Shereen Rayle's Blog, page 101

My Coffee Tour of Portland - Part 1

I live in Portland and we love our coffee. Now, we aren't Seattle, but we have taken coffee culture and run with it. Not only are there a million Starbucks in our city, but even more independent shops adding their own flavor to your favorite brew. While here, you may find yourself stuck behind that annoying person who orders the quad grande skim caramel macchiato upside down, extra hot and makes you want to gouge out your own eyes, but you can also find the hard core traditional coffee e...

Celebrating Portland Dining Month

By now, you know I love food. I plan full days around where I want to eat. I have lists of restaurants I want to try when I travel. At home here in Portland I adore trying new dining venues, but there's only so much time and money. Once Portland Dining Month rolls around, I choose some restaurants that are usually too expensive for casual dining, so I can eat there for less and still enjoy more options from their menu than usual.

Restaurants participating in Dining Month offer up a three-cours...

Basics That Help Your Pack Lighter

Packing. It can be a four-letter word for some. What do you take? What do you leave at home? How big a suitcase do you need? While you want to be comfortable, unless you’re trekking around the Outback, you probably don’t want to be seen in zip-off pants and hiking boots. Dressing like a traveler will only put a big target on your back that screams “tourist”. It’s always nice not to be pegged as an easy mark the second you step off the plane. 


You can still be stylish while being relaxed....

Getting In On the Travel Sharing Trend

It's no secret that travel share is a booming industry. With less mainstream ways to travel on a budget, it's easier than ever to travel the world without going broke. I'm all for going independent when I can to save some bucks, especially if I have plenty of traveler reviews to back up the safety and legitimacy of it all. 


Instead of staying in a hotel or eating at a traditional restaurant or going to the big box car rental places for some wheels, why not go local and more affordable?
&nb...

Surviving Air Travel with Kids

Traveling with kids is not always easy or cheap, but you can make it a bit easier on yourself by planning ahead. No last-minute packing or planning, because it can definitely mean the difference between a great flight and a terrible one. I can help you save money and sanity on all your future family travels. Here are just a few ways to make the most of your trips and keep everyone as happy as possible.



Tell Them What to Expect Kids are super-adaptable, but it does help to explain things t...

Timeshares and Vacation Rentals Over Hotels

I'll be honest. I rarely stay in hotels. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've stayed in a hotel in the last ten years. I don't have anything against hotels. In fact, I enjoy them quite a bit. What I also enjoy is having a little more space, being able to make food if I don't want to leave for a meal, and I like feeling special. I also like saving money and staying somewhere unique. 

People ask how we travel so much and, realistically, I don't think we travel any more...

Eating Well At The Airport

It can be difficult to eat well or healthy when you travel, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. With some planning, you can totally do it. One of the hardest places to eat well is at the airport. There are tons of fast food restaurants, making it challenging to avoid eating a crappy hamburger and fries that cost three times as much as they do at home. You could pack your own snacks – which is not a terrible idea – but sometimes you just want to kick back and let someone else...

Review: Daily Goodie Box

Ever wish you could try new products out before you bought the full size box or case or however they come? There are tons of monthly boxes that cover things you love: books, makeup, fandom goodies and even jewelry. But what about food and health items? While you can request samples of some items on their websites, wouldn't it be fun if you just got a box full of samples that came right to your door? I mean, I have gotten shampoo and toothpaste trial sizes before, it has taken a long time to s...

Where to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day

In just a few weeks, the world will be overcome with green. Green beer. Green shirts. Green beads. Green hats. And corned beef and cabbage. What? Don't ask me. I've never heard of anyone eating corned beef and cabbage outside of eating at an Irish restaurant or St. Patrick's Day. I'm not sure it's for me, but I made colcannon, which is basically mashed potatoes and cabbage, and I liked it, so maybe I should give it a try. Anyway, back to St. Patrick's Day - the celebration of St. Patrick driv...

The Best Way to Get Where You're Going

When traveling, there can be a lot of options for getting there and then getting around once you've reached your destination. I like to travel as green as possible. When I get to my destination, I try to walk as much as possible and take public transportation. Not only does it save me money, but it allows me to see more of the city and get my exercise as well. 


How do you like to get around when you travel?