Favorite Moments : Las Vegas + Arizona

March 2, 2016

We just got back from our long weekend to Las Vegas and Northern Arizona and after a great weekend of travel, I actually had a hard time narrowing it down to these favorite moments on this trip. I can’t recommend this area highly enough and I know we’ll be back to visit again in the future. But for now, here are my favorite moments from our long weekend in the American South West.

On the way down, we flew in to Las Vegas and spent our first night there. After more times in Vegas than I can count, we were really excited to try out Giada’s new restaurant there. We had a late reservation for dinner Thursday evening and even though it was a lot later than we usually eat, we loved every minute of it. From the table right next to the window overlooking the Strip to the incredible food, we were really impressed and I know we’ll be back!

After arriving in Sedona late in the afternoon on Friday, we got up early Saturday morning to head up to Northern Arizona. We had to be up in Page for Antelope Canyon at 10am so that meant we left Sedona before the sun rose to get on the road. As we were passing through the outskirts of Flagstaff the sunrise was so pure and beautiful we pulled the car over on the empty road and spent a few minutes just taking it in. With no one else on the roads, it was like we had the lovely colored sky all to ourselves.

This was the part of this trip we were most looking forward to and it did not disappoint. Our 10:15am tour of the canyon was perfect and walking through this incredible canyon with our great guide was such an amazing travel memory. The walls of the canyon and the tiny slot openings are truly one of a kind and so breathtakingly beautiful.

While this seems like such a stupid thing to include on a favorite moments list, I had to add it! After our tour of Antelope Canyon, we were starving and headed the 6 minutes into nearby Page, Arizona. We stopped at the first restaurant we saw which happened to be El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant and ended up having the best Mexican food we’ve ever had in our lives. If you’re in this area… Be sure to stop here and be sure to finish your meal off with their incredible fried ice cream!

While Saturday was a long day of driving and seeing sites in Northern Arizona including Antelope Canyon and Horshoe Bend, we ended the day watching the sun set over the Grand Canyon. Seeing the Grand Canyon in person is already an incredible thing – the sheer size of it is truly incredible. But sitting there and watching as the colors spilled across the sky at sunset made it all the more special.

I can’t wait to share more about all the amazing places we saw while in Northern Arizona in the days and weeks to come!

The Truth About Traveling : The Wonders All Around Us

February 29, 2016

Last week, one day I drove Nick to work. On the way, the sunrise was lovely, pastel colors spilling across the sky with Mt. Hood on the horizon, the sun rising behind it. After dropping him off, I took the back way home, through North Portland, instead of the freeway and it was one of those mornings that I really looked around at my city. I really saw what was happening around me in great detail instead of just flying past it, en route to my busy day. I saw parents standing with their kids, ready for school, out on the sidewalks waiting for the bus. I saw people, young and old, biking into the city to their jobs. I saw people admiring the sunrise and I saw markets opening up and the city waking up. And it hit me, this is the way we see places when we travel but not often when we’re home.

When we travel, we slow down, we really see what’s around us. We see those shop keepers opening their stores, we see those kids heading to school. We see it because we’re really looking, we’re interested. We see the stories. And as often is the case, at home, we don’t often see our own cities as destinations like that, we’re too busy running around trying to get everything done with never enough time. But when we’re traveling, when we’re on vacation, those little details like a beautiful sunrise or the ordinary ways of ordinary people are so interesting, so unique.

Sometimes it’s important to take the time, and I mean really take the time, to spend an hour every once in a while to just see what’s around us. To look at our own cities, our own homes as those exotic and interesting places, because at the end of the day, we’re all citizens of this world and all of our stories are interesting. All of our stories are needed to make up the patchwork of the planet. We are the shopkeepers opening up for the day, the woman biking into the city for work, the kids waiting to head to school. Sometimes we need to reverse the roles and take a look around us and enjoy what we have right here in our own backyards. It’s often hard to see our homes as exotic locations, but I urge you, sometime soon, take a look around and really see the wonders that are all around us.

