First Time Tips

Hey Travel Gurus!
I am fully aware that a lot of the population has not traveled on a large scale before, and the lack of experience might inhibit them from wanting to try traveling in the future. I'm here to provide you with three steps to take before traveling for the first time to make your experience a whole lot better.

1.) Research - Stress is the biggest factor that can negatively affect a  travel experience and getting a general idea of what's to happen beforehand can eliminate a lot of the stress and worry that comes with traveling to an unknown place. Before going somewhere new, look into the place online and know what to expect. This will help you pack accordingly, and go into your adventure with the right mindset. Check the hotel's ratings online and look for fun things to do in the area so you aren't at a loss when arrive at your destination. Also be sure to research whether or not your location is friendly to your personal needs whether this be a certain diet or disability, you don't wan to get there and realize you can't eat or go anywhere safely. Get to know the place you'll be spending your time at so you don't have any unnecessary drama or anxiety when you arrive.

2.) Travel with those you love - Traveling solo is a great experience and shouldn't be undermined in any way. However, if you're a first time voyager, trekking through unknown terrain can be that much more nerve wracking when you're doing it alone. Ease into the amazing activity of traveling so you aren't introduced to the phenomenon in a negative manner. Traveling with someone you love and trust can help ease your tension and nervousness about traveling to a foreign location. Even if something scary or bad were to happen, you have someone to help you laugh it off and don't have to face the ordeal on your own. Traveling with people who are meaningful to you also helps you strengthen your bond to each other and create unforgettable memories. Be sure to document your experience physically or mentally so you''l be able to go back and reminisce on your positive experiences with each other.

3.) Take it easy - Traveling is a great experience and can be that much better if you just face it with the right attitude. Don't sweat the small stuff, and enjoy the fact that you had the opportunity to leave your busy life to experience the world around you. Live life on the edge and be spontaneous, because you'll regret a missed opportunity more than a negative encounter. Have fun, let loose, and just like with anything, face the situation with a positive attitude and it will inevitably become a positive experience.

Thanks for reading!
Taz

Preparing for Takeoff

Hey Tarvel Gurus!

Even though I love traveling via airplanes, I realize that boarding a plane to a destination isn't always a perfect experience. Looking back, I wish there were some things I learned beforehand, so I hope I can help you have a better aviation experience by sharing what I have found in my air travel experiences.

The first tip is in regards to clothing and is in my opinion, an essential part of having a great air travel experience. When running in a busy airport, comfort should definitely come before style. This isn't to say that you need dress like a hobo. Rather, just take it easy  and don't stress about it because chances are, everyone is too busy getting lost to notice the fact that your outfit colors don't match or that there's a stain on your shirt. Make sure you're comfortable and can easily maneuver in whatever you're wearing and try to dress in layers so you can adjust what you're wearing to the climate in the airport and ont the plane.

Secondly, puncatuality is everything. Do not under any circumstance underestimate how much time it takes from the moment of entrance to boarding your plane. Long lines, suitcase weigh-in, several security checks and getting a chance to eat all consume a lot of town. You also want to keep a safe time cushion as it can take a while to find your gate and in the event that you get lost or have a major setback at securit or customs, you won't be pressed for time.

Lastly, take care of yourself. Make sure to get a good night's sleep beforehand as the environment of a crowded airplane doesn't necessarily warrant peaceful sleep. Make sure to moisturize as the thin air when flying can quickly dry your skin. Stay hydrated and prepare yourself so you aren't met with unnecessary stress at the airport and just stay positive. Everything's a lot more fun that way :)

Hope this helped and thanks for reading!

Taz

How to Look Like a Local in Terrific Tunisia

Hey Travel Gurus!

Being the first US born member of my family, I have a strong connection with the birthplace of my parents and the location of my ancestral lineage. For me that's the wonderfully tiny North African country of Tunisia. The beauty of the culture and the landscape reflects in the fashion choices of people there and I'm here to tell you how to dress, should you ever find yourself in the gorgeous Mediterranean country.

Tunisia's climate is fairly platonic meaning that you don't need to worry too much about dressing for crazy weather. Winter however can be a little chilly and rainy, but that is about the extent of weather change you would experience there. The citizens of Tunisia are very eclectic due to the vastly different fashion choices prevalent in each city. No matter where you are in the country however, the one common variable in dress code is bright colors, comfortable clothing and light materials. Flowy dresses and shorts are very popular for ladies while simple shorts and bro tanks are usually worn by the guys. There are also distinct traditional clothing items that you can find spattered among the street scene although those are usually worn by elderly natives. Be sure though if you plan on buying anything from the markets, that the quality is worth the price, as vendors can sometimes paly up the price, so don’t be afraid to bargain. Shopping in the clothing or even food markets can be a great experience so don’t miss out on it. The downtown area also usually has many store chains you can find in the US and store chains unique to Tunisia. Try to explore as much as you can!

An additional tip about Tunisia is be prepared for the friendliness there! Hospitality is a very important custom and social interactions are centered on the idea of treating their guest, and in this situation, you're the guest! Make sure to welcome this custom as much as you can as it is easy to come off as rude or arrogant if you refuse their services.

As well as the beautiful people, try and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Each city is like its own country in that they each specializes in its own industry and has it own unique and flourishing culture.

All in all make sure to dress in what suits you, what makes you comfortable and what makes you happy to help you enjoy your trip. Thanks for reading!

Taz

How to Look Like a Local in Fantastic France

Hey Travel Gurus!

When I was very young, I was fortunate to join my parents on an expedition to France so my dad could rejoin with old friends. Although I was too young to remember most details of the trip, let alone what people wore, I have many friends back in the country and through stalking their social media and doing research of my own, I feel pretty in touch with the style of clothing in France.

One thing I definitely notice in French clothing styles is the seriousness to which people regard clothing- this is of course to be expected in one of largest fashion cities in the world. Although clothing style is of higher caliber than in England, for the most part, no one is overly done while walking the streets. However women's makeup is far more refined and heavier in France and hair is done up on a regular basis. Men also show obvious signs of painstaking hair care. Despite this, the wardrobe of an average Parisian is constituted mainly of chic basics. Simple blouses and cute flats makeup a woman's average outfit while men go for a nice pair of jeans and  a nice button up. If you're still stressed on how to dress if a trip to France is in your near future, remember to keep it simple yet stylish. Don't overdo it but don't be afraid to add your own little flare to your style in the form of bold jewelry or eccentric tennis shoes. Just have fun with it and remeber to stress less about your clothing and more about where the nearest crepe stand is.

A tip about the people in France is that they regard social politeness very highly so be sure to greet others with a positive attitude and be aware of situations whee it is appropriate to buy a gift (i.e flowers or chocolate) such as when someone invites you over. People there are also rather independent and like to carry on their daily tasks without being interrupted, so just try to not intrude on other's personal lives and keep a smile on your face; you are in France for Pete's sake!

Thanks for reading!

Taz

How to Look Like a Local in Endearing England

Hey Travel Gurus!

A couple of years ago I got the chance to  enjoy some time in London, the economic hub of England during the summer. While enjoying the sights I picked up on some aesthetic patterns in the clothing of locals and tourists alike. I noticed, as in many places in Europe, that the clothing style was elegant yet extremely laid back and simple. I noticed many bright colors in people's clothing although I'm told that neutrals are the way to go during colder periods of time. Everyone was dressed quite comfortably in sundresses or tanks and shorts and flats for girls or t-shirts with pastel shorts for guys. The main consistency between everyone was that no one was overly done and most people were dressed simply yet still stylishly. My main tip for dressing in England is to wear relaxed yet presentable clothing and also keep up with current trends as that is very apparent in the way people dress.

Thanks for reading gurus!

Taz

Travel Bag Essentials

Hey Travel Gurus!
Traveling can be a stressful situation and keeping your essentials with you is a great way to bring a piece of home away from home. A mini portable travel bag you can bring with you is a great way to store necessary items and have them with you wherever you go. It can be difficult however trying to fit everything you use on a day to day basis in a tiny pouch, but I'm here to help you through the process.

1.) Pick a pouch. Especially if you're riding a plane to your destination, it is extremely important to make sure your carry-on bag meets the guidelines. Other than that, make sure that your bag is conveniently sized to be taken with you the entire trip but can still fit everything you plan on taking with you. Also try to invest in a higher quality bag so it can be used again and again during your travels.

