Travel Myths Debunked : Travel is Expensive

July 20, 2015

In this week long series, we’ll be looking at debunking some of the travel world’s myths and explaining the truth behind these sentiments. So follow along this week for some of the most well known travel myths and how we prove they aren’t true.

One of the things I hear the most often regarding travel is that it’s just too expensive for the average person to see more of the world. And while, yes, flights and hotels and activities cost money, it doesn’t have to be expensive and here’s why…

Traveling abroad isn’t always more expensive than domestic travel.

This one is one of the complaints I hear time and time again. And yet, if you can afford to take your family to Hawaii or Disneyland for a week, those trips easily cost way more than it would cost you to spend a week in some of Europe’s cheaper cities or in SE Asia. I guarantee it. If you pick the right place and spend your money well, there are lots of options to travel abroad that are the same price point as those domestic vacations you’re taking.

Those airline and credit card miles you have sitting and have never touched…that is money wasted.

I can’t believe how often people let points and miles just expire and never use them. Points and miles are such an amazing way to cut cost on travel and you literally don’t have to do anything other than keep track of them. Get a credit card that works for you (my favorites are the BA visa, the Sapphire visa and the AA MasterCard) and rack up points on your daily spending. Just to give you an idea how much points and miles can be worth: we just booked first class tickets to Europe from the West Coast of the US for only $5. That’s an incredible deal to save money on travel…don’t let them expire, use those points and miles for flights and hotels and rental cars!

There are a plethora of low budget airlines and hotel chains that offer incredible cost for wherever you’re headed.

Anymore, you can find such cheap flights to anywhere in the world that I get tired of people complaining about the cost of airfare. You can fly from LA to Scandinavia on Norwegian Air for as little as $199 each way or from the East Coast of the US on WOW to Iceland, Paris or Amsterdam for just $99. I can’t even get fares like that from Portland to Vegas (an hour and a half flight). If you really want to travel, and you put the time into research, there are so many amazing low budget airlines and hotel chains out there that won’t break that bank. AirBnB is another amazing way to save money on travel and lodging. There are lots of deals out there, if you’re willing to look.

There are a lot of places in the world where you’d spend less per day on a vacation than you would at home.

There are numerous places around the globe where your day to day expenses will be such a fraction of your day to day expenses at home that you could easily spend a week and come home with money left over from what you’d be spending at home. Places like SE Asia, India, some places the Middle East or Indonesia, you could live well on a fraction of what it costs in Europe or the States. So find a place that you can afford and you might end up even saving money in the long run!

Travel Tips : Washington State Ferries

July 17, 2015

After making the trip to the San Juans and Whidbey Island in Washington State in the recent years and then subsequently writing about them here on Land of Marvels, I’ve noticed that I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the ferries to get to these destinations. So, since these are such popular destinations and because there are so many places to get via ferry in Washington State, look no further than this dedicated post to all you need to know about the Washington State ferry system and all the answers to questions you might have!

You don’t need to buy tickets in advance.

Unless you have a very specific type of vehicle (like a trailer or something), you don’t need to buy tickets in advance. Just head to whatever ferry port you’re leaving from and there will be a booth where you buy tickets. They will then usher you into whatever line is next for the boat.

The lines can get really long.

In many cases in Washington State, ferries are the only way to get to some of these islands, so naturally, the lines to get on the ferry can be horribly long. We waited over an hour in line for the Whidbey Island ferry a couple weeks ago and I’ve heard of even longer waits, particularly during the Summer or over holidays. So know ahead of time, you’ll probably be waiting for a decent amount of time in line. Follow the signs, wait where you’re supposed to and be patient.

Use the website for information in regards to traffic, boat schedules and pricing.

Washington State has a great website for all the information about ferries. They have videos showing lines and wait times, they have updated information if boats are full or how many spots are left available as well as all the pricing and schedule information. It’s also updated really frequently and can be a great resource, so use it!

Stay near your car.