What NOT to Do When it Comes to Travel

February 26, 2016

There is always a long list of things to DO when traveling and the list to prepare for a trip can be endless. But on the other hand, there are also lots of things that you really shouldn’t do when traveling – whether it’s make it safer for you as a traveler or things that just make your life easier when on the road or in the air. So as the opposite to do list for travel, here is what NOT to do when it comes to travel.

Not doing the research.

Some people like to wing it when it comes to travel, I am not one of those people. But whatever group you fall in to, there are often times when doing the research can make or break a trip. At least have a general idea of necessary research before heading off on your travels and it will end up going that much smoother.

Not reading reviews.

I ALWAYS read reviews of hotels and new airlines before traveling somewhere. With a wealth of information from people all over the world with a click of a button, there is really no reason anymore not to read the reviews… it will save you a heartbreak later.

Not having clothes in a carry on.

There is too big of a chance of lost luggage or flights getting canceled and rescheduled, not to pack at least 1 change of clothes in a carry on. Personally I am a big believe in carry on only always, but when that isn’t possible, be sure you have at least one change of clothes and your toiletries with you… ALWAYS!

Using your cell phone with a plan through your carrier.

Thinking you can just jet to Europe, turn your iPhone on and have it work like at home for the same rates? Guess again. I’ve heard horror stories of people getting thousands of dollars in roaming charges without having an International plan – so be safe, add an International phone and data plan when you travel or get a local SIM card and pay as you go.

Not getting cash from your bank before you leave.

I hear travelers all the time that are still getting local currency when they land someone and it’s such a waste of time and money. You’ll always pay fees and probably not get as great as an exchange rate than if you get it from your local bank before you leave home.

Not getting a necessary visa.

There are still lots of countries that require a visa and many still that require you to send in your passports for a month or so to get it. That terrifies me but is often a necessary step. So do your research and know if the place you’re going requires a visa for your nationality – you don’t want to show up at Immigration and be turned away after all that way.

Drinking the water when you’re not supposed to.

If you’re in a country that says not to drink the water, don’t do it anyway thinking it will probably be okay. Even at resorts that filter the water, I always err on the side of caution and drink bottled water. If the locals don’t drink it, you shouldn’t either.

Not having paper copies of reservations.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been somewhere and when they can’t find my reservation, I can pull out my paper copy to show them a confirmation number or some other piece of information. Don’t travel without printing off all of your reservations and keep them handy while traveling.

Paying foreign transaction fees on your credit card.

With so many credit cards offering chips and no foreign transaction fees now, it’s no question that you don’t pay all those unnecessary fees. Don’t be the one person on the planet without a credit card that doesn’t charge you to travel.

Having too high of expectations.

I’ve done this too many times myself, but don’t make your expectations so high that the destination doesn’t live up to your own hype. Let yourself enjoy the destination without expecting so much of it and your trip will always be that much better.

Not paying for the rental car insurance.

If you aren’t 100% sure that your credit card covers enough rental car insurance for you (some do, others are actually horrible coverage), always buy the insurance. The peace of mind for a little bit extra is well worth it instead of coming home from your trip owning Hertz thousands of dollars.

Expecting it to be like home.

The biggest mistake even the most seasoned travelers can make? Expecting a destination to be like their homes or have the same offerings that their home has. Let the destination be itself without expecting it to be like somewhere else and learn to embrace the differences!

How to Bring Travel into Your Home

February 23, 2016

After recently moving, I found myself starting over in terms of decor and how I wanted our new home to feel. One of the things that was really important to me when thinking about our new decor was obviously bringing a lot from our travels into our home, souvenirs we’ve brought home that evoke memories or photos from our trips that bring us right back to that moment. As I thought about it, being a traveler feels all the better when you can come home and bring little pieces of memories from all over the world. So if you’re looking at how to bring travel into your home and make your space feel like a combination of styles from all over the world, here’s some tips and tricks!

Smaller is often better.

