Things to consider when...
wishing to travel but feeling stuck
If you think you can’t afford to travel:
How much do you shop? Me? I shop almost daily. You spend maybe at least ten dollars a day. More on weekends. A movie. Dinner. 30 dollars. A couple of outfits. 100. Sometime later, you realize you spent 300 this week alone. Money is disappearing. It goes in, it goes out. And what for? Make that disappearing money be worth something more. Save up just a fraction of your income, stop spending on those little things here and there that you probably don’t actually want or need, and there is no doubt that you CAN afford to travel. What scares you? Yes, a flight overseas is the same price as a cheap car. But money can be made back. Most jobs offer paid vacations. Cash in that money, use it for the flight. Once the flight is paid for, find a nice cheap accomodation not too far from the sights you want to see. Book that too. Now all you have to worry about is your food and souvenir money. You have the time in between now and your travel date to save up the money for that. If you live alone, food is something you have to worry about anyway. If not, if smart, food should not cost you more than fifteen dollars a day. Next time you are in the store, think, do I really want this or do I want to go to Europe instead? If the answer is Europe, then put that item down, and walk away. Spend some time researching all about your destination instead.
If you think you don’t have time to travel:
I am a teacher. I am an artist. I am a part-time worker. I do not have time to travel. I know the struggle, I’ve been through that plight. You feel yourself weighed down by responsibility, I get it. Once again though, most jobs allow for a one-to-two week vacation once a year. If you work in schools, use the summer. In my community job, I schedule travel times in the week or so in which kids are getting registered and there’s no class going on. Then, if you want to extend your time beyond that, think if there is a week or so when they won’t really need you, and can forgive you for being absent. Find a replacement for you or pick sometime when work is likely to be dull and uneventful. Book your flight and be unapologetic. Think of it as nonrefundable. Think of it as a set thing that cannot be moved. Stand your ground. You need this. You do. It’s called a mental health break.
How much do you shop? Me? I shop almost daily. You spend maybe at least ten dollars a day. More on weekends. A movie. Dinner. 30 dollars. A couple of outfits. 100. Sometime later, you realize you spent 300 this week alone. Money is disappearing. It goes in, it goes out. And what for? Make that disappearing money be worth something more. Save up just a fraction of your income, stop spending on those little things here and there that you probably don’t actually want or need, and there is no doubt that you CAN afford to travel. What scares you? Yes, a flight overseas is the same price as a cheap car. But money can be made back. Most jobs offer paid vacations. Cash in that money, use it for the flight. Once the flight is paid for, find a nice cheap accomodation not too far from the sights you want to see. Book that too. Now all you have to worry about is your food and souvenir money. You have the time in between now and your travel date to save up the money for that. If you live alone, food is something you have to worry about anyway. If not, if smart, food should not cost you more than fifteen dollars a day. Next time you are in the store, think, do I really want this or do I want to go to Europe instead? If the answer is Europe, then put that item down, and walk away. Spend some time researching all about your destination instead.
If you think you don’t have time to travel:
I am a teacher. I am an artist. I am a part-time worker. I do not have time to travel. I know the struggle, I’ve been through that plight. You feel yourself weighed down by responsibility, I get it. Once again though, most jobs allow for a one-to-two week vacation once a year. If you work in schools, use the summer. In my community job, I schedule travel times in the week or so in which kids are getting registered and there’s no class going on. Then, if you want to extend your time beyond that, think if there is a week or so when they won’t really need you, and can forgive you for being absent. Find a replacement for you or pick sometime when work is likely to be dull and uneventful. Book your flight and be unapologetic. Think of it as nonrefundable. Think of it as a set thing that cannot be moved. Stand your ground. You need this. You do. It’s called a mental health break.
booking a flight...
Best travel seasons
Flying through a holiday will no doubt be a hassle. Best travel times are during times when people normally wouldn’t think to travel. April. September. Around then. Book early to avoid prices rising as the moment draws near. A year away? Book anyway. Sites like Accuweather can help you estimate what the weather will be like months from now. Will it be raining all the time? Will it be 70s and mild? Or will it be 90s and humid? Knowing the weather will let you know what you should be prepared for when packing and so you know what to expect while you are walking around from spot to spot.
