Get 300 bonus SB when you sign up for Swagbucks in May

All throughout May you can earn large bonuses when sign up as my referral on Swagbucks. Swagbucks is a rewards site where you earn points (called SB) for things you're probably doing online already, like searching, watching videos, discovering deals, and taking surveys. Then you take those points and exchange them for gift cards to places like Amazon, Starbucks, or PayPal cash. 

When you sign up through me this month, you can earn a 300 SB bonus! Here's how: 

1. Sign up using this link .

2. Earn 300 SB total before June 1st, 2018. You'll get a 300 SB bonus for it! 

3. That's it. It's super easy, and Swagbucks is for real. I use it myself, and I've earned over 70,000 SB, which I use to purchase Amazon gift cards so I can purchase items I was going to buy anyway, or things for my annual Harry Potter party and then use real money on travel.

Doing London On a Budget

With the world focusing on the upcoming Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan, many are going to be thinking about traveling to London. I'm always looking for the chance to go back, and am already excited for my trip next year that I'm adding on to a trip to Scotland for a family wedding. I'll be posting a wish list in my next post to give you some extra inspo. You can easily do London on a budget if you really try.

With London being on of the most expensive cities to visit, it is important to find ways of saving on your trip. Luckily, even though there are plenty of ways to go broke in the city, there are even more ways to stay on budget.

When to go

As with almost all destinations, the time to avoid is summer. Airfare and hotel rates can be almost twice as much as at other times, leaving you less money to spend on shoes and things you actually need, like food. Summertime is also super crowded. There’s nothing worse than running out of money halfway through your trip and also having to push your way through throngs of tourists everywhere you go.

Plan your trip to London in the fall or winter to save a ton on airfare and even accommodations. Hours for attractions and shops will be shorter than in the summer, but without having to brave the hordes of vacationers, you’ll be able to see and do more in a shorter amount of time. This lets you have a relaxing sightseeing experience.

Where to stay

No one will ever say it’s cheap to stay in London. In fact, you can pretty much expect to pay double what you pay most other places. You can save a bundle by renting an apartment or staying in an apart-hotel. These options give you kitchen facilities which can help stretch your dollars – or euros or pounds – by allowing you to eat some meals in your room. 

Unless you want to dine at fast food establishments most of your meals, food costs are going to add up quickly. Even if you only pop up to the store and bring back breakfast staples, that’s going to save you quite a chunk. You can purchase food for a week of breakfasts for less than the price of one sit-down morning meal for two.

Getting where you want to go

Although London is totally walkable, you may not want to hike miles and miles every day. Fortunately for you the public transit system is awesome. Purchase a travelcard from Oyster for multiple travel days. It will save you money, because you can ride unlimited on the Underground, the bus and trains on the days it is valid. The more you ride, the more you save.

Avoid cabs as much as possible. Those little black cabs may be adorable, but the fares won’t be. You could spend the same amount on one ride across town as you would for several days of public transit. This small change in the way you travel could be the difference between going home with another awesome fashion find or returning your purchases in order to eat more than bags of crisps (potato chips) for the last few days of your trip.

Budget shopping

London has a variety of open-air markets, which can be great for finding bargains or just browsing. Two of the most popular, where shopaholics may still find a deal, are Camden Lock Market and Portobello Road Market. Open 7 days a week, Camden Lock Market is always bustling and is really diverse. Buy a rare book and have your palm read in the same trip. Maybe the reader can tell you if you’ll find that perfect souvenir to take home! In the two miles of Portobello Road Market, you’ll find everything from antique treasures to fruits and vegetables. The market may look very familiar to those who saw the movie Notting Hill. You can grab a bite to eat while scouring the stalls for a vintage dress.

Do more for less

In between shopping, you will probably want to see the city. There’s so much to do in London and no matter how long your trip, you will never be able to see it all. Want to see as much as possible and not have to pay it off on your credit cards for years to come? Here are some ways to squeeze in as much as you can with the time and budget you have:

• Get a London Pass – This is literally your ticket to the city. You pay one price and this little card can get you into over 60 attractions in the London area. It allows you go straight to the head of the line and, since you’ve already paid, you don’t have to keep looking over your budget to see if you can afford to do something else on your trip. If it’s on the list, you’re covered. While not “cheap”, the London Pass is affordable and especially useful if you are spending a week or more in the city. You probably won’t visit all the attractions covered, but if you did you could save over $800. Even if you just visit half, you’re getting a significant savings on your trip.
• Go for a walk – London Walks has a variety of walking tours you can take any day of the week. Tours usually last for one to two hours and cost less than $20 per person. You never have to make a reservation. You just show up at the tour’s starting location, pay your money to the guide and enjoy a stroll around London, learning about the city’s history on themed tours, such as Jack the Ripper, Harry Potter, the Beatles, pubs, Westminster Abbey and more. This is perfect if you aren’t sure if your feet will cooperate with you for more walking and also a really affordable way to see the city.
• Look for the freebies – Like most of the world, London wants your money, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do that won’t cost you anything. You can spend a whole day, or two, saving your money and visiting sites like Hyde Park, browsing vender booths at any of the many street markets, taking in the sights way above the city in OXO Tower, watching the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, marveling at works of art in Tate Modern or learning the history of the city through exhibits at the London Museum. The list goes on and on. Mix some free activities in with your other activities and your budget will stretch much further.
• Save on the West End – London has a ton of theater experiences that shouldn’t be missed. Two tickets can cost a small fortune, but travelers using Theater.com will find amazing discount codes for almost any show that they are interested in seeing. Besides the considerable theater price cuts, dinner and show deals are also included. In some cases, dinner turns out to be free with the package purchase.
• Make dining reservations in advance – Sign up for OpenTable and search participating London restaurants that allow you to make online reservations through the program. The great thing about OpenTable is that they often offer 50% off discounts at certain dining venues. You can find many other deals, too, including my favorite – the special prix fixe menus for OpenTable users at many restaurants. The more reservations you complete, the more points you get. When you accumulate enough points, you can trade them in for a dining certificate. Even if you don’t earn enough on your trip, you will still save a bundle by booking your dining at the restaurants that take part in the program. 