2.) Mentally categorize. Think of the products or items you utilize daily and can't travel without. Then divide these in categories to help you remember what to bring and remember other items in that category that you might have overlooked. Some categories to keep in mind when starting are products or items designed for beauty, comfort, or sentimental purposes. Here's a list of items that might help you jog your memory on what you need to bring:

- Makeup products
- Facial wipes
- Moisturizers
- Sunglasses
- Phone charger and headphones
- Favorite snacks
- Extra sweater
- Mini travel pillow
- Camera
- Important pictures


3.) Find your items. Look around as you what you thought of needing are probably already somewhere in your house. If not make a quick trip to local drugstore as most of your necessary items can probably be located there. Also make sure to check your airport's guidelines again to make sure all of your products can legally be brought on the plane as no one wants to end up with their favorite lotion in the trash.

That's it! By now you'll feel  a lot more at ease about your trip knowing that your favorite and most important items are with your for your trip; another constant to help you destress about the exhilarating trip.

Have fun gurus!
Taz

Ranting and Reviewing - Four Seasons Hotel

Hey Travel Gurus!

I've come to realize that I haven't been posting many personal blog posts lately and in sharing, some of my own experiences, I might inspire you to goo out and make your own. I also realized that it would be helpful to share my honest opinion on some of my experiences to help you get an idea of what to avoid and what to go for in your traveling future. Today my topic of rave reviewing, is the Four Season hotel.

I was reminded of a family trip to Orlando in a dream last night. It was an amazingly vivid - and random - vision in which I remembered my unforgettable stay at the Four Seasons hotel. 

This trip was planned for the bonding and re-Americanizing the family after our 10-month stay in Tunisia. My dad was super excited to see the family and planned the venture as a surprise for us. He decided to take us to Florida, with the majority of the trip to be spent in Disneyworld. 

For the first few days, we spent the trip in Miami enjoying the eccentric and vibrant culture while visiting great eateries and landmarks, while getting a feel for the state.

Then, the highlight of the trip came, as we drove to Orlando to spend a week in Disneyworld, every person's secret dream - though as a 6th grader, I was in a phase where pretending that these things were too childish for my liking was cool. Of course the theme parks were utterly indescribable. The extent to which every nook and cranny of the humongous park is detailed from names of restaurants to mini recreations of classic movies as shops was what truly amazed me. As amazing as the location was, the hotel stay still sticks in my mind more than any other.

We were lucky enough to be able to stay at the Four Seasons resort in Disneyworld. The service was simply amazing, and you can feel, from the second that you enter the gorgeous building. Despite the thousands of guests  in the building, every employee is completely invested in your comfort and enjoyment. Though a bellhop a offered to take up our things, is kids were too enamel red by the team that holds the suitcases and plenty happy pushing it ourselves. After a hassle of entering the elevator and arguing about who got to press the elevator button, we got to our room. My parents wanted to be able to enjoy the trip as much us loud kids did, and so my dad had reserved a breathtaking and huge suite next door to a smaller room where the kids could sleep. We spent most of the time in the suite as a family and went to our room to sleep. The rooms were so beautiful yet still set up in a way where you felt the comfort of home. Everything was spotless and we had a great view of the gorgeous exterior pools and areas of the resort. 

The food offered in the hotel restaurant only proved why the Four Seasons was successful elsewhere as purely a restaurant. While my brothers couldn't value this as two typical boys who just scarfed down their burgers and mac&cheese, I was old enough to take in the environment and to this day remeber their delicious penne pasta I ate as the family gathered around the table. Their breakfast and dinner buffet down in the lobby did not fail to impress either.

As amazing as the food was and as great as th venue was, the Four Seasons would not be as memorable in my mind if is wasn't for the great staff and mentality everyone there has. One example of this was on the topic of my brother's birthday. Having heard my dad discuss my brother Awwab's birthday coming up soon after the trip, they asked if they could do something for him before we left. When we woke on our scheduled day of departure, we were surprised with a small cake customized just for my brother's birthday, who was elated that he would be able to celebrate his birthday in some way while in Disneyworld. With the beautiful hotel, the professionalism, and hospitality the Four Seasons truly made us feel like we were in the most magical place on Earth. To this day, we be sure to check if there's a Four Seasons wherever we're heading and know that if we plan on staying there again, we're sure to be in for a treat.

Taz

How to Look Like a Local Series

Hey Travel Gurus!

I was recently reminiscing on some of my previous travels in an effort to think of a new blog topic. I revisited old and dear memories and found old photos that reminded of the physical beauty that surrounds us. I noticed not only was every setting different because of the geography but also in the culture and people - particularly in the differences of clothing. I decided that it would be fun and educational to introduce a new series on how to look like a local in different places I've been lucky enough to visit.

Hope you enjoy reading the next few blog posts as much as I had writing them! Thanks for tuning in again gurus.

Taz

Traveling With Your Furry Friend

Hey Travel Gurus!

Animals are the best - even better than people in some cases- so it's understandable why millions of people a year bring their beloved pets with them on their expeditions. As great as pets are, they are often unpredictable and harder to manage in a foreign situation. The thought of hassling an animal on already exhausting venture scares many people into leaving their pets in the care of others back home. But this fear shouldn't stop you from sharing an amazing life experience with your favorite furry companion as I'm here to show how to effectively get through a travel experience with your pet, without ending up howling in agony. (See what I did there? I'm sorry.)

If your best furry-iend is tagging along with you on a plane, the most important preparation method is getting informed. Call airport services or check out their procedures online as to how they handle transporting animals. You want to make sure that your pet is mentally and physically capable of making the trip. Make an appointment with you vet  beforehand and get an assessment done to determine how much, if at all, motion sickness medicine will need to be administered to your animal prior to take off. Ifyou need any personal accommodations for your pet, checking the policies ahead of time will give you enough time to talk to and negotiate with the staff so that they can help make you pet's trip as enjoyable as possible.

If you are bringing along your pet in your personal vehicle, you'll also want to plan ahead of time to make sure you won't want to tear your hair out by the end. Make sure to prepare pet-friendly snacks for your pet to munch on and make sure that there is a designated spot in the car for them. If you can't fit an animal bed, blankets work just fine. Make sure to purchase an animal friendly seat belt for your pet if needed. And make sure to listen to your pet to see what they need whether that's motion sickness medication or a restroom break. The important thing is to not forget the small technicalities that come along with bringing your pet along for your trip.

I hope this helped ease your mind about bringing your pet along for your upcoming ventures or aided in convincing you to bring them in the future. To have your best friend on four legs with you for the best times of your life is definitely worth the slight hassle.

Until the next post!

Taz 

Handling Homesickness

While being abroad is a generally exciting and positive experience, it can sometimes leave you yearning for home, especially if you're not a frequent traveler. This isn't a surprise as human beings are generally homebodies and like the feelings of stability and security, which can be compromised while traveling to new and unknown locations. If you ever find yourself down in the dumps while traveling or filled with nostalgia about home, just read on to find some helpful tips on how to reduce the effects of homesickness.

1.) Bring a sentimental item with you. If you know that you might be uncomfortable with the prospects of traveling ahead of time, bring something meaningful with you. Chances are you aren't still reliant on a security blanket, but you probably still have a meaningful item that will help bring a piece of home with you. Bring along a picture of meaningful people, your favorite book or even the pillow that you usually sleep on every night, to ease the nerves of sleeping on a foreign bed. The simplest things can sometimes help the most.

2.) Keep a constant. We all have habits that we are used to carrying out at home, and continuing those while away can help your brain feel more secure in the environment you're in and make you still feel at home. If you're used to watching a certain show before bed, try to watch it before going to sleep, and sleep on the same side of the bed you usually do at home. If you drink a certain beverage in the morning, try to keep that habitual action going. If you like listening to music, play your favorite artist's work when you can. Doing things you do at home and you'll feel a lot less uneasy about being placed in a new situation.

3.) Keep yourself busy. Keeping your mind off the fact that you're not home will help you not stress about it so much. Immerse yourself in local activities and options for entertainment. Go out to eat and have fun. Try exercising if your hotel has an indoor gym and just try to keep yourself busy and your mind off of your troubles.

