BudgetBliss

Travel Tips: Planes, Trains and Automobiles Part 3

Published on April 29, 2025April 13, 2025 by BudgetBlissLeave a comment

We now, come to the end of my travel tips and my post on various modes of traveling, automobiles which usually come in two flavors when traveling abroad, taxis/ubers and rental cars.

Taxis are famously expensive and so I avoid them if possible, but sometimes you simply won’t have much of a choice, whether public transit isn’t running, doesn’t go to the destination or you’re simply too exhausted to bother hauling your luggage onto a subway in the middle of rush hour. On a recent trip to England, I actually opted for a combination of all these forms of transportation, a plane, buses, trains, subways, taxis and a rental car. I ended up taking a taxi mostly when the rental car wasn’t available because I arrived late on a Saturday afternoon several hours after it closed and it didn’t open until Monday and I really wanted to have time to go to Saint Michael’s Mount that Sunday because of other various parameters, Sunday was the optimal time to visit. Now as a tidal island, it’s only accessible by a causeway during low tide which happened to be from 11:30 to about 3:30 that. The bus didn’t leave until Sennen Cove until 12:00 pm and was an hour and a half ride meaning I wouldn’t have arrived until 1:30 pm, I still would have had a significant walk to the causeway giving me a rather slim amount of time to visit. Additionally, I would have been waiting until about 5 pm for a bus back to Sennen Cove. Meaning I would have had almost and hour and a half of waiting around outside. Given the parameters, I opted for a taxi.

If you find yourself at a major hub, hailing a taxi is usually as easy as walking up to the assembled line of taxis and hopping in the first one. Just be sure you’re going to an official taxi stand. Keep in mind you will pay an arm and a leg if you’re traveling far away from the hub. Now if you are going further out, you may run into taxi drivers refusing your business. Most countries have laws in place to protect you, but they may still try to. The best way to avoid that is first do your research to see if there are laws to protect you and the second is to wait until you get in the cab to tell the driver where you’re going. It’s a little harder for them to simply refuse your business once you’re all settled and they’ve pretty much committed to driving you.

If you aren’t at a major hub, you may need to either reserve a taxi ahead of time or call one. Make sure to verify the taxi’s credential look for the company’s name, logo and the driver’s identification card. If the local laws don’t require that or you’re using an app like Uber or Lyft be certain to note the license plate number. When using an ride hailing app double-check the car’s make, model and license plate match the information provided in the app. Other safety tips include refraining from sharing personal information, paying in cash if possible, sharing your trip details and keeping your valuables secure. If you ever feel unsafe, you can always request the driver drop you off at a safe place and call for a different cab. Make sure you know the local emergency numbers.

Make sure you have the address of your destination in an easily accessible place as you would hate to have the meter start running while you fumble about trying to confirm your destination. Don’t assume your driver will know precisely where to go.

Be sure you understand the fare structure when you’re traveling some places may charge a flat rate for rides within a given area, most use a meter to calculate fares based on distance and time. Knowing this ahead of time can help you budget. Make sure you research common scams and pitfalls related to taxi fares especially in high tourist areas as you may find yourself being charged unfairly. However, most of the time the drivers are honest and quite pleasant. In my experience most drivers prefer cash over card and they will often round down if you do offer them cash rather than card. You won’t save a ton of money but you may save a few bucks, so be prepared to pay with cash over card.

Now you may say, to heck with all this public transit and taxi nonsense, I’ll simply rent a car and drive as God intended! And it may be worth doing that. Depending on where you want to go, the availability of public transit to your desired destinations, how much time you have and the expense of taxis, renting a car may be the best option.

Remember that small trip to Saint Michael’s Mount? The taxi ended up costing me nearly 80 pounds for just one back and forth trip. Given that I desired to go to multiple places where buses and other forms of public transit simply did not go, taking a taxi everywhere was going to be quite a bit expensive. This meant that I opted for a rental. My rental car cost me 60 a day for the week (perhaps a little more with gas factored in). I was able to take multiple trips in a day, didn’t have to wait for a taxi to pick me up and didn’t have to worry about a meter running.

Additionally, I wanted to venture a bit further afield visiting Stonehenge, Bath, the Seal Sanctuary and Tintagel. Had I attempted to visit Stonehenge using public transit, I would have spent nearly 7 to 9 hours traversing the country side by taxi, bus and train. With a rental car, the trip was only 4 hours and I was able to add on Bath. The unexpected expense was of course the price of gas. It was astronomical, I certainly complain about gas prices in my home state of PA, but the UK made it look positively cheap.

The other unexpected challenge was not that I was driving on a different side of the road or even the traffic circles (we actually have several of them in my area), no instead it was that I had inadvertently rented a giant SUV and those roads are tiny! There were plenty of places in Cornwall where you couldn’t even fit two cars together meaning you had to drive backwards until hitting a spot with a section just wide enough for your to squeeze your car into while they passed you or they had to drive backwards to let you pass (I shall write a whole post about the adventures of driving in a foreign country eventually).

This meant that everytime I drove, I was worried about scratching the darn thing, so much so that I sprang for a little extra protection against damage to the car to reduce potential costs from 2,000 to 250. As it turns out most of the world does have tiny roads and unfortunately car manufacturers insist on making ever bigger cars. It may be worth it to research the models of car and pick the smaller one or to simply forego the SUV. Although, you may not want to do that if you will be going into the backroads since some of them are little more than dirt paths. I really felt that it was a no win situation with regards to the risk of damage to the car. Luckily, the fates were with me and I managed not to scratch the car. The key is not to rely solely on the camera and the sensors but rather ensure your mirrors are positioned so you can see the rear wheels and a little bit next to them. I learned this trick from an ambulance driver and I think if anyone knows how to maneuver a vehicle backwards without getting into an accident it would be them.

Additionally when renting a car, and this is very important, make sure you’ve rented an automatic car. Much of the world drives stick and much of America does not. I do not recommend renting a manual car if you’ve not driven them much before especially if going to a country like the UK. Do you really want to try driving on the opposite side of the road, with a million traffic circles, trying to drive stick while jet lagged? I didn’t think so. Additionally, make sure you’ve taken the time to research and review the relevant traffic laws and common symbols of the country you’ll be traveling to. Don’t assume that traffic signs are universal, yes most are self-explanatory but some aren’t.

There are other common pitfalls with rentals such as mileage, tolls, insurance, late returns and different pick up and drop off locations which can cost you money. When you do rent a car be certain to check the mileage as not every rental comes with unlimited mileage. Some will even limit you on taking your rental out of state or the local region. When traveling in the United States, a common issue for tolls is that rental cars will vastly overcharge you for any tolls that they cover. It can be difficult to opt out unless you ensure the toll transponder is closed and that you make sure you pay directly at the booth or online. Most places recommend you bring your transponder. The other option is to avoid toll roads altogether.

Insurance can be another place where you get overcharged. If you have a personal car insurance policy or a credit card that covers rental car insurance then getting it through the rental car company may be something you don’t need. If you have a credit card for coverage make sure it offers primary collision damage waiver and that the type of car you’re renting is covered and the country you’re traveling in is covered. However, credit card collision damage waivers do not cover personal injuries to you, your passenger or pedestrians involved in an accident.

Many rental car companies define rental period by 24 hours so if your return time is later than your pick up time, you’re going to pay for an entire additional day even if it’s a few hours difference. Some companies do have a grace period from 30 minutes to 2 hours if you return the car after the designated return time. This probably would have been helpful knowledge when I rented a car in England and saved me $60 as my pick up time was 9 am and I selected my drop off time as 12. I ended up picking it up closer to 10 am and dropping it off at around 11 am and could have saved about $60. Additionally if you pick up and drop off at a different location be prepared to be charged extra. Even if it’s convenient and easy for you to do so, it isn’t for the company and they’ll be certain to charge you for their trouble.

I also would recommend avoiding booking through third party sites. They may be attractive for lower prices but you lose a lot of protections if something goes amiss. If you need to alter your reservation or get a refund, it’s much easier to get what you need if dealing directly with the rental car company to begin with.

Finally, make sure that you check the vehicle before you drive off. Make sure that it has a full tank of gas, you take pictures and video of the car to note any damage and make sure you check the car’s vehicle identification number for information on the car’s features and any recalls. Be certain that any of issues are documented at the time of pick up.

Hopefully, you’ve found my tips to be informative and helpful for maximizing your travels and checking off your list. After all, while most of the things can be done closer to home, there are some things that can only truly be experienced by traveling.

From Fire and Ash a Phoenix Rises: Firebird Festival in Phoenixville

Published on April 25, 2025January 3, 2026 by BudgetBlissLeave a comment

For the past twenty years a mysterious sight has unfolded in the midst of the winter’s cold. A community builds a giant wooden bird and then sets it on fire much to the delight of the spectators. And, dear reader, it is as awesome as it sounds.

The Firebird Festival, was a dream of a Henrik Stubbe Teglbjaerg, an immigrant from Denmark who has resided in the States since the late 1980’s. He, with four other Phoenixville residents, came up with the idea, in part inspired by similar festivals of Europe where they build things and set it on fire. When he first arrived Phoenixville was a dreary little town. However, it started to revive itself, opening up a theater, art galleries, coffee house and it was as if there was a rebirth, a town rising up out of the ashes. So what could be a more perfect fit than to celebrate with the symbol of rebirth and the town’s own namesake?

