Christmas Festivities in Leavenworth

December 24, 2014

Happy Christmas Eve! We spent our weekend this past week taking in all the Christmas festivities in the little town of Leavenworth, Washington. This little town is straight out of Bavaria, with wood beamed architecture, German street names and German food. It’s been on my list to visit for a while and I’m so glad we got the chance to make the trek up there. Normally it’s only about 1.5-2 hours drive from Seattle but this weekend, the day we visited it was snowing heavily in the area and it took us about 2.5 hours to make the drive from Seattle to Leavenworth. The roads were pretty slick and it ended up being a pretty long day with the weather conditions to drive there and back to Seattle in one day. But alas, we enjoyed a few hours in Leavenworth with snow falling, Christmas carolers singing, and wandering the little town in the winter wonderland it was!

Have a wonderful Christmas and here’s some festive pictures to get the festivities started!

All photos by Nick Nieto Photography

5 Spots for an Exotic Winter Escape

December 18, 2014

It’s getting to be those winter months where the cold is getting colder and as we approach that time of year where we’re in the tunnel of Winter for a few more months in most parts of the world, many people start dreaming of warmer locations to escape to. The nice thing about many of the warmer spots around the world this time of year is that they also tend to be more exotic locations as well which makes them perfect destination spots to warm up and spend some time exploring. So while the temperatures drop here at home, here’s 5 of my favorite spots to escape to for an exotic adventure and that also boast warmer temperatures as well!

If you’re looking for an adventure, to wander through temples and night markets, Cambodia is the escape for you. Warm weather almost year round, lush jungles, ancient temples and bustling cities make Cambodia a perfectly exotic adventure.

If you’re searching for something a little closer to home and you live in the US, Hawaii is a quick 5 hours flight from the West Coast. For warm temperatures and a beach, Hawaii is a pretty worthy escape. Add in the local Asian and Hawaiian cultures, venture away from the tourist spots and you’ll experience the true Island experience.

Most of India (excluding some of the Northern parts) has fairly good weather most of the year and for an exotic spot, you can’t really beat this lovely country. You’ll get your fill of incredible food, a unique culture and color everywhere you look. We visited in February and the weather was wonderful!

A country with warm weather most of the year, beaches and cities alike, incredible food and a gorgeous culture, Thailand is a great place to escape to in SE Asis to beat the cold weather at home. Grab a tuk tuk to fly down the streets of Bangkok or grab street food and a Thai iced tea and wander on your own, either way, you won’t regret this escape!

The Middle East and Africa have lots of amazing places to escape to year round since temperatures in that region of the world tend to stay higher year round but one of my favorites is Morocco. Wander the spice markets, indulge in delicious chicken bastilla and sleep in the gorgeous guest houses called Riads. Morocco is indeed an exotic escape year round.

Travel Tips : How To Make Travel Easier

December 17, 2014

Travel can be exhausting and infuriating and full of obstacles, but it is also one of those things that is incredibly fulfilling and substantial. Over the years I’ve figured out ways to lessen the obstacles of trips, to make the amazing moments prevail over the ones that might not be so easy to deal with or that are out of our control. So when traveling, here are some ways to make those moments that seem completely draining while traveling a little bit better and to make your travels just a little bit easier so you can have that trip of a lifetime on every adventure you take!

Don’t skimp on the first night’s hotel.

This is something I have started doing more and more even if we are trying to save money in other places on the trip, don’t skimp on your first night somewhere. You arrive tired, worn out and exhausted anyway, make sure you have some place good to stay the first night and save money elsewhere. That first night is perhaps the most important so pick a good place!

Upgrade to premium economy.

If you have the chance, book your long haul flights in premium economy. We don’t always do this, but when we do, it makes all the difference. It’s usually not that much more money and the comfort it brings while traveling makes all the difference. Plus, you’re more likely to get upgraded from Premium Economy if the flight is oversold so it’s a win-win.