4.) Journaling. Sometimes the best way to release steam or negative emotions is to physically confront them and let them go. Keeping a diary for the period that you're abroad will serve both as an emotional outlet but also make it easier to look back on and remember your trip later on.

5.) Talk it out. Whether your friends are with or back home, keep in contact with them while your gone. Friends and family are usually great listeners believe or not and care about how you're feeling. Even if you aren't ranting about how sad and lonely you're feeling, sometimes hearing loved ones' voices and joking around can be a great way to make you feel more at home even while away from home.

Thanks for reading gurus!

Taz

Brooke's Wonderful Weekend

Hey Travel Gurus!

As I've said several times before, the simplest trips can be the most fun and least stressful, and road trips are no exception. My fellow blogger Brooke McNeal is here to prove it to you and show you how to prepare for a road trip that can create some awesome memories and experiences. She is planning on visiting Chicago over the weekend and is sharing her preparation process with us. You can check out Brooke's banging blog by clicking this link: http://www.beazyy.blogspot.com/

T: Hey Brooke how are you today?
B: Good. I'm really excited for this weekend's trip.
T: Yeah I heard about that where you going?
B: Chicago Illinois for a college visit
T: Wow! Are you gonna be doing anything else while you're there
B: Yeah I plan on doing a lot of shopping
T: How long are you staying in Chicago
B: Saturday, but I'm staying overnight
T: Where do plan on staying?
B: Embassy Suites
T: How did you come across this hotel and what intrigued you about it?
B: My mom really likes this hotel chain and she recommended it to me. It has really good breakfast!
T: That's the most important thing to look for right?
B: Of course
T: What else drew you to this hotel?
B: It has a really cool pool
T: Did use any money-saving methods to book your hotel?
B: Yeah, actually my mom has a membership with the hotel company so every certain amount of times we stay, we earn a free night. It just so happens that the night I'm staying is a free night.
T: Nice. How are you packing for your trip?
B: I have a medium sized purple suitcase. I bring it with me everywhere I go, it's my good luck charm!
T: What contents do you plan to bring along with you
B: Nice clothes like a dress and heels, with boots to change out. I also packed a swimsuit, pajamas and a casual outfit. You know, the essentials!
T: What other things do you plan on taking with you?
B: I out my makeup in a Victoria's Secret cosmetic bag. It's really useful for travel. I'm also packing my phone charger and headphones, because you obviously need that?
T: How long did it take you to pack, and how stressed were you?
B: Not stressed at all! I was really looking forward to this all week so I packed with plenty of time left, just in case I remembered something before I leave.
T: How getting there, transportation wise.
B: My mom's driving me and my friend Grace in her car. We all hope to bond and make some funny inside jokes to remember for a lifetime.
T: That's great! So are you hoping to get something out of the trip other than the college visit.
B: Oh yeah definitely. I've read your blogs and I agree that being laid back about the whole thing is gonna let me have a lot of fun. I just hope it turns out to be a spontaneous road trip I can add to the books. Hopefully I'll be able to create some great memories with great people.
T: I'm glad, I mean that's what traveling is all about right?
B: Of course!
T: Alright thanks for taking some time to talk with me about your trip I hope you have a great time.

B: Thanks, I'm sure I will!

As you can see, by confronting her task with a positive attitude and with the necessary preparation, Brooke has set up her venture to be a success and hopefully you can learn a thing or two about how make sure you have a great time on your road trip.

Fall Time Treks

Hey Travel Gurus!

We're in that wonderful time of year again where crisp and fresh air meets colorful foliage meets snuggling under blankets to watch movies. The marvelous time of fall can be an enchanting time of the year and can deceivingly make cozying inside all day a more tempting way to spend your day. As a big sufferer of this, I've decided to help you get out of the house with five alternative adventures to take during fall, as in real adventures that aren't watched through a TV screen. 

1.) Sports Games. No, this does not mean watching ESPN in your living room. This means getting off your lazy butt to buy tickets to your local football game and enjoying a day or evening on the bleachers. Once you do it you'll agree, no fancy pan shots of a team you don't even know can beat watching the game while sipping hot chocolate and cozying close next to your favorite people on freezing cold seats. Friday night lights man.

2.) Haunted Houses. Yes Halloween is a ways behind us which can detract from the spooky spirit that makes haunted houses so fun, but going to haunted houses can still ensure a fun yet terrifying night out. If your local haunted house is still open, go there and enjoy the scary spirits before holiday spirit takes over your life (See what I did there? Hilarious I know).

3.) Apple picking. Cheesy I know, but apple orchards make a profit off of tourism for a reason. Orchards often offer an all encompassing fall experience. You'll be able to see mills where apples are made into apple cider and maybe get to try cinnamon and apple flavored baked goods. If the food wasn't motivation enough to convince you to go hayrides are also usually available. If not having a significant other you hold your hand even while you're plucking off the fruit, invite a good friend. You'll have twice the fun and will be able to make fun of the couples taking puke worthy pictures under the trees.

4.) Cabins and Campgrounds. This is the bat time of year to do this as you'll be able to enjoy decent weather without the side effects of bugs. While it'll probably be too cold to do anything in the water, you can still enjoy other outdoor activities such as hiking and barbecuing. You might find a hot tub amenity at your central campground building, and if not, you'll still be able to end the night with a cozy bonfire and cabin beds which are notoriously comfortable.

5.) Get a spa treatment. I don't think I need to do much convincing on this one, but I'll still remind you of how much you're missing out by not being at a spa right now. Deep tissue massages. Hot baths. Facials. Hand rubs. Scented bath salts. Sauna steam showers. Just stop reading and book a day now, you know you want to.

Hope you'll take the advice and come out of your blanket cocoon and be more of a functioning person. If not, I still understand and to each his own...method of dealing with the fleeting moment known as fall weather. 

See ya soon gurus,

Taz

Stereotype Stamp Out - Mo Money Mo Better

Hey Travel Gurus!

Though it may seem that I bring up this point of discussion quite often, it's only because emphasizing will hopefully convince you of its validity. When people think of people who travel, they either picture extremely rich people taking a private plane to the Madives or people who spend their all their lives and money to be able to travel all the time. Though, I'm sure no one would object to those options, the truth is, you don't need to break your bank account to be able to travel. Part of this misconception come from the fact that most people believe that to "travel" one must be venturing out in foreign countries  sipping on foreign tea while overlooking the foreign ocean. This however isn't the case. If planned correctly, a weekend at your local campground or lake can be just as valid and fun as an exotic trip. Traveling is just an act that allows people to have fun and experience new things in new places, and that looks different from person to person. As long as you have a positive attitude and a mindset that will allow you to learn and grow from whatever venture you plan on taking, you can be assured that you will have a wonderful travel experience and will leave you with the same emotions as any other big time trip. This isn't to negate larger scale trips, as it is obvious that nothing is the same as seeing the sights in Europe, but you can easily find local alternatives that will leave you with a similar sense of fulfillment. If you're interested in the art scene, and looking at pretty things in general, check out your local newspaper for art gallery exhibitions and art festivals. If you're a food contadseur, chances are you'll be able to taste the plates of France locally without traveling across the globe. You can also stay on the look out for food festivals and restaurant openings that with leave you with a cultures tongue and full stomach. If you're a history geek,  you'll be able to find plenty of museums tang may enlighten you on something that makes your boring little town a little less boring. Whatever it is you're looking for out of an extravagant trip( you can always find a closer version and although you may not be sipping pho in the Philippines, you'll be left with the same amount of satisfaction and happiness.

Hope this helped encourage you guys to venture out and explore more. And always remeber that money shouldn't be the deciding factor on whether or not you  get to experience an amazing travel adventure.

Thanks again for keeping up!

Taz

Stereotype Stamp Out - Annoying Aviation

Hey Travel Gurus!

On average, over 80,000 passengers board on commercial planes each day, in hopes to get to their destinations. And of those 80,000, I'm sure the majority would tell you that traveling in the big metal bird on the sky is not the highlight of their venture. I being one of those few select people that love to travel by air will never understand but can empathize with those  who are anti-air travel. Being that my mom is a huge opposer to this type of travel, I have heard many of the reasons why air travel isn't enjoyable. While some of them are liable excuses, others are just plain outrageous and I'm here to help you deal with both and help you enjoy your air travel better.

