Looking forward to it ALL year!

The week has come to a close and I can honestly say that #DISNEMAW2 surpassed all my travel expectations. But I'm sure you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about. Well, #DISNEMAW2 is my 2nd annual trip where friends from K-State come to Walt Disney World for a visit. It's not always the same people and it's actually, unofficially the 3rd year; but it's always a good time.

So how does a good annual trip get started? Well it begins with people and places- shared interests, essentially! I live here in Orlando and one of my best friends, Ryan still attends K-State. We both share a love for all things Disney, so it makes sense that he would want to come for a visit. However, traveling alone is always more expensive then traveling in a group so he convinced some of his buddie to join him.

Now there's a formula to how many people you can take on an annual trip. I personally believe that any more than 8 people is just too many. That being said, it really depends on the type of travel you are doing. The number should correlate to the number of beds you have. If your room only sleeps 4 people, bringing 5 would be a bad choice! However, bringing 8 would still be wise since you can simply book 2 rooms.

Also, having an odd number isn't always a bad thing. You just need to know your travel partners enough to know who will want to be part of the group and who will need that "alone time".

Finally, you need to figure out tasks and events that will be the stable of the trip. Out example, we shared at least 1 sit-down meal a day. We made our reservations and made certain that everyone knew the when and where of ot all. If you wanted to go off and do your own thing- great! Go for it! Just make sure you're back here for "family time".

Oh and this might now seem like such an important thing- or maybe you think you're too cool for it- but create a matching tshirt! It really gives a sense of unity and team to you trip. We waited until the last day to wear ours but we got a lot of compliments on them and it was fun to explain the meaning of DISNEMAW- Disney+EMAW (every man a wildcat)

Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to next year! We're decide a Disney Cruise is where it's at. The title is going to be #DISNEMAW3 "A Pirate's Life for Me"!

The ways of wanders.

There are few things in life that I love more than travel, but meeting a fellow Vagabond is definitely one of them. It's rare in this world that you find those few people who share your soul- desires, passions, ambitions. When it happens all that can remain is a bond of a lifetime. And for me, it happened this even as a Rocco's Tacos of all places!

I was attending a good friends birthday party. Unfortunately, this friend and I share very few friends so I had resigned myself to an evening of awkward small talk and pregnant pauses in conversation. When you're as much of a people person as I am you just know when you're going to be carrying a conversation and when it will just flow. Then out of the blue my friend introduces me to a colleague of his and says "oh you'll have loads to talk about with all the traveling you've both done." And that's how you get my attention!

We talked for well over an hour about where we've been, where we'd like to go,  her time living abroad, my time as an au pair- just on and on. If I didn't have plans for tomorrow, we would have stayed out for another hour at least!

Can I just say, when you really connect with someone it does 2 amazing things for you: rekindles your passion! I can't wait to get out there and see more, maybe with a new travel buddy. And it restores your faith in your fellow man- they may not love all the things I love, but there are a few people with a wandering soul out there. You just have to find them!

So to all my fellow wanders, Happy New Year and let's meet soon!

Lost but not forgotten

My title says it all today. I have been very lost lately, in work and career advancement. I have not taken the time to focus on my passion for travel and for sharing my passion with you, my readers. I'm hoping to change that. I'm trying my hardest to find a balance of work and personal time. This is a challenge everyone must face at some point in their careers, I'm just lucky enough that my passion for travel bridges my work and my personal loves.

But as I said, you are not forgotten! I recently was able to touch base with one of my great travel companions who will be visiting my this November and she reminded me of something I've been meaning to share with you all. She is my ticket to affordable travel!

Now how is that possible? Ever heard of a Buddy Pass?

A buddy pass is a coupon that is exchanged for an open seat on an airplane. When using a buddy pass, one doesn't pay for the actual flight, but pays for taxes and fees. Passengers using buddy passes are non-revenue, standby passengers who get the last open seats on flights after revenue passengers and airlines allocate buddy passes to employees that they can give to friends and relatives.

If you ever have the opportunity to travel this way, TAKE IT!!!! Often times these open seats are in first class! That's how I got to experience the luxury of Delta's First Class. It's been hard to go back to coach, but I really have NO money so I simple must.

This is why I have founded my new goal in life: Marry A Pilot!
Just kidding, but if he's dreamy then maybe I'm not ;)

Safe Travels, Friends! 

ROAD TRIP!!!!

I miss the Midwest. I've been want to visit home for a while now, but the 24hr drive is really off-putting. However, when I mentioned it to a friend the other day I save a light of excitement that only two words accurately describe: Road Trip.
What is it about the idea of eating, sleeping and singing in a car with your best mates that just makes you ache for the open road? Well what ever it is, I've got the fever. And what better to do with a fever than to share it!? So here's some food for thought:

Get to the car and put it into high gear! And travel on my friends, travel on!