Eat regularly and well.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t do well if I don’t eat. Travel throws you off your schedule and our of your routine, so make sure to get on a travel schedule where you are eating and sleeping regularly early on on the trip. It will make all the difference if you are eating regularly and eating well.

Don’t overbook yourself.

A lot of travelers try to fit in too much in a place and overwhelm themselves. Make it easier on yourself so you enjoy it more by not overbooking yourself. See what you want to see and don’t worry about seeing everything… you’ll feel so much better!

5 Reasons to Visit Rome

December 12, 2014

Rome is one of those cities you just have to see in your lifetime, a place that is as famous for it’s modern persona as its historic one. A place with a vast history, a city that holds its own amongst the greats of Europe, Rome is as vibrant and diverse as you expect. But while it is today a bustling modern city in the heart of Italy, it’s also one that is steeped in history with every step you take among its streets and a place that truly is one of a kind.

There are so many reasons to visit this Italian metropolis, but here are my top 5 reasons why you should book that ticket to Roma!

Rome has, without a doubt, some of the most fantastic historic architecture in all of Europe. The piazzas, the fountains, the churches, the cafes, the colored facades, every building you wander by in Rome will take your breath away. Some feel as if they are falling apart at the seams, though holding an otherworldly beauty in their decay, others looks like time has passed them by, without a mark. No where does architecture speak to you quite like it does in Rome.

Nick still likes to remind me of when I had gelato for breakfast while in Rome, and to be honest, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. The gelato in Rome is out of this world and multiple flavors must be sampled at all times of day… so go on, enjoy your own gelato for breakfast.

No where have I been that the history was so present than it is in Rome. Whether it’s wandering through ruins scattered throughout the city or touring the Colosseum or taking in the beauty of the Pantheon, Rome blends history with modernity incredibly well. The immense history of the city is everywhere, reminding us of all those who came before us.

Rome has some of the best shopping in the world, from the high street brands to the couture ones, Roma is famous for its shopping. Just wander the Via Condotti for an hour or so and you’ll see why the crowds flock there.

While Europe in general might have lots of little side streets, no where is quite as picturesque as Roma when it comes to cobblestones. One of the best things about Rome is getting off the main paths, wandering the little side streets that connect the city and taking in the cobblestone pathways… you might just end up on a little piazza you never would have seen otherwise.

Traveling to Italy?

Check out my archives for more posts on Italy!

Where to Stay in Italy

How to Miss the Tourist Crowds At Vacation Spots Around the World

December 11, 2014

Seeing amazing places in this world of ours while traveling is one of the greatest feelings; there is nothing like witnessing the Taj Mahal with your own eyes or taking in the Eiffel Tower for the first time. But one of the greatest downfalls of these amazing tourist draws, is the amount of people there at all times. I’ve had lots of amazing places totally ruined because of the amount of people there (my experience at the Vatican was like this and totally ruined it for me, among other spots). Over the years of traveling though, Nick and I have figured out ways to beat the crowds, to see places and really take them in without being pushed and shoved. And with these tips your next adventure can be free of the massive tourist crowds so you can just experience the place you’re in and enjoy it to the fullest! Here’s how to miss the tourist crowds at vacation spots around the world.

Go at Sunrise or Early Morning

While it can be hard to want to get out of bed to go explore while on a trip, this is a technique we often employ when there are particularly amazing spots where we are. Many major monuments often sunrise visits and it can often be one of the most beautiful and quiet times of the day to experience a place.

Great spots to see at sunrise: The Taj Mahal (India), The Eiffel Tower (Paris), Thingvellir (Iceland)

Visit in the Off Season

One of the major reasons Nick and I travel a lot in the off season every year is to experience places more as they are everyday, when there aren’t hoards of crowds. Many popular tourist spots are completely different in the off season than they are in the Summer time when most people are visiting. Try to stay away from local holidays or times when most people are off work and school.