1.) The plane could crash - Yes the plane could crash. But you could have also choked on a sandwich and ended your life  while waiting in the gate area. You could have tripped and hit your head just right to have brain hemorrhage and die. You could have crashed while driving to the airport. There is likelihood in dying from even everyday situations, an to stress about all of them would be mentally crippling. One of the biggest reasons people fear riding an airplane is due to a phenomenon called the availability heuristic. It is the human tendency to draw judgement from what we have been repeatedly exposed to, therefore drawing from those memories when assessing a situation. It's no secret that plane crashes make huge headlines and catch your attention each time, but this does not change the fact that plane crashes are extremely rare! Car accidents kill exponentially more people each day than plane crashes, but since we don't hear about every crash in the news, we don't see driving as a bigger threat. The same goes for getting eaten by a shark or struck by lightning. Possible yes, but much less likely than many of the things we do on a daily basis. Even in the nearly impossible chance that you were to crash, your airplane is equipped to deal with the pressure of crashing and supplying you with the necessary supplies to survive in every situation. And remeber that the technology of aviation has been under study for centuries, and if it wasn't safe for citizens, it wouldn't be in effect today, especially on the scale it takes place in today. 

2.) Kids. Just kids. Understandable. As adorable as they can be, you can sometimes be left dumbfounded at how much sound can be produced from such a little creature. Although there is no way to practically predict and prevent staying near a child during your flight, there are still easy ways to deal with sitting next to a loud child. First of all, don't project your anger towards the parent. They're probably just as bothered if not more by the child and are aware that other passengers are annoyed by their child. It isn't fair to blame them for a situation they can't control and are already stressed by. The amazing invention of earbuds are extremely useful for this situation, and playing some soothing music can help cancel out the sleep preventing noise eminating from the child. Try to to ignore the noise and put your exhausted self to sleep. But if you're the one with children, that's a whole different blog post. 

3.) Airplane food is gross. Let me introduce this tip by pointing out that I don't believe airplane food is as bad as everyone makes it out to be. I can honestly never remember a meal I've eaten on flight that made me lose my appetite. In fact getting to eat an optionally diverse tray of food on a convenient and cute little mini table that opens in front of you, while flight attendants attend to your every need IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SKY has always been one of my favorite quirks about air traveling. I realize however that most everyone inhabiting this planet disagrees with me and that food preferences differ from person to person. What people tend to forget when complaining about food in air travel is that airports are virtually mini cities, in that you can find most of the stores you see in your hometown mall within the complex and food stores are no exception. After your security screening, you are free to purchase and consume from any of the mini restaurants and are allowed to take anything you want with you on flight.As long as you set aside some time to wait in line and get your food, you can board your plane confidently knowing that if you happen to find the food served on the plane not so good, you'll always have the McDonald's/Panera/Starbucks to turn to in your time of need.

Hope your nerves have settled a bit about traveling via airplane and also hope I helped you get excited about getting on the plane and enjoying the journey as much as your destination. 

Thanks for reading!

Taz

Stereotype Stamp Out

Hey Travel Gurus!

Stereotypes although convenient mental shortcuts for our judgement, generalize a large subject and can give us false conceptions of about a topic. Different facets of travel are no exceptions to this. Through this series I hope to enlighten you through raising awareness of different traveling stereotypes, and why sometimes, they're just plain wrong.

Enjoy your reading gurus,

Taz 

Stereotype Stamp Out - Visiting Developing Countries

Hey Travel Gurus!

As the daughter of first generation immigrants, it's only expected that my family values our connection with the country my parents were brought up in. For me that means a lot trips to Tunisia. Tunisia is a North African country that resembles countries in the Middle East, due to its proximity to the region. The economy there values the touristic industry, which conveniently correlates with the many beautiful locations throughout the country. The country is very ethnically diverse, but not so much so religiously. Despite all of this, Tunisia is still considered a developing country, on the premise that their government is not very stable due to their recent revolution rand the fact that the economic situations of citizens is split drastically between the rich, middle class, and the poor. However, unlike what most people believe, traveling to a developing country does not usually involve walking through dusty streets where beggars tug at you every step of the way. In fact, this couldn't be farther from the truth in the case of Tunisia. In fact, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish places in Tunisia, from places here in America (except for the fact that there are palm trees and beaches virtually everywhere). My cultural background has made me lucky enough to be able to visit the majority of the attractions there and even be able to stay at out family house there. Though some areas of the country can shed light on why Tunisia is still a developing country, this simply isn't true for the majority of the country. Just like in America there are economic zones, and as long as you're planning to spend most of your time outside of the ghettos, you'll feel like you're just at an exotic version of home. I personally believe that Tunisia is one of the best possible destinations for vacationing because of the versatility in trip options. What I love is that every city is known for a certain trade and attraction which allows you to mold your vacation around that premise. For example, Hammamat is known for its water parks, resorts, and clear beaches - a great option for family stays - while Jerba is known for its historic sites, themed hotels, and amazing cultural markets - perfect for a couple. The diversity in places and people makes for a great and mind broadening experience, which is why I recommend thinking twice before crossing off a destination based solely on the prejudice you might hold against developing countries. The most important part, like in any foreign travel, is to do your research beforehand and come up with a genral game plan. As long as you've got the knowledge about your whereabouts, you'll be guaranteed to have a splendid time during your trip

I hope you learned something new today!

Taz

Traveling on a Budget - Hotel Mania

Hey Travel Gurus!
Finding a place to stay while abroad is one of the most vital necessities of traveling, but unfortunately it is also one of the most expensive aspect of travel. Even some of the most basic hotel's night stay can cost the same as an average month's rent. I'm here to help you avoid the economic pitfalls of of hotel choosing with three simple tips to keep in mind.

1.) Be pragmatic about the process. While choosing  a fancy hotel that takes up the majority of your travel expenses can be rewarding in certain ways, it can still be a pointless waste of money. Chances are the bulk of your stay will be spent outdoors, enjoying the local activities, and not in your hotel room. This idea is to be used in moderation however as you still want to be able to come back to a nice room to relax and unwind in after a long day of venturing. This is just one of the reasons why it would be wise to spend plenty of money on your hotel in certain situations. If your trip is based around the attractions of your hotel or if you personally prefer spending the bulk of your vacation in the hotel room, then investing in a nicer hotel can be worth it.  The most important thing to consider is your economic abilities and constraints and what situations would constitute for  needing to book a nicer hotel. 

2.) Book through an online hotel website - Hotel websites are designed to offer you with the easiest and most affordable options for booking your hotel. These websites work by comparing different hotel rooms within your interested area of stay and offer a list of available rooms within your preferred price range. These websites help by doing the "scouring the internet for hours to find the best hotel option" process for you. Many of these websites also come with a lowest price guarantee which allows you to remain at ease that one way or another, you will get the cheapest option for your stay.

3.) Make a membership - Next time you're at your hotel check-in, take the extra five minutes to join their loyalty rewards program. This simple transaction can pay off in spades. These memberships often cost nothing to join and offer many perks for doing so. Even the cheapest memebership options comes with benefits such as reduced room rates and in-hotel services. Who knows, the next time you unknowingly book at the Sheraton again, you may be surprised with a few commodities to make your stay easier in your mind and wallet.

Ho(tel)pe this helped gurus!

Taz 

Traveling on a Budget - Frugal Food Ventures

Hey Travel Gurus,

Food is probably the most pleasurable part of any experience and this is an indisputable fact. Even though you probably won’t remember what you had for dinner in Hawaii a week after you get home, food is just an integral and beautiful part of life and should be enjoyed to its fullest potential - especially in a situation where there are different food options from what is offered back home. However every good thing in life comes with a price and when it comes to food, it can be a pretty high one. So how does one balance the desire to try new amazing foods in an amazing new city while still managing to stay smart about your expenses? That's where I come in with the three best ways to save money on food while still eating food other than gas station Cheetos.

