Tips for Travelling

I absolutely love to travel!  I've had the privilege to go to lots of places but my favorite is Europe!

I've been to Ireland, England, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,  and Moscow!   And that's just in Europe!  I've gotten to go visit around 30 countries so far. According to the Visited App, I've seen 13% of the world!

I have a friend that is planning a six week tour of Europe this summer and I just get so excited thinking about her trip!

I know that these kind of trips are so eye opening.  They expand your horizons.  They broaden your thinking.  You learn so much history.  You see some spectacular things.  And your love of travel will deepen.  The more you see, the more you will want to see!

So, what's my biggest tips on travelling overseas?

Before you go & packing:

Packing cubes -  These are absolutely essential for packing!  They keep everything nice and organized and you can fit so many more things in your bag.  As you go through the trip, you can keep your dirty clothes separated too.  Love using these!

Pack light - Europe has lots of cobble stone roads and a lot of stairs! You don't want to be wheeling around a big suitcase with those obstacles!  It's much easier to take a backpack. Or at least a small carry on suitcase and a backpack. Pre trip- I usually get everything I think I want to take and dump it in a pile about a week before I go.  Then a few days later, I go through it all again and take out about of third of it.  If you "might" need it then don't take it.  You more than likely won't wear it.  Don't take anything that you won't wear at least twice. Plan on wearing things multiple times. Take more tops than bottoms. Definitely take 2 pairs good walking shoes because there will be tons of walking.

While you are there:

Journal - One of my favorite things after a trip is looking back at my journals.  It's hard to remember all the things I did so a journal is the way to go!  While I'm travelling, I will take my journal and sit at a cafe, drink some lovely coffee and write down the things we did that day.  It's a great way to memorialize the trip and also rest my tired feet and people watch!

Money belt- So I carry a day pack for walking around during the day.  Some sort of cross body bag that I can throw in a water bottle, wallet, my journal, maybe a few snacks.  I also will wear a money belt under my clothes.  This only has emergency credit card and extra cash in it.  If for some reason my bag gets stolen (and thankfully I've never had that happen) I can have some extra cash and a card. On this same note, keep a photocopy of your passport and cards in you luggage and with your family at home. That way if anything happens, you will have the information to cancel cards or go to the consulate for passport. You do not need to carry your passport around during the day- just keep everything safely locked up at the hotel.

Money out of atms - I've found the best way to get money exchanged is to just get it out of the ATMs there.  It's a pretty good exchange rate and it's very convenient.  Just make sure and tell your bank before you go that you'll be travelling and the dates.  There is sometimes a foreign transaction fee but it's no more than a couple dollars usually. ATMs are everywhere there- mostly on the streets and most places take cash over cards.

Rick Steve's books - I can't tell you enough how helpful these books are!  He has all kinds of tips on seeing things on the cheap, where to stay, how to get tickets for attractions, very helpful maps.  He has some great self- walking tours, must see things in each city, etc.  Just find the book for the place you are going and read it / highlight it as you are travelling there for your must sees!  His website is also super helpful!

Ride metros - Every major city will have a metro.  Get to know them!  They are usually a great way to get from place to place.  You will see the locals and experience the culture!

City tourist cards - In a lot of the places, you can buy a City Pass card.  These cards will offer several of the big tourist attractions at one discounted price.  Most include a hop on/off bus too!

Take lots of pictures - It goes without saying, but take lots of pictures!  Don't forget to get yourself in them too!  I have several framed photos on my walls at home, great memories!

Ditch the souvenirs - The first time I went overseas, I brought everyone back a souvenir, well it turns out people don't really want them.  A better option is to buy postcards wherever you are.  You can mail them home of just put them in your bag (plus- they don't take up any room!)

Tours vs On your own

I've done it both ways, tours and on my own.  There are pros and cons to both.

Pros of a tour:
You don't have to plan where you are staying and what you are seeing.  There is free time too.  Most of the dinners and breakfasts are included.  Sometimes tours can be less expensive because it's a package deal. Here's where we've done most of our tours.  We did this one to Ireland.

Pros of on your own:
You can plan your trip how you want.  You are flexible if things change. You can stop as long as you want at places.

Also-- I've only in the last few years started bringing my hula hoop!  It's totally do-able and I love hooping at cool landmarks and pretty places!  I've got a hoop that you can Twist & Go and also a snap together one!  Check them out! Made by the lovely Geri!


So, where will you be going on your next adventure??

Steppin it up

I love my Fitbit.  I've been using it now for about 4 years-ever since I got a desk job and my life suddenly became very sedentary. 

I had read all the articles about sitting is the new smoking etc.  I went from raising 3 rambunctious  kids and being very active. I then switched to a retail job and was constantly on my feet.  But then I got an office job and whoa....  I got very very stationary. And so about 4 years ago, I decided to count my steps and see how much I really was moving.

I'm real goal oriented so I like the idea of "getting all my steps in" during the day.

But at first I just wanted to see how much I moved.  So I wore my Fitbit and went about my day as normal.

Turned out I was walking about 5000 steps a day.  So I set my first goal at 7000.  It was do-able and I didn't want to get too discouraged by not meeting my goal every day.  Then after several months of meeting this goal, I upped it by 1000. And as time went on, I gradually increased so that my goal now is 11,000.

Even in my office job, where I sit most of the day, I can reach this goal. It does take a little preparation though. 

So, how do I incorporate this movement during the day?  Well, here's just a few things: 

I walk during lunch. After I eat, I use the rest of my lunch hour for walking.  If it's nice, I walk outside. If it's hot, or rainy, I'll walk in the grocery store, or Walmart or Target.  Just up and down the aisles for at least 30 minutes.

I get up a lot during the day.  At least every hour, I'm up.  Any excuse to get up and move around.  I'll get up to take something to someone's desk.  I'll get up to walk down the hall.  I'll get up to go up and down the stairs.  Just any reason really.  I just don't sit at my desk for longer than an hour at a time.

I always go on a walk after work with hubby.  It's a great time to spend together time.  We love hiking trails or just walking to a restaurant or walking around the mall.  It's a great way to encourage each other and enjoy each other's company.

Even at home, if we are we are watching tv, I'll walk up and back and up and back the entire show.

If I'm on the phone, that's a great time to walk around and around.

I park a long way from the entrance of a store on purpose! 

My hula hooping is also a great way to work up some steps!!  Especially to a live concert! I get loads of steps then!

I also like to have little mini goals throughout the day.  1000 steps before work.  2500 before lunch.  5500 after lunch.  6500 before I leave from work.  Little goals to help me reach my daily 11,000 goal.

So it is possible, even with a desk bound job.

I'd love to raise my goal again.  I'll inch my way up so that I'm eventually at 15,000.  I unofficially have that as my weekend goal now!

A great book that really inspired me was this one by Katy Bowman. she talks about more than just exercising an hour a day but really focusing on the movements our bodies make throughout the day.  Check it out!

So what's stopping ya!  Let's get moving!