Cities that are completely different in the Off Season: Paris, London, India, Italy

Do a Private Tour

Sometimes it’s well worth the extra money to hire a private tour guide for certain places, in order to see a spot alone instead of with massive tour groups. This is a great way to see some amazing spots (many which the large tour groups might not hit) as well as to get more insider information about the destination.

Do a Private Tour in Iceland and to see works of art like DaVinci’s Last Supper in Milan

Go on a Rainy Day (or when the weather isn’t great)

Often times when we’re traveling, we use days when the weather isn’t great to see major spots in our destination. Most people will look out the window at pouring rain or bad weather and won’t venture out, use those days (or even a few hours) to see certain places that the weather might not necessarily affect like exploring insides of churches or places under cover. You’ll miss the crowds at least for a while.

Places that are great to explore on a rainy day: London, Dublin, Paris, Spain

Stay Nearby

Another great thing we’ve started doing that helps a lot when figuring out when a lot of tourists are going to be around or not, is to stay nearby a certain landmark you want to see. That way you gain both amazing views usually of that monument, plus you can look out your window and see if it’s crowded at a particular time or not. Often times, we’ve found that just having the views are well worth it and we might not even need to really see it up close.

Stay here to get incredible views of landmarks: Le Notre Dame Hotel in Paris, The Oberoi Hotel in Agra, The Oberoi Hotel in Udaipur, the Belmond at Machu Picchu

Buy Tickets Ahead of Time & Book the First Appointment of the Day

Many tourist attractions will let you buy tickets online ahead of time and then you’re able to show up and skip the long line. I always do this for major attractions if we can before leaving for a trip. Many places make you schedule a specific time now too and if you have to do that, pick a time early in the day. You’ll beat all those people who want that mid-morning spot once they are up and about and you’ll already have been and gone by the time the crowds get there.

Places to pre-buy tickets: The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, DaVinci’s Last Supper in Milan, The Empire State Building in New York

5 Things to Bring with you to Europe

December 10, 2014

Europe is wonderful. It’s a continent full of culture, amazing places to explore, so many different countries close to each other, each with their own unique charms. It’s easy to get around and easy to travel to, but it’s also a place that might be different in certain ways than our home countries (particularly if you’re from the States). So it’s important to remember to adapt and to bring things with you when traveling to Europe that will help you have a better trip there all around. Here’s my top 5 items that will help you have a successful trip to Europe!

Credit Card with Chip

One of the biggest differences with how to pay for things in Europe versus the US is that they use the chip method on their credit cards. Honestly I don’t know why the US hasn’t switched to this yet (they are supposed to in the next couple years) because it’s way safer and easier. Make sure you have a credit card with a chip in it before heading to Europe. All you have to do is call your credit card companies and ask them to send you the chip version of the cards you already have. It will make a big difference, particularly when using kiosks in Europe, which many of them will reject a standard credit card.

Reusable Bag

Europe is wonderful for markets and amazing shopping in smaller situations than large malls and many of these smaller shops or markets don’t offer bags, you have to bring your own. So be sure to pack an easy to fold up reusable bag on your trip. I use mine all the time when in Europe for random things to carry around and it makes it that much easier.

Camera

You really can’t forget your camera on your trip to Europe! There are so many gorgeous sites to see and commemorate, you’ll want to be snapping away you’re entire trip. Whether it’s just your phone with a camera or a big DSLR, don’t forget it!

Data plan or a City Map

Many of Europe’s cities are well known for being maze-like and without a lot of street signs, so to find your way around, it’s important to either have a physical city map with you at all times (I recommend Streetwise maps which are laminated and easy to read) or an international data plan on your cell phone so that you can get on and look at where you are on Google maps on there. We usually do a combination of both of these methods. We try to use the physical map, but if we get really lost or turned around, we’ll turn the data on our phone and use the GPS to see where we are.

Cash

I never carry cash at home in the States mostly because I don’t have a need to, everywhere takes card. But in Europe, this is often not the case and many places, particularly smaller towns or smaller shops or restaurants may only take cash or prefer it. We always make sure we have cash when we travel in the local currency, it makes things so much easier when you end up eating at that little adorable restaurant and find out they only take cash.