Flight sites
Sites like Kayak.com are unreliable for booking a flight because they will most likely send you to another site, where the price may differ from the one you were originally shown. They also include less favorable airlines. Though sometimes, you can get fair, cheap prices you may not get anywhere else. Use Kayak for the flexible date comparison. This means you get to choose your dates on the calendar, and click that +1-3 day button that allows you to compare your travel dates to potentially cheaper ones. Using flexible date comparison you can view prices for flights that you may not even have considered before. Once you see which dates are the cheapest for traveling, jot those down and wander over to Expedia.com. Expedia is reliable, has a rewards program for free, keeps your searches saved, and can be trusted to have some of the lowest prices out there with many reliable airlines. Find that flight you loved on Kayak on Expedia, and book it easily. Once you’ve booked you have 24 hours to change your mind and cancel it for free. For peace of mind during your first trip, go ahead and add that trip protection. If not a first-time flyer, you may find you don’t need it at all. Keep in mind that sites will track what flights you are looking at, and prices will rise accordingly as demand does. To avoid becoming the cause for a price hike, use the incognito tab when searching for flights. This will make it unable for them to track your search.
Check baggage fees. Most airlines will give you a free carry-on and a free first bag. Limited airlines will give you a free second bag. If not, you will have to pay around 100 for that bag and any additional ones you may want to bring with you.
A free carry-on entails a carry-on bag, and a personal item. That personal item, if chosen smartly, can be a great help.
Personal item dimensions and how to maximize space:
Layovers
Timed right, layovers could be your ticket to a free extra destination. However, some airlines will charge you extra for that layover. Consider the amount of time you really have in that country. Will it be enough to get out of the airport and back, comfortably? Will it mean having to spend extra money to find a room for the night? Will you have to sleep uncomfortably, in the airport lounge? Or will you just be bored out of your mind? How far is the airport, from a point of interest?
Connecting Flights
If you are catching a connecting flight, check if you will have to re-check your baggage at the new destination. Most flights will check your baggage all the way through, but if switching airlines, or in select countries, this might not be the case. Make sure you know where your baggage is headed at all times to avoid getting them lost at the last minute. Make sure your layover time between connecting flights is at least a two hour difference. It may seem unnecessary, but really, flight times are never guaranteed. I’ve seen too many people pissed off when a delayed flight caused them to miss their connection. Why? The layover in between the two flights was just too small. 2 Hour layover time in between allows for ease and flexibility while flying so you know you will always have enough time to do what you have to do.
Flight times.
Cheaper flights generally mean suckier flight times. Makes sense, no? If you are flying locally, say Chicago to New York, it’s a total of a two hour flight. This means when booking your flight, book a morning flight that will get you there at 9 a.m. over a flight that will get you there at 6 or 8 p.m. Why? You save on having to book a hotel just for that one night. When flying overseas, make sure your arrival time is not too late. Allow extra time for delays and add on some time for immigration and customs. Be prepared to be later than you would like to be. Find out the latest your hotel is willing to check you in, and at what point they assume you are not coming, and cancel your reservation. Calculate travel time to your hotel too. Add it all up. Getting there in the afternoon is generally better than in the morning. When flying overseas, you are bound to end up exhausted whether you feel it or not. Allow yourself a night to get over the hassle of it all and settle into your accomodation. Use the time to plan your trip if you haven’t done so already. The next morning, you will wake up feeling refreshed and ready to set off on your adventure. For departures if scheduling it for the morning, give yourself time to check out and have breakfast comfortably. Remember that checking out means you’ll be stuck lugging your bags around with you everywhere. A morning departure date means less time having to walk around with backpacks and carry ons. It also means not having to pay for an extra night.
Flying through a holiday will no doubt be a hassle. Best travel times are during times when people normally wouldn’t think to travel. April. September. Around then. Book early to avoid prices rising as the moment draws near. A year away? Book anyway. Sites like Accuweather can help you estimate what the weather will be like months from now. Will it be raining all the time? Will it be 70s and mild? Or will it be 90s and humid? Knowing the weather will let you know what you should be prepared for when packing and so you know what to expect while you are walking around from spot to spot.
