2022 is the year people are getting back to travel, which is exciting, but also stressful. Between worrying about changing restrictions, high airfare, possible outbreaks, and large crowds, it's hard to be as excited about travel planning as before. You'll definitely be paying more for a lot of things, whether you intend to or not. Here's what else you can look forward to.
Saturday, May 21, 2022
People Are Traveling Again
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Getting Comfortable On the Plane
It's no secret that airfare is sky-high right now, so it's hard to really find deals that are that good. In order to save money, you're probably trying to go as budget as possible. With airplane real estate at a premium, it can be hard to get comfortable on flights when you're relegated to economy class, but there are a few things you can do to make your air travel less awful and more comfy.
Monday, May 16, 2022
Review: Travelon's Greenlander Compact Sling
Summer is coming, and with it come farmers' markets, festivals, vacations, and more time outside. If you hate carrying around a bag, but still need to carry the essentials, then the Greenlander Compact Sling from Travelon is your new best friend. I wore it to an event downtown this past weekend and it was awesome.
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I'm sorry for the sun making this a terrible picture. I couldn't actually see my phone screen at all. If you've got a birthday or graduation for a traveler coming up soon, this could be the perfect gift for them. I know I'll be using this for a lot of activities, because I love to have my hands free to take pictures or browse the market or to hold the dog's leash. There are endless activities where this bag will be super handy to wear. More details Where to buy: Travelon website Cost: $49.50 - take 20% off with my code SHEREENTRAVELS20% Colors it is available in: Diamond Ash (shown) | Galaxy Blue (with gray & aqua accents) | Jet Black (with gray and lime accents) Other specs: size: 5”W x 7.25”H x 1.75”D, strap length: 33-59", 100% certified recycled rPET material (made from recycled water bottles), water-resistant, spot-clean with a damp cloth. |
Saturday, May 14, 2022
Banksyland On Tour
Last week we had the joy of viewing international art at home. Portland is the first (and possibly only) stop on the tour of Banksy art called, appropriately, Banksyland. This includes art from a private collection, canvas prints of large building murals, videos, and possible recreations.
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
How To Try Travel Sharing
It's no secret that travel share is a booming industry. With less mainstream ways to travel on a budget, it's easier than ever to travel the world without going broke. I'm all for going independent when I can to save some bucks, especially if I have plenty of traveler reviews to back up the safety and legitimacy of it all.
Instead of staying in a hotel or eating at a traditional restaurant or going to the big box car rental places for some wheels, why not go local and more affordable?
Accommodations
I've been on the travel share bandwagon for a long time. While I love a hotel and still use them when needed, I love to feel more at home when I travel and enjoy having a kitchen and laundry at my disposal. If you do, too, try:
- Airbnb - Indisputably the most well-known way to rent a vacation space. Choose from a room in a home to an entire apartment and everything in between. Get to meet locals where you can while making use of the spaces they aren't using. (Here's an account of one of my Airbnb experiences.)
- Homeexchange - Want to really save some money? Swap your house with other travelers where you want to go. Take in their mail, feed their dogs and generally be them for the duration of your trip.
- Homeaway - Like Airbnb, see a long list of spaces for rent, go through HomeAway, so you know your reservation is safe and secure.
You may already be using Uber and Lyft to get around, but why stop there? If you want to drive on your own schedule, rent someone else's car while you're in town. See locals who can spare their wheels while you're visiting on these great sites:
- Turo
- GetAround
- ZipCar - Unlike these others, these are shared cars in a city. Rent it by the hour. Pick it up and drop it off at a designated location.
I'm open to meeting new people and I love to eat. Now you can visit locals for homemade meals or meet someone for food at a restaurant. This is especially good for people who are traveling solo and don't like to eat alone and those that are really outgoing.
Sometimes you get to a place and realize you want something specific, like golf clubs or skis. Since bringing them with you can be crazy expensive, why not rent some from someone while you're in town?
- Loanables
- BabyQuip - Rent baby strollers, car seats and more.
- Baby'sAway - Same as BabyQuip, but great if you're traveling with more than one baby.
