Shereen Rayle's Blog, page 12

Don't Waste Money On a Cruise

Okay, this is probably my last cruise post for a while, but since I want you to have the best cruise experience you can, without spending all your money, we're going to talk about a bunch of ways that you can waste money on a ship, when there are plenty of ways to just not and stay within your budget. 

Photo by Adam Gonzales on Unsplash

Everyone thinks that everything onboard is included when they cruise, but that's simply not true...for almost any ship. There are a few all-inclusive ships that ar...

How To Pack For a Cruise

I've been feeling cruises lately, and feel like they are a special breed of travel that can be much different than other travel options. You see a bunch of places, but you're basically stationary, because you're on a ship and you don't have to pack up and move every day or so. You have a lot of options for activities on and off the ship, which means you're probably taking a few more things, but you have less room than you would in most traditional hotel rooms.

Photo by Adam Gonzales on Unsplash

Yo...

Making Your Washington, D.C. Wishlist Happen

Planning a trip to Washington, D.C., is exciting but can be daunting when you’re trying to fit all the must-see attractions into a limited budget and timeframe. The typical D.C. wishlist includes iconic sites like the Lincoln Memorial, and the White House. Don’t forget the obligatory long walks along the National Mall and visits to fascinating museums too. 

How do you make it all happen without breaking the bank or running out of time?

Unsplash - CC0 License

Book a Central Hotel

One of the best way...

Essential Cruise Wardrobe Pieces

It's summer, and if you're anything like me, you might be thinking about a cruise again. Now, I always think about going on a cruise and then somehow talk myself out of it, but I am a person who likes to set  up a home base and then explore a city for an entire week. We've been debating on a Mediterranean cruise though, so we'll see if we actually go through with it. I'd love to see a lot of Greece and Turkey in one go, but I'm also really thinking I might just spend a week in Malta. 

Anyway, if ...

Choosing the Best Cruise for You

A lot of people love cruising, because almost everything is included and it's just easy. Everything you need is within walking distance of your room, but there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a cruise to fit your travel style and budget. You also need to remember that you'll probably be getting off the ship to do things and spend money there and any alcohol and soda is usually an extra charge as well.

I showed you some important things to bring along with you on a cruise and next u...

Packing Your Travel Capsule Wardrobe

Last week, I showed you an easy mix-and-match capsule wardrobe for your summer trips. Today I want to show you mine in practice and how everything goes together when you're going on a short getaway. These are pieces I'm considering taking with me to Sacramento for 4 days, including one where I will be going to a family reunion and one where I'm going with our niece to a fairytale theme park.

I'm not taking too many pieces, because I won't be there that long, and also I think it's more convenient ...

Accessories to Pack for Cruising

So, you're going on a cruise? Congrats! I'll be posting more tips on what to bring along on your cruise and what to plan for, but for now, let's talk about the size of cruise cabins. Even the big ones aren't usually that big, so here are some ideas on how to get the most square footage from your cabin without tripping over all your stuff every time you're in there.


Here are some items that will keep your stuff off the floor, but still handy:

Magnetic hooks/clipsCruise ships have metal walls, which...

Taking Better Vacation Pics

Today is National Camera Day and while most of us don't travel with a traditional camera, we all carry one in our pockets all the time. Your phone is probably your number one travel buddy, so making the most of the pictures you take with it is a way to capture your amazing memories. Here's a guide to taking a great selfie, which is a big portion of the photos I take on my trips, that can also help you take better regular photos. 

This infographic is provided to you by Shutterfly, the leading onli...

Packing Your Perfect Mix and Match Summer Wardrobe

If, like me, you're going on a summer trip (or trips) and are looking to pack a perfect bag and not spend all your money on baggage fees, then I'm here for you. It's all about the capsule wardrobe. Most travel sites will suggest the 5-4-3-2-1 strategy, and I also love the 3-3-3 strategy, but I'm going with 3-3-1-2, unless you're going on a long trip. 

What the heck am I talking about? Quick catch-up: The 5-4-3-2-1 packing method is 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 dresses/shoes, 2 bags/swimsuits, and 1 bag/s...

More Affordable Beach Vacations

Got aspirations to go to the beach this summer? Well, you’re likely not the only one, especially since the kids are out of school and the sun is out and that makes people flock to beaches near and far. The problem with heading to the beach during the warmest months is that it is often quite expensive and crazy crowded. Considering most people are just lying on the beach on their trip, it makes no sense to spend a ton of money that you don’t have to. So, here are some tips on how to spend less ...