Don't be an "Ugly American"

Do you find it hard to adjust when you travel and find yourself trying to stick to some of your normal routines? It can be hard to touch down and just go with the flow sometimes, especially when things at your destination are so different from at home, but it helps if you've done your homework before you get there. Learning about the language, customs and just how to blend in a bit in general can really help you have a better time and not stick out like a sore thumb, making the locals hate tourists. While this infographic specifies Americans, it is not just Americans who make these same mistakes. 

Have you accidentally (or knowingly) done any of these or found tourists in your hometown acting the same way?

10 Great Sites to Find Travel Clothing

I know other websites suggest bringing your favorite pieces with you when you travel, so you know that you'll wear what you take, but when travel I love to buy new things for my trip. I count it as part of my travel budget and purchase items throughout the year when I find them on sale. This is not to say that I don't take things I already own. I do. Especially when I know they are comfortable and going to be a great addition to my travel bag. The reason I buy other items is that I do laundry at my destination and even though some of my normal clothes are quick-drying, they aren't really fantastic at being breathable or moisture-wicking or suitcase-friendly. They might be too bulky or wrinkle way too easily. 

Having travel-friendly clothes are convenient in a lot of ways: lightweight, packable, wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying, moisture-wicking, odor-resistant. The list can go on, but these are my basic needs in a travel wardrobe. So, though I have some pieces I wear everyday that are perfect for vacationing – because they are that comfortable, like my stretchy Hudson jeans – it helps to have more than a few items that are travel-ready...and it's also fun to have something new. This is why I have a list of go-to merchants to pick up those necessary pieces I don't own or need to be replaced.

REI

Lucky me, I am close to an REI store. I love going in and browsing their racks and racks of fun outdoor clothes, accessories and goodies. This is one of a few places where you can find all the top brands and some you may not have heard of yet. I go there looking for Patagonia, Lolë and Arc'teryx, but have often come away with many other gems. If you don't live near an REI, shop online. They have even better discounts on sale items online, so you can save more. Or buy more. Another thing I like to do is shop online and then have it ship – for free! – to the store nearest you for you to pick up at your convenience. You can use Ebates this way and get your cash back. Double bonus!

Columbia Sportswear

I am also lucky to live in Portland, home of Columbia Sportswear. We have the flagship store right downtown, several outlet stores nearby and, my favorite, the employee store. You have to know someone who works at Columbia to be able to shop there, but if you have someone like that in your life, they can take you or give you a pass and you can go hog wild. with everything 50% off. Columbia is a great place to pick up lightweight (and attractive) sweaters and amazing jackets. Again, you can shop online. Once you know your size in tops and pants, this is super easy, as they are very rarely off. Plus, you can shop the outlet section for deep discounts. Sign up for Greater Rewards – for free! – and get free shipping on everything + exclusive membership discounts throughout the year. Again, use Ebates for cash back.

Backcountry & Department of Goods

Though I don't shop there often, this is genuinely one of my favorite online merchants. Backcountry has all the outdoor brands in one place. This site has ah-mazing discounts, al ot times you can get free shipping and an extra percent off. Before, you used to have to go between BC and Department of Goods (their outlet website) in order to snap of deals on discontinued items and colors, but now they pull them all into the regular site to make shopping easier. You can find clothing, shoes, camping and hiking gear here for the whole family. Save even more with Ebates.

Athleta

This is only for the ladies. They are an offshoot of Old Navy and Gap and they feature feminine activewear pieces that are great for travel to the beach or to the city or if you want to just wear them to yoga. All the items very well made and flattering for your curves. You can save more by using Ebates here as well.

Lucy

This one is also just for ladies. At one point, I had more Lucy clothes in my closet than anything else. They are comfortable and sporty and are the ideal place to get shorts, capris and tanks. No matter how much you buy, you always pay a flat rate for shipping, which is a bonus, since the difference in weight of $100 worth of clothing and accessories and $300 worth is not that much. Of course, if you sign up for their newsletter, you can be notified of sales first, and Ebates can also get you more discounts with cash back and promo codes.

Bluff Works 

Only for men, so far, they sell amazingly flattering travel pants that don't look like travel pants. In fact, they can be worn to the office one day and then rock climbing the next. You can see my review of their pants here – well, Eric's review.

Magellan's

You probably don't like to look like a tourist when you travel. I mean, who does? Unless you're off in the jungle, you don't need zip-off pants and similar clothing pieces. Magellan's has both attractive and functional clothing that you can wear everyday as well as on vacation, for both men and women. I have done a few reviews for them here and here. Ebates can help you out here, too.