After you get into the waiting area for the ferry, you’ll generally have some time before you start loading on to the boat itself. However, stay close to your car in case that comes up quicker than you thought. I’ve seen cars left unattended and having people just drive by them in the line if people went off to get something to eat or drink and missed the call to load the ferry. So stay close by!

A Few Hours on Whidbey Island

July 15, 2015

As I mentioned the other day, the reason we headed up to Seattle last weekend (other than to try and escape the heat in Portland) was to visit some friends of ours that were having a housewarming party at the North end of Whidbey Island. Last year when we went to the San Juans, we really wanted to head South back home through Whidbey Island, but I got really sick and we had to cancel that part of the trip. So when the chance came up this year, we jumped at the chance to sea some coastal views and small island towns, as well as a ferry ride over from the mainland.

We took the quick ferry from Mukilteo (see tips below on this) and then started in Langley and drove North throughout the day, spending a few hours on Whidbey Island. There were definitely cool things about the island, but to be honest, we were pretty disappointed compared to the scenery we had experienced in the San Juans and were comparing it to that. All in all, I’m glad we did the drive and got to see the area, but it’s not a place I’d head back to anytime soon. The lack of true coastal views, really run down little towns and houses and overall just not a great feeling, we mentioned multiple times that if you’re looking for an escape out of the Seattle areas, we’d much prefer the San Juans.

As we drove North, we found the most beautiful part of the island was around Deception Point: a huge bridge crossing between islands. It was instantly greener, better coastal views and gorgeous blue ocean. If we went again, I would head directly North on the island and closer to Anacortes, but all in all, we were glad we got to experience Whidbey Island even though it wasn’t our favorite.

Tips for Whidbey Island:

-If you’re taking the ferry from Mukilteo, the actual ferry ride is really short, around 20 minutes. But the line can pile up for miles and you can sit for hours waiting to get on the ferry boat. I would suggest either going really early before the line gets long or going on an off weekend. Avoid holiday weekends if you can.

-Whidbey Island gets really full on holiday weekends which was when we were there and it got a little claustrophobic in the small towns. I would highly suggest visiting when there isn’t a holiday weekend or special events going on.

Summer in Seattle

July 13, 2015

Last weekend some friends of ours who live about an hour North of Seattle invited us to a housewarming at their new house. So last minute, we decided to make a weekend of it in our neighbor city up North. We have been to Seattle countless times since it’s such a quick trip up from Portland but I always enjoy seeing more of the city and finding new spots that we like.

We didn’t spend very much time in the city itself, really just mornings and evenings since we drove over to Whidbey Island for our only real day up there, but we still managed to enjoy some Summer in Seattle. The weather while we were there was really hot (abnormally hot for the Pacific NW) so we spent our time finding new restaurants and wandering in the covered Pike’s Place Market to escape the heat. We did manage to find some new (to us) spots though and some great restaurants and Summer is such a great time to explore the lovely city of Seattle!

Seattle Tips:

-Eat at Lola for breakfast and order their house-made donuts. Enough said.

-Don’t miss a trip to Pike’s Place Market. I particularly like to pick up fresh berries and flowers as you meander through the stalls.

-Grab an authentic Belgian waffle at Sweet Iron Waffles.

-Don’t miss wandering the downtown area and keep some time for shopping.

Top 5 Pacific NW Weekend Escapes

July 10, 2015

Since it’s high tourist season in my home city, we’re calling this Pacific North West week here on Land of Marvels! We’ll be posting all about my home city of Portland as well as other great spots around the Pacific North West all week long!

I love a great weekend escape. Just being able to get away for a couple days, see a change of scenery without having to fly anywhere or spend a ton of time preparing can often be a perfect way to travel without breaking the bank or spending a ton of time away. And the Pacific NW offers some amazing spots for a weekend escape, so if you’re in this part of the world (or even if you want to just visit us), here are my top 5 Pacific NW weekend escapes!

