Unique digital nomad travel adventures from around the U.S.
The Pendleton Round-Up has been on my bucket list for years and I have finally checked it off! I am going to tell you all about it, but first, let’s talk for a minute about bucket lists. Now you may not be quite as obsessed …
As has been mentioned a time or two, I’m a bit of a fan of National Parks. Likewise, B and I are big fans of getting away for short weekend trips. These two likes came together last weekend when we ventured northwest to the North …
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Last week I talked about the gear and tools that help in packing light. This week, I am going to talk about some specific packing light tips for women.
These are the tips and tricks I actually use while on vacation. There is a lot of advice out there and I feel like I am always learning something new when it comes to packing. Continue on to read 10 of my tips for packing light.
Packing light is hard because there is no room for “what if” or “just in case” items. You have to evaluate each item carefully before you put it in your bag. It is much easier to randomly toss whatever you think you might need into your bag. Less stuff, in this case, means more work. However, that work is worth it when you are out on the road. So try out the following tips and see if they help make your bag a little lighter on your next trip.
I am not a big fan of packing. I hate it, actually. But I love lists and making one helps tremendously with the packing process. Sometimes I jot the items I want to pack on a piece of scratch paper. Other times I use a pre-printed packing list. Then sometimes I use a packing app. It really does not matter how you generate a packing list, it just matters that you have one. This is especially important if you are new to travel. I promise that if you wait until the last minute and start haphazardly throwing stuff into your bag, you are going to over pack. Or you are going to forget something. A little planning goes a long ways.
Packing light means packing less…that means less clothing. For a weekend getaway, this is not too big of a deal. For two weeks in Europe, this is a very big deal. You will have to wear things more than once. You may have to do laundry. Your clothes will take a beating. Cotton, my friends, will not cut it. It is time to invest in performance fabrics. They help regulate your temperature, they dry fast and most importantly, they last longer before they start to smell.
There is a reason I love Icebreaker clothing. Yes, it is stupid expensive. Because of that, I only own a few pieces instead of an entire wardrobe. But those few pieces have been worth every penny. There are many brands like Icebreaker that make quality clothing and gear—the kind of stuff that will last you for years to come. I suggest you start with just a piece or two. Look for sales or check out a consignment store that specializes in performance gear (check out my post for where to find affordable travel clothes for women). Slowly build up your arsenal. Once you travel with quality gear and clothing, you will never go back.
Sierra Trading Post is a go-to for outdoor gear. You can get good brands and much steeper discounts after using the coupon codes. Boise is one of the lucky towns to have a brick and mortar store, but otherwise you can shop from their website.
Deciding on which shoes to pack is definitely my biggest packing challenge. Shoes are bulky and heavy. You want to limit the number you pack which means you need to carefully evaluate each pair and its purpose. Why would you pack those heals unless you are positive you will wear them? If the unexpected happens and you need heals, you can always buy a pair. But it doesn’t seem worth it to haul them around just in case a heal-worthy event unfolds.
R subscribes to a three-pair rule: one pair of closed-toed shoes (e.g. trail runners, hiking boots, etc.), one pair of adventure sandals and one pair of flip-flops. I tend to stress a bit more because if I can get away with only bringing one or two pairs, then that is what I do. Take some time to figure out what shoes work for you. They are probably the most critical part of your wardrobe so it is worth figuring out.
If push comes to shove, wear your bulkier shoes on the ‘travel days’ while on your trip. For example, we knew Air Baltic was a stickler for the sizes our bags could be without paying extra. By wearing our bulkiest shoes, our bags were more compact.
Your clothes should all mix and match. If a top only matches one bottom, it is not a good choice. It does not matter if you are going on a cold-weather trip and all your bottoms are pants…or it is going to be hot and all you want are skirts…or you need to prepare for varied temperatures with a mix of short and long. Everything should still be interchangeable. And layer-able for that matter.
I try to pick a color scheme and then choose weather-appropriate pieces that fall within that scheme. That way I know all of my clothes will match in some way. (Note: scarves and jewelry make good accessories without taking up a lot of room.) Do not be afraid to wear things more than once—which is why you want to pack higher quality fabrics as discussed in item 2. No matter what you do, you are going to be tired of your wardrobe by the end of the trip. That is one of the downsides to packing light. But at least you will have more options if everything is interchangeable.
