New Zealand's Southern Island: The Ultimate Road Trip

After almost a week and a half of an epic vacation throughout Australia and the northern island of New Zealand, we set out for the southern island. Our destination? Fox Glacier. We flew from Rotorua to Queenstown. Just a quick side note - Rotorua's airport is TINY! It was such a relaxing airport experience! There was no security or anything. Craziness.

Anyway, upon landing in Queenstown, we immediately hopped in the car for a 5-ish hour road trip to Fox Glacier. This sounds boring, but it was actually quite epic. Along the way, we stopped to admire the views, gazed upon beautiful mountains and waterfalls and also stopped to see the blue pools.

The blue pools are exactly that - these amazingly-clear pools. The little hike to go see them was very nice and enjoyable, but as you get closer to the pools the bugs came out to play. My goodness were there a lot of bugs! That and there was a bridge with far too many people on it. This wasn't a crowded attraction per se, but it was quite busy considering the road to get to it had almost no one on it. Either way, it's definitely worth a pit stop.

We eventually made our way to Fox Glacier, stopping at a yarn store in Haast along the way. It was an epic road trip for sure. I highly recommend it if you ever get the chance. Just be sure to leave yourself plenty of time so you can enjoy the scenery and stop wherever you would like to!

When Should You Start Packing for Your Trip?

The final countdown to a big, epic adventure can be agonizing (see my last post for tips on how to survive it!). I had an interesting conversation with my travel companions for my upcoming trip to Australia and New Zealand - when is too early to pack for a big trip?

My answer is: it's never too early! Well - at least for the most part. If it makes you happy and excited, I say go for it. Start packing now! I know people who have an entire bag packed and ready for a trip at all times. I don't quite go that far, but I am a fan of packing early. Here's my logic (take it or leave it!)

You Have Time To Change Your Mind

This is very important. I am forever fine-tuning my travel wardrobe. Keep in mind, I often work in yoga pants a hoodie - I'm not a fashionista. But when it comes to travel, I want my outfits to be cute AND functional! My travel pictures are my favorite pictures, and I often display them in my house. Therefore, I'm a big fan of cute, travel-friendly outfits. Because I am so out of practice with putting together outfits (is that even the right phrase?), I need time to fine-tune my travel wardrobe. Kind of like writing a paper - the first round of packing is my rough draft. Does that make any sense? Am I alone on this way of thinking? Maybe. 

All Your Favorite Clothes Will Be Clean

This is a tragedy I have encountered a time or two before I began packing weeks in advance. I used to wait to pack until the night before a trip, but I inevitably found my most comfy travel bra/underwear/socks/sweatpants etc. were dirty! I mean it makes sense. You're going to wear your most comfortable clothes fairly often. I now have taken to setting aside my favorite clothes (especially for the plane!! Those 12-hour plane rides are brutal), so I can rest assured those bad boys are ready to go. The down side is obviously you can't wear those clothes leading up to the trip but for me, it's totally worth it.

You Have Time to Remember Often-Forgotten Items

Inevitably, you will realize that you've forgotten something while on the way to the airport. Just accept that fact. BUT by packing early, you cut down on the likelihood that the forgotten item is something crucial, like say your passport. Maybe you will have forgotten something easily-replaceable like a toothbrush instead. By beginning the packing process early, I find myself snapping my fingers and dashing around my house to grab something for weeks leading up to my trip. Then come the day of the trip, I am ready!!! 

I know this was an odd blog post, but thanks for hanging in there. Check out my other posts for some actually-helpful tips and tricks. If you'd like some help planning your next big adventure, visit MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

The Final Countdown: How to Stay Motivated in the Days Leading Up to Your Big Trip

It's the final countdown!! (I bet you just sang the theme in your head, didn't you?)

We all know the excitement and the agony of those final weeks and days before the trip of a lifetime. I myself am currently in that purgatory as I type. I am mere weeks away from a two-week jaunt across Australia and New Zealand, and I can not wait!! I know it's going to be a blast, but I need to stay motivated in my normal life for a little while longer.

Stay Busy

Keeping yourself occupied is key to making the days fly by. You know how those busy days at work always seem much shorter than the ones where you have nothing to do? At least that's the case for me. Leading up to a big trip, I make it a point to stay active. I go to the gym a little more frequently (never hurts if you are working on that beach bod for your upcoming trip!) and set work goals. I need to make sure I can get everything done for my regular work before going on vacation.

