Shereen Rayle's Blog, page 13

5 Tips For Traveling with Kids

I don't have kids, so I'm definitely not an expert in traveling with them, but that doesn't mean I haven't traveled with them. Luckily, I could check out and do my own thing, but as a parent, you already know that it can be difficult to make everyone happy. You can do your best to make your trip as enjoyable as possible for all involved, it just may take a bit more planning.

Here are 5 ways to travel well with children, and not declare you're never taking another family vacation as long ...

5 Ways to Get More Out of Your Hotel Budget

I'm getting ready to go to three different destinations this summer and, though I normally stay in vacation rentals, I'll be spending two of those trips in actual hotel rooms, so let's talk about how we can budget and learn how to stretch that budget to get more from your room and dollars. Accommodations don't have to break the bank. If you know what to look for or how to book and on what days, you can save big bucks. Imagine what else you can do on your trip with the money you save.


You ...

Travel Safety for LGBTQ Travelers

Everyone deserves to feel safe when they travel. Everyone. While I hope that everywhere we go is equally tolerant to all tourists, that isn't always the case. There are places I won't go - or won't go alone - as a woman and I know I'm not the only one. Here are some tips on how to travel safely as a queer traveler:

 For more places to go, check out Thrillist's collection of LGBTQ destination articles. Matador Network wants you to travel well in Eastern Europe. Maybe you don't want to go that far ...

Pride + Travel

Traveling for Pride is not new, but it seems to be a lot more popular, or easier to share, now. Pride is a celebration and a party, and a sense of community wherever you are. I love the idea that people want to experience Pride outside of their hometown, but also that they may not have celebrations at home, or even feel safe there, so they go where they can be themselves. 

The LGBTQIA+ community experiences similar discrimination wherever they are, so being able to engage with others is always jo...

Halfway Through 2024: Summer Travels

We are nearly halfway through this year and my summer has gone from busy at home to a busy travel season, too. As you know, I usually spend a week in July in Las Vegas, but this year we won't be doing that. I made it to Vegas in March for the Travel Goods Show, where I was able to meet up with friends and family, along with doing some solo things and spending 2 1/2 days at the show. 

This July Leaky Con is coming back to Portland, which gives me another weekend to indulge in Harry Potter. The oth...

Dad & Grad Travel Gift List 2024

It's that time again. Time to celebrate both the awesome dads out there and the accomplishments of those who have made it to the end (so far) of their educational career. If the dads or grads in your life are travelers or getting started on new travels, then you can help them along with some great things to make those trips better and more comfortable and convenient.

Photo by Vasily Koloda on Unsplash

I'm lucky to have a job where I have been gifted a lot of great travel gear, but I also 

Non-tangi...

Don't Forget to Pack This One Thing for Summer Trips

There are a lot of things you should pack for your summer travels, like sunscreen and shorts and your bathing suit, but there's one thing that's much more important than anything else to a successful trip: your patience. Yes, this sounds like I'm telling you that summer travel will be annoying, and, shockingly, I am. 

How do I know? Because Summer travel is always annoying. There are too many people everywhere, things cost more than usual, traffic is bad, and there are kids everywhere. (No offens...

Live Your Bridgerton Dreams

If, like much of America, you have gotten caught up in the gossip and drama of Bridgerton - the period series about well-to-do British families with amazing instrumental covers of modern pop songs - then you might also be loving all the filming locations featured in the show. I know I am. Everything is so vibrant and gorgeous that it makes me want to put on a poufy floral gown and stroll the countryside. Here are 7 filming locations where you can indulge your own Bridgerton dreams:

Even if you ar...

Celebrating the Achievements and History of Asian Americans

Our country is a melting pot of culture and that's what makes it the amazing place that it is to live in and visit. While not all history is great history, it is still important and can really help you learn why we do things we do, because tradition comes from somewhere, and oftentimes it comes from immigrants or those that came to this country through slavery. Just like Europeans took this land from the Natives, they also took their cultures, language, foods, and music as their own.

Now, maybe t...

Your Best Summer Staycation

If you can't afford a summer vacay this year, you aren't alone. Summer is, notoriously, the most expensive times to travel, though there are some places where it is the off season and more affordable. I wrote about a handful in my most recent newsletter*, but you might also be saving for a bigger/better trip later in the year. If you are, then take advantage of a staycation this summer.

We got real good at staycations during the pandemic, because it made us creative. If you need some ideas on how...