I am already a minimalist when it comes to a beauty routine (much to my mother’s dismay). I have nothing against women who enjoy themselves a good primp before they leave the house; that is just not my style. However, if it takes you two hours and a suitcase full of beauty products to get ready, you may want to think about how that affects your travel. Not only will all those beauty products make it difficult to pack light, but also the time it takes to apply them all will take away from time you could be out exploring. Places do not care if your hair is perfect. So do yourself a favor and keep your travel routine simple. You will pack a little lighter and see a little more.
Just as clothes can be versatile, so can makeup. There are several products out there that can work as blush, eye shadow and lipstick, all in one convenient package.
When doing research on the internet, be sure to take what you read with a grain of salt (and yes, I recognize the irony here). I love reading stuff about packing light, but it amazes me what some people recommend. I recently read an article about packing light that recommended two layering sweaters along with two jackets. Excuse me? This was not specific to a cold-weather trip. It was just a general list. If I am traveling somewhere tropical, when am I ever going to need two sweaters plus two jackets?
The same list also said to always pack a bathing suit. A long time ago, I subscribed to that advice. But no more. Nowadays if I am going on a trip and, for example, my lodging does not have a pool or hot tub, it is February in the northern hemisphere and I do not have time to hit up a spa, I am not going to pack a swimsuit. If my plans are a little more lose and there is a chance we might hit up a hot springs, then yes, I will throw in a swimsuit. But it should not be mandatory for every trip (few things should). A little common sense and some logic will help you decipher some of those lists floating around out there.
Shopping for souvenirs is one of the best parts of traveling. We love to bring home unique items made by local artisans. In order to do so, it is important to leave room in your bag from the very beginning. Sure, a pair of earrings does not take up much room. But what about that cool clock R brought home from Tallinn, Estonia? It needed some space.
Even if you do not end up filling that space with bought goods (which I cannot understand at all), you will not regret packing less and having a lighter bag. In the event that you buy too much or too large, yes, you can always purchase an extra bag to carry your new stuff home in (I have done this more times than I can to count). However, it is far preferable and much easier all around if you space in your bag to start with.
I am sure you have all heard that it is better to roll your clothes than to fold them. I myself am a roller and feel rolling is a good rule of thumb. Combine rolling with a couple of packing cubes and you are well on your way to an efficient and compact bag. However, there are plenty of other tips for getting your stuff well packed.
R, who tends to pack an entire pharmacy when she hits the road, likes to stuff several medications into one bottle (well labeled, of course) instead of packing multiple, half-filled bottles. You can also stick things, like socks, into your shoes. If you have some bulky or odd-shaped items, do a Google search to see if anyone else has a trick or two for packing a similar item. You will be surprised at how much space you can save with just a few adjustments.
Guess what…the rest of the world does have stores. Many of them carry the same items you buy in your stores at home. Unless you are traveling somewhere super remote (and even then, you will probably fly into a major city that has stores), you do not have to pack everything you “may” need. In the event that something unexpected comes up or you forget an item, you can buy it on the road. That is not to say you should plan to buy what you need along the way, but keep in mind that you have options.
For example, I always pack a couple of bandages for blisters or cuts or whatever. However, if I end up needing more than the two or three I pack, I can always buy more. There is no sense in packing a whole box just in case. Here is a real-life example: on a trip to Ecuador, R forgot to pack a day bag. Luckily, there was a mall within walking distance to our hotel. R was able to purchase a cute, little backpack from an outdoor store that she still uses to this day.
Okay, I realize this is not for everyone. However, if you are considering Lasik and you are a traveler, do not hesitate. Trust me on this. Other than getting my passport, this might be the greatest decision I have ever made in terms of travel (and life in general).
I hardly remember the days of having to pack extra contacts, saline solution, eye drops, regular glasses and prescription sunglasses—all “just in case” something goes wrong. And something always goes wrong on a trip. I have lost contacts in windy moments, stumbled blindly into the wrong room in the middle of the night (looking for the bathroom), and had unexpected allergic reactions that resulted in painful eye infections. But no more! I see better, pack less and express gratitude during sand storms in Morocco. Lasik makes life better. At least it did for me.
I hope you enjoyed these packing light tips for women. Overall, my message is that a little preparation beforehand goes a long way to packing light. Do some research and make a list. Avoid “what if” items and practice, practice, practice. Happy travels!
