Tag: travel

Travel Tips: Trains, planes and Automobiles Part 2

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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.

Travel Tips: Trains, Planes and Automobiles Part 1

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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.

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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.

Travel Tips: The Art of the Deal

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

Travel Tips for Travel: Preparation

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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. 

Travel Tips: Packing

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One might not think that this topic deserves its own post, after all packing is pretty simple, gather things, throw in luggage, take with you, done! However, this is a vital part of travel as it can make or break your whole trip. Pack too little and you may find yourself in a rather awkward situation or in need of some vital item that you cannot precure easily. Pack too much and you don’t have room for souvenirs, you end up having to pay more to check your luggage and your back is sore from carrying it around everywhere. 

Obviously the first step is to double check the luggage allotment for how you’re traveling. After all, that will often determine what you can even take, so before you even start selecting items, it’s important to consider how much room you even have for all those cute outfits and stylish heels. How many carry-ons can you take, what are the allowed dimensions? Don’t assume that every mode of transportation or even company has the same rules. Check every one and go with the least/smallest amount, this will help you avoid unexpected fees and difficult decisions.

Personally, I try to avoid checking luggage whenever possible, especially when going to a place. I don’t mind it as much on my return because if luggage is lost I usually have the essentials in my carry on and I have plenty of extras at my house. However, if luggage is lost when I’m traveling to a place, I may find myself without enough clothing or I missed a connection trying to sort out the lost luggage resulting in extra expenses and unnecessary stress. Most of the time if I have to gate check luggage I can pick it up at the gate. Sometimes, I will pack an extra bag that I can use as a personal item later and then check my carry on and turn my previous personal item into my carry on. This ensures I have plenty of room for souvenirs. Another consideration is wheeling your luggage versus carrying it. One might think that the best answer is wheels. After all, I just said earlier how carrying luggage around can make your back sore. 

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However, that doesn’t take into consideration the bane of wheeled luggage, stairs. This can be especially important if one is trying to take more than two wheeled pieces of luggage which I did when I spent a semester abroad in Germany. Not having traveled much previously, I only ever encountered transportation which was easily accessible meaning that wheeled luggage had no problems. Not so, in Germany where the trains had steps. Narrow almost ladder-like steps. This meant I had to quickly throw my luggage up the steps and try to climb up myself all before the doors closed. I almost fell out of the train and got left behind because I was struggling with my luggage. Had I been able to put it around my body and just climb up, I wouldn’t have had that issue. My recommendation is try not to bring more than one wheeled luggage and make sure your other luggage can comfortably sit on top of the wheeled luggage for easy transportation. This also means that you can easily switch to carrying your luggage if the terrain calls for it. 

There is also the debate between hard and soft luggage. Some people swear by the soft luggage, others by the hard cases. The soft luggage tends to give a bit more give for packing, but is less secure. It comes down to a matter of preference and what you’re using the luggage for. There is also a large market out there for luggage that helps you maximize space. Before shelling out tons of money for expensive bags, remember there is really only so much you can do to reduce the amount of space an object takes up in your bag. Often those viral videos are too good, so maybe save your money for souvenirs.

Now if one is pressed for space, then clever use of pockets may be necessary to help expand your carry-on capacity. There are all sorts of things one can purchase from cargo pants, to scarves with hidden pockets to jackets that specialize in acting as a second carry-on. Just be mindful that stuffing your pants pockets full of various items won’t make you the most popular person at the security line and will add extra time to your check in procedure. This method can lead to extra discomfort during your travels. A scarf will make you warm. A jacket with items in it, won’t be comfortable to sit with. Just like with luggage, vial videos make it seem like a great idea until you actually try it it.

Additional thought and consideration should be given to what you’re going to wear. It is generally recommended to wear your bulkiest items when traveling. Maximizing what’s on your person will help maximize your limited space. Wearing layers on the plane is another good way to turn your body into additional bag storage. However, you do want to consider your travel outfit for more than just storage so don’t go too crazy here or your may end up on a very long flight wearing things that are very uncomfortable. I usually opt for an extra layer, a scarf with a pocket and shoes that are easy to slip on and off, breathable fabrics that are stretchy and I avoid anything with zippers or buttons. 

As you can see before you’ve even packed a single item, careful thought must be given to your luggage and potentially the outfit you’re going to wear to travel. 

During COVID, I opted for a sleeves top with a light jacket and a Norwex cloth mask for a plane ride. My hair was up in braids that kept it out of my way and allowed me to comfortably recline when I went out to visit some friends in Michigan.

So once you’ve figured out what luggage to use, then it’s a matter of figuring out what to pack. Pretty much googling “essential packing list” will pull up a good checklist for packing. Obviously, don’t pack everything suggested on the list, you’re supposed to make adjustments based on where you’re going. If traveling to a tropical beach destination you probably don’t want to pack a sweater. If you aren’t going anywhere formal, then leave the formalwear at home, but if you’re going to a wedding, then pack your formal attire. When picking outfits, consider sticking with a color pallet that mixes well together so you can mix and match. You should also try and pack items that can be dressed up or dressed down. I happen to own several yoga pants that look like dress pants, so I can pack those and be comfortable going on a hike or attending a meeting. I usually pack more tops than bottoms since my legs don’t usually get sweaty so I can wear bottoms several times. However, if one is expecting to get muddy then you may want to pack more bottoms than tops. Most carry-on luggage fits roughly two pairs of jeans, three sweaters, two dresses, and five shirts, so if you’re going longer than a week, you may need to get creative. Often people advise you to pick out what you need and then halve (with exception of underwear) the clothes you’re going to take. Consideration should be given for how often you can do laundry and for how sweaty you will get. Some people will pack small laundry sheets to be able to do laundry in their sink or utilize the laundry services at their destination.

