LKE Travels: From Brooklyn to Boca

Tag: tips

  • 6 Travel Tips That I Wish Someone Had Given Me When I First Got My Passport…

    6 Travel Tips That I Wish Someone Had Given Me When I First Got My Passport…

    Almost everyone I know is going somewhere awesome this year! 2018 will hopefully be the year of experiences/memories – as I know of folks traveling to Costa Rica, Italy, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Iceland, Japan, etc.  I absolutely love that the travel bug is spreading almost as quickly as the flu, and it got me thinking…are there any tips that I could share with my friends/readers,  and provide information that I wish someone may have told me when I first started to travel? Ummm…yes!!!  So, no more intro – here are my top 6 tips that I wish someone would have told me the first time I traveled abroad:

     

    1)Skip the currency exchange – If possible, open an account with a bank like TD that doesn’t charge foreign transaction or ATM fees.  Aside from the obvious (did you read when I said no fees?), there’s another reason this is critical.  Gone are the days where you need to stop off at the currency exchange upon landing, or make a visit to your local bank to exchange funds in advance of your trip.  If you have any account which doesn’t charge you ATM fees for using an ATM not associated with your bank, then you can literally use any ATM in the country you’re visiting and extract local currency. You don’t have to worry about fees anymore or long lines at the teller – just take out money as you usually would back home, and head out to your next destination.  We’ve been doing this solidly for about 4 years now, and I swear by this.  Just be mindful that often the accounts that don’t charge ATM fees will require you to keep a certain $$ threshold in your account.

     

    2)Always do a 5 min research session – you’d be surprised how American we all are, haha.  What this means is, even in countries like the UK or Australia, where they speak English, their customs can differ drastically from what we’re used to.  This includes everything from what we wear, to what we say, and what we eat.  For example, in England, you won’t catch most folks wearing sweats and shopping – it’s a very American thing to do.  Typically, citizens from other countries dress up more formally than we do here, so if you’re looking to fit in, you may want to include some nice tops to dress up your jeans.  It’s also important to know some of the local lingo so you or the person you’re speaking to, doesn’t get unnecessarily offended.  Do you know that “fag” means cigarette in London?  Or that “entree” means appetizer in Australia?  Just do 5 min, to ensure you don’t make a huge gaffe, and you’ll be thankful.

     

    3)Bounce around – ok, this is merely a preference thing, but please don’t only visit Paris if you have a week to kill.  Sure, large(r) cities like Munich, Paris, and Barcelona have become popular because they have a lot to offer, so it certainly makes sense to spend a great deal of time there, but all of your time? No…  Often times some of the most beautiful, pristine, and natural parts of the country are just outside of the major city centers.  These are the areas that experience less tourism, and thus you will often be rewarded with more authentic experiences.  I am not saying that you won’t find a great beer in Munich, or croissant in Paris, but overall, you will find some of the best overall restaurants for a local feel and neighborhood folks in the countryside, or just lesser known cities (or even countries).  I’ll give you an example – Luxembourg is not necessarily a hot spot for visitors – when I told friends I was going there last year, I got a lot of “deer in headlight” looks…but it was one of the highlights of my trip to Europe.  The area had an extremely local feel because it wasn’t over-commercialized. I was also rewarded with the best madeleines and italian food that I have ever had…and I mean ever.  Don’t only stick to what you see on Instagram – create your own journey…I promise you your memories will thank you.

     

    4)You won’t be able to do everything – and it’s ok!  Due to rain, crowds, unplanned strikes (very popular in Italy and France), or holidays that you may not have known about (this happened to us in Germany), certain sites, restaurants, or driving routes may be closed while you’re in town. Don’t get discouraged – this happens more than you’d think, esp if you start to stretch your boundaries a bit, and don’t take pre-selected vacations through your travel agent.  When we were planning our road trip, we mapped it all via Google maps, then did a quick news search to see if there were any cities/towns we should avoid.  Then, about a week before our trip, we looked up the weather to see if it was going to be too cold/cloudy/rainy to do some of the activities that we were planning. Sure enough, it was going to rain for a few days, so we simply altered our route so we could do indoor activities (ie: thermal baths) on a rainy day, and ski lifts on the more beautiful days. Unfortunately, we missed the fact that Germany closes down essentially, the day after Halloween, so a restaurant I was interested in trying was closed – but roll with the punches! We found a local tavern that sold great food/drinks and we were able to mingle with the non-English speaking local town people, and have an incredible time!  You never know where your next amazing experience will come from, so have a wonderful time and go with whatever comes up next!

