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.

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.

Exploring Tent Rocks in New Mexico

As an avid lover of the outdoors, when I learned we were going to New Mexico, I naturally started researching beautiful hikes. One of the first places I came across was the Tent Rocks! They are one of the most beautiful natural geologic formations in the world! Just look how pretty and unique!

Those "balls" on top of the pillars are actually rock! They formed naturally! How cool!

The hike consisted of narrow pathways between GORGEOUS rock walls. It was a curvy, winding path with plenty of big step-ups. We even saw a few snakes which I wasn't overly thrilled about. 

This was my favorite part. In order to get up to the top and check out the spectacular views, we had to do some serious scrambling. The path is generally pretty tame, but man oh man was the last part steep. It was pretty much straight up, and even had handholds you needed to use to get up. The end result was very few other tourists up top. Challenging, but so worth it!

How beautiful!

If you are ever considering adventuring around New Mexico, I highly recommend checking out Tent Rocks! I would love to help you coordinate your trip! Check out my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Australia and New Zealand Planning - Starting Out

Big trips take big planning. That's why we are starting the process nice and early for our trip to Australia and New Zealand. We are thinking of going February or March of 2019, but we've already started narrowing down the places that we might want to visit. 

Let's start with Australia. There are so many places I want to go! Sydney,  Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide! I want to see them all! Unfortunately, with a two-week time frame, we probably will not be able to hit them all. That said, I know we will see Sydney. I want to see the Opera House and do the bridge walk specifically. They look so incredibly fun!

The second Australian city we'll visit will probably be either Melbourne or Gold Coast. We'll just have to see! Both look absolutely beautiful and are (relatively) near our route.

As for New Zealand, there are too many places to list! We will probably try to visit Auckland and/or Christ Church. And we probably will visit Hobbiton! Because how cool would that be? That's up near Auckland so I could see us using that as a jumping off point. So many things to consider! 

The other big attraction that looks amazing is the world's largest bungee jump swing, A J Hackett Bungy New Zealand Nevis Swing. We've already done the World's Largest Bridge bungee jump in South Africa, so why not hit another big one? 

                                          

I mean, just look at how beautiful that is!!! I absolutely can NOT wait to go visit these gorgeous places
for myself. If you have any recommendations, I would LOVE to hear them!

If you want help planning your own adventure, visit MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

PS These pictures are from Pixabay. I typically use pictures I've personally taken on this blog, but alas I don't have any Aussie pics... yet!

The Best Place to Get Discount Hiking Gear

We are mere weeks away from our Grand Canyon trip so we are taking inventory of our hiking gear. Now, we will be "car camping," so we don't need to worry too much about the weight of our packs. That makes life much easier! When we go on over night hiking/backpacking trips every ounce counts, but in this case, we will be just doing day hikes with smaller packs and leave our big gear behind at our campsite.

Day hikes or not, you still need good gear. Your body will thank you for it! I have a bad knee, so I pay special attention to things like hiking shoes, knee braces and trekking poles. Fortunately, I've found great ways to avoid going broke trying to acquire the gear you need. Here's my secret: REI. And, no I am not sponsored by them, nor do I work for them. I'm just a big fan!

When I first got into hiking, I was rather broke. So naturally when I heard that REI had a "garage sale" I was all about it! This sale happens periodically and essentially they take very lightly used gear and drop the price like CRAZY. I'm talking I found a pair of hiking shoes for $10! These are high-quality shoes that ordinarily would cost at least $100, and I got it for 90% off!! I was thrilled! Now full disclosure - these are not the cutest shoes in the world. I would much prefer a more sleek version, but for $10, I was sold.

Next up, my knee brace. I originally tore my MCL in high school and then again in college. It's been a long road and unfortunately, my doctor-prescribed knee brace bit the dust after a particularly tough soccer match. Now this is no way medical advice, but if you find yourself in need of a general brace, I've found you can pick up perfectly adequate braces at your local drug store. Every situation is different, but I love drug store braces! And it's especially great if you can use a coupon and get it for a discount.

Finally, I got a screaming deal on trekking poles! My husband is an REI member (I know, I know. I'm repeating a source, but it's how I roll!), and he gets notifications of sales and at the end of the year he gets a dividend. We use that dividend check and try to combine it with other discounts and save up for when we need a big ticket item - like trekking poles. We've done it a few times for things like our tent and sleeping bags.

Quality gear can make a huge difference in your hiking experience. Before you buy a knock off version or a slightly sketchy item, try to find a creative way to buy a better product at a lower price. It's worked for me! And I can't wait to put my gear to the ultimate test next month at the Grand Canyon.

Tips on Hostel Life

Staying in a hostel is a wonderful thing! I've met some amazing people while staying in hostels, and I've had some truly memorable experiences. What's even better is through careful research, I've been able to avoid any bad experiences.  Here are my top tips for having a great experience out there in hostels across the world.


