Unique digital nomad travel adventures from around the U.S.
I recently had a very close encounter with a pickpocket in Lisbon, Portugal. Thankfully, nothing was stolen. But I learned and relearned a few important lessons that I wanted to share here with you. My hope is that my story and a few tips on …
Wondering how to plan your fun as a digital nomad? We have a simple but effective approach. Hint: it starts with a pen and piece of paper. That’s right. We recommend you go old school here and write down your list of things to see …
We’ve recently written posts about how to pack for trips to cold and medium climates. To round out the advice, this post will be how to pack for packing advice for hot climates. This might seem strange considering it is mid-January, but last year at this very time we were packing up for peak summer in Australia.
I’ve discussed how I really don’t like being hot, much less hot and humid. But here’s the thing: there are so many places in this world that are super rad that have super high temperatures. You just have to suck it up and do your best to stay cool. Clothing choices are pivotal in helping you survive the heat, so you have to make sure you pack well. If this sounds too doomsday, there is a plus side for packing for hot climates: summer clothes are usually pretty small so you can cram a lot more in your bag! Here’s the packing that we did a few Februarys ago when we took a nine-day trip to Hawaii.
*Again, I’m not going to include incidentals like undies and pjs since you’ll have to bring that for every trip anyway and everyone has their own preference for how much to pack.
Sandals, sandals, sandals. Done. Just kidding…it’s not that easy. For Hawaii, it made sense to have three pairs of shoes: my trusty hiking sandals, flip flops, and waterproof close-toe shoes.
In Hawaii, we knew we were going to do a lot of hiking, but hiking sandals are also great for non-hiking trips as they have great support, letting you walk long distances with them on without hurting your feet. On some of our trips we log over 30,000 steps in one day (I’m looking at you Warsaw), so you need to make sure your shoes are up to the test.
I actually didn’t pack a pair of these to take with me to Hawaii because I wanted a new pair and thought the selection would be better there than in ol’ frozen Idaho. Flippers are really useful for when you are going to be spending a lot of the time at the beach because they are so easy to slip on and off. They can also be real handy when you are in sketchy shower situations and because there’s nothing to them they don’t take up much space in your pack. What the heck, throw in a pair.
B grew up with horses, so whenever we have a chance to go horseback riding on vacations, we usually do. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to pack cowboy boots, but you will need to make sure your little feets are fully covered or sometimes they won’t let you on the horse. For Hawaii, I purchased a pair of shoes that would work for horses and also were capable of getting wet for some of our more adventurous snorkeling excursions. It would be a real bummer to kick a piece of coral and scratch up your toes!
For a weekish long trip, I pack one skirt, one pair of shorts and one pair of pants that can be rolled up when it gets too hot. We’ve discussed material in the other posts, and it plays a very important role when it comes to hot temperatures. My skirt and shorts are made of a lightweight synthetic material that wicks moisture off my skin and keeps me cooler. My pants are made of linen and are nice and breezy.
Skirts are a must in hot climates because you get a nice breeze all the way up your legs and cooling off all that real estate helps keep the rest of you cool. I have a black skirt that has seen many different countries. The black is a good choice because it hides dirt and can look dressier if you want to be fancy.
Since it is hot in Hawaii, I packed three t-shirts and two tank tops. The shirts are nice and thin so I could throw in a few more and not have to worry about it. You’ll want to make sure the material is something that is quick drying. One because you are going to get sweaty, and two, when you wash them out in your sink because they are smelly as all get out, you want them to dry in just a few hours while you sleep. I also packed a long-sleeve shirt for evenings. (A fleece also came with me, but that’s because we left Idaho in cold temperatures and I needed something to wear to the airport.) A scarf or pashmina could also work in place of a long-sleeve shirt.
Another option for a travel is a dress. In the heat, these are breezy like a skirt. The down side of a dress is that you don’t get as much use out of it because you can’t switch tops and bottoms to mix up your look, but if you are good with that then go for it. With a dress you never have to worry about your outfit coordinating!
You won’t need much in terms of outerwear for a hot climate. Just make sure to bring at least one long-sleeve shirt or scarf and a raincoat. Even if it is hot as a hellfire, it can still rain on you, resulting in you being hot and wet. Gross.
Swim gear is gonna be big in most hot climates. Since most hot places we go to are also tropical, that means it is also going to be pretty humid. Due to this, it is best to pack more than one swimsuit so you can alternate days and never have to put on a semi-dry swimmer. That is the worst! Heck, since suits are so small, you can even go crazy and pack three if you really feel like it.
