Category: Travel Tips

Holidays and the start of a new year inevitably make us think about how we can improve ourselves, and have the life we want in the future. We make resolutions – I must lose weight, I will save more money – and then lose our way. That’s because we aren’t matching our resolutions with who we are inside. We’re more likely to succeed if we work on discovering our inner, Real selves, appreciate who we already are, and then take a chance on custom-made changes, not one-size-fit all resolutions. Here are ten tips for making the new year better in a Real way.

1. Let your values be your guide — There are plenty of people who will tell you what should be important to you, if you let them. Friends, co-workers, family, even the mass media, bombard us with opinions and ideas. Don’t just accept what others say. Decide for yourself what matters most and let those values set your course.
2. Take a long-term view — Bad habits, difficult relationships, and other disappointments don’t develop overnight. Similarly, life doesn’t get better in a moment. Change happens slowly, step-by-step. Have the patience to see it through.
3. Let Go of the “Shoulds” — When you were a kid, you needed grown-ups to tell you what was right and wrong and what you should do in a given situation. As an adult you can make these choices for yourself. “Shoulds” produce resentment and anger. Instead, do what you know in your heart is right, and set your own standards.
4. Define Yourself as Beautiful — Fewer than five percent of us believe we are beautiful, but whenever I meet someone, I can see something beautiful in her right away. You may not fit the mass media image of conventional, external beauty, but there are things that make you attractive. Remember, beauty is an inside job.
5. Let Go of Being Perfect — As much as we hear that “nobody’s perfect” it’s awfully hard to believe. This is because what we constantly see in the media are air-brushed images of people who appear perfect and we come to believe it is a reasonable goal. When we fall short of perfect, then we feel like failures, just for being ourselves. This year, why not just forget that whole concept and replace it with “I don’t have to be perfect.” The truth is, the people who love you know that you have flaws and just don’t care. You don’t have to either…
6. Stop Competing — Life is not a game to be won or lost. It is more like a dance that never ends. People who make life a competition live in fear of losing. But if you understand that there’s no first prize and no finish line, only opportunities to grow and experience things, then that fear is replaced by appreciation and wonder. Try to think about growing rather than winning.
7. Try a Little Self-Empathy — We all hope to be kind and considerate when it comes to others. But have you ever made an effort to think about yourself in the same way? Most of us spend too much time judging ourselves harshly. It’s hard to be happy when you let that little voice inside you endlessly say mean and critical things.
8. Make Friends with Your Flaws — When you stop believing in perfection, it’s a lot easier to adopt a new view of those things people call flaws. In many cases, we can redefine these differences and understand them as gifts. What makes a mole a beauty mark? The answer is in your perspective. Why not adopt a perspective that honors all those things that make you different?
9. Listen to Your Body — Many of us lead lives that are so fast-paced and stressful that we push ourselves to the point of getting sick. In most cases, our bodies send us signals -fatigue, aches, hungers – when it’s time to slow down, rest and examine our emotions. We can avoid a lot of sick days if we pause to listen to our bodies and respond with gentle self-care.
10. Try New Things — In the end, the important things in life are found in relationships and experiences. We feel good when we connect with others and take on challenges that allow us to grow. If you have always wanted to feel closer to someone you know, take the risk. And if you have longed to try something new – in the arts, your work, sports, or anything else — give yourself permission to try. A little courage will bring you great rewards in the coming year.

Everyone loves saving money. One of the more difficult expenditures people can’t seem to save even a few dollars towards is travel. Navigating the ins and outs of planning your next vacation can get pretty confusing but it doesn’t have to be. Travel writers know how to find the best deals and it’s not magic.

Travel writers plan a LOT of trips. Long trips, short trips, something in between, getaways, business trips, you name it, travel writers have done it. Sometimes, they pay for their own travel, other times it’s paid for by a host or magazine. Either way, saving money is on everyone’s agenda. Here is some of the best advice this travel writer can think to give to help you save as much as possible on the travel part of your vacation so you can shop like a rock star after you arrive.