Let The Excitement Build

Staying busy will help keep the days from dragging by, but that doesn't mean you should forget about your trip entirely. Let that excitement and anticipation build! It's okay to be a little anxious to get going, but turn that anxiety into excitement. Print out pictures of your future destination at keep those handy at work for inspiration. Heck, I even have a countdown of days stuck on the bottom of my computer monitor. It's ok to have something to look forward to! Embrace it!

Don't Stop Preparing

Keeping the trip fresh in your mind by googling some last minute pit stops you'd like to see. At this point, you probably have all your big ticket items booked (hotels, attractions, flights etc.) but don't hesitate to keep searching out the best local restaurants or some fun places to visit - like local book and yarn stores (sometimes I think I am actually 90 years old). This will make you feel like you are still actively moving towards the trip, instead of just waiting around in agony.

I know waiting it never easy, but it's a part of life - so make the most of it! If you need some help getting your trip ready, check out my website MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com. I'd love to help!

Last Minute Travel Necessities

Once you've got those big ticket items booked (flights, hotels, attractions etc.), it's time to round up those last-minute to do's that are just as important! As someone who has organized countless trips for hundreds of people, I can tell you there are definitely a few things that are often forgotten.

Insurance
Don't forget to buy travel insurance!! I can't stress this enough, particularly if you are traveling internationally. God forbid, something were to happen to you while abroad, it can be incredibly expensive and confusing to navigate international medical facilities. Travel insurance can make your life much easier in a very stressful situation. Some travel insurances will even help compensate lost money from delayed flights or lost baggage - it all depends on which package you purchase. Side note - if you are doing adventurous things (skydiving, rappelling, skiing etc.) be sure you are covered! Be thorough and careful when selecting your package. I personally choose to use WorldNomads. 

Travel Documents
Double and triple check those travel documents! I'm talking passport, visas, vaccination requirements, international driver's license - things like that! Think through where you are traveling and do some seriously thorough research. Also, I recommend bringing a copy of your important documents. This will make replacing them much, much easier if need be.

Adapters/ Converters

The last thing you want to do when you arrive in a foreign country is blow up your electronics - a real possibility if you don't bring a converter. If you don't bring an adapter, you won't even be able to plug your electronics in the outlet! Nowadays, electronics are an essential part of travel. You wouldn't want to have to put your fun, exciting plans on hold to go hunt down an adapter or converter. Plan ahead! Also, I highly recommend bringing a portable battery pack. You'll thank me later when your phone dies right before you snap that pic.

I hope some of these tips help you on your next big adventure. If you'd like some more planning help, check out my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

2018 Travel Plans

2018 is finally here, and I've already started making my travel plans for the year (of course). I was talking with my husband, and I realized I really haven't seen that much of the U.S., despite spending the majority of my life here. So that's our mission: see more of the U.S. Not to mention, that's a good way to save up for our big trip to Australia/ New Zealand/ Japan in 2019.

The first trip we're in the process of planning is the Grand Canyon! We will probably fly into Vegas and road trip it out. I've actually never been to Vegas either, so we will have to have some fun while we are there too. I'm hoping to see some shows and see what Vegas has to offer!

Over at the Grand Canyon, we will probably spend quite a bit of time hiking. We might hike down to a waterfall and camp there for a few days. We shall see! We are still in the very early stage of planning, but I can't wait to start nailing down details. I've heard that camp sites book up fast though so we will hopefully get everything nailed down and booked by the end of January.

During the year, we will hopefully have some time to do some smaller trips to maybe Chicago, Pittsburg, Detroit or Toronto. Who knows!

Finally, I think our last trip will be down to Texas. We haven't worked out the details just yet, but I can't wait to try me some quality barbecue! We'll see how things play out, but there is a possibility of a trip to Albuquerque for Christmas. Our itinerary is still being determined, but I can't wait to see how the year plays out.

If you need help narrowing down your travel plans, I'd love to help. MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Trying New Food While Abroad - Fun or Disastrous?

When I travel I absolutely love to throw myself into the culture, that includes the food! Trying new food is always so tempting, but I've found it's incredibly important to play it safe sometimes. Finding the balance can be tough, so I thought I'd share some of my experiences.

Korean Barbecue in Downtown Singapore

While staying in Singapore, my husband introduced me to an AMAZING restaurant in downtown Singapore that served Korean Barbecue. I know it sounds odd to try Korean food while in Singapore, but Singapore combines the best of many asian countries' cuisines. I have to say, hands down that meal has been my favorite food I've ever had on my travel. I didn't worry too much about what it was I was eating, we just sort of went with it! Now, here I was staying in one city for a few weeks so if I did have a reaction to the food, it wouldn't be the end of the world. If I had to leave for an international flight, I probably would have played it a bit safer. Luckily, it worked out just fine! My husband and I had a great date night with some delicious food.

