Traveling Tips

These tips saved my life while I traveled and I want to pass them on to all ya'll.

-Use Google Flights, Skyscanner, Hopper,
anything that will help you track amazing deals.

-Use Airbnbs! But do your research and see if hotels are cheaper or airbnbs. Costs differ for each place so while Airbnb might be cheaper in once place, hotels might be cheaper at another.

-Figure out if you like Airbnb's to hotels better. Some people like hotels better with cleaning and breakfast while others like the convenience of Airbnbs. Test around and see what works for you!

-Make sure you have data/wifi abroad. 12/10 recommend. This will save your life especially if you are in a different country. Everything is yours with a few taps of your fingers. Don't NOT use it. Seriously. Google Maps saved my life. Google Maps even saved my life in NYC when I was figuring out the subway system.

-Learn as much of the language as you can before hand. This would have saved me a few embarassing moments at a train station in Italy... just sayin'. Also the locals appreciate if you at least TRY to immerse yourself in their culture.

-Allow yourself some time to change your plans. Don't book yourself full before you even get there. Let yourself go with the flow and explore. Some of the best things I have done weren't in the plan before I arrived. This might help with disappointment if you feel like you didn't see as much as you thought you would. You have to take travel into account and that was a wake-up call for me. Plus some of my favorites days were just roaming around the city with no plans to hurry to.

-Get cash in the currency for the country where you are going. Switch at an ATM or legit currency exchange booth (usually found at airports). I've had many times where I wish I had cash on me because certain places didn't take a card.

-Find a card that doesn't charge foreign transactions fees if you can. Here's one website I found. Some charge a yearly fee so watch for that too. Find one that works for you and your budget. Also one that allows you to make travel notes and such so it doesn't get blocked while you are away (this has happened to me--worst feeling ever).

-I overplan and have physical copies of everything just in case something happens to my phone. Driver's License, tickets, etc. Have some sort of back-up! This gives me major peace of mind.

-Be careful of online purchases for events, activities, etc. Make sure you are getting the best deal, and that it is legit. I have no way to tell you how to figure that out one way or another, just be cautious and know who you are buying from.

Introduction

Guys.

Once upon a time Italy was my first trip ever that I had to plan literally every last detail (with my best friend and travel buddy for life). I was stoked beyond belief but also extremely overwhelmed. There is so much to consider when planning a trip to make it run smoothly. Having no prior knowledge about Italy, the first place I turned to was a blog. It was so simple and helped me out bunches. The idea for me to start my own travel blog has been nagging me in the back of my mind for years now ever since that first trip. I wanted a place where I could refer people when they asked me about my trips... making sure I left nothing out.

I dunno... I just want you to find the joy in travel that I found. That you never get used to the world around you, and that you are always looking to expand your mind and learn new things about yourself and the world around you.


-Haylie