Traveling the world is a venture as old as civilization. Human beings are curious wanderers by nature and necessity. Now the advancement of travel technology is moving rapidly that it’s ever easier to plan, book, and communicate our travel needs. Everyone has a super computer in their pocket. The latest travel apps are making it easier to get out and discover the little corners of the world that we’ve always dreamed of experiencing.

Some may say things are getting too digital for the “wanderer’s spirit.” They say point of getting away is to disconnect from technological pressures and crutches - reconnect with nature and rediscover intimate moments with actual people. I agree this idea is true to the free-spirited mindset of a traveler. In fact the apps that once distracted us are being reined in by new tech designed to course-correct our cell phone obsession and allow us to reengage with each other without sacrificing our use of technology altogether. 

But how much tech is too much tech? 

We are constantly updating our circle of friends on what we are doing on a daily basis. Checking-in to restaurants, sharing our Spotify playlist, and recording videos of our weird cats for all of Facebook to see. When we travel, we post our moments to Instagram so everyone can co-experience our vacation with us. It’s the way of life we’ve all become accustomed to. This is so normal now that it’s difficult for us to recall the days when we didn’t know what Cousin Deedee was doing all week unless we called her to find out!

Despite all of our distraction with technology, the wanderlust of raw, unchained adventure is still thriving among those of us who have it in our blood. It’s something that we can try to tame, but if we are true to ourselves, it will always be the catalyst of discovery in our lives – discovery of other worlds, discovery of ourselves. Technology can be used to our benefit, but we must always strive to be present in those moments of discovery. 

Share your thoughts:

• How do you use technology when you travel or make travel plans? 
• Do you unplug when you’re on vacation? 

I’ve thought a lot about how I would approach the topic of trip budgeting, mostly because it is a beast of a topic, but also because there are so many “how-to” articles already out there and I don’t want to give the same old spiel. This won’t be your typical “put away X amount each month” kind of advice. I’ll share what worked for me and give you the honest run-down of how I managed to afford a 10 day European adventure with zero savings to start. 

Single-hood has its advantages. As a young independent single woman, I started my trip planning with a built in advantage – my income supports me alone. I understand that this is not true for many people who are nevertheless ferociously bitten by the travel bug. And it’s also not a requirement to achieve your dreams of traveling the world. But in my case, it helped me to be able to afford the length and type of trip that I took. For those with family obligations, longer prep times or shorter trips can make up the difference.

Tax refunds are for splurging. A huge part of my travel budgeting came from my annual tax refund. Everyone has different factors that affect how much they will receive each spring (or by the second week of February if you’re on top of things!), but most of us get something back. Use this lump sum to your advantage when planning your trip. If you’re not getting a refund, set up your filing status at work to reflect fewer exemptions. You’re essentially building your vacation fund in between tax days.

It’s all about who you know. Knowing someone with connections is not only great for a job hunt, it pays off for travel too. I am blessed to be able to call some wonderful (and wonderfully connected) people my friends. I know professional musicians, amazingly in-demand photographers, savvy business networking gurus, and a successful manager at a well-known hotel chain. While we didn’t actually stay in their hotels on our trip, we were still able to reap the benefits of their employee rewards program. Thanks to my connected friend's generosity, we were able to take a day trip, go on a riverboat cruise, and take advantage of free and discounted site-seeing opportunities at no charge to us!

This next part is a bit controversial, so I’ll only briefly put it out there – Your IRA or other investment accounts can be tapped into…for a price. It’s always advised not to touch these accounts, but at the end of the day it’s your money and your decision. If you have a lifelong dream to go on safari in the Australian Outback or to journey to the Holy Lands, what you allow to stand in your way is up to you. This is obviously not a piggy bank for your yearly vacation – it’s more of a “cannot miss this once in a lifetime opportunity” option.

Credit cards, preferably with rewards, are the safest way to book reservations and spend money overseas. This is not to say that your credit card limit should be your trip budget, but it’s okay to use it now and pay it down later. This is a major reason why I spend a long time planning an international trip and why I spread out my adventures (currently to every other year). Once you’re back home, it’s time to regroup financially by paying down the credit cards you used and building your savings accounts back up. And on that note…

It truly is helpful to attempt to put away some cash every month. If you examine where your non-bill paying money is spent each paycheck, you’ll probably find that it mostly goes to eating out and buying random articles of clothing just because they are on sale. If you can manage to cut back on just those two things, you might be surprised at how much money you can save toward your dream vacation.

