Planning Your Summer Vacay On A Budget

Don't go broke traveling this summer. Airfare can go up as much as 40% in the warmer months (yikes!), but if you plan early, you can combat those crazy rates by getting the best deal and also saving a bunch of money on everything else on your trip, so airfare doesn't kill your budget and ruin your trip. How can you do that? Here are a few tips to help you out:

Shop for airfare on Tuesday and Wednesday 

...and look for flights that depart on Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday for the lowest fares. New fares are posted every Tuesday and Wednesday are the perfect time to get the best deals, and when you fly on less popular days, you can pay less and have a better chance of not getting bumped off your flight due to overbooking. One thing that'll make you happy is that this summer, flights will be the cheapest they’ve been in seven years. Of course, that doesn't mean you should slack and leave booking until later. You still need to get on that ASAP.

Drive

Airfare can become a costly burden if there are many of you traveling. If you can spare the extra travel time, take a good old fashioned road trip to get to your destination. Make sure to plan fun stops along the way, like to see the world’s biggest ball of yarn, ghost towns or museums. It makes the whole trip seem like an adventure if you don’t just drive straight through.

Don't forget your cash back! 

Help keep a little money in your pocket or stretch the dollars you have by using Ebates to book your flights, hotel rooms and rental cars. You can even get cash back for buying essentials like sunscreen and shorts! It's totally free to join and it's super easy. In fact, they give you a gift just for making your first purchase. How can you beat that?

Hit the lake

Going to the beach? You know you’re not the only one that thinks this is a good idea, right? No, you and millions of other people want to pack their swimming suits and sunscreen and lie on the beach and play in the water. Fake them out! Trade in the ocean for a nice lakeside location. Not only will it be a fraction of the price of an oceanfront property (or even an ocean“view” one), but you can do almost the same things you can otherwise. You can lay out on the beach, make sandcastles, go snorkeling, fishing, swimming, jet skiing and almost everything else you can do at the beach by the ocean.

Plan ahead

Start planning for a cheap summer trip next year by picking up my Secrets to Summer Savings ebook. I give you all my travel saving tips to make summer travel cheaper and packed with more fun.

Where are you hoping to travel this summer?

Packing Small for Big Impact

I am a believer in packing light. I have packed all sorts of ways and I've decided that packing less leaves me less stressed, I have less to carry and fewer things to deal with. I almost never come home with items that were never worn, because I pack carefully and with intention, so everything goes with everything else and I can mix and match each piece I bring along.

If you are worried that not packing outfits per day and matching shoes for each one is going to be your downfall, think of how much happier you'll be when you aren't lugging that 58 lb bag that you also have to check and waste $25+ each way on. I like making my life easier and only having a handful of items in my bag definitely makes it simple to find something to wear each morning and gets me out of the door faster. I make a list before I start packing of what I will need and then choose a few of my favorite pieces and go from there.

We live in Oregon, so we tend to own quite a bit of Columbia clothing. It's long-lasting, feels great and is perfect for packing, because it's lightweight and moisture-wicking. I have several key pieces that work for most climates. 

Columbia can be spendy, but I recommend buying on sale. You may also want to check out REI, Backcountry, ExOfficio, Lucy (for women) or Anatomie (also for women). Items made with soy or bamboo are great for warmer climates, because they are odor resistant. You might also like linen for the breathability. There are lots of great travel brands out there and many don't even look like they are, so you don't stick out as a tourist, but are still comfortable in the heat (or the cold, depending on when you travel).

I also am a layer-er. I always travel with a scarf/wrap a lightweight jacket and a cardigan or two. This way I'm covered if it gets cooler at our destination and for the chills on the plane. It may seem silly, but on the plane I wear a pair of stretchy jeans, comfortable slip-on shoes, a t-shirt, a cardigan and a scarf. If it gets warm, I can shed some layers, but if it's cold, I'm set. I have this awesome HappyLuxe wrap that I can also use as a blanket. In fact, I can wear it as a scarf while also covering my lap if my legs are cold.

Layering also gives you the ability to wear part of your travel outfit at your destination, so I always dress with that in mind. I work with three bottoms and four-five tops total. When they all go together, you have 12-15 different outfits. You can see how I've made different looks with each of these tops and bottom combinations.

I usually toss in an easy dress  that can work for day and night, then go with just two pair of shoes. Both should be great for walking and at least one of them should work for your dress. These are the shoes I took on our trip to New Orleans: a pair of ballet flats and a pair of walking sandals. Both pair went with everything I packed, so I mixed it up each day depending on how I was feeling. 

I try not to pack shoes that might be too constrictive, because then if my feet swell, I'm SOL and uncomfortable. Of course, I bring a pair of compression socks to wear while I'm hanging out in my room, but that doesn't do me any good if it's hot and my shoes don't work with socks.

Throw some accessories in your bag to give you some other options. This sunhat works for when I'm somewhere with a lot of sun and I'd like to keep my face from turning into a lobster (even with sunscreen this can happen pretty easily). A good piece of jewelry can literally turn a day dress into a nighttime one, especially if it's a cute little black dress, which is what I take with me everywhere. It's a wrap dress my Lucy Activewear, so it's breathable and sporty feeling, but can be dressed up a bit for a nice dinner. Easy! 

