A lot of people are planning vacations right now, because the weather isn't the worst everywhere anymore. That means road trips, theme parks, beaches and so much more. If you've got a trip on the horizon, then you're probably bringing your smartphone to keep you occupied and help you out. Fill it with apps that will make your trip better, cooler and easier. That's what we all want when we go somewhere, whether it's Europe, Mexico or the next state over. Here are all the latest and greatest apps to download before you go and have the best vacation ever!
I'd suggest AroundMe for finding things to do near where you are and Foodspotting for delicious dishes according to other diners. Download TripIt to keep all your travel info, including confirmation numbers and addresses, with you at all times. What are your favorite travel apps?
Spring is in the air! Well, for some of us. Portland is bouncing between warm, sunny days and cold, rainy days. I know a lot of people are still waiting for the weather to warm up where they live, too, but it's coming. Spring and Summer bring all kinds of outdoor activities, including great vacations that might involve the beach and definitely a lot of walking. You're going to want to look cute, but still be comfortable as well. Butterfly Twists, which have those awesome packable wellies I reviewed last week, has your vacation feet covered, literally. These perforated Julia flats are adorable and perfect for your travels, as well as everywhere you go around home.
Now, I know you probably have a few pairs of foldable flats in your closet and you're thinking they won't possibly be helpful on a vacation, unless you just plan to wear them on the plane and that's it. It's because you haven't tried Butterfly Twists yet. I, too, have several pair of flats that won't ever go with me on a trip longer than 6 hours, because they may be cute, but they also feel like you're walking barefoot on the pavement. Ouch. Butterfly Twists set out to change this, because they're made in London, a city where most women walk everywhere they can.
They were created to be your back-up shoes when your heels cause you to hate your life and you aren't going to walk down the dirty streets without shoes on. Butterfly Twists are adorable flats that replace those sexy stilettos and still look fab with your going out clothes. They are so cute and come in so many styles that you can wear these all the time and skip those torture-inducing heels you have when your feet already hurt. Personally, I think this makes them perfect travel companions:
They pack small, so you could throw in a few extra pairs if you want. I'm totally in favor of wearing easy slip-on, slip-off shoes to the airport and on the plane. My feet tend to swell in flight, so I need footwear that isn't constricting. when going to warm weather destinations, it's nice to have shoes that will go with everything I bring and allow my feet to breathe. Sneakers aren't always the best choice.
They are a great alternative to flip flops and actually offer more support. They have memory foam insoles, so your feet are going to be happier longer. I'll bring flip flops for the pool or wandering around the hotel (or when I just can't bear to wear real shoes anymore), but with Butterfly Twists' flats, I can leave them at home. They look great on the beach, on a boat, at the theme park and at dinner. Love that!
They look great with everything from jeans to your swimsuit. I put these on with a variety of outfits and, lo and behold, they looked like they were meant to go with it. Why bring a bunch of extra shoes when you can bring a few that go with all the clothes in your travel wardrobe?
They liven up your LBD day dress. A sparkly pair of flats are a great addition to your travel bag, because it can add a bit of flash to that dress you've been wearing out sightseeing. Put on some fun jewelry and you're ready to go out dancing or to a nice dinner.
They allow your feet to breathe. OMG. There's nothing worse than walking all over in shoes that don't breathe and make your feet feel like they're all hot and gross. Even the non-perforated flats have a breathable lining, but I loved the look of the Julia flats, because they also have an open toe to show off your pretty pedicure.
They have structure. This might seem like a weird thing to care about, but If ind it really important in a flat. You'll take these shoes out of their carrying bag and notice when you unfold them that they curl a bit. They'll do that even after you've worn them a bunch. This means they'll be stretchy enough to stay on your foot, but they won't rub on your foot and give you blisters, even right out of the box. I cannot stress how important this is, because you want your shoes to have enough structure to conform to your foot, but you don't want them to be loose and flop around or rub your heels raw. Boo to that.
They come in their own travel bag. Like the Windsor Wellies, all BT flats have their own drawstring bag. This means you can bag them up, toss them in your day bag or your carry-on and not have to worry about them getting dirt on everything else inside.