So there you have it – a little unconventional, but a tried and tested way to get out see the world. If some of these options seem out of your reach, there are many other ways to get there. Plan out one part at a time – the plane tickets, the apartment/hotel booking, the food budget. Believe me when I say the sacrifice will be worth it.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share below.

It’s the kind of thing you don’t realize has happened until it’s all said and done. You’ve just had an amazing adventure and now you're back home. You want to share said adventure with the world – well, your world – and you want to do it while it’s still fresh and new and exciting! Not to mention, everyone is asking you about where you’ve been and sometimes it’s just hard to describe without the visual element. So you set aside some time to go through your SD card and compile your best shots into a “foreign adventure highlight reel” for all to see.

Now some may consider this a bit old-school - these days people take advantage of those instant access applications that none of us can seem to do without. Our friends and family can essentially go on vacation with us as we Instagram and tweet our experiences in real time. Just check yourself in at the summit of la tour Eiffel or #cheerio at the base of Big Ben – vicarious vacations for all!

But I’m a bit of an old-school kind of girl (the kind of girl who tried the e-reader thing and still prefers actual books, but I digress). So a year ago, I grabbed my trusty digital camera, freshly equipped with a brand new 8 gig SD card, and set off on my adventure to Paris and London. I snapped hundreds of photos a day, not wanting to miss any detail, taking duplicates and triplicates to be sure I got the right angle of every slightly interesting thing I experienced. I figured, I could sort out the crap shots later, I just needed to make sure everything was covered.

Back at home I found myself with the urgent desire to share one of the most important experiences of my life and feeling the pressure to satisfy inquisitive minds. I dug in to tackle the mound of digital media before me and managed to narrow it down to 700 or so for a slideshow I was creating, and then down to 500 or so for print photos. From there I managed to select just under 50 for that all-important Facebook share – believe me, it was no easy feat! 

But why take so many photos in the first place? Never mind the work of curbing them down for sharing, don’t you risk actually missing the experience if you’re always behind the camera? 

This awareness was always in the back of my mind. I wanted to be present, but I wanted to create a proper record as well - each travel adventure we experience is truly unique. My aim is to travel the world for the rest of my life – be it once every other year or once every other month. Whatever I do, I’ll always be planning that next trip. Even if I return to Paris again (and I hope to), I will not likely travel those same streets with the same friend and in the same frame of mind that I had on the trip I took last year. It’s a multidimensional experience that I want access to over and over again. I want to always remember those instants from every aspect and the best way I could think of to save them, was to capture them on film. If it turned out I was a bit overzealous, well that's what the delete button is for.

Despite the sheer volume of pictures I acquired, somehow I managed to remain blissfully in each moment, careful not to allow myself to only see Europe from behind the lens of my camera. I did this by making sure I was in the picture as well. This is the key to giving into the urge to take a thousand photos on your 10 day trip. If you ever find yourself behind the camera too often, stop and look up at where you are - hand someone else the camera and let them capture you unapologetically enjoying the moment for yourself.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share below.

“Travel is never a matter of money, but of courage.” – Paulo Coelho

The truth of this quote can be lost it the hyperbole. Of course travel takes money – not as much as people assume sometimes, but it costs nonetheless. I believe the true sentiment here is that if someone has the courage and the will to do something, it can be done.

We can do what we decide we will do. It does not matter how difficult it may appear to be from the outside. It does not matter how many others have tried and failed. It does not matter what it will cost in time, money, resources, effort, or sacrifice. If a person truly wants something – and I mean absolutely irrevocably wants something - they will find a way to get it. It’s the way of the human spirit. There is something in us that won’t rest until we’ve attained it. 

Now you may be saying, “But I’ve been there and it didn’t work for me – I wanted something so bad, but I just didn’t have the means to get it….” To that I’d venture to guess that you were afraid of something. Maybe the result of actually getting that thing you wanted would put you out of your comfort zone. Maybe you would have to give up a habit that you’ve grown attached to in order to achieve that goal. Maybe the thought of failing consumed you to the point where all you could visualize was the embarrassment that would follow. Break it down – fear will be at the core of why that thing you wanted did not materialize.