1) Pick a safe, clean hostel
This is far and away the most important aspect of ensuring you have a stellar hostel experience. No one wants to sleep in a sketchy bed full of bugs, dirt and much, much worse. I've heard of hostels with a "chess room" that was available by the hour - aka it had very little to do with chess, but had a locking door. Ew!

I've avoided these really gross hostels by doing a ton of research ahead of time! I like to look on hostelworld.com for the safety and cleanliness ratings. Generally I aim for AT LEAST an 80 percent, but preferably a 90 or above. These hostels are still going to be affordable but will be WAY safer than hostels that scored in  say the 50th percentile for cleanliness and safety. It's worth the few extra bucks per night to feel safe. Trust me.


2) Don't forget sheets, towel and lock (depending on the hostel)
Depending on where you're staying you may need to bring some of the basics with you. Believe it or not, some hostels don't even provide sheets! It's important to check on those sorts of things before you go. If you aren't keen on traveling with a full set of sheets and a towel, oftentimes you can rent them from the hostel for a small fee. I've done this in the past and it's been fine - just make sure you factor the cost into your budget!

And always always always bring a lock! Majority of hostels provide lockers, but not many provide locks.

3) Use a locker
My next tip is to use that locker! Even if your bunk/roommates seem like amazing, nice people you just never really know.  Locks keep honest people honest. I have never had anything stolen from a hostel (knock on wood), but I'm also very careful to always lock up my valuables, even if I'm stepping out for just a minute or two.

4) Don't be afraid to socialize
Finally, HAVE FUN! Hostels are a great place to meet people from every corner of the world. I personally love to hang out in the hostel's common room or bar. It's a great way to socialize with strangers while having a bit of a safety net - there are usually staff nearby that can step in if needed. A lot of hostels even have movie rooms, game areas or a communal book shelf. Take advantage of these! If you invite someone to play monopoly and they say no... who cares? You probably will literally never see them again. And if they take you up on it, you may just make a life-long friend!

Me with some new friends in a hostel in Florence, Italy

Hostels are a great option for travelers on a budget - just make sure you're prepared! If you'd like some help planning out your next trek, visit MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

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.

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.

Adventure Vs. Relaxing Honeymoon - Which is better?

My fiancé and I are getting married in June and we are so excited for our honeymoon! We both love to travel and adventure, but we know after the craziness of our wedding, we might want to relax on our honeymoon. That sparked the great debate: Adventure vs. Relaxing honeymoon - which is better? There are definitely pros and cons for both, so I'll walk you through our decision-making process.

Let's start with relaxing. After a crazy 6 months of wedding planning, we are already starting to feel burnt out. If we had a few days to just get away from the madness and celebrate our new marriage, we both know that it would be amazing. We both love a good beach day, but aren't sure if a resort of beach town would be the best use of our time off; we really want to make the absolute most of our special trip.

As for adventure, we just had the trip of a lifetime in South Africa this past August. We went bungee jumping, hiking, visiting with elephants and monkeys and even shark cage diving! It was insane! By the time we made it back to the US we were almost more tired than before we left. It was an absolutely amazing trip, and we definitely wouldn't trade it for the world.

We ultimately decided to compromise and do a little of each! We will be going on a road trip through Portugal! There are plenty of beaches where we can rest and relax, but there is lots to see and do as well! We will be splitting our time between slow, relaxing days and adventuring days exploring local towns and immersing ourself in the culture. We may even take a day trip over to Seville in Spain! It's going to require plenty of planning, but I'm up for the challenge. 

I'd love to help you plan your special trip! Check out MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com for more.

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

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!

International Road Trip?

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Save Up for the Trip of a Lifetime

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Keep Your New Year's Resolution to Travel

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where to Honeymoon?

I'm engaged!

My boyfriend of 5 years recently proposed and we can’t wait to plan our wedding and, of course, our honeymoon! There are several locations we are considering including Greece, Iceland and New Zealand.

We know we’ll want to slow things down a bit for our honeymoon since we’ll be exhausted from our wedding. That said, we are thinking somewhere warm, maybe with a beach nearby. So naturally, I immediately thought of Greece! The buildings are beautiful and the water is incredibly blue. – it truly is paradise! We are considering Athens or Mykonos (and a few other cities too!) – it’s just so hard to choose. Greece would let us still see some museums and architecture, but we have the added bonus of getting to lay out on the beach whenever we want a break.

Going in a completely different direction, we would love to visit Iceland! I’ve always wanted to climb a glacier and adventure across Iceland. I love adventure travel and Iceland has been on my bucket list for the longest time. The only thing is, adventure doesn’t lend itself to relaxation. We might decide to just come back another time.

Finally, we both want to visit New Zealand!.The only problem is it sure is a hike from the US! We are concerned that one week wouldn’t be long enough for that particular trip, and it’s looking like one week may be all we have. We would be able to still relax on some beautiful beaches, but see some amazing sights!

A lot depends on what time of year we get married. At this point we have no idea! There are so many things to consider! If you have any favorite honeymoon spots, let me know!

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