I have found that the smaller souvenirs and items we’ve brought back from travels often pack the biggest punch in home decor. Items like our wooden Buddha from Bali or our Moroccan lantern from Granada, those items aren’t very big but the details in them make their stories seem larger. I like having more small items that mean a lot rather than one or two huge items.

Combine photographs from traveling with art pieces.

One thing that we really wanted to do in our new place was to combine Nick’s beautiful photography with more art pieces that help us relive our travels. We ended up with a really nice mix of framed travel quotes, wall canvases and framed photographs that make our home an eclectic mix of our thoughts on travel and the world.

Don’t be afraid to mix patterns and textures.

I love an eclectic mix of patterns and textures, so in our new home, I mixed different patterned pillows and blankets with other fabrics throughout to give it a sense of a world eclectic mix. This is a great way to bring in patterns from different cultures. I happen to love Moroccan prints so a lot of our prints are derived from that style which mixes nice with other patterns and textures.

Utilize stores like World Market.

One of my favorite stores for home items is Cost Plus World Market which carries furniture and decor items from around the world. So when we moved and I needed items that matched items from our travels but I couldn’t travel back to a country right away to buy something else, I head to World Market. From lanterns to rugs, World Market will give you a really great worldly aesthetic for pieces that you may need.

Which City Should I Travel To?

February 22, 2016

Picking a place to travel is hard enough. And then add on picking a place instead of another, it makes the decision even harder. In fact, there are many cities and destinations around the world that are similar or that people often compare. So if you’re not sure which of those famous spots to visit, I’m happy to help you choose! If you are asking yourself, “which city should I travel to?” – here’s reasons for each of them and really though, you can’t go wrong with any of these great spots around the world. But if you have to choose…

Perhaps the biggest travel choice of anyone headed to Europe… where to go, Paris or London? Both cities are equally amazing and both have everything you could ask for from a major European hub. But if you have to choose:

Pick Paris if… you want romance, long walks along the Seine, croissants for breakfast and macarons for dessert.

Pick London if… you want more of a metropolitan city feel, history galore, and fish and chips for every meal.

Ahh Italy… there is really no place like it. And with a multitude of cities to choose from in the capital of pasta, Milan and Rome generally are known as 2 of the spots to choose from. Both are fascinating and have their own feel but if you have to choose:

Pick Milan if… you want a chic flair, to see The Last Supper painting, and want to shop until you drop at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

Pick Rome if… you want history all around you, to eat pasta to your heart’s content and let lose a little.

If you’re from or live on the West Coast of the US you’ll know this common comparison. It’s always a toss up… should we take the shorter flight to Mexico and vacation on the beach in Los Cabos or take the longer flight and not have to leave the country in Hawaii. Both have their pros and cons, but if you have to choose:

Choose Hawaii if… you want to stay within the US, enjoy the Aloha spirit and hula dance is the islands!

Choose Cabo if… you want a shorter flight, to eat guacamole your whole trip and bring home cheap tequila.

Two European cities that resemble each other in their decorated buildings, their seaside locations and a whimsical flair, both Barcelona and Lisbon have a lot to offer any tourist. But if you have to choose:

Choose Barcelona if… you want incredible Spanish food, to see historic sites like Sagrada Familia and spend your days drinking sangria and Cava.

Choose Lisbon if… you want to save some money, ride cable cars up and down hills and wander along the Sea.

While these two aren’t cities, yet instead whole countries, I find myself hearing them compared quite often these days. With their locations close by each other in SE Asia, they also both offer budget friendly options for Westerners. Both have very unique qualities but if you have to choose:

Choose Cambodia if… you want to travel on the cheap, temple hop in the mornings, sleep in the afternoons and explore markets by night.

Choose Thailand if… you want to visit gold plated temples, enjoy incredible street food and live on Thai Iced Teas.

When it comes to famous US cities, I’m pretty sure New York and LA take the cake. And yet, while completely different, it seems that when looking at options to visit the US, these seem to be compared by travelers the most. Both are a completely different vibe, but if you have to choose:

Choose New York if… you want a huge city feel, to eat pizza for every meal and explore Central Park for hours.