Fear is the only thing that prevents us from actually getting what we want for our lives. When it comes to travel, the fear may be the flying part, or the foreign language part, or the asking for help part. A big obstacle for many of us is our job. Maybe the money you make at work can barely pay your bills - this is a real challenge, but there are still opportunities for travel with charity organizations, foreign exchange work programs, or even personal networking. Maybe you don't have the vacation days to take – plan a trip for a holiday/long weekend, or check if your company offers a leave program. Or if your job is truly holding you back from the adventurous life that you want, consider saving up for a career change and take a sabbatical in between (I'll fill you in on how I did it in another post). 

The excuses are endless, but so are the solutions! Just ask yourself what you really want and then keep challenging yourself to honestly answer this question: Why not?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share below.

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous

You’re an adult now. School is out. You’re living an independent lifestyle, away from family perhaps, or rooming with friends. You’ve got your first real job, maybe at a high-rise in town. Or maybe you’ve been in the game for a few years…or 10. You’re holding it down with a mortgage and family life knocking at your door. You think your clock is ticking and it’s time to move onto the next proper phase in life. No matter your situation at this moment, you may have heard some of this helpful advice along the way:

“Pay your dues, get in line, and go after the American Dream.”

“If your job is tough, suck it up. No one “loves” their work.”

“Put down some roots and start a family before your window of opportunity passes.”

“If you’re feeling a little restless and like you don’t belong in this rat race called life, there are pills for that.”

Right…helpful.

There is an annoyingly permeating belief that wanderers, or those who strive to always be “anywhere but here” are just trying to escape their responsibilities, their jobs, their lives. The assumption is that they just can’t handle real life and grown up obligations. 

The truth is there are simply different types of people in this world. Some seek security and a more rooted life – either out of innate desire or a respectable sense of duty to themselves or their family. Others seek novelty and a less rooted life – either out of innate desire or a respectable sense of duty to themselves or their family. Different goals, same drives - both valid.

The travelers, the wanderers, the free-spirited risk takers – and those of us who are wondering if we are – we are not escapists for the sake of dodging reality. We are escapists of a “reality” that doesn’t quite fit us. If you’re reading this blog, there’s a good chance that you’re leaning toward the way of the novelty seekers. I have no doubt that for us, incredible experiences are just waiting to happen. It’s a matter of choosing to go where life can take us.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share below.

I admit I was hesitant when my friend first suggested that we look into renting flats or apartments for our European adventure. Well, maybe a little more than hesitant…it was more of a “Whatchoo talkin ‘bout Willis?” kind of moment. 

You mean you want me to sleep in someone else’s bed, use their dishes, their shower, and otherwise be in their personal space amongst their personal things, for several days in a foreign country? Uh, let me think about that one.

But after I did a little research (ok, a lot) and looked at the savings versus the hotels in the area, I started to open up to the idea. Then I realized the range of neighborhoods that we could explore and the opportunity to “live like a local” became hugely appealing to me. This was really going to add to our adventure.

The idea of renting a flat as opposed to booking a hotel is becoming more and more popular. Living like the locals do has its benefits. In choosing a flat, you have a better opportunity to experience the various neighborhoods of a metro area. In London for example, the neighborhoods of Chelsea, Camden, and Greenwich each have different characteristics that would make for a distinct experience depending on where you choose to stay (more on London neighborhoods in a future post). Hotels, on the other hand, are usually only available in limited areas (read: typical tourist spots).

Renting a flat will also save you money. In my research, I found they were 10 to 25 percent cheaper than booking a hotel. Plus, you would typically have a kitchen and laundry available which is invaluable when you’re trying to save on food costs and when you’re traveling light. And the idea that you’ll be living in someone else’s personal space is not entirely true. While there are some inhabited apartments that people sublet, many are solely rented to travelers.

There are a few good services available for online booking – we used Airbnb and I would recommend them for ease of use and a wide variety of possible rentals. So when planning your next trip, do a little neighborhood research, check out some reviews and consider giving a flat a chance!

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share below.

“Une grande cafe, sil vous plait…. Uh, PLUS grande sil vous plait!” 

This was me trying to order a large coffee in Paris last year (fyi – no such thing). 

I cannot tell you how broken and sparse my use of the beautiful French language was on that trip. If I weren’t so caught up in the surreal experience of actually being back there, I would have been mortified! But it got us by. 