     

    5)Don’t bank on “doing nothing” – Ok, I know some of my friends have kids, so I understand that “doing nothing” may be exactly what you want to do while on vacation, LOL!  But for the rest of you…you may think, ok, I’ll get tix to the Bahamas and then do nothing for 5 days.  From experience, I just want to say, I highly doubt this will happen.  Most folks will get bored after just 1 day on the beach reading a book. Again, this is not for everyone…but on average, we need a bit more to entertain us.  For this reason, I implore you to always book an activity (not through the hotel but directly through a tour operator), or have back up sites that you’d like to see in case the opportunity arises.  I’ve even been on trips with other couples who originally just wanted to relax, and by day 2, they get antsy and start asking for suggestions – luckily I was prepared!  So put aside any feelings of – I just want to read this book and drink margaritas. You very well may want to – but not for longer than 1 -2 days.

     

    6)Souvenirs are usually a waste of money – Unless I have a friend that I know wants some cubicle decor, or is a collector of shot glasses, then don’t waste your money!  When we first started traveling, we thought we’d get something authentic from every country we visited – and eventually we stopped.  It was just too much.  Again, nothing with me is absolute – when I travel to certain more exotic countries I may want to pick up a handmade item like a rug from Turkey or a mask from Kenya because they truly specialize in something that I can’t get back home.  But a mug from Mexico or a t-shirt in the Bahamas? You’re better off getting these types of items off Amazon – you’ll pay less, and your friends will still be able to see that you’ve been to Nassau.

  • My 7 Favorite Travel Apps

    My 7 Favorite Travel Apps

    Anyone people-watching at a mall or while sitting in a restaurant can see that we have become attached (closer to obsessed, but I’m being nice) to our phones.  Admittedly, it’s mostly for good reason – we want to stay in contact with loved ones, or check out the latest football score (I LOVE fantasy football!!), or check out apps like Instagram or Facebook.  While traveling, this phone obsession may come in handy as there are a host of apps that I use when planning a trip or once I’m traveling that has proven to be quite helpful.  I don’t get paid by, well, anyone, so I have no biases here; these are just my proven favorites. If you use an app that I have not listed – please share with us 🙂   I am always looking for something cool!  Of course, there are apps for companies like Uber/Lyft, Airbnb, and Yelp, but given the popularity of those sites, I’ve decided to focus on other sites.

     

    1)Skiplagged – Major shout out to my cousin Miko for putting me onto this one.  Sometimes you may not have a destination in mind, but you know where you plan to leave from, and what your travel dates are.  This app provides you with a list of prices for possible travel destinations from your home airport, once you indicate what your travel dates are.  It’s amazing, because you may not even have a destination in mind, but if a city only costs $99 round-trip to travel to, you may give it a whirl, right?  Essentially this app is perfect for those that have severe wanderlust, and down to try anything.  This way, you don’t have to look up specific cities for an upcoming trip – you get to see all of your options!

     

    2)Travelzoo – I love this site, and have subscribed to them for close to 10 years now.  First, you list your home city, then they email you special deals for your city, including dining/massages, etc.  It’s essentially like a groupon – but geared towards travel/experiences.  Every week they publish a top 20 deal where they list the 20 best travel deals they found that week.  These deals are usually amazing – I’ve seen trips to Alaska, last minute cruises, trips to the Great Wall of China, African safaris, etc.  If you download the app, they send this list directly to your phone every Wednesday – definitely worth it!  During the week, you can look up your city, or any U.S. city for that matter, and see deals specifically geared for that city.  Most recently I received a massage valued at $365 for $115 – you can’t go wrong with this site.

     

    3)ITA – This is software engineered by the brainiacs at Google.  We use it before booking any flight…ever.  This works best when you know your travel plans (ie: departure/arrival city and times), unlike with Skiplagged.  It compiles the best pricing for airline tickets based on the information you provided.  Based on what I’ve seen over the past couple of years using this site, it works better than Kayak, Expedia, Priceline, etc.  I’m not sure how it works exactly, but you will become aware of the best pricing for airline tickets.  You can also access this search engine on your computer too.  You’re welcome in advance, haha.