1. Develop brand loyalty. The lowest price shouldn’t always be your first option. The airline and hotel loyalty programs require you to collect points for free plane tickets and hotel rooms. If you belong to Delta’s SkyMiles program but their fare is $30 more than another airline, go ahead and spend the extra money because it will pay off in the long run. I’ve read comments on travel related articles posted online where people tell of flying around the world using their points. Also, even if you don’t have enough points for a round-trip flight to Paris, you might have enough to buy coach and use the points to upgrade to Business- or First-Class. When it comes to hotels, again, even if you don’t have enough points for a “free” room for the duration of your vacation, you might have enough for several days. Also, there are tiers of loyalty for the hotel chains. Using the Marriott Reward program as an example, by staying with their chain more than X number of nights a year one becomes a platinum member. Platinum members are upgraded to the next level of reservation and gain entrance to their concierge level (when available). You also earn extra points when staying at any of the hotels in the Marriott chain. At some of their locations, you might get a freshly baked warm cookie when you check in.
2. Traveling during off-peak can save a bundle. The off-peak season in the travel industry means room rates at a fraction of the peak rate and lower airfares to reach your destination. Okay, to be fair, the weather might not always be ideal but, trust me, it’s FAR better to be rained on in Ireland than in Arizona. But traveling during these times can save you a bundle and you’re chances of seeing a place you might not otherwise see are increased dramatically. For instance, there is a lovely hotel in downtown Dublin, the Harcourt Hotel. By anyone’s standards, this is a stunning hotel and its being so near public transportation, while still affording guests the quiet of being on a side street, make it an optimal choice for vacationing couple or family. The room rate can include a full Irish breakfast and “Continental” it isn’t (if you’ve ever seen a full Irish or English breakfast, you’ll know what I mean). During the tourist season in Dublin, the rooms at the Harcourt can reserve for €70 to €90 per person. While that’s not awful, during the off-peak season the rate starts at €22 per person (Triple Room) up to €49 per person (single room). Also, using Tucson (my home airport) as the example for airfare, during peak season, a flight to Dublin was just over $1,000. For the month of March (off-peak), the same flight, with the same layovers, on the same airline, are now just over $500.
3. Buy your tickets directly from the airline. While the opaque sites such as Travelocity and CheapTickets are fine for locating fares, if anything goes wrong with your trip either before you leave or once you traveling, good luck getting any help. You’ve now added a layer of defense between you and your air carrier. Also, ordering your tickets directly from the airline’s website might garner you discounts not available through the opaque sites; all the airlines will post “Web only” fares but you have to go to their site to see them. When I’m planning a trip, I’ll use one of these sites to find out which airline has the most flights with the lowest fares to my destination but then I’ll go to that airline’s website for the ticket, usually saving $15 to $50 in the process.
4. Don’t be afraid to use a travel agent. If you’re planning a cruise, the trip of a lifetime or one that has a complicated series of segments, go see a travel agent. Travel agents know the industry like no other person in the world and purchasing through them won’t cost you more but it might cost you less due to their ability to delve into the world of travel fares. They’re also going to know about unadvertised specials not released to the public. Travel agents are the ones to help you find any information you need if you’re traveling out of the country. A friend of mine owns a travel agency and she has a really good post to help explain how it works. One of the more important aspects of your relationship with your travel agent is their being the one you call if for any reason you need to make changes to your itinerary. Somewhere along the way, the public began to believe travel agents could only be used by the beautiful people. Nothing could be further from the truth. Using a travel agent is a bit like having an insurance policy. You do it because it lends a level of security and comfort. If nothing ever goes wrong, you wonder why you bothered but when things DO go wrong, and eventually they will, you’ll be glad you did. The next time you’re stuck in the Istanbul airport because your flight was cancelled, the opaque sites couldn’t give two flips because they already have your money and have moved on. A quick international call or a well-timed e-mail to your travel agent will fix everything because your AGENT wants you to come back, again and again.
5. The more expensive the trip, the more you need travel insurance. This might seem like a luxury item but after several months of reading a column by travel ombudsman Chris Elliott,I’m becoming more of a believer in the need for this. Time and again, I read people’s requests for help because the opaque site they used didn’t do things right (or rather, the traveler didn’t but they are asking the travel SITE to make things right) and they lost a ton of money, sometimes in the thousands. Both Chris and his commentors will, at some point, state travel insurance would have taken care of the problem. But not all travel insurance is the same; carefully check coverages and limits before purchasing.  This is also something a reputable travel agent can/will recommend and can/will help you with.
6. Sign up for fare alerts. I always forget this one myself but when I was planning a trip to Europe 18 months ago, I signed up for a fare alert for the city in which I needed to land. I had completely forgotten about it until just over a week ago when I got an e-mail telling me fares were a quarter of what I’d paid during peak season. Suddenly, I’m thinking I might like to go again. I couldn’t get my husband to agree to it so we didn’t go but, it was sure nice to think about. There are several travel sites offering this service, both online via e-mail and via text messaging and apps on your tablets and smartphones. If you can be flexible and take some days off with less than a month’s notice (maybe take a long weekend?), fare alerts are a great way to plan a vacation or quick getaway. It’s tantamount to walking up to an airline’s ticketing agent and saying, “Give me two tickets on your next flight out, I don’t care where”. Some of the sites offering this service with sign-up are FareCompare, Kayak and AirFareWatchDog.
7. Sign up for travel site newsletters. Let’s say you really love spending time in West Virginia. The state tourism office for West Virginia is great about putting out notices to their subscribers about upcoming specials. Destinations are famous for their e-mail blasts and if you’re okay with getting several a week (assuming you’ve signed up for more than one or two places), some excellent deals can be found inside these messages. Glenwood Springs, CO, has an active marketing campaign that gives great deals throughout the year. The Loews Resort chain is also good for this and their locations offer a number of specials and all-inclusive specials year-round, but on special holidays, they can make it easy to plan a weekend. A suggestion would be to create a GMail or Yahoo account just for these e-mails, if you really don’t want them in your usual inbox. But check the e-mail often enough you don’t miss out on something great. These e-mails are also famous for including a coupon or coupon code giving discounts to subscribers only.
8. Don’t pack light, pack together. Airports are the worst place to be bogged down with luggage but checked bag fees cause people to feel they need to put their household into one small carry-on bag. I’ve taken my son with me on several of my assignments and we’ve flown Delta (MY brand loyalty). I really don’t like to pay to check a bag but at the same time, I’m already boarding with my purse, my camera bag and my laptop bag. My son will carry one of them, in a pinch, but he’s generally carrying HIS laptop bag and, maybe, a carry-0n suitcase. I grew weary of this on a particular trip and made the decision to no longer encumber myself unnecessarily. Now when my son travels with me, we bring one large suitcase and pack our stuff in there, together.  I check one bag and enjoy not having to carry so much weight going from one terminal to another and we are much more relaxed when we travel. Once, I was behind a family of four who wanted to save on checking a bag. Mom, Dad and both of their smaller children each had two carry-on bags with which to board the plane. They were a nuisance to the rest of the passengers due to their taking up so much of the overhead bin area and the plane was late leaving the gate because of all the jockeying of their bags. Wouldn’t it have been easier on them AND the rest of us had they just packed it all in one large suitcase? Sometimes, it’s worth it to spend the extra $25 each way.