What Kind of Traveler Are You?

December 9, 2014

Travel is one of those things that each of us does a little differently. We all head to places that fit our lifestyles and personalities, we find hotels that meet our requirements which are all different and we all get to our destinations differently and on different budgets. And as travelers, we are all different and that’s what makes the world such a great place, that we can each be the type of travelers we want to be. There do tend to be groups of types of travelers though and depending on what type of traveler you are, you might like certain places over others. So today for each type of traveler you are, here are some places you might enjoy!

You love the feel of cities, of buildings rising up around you. You love all that cities have to offer: shopping, restaurants, parks and entertainment. You love a nice hotel, a chic outfit and an afternoon to wander. You love the electric energy of a city and the gathering of lots of different types of people.

You’ll love Paris, London, New York, Seoul, and Dublin.

You love the feel of exploring the unknown, of wandering through temples or empty streets at dawn. You like to travel in cargo pants and a backpack, to mingle with the locals and experience everything a place has to offer.

You’ll love Cambodia, Thailand, India, New Mexico and Morocco.

You love the feel of bare earth beneath your feet, stunning scenery and the sites and sounds of wildlife. You enjoy roaming places without habitation, the bare coast or open ocean or open expanses of land.

You’ll love Iceland, Oregon Coast, Newport RI, Jackson Hole and the San Juan Islands.

You go with the flow, have no plans and enjoy places that have a laid back atmosphere. You love to experience nature or a long evening at a cool restaurant, but you go on your own time. You like a down to earth lifestyle and like places that don’t try too hard.

You’ll love Nice, Southern California and Hawaii.

You love a chic B&B in the middle of nowhere, a fireplace and a cozy blanket to curl up and read a book. You don’t need cell reception or a TV and you’ll spend your days wandering the local towns, drinking tea and mingling with the locals.

You’ll love Northern Ireland, St. Andrews, Edinburgh and Bruges.

You love to get your feet wet with history, wandering among ruins and taking in historical sites. You love guided tours to get your fill of historical facts and wandering the same halls that people wandered years and years ago. You love the stories of a place and what came before.

You’ll love Rome, Amsterdam and Washington DC.

8 Places That Take You Back in Time

December 8, 2014

There are certain places in the world that just seem to exist in their own time, places that seem to defy the notion that it’s 2014. The places out there that you wander through their narrow streets or drive through ancient villages and you wonder if you went back in time. Those places are often the charming spots in the world, places to escape the current age and enjoy some time away from the modernity of our everyday lives. And often, these places will leave you wanting more and more…

Amsterdam seems to exist in its own era, with more bikes than cars, old brick buildings standing crooked along cobblestone streets and lamp-posts that look like they could be straight out of Harry Potter. The charm of the waterways and old buildings in this Dutch city will leave you wanting more and with a feeling like you’ve been to another time and place.

This charming Belgian city situated on waterways and filled to the brim with old world character is a place that will make you feel like you’ve time traveled. Wander the back streets here and indulge in old-world Belgian chocolate, or grab a fresh waffle from the street markets that feel like they are from 100 years ago and you’ll wonder why you need to return to the modern world.

Perhaps the most picturesque towns in all of Europe are those situated in Ireland. My favorites are the small towns you drive through in Northern Ireland, white washed stone houses, tiny main roads through town, one pub for everyone to gather at, these towns surrounded by the lush greenery of the countryside make you feel like it’s still 1950.

Nothing makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time like exploring ancient ruins. Siem Reap and the Angkor Wat complexes in Cambodia fit that bill and as you wander around the temple grounds, exploring ruins that one day were alive with activity, it makes you feel somehow transported to another place and time. It’s always incredible to me that you can wander these ruins today that once upon a time, people hundreds and thousands of years ago wandered just the same.

