Tag: Travel Tips

  • Finally, Spring is Here and Travel Season is Amongst Us!!

    Finally, Spring is Here and Travel Season is Amongst Us!!

    I love traveling in May – its starting to warm up in most parts of the United States, and the crowds are not as bad as you’ll find from late June to mid-August, once school is out of session.  Most of all – people become happier in May, especially up North, where they can feel summer sunshine and smell backyard barbeques right around the corner. So, this week, I’ve decided to share with you my picks for where you should visit this late Spring – if you don’t already subscribe to Jetblue or Southwest airlines, you should, as they regularly have spring and summer deals from major airports.  Last year, we flew from Fort Lauderdale to Grand Cayman for $59 each way via Southwest! Ok, I’ve digressed… Here are my top 5 picks:

     

    San Diego, CA – It’s no secret, that I love California.  Who doesn’t love a state that offers the beach, city life, mountain hiking, and skiing?!  San Diego is leading as my favorite city in California as it has gorgeous landscapes (La Jolla I’m thinking about you), chill vibes, and great food.  Seriously, there are hundreds of restaurants that offer great Italian (and not only in the Little Italy area), seafood, Mexican, and of course, bakeries!!  May is great as you don’t have to contend with crazy summer crowds, but the temperature is still between 60 and 70 degrees, on average. The bad thing – it rains more in May than in most months, so you may have to deal with cloudy skies, and short bursts of rain, so it’s less likely you’ll be chilling at the beach.  However, that does mean more time to take in the sites of La Jolla (or go kayaking through the bay to sea the seals – I was HORRIBLE at it, but everyone else was great), or visiting the San Diego Zoo, or going on a cool bar crawl through the Gaslamp district. I can only imagine celebrating Cinco de Mayo in Old Town, or enjoying a delicious Memorial Day brunch by the bay side <- wait, I actually did do that once, and it was pretty darn fantastic!!

     

    Boston, MA – maybe not so much in May, but come June/July, this city’s aura becomes infectious.  Boston is an amazingly walkable city, teeming with history. For starters, you have the Freedom Trail, which is about a 2.5 mile route that covers several historical sites, including Paul Revere’s house, and the site of the Boston massacre.  And you guessed it, these sites are better seen on foot, so its best to visit with warm weather. I also fell in love with Faneuil Hall – not only is it also part of our nation’s history (i don’t think any part of this City isn’t full of history, LOL), but today, it consists of tons of restaurants and shops, and even a museum.  It’s also cool to check out the Boston Harbor (take an amphibious tour to truly see everything), maybe go see the Red Sox (though I can’t vouch for the team, as an avid Yankees fan, though their stadium is historic!), Harvard University (Cambridge is a fun town full of restaurants like my personal fave Wagamama’s, and shops), and eat in Little Italy, which as you guessed it is home to quite a few delicious restaurants.  Boston brings to life all of those history tidbits you may have forgotten (or ignored) from high school history class.

     

    New Orleans, LA – no, its not during Mardi Gras, but for me, that’s why I like visiting this time of year!  New Orleans was built on top of and surrounding a swamp, so you don’t really want to visit in June or July where the temperatures soar above anything comfortable, haha.  But in May, you have warm weather during the day, and cooler temperatures at night, which is absolute perfection. Then you have the cuisine in New Orleans (are you seeing a trend in the cities I’ve chosen thus far?!)…who doesn’t love great cajun food + beignets?! In fact, my last trip to New Orleans affected my brain and taste buds so much that I went looking for beignets while in NYC (and I found them…but that’s another story)!  There’s a lot to do in New Orleans aside from partaking in the awesome drink scene – you must try the Hurricane from Pat O’Briens and the Hand Grenade from Tropical Isle (get it frozen), and I’m still on the search for more options! For starters, I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to the Whitney plantation. It’s the only plantation in New Orleans that centers on what actually occurred there – slavery, as opposed to the balls that may have occurred in the Manor.  Their tour includes a visit to the slave quarters, the holding cell they kept slaves in awaiting auction, the kitchen used by the slaves to make dinner, and tons of real slave accounts from their time in bondage. This plantation prides itself on capturing the true stories as told by the slaves themselves, rather than a historian or writer’s account of what they may have seen or been told. If you want to truly see and feel what really occurred on a plantation, then this is the place for you.  I also took a bike tour through New Orleans and a Voodoo walking tour. I learned a lot on both tours from the history of the French and Spanish occupation(s), as well as how the Africans helped to shape the city’s future. So, for those who love history and great cuisine – this city, who is currently celebrating its 300 year anniversary, is the one for you to visit this spring.