Try to get liquids that can multitask. For example, did you know that you can use conditioner for shaving cream? If you can get a tinted moisturizer you can use that as foundation. You can also get tinted chapstick to substitute for lipstick. If you’re going to a hotel, most provide some toiletries, usually shampoo, conditioner and soap. You could also consider purchasing travel sized from a local store at your destination if the prices aren’t too different from your home. If traveling with companions, consider sharing some items like sunscreen, bug spray or moisturizers.

Try and minimize your devices if you can substitute with another you should. My only exception is my kindle because it’s bad for your eyes to read books from a tiny phone screen and I’m not getting a headache from tiny print. I have one universal portable charger that has all the attachments for various devices neatly attached to it. Always try and get creative with

Once you formalize your packing list, it’s a matter of locating the items. 

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In general, pack clothes that won’t wrinkle like knits and stretchy fabrics. Fabrics that are woven tend to wrinkle more. Unfortunately, traveling in colder months or to cooler destinations means that your clothes will take up more space. A good trick is to pack lighter clothes with a light sweater that can go over them rather than several bulkier items. There are lots of videos debating between rolling or folding clothing, but in general either method will work so long as the focus is on eliminating air. Packing cubes can be very helpful in squeezing out extra air and ensuring every space is filled. They can also help create easily arranged “blocks” inside your luggage. I personally, like to use several smaller cubes rather than one big cube. If packing an extra purse or tote, these can also be used to organize and store items. This also helps make unpacking easy and keeps my stuff organized at the hotel. I often will pack two empty cubes for dirty laundry which helps keep my luggage from smelling. I have a bag for my shoes which also keeps the rest of my luggage clean. 

Place heavier items, like shoes, towards the bottom to help stabilize the luggage. As shoes often result in wasted space, consider packing items inside the shoes, like socks. The key is to try and maximize every inch of your luggage and ensure there’s no wasted space in between items. Although many airports no longer make you take your liquids out, organize your liquids in one bag that you keep at the top of your luggage for easy access to help make security a breeze just in case. If you have outside pockets, then packing items that you want ready access to should be placed there. 

If traveling with fragile items, place them in a plastic bag (in case they break) and pack them surrounded by clothing to help act as a cushion or bubble wrap substitute. 

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If you do decide to check your luggage make sure to put essentials such as medications, at least one change of clean clothes, a cell phone charger, etc. inside your carry-on luggage. You should be able to survive at least one to two days without your checked luggage. Make sure you have your contact information, like your email and phone number, on your checked luggage in case the airline loses it so they’re able to contact you. I would not put your home address on it for security reasons. 

Unless your luggage is a unique color or design consider putting a brightly colored ribbon or other distinguishing mark on your luggage to help prevent people from accidentally grabbing yours or from you accidently grabbing someone else’s. I usually have a yellow ribbon on mine since it’s black.  Baggage claim can take a long while as luggage has the lowest priority when it comes to runway traffic, so if you think you’ll have to catch a train or other form of transportation at your destination be sure to add plenty of time when purchasing tickets.

Hopefully, these tips will help you maximize your available space and ensure you have everything you need to make your trip wonderful.

Travel Tips: Reverse Planning

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In honor of the coming spring, I’ve decided to do a few travel posts. You see dear reader, it seems that with the end of winter with the warmer weather on the horizon, I always get a bit of wanderlust at this time of year and find myself going to far flung corners of the world. Or at least farther afield than is typical as I certainly can’t afford to travel too far every spring. Perhaps, it’s something in the air, maybe it’s from being cooped up in the house during the cold winter months. 

Before we clutch our pearls in shock at such a notion, remember dear reader, I am not against travel. I simply believe that we can live a bucket-list life right where we are and that we needn’t travel frequently to experience amazing things. However, there are times when we do travel, so we may as well do it well, to ensure that it is a wise investment of our limited resources. After all, traveling is expensive and time consuming. As budget conscious people, we certainly don’t want to experience travel regret or wish we had been more thoughtful prior to hopping on a plane and wasting hundreds of dollars on a less than stellar trip. To that end, I hope that these tips will help you make the most of your travels. At this point I believe I am at least a fairly experienced traveler to be speaking on such things.

I shall begin my travel tips with the most fundamental decision of all, where to go. 

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Now there are many considerations to picking a place to travel. Now you may have a very specific place in mind already. In which case skip this post and read the Travel Tips for the First Time Traveler: The Art of the Deal. In this post, I’m going to share a method of reverse planning or rather than picking a place first and then planning around that. You first plan the big three: time, budget and season and based on those constraints narrow down options of where to go. It can be helpful in managing your budget and ensuring you stay within the constraints of your means. Many people underestimate the cost of their trips and it’s easier to do when blinded by a pre-made decision. This method allows you to place your constraints ahead of time and then plan from there. 

My very first consideration would be time, how much time do you realistically have? Time can be a huge constraint. For example, I recently traveled to England after being invited to join a friend in her long term rental down in Penzance. The accommodations were completely free and I naturally took advantage of this. However, it took 2 hours to get to the airport, allowing for the recommended 2.5 hours to get through security and boarding onto the plane before take off, another 6 hour flight, another hour to deboard, get through customs and navigate a new airport, and another 8 hours of buses and trains. I left my house at 2 pm and arrived at 5 pm the next day. The return flight was 7 hours, with almost 2 hours to get through customs, secure our bags, take a bus back to the economy parking and 2 hours to get home. We left the hotel in London at 8 am and arrived home at 7 pm. That wasn’t accounting for the 6 hour train ride back north to London that we took 3 days before our flight to allow us two days in London. Just travel alone was 3 days of our trip. That also didn’t account for recovery days from jet lag which depending on how easily you bounce back from disrupted sleep could take another whole day from your trip. So, I really don’t recommend taking a week to travel across an ocean because you realistically end up with maybe 3 to 4 good days. This is why I took two weeks off of work to allow myself plenty of time for travel to and from, recover, unpack and get ready to return to my normally scheduled programming. 

