Find Your "Why"

There are a million reasons to travel. To find adventure, take a break from reality, escape your troubles, see new places, try new things, challenge yourself and so, so, so many more. That reason, that incentive to travel is your "why." And I think it's really important that as you embark in your travel journey to find your why.

For me, my "why" is to fulfill my soul. I know that sounds incredibly cheesy. I was debating deleting it and trying to rephrase it, but I'm going with it! It sounds weird, but it's true. I grew up traveling around the world with my family. We lived in Holland for the first 6 years of my life and we were constantly on the move. I loved every second of it! Once we moved back to the states, we continued to travel, though mostly within the U.S. Even as a kid, I would count down to our next family trip. The excitement of a new place, the unknown, the adventure! I couldn't get enough. I honestly think I am happiest when I'm wondering around a new (especially foreign!) city. Unfortunately, my Dad had a nasty ski accident when I was 10, and my family was unable to travel for the next 10 years. I didn't even think about trying to study abroad in college. There was simply no money. All of that lack of travel really built up and now that I'm older, all I want to do is travel! My soul is happiest and most fulfilled when I am on a new adventure. Fortunately, my husband is on board and with any luck, we will have many years of travel ahead of us.

Speaking of my husband, his "why" is different than mine. While he definitely enjoys far away travels, his main drive is to get a break from daily life. For me, it's almost like my everyday life is just counting down to my next trip. I truly live when I travel. For those of you who aren't born with that innate wanderlust, don't worry! Your "why" is just as important as mine or anyone else's. I believe with every fiber of my being that there is always something to be learned or gained by travel - no matter how near or far you go. Traveling opens your mind, challenges your routine and expands your horizons. You may not even know what your "why" is! And that's ok. Sometimes it takes traveling to learn more about yourself, and that is the beauty of travel.

Carpe Diem - Don't Wait to Take That Trip

While I am a HUGE planner, sometimes you just need to take a leap and DO IT. Obviously it's unrealistic to just seize the day and travel everyday (Gotta pay those bills somehow!). However, I think it's really important to still keep that sense of adventure and excitement in your life. That's why when my husband brought up his desire to explore New Hampshire, specifically he white mountain region, in the fall. He was initially thinking of planning a trip for next year, but I suggested we head out in a few short weeks! We had the vacation days, we will be road tripping and camping so the cost is low, so why not?

The long and the short of it is you aren't guaranteed a tomorrow. While I think it's unrealistic to expect every day of your life to be a grand adventure, I DO think it's incredibly important to put your plans into action. We ordered a guidebook and next weekend we are off on an adventure to see the leaves change color. Oh and did I mention we bought our plane tickets to Australia yesterday? Heck yes!

Seize the day doesn't always mean traveling on a dime, but it does mean you need to take action. Whether that action is hopping on a plane or just buying the ticket, go do it!

If you need help getting started, I'm happy to help! Check out my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

My Favorite Travel Shoes

If you're anything like me, finding cute, travel-worthy shoes is nothing short of an overwhelming challenge. I constantly struggle to balance cute outfits with functionality. I've worn everything from heavy-duty boots to running shoes to sandals, and I have some recommendations.

First up! My Plaka Sandals in Sunset Sangria. I found mine on Amazon for approximately $30. These sandals had great reviews and were designed for walking. They are cute, functional and look great with skirts and dresses! I bought them for my honeymoon and trekked all over Portugal in these bad boys. I only had a little bit of trouble once I hit about 16k steps. Not too shabby! 

If you're going traveling in the winter, I recommend a good ole winter "combat style" boot. I don't have a specific brand to recommend as I tend to buy whatever is convenient IN STORE. That's my tip. Don't buy online! It's incredibly important to try these shoes on. Boots are tricky! They rub the ankles, pinch the toes or just cause blisters. (If you are OK with returning shipments, I suppose you could do online, but my experience is it's much better to buy in store.) My other tip is WATERPROOF. They sell spray that will waterproof most materials, and it's amazing. I can't tell you how thankful I was for my warm, hardy, waterproof boots when standing out in the freezing cold rain in Ireland. 

For more tips on everything from packing lists to travel destinations, shoot me an email at Malena@MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com or visit my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com. 