     

    4)Airline Apps (Jetblue/AA/Delta) – this may seem like an obvious one, but you’d be surprised how infrequently I see folks using their phone when scanning their boarding pass.  Most airlines, particularly the 3 I mentioned above, have quite comprehensive phone applications.  They permit you to check in, change your seat, and perhaps most importantly, will update you with any changes to the gate, or time of departure.  I can’t tell you how often I will receive an update via the Jetblue app, which has helped me at the airport, before this news travels to the rest of the passengers (particularly with gate changes).  Also, once you check in via the app, your boarding pass is on your phone, and you can go through TSA, and eventually onto your flight, without needing to stop off at a kiosk or gate agent for a paper copy.  Between the ease of not having to keep track of that slippery paper boarding pass, and the added benefit of having travel updates on my phone in real time, I always check in via an airline app, whenever possible.

     

    5)Mobile Passport – You all know that I’m in love with the GOES program.  However, unfortunately it’s not available at all ports of re-entry into the United States.  This is where mobile passport comes in handy.  One prime example? You go on an awesome cruise, and return to the Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.  Unfortunately, they are not yet set up for the GOES kiosk.  If you’re like me, you still want to avoid those crazy long lines – this is where mobile passport comes in handy.  You need to spend about 5-7 min before you disembark, and put in your passport and travel info into the app for your particular trip.  Once you get to customs – you’ll breeze on through with shorter security lines, and an abbreviated customs interview.  It is definitely worth it to keep this app on your phone if you want to avoid crowds.

     

    6)Royal Caribbean – I know it’s a large company, so you’re wondering why I’m including it.  Well, it deserves a spot because it’s such a great app!  I used it on my most recent cruise on Allure of the Seas, and it basically takes the place of the daily Cruise Compass that is left on your bed every night.  The app provides you with the time/location of every event, and you can even add them onto your personal calendar so you don’t forget to make that comedy headliner! The app also tracks your luggage during embarkation, and permits you to book dinner reservations and shore excursions.  From what I understand, the company made further enhancements since I cruised with them – most notably, you can now order alcoholic beverages via the app, and the waitstaff will triangulate your position so that it’s delivered right to you, plus you can now instant message your friends/family traveling with you – and you won’t need an internet plan.  No more spotty walkie talkie conversations!! Apparently, this app will also replace the in-person check in process.  I have not experienced this myself yet – but I am very excited about the prospect.

    7)Google Maps – I know, it’s another global, multi-billion company, so they don’t need the shout out here…however, you need this info.  As I indicated in another post, Travel Tips: 5 Items I Never Travel Internationally Without: http://www.lketravels.com/travel-tips-5-items-never-travel-internationally-without/, I always download my travel destination from Google Maps prior to my trip.  Before you leave, download the map for let’s say the Cayman Islands.  Then save the locations that you’re interested in.  When you travel to your destination, pull up google maps, and you’ll be able to navigate to your previously saved locations.  Even if you go off script, you can see the outlay of your city, without using wifi, provided you have gps capabilities.  This has saved us quite a bit, particularly in cities like Phuket, where English is not widely spoken, so it would be difficult to get directions.  If we travel somewhere that requires a passport, we are downloading the map off-line – no thinking required!!

  • Lonely While Traveling? Here’s How to Make Quick Friends!

    Lonely While Traveling? Here’s How to Make Quick Friends!

    Let’s face it – we are social creatures.  We enjoy making memories more than we love material things, which is why every major U.S. holiday centers around laughing/drinking/eating/celebrating with loved ones – so don’t think that it has to be different when you travel!!