Time really determines a lot of things. It can influence your budget, how far you can travel, what you can do and whether it’s worth adding in things like rental cars and taxis or if you can stick to public transit. After all, public transit adds time to a trip. If I had access to a car that 5 to 6 hour train ride could have been closer to 3 and with the multiple train delays stretching the initial ride down to 8 hours, a car would have been preferable.  Time also determines how much you can do. I only had two days in London which meant that I had to be picky about what I did and what I saw. One could spend an entire day at the British Museum but then one will have only seen one museum, granted it packs a lot into one place, but then one isn’t seeing other things. If one rushes through things can one really enjoy it or will you be so exhausted from your vacation you need a vacation to recover from your vacation? It’s very easy to overestimate the amount of time you have which can lead to exhaustion from rushing around and stress from worrying about things like missed train connections, traffic or just getting lost in a strange place. 

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The other major consideration is of course budget. How much money can you spend on a holiday? Do you have paid time off? If you don’t, then any time off work is calculated into the cost of your trip. The budget can really determine how and where you can travel. Perhaps you can take a 12 hour direct flight to that far flung place, but it costs twice as much as the 20 hour flight with multiple connections. When considering a budget, you should be asking yourself how much are you typically saving in a month, how much have you already saved and how much can you still save? Consider the costs of transportation, accommodations, food and souvenirs. Hint: it is always more than you think, especially if you’re going to places where your currency is weaker than theirs where it’s easy to underestimate how much you’re spending. Just because the flight is cheap doesn’t mean accommodations will be, just because the accommodations are free doesn’t mean the flights will be cheap. I recently read a blog post outlining the actual cost of a trip for a couple who managed to snag really cheap flight tickets. Even though their flight was very affordable, the cost of other transportation, sight-seeing, food, accommodations, etc. for two weeks was still $5,000. So before jumping on that “great deal”, consider the other costs. 

To help you plan you may want to check out places like Expatistan, Price of Travel or Numbeo. These resources can help you with your budget to see if where you’re going is actually somewhere you can afford to go. What is cheap to one person may be expensive to another person. If you make 100,000 a year spending 5,000 is only 5% of your yearly salary but if you only make 45,000 then it’s 11% which is a significant difference. However, if you make 100,000 and you’re supporting a family of 5, spending 5,000 is less affordable than if it’s just you and your cats.

The final consideration is the time of year you’re able to travel. My sister’s job requires her to help test major systems updates which happen routinely at certain points of the year. This means there are just certain times when she knows she cannot reasonably take off without it causing a lot of issues for her work and her time off approval is tentative. When I was the Winter Shelter Coordinator for an Emergency Winter Homeless Shelter at one of my jobs, I knew I could not take off during the Winter months for extended periods of time. It was a major job expectation that I would be generally available during that season. There are certain times of the year that just aren’t good for certain destinations. It may look like an amazing deal to go during the off season, but good luck enjoying that tropical beach vacation in Maldives during the rainy season. 

Now depending if you’re traveling solo or in a group, you may have to consider what others can afford in terms of time, money and when they can take off. As I previously stated, my sister has a job that semi-dictates when she can take off and I also had a job where I couldn’t take off during the winter months. If you’re traveling with a school employee, you can’t travel much from August through June. Additionally, if your travel companion has limited mobility that can impact when and how you travel. Someone who needs assistance at the airport will most likely need an additional hour or more for pre-boarding. It’s important to have open and honest discussions with your travel companions before you spend a dime. 

One subcategory of all these considerations is the type of traveler you are. Do you like museums or the party scene? Do you want to spend your time lounging on the beach or do you want to go hiking? Are you content so long as you have a roof over your head and a pillow under it or do you want a little more luxury? When I was a student studying abroad I traveled as cheaply as I could, snagging deals on Ryanair, booking hostels and buying most of my food at local stores rather than eating out. Are you comfortable flying economy or do you require extra leg room? When traveling to England my mom paid for an upgraded seat both ways because she has had blood clots and decided it was worth having extra leg room and the ability to put her feet up in order to ensure she wasn’t going to spend her trip in the hospital. That impacted her budget. 

Once you have your time, budget and season you’ll be traveling, it’s much easier to narrow down where you can go based on your research. Depending on where you’re traveling from you can reasonably estimate how far you can go based on your time. If you’re on the East Coast like me then Europe is a more reasonable flight than from the West Coast. There can be surprises that pop up for example, flying to Costa Rica was a 10 hour flight despite it being about the same distance as the United Kingdom. However, Costa Rica is a lot cheaper to visit. The constraints of your aforementioned decisions can dictate where you’re going to go. If you divide up your budget and discover that you only have about 50 dollars a day then you may need to go to cheaper areas of the world. Once you have your list of possible places to go, you can pick.

Tales from Abroad: Life Unbound

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I had the privilege of spending a semester abroad in my academic studies. For five months, I was halfway across the world, in a non-English speaking country for the most part on my own with limited support. This was a world before smart phones and easy roaming charges. I was for the most part armed with a local flip phone for emergencies, my wits and conversational German. It was just as daunting and fun as one imagines. 

I suppose it was this experience that really solidified my adventurous spirit. How many times have I thought to myself “If I can get lost in the middle of Paris and still catch the train back to Marburg how hard can this be?” It instilled in me a sense of confidence to be able to navigate foreign places, solve problems on the fly and still be successful. There were certainly challenges. 