It’s a bit ironic because here at home, I knew French speaking people who I could have sat with over the years and honed my skills, but didn’t because I was afraid my pronunciation was no good and I’d just embarrass myself. Amazing what a desperate situation will embolden you to do – and yes, scoring more than a teacup-sized serving of my morning joe qualified as a desperate situation! 

Besides ordering cafes, croissants, and carafes du l’eau, we didn’t have to use much French. But when we did, we noticed a more helpful vibe emerge before us. A simple “merci” goes a long way in Paris. Even just  knowing a few nouns like “le metro”, “la porte de sortie”, and “la toilette” show an effort that the French will appreciate. You can pose these words as questions with just the tone of your voice (not quite correct, but it works in a pinch). I would suppose it works in a similar way with other languages in other foreign countries, though I only have the French experience under my belt for now.

Visiting a foreign country with some language skills in your repertoire will portray a sign of respect and can make all the difference in the experience you have with the locals. So try dusting off that old high school textbook or buy a translation dictionary (that includes phrases) to brush up before your trip. If you’ve never had any experience with foreign language, there are beginner lessons you can download. I recommend Behind the Wheel for the very basics, but skip the counting lessons and jump in at the simple phrases. You don’t need to know much, but it helps to know something.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share below.

First, I’ll say, there is much respect reserved for people who go out and do “social things” alone. It’s seen as a mark of maturity and confidence and in certain situations it’s just plain ballsy. Going out to see a movie, dining out in a popular restaurant, checking out a ballgame or a concert – going solo in these social settings can be liberating. You may discover something new about yourself or pay attention to things you hadn’t before. I definitely recommend challenging yourself to try it (if that would be a challenge for you). However, going solo on a trip to a foreign country, or even another state, is a whole other beast. 

Now, we all know there are plenty of people who trek across the globe on their own journeys of self-discovery (many of them have their own travel blogs!). Or you may personally know someone who just likes to go off alone once a year to a mountain cabin to reflect on life or work on his memoir. To each, his own and more power to them! It truly is a mark of confidence and shows a desire for self-awareness – good stuff. But I would say, if you’re a newbie traveler or you’ve never been out of the country before, take a friend. 

Experiencing a new country, people, and culture is an exciting experience. It’s one that you’ll want to share. Having a friend with you to co-experience a truly awesome moment or to capture those photos of you in front of the Eiffel Tower (selfies are nearly impossible in this case, trust me) is indispensable. 

Not only will you be able to share all the fun, but you’ll also have each other’s backs. Being safe in foreign country is a no-brainer (though…it does require using your brain – more on that in another post). The good old buddy system rule comes into play here. You can research to your hearts content, but when you’re lost in the seedy part of Camden, you’ll feel loads better knowing you’re not there alone. Plus two heads are better than one – it’s much easier to work your way out of a sticky situation with two minds engaged in the process.

I will confess, I have not yet ventured out on a solo trip. I’m sure there are many benefits to this, but I haven’t experienced them…yet. When I do, I’ll be sure to fill you in on what I learn. Until then, you’re probably wondering how to actually get a friend to commit to a big trip – see more about that here.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share below.

Let's be honest. Half the time you spend in that work cubicle, you’re not actually working, but daydreaming about being anywhere but there. Between spreadsheets, phone calls, and coffee breaks, you’re wishing you could be on a faraway Tahitian beach, sipping Mai-tais, and feeling the breeze on your face. Or maybe you imagine yourself backpacking through Spain with your 10th grade conversational Spanish skills barely getting you by. Or maybe you’re longing for the rush of an international city – London’s crowded tube and countless pubs are beckoning you to “live like a local” to your heart’s content.

We’ve all been there – that place in our minds – our escape zone. 

As young professionals working to make our way in this world, it’s easy to fall into the rut of our daily grind. We seek an escape, if only a mental one, to relieve some of the pressure and remind us that we are human beings with a desire to experience all that life has to offer. But this mental escape can become a reality with a little planning and a lot of determination. Even if you don’t think you can afford it, or you don’t have a lot of vacation time, or you don’t know a word of French (Spanish, Mandarin, etc.), it IS possible to see the world! In fact, it’s important that you do. 

You know there is more to life than the four walls of your cubicle, your apartment, and your favorite spot for Friday night happy hour. Whatever your four walls are, if you’re ready to go beyond them, keep reading. There’s much more to come!

Share your thoughts:

• Can you relate?
  
• What is your dream "escape zone?"