Summer Travel Blog Series #4

 

Hey  Friends!  Welcome back to my Summer Travel Blog Series in collaboration with the lovely & talented Skye of Neathering Our Fest.  

Skye and I are chatting this month about everything you need to plan your upcoming Summer holidays, and since I just got back from mine I'm still in vacation mode and planning our next trip down south. This week will I will be giving you some tips on navigating airports! Make sure you head on over to Skye's post as well!  

I don't know about you but I LOVE airports. I'm your lady if you need to be picked up or dropped off. Something about the atmosphere at airports - it's magical. Think about it, people from all regions of the earth, all going somewhere fascinating and fun. Alternatively, airports can also be a tangled web of bad food, limited options to pass the time and of course - the worst place to sleep while waiting on a delayed flight.  I still don't understand why not one airport in the world has comfortable chairs. It's like the want to you long for the small uncomfortable (reclining) chairs aboard the plane.  However, you view them, airports are a necessary to get where you want to go - quickly.  I've compiled my top  tips for navigating airports below:

1.  Weigh your bag before leaving the airport. Hands up if you have been over the baggage weight limit and had to re-pack in the middle of the airport. We have all done it. One way to avoid this is to weigh your bags ahead of time. Any scale will do, and most luggage stores now sell luggage scales. My mother-in-law's scale came in handy when we flew to Europe (which has one weight limit) and then flew to London. Keep in mind that weight limits differ within Europe and trans-Atlantic. 
2. Carry a carry-on liquids bag with you. I actually reuse these and keep them in my carry on and just put all my liquids in it at home. This allows me to queue up for the security line much fast and more efficiently. 
3. Find your gate after passing through security. It's important to familiarize yourself with the layout of the airport. Almost all airports in Europe don't finalize the gate until one hour prior to boarding. In that case, be sure to stay close to a gate monitor as you most likely won't be able to hear your gate number in the main airport hall.
4. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol. Look I'm no one's mother - and I'm not here to lecture you on the advantages and disadvantages of drinking. But I can tell you from experience that drinking alcohol before a trans-Atlantic flight is not a good idea. I don't even drink during the flight anymore - I only drink water. Flying normally dehydrates the body so the more water you drink before and during a flight will only help you in the long run. 
5. RELAX!  Best way to relax before a flight is to walk around. I check out stores, walk to other gates. I love to see where other people are going. I then daydream and imagine myself one day visiting those exotic locations.

So there you have it - my tips for navigating airports! Skye and I are holding a very special giveaway - so please head on over to her blog and check it out!!

What are your tips for navigating airports? We want to hear from you.

Back

Hey Friends! I'm back from vacation and sorting through the thousands of photos I took. Our road trip took us to North Carolina, South Carolina and Washington, DC. I can't wait to share our photos and stories with you soon.  As for now, it's back to daily life. 

Newly Wife & Book Reviews

Hey Friends! I'm very excited to announce that starting this month I will be contributing book reviews on the fantastic site - Newly Wife! 

This month I am reviewing I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella so please head on over and check it out!

Summer Travel Blog Series #3

 

It's that time of week! Welcome back to my Summer Travel Blog Series in collaboration with the lovely Skye of Neathering Our Fest. 

 

Skye and I are back chatting about everything you need to plan your upcoming Summer holidays. This week will I will be giving you some tips on planning where to go and more importantly what to do when you get there! Make sure you head on over to Skye's post as well!

As mentioned previously a trip is what you make of it. You don't need to go to Europe if you have no desire to visit, or your budget won't allow.  For as many destinations there are in this world, there is the same amount of traveling options. 

When choosing your travel destination there are three major things you need to keep in mind:

1. Budget

2. Time

3. Interest

I can tell you there are literally thousands of places I would love to travel to. But my budget just won't allow. And that's okay, because of this I have explored places closer to home and those trips are even more meaningful. Another key point in choosing a destination is thinking about the person you are traveling. 

After our last beach vacation we decided that all-inclusive vacations probably were not suited for us. My husband is not the type of person to sit and laze around a beach all day long. I on the other hand can sit anywhere, anytime and read until my heart's content. 

When planning a trip it's best to find out as much information on all the activities, restaurants and attractions available. This will help you determine which place will suit all your needs.

I cannot recommend guide books enough. Guide books are an excellent resource for any traveler. Best part is that most guide books are available through your local library. I love pouring over a guide book, planning out our itinerary for every day of the trip. Guide books also have excellent recommendations for lodging, restaurants and which attractions you should skip.

