Becoming a Business Traveler

For those of you who keep up with my Facebook posts as well, you'll know that in late January I accepted a new position as a Conversion Consultant for a large medical tech company. Now, what do I know about the medical field? NOTHING!
But I do know how to train people and provide emotional support during the go-live process. That's something I rather enjoyed when working for Disney and I'm happy to be doing it again.

More importantly, this new employment is 100% travel. This is an opportunity that I've dreamed of since I lived in Germany back in 2007! I had grown accustomed to a Jetsetter life and I've longed to go back to it. And while traveling for work isn't all the fun of country hopping in Europe, it is the ground work for a more travel driven life. I'm very excited for it!

So where has 2016 taken me so far? Louisville, Kentucky. 😏 I know, pretty glamorous. No, actually it was very nice. I stayed downtown and enjoyed the area immensely.

Travel Tips: If going to Louisville, I highly recommend the Downtown Fairfield Inn & Suites. It's in walking distance to nightlife and great restaurants! I personally check out 2 fantastic places- The Side Bar, a burgers, bourbon and beer joint.

And Dish On Market, where the fried chicken is a must!

Now,  I'm still gaining my footing on all this Corperate travel stuff, so I'm sure there'll be another post with tips and tricks. I'm also compiling a post about Hotel Living, because I'm getting pretty good at that. As far as travel points and the like, I'll probably not share too much on that. There's already a lot of info out there and I highly recommend following The Points Guy on Facebook. He's a guru on the subject!

Thanks for reading. More to come soon!

"Good Morning Baltimore!"

Much to my disappointment, I only had a half day in Baltimore. The weather was just not cooperating! The morning was misty, damp and cloudy, but I still had a wonderful time. Since my time was short I chose to focus on just the Inner Harbor area. There's a lot more to the city of Baltimore, but the Inner Harbor is the hip tourist district.

Cost Saver's Tip: DON'T PARK ON THE PIER. It was horribly expensive. I parked on pier 5 because I was close to the attractions and would save me time! But it cost me $24 for just 3.5hrs of parking!

Any way, on Pier 5 is the Seven-Foot Knoll Lighthouse, along with some of the high-end dining establishments. 

But just before this I had an amazing thing happen to me. I stopped for coffee and the barista offered me an umbrella to use! It was a wonderful #RandomActofKindness and really made my day! Check it out! 

It has cats in it! 😸😽😻 which I'm allergic to 😷 so it was rather ironic. 😏

After the lighthouse, I went to cross the bridge towards pier 4 and came across the USCGC (United States Coast Gaurs Cutter) Taney. As I've perviously said, my Grandfather and my Dad were both in the Coast Guard so I always love to see tributes and memorials to them. 

Next it was on to pier 4! My main point of interest was the National Aquarium, but it didn't open for another 30 minutes (10am) so I went and explored the rest of that pier. There's several shops and restaurants, so if you're planning for lunch down there don't worry! Plenty of variety. I very much liked the look of their Barnes and Noble store. It was a beautifully renovated factory! 

DC in a Day

What can you expect from attempting to cover the Nation's Capital in a day? Well for starters, you should anticipate an ache in your feet and legs so deep that you just want to cut them off!!! But that goes without saying really. 🙃

On a serious note, you'll have to sacrifice. It's impossible to see everything in one day. I know people who have lived here for years and still not explored ALL of the smithsonian. My recommendation is to choose the top 2 items you're wanting see (think bucket list) and chart your day around them. Then everything else is a wonderful bit of extra adventure, and we all know I love those!

On this trip I've chose the Lincoln Monument

and the Air & Space sector of the Smithsonian

Two classics. And even though I've visited them both before, they were still in my top 5 things to see again. It was really hard to not pick the US Holocaust Museum

the BEST museum I've ever visited, hands down. But it's incredibly emotionally draining, I didn't think I'd be able to recover quickly enough to enjoy the rest of my day.

The nice part of my selection is that they're right on the Mall, so it was easy to get in those much coveted photo ops.

One thing was obvious on this trip, it's an election year and capital hill is trying to get spruced up before all the camera crews show up! There was construction everywhere I turned. Kinda a bummer, but at least the weather was fairly nice. Low 50s in late February, who could ask for more? Plus the sun was out most of the day and the wind was pretty tolerable.

Photographer's tip: 99% of your selfie are going to be at the worst angle imaginable! All those talk builds- no hiding my double chin or round face, so just embrace it! 

Seriously, so unflattering! Oh well.