When the weather gets too hot in Portland or we have spectacular winter weather, the locals in Portland head to the beach. Though for us, the Oregon Coast isn’t really “beach” per-say, but instead our coast features gorgeous views and incredibly blue water. We head to Cannon Beach, Seaside, or Astoria for weekend escapes and it’s the perfect spot to cool down, relax and take in the ocean views.

Eastern Oregon is our hot spot for quirky towns like Bend with great food, a lot of character and an “outdoorsy” type feel. Locals will head here for a weekend escape for a desert environment, lots of resorts and lodges to stay at and the perfect blend of artsy and outdoorsy.

Stay at: Sunriver Resort

For coastal beauty in Washington state, the San Juans are the perfect long weekend getaway. Take the ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbor and look for orcas jumping in and out of the water, wander the town or drive around the island and take in lavender farms and historic lighthouses. This is the West Coast’s version of Cape Cod and it’s perfect for a weekend escape in the Pacific NW.

Stay at: Swinomish Casino and Lodge

If you want to go a little bit international, head up to Vancouver BC, just a quick 2.5 hour drive North of Seattle. You’ll find a lot of culture and tradition in this famous Canadian city, and my favorite time to visit is in the Fall when the trees are changing and the city starts to quiet down after a busy Summer. Spend a weekend here and pretend you went farther out of the country than just a couple hours drive.

Stay at: L’Hermitage Hotel

For a setting with beautiful natural landscapes and great wine, head for a weekend escape to Eastern Washington state. You’ll be sure to spend your weekend here filled with long sunsets sipping a good local wine, while relaxing in a natural environment.

Stay at: Desert Winds Winery

5 Reasons to Visit Seattle

July 9, 2015

Seattle is just a stones’ throw from Portland and without traffic we can be up there in about two and a half hours. So when we’re looking to get out of the city for a day or a quick overnight, Seattle is a common escape for us. It’s bigger, is on the water and is just overall a fun and very North West city. So if you’re looking for coastal views, a large city and great local seafood, Seattle is the place to be! And here’s 5 reasons to visit Seattle…

One of the things that first brought me to Seattle were the buildings. As a design student in college, we made many a trip up to Seattle to take a look at their famous Library (shown above) and many other buildings in the city like Gehry’s Experience Music Project that are pretty well renowned in the architecture world. The unique flair of Seattle’s architecture is a must see while there.

Everyone knows the Space Needle and as such with the architecture mentioned above, Seattle is full of Landmarks. My favorite view of the Space Needle and other surrounding landmarks in Seattle is from Kerry Park, but I also love the fact that just driving around downtown Seattle you’ll see the Space Needle peaking out from every corner.

One of my absolute favorite things about the Seattle area is the proximity to so many other gorgeous landscapes as well. With the San Juans and Whidbey Island close by, you’re never far from some amazing coastal areas that are a quick car ride away.

In the mood for perusing a local food market? Pike’s Place has got to be one of the most famous markets in the world. With everything from fresh caught seafood to flowers to local vegetables, Pike’s Place a must see in Seattle. I love picking up berries and flowers when we visit to bring home with us.

Seattle has a wealth of shopping and probably would be the best shopping in the Pacific NW. Home to the first Nordstrom, a huge array of downtown shopping spots and my personal fave, Zara, I love to spend a few hours when we visit hitting spots that we don’t have in Portland.

5 of the Most Photogenic Spots in the Pacific NW

July 8, 2015

The Pacific North West is a pretty beautiful place and in my opinion, one of the prettiest spots in the whole of the US. It’s often overlooked due to weather or lesser known spots, but it’s for sure to be one of the most photogenic areas you’ll encounter. And because there are so many amazing spots to see and photograph in this area of the world, when you head out this way, here’s a list of 5 of the most photogenic spots in the Pacific NW to be sure to witness with your very own eyes (and camera of course)!

This natural spot outside of Bend, Oregon is pretty spectacular. The color of the rock is a golden hue and as you wander around the viewpoint from above, you’ll see the water snaking around the mountains, rock climbers scaling the sides of it and a high desert landscape that is pretty incredible. (Photo at the top of Smith Rock)

In my opinion, the most beautiful spot on the Oregon Coast, Bandon is remarkable. From long stretches of rocky beach, to cliffs overlooking the roaring ocean, Bandon is simply stunning and incredibly photogenic, whether rain or shine.