     

    Lisbon, Portugal – the first city on the list that I haven’t been to yet, but it doesn’t mean that its not on my radar.  Lisbon’s weather is perfect in May, and you don’t have the crazy summer tourists quite yet. Lisbon is somehow still staying under the radar as it loses folks to the flashier and more popular European cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, and London.  Why is it on my list? From what I see, it’s gorgeous, calm, full of history and great seafood, and is a gateway to some other awesome sites like the Azores and Algarve regions, respectively. I also hear that a great majority of folks speak English (which is a plus for tourists like me who only learned one foreign language in high school, lol).  I do plan on visiting Portugal, hopefully in the next year, and when I do, expect a nice long write-up.

     

    Bali, Indonesia – ok, I know this one first hand, because I recently booked my first trip to Indonesia for this upcoming June.  Why is it awesome this time of year? Well, for starters, its not monsoon season, haha. Another theme you may have noticed during my posts – I am not a lover of rain…I respect the need for it, but when I travel, I want non-stop sunshine.  Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, etc., all enjoy pretty warm weather year-round, so they characterize their weather around rain. May in Indonesia is dry season, but its prior to when the throngs of tourists visit, so expect cheaper flights and hotel pricing.  What got my attention? 5 star resorts for as low as $80/night. And you know those awesome over-water bungalows that you see in Bora Bora? Those will cost upwards of $900/night, but in Malaysia you can stay at one for only $300/night. The most expensive part is the flight (subscribe to Qatar Airways and Emirates for deals), but once you arrive, you’ll be met with gracious folks, cheap but delicious food, and great scenery. I literally can’t wait, and you shouldn’t either!

  • 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.

  • 7 Bucketlist Spots to Celebrate New Year’s Eve (No, NYC Didn’t Make the List)

    7 Bucketlist Spots to Celebrate New Year’s Eve (No, NYC Didn’t Make the List)

    I learned years ago that New Year’s Eve celebrations will never match what I dream of in my head.  In all fairness, this is partly because I have an amazing imagination – think Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory, but instead of chocolate fountains, I picture delicious rum cocktails, and cake…lots of cake, with awesome music, and minimal crowds (enough for it to be a good party, but not cray).  When I find this oasis, I doubt I’ll be writing about it…but until then, here are a few spots that I’ve either heard about through close friends, or visited first hand and can vouch for being great NYE destinations.  Oh, and I know you’re wondering why New York, and Vegas didn’t make the list – I limited this blog to international spots only.  Also, all New Yorkers know you don’t spend NYE in the City…we don’t like to wear diapers while waiting for a ball to drop in freezing temps…

     

    • Sydney, Australia – the fireworks display over the Sydney Harbour is world famous – for good reason!  Between staying at one of the many hotels that line the harbour, or taking an awesome cruise through the harbour, anyone can take in great views of the fireworks display while getting their party on.  You can even party right in the middle of the harbour by taking a ferry to Clark or Shark Island, which both offer refreshments, and amazing views.  Sydney also puts on an acrobatic water show and the Harbour of Lights, where more than 50 boats, decorated with lights, line the harbour.  From what I’ve heard there’s even an ancient Aboriginal smoking ceremony, that is designed to cleanse the harbour of negative spirits.  Best part??  The weather! Sydney averages between 73-77 degrees in December, so if you live in the U.S., you can escape the cold, and head to where it’s warm, and fun!

     

    • Edinburgh, Scotland – Do you have what it takes to party non-stop for 3 days? Not sure I do…but I am sure going to try, LOL.  Locals call this festival Hogmanay (means: last day of the year).  The party starts on December 30th, when a group of revelers carrying torches, march from Parliament Square to Carlton Hill for the first fireworks display.  On the following day, the streets are filled with parades, parties and music festivals.  At midnight, 4.5 tons of fireworks are let off over Edinburgh Castle, and everyone in the streets sign Auld Lang Syne.  I don’t know about you, but this seems like a necessity of life, to me.

     

    • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – You don’t have to just travel to Brazil during Carnival to have a good time!  NYE brings the second largest party to Rio, at Copacabana Beach, where party goers wear all white (supposed to be good luck), at this all night party called Reveillon.  There’s oceanfront musical performances, dancing, drinking, and of course, fireworks.  At midnight, the sea goddess, Yemanja is honored, as “the less intoxicated” partiers remember to throw flowers into the ocean.  For a less raucous time, many of the hotels that line the strip also offer great rooftop parties that overlook Copacabana Beach, so you can watch the party from above, while sipping on champagne, and eating fresh seafood.  I will be going in the next 2 years, to um…do research for everyone…You’re welcome, haha.

