I've rented cars in both Europe and Central America. Neither has been an enjoyable process, but to get the most experiences out of certain locations you sometimes can't void the pains. OR if you're traveling in a larger party, it is sometimes more economical to rent a car. Just beware, there are so many hidden fees with car rental. Budget Travel posted a great article about it, but those are just a few. Here are the ones that I had to learn the hard way!
Filling the Tank: In the U.S. we sure complain about the price of fuel, but let me assure you that we are better off than our European counterparts! On my Euro-Road Trip this past summer we spent more that 800EUROS in gas. It was unexpected and in the end, we wished we would have saved the money and each bought a rail-pass instead.
G.S.P Fee: This is the same everywhere, but in the U.S. I would never have thought of NEEDING a GSP. I'm pretty handy with a map, so I'm usually replying on those skills. However, in countries where I can't read the road signage as well, I have splurged on a G.P.S.- splurged being the operative word!
Like I previously stated, sometimes the need for a car is unavoidable, but here are some interesting alternatives. No matter where you travel, local or abroad beware of the hidden fees of the rental car!
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Traveling Alone
Solo journeys are something I true love. I embrace the excitement in knowing that this trip might change me and only me in some profound way. As a solo traveler I am more likely to stray from a path and just follow where my wondering heart leads... often I get lost, but the places I find are well worth the taxi ride back.
However, as a solo traveler I am reckless. I rarely think about my safety, which would make my family shiver. A 26yr old woman in a foreign place alone is a very easy target. Budget Travel post this article recently and I couldn't agree more. So what can we do to stay safe when traveling alone?
Dress: Be appropriate. What you are wearing says a lot to the public and in certain countries can seem as an invitation. Modesty is always the best policy.
Communication: I try to let my friends and family know points of contact on any trip I am taking. It usually includes my itinerary, housing information, and a schedule of times they should expect an email from me. I also have photocopies of all of my travel documents (passports, visas, birth certificate) with my next of kin.
Day Travel: Do most of your sightseeing during the day. If you want to visit something at night, be cautious. Stay in well-lit areas with lots of people.
Most importantly, use common sense. This is your safety! After all, we don't want this trip to be your last.
However, as a solo traveler I am reckless. I rarely think about my safety, which would make my family shiver. A 26yr old woman in a foreign place alone is a very easy target. Budget Travel post this article recently and I couldn't agree more. So what can we do to stay safe when traveling alone?
Dress: Be appropriate. What you are wearing says a lot to the public and in certain countries can seem as an invitation. Modesty is always the best policy.
Communication: I try to let my friends and family know points of contact on any trip I am taking. It usually includes my itinerary, housing information, and a schedule of times they should expect an email from me. I also have photocopies of all of my travel documents (passports, visas, birth certificate) with my next of kin.
Day Travel: Do most of your sightseeing during the day. If you want to visit something at night, be cautious. Stay in well-lit areas with lots of people.
Most importantly, use common sense. This is your safety! After all, we don't want this trip to be your last.
Not the work of an artist
I've never taken a photography course or followed a blog about it, but throughout my travels I have been fairly lucky with my pictures. I'm not sure what makes a great photo. I think it's something to do with lighting and composition, but for me, it's usually luck. Here are my favorite pieces of art down by my own hand. Share some of yours as well!
So are there any photos you've taken that have made you stop and think "Wow! Did this come from my camera?!" Share them with us!
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| Lake Arenal, Costa Rica- I like the contrast of Shadow and Sunset. |
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| Prague, Czech Republic- These are just parking barricades, but they lined up nicely. |
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| Kassel, Germany- Looks like something from Lord of the Rings to me. |
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| Rhine River, Germany- Perfect visual summery of late autumn in Germany. |
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| Washington D.C., Human Art |
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| Amsterdam, Holland- This was the set up of some little tourist shop and it turned out so great! Definitely my favorite! |
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| Gothenburg, Sweden- The Grass on either side makes this photo really pop! |
MIA, my bad!