What is more is that each year, the ashes from the burned phoenix are taken and made into clay birds which are then placed inside the wooden bird. When set on fire, the wooden structure acts as a kiln, firing the birds and thus completing the cycle of last year’s bird when they are transformed into decorative pottery.

What started as a small 150 person event has grown into a 20,000 person festival. Complete with food trucks, fire dancers, a parade, live music, and various wares for sale. It is a celebration of the town and the arts. But rather than relying on fancy performance artists most of the event is volunteer and community run which only speaks to the strength and spirit of the community, despite the growing size of the festival they have protected its heart as a grassroots events that remains untainted by the scale of the crowd.

Most years, this event takes place in December just as the northern hemisphere enters its darkest stage and the year is coming to a close. However due to an unusually dry spell, the 2024 Firebird Festival was delayed as having a 20 foot wooden set aflame near exceedingly dry forest isn’t exactly the safest idea. Remember dear reader, as much as we all desire to check off our lists we want to make sure we live to check off the rest of our lists when doing so.

This misfortune of weather was my opportunity. For you see, my sister and I typically celebrate the holiday season each year with our extended family on the second weekend of December. It so happens that the Firebird Festival also happens on that same weekend meaning that we are always previously engaged as the annual Holiday Feast has been a set date since before I was born. So when the organizers moved the Firebird Festival to the first weekend in February it became the must do event of the winter season.

The new date was also fortuitous as it coincided with an ancient celebration of spring’s light returning. The ancient Celtic holiday of Imbolc was associated with the Celtic Goddess Brigid, the guardian of Hearth and Flame, a perfect pairing for the new date. The ancient holiday was a time of purification, renewal and preparation for the change in season. Fire rituals which honored the returning sun were frequently integrated into the Imbolc celebrations. It was celebrations like these which inspired the Firebird Festival in the first place making the new date perfect.

As it happened, it was one of the coldest nights of the winter as arctic wind was carried down from the north freezing all that it touched with its icy fingers. Only a few days before the weather had been warm thawing out the ground and making it moist and muddy. Posts about the event warned celebrants of the potential for treacherous conditions on the field as the mud became slick and icy.

My sister and I did our best to buddle up in preparation for the cold. I fared a bit better than her having a coat that mimicked a fur one, leather gloves lined with kashmir, thick socks and shoes with thick soles to keep out the cold. She had a rather old coat that she put several layers on beneath but the wind still managed to cut through the fabric and whisk away what warmth she had. As the Germans say “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing” and this was a prime example. I stayed pretty toasty throughout the evening but my poor sister struggled. Worry not, I often acted as a wind break once the crowd gathered.

The festival occurs in two different places, the field where the bird is and downtown Phoenixville where most of the art events occur. After looking at the events and options, we determined that we wouldn’t arrive at 4 pm when the event started but rather closer to 5:30 pm to find parking, walk down to the field. That gave us about 21/2 – 2 hours before the bird was scheduled to be lit at 8 and the fire dancers would start their own performances around 6 (something else I’ve been wanting to see as part of my BucketList, maybe I’ll have to add Fire Dancing to the list now that I know I can volunteer to be one!)

We followed the instructions for parking and managed to snag a great spot that was near enough to the field to make an easy walk in and out. It was a place that opened for parking after the official event time, I assume in part to help manage crowds. This made it a breeze to get to the Veterans Memorial Park where we were greeted by friendly volunteers who directed us into the event. They had buckets to collect donations which went to supporting it. When we got there we were a little surprised as the lackluster crowd as it seemed only a hundred people were milling about. There were a few food trucks and some tents set up. The band wasn’t playing yet and the sun was only just starting to set. We milled around looking at the different options and then decided to watch the Fire Dancers. We saw some people had chairs set up right at the center of the staging area but other than directly in front, the area was clear. We picked a spot to the left to watch and decided we’d take turns running to the food trucks.

It felt a little paranoid to hold our spots when there were so few people, but as it turned out this was a crucial strategy because it seemed that within 15 minutes the crowd had tripled in size and the entire perimeter of the bird was lined with spectators enthralled by the fire dancers. Just as twilight fell, the arrived each with a unique costume and different types of instruments to move the flames about. They juggled, they moved around balls of fire, they twirled long lances and staves, they mimicked a bird with wing-like props, they used hoops of fire to make large circles. One wore a plaque mask, another looked like she came from the assassin’s creed, there were knights with shields and spears, there was a woman in a leopard catsuit. Some of the volunteers were better than others but all of them were mesmerizing in their own way as in the background a band played music.

By the time the sky had gone dark, the crowd had ballooned behind us and we had to jostle our way to back to each other when we went for warm drinks or snacks. We nibbled on delicious food from a truck and sipped on warm apple cider available for purchase from some enthusiastic teens manning a volunteer tent. It seemed a little pricey for warm cider but the proceeds went to support the event and as it didn’t have an entry fee I was happy to pay a little more. The cider warmed my hands which had gotten cold from taking pictures of the fire dancers.

As the appointed hour grew near, the crowd and the cold intensified. However, it was all great fun as we stood there making friends with the people behind us, chatting and laughing. We helped them hold a spot for their friend when she slipped out. Then around 7:45 the parade arrived. Headed by a giant pheonix of paper mache and cloth, the parade was host to more costumed revelers adorned with lights who danced to the beat of drums. Around the bird they circled to the cheers of the onlookers as the crowd only grew more excited in anticipation of the main event.

Unfortunately, there seemed to be a bit of a delay as 8 pm came and went. Then 8:05, then 8:10, then 8:15, by the time 8:20 rolled around there were chants of “light the bird” which would be taken up and then die down after a minute or so. This went on for another 10 or 15 minutes until finally the torch bearers chosen by lottery were assembled and permitted to put torch to wood. At first, the flames barely licked up the wooden structure. It seemed as if the wind would snuff out the small fires struggling to find purchase against such icy conditions. How could such small flames survive? Would we be disappointed?

No, the flames did not die. They continued their merry dance along the wooden structure, flickering brightly in the night. While it was a nice sight to see, it was hardly worth the nearly 3 hours in the freezing cold, perhaps we should pack it in, my sister suggested. I told her that I wanted to spend a little bit longer because we had been there so long and I wanted to enjoy it regardless. Then suddenly, conflagration! The whole thing was alight, the phoenix was finally truly lit. The heat pushed back the cold becoming almost more than we could bear even so far way. I pushed my hands out towards it drinking in the sudden heat. It was a glorious sight to behold as it was truly worthy of its name.It really did look like a mythical creature crackling in the cold night with the promise of the summer’s sun. We stood there enthralled by it, saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new.

How can you experience a Firebird Festival?

Obviously if you don’t live near Phoenixville attending this event won’t be cheap or easy and while it is certainly something I recommend if you’re in the area, it isn’t something I would plan an entire vacation around. However, there are lots of different local traditions and festivals throughout the country with their own unique and special. Florida is home to an Underwater Music Festival, New Mexico has one dedicated to UFOs, Ohio is obsessed with Duck Tape and Washington State hosts a Kite Festival and there are many more. With some searching, you’re almost certain to find a quirky festival near you. Many of these festivals take place in the Spring and Summer months so now is the perfect time to look around your wider area for fun and interesting events.

What’s awesome is that the story of the Firebird Festival demonstrates that it only takes a few people gathering together to make something amazing. It started off as 4 friends getting together, building a small phoenix and setting it alight for 150 people. It has ballooned into an event that attracts thousands each winter. Your own event doesn’t have to be this “big thing” and there’s nothing to stop you from starting your own tradition! Don’t worry about a 20 year commitment though, as once it takes off there will be people to pass the torch to (pun very much intended).

Small disclaimer:

Technically, there are things that can stop you from starting your own tradition. Local ordinances may prohibit you from doing certain activities like setting things on fire and I really don’t recommend that you do that if you live out in places that a prone to wildfires. I don’t want this blog to be in the news because after reading this, you decided to start your own firebird festival and set the state of California on fire. So as always check your local ordinances and use common sense before trying something you read online.

Cost: Free

Miles from home: 50

Be sure to check out the other festivals and events that I’ve attended on my Bucket List and Reverse Bucket List.

Travel Tips: Trains, planes and Automobiles Part 2

Published on April 22, 2025April 13, 2025 by BudgetBlissLeave a comment

As my original intended post ended up being far too long, I had to break it down into several different ones. Since the original post was titled “Trains, planes and Automobiles”, it seems to make sense that I shall be covering tips for planes next. In a previous post, I discussed luggage and maximizing space with tricks of layering, additional pockets, etc. So I will not insult you gentle reader by repeating myself as I am certain you are capable of remembering previously presented information. Nor will I go into how to snag cheap flights as I have already covered that in other posts, although only briefly. I may eventually make a dedicated post for how to get cheap tickets when traveling, but this post isn’t that. Mostly, this will cover how to help make your plane experience as pleasant as possible because let’s face it, unless you’re flying first class, flying is pretty miserable.

