A Night in the Beautiful Bussaco Palace

On our road trip around Portugal, we made a pit stop at the GORGEOUS Bussaco Palace in Luso, and boy, was it beautiful! It is technically a five star hotel, but the accommodations aren't what you would typically think of as a five star hotel. It is literally a palace, which means it's old and it does show it's age a bit. Somehow, that only seems to add to the beauty of the place. 

It is honestly like a fairy tale! It's so beautiful!

You can spend literally hours hiking around the grounds. The palace was used as a hunting palace a long time ago so the grounds are expansive. There are so many fun walkways and path ways, I doubt you'd ever have time to explore them all.

You can even stay overnight in the palace - our room was darling! As I said, not a lot of fancy adornments, but it was very sweet. We thoroughly enjoyed the comfy bed, and the bathroom was very nice as well. No complaints there!

And finally, I don't have a picture, but I HIGHLY recommend enjoying a fancy dinner out on the terrace. My husband and I had a magical time. The food was amazing, the atmosphere was phenomenal! It's probably one of my favorite memories from the trip. 

Overall, the palace is a little out of the way (hard to access via public transportation), but it's worth the drive. We had a magical time and absolutely would visit again.

Best Trip Planning Tools

Big trips are incredibly exciting and rewarding, but they require a lot of work. Once you've selected your dream destination, organizing an itinerary can be daunting. There is so much information out there, and it can be hard to figure out where to start. As someone who has planned trips professionally, here are my best tips!

Don't Be Afraid to Use Guide Books
I know it can seem a bit archaic, but guide books can be a wonderful tool! While there are often new editions out each year, you can probably get away with using last year's edition to save some money - things don't change that much in just one year. However, I would maybe stay away from those guidebooks from the 1970's that always seem to be laying around.

Guide books are a reliable starting place and can have great insider tips. I personally love the Lonely Planet books - it's what I've been using to plan my upcoming trip to Portugal.  You can even check some out from the library as a starting place!

Trip Advisor
Next take advantage of some reputable online resources - I enjoy trip advisor! They rank the attractions (by category) and it's easy to get a feel of the city. There are even first hand reviews available that I've always found tremendously helpful.

Blogs
It's also a great idea to poke around  the internet for well-written travel blogs that discuss your destination. I love reading first-hand accounts of other people's adventures! It gives me an idea of what I  may want to sere and do while abroad AND tips me off to attractions that I may want to skip.

Social Media
Finally, I recommend posting on your social media account and asking for recommendations! You never know who will pop up with a great suggestion. These recommendations can be tremendously valuable because they come from people who know you and have no reason to lead you astray. It's also a great way to reconnect with friends from your past - bonus!

If you need help planning your itinerary, I'd be happy to help! MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

City Highlights - County Wickland, Ireland (The Monastic Site at Glendalough)

I recently toured through Ireland, Wales and England and we took a lovely day hike through the Monastic Site at Glendalough in County Wickland, Ireland. It's just outside of Dublin and was so much fun! Word to the wise - when they say easy, they mean challenging. My group happened to be a soccer team, so fitness wasn't an issue, but ooh man! Those Irish folks must be in mighty fine shape if they considered that hike to be easy! It had steps and rough terrain galore. 

There weren't any giant waterfalls, but the nature was absolutely gorgeous, nonetheless. As is the way in Ireland, it was a bit rainy, but nothing we couldn't handle.

We even got to see some wildlife! If you look carefully in the picture above, you can make out several wild mountain goats. 

And this picture I think captures the hike perfectly. It literally looks like a painting! 

All in all, this was a beyond beautiful experience and an easy drive outside of Dublin. If you have a free day in the city and are looking for a bit of adventure, I highly recommend exploring this area!

If you'd like some help setting up your trip, I'd be happy to help! Visit MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

How to Actually Get Some Sleep On a Plane

If you're anything like me, overnight flights are your worst nightmare. Luckily, I've had my share of overnight trips and have become a bit of an expert on sleeping in awkward positions - I was even quoted in Readers Digest! How cool is that?