Flight sites
Sites like Kayak.com are unreliable for booking a flight because they will most likely send you to another site, where the price may differ from the one you were originally shown. They also include less favorable airlines. Though sometimes, you can get fair, cheap prices you may not get anywhere else. Use Kayak for the flexible date comparison. This means you get to choose your dates on the calendar, and click that +1-3 day button that allows you to compare your travel dates to potentially cheaper ones. Using flexible date comparison you can view prices for flights that you may not even have considered before. Once you see which dates are the cheapest for traveling, jot those down and wander over to Expedia.com. Expedia is reliable, has a rewards program for free, keeps your searches saved, and can be trusted to have some of the lowest prices out there with many reliable airlines. Find that flight you loved on Kayak on Expedia, and book it easily. Once you’ve booked you have 24 hours to change your mind and cancel it for free. For peace of mind during your first trip, go ahead and add that trip protection. If not a first-time flyer, you may find you don’t need it at all. Keep in mind that sites will track what flights you are looking at, and prices will rise accordingly as demand does. To avoid becoming the cause for a price hike, use the incognito tab when searching for flights. This will make it unable for them to track your search.
Check baggage fees. Most airlines will give you a free carry-on and a free first bag. Limited airlines will give you a free second bag. If not, you will have to pay around 100 for that bag and any additional ones you may want to bring with you.
A free carry-on entails a carry-on bag, and a personal item. That personal item, if chosen smartly, can be a great help.
Personal item dimensions and how to maximize space:
Layovers
Timed right, layovers could be your ticket to a free extra destination. However, some airlines will charge you extra for that layover. Consider the amount of time you really have in that country. Will it be enough to get out of the airport and back, comfortably? Will it mean having to spend extra money to find a room for the night? Will you have to sleep uncomfortably, in the airport lounge? Or will you just be bored out of your mind? How far is the airport, from a point of interest?
Connecting Flights
If you are catching a connecting flight, check if you will have to re-check your baggage at the new destination. Most flights will check your baggage all the way through, but if switching airlines, or in select countries, this might not be the case. Make sure you know where your baggage is headed at all times to avoid getting them lost at the last minute. Make sure your layover time between connecting flights is at least a two hour difference. It may seem unnecessary, but really, flight times are never guaranteed. I’ve seen too many people pissed off when a delayed flight caused them to miss their connection. Why? The layover in between the two flights was just too small. 2 Hour layover time in between allows for ease and flexibility while flying so you know you will always have enough time to do what you have to do.
Flight times.
Cheaper flights generally mean suckier flight times. Makes sense, no? If you are flying locally, say Chicago to New York, it’s a total of a two hour flight. This means when booking your flight, book a morning flight that will get you there at 9 a.m. over a flight that will get you there at 6 or 8 p.m. Why? You save on having to book a hotel just for that one night. When flying overseas, make sure your arrival time is not too late. Allow extra time for delays and add on some time for immigration and customs. Be prepared to be later than you would like to be. Find out the latest your hotel is willing to check you in, and at what point they assume you are not coming, and cancel your reservation. Calculate travel time to your hotel too. Add it all up. Getting there in the afternoon is generally better than in the morning. When flying overseas, you are bound to end up exhausted whether you feel it or not. Allow yourself a night to get over the hassle of it all and settle into your accomodation. Use the time to plan your trip if you haven’t done so already. The next morning, you will wake up feeling refreshed and ready to set off on your adventure. For departures if scheduling it for the morning, give yourself time to check out and have breakfast comfortably. Remember that checking out means you’ll be stuck lugging your bags around with you everywhere. A morning departure date means less time having to walk around with backpacks and carry ons. It also means not having to pay for an extra night.
booking a hotel...
Booking Options
The great thing about Japan and Seoul? Cheap and easy sleeping arrangements. If you look, and are willing to sacrifice on comfort, you can find a place to sleep for seven to ten dollars a night. BEAUTY. Traveling in Europe, things may be different. If you are young and carefree, go ahead and disregard horror films, and look into reserving a bed in a hostel. If you are female, alone, and afraid, book a female-only dorm. In Japan and Seoul, unless you are a couple traveling and not afraid of love hotels, everything will be separated by gender anyway. Female-only dorms and floors. No worries there. If not, then you are going to find yourself opting for a higher budget in order to afford that private room. New York has youth hostels for cheap, some including breakfast. The perks? Being with others your own age that may be able to share some travel stories, and head off on adventures with you. Make a new friend you can tell folks at home about! Don’t be afraid of rude, weird, loud people. They make good stories later on.
Travel Sites
When traveling, always cross-reference. AirBnB. Hostels.com, Venere.com, hostelbookers.com, etc. Check for free breakfast. Wifi. Showering amenities. Shuttle service. Check in and check out times. Pillows, towels, the works. and always, always, always READ THE REVIEWS. Will your hosts be kind and helpful? Will they have pamphlets around? Is the area safe at night? How far is it from points of interest, really? What do you need to bring, and what will be provided for you? Narrow your search keeping in mind your budget, reviews, and what you are willing to sacrifice on for that budget or location. Then take that list, get the addresses and prepare to google.