First off, avoid eating in touristic areas. Of  the many inconveniences of tourist zones within a city, food and commodities in general is a big one. Businesses take advantage of visitors' willingness to give up money left and right just to have a more comfortable experience. What many don't realize that 2 miles outside of the city hub probably has amazing and more culturally accurate restaurants for half the price. While it can be fun to experience a place in a tourist world, it is very limiting and expensive. Try eating out  away from the tourist zone at least once a day during your stay and your effort will pay off in spades - green paper spades.

Another way to save on eating while traveling is to cook your own food. And I know the last thing you probably want to do on vacation is more domestic tasks but this can be a great way to reduce your spending and allow you to use the money for something fun on your trip. Go  to a local grocery store and pick up some simple ingredients and make a basic meal. As long as it fills you up and tastes good, you'll be good to go for the rest of your day. Cooking your own food can also help you keep up with any dietary restrictions you might have and will give you the chance to have a healthier meal. This isn't to say that you should cook every meal while traveling and miss out on local delicacies but you should remeber that your hotel room kitchenette is there for a reason.

Lastly,

Traveling on a Budget - Transportation

Hey Travel Gurus!

One of the biggest areas of concern when traveling is how you’ll be able to get to your destination in the most practical yet cost effective way possible. I say practical because it’s also important to keep in mind that a more expensive method of transportation would be necessary in certain situation – i.e.) Traveling by car from New York to Venezuela is more hassle than the amount of money you will save. Just remember that different methods of transportation are available because they are suitable for different types of traveling and destinations. So here are ways to save on traveling by the most popular means of travel in the U.S. – car and airplane.

Car – Taking a road trip can sometimes be the best way to reach your journey’s end and if done and planned out right, can be just as fun as the actual vacation spot itself. Obviously, the biggest expense in road tripping is the fuel and while there may not be any direct way to reduce gas prices, you can work your way around this by choosing the least expensive route to your destination. A couple days before your scheduled departure, try looking at road maps to where you’re going and figure out the shortest possible traveling distance possible to get where you’re going. This can also easily be done using software on your computer or software as there a plethora of satellite-based apps that can help you find the shortest travel course for your personal road trip. There are also plenty of apps such as GasBuddy that help locate gas stations with the lowest gas price rates – a very useful tool for a trip that relies heavily on the consumption of gas. Another major point to consider is the state of your car. You’ll save a lot of money and unneeded stress by preparing for a flat tire with the necessary tools and checking for your car’s motor and oil condition will help prevent mechanical problems that will cost more money and time later on if something were to go wrong. An additional money saver on road trips is food. Being bored for hours at a time in a car will only help your eating tendency and so it’s important to prepare for this ahead of time. If you already have good food at home bring some along with you and save money on buying food from outside. Also try to restrict your food stops to the necessary three eating times of the day. If you’re really longing for a snack in between, gas stations are a great resource for cheap grub and will also provide you with other necessary amenities such as bathrooms and gas.

Airplane - Aviation can be a great way to get from point A to pint B especially if point A is ridiculously far from point B. Though many find traveling by air can be the most unpleasurable part of a trip, approaching it with a positive attitude can make it one of the most exciting part of the trip. The main problem with traveling via airplane however is that most people with a strict budget can't afford it. Traveling is a big emotional and financial commitment and although you won't be able travel an empty airplane for free, you find some great life hacks for chopping the price it takes to the ride the big metal bird in the sky. Firstly, traveling during the low season can dramatically decrease the price for your plane ticket. Airfare companies take advantage of patterns of passenger flow and what times air travel is used more than other times. During this high season, airfare companies higher plane tickets as there is an opportunity for a large profit. Inversely, there is also a low season in which plane tickets are considerably cheaper. This is usually during the winter excluding of course the sharp increase in plane purchases around Christmas time. It is important to keeping mind where in the world you're headed as the weather-related decrease often refers to your destination. There are also trends within this time and as a general rule traveling within the middle of the week - mainly Tuesday and Wednesday - often results in a cheaper ticket. Another way to save money is to fly an indirect route which can be very useful if your concern with money trumps your concern with what time you get to your travel spot. To travel an indirect route means to travel with the same flight number but unlike nonstop flights, there is a break between both destinations. Although slower than nonstop flights, they are often cheaper, so be sure to look up which method is suitable to your situation. Mixing and matching flight numbers and companies can also be a great way to find the cheapest possible airplane route to your destination. By mixing different flight routes to a destination that requires a stop in between, you have the ability to choose which option offers the cheapest flight to each portion of the trip which can help maximize the money you save on airfare. Other than the actual plane fare itself there are many ways to save money in the airport. Pre-booking parking in an understated way to save money yet doing so can save more money than trying to park the day of. Luggage wise, be sure to weigh your suitcases beforehand to avoid having to pay extra fees for added weight or extra suitcases. Try to avoid shopping while in the airport as most of the stores are ridiculously overpriced and offer products that  can be easily found for less elsewhere,

Hope this post helped you guys figure out ways to travel while still keeping your wallet intact and remember that the journey is just as important as the trip. Stay groovy gurus.

Taz

Traveling on a Budget - Introduction

Hey Travel Gurus!

Arguably the biggest turn off to traveling people have is the monetary expense. Not everyone can afford a deluxe mind boggling vacation and that’s alright because there are countless ways to have fun a trip while letting your bank account have a great time as well. This three part blog series should help you reduce costs in the biggest three monetary areas of traveling – transportation, eating, and your stay. Hopefully with my help you’ll be able to take more initiative in taking that trip you’ve been debating about for a while and be able to enjoy yourself without having the stress of possible bankruptcy on the back of your mind the whole time.

Let’s get budgeting gurus,

Taz

The True Spirit of a Traveler

Hey Travel Gurus!

You’ve heard it a bajillion times from your teachers, parents, and sometimes even your friends – improve your attitude. Now whether that reminder comes in a polite or exasperated manner, it’s still an important reminder nonetheless. As annoyingly familiar as this may sound, the way you think about a situation can and will change how you feel about it and what you choose to take away from it. The same goes for attaining the best travel experience. To have the ultimate travel experience one must have the ultimate attitude and here are three ways to do that.

1- Right mindset. Making the best of any situation requires having an optimistic mindset point of view. That means assessing your surroundings and drawing the positive out of whatever state you’re in. When traveling this is extremely important. On a trip you are especially susceptible to things not going perfectly or according to plan. If you get caught up on every complication that arises, you will have just a bad an experience as your attitude. It’s so unnecessary and not progressive to spend time fussing over what went wrong when you could be making memories from the things that went right. You are most likely in or headed to aa beautiful place there is no need to dwell on the fact that your tire went flat getting there. Be thankful that you have the resources to get help and continue on your way.

2- Spontaneity. This is a vacation and not an assignment that needs to be done in the most efficient and direct way possible. It’s supposed to be a time to do things you normally don’t have the chance of doing. Try to take up every opportunity. Live in the present rather than the past or future. Most importantly, be in the moment and just go with the flow. Don’t follow a strict schedule and just take up every opportunity as it comes along. If you were planning to just chill in your hotel room but come across an opportunity to explore the local culture, take it! Be more open and willing to try new things. You’ll regret not trying the – very dubious - famous local dish more than possibly not enjoying a single meal. Be wild, fun, and don’t overthink or over plan everything. Try to engage experiences that are unique because believe it or not you will remember tanning on the beach - no matter how beautiful - just like every other time you tanned on the beach.

3- Agreeableness. In other words be polite. You will most likely meet people whose jobs are to make your trip as enjoyable as possible. You will also meet other people like you who are just looking to have a good time. Just be kind. Nobody wants you to have a bad experience so don’t be unnecessarily crabby towards them. This goes for people who are vacationing with you. Healthy human interaction can enhance any experience and this especially true for traveling. Try to get along with other humans around you; it will make the trip easier for you and them.

The true spirit of a traveler doesn’t require much, just a part of us that can sometimes be masked or forgotten about by the troubles of our everyday lives. May you unlock your traveling spirit and use it to the best of your advantage.

Until the next adventure,
Taz

Taking a Load Off

Hey Travel Gurus!
As I’ve stressed many times before, traveling is an extremely effective and rewarding way of breaking your monotonous routine and experiencing the unknown world around you. As simple as this concept may seem, many people still underestimate the impact and necessity to break out of the routine shell once in a while, so I’m here to tell you why it’s crucial to just sometime take a load off.