Walking the mall is an experience in and of itself! It's broken into 3 main sections: capital hill, the grand lawn (or museum alley, as I call it!), and monument lane. I started at Capital Hill and work my was West. But I knew I'd go back east because I saved the Air & Space Museum for the afternoon. I got to explore several of the small gardens joust off the grand lawn area- most of which have wonderful sculpture exhibits. They have everything from contemporary 

To the more traditional European garden styles: 

So a little something for everyone!

Transportation tip: the DC metro is the best in the US! Clean, simple, direct- what's not to love. But if you're just there for a day, I'd just go with a single fare card. If you're there for 3 days then get a pass, it's totally worth it. And try to avoid office hour rushes like 7-8am or 4:30-6pm. It's hard because several of the museums close at 5pm, but I would recommend just trolling around a bit more until the rush passes. Also, for those of you with more balance than myself, bike shares are available all over the city!

They could save you some ache in your feet, but be safe because DC drives don't break for tourists!

Lastly, dining. Just be prepared, it's going to be costly. Everything is tourist and politician pricing! If you're looking to splurge- Old Ebbit's Grille is just next to the White House and their burger is delicious. If you're just looking for something lite and quick, most of the museums have cafes. The fare is pretty traditional and won't break the bank. But you all know me and my love for local, so I go where the people lead me! And this trip they lead me to a Peruvian Food Truck called El Fuego. All the offerings looked good, but I went with a Pan Con Chicharon with Yucca Fries. It was delicious and very filling! 

Rest Stop Tip: bathrooms on the mall are hard to fine, but each building of the Smithsonian should have at least one per floor. Charging stations are also a rarity! I only found one bench with a plug-in within the whole Air & Space building! So again, timing is key. Also, stay off Twitter- lesson learned. 🙄

At the end of my day I felt pretty productive for having less than 8 hours in the city! Here are a few other sites I visited along the way: 

The Castle

The MLK Jr. Memorial 

The WWII Memorial 

The Korean War Memorial

The reflecting pool, empty 😒

The Capital Building, under construction 🙄 (see above horrible selfie!)

Tomorrow I'm heading to Baltimore! Look for that post. It should be excellent!

Let the kids help!

Picture this: beautiful countryside, breathtaking adventures around every corner and just off to the side- there's you 12year old playing Fruit Ninja on their tablet!

Sounds frustrating, but that's the reality of our high tech world. It takes more than natural beauty and wonder to get our kids hyped up for your vacation.

However, there is hope! There's a lot of ways to get your children more involved in your next trip. Planning for a family vacation should be a whole-family process. Not only will it excite them for the coming adventure, it's a great life skill for when their out wandering on their own. So bring on the lil' vagabonds and let's get to it!

Step 1. Create the itinerary

I know this might be harder with the young ones, but it's important to be fair. You need to hit something for everyone and while you might know all there is to see in Washington D.C., the kids don't. So rent some travel DVDs or look up a few episodes of your favorite travel show. Personally, I'm a huge fan of Samantha Brown and she's done it all- Weekends in  your favorite US locales, European hotspots, even trips to central and South America!

Once the kids know what there is to see, have them create a list of their top 5 ( less if you're only going for a few days). Build your itineraries around these Must Do's. This way, everyone feels there's something for them.

Tip: If you find overlap: everyone wrote down "Go to the zoo"- add it to the itinerary, but still find a unique item on each kids list. It's says to that child "hey, this moment on the trip is all about you!" That's an awesome feeling for kids.

Tip: So you've got a teenager. - sigh- It happens to the best of them... Actually, it happens to all of them, sadly! And you've watched to videos, read the travel books, looked up all the Must Sees and they still don't have an item for the list? Get creative! Online research some bizarre or high tech tourist options. Maybe find the hottest, most hip restaurant in town- where their favorite actor eats"like all the time!" In short, con them! ;)

Step 2. Start a Countdown. This works great with younger kids. Create something visual that you can make a big ceremony of by ripping of each day. With the older ones, you might want to go high tech again. I use an app with built-in reminders for my trips. This might not be the exact thing your teen needs, but there are several count down apps to choose from.

This could be any iconic shape: Big Ben, The Space Needle, St. Louis Arch... Be creative!

Step 3. Save for Souvenirs. With little ones this might be harder or if you have an allowance set up. But if you create "piggy bank" type saving options for the kids that let them know all that money is money they can spend on the trip! For whatever they want!! It's a lot of freedom and a great way to build your trip up.

