Wednesday, May 31, 2023
My 5 Favorite Road Trip Items
Saturday, May 27, 2023
Dad & Grad Travel Gift List
It's that time again! Time to celebrate fathers and kids becoming adults and venturing out into the world. We like to honor them with gifts, letting them know how special and proud we are of them. If you've got a dad, grandfather, brother, son, or graduate in your life that likes to travel, I've come up with a list of suggestions for you that can all be here before June 18.
Photo credit |
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
10 Ways to Stay in Shape While Traveling
When you’re out and about flitting from tourist attraction to subway station to lunch, it’s hard to keep up with your diet and exercise regimen. Even though you’re out walking all day, and it may seem like you’re getting a lot of exercise, you’re probably also eating a lot of high-calorie and fatty foods that pretty much negate all the good you're doing with the walking, hiking and stair-climbing. Those extra pieces of cake and pie for dessert aren’t helping either.
Contrary to popular belief, calories do count on vacation, as much as you wish they didn’t. So, if you want to stay on track and earn those meals, you might want to add additional exercise to your vacation itinerary.
Get outside
I love to be outdoors when I travel. It’s the best way to see your destination, so why not get out a little more and burn extra calories?
Go running – You’re going to bring along a pair of walking shoes anyway, so why not make them running shoes that are also good for walking. If you run at home, then keep your routine set and get up early to run around the block or the hotel grounds.
Jump rope – This is an easily packable item and gets you great exercise anywhere you have some extra room. Not just little kids love to jump rope. It’s fun and helps you tone and keep in shape. Make sure you buy a nicely weighted one that will stand up to the rigors of the road
Make your lodging your gym
You walked all day yesterday, but you got up early in order to watch the news or eat breakfast in your room. As much as you know you should put on your workout clothes and hit the gym, the thought of looking presentable just doesn’t sound appealing. You aren’t alone. While you’re waiting for your bagel to toast or you’re listening to the weather report, you can take advantage of the floor space in your room to get in a quick workout.
Chair crunches – If you have a chair, you have a low-impact gym. Work your abs by sitting on the edge and pull your legs up or pump your legs as if you are riding a bicycle.
Do lunges – You’ll feel a lot less awkward doing them in the privacy of your room than out in public, too.
Calf raises – Do these anywhere, like while you are brushing your teeth, making oatmeal or waiting in line to get into the Louvre (for bonus exercise points).
Resist – Pack a resistance band (or set) in your carry-on and do more strenuous workouts in the time you have available. There are also fancy loop bands you can use to strengthen your legs/thighs.
Boxing – You don’t have to bring along full gear and a punching bag, but a pair of weighted gloves is a fabulous way to tone your arms and legs. Bookmark a few good training videos on YouTube.
Use what’s available at your accommodation
Your hotel or rental property might have some useful ways to help you work out. If the weather cooperates enough to be outside, then you’re in luck.
Go for a swim – Almost all hotels have a pool. Pack your swimsuit and you can get in some laps. If a fancy indoor pool is available, then you can swim if the weather is uncooperative.
Use the stairs – Walk or run up the stairs to your room and you’ll start to feel the burn. Generally, the stairwell is pretty private, so you also won’t be disturbing others if you are up early or late doing this.
Hit the gym - Lots of hotels and rental/timeshare properties have gyms. It may not be large, but you can get a quick workout in on the equipment they do have. You might also have access to tennis courts, bicycles, or basketball courts.
Keeping up with an exercise routine when you travel will keep you motivated to continue doing it at home, even if it takes you a few days to get back into your healthy eating habits. You’ll feel better about yourself and might even add to your regular workouts. Download a pedometer app or use your FitBit to keep up with your progress.
How do you stay in shape when traveling?
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Drinking Coffee Around the World
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month Through Travel
Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Now, in my 40s, I'm getting more into immersing myself in my Japanese Heritage, but I've also been learning more about other Asian cultures and have found a handful of favorite AAPI-owned businesses near my home that I frequent often. When we travel, I am always looking for women-, BIPOC-, and AAPI-owned restaurants and stores.
There isn't much to the Peace Plaza, but it's 100% there for the Peace Pagoda, which was given to the people of San Francisco by the people of Osaka, Japan (San Fracisco's sister city) in 1968 to signify the goodwill between the two.