Once you get there, be sure to check out the welcome centre or tourist office. Not only do they offer a plethora of knowledge, but also have deals and coupons for point of interest.  Walking tours and sightseeing buses also offer guided tours.  Hotels can also prove to be a wealth of information. I've found the best restaurant recommendations come from people working in the hotel who are locals.
Like I said, a trip is like anything else - you get what you put into it.
If you are super organized then plan out an itinerary by day. However, if you like to do things on the fly, then don't plan anything and wait to see where the trip takes you.  That's why traveling is so wonderful - no trip is ever the same.

Don't forget we are planning a very special giveaway, so don't forget to check back next week for our third installment in the series.

AND

We want to hear from you! What are your tips on planning where to go and what to do when you get there? 

Petciety

 My good friend Kelly recently opened her very own pet store called Petciety and I could not be more inspired by her passion and perseverance. We visited her store over the weekend and I must say it is beautiful.  She offers a wide range of dog/cat food, toys and even grooming.  If you are in the Hamilton/Binbrook area, stop in and say hello!

For more info please visit Petciety.ca's Facebook page.

PS. Minnie is a HUGE fan of Petciety, can't you tell by her facial expression? ;)

 

Summer Travel Blog Series #2

 

It's that time of week! Welcome back to my Summer Travel Blog Series in collaboration with the lovely Skye of Neathering Our Fest.

Skye and I are back chatting about everything you need to plan your upcoming Summer holidays.

This week will I will be giving you some tips and tricks on how to make the most out of your hotel 

reservation! Make sure you head on over to Skye's post all about different lodging options available (which we all know can be kinda tough to choose sometimes!)

I've mentioned this before but I am notorious for planning out where to stay based on the following criteria: 1) Location 2) Price 3) Trip Advisor rating (taken with a grain of salt) and 4) the bedbug registry.
That being said, it is essential to any frugal traveler to make the most out of your hotel reservation.  Hotels on both the low end and high end of the scale can be sought out for different reasons, but the key is to stretch those dollars to assist in other areas of your travel budget.
Here are 5 ways to make the most out of a hotel reservation:

1.  Make sure you book a hotel that is centrally located and if possible near a sightseeing bus stop.  In most major cities you can find a tour bus company that usually has a monopoly on the whole town and has more stops that anyone else. In Rome we chose a hotel that was close to one of these bus stops. It was inexpensive and convenient as the bus took us directly to the major tourist attractions and we didn't have to worry about getting lost on the public transportation system.  I always map out where my hotel is relation to the major attractions we want to visit. I prefer to tour cities on foot, so planning ahead and mapping out where to go makes it easy.
2. Make sure you breakfast is included in the hotel cost.  Just like I mentioned in the Travel Series #1 post, I cannot stress this point enough. It's important to "load up" on breakfast so that you can save money by stopping for a quick snack and coffee in the afternoon rather than a full lunch.  This will save you money and time!
3. Take advantage of the hotel's attraction offers and special discounts. While in New York City we could have stood in line for hours at the Broadway discount box office in Times Square while waiting for Mary Poppins tickets.  But we inquired with our hotel and sure enough they had a special deal on with the play. We didn't have to wait in line and we saved money.  Hotels usually have deals with close attractions and events so it's best to ask at the time of booking your room.
4. If your hotel has a concierge - use them!  I remember while staying in Italy we made fast friends with the lovely concierge at our hotel. She was wonderful, recommended amazing restaurants, sights to see, other village recommendations as well as planning a whole winery tour for us!  She was fantastic. While not all hotels I have stayed at had a concierge, the front desk staff can also prove to be a wealth of information.
5. Take advantage of hotel amenities even after you have checked out. We do this quite a bit, especially for our Disney and all inclusive vacations. Sometimes, I don't want to take the first flight out, as those tend to be more expensive. I would happily take a later evening flight and make use of the amenities until we leave for the airport.  For example, while in Jamaica we checked out at 11 am, but we didn't have leave for the airport until 3 pm, so we hung out by the pool while we stashed our luggage safely with the hotel. Hotels will provide a room for you to get changed or freshen up, even after you have checked out!      

 
Don't forget we are planning a very special giveaway, so don't forget to check back next week for our third installment in the series.

AND

We want to hear from you! What are your tips to make the most out of a hotel reservation?

 

Happy Birthday Across The Cafe Table!