There were the physical challenges that Germany presented me on day one. I thought I was a fairly experienced traveler having flown numerous times in the United States and I figured that Germany being another Western Country wouldn’t be too different. Stairs are apparently a thing everywhere in Germany and pose a much more serious problem than in the US when it comes to traveling with multiple bags. I had packed my bags anticipating the ease of traversing an airport with multiple rolling bags that I had in America, but Germany wasn’t as accommodating when it comes to rolling suitcases. Luckily, I did have some help in that I was traveling with a group of students, but they weren’t always the most helpful. 

First, getting the bags down the escalators was a nightmare. I distinctly remember one of our bags just tumbling down the escalator as a complete hazard. Second, the trains had stairs. I had never encountered trains with stairs. I don’t even think I had seen such things in movies. Now, it does seem that since I’ve been in the country the train system is not as ruthlessly efficient as I remember it being. However, when I went, the trains were almost always on time and they did not wait for you to finish boarding, you had to get on or you would be left behind and the staff would not wave to the conductor to hold for you.

So there I was tossing my bags up onto the train and trying to get myself on with probably less than two minutes to get myself on board. The stairs were more akin to ladders than stairs, so I was trying to frantically climb onto the train with my bags. Being a naturally clumsy person, in a situation where balance was particularly challenging, I of course started to fall backwards. Luckily for me, the train doors shut just as I was about to stumble back onto the platform. Had I fallen back sooner, I would have been left on the platform with my bags on the train in a strange country and no real way to contact anyone. Had I not managed to get my bags on, I would have been on the train with the bags left behind! Certainly not my best moment! The saga of the stairs did not end there, there were stairs everywhere with almost no elevators to speak of, my legs looked amazing my the end of the trip and I do recommend the Germany Stair Master 5000, 5 month workout plan to you aspiring models. 

My face at seeing that I had to climb yet MORE stairs!

I faced the challenge of navigating a truly arcane system for signing up for classes. I had never seen such a discombobulated, uncoordinated system in my life. Some classes you signed up for in person, some were online, some you had to practically hunt down like some sort of secret cult meeting. I’m still not exactly sure how I managed to actually sign up for my classes, but I somehow squeaked by with the requirements and managed to get myself in courses I felt i could handle with my level of German. Although Frankfurt in Mittelalter was more than I could chew since the first day they wanted me to read latin and I had to read 15th century German documents for a research paper. Essentially, it was like handing a non native speaker of English the original Canterbury Tales and telling them to have at it. I may have spent 3 days researching the history of the German language in order to translate what I was reading before attempting to write anything. 

While I was there, I independently traveled to Paris, Dublin, Nuremberg, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Rome. I planned every part of those trips from booking the plane tickets, navigating transportation to and from the airports, found the hostels and traversed the cities learning the unique public transit of each one. I went with a group of school students on a trip to Berlin and joined Brethren Colleges Abroad for trips to Vienna and Strasbourg. These trips did not involve how to get there or where to stay, but I did have to traverse them on my own, figure out which sights I wanted to see and ensure that I was on time for the checks in. 

While there, I bought my own groceries on a strict budget (most of my money went to my trips rather than to food). I cooked my own food learning how to use a gas oven which terrified me the first time I used it because I had never had to light an oven with a match before. I had to learn how to sort trash like the Germans and all the quirks of their culture. I learned to navigate a completely arcane university system as well as see the world a little differently. I met a fantastic travel companion, a fellow American who shared my love of reading. I wish I could say we stayed in touch and are still best friends, but sadly like many adult friendships it did not last much beyond our semester in Germany as we were from and returned to different parts of the country. 

My trip to Dublin

While I was in Germany, I took advantage of the relatively cheap travel through Ryanair and checked many things off my list. I will say that for the most part I was unable to savor the cities that I visited as I often only had 1 ½ to 2 days in which to see them. That did require me to at times semi-race through places focusing on the absolute “musts” rather than casually strolling through as I may have liked. The Louver itself is a whole day affair if one is to truly take it all in. Sadly, I only saw the highlights rather than everything it had to offer. Which is really what can be said of several of the places I visited (Paris, Dublin, Berlin, and Strasbourg) other places I like Vienna and Rome, I had an entire week to see which allowed me to do much more. I even took a day trip to the beach while in Rome, so I can say that I swam in the Mediterranean. It is unsurprisingly much like swimming in the Atlantic, at least just outside of Rome it is. Also, after Paris I was much more able to navigate the foreign public transit system as I had very little experience prior to coming to Europe 

Through all my adventures, I was required to bring a “can do attitude” and resourcefulness. I managed almost all my mistakes or set backs with grace under fire with one exception. But even that turned out well. 

I got to know so many people in my travels. I listened to their perspective and saw how the different parts of the world views America and by extension me as an American. Some of them were harsh criticisms, others were high praise. I was baffled by the Spaniard who was insulted that I hadn’t chosen to learn Spanish rather than German. I was embraced by a very drunk Irishmen who was just thrilled to death about Obama’s recent election after George Bush. I got to witness a student protest over tuition which blew my mind because back home we all just sort of shrugged with a “what can we do?” when faced by yet more college fees. I listened to young and old shared their lives, their hopes and their thoughts. 

Traveling abroad expanded my horizons, strengthened my character and taught me resilience. It reinforced my spirit of adventure and voracious appetite to learn about places, experience things and know new people. 

Myself and my travel buddy Erica whom I met in Marburg

How can you live abroad?

For many people this is a Bucket List item. Although, I suspect it was mostly put there by people who are much richer than the rest of us. If you aren’t a college student, this is a much more difficult prospect as the semester abroad only cost me $600 more than staying at college (not counting the extra trips I took). To me it was well worth the $600 extra investment on top of the investment I was already making in my education. Otherwise living abroad can be quite costly without gainful employment and how many of us realistically are going to find jobs where we can work in another country? I have seen some groups which advertise house sitting in Europe which would help take care of your accommodations, but there’s still pesky things like food that you need to pay for and if you’re house sitting you can’t really travel around all that much. Plus, what about your own house back home and your job?