Google Maps
When booking a hotel you should be prepared with a list of all the places you will definitely want to visit. You should know which airport you will be arriving at and how you will be departing. This is important because though you may come in one way, that doesn’t mean you will exit that same way. If you are only visiting one place, then things should be nice and simple. You simply repeat most of the steps you took upon entry when you exit. But say you are backpacking through Europe-then you will find that it may be easier to enter through Italy then take the rails from country to country. That means when booking a hotel, you should know whether you will be arriving in one train station and leaving at another, or arriving in the airport, and leaving via train. This is important because you need to know where you will be traveling to and from your hotel to lessen the hassle and the stress of not being able to travel easily. This is where google comes in. Take that list of potential places to stay and plug in the addresses to google maps. Check out what travel looks like from your airport and to your departure point. Check out what travel looks like to each of the places you would most like to visit. Can you get there by train? Would you need a taxi? If going out of country, check airport websites. Most can offer you advice on how to reach the city center and popular other spots from the airport. Is there an airport limousine you can take? An express train below the airport? Does the subway take you there? Or are there other arrangements you can make? How much is a taxi? This can be calculated via online sites where they tell you the average cost of a taxi in that country when traveling from point a to b. If traveling to a different country, hopping from a bus to a train to another train in order to get to your hotel may seem daunting. Choose the trip that involves the least amount of hassle. If you can ride the train from the airport straight to your destination, choose that! Why not! Taxis are best avoided when you are afraid since they involve a certain degree of trust between you and the driver. In many countries, you have to be careful to not be swindled by your driver, or hop into a taxi that may not be entirely legal. Once you have your list of accomodations easy to get to, cheap, and reliable, go ahead and make the final decision. Book it before it gets taken away!
Google is your best friend, gps is your brother from another mother, and apps are your homeboys.
The great thing about Japan and Seoul? Cheap and easy sleeping arrangements. If you look, and are willing to sacrifice on comfort, you can find a place to sleep for seven to ten dollars a night. BEAUTY. Traveling in Europe, things may be different. If you are young and carefree, go ahead and disregard horror films, and look into reserving a bed in a hostel. If you are female, alone, and afraid, book a female-only dorm. In Japan and Seoul, unless you are a couple traveling and not afraid of love hotels, everything will be separated by gender anyway. Female-only dorms and floors. No worries there. If not, then you are going to find yourself opting for a higher budget in order to afford that private room. New York has youth hostels for cheap, some including breakfast. The perks? Being with others your own age that may be able to share some travel stories, and head off on adventures with you. Make a new friend you can tell folks at home about! Don’t be afraid of rude, weird, loud people. They make good stories later on.
Travel Sites
When traveling, always cross-reference. AirBnB. Hostels.com, Venere.com, hostelbookers.com, etc. Check for free breakfast. Wifi. Showering amenities. Shuttle service. Check in and check out times. Pillows, towels, the works. and always, always, always READ THE REVIEWS. Will your hosts be kind and helpful? Will they have pamphlets around? Is the area safe at night? How far is it from points of interest, really? What do you need to bring, and what will be provided for you? Narrow your search keeping in mind your budget, reviews, and what you are willing to sacrifice on for that budget or location. Then take that list, get the addresses and prepare to google.
Google Maps
When booking a hotel you should be prepared with a list of all the places you will definitely want to visit. You should know which airport you will be arriving at and how you will be departing. This is important because though you may come in one way, that doesn’t mean you will exit that same way. If you are only visiting one place, then things should be nice and simple. You simply repeat most of the steps you took upon entry when you exit. But say you are backpacking through Europe-then you will find that it may be easier to enter through Italy then take the rails from country to country. That means when booking a hotel, you should know whether you will be arriving in one train station and leaving at another, or arriving in the airport, and leaving via train. This is important because you need to know where you will be traveling to and from your hotel to lessen the hassle and the stress of not being able to travel easily. This is where google comes in. Take that list of potential places to stay and plug in the addresses to google maps. Check out what travel looks like from your airport and to your departure point. Check out what travel looks like to each of the places you would most like to visit. Can you get there by train? Would you need a taxi? If going out of country, check airport websites. Most can offer you advice on how to reach the city center and popular other spots from the airport. Is there an airport limousine you can take? An express train below the airport? Does the subway take you there? Or are there other arrangements you can make? How much is a taxi? This can be calculated via online sites where they tell you the average cost of a taxi in that country when traveling from point a to b. If traveling to a different country, hopping from a bus to a train to another train in order to get to your hotel may seem daunting. Choose the trip that involves the least amount of hassle. If you can ride the train from the airport straight to your destination, choose that! Why not! Taxis are best avoided when you are afraid since they involve a certain degree of trust between you and the driver. In many countries, you have to be careful to not be swindled by your driver, or hop into a taxi that may not be entirely legal. Once you have your list of accomodations easy to get to, cheap, and reliable, go ahead and make the final decision. Book it before it gets taken away!