One of the easiest ways to make your flight more pleasant is by having the right seat. There are many different considerations for optimal seat position. Some people love to be at the window (like me), others swear by the aisle seat because it gives them a place to stretch their legs. On some planes there are aisle seats that have no seats in front of them as they make the transition from economy plus to economy, so if you’re looking to maximize leg room, there are two aisle seats on the plane with lots of extra space. However, if you cannot snag those positions then you’ll want either a bulkhead or exit row seat. If you can look at the plane you’ll be flying on ahead of time (information that should have been available at time of booking), you’ll already know which rows those are.

Some people want to sit in the “safest” seat which surprisingly is a middle seat in the back of the plane as those have the highest survival rates in the event of a crash. The other upside to the back of the plane is this is where you’re most likely to have an empty seat next to you since most people don’t want to sit in the back. After all the back of the plane is where you’ll experience the most turbulence and have the longest disembark time. This is also where one of the on-flight kitchens is located meaning that there will be increased noise. You will also have more noise at the very front of the plane for the same reason.

Sometimes you can pick your seat the same day as you book your flight without paying a fee to do so, but most of the time you have to wait until 24 hours in advance to “check-in” in order to avoid paying a fee. Some airlines are starting to charge you even during the 24 hour window, as always do your research when comparing prices. If traveling internationally be sure to have your passport waiting with you so you don’t waste precious time looking for your passport trying to snag your preferred seat. Check out other blogs for the specific airline or airplane you’re traveling with to see if there’s any tips for optimal seating. If you’re traveling on an overnight flight, you may want to double check the location of the bathroom if you’re a light sleeper to avoid being disturbed or if you’re someone who needs to go frequently, be sure to snag that aisle seat near by.

Extra tip: Many people will rush the bathroom right after take off, after meal times and right before landing. Set an alarm for about 2 hours before landing on long haul flights to avoid the rush.

Once you have your seat selected, the next step is to time your arrival at the airport. Many first time flyers make the mistake of thinking the time of their flight is the last possible minute they can board the plane. This isn’t the case. Make sure that when you do your online check in you take a moment to check your ticket. Often they will have two other times listed, the time that you have to have cleared security by and the time the doors to the plane will close. Just because you’ve cleared security doesn’t mean that they’ll hold the plane while you shop or finish a meal. Make sure you allow an hour to make it through security, so whatever time it says try to arrive at least an hour ahead of time. If you’re parking in a long term economy lot, add an extra 15-20 minutes to locate a parking spot, get to a bus stop and take the bus to the correct terminal. Make sure you take a picture of where you parked and what bus stop you were picked up at. Depending on typical traffic for the airport you’re going to, add extra time to your commute and check online for tips of frequent travelers in and out of your airport to see if there is anything you should know. I usually try to add at least 30 extra minutes to my commute into Philadelphia and an extra 60 minutes if traveling during rush hour.

To help make security easy, try and have all your paperwork in an easy to locate place. Wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off (not every airport makes you take off your shoes anymore as it depends on their machines and the thickness of your soles). Have your clear bag of toiletries on top of any luggage you’re bringing through security (like with your shoes not every airport makes you take it out of your bag, but some still do so it’s better to be prepared). If wearing layers try to make sure you can slip your layers on and off without much fuss. The less you have to take off and out, the easier and less stressful this process is. The key is of course to follow the verbal directions of the security people, don’t try to be smart or funny with them, even if you’re the most hilarious person at the airport that day. If you’re unsure of a directive just ask politely for clarification. If you think for any reason that you may need extra assistance with a disability, contact the airport ahead of time to discuss and make sure to clarify with them their recommendations on additional time needed to get through security with assistance. I personally recommend at least an extra hour if you’re going to need assistance as a wheelchair may not be available right when you arrive, they may be short staffed or assisting other customers. Most airlines subcontract this out and the airline you booked with may have little control over these personnel.

I usually don’t get pulled aside at security but here are the three reasons I have been patted down before or searched. The first was a big surprise. I’m an avid reader and apparently the way my rather thick book was packed triggered off the alarm bells as a potential bomb. e. To avoid this, I now only use my e-reader or smaller, shorter books. The second reason is that I have really thick, long hair so when I wore it in a single braid down my back, that triggered a check. To avoid that happening again, I now wear it in two braids. The third was sweat on my back. I was just anxious that I was forgetting something important and it was clawing at the back of my mind the whole drive to the airport – as it turns out, I had forgotten to pack my hairbrush, so nothing that couldn’t be rectified upon arrival but it did trigger a search. As you can see, you can get pulled aside for a search for seemingly no reason, honestly a book, my hair and a sweaty back? The last one was slightly embarrassing, but what can I say, sweating is a natural human reaction to stress and flying can be a stressful thing. To avoid this, take deep breathes and wear breathable clothing.

Now there are many things that one can do to make the flight more comfortable. The first thing I do, is make sure I have something to block out noise and typically carry two ways to do this. The first is my earbuds, the second is a headwrap with bluetooth speakers that I can also use as a sleep mask. I really like the headwrap with bluetooth speakers because I don’t have to worry about my earbuds falling out and they’re super compact to pack. Other people swear by noise cancelling headphones, I don’t like this option because it means that I may miss important announcements, but for other people they’re a must have on a flight.

The second thing I do is to have a variety of ways to entertain myself. I load up on my e-reader and pack a small book that I can read in the event I run out of battery. I also carry a small activity book with puzzles or other games to keep me entertained. My phone has a few apps that can be used offline, along with lots of music. Most long haul flights do include headphones to allow you access to inflight movies and other entertainment, but not every airline will do this so you may want to pack ones that can use a headphone jack rather than a USB. It’s rare that I find myself watching an inflight movie, so I tend to skip packing headphones. I do, however, always carry a portable charger since I can’t guarantee that a charging station will be available or that it will have the right plug. A lot of airlines are getting better about this but in economy class there is often only two plugs per three passengers, so rather than chance ending up in the news over a charging station, I just have my own.

Prior to boarding I try and go for a brief walk just to get my legs moving and blood pumping. Usually this walk consists of going to the bathroom one last time. I also try and dress in at least two layers because I am almost never comfortable on a plane, I am either freezing cold or dying from heat. Having a layer ensures that I comfortable. The same can be said for shoes that can easily be slipped off and exchanged for slippers (remember most people do not want your bare feet out and about, it’s considered rude and there are airlines that are starting to crack down on bare feet, slippered feet however is usually acceptable). Make sure to put your shoes back on if you’re walking about the plane for sanitary reasons.

Make sure to pack a portable water bottle and some snacks. Once you’re through security, you can fill up your water bottle at the many water fountains to help keep yourself hydrated as travel can and does take a lot out of you. I also like to pack snacks. While most airlines do offer snacks and even meals there’s no promise that you’ll like them or that you will get them. On a recent long haul flight, we were supposed to end the flight with a snack. However, several of the flight staff suddenly came down with an illness mid-flight so for safety reasons they did not feed us. So with my snacks, I always pack and use hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. I don’t know about the other passengers on my flight, but I do know that I managed to avoid contracting the illness. Additionally, in an effort to save money some airlines have stopped including meals and now require you to pay for them. They may require you to use their app in order to make inflight purchases rather than accepting cash or credit card in flight.

Along with hand sanitizer, I will usually pack a few things to help keep me feeling fresh. As I shared earlier, flying can be stressful and when we are stressed, we sweat. Having a few baby wipes, moistures and even travel toothbrushes can help you feel, look and smell your best.

Now there are people who swear by travel pillows. Personally, I never use them. I don’t sleep on planes, I never could and often the long haul flights do offer small travel pillows and blankets anyways. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t if you’re the sort of person who can sleep anywhere (first stop and post in the comments below your secrets, I wish to learn oh wise one!). If you are someone who plans on sleeping, don’t sleep during take off or landing as it apparently negatively impacts your ears ability to regulate their air pressure. Not having ever slept on plane, I cannot comment to the validity of this rumor, but I’ve seen this advice in several places. Travel pillows may also be helpful for people with back or neck pain as planes aren’t known for their superior lubar support. However, if you’re not one of those people then a travel pillow becomes an unnecessary burden and I wholly recommend skipping it.

This last one should seem obvious but it always surprises me how few people do it, I see them popping up and down all flight getting their stuff. Keep your airplane essentials in one place and I recommend that be in your personal item. There is no promise that your luggage will end up in the overhead compartment above you. You may end up having it in an entire other section of the plane, or checked in at the gate for various reasons. I often will pack my personal item with all the things I may want on the plane: e-reader, portable charger, activity book, notebook, earbuds, snacks, etc. Within my personal item, these things are often packed in smaller bags which makes it really easy to just reach in and find what I want quickly. I have a collection of small purses because I either have a massive purse with everything in it or a tiny purse that literally holds my phone, my wallet, my keys and maybe a tube of lipstick. The purses are so useful for organizing my luggage and then I have cute handbags for all my outings on my trips, fashion meets practicality, a win for all.