Tip 1: Win the airplane lottery. 
By this I mean getting 2 or more seats in a row all to yourself! I myself have won the airplane lottery exactly twice - that should be a decent indicator of how rare this actually happens. I must say though, when I had those seats....It. Was. Amazing. I am a fairly small person and am able to curl up in a ball easily so I just stretched across those seats and made it work. 2 seats can be a little tight, but if you somehow manage to get 3 seats to yourself, you are golden! Just be respectful and keep your feet and head out of the aisle and other people's space! Also, don't be afraid to take advantage of a half-full plane. You can politely ask your flight crew if it's alright to move and odds are they will not have a problem with it. Use that space!

Side note: I once saw someone who had an entire MIDDLE ROW to themselves. They slept sitting upright. They even sat in a middle seat so I couldn't even use the outside few seats to lay down. It was torture. THEY WON THE LOTTERY AND COULD NOT CARE LESS. Anyway.

Tip 2: Use a quality eye mask and/or ear plugs
As I talked about in Reader's Digest (did I mention how cool that is?), I'm a firm believer in an eye mask that soft, comfy and fits snuggly around your nose. Other eye masks can let in light through that little gap and make it much harder to sleep. Also, if you need complete silence, don't be afraid to spring for some quality earplugs or even noise-canceling headphones.

Tip 3: Experiment with sleeping positions (respectfully)
Always, always, always be respectful of other passengers, but don't be afraid to get creative when it comes to sleeping positions! Two of my favorite are: Knees up with blanket over head and facedown on tray table. A few things to keep in mind - It's definitely possible the passenger in front of you can feel your knees so be aware of that. If you feel the seat is thick enough they won't notice, be gentle and don't fidget. It doesn't hurt to just ask them if they can feel it. As for the head-down-on-tray position, WIPE THAT THING DOWN FIRST. Seriously. People change their baby's diapers on it so there can literally be fecal matter on that tray that you are shoving your face on. Don't be afraid to be that person wiping down their seat area. That's what I do!

Tip 4: Plan your pillow
Sleeping on overnight planes can be really difficult, and a lot of people like to use travel neck pillows; however, I've found that unless my head it lower than my body, I really can't sleep. Thus I tend not to use those. I have, however, used my sweatshirt or a spare blanket as a pillow, because let's be real - those tiny pillows they give you are kind of questionable. Just know your sleeping style and  have a game plan going in.

Almost no one emerges from an overnight flight well-rested, but whatever you do, try to avoid weird naps! I'm talking a nap at 8am or a 6-hour long nap. Try your best to adjust to the new time zone and enjoy your trip!

Check out my company at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com. I'd love to help you plan your next adventure!

Malena

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.

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

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!

Shark Cage Diving in South Africa

We left Cape Town bright and early to drive up the coast to go shark cage diving! We actually got a call the night before that we would need  to leave one hour earlier than originally planned to try to beat an incoming storm. We made our way down to the lobby of our hotel and stumbled into the van. After a few hours through the dark country side, we were ready to pay a visit to the Shark Lady. Apparently that's actually what the shop is called! So funny! They sat us down for some breakfast and  briefed us on the rules and tips etc. Everything was pretty common sense and I was excited! They even had pictures up on the wall who had gone shark cage diving there, like Prince Harry and Tom Cruise!

They gave us bright orange waterproof coats, but unfortunately ran out so poor Schuyler wound up getting pretty wet! 

 These are our super-pretty early morning smiles through the lens of our GoPro.

We set out on SUPER rough water and even tried heading to different areas but weren't really having any luck. The waters were throwing us around and I think literally half the boat got sick... including me. I was doing alright until we threw anchor and wound up spinning in circles while rocking. It was still pretty great, but we ended up not being able to put down the cage. It was pretty lame, but I don't really want to die so, ya know. Probably the right decision.

Still got a pretty cool picture of said Shark Diving Cage!

Still got that morning smile. I love it!

We did ultimately get to see some Great White Sharks in the water because a nearby boat was throwing chum in the water. None really came up to our boat, unfortunately. But still! I got to see Great White Sharks out in the wild off the coast of Africa! That's still awesome! Ya win some, ya lose some. I'll have to try again one day!

Don't forget to check out my travel company at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com!