My Top Packing Tips

Packing is always my least favorite part of any trip. Unfortunately, it's absolutely necessary! I've been on my fair share of trips, and these are my best packing tips:

Pack Staples
I personally am a big fan of relying on basics. That means instead of bringing 6 pairs of shoes, bring just a few pairs that will work with multiple outfits. The same goes with accessories! Bring neutral shoes and accessories and keep the color focused on shirts or dresses. I personally like to bring a good old pair of jeans that I can wear multiple times with different tops. You'll get a lot diverse looks with minimal items! This will help keep your bags light and manageable, while keeping your instagram photos fresh and fun!


Don't Overpack
You may think you are doing yourself a favor by packing extra t-shirts and extra outfits, but generally I find too many choices lead to feeling overwhelmed. You will wind up with a bag that is insanely heavy and your bag will quickly descend into chaos as you rifle through trying to find the perfect top. If you pack specific outfits, you'll save time getting ready for the day and leave more space for souvenirs. Try writing out a packing list and checking each item off as it packs. You'll feel confident knowing you have amazing outfits and everything you'll need!


Don't Panic
Finally, don't worry if you forget something! Honestly, if you have your medications, passport, ID and some money, everything else can be bought once you arrive - unless your destination is somewhere remote. I once lost my entire toiletry kit in Italy and had to replace EVERYTHING. It was actually a bit fun wandering through the store and picking out new shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush and more. You just have to make the best of your situation and remember that you can always buy what you need when you get there!

Different techniques work for different people, and I personally find that having each outfit laid out and packed together makes for an easy, efficient trip! If you'd like help planning for your trip (and even a comprehensive packing list!), I'd love to help. Visit my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

My Favorite Country?

Every time I talk with friends and family about my travels, inevitably the same question pops up: What country is your favorite? That's such a hard question!!! I've been lucky enough to travel to so many incredible countries, how can I be expected to pick just one?

Let's start with the obvious. The U.S. is my home. It's a beautiful country, and I'm proud to be an American - but no country is perfect. The U.S. is home to gun violence, corrupt politicians and poverty. But it's also home to some of the most gorgeous natural wonders on the planet, beautiful souls and of course, freedom. While U.S. seems like an obvious choice for my FAVORITE country, honestly, it's not the first thing that pops into my head.

My gut response is usually The Netherlands. Sounds random, right? Well, I actually have quite a history with Holland. I moved there when I was just 6 months old, and it's where all of my earliest memories were formed. I remember skating on the canals with friends, riding horses through open fields and riding on the back of my sister's moped to the candy shop. Anytime I visit that country it takes me back. The nostalgia is overwhelming in the best way possible!

But that's not to say that's the only reason I love Holland. I've gone back as an adult several times and my feelings have remained the same. I love that country! The food, the people, the buildings, the museums and history. It's just beautiful. Something about me feels so at home each and every time. Part of it may be because I can (mostly) understand the language. And that's so cool! Unlike when I'm in Spain, I don't feel as though I am directly translating words and phrases in my head. It's more like a dutch person will say something, and I'll just kind of know what they mean. I should probably mention that up until age 6 I spoke more dutch than english. I guess some of that is still clunking around in my head. It's a really cool feeling to be able to follow along as those around you talk... even if I usually don't quite have the words to respond.

Oh and did I mention that Holland is GORGEOUS??

A Magical Day in Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is a beautiful city, and one that we were very excited to visit on our honeymoon! We originally planned to visit some of the museums but our schedule got bumped a day due to a delayed flight, resulting in us visiting the city on a Monday. Pro tip - don't visit Lisbon on a Monday. Pretty much everything is closed. Luckily, we were able to do a bit of research in our hotel room and come up with a new plan!

First up was our visit to the World's Oldest Bookstore!!! SO COOL. I have a whole blog post about our wonderful stop by this store, but to recap: it was beautiful, go visit if you can!!

Next up we decided to hike through the Alfama district to check out Castelo de Sao Jorge. It was a bit of a hike, but we didn't need directions. We just kept our eye on the castle and explored along the way. We weren't disappointed!

We had such a fun time exploring the castle! We got to walk along the parapets and explore the different areas within the castle. There was even a nice little cafe where we sat and enjoyed the scenery. There were even stray kitties and peacocks wandering about! Right next to our table! So fun!

And of course, we got an AWESOME view of the city. It was breathtaking and possibly my favorite part of the day. It was truly memorable standing above the city with my new husband just taking it all in.

Our final stop of the day was to the Oceanarium. It was really neat! I wasn't too excited about this stop initially, but my husband insisted. And of course, he was right. It was pretty fabulous and definitely worth the visit!