There are so many ways to save money while traveling and I’m sure I’m leaving out so many other tips that would be beneficial. However, this should be enough to get your confidence up. If you have any suggestions I haven’t included here, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below. Oh, and Safe Travels!

Ryan Danz of Amazing Race 21 recently spent nearly a month in Europe going hither and yon, beginning with his Running of the Bulls in Spain. He’s being gracious enough to share with our readers more of his trip.

Ryan Danz – The infamous five (“Cinque”) fishing villages (“Terre”) adorning the Italian coast is no longer Italy’s best kept secret since the early 1990’s. The past two decades has left the hiking trails connecting the villages well-traveled and the trademark homes and buildings well photographed. But after devastating mudslides in 2011 to the villages of Monterosso and Vernazza and near total destruction of the coastline and its inhabitants, the settlements and its trademark views are almost back to their eye-popping colorful, quaint, picturesque selves. Almost.

The devastation that took place was ruinous. Shops, hotels and homes were blown out with sludge. Debris filled first floors to the roofs and more generally nothing survived in the path of the slide.

Today, along the infamous hiking trail connecting Monterosso and Vernazza villages, remnants of that demolition still exist. In fact, the trail from Corniglia to Manarola remains closed and requires a two and a half hour detour to the high road. The path from villages Manarola to Riomaggiore, while open, is likely to close even under threat of bad weather as what happened to me in July 2013. If walking uphill and downhill on dirt paths, aka hiking, is not your thing, a regional train that runs frequently connects all five villages.

The towns, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore each offer something unique even though from the untrained eye, one could almost be easily mistaken for another.