Streetfood in Malasia

This situation was a bit more high risk! My husband and I were going to be flying back to Singapore on the same day, but we really wanted to go for it! We had local friends who showed us around the Kuala Lumpur and brought us to their favorite street vendors. We had some immodium at the ready and decided it was worth the risk. We ate some pretty unique foods while there! We sampled some frog, ate a century egg (it was black and gelatinous!) and tried a bite of something that I have literally no idea what animal it came from - they didn't know the word in english. I must say my stomach did have a bit of trouble afterwards, but nothing disastrous. All in all, it was successful!

Portuguese Cuisine 

Finally, while in Portugal we finished off our trip with a classic portuguese meal in a lovely local restaurant. The restaurant was recommended to us by our hotel concierge, then we asked the waiter for advice on which local dish was best. I went for a pork dish (tasty!) while my husband took a risk and ate octopus! I originally considered a sausage dish, but those tend to not end well with me so I took that into account and went for pork chop rather than a sausage dish. Meanwhile, my husband threw caution to the wind (we had an international flight the next morning) and went big! I am no where near as adventurous as he is, but I still like to enjoy the culture.

Whether you are a foodie or like to play it safe,  I've found that dessert is always a decent bet. In Italy I ate gelato on the daily! Those dishes tend to use similar ingredients across the board and have some seriously amazing flavor!

No matter your food preferences, my company, Miles Into Memories Travel, is happy to organize a trip that suits your needs! Check out MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com to get started today!

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!

Why I Travel

People travel for all kinds of reasons - personal discovery, a change of pace and so many others. For me, it's always been about seeing new places, challenging myself and learning about far-off cultures. I've been lucky enough to get to travel quite a bit in recent years - to over 20 countries in fact - but it seems like that urge to travel is never fully satisfied! I'm always planning my next trip, regardless of how recently I've traveled. Luckily, I get to venture abroad fairly often for work! I own a travel company (MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com), and so I often get to help others realize their dreams as well! Anyway, here are my top 3 reasons that I travel:

I Travel for Adventure

Somewhere in my soul is a need to see new places and try new things. I want to go everywhere and try (just about) everything! So far, I've gone bungee jumping in South Africa, swimming with elephants in Thailand and hiking up a mountain in New Mexico. Going out and trying something new is very fulfilling for me, and I find I am at my happiest while on an adventure.

Getting ready for my bungee jump off Bloukran's Bridge in South Africa

I Travel For Personal Growth

When I travel, and particularly when I travel solo, I've found that I come back with a different, more open perspective on the world. I learn things about myself that I don't think I ever would have discovered while at home in my safe zone. I'm so much more capable than I ever realized - I even backpacked by myself for 10 days through Italy, a few years back. I researched the trip, booked everything and navigated my way through foreign cities in a country where I don't speak the language  - and what's more? I had a blast! I was independent, brave and above all, capable! That was incredibly empowering and an experience I'll never forget.

On my solo trip through Italy

I Travel to Learn About the World In Person

I love to learn, but I find that the lessons stick far better when I experience them first-hand. Reading about the history and architecture of say, Barcelona for example, will never do the beautiful work of Gaudi justice. Gaudi was an incredible artist and his work is truly inspiring. I had seen photos of Park Guell and some truly amazing paintings, but it completely dulled when compared to the real thing. Some things you just have to experience.

Me hanging out at sunset in Park Guell in Barcelona

The long and the short of it is traveling is amazing and life-changing. I encourage you to travel as often as possible.  Just get out and go!

City Highlights - London

London is a beautiful city and one worthy of exploring! Over the past few years, I've found a few of my favorite spots:

Starting out with the classics - first up, The London Eye. This ginormous ferris wheel is absolutely worth a ride. Each capsule is fully enclosed in glass and unless you pay through the nose for a private ride, you'll be sharing the experience with at least 20 or so other people. Like most major tourist attractions, I recommend buying your ticket ahead of time online and skipping the line. The ride lasts about 30 minutes and it provides some of the most amazing views of the city. 

The London Eye

The London Eye affords a magnificent view of Big Ben, but it's definitely worth checking out up close as well. It's absolutely beautiful, especially at night! Something to note - you won't actually be able to go up inside Big Ben, so just be ready to enjoy the splendor of the clock tower from down below.

Big Ben across the water

Finally, I recommend just exploring the city and soak in the culture. Ride in a black cab, visit Harrods, take a bus tour and find yourself a telephone booth!  I made some truly amazing memories just by wandering through the streets of London with friends and family and seeing what we stumble across. We've found amazing little pubs with huge, amazing English breakfasts , unique specialty she eps and even found hole-in-the-wall museums!