 Finally, just a note about Lisbon - don't expect prompt food service. We loved the city, culture and views, but man! It took forever to place an order, get served and PAY at every restaurant we went to. We waited 45 minutes just to hand them our credit card, despite asking the waiter for it twice! So weird! 

All in all, we had a tremendous time exploring the city, even if we didn't make it to the Carriage Museum like we originally planned. If you'd like us to arrange a tour of Portugal for you and your family or group, check out MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com. 

Coasteering and Cliff Jumping in Portugal

We spent a few days in Lagos, Portugal to relax during our honeymoon.... but of course we had to squeeze in some adventure! I found amazing reviews for something called "coasteering." If you're anything like me, you've never heard of coasteering. I really wanted to go cliff jumping (safely) so I started doing some research, and that's when I stumbled across coasteering! It's a combination of hiking, swimming, rock climbing and cliff jumping to make your way along a coastline. It's a lot more swimming and rock climbing that hiking, but it was amazing! 

We started by hiking down from the parking lot to the water and did our first little jump! For the first 2 lower jumps we were allowed to any trick we wanted, so of course I had to do a backflip! 

The views were beyond amazing! And the weather was perfect... but we were definitely glad to have those wetsuits.

Also, thank goodness for those life vests! That swim seemed to go on forever! My husband and I definitely had to take some breaks.

This is an action shot of the group making our way along some rocks. We even had a few times where we were in a cave and had to put feet on one side and hands on the other and kind of shimmy along. It was so fun!

This was one of our bigger jumps! They told us to put our arms out to stabilize before bringing them in tight for impact. I apparently turn out to be quite majestic when I cliff jump. #FallingWithStyle

All in all, cliff jumping and coasteering were AMAZING! We had so much fun and I 10/10 would do it again. In fact, if my husband and I travel near the coast (any coast) again anytime soon we are for sure going to be on the lookout for other coasteering tours. I would recommend going with a company who knows what they are doing. Our tour was very professional and we had the proper safety equipment which was reassuring. Be careful, do your research and get out there and enjoy the adventure!

How to Become a More Confident Traveler

Traveling, particularly when traveling abroad, can be stressful for anyone. When you have anxiety the experience can be particularly stressful. I've got a few tips and tricks that can help calm your nerves and make traveling just a little bit easier.

Tip 1 Plan Ahead

If there are clear stressors for you, like flying, plan for them! If you are a nervous flyer, it may be a good idea to practice a few calming techniques before boarding. Do a face mask, meditate, listen to soothing music, maybe even have a glass on wine. It may not take the stress away completely, but it will help. 

Tip 2 Schedule Down Time

I personally like to schedule down time when I travel. A free afternoon to nap or shop or hang in a cafe, anything! Having a time when you don't feel like you HAVE to be somewhere is a truly wonderful thing! It leaves room spontaneity and can really help you recharge. This is especially important for people who are introverted. Quiet time can help you recharge and be ready for the next adventure.

Tip 3 Take Breaks As You Need Them

During your vacation, remember it's supposed to be fun! If you start to feel overwhelmed, take a break! It's allowed! Don't work yourself up trying to make it through the day - you'll enjoy the experience much more if you take a few minutes to relax and gather yourself before finishing out the day.

Tip 4 Communicate with your Travel Buddies

COMMUNICATE! If you're traveling with someone, chances are good they are your friends. Friends are there to support you, so let them know about your anxiety and stress. Talk with them before the trip so they aren't blindsided, and keep talking with them throughout the trip. Don't be afraid to speak up and let your friends know when you need a break. With everyone on the same page, the trip will go much smoother and more fun will be had by all.

Anxiety, stress and worry are definitely real factors for many people when they travel, but they are nothing to be ashamed of. Open communication and plenty of planning can really make a difference for your trip! If you want some help with planning your next adventure, check out my company at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Prepping and Packing For My First Cruise

I have been lucky enough to travel the world and see some pretty amazing sites, but never form the deck of a cruise ship! This weekend I am so excited to be headed to the Bahamas with my sisters and best friend! All that's left to do is pack!

I may or may not be stalling just a little by writing this blog post, but I'm mostly packed anyway - here's what I'm bringing!