Tip: beware the teenager! Let them know that this fund is for fun on the trip. Just because they saved $40 in their fund does not mean that they can spend it on iTunes or apps. This is for something to remember the trip by!

Step 4. Make travel kits. Again, more for the little ones here; but if you're road trippin' it's a must! I suggest a combination of old and new. Make sure you take the security blanket or Mr. Stuffington, but also include new coloring books or trip specific bingo. If you're driving along Route 66, there are going to be things that you can only see there!

Tip: Target has $1 spot and there are some great options for creating an awesome Travel Kit!

Also: http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/05/free-printable-travel-bingo-pages.html

Step 5. Relatable Vacation Reading. Some school assign summer reading lists -and you're welcome to go off of that when helping your kids find something for your trip. However, if you don't have a book picked out I suggest finding something that matches your destination! Actually, I do this for myself pretty often. I read Dan Brown's DaVinci Code right before going to Paris and it really added a cool layer to the sights I was seeing!

Step 6. Limit the technology. I'm not saying they can't keep their iPod or cell phone, but there's no reason they need their Laptop, SD, cell phone, iPod, tablet, Ereader, and portable DVD player... I say 1. And don't let me trick you! If one is taking their laptop and another wants the portable DVD player, but they each NEED their phones... They are playing you!

Step 7. Packing. Again, this is a bigger deal for the little kids... Then again, if you remind your teenager that these will be the pictures you're tagging them in on Facebook or Twitter- I bet that will get them REALLY involved! Just make sure you're monitoring, last thing you want is little Bobby packing all his awesome Dino tees and no undies.

Step 8. Prep the pets. If you're taking them with you, great! Let the kids help you pack their things. If they are getting a sitter, let the kids help you outline a schedule for them. If they are going to a Pet hotel, let the kids know what Fido is going to do on his own vacation!

Tip: make it fun, if you can! Maybe work out a doggy photo shoot where he spends a day at the spa or something equally funny. The kids will love to see that the dog was enjoying himself while all those pesky humans were away!

Step 9. Talk to the Teachers. If you are pulling them out for a day or two, it's not the end of the world. But by letting the teachers know, they might be able to assign something more interesting than the regular homework! Teachers are the most creative people I know, so give them a chance and they'll probably make your life a little easier.

Step 10. This is the last one: Give each person a job. Something to be responsible for throughout the trip! Maybe someone loads the suitcases every time. Or someone is in charge of the gps. Growing up, I like to be in charge of picking the lunch location! I'd spend at least an hour looking for every rest stop I thought would work. It was fun.

My final tip: research, Research, RESEARCH! You know your family better than anyone. Find the things you know are your style and be ready to make these the trips they talk about with their kids some day! 

Good luck and watch out for the teenagers... They're everywhere!!!!!

3 New Must-Have apps for the Adventurer in You!

As the holidays approach, don't forget to get a little something for yourself! Here are a few new apps on my wish list for my wandering ways.

1. EveryTrail Pro ($3.99)- input your preferred activity, like hiking or mountain biking and  this app offers a list if local routes. Included are trail suggestions, maps, and in some cases, audio guides! How cool is the?! The Pro version works without a network connection! So you can get lost without loosing your way. ;)

2. National Parks by National Geographic ($1.99 per guide or $12.99 for complete set)- Time for an All-American Adventure! There are dozens U.S. National Parks, which my dad has taken me camping in most of them. They hold a very special place in my heart and without support from adventurers like you they may disappear! Go and experience them while you can- and use this app's gps-integrated maps with it's points of interest, photo ops, and lodging options.

3. SAS Survival Guide ($3.49)- John Wiseman, former British Special Forces officer wrote a 500+ page survival bible which is a wealth of knowledge. It is now completely available as an offline app! Expert tips that range from first aid to foraging! Super cool feature: a modern-day SOS alert tha concerts text messages into Morse code light signals.

So for all those Boy Scouts and adventures in your lives, here's an easy Christmas gift solution!

Stars and Diamonds

Recently I’ve been doing some research on hospitality ratings for a business plan I’m putting together. I ran across some terms I didn’t understand and of course, that urged me to dig deeper. Turns out these ratings are not an easy topic to come to grips with. So today I want to get you the basics on hospitality ratings. Hopefully this will help you sort through what’s a just frill and what means quality!

The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by the French company Michelin for more than one hundred years. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant reference guide,   which awards Michelin stars for excellence to a select few establishments.