The little town of St. Andrews on the Scottish coast is one of those towns that you feel like just shouldn’t have cell phones or cars. You should huddle by a warm fire and enjoy some Sticky Toffee Pudding as the fire crackles and the wind howls outside. The town just oozes charm and with its tiny roads and stone buildings, it seems to exist on its own timeline.

With multiple palaces, colored stone houses and an incredible landscape, Udaipur is one of those places in the world that you feel like you’re living in India’s own little world with maharajas and monkeys and sparkling jewels. It’s the India of movies, with an incredible backdrop of landscape, lakes all over the place and insanely ornate palaces, Udaipur will transport you into its own little world.

While Italy in general takes you back in time, Verona is one of those rare spots in the country that makes you truly believe it. With many pedestrian only roads, cobblestones everywhere, buildings that you wonder how they’re still standing and open squares at every turn, Verona is straight out of medieval times.

The Palace at Versailles just outside of Paris is one of those places that just blows my mind every time I visit, wandering the same halls at the kings of France, of Marie Antoinette, as all those people that came before us, it’s a crazy thought. No where takes you back in time in France quite like Versailles.

The Truth About Traveling : Why Are People So Weird on Airplanes?

December 3, 2014

Do you ever get on a flight and immediately know your neighbor crammed into the seat next to you is just going to be a problem the whole flight? Yea, I think we’ve all been there a time or two and really, more than not, the question is why are people so weird on airplanes? Nick and I have so many stories of weird people sitting next to us for the usually 8+ hours while traveling, crammed into seats within inches of these people. And over the years, I swear people’s boundaries and etiquette on airplanes just gets worse and worse. So today we’re reminiscing on some of my favorite bad airplane neighbor experiences over the years and yes, these all legitimately have happened, at one point or another.

Socks on my Seat Guy

On our way home from our layover in Iceland on this last trip in October, we loaded into our middle and aisle seats, got settled and waited to see who the lucky winner was for the window seat next to us. Low and behold our neighbor gets on towards the end of boarding, tries to find space for his luggage, grabs a huge pile of stuff from his bag (loading it into his arms), and proceeds to squeeze over to the window seat. Within minutes (before we’d even left our gate), he had his shoes off, feet with socks literally sprawled over to the back of the seat in front of me. No joke, this guys feet were directly in front of my legs, with his toes sort of resting on the top of the back of seat pouch. Long story short, I knew I couldn’t handle that for long, so when we happened (read: purposely) to take the water bottle out of that back seat pouch and it snapped on his toes, I couldn’t help but smile.

Disinfect Everything Lady

On our trip to Iceland a few years ago, we encountered a few different hilarious stories with our seat mates. This is the first and to this day Nick and I still joke about it whenever we get on an airplane. Our neighbor on this flight got in her seat, took our a giant tube of disinfecting wipes and proceeded to wash everything down. Literally everything from the armrests to the window shade, to the actual window. The tray table, the wall next to her, the top of the seat, literally nothing within a foot of her didn’t get disinfected. And I get wanting to wipe down your tray table and armrest, places you’ll be touching but this lady disinfected her seat so far that I guarantee you’d never actually touch any of those spots.

Condensation on my Window Woman

On that same trip to Iceland, we encountered something I’ve never quite seen before or since. The woman next to us in the window seat started freaking out upon our descent when ice crystals started forming on her window, which them proceeded to start dripping as we landed since we were going from very cold to warmer air. This is a pretty common thing on airplanes by the way and happens to me a lot when in a window seat. However this particular woman literally started hyperventilating, pressing her flight attendant call button a bunch of times, during which the flight attendants came to tell her that’s normal. She didn’t like that and proceeded to keep saying that her window wasn’t fitted properly if water was coming in. Long story short, the woman really never got over it until we were on the ground, which means it was a lovely descent for us next to her while she was freaking out.

Let’s Yell to Our Family Over Multiple Rows People

This particular incident happens a lot on my flights to Hawaii when you have large groups of people traveling together. Needless to say, it really isn’t necessary to yell over multiple rows of plane seats to people you know sitting rows back. Get up, walk back there and say what you need to say and then sit back down. The rest of us really don’t need to hear your life story while you shout over us.