For Hawaii, B tried out a new swim-related item: swim pants. These look just like tight, capri workout pants that are made of swimsuit material. They are great for adventures that including water (think paddle boarding). She recommended them so highly I picked myself up a pair and wore them in the Azores. I very much appreciated the extra sun protection they offered (sun-burnt upper thighs are no fun) and they made me feel like my cellulite wasn’t on display for the world to see. Even if you don’t get swim pants, you should definitely look into a rashguard. These are tight tops made of swimsuit material that keep you from burning or from getting a rash during surfing, etc. My sun-burning fair skin appreciates any extra protection against the sun in hot climates.
Some countries with crazy hot climates are also very religious and conservative: think Middle East and Northern Africa. In these countries, packing clothes is way more challenging because you can’t just throw on a skimpy tank top and mini skirt. Well, I suppose you could, but you really shouldn’t. For our trip to Morocco, we had to change up our normal hot climates go-tos for some more conservative options. We made sure our skirts were longer but still nice and airy. For tops, we picked very lightweight material that covered our shoulders and didn’t dip too low in the front. Material was VERY important for that trip.
If you want to see the world you are just going to have to come to terms with traveling in places that spike the thermometer. What you pack can make a real difference in your comfort level when you are soaking up the sun.
A few weeks ago, we wrote about packing for cold weather destinations. We thought we’d continue along those lines and write about packing for other climates, so this post will be number two of the series and discuss packing advice for Medium Climates. Medium = …
I know not everyone loves winter or winter travel, but there are so many great winter activities! If you throw a little travel into the mix, you have got yourself one hell of a good time. You may choose to travel to a particular destination …
This week we are excited to have a guest author, my friend from grad school, Genevieve Brown. Like us, Genevieve enjoys traveling. Unlike us, she sometimes travels with a side of volunteering. We asked her to tell us a little bit more about volunteering abroad, and this post is for us just as much as it is for you. Thanks, G!
Volunteering abroad incorporates the excitement of traveling to a new destination and the rewarding experience of working with communities on service projects. It offers a richer travel experience and the chance to learn and share.
Despite all of the pros of volunteer travel, there are a lot of things to consider before booking that trip.
The first thing to consider is money. Unless you are planning to serve abroad long term, or you are highly skilled in an in-demand field, most likely you will have to pay for all or most of your expenses. Many people book a trip through volunteer sending organizations that have developed relationships with in-country organizations, provide housing, and handle some of the travel logistics. Some people fundraise part of the cost of their volunteer trip.
If you decide to book through a volunteer sending organization, the next thing to consider is how to vet that organization. You want to make sure the group you are traveling with is not a third party booking agency but an organization that has established relationships with the community and is running an ethical, reciprocal, and sustainable operation. It is important to ask a lot of questions before booking. Some questions to consider include the following:
How long have you been working in the community?
How do you match volunteer skills with the needs of the community?
How do you ensure that the project is really needed/wanted by the community
What does my fee cover? (in-country travel, meals, housing, etc.)
Do you have foreign liability insurance?
For more questions see: http://
Another important consideration is the impact you might have on vulnerable populations. Orphans and people who have experienced violence or trauma etc. are especially vulnerable and having a foreigner come in for a short period may actually do more harm than good. Even when working with people in poverty it is important to realize the privileged position you may hold as a foreigner and yet understand that your privilege does not align with actual knowledge of the community and its needs. A willingness to listen and learn is a key component to a successful volunteer trip.
Volunteering abroad can be a rewarding experience, especially when you go in with the right mindset and expectations. No, you are not going to “change the world” but when done with humility, you will have an amazing cross-cultural experience.
If you do plan to volunteer abroad, make sure to check out this article.
Genevieve Brown has over a decade of experience working in the field of volunteer travel. She has developed international standards for volunteer sending organizations and advised nonprofits on sustainable projects. She currently consults nonprofit clients on standards, evaluations and management issues.
We’ve written about how B and I scored a great deal on a trip to Europe this Christmas. It’s going to be a fantastic winter trip…emphasis on winter. Since we will be taking a trip during cold weather, our packing list is going to be …
One of the biggest impediments to travel is cost. Even though B and I have talked about how we don’t spend as much as you would think on our trips, travel still costs more money than staying at home. One way to keep travel costs …
Planning a Bali spa day is something we highly recommend. However, there are some key things you should know, which we share below.