Now all your clothes fit in a carry-on. You know where all your things are. You don't have to wait at the carousel for your luggage. You don't have to pay baggage fees. You don't have to break your back trying to get your bag up stairs. Now, you just need to get working on making your toiletries lighter.

What are your biggest issues with packing light?

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My Coffee Tour of Portland - Part 1

I live in Portland and we love our coffee. Now, we aren't Seattle, but we have taken coffee culture and run with it. Not only are there a million Starbucks in our city, but even more independent shops adding their own flavor to your favorite brew. While here, you may find yourself stuck behind that annoying person who orders the quad grande skim caramel macchiato upside down, extra hot and makes you want to gouge out your own eyes, but you can also find the hard core traditional coffee enthusiasts too. 

I'm not one to order something super fancy. I mean, I like a chai tea latte or something with vanilla, but if even I can't remember your coffee order, then it's too much. Even though I'm in the heart of a coffee mecca, I find myself hitting up the same shops over and over. There's nothing wrong with Dutch Bros. In fact, I enjoy the drive thru when I'm on the go and the friendly employees, but there's a lot more to Portland than just quick coffee kiosks, so my plan is to hit as many of the best as possible and bring them to you,so you can go on your own coffee tour while you're in town. I hope to bring you 3+ reviews each month. I have 4 for you for the month of March.

Public Domain Coffee

This was going to be my second stop of the day, but my first choice (Spella) was so small and had no inside seating or food choices and it was straight up miserable outside that I decided to skip over it in favor of a place where I could sit down and enjoy my coffee. Public Domain is warm and inviting and the coffee is the main attraction, though they have pastries and other foods to keep you happy. I ordered a small vanilla latte and a banana chocolate muffin ($7.25 total). My coffee was topped with a lovely heart and was so rich that it was satisfying as just one small cup, making me feel like I didn't need another cup that day (in a good way). It needed no sugar, like I've found many coffees do and was just bitter enough for my tastes. The muffin was clearly handmade there and rivaled some of my own homemade banana bread.

Solace & Fine Espresso

Well, it was another rainy day in Portland, but this cute little shop was just a couple miles from home, so I didn't have to park and walk in the rain. Technically, this shop isn't in Portland, but in Beaverton, but I'd read some great reviews. I couldn't pass it up. Solace advertises coffee with yoga on Saturdays, but I'm not into that, so I visited on a late Friday morning when there were only a few others there. I ordered a cafe au lait and a bagel breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese and bacon ($8 total) and both were made  with care. A packet of sugar in my cup and I was good to go. Both the coffee and the sandwich were fantastic, plus the shop has some wonderful homey touches and offers a new artist's work for sale each month, so you get a mini gallery viewing as well. I'm a little sad it took me so long to visit this local place, because it's definitely a neighborhood gem.

Water Avenue Coffee

I've been hearing great things about Water Avenue for a while and since it's just down the street from OMSI and Eric's work, I offered to drop him at work in exchange for a coffee date, seeing as how we were going for dinner after work and taking two cars makes no sense. The "must have" drink here is the s'mores mocha, so we knew one of us needed to order that. The mocha is served with a chocolate graham cracker and a hand-torched marshmallow. It took two people to make it and the marshmallowy flavor was really smooth and delicious. I ordered the honey latte, because this is the first place I've seen one. Water Avenue uses local Bee Local honey and it's perfectly sweet and bitter. I loved it to start the day. 

The food here is a whole story on its own. I ordered a breakfast sandwich, which was an English muffin with locally-sourced eggs, cheese and arugula. It didn't even need salt added to it, which surprised me. Yum! Eric chose their toast with butter and honey. Again, the butter and honey is area-made. He was happy with his choices. Now, I'm not going to tell you that Water Avenue is cheap, because it is a bit above board when it comes to pricing. My latte was $6 and my sandwich was another $6. We had a coupon from a friend that gave us a free drink, so our four items came to $17, but it was worth the extra money, simply because the taste was superior and the ingredients are local, and I'm looking forward to returning, maybe for lunch.

Coava Coffee

So, I've been told several times that this is a Portland landmark for coffee lovers. I visited immediately after my Water Avenue experience and found it quite the opposite feel. Where Water Avenue was cozy and friendly, Coava's flagship location (they only have two) is located in a warehouse and feels quite impersonal. They have items for sale from local artists, which is cool, but walking in, I felt eyes on me and didn't feel as if this was the place for me, but rather a more Portland hipster coffee joint. The menu is small, which only a handful of traditional coffee drinks on it. 

If you want no-frills coffee drinks, this is the place to go. I tried to order a vanilla latte and was told they only had honey (the same Bee Local that Water Avenue uses) or simple syrup. I, instead, ordered a cappuccino and one of the ham and gruyere croissants from Little T Baker to go. My total came to $8, which was more in line with other coffee shops. The cappuccino was good, but not "go out of your way" good. The star was definitely the pastry, which was light and fluffy, but crispy on the outside with a slightly pretzel flavor. I'd return for that, though I'm sure the selections may vary, as they get a variety of pastries from two  local bakeries to sell in their little case.

So, I've found a new favorite coffee shop that is convenient for when I'm in SE Portland and another for when I'm close to home, and I'm looking forward to more stops on my tour. If you want to follow my visits (and my travels in general), follow me on Instagram.

If you've been to Portland and found an awesome coffee shop I should add to my list? Or have a favorite drink to order?