Sorry I've been absent from the blog in the past two weeks. I have been moving apartments and going through the processes of an internal transfer with one of the largest companies in the world. It's all very excited and equally confusing, but for the most part my life is settling down a bit.
Something that I've observed during this move is that I am a terrible packer when it comes to moving! I can pack for a trip or vacation, but packing up my entire life is something that I have NO skill at. As I begin to sift through boxes and choosing new place for my treasures I find myself thinking "Why is this packed with this?! That makes no sense." Just goes to show how finite my skill set is!
Other announcements: My trip to Italy is on fast approach and I am excited to announce that the 2nd destination for this trip is going to be Budapest! There will be a blog highlighting this city in the near future. Also, my best friend has moved to Birmingham, so be prepared for a blog about that city after my next 3 Day weekend.
Lots happening people, isn't it so exciting!
~Greet
Something that I've observed during this move is that I am a terrible packer when it comes to moving! I can pack for a trip or vacation, but packing up my entire life is something that I have NO skill at. As I begin to sift through boxes and choosing new place for my treasures I find myself thinking "Why is this packed with this?! That makes no sense." Just goes to show how finite my skill set is!
Other announcements: My trip to Italy is on fast approach and I am excited to announce that the 2nd destination for this trip is going to be Budapest! There will be a blog highlighting this city in the near future. Also, my best friend has moved to Birmingham, so be prepared for a blog about that city after my next 3 Day weekend.
Lots happening people, isn't it so exciting!
~Greet
Monday, November 26, 2012
6 Tips for traveling with children
Encourage Their Inner Explorer. Safety may always come first, but you're not
traveling far and wide just to put the kibosh on adventure.
FamilyTravel.com's O'Rourke Hayes recommends, "While invoking proper
safety measures, encourage your young travelers to engage his or her
natural curiosity, push their own boundaries, and take increasing
responsibility. This is the best way for you and your child to maximize
learning along the way." And learning is exactly what family travel is
all about—for parent and child.
Pack Smart. Be choosy about what comes along, and remember that sometimes the simplest thing is the biggest lifesaver; Dubrow always brings blue painter's tape to use for everything from making a track for toy cars to baby-proofing. Another one of her favorite items is a CARES harness (she owns two), which weighs just 1 pound and lets you buckle a young child into an airplane seat without bringing along a bulky car seat.
Under-plan. Let "under-plan" be your family's one-word travel mantra. Candyce H. Stapen, a family-travel author and producer of the FamilyiTrips series of mobile apps, says to forget about doing it all: "It's not how much of a destination you see, but how much you and your kids enjoy the sites together. That special museum won't engage your grade-schooler if it's the fourth facility toured that day. Allow time for the serendipitous."
Mom-of-three Debbie Dubrow of DeliciousBaby.com adds, "Sometimes it can be difficult to just let things unfold naturally, but the time you spend in local playgrounds or at the market picking up a snack often helps connect you more deeply to the place you are visiting."
Get them involved. From planning to packing, your kids' participation is key, says Lynn O'Rourke Hayes, editor of FamilyTravel.com and family travel columnist with the Dallas Morning News. The mom of three sons recommends encouraging children to help research family-friendly activities, giving them a map so they get a sense of where they're going, and creating a list from which they can pack their own clothes and carry-on. "The more the kids are involved," she says, "the deeper the memory."
Nothing passes time like a nap. There was recently an article on Budget Travel about tricks to help kids fall asleep.
Check in with your child's teacher. One great part about traveling during the school year with young children is that a week of missed preschool or kindergarten isn't going to derail their academic careers. Still, communicate to the child what your plans are, and find out if your child might do a special show-and-tell presentation with a favorite souvenir when she returns.
If you're looking for more tips from experienced parents, check out this Blog.