- Spinlister - Need a bike? Rent one at your destination!
Saturday, May 7, 2022
A Disney Vacation In a Box
So, I had such a fun time creating my own Destination Date Nights and then planning a Japan staycation for my friend, that I decided to do it again. We were meant to go to Walt Disney World in 2020, and then again in 2021, but with Covid, and then all the terrible laws and government since then, we postponed and then outright cancelled our vacation. Our friend was going to meet us down there.
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A bit of a behind the scenes pic |
The disappointment from us all has been understandable, and we'll eventually get back down there for this trip, but for now that's not happening. Since we aren't able to take that trip, and she had never been, I decided that she should still get to have that Disney magic at home, whenever she felt the need.
Every staycation needs a backdrop, in my opinion, and to make this one extra special, I planned a two-step backdrop. At some point, I plan to do a Disney party, focusing on the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, so I figured I'd use the castle backdrop anyway. I purchased the one above on Amazon, set it up in the backyard, put on our (subtle) Disney gear, posed in front of it, and then took a bunch of photos. One of them was good enough to keep, and then I edited, cropped, and uploaded that one to make a new background.
Other backdrops you might like:
- nighttime castle and World Showcase Lagoon
- nighttime castle with stars
- daytime Disneyland castle
- Christmas on Main Street
- Halloween on Main Street
- It's A Small World
- Spaceship Earth, or you can design your own with a public domain pic on Zazzle (get up to 60% off your first purchase with my link). I use the seller Canadapromo for all my tapestries. They aren't as heavy and they are machine washable.
- Don't forget the clamps to hang your background!
While I waited for my background to be printed, I put together the rest of the staycation. I wanted this to be an "experience", so there was a story and a layering system to everything in the box, meaning she would have to experience the trip in the way intended. Here we go:
"Jump on the monorail to City Hall and get your Birthday button, then head to your meet and greet with all the princesses." Some of our favorite things and must-dos were on the list to start off this staycation. If it's your birthday, anniversary, first trip, or whatever, a free button from City Hall is always fun. I tried to come up with a way to do a meet and greet that wasn't super cheesy, and knowing that I was going to include an actual birthday card, this pop-up card was an easy choice.
I knew she would be spending her birthday with her mom and grandma, and souvenirs are always fun. Mouse ears are the ultimate souvenir, so I ordered 3 different princess ear headbands for them to all get in on the fun: Anna, Ariel, Belle.
Of course, my visit is never complete without treats. Ya'll know I have a churro budget, and when she and I went to Disneyland a few years ago, I had 4 in 3 days, and Dole Whip, and popcorn, and some other things I probably didn't need. She loves sweets as well, so I wanted her to be able to enjoy her own churros at home, Mickey (and Donald) ice creams, and then I tossed in some Mickey cups I found at Party City to be used for sodas, adult beverages, or mini popcorn buckets. (Here are some similar ones on Amazon.)
Parades and rides are hard to replicate at home, but luckily, there are people who film all the things, so I made YouTube playlist of some of the best rides and entertainment, then I included this at-home VR headset that you put your phone in, start your video, and then wear it like goggles. Stroll down Main Street, browse shops, watch a parade, ride Space Mountain. You name it, you can find someone who's filmed it on YouTube.
And, of course, no trip to the Magic Kingdom is complete without fireworks. Sure, they could watch fireworks on YouTube as well, and I included a link to a few, but what about fireworks at home in your house?! A company called Uncle Milton made a whole line of fireworks simulation toys about a decade ago. They were discontinued, but I found a bunch on ebay. This one is the fireworks light show launcher, which gives you all the best parts of fireworks. It makes the fireworks launch sound and projects static fireworks wherever you point it.
I wanted one for myself, and then I found out they had a Pixar version, so I bought both versions. They were used, but they worked perfectly and was the cherry on top of my staycation box. I sent her the Pixar one, which also projects Disney characters in the "sky" with the fireworks, and kept the generic one for myself and future party planning. (I wish I had thought to look on ebay when I wanted this for the end of a Weasley Wizard Wheezes themed Harry Potter party.)