Whether you are a student whose life is basically the memorization and regurgitation of seemingly useless facts day in and out or you’re a middle aged workaholic who lives on coffee fumes and depends on work for a sense of security, a trip can always be of use. Traveling does not necessarily translate into a time-consuming and overpriced endeavor. For most people, this can't be afforded financially or timewise. Rather, planning a simple camping weekend with your friends or a hike through your local park can be an easy and effective way to ease your mind and body of the rigorous errands of everyday modern life. 
Breaks like these are extremely important for your mental health. Our brain like any other organ can only take so much before malfunctioning - usually in the form of 3 AM mental breakdowns. Taking some time away for yourself will allow you to reconnect with the human version of you rather than the repetitively functioning zombie you've come to identify yourself with. It's important to get a chance to recollect your thoughts and sanity and be able to readjust your perspective and place in the world, and traveling is a great way of achieving this.
Traveling can also help renew motivation and can be a great way to deal with mental stresses. Though traveling can sometimes create a bit of anxiety itself, it really helps in terms of removing yourself from a stressful and panic inducing environment. Traveling and can also refresh your thought processes and priorities which can really help with depression as a result of being totally consumed by your personal circle of life and events. Being in a place where you are free of your regular responsibilities, expectations, and labels can be extremely liberating and helpful in building up a healthier and more self-loving mindset.
A healthy mind and body always can only be achieved through being in a positive and healthy environment, and let's face it, most of our lives do not accommodate or allow for this basic human need. One can only take so much before they need to be reconnected with their human instincts again. Traveling is a great way to get in touch with your mind, thoughts, and emotions which are all components of a healthy and happy lifestyle. So get it there and be happy. For yourself and no one else. For goodness sake you deserve a load off.
Hope you'll get the load off you need this week, and if not hang I there until you do.

Taz

A Vacation to Remember - Picture Perfect

Hey travel gurus!

 A vacation that lasts past its occurrence usually requires some help as our brains are not supercomputers. While the most important moments in our lives don't necessarily need a photo to help us remember them, pictures can be a great method to help  us relive a specific moment or scene in a travel experience. Photographing can be a great way to keep track of important or sentimental happenings during your trip. Pictures are also a great way to look back on a vacation and they allow you to pinpoint certain moments during the trip that mean a lot to you.

Pictures are also a great way of sharing fond memories or precious moments with other people, which is clearly proven through the boom in social media platforms specializing in just that - sharing your moments.

Taking photos on a trip however requires balance because you don't want to look back and realize that you experienced your weekend in Europe through your camera lens rather than experiencing and  perceiving the environment through your own senses. Pick and choose your moments. For example, if you happen to meet Angelina Jolie during your road trip to California, taking a picture to remember the moment (and more importantly use as proof when telling your friends about the encounter) is a must-do. But if you're in a tropical island getaway and witnessing the most beautiful sunset of your existence, a picture isn't necessary. To your friends, it will look like just another sunset pic, and while trying to take the perfect picture to post on Facebook, you'll be missing out on a once in a lifetime experience, ruined yet again by your unhealthy technology addiction.

Photographing can a double edged sword in that its use can both help and harm your travel experience. Be sure to utilize its power with caution and use your own rationale. Before you whip out your phone at the slightest inkling of an Instagram-worthy picture opportunity, just ask yourself whether or not you want to enjoy this moment in the moment or would you rather give that up to be able to have proof of it in a picture later on. Whatever your preferred method of memory storage, make sure it makes you happy and is truly picture perfect to you. 

Do what makes you happy gurus and until next time

Taz

A Vacation to Remember - The People You Love

Hello travel gurus!

         

An important part of traveling is making sure you’re going to be in a comfortable and at the very least enjoyable situation, and one of the ways of ensuring this is by going with people who both make you feel comfortable and allow you to enjoy yourself.

Traveling can be a rather personal feat since you are after all putting yourself in a foreign location and through this, exposing your truest and most reflexive feelings. A trip is also a means of bonding and adding more experiences to you and someone else’s shared reservoir of memoirs. Even if you’re going on a solo trip, sometimes the best bonding you can do is between you and yourself since there is nothing better for the human mind than some reflection and self-love. However those who are traveling with others will probably find this post more useful.

When picking someone to travel with it’s important to pick people you are your most comfortable with. Whether this your family or roommate, picking people you can have fun with is important for the following reasons.

1-     There are no do-overs. In most cases, when you travel somewhere, it won’t be somewhere where there will be routine visits. Even if you end up visiting the same place next year, you won’t be the same person and won’t be experiencing it the same as last time. When you travel with people you can’t unwind with, you waste a whole trip’s worth of fun and memory-making. You won't be able to go back and do that thing your companions made fun of, and you'll end up regretting not trying it at all more than if you had tried it and failed

2-  Good people = good mood. The equation of emotional well being also applies to your traveling endeavors. It's well-known that hanging out with negative people will inevitably make you a negative or negatively-feeling person. Human interaction is an important way to enhance an experience such as traveling and doing it with bitter people will only make it a bitter experience. Bring along people who are happy and nonjudgmental and will push you to have the best experience you can possibly have. When you're traveling there's no need to add on any extra stress like putting up with others' poor attitudes. Good vibes always.

3- Meaningful experiences are the best experiences. What better way to achieve this than bringing along someone meaningful? Bringing someone that means a lot to you will make the whole trip mean more to you and increase the bond you already have with that person. Whether this is your soulmate or precious yet obnoxious family, traveling with people you love creates even more reasons to love them.

Hope this helped and if it didn't do anything except to convince you that bringing your passive-aggressive cousin Sally isn't the smartest choice, I think I've done my job.

Until the next adventure,
Taz

A Vacation to Remember - My Favorite Travel Experience

Hey travel gurus!

Today I wanted to do something a little different than what I've been posting so far. This is a true account of probably my favorite trip of all time.

Have fun reading!

Taz

Of the many relatively extravagant and exotic trips I've have been blessed with the opportunity of experiencing, the one that sticks most in my mind may come as surprise for you and even myself. It was a very recent trip that took place at the end of last summer. My parents had decided to stick with a low key summer plan as my two tiny sisters would make large-scale travel quite the inconvenience - and more accurately, an impossibility. We had absolutely no plans for that summer and if you remember from my last blog post - Taking the Cultural Backstreets  - the spontaneous and spur of the moment trips tend to be the most emotionally rewarding. 

This proved to be especially true during my time spent at the Riverside Resort in Wisconsin. My family and I were driving home from the Wisconsin Dells amusement park and waterpark when our hunger from the lack of breakfast started to set in. Since it was already noon, we decided to just have lunch. A couple minutes of trying to work Siri, my dad found a very highly rated restaurant. Little did we know that when entered Shifflet’s Bar and Grille, we would also find the place we would be spending a week and a half. Despite our grogginess from the very loud and energetic trip we had just been on, our excitement about the great meal and gorgeous venue it was located on couldn’t be muted.  Beautiful and isolated cabins looking over the beautiful Wisconsin River where the smell of barbeque and bliss intermingled with the distinct scent of sandy shores and filled up my soul. I was enamored with the water activities taking place outside from waterskiing to tubing and so many other things I had always wanted to try but never have. Fast forward through the delicious meal, we were grudgingly leaving when my dad simply said: “We’re coming here next weekend.” No build up or anything. Just pure reaction to the situation we were faced with and I couldn’t be more excited. 

We all actually had a pretty busy week and our preoccupation with our routine errands and social outings made the trip come as even more of a relief and surprise. We packed more minimally than usual and were out of the house within 1 hour – record time for a family of seven with two babies.

          One annoying car trip later and I was in rustic paradise. Seeing our cabin for the first time was such a rush. Like a very mature 16-year old I started screaming and running around exploring every nook and cranny of the gorgeous wooden cabin. The high ceilings and wooden accents perfectly complemented the clear waters bordered with light flaky sand. My dad had reserved the biggest cabin on the property and with this came the perk of having first –rate access to a beautiful and secluded bay within the river. The only word I can use to describe where we were is serene.

          My favorite moment during the trip was crossing the river to reach a peaking dune of sand within the river and finding myself surrounded by a circle of clear water bordered by green mountains. The fact that I was alone and experiencing this while the sun rose just made it that more potent and long-lasting in my mind. Something about the moment made me feel infinitely important yet insignificant at the same time.