Pack Smart. Be choosy about what comes along, and remember that sometimes the simplest thing is the biggest lifesaver; Dubrow always brings blue painter's tape to use for everything from making a track for toy cars to baby-proofing. Another one of her favorite items is a CARES harness (she owns two), which weighs just 1 pound and lets you buckle a young child into an airplane seat without bringing along a bulky car seat.
Under-plan. Let "under-plan" be your family's one-word travel mantra. Candyce H. Stapen, a family-travel author and producer of the FamilyiTrips series of mobile apps, says to forget about doing it all: "It's not how much of a destination you see, but how much you and your kids enjoy the sites together. That special museum won't engage your grade-schooler if it's the fourth facility toured that day. Allow time for the serendipitous."
Mom-of-three Debbie Dubrow of DeliciousBaby.com adds, "Sometimes it can be difficult to just let things unfold naturally, but the time you spend in local playgrounds or at the market picking up a snack often helps connect you more deeply to the place you are visiting."
Get them involved. From planning to packing, your kids' participation is key, says Lynn O'Rourke Hayes, editor of FamilyTravel.com and family travel columnist with the Dallas Morning News. The mom of three sons recommends encouraging children to help research family-friendly activities, giving them a map so they get a sense of where they're going, and creating a list from which they can pack their own clothes and carry-on. "The more the kids are involved," she says, "the deeper the memory."
Nothing passes time like a nap. There was recently an article on Budget Travel about tricks to help kids fall asleep.
Check in with your child's teacher. One great part about traveling during the school year with young children is that a week of missed preschool or kindergarten isn't going to derail their academic careers. Still, communicate to the child what your plans are, and find out if your child might do a special show-and-tell presentation with a favorite souvenir when she returns.
If you're looking for more tips from experienced parents, check out this Blog.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Dear Grandma
This post is about the importance of a proper postcard. Something every traveler needs to know!
I've never been much good with family communication. I've skipped a lot of family events over the years. It's not that I don't love them or that I'm not welcome, there's just always been reasons. It seemed like it was only going to get worse when I told my family I was dropping out of College and moving to Europe... Yeah, that's a big ol' bomb! Especially for my Grandmother. All of her other 8 grand children have college degrees, as do their spouses. Why did I have to be such a wild child? I was breaking her heart, she thought me a quitter and didn't understand my urge to roam at all.
I vowed to make her see that I was still getting an education! She was always a fan of a well written letter, usually LONG ones. I'm not much good for more than a paragraph or two, so I settled for Postcards. Killing two birds with one stone as it were. She would read about my adventures and learnings, while experiencing the same beauty I was witnessing first hand. I sent her one from each city I visited. I think in that 8months they totaled 10 or so. And they contained my whole heart.
So what goes into a great Post Card? It's simple, really.
1. Greet your audience. Make it familiar, something you would actually say. "Yo Bro!" or "Hey Lady" It doesn't need to contain their name since that will be in the address area.
2. Wish them well and that they were here with you! It leads right into the next part.
3. Explain the greatest thing you saw that day and how it made you think of them in some way. Let's face it, as much as they want to hear about what you're doing on your journey, they're still human! They wanna hear about themselves!
4. What's next? Are you catching a train or looking forward to a tour. Let them know there's more going on then could possibly be summed up here. They'll be looking for that next card!
5. Closing. Goodbyes and laters are the traditional ending. I, personally, use "Until next time!" it's just something that's stuck with me.
There you have it! Simple, but effective postcards. They mean more than you know to your friends and family.
Grandma has been gone 3 years now. I don't know if she ever forgave me for quitting college? I did go back, so that soothed her some what. After she passed, we cleared out her house and my aunt found all my postcards in a bundle along with letters from my Grandpa from WWII... I still write one for her on every trip, it's just that now I don't have to pay the postage.
I've never been much good with family communication. I've skipped a lot of family events over the years. It's not that I don't love them or that I'm not welcome, there's just always been reasons. It seemed like it was only going to get worse when I told my family I was dropping out of College and moving to Europe... Yeah, that's a big ol' bomb! Especially for my Grandmother. All of her other 8 grand children have college degrees, as do their spouses. Why did I have to be such a wild child? I was breaking her heart, she thought me a quitter and didn't understand my urge to roam at all.