     

    You’d be surprised by how friendly people are when you travel. Automatically, people you encounter will consider you a like-minded, open-hearted person, because you ventured outside of the continental United States.  That may change if you start to discuss U.S. politics, haha, but aside from that, people from other countries tend to gravitate to Americans.  They stay fascinated by our culture, particularly as many of the countries that I have travelled to still watch a majority of movies and tv shows made in Hollywood!  They grow up listening to our music and watching Hawaii Five-O, and they want to share this with you – and ask you questions about what real American culture consists of.  By way of example, I remember staying at a hostel in Australia, where we had a neighboring room full of Israeli gentlemen – we ended up singing Boyz II Men songs all night – American culture has truly permeated much of the world!!  So here’s my advice if you want to lose sleep so you too can enjoy a sing off with some talented foreigners :-):

     

    1)Sign up for excursions with cool groups – sometimes I look to have private travel experiences, but there are other times where I seek camaraderie with young, like-minded, adventurous travelers who want to have a blast while on vacation.  This has two results that work to your favor:

    a)Not only do they make the experience more fun, but they often share stories of other places they’ve gone that you may not have considered.  Citizens from countries like Sweden, Germany, and Australia, to name a few, generally have more paid time leave than Americans. Thus, the world is literally their oyster.  The more adventurous ones have the time to see places that we may not have even heard of.  I like to think of them as weaning out the bad from the good for me, so i don’t have to waste valuable PTO on somewhere that is overrated  For example, I met a German girl while in Thailand who had been traveling through Thailand for over a month.  She was able to knock some items off of our list, leaving only the best places on our to-do list!!  You don’t know, what you don’t know, right?  So I always make sure I have my phone or a small notepad/pen, so I can jot down local spots that don’t appear on the more mainstream travel websites.

    b)The folks on these awesome excursions usually want to be your best friend for the duration of the excursion.  I don’t literally mean besties, but they encourage you to stretch yourself and truly enjoy the experience.  Remember the German girl I mentioned above? Well, her name was Lauren too, and she decided that anyone named Lauren had to hook arms and jump off a boat in Koh Phi Phi – not something that would immediately come to my mind on my own, but here I am 2 years later writing about it, because it was an exhilarating experience – shout out to Bob’s Booze Cruise in Koh Phi Phi for organizing such a great day! Afterwards we continued to bond over drinks at the neighborhood bar, while checking out our photos from the day plastered on the wall.  There are many opportunities like this, world-wide, but you have to look for them.  There are certain agencies like G Travels and Cool Dingo Tours that cater to folks from 18-39 who want a fun, adventure-filled experience.  Even if you’re on the higher end of that, as I’ve been finding myself lately – don’t be scared – just go for it!!

     

    2)Poll the locals.  Again, this depends on what type of experience you’re looking for, but generally, I have always found that people love to talk to the Americans.  I’ve been to Australia a couple of times, and the moment they learn that I am not Aboriginal, but rather a Black American, I become an instant celeb.  They want you to show them the latest dance moves, music, fashion, and of course, show off that awesome accent, haha.  Even if you go to your hotel bar, if you start drinking and having a good time (in a respectable way), it’s magnetic. Often times, I’ll turn to the person next to me, and ask them to participate in a non-official poll about their country (fave restaurant/bar/park/attraction).  I’ve never had someone turn me down yet! They are often eager to share their love for their city/country with you, and in turn they want to learn more about where I’m from, which leads to an engaging conversation. Oh and remember that no matter how cozy you get with your new friend, or how easy the conversation is, keep the custom of the country you’re visiting in your mind at all times!  I posted a photo below of a pic I took with “new friends” while at a Bedouin camp outside of Dubai.  We had a great time talking all night, but as you see, my arms are not touching the back of my new friend, as I did not want him to feel uncomfortable with female contact.  Just an FYI 🙂

     

    3)Poll the expats.  Ok, so maybe you have had enough sake or bratwurst, and want a good ole fashioned burger.  If you’ve been traveling for over a week, it’s not uncommon to miss the type of cuisine you eat at home.  Sometimes we’ll head to an expat spot, just so we can hear a dose of American music with a burger – Bangkok had just the spot.  Everyone speaks English, and the “locals” give you the lay of the land, from an American perspective.  Some expats have lived abroad for as many as 10 or even 20 years, so they have become experts in the own right.  They are also eager for you to experience everything their new country has to offer, only there won’t be any language barrier in receiving the info, and you can bond over their old haunts in the U.S. (everyone loves a New Yorker, what can i say?)…  After you bonded over how horribly crowded Times Square is, they’ll be excited to point you to the awesome local beach or bar where the locals won’t short change you with cheap alcohol.  This has been something that I’ve done in many of the countries that I have visited and I swear by it.  Then, when you speak with the locals, they will be impressed by the knowledge you picked up when hanging with the expats – it becomes an information circle, and they’ll let you in on even cooler activities.  Again, go for it!!

