Live and Learn: Cancun 9.10.11

Do you feel like you haven’t learned anything useful lately? Well, not to worry. I’m here to pass on my hard-earned wisdom gained on my travels. This time, we look at my trip to Cancun, which was the first time I’d gone to touristy Mexico city. I can’t say I got the full experience, because we got there in the middle of a rainstorm that turned into a tropical storm, so much of our week there was spent in on and off pouring rain. Fun! Seeing as I am not really a lay on the beach and do nothing kind of person and live in Oregon, where it rains about half the year, I really wasn’t too put out by this, but it did teach me several things, as did the few days of sunshine we had before going home.

The view from our room most of the trip

Umbrellas are useless – If it’s really raining outside, your umbrella is not going to help you. In fact, after a time I just closed it and attached it to my bag, because not only was I still getting soaked, but I also didn’t have any hands free and I couldn’t see where I was going either. A better choice, which I have since implemented in all my travels, is a packable rain jacket. You actually will keep dry, have your hands free to get change or whatever else you need to use, can keep things in your zip-up pockets and can also wear your day bag under it – assuming it isn’t huge – and keep you money, phone and other belongings from getting totally ruined. On top of that, a packable jacket is easily to carry around, because it packs small, and you won’t look like a drowned rat when you get to where you’re going…even after being passed by three totally packed buses.

The bus only takes US dollars (not change) – Even though you can use American money pretty much anywhere, the bus will NOT take U.S. coins. Have your pesos at the ready or dollars, but don’t try to give them quarters, because they will yell and kick you off the bus. Apparently, they are on a schedule.

Bring a flashlight to the pyramids – This probably isn’t an issue anymore, at least in Chichen Itza, where they don’t let you climb the pyramids anymore. If you do travel to a destination that has pyramids that you might get to climb, toss a small flashlight in your bag, because the inside of the pyramids are dark. Like you wouldn’t know this, but they don’t have lights set up for visitors, nor are there handrails and the steps are super steep. Climbing up the inside of the big pyramid was one of the most frightening things I’ve ever done…and then climbing down was even worse! Unfortunately, we did the inside before the outside and were so glad we didn’t fall and die that we didn’t take advantage of getting to climb to the top and see the view.

Totally beautiful!

Take your bathing suit everywhere you go – You never know when you might want to go for an impromptu swim. On our trip to Chichen Itza, we also stopped at this lovely little oasis that was an cavern with a natural freshwater pool. We hadn’t been made aware of this stop on our trip, so we didn’t bring along our swimsuits or towels. It was still beautiful to hang out near, but not as fun as it looked like most everyone else was having. It was especially hot that day, too, so it probably would have been really refreshing.

Don’t wear flip flops in the rain – This is probably something everyone else already knows, but if you don’t, know that during hurricane season, it’s highly possible that the rain will turn into a monsoon and water can come up past your ankles. It’s why the curbs are so high in the city. It’s better to wear some type of shoe that’s good in the water…or else risk going back to your hotel with only one flip flop or getting hit by a car because you can’t run across the street in foot high water.

Go on the Jungle Cruise – There’s no real reason for this. We didn’t go on it, but every other person we saw asked us if we wanted to go on the cruise and I wish we had done it, because it sounded really fun. Unfortunately, the only time someone asked us when it was convenient was on our last day in the early evening and we were leaving too early to go the next day.

Reapply sunscreen – I can’t even stress this enough. Even though the sun doesn’t seem that bright or you think you haven’t been out very long, the sun in Mexico is crazy strong and will burn you in a heartbeat. In fact, I reapplied in the 3 hours we were at the beach and still got the second wickedest sunburn of my life. Eric had to pay $8 for a bottle of aloe vera gel and slather it my burny skin just so I could leave the room. The longer I was out of the sun, the redder I became, until my skin was purple. I could barely wear clothes (which is why it’s always a good idea to bring some loose-fitting duds or a sundress) for a week after. Fortunately form me, this was also the day before we left and we were staying at an all-inclusive resort, so we didn’t actually have to go far for food or entertainment.

Don’t look like a grape or a lobster! Bring your bottle of sunscreen with you everywhere and generously reapply throughout the day. If you need help remembering, purchase some Sunsense UV Bands which you put on, put on your sunscreen, making sure you cover the band as well, and the band will turn colors when you go out in the sun. Once the band color fades, it’s time to reapply. When it changes colors again, it’s time to go inside. Easy!

Guess what? I have another fun post on the Ebates blog. Need some more help with your packing light prowess? Well, I've got 5 useful tips for you to help you pack small and enjoy big savings! Tell me what you think!

