planning tips and tricks

  • Three days on the Oregon coast: a road trip itinerary and map

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    I am very excited to share this road trip itinerary for three days on the Oregon coast. I take no credit for its amazingness. It was given to me by a former local and all-around Oregon expert. She really came through and provided the greatest Oregon coast three-day itinerary. You can trust me on this.…

  • A Trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine

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    In our Poland Do’s and Don’ts post, we briefly mentioned visiting the Wieliczka Salt Mines (WSM). Some things deserve to be talked about a little more, so this post will describe the crazy cool time we had exploring 300 meters (imagine three football fields stacked straight down) underground in Poland. Getting There One of the…

  • Ways to Make Business Travel More Fun

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    Fun work trips are possible. I promise. Do you have to travel for work? If the answer is yes, below are some suggestions for how to make your next business trip a little more enjoyable…provided you can find some free time of course. Suggestions for fun work trips A couple of times a year, I…

  • Blue boats in Venice, Italy.

    Dealing with Disappointment while Traveling

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    Travel disappointment is real. Disappointment in general is, unfortunately, a part of life. But it is also a part of travel. No matter how well planned or thought out, a trip rarely goes off without a hitch. Whether it is flight delays, an upset stomach or overpriced attractions, something will happen that tests your patience…

  • Experiencing Holidays in Different Countries

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    Holidays are a funny thing. Every culture has them and sometimes they cross country boundaries (e.g. Easter, Christmas) and are celebrated in many countries. But sometimes they are unique to that particular country. It’s easy to think other countries’ holidays sound crazy when you did not grow up with them. For example, every December in…

  • The Mid-Vacation Respite

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    A mid vacation respite is a time on your trip when you can take a vacation from your vacation. One of the most challenging things about planning a trip is trying to cram in as much as possible. No matter where you go, you will have to make tough choices about what you will be…

  • travel planning Australia vacation

    Travel Planning for a Trip [Australia Specifically]

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    The dates are set, the plane ticket is bought and the travel fund is steadily growing. It is now time to start travel planning and focusing on the details of your trip. Not long ago, I wrote a post about what I am doing to plan and save money for a month-long trip to Australia.…

  • How to survive the heat in a hot place

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    Vacations full of fresh fruit and beaches always sound really good to me, but to be honest, I’m just not a hot weather kind of Jane. I prefer sweaters to swimsuits; they are softer and I can eat ice cream without feeling guilty. That being said, sometimes you have to put up with the heat…

  • Tips for Choosing a Travel Companion

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    I have been lucky enough to find some great travel companions over the years. But I understand that it can sometimes be difficult to find like-minded people to travel and explore this world with. Unfortunately, I do not think there is a magical formula to finding good travel companions. However, I do have some tips…

  • Train in Canada

    Train Travel Tips for Two Weeks in Canada

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    Taking the train across Canada was a dream come true for me. I do not remember when I first learned that it is possible to ride a train across Canada, but I was young and it remained a dream of mine for many years. After my good friend from college and main travel companion decided…