That doesn’t mean that all is lost. One of the principles of the thing is that you’re willing to put yourself in a fairly unfamiliar situation, with limited access to outside supports forcing you to navigate unique challenges and overcome. A solo road trip through the United States where you just jump in the car and go, may present you with similar challenges.

The other principle is that you’re interacting with a lot of different people from around the globe with a willing and humble spirit to be shown their perspective. I continue to do both things in my life. Taking a short week backpacking in Mexico or Peru can be just as challenging if not more than navigating a semester in Germany. Talking to someone online who’s from Beirut may expand your understanding of the world far more than talking to someone you met in France because of the greater cultural differences. 

Just living abroad does not necessarily confer these challenges either. It is easy to wall yourself off in an English speaking enclave and never leave depending on where you go. Had I gone to Germany, only hung out with American students, taken classes in English and never left my dorm, would that have given me the same experience? No, I may as well have stayed in America for all it did for me other than give me some social clout to say “I spent a semester abroad”. Remember, dear readers, we do not marry the principles of what we desire to the thing itself. Our desires can manifest in many forms and be just as satisfying if not moreso. 

Still if you truly desire to do so, then my recommendation is to learn another language and start applying for jobs abroad. You obviously don’t need to learn another language, but it is certainly helpful. As of this writing the best jobs abroad are teacher, volunteer, medical industry, tour guide, yachting, au pair, scuba dive instructor, yoga instructor, working for an international company and obtaining a working holiday visa. As you can see many of them are easier said than done and do require some sort of specialization. So do your market research and consider what it would really mean to go abroad. After all you only live once, why not live it a little unbound?

Completed: Spring 2009

Cost: $600 

Miles from home: about 4,000

Full disclosure: As stated above, it was only $600 in addition to my college tuition, so I’m not counting the cost of tuition as I would have paid that one way or the other. I also didn’t include my additional travels but all told they probably cost me about $1500. Two of those trips were covered in the cost of my studies. 

The Great American Eclipse of 2024

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Full disclosure: This is a more expensive bucket list item and required travel. 

When I was a little girl, I had asked for a book on astronomy for Christmas. I had always had an interest in the stars and heavenly events. I was fascinated by the movements of the planets and the constellations. I wanted to know more about this great universe and at times the sheer vastness was somewhat terrifying. The infinite can be quite overwhelming to a child below the age of 10. This is perhaps why I also have an appreciation for eldritch horror. 

At the very front of this book was a list of eclipses both lunar and solar in North America and was devastated to learn that I would not get the opportunity until 2017 or 2024. I longed to be able to see it and the passage of nearly 20 to 30 years was almost as unfathomable as the breadth of the universe itself. Time of course passed and I grew into an adult. I had half forgotten about the solar eclipses as a dream put to the side, when I read an article online that reminded me of such a momentous event was going to occur in North America in the summer of 2017. Now granted, in truth total solar eclipses do occur with some frequency, but not in the same place which is what makes them seem rare, so one would be correct in stating it isn’t that momentous. However, the ability to travel to see one isn’t readily available. 

I was lucky in that the event happened to coincide with my friend’s 30th birthday which kick started all of us turning 30 that year, so naturally we had to travel down south to see it. Her parents also wanted to see it and invited her and her friends to stay with them in a very nice hotel for a week down at the beach. We were quite pleased to see the budget for the event cut down significantly by their generosity. However, luck would not be with us, for upon the moment of totality, after carefully watching the path of the moon across the sun in the oppressive heat of a southern summer in August, the clouds came in and ruined the experience. The disappointment I felt was almost as crushing as the heat. The rest of the week was still quite pleasant, so I do recommend if you are going to travel somewhere for an eclipse to do so in an area you want to visit if having to go more than a few hours from your home. 

Naturally, I checked the calendar for when the next eclipse would occur and waited eagerly to hatch my plan to view it. This path was a more auspicious one for me as it passed within a few hours drive of my house. In 2023, I began to plan more seriously considering exactly how far away I wanted to book my hotel and drive to totality knowing that hotels would be booking up quickly and highly expensive in the path of totality. 

However, my mother had other plans, better plans. She had recently rekindled a friendship with an old college friend who lived in Vermont, Sheila. They both had been saying how we should come up and visit her on her small farm. With her being so near the path of totality, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to go up. She reached out and planned an extended weekend at Sheila’s and also reached out to my “Uncle” Jay to possibly stay in the greater Boston area after the eclipse. With our “hotels” booked, we had hatched a plan. 

On the Saturday before the eclipse, we drove the six hours up to Vermont, listening to an audio book and enjoying the scenery of Pennsylvania, New York and Vermont. We made infrequent stops to maximize our travel time. Pro-tip, if you are traveling through many small towns and need the restroom remember libraries are your friend! We were driving off the beaten path and needed to heed the call of nature. Unsure of where we could go for relief, I happened to spot a sign for a local library as we drove by. I made a small u-turn and parked just outside. The librarian was friendly to two road weary travelers. Support your local libraries friends for they are one of the last true public spaces for all. 

We arrived at Sheila’s in the later hours of the evening, met her two dogs Quinn and Filipa, her two ragdoll cats and their adorable five kittens. I honestly could have died happy just meeting the kittens. They were the cutest balls of fluff you ever saw! We also met her two sons Danny and Astir. On Sunday morning, I was introduced to her three Icelandic horses and even got to ride one [post here]. On Sunday afternoon, we mostly relaxed, spending a little bit of time exploring the small Vermont towns nearby to give our hostess a break from entertaining guests. We took time to take in the mountains. The majestic nature of the Vermont mountains cannot be understated dressed as they were in their finest late snow cover and evergreens. The crisp air carried the promised scent of spring not yet realized. We stopped at a mom and pop store to sample and purchase maple syrup. We perused the local art gallery for our token souvenirs [post here]. 