AAA Five Diamond Award is the highest level of the AAA Diamond Ratings System for restaurants and lodgings administered by AAA (formally known as the American Automobile Association). All properties must first meet AAA’s basic requirements before being evaluated by one of AAA’s inspectors. Once evaluated, a rating of One to Five Diamonds is assigned, based on lodging and restaurant published guidelines for facilities, amenities, and service.

AAA began in 1902 as a federation of independent motor clubs. In 1937, the first AAA representatives were hired to inspect lodgings and restaurants, and in 1963, AAA began assigning ratings from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’. In 1977 – AAA’s 75th (diamond) anniversary – the ratings became known as the AAA Diamond Ratings System for lodgings. Restaurants began earning Diamonds in 1989. The AAA Five Diamond award is similar to a Five Star rating on a hotel. However, AAA chose to use diamonds instead of stars. It is also similar to the business called the International Star Diamond Award that the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences sells to hotels, restaurants, and other industries.

The Automobile Association (The AA) is a British motoring association founded in 1905, which was to provide reliable car coverage and travel information. It is often used as a guide for reliable services across the UK.

Well hopefully this helped to shed a little light on the situation. I know I this cleared up a lot of my questions. At the very least I hope you now know that there is more than TravelAdvisor out there!

Safe Travels,

~Greet

Let's not lose it, shall we?

As Holiday travel is right around the corner I wanted to impart a few helpful tips on how to avoid the extreme headache of lost luggage. Thankfully I have only experienced this burden once in my many travels, but it was such an ordeal that I've since taken precautions to never deal with it again. So here are my suggestions:

Bold Bags: Black is not your friend. A majority of luggage is designed in black- sorry, I have no idea why. Don't be afraid to let your bag express your personality. This will help others from picking up at claims by mistake. It's also very useful if the airline does misplaces it. You'd be surprised what the airlines will notices and I've seen more than a few guests get a lucky break this way.

Ship It: Services like Luggage Forward or Luggage Free allow for a worry-free travel experience at the airport. You can send your bags straight to your Hotel, Cruise Ship, or even Golf Course. It can be pricey if overnighting- around $150 for a 50lbs bag- but it's not really that much more than the airlines and it's a LOT less than UPS.

Spy on Your Stuff: Just like you're smartphone, you can have GPS coordinates on your bags at all time with the Trakdot. The small box will send location updates through SMS, email or through the Trakdot app and website.

Good Luck to all you traveling this Holiday Season. Hopefully your Holidays are bright!
Safe Travels,
~Greet

Being Fabulous on the Go

Some people travel without a thought to their wardrobe. I use to! Then in college a professor impressed on me how important perception can be in the travel industry. Now every trip is planned an packed in a simple, yet fashionable manner.

It's not hard. Heck, it's not even time consuming! Here is a basic example:

What have we done here? Well is was easy! Instead of assembling individual outfits, think instead of packing a collection – with pieces able to mix-and-match to perfection. Building a foundation of neutrals will allow for maximum mix-ability. 

• White (1 top + 1 bottom + complimentary top in black)
• Beige (1 top + 1 bottom + complimentary bottom in leopard print)
• Navy (1 top + 1 bottom + complimentary top in chambray)
• Tan (1 jacket)
• Black (1 LBD)

Then need to add your non-neutral color(s) into the mix. Keep in mind that any foundation colors you choose should have a 1 top and 1 bottom in that color, as well as another complimentary item.

• Sea Glass (1 top + 1 bottom + complimentary topper in tropical green)
• Kelly Green (1 accent top)
• Emerald Green (1 dress)

As you can see the outcome is very stylish and simple. I love how easy it is and you'll love how you look!

Fun for the WHOLE family

As summer break is coming to a close, the last thing you're probably thinking about is NEXT summer's vacation. But maybe you should be. I mean, how was the trip? Stressful? All-Inclusive? Did everyone enjoy themselves? Here are the top 5, as recommended by Parents magazine:
1. San Diego, CA
2. Portland, OR
3. Washington DC
4. Orlando, FL
5. Chicago, IL

Now, I'm going to help you plan this out. Maybe next year will go a little smoother ;)

San Diego, what a city?! It's really beautiful. Take my advice and stay near the downtown (Gaslamp District) the trolly will take you everywhere you need to go. My choice for major highlighs would have to be the zoo, the USS Midway, and Balboa Park. Here's a great itinerary I stumbled upon. I couldn't have planned it better myself... other than to space it out! I would suggest this same trip but over 2days!