A fun shot of me by the classic telephone booth! Although inside was a little gross - I'm talking needles, beer bottles and who knows what else! Be careful.

London is an amazing city with plenty of sites to see! You can't forget to make a pit stop to places like the London Tower, The Globe Theater and Buckingham palace, but the London Eye, Big Ben and general exploration are my top three must-do's while checking out London.

City Highlights - Barcelona

I'm starting a series where I'll be covering the highlights of some of my favorite cities. To kick things off, I thought I'd dive into one of my absolute favorite cities: Barcelona. There are so many places in Barca that are worth checking out, but here are a few of my favorites!

#1 - The beaches! Even in the wintertime (which is predominantly when I've spent time in Barca) the beaches are absolutely gorgeous. You can relax and soak up the sun in the summer, or in the cooler months just take a stroll and enjoy the view. There are even spots along the beach with make shift soccer goals set up and workout equipment.

 

 A shot of some beautiful beaches during sunset - taken from a train

#2 Ice Barcelona - If you are into the night life, Barca has several unique clubs and bars, but my favorite is the Ice Bar, aptly called Ice Barcelona! It's a lot of fun! The walls, chair, bar and even the glasses are made of ice. They give you fun, puffy silver jackets to wear along with some gloves. It was a ton of fun!

Hanging in Ice Barcelona around Christmas time

#3 La Sagrada Familia - The legendary Barcelona Artist, Antoni Gaudi designed several structures throughout the city, and arguably his most famous work is La Sagrada Familia. This breathtaking (and enormous) church is an absolute must-see; just be prepared to see some construction since it will be another 10 years or so before the church is completed.

The beautiful (and hard to photograph) La Sagrada Familia

#4 Park Guell - If you want an idyllic view of the city, Park Guell is the place to visit! Like the Sagrada Familia, it was designed by the magnificent Gaudi. The tiling is beautiful and there are some beautiful hikes as well. The outer area is free, but if you want to get the best views you'll have to pay just a few euros to enter the center area.

Park Guell at sunset is my favorite

 #5 - Camp Nou!!! - FC Barcelona, the professional soccer team of Barcelona, is the heartbeat of the city. If you don't have a chance to go see a game in person, at the very least it's worth touring the museum and stadium. Soccer is a huge part of the culture in Barca, so even if soccer isn't your cup of tea, I still recommend checking it out!

Down on the field during the tour

I had the time of my life at El Clasico! If you're not familiar, it's a legendary game between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The atmosphere was unlike anything I've ever experienced.

I'd love to help you plan a trip of a lifetime to see the sights of Barcelona. Give me a shout at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

My Favorite Hostel in Florence

I've stayed in hostels all over the world, but the one that sticks out the most is the Hostel David Inn Florence in Florence, Italy. Florence itself was beautiful and my experience was made even better by staying at this particular hostel. Nadia greeted me by name with cookies at the ready. She was very welcoming, the beds were clean, the people were nice and there was a kitchen available for my use. I personally like to have a kitsch available so I can save some money and cook my own dinner

I really connected with the other guests and actually wound up going out to eat with people from Canada, Japan and Korea too! It was a really amazing experience. It almost felt more like staying at grandma's house than a hostel.

Here I am (right) with Nadia (center) and a new Canadian friend!

The hostel was much smaller and intimate than most hostels I've stayed at. I actually found that I liked it! The only downside was there weren't any lockers available and I tend to like to lock up my bag before heading out for the day. Other than that, it was great! It definitely helped that I was staying with a great group of travelers, but Nadia (the host) was very sweet and even offered to do my laundry at no charge because it rained and I got soaked! I ended up just line drying my clothes, but it was a very genuine and kind gesture.

The hostel was also remarkably close to several must-see sights! It was a short walk away from the legendary Duomo and it was literal steps away from the museum where the Statue of David was housed. Nadia was always ready to offer advice on where to go, what to see and of course, help us find the best gelato!

All in all, Florence was a wonderful experience, and I'm lucky to have found such a welcoming and affordable place to stay. If you'd like to plan your own adventure to Florence (hostels or hotels) I'd be happy to help! 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

Top Tips for Thailand

I had an amazing time in Thailand with my fiancé Schuyler. We primarily stayed near Bangkok, but we did manage to travel a ways outside of the city too. There are a few things you should know before heading off on your own adventure!

