I personally have been in so many situations where my tiny bit of language skills has saved me. Let's start with a story. This was one of my more embarrassing moments while traveling...
Travel and Language Barriers
Is it Lame to Go on Tour?
It depends. There are a few factors to consider before making your decision about paying for a tour. The type of tour, the number of people participating in the tour, and your comfort and knowledge level of a destination or site are all worth thinking about. Let’s discuss some of the different types of tours you might experience.
Why Shoulder Season is Awesome
When I was a teacher, I was limited to traveling during the summer and spring break. I had to deal with large crowds, high prices, and generally sweltering weather. After leaving my teaching career, I had an opportunity to experience the joys of traveling during other times of the year.
My Favorite Travel Inspiring Movies
With a newborn at home, international travel will be on hold for me for a little while (hopefully not too long, though). During times like this, I love to watch TV shows and movies that inspire me to travel. Here are some of my favorite travel movies.
I'm Not Ashamed to Be a Tourist, and You Shouldn't Be Either.
Tourists get a bad rap, and the label has grown to have a negative connotation. Because of this, it has become fashionable to say things like, “I’m a traveler, not a tourist.” This kind of phrase makes me want to pull my hair out because it sounds pretentious, judgmental, and frankly inaccurate. Let me explain why.
6 Little Tasks You Might Forget to Do Before Your Trip
Everyone knows to book flights, hotels, and maybe transportation before embarking on an adventure, but what about all of the other things you should do before an international trip? Often times these little tasks are forgotten and fall through the cracks, which could end up causing some big surprises - like a huge cell phone or having your bank cards blocked.
Staying Stylish While Traveling
If style is important to you, you most likely don’t want to let it slide while you travel. I mean, who wants to look dumpy in all of your travel photos, or while window shopping in Paris??? But no matter your gender, travel offers some unique challenges for your clothing choices that make looking chic a challenge. Here are some challenges you’ll face…
One Week in Paris: Sample Itinerary
Awe Paris, The City of Lights. If you’ve never been, I’m guessing it’s on your list. And I’m guessing that there are a few specific sights in Paris that you know you want to visit. If you’ve made this destination part of your plans this year, you’ll want a good plan to make sure you have enough time to see everything you really want to see, plus be able to relax at a cafe, stroll through a park, or just wander the streets to window shop.
Top 16 Tips for Traveling with a Baby or Toddler
So many people say that you can never travel again once you have kids. As someone who is expecting a little one in July, I refuse to believe that. I know several people who have continued to travel both domestically and internationally with their children, and have raved about how rewarding it can be. I am determined to continue to do what I love, just as a family. And I look forward to her getting older when she can start to remember and benefit from seeing the world. But I know that there will be some changes in the way we travel, so here are some tips that I have compiled from the many parents who have continued to travel with their kids.
Deciding Where to Go
I don’t know about you, but my travel bucket list is pretty long and tends to get longer every day. Deciding where to go for an upcoming break can be quite a challenge sometimes, especially if you are traveling with a companion. There have been many times that my husband and I have had 2-3 places in mind, and struggled to pick which one to do. In this article, I’m going to give you 12 strategies to help you make your decision. Some you can do by yourself, and some are best for more than one person.
Traveling While Pregnant - First Trimester
If you are going to be traveling during your pregnancy, it’s impossible to predict how you will feel, but there are some things you can do to make it go more smoothly.
From Paper to Plane - The Book With It All
This year, I self-published my first book. It's called From Paper to Plane: A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Your Vacations Abroad. If you find my Travel Tips blog helpful in planning your trips, you'll LOVE this book because it has so much more information all in one place, and in the logical order you'll need.
Trip Planning Made Easy - One Task at a Time
Deciding to take a big international trip is both exciting and overwhelming. Especially if your days are already busy, the idea of figuring out what you need to do and actually get it done can be daunting. What really helps me in these types of situations are checklists. I sit down and brainstorm everything that I need to get done, and then organize it into a realistic timeline for myself. But what if you don't know what you need to add to your checklist? This article has you covered. I'll go though each step in a timeline order.
How to Find a Cheap Flight (Even Without a Rewards Card)
If you know me, you know that I promote using rewards cards to get free or cheap flights around the world. But that's not what this post is about. This post is about finding the least expensive options for paying out of pocket. Here are 5 fairly simple ways you can save some dough on your next flight.
Staying Organized
There’s a lot to keep track of when it comes to travel. You’ll have different accommodations and transportation with varying confirmations and tickets. Especially on longer, more complicated trips, it’s easy to get confused and lose information buried in an email or in a specific app. Here’s my advice for keeping everything organized so you’ll feel at ease.
Month-by-Month Travel Ideas
Have you made your travel plans for the new year? Sometimes deciding where to go when is the most difficult part of planning a trip. Not only is it difficult because our bucket lists are so long, but also because we need to consider weather, holidays, and costs.
Most Common Travel Itinerary Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
It's easy to make mistakes when planning a big vacation. But even if you are a first time traveler, you can plan like a pro if you just prevent yourself from making these 5 avoidable mistakes.
Christmas Markets in Germany
Many people dream of whisking away to Germany for the beautiful markets and mulled wine in December. This year, I was fortunate enough to be able to experience the magic first hand. My husband had work in Hamburg, so I tagged along. My mom joined up with me and we explored around 15 markets in Hamburg, Dresden, and Leipzig. If you've ever wondered what these German Christmas markets are really like, here is my experience.
How To Research and Book Trains
I love using trains, especially in Europe. I appreciate that most train stations are located right in the heart of a city. Airports can be a 40 minute cab ride away, while getting to the train station is much easier. If you’re going to book a train, follow these steps:
It's Time to get a Passport, Even for Domestic Flights
Starting January 22, 2018, residents of nine states will need a passport even for domestic flights. Each state’s ID does not currently meet security requirements. If you live in one of these states, get used to carrying your passport. And if you don’t yet have one, the process can take about six weeks, so now is the time to apply.