A stunning Columbia River running through the gorge walls in Northern Oregon and Southern Washington, just 45 minutes outside of Portland, the Columbia River Gorge is a breathtaking site. Your best views are from driving the I-84 or stopping at the many viewpoints along the old highway that parallels the freeway. You’ll also find a ton of waterfalls along the old highway in this area such as the famous Multnomah Falls.

I think the most stunning part of Washington State, the San Juan Islands which are as far North as Victoria, Canada are incredibly photogenic and stunning in their own right. With orcas swimming past, crystal clear blue water and ferries that weave in and out of one stunning island after another, the San Juans are best during the Summer but are gorgeous all year round.

This famous spot in Southern Oregon is not only beautiful but perfect for photos. Drive the road around the lake to get an angle on each side and take photos of the crater and the little island that floats in the middle of the lake. The water is incredibly blue and surrounded by lush Oregon forests, it’s perfectly photogenic.

5 of the Best Road Trips in the Pacific NW

July 7, 2015

The Pacific North West is a pretty beautiful place, no only in our cities but in the countrysides around Oregon and Washington as well. One of the best ways to take in all the Pacific NW beauty is to road trip around, to just jump in a car and head out somewhere beautiful! There are so many amazing road trips in this area, but if you’re looking to spend your Summer seeing this beautiful area, here are 5 of the best road trips in the Pacific NW!

Two of Oregon’s well known cities for their quirkiness, the trip from Portland to Bend is not only beautiful, it’s breathtaking. You’ll go from green lush forests to high desert and canyons. This 3-4 hour drive can be done a number of ways, my favorite goes past Smith Rock and up North before looping around Mt. Hood and coming into the lushness of Portland.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful, and underrated, coastlines in the world, the Oregon Coast is truly breathtaking at every turn. From cliffs to beaches to roaring seas, you’ll want to pull over again and again while making this drive. From Portland, head West to Cannon Beach, then continue down the coast highway to Bandon. It will be vistas and views like you’ve never seen before.

road trip Seattle to the san Juan islands

The San Juans are beautiful themselves but it’s the drive and ferry to get there that offers even more fantastic views and lovely scenery. Drive North fro Seattle then cut West and you’ll find yourself headed to Anacortes on the coast. From there, catch the ferry to any of the islands (the most popular to Friday Harbor) which will offer incredible sea views as you weave in and out of islands. Then drive around the island, taking in the views like orcas at the Lime Kiln lighthouse or the Lavender farm in the middle of the island. It’s scenic Pacific NW at its best.

Maybe not so much a scenic drive as this one is just fun. You’ll go through so many different landscapes, get to cross a border and spend time in two of the Pacific North West’s favorite cities. Vancouver BC is a whole different thing too since you’re officially in Canada. So if you’re in the mood for some “international” travel, this is the road trip for you.

road trip Portland to eastern washington

For a landscape unlike any other in the region, drive East from Portland through the Columbia River Gorge. Here you’ll find breathtaking vistas over the river, waterfalls galore and incredible scenery. Then head North through Eastern Washington and you’ll find rolling hills, farmland for miles and something entirely different than you’d expect in the Pacific North West. Head toward Washington’s eastern wine country and spend a couple nights, reveling in all the area has to offer.

The Best Inexpensive Destinations in Europe

July 3, 2015

Europe has always been a hot spot for tourists. It’s got everything: amazing history, wonderful architecture, charm everywhere you look and great food. But it can also be pretty expensive, especially in larger cities like London and Paris. And don’t even get me started on how expensive Scandinavia is. So if you’re looking to head to Europe but don’t want to spend as much money as you will in the more expensive spots, here are the best inexpensive destinations in Europe for you to choose from!