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Traveling can be a scary concept, but that doesn’t mean you should do it. This post highlights tips to help you stay safe while traveling. But first: Know that things can go wrong anywhere The world can be a scary place. And with the bombings …
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Packing Light Tools and Gear Packing light is an art. It takes years of practice and just when you think you’ve got it nailed, you’ll learn some new trick or find a new piece of gear that shows just how wrong you’ve been packing all …
Last weekend I was feeling a bit nostalgic so I watched Roman Holiday on Netflix. In this movie, Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck spend a whirlwind day doing all the things Audrey wanted to do in the Eternal City. It made me think about my own whirlwind one day in Rome. I had joined my best bud and her family as they toured Europe and on a whim, a few of us decided to forgo one of our three days in Tuscany in exchange for a quick trip to Rome. Obviously, one day in this historic city is not enough. But like the Stones advise, when you can’t get what you want, you should get what you need.
We awoke at the break of dawn and hopped on a train heading south. The train ride was only two hours so when we arrived in the Rome transportation hub, it was still pretty early. We picked out five major destinations we wanted to see and hit the ground running. With just one day available, here’s where we went and what we saw.
Our first stop was the Vatican Museums. When we arrived, there was already a line but within 30 minutes we were able to get through security (remember, the Vatican is its own sovereign state). Everyone who visits the Vatican Museums should prepare themselves for what they are about to see. I was blown away by all the amazing art crammed into every nook and cranny. The Sistine Chapel is well known for art on the ceiling. But before you even get there, your neck will already hurt from looking up at the different paintings and frescoes on the ceilings all throughout the hallways.
When you get tired of looking up, look down because the floors are all intricate mosaics. Then there is the stuff on the actual walls–I was so excited to see many of the paintings I had learned about in humanities classes in college. The School of Athens in the Raphael Rooms was massive and might have been my favorite at the Museums.
After winding our way through 50 plus different rooms and hallways, we ended up in the Sistine Chapel and we got to take in Michelangelo’s little number (you may have heard of it?). The Sistine Chapel is big–it is a chapel after all–but I wasn’t expecting it to be so big and have so many other scenes to look at. The main wall has the Last Judgment painted on it, complete with scary scenes of hell and those iconic fingers touching. But beyond the main wall and the ceiling there are frescoes all on the walls. You are in the room with hundreds of other people of all different nationalities and languages, all taking in the famous art.
Advice: if you are into art history and plan on seeing the Sistine Chapel, you should read the Agony and the Ecstasy. It’s long but really good.
After exiting the Chapel, we made a short walk over to St. Peter’s Basilica. This building has been called the ‘greatest of all churches in Christendom.’ Not too shabby, right? Besides being important for religious reasons, let’s just get this out right now–this baby is huge. Like the biggest-church-ever huge. Like twice the size of the National Cathedral in D.C. It is shaped like a cross and has a huge dome that dominates the Roman skyline.
Work on the Basilica started in 1506 and names like Bernini and Michelangelo worked on the design and decoration of St. Peter’s. So it should come as no surprise that it is a work of art in itself, and is then decorated by more works of art, such as the Michelangelo sculpture, La Pieta. I am always amazed when I see sculptures and think of these life-like scenes were created from a chunk of rock. La Pieta is quite beautiful and depicts Mary holding Jesus’ body after he was crucified.
Seeing stuff like this makes you wish our Presidents and leaders would commission works of art the way the Popes did during the Renaissance. As we exited St. Peter’s onto St. Peter’s square where 80,000 people sometimes gather, I experienced one of those weird little travel moments that seem so improbable. There in front of me were some people I knew from back home. Even when you feel like you are thousands of miles from home, home can come to you. Maybe the world isn’t such a big place after all.
The next stop on our trek was the Roman Forum, culminating in the Colosseum. We learned a valuable lesson that jaywalking was unwise as we crossed several busy Roman streets. Unless you wanted to be hit by twenty or so angry scooter drivers. I would advise anyone crossing streets in Rome to only go when Italian-looking citizens (tight pants, lots of leather) do so. We survived though, as do the many structures that make up the Roman Forum. The Forum is a collection of the remnants of buildings, arches and statues, all left over from a few thousand years ago. As in thousands. How these people managed to build such large structures that have lasted so long is incredible.