Choose LA if… you want to see where the movie stars live, to spend time by the Pacific Ocean and feel oh so Hollywood.

5 Steps to Make Your Travel Dreams a Reality

February 19, 2016

I’ve always dreamt of travel. And from as long as I can remember I’ve had dreams of living in foreign places, learning languages and seeing more and more of the world. And I’m not alone. There are lots of people out there with dreams to travel the world but when it really comes down to it, it can often seem daunting to know how to even start to make those dreams a reality. So I’ve laid it out, step by step to help each and every one of you get to fulfilling those dreams as well. So if you’re like me and you dream of travel and seeing different lands around the world, here are 5 steps to make your travel dreams a reality!

1. Have a dream.

The first one is easy and you probably already have it! Have a dream! Think about what it is that you want out of your life. If that’s saving up your money for one huge trip of a lifetime or it’s a bunch of smaller trips that work into your yearly budget, think about what you want and dream away!

2. Make a plan and save money.

This part is often the most daunting but can easily make or break your dream of travel. Before you can jump on that airplane to a far away land, you’ll need to make a plan and that plan will need include how you’ll save money to make it happen. You can’t get to the next step without this one, so take your time and do this step right. This step might take a few months or it might take a few years but if you sit down and force yourself to make a plan, put money away and figure out the costs and all the necessary information to make your dream a reality, you can be sure that when you get on that airplane, you’ll be glad you took this extremely important step seriously.

3. Make it happen.

When people ask me how I’ve kept so much travel in my life, and I always respond, “I just make it happen.” You can also read this step as “keep hustling” if you like. But either way, I travel a lot in my life because I work really hard in order to be able to do it. You can have the best intentions in the world, but until you actually make things happen, no one is going to do it for you. If that means saying no to yourself on that second cup of coffee from Starbucks to save that money in your travel fund or picking up an extra job to make more money, no one else can make your dreams come true other than you so take it seriously.

4. Be Patient.

Patience is a virtue and yet it’s so damn hard sometimes to wait. But waiting for your dreams is important. Waiting for that trip is important. Because that waiting helps us as humans appreciate what we have or what may be coming ahead and helps us prepare ourselves for what is coming. Chasing dreams isn’t easy and it takes hard work and a lot of time waiting for things to come through, but if you can be patient and wait it out, I promise the end result will be that much better. Just give yourself time and don’t expect dreams to come true overnight.

5. Stay curious.

So what happens when you get to your dream fulfilled? Stay curious. Don’t cut yourself off from more learning or chasing a new dream. There are always more places to see, more people to meet. And if you can stay curious and keep learning, you’ll be able to chase dreams your entire life.

Where to Travel for Vacation (depending on what you want)

February 18, 2016

I completely believe that travel can transform our lives and that experiencing other cultures can change how we live our lives. So this year, if you’re looking for some places to vacation to that can fulfill what you want travel to fulfill in your life, here are the places I’d recommend for where to travel for vacation depending on what you want out of your trip!

There is perhaps no better place in the world to travel to to have that “life changing” effect than India. A surreal sense of senses – smells, textures, colors, feelings, India is a complete fantasy trip. You’ll walk away from your trip to India changed, both from the sights you’ll see and the emotions you’ll feel. My recommendation to visit in this beautiful country – the gorgeous, historical center of Udaipur.

If you’re looking for a restful vacation in a gorgeous spot on a beach, Bali is the place to go to have that incredible relaxing trip. Between the friendly locals, the incredible scenery and the laid back vibe, Bali is the perfect beach vacation spot.

If you’re on a tight budget but want to experience ancient temples that are thousands of years old a la Lara Croft from Tomb Raider, look no further than Cambodia. A place you’ll be able to travel to cheaply and you won’t be disappointed after you spend your days hopping from temple to temple inside of the local tuk tuks.