Table Mountain - Cape Town, South Africa

Our trip to South Africa was pretty jam packed, so we wound up only having a few hours of free time in Cape Town. We put that free time to good use by visiting Table Mountain! It was absolutely beautiful and the views were amazing.

Essentially, you can either hike or take a cable car up to the top. Then, up at the top there are some beautiful trails for you to hike!

On one side of the mountain is the ocean and on the other are some pretty spectacular views!

The Ocean Side of the mountain

My sister and I on the city side of the mountain

You can even see the world cup stadium! So cool!

Cape Town has a bit of a reputation for being dangerous, but we kept our wits about us and didn't go out after dark. We, thankfully, never felt unsafe and had no problems when traveling through this beautiful country.

Our trip was a blast! And don't forget, if you're loving these travel posts to check out my travel company at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

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

Venice Day 2

 Today was a pretty great day. I started off on the right foot by going up the Campanile Tower with hardly any wait. I got some pretty phenomenal photos! Afterwards I headed over to Doge's Palace and again had no wait because I booked online. I had a wonderful time. I just went my own pace and took in the beautiful art. On top of that I got to go to 3 more museums for the cost of the one! And even then it was discounted because I'm under 26. SCORE! One of the bonus museums was even a historical library which is pretty darn awesome in my book. I definitely enjoyed today. I came back to the hostel for dinner and ran into some nice girls from South Korea and Michigan. The Korean girl had had her entire luggage stolen! But from the street, not the hostel. She left it for just a few minutes to get a coffee and it wasn't there when she came back. I felt bad for her, but hopefully she learned not to trust cities! She still had her passport and she has a friend in Milan who speaks Italian so she has some help in filing police reports. 

Me and the girl from Michigan tried to help her out a little - she had just been in Australia and South Africa or something so she had a skirt and flip flops in her purse which she had with her. So she has that and what she was wearing and that's it. The other girl gave her some pants and a flannel and the hostel even let her dig through their lost and found so that was really sweet of them. I luckily had an unopened toothbrush that I gave her so I'm glad I could help at least a little bit!I felt so bad for her. At least she had her passport in her purse. That would have been a disaster.

She also had her phone and charger so that's good! The Michigan girl told us about this beautiful bookstore in Venice so I think tomorrow we are going to try and go find it!!

I need to leave the hostel for the train station by 11am so hopefully we can make it!

Hostels are really a wonderful place.

Malena

The Beauty That Is Wrinkle Releaser

Everyone who has ever packed a backpack and headed out for adventure knows the struggle - your clothes WILL be wrinkly. You just have to accept it... or do you?

I give you Wrinkle Releaser.

It even comes in travel sizes - though I opted for the big bottle and put small amounts into a travel bottle.

Now, I know its not perfect, but it really does help. All you do is as soon as possible you take the clothes you want to wear out of your pack and hang them up. Once they are on the hanger (granted this is much easier done in a hotel, it is still possible in most hostels) you thoroughly spray them with the Wrinkle Releaser. A few tugs to help smooth out the wrinkles, and you are good to go! The next morning your clothes will be acceptable (though not neatly pressed obviously). 

A lot of my travels are work related and it would not be appropriate for me to parade around in wrinkly clothes. This, combined with athletic-type fabric, leaves me looking presentable for my line of work!

Check List for Traveling Abroad

Deciding to take an international trip can be very overwhelming! I decided to put together a little checklist of sorts to possibly help some of you begin to plan your very own adventure.

1) Pick a Destination
In my case I actually have a bucket list of places I want to go. For no I am working on whittling that list down, though it seems to get longer after every trip. Keep in mind that the farther away the destination, typically the more expensive the trip will end up being - airfare is a killer. If you are having trouble picking a specific city or series of cities start by picking a category - European, Asian, Hot, Cold, Tropical, Snow-Covered etc. then narrow it down from there! Don't forget to do research regarding the destination - make sure its safe! For example, Egypt and the Middle East may not be ideal vacation spots right this moment. A good website to check out before you go is this one.

2) Start Saving Up
This is the necessary evil of traveling - it costs money. Usually it costs quite a bit of money. Start saving as soon as you get the thought in your mind that you might want to travel!