I'll be visiting two other Japantowns this year. The first, Little Tokyo, in Los Angeles, and the second in Vancouver, BC. I'll also be visiting Chinatown in both of those places as well, and the largest Asian night market outside of Asia in Richmond, BC.
If you want to immerse yourself in Asian history, you can visit museums, America's Chinatowns, and some of the best restaurants across the country. Follow me on Instagram to see my travels as they happen, with photos that I don't post on the blog (because I don't have enough room). In the meantime, I'll be delving into all the delicious foods and gifts of Japan at Uwajimaya (an Asian grocery store in the Pacific Northwest) around the corner from our house.
Tell me about your favorite AAPI-owned businesses or Asian areas of cities from your travels or your hometown...
Saturday, May 13, 2023
8 Summer Travel Hacks
Infographic from Travelocity |
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
7 Ways to Save Money At Disney Parks
It's official, Disney has priced a lot of people out. It's definitely not a budget-friendly trip, but I know many of you are still looking forward to going sometime in the future. The last time I visited Disneyland was in 2018 and the same tickets I bought then are a full $100 more now. Unless you're visiting for 5 days, there's not really a decent savings on admission, so let's talk about other ways you can save, so you can, you know, eat food...or pay for Genie+ (the new system that has replaced Fastpass).
I know we just went to Disneyland Paris, and the entire 3-day package deal I bought with accommodation at a Disney hotel was almost cheaper than what it will cost us for two days in the California parks. Crazy.
Bring a reusable water bottle
We drink a lot when we're out doing things and even bottled water can add up quickly. I fill my water bottle with ice and water before I leave for the day, and the ice stays for much of the day, keeping my water cold each time I fill up. You can fill up throughout the day at water fountains, but most food establishments are happy to fill up your bottle for free (some will only give you a cup of ice water). That way you save money and stay hydrated.
Pack snacks in your day bag
Food and snacks in the parks can be outrageous. I love a good churro, but I try to limit myself to a snack a day. I also can get pretty hangry, so I make sure I always have things to eat in my bag. It's nice to have granola bars or carrots or jerky when you get a little hungry before it's time for your dining reservation. You can also skip breakfast this way and do an early lunch (easier to get in when the restaurants aren't busy).
Visit during off-peak times
Is there anything worse than standing in endless lines? I mean, you're going to do that anyway, but hopefully they'll be shorter when you go when kids are still in school (if you can), on weekdays, and not not NOT during the summer. You can check crowd calendars to see when it's forecasted to have lower crowds if you aren't sure when a good time to visit is. Generally, mid-January to mid-February, early March before Spring Break, mid-late April after Spring Break, the first 3 weeks of September, and the first week of November are good times to visit the parks.
Stay in surrounding hotels/vacation rentals
I'll be honest, I will probably never be able to stay in a U.S. Disney hotel. Even the "budget" ones are way out of my price range. Truthfully, you aren't in your room enough to enjoy it much, so spending $250+ per night seems like a waste. There are plenty of hotels even within walking distance to the parks that are budget-friendly and have shuttles to the front gate. If you're traveling with a group, renting a car (r driving your own car) and staying in a vacation rental, like Airbnb, can be a great option, because you can make your own meals there and accommodate more people.
If there are only a few of you and you stay in a place that doesn't have shuttle service or isn't close enough to walk, consider using a ride-share like Uber, because it can end up being cheaper than parking.
Buy souvenirs outside of the park
We all want stuff. The parks are full of awesome things at endless shops, but there are many similar things at stores that aren't inside Disney. In fact, you can get cheaper branded merch when it goes on sale on Disney.com. Search ebay, Poshmark, Mercari, and Etsy for cool merch, so you don't have to buy them on your trip.
Be there before the park opens
Get to the parks early, so you can get in as soon as the park opens and you can get in several rides before the crowds really amp up. This helps you make the most of your dollars and you can skip Genie+ if that's too much of a strain on your budget. I get it. Make a game plan for when you get into the park and head straight to the must-ride attractions first.
