Hi, it’s me, your travel blogger friend who left her glamorous, frivolous life in Spain to settle back into the typical patterns of everyday American society for the past 10 months. (Thanks, COVID.) While our next adventures seem to be creeping closer, little by little, I’ve had some time to work on other projects that I’ve enjoyed. And one of them was decorating my very own office! [Read more…]
What I Miss the Most About Traveling
Last night, my family and I finally had our Christmas. Yes, on January 9. Most of my family, except for me & Matt, and my sister Carrie, came down with COVID, so we had to postpone our celebration until everyone was healthy again. Luckily everyone is doing well! And while we were all together, we also did one of our New Years traditions — we each write down as many predictions as we can for the new year. Then, we take turns reading the last year’s predictions to see how many we got right.
I was first up. As I scanned through my typed list, which I’d emailed to my dad since I was in Europe last year, all I could say was… “Wow. This is sad.” Because of course, at that point I had no idea we were two months away from getting hit with the pandemic that would be life-changing for the next year, if not longer. [Read more…]
Trip Review: Wrocław, Poland
I had an ulterior motive when it came to visiting Poland. A few years ago, after spending a Christmas in the far northeastern Germany, we’d driven across the border to Szczecin just to say we’d stepped foot there. (And I think we ate pizza.) But since I didn’t spend much time there, I never really felt that I could say I’d *been* to Poland.
In order to alleviate this traveler’s cognitive dissonance, I kept an eye on flights to Poland over the past six months. And finally, a cheap flight to a city called Wrocław aligned with a puente (long weekend) from school. [Read more…]
7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Granada, Spain
Granada, Spain, was a city that I’d always heard about, but never gotten around to visiting. Its location — isolated in Spain’s deep south — requires visitors to have sufficient time to not only enjoy the city but travel there as well. Situated in a mountainous region of Andalusia, Granada doesn’t currently have a train station. That means your transportation options are limited to flights, cars, or buses.
One of my friends in Spain, Ellie, studied abroad in Granada two years ago. Along with our friend Sarah, we planned a weekend trip, traveling via bus. It was 5 hours each way, which was a lot, but it wasn’t horrible. From the time I set foot in Granada, I fell in love, and I think it’s my new favorite city in Spain. Here are 7 reasons everyone should visit Granada! [Read more…]
Top 3 Things to Know Before Visiting Mexico City
When I booked my trip to Mexico City, it was a last-minute, not-very-well-planned, thing. I didn’t know much about it or what was there, but I assumed I’d at least get some good food and the opportunity to practice my Spanish a bit. And of course, Southwest Airlines – my airline of choice – flies there as one of their few international destinations. It cost me 15,000 points + $100 round-trip. Not a bad deal. [Read more…]
Is Mexico Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
Is Mexico safe? Most of us know that Mexico gets a bad reputation. For many, the mention of Mexico invokes ideas of crime, violence, and earthquakes. Even the State Department has issued warnings urging U.S. travelers not to visit certain parts of the country. There were reports of tourists being served tainted alcohol; an Iowa family of four tragically found dead in their rented condo.
So, here we have Mexico sounding pretty dangerous for anyone to visit. [Read more…]
How to Make Friends While Traveling Solo
It was my biggest concern when I first decided to travel solo: would I have to spend all of my time alone? Sure, I enjoy my own company – but there’s something special about making memories and sharing experiences with friends in foreign lands. I was hoping I wouldn’t miss out on that, despite embarking on the trip by myself. I had no idea what to expect. [Read more…]
Why T-Mobile is the Best for Solo Travelers
I was 20 years old before I got my first smartphone. I was a sophomore in college. Now, if you’re older than me, you may be saying, “Big deal! I didn’t get one until I was x years old.” However, by Millennial standards, I was absolutely ancient. [Read more…]
How to Not Look Like a Tourist: Travel Tips for Blending in
There’s nothing inherently wrong with looking and acting like a tourist. You are a tourist. But in some situations, looking like a tourist can make you a target for pickpockets, scammers, and other crime — a chance that only increases if you’re traveling alone.
Luckily, traveling alone also has a unique advantage — one that I think is lots of fun. When you’re alone, you can pretend you’re a local, just doing local things. I know I’m succeeding at this when someone comes up to me and asks for directions in the country’s native language 🙂
Here are a few of my best tips for blending in.
5 Safety Tips for Solo Travelers: Before You Leave Home
Hello everyone! Let’s talk a little bit about safety. Now, as you may remember, my parents weren’t super thrilled with the idea of me going to another country alone (especially since they haven’t traveled abroad themselves). I wanted to share a few safety tips for solo travelers that I take before I even leave home — which helps give them peace of mind.
Keep reading to find out my top 5 safety tips for solo travelers.