There are certainly other tips that people may recommend and I encourage you to go out and see what other passengers have done to make flights more comfortable. As with all tips and tricks, consider whether they will work for you. As I said earlier, I don’t bother with travel pillows, I don’t ever seem to use them and always regret packing them, but for many people they are essential and worth the extra hassle they cause. You may also read tips and tricks that other passengers won’t appreciate so if it seems a little odd, you may want to check the comment section or the rest of the internet to see if you’re breaking unspoken plane etiquette which could land you in hot water with your fellow passengers. While it may be your “right” to do something, you do increase your chances of ending up in a mid-flight brawl if you ignore plane etiquette, so I encourage you to be polite.

Keep in mind the airline industry is always evolving. Airlines are cracking down on what people can carry on a plane. They’re no longer allowing a free pass on things like pillows and blankets but rather counting those as your personal item. Always, always, check the airline’s website for the most up to date rules and if you’re looking at a blog for luggage “hacks” to avoid fees, make sure you check to see when it was published because the tricks may no longer apply.

The Confidence Boost of a Facial

Published on April 18, 2025January 3, 2026 by BudgetBlissLeave a comment

I remember my very first pimple in 5th grade. It was right on my chin and it was HUGE. I felt like everyone was just starting at this giant, white thing on my face. It felt like it would never go away. I wasn’t even an especially vain child, but it was certainly an uncomfortable feeling. I was reassured by the adults in my life that acne was just a phase and it would pass, just wash your face more and all will be well. I diligently washed my face and waited for the acne of the teen years to pass. I waited, and waited and waited, and waited. I tried various products over the years to no avail. The acne just never quite went away.

As it turns out, I was viciously lied to, dear reader! I had been unfortunately cursed with adult acne driven by hormones and like herolds of war it came each month right before ahem my “visitor”. So it was in my late twenties that I somewhat resigned myself to the fact that I would almost always be plagued with these unfortunate blemishes and that there was really nothing quite to be done about them.

Now, I have shared about my monthly habit of going for a massage and indulging in a small mini-vacation. Each month, I entered the waiting room, noticed the wall of products for skin and saw the advertisements for facials. I decided that perhaps, I did not need to resign myself to such a fate as simply accepting that I would always struggle every month to control the small mountain range which jutted up from my chin each month in new and interesting patterns. Perhaps, I need not worry that a small child could be entertained for hours by connecting the dots. So, I scheduled an appointment with Camille not really knowing what it would entail or even to expect that much.

It was, dear reader, one of the very best decisions of my life. Camille is knowledgeable, personable and the sweetest woman one could ever ask for. She was so very kind about my problem and spoke with me about exactly what I wanted from the appointment, was honest about the sorts of products she would need to use and discussed the cost of the initial treatments as it would require upgrades to the basic facial. I told her that I was here to solve a problem not necessarily to simply relax and enjoy myself and that I was willing to give the upgrades a try. She carefully examined my skin and set to work.

It was not an unpleasant experience by any means. It was absolutely wonderful to have my skin carefully tended to with gentle scrubs and tinctures designed to combat the acne and leave me feeling fresh. The only part that was unpleasant was when she offered to do some extractions to which I acquiesced and she carefully pushed out the gunk that was blocking my pores and creating unsightly mounds upon my face. Through out the treatment we talked and got to know one another better. I told her about my job and she shared about her own interests. As it turns out, we both are partial to Japanese Black and White Horror Films from the 1960’s. A niche interest if there ever was one.

At the end, she gave me a simple routine of two daily products and a weekly exfoliant. My skepticism was palpable that surely these three products were not the key to unlocking clear skin after I have tried everything else under the sun. She reassured me to trust her and I felt that I had little else to lose. I bought them and went home. Now, the next day, I could have been easily forgiven for almost giving up entirely and throwing in the towel, because lo and behold, a giant pimple had risen up in defiance of everything to taunt my efforts. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that sometimes treatment may require putting up with some temporary pains. Sure enough, it did quickly go away and by following the routine laid out by Camille, my face actually stayed relatively clear. I still had monthly cycles of acne but not nearly what it was. What were formerly my very best days where my skin was almost clear, were now my very worst days. Now, I do notice if I go too long between facials my skin starts to backslide, but in general I can go 3 to 4 months in between more intensive treatments to manage my adult acne..

I am not a vain person, dear reader, but I was at times embarrassed by my acne. I knew that despite it being caused by an underlying hormone imbalance that I couldn’t control, people did judge me because of it. Being able to walk around with clear skin and looking good has been such a confidence booster. In fact, looking good is linked with better performance, increased productivity, decreased anxiety and sparking those happy, feel good hormones. Which makes sense, if you don’t feel good about the way you look you’re going to anticipate people judging you poorly, not getting the assistance you may need and increase your sense that things aren’t going to go your way. I am in no way, dear reader, saying that your self-worth should be tied to your looks. We should try to take care of ourselves the best we can and work to feel comfortable with how we look.

How can you look your best and feel your best?

Now this is decidedly one of those items that fall under “principles of the thing” rather than the thing itself. For me, the facials are about helping me look my best to help me live my best life. It’s not about getting a facial as part of my bucket list. Although, a full spa day is certainly on the list now as just a day of pampering and relaxation.

As I just shared looking our best, helps us feel our best. When we have things that get in the way it can be much harder to feel good about ourselves. For me it was acne, for my mother it was rosacea. For someone else it may be wrinkles or chronic dandruff. So while, I am not encouraging you to simply go get a facial (although you can, they’re rather enjoyable), what I am encouraging you to do, dear reader, is try going to the experts and professionals who are trained to assist you with whatever problem you happen to have.. You may be surprised at how easy a fix your seemingly insurmountable problem is!

What I loved about Camille was she was extremely honest about her limitations, her education and recommendations and readily communicated with me to help me make the best decisions for my skin’s health. Is getting a semi-regular facial expensive? Yes, but so were all the various products that I tried which failed to produce results.

Completed: 2019

Cost: $100 per treatment

Miles from home: About 5

When I am not relaxing at the spa, your can find me out in the world exploring! Be sure to check out my adventures on my Bucket List and Reverse Bucket List.

Travel Tips: Trains, Planes and Automobiles Part 1

Published on April 15, 2025April 13, 2025 by BudgetBlissLeave a comment

And buses! And taxis! And other forms of transportation! I kept the title short because it was more catchy, but truthfully there are many different ways for humans to get around, but not all of them are a straightforward as one might think. Despite me trying to keep it brief, it ended up being a rather long post so I’m splitting it up.

I shall begin by giving an overview of most public transit systems, how to read their schedules and their routes since most Americans haven’t used public transit much in their lives if ever. A byproduct of the post-WW II infrastructure bills was an increase of car usage and a decline of public transit. I won’t go into all the politics involved or discuss the lobbies by the car manufactures because it’s not exactly relevant here, but it’s a fascinating history that is well worth the investigation for my more academically mined readers. As politics and history aren’t exactly within the scope of this blog, we shall simply acknowledge the reality that in America the car is king and so many haven’t had much experience with public transit.

We’ll start with subway and train maps for most cities. They can be a bit deceptive in that the inventor of this system made them for ease of reading for stops and connections not to show how far apart those stops and connections were nor all the twists and turns of how to get there in reference to any specific direction. Just because it reads left to right doesn’t mean that a line is going precisely east to west, it could go in a general northeast to southwest direction or a northwest to southeast direction. Nor are the stations in a precise line, they may be quite staggered all over the city but be represented in a straight line. Once you understand that, it becomes much easier to understand what you’re looking at and to connect a city map to a subway map. It’s actually quite intuitive once you understand that.

Photo by Enric Cruz Lu00f3pez on Pexels.com

Most subway and train platforms will show you which side leads to which direction. Many subways will have signs that start at the station you are at and show you all the stops until the line terminates in one direction and then have another sign that shows you all the stops until the line terminates in the other direction with helpful arrows pointing to which side of the platform corresponds to which part of the line. It’s actually rather intuitive. Now occasionally a line will branch further down or a platform will service multiple lines. To eliminate the guess work, simply look at the electronic signage typically above the platform that will usually display something helpful like “train to X stop in y minutes” (usually where the line will terminate), look at the list of stops on the sign and you can easily see which train is coming in. You will notice that I also added that these signs will often have the number of minutes you’ll be waiting. For most subways, the lines run every 10 or so minutes so there’s no need to rush to try and catch a subway car since they run quite frequently.

Once you’re on the subway or train, there is usually electronic signage indicating what stop is coming next. If not, then there is usually an announcement that comes on and you’ll often see signage outside the windows as you’re coming into a station to indicate where you are. Typically, all three indicators are present, which makes it quite easy to know what stop you’re arriving in.

Now to figure out which stop you need, you’ll often have to consult a city map for the various landmarks you wish to see and then look to see what the nearest station will be. You may need to transfer to different lines depending on your stay. You should also make sure you know how late various lines run as not every line may run 24 hours a day and you should be certain to check their websites for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Don’t assume because your friend did it a month ago that it hasn’t changed. Staffing shortages and weather can cause last minute issues. You don’t want to be caught in the middle of the night in the pouring rain miles from your hotel.

