an additional savings account with your bank to hold your travel funds. It’s very simple to do, and only costs the minimum deposit to open it (which is usually $25). This way you have savings devoted solely to your adventures. For me, this is the easiest way to keep everything separate; mostly so I don’t spend my rent money on plane tickets.
Put extra income into said savings account: Whether it’s the extra tip money you got that day, a $20 bill you found on the ground, or commission you made, make the decision to put that extra cash into your travel fund. I usually put a set amount from each paycheck into the account. It can be an amount, a percentage, or whatever you want as long as it’s consistent. Set a goal and stick with it.
Ditch the Gym: Gym memberships are expensive and there are numerous ways to work out on your own. A single work-out DVD or set of weights is much, much cheaper than a monthly membership fee and can be used over and over. Go for walks or runs outside, or join a social sports league.
Eat at Home: Going out for dinner can be very pricey these days. Instead, learn how to cook and make dinner at home. Invite your friends over instead of going out. Or, if you don’t want to completely give up going out, set a weekly budget for yourself so you don’t overdo it.
Plan your Meals: Plan your weekly meals based off of what’s on special or the coupons you have. You can also make large batches of dishes that can be brought for lunch or frozen and enjoyed later on. Knowing you have homemade meals ready at home will make it all the more easier to skip fast food stops on your way home.
Switch to generic: Every penny counts, so the dollar you save off of generic paper products or food can go a long way. Most of the time the generic version is just as good as the name brand, so you’re really just paying extra for the label.
Do-It-Yourself: Stop paying people to do things for you that you can easily accomplish yourself. Make your own coffee in the morning, trim your own hair, fix your own clothes, and paint your own nails. These small expenses, $5 for a latte here, $25 for a manicure there, really start to add up over time.
Sell your old things: I have recently sorted through of all my things due to a move, and found so many things I don’t use or wear any more. I’m sure this is the case for most people, and there are plenty of places ready and willing to buy your old crap. So, clean out your closets and storage and sell the things you haven’t used in a year to someone who’ll get more use out of it.
Turn off the lights: Another big monthly expense, of course, is electricity. Turn of your lights, unplug your appliances and turn off the air when you leave the house. Watch less TV or keep the lights off and open the blinds, because again, every penny counts.
Shop the sales: Some people just need a little retail therapy every now and then, and I am absolutely one of those people. However, I try to shop the sale sections at stores I like, or go to discount stores like Nordstrom Rack or outlet stores. Again, it’s best to set a monthly budget for these sorts of things.
These are tricks that have worked for me, and I’m sure there are many more that work for other people. The most important thing to remember is that you really can do this: save up your money and see the world. It’s a definite possibility. So, Happy Wanderlusting and Good Luck!

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