Portugal

You’ll be amazed at the cost of things in Portugal! Even in its famous city Lisbon, things were priced really low compared to the other European hubs. You’ll get a lot of bang for your buck in this seaside city. And the great thing here is that most of the attractions are free, so you can just wander and take in this edgy city for all it has to offer as well as Lisbon being incredibly charming with cobblestone streets and old buildings just begging to photographed.

Spain

I was blown away by how cheap Spain was compared to it’s neighbor up North, France. A huge dinner of tapas and sangria for 15 euros, ok, I’ll take that! You can eat well and enjoy a great trip in Spain for a lot less than other European hot spots. Particularly as you get out of the main hubs like Barcelona and Madrid, prices really start to go down.

Ireland

While Dublin is still a lot less expensive than its neighbor in the UK, London, where Ireland really shines in price is when you get out of the cities. The little towns in Ireland will offer so much and won’t break the bank. You’ll win in culture and your wallet!

Italy

While the larger cities in Italy like Rome and Milan still command a fairly high price point, when you get into small town Italy, the pricing will noticeably go down. Head to Verona or the little towns scattered throughout Italy and you’ll notice a pretty good price point.

Morocco

Even though it’s not in Europe, Morocco is a popular destination from Europe since it’s so close. Here you’ll find prices really are inexpensive and you can haggle for even lower ones. You’ll get lots of bang for your buck in Morocco and you’ll walk away with a unique experience too.

Travel Tips : How to Find Your Way Around

July 1, 2015

One of the hardest parts of traveling is finding your way around a place you don’t know or have never been to before. It can be a daunting part of your trip when you’re lost or unsure of where you are headed, and believe me, I’ve been there, but there are also a lot of great ways to keep this at a minimum while you travel. Over the years of traveling, I’ve found out the hard way what the best options are for how to find your way around as you’re on your adventure wherever you are in the world!

Use GPS on Your Phone

We always get international data packages on our iPhones when we travel (they are actually pretty reasonable these days) and it’s always worth it. Whether we are driving around the wilderness of Iceland or wandering the streets of Spain, using our phones for directions works really well for us. We tend to use one phone first until we meet the data minimum and then switch to the other person’s phone. Make sure to turn your data off if you don’t want to get charged though!

Also, you can still use GPS without data as long as you let it load before you leave an internet connection. Let your map load before you leave Wifi and you should still be able to follow your GPS marker even without data being turned on. We used this option a ton in Marrakech a few years ago, when we got completely lost in the souk and had no idea which direction to go!

Buy Streetwise Maps for your Destination

I still always travel with hard copy maps as well as my phone and any other digital versions I may have. Sometimes it’s easier and sometimes you don’t want to be flashing your new iPhone 6+ around. I also love having the option of marking up a map with places to go and where our hotel is and such. My personal favorites are Streetwise maps. I stock up on all the destinations we are visiting for a particular trip. I love the size and layout of these maps and they are really well laminated which really helps in rain or other weather.

Just Wander

One of the best ways to get where you need to go is really just to wander. Especially if you know the general direction you should be heading, sometimes you’ll stumble across amazing spots in your destination when you aren’t sure where you’re going. But be safe, don’t wander into areas that you shouldn’t be in or feel uncomfortable.

Ask Directions when Needed

I still ask locals for directions all the time when we travel. Most of the time people are really nice and will help you out. It’s a good idea for this to work to know a little bit of the local language too. I also get asked for directions all the time whether at home in Portland or while traveling, so obviously a lot of people opt for this option. Don’t be afraid to approach someone and just ask nicely. Even if you don’t know the language, point to the spot on your map you’re headed and they can point you in the right direction!

Travel Myths Debunked : Travel is Expensive

Traveling abroad isn’t always more expensive than domestic travel.

Those airline and credit card miles you have sitting and have never touched…that is money wasted.

There are a plethora of low budget airlines and hotel chains that offer incredible cost for wherever you’re headed.

There are a lot of places in the world where you’d spend less per day on a vacation than you would at home.

Travel Tips : Washington State Ferries