The subway is my favorite public transit because of its ease of use and simplicity. Most subways will pop you out within a five to ten minute walk of most landmarks and many subways have helpful signage pointing you in the general direction of those landmarks. I do recommend purchasing those city maps at local stations rather than simply relying on your phone as the maps are made for tourists. They often have the lists of the most popular sites along with an indicator of where on the map they are which can help you plan your trip, cluster sights together and potentially discover lesser known attractions that are tucked alongside bigger ones. These maps can also indicate lesser known entrances for popular destinations to help avoid crowds. For example did you know the Louvre has several entrances and you can avoid longer lines by using them rather than the main one?

You may need to purchase a subway card, tickets or simply use your credit card to tap and go. Every city is different so look up what you’ll need before you go. Some cities even have specific apps for their public transit system which can be quite helpful when trying to figure out routes. While google maps may be helpful, it won’t necessarily show you which stops are handicapped accessible if you’re traveling with someone who has limited mobility, their app will.

Now, I’m not as much of a fan as the bus, but I will say that they do tend to help close the gaps of the subway stations, especially when not every subway is handicapped accessible and in many of the smaller towns and villages the bus is your only option. I have not found the bus system to be as straight forward and easy to read as the subway nor are the systems employed by the various cities as universal as the subway. I have found that once you master the subway system in one city, it translates exceedingly well to other cities. Not so with the buses. The bus stops don’t always post bus schedules, they don’t always indicate where the bus is going, you may not realize that multiple lines stop at the same place. Often the maps provided will show where each line goes and won’t give you a nice neat way of seeing connecting lines like a subway. Now, this isn’t the case for every city, some are really good, others not so much. So make sure you research before you go and try to have a good idea of how to get around with the bus system before arriving at your destination. Just like with the subway system paying for the ride will be dependent on the city you’re using so be ready to purchase a card, ticket or to tap your credit/debit card. Just know that if you choose to tap your credit/debit card you may incur overseas processing fees depending on the type of card you have, so check with your bank prior to your travels and see if you qualify for a card that will forgo those fees.

Additionally, there are different sorts of buses, the buses within a city and the buses that traverse between major hubs. Buses within cities tend to follow similar rules as the subway. The buses between cities and major hubs may include things like a hold below for your luggage. These also tend to be a little more comfortable than the usual city bus as they’re made for longer trips. These buses have less stops but travel further. Be sure to bring both card and cash with you for the trip as sometimes they will only take one or the other depending on where you’re traveling.

In some cities, there is even a public boating system that will ferry you down the main river going through the city. Be sure to check out that potential if visiting a place with a larger river running through it like London.

Now if you’re traveling a longer distance, you may find yourself opting to travel by train usually because the airport isn’t the same place as your destination. Much like every other mode of public transit, it can vary vastly by country and even region as you may have a regional rail that you take, a national rail or a combination of the two. Typically taking a regional rail will mean more stops and thus slower whereas a national rail will be faster with fewer stops. Train stations can serve both national and regional rails. Regional rails tend to be cheaper than national, so when you’re booking tickets be certain to compare. Yes, the regional rail may be vastly cheaper, but you may lose an entire day of travel on a train rather than half a day if you take the national.

I advise purchasing tickets ahead of time as same day tickets tend to be more expensive. Now there are some systems in which different windows of time prior to the travel date affects the price of the ticket, so it may actually be better to wait a week or two for the optimal time when making your purchases. Some countries have rail passes which may be better to purchase. It is sometimes better to purchase your tickets directly through the rail system other times a 3rd party website can help you get the best deal by splitting the ticket for you. A split ticket, is when you pay for a ticket to a city between your start and end point and then pay for another ticket from that city to your end point which can save you money depending on how the fares work out.

Now this can be a bit of a trick as some train systems have windows of time where train tickets are cheaper, and same day tickets are usually the most expensive, so it’s better to purchase tickets in advance. This can be tricky if you’re unsure of the timing for flights, arrival and customs. However, this stress can be alleviated by purchasing flex-time tickets if they’re available for that train system. Flex-time tickets is fairly self-explanatory, it allows you to “flex” the time you take the train, so if your flight is delayed or your luggage took forever to arrive at the carousel, you needn’t worry about missing your train, as you can catch the next one, they are a more expensive option, but it’s still less expensive than purchasing a same day ticket or having to purchase multiple. Sometimes peace of mind is worth the extra cash. Many rail systems allow you to reserve your seats. If you’re someone prone to motion sickness, be certain to get a seat facing the front of the train. Personally, I like getting a seat with a table so I can spread out, work on a puzzle book, read, journal and relax. It also gives me a nice place to rest my head comfortably.

The best way to know what to do is to research the country’s train system that you’re going to since every rail system is going to be different, but there are usually ways to save money when taking the train with some foresight and careful planning.

Water Lantern: A Festival of Reflection

Published on April 11, 2025March 18, 2025 by BudgetBlissLeave a comment

It was a warm summer evening, when my sister and I embarked on a journey to the far east or rather to partake in some food and traditions imported from Asia to the United States. This particular evening, we were attended a Water Lantern Festival. One of the amazing things about America is our immigrant roots, welcoming people from across the globe. These people come and bring with them their culture, traditions, beliefs, music and cuisines. It is what makes America a rich, cultural tapestry of endless variety.

We began our journey by stopping at a Thai restaurant which is owned and operated by Thai people. I always get excited when I can stop at places owned by people who intimately understand the cuisine they are cooking, whether that be because they are originally from there, have family originally from there or spent enough time in careful study to obtain a level of mastery in the authentic way the cuisine ought to be prepared. As someone who doesn’t necessarily have the money to hop on a plane to experience authentic Thai food, I appreciated the opportunity and the culinary skill of the chef. Dinner was a delicious red curry, since I cannot resist a menu item with Thai Basil and my sister had their drunken noodles of which I stole a few bites.

After dinner, we headed over to Harrisburg to the Italian garden where the Water Lantern Fest would be held. The Italian garden is beautiful in its own right, but it was extra festive for the fest and the weather proved to be perfect. It wasn’t too hot, nor was it chilly. The blue sky was clear overhead and it promised to be a lovely evening. It took us a little time to locate the actual stand to obtain the water lanterns as the park was open for all to enjoy. We did eventually find the true “entrance” to the fest by asking some people for directions and headed up the hill to obtain our goodie bags and lanterns. After claiming our prizes, we walked around the end of the manmade lake to find a good spot under the shade of a tree.

I had attended a lantern fest before, where you release lanterns into the sky which took on a more party atmosphere for the people attending with music and bounce houses, bonfires and food trucks. This one had most of those things tucked away from the main event so that you could still enjoy vendors, food and other activities, but it did not distract from what you were there to do. Nor was the crowd quite as big as at the Lantern Fest which was just as well, since I tend to favor smaller events to the massive crowds. What I enjoyed about this one was the more subdued and even reflective atmosphere. Flags proudly proclaimed things like gratitude, healing, love and connection, encouraging you to reflect rather than party. The crowd was fairly quiet with many people conversing with their heads together, smiling and laughing. The goodie bag even included conversation cards with prompts to start deeper discussions with the people you were with in order to foster deeper connections. My sister and I were delighted by these and have taken them out at other occasions and have found them to be great at prompting conversations.

The kit for the lantern included a wooden base, a lantern which could be written upon and a small led candle to turn on and place in the lantern. We noted that most of the lantern components could be reused, recycled or easily be broken down in the environment. Being a manmade lake, the lanterns were in no danger of polluting local waterways or interfering with native wildlife. In addition, the event organizer One World proudly supports water.org. Water.org is an organization which focuses on increasing global access to safe drinking water. They include an informational pamphlet and easy options to donate to raise money to support this cause. I love it when an event is able to go beyond just an enjoyable evening and helps to provide a positive impact.

I decorated my lantern with things that I was grateful for and my sister decorated hers with art including a celtic knot and a flowers. Once the sun slipped beneath the horizon, they asked us to gather around the edges of the lake and to pause for reflection. Then they invited us to release our lanterns to allow them to float upon the water. One by one, they spread out, glittering together like stars. As I stepped back to take in the sight, I was able to let out a deep sigh of contentment. Naturally, we snapped a few photos, but mostly my sister and I just walked along the path enjoying the sight and quietly conversing.

It should be noted that while my dinner was still firmly rooted in its culture of origin, the Water Lantern Fest was less so. Water Lamps originated in India and spread throughout Asia most likely through Buddhist diffusion. They appear in many festivals and have many meanings ranging from worshiping gods, praying for a good marriage, welcoming happiness, guiding the spirits of the departed or welcoming happiness. In Vietnam, there is a town which releases them quite frequently. In China, they are released throughout the year. In Japan, they usually release them to help guide the souls of the dead to the spirit world and allows for reflection for lost loved ones. Sometimes, things are lost in translation especially as it gets diffused across different cultures as it has in Asia since they have a lot of different meanings all over the continent.

Still, despite being a bit unmoored from its roots, it still felt as if it were in the spirit of the original customs. Where other events encourage a sort of frantic, frenanic frenzy of activity, this festival invited you to slow down, to pause and reflect. It encouraged building relationships between people and being more mindful of your surroundings. They also allowed people to come up to a microphone and share their stories. Some people shared their loss, others shared their victories, whereas others shared gratitude. There were lanterns that people dedicated to their loved ones. In a sense, the festival was a melting pot of the many traditions associated with water lanterns from Asia and transforming into something uniquely American. It certainly was not an authentic experience, but it falls under my “good enough” category.