Looking for a place to escape to with your partner? Paris is always good idea. That may be true always, but even more, when looking for that romantic trip of your life with someone you live, Paris has got to be the world’s most romantic spot.

Do you want to spend that hard earned cash in one of the best cities in the world for shopping? Then London should be your destination. From High Street to Couture, you won’t have a want in the world in lovely London. And stop by Zara and Whistles for me while you’re there!

I’ve often fantasized about a trip solely to purchase items for my home. You know, just jumping on a plane to the souks of Morocco where I could outfit my home with all the treasures I can find. If you’re in the mood for a home-buying trip, Morocco is the perfect spot. And while you’re at it, have some Chicken Bastilla and load up on spices as well!

When we toured through Spain in 2015, our main goal was eat as much Spanish food as we possibly could. From tapas to churros to Cafe con Leche, if you’re on the hunt for a culinary adventure, Spain will blow your mind with it’s incredible cuisine and it’s still super easy on the wallet!

Travel Tips : How to Take Advantage of Free Travel

February 17, 2016

Travel is expensive. Unless you find ways to cut that cost which definitely exist, things like points and miles can go a long way to saving money on travel, but there are actually a lot of ways to make travel even more inexpensive if you know where to look. Actually there are lots of ways to take advantage of free travel, yes, completely free things while traveling. That’s not to say your entire trip will be free, that’s probably not going to happen. But if you know where to look, you can definitely take advantage of lots of things that will be completely at no cost to you and here’s how!

Free hotel nights.

I’ve been praising the Hotels.com loyalty program for years and it’s one I personally use a lot. And I can personally say I’ve reaped the rewards of their program and gotten a ton of free hotel nights in my own travels. Every 10 nights you stay with them, you get one free (up to a certain amount of course). If you’re not a member already, you should be. Then start staying and after 10 nights, use that free night for a trip somewhere you’ve always wanted to go!

Free parks and recreation.

One of my favorite parts of travel are exploring free parks and recreation activities in a location. You’d be surprised at how many attractions are actually free in major cities, just do your research beforehand to find out. For example, almost all museums are free in London. As well as National Parks around the world and city parks in major cities, all free and wonderful to enjoy.

Free transportation.

When we travel, transportation is always one of those items that we research fully before leaving. Knowing which transportation options are best for you and which are the least expensive can really help save money while traveling. But my favorite transportation options are when they are offered for free. Take a look at your hotel and see if they offer free shuttle transport from the airport or to major attractions.

Free rentals.

There are a lot of hotels around the world that offer free rentals to their guests. In cities like Amsterdam and Portland, many hotels offer free bikes for their guests to use while staying there. Take a look at your location and your hotel and see what rentals they might offer for you to enjoy the destination even more, completely for free.

Free stopovers.

A lot of airlines these days are coming around to the idea of offering free stopovers. Iceland Air famously did this a few years back and I think it’s had a huge impact on Iceland’s tourism. But other airlines like British Airways and Hawaiian Air now offer it as well. Basically you get the same priced flight, but it includes a stop over in the airline’s hub city. So if you fancy a few days in Iceland (which you totally should), then make use of this no-fee, free stopover option on Iceland Air. Or pick London with British Airways or Honolulu with Hawaiian Air!

Free food and drink.

A great way to cut a lot of cost when traveling is to take advantage of free food and drink. Many hotels offer breakfast as part of your room rate, so if they do, take advantage. Breakfast can easily add a large chunk of your budget when traveling, so figure out where you can take advantage of it if it’s already included in what you’re paying for your hotel. Or if you like an evening cocktail, many hotels offer happy hours to their guest as well which can cut a lot of cost if you were to go out for those drinks in your destination.

How to Book Cheap Flights

February 16, 2016

It’s no secret that travel and airline flights can add up to a lot of money. But if you’re willing to do some research and take the time, you can often find some really amazing deals. And in a time when it seems prices just keep surging higher, here are some not widely known tips for how to book cheap flights when you travel!