     

    • Hong Kong, China – This skyline is gorgeous on a normal day.  Can you imagine how it looks when it is covered with fireworks?  Similar to as in Sydney, this NYE celebration centers around water – Victoria Harbour.  This city offers rooftop parties and harbour cruises that all offer beautiful views over the harbour – but the best part is that the night culminates with pyrotechnic dragon dancing through the city skyline.

     

    • Reykjavic, Iceland – Ok, so we’re back in the cold climate for this one, but it is for a good reason, I promise!  Don’t you want to go somewhere that starts off NYE celebrations with bonfires?  I do.  Locals claim the bonfires date back to the Middle Ages, where fishermen believed the fire helped to burn away the previous year’s negativity.  Then, similar to NY in the 90’s, everyone sets off their own fireworks display while waiting for midnight to come.  Then, the true party begins…as clubs and lounges are open until upwards of 5am.  And these folks, loooove to party.  Don’t worry, you can cure your hangover, as there’s only about 4 hours of daylight in Iceland this time of year, so it’ll be dark when you wake up for lunch, haha…

     

    • Cape Town, South Africa – Don’t you just love coastal cities? Le sigh…  Many folks head to the Victoria and Albert Waterfront where there’s a concert and fireworks for party goers to enjoy.  But, if you’re similar to me, and like to avoid heavy crowds, while still having fun, head to Table Mountain, which still offers amazing views of the fireworks, while having considerably less people around to obstruct your view.  The following day, the place to be is on the beach, where everyone comes to enjoy the sun, and watch the Minstrel Carnival Parade that dances through the Downtown area.  This tradition dates back to the 19th century and has been going strong ever since.

     

    • Valparaiso, Chile – I know what you’re thinking…this woman has a thing for multi-day, water centered celebrations, and I’d say: #guilty.  Its firework display lasts for almost half an hour, over Chile’s oldest port city.  Its another 3 day celebration on the beach, and in the streets, as over 1 million folks party until 5am celebrating the new year.  Similar to as in Rio, plenty of hotels offer breathtaking views of the beach and port from their rooftop bars and restaurants, so you don’t have to be in the mix of things if you choose not to.  Head to this spot for a more low-key, off the radar, but still popular place to celebrate NYE!

     

  • 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!

  • Got the Travel Bug?  Here are 5 Steps You Should Take Next to Make Traveling a Breeze!

    Got the Travel Bug? Here are 5 Steps You Should Take Next to Make Traveling a Breeze!

    So, you’ve been hit with the travel bug, and want to start exploring the 7 Kingdoms (I know, I watch too much Game of Thrones, but fortunately it works here as there’s 7 continents :-)).  There are a few items you may wish to place on your to-do list if you want to make your travel easier.

    1)Get a great credit card that gives you something in return for high use.  I am an extremely loyal Starwood (SPG) member, thus, a few years ago, I applied for the SPG American Express.  5 years later, and I remain very happy that I have this card.  Over the years, I have accumulated a lot of points as I paid for my wedding reception, a whole lot of vacations, and everything in between off of this card.  In return, I have enough points where I can stay at the W or St. Regis in Hawaii for a week, and not make too large of a dent in my points, if I so choose.  Due to my insane love for all things Starwood, getting their credit card was a no brainer – as I charge a lot on my card each year, thus retaining my Gold status (must hit $30k/year), and in the interim, I accumulate enough points to stay at certain hotel sites for free. Perhaps you care more about getting deals on flights, or cruises, or perhaps you’re a cash back kind of person.  Whatever your proclivity is, there’s a card for you – and I highly suggest you look into this!  Card companies are vying for your patronage – so get a good deal.  As you travel more often, and spend money on your card, your trips will eventual cost less, as you earn free hotel nights or airline tickets!

     

    2)Get a checking account with TD Bank (or any other bank that does not charge foreign transaction fees).  We finally got around to getting a TD check card about 3 years ago, and I’m still angry at ourselves for not doing it quicker.  I believe there is a $2500 limit that you must keep in the account at all times to avoid penalties, but I believe there are other checking account options available as well.  For me, the huge draw was that I could extract local currency from any foreign ATM or bank, and not incur a penalty.  Plus, they don’t place holds on your account when its being used internationally, and you don’t have to warn them in advance.  Finally, I love that unlike BOA or Chase, their banking hours were incredibly flexible, especially on the weekend – so I can pretty much always find an open branch, when needed.  For these reasons, we’ve made this our travel account, and use it pretty much exclusively once we go anywhere that requires a passport.

