Beautiful Ireland

As I sit thinking about where to honeymoon, I was reminiscing on my time spent in Ireland. It really was magical. We spent time in the Dublin city center, but also went for a lovely hike near Dun Laoghaire. I will say, Ireland is every bit as green as you'd think. We managed to squeeze our hike in between spurts of rain - though we carried ponchos just in case. It seemed to always be raining!

We even got to see some goats along the trail! The trail itself was marked moderate, but let me tell you - it was way more intense than that! I wonder what Americans would have labeled it? It was basically straight up for a good long portion and my bum knee sure was feeling it by the end. Regardless, it was totally worth it. 

Just a friendly tip, if you're planning on traveling to Ireland any time before mid summer, BRING LAYERS. I am not sure I've ever been so cold in my life and I had on tights, corduroys, thick socks, boots and something like 4 jackets. It was like the rain was blowing sideways! 

Anyway, if you're interested in taking a trip to see the land of the Irish, I'd be happy to help you! MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

International Road Trip?

My fiancé and I are officially getting married this June (YAY!) and that means it's time to get cracking on planning our honeymoon. We've tossed around several ideas, one of which is an international road trip! Doesn't that sound like a ton of fun!? Even if we don't end up doing it for our honeymoon, I think we will end up doing it eventually.

There are SO many places that we want to go, but I think we've narrowed it down to eastern Europe - specifically Budapest, Vienna and Prague.

I think the trick to a successful (and relaxing) road trip is to not hit too many cities. By keeping it to just 3 cities over the course of 10 days, we get to spend 3 days or so in each place. These cities are also close enough together that we won't spend all of our time on the road, but far enough apart we'll get a taste of a new culture at each stop. 

It's also important to note that there are some inevitable challenges that come with road trips, especially when in a foreign country! You must tlearn all the rules of the road in each country - they can be drastically different than what you're used to! This will take quite a bit of planning. It's advisable to do research and learn what is required to rent a car and what's needed to take said car and go across country lines. 

Be prepared and bring plenty of snacks and you're sure to have a blast!

If you want help preparing for your own international road trip, my company can help! Visit MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

How to Save Up for the Trip of a Lifetime

Love to travel? Have no money? I feel you. Luckily, over the years I've found ways to work around that problem and I'm here to help you out.

Step 1: Set a goal amount. This amount is calculated based off of flight, cost per day in the city you want to travel to, and any major attractions you want to visit. It's also a good idea to consider how to travel cheaply - look at hostels rather than hotels, trains over planes and remember to pack your lunch!

Step 2: Set a realistic monthly savings goal (and set up a budget!) Set aside a little bit each month. I know that seems obvious, but it can be very difficult to maintain! By building travel into your monthly savings goals, you are making it a real priority. Each month you'll be able to see that number grow and get one step closer to your goal.

Step 3: Stay motivated! Pick a target date and make a count down. I personally like to write a literal count down along the bottom of my agenda. Seeing that trip inch closer each day keeps it in the forefront of my mind. I also stay motivated by planning! Picking out which attractions you'll get to see and what you'll be doing on your trip is always so exciting and sure to keep you motivated.

Step 4: Buckle down and do it! Take a look at your life and see where you can cut back. Saving for big things like retirement, a house or a car are obviously important, but it can definitely help you save faster by cutting down on things like movies, shopping and fast food. At the end of each month, see where you have spent the most money and brainstorm ways to "beat" that number the next month. Turn it into a game or challenge amongst your friends. You'll be sure to save money in the future.

You'll be on the adventure of a lifetime before you know it!

My sister and I having a BLAST in Cape Town, South Africa!

If you need some help planning it, we can help you out at Miles Into Memories Travel.

How to Keep Your New Year's Resolution to Travel

Happy 2017! It's a new year and that means it's time to start acting on those New Year Resolutions. For many of us adventurers, a top resolution is to travel and explore new places! Here are some tips on how to make those dreams a reality.

1) Pick a place! There are a few things to consider when deciding where you want to go. If you are wanting to go far away  or even all the way to the other side of the world, that is going to take some serious preparation. If you're traveling with a friend, talk over ideas and have fun brainstorming and research! Just don't forget to take your budget into account. It's important to set realistic goals and destinations. Bigger trips will take longer to save for, so plan accordingly!

2) Start saving! Budgeting can be a pain, but it makes a huge difference. Start saving little by little and before you know it you'll have enough for that trip to Australia you've always dreamed of. I know budgeting can be incredibly difficult, so keep an eye on this space for a travel budgeting blog post coming soon!

3) Set a date. Setting a concrete date can make a trip feel real. Even if you don't have the money for the plane ticket just yet, pick a target month and start a count down! It'll help you stay more motivated to budget, save and plan.

4) Plan the trip! While you are saving and preparing for your trip, start planning! For me, this is the best part of the preparation process. Get together with your travel partner (if you have one) and start researching! I like to set a goal for the main sights I want to see while I travel, while still leaving time for spontaneous adventure.

No matter where your travels take you in the new year, remember to take it all in. Traveling is a beautiful thing, but often it does require some planning. If organizing is not your thing, don't forget my company Miles Into Memories Travel can always help you out!