ExOfficio

This is one of the first "outdoor" clothing sites I purchased from. Eric has had many of their shirts and they last for years, even with regular wear. I've purchased many of their sweaters and button-up shirts for travel and they make Eric's favorite boxer briefs. they aren't cheap, but they are comfy and last forever – you can take just a few on a trip and they pack small, resist odors, wick moisture and dry super-fast. They are a favorite among many travelers. 

Anatomie

This is another one just for the ladies. They sell luxury travel clothing, that look awesome and feel just as good. They are perfect for finding what can be considered resort wear, but they have lightweight pieces that work for all sorts of travel situations and help you blend in as a local. You can view a previous review of their clothing here.

Fresh Produce

I'm still trying to get this company to send me some pieces for review. They are more affordable than some other travel clothing sites and they have some on-trend items in between classic and more offbeat pieces. I feel like they offer something for all age ranges and sizes, so it might be a place you'll want to check out when hunting for new travel duds.

Need to know more about Ebates? You can learn about it on this post. Do you have a favorite travel clothing shop or online merchant? 

Easier (and Cheaper) Travel with Kids

Just because you have children doesn't mean you can never vacation again or have to pack up the tent and go camping. Of course, I'm not opposed to camping. I did it all the time as a kid, but nothing beats a good old fashioned family vacation. One where you don't have to do all the work and take freezing showers for a week. Sure, traveling with more than two can be hard on your wallet, but you can save on things to make it more manageable. There's also plenty of things you can do to keep your kids occupied in between "entertainment".

So, you want to go on a real vacation, but don't think you can afford it with your whole family? Well, you're wrong. Your first step is to pick a destination and your second is to start a vacation savings account. If you can set aside a bit of money each month, it makes it much easier to deal with the cost of a trip of any size, because you can chip away at it all year long. Below are some ways to save that can allow you to stay longer than a few days at your vacation and make the airfare worthwhile.

• Rent an apartment, house or condo. This is always a great option, but especially if you are traveling as a family, because it offers many advantages like cheaper rates than a hotel if you stay a week or more,  more space for everyone to stretch out in, a kitchen to save on your dining budget and more privacy than most hotels offer. Here are some ones to check out.
• Visit a city that offers a pass card where you can visit many attractions for one low price. Here are just a few awesome ones. You buy one card for each person in your party (some even include transportation options) and then you skip the box-office queues at each location and just present your city pass as a ticket.

• If a city is safe to drive in, renting a car might end up being less expensive than public transportation in some cases. Do your homework, because in some cities, it would just be more cost-effective to drive your family around than to get multi-day bus/subway passes.
• Does your family love the beach? Instead of heading to the ocean, look into lakeside locations. They almost always have just as nice a beach and many of the same watersports, but at a fraction of the cost.
• Can your kids miss a few days of school? Travel in the Fall, Winter or Spring. Summer rates for everything can be double the price (or more), because that's when families can travel.

• Rent strollers and other baby equipment at your destination. They are available all over the world and can be much less than having to check through your personal ones and risk them getting damaged by baggage handlers. One of the best websites that has links to rental locations is Babies Travel Lite.

• Don't overpack. If you need diapers and formula, buy them at your destination. You don't need to spend an extra $15+ for each bag that needs to be checked through. Carry only what you need for the flight, plus a bit extra in case in case of delays. If you'll be traveling somewhere that might not have convenient stores nearby, you can also use Babies Travel Lite to to send "baby care packages" wherever you are.
• Children under the age of 2 fly for free if you aren't opposed to them sitting in your lap the whole flight. Probably not so doable on a trip across the Atlantic, but not too bad on a flight that's only a few hours long. 
• Don't order off the kids' menu in restaurants. They are almost always overpriced and have a very limited (and repetitive) selection. Choose an entrée that you and your child can share. Not only will there be no waste that way (as can often happen when one is faced with another bowl of mac and cheese or pizza) but there will be a wider selection for them that normally includes a vegetable of some sort. Add a salad if it turns out that the one plate isn't enough.
• If you choose to stay in a hotel or resort, stay in ones where kids eat free. Almost all places offer kids STAY free, so it's not really a good deal. Kids can eat you out of house and home, so that's really the bargain you want to look for. If an all-inclusive is in the cards, find ones where kids stay, eat and play free. You'll be surprised how much that will save you over the course of the week.

• Stock up on snacks. Kids always want to eat when it isn't snack time and can get super cranky if they don't get something in their tummy pretty fast. Vacation is no different than at home. Bring snacks on all your outings to tide them over until it's time to actually sit down and have real food.

How do you save when you travel with your kids?