     

    3)Invest in good quality luggage – please stop with the mesh or brand x luggage.  I used to be a soft baggage snob (I had used it for years, and never encountered an issue), but after a friend of mine traveled somewhere during a rainstorm, only to open her luggage and find out that all of her clothes were soaked – I saw the error in my ways.  I only use hard case luggage now.  It’s just not worth it to buy expensive luggage that can’t fully protect your clothes/items.  Plus, no matter what, the soft shell luggage will hold onto a musty smell if you use it long enough as it absorbs everything.  Next, yes the quality of the suitcase matters.  The last thing you want is to pick up your luggage from baggage claim, and learn that you’re missing a wheel (I’ve seen this firsthand when I traveled with some friends), or have a zipper missing or broken as you are packing to head back home.  There are 4 brands that I’ve used over the years, and love – Tumi, Samsonite, Traveler’s Choice (Costco used to have great deals on this – not sure if they still do), and Delsey.  I don’t care how horrible the luggage is handled – I don’t worry about the contents nor upkeep of my suitcase, as I know it can weather almost anything.

     

    4)Invest in travel-friendly toiletries and outfits – This is both a time and money saving tip…let me explain.  We all know that TSA has several rules regarding what you can place in your carry-on, so when it comes to lotions, hair cream, and toothpaste, unless you want it confiscated, it’s smart to follow the rules.  For this reason, I went on Amazon, and purchased travel size toothpaste and travel containers to hold my hair cream and vitamins.  It takes all of the guess work out of traveling, and when my stock goes down, I place another bulk order.  I can’t tell you how often I see people on the TSA line, livid, as they have to throw out their 8oz toothpaste, or brand new hair gel – yes those are both considered “liquid”, so don’t be disappointed when you get to the airport.  Also invest in outfits that don’t wrinkle, like maxi dresses, or certain polo shirts, as you don’t have to concern yourself with ironing/steaming your clothes when you arrive at your destination.  Once you have “travel toiletries and clothes”, you kind of set them aside in your wardrobe or travel drawer (yes, I have a travel drawer), and when I’m headed on a flight, I don’t have to think about much – I literally just grab and pack.  When you travel 1-2x a month, you need an easy process that doesn’t make packing such an ordeal – this is how I do it!

     

    5)Get Goes or TSA Precheck, PLEASE!!  I wrote an entire blog article on this, which can be found at: http://www.lketravels.com/breeze-airport-security-lines/.  This article explains the benefits of both Goes and TSA Pre-check in depth. Again, the investment is well worth it!

  • How To Blend In When You Travel, And Not Look So…Well…American

    How To Blend In When You Travel, And Not Look So…Well…American

    One of my sorority sisters asked me for advice as to how to blend in while traveling to a destination, without sticking out, as an American, like a sore thumb.  I know you’ve seen travel pics where you can spot the American in the crowd, easier than you can spot Waldo in space.  To be clear, I am a very proud American, and never shy away from proudly answering where I’m from when asked, but I like to blend in as much as possible first, so I can gauge my environment and see what all of the locals are doing.  Once the locals know that I’m American, I tend to get into U.S. song sing-offs (folks love Boyz II Men, and Mariah Carey), which are crazy fun, but first I like to know where I should grab a drink, or try local cuisine, without any bias towards Americans shaping their recommendations.  Here are a few tips that I do, so that generally, people have to genuinely ask me where I’m from, unless of course, I open my mouth, LOL!!

     

    1)Look up the style of dress for your destination prior to packing – Of course, this may not work for you if you’re headed to certain regions of the world where the style of dress is so culturally specific that you wouldn’t own similar dress, but quite often this is easy to do.  For example, if you looked up France/Spain, you’ll see that folks generally dress up slightly more formal than we do in America. They don’t wear Old Navy t-shirts with jean shorts (Disclaimer: Nothing is wrong with Old Navy t-Shirts, LOL – just making a point).  They tend to dress as though they are going to brunch every day – so pack as though you’ll be seen every day at your fave brunch spot, and you should fit right in.  If you travel to Barbados, be mindful that although its usually hot and humid, Bajans don’t walk around wearing bathing suits under their clothes, or wear what Americans characteristically wear in beach towns – they cover up pretty modestly, unless they are literally at the beach.  Remember, it is believed that over 95% of the population is Christian, with each parish having their own Anglican church – they don’t want to see your bathing suit while eating breakfast.