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated should you make any purchases through those links. Your purchases allow me to keep this blog running, so thanks in advance.
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Summer Vacations Can Be More Affordable
Rakuten - formerly Ebates
Groupon & Living Social
Travelzoo
CityPASS & GoCard
Swagbucks
Crowdtap
Saturday, April 30, 2022
National Travel & Tourism Week
My Faves
- London - Clearly, since we've visited 3 times now and will go back again.
- Edinburgh - Everything there is gorgeous and I can't wait to go back and also travel around other parts of Scotland.
- Ecuador - I'd narrow this down to just Quito, but the country is beautiful and the people are lovely and the food is delicious (and really cheap).
- Williamsburg, VA - Growing up nearby probably helped, but this little town is quaint and historic, plus Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens are must-dos.
- San Diego - I love California and have been to some amazing towns there. San Diego has it all: a big city with a small city vibe, walkability, green spaces, great food. You name it!
- Victoria, BC - This beautiful town has a little bit of everything for everyone. It feels a bit European, but it's more accessible.
- Philadelphia - I could have spent a few more weeks in this city, exploring the waterfront and city art.
My Short Wish List
- Palm Springs, CA - We'll be visiting with my mom in January 2023.
- Reykjavik, Iceland
- Austin, TX - I think we may get there in January 2024.
- Toronto
- Sacramento - Yes, we've been there before, but we have family there and the city is super cute. We'd like to spend more time there.
- Denver - I know there's more to see in the Mile High City, but we have been talking about going to visit the Meow Wolf installation there.
- Albuquerque - There is the original Meow Wolf installation here, and we also have friends who have moved to Las Cruces to visit.
Some Budget-Friendly Travel Tips
- Use Turo - Traditional rental car companies are great, but rates can also be crazy high, especially right now when they still don't have full fleets, and during the high season. If you can't find a good deal, try renting from an individual. I use the Turo app whenever I need to rent a car to see if I can support a person instead of a corporation.
- Book attractions ahead of time - So, I'm a big proponent of having as much planned and taken care of before I leave for vacation, but booking ahead of time can actually save you a lot of money, since many places have online discounts.
- Make lunch your main meal - You know I love eating. I keep snacks in my day bag. I plan whole days around where I want to dine. I always look for street food. I'm sure, like me, you like to go to nice restaurants when you travel. For these, I try to make lunch reservations for these places, because you get the same great food, but at lower prices.
- Pack light - Carry-on packing is the only way I travel now. If I do check a bag, it's only for coming home from a trip with extra things I've purchased. I have perfected planning a small capsule wardrobe for each trip, which you can do, too, with a little practice.
- Travel in the off-season (or shoulder season) - High season is the most expensive time to travel and visit destinations. You'll also be looking at crowded attractions and activities. Look to travel outside of that timeframe and save money on airfare, accommodations, and even rental cars. You'll also save time, even if opening hours are shorter, because there will be shorter lines and fewer people everywhere.
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Dinner In Vietnam At Home
- Get a backdrop (or two). I have been downloading full res photos from photographers on unsplash and getting them made into tapestries on Zazzle through artist Canadapromo. (<--use my referral code to get a big discount!) The less mainstream your destination, the more you will have to improvise.
- Get a nice vase/planter made in Vietnam
- This is the one I purchased
- Here are a bunch of other options
- Add some great dishes & napkins on a neutral table topper
- A flag
- A Vietnamese cookbook (if you plan to do an entire feast yourself)
- Vietnamese pop music (you can stream it free on Amazon Music or YouTube)
- A travel guide to plan your trip. Here are some I would choose:
- Lonely Planet Guide
- 101 Amazing Things To Do
- DK Witness
- A Vietnamese game for your family to play like Gourd Fish Shrimp Crab Dice
- Flashcards/book to learn some easy Vietnamese words
- Or a book full of Vietnamese fairy tales
- You can also make a yourself a sightseeing day with virtual tours on YouTube
I hope these spark some ideas for you and you have a wonderful "trip" to Vietnam with your spouse and/or family. Immerse yourself in a new culture, food, and language.