Clothing - I'm bringing a combination of sun dresses, bikinis and comfy clothes! I'll be sporting my usual airport attire - yoga pants and a hoodie (which can double as workout clothes). Then the rest of the time I plan to be in a bikini or a fun, bright and colorful dress. I'll probably also throw in one or two nicer dress to wear if we decide to go to a fancy dinner or clubbing while on board. That's the fun part about cruises! You get to spend your time being super comfortable and relaxing by the pool. My kind of attire.

Shoes - I'm only bringing 3 pairs of shoes - sandals, flip flops and running shoes. Keeping it simple so I can fit everything in a carry-on.

Toiletries - I'll be bringing the my usual line-up. Plenty of mini products and of course, my trusty shampoo bar. I absolutely love my lush shampoo bar for travel because a) they work great b) it's one less liquid I have to bring!

Accessories - I'll be rocking some top-notch Target sunglasses and floppy hat. Total I think I spent like $15 on the pair so if I lose one or both, no big deal! Other than that, I'll be keeping things pretty simple - my usual stud earrings, my class ring and of course, my engagement ring!  I might throw in a baseball hat in case it gets windy and my sunhat isn't cutting it.

Extras - I'm bringing ALL the sunscreen! AKA my giant bottle of SPF 70. My entire goal is to just not come home burnt to a crisp. Other than that, I've made sure to bring all of my chargers, my kindle, plenty of books, my camera, my GoPro, my boarding documents and most importantly my passport!! 

I'm so excited for this trip! It's a new experience for me - I'm letting someone else plan for once! Ordinarily, I'm the one who coordinates everything, and I'd love to help you out on your next trip. Check out my travel company at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

How To Pack Carry-On Only

With airlines charging more and more for checked-baggage, many travelers, myself included, have opted to just pack in carry-on luggage whenever possible. I've had years of practice and have legitimately packed for a month-long trip doing carry-on only. Here are my top tips for avoiding those baggage fees and packing light!

1) Try to minimize the number of shoes you bring. I know it's tempting to bring a different shoe for every outfit, but instead try to pick just a few shoes that are more versatile. My go-to shoe packing tends to be one pair of running shoes, my Sperrys and a pair of flip flops that can get wet - for the shower, pool, walking in the rain. etc I also shy away from boots or other bulky shoes as they take up quite a bit of space in your luggage. If you do need to bring a pair of boots, I recommend wearing them on the plane. They may be a bit of a hassle going through security, but they will save you weight and space in your luggage.

2) Wear bulkier layers on the plane. Planes tend to be cold anyway, so if you are bringing a big sweater and a puffy jacket, wear them! Packing them will take up valuable space. Not to mention, they'll keep you nice and warm during the flight and can even double as a pillow. You can always take them off and stuff them in the overhead bins if you get hot.

3) Bring re-wearable items go together. I highly recommend packing a pair of durable jeans and a favorite hoodie or sweater. These items can be worn multiple times and re-worn with different outfits. By color-coordinating majority of your clothing items, you'll be able to mix and match and save yourself quite a bit of space as a result! Same goes with accessories - I recommend picking jewelry that goes well together and that you don't mind wearing multiple times.

4) Bring "small" items of clothing. By bringing items such as dresses (which are an outfit all by themselves), leggings and t-shirts, you'll save room! If you bring several pairs of pants and a sweater for each day, you'll run out of space quite quickly.

5) Pack travel-size toiletries. You'll be limited on space an
d will have to keep your liquids to a minimum. I recommend little things like using a powder foundation and bringing a shampoo bar, because those things will add up and save you quite a bit of space!

It may not be the most luxurious way to travel, but I personally prefer packing light. I like knowing that my luggage is going to make it to my destination and that I won't have to wait at baggage claim. It also makes me really think through my packing. I tend to forget less things and have more coordinated outfits than when I just throw things into a bag.

Here I am on my backpacking trip through Holland and Germany. It was amazing to be able to just pick up my things and move on to the next town so easily. All in all, I highly recommend packing light!

If you're up for some adventure  I'd love to help you plan - MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com

Rotterdam - Every Bit as Beautiful as Amsterdam

Holland will always have a special place in my heart. My earliest memories are of riding my bike along the city streets and skating on the canals when they froze over. I grew up just outside of Amsterdam, and had an AMAZING childhood enjoying the beauty that is Holland. Recently, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with some old friends who have actually made the move over to Rotterdam. I've stayed with them a few times, and I must say - I love Rotterdam! It's gorgeous!

This was the view from where I stayed.

The back of a nearby windmill! 