1) Be wary of street peddlers and taxi cab drivers. It's a fairly common occurrence for merchants and cab drivers to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists. It's nothing too scary, but you should be aware of their games! We had a cab driver try to convince us that he needed to make a pit stop for gas - he didn't! The scheme is to "stop for gas" and then try to sell us an experience or take us to a certain shop. Just insist they keep going or drop you there - that's what we did and SHOCK he made it to our destination just fine. We also had a similar scam when we bought a water bottle off a street vendor. He asked where we were going next, and we said Wat Pho, he immediately had a counter offer. He was trying to convince us that the temple was closed. He proposed we go on a tuk tuk tour that would drop us off at the temple when it "reopened."This was completely a total scam. While we may have had a nice tour with this convenient tuk tuk driver, we knew very well that the temple was open. We had just visited and needed to break our money so we had the correct change, which was required to enter the temple.

2) Carry smaller bills. There were several occasions where we needed to break our money because several attractions required exact change. I highly recommend carrying small bills whenever possible so you don't find yourself wandering around searching for anything small to buy, just to break a bill!

3) Tuk-Tuks are terrifying and fun all at the same time. - but worth it. Yes, they weave in and out of traffic, but hey. We survived. You can also haggle with them, and usually, they'll drop the price quite a bit!

4) Thailand is cheap, so treat yo-self! We ended up at a REALLY fancy hotel for only $40USD a night! To give you an idea, the toilet had like 30 buttons and a seat warmer... it was pretty ritzy! AND the hotel had TONS of free snacks! Of course, we stocked up on those before venturing out each day.

5) Embrace the culture. Like anywhere in the world, it's going to be unique and probably pretty different from your home town. Embrace the experience and go into it with an open mind. I also highly recommend doing your research ahead of time so you are more familiar with that country's cultures and customs. Enjoy yourself, but be respectful!

If you're up for an adventure, check out MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com

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.

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!

Elephant Reserve in South Africa

While in South Africa, we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit the Knysna Elephant Park. It  was a beautiful reserve where the elephants are treated very well and get to live in HUGE pastures. So huge that you can't even see the fence.

That thing in the background isn't actually a fence. It's where they go to stand if they want to be fed. It keeps them from stealing the whole bucket of fruit that tourists hold to feed them.

My sister is a veterinarian and absolutely loves elephants, so it was a dream come true for her!

We even got to feed the elephants! They really liked grabbing fruit out of our buckets. 

There were also scientists sitting and observing our interactions, which was neat. I think it's amazing these gorgeous animals have somewhere safe to live and eat tasty treats.

Overall, this experience was amazing and I'm so glad we had the chance to meet these beautiful elephants! 

Don't forget! If you want to learn more about my travel business, visit MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Bloukran's Bridge Bungy Jump in South Africa

I've been lucky enough to have some pretty amazing adventures recently, but I must say one of my absolute favorite experiences was bungy (That's how they spell it in South Africa) outside of Cape Town! 

It was terrifying and absolutely exhilarating. I'm just surprised that I got the whole group to do it with me! 

First, they walked us out alone this absolutely terrifying/beautiful walkway that led out to the middle of the bridge. We were literally underneath of where cars were driving. It was pretty scary, but also awesome. Cars were just driving along while we flung ourselves off the bridge.

The whole gang before we jumped!

Before we went they weighed us and put our weight (in kilos) and our jump order and time. I weigh 63 kilos, I was Jumper 2 and our jump time was 9 a.m.

My "I'M SO NERVOUS" smile

Getting hooked up! I definitely asked them to make sure I was hooked in nice and tight. They then waddled me over to the edge and counted down, "3-2-1-BUNGY!" They didn't give me time to think AT ALL (Probably Definitely a good thing). When they said "BUNGY" I just did it! I even managed to leap and sort of swan dive off this HUGE bridge!

I DID IT! 

After you jump they lower someone down to help reel you back in. 

We are working on a YouTube channel where the full video will be posted soon! It's pretty epic.

Bungy jumping has been on my bucket list for a very long time and I am SO happy that I was able to finally cross it off! Bloukran's bridge is the world's largest bungy. How cool is that? It was my first time ever bungy jumping, so why not go big? It was such a rush! The free fall was far and away my favorite part - the dangling afterwards? Not so much. Though my sister was the exact opposite. 

Overall, I absolutely recommend doing this jump if you're ever near Cape Town. Something to note is it is a bit of a drive outside the city - like 4 or 5 hours. We broke the trip up with some fun stops along the way. You'll  learn all about those in upcoming blog posts!

Meanwhile, check out my company at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com and sign up for an adventure of your own!

Lots of love,

Lena