A Quick Guide to Saving Money on Airfare and Hotels

December 1, 2014

We are back from Southern Oregon and our holiday weekend and I can’t wait to start posting again, with lots of great posts I’m excited for this week and coming in the next month! I hope all of you (Americans) had an amazing Thanksgiving and I can’t wait to head into the Christmas season now, with lights sparkling and temperatures dropping. I’m also hoping all my feeds are updated by now from the switch to WordPress and everyone is getting posts, if not let me know, but to get going again, here we go!

While travel can definitely add up very quickly when looking at a budget for a trip, there are also some great but lesser known ways to save quite a bit of money. I’ve been traveling for many years now and over time, I’ve picked up numerous ways to save here and there on travel so that you can do more with the money you’ve budgeted for a trip. When you’ve saved a chunk of money and are ready to start booking your trip, here are some great ways to save money on hotels and airfare.

Sign up for email notifications from airlines and hotel sites

This is perhaps the most under-acknowledged and unused way to save money on hotels and airfare. Whichever airlines you use the most often or the sites you like to book with, sign up for their email newsletters. I subscribe to 10+ different airlines and websites I like to book travel with and watch for their emails that advertise sales. You’ll be shocked at how much just watching the websites’ emails will help with finding amazing flight and hotel deals. You’ll also be the first to know when a sale is happening to make sure you get the best deal possible.

Follow Travel Blogs

Many of the incredible flight deals I’ve gotten over the past few years have been because I’ve seen them mentioned on large travel blogs I follow. My favorite is The Points Guy, who has amazing advice for using miles and posts amazing flight deals as soon as they are shown.

Fly on Tuesdays or Thursdays

When booking, if your dates are flexible, you’ll be amazed at how much cheaper airfare is when you fly on off days. This means trying to avoid Fridays and weekends and Mondays. Middle of the week is best and I’ve had best luck on Tuesdays and Thursdays over the years for the best airfare deals. Flying on off days also helps with your chances for upgrades as well when there will be more seats available since fewer people are traveling.

Buy your airline tickets mid-week, in the morning

This still blows me away and I can’t believe that companies still do this, but believe it or not, you could pay a ton more when booking on weekends or evenings. Websites raise their prices during peak booking hours, that means that whenever most people are booking (ie. when they are home on weekends or evening) fares and costs can be way higher. I’ve had them sometimes $300 more during those times from when I’ve looked at other times like on weekday mornings. I try to do all my fare research in off hours to see what the lowest fares are and then make sure and go back and book during off hours as well.

Book award travel more than 6 months in advance or last minute

If you’re thinking of booking travel with your points, it’s best to either book way far in advance (6+ months before travel) or last minute. Many airlines only open so many award seats (especially internationally) on flights early on and then may open up a few more last minute to fill seats. I prefer to book ahead of time to confirm dates, so make sure to plan ahead when using miles. But it is also often easy to get award booking seats a few days prior to departure, so if you can do it last minute, that works often too.

Don’t travel during peak times (yearly and daily)

You’ll find way cheaper fares in non peak travel times during the year, such as fore-going travel in tourist seasons like Summer or during holidays, specifically Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you can be flexible, it’s best and cheapest to fly and travel in early Spring (February-April) and late Fall (October-November).

Another great thing to keep in mind if you want to travel over the holidays is to travel to regions that won’t be celebrating whatever holiday it is. For example, traveling to Europe over Thanksgiving you can find pretty good deals since it’s not a holiday there. Same with Christmas, traveling to places like the Middle East that won’t be celebrating Christmas, you can find better deals than traveling to places where everyone will be traveling.

This also relates to flying in off peak times during the day. For example, fares are going to be more expensive in the morning and evenings since that’s when most people travel. But looking into red eye flights or mid day flights can often cut back your expenses drastically.

Christmas Festivities in Leavenworth

5 Spots for an Exotic Winter Escape