Keep up to date on budget airline routes.

I subscribe to all the budget airlines’ emails to keep up to date on their deals and sales. Airlines like Norwegian Air (to fly from the US to Europe), Wow Air (US to Iceland), and EasyJet (all over Europe) are some of my favorites for scoring really low airfare. And in order to know when they are having major deals, you have to subscribe to their mailing lists.

Fly on holidays.

One of our favorite ways to save on travel airfare is to fly on actual holidays. If you fly on Thanksgiving or Christmas or Memorial Day, chances are you’ll save a bunch of money, simply because most people don’t want to fly on those days.

Search for one way tickets instead of round trips on multiple airlines.

I do this often and it’s one way to save a ton of money and find cheap flights. Instead of searching roundtrip fares on one airline, try searching for one way fares across a variety of different airlines. Often you’ll find that certain airlines offer way cheaper one way deals and it might save you a bundle!

Fly in the middle of the week.

A well known airfare fact, flying on off days in the middle of the week or strange times can often be a whole lot cheaper. Just make sure it works with your travel plans!

Do your research, then jump on low fares when they arise.

Make sure to do the research and know what your route is generally going for. That way when you see an incredible deal, you’ll know it’s incredible and you can jump on it. I usually like to watch airfares for trips for a month or so before booking so I know about what it should cost me and what the deals will be.

Fly into smaller, more out of the way airports.

A great, simple way to save a bunch of money on flights is to look at the smaller, farther out airports to fly in or out of. For example, it’s often a lot cheaper to fly into Gatwick rather than Heathrow in London, or Orly versus Charles de Gaulle in Paris. In large cities, there are often multiple airport options so check them all out and find the cheapest option for your travels.

Take advantage of long layovers or free stopovers.

Airlines like Iceland Air, Hawaiian and British Airways are offering free stopovers in their home cities these days. Deals like this can often add another cool place to explore without paying the airlines any extra. So if you want to add a long stover to your trip to stay and explore somewhere new, take advantage of these deals.

Fly off season – Spring or Fall.

Perhaps the best way to find cheap flights, avoid peak season which is mainly Summer and around peak holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Personally, my favorite times to travel are in the Spring and the Fall, when the weather is temperate and there are less crowds. This is also when you’ll find cheap flights to major destinations and save the most money!

Travel Tips : How to Choose the Best Form of Transportation

February 12, 2016

Much of the time when we all book travel, we focus so much on the airfare and hotels that the actual act of getting around a destination when there is left behind. I get a lot of questions on how to get from place to place when we travel and so today, here is how to choose the best form of transportation while in a destination!

Research all the options.

This can be tedious work but it’s so worth it to do this when planning your trip. For example, in Europe there are countless options to get around cities or from country to country. Research all the options and make a list of what is offered. Trains, planes, taxis, metros… the list is endless, but start with finding out what is even out there.

Look at prices.

Often times one form of transportation will be a lot cheaper than another, but remember this is just the second step and you’ll want to make sure it really works for you. But start by looking at what the different options charge. You might be tempted to jump on the cheapest option… but if you wait and look at the next step, you’re thoughts might change!

Look at time frame and duration.

The problem with jumping the cheapest transportation option – you might end up with a 4am flight from place to place that’s super cheap but is it worth your time traveling to wake up in the middle of the night, be at the airport 1.5 hours before your flight, add the flight time and then add the time it takes to get back into the next destination from the airport? Often times in Europe, trains might be a little more expensive than budget airlines, but for the time and duration of the trip, sometimes it might make a big difference for your travel schedule.

A great examples of this: If you’re trying to get from London to Paris and you find a really cheap airfare deal, think about how much time it takes to get from Central London to Heathrow, then how long it takes to get through Heathrow, how long the flight time will be and how long it will take you to get from the airport to Central Paris. Often times the Eurostar train might be a bit more expensive but for ease and time, it might be worth it over a flight! It’s all about gauging what’s important to your schedule and making the best choice for you.