     

    2)Leave the white sneakers and American flag outfits at home – When I studied in Australia, I had the pleasure of meeting many foreigners from around the world.  They all had different conceptions of what Americans looked like based on movies and tv shows, but they all shared a vision of Americans wearing hats and t-shirts, and even pins depicting the American flag.  They also believed that we all own white sneakers – and although I do, haha, I tend to leave them at home when I travel so folks don’t pick me out of the crowd.  Again, these are easy steps to take to avoid being quickly labeled an American – unless its Independence Day – then you may have to rep our colors with pride!

     

    3)Listen and talk less – Americans have a reputation for being loud, and proud to be American.  Again, we have much reason to be proud – but remember, you traveled to another country to learn more about their culture and customs, so listen up.  I remember once having a 45-minute conversation with an Israeli Palestinian while in Sydney, about his hometown and what goals his neighbors back home had for their future.  At the end of the conversation, he told me something that I never forgot – he said I was the first American he ever met that was interested in learning more about the culture of where I was visiting or wanted to visit, rather than just compare everything back to my home.  Growing up in Brooklyn, it’s easy for me to relate everything back to how awesome I know my hometown is – but the point of traveling is to keep an open mind, and truly learn about another culture while being fully immersed – you can’t do that if you keep getting defensive or feel the need to represent where you’re from constantly.  If they want you to share – great! Otherwise, stay chill, and listen more.

     

    4)Check out the local restaurant and bar scene – I know it is quick and easy to check out the hotel bar, especially at hip places like the W Barcelona, and I am not discounting them or telling you to stay away from them permanently.  However, if you really want to blend in and get the most out of your cultural experience, walk around the city, and ask some locals where they enjoy eating and drinking.  Most of the time, they will give you excellent options that truly have a local feel.  I often opt for choosing spots this way, than even TripAdvisor, as most of the time, sites like TripAdvisor include restaurants that my fellow Americans/travelers have all visited – the idea (for me) is to get away from everyone I’m used to, and assimilate fully within my destination.  If you’re on the shy side, you can still do this, by asking your hotel concierge for a local suggestion that may not be visited by most other travelers – most often, they get the hint and recommend some really cool places.  While you’re eating, ask your waiter for a cool bar to go to – you’ll be surprised how awesome your night shapes up!

    Quick Tips:

    1)Walk with a purpose – I know you’re excited to walk through Times Square for the first time, or to see the Eiffel Tower – and when you’re at certain city landmarks or culturally iconic sites, it’s perfectly awesome to walk around in awe snapping shots.  But, please put the map away when you’re in less touristy areas of town.  Try to map out the area in advance based on landmarks so you can remember your general route, or download the offline google map onto your phone, so it looks like you’re checking out your phone, not a map.  This is less about “looking American”, and more of a general travel tip – but I don’t like to be pegged as someone who is lost, or trying to figure out where I’m going.  It may be the NY in me, but I like to look as though I know where I am headed to at all times, to make myself less  of a target to anyone looking for an unsuspecting tourist.

    2)Don’t get trapped by schemers – I see this all of the time when I go to Central Park.  A crowd of folks from all over the country, watching in awe as they see a group of athletic guys jumping over one another and performing other acrobatic tricks.  They always promise a huge ending, but never come through – leaving the tourists somewhat dissatisfied.  But before they let everyone down, they walk around with a bag, and guilt folks into paying upwards of $20/$30 to even watch their “routine”.  I’ve seen similar stunts in Barcelona, Sydney, and Cuzco.  I don’t blame these entrepreneurs at all – but I also don’t want to pay $20 for something that I didn’t agree to.  If you choose to do that – then that’s great! But I just want to ensure that it is your choice.  In the U.S., unless it’s in NYC, most street shows may cost you about a $1 as a spectator, but this number can increase significantly, so if you don’t know local customs you may get trapped. Be mindful of this!

    3)Wear a money belt – Again, this also serves as a general travel tip, but I don’t like to pull out wads of local currency out of my pocket (even in the U.S.).  There are 1000 reasons I can give for why, but namely I find it to be in poor taste, and it makes you an easy target for someone who sees no issue with taking it from you.  Generally, we use a money belt (the ones that strap across you chest or high waist, but are concealed under your clothes) that holds our passport and most of our local currency.  Each morning I may take about $40 U.S. worth of local currency for walking around, and keep that in my pocket.  Thus, when I go get a hot chocolate or pastry, at most they may see up to $40, but no more than that. If I use that up, I’ll use the restroom and extract more.  Sure, I may be adding a couple of minutes to the process, but I never get ogled by local folks, as I’ve seen with other Americans, for taking out $300 of local currency while getting a croissant 😉