It’s possible to visit London on a budget and still have an incredible trip. You won’t feel like you missed out on all the best the city has to offer, especially if you’re able to buy a few nice things for yourself in the process. Remember to pack light and bring an extra bag that you can fold up in your carry-on to take home all your fabulous finds. Packing fewer clothes can save you baggage fees and let you skip the baggage carousel to get right off the plane and on to your trip. Also, some of the best souvenirs are memories and photos, which are virtually free and take up no luggage space!

Will you be watching the Royal Wedding?

Review: Travelon Anti-Theft Courier N/S Slim Bag

You've heard me say it before, but I'm going to say it again. Different trips call for different bags and I find myself choosing certain purses for each trip I take. I don't often like to carry anything too bulky, but I want something that can carry my essentials, without getting in the way and also keeping my items safe. The Anti-Theft Courier North/South Slim Bag from Travelon does all of that, all in a lovely fabric that's not too sporty and not too fancy. 

This canvas fabric is a great traveler, because the longer you use this bag, the better looking it gets. It's very much like the Heritage collection that I love so much. This even comes in the same colors. 

If you are like me and just like to carry a few things around town with you, so you aren't weighed down, then this slim bag might be exactly what you're looking for. 

There are enough pockets for everything you need, without being overwhelming. The two front pockets are easy to access, with the top one having a locking zipper. I used this one for my camera, so it was quick to get to, but could be safe when I wasn't using it.

The bottom zipper pocket is smaller and perfect for your lip balm and change.

I stashed the few things I use throughout the day in here, or items I'd want to get to quickly on a plane ride or in the airport. This is what would comfortably fit, but you could easily throw a pen inside and a few other small items, like eye drops.

The main compartment of the bag has slots for your credit cards and your passport. These are RFID-protected, meaning all your personal information is safe from thieves with electronic devices that can quickly steal your information. I also like these slash pockets to keep my paper money in, because it's right where you need it and you don't have to dig around for it when you just want to pay and go.

The North/South bag is called slim, because of its slim profile. With your cards along one wall, it keeps the middle free for other stuff you need to bring along, like your sunglasses and snacks. Obviously, more could fit in here, but I don't like to cram a bag full when I'm traveling. 

This main compartment has the signature key leash that all Travelon bags come with, so you aren't taking everything out just so you can get in your car. 

This leash also features the tiny flashlight that comes standard in Travelon bags, because you never know when you need one or you're trying to find something in your bag in the dark, or need to read a map, or find something under a car seat. This is probably the most overlooked, but most useful thing you never realized you needed.

The other side of the bag has a zipper pocket for things you want to keep separate from the main bag. I found it a convenient place for my back-up battery and phone cord for charging emergencies. Maybe you want to use it for makeup or receipts or any number of other things.

The backside of the bag has a large slip pocket. I like to keep my phone handy, and having it in my back pocket can be really annoying and uncomfortable. My large smartphone fit in here with room to spare, and because this pocket is right against my body, I know there's no chance that anyone can just snatch it from me when I'm not looking. This COULD be a concern if you're keeping it in your back pocket.

You'll find the locking zippers are easy to clip on and off the small D-rings attached to the bag in strategic places. This makes it nearly impossible for anyone to steal from you and giving you the knowledge that your belongings are safe and sound. 

And don't forget the best parts of any Travelon anti-theft bag: One end of your adjustable strap is detachable, in order for you to attach your bag to a stationary object while out and about, like while dining. Your strap is also slash-resistant, giving you even more security, and the front of the bag has a slash-resistant mesh in the lining, so nobody can slash and grab your belongings.

While you can wear the North/South Slim bag as a regular handbag, it adjusts to be a convenient crossbody bag as well. This is my favorite way to wear most bags, as it leaves my hands free to shop, pay, take photos and check my phone when needed. 

This bag is the perfect size for when you need to carry a bag, but don't really want to carry a bag. The profile allows it to sit snug against your body and not allow it to get in the way. And if you're still looking for a Mother's Day gift, your mom's going to love this, whether she travels or not. And if you use my special code (see below), you can get 20% off your whole purchase! Woot! 

More details:

Where can I buy it? Travelon website

How much is it? $50 (but use my code SHEREENTRAVELS20% to save 20% off your purchase)

What colors does it come in? Stone Grey (shown) | Navy

Additional specs: Cotton Blend, 8" x 9" x 2", Strap Length: 29.5" - 54", Strap Drop Length: 14" - 26"

If you love Travelon as much as I do, or you just want to know about new items or how to use current items, find them on social media: 

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

Disclaimer: I was provided with the Anti-theft Courier N/S Slim Bag for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.