     

    4)Chill out by the pool or fireplace – so of course this depends on the climate of your destination, but I’ve found either of these spots to be key when meeting new folks.  When people are warm, they want to cool down poolside, with some Mai Tais.  After a long day of skiing, nothing is more comforting than warming up by the fireplace with a Bailey’s.  Again, people love to share awesome experiences, so if open up, and tell them how awesome your run was down the slope, I bet they will to – they won’t be able to help it.  In short, go where the fun folks unwind, and you’ll pick up some fast friends!!

     

    The advice above is helpful for those who want to meet others and share experiences while traveling.  This is not mandatory – but it certainly does add to the experience, as you’ll be moved to stretch your own boundaries, and may pick up some knowledge that you wouldn’t otherwise have access to.  And remember….keep a smile on your face, they’re contagious 🙂

  • 5 Tips For Surviving That Long International Flight

    5 Tips For Surviving That Long International Flight

    I’ve asked folks why they steer clear of traveling to certain destinations, like Thailand or Australia, and most often, people cite the fear over the long flight as a chief reason (aside from the cost).  Of course, 15 hour flights are not “fun”, but you can make it more bearable by keeping in mind certain tips – and I left out the easy ones (like packing a book, or your fave snack – but I highly recommend you doing both of those things as well!)

    1)Whatever you do, don’t drink too much alcohol.  I know, I know – this is not what you wanted to hear, but it’s true!  You don’t have to avoid a glass of wine or a shot of rum – but you should stay clear of getting drunk, thinking you’d pass out and have a good sleep.  Flying actually dehydrates you – as does alcohol – thus, you’ll end up having a pretty restless sleep, and wake up feeling both groggy, and extremely thirsty. It’s just not worth it – enjoy the free wine the airline usually provides, and wait to throw down until you land – the drinks will be better anyway 😉

    2)Don’t dress too lightly – Maybe you’re flying to Tahiti, so you come dressed in shorts and a tank top.  I literally see this all of the time – but do you know what else I see?  Those same folks freezing once the airplane reaches its flying altitude and the air is freely moving about the cabin.  I tend to dress in layers, because it’s always easy to remove the sweatshirt, and socks, should the cabin stay normal room temperature, but more often than not, you’ll be glad that you didn’t come onboard wearing only a tank top – hoodies are also great for tuning out noise and light. Oh, and please bring close-toed shoes…if there’s ever an emergency (though unlikely) you’ll be grateful that you’re not tripping over your flip flops.

    3)Don’t pack your medicine in your checked luggage – I tend to be a bit more cavalier on this for short 2-4 hour flights.  However, for any flight longer than 5 hours, I put all of my medicine in a small toiletry bag, and pack it in a book bag.  We all could see firsthand how cramped the economy seats have gotten – hour 8 of heading to Sydney, Australia, is not the time for you to realize that you forgot to take your birth control or Valium.  As much as I like to pack everything into my checked luggage (if I even decide to check luggage), I make sure this is not one of those items. I even take it a step further – I don’t pack prescription medicine into the bag I place over head – only in the bag I put under my seat.  I know, trust issues, right? But, I’ve heard stories about folks dipping into someone else’s luggage on long haul flights or accidents happen and you don’t have access to your overhead luggage – especially if it is maybe 2 or so rows away from you.  I like to minimize these risks and keep my medicine right by my side (or feet, so to speak).

    4)Don’t forget to use the bathroom immediately before the flight – I can only share my experiences… before a flight, I flush my body out with water all day (literally). I don’t drink anything except H20, and I drink it all day long.  Of course, this also means I use the bathroom all day too.  Then I pop in to use the restroom again, right as they start checking in first/business class customers (no worries they’ll call my name there, LOL).  By then, I’m fully hydrated, and I don’t have to use the restroom – so usually, I can wait about 5 (sometimes even 6) hours before having to use the restroom on a flight, even after drinking water with the meal service.  If you have a window seat, your aisle companion will be very grateful!  Personally, I tend to do this because I simply hate using those small, cell block sized airplane bathrooms – and I know you do too.