How can you experience a Water Lantern Fest?

The best way is to go to their website WaterLanternFestival.com and click on your state to see when they might be coming to you. I encourage you to buy tickets early since they increase in price as the date approaches.

However, there is nothing to stop you from ordering some lanterns and LED candles and hosting your own smaller version with a group of friends. Although, it doesn’t quite hold a candle (pun intended) to seeing a few hundred floating all together, their reflections shimmering in the darkness of the water. It is also important to note that there may be local ordinances preventing such an activity and you would need to ensure proper clean up. After all, we want to keep our local environments beautiful so we can continue to enjoy it for years to come.

Completed: July 15, 2023

Cost: $36 per person (was advertised as $27 but there were vendor fees)

Miles from home: 45

Travel Tips: The Art of the Deal

Published on April 8, 2025March 1, 2025 by BudgetBlissLeave a comment

To continue on my tips for traveling, we’re going to talk about deals, their pros, cons, constraints and other considerations. Because we’ve all seen those travel blogs and social media posts promising cheap travel or insider tips and it can be tempting to jump on what seems to be an offer you can’t refuse, but there can be pitfalls that even the savviest person may find themselves prey to.. Here’s my tips on how to help you find good deals and how I keep costs down when I travel. After all this is a budget bucket list blog and I hope to show you how to live a life full of adventure without having to go into debt to do it.

In a previous post, I discussed a form of reverse travel planning of considering all your constraints ahead of time and then picking your destination. There are some people who will do a form of reverse travel by first picking the time they want to travel and then just look for deals to any destination and go based on that. I had a work colleague who took off for three weeks every summer and would travel for about one to two of those weeks being highly flexible with the dates and going to wherever was cheapest during that time. She enjoyed using Kayak to help her find those deals and then usually backpacked her way around a given country. There are many other websites and social media pages devoted to helping people find cheap flights and accommodations. Some people swear by hello going and others will literally troll websites for mistake deals and price track. If you aren’t too picky about where you’re going, these are great resources and can help you cross off your bucket list for less than you’d ever imagine.

Checking out a cruise line for last minute deals for cruises departing in only a few weeks or even days, could yield fantastic savings. I remember seeing a cruise to Iceland and the British Isles for two weeks for about $700 a person for a balcony suite. Booking it in advance would have been about $2,000 or more. So if you don’t much care where you go, then finding a destination at the last minute could open up a world of possibilities.

However, there are some considerations before grabbing your credit card and jumping on cheap fares. As previously discussed, one may find that you’ll be traveling to the destination when the weather is terrible for what you want to do. If you planned on going hiking in the mountains of Colorado, going in January might prove difficult given the snow cover, but if you want to go skiing then it’s probably the perfect time to go! The other consideration is the cost of the other parts of the vacation. The flight might be cheap but the accommodations are astronomical or it’s a flight to the middle of nowhere and it will cost you an arm and a leg to get to the actual place you want to go. Perhaps as with Rayanair the flight is cheap but it’s out of an airport that isn’t easily accessible necessitating extra travel time. It may be during a big festival that closes down the sites you want to visit or if you’re relying on public transit, there’s been a series of strikes over the past several months with no end in sight. It’s important to research the destination first before hitting that payment button.

While a cruise may seem like a surefire way to ensure that you will go to a destination during a prime time to visit, if you were hoping to join the excursions you’ll probably find them booked up meaning that you’ll be running an increased risk of being left behind. Be certain to plan plenty of extra time to return to the ship as you’ll be exploring the ports on your own.

Now before you resign yourself to only traveling during peak seasons, the off season can have its charm and with some careful timing, it may be the perfect time to go. Consider Cornwall in the UK. Its off season is the winter, many attractions are shut down, the weather isn’t the greatest, and the beaches are home to freezing waters. One may think me insane for having traveled towards the end of February. However, my visit coincided with the Half-term break for school children. This meant that attractions typically closed for the winter were open to welcome parents and children looking to pass the time. Ticket prices were still lower than during peak season, saving me money for sight-seeing. Additionally, the crowds were much lower than during the peak season because most of the people visiting were locals rather than throngs of foreign visitors.

The wonderful part of Cornwall is that the weather is actually fairly stable throughout the year so even though the summer is better weather, with the exception of one day, the weather was actually quite nice. Yes, it had frequent cloud cover, but the clouds are what help keep the climate so stable. I avoided crowds, had cheaper tickets and was still able to access everything I wanted to see by timing my visit with half-term. So before crossing off a destination because it’s not the “best time” to visit, take the time to investigate why. If you’re not someone who wants to lounge about on the beach but rather want to take in the local culture, see their museums and visit religious sites then perhaps a trip during the rainy season won’t be so bad, so long as you don’t time it with the peak of the rainy season.

Personally, a beach is a beach, so I see little reason to travel far just to lounge about when I have plenty of beaches nearby my home, but to each their own. I’m not here to judge, I’ll be a bit quizzical about it, but if you’re on the beach it means you aren’t crowding my museums or historic sites so by all means kick back and relax!

There are other tricks to keeping costs down. One of my favorite tricks comes from my time as a student studying abroad. Rather than paying to eat out for every meal, I would go to the local grocery store to pick up bread, meat and cheese. I could pack these in my backpack as I ran about a city which gave me extra time to sightsee and saved me a lot of money. For the cost of one meal out, I was able to eat two to three meals. It can certainly be fun to sample the local cuisine and to enjoy a hot meal, but if one is trying to keep a lower budget then this is a great way to do it. Of course before traveling ensure you’re done your research into what food items are generally safe to purchase for example fresh fruit may not always be safe unless you peel them or wash them yourself. One should always be mindful about the potential for food borne illnesses.

Another way I kept costs down while traveling was making liberal use of public transportation. It can be a bit tricky to use, but I will cover that in a later post. If you’re traveling to a major city the chances are pretty good that you’ll have access to half decent public transit to most major tourist destinations. I especially liked the transportation in Rome because the subway system was marked with pictures of the popular attractions making it a breeze to navigate.

When it comes to accommodations, there are ways to keep the costs down. As with everything, do your research. In the United States, many national and state parks have affordable cabins to camp in. Although they may not be more than a roof over your head with limited access to toilets, electricity and running water, so double check what sort of site you’re booking and be sure to do it in advance since they’ve become quite popular in recent years. Perhaps the country you’re visiting has a similar system.

In many European countries, youth hostels are the cheapest places to stay. The trick with them is to try and find ones in the safer part of the city and to pay a little bit more for your own private room rather than more open areas as there are some safety concerns with using them. There are some social media groups for people to house sit or even pet sit in various cities. Some groups will do house exchanges among members where they come to your house and you go to theirs. I shouldn’t have to outline the risks to these particular ventures such as people stealing from you, abusing your pets, accusing you of stealing or damage to the home, getting to the destination and finding out they were dishonest about their housing, stalking, etc. That isn’t to say staying at a regular hotel doesn’t have risks, but in general they are less risky than going to a stranger’s house from the internet. However, this is one way to get cheap accommodations.

You can also use tools to price track or even do it yourself. I found that for Norwegian Cruise Line for whatever reason booking 5 to 6 months out from the fall season yielded the best price (this may have changed). If you’re someone who is just starting to save up money and it’s going to take you several years then it might be a good idea to start tracking the prices of flights and accommodations for where you want to go. You can see when a company typically offers their best sales and adjust your plans accordingly.

One other trick is using your connections. My recent trip to the United Kingdom was only possible because I was invited to stay for free at a friend’s long term rental. That saved me about a third of the cost of the overall trip, turning it from unaffordable to affordable. My trip to Colorado and Montana was made possible by staying with some distant relatives (my mother’s uncle and cousins). My trip to Vermont was with a friend of my mom’s and while we were up North, we spent some time in the Boston area with another family friend. Be sure that if you’ve been invited to stay, you extend an invitation to your own area. I am sure after reading my blog, you have lots of ideas of fun things to do in your area to make their trip truly memorable.

Another way to use your connections is inviting them along. A hotel room split among several people can drastically reduce the cost (just ensure you know how many guests a room can accommodate and watch out for charges for extra guests). When traveling to Michigan solo, it made more sense to fly since the cost of gas and tolls was almost as expensive and it was significantly more time. However, when traveling with a companion suddenly my cost was halved and I had someone to switch off driving, which made driving the much more affordable option. My friend worked for a rental car company and so by traveling with her we were able to save on a rental car when I was going down to North Carolina. Another friend’s parents had a timeshare and we were able to use it for a hotel.

As you can see there are many ways to help keep the costs of travel down with some creativity and flexibility.

Ocean Dreams

Published on April 4, 2025March 18, 2025 by BudgetBlissLeave a comment

As a native of Pennsylvania, I am relatively close to the coast meaning that a trip to the beach can be an easy day trip. It’s about 2 to 3 hours away depending on whether I want to enjoy a direct ocean front of the Jersey shore or a salt-water bay in Delaware and traffic. This means that I grew up going to the beach, not every summer but with enough frequency for it to seem like a fairly common experience.