The Colosseum looks just the way it is supposed to and after waiting in line for a while, we got to go wander around inside. There are three levels of arches that are built on top of each other into a large circle. The floor in the center is not solid; instead it looks a bit like a maze when viewed from above. There is a wooden bridge across the center (reconstructed) so you can get an idea of what it looked like when the floor was solid. The theory is that this floor was removable so if they were reenacting a water scene on that particular day, they could flood it and play real-life Battleship.
The Colosseum would have looked a lot different back in the day. In my mind, it is basically what a giant football stadium in present times would look like–except minus the plastic chairs and replay screens.
Trevi Fountain is located in the Trevi district of Rome. That seems like an easy enough destination, but alas…we got lost. We stumbled upon a fountain, and not remembering exactly what the fountain looked like, threw our euro coins in with a wish. We must have looked ridiculous and we certainly felt ridiculous when we eventually stumbled upon the actual Trevi Fountain.
There should be no mistaking this thing–it is the massive fountain on the side of a building that depicts Oceanus flanked by men and winged horses. Nothing like what we had found earlier. We threw more coins in, like so many others do. The coins are reportedly collected and buy food for needy Romans, so I was okay with buying another wish.
Advice: carry around a map or G.P.S. when exploring a new place. And not a lame one like you get at the hotel when you check in, which is what we were using.
The final must-see for our trip was the Pantheon. In 126. A.D. Hadrian completed the Pantheon, but for what purpose seems to be up for debate. After its first few hundred years it was dedicated as a church and has basically been that ever since. The building itself is circular with a massive dome and several columns at the front. The most impressive part of the Pantheon is its dome–it is the size of the one at St. Peter’s and has a big circle right in the middle.
The reason this is so impressive is because the engineers who came up with this did it using concrete–without any metal. Oh, and remember, they did this 2,000 years ago. I kind of get why these people took over much of the world with those kind of skills. Several tombs inside the Pantheon, most famously this is where Raphael was laid to rest.
After a very busy day, we headed back to the station to get on the train north. We were exhausted, but exhilarated by all we had been able to see and do in a mere one day in Rome.
At the end of Roman Holiday, Audrey and Gregory know that they shared a magical day in a magical city, but also that they would never again get to replicate it. As I think back on my own great day in Rome, it is also a little bittersweet because one of my dear friends is no longer with us. While that makes me sad, I am able to smile when I remember trekking all over this famous city. We’ll always have Rome!
I have no doubt that I will get to visit Rome again at some point. However, I will never regret squeezing one day in Rome into the trip to visit the five sites listed above. Have you been to Rome? What were your must sees?
I was lucky enough to experience a New Mexico weekend getaway and I highly recommend you plan one yourself. I feel New Mexico is a gem and one of our most underrated states. So I suggest you visit before the secret gets out. You do …
B and I get asked ‘where are you going next?’ quite often. Like we’ve mentioned before, we pretty much always have our next few adventures mapped out. But that is only for the near future and places that make sense for us to go next. …
We may not travel full time, but we sure spend a good chunk of our free time planning our next trip. For every week of actual travel, there are months and months of planning. I can scarcely remember a time when the internet did not play a big role in that planning process. Below are some of my preferred websites for planning a trip.
I have been referencing and using the sites listed below for many years. R too has sites she prefers to use for travel (although I am sure we have some overlap) but we always appreciate a good recommendation. So if you have any good suggestions for travel planning sites, we would love to hear about them.
Now onto the list.
I rarely visit a destination (even cities within the U.S.) without first reading about it on Wikitravel. The sections I find most useful are the “Get around” and “Stay safe” sections. Like everything else “wiki,” you need to take the things you read with a grain of salt. But I have gotten a lot of good information from this site over the years.
You would pretty much have to be living under a rock not to have heard of Travelzoo. (If you have not heard of them, I apologize. But geez, get out from under that rock already!) Their Top 20 is something I look forward to every week. And they have great deals on shows, spa treatments, activities, etc. A word of warning though: it is real easy to get excited about a particular deal and feel the need to purchase it right away! Although I see nothing wrong with that kind of enthusiasm and spontaneity, I tend to use the site more as a go-by; it gives me a good understanding of what a trip to a particular destination could cost me.