They easily fit inside your purse. When you're at home and find yourself on a night out, eventually your feet are going to start complaining while you're wearing those tall heels. After you leave the club or your party, taken them off, pull out your BT foldable flats and breathe a sigh of relief. I often keep a pair of flats in my car, because you can't drive barefoot. Well, you can, but the law frowns on that. There have been some times when my feet have hurt so bad I couldn't even wait to get my shoes off before I've made it to the car. If you're the same, you need a pair of these. Of course, you could also wear these instead of those other fancy shoes you planned.
With the nice weather lately, I've been wearing the Julia flats all over the place. They're so comfortable, even when doing a lot of walking, that I can't wait to take them on vacation with me. They're totally going to complete my outfits in Las Vegas and Orlando and I'll bet you anything that many ladies are going to be jealous of my comfort.
These flats only come in whole sizes, so if you need a half size, choose the larger size. I usually wear a 6.5, and my feet are a bit wide, so I asked for a 7 and they are perfect. If my feet swell on the plane or after miles of walking, I'll still have some wiggle room. {Don't the moms in your life deserve a little comfortable elegance? Mother's Day is coming up and I bet the ones you know would looooovve a pair of these for trips and around home.}
Here in the U.S., our idea of a budget airline is one that has a slightly discounted rate. Southwest and Spirit are no longer really considered budget when their airfares are really not much cheaper than all the regular airlines or they screw you over by making you pay for carry-on bags. Around the world there are true budget airlines that can save you hundreds of dollars on trips, making it cheaper to fly than riding Greyhound here in America. When we were in London, we flew to Paris for less than $60 per person, including taxes. Now that's budget! (Thank you, easyjet!)
Wherever you travel in the world, you have the choice of booking a flight on a big name or a budget airline that may skip the perks, but leave you with money in your wallet to actually enjoy your trip. I don't know about you, but I'm willing to buy a beverage before I board and bring my own snacks and entertainment to save some bucks. As long as the airline has a good safety record, I'm willing to give it a shot. easyjet, while being cheap, also had amazing customer service. The boarding process wasn't the greatest, but they got me to my destination on time and in one piece. There are thousands of airlines out there and you may not have heard of most of them. RyanAir gets a bad rap for being greedy and unfriendly, but they aren't the only option out there:
Traveling to Africa and the Middle East? easyjet's offshoot FastJet is a great airline for those wanting to hop around the continent, especially South Africa. Round-trip flights can be as low as $85 and $100. Those focusing on the Middle East and North Africa can rely on AirArabia and FlyDubai. Both are popular options for budget travelers. Some other carriers to check out: Nouvelair, Fly540, Flynas, UP and Jazeera Airways.
Asia and the South Pacific haven't had the greatest press lately, but you'll discover more than just Malaysan Airlines to save you money. AirAsia offers rock-bottom rates to 85 destinations in Asia, the South Pacific and Australia. Some promotions have gone as low as $14. I'd check into travel insurance though. IndiGo is quite popular and flies travelers between India, the Middle East and the South Pacific. The Australian-based Jetstar, as well as Singapore-based Tiger Airways and Scoot are highly-ranked budget airlines as well. Even more options: Spring Airlines,Jeju Air,Nok Air, PAL Airlines and Lion Air.
easyjet and RyanAir are not your only choices in Europe. Norwegian Airlines is notorious for great deals, especially between the U.S. and Europe. There are quite a few great low-cost carriers to choose from, including Icelandair that offers an up to 7-day layover in Iceland to bring more tourism to their beautiful country, as well as SmartWings, XL Airways, Wizz Air, Aer Lingus, Blue Air, Vueling, Pegasus Airlines, Dobrolet Airlines, Fly Romania and Flybe.
South America is affordable for travelers, though airfare might be a deal breaker. Gol and LAN try to offer some great rates to draw more tourists, but some other carriers to check for big discounts are Amaszonas, Azul Brazilian Airlines, AeroSantaigo, EasyFly, VivaColombia, Interjet, Volaris and Peruvian Airlines.
Travel can be so much more enjoyable when you have access to true budget-friendly transportation that doesn't take half the day to get you where you want to go, plus you can see more than you expected with the money you have to spend. Have you had a good experience on a little known budget airline? (Or a bad experience on a well known one?) We won't talk about how I won't even travel on Southwest anymore.