However, if you dear reader have never been to the ocean it’s rather difficult to explain in words the sheer vastness that one is faced with when standing upon the shore. Yes, I have certainly spent time on the shore of a lake and enjoyed swimming in them, but most of them do not hold the same awe as the ocean. The sound of the water echoes miles inland. The power of the waves striking the shore push and pull you alternatively, sometimes rushing in with such force it pushes you forward or even down beneath the surface. Sometimes the pull of the water is just as powerful, ripping you from the safety of the shallow water, dragging you out towards the depths, in the infamous rip tides. To stand at the shoreline of the ocean is to stand at the precipice of nature’s power.

The only other body of water that held the same primal awe for me, was Lake Superior when the strength of the November winds proved too treacherous for even the most stalwart of ships to traverse. Perhaps, the Great Lakes are the only bodies of water to truly rival the ocean in terms of power and danger.

Yet, despite the sheer awesome force that is the ocean, even with its dangers lurking just below the surface, a day at the beach is one that I look forward to. I have many fond memories of being packed up into the car and driven to the beaches of Delaware or New Jersey. The water is not the crystal blue featured on postcards from the topics, but instead may range in color from gray, to navy, to even a sort of olive green depending on the weather and time of year.

I have spent many long hours diving into the waves, letting them take me as they will either towards or away from the shore. I have pushed and challenged myself against the ocean’s might fighting both against its power. There was something satisfying in defying the fury of the waves. It was also just plain fun to let myself be battered about, the thrill of the sheer force behind the ebb and flow of the ocean’s waves. I have tried my hand at bodyboarding to some success, but, as of this writing, I’ve never gotten to surfboard – it’s on the list.

When I was not deep in the waters, I would walk along the shore line enjoying the playful echoes of the more powerful wave which swirled about my ankles bringing in and revealing seashells. When one would catch my eye, I’d bend down and pick them up admiring the jewels of the sea. Although, I encourage you dear reader to leave the shells be or at least only take the choicest ones for I have since learned that our obsession with shell collection has had a detrimental effect on the shoreline. It is far better to take pictures and leave the shells behind or only take a very few if you absolutely must.

I have certainly taken the time to build sandcastles and make sculptures from the sand. I have enjoyed the boardwalks snacking on popcorn, devouring ice cream and taking in the ongoing carnival just off the shore. Although, one of my favorite activities is honestly, taking a low sitting chair, positioning myself in among the waves and reading a good book. I love listening to the sound of the waves as I read and to feel the gentle caress of the waves against my legs.

As an adult, I will typically spend the morning wading in the shallows and swimming in the deeper waters until the sun begins to beat down oppressively. After enjoying a picnic of whatever food I’ve packed, I pull out my book position myself in the water and start to read under the shade of my umbrella. After an hour or so, I will go for a long stroll along the shore line, keeping my path to where the sand and water meet, splashing in the waves as they swirl about my ankels, scouring the landscape for the choicest of shells until I begin to tire. When I return to my umbrella, I read more and then it’s back into the water I go. I may keep up the pattern of reading and swimming for several more hours until the sun begins to get low in the sky and I know that I should probably head home. A handful of times, I have stayed long enough to witness a sunset and linger until it was dark. That was usually when I was spending more than a day.

I have gotten the chance to enjoy beaches in various parts of the world, the north Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. I had spent a week in Rome and so one of the days, I decided to take the train over to the Mediterranean with my friend Erica and her friend Danielle. The three of us happened to make fast friends with two other American families who were also visiting Rome with their children. As it turned out they were two military families who took it upon themselves to ensure that the three young American women were taken care of. The three groups took turns watching one another’s items which allowed us to fully enjoy the ocean even with the advisory in place to be careful in the water. The men ensured that we were watched and safe the entire time. I am truly grateful to those service members who saw our protection as an extension of their duties even when not on official military business. The beaches of Rome were not all that different than the beaches of North America. The ocean’s color was almost the same and it carried similar risks.

The beaches of the caribbean were similar but in many ways different. The biggest difference was of course the color. The water was crystal clear allowing me to see the tiny fish swimming in the shallows. Farther out the color was a bright, blue rather than the grayish tones of the north. The waves were gentle, almost lapping against the shoreline rather than crashing into it. Of course, the vegetarian was also different. The northern climates is populated with shrubs and tall grasses jutting out of the sand, whereas the southern climates enjoyed towering palm trees which provided shade against the harsh sun. I would not say it was necessarily better or even vastly different, but it was a gentler experience. I can certainly understand the appeal of the calm, crystal clear waters.

Perhaps, it is my own more gothic nature, that I find myself drawn more to the wild oceans of the north over the calmer, gentler seas of the south. Give me the rough, rugged and untamed seas with their biting winds and frigid, gray waters. I do so enjoy a dark sky and a cool ocean as the perfect backdrop. Fall is probably one of my favorite times to visit, when the crowds of summer have dissipated and the weather starts to have a bit of a bite to it. I don’t mind needing a blanket to curl up under against the winds. I also enjoy the early spring, when the sea is still wild from the winter and the water carries winter’s sharp sting. Whatever the time of year or the weather, I do simply enjoy the ocean. A day on its shore is always relaxing and a bit exciting.

How can you enjoy a day at the beach?

Obviously, if you are along the coast line, spending a day at the beach is relatively easy. Many public beaches are free or have only a minimal fee for parking. As hard as it is for me to believe, I have met people who despite living within a 2 to 3 hour drive of the coast have never been. By all means if you do live within a day’s drive, take some time to enjoy the coastline. As I wrote above, the shore does not even need to be enjoyed during the peak season. I found my favorite times to go were in the spring and fall during the off season when the crowds were lessened. If you go in the fall, the water will most likely still be warm from the summer, but the colder water can be exhilarating in its own right.

If you are not near the coast line, there are of course lakes for you to visit. Although, I will say a day at a lake is quite different than a day at the shore with few exceptions. However, it is not so different that you cannot enjoy similar activities. Each person is different and may find different thresholds for meaningful differences than I do. To me at a certain point, a beach is a beach whether that is in the North Atlantic or Caribbean. To others, there may be such a vast difference between the two kinds of beaches as to warrant the necessity of visiting one or the other. It was my general feeling that at a certain point a beach is a beach which led me not to want to spend too many days at tropical beaches when in the Caribbean and South America. As it turns out, I am actually more fond of northern beaches anyways. I absolutely loved the beach in Cornwall and it was in the middle of February when we went.

As always, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You, dear reader, may decide that a day at the lake is equal to a day at the beach. You may also decide that you want to check off tropical beach rather than any old beach. To that, I say, tack on a beach day to a trip if you can. If like me when staying in Rome, you’re spending a week somewhere and you can easily access a beach, then take the time to visit the shore. I do not regret spending the day in the Mediterranean. It was a lovely day to relax and recover from trekking all over the city.

Completed: childhood

Cost: Gas money and a packed picnic ($100)

Miles from home: Nearest 135 miles to nearest beach (approximately 3 hours)

Travel Tips for Travel: Preparation

Published on April 1, 2025March 1, 2025 by BudgetBlissLeave a comment

One may be forgiven for thinking that I’ve already covered preparation in the packing section. After all, is that not where one places all the things that one will need in the luggage? Well yes, but this is a dedicated section to logistical and necessary paperwork considerations.

Americans have been a bit spoiled since the advent of commercial flights given that our passports have pretty much cleared us through most countries without much fuss. However with the increased concern for security over the years more and more countries are implementing pre-checks and restrictions to people looking to cross their borders. For example, when I was a student studying in Germany I could have easily hopped a plane last minute to visit the UK without any additional paperwork than my passport. In fact, I was a little disappointed that most of the borders I crossed didn’t require any stamp or passport check during my time in Europe because of the European Union allowing for easy travel across borders. However, on my recent trip to the UK, I was required to download an app and apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization. It’s essentially a pre-screening tool for people intending to travel into a country and it is linked to your passport. They’re intended to help catch high risk individuals who may overstay their welcome or pose other security threats. I imagine that more and more countries will be adopting these in the future. Some countries require your passport to be no more than 6 or even 3 months from expiration. Other countries require visas, even for US citizens. As always research the country’s requirements before visiting and do not assume that because you were able to freely cross even a few months ago that you will be able to freely cross again as laws are constantly being updated.

Another lesser known consideration is vaccinations. During COVID some places were requiring proof of vaccination and even to this day there are countries which require you to show proof of a yellow fever vaccination. While a COVID shot was easily obtained at a local pharmacy or doctor’s office, a yellow fever vaccination is less readily available and may require an appointment at a travel clinic. Keep in mind most of these vaccinations are not necessarily covered by insurance and will cost you out of pocket to obtain them. Double check which vaccinations are covered by insurance and arrange with your doctor to obtain them there since many travel clinics don’t accept insurance.