Well, time sure flies when you are having fun. I can't believe that the monthly Travel Belles blog series Across The Cafe table turns one year old today. And in celebration we are chatting about planning a dream birthday trip.

We have been very fortunate in that we have traveled a fair bit and have visited most of the major cities and destinations on our list.  Although we are not even close to crossing all of them off, goodness knows it keeps growing with every Travel Belles post I read about all the exciting, fun and fascinating places to visit in this beautiful world of ours.  But I guess that's just it. We will never stop planning trips or saving away pennies for our next  adventure  - that's what travel is all about.

Anyways, one place we have been talking about lately is Australia. We have always wanted to visit but realize that half the trip is getting there and the other half is getting back. It's probably going to be a two week trip. Then we mull over, well why not fly to Hong Kong and Tokyo while were over there. So you see the trip is ever evolving (and so is the budget).

I hope that we do make it there one day, if not to see Kangaroo's in the wild but my dear friend Krista who recently moved there plus the Great Barrier Reef!  So please head on over to The Travel Belles and let us know - Where would you plan your dream birthday trip to?

PS. Cheers to all my fellow Travel Belles, who continuously amaze, inspire and motivate me to travel more and live life to the fullest.

Summer Travel Blog Series #1

Hello Friends! 

I'm so excited to share with you an new blogging series that I am writing with the wonderful and talented Skye of Neathering Our Fest.

Over the month of May, Skye and I will be sharing our best tips and tricks for all your Summer travel needs.

Best part of the Summer Travel Series is a GIVEAWAY! Yes, that's right, Skye and I will be giving away ONE $50 Visa gift card. I don't know about you, but I know FREE money could really go a long way for my Summer Travel plans. To enter head on over and read Skye's post on staycations and planning a vacation in your home town and enter to win! Also, be sure to check back every Thursday in May for a brand new post all about Your Guide to Fun & Easy Summer Travel!

First up is 5 ways to travel on a budget:

Just because you don't have thousands of dollars in the bank, doesn't mean that you can't take trips that are fun, inspiring and enlightening.

A trip is anything you decide to make it. It could be a day trip to another city or a backpacking trip across Europe. Big or small, traveling is about learning something new, learning something about yourself and experiencing life.

Here are my 5 ways to travel on a budget:

1. Research, research, research: I cannot stress this point enough. The more information you are armed with, the more you will be able to budget for  necessary travel expenses. Guide books are a wonderful way to figure out where you want to stay, what areas and what you want to do.  Luckily the world is becoming more accommodating to those traveling on a budget. Many major cities now offer free visits for their most popular museums (example: London).  By researching and figure out what costs what, you will be able to build out not only a total but a daily travel budget as well.  Social media is also a great resource. While searching out a hotel for our next trip, I simply tweeted that I needed a hotel recommendation and many hotels in the city tweeted me back with information.  Social media is an invaluable resource for today's frugal traveler. 
2. Travel in off seasons: We tend to take a majority of our trips during off seasons, such as the Fall and Winter. While it's not always possible (especially for those destinations that do experience Winter conditions), I've found that flights and accommodations are generally cheaper during down times.
3. Be sure to book hotels with breakfast included: This is a must. We always make sure that our hotel stay includes breakfast. This will save loads of money when budgeting out a daily meal budget. Most hotels do offer this, and the breakfast is usually an array of croissants, cereals, fruit and coffee. We always make sure to "load up" on breakfast, that way lunch is a snack and perhaps a coffee (as we often did in Paris).
4. Consult a trusted travel agent: Just like social media has changed the travel resource landscape, so has online travel sites.  While I'm not a fan of these "discount" travel sites I do understand why people use them.  I'm lucky enough to have developed a wonderful friendship with my travel agent Angie. I absolutely love her. She is always there to help me out, find the best deal and provide advice no matter the destination.  So find a travel agent, and make a friend for life.
5. Find a grocery store: This is something we do on every single trip. Most tourist attractions will offer water and snacks - at a premium. We quickly realized that buying bottles of water from vendors in Rome was putting a massive dent in our trip budget. So we asked the hotel where the closest grocery store was and stocked up on snacks and water. I love going to grocery stores in other countries. It's like a scavenger hunt, only better.  In Paris we used the local grocer to stock up on wine, chocolate and snacks that we took with us while exploring the city during the day.

 

I hope this list will be helpful when planning your Summer getaway.  I would love you hear the ways you travel on a budget, so please don't forget to leave a comment below.

AND don't forget to head on over to Skye's post on Neathering Our Fest and enter in our giveaway!