3) Plan Your Lodging
Decide what kind of trip you want to go on - is this a backpacking adventure? a mountain cabin getaway? A spa/resort type trip? That will determine your lodging. Personally, I opt for hostels whenever possible (when I travel for fun). I cannot explain how much I love hostels. You get to meet people from all over the world, get inside tips from locals, get cheap food, and most importantly get cheap lodging! You can pay anywhere from $15 - $50/night!! Even in major cities! Now you will have communal showers and communal rooms, but they give you a locker (bring your own padlock or you will have to buy one from the front desk - same goes for towels and sometimes sheets)

4) Plan Your Transportation
This is an important step. Don't just expect a bus to be waiting for you at the airport - if there are buses expect there to be multiple. A lot of hostels and hotels will provide information on the easiest way to get from the local airport to their location. The best mode of transportation can vary from city to city. For instance, in Paris I used the subway to get absolutely everywhere but in Amsterdam I simply walked. In NYC there are cabs available, but talk about expensive! Often times it is worth looking into buying a public transportation card for several days- you'll be amazed how often you use it! In some cities, such as Nashville, public transportation is not readily available and you may want to look into renting a car. Don't forget to review the road rules of the country you are in because they may be different than what you are used to.

5) Plan Your Activities
I know a lot of people want to just go with the flow and I do too, but only to an extent. When I travel I make a list of key places that I will be sad if I don't see. I make sure to plan certain activities for certain days, but I leave flexibility. For instance, in Paris we decided to leave the Louvre for a rainy day and explore the city while the sun was shining! I also think it is important to leave time for spontaneity. That way I know I will get to see absolutely everything I wanted to see, but there is room to explore!

6) Plan a Budget
The best advice I can give here is to be generous with your budget. You main expenses are going to be airfare, lodging, ground transportation, and food. Don't forget food. I recommend eating locally. Instead of constantly hitting up the restaurants nearby, check out the local grocery stores. While it is no where near as glamorous, eating pb&j sandwiches will sure save you money! You can also make it fun - in Paris we bought cheese, sausage and bread from street vendors and had ourselves a feast! Yum!
I also highly recommend "You Need A Budget" (YNAB). It is a little pricey but I got it on sale for $15. It is seriously amazing. It lets you set aside money for certain things (bills, travel, food etc.) Set a savings goal and when you reach that goal you don't have to feel any guilt at all spending it on the trip of a lifetime!

7) Get your Travel Documents in Order
Make sure you have ALL the travel documents you may need. Some countries require visas. These will also vary depending on how long you will be traveling. Do your research! The last thing you want to happen is to have your trip stopped before it even began because you didn't realize your passport was expired. Check that expiration date! Even if it is current, some countries require your visa be valid for 3 months AFTER your trip.

8) Plan Out Your Packing List
This sounds a bit like over-organzing but it is a lifesaver. Look around online for example packing lists. You'll be glad you did. This way you don't forget vital things like power adaptors and converters (those are two different things!) You also won't make it all the way to Europe and realize you have no underwear. Now keep in mind it is not the end of the world if you forget an essential, at least in most places. Europe has stores just like here in the US. You can typically find somewhere to buy some toothpaste etc.

9) Buy Your Tickets
I don't mean just your plane ticket, either! You should buy your tickets ahead of time for as much as you can, in my opinion. Having our Paris Rail Card sent to us ahead of time was so convenient. It can also save you time and money. We got to skip the MONSTROUS line for the eiffel tower and show up at our scheduled time. Anything that might have a long line I recommend buying the tickets for it ahead of time if at all possible.

10) Go Shopping
This is the time to pick up travel-sized everything! Remember that liquids are not your friend as far as the airlines are concerned.

11) Pack
I recommend packing conservatively. I have another post here with some packing tips!

12) Head Off on an Adventure!
Remember to have the time of your life, but respect the culture you are in. Just because the locals do something differently from you, doesn't mean they're wrong. Keep an open mind. In general people are good. With that said, I do recommend that you be aware while abroad (and in general). Keep your money zipped in an inside pocket and try not to stick out as a tourist. Use apps instead of paper maps and try to learn at least a basic greeting in the native language of that country.

I hope this helps!
Malena