Use your memberships
If you have a AAA or Costco membership or belong to a credit union, check out their deals for packages or tickets. This usually is only available for those going multiple days (3+). You may not save a ton, but every little bit counts.
Saturday, May 6, 2023
Helping the Local Economy When You Travel
When I travel, I like to make sure I visit local businesses and restaurants, so my tourist dollars go where they are needed most. Unfortunately, there are a lot of reasons why your money may not stay local. This concept has been dubbed tourism leakage, which sounds kinda gross, but there's not too many better names for it, because your dollars, literally, leak out of the local economy.
Most of your travel budget is going to go to big things, like airfare and accommodations, and you can't possibly travel on a family-owned airline, and if you're staying in a hotel, you're most likely giving your money directly to a big corporation. It sucks, but it is what it is, especially when you're traveling on a budget.
A study shows that something like only 5% of an average tourist's money stays where they spend it. I know that many places thrive because of tourism, so why would I want some bigwig in an entirely different country to get my money? This doesn't help to preserve culture, history, or the ecosystem. In order to make sure the maximum percentage of your funds actually benefit the local economy at your destination, here are some things to do and to look for:
Choose a local tour company
You may pay a bit more by going with a smaller company or individual, but chances are that you will get more personal trip and a higher percentage of your fees go directly back into the community. They are more often going to be hiring people who live in the area who are going to know more about your destination than anyone else.
G Adventures has started Ripple Score, which can show you where your dollars go. A higher Ripple Score, the more money stays local. While they are the only tour company that uses this scoring system, with a little bit of effort, you can research other company's impact on the community you're visiting.
Dig deeper on your hotel's ownership
Even many boutique hotels are owned by a big conglomerate and your rate is put in a bank account elsewhere. They may not employ locals, or pay them a living wage, and they might import food for their restaurant(s) and products used in the room or for sale in the gift shop. If you're going to spend the money anyway, you might as well do a little bit of work to check out the About Us page on their website, and maybe email the general manager or owner to ask them these questions. If more people do that, hotels might see more people want to know where their money goes.
When I book through Airbnb, I rent from individuals who live in the area. I've often rented from people who live in their apartment until they have a renter, then they stay to check you in and then go stay elsewhere (a friend's or with family). They genuinely need the money and you aren't taking an accommodation away from locals who need it and you're not contributing towards rents being raised, because there is more demand for the limited supply of homes/apartments available.
Spend locally
Instead of running to Target or Walmart at your destination, as easy as those can be, try to hit up locally-owned and operated shops and grocery stores. As much as I love Sainsbury when I'm in London, I like to shop co-ops and little bodegas for groceries. I am a big fan of the farmers' markets and outdoor markets that sell vintage items and books and other souvenirs.
On vacation is when we buy the majority of our holiday gifts, and I'm always on the lookout for unique items at one-off shops and things made by local artisans. It makes me feel good knowing I helped the economy a bit and also my gift recipients won't be able to buy the same thing at home. It's a win-win. When dining out, I almost never eat at a chain restaurant and instead look for highly-rated locally-owned establishments. I will often ask staff where we stay or at attractions where they like to eat, because they will generally point you to some delicious places that aren't that expensive and are unique to your destination.
Don't forget to tip
There are usually a lot of people behind the scenes that you don't see, whether you're staying at a boutique property, eating in a cozy pub, or getting amazing service in a yummy little eatery, leave a proper tip to let them know you enjoyed their service and they continue to enjoy working there and giving the same level of service to everyone else. If people love what they do, and are properly compensated (I know you are just one small cog in that machine), then they make it a place you tell people about, so more people visit and they can continue to flourish.
Even if our dollars still end up outside of the communities we visit, we can at least try our best to keep as many as possible inside them, helping people, preserving the culture, and enabling them to thrive for generations to come, so more tourists can enjoy the places you did and you can enjoy places others did.
Of course you're going to want to do some generic touristy stuff. It's fun and inevitable, but there are a lot of ways you can "shop small" when you travel and it only takes a little effort to do so.
Do you try to spend locally when you travel, or have you never really thought too much about where your money goes once it leaves your bank account? Honestly, knowing who I'm supporting at home has helped me to think more about it on vacation.
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Budget Summer Travel Tips
A pic from our boat tour of Portland |