I vowed to make her see that I was still getting an education! She was always a fan of a well written letter, usually LONG ones. I'm not much good for more than a paragraph or two, so I settled for Postcards. Killing two birds with one stone as it were. She would read about my adventures and learnings, while experiencing the same beauty I was witnessing first hand. I sent her one from each city I visited. I think in that 8months they totaled 10 or so. And they contained my whole heart.
So what goes into a great Post Card? It's simple, really.
1. Greet your audience. Make it familiar, something you would actually say. "Yo Bro!" or "Hey Lady" It doesn't need to contain their name since that will be in the address area.
2. Wish them well and that they were here with you! It leads right into the next part.
3. Explain the greatest thing you saw that day and how it made you think of them in some way. Let's face it, as much as they want to hear about what you're doing on your journey, they're still human! They wanna hear about themselves!
4. What's next? Are you catching a train or looking forward to a tour. Let them know there's more going on then could possibly be summed up here. They'll be looking for that next card!
5. Closing. Goodbyes and laters are the traditional ending. I, personally, use "Until next time!" it's just something that's stuck with me.
There you have it! Simple, but effective postcards. They mean more than you know to your friends and family.
Grandma has been gone 3 years now. I don't know if she ever forgave me for quitting college? I did go back, so that soothed her some what. After she passed, we cleared out her house and my aunt found all my postcards in a bundle along with letters from my Grandpa from WWII... I still write one for her on every trip, it's just that now I don't have to pay the postage.
pARTing keepsakes
Like most travelers, when you visit a new and exciting place you want to take a piece of it home with you. Jade statues from China, a pair of wooden shoes from the Netherlands, mini Eiffel towers sold in Paris... NICKNACKS! Or as my mom calls them: Clutter. Over time and many new apartments and cities, I have come to hate my junk. It looses it's meaning and just becomes one more thing to dust. I mean, I seriously own a hammock from Brazil when I spent my entire 3.5week trip sleeping in one... I haven't had a YARD in 4 years, why did I buy a hammock?!?!?! Oh the mistakes I've made.
Finally, I have discovered a new approach. After establishing that I want something different, even one of a kind that really speaks from the heart of a destination, I was offered this advice: buy the something that grows with you. Buy Art. Over time, you'll learn more about your style and taste.
In 2008 I went to Prague and on the Charles Bridge the street vendors fill the sides of the path with their paintings, drawings, and photography. The choices were overwhelming and every piece was beautiful. Finally, I found two that spoke to me. 5"X7" Water colors of the bridge. They were perfect and easy to carry around for the remainder of the trip. Upon returning home, I had them frame and they have decorated my various apartments ever since!
Art! The perfect keepsake. It varies from affordable to priceless. It's easy to transport... for the most part. Oil paintings are the exception, the canvas can't easily be rolled and they are sensitive to temperature. The best part, is that every place you travel becomes a part of your home as much as its be become a part of you!
Happy Travels!
Finally, I have discovered a new approach. After establishing that I want something different, even one of a kind that really speaks from the heart of a destination, I was offered this advice: buy the something that grows with you. Buy Art. Over time, you'll learn more about your style and taste.
In 2008 I went to Prague and on the Charles Bridge the street vendors fill the sides of the path with their paintings, drawings, and photography. The choices were overwhelming and every piece was beautiful. Finally, I found two that spoke to me. 5"X7" Water colors of the bridge. They were perfect and easy to carry around for the remainder of the trip. Upon returning home, I had them frame and they have decorated my various apartments ever since!
Art! The perfect keepsake. It varies from affordable to priceless. It's easy to transport... for the most part. Oil paintings are the exception, the canvas can't easily be rolled and they are sensitive to temperature. The best part, is that every place you travel becomes a part of your home as much as its be become a part of you!
Happy Travels!
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