On Monday, it was the main event. The eclipse wasn’t to start until the afternoon, so we had plenty of time to go to brunch at a town about 40 minutes north of Sheila’s home. We took time to see another small town before heading up the mountain for the prime viewing spot. Something that was quite extraordinary for my nerd heart, was that the property where we were invited to was owned by none other than an astronomer who assisted on the Hubble telescope. 

It was quite the crowd of neighbors considering the population density of the state. Many people had extra eclipse glasses ready in case someone needed a pair. We took turns using a colander as a pin hole camera to see the path of the eclipse. One neighbor brought food with him to share. Some people read books as they waited while others drank beer. This time the clouds stayed away, the sky was crystal clear and the stage was set. 

It is difficult to describe the totality of an eclipse. Throughout the time of the partial leading up to totality, the light begins to diffuse and everything begins to lose its color. The temperature begins to drop and a light wind breezes through dissipating most of the remaining clouds. Seemingly without warning, the moon slips in front of the sun and her shadow plunges the world into a strange twilight. Sunset is on every horizon, the temperature finishes dropping by 10 degrees. Pictures do not do it justice because cameras are made for light, which means most pictures or videos of the eclipse show the black orb of the moon surrounded by fuzzy light. That isn’t what it looks like in truth. In truth, it is a black orb ringed by a thin silver line. Your mind while understanding logically what is happening still has its primal alarm bells ringing of the otherworld breaking through to this one. It is easy to imagine how the ancients would have seen it as disfavor from the gods or an ill omen, when the very light of day is blackened, when the star itself is put out, what else can it be? All too quickly, it passes, the moon continues her dance across the sky heedless of her shadow and the small creatures she has awed. The light comes back and day resumes its throne. 

After nearly thirty years of waiting, I had finally seen my dream become a reality. It took two trips and some luck, but I had made it happen. 

You may dear reader be wondering what such a thing has to do with my blog about bucket list items on a budget, especially when the next eclipse won’t be until 2045 and I did arguably spend a lot more money than most of my items. There are several reasons, the first is to remind you that even if it is 30 years in the making, bucket list items can come true. The second is that the best lain plans of mice and men may still become a bust. I was extremely disappointed in 2017 not to see it, but the disappointment led to an amazing experience later. I would not have gone to Vermont where I got to snuggle ragdoll kittens and ride an Icelandic horse. I may not have gone to Boston as well, had I not missed out. Missing out can lead to better things. We never know what the universe has in store for us. Often it is even better than we could have imagined. There will be times when you carefully plan a bucket list item, you may like me spend a little more or travel a little further just to fulfill this experience only to have your plan dashed to pieces. These are moments of opportunity, be on the lookout for other chances and make the most of the time regardless. Even if I had missed out on totality, I still would have several other awesome experiences. The third is that there are some things that travel becomes a requirement. However, by being more frugal on our other items we will have plenty of money in the bank for these singular adventures. Lastly, there are many other astronomical events which you can keep an eye out to see. The sky is a window to a vast and amazing universe so look up and see what wonders there are to behold! 

How you can complete this or something similar: 

Pay attention to the news for stories of local happenings in the sky and try to make plans to either take a day off or come in late to work so you can stay up late to see it. Be aware of where the dark skies are in your area. https://www.darkskymap.com/ If you do want to see a total eclipse, you have several years to save and plan as at the time of this writing the next one will be in 2045. If you want a cheaper viewing, opt to stay at a hotel outside the zone of totality and then drive to the zone early. My sister found a Barnes & Noble to view the eclipse from. She had a comfortable place to wait, access to a cafe, a bathroom and plenty of entertainment. There were stories of people booking hotels cheaply in advance only to have the hotel cancel their service in order to charge astronomical prices. An air b’n’b was going for 1,000 a night before in the path of totality. My sister found a much cheaper option outside the area and I found some friends. 

If this isn’t your cup of tea, you can still consider the principle of this item. Mainly, completing a childhood dream. I had been waiting almost 25 years to be able to see an total eclipse and while it was a more expensive item, requiring more planning and travel, it was worth it. Part of the point of spending less, while living more is so when these sorts of opportunities come around, I have the means to complete them. Keep an eye out for opportunities to pursue your dreams and don’t be afraid to jump on them.

Completed: April 8, 2024

Miles from home: 430 miles

Cost: About $600 (estimated increase without friend support: $800-900)

Making the Most of Your Travels

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There are times when I do travel. At the time of this writing, I have gone on two cruises, spent a semester abroad, completed a mission trip and traveled a number of times over several states. I am not opposed to travel, though I have stated there are drawbacks to traveling especially when so many things may already be in your backyard if you just take the time to look. However, there may be things or experiences that just require travel. For example, I wanted to see a total solar eclipse. Not living in a place where that was happening in my lifetime, I was forced to travel. If you want to see the Great Wall of China you have to go to china.  

Given the drawbacks to travel, environmental impact, overtourism, money involved in traveling, participating in exploitative practices, etc. it is important to make the most of your travels when you travel to minimize these drawbacks. As with everything else, do your research and be picky. When I went on my two cruises it may have been tempting to lounge about on the many sandy beaches. However as someone who is only a two to three hour drive from the beach, that wasn’t an activity high on my list. I remember distinctly telling my travel companions that if we were going to sit around on a beach we may as well drive to Maryland or New Jersey and save ourselves the time and expense as honestly beaches are fairly universal. Sand? Check. Ocean? Check. Beach. If you, dear reader, are living in the midwestern part of the United States, including a beach day in your cruise makes sense, for those of us from the coasts, we probably should consider other options. 