Google is your best friend, gps is your brother from another mother, and apps are your homeboys.
packing your bags
Pre-Flight Buys
Packing Your Bags (Diagram)
Your Carry-On
Your Personal Item
Your (hopefully) free bag.
Choosing Your Clothes
Research the customs of the place you will be visiting. If you are traveling out of country, know that things like tattoos, and peeks of flesh may not matter where you are from, but may have a different meaning and importance where you are going.
Choose mix-and-match pieces. Light over heavy. Always carry at least one sweater/hoodie. Always carry at least one pair of pants. Do not be afraid to have a surplus of undergarments and socks.
Electronics
Download subway apps.
Download your flight provider's app. (Sometimes in-flight entertainment is accessed this way)
A packing list
If you don’t have an umbrella, buy one.
How to avoid (or work around) Jet Lag
Hydrate. You can’t bring liquids past security. So carry an empty bottle with you a fill it up once your past it. You can bring anything you buy inside the airport (through security) with you on the plane. Water is complimentary on the plane. Hydrate.
If flying a 12-14 hour flight, when you land, prepare to be in a completely different time zone. You may arrive yesterday. You may arrive on a tomorrow while back at home it is still today. Be prepared for that. The average sleeping time is 8 hours recommended. If you are planning on arriving at what will be 3 p.m. there, prepare to be awake around 10am-12pm on the plane so that you are awake during normal hours and able to sleep when it comes to it at night. That means maybe staying awake for three hours on the flight then settling down to sleep so you are able to get a full night’s rest and still wake up at regular wake-up hours according to the country you are visiting. Math is your friend. Use it to help you calculate your sleeping hours during the flight. Then stick to them. Maybe this means sleeping earlier the night before your flight, or staying awake later to help you. Jet Lag isn’t pretty and you don’t want it interfering with the fun you will be having on your vacation so take the necessary precautions beforehand.
Packing Your Bags (Diagram)
Your Carry-On
Your Personal Item
Your (hopefully) free bag.
Choosing Your Clothes
Research the customs of the place you will be visiting. If you are traveling out of country, know that things like tattoos, and peeks of flesh may not matter where you are from, but may have a different meaning and importance where you are going.
Choose mix-and-match pieces. Light over heavy. Always carry at least one sweater/hoodie. Always carry at least one pair of pants. Do not be afraid to have a surplus of undergarments and socks.
Electronics
Download subway apps.
Download your flight provider's app. (Sometimes in-flight entertainment is accessed this way)
A packing list
If you don’t have an umbrella, buy one.
How to avoid (or work around) Jet Lag
Hydrate. You can’t bring liquids past security. So carry an empty bottle with you a fill it up once your past it. You can bring anything you buy inside the airport (through security) with you on the plane. Water is complimentary on the plane. Hydrate.
If flying a 12-14 hour flight, when you land, prepare to be in a completely different time zone. You may arrive yesterday. You may arrive on a tomorrow while back at home it is still today. Be prepared for that. The average sleeping time is 8 hours recommended. If you are planning on arriving at what will be 3 p.m. there, prepare to be awake around 10am-12pm on the plane so that you are awake during normal hours and able to sleep when it comes to it at night. That means maybe staying awake for three hours on the flight then settling down to sleep so you are able to get a full night’s rest and still wake up at regular wake-up hours according to the country you are visiting. Math is your friend. Use it to help you calculate your sleeping hours during the flight. Then stick to them. Maybe this means sleeping earlier the night before your flight, or staying awake later to help you. Jet Lag isn’t pretty and you don’t want it interfering with the fun you will be having on your vacation so take the necessary precautions beforehand.