While you're there, go check out the Savvy Living Community whee I'm a savvy travel leader. You can connect with me and 15 other awesome bloggers that blog on various topics, start fun discussions and engage members is live chats on whatever is hot that week/month. You can check out one of my current open discussions on Your Travel List:

.

Review: ExOfficio Give-N-Go® Lacy Undergarments

If you’re a loyal reader or follower on Facebook, then you have heard me talk at length about my love of ExOfficio clothing and accessories. My husband and I could simply live in their dryflylite shirt series. With so many different styles and colors, you always look great and have something for any occasion. So, you can only guess how excited I was for the folks at ExOfficio to offer me a pair of their pretty new Give-N-Go® Lacy underwear to review. Seeing as how I also have a matching Give-N-Go Lacy Tank, I figured it would be a great pair to review together.

Give-N-Go Lacy Full Cut Brief

Often, I am not a fan of full-cut panties, simply because they can be unflattering and give you panty lines. Attractive! Instead of going for the low-rise bikini or even the thong options, I decided the true test of ExOfficio’s women’s line would be the full-cut brief version. I was actually really surprised by them when they arrived, because not only were they pretty (both of my pieces are the light grape color you see in the photos), but when on, they actually did give you full coverage and fit a bit more like a boy short, so they don’t roll down your stomach and no VPL! So far, so good! The other thing you have to know is how lovely the fabric feels against your skin. I have worn both pieces out during the day (under clothing, of course) and also have worn them to bed as pajamas. The pieces fit your curves in just the right way, have a bit of stretch, feel silky inside and out and always feel cool to the touch. I don’t know how that is, but I suspect that the moisture-wicking property of the fabric has something to do with it.

Give-N-Go Lacy Tank Top      

Not only does the Give-N-Go line keep you from sweating, but the fabric (94% Nylon and 6% Lycra Spandex) is thin and durable, quick-drying and odor-resistant. Who doesn’t want odorless panties? Because when you’re tromping through the heat, you still want to feel fresh and clean.

Now, when you’re on the road or even in a hotel room, you sometimes find that you need to do laundry where there are no facilities, so hand washing in the sink comes into play and you HOPE that everything will be dry in the morning, so you can either pack it to go home or wear it the next day. All ExOfficio undergarments come with the saying: “17 countries. 6 weeks. One pair of underwear. Okay, maybe two.” This is a big claim for the durability and quick-dry ability of one pair of underwear. Fortunately, they can back up their product, because after washing these by hand, wringing them out and hanging them up, they were dry and ready to go the next morning…and probably could have been put back on a few hours later. The same with the tank. I’ve had cotton thongs that were hung up to dry and still slightly damp eight hours later. You can seriously buy two pairs of ExOfficio underwear, throw them in your bag and alternate wearing and washing them as long as you travel. They make packing light even more simple!

Give-N-Go low-rise bikini, bikini cut and thong

I know I wasn’t asked to review the men’s underwear as well, but my husband has an entire drawer full of ExOfficio boxer briefs and he is not one to want to spend good money on many things. After trying out a pair I bought before a long trip we were taking, he immediately bought another three pairs. Each time there is a sale, he buys more to replace other underwear that aren’t ExOfficio and throws them out. In fact, he’s bought and thrown out underwear that have worn out in the time he’s been wearing the ExOfficio boxer briefs that still look brand new! We keep several pair in the travel bag at all times, too. On trips, they wash well and dry quickly, plus the moisture-wicking quality makes chafing a thing of the past! I think it really speaks to the quality of a product when a customer goes back to purchase more time and again. Below are just some of men's styles they carry.

Give-N-Go brief, boxer brief, boxers

So, the durability and pretty look of the lacy Give-N-Go undergarments for women get a big thumbs-up from me. The fact that they are comfortable, “Technically Sexy” and don’t ride up are also big pluses. I will definitely purchase several pair for travel and home and highly recommend them to you. We can also recommend the men’s line for male travelers, too, for comfort, look and endurance.

Where to buy ExOfficio Give-N-Go® Lacy Undergarments:

ExOfficio.com

Your local ExOfficio or outdoor store (i.e., REI)

You can also find these other colors and styles:

            Lacy Bikini cut

            Lacy Low-rise bikini cut

            Lacy Thong

            Lacy Tank

            Lacy Shelf-bra cami

            (non-lace options also available)

            Available colors: agave, black, light grape, light turquoise, nude and wine

            $18-20 for panties, $30-38 for tanks and camisoles

(I was provided with a complimentary pair of Give-N-Go Lacy panties for this post, but the opinions are 100% my own.)