Photo by Nathan Cowley on Pexels.com

Something I am mindful to do when traveling is to consider what are things that I simply cannot do in my own backyard? That isn’t to say that I refrain from doing anything that I can do in my own backyard, more that if given the choice of various activities, I will prioritize the ones that I cannot do or cannot do easily. When I went to Aruba, I opted to get on a submarine, as that wasn’t something I couldn’t easily do off the New Jersey shore. I saw the Panama Canal in Panama because it is a unique piece of engineering not replicated elsewhere in the world. I went to the Rain Forest in Costa Rica because like the Panama Canal, the rainforest simply can’t be replicated. That isn’t to say I didn’t go to the beach at all, I did pick one or two days that included the beach. It just wasn’t my first priority and the days I did go to the beach it was an add on to another excursion, like the caves in Curacao.

I was mindful when picking my itinerary to pick ones with the most places I wanted to experience or alternatively have excursions which include activities I want to experience. This can even stretch to smaller items. When departing from the New York port, I made sure to take time to get a good view of the Statue of Liberty when we left as I had never seen it. I took advantage of being at the equator in order to watch both a sunrise and sunset on the same day. In the north, I would have had to get up quite early to see a full sunrise and being as I am not a morning person, this would be difficult. Closer to the equator the sun rose and set at times more conducive to my schedule. These were small things, but I still got to enjoy them with just a little awareness of the opportunities around me.   

The cast from the play in Stephen’s Green. Discovered by chasing down the gentleman on the far right through the streets of Dublin

This is not the time to necessarily be pig-headed about your agenda or have an agenda so full you cannot be spontaneous. Some of my best experiences come from being spontaneous. That is how I got on a tour of the capitol building in Washington, scored tickets to the British Shakespeare’s performance of MidSummer Night’s Dream in Dublin, and the unicorn tapestries in Paris. Cultivating a spirit of openness and adventure. The best strategy is one that includes openness to pivot to new opportunities. 

The point is to be mindful about what you’re going to do and be mindful when you’re doing it. Don’t just travel to travel, use your time wisely. Thoreau told us to suck the marrow of life, suck the marrow from your trips! Consider carefully the itinerary of where you’re going, cast a wider net to capture the possibilities of the area, and be willing to indulge yourself on things that are inaccessible otherwise. 

If you do go on a cruise ship, check out all of its offerings. On my very first cruise, I discovered it had a thermal spa suite outfitted with lots of things I had never tried before a sauna, steam room and salt room. For a little bit extra, I was able to purchase a pass to access it and found that I spent at least an hour there every day. Considering the very large hot tub and fewer people with beautiful views, it was certainly worth it. I also discovered the ship had a ropes course with a zipline. On another ship, we tried go-cart racing. Something else, I had been itching to try. I loved it, my sister not so much – needless to say we scratched that off our list of sister dates to do. So check out your ship, your hotel or wherever you may be for cheap/free options. It wasn’t like I could really go anywhere else, I had already paid to be able to use it in my fare, so I may as well make use of them and cross those items off the list. Trips I took during my semester abroad to made the best use of my time in Germany. By venturing forth from Marburg I was able to see places I’ve always wanted to see like Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Vienna and Rome. With Ryanair most of those plane tickets were under $50 bucks. 

Be sure to check the dates of your trip for any special events that may be occurring in the area or be willing to adjust your dates if you discover there will be a special event in the area you want to go to. My trip to Dublin just happened to coincide with their Shakespeare Festival and a performance by the British Shakespeare Company. My trip to Vienna just happened to coincide with Monet’s Water Lilies being on exhibition at one of the many art museums. By paying attention to what was going on at a specific time, I was able to expand what I was able to do. Although contrary-wise, you may want to avoid going to places during certain times of the year. For example, avoid Disney World November through December, typically the park is open for almost 12 hours for you to enjoy. However, during the Christmas celebration, if you want to stay after dark you have to pay an extra $300 – $400 for a pass, that’s cutting your park time down by 5 to 6 hours unless you’re willing and able to pay an extra fee. Don’t go to Boston during the marathon in the spring if you want to avoid the crowds. Skip Florida’s beaches during spring break if you don’t want to be in an overcrowded place with a bunch of drunk, college students. Careful planning can help make or break your trip.

Photo by Vlad Alexandru Popa on Pexels.com

Try to add an extra day in order to add in something special. When leaving from the New York port, my family and I added an extra evening in New York to catch a Broadway musical, something my sister’s mother-in-law had never experienced and is on many people’s list. Yes, it was an extra expense but it would be more expensive to have to travel back up to New York just to see a show. When my sister went on her first cruise, she flew over a day early and enjoyed the sights of Barcelona, for a night at a hotel she was able to experience a whole city. Traveling is often one of the biggest expenses as well as your biggest carbon footprint, so by adding a little extra time, you can enjoy more. Good for your wallet and the earth! 

As budget conscious people, it is important to get the most “bang for your buck” as it were. That isn’t to say pack everything full and rush around so quick you can’t even take in what you’re seeing, it is only to make sure you’re taking full advantage of what is nearby to maximize your experience. With careful planning and a spirit of adventure, you can make the most of your more expensive and far ranging trips.  

The case for travel

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You would think that after making the case to not travel that I wouldn’t shortly have a post about traveling. After all, the whole point is living where you’re at, not waiting for the PTO and money but doing it right now! Before you pick up the pitchforks of hypocrisy, I never said that you shouldn’t travel at all. I said there is a case for traveling less and exploring places closer to home. 

