Starting your travel journey.

Starting your travel journey.

Starting your travel journey does not have to be fancy or extravagant. I’m often asked where would be a good place to start traveling? There are plenty of options, from the Caribbean and Mexico to Europe and Asia, or even a cruise. The answer lies within the individual and what they are looking for from travel. However, there is some guidance I’d like to share if you’ve never traveled before.

Start with a staycation if possible. It is one of the easiest ways to get to know what to expect when you travel away from home. It also gives you some experience in knowing what you like, and what you don’t without spending money on airfare.

A staycation allows you to learn about the hotel check-in process.  Many first-time travelers are unaware that the hotel check-in times are usually afternoon or later. This often leaves first-time travelers with a wasted day of idling in the hotel lobby with their luggage waiting for their room to be ready. A savvy traveler plans out arrival times based on hotel check-in or arranges with the hotel for early check-in or luggage storage.

A staycation goal is to mimic a vacation setting, so it allows a non-traveler to assess what accommodations the hotel has to offer. While this might not be ideal on a planned overseas trip, many “staycationers” want to enjoy the benefits a hotel might offer that they do not have at home. This allows them to experience what they might want and not want in a hotel stay.

Another benefit of a staycation is that it often includes dining out at a unique or different restaurant. This allows non-travelers to consider what they might like from their dining experience. Many unique restaurants are not about the value, and if you are looking for value, then a more named restaurant might be a better choice. It can be frustrating while on vacation to go out to a nice restaurant and come back to the hotel to order room service because you’re not quite full.

Finally, a staycation gives you options that you might not have on a paid vacation. You might want to stay with a friend or two, which will let you know if they will make for good travel companions. You will also most likely have transportation or know your way around the city so that your options for entertaining yourself are much more plentiful.

These are my ideas on beginning your travel journey, and they may not be appropriate for everyone. However, the only way to start traveling is to do just that, and if a staycation is your start, then enjoy. What started your travel journey? I’d like to know.

Choosing Travel Partners, Group Travel

Choosing Travel Partners, Group Travel

Before Covid, there were tons of fun awesome looking pictures of group travel and I’m sure many were tempted and inspired to put a travel group together. I spoke on an earlier blog about travel compatibility. Traveling with one person who does not have the same travel personality can be a bother. Traveling with an incompatible group is much harder.
Imagine traveling with a group and the plan is to meet at 9 am. You show up at the appointed time and wait 15 minutes before the next group member shows up. By the time the entire group is ready for the planned day, it is now 10 am or later.
You start on the planned itinerary but now one or more group members has to have coffee or breakfast. The lunch plans arranged now have to be adjusted and the destination closes at a certain time.
These are only a few of the scenarios that can go wrong on a group trip so before you plan a wonderful trip with friends or family, make sure you are all somewhat compatible. Knowing if someone cannot start their day without coffee, tea or breakfast is helpful. Knowing who is or who isn’t a morning person is helpful. Knowing who has a high energy level all day and who doesn’t is important.
Group travel often takes time and coordination just to make the travel plans, not to mention the budget that everyone has to agree to. Planning a trip that everyone is looking forward to and has paid for, and subsequently going through minor frustrations every day of the trip is so disappointing.
My advice is to take all these considerations and more into account before spending your money and time on a trip you will regret. As an experienced traveler, I know personally how group travel can fall apart. Plan carefully before you consider group travel. If planned correctly it can be a most treasured experience.
Have you had a bad experience with group travel? Would you recommend it? Let me know, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

5 must have items that stay in my carry-on.

5 must have items that stay in my carry-on.

As an avid world traveler who has done this both professionally and personally, my carry-on is always semi-packed. Here are my tips and advice on the 5 items I consider must-haves and should always be in my carry on.

1. A lingerie organizer bag (details on another blog post). The one I use has two sides, one for clean underwear and the other for dirty. You never want to get them confused!

2. An electronic organizer bag (blog post coming). With people being so connected it is so inconvenient to lose connectivity and most hotels do not provide enough power outlets for the technology we use in our daily lives.

3. A toothbrush which in my opinion is even more needed than the electronic organizer. Many people pack this in their suitcase but with the chances of your luggage being lost, I like to always have this at hand.

4. A medicine bag with items like Tums, ibuprofen, cold medicine, etc. I tend to also have eye masks, face masks, prescription medications, band-aids, Neosporin, alcohol pads, and such (more on another post).

5. Finally I always have a small makeup bag with the basics like mascara, lip moisturizer, lipstick, makeup remover cloths, toner, and face moisturizer. These are always found at beauty supply stores and pharmacies in travel sizes.

You make have other priorities for your carry-on. If so, what are they? I’d love to find out.

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