Portland is every Foodie parent's dream vaca! And while you're stuffing your face there are some pretty cool things to see along the way. A very good friend of mine lives here now with her young family and she suggested the following:  Spend an afternoon at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), including a tour of the USS Blueback Naval submarine. Drink a heavenly seasonal Burgerville milkshake, made with local huckleberries, caramel apples, or chocolatey hazelnuts. And finally,  get a bird’s-eye view from the Portland Aerial Tram.

Washington D.C. was a family favorite for my clan growing up. My dad lived there when he was in the Coast Gaurd so he knew all the tricks and tips. We went several times while growing and I've since been with friends. I know it as one of my homes! Here's the best part- It's CHEAP! All of the 17 branches of the Smithsoniam (this includes the ZOO!), there are several weeks worth of sights to see. Plus the area is steaped with rich revolutionary hiertage and military pride. I ALWAYS see the changing of the gaurds at Arlington- I remember doing this as a family, it really taught me so much respect for our armed forces. I also suggest picnicing on the Mall lawn. It really takes the rush out of a long day of exploring!

Orlando... well I live here, so you would think I would be it's biggest advocate. That would be wrong! But I know why everyone comes here, I work for that very company. That being said, there is more to Central Florida than a mouse and his 4 theme parks that couldn't possibly be covered in a single trip! My suggestion: Half the stay doing theme parks, half the stay at the beach- Clearwater is amazing, sometimes you can even see dolphins!

Chicago- My one true love! At least it is in this country. The heart and soul of this city is in it's communities. My favorite being Lincoln Park. I suggest staying there and taking the EL into the Loop area. It's a fun lesson on mass transit for the kids! Once in downtown you have so much you can see and do. Everyone picks the Shedd Aquarium and it is amazing, but head down the road just a bit and also check out the Adler Planetarium! They have really cool exhibits that should interest the whole faily.

Hope this makes next summer a little easier!

Try something new

A big part of traveling is eating. That's usually why, much to my mother's frustrations about 50% of my photos are of food. I am a firm believer that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach and the same is true for a country's heritage. So much of our customs and traditions are based around a family meal and that's why I encourage you to take risks- try the street vendors, and bar bum restaurants that are open until 6am! This is how you get to know the people of a country. These are the very reason that I like to go to the grocery store- it's a learning experience!

However, all that being said I know exactly how intimidation some foods can be if you've never had them. I want this new segement of the blog to be dedicated to your food education, in hopes that you walking into a little hole in the way dive and don't get treated like a tourist!

Lesson 1: Sushi
I have just the chart for this!

Update on helpful Travel Apps.

So a few months back I posted a list of travel apps and I recently stumbled upon this new list. There is some overlap, but I wanted to post an update so check it out:

The Finale of Alice's Adventure

Prague- Walking tour of the city and The Lennon Wall.

This piece of wall is the only that it is completely legal to graffiti in the city.

Copenhagen- This was a city for wandering! Obviously, find your way to the docks and snap a pic with The Little Mermaid... and all those random elephant statues they have there. I also highly recommend Tivoli Gardens. This was the most influential theme park Walt Disney visited in his trips around the world. He considered it a huge inspiration for his Disneyland, in California.

Not exactly what you get in the movie.

Edinburgh- My favorite city in the WORLD!!!! While the walking tour here is amazing, what I highly suggest is the HAUNTED walking tour. I also suggest hiking up Arthur's Seat, the view is well worth the walk!

This natural wonder takes you high about the city, allowing you to spy down on the Royals if they're in town!

Zurich- Most of Zurich's sights are located within the area on either side of the Limmat river, between the Main railway station and Lake Zurich. The churches and houses of the old town are clustered here, as are the most expensive shops along the famous Bahnhofstrasse. The Lindenhof in the old town is the historical site of the Roman castle, and the later Carolingian Imperial Palace.

Luxembourg- Places of interest include the Gothic Revival Cathedral of Notre Dame, the fortifications, the Grand Ducal Palace, the Gëlle Fra war memorial, the casemates, the Neumünster Abbey, the Place d'Armes, the Adolphe Bridge and the city hall. I think top on my list would be the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, because I'm so patriotic.

Budapest- I have not yet had the pleasure of exploring this city, but a good friend told me that it took her breath away- even in the dead of winter. I highly recommend getting a little lost in this one! Take a walk in the evenings down the great Danube and stop in a street side cafe. Explore the culture and visit Castle Hill, the historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings.