          Looking back, I realize how simple the whole experience was, but I also realize that’s why I loved it so much. I didn’t have to worry about constantly taking pictures next to landmarks I wanted make sure I would remember, but rather enjoyed everything through my own two eyes. Nothing about the trip was overpowering or forced which allowed the simple pleasures of the venue to shine through. I hope to visit this amazing destination again next summer and re-experience what made me fall in love the first time.

          

                 

A Vacation to Remember - Taking the Cultural Backstreets

Hey travel gurus!

Vacations are a great opportunity to make life lasting memories and enjoy an experience unlike your normal scheduled life. The whole point of a vacation to experience something new, expand your horizon, and of course, have a great time. The recent establishment of hundreds of travel agencies has attracted many travelers who find appeal in the idea of having someone else do all the trip planning. The problem with these commercial establishments is that they are trying to make as much profit from your trip which may decrease from your experience. These companies, while convenient, are selling pre-packaged and impersonalized trips that thousands of others have been on.

            As I’ve said before, traveling is your chance to get a sense of the diversity on our planet and broaden our minds. Our Earth is inhabited by amazing people, cultures, and people and to not take advantage of it all in while you can is a shame.
            How do I achieve this? you might be wondering. How can I travel and successfully experience something different that will stick with me for the rest of my life? It’s pretty simple: don’t pick the easiest choice. Don’t pick the most popular hotel to stay at. Don’t eat at the restaurant that offers the same food as home. Instead of going to the crowded pristine beach, try cliff jumping in a more secluded area of the shore. Try zip lining rather than tanning and remember that you probably won’t be able to go parasailing back home.  Rely on public transportation rather than bringing your car with you. Take a taxi and talk with the driver rather than just driving yourself. Go shopping at the local market rather than the big grocery store chain.  Go to the true cultural areas of the city rather than living inside your touristic bubble. Talk with the natives, even if you have to use a dictionary every other word. Roll along with things that didn’t go according to plan and try to get a laugh and good story out of it. Don’t over plan everything and make the most of every moment. There are no specific rules on how to have a “good” time because the best experiences happen as a result of spontaneity and don’t follow a replicable equation.

I guess what I’m trying to say is to take risks, because our lives aren’t long enough to always take the plain, boring, and mainstream path. Who cares if you didn’t fully enjoy a certain trip? At least you’ve gained knowledge on what you don’t like and you can sleep happy at night knowing you tried something different. Just have fun and live your life. You’ve heard it so many time but actually make the most of your time alive and take things easy. Nothing enjoyable came out of being uptight.

May your life be filled with adventures in the cultural backstreets. Until next time gurus.

Taz

A Vacation to Remember - Introduction

Hey travel gurus!

As you can probably tell from the title, I'm introducing a new 4 - part installment all about - thats it you guessed - having a vacation you'll remember. I’ll be talking about places to go, what to eat, and even what you should be wearing. I’m really excited to discuss this topic with you as I have so many personal stories to share and a lot of expertise on how to have fun – but really doesn’t everyone? Through this series I hope to give you some tips and tricks on how you can experience your destination to the fullest and in a way where it's awesomeness will be forever etched in your mind. I'll give you some ideas and even share some experiences of my own in narrative form. I hope you enjoy the blog this week and get some practical use out of it too.

That's all for now gurus!

Taz

Packing Procedures - Dividing up the Duffle Bag (or whatever it is you're packing)

Hey travel gurus!

Alas the final installment of this series is here, but no matter, I can assure you great content will continue to flow in like the Floridan waves your next trip will hopefully take you to. Anyways, back to this post. The packing predicament can be very tough to tackle when you don't know how to approach it, especially spatially. The limited space you're presented with to pack for a full stay can seem a bit daunting, but once you get acquainted with the idea, organizing your suitcase can be a cinch. To help you, just follow my five steps to a doozy-free divvied up suitcase.

1.) Choose what you're bringing, This process should be based on where you're trip is. Consider all factors such as location, climate, and space in the transportation vehicle. For example, bring clothes that can be layered for places with unpredictable climates and choose clothing that corresponds to the environment you're going to be in. Recall from the last post that you should pack items that double in utility - outfits that can transition from day to night, makeup items that can be used for more than one purpose, etc. Remember that wherever you're going, your luggage is going too and although you may not see it now, you're gonna wish that you hadn't brought two full size suitcases to your sightseeing getaway.

2.) Inventory your items. Though this may seem tenuous, childish, unnecessary, or all of the above, it is a very important - and very easy - way to organize your packing process. Listing your items super quick on a piece of paper helps you visually keep track of items you're packing and helps you easily see which ones you're missing. Things you thought you forgot can be unknowingly buried in the rest of your hodge podge of a suitcase and similarly, you can forget to pack something you though you already did. Keeping a list is a practical and intuitive way of tracking your progress and  makes the next step that mucheasier

3.) Determine what categories your items fall into and how many categories there are total. Most people pack a 5 – 6 categories of items with them on a moderate trip. Here are some examples of different categories you might be packing:

- Clothing (you can divide this category up even further, bottoms, dresses, etc.)

- Undergarments

- Shoes

- Makeup/Toiletries

- Hair care products

- Accessories

- Bags/Purses

- Significant items

- Miscellaneous

4.) Section a place in the suitcase for each category. An easy way to do this is buy a suitcase divider - yup they sell those - to place in your suitcase. These can usually be bought online, and though a little pricey, they're a great investment in the long run. These dividers are similar to shoe dividers in that they provide a confined area for each category to remain in while preventing them from getting mixed up with items next to them. This not only helps you now, but later on in the trip when you're frantically trying to find your blouse before that museum tour starts. This helps you stay organized and all around less frantic-y during your trip - never underestimate the power of one less thing to stress about.

5.) Pack and stack. That's it, all the previous steps have led up to this monumental task and though a little anticlimactic, you can still pat yourself on the back for successfully and properly organizing your suitcase. All there is left to do is place each item category in its appropriate spot in the suitcase, zip it up and go out and enjoy your vacation. And you know what? Enjoy that extra dessert at that average but overpriced restaurant. You earned that you responsible human being you.

Until next time travel gurus,

Taz

Packing Procedures - Packing under Pressure

Hey travel gurus!

So you've done it again. You've put off the packing of a 3-week trip to the hour before your scheduled departure. You spend 30 minutes scrolling through Twitter - cause priorities - and now you're left with an empty suitcase, a continually ticking clock, and the early symptoms of a nervous breakdown. You want to spent a good 10 minutes of those crying like a baby at how procrastination has once again ruined your life, but you don't, you get up anyway and pack that suitcase like nobody's business. Well you'd like to anyway. You just don't how to do it in the limited time while still packing the things you need. Well never fear, travel Taz is here! Aside from the cheesy transitions, I am here to help you with your packing problems and to do that we’re gonna use the 4 dos and don'ts of packing under pressure.

1.) Do pack versatile items that can be used for different occasions. In doing this, you save time in packing different items for different situations and environments you may find yourself in while traveling and insure that you find what you need for each of them. For example, a pair of jeans can be worn out casually while sightseeing and later dressed up with a formal blazer and heels for dinner, and a maxi dress can double as a swimsuit cover up and a cute outfit to wear out dancing.

2.) Don’t try to go bold with your style. In a situation of constricted time, you do not want suddenly decide to pack that pair of flared jeans you were too scared to wear for 3 years – because chances are your heart won’t suddenly open up to the idea of wearing them while in a foreign location. Instead go for the denim you know is comfortable and the sandals that you know fit you well and don’t induce blisters. This will help you save time in trying to find items to bring along with you as you can automatically tell which clothing items are your go-tos. And finding clothing you’re familiar with will help ease the tension and stress of having to get ready away from home.

3.) Do try to remember to bring the hidden essentials. So many of the things we rely on a day-to-day basis fly under our radar and under pressure, your mind won’t immediately think ‘Oh I’ve got to remember to pack my deoderant and underwear!’ even though your trip would be pretty awful without either of those. Remember to pack toiletries and other items that are part of your daily routine to help keep a constant throughout your trip. Traveling already is prone to uncomfortableness, so don’t make it worse than it needs to be.

