Shereen Rayle's Blog, page 119

See the City Like Never Before

A few weeks ago we had family in town and wanted to do something fun and different for Eric's cousin's birthday. I suggested taking a tour of the city, but with a twist. Instead of just tromping around the city, I purchased a scavenger hunt that worked via your smartphone WiFi signal, you could go at your own pace and didn't need to wait for anyone to take you on the tour. I purchased our city hunt through Urban Adventure Quest, which I found through a quick internet search. Though it wasn't...

Super Useful Travel Posts

Happy Friday, All! I hope you've been having a great week. If not, at least the weekend is here! As I write this, I'm listening to a group of birds singing in my yard, celebrating the sunny day and it seriously sounds like a Disney movie. Can't ask for a better day than that, but let's try with some fun, useful or interesting links I've found lately, shall we? I know it's been a long time since SUTP has been a thing, but I'm hoping to bring it back regularly.
photo creditDo you travel with you...

Free Museum Tickets For You!

On Saturday over 1,400 museums in America (and Puerto Rico) will be offering free admission all day. This is a great promotion and can save you big bucks whether you are on vacation or at home. It’s also the perfect time to get your kiddos some culture without having to dish out the cash when they may or may not let you stay long enough to get your entry money’s worth.



We almost always visit at least one museum on any trip we take. From the Museums de la Mitad del Mundo in Ecuador to the Queen...

How To Pick the Right Carry-On Bag

You've probably been on a summer vacation and realized the bag you have is not really the best bag you could own. I know a lot of people bought a suitcase or carry-on (or both) years ago and have never replaced it because "it works". I'm a big bag collector. Not all bags work for all trips and I feel like I need to be prepared for most situations, so if you came to my house, you'd notice I have at least five regular sized carry-on bags and more than 10 personal-sized ones. Now, I'm not s...

Traveling America's Haunted Sites

Halloween is on its way and that means yummy treats and scary tricks or a combination of them both. Not all the scares are unjustified. If you get excited about a good ghost story (or sighting!) then there's a chance you're within driving distance of a fantastic haunted destination. We took a fun ghost walk last year when we visited Colonial Williamsburg and may have even caught a spirit on camera, plus we've gone to some other haunted locations where we haven't actually glimpsed or felt a gh...

Be a Traveler, Not a Tourist

When I vacation, I like to immerse myself as much as possible in my destination. I know a lot of people find it hard t get into the swing of how things work when they go somewhere new, but it can be the best way to really feel where you are. If you're constantly in your home state of mind, you're never going to get the most of your destination. There's quite a difference from embracing a new place and being a traveler and trying to hit everything on your must-do list as a tourist. Doing...

Easily Packable Costumes for Halloween Travel

This year is just flying by, isn't it? I'm in the midst of packing for my Orlando trip later this month and I am making space for our Halloween costumes with our other clothes. One of the fun parts of heading to Disney in September or October is that you can dress up for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halłween Party (other parks have something similar too), but you have to make sure your costume is travel-friendly. In my experience, finding something creative, but without a bunch of pieces is key. I t...

Planning Early for Holiday Travel Savings.

I know, summer is barely coming to an end, but it’s never too early to start looking ahead to your next trip, especially if you want to keep costs within a budget. Fall is the perfect time to start thinking about the holidays and planning a trip to visit family or have an excuse for why you can’t make it this year. Why not take the kids to Disneyland on Christmas or arrange a low-key Hawaiian holiday? 

Book as soon as possible – When traveling around the holidays, the further out you...

5 Stylish Pieces for Fall Travel

Today's guest post comes from my blog friend Krisztina Williams. She runs a great lifestyle blog (links at the bottom) and is bringing her awesome style to us for some inspiration for your fall travel wardrobe.
When you need to pack for a fall trip, it’s about picking stylish pieces as well as pieces that can keep you warm and dry. You also have to account for the lingering summer weather - chilly mornings and potentially warmer afternoons. With a few key pieces, you can travel in style and be...

8 Ways to Stretch Your Travel Budget

Sometimes to travel you need to make some sacrifices. Those sacrifices don't always have to mean a less awesome vacation, because when you cut corners, you may find that you found a new creative way to travel. If your next trip seems like light years away, because you haven't saved enough, try these 8 tips to make your dollars stretch and go sooner.
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What are your favorite ways to save money to travel more often?