Cheap Eats and Souvenirs 9.7.11

This past weekend I decided to do something I’ve been meaning to do for a while. We drive by the farmers market pretty much every weekend and never stop, so on Saturday we grabbed a fried and drove up the road to load up on some fresh fruits, veggies and anything else that looked good. At 9am it was already packed full of people, which surprised me on a holiday weekend when many folks were going out of town or, at the very least, the beach.

Okay, so the reason I bring up the farmers market is because of the convenience and the fact that it is a fantastic destination for travelers. A farmers market can be the ultimate for the budget traveler, because you can get affordable local foods, beverages, flowers and more! Find everything from cheese and breads to jams and local crafts. Most markets are in or next to city parks. Perfect locations to enjoy a picnic lunch on a bench. For less than $20, we were able to fill up a reusable bag with some awesome goodies to take home. We got a hunk of feta, some sweet peppers, green onions, lettuce, hazelnut cornbread mix, lemon cucumbers and a few more items. We also sampled gelato, fruit, bagels and nut butter. Of course, this was stuff we bought and took home to go with other food we planned to make. We easily could have bought food to eat on-site or to make in a hotel room that had a kitchenette.

How delicious does a hand pie sound? Or a fresh bagel with cream cheese and a side of fruit? You could even pick up a bottle of wine or some beer to go with your other goodies. Imagine spending around $20 for your lunch and food for later or the next day? Our farmers market not only had the regular things you would expect to find, but also mixed salad greens and even fresh meat from local farms. You could have grilled up some grass-fed lamb steaks with a side of organic veggies and amazing salad greens and then had a gluten-free cupcake or flavorful gelato for dessert. Many markets I’ve been to also sell spices, too, so you can make even more native dishes, while still saving money.

One of the things I like to take home as a souvenir is local foods and spices from other parts of the world. While you can’t bring back fruits, veggies or plants from many places, you can bring back jarred sauces, jams, coffees, candies and more. Not only are you helping out the local farmers and merchants by shopping the markets, you can get something homemade, home grown and/or unique to your vacation destination.

Often, you can get other handmade products at the farmers market, like clothing, décor, soaps and beauty products. While the packaging may not be totally professional looking, you know it was made with care and you are getting high-quality items, because the vendors don’t have factories full of employees. Even if the products are a little more expensive than you were expecting, it can still save you money over traditional stores and the food will certainly save you over eating in a restaurant, even if you get something ready-to-eat.

A farmers market is also a fantastic place to shop if you are a vegetarian, have food allergies or travel with children. Save money on healthy snacks and know exactly what your food contains, because you can speak to the makers and growers and they are made with as few natural ingredients as possible. If nothing else, you can check out all the fabulous local produce that a city has to offer and you will get to interact with the people of your trip destination, which can always be a rewarding experience and teach you more about where you are visiting. Plus, the markets are a great place to people-watch and even listen to some local musicians.

Happy hunting and gathering on your future travels. For now, I’m excited to try my newfound hazelnut cornbread mix and find out how best to enjoy my lemon cucumbers. Do you frequent your local farmers market(s) or make it a point to visit ones when you go on vacation?

Don't forget to join me on the awesome new Savvy Living Community sponsored by Ebates. Not only will you learn how to save money by better utilizing Ebates, but you will also be able to read Savvy blog posts and join in discussions and live chats with Savvy Leaders (like me!) to learn how to save money on all aspects of your life. With 16 bloggers who are experts on everything from travel to family life, you're sure to learn a lot of new information, find some great new blogs and even make some friends along the way. Join Ebates. 

Be a winner!

Our big giveaway is still going on. It includes a Travelon Flat Out Hanging Toiletry bag stuffed  with a bunch of awesome stuff: GoToobs courtesy of Human Gear, rinseless laundry detergent courtesy of SoakWash, a selection of LaFresh wipes, some travel sizes of men's Jack Black toiletries, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, Colgate Wisps, nail polish remover wipes, anti-bacterial wipes, sunblock, body wash, Man on the Move soap leaves and (not shown) 2 toothbrush sanitizers. What more could you ask for? Throw in some lip balm and your toothbrush and go! Enter here or click on the Current Giveaway tab at the top of the page.

Don't forget that you can sign up to receive our free newsletter once a week (sometimes twice if something is REALLY noteworthy). Learn about Facebook info, get a reminder to check out the blog and also get info that's only available through the newsletter.

And just a reminder that the Shereen Travels Cheap blog  is available on Amazon for your Kindle or web-enabled device with free Kindle Reading apps. Get instant updates as soon as new posts are available and keep up-t0-date with travel tips wherever you go!