Last week B’s friend K came into town and they had a great time catching up and comparing past travels and adventures. As they chatted, B mentioned an infamous massage event that she, S and I experienced in Bali. K’s eyes grew wide and she exclaimed, “You too?” It turns out that all of us experienced the same type of spa treatment–one that will never be forgotten. If it happened to us, and it happened to K, I figure it might happen to a few more unsuspecting Janes and perhaps a warning is in order. So here’s what went down and might possibly happen to you if you sign up for a massage in Bali.
As you all know, B and I like to do a lot of research before we visit a destination and when we were looking at things to do in Indonesia, spa packages came up frequently. After digging a little further, we found a spa that would pamper us like queens for hours and provide lunch and fruit drinks, all for the bargain price of 510,000 rupiah. (Around $50 with the exchange rate back then!) Crazy deal, huh? So, we contacted Eve Spa Bali and reserved three slots for the Spa Package 1.
When we arrived around 10 in the morning, we were told that there were two rooms. So one of us would have a room to our self and the other two would share a room. S and B drew the short straw and went into the room where two massage tables were set up, along with one big stone bath tub (more on that later). I entered my private room and from this point on, the three of us experienced parallel paths of the following treatments. (S and B each had their own lady.)
I hadn’t had many massages prior to this excursion, but B assured me that I just needed to disrobe to the point where I was comfortable and the massage person would respect my modesty and adjust the massage to my comfort level. Well, that is not at all what went down. My spa experience began with my lady handing over a teensy plastic bag containing disposable underwear and walking out of the room. (Ditto for S & B).) Since we are all roll-with-it-kind of gals, we underwear-ed up and got our massage on. If the massage was awkward, that was nothing compared to what was coming…
Next on the agenda was a full body sugar scrub. And yes, I mean full body. This part of the treatment involved the lady rubbing a coarse scrub into the skin to exfoliate the dead cells. It felt nice and scratchy in places like the legs and arms, but in other areas it was very strange to be manhandled by a stranger. It got really weird next…
Being as we were covered in a sticky sugar substance, we had to get clean, right? At this point our ladies gestured to the shower. (Did I mention these ladies didn’t speak English? Communication was based on pointing and nodding.) Over we went to the shower and while standing there, the lady first rinsed the sugar off and then proceeded to rub yogurt all over us. Everywhere that the tiny disposable underwear wasn’t covering. Everywhere.
I was then directed to the stone bathtub full of hot water and petals of flowers. It was quite beautiful, but I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on with my friends next door. Surely they each got their own bath tub, right? Well, nope. S and B were enjoying a romantic soak in an over-sized stone bathtub. (Pause typing while I laugh just thinking about it!) They told me it was fortunate that there were loads of flower petals they could strategically place… It was around lunchtime at this point, so our ladies brought us menus and while we soaked they ran next door to a restaurant to pick us up some food, which we then ate in the bath tub.
After the bath treatment, we were allowed to get dressed and head back out to the main spa area. We sat down at chairs like you’d find in a hair salon and our ladies coated our hair with some pasty substance that I’m sure had to have just been mashed up exotic fruits. You’d probably pay a fortune for a bottle of it here in the U.S.
While our hair soaked up nutrients, we got manicures and pedicures. Usually I love a good pedi, but to be quite honest, at this point in the day I was over being pampered. I just wanted them to paint my nails and get on down the road. We were going on hour five at the spa, and all the relaxing was exhausting!
Finally, we were painted, primped, perfumed and were able to walk out of the spa and into the humidity. My hair immediately turned frizzy and we were covered in sweat by the time we walked back to our lodging. Oh well.
A few days later, we were in another town and the power went out. Since we couldn’t do anything else, we decided to hit up the spa! S and I were dubious of a repeat massage performance so instead went with reflexology on our feet. For some reason, we still hadn’t learned our lesson about how things are done a little differently in Bali than they are in the U.S. Instead of a relaxing foot massage, S and I were both in crazy amounts of pain as they squeezed and pulled with no mercy.
B said her massage was similar to the other one. Luckily, it was pitch black because the three of us were lined up in a row on tables–S and I grimacing in pain and B sunny side up for all the world to see, had their been lights. B’s friend K also got two massages in Bali and had nearly the same experience.
There are many takeaways from this little story about spa treatments in Bali:
I have been thinking about bringing new life to old adventures lately. I do not enjoy doing the same things over and over again. That is why I always choose to go somewhere new instead of to the same vacation spot year after year. I …