Istanbul- Don't miss the Silahtarağa Power Station, now the art museum SantralIstanbul. Then hit the shops! Istanbul has numerous shopping centers, from the historic to the modern. The Grand Bazaar, in operation since 1461, is among the world's oldest and largest covered markets.

Alice's Adventure Continues!

Pisa- Go ahead, take the silly picture! You know you want to and besides, everyone else is. It's OK to be cliche every once in a while. Now get out of my way, we're in Wine Country!!! I know I'm excited to see it all for myself this month.

Venice- Everyone scrambles to pay a fortune for a brief ride in one of those gonadals, but I say forget 'em! I had the best of times simply strolling along the many streets and dipping into the shops. You have to try Carpaccio! I thought it was going to be gross, but I loved it. 

Rome- "When in Rome..." you've got two options: Cliche or Once-In-A-Lifetime! Since Sandman Tours doesn't extend into Italy you probably thought you were off the hook for a walking tour, right? Think again! Be prepared for a taste explosion on this unique style of tour: Eating Italy. Are you brave? Do you have a death wish? Rent a scooter and do as the Romans do... run red lights!

Florence- Great places to walk include along the Arno and across any of its bridges; through narrow, medieval back streets in the Santa Croce area; and in the Oltr'Arno - on the south side of the river, in many ways like Rome's Trastevere or Paris's Left Bank - but far, far smaller. There are also superb shopping streets, such as the Via Tornabuoni, the Via del Parione, and the Via Maggio.

Milan- what makes Milan interesting compared to other places is that the city is truly more about the lifestyle of enjoying worldly pleasures: a paradise for shopping, football, opera, and nightlife. Milan remains the marketplace for Italian fashion. Must See's:
         the Duomo, one of the biggest and grandest Gothic cathedrals in the world
         La Scala, one of the best established opera houses in the globe
         the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, an ancient and glamorous arcaded shopping gallery
         the Brera art gallery, with some of the finest artistic works in Europe,
         the Pirelli tower, a majestic example of 1960s modernist Italian architecture
         the San Siro, a huge and famed stadium
         the Castello Sforzesco, a grand medieval castle
... Sorry, that was way more than 2 things!

Dubrovnik- Croatia is Top on my bucket list currently. I read an article in Food & Wine that Croatia was producing the best wine in the world in 2012. So 1st thing to do: DRINK WINE! Walk on the walls around the old town, great views. It is highly recommended to visit the walls during the early morning hours or the late afternoon hours during mid-summer months as it can become hot.

Athens- Mythology is a passion of mine and no one tells a story like the Greeks. If you're there during the summer attend an event at the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. It runs during the summer and offers a wide spectrum of events covering almost every taste. Try to attend a performance at the ancient theater of Epidaurus -a truly unforgettable experience. See the Parthenon before it crumbles.

Vienna- There are 21 marketswith stands and small characteristically Viennese hut-like shops that are open daily (except Sunday). Additionally many of these have true farmers' markets, often on Saturday mornings. There is a large variety of sellers and markets, from the upscale to the dirt cheap. You have to try some Schnitzel!

Munich- Guess what?! We've back in Sandeman land! Which means awesome walking tours for FREE. Get excited people. The tour begins on Marienplatz (Mary’s square) at 10:45am and 1pm every day in all weather. Have a beer! The Hofbräuhaus may be the most famous (and certainly the most touristy) beer hall, but there are countless more beautiful beer halls scattered throughout the city.

Berlin- This is a big city, so you might be VERY tired after the 3.5hour tour. Still, it's worth it: The start point for this tour is in East Berlin at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM at the Brandenburg Gate, in front of Starbucks. (S/U-Bahn Brandenburger Tor). If that's too much, then grab one of those hop on and off buses. You can cover a lot of ground on those without exhausting yourself too much. You can't come to Germany without trying Döner, it is a flat bread, filled with Lamb or chicken meat and vegetables,you can get it at many Turkish stands.

Frankfurt- I'm completely biased since I lived here for 8 months. I love the city, it's a beautiful blend of modern and historical. The Rhomer is in the heart of the city and you should see it, but my must-sees will take you out to the far sides of the city. The Palmengarten is one of my favorite hideaways in the city. It's acres and acres of beautiful gardens. A relaxing way to pass the afternoon. Then grab a traditional bite: Currywurst at my favorite little dive- Culux. It's about a block and a half north on Oeder Weg from the Ubahn station Eschenheimer Tor.