I was even lucky enough to get to visit right around Christmas time. The beautiful lights were spectacular! I had a great time walking through the streets and admiring the sights.

The architecture in Rotterdam is every bit as beautiful as Amsterdam and well worth a visit! There's even the famous Euromast, which is pretty awesome in and of itself. 

The Euromast!

In Rotterdam, you'll still get the full dutch experience, but it's much less touristy. One of my favorite things about travel is going off the beaten tourist path and really diving into the culture. Rotterdam is still a city, so it's easy to get around and see a lot, but it's so unique! It is a major shipping port and there are beautiful boat tours where you view everything. 

If you're interested in diving deeper into culture and not just tourist areas, I'd love to help. Check out my travel company at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com!

My Solo Backpacking Trip Through Italy

With Valentine's happening this week, it made me realize how nice it is to have an awesome fiancé  who is willing to go on adventures with me. It also made me think about how much fun you can have traveling on your own. One of my all-time favorite trips was my solo backpacking trip through Italy a few years ago. I was completely by myself, took trains and stayed in hostels - the whole nine yards.

I started in Venice. Coming off the plane and making my way to the hostel was a little nerve-wracking, but I did it! One thing I will say is, Italy is COLD in January. Way colder than Spain and other parts of Europe! I was definitely glad to sit outside and enjoy the boat ride, but I could have really used another layer or two.

I'll go more into the cities another time (or else this post would be ridiculously long), but Venice was beautiful, and my hostel was even on an island! The only downside of that being, I had to take a boat taxi to get anywhere which was quite pricey. But the hostel itself was pretty great. I had so much fun chatting with people from all over the world! Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, Japan, Korea even some from somewhere in Africa (couldn't quite fully understand their accents, but they were nice!). I had done quite a bit of research ahead of time, so I felt safe in this hostel. I'm not much of a partier, but the atmosphere of the hostel was so fun I actually wound up staying down in the bar for quite some time. It was in the bar that I actually got tips on my FAVORITE book store in the entire world, Aqua Alta. Hostels are wonderful places.

Aqua Alta - Venice, Italy

Next up was Florence. Florence was a very special experience. The train ride down was easy, finding my hostel went fine and I was excited to be out exploring! My hostel was not what I expected - I was greeted by name with homemade cookies. The owner of Hostel David Inn Florence is quite the person. Her name is Nadia and it was like your mom was there, but in a cool way. She really helped bring us together and I found myself enthralled with her story. I bonded with my fellow hostel-goers and actually wound up going out for pizza and even attending museums and shopping with a few! It was amazing to meet new people and have adventures together. To this day, I'm still friends with several of them on Facebook. This hostel also had a kitchen which was nice. I opted to cook dinner at the hostel several nights to save some money.

My new friend Carmen and the host Nadia!

My hostel-cooked dinner of Italian pasta and sauce!

While in Florence, I opted to take a day trip out to see the leaning tower of Pisa - it was worth it! While I ended up having to wait around a bit to catch my train back, I shamelessly asked other tourists to take my picture (classic holding up the tower pose etc.) and then relaxed at a nearby cafe who served me what I'm convinced was just a bowl of melted chocolate. DELICIOUS.

Being touristy in Pisa

"Hot Chocolate" - Pisa, Italy

Finally, I ventured onwards to Rome. Once again, spectacular. I liked that the hostel had a kitchen so I could cook my own meals. I also tended to pack my lunch, so I could save some money while in touristy areas. Yet again, I wound up venturing out with fellow travelers whom I met in the hostel. They showed me where the best gelato was and how to avoid paying extra fees at attractions. I even befriended the hostel worker (named "Blue" for her blue hair) who wound up walking me back to the airport when I left. Once again, I made friends.

The BEST gelato!

My favorite reading spot in Rome - on the Spanish Steps!

Even if you aren't the most sociable person, the beauty of a hostel is there is a built in conversation starter - Where are you from? How long are you here? Where are you going next?

Don't be scared to take a leap and venture out on your own. Just be smart and careful when you do. I avoided going out at night (I'm not big on the night scene anyway) and I always locked up my belongings when I left the hostel. I did plenty of research ahead of time to make sure where I was staying was safe - hostelworld.com is great for that! The world is huge, so get out and explore - with or without a travel buddy.

Oh and it's a good idea to work on your selfie game, or else you'll end up with pictures like this one:

CHEESE! #Fail

If you'd like help planning, I own a travel company called MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com and I'd love to help you out!