When I first started backpacking, I found Travel Independent and instantly fell in love with it. The information was very pertinent to the way I was traveling at that time. And even today, I still use a lot of the tricks I learned from them. This site, more than any other, taught me how to pack light. As I have gotten older and my style of travel has changed a bit, I find I do not visit the site as often. But it is still a great resource, especially if you are into backpacking or want to learn how to pack a little lighter.
Because plane ticket prices have such a profound effect on where and when I travel, I tend to do a lot of research on flights and use several sites to do so. My two preferred sites are Airfarewatchdog and Google Flights.
With Airfarewatchdog, I can view deals either from a particular airport (e.g. Boise) or to a particular airport (e.g. Sydney). I also receive alerts from this site.
I like Google Flights because they make it easy to see a snapshot of flight prices every day of the month for as many months as you would like to look ahead. Other sites offer flexible search options, but none are as easy to use as Google Flights. Granted, Google Flights does not include every airline (e.g. Southwest). But once my plans are a bit more definite, I make sure to check airline-specific sites and even crosscheck with sites like Expedia. I also really like Google Flight’s “Explore Destinations” that highlights flight prices in a map view. If you know your dates but have not settled on a destination yet, this is a great comparison tool.
A couple of other sites I like to check periodically are Hopper and fly.com. I check Hopper for ballpark pricing and predictions—although I am not yet convinced their predictions are remotely close to accurate. But I like seeing what other people have recently paid for a flight. I use fly.com for searching international flights. I also really like their “Today’s Best Fares” section.
It is generally a good idea to have at least some idea of how much a trip is going to set you back. I confess: I am not always very good at this although I have improved since planning and saving for a trip to Australia. I track plane costs very carefully and I always look for the best deal on lodging. But I can be a bit remiss on researching the cost-per-day of my chosen destination. When I do remember, there are two sites I use for my research.
My personal favorite is the Price of Travel. It is geared towards backpackers so it’s a bit on the low side for me. But I feel it is accurate and I love the comparison it offers among different cities.
Option two is Lonely Planet. It always feels a little on the high side to me. But by comparing the numbers offered on both sites, I feel like I can get a rough idea of how much I will spend. And that rough idea is better than going in blind.
I really, really like Rome2rio. When it comes to getting from point A to point B (whether those two points are between countries or within the same country), this site gives you a nice overview of your options. The types of transportation available (e.g. bus, flight, car), costs and amount of time it takes are just rough estimates. But for planning purposes, those rough estimates are great. Once your itinerary is more set, then you can nail down the details.
My other go-to is Google Maps. This site works great if you want to map out a route with multiple stops and I feel like it was made for planning road trips. It can also help you find restaurants, museums, etc. that are nearby. And who doesn’t love the street view or Google Earth? Both are helpful in addition to being fun to play with.
Ah, the weather. All too often, it can make or break a vacation. And while you cannot control it, you can certainly prepare for it. There are plenty of sites (and apps) that provide you with weather conditions/predictions. When it comes to a general overview, my personal favorite is Weather2travel. Not only does it have a clever name, but in addition to discussing the weather, it also provides information on things like the amount of daylight you can expect during a particular time of year—which I find very helpful.
Finding out you’ve arrived in Venice during Carnival can either be a delightful surprise, or a royal pain in the ass (I will save that story for another time). It is best to do a little research ahead of time to see if you will be in a location during some sort of holiday/celebration/festival. That way you can be prepared for things like closed stores, longer lines and inflated prices. I recommend Time and Date’s holiday calendar for a nice overview. If something pops up on there, then you can do more research to see if it may affect your travel plans.
Knowing if it is safe to drink the water is kind of a big deal. The appropriately named, Is the water safe to drink, is the best website I have found for a quick reference on this topic. I like its simple layout and ease of use. I do have to note that it does not necessarily cover every location you may be researching. In that case, I rely on old Google for assistance.
When it comes to travel, research and the internet, there are a lot of options available. It may be a challenge to weed through it all, but the benefits of having such a surplus of information far outweigh the hassle. Plus, you can save yourself a lot of that hassle by using suggestions from someone else’s list. 🙂
Panama has more than just hats, people. For one blissful month after finishing grad school and before the student-loan repayment plan kicked in, I was able to join my family in this cool Central American country. Here are ten interesting Panama facts. Locks Panama was …