Monterosso: The largest village of the five, it offers plentiful beach access with multiple private beach set-ups (your own chair, brightly colored umbrella and piece of sandy real estate). Along the main thoroughfare, just below the train tracks, there are more than a handful of cafes, restaurants, tchotchke shops and gelato stands. In addition to the many eating, shopping and beach options, Monterosso is also the stop for many trains making their way into Cinque Terre from neighboring countries and as such the crowds can become a bit overwhelming. If you’re looking for nightlife as well, then Monterosso is your only real option.

Tip 1: While Monterosso’s size, numerous beaches and tourist friendly establishments are accommodating and intriguing, those same factors can be negatives for those seeking the more hidden-gem type destination. This is Cinque Terre’s allure and it’s only found in part here. Absolutely make Monterosso a stop on your visit, but there are better options to succumbing to a fairy tale hamlet.

Vernazza: Smaller than Monterosso, and just a few clicks (kilometers) away, Vernazza has a flavor all its own. At the end of its one main street running through town, rests a handful of restaurants and shops all vying for your attention, but never in your face. Vernazza’s seascape is legendary and while it does not offer the beach access Monterosso’s does, you can do worse than laying a towel on a flat rock just above the sea’s spray under the church and slipping in for a fresh dip.

Tip 2: Hiking through the five villages is no easy feat. Depending on your route of travel, should you opt for starting in Monterosso and ending in Riomaggiore, be ready to face a long, steep set of stairs on your first leg (Monterosso to Vernazza) that ascends from the sea to the heavens in an hour plus long climb. The total hike time is just over one hour and thirty minutes (between Monterosso/Vernazza), with much of that ascending. The lookouts are spectacular, the paths are narrow and your fellow hikers, regardless of their country’s origins will feel a certain immediate bond with you. Use this as my recommendation to finish, not start your hike in Monterosso.

Corniglia: Where Monterosso is commercialized and Vernazza popular, Corniglia is quaint, quiet and exceptional. Set up higher on the cliffs than the other villages and perhaps a less than ideal place to enjoy the sea at the foot of the village’s cliffs, Corniglia can still take your break away. With fewer homes and an even smaller shopping and tourist center, Corniglia is the smallest of the five villages. It also has the least dedicated entry point to the sea.

Tip 3: Tucked away just off the main square, find the Terra Rosa restaurant. Proprietor sisters Eliana and Sabrina have touched the divine with their simple yet majestically appointed café. Just beyond the walk up counter there is a sitting area, its roof composed of local leaves and branches, peering out over the village and the Mediterranean Sea below. Glass mason jar like bottles hang from above, filled with liquid colors of love and adventure. Diminutive lantern lights weave throughout and the blackboard menus, affixed to the lone stone wall, layout perfectly your breakfast and lunch options. I recommend the Insalata Caprese with tuna and an iced coffee. Let Elaina or Sabrina know that Ryan with the green bandana has sent you and be sure to ask for a small bottle of their homemade pesto sauce on the way out.  It’s the best I’ve ever had.

Manarola: The sexiest and most romantic of the five villages, with restaurants and lookouts over the protected inlet, Manarola is truly a heavenly place. The setting of the town will quite literally take your breath away, even if just for a moment. With a single dedicated street from the top of the village to the sea, this town has something that can almost not be put into words. So I won’t even try. I think this picture speaks for itself.

Tip 4: For its value more than its location (you will hike approximately 10 minutes up a fairly steep street) the Pensione Da Baranin is a charming, apartment-like property. Included in its nightly fee is the most delicious, wholesome breakfast complete with fresh melon, croissants, cheeses, cereals and the best cup of espresso you’ve ever had. Beyond the delectableness however is the outdoor patio set seating, made up of fine teak furniture and a view of the steep hillside vineyards. Eat early enough and enjoy watching the local farmers tending to their crops. No words.

Riomaggiore: A strong sense of the working-life exists here, more so than any of the other villages. The sea-life, fishing, scuba, and the marine life it encompasses seem to permeate this small village by way of its shops, artwork and delicacy.

Tip 5: Monterosso, Vernazza and Manarola all extend excellent places to dip into the sea or find a flat rock to enjoy the Tuscan sun. Riomaggiore’s cordoned off inlet is replete with boats and fishing poles and nets. If you take the stairs, just above the boat launch ramp, look for a single open door and inside a glass case. In it you will find the best gelato of any of the five villages. You’re welcome.

Rick Steves, the well-known travel guru, deserves much of the credit (or blame) for Cinque Terre’s meteoric rise in popularity after his experience there was captured in an article around this time.