    5)Don’t forget to leave the USB wires for your phone and iPad out so that its easily accessible.  I’ve flown via Norwegian Air, Air Tahiti Nui, KLM Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa, Qantas, etc., and they all have individual USB ports. Most are connected to the televisions (or close to them), but a few are located under the arm rest (sneaky right?!)   No need to resign to the fact that your phone will be dead upon landing.  I usually put my on airplane mode, + Power saving mode (thank you Samsung), and leave it charged in during the flight.  This has saved me a few times when I had to make emergency calls or look up something critical upon landing at my destination.

  • Travel Tips: 5 Items I Never Travel Internationally Without

    Travel Tips: 5 Items I Never Travel Internationally Without

    Everyone has a few items that they can’t leave home without.  This list becomes even more critical when traveling internationally, and you may not have access to CVS on every corner.  There are certain items that you should never leave home without, either by necessity or incredible comfort.  One or two items may be obvious, but some may make you think, hmmm…  Here are my travel tips for items that you should never be caught without:

    1)Pre-downloaded Google map of my destination –  I don’t pay for international cell service, so I only have my phone’s camera at my full disposal, or the ability to internet browse when I gain access to wifi.  Thus, before I leave home, I download the Google Map of my destination, and input any landmarks/restaurants/hotels that I am interested in visiting.  When I reach my travel locale, I have the ability to set up the navigation and head straight to my destination, provided I took the time and inputted the landmarks once I downloaded the map stateside.  I particularly love Google maps because even when I take impromptu trips to other locales or restaurants not on my map, once I turn on my gps, I can pinpoint my location, and head to a previously-designated spot.

    2)Flip-Flops – you may be thinking, ok, this must be for the tropics, but not quite.  I always bring flip flops with me, both for the beach, but also for my hotel room. I’m a slight germophobe and detest the idea of walking around barefoot on a carpet where tons and tons…and tons of shoes and feet have graced.  Think of all the dirt you step in, esp in NY, haha, along the street, sidewalks, airports, etc.  Now imagine that dirt/germs on the floor due to the hundreds, no thousands, of visitors your room has seen.  You don’t want to step on that do you?  This, is where flip flops come in – it’s the same logic behind using luggage stands – you’d never put luggage on your bed.  Same theory basically.

    3)Car Charger – Again, not an obvious choice I know, but its not something that you think about generally as you may be focused on your wall charger.  However, if you’re renting a car, you don’t want to get lost!  This happened to me once, and I learned my lesson the hard way (navigating Baltimore at night w/o Google maps because my phone died isn’t exactly my idea of awesome fun).  Now, I bought an inexpensive, $15 car charger, and leave it packed in my travel bag.  Now, when I travel, I bring it on every trip without thinking about it.  When I rent a car, we never worry about running out of battery power.  It should definitely be in your permanent travel stash!

    4)New book + Ipad/Headphones – pretty self-explanatory, but I need these in my life at all times.  You never know when you may be met with a travel delay or unplanned quiet time, so I always make sure I pack a brand new book, and bring an ipad stocked with plenty of pre-downloaded tv shows.  But don’t forget your headphones!! You’ll be surprised how many folks forget their headphones at home, and are then either the horrible person who is listening to tv for all to hear [I mean really, how are they oblivious to all of the nasty eye rolls aimed in their direction], or are stuck bored pondering how to spend their travel time.   Don’t get stuck – have a book/magazine/tv show to occupy your time!

    5)(a)Plenty of medicine – First off, I ensure that I pack not only prescription meds, but also motrin, tylenol, and allergy medicine to make a commercial.  You never exactly know the climate you’re going into unless you have a more intimate knowledge of where you’re traveling to.  Thus, you may not be positive on how the trees/grass in your destination can affect you.  I learned that the hard way when I visited Virginia one year.  Even if you don’t normally have allergies at home, your histamines may feel differently in a different climate.

    (b)Sometimes it’s easy to forget packing your prescription meds, especially if you use them daily, and you plan on taking it after you pack.  I know firsthand, because I am THAT person who forgot to grab her birth control pills for her honeymoon.  Now, I take out the necessary dosage for however many days I have left home after I pack, and then I pack the remaining amount.  I also ensure that now I pack all of my prescription meds/motrin/allergy medicine into my carry-on, even if its just a bookbag.  The last thing you want is for you to land in tree-lined Brazil, and your Allegra is still on a tarmac in Fort Lauderdale!