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Now just because a country doesn’t require a vaccination doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider visiting a travel clinic anyways. While traveling to many countries along the equator is affordable they do tend to be places with higher levels of disease and thus pose an increased health risk. My personal recommendation is to visit the U.S. Department of State for travel advisories. This website often lists potential concerns for travelers including diseases. When going on a mission trip to Haiti, I invested in some malaria medication to ensure I did not contract it. Not everyone in my group did but given that mosquitos adore me, I felt that I ran a higher risk than others. This website can also tell you about other risks that a country may pose. It may advise you to stay away from certain areas or of ongoing conflicts that the news may have not covered. Be mindful that when you go to the travel clinic they will try and upsell you additional things, be certain of what you want before you go in to avoid unnecessary expenses.

When looking up information on the US Department of State, I make sure to write down the US Embassy information for the country I will be visiting and you can even register your visit with the US Consulate to help smooth out processes should the need arise. I always make a copy of my passport and other travel documents, not that these will get your very far but they are helpful in emergency situations where they’ve been stolen or lost.

In addition to safety, be sure to look up the local emergency number for the country you are visiting. Dialing 911 is not a universal number which will connect you to emergency services. Be sure to program that number in your phone along with the number of the US consultant for the country you’ll be going to.

I also try and google “things Americans should know about traveling to x” to help keep me appraised of local laws we typically run afoul of. Did you know in certain countries wearing camouflage is illegal? Not that I am a fan of wearing camo for myself, but I know many Americans are. There may also be certain customs and social expectations that we frequently break through ignorance. For example, while visiting in Boston, I took up with a few German tourists and we went out to eat together. I was horrified when I realized that they were only going to round up to the nearest dollar amount as a tip instead of giving the customary minimum of 15%. I had to explain to them that what they were doing was extremely rude to the waitstaff. See, Americans aren’t the only ones who mess up when traveling abroad. It is easy to assume similarities when visiting other Western nations since we are so culturally similar in most respects, but still do your research and don’t be afraid to inquire about local customs. If people see you are earnestly trying to be polite, they usually appreciate the effort and are happy to educate you if you miss something.

Now when traveling it can be tempting to simply call your bank, inform them of your plans and then use your credit or debit card. However, this can lead to unexpected charges and cost you money in the end. Many bank cards charge additional fees unless you have obtained a card intended for travel, so double check with your bank to avoid unexpected costs. Additionally, consider going to the bank and exchanging your money for the local currency. As always double check the currencies that a country accepts. Many Caribbean and Central American countries accept dollars when visiting. As of this writing, Venezuela even accepts bitcoin if you happen to have that. Keep in mind, it can take several days for your bank to get the money in so my advice is to do it two weeks prior to your departure that way in case you make a mistake, you have time to rectify the situation. Remember most banks will exchange notes and not coins so when you are abroad be sure to use up your coins when possible to maximize your ability to exchange the money upon your return. Always take more money than you think you’ll need as you may need the money for tips, parking and other miscellaneous items.Your cards can be lost, stolen or mistakenly locked out. You’ll be grateful to have cash to get you through emergency situations.

The other phone call to make is to your phone company for potential international plans. AT&T offers a 12 dollar a day plan and you only pay for the days you access their network. It’s not terribly expensive if you plan to keep your phone in airplane mode and only plan to use it for emergencies as I personally don’t recommend using your phone abroad. Instead, if your phone is unlocked you can purchase a sim card or download an app for an electronic sim card for the country you’re in. Often you can purchase plans for about 10-15 dollars for an entire month rather than per day. If your phone isn’t unlocked, you can either get it unlocked or purchase a cheap phone for purposes of GPS and local phone calls. To communicate to people back in the US, I currently recommend Whatsapp as a way to make phone calls without incurring tons of additional costs. Along the same lines with the phone, don’t assume your apps and things will work to access items like tickets. Always download the tickets to your phone or print them out and pack them.

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Depending on where you’re going, you may want to consider purchasing a camera instead of using your phone as one. Certain places in the UK, are known for phone theft and there are plenty of videos of thieves snatching phones right out of the hands of unsuspecting victims. Don’t think that because you’re going to a first world country that you won’t encounter crime. I had a work colleague whose phone was stolen off the secretary’s desk. Within minutes the thieves had broken into her phone, accessed a money transfer app and stole $1,000 out of her bank account. Her photos were never recovered and she was out $1,000 because neither the bank nor the app would reimburse her. It can and does happen here at home and abroad, so consider the risks carefully.

Along with other electronic devices, make sure you know what the electrical outlet situation is like in the places you’re going to. Nothing would be more frustrating than arriving with a low battery only to discover that the plug you packed doesn’t fit! If you think you’ll be going to a lot of different countries you can purchase one that has different attachments and then you won’t have to worry about it.

Finally consider the pros and cons of travel insurance. Are you traveling to a place where you can access their healthcare? What sort of healthcare are they offering? Are you planning on going hiking in the mountains? Do you have emergency evacuation covered? There are lots of different options and some of them are practically scams promising coverage for things that in the fine print aren’t as covered as one would think or offer coverage for things that you could have gotten for free or low cost. Research, research and research.

When encountering issues with my phone abroad, I was grateful I had the foresight to print out my tickets having solved the problem before it even happened. When driving in a foreign country, I had already looked up the common road signs so I knew what they meant and avoided potential tickets. By looking up potential risks, I knew better than to pet the local cats as they may have been carrying rabies (it was very tempting to befriend them). Although, I suppose for $700 I could have gotten a rabies vaccine and then felt free to pet, so maybe next time? With the right preparation, your trip can run smoothly even with unexpected difficulties and pitfalls.

Did I visit a Botanical Garden or Paradise?

Published on March 28, 2025March 1, 2025 by BudgetBlissLeave a comment

The title is a slight exaggeration, but I think the comparison is apt. After all, in three of the world’s major monotheistic religions, paradise is a garden.

So, what exactly is a botanical garden? Aside from being a beautiful place to wander around in quiet contemplation, botanical gardens are gardens with a documented collection of plants for the purposes of scientific research, education, conservation and display. They feature the botanical names of the plants. Hence the name botanical garden – not necessarily the cleverest of names, but it certainly gets the job done.

Some of my earliest memories consist of gardening. Lacking cable, one of my favorite pastimes was actually watching “The Digging Show” or my parents gardening. I loved spending time among the plants and the flowers learning their names, cataloging their color, inhaling their scents and at times nibbling upon them. I quite enjoyed the various herbs and was quite familiar with which ones were safe for me to consume and which ones were best avoided. I spent many hours going to various nurseries. As my parents shopped, they became my playgrounds. Not that I disturbed the merchandise (I had been taught to look not to touch), but I still explored, searching out new plants and finding the statutory and other garden decor scattered about. Our garden was huge and well known in the neighborhood as one of the best. We even had a photographer request to come and take photographs of our garden.

It should come as no surprise then, that I love going to botanical gardens to stroll among the flowers and greenery. Each one is so different which only serves to highlight the vast biodiversity of our planet where no two gardens are alike. Some focus on specific areas while others span ecosystems throughout the planet. No matter what I always find a bit of wonder in them as I am taken in by the majestic blooms and vibrant hues of the leaves. I’ve seen giant lilly pads and a huge array of orchids. I have been overpowered by the sweet scent of roses and delighted by the scent of apple blossoms.

The architecture of these gardens are often a highlight as well featuring delicate archways and imposing pillars. Many of the gardens have various fountains and waterways snaking through them. They may even have plunging waterfalls. Longwood Gardens in particular is known for its spectacular water show which is predominately displayed in the center of the gardens. However, it is also home to more humble buildings, small wooden cottages or small towers tucked away in forested areas. To traverse the gardens is to move from landscape to landscape each with its own unique take on what makes a garden. There are times when the juxtaposition of the two can almost seem jarring as one moves from one area to the next as if the doorways themselves are portals to between worlds.

Each world is a delight to the senses and one hardly notices the passage of time or the encroaching heat of a warm day or the way the chill of a winter begins to seep its way into your bones on those cooler days. In all seasons, the gardens offer something new as they are always changing with the pattern of the year. It means there is never a bad time to visit and one can visit quite often as there is always a shift. What was in bloom only a few weeks ago may have faded and a new plant has come to take its turn in the spotlight. The gardens can be enjoyed both in quiet solitude or with a group of friends.

I find that day among the plants and flowers is as refreshing as a day at the spa. A connection to nature is an important part of mental health. Time outdoors helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Fresh air is also correlated with increased physical health. Exposure to nature is associated with better cognitive function. Certainly spending time in such oxygen rich environments is good for your lungs when we spend so much of our time inside. So yes, it can certainly feel like one has discovered a small slice of paradise when visiting as the stress of the outside world begins to melt away. I certainly envision heaven as a botanical garden, populated with cats of course, with ready access to a vast library of books and tea.

How can you visit your own slice of paradise?

Luckily, botanical gardens are found throughout the country and indeed the world, so finding one should be relatively simple. I recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and to pick a day when the weather is particularly good. You will most likely want to bring some water as they are often deceptive in size – they are always bigger than you anticipate. Armed with proper hydration and shoes, you will ensure that your beautiful garden experience doesn’t become hellish.

Completed: First completed in childhood in a visit to Longwood Gardens

Cost: $32 per person (can vary depending on time of year)

Miles from home: 45 miles from home

I have also visited other gardens throughout the country as I am always up for visiting a garden.