However, you will have already read that I have traveled. I have gone to Europe, the Caribbean and Central America. I have also traveled a bit around the United States, so I can’t say that I never travel. I am in the process of making travel plans again. Travel has its place. Don’t think it doesn’t!

There are many well meaning movements with catchy slogans that work well in a number of places but can’t be transferred to all places. Take the “No Mow May” which is a movement to try and get people to hold off on mowing their lawns until June in order to give pollinators a chance to emerge from their winter hibernation. The movement was started in the United Kingdom which is much smaller than the US, has a different ecosystem and weather. It’s a specific movement that works in the UK. Not mowing the lawn until June simply doesn’t work for places like Georgia. So my travel less may not work for everyone depending on where they are. People living near the coast with big cities, tend to have a lot more going on near them than people living in “fly over country” in the middle of America.

When traveling, make sure to pack the essentials!

And what do I mean by travel less? For some people traveling less may mean “no leaving the country”. The US is a BIG place. We have states bigger than some countries! Okay, maybe not leave your state then. But the states themselves can vary widely by size, Rhode Island is extremely tiny and Texas is HUGE. Is it the travel time from home? My daily commute is about 40 minutes, 20 of which is in the city I work in and it can largely depend on traffic. Perhaps the miles traveled? The carbon footprint of taking a long train ride is still smaller than a shorter car ride. The carbon footprint of travel? Maybe? But not everyone has access to public transit! It’s easy to get lost in the legalistic interpretation. The basic premise is that rather than traveling around the world for a specific experience, see if there isn’t an experience nearby; to look around you to see what people travel to your area for. It’s about reducing travel, not forgoing it altogether. However, there are just some experiences and places that cannot be replicated. There are some people who can’t be replicated. Which brings me to my case for travel. 

I tend to travel for two reasons, the first is to see the people that I know and love. If I happen to be able to check off some bucket list items on my visit all the better. Experiences are meant to be shared and it’s much more fun to reminiscence with the person you were there with rather than tell your tale once to a few semi-interested people and never share again. No one ever asks me about my semester in Germany and if they do they get a general “it was an amazing experience”. I have yet to have someone respond to that with “no tell me all about it!” In fact, we were coached to give a two minute synopsis of our time there because people weren’t going to want to hear it. Visiting people and having them join you on your adventures is always fun. It’s a chance to form stronger bonds and to see people in a new light. 

“Uncle” Jay and I at Hammon Castle

I had known my “Uncle” Jay for years, but spending a few days in his house near Boston showed me a side of him I hadn’t seen before. I got to see all the different pieces of art he had made over the years from baskets to glasswork. I learned he is a rather amazing cook. Plus, he knew exactly what to show me and where to go in the area because as a local, he is quite intimate with the area, something Trip Advisor just can’t replicate. I did get to check some things off my bucket list, but my best memories will be of him. 

The other reason is to see those things that just cannot be replicated. I want to see a geyser and other geothermal activity. I was excited to find a geyser in my home state and started making plans to go see it. Unfortunately, it’s not a result of geothermal activity and more a man-made oops. Needless to say, I stopped making plans. If I just want to see some water squirt up from the ground I can go see a sprinkler at any of my neighbor’s gardens. My only choice is to travel some distance to see it, but I tried to see it locally first.

Now my travel bucket list is a carefully curated list of items that I will be trying to travel for. This isn’t a list of “oh that sounds cool” or a list of “I could go see that”, no these are things that I have dreamed of seeing for years, have watched documentaries on, read books about, looked at pictures, things I really want to see and there just isn’t an acceptable substitution. If this sounds like you, then by all means save up and go! 

Travel is meant to allow you to see and experience things you don’t in your everyday life. To interact with people who think differently, speak differently, act differently and live differently. Travel can expand your horizons. As we all know social media lies and documentaries can edit things almost as much. Going to a place allows you to see it with your own eyes. There is also elements of smell, touch and taste that cannot be transferred through a photo or with words. 

Travel gets you out of your element and forces you to take some risks. This can boost your self-confidence, help you learn new skills and stretch you. When I was studying in Germany, I took it upon myself to travel to the different nearby countries figuring (rightly) it would be many years if ever I would get to see Europe again. However, being a poor college student it meant that I didn’t have money for a travel agent or fancy hotels. It meant booking hostels online, navigating to the budget airline and sometimes going places where I didn’t even know the language like France and Italy. I’ve taken that experience with me ever since, often rolling up my sleeves and thinking “well if I can get lost in Paris and still find my way back without speaking French and before smartphones were even invented, how hard can this be with google at my fingertips?” 

One of my favorite stories is accidently getting lost in the Red Light District of Paris – fun times!

When traveling with my mother, she went off on a small excursion without me and ended up having a lovely time with a local booth owner because of her Spanish skills. She took a risk and was rewarded with special memories, great prices on her souvenirs and even got to pet a sloth! After that experience, I noticed her confidence about moving in the world had increased. Sometimes getting out of our comfort zone can help us learn just how capable we really are.

If you must travel, do so carefully and thoughtfully. When I went to visit a family friend in Vermont, I timed it to coincide with the total solar eclipse. I also scheduled a few days to see other parts of New England and visit the aforementioned Uncle Jay. When I see my boyfriend who lives in Michigan, he often will take me to various places in his state. 

Took advantage of a trip to see my boyfriend to visit Lake Superior together

Are you having to travel a long distance by car? Check your route for cool things! Several years ago my boyfriend went to school in Arizona, he planned extra time for a road trip so he could see the many national parks along the way including arches. He had to make the trip anyway, but by being mindful, he was able to see his own bucket list items. Though he wouldn’t call it a bucket list. 

Remember, travel was never the enemy, only our limited perspective on it being necessary to live a full life. So go ahead pack your bags, order that plan ticket and be off!