4.) Don’t sweat the small stuff. Most likely you’re going to find yourself in your hotel or tavern and realize with anguish that you forgot makeup remover or you favorite pair of walking shoes or even your camera. Keep in mind that other human beings are staying where you are and you can most likely find a convenience or retail store just like the one at home where you’ll be able to find great replacements for whatever you’re lacking to make your trip perfect. And even if you don’t, remember that you’re in a spectacular place, about to embark on an amazing and memory-creating adventure and the fact that you don’t have your favorite pair of earrings shouldn’t spoil that.

Stay snazzy travel gurus,

Taz

Packing Procedures - Selecting a Suitcase

Hey travel gurus!
The ancient and delicate art of packing wouldn't be possible without something to pack in. Although it is not an excruciatingly crucial step, it is still important to consider when packing for a trip. When trying to choose a suitcase, there are three factors you should consider, and once again a nauseatingly corny acronym will be used to illustrate cet tips: The three S'of Suitcase Searching.

1- Size. Though you may think that the several different sizes of suitcases are just a marketing scheme for companies to sell more suitcases, the difference in sizes actually proves to be quite vital. If you're planning to transport to your destination via airplane, this point becomes increasingly true. Firstly, your bag must meet certain weight requirements and it helps if you bag is light. When shopping try to pick a suitcase that strikes the right balance between durability and lightness. Size is also important to consider when choosing a carry-on bag - a small suitcase you're allowed bring onto  the plane with you for your convenience. Most airlines have size requirements for carry on suitcases as the overhead compartments can only hold so much. Not to mention that you're going to be lugging around this suitcase for the duration of the trip. Choose one that meets your needs and try not to go all out with this suitcase in particular. Size is also important factor consider when traveling using any other method of transportation. Especially when traveling with your car, the size of your suitcases play an important role in whether or not you'll need to maintain a painful and complicated yoga position during the long road trip. And most people don't like doing yoga in a crammed vehicle.

2- Style. In this situation, style refers to both the interior and exterior make of the suitcase. Though not necessary, you might find that you want a pretty looking suitcase - to make up for the sweatpants you're wearing in the middle of the airport. Though that part does appeal to you as taste is subjective, the interior design may need a little insight on my part. Depending on the trip you're going on and the type of suitcase you're selecting, you're gonna want your suitcase set up differently. If you're going on a short trip, you are gonna want you're suitcase to be split in many compartments so you fit a little of each type of clothing/miscellaneous items in each compartments. If you're going on a long trip, you'll probably want a suitcase with large areas of space to be able to fit a bulk amount of the same types of items. Whichever suitcase you go for, the most important thing is to pick a style of suitcase that is intuitive for your method of organization and is easy to pack and unpack.

3- Sum. Especially these days when money's tight, it's probably not smart to splurge on a Louis Vuitton luggage set that costs more than the trip you're taking them on. And in most cases (admire the pun) the hefty price tag on designer luggage corresponds to the name and doesn't necessarily translate directly to quality. This isn't to say that you should go for the cheapest suitcase, as it's probably cheap for a reason, and you'll end up losing money buying several cheap suitcases that fall martyrs to the rough and tumble process of luggage transportation. The trick is to find suitcases that strike the best balance between price and durability, so more of your money can towards the trip itself. Some of my personal favorites are Samsonite and American Tourister. Although a bit of  an investment at first, you get the return in the fact that they last for so long and usually come with warranties that protect against damage.

I hope this blog post helped take out some of the stress in suitcase searching and may your suitcases take you to beautiful exotic islands for years to come.

Thanks for reading travel gurus!
- Taz

Packing Procedures - Intro

Hey travel gurus!
No matter where you're going, you're gonna need luggage. Now whether you packing a light duffel bag for an away game with your sports team or 3 full suitcases for your summer in Bora Bora, you're gonna need to bring some items from home that they just don't offer at the hotel front desk. Having firsthand experience with this stressful part of traveling (aren't they all?), I hope this mini 3-part series will help you get your life under control, and if not that, at least you'll have a great suitcase to help you fake it.

Where to go?

Hello travel gurus!

Travel can be a therapeutic and memorable experience when you're, well, actually traveling but by and large one of the most difficult parts of the dynamic experience is choosing where to go. There are several factors that go into choosing where to spend your time (and your well-earned money) that can sometimes make you wonder whether or not you think it's worth it to spend your money on a non-tangible experience. I personally believe that travel is a better way to spend cash because positive memories outlast any material luxury, especially if you pick the right place to go. There are six factors to consider when picking a spot to vacation, and to spice it up let's call them the The Six Super Stipulations of Spot Seeking.

The Six Super Stipulations of Spot Seeking

1.) Think about where you want to go. Though this seems pretty self-explanatory considering the name of this list, it is extremely important to think about, and a very overlooked step. Think about the types of places you have been. Do you want to re-experience a previous trip? Or do you want to be bold and experience something that you have never tried? Do you want to plan you trip around the mainstream attractions of  a place or would you rather take the cultural backstreets? Are you looking for a relaxing getaway or an exciting thrill? Whatever your preferences and objectives of your trip, you need to make sure you're picking a place that meets the criteria you're looking for. You are after all spending precious time, money, and energy towards your trip, so you should be sure that you get what you were looking for.                                    

2.) Consider your situation. If you're a  parent of 3 kids, you should probably reassess if a high thrill expedition through the Amazon jungle is the smartest choice for a vacay. This step is crucial because even if you were to pick the perfect vacation spot, the trip can easily turn sour if it doesn't suit everyone and their needs. Think about everyone's physical abilities and their situations. If traveling with a family, choose a family friendly destination that can appeal to all (cruises are a great choice for families) and if traveling solo, pick a place you see yourself being able to enjoy. Also to keep your budget in mind as this will affect the number/types of places you can travel to. Consider all disabilities and food restrictions when picking where to stay to make sure that the trip is enjoyable for all which brings us to our next super stipulation.                  

3.) Include everyone. If you're taking a "you" trip or a couple's getaway, this shouldn't be too hard but I have had my fair share of family chaos episodes labeled as "vacations" and how frustrating it can be when not everyone is on board especially in the picking process. An easy way to do this is to ask each family member to narrow down their choices down to three trip ideas, meld them all and narrow down the ideas to three options and have a family vote. If some members aren't happy with the decision, consider letting them choose where to go next time. This makes it easier for everyone to feel engaged and important to the decision-making process, rather than feeling like a worthless follower. Remember that vacations are meant to be a fun time for everyone involved so pick a method that maximizes this feeling in everybody.

4.) Do your research. It's always a smart idea to prepare yourself before any event, and one where you are putting money and time towards to should take priority. From the place that you're sending the night to the place where to plan to spend most of your trip, use your resources. Seriously, internet reviews are there for a reason other than to entertain us with weird usernames. Take people's experiences seriously because most likely, they did not go through all the effort to post a bad review if they truly did not enjoy an experience and the same goes for a good review. Even if you haven't picked your spot yet, the internet can be a good place to start. If you're under monetary constrictions, there are plenty of ideas out there on how to spend a mind blowing break without blowing your bank account. Nothing should stop you from having a good time, especially money constrictions. The internet can also be a great tool to explore places that cater to your unique needs such as dog-friendly places to stay and the like. Look for places that appeal to the aesthetic of where you wanted to go according to step 1. Be sure to look into every aspect of your trip because although some surprises are nice, bedbug startles are not.

5.) Ask friends. Chances are, most of your coworkers or friends (it's okay if it's singular, no judgement here) have gone on a trip that stuck out in their mind or that they really enjoyed. You don't have to book a place to the exact hotel they went to, but getting an idea from real people about places they enjoyed may give you ideas about places you hadn't even considered beforehand. Ask around about places people have gone and if any of them are a good option for your _______.  Be sure to pay attention to places they speak negatively of as those nuggets of information can be just as important the places they mention that they liked. You might even realize why they spoke so highly of a place and make some of you own memories there.

6.) Take it easy and have fun! Keep in mind that the whole reason that you're taking a trip is to let go and enjoy yourself. You shouldn't treat it as a chore that needs to get done, but rather enjoy each step of the process. But most importantly don't sweat the small stuff, because mishaps only make for a great story later on!