Shereen Rayle's Blog, page 141
March 1, 2014
Visit Your Local Farmer
Visit Your Local FarmerThe farmers market is a fantastic destination for travelers. A farmers market can be the ultimate for the budget traveler, because you can get affordable local foods, beverages, flowers and more! Find everything from cheese and breads to jams and local crafts. Most markets are in or next to city parks – perfect locations to enjoy a picnic lunch on a bench. I never leave one without a bag full of local yummy foods. Generally, I shop the market down th...
February 26, 2014
4 Travel Items That Save Space
4 Travel Items That Save Space
Packing light has become a mantra for many a budget traveler. Unfortunately, it can take a lot of practice to learn to pare down your items until you can take just one carry-on per person. (Eric and) I have perfected it enough to take one large carry-on and one small one that fits under the seat, but it hasn’t always been a smooth road to where we are now. Luckily, I love packing and am willing to pack, unpack and repack a bunch of times before I go anywhere to m...
Packing light has become a mantra for many a budget traveler. Unfortunately, it can take a lot of practice to learn to pare down your items until you can take just one carry-on per person. (Eric and) I have perfected it enough to take one large carry-on and one small one that fits under the seat, but it hasn’t always been a smooth road to where we are now. Luckily, I love packing and am willing to pack, unpack and repack a bunch of times before I go anywhere to m...
February 22, 2014
Don't be an "Ugly American"
Don't be an "Ugly American"
Do you find it hard to adjust when you travel and find yourself trying to stick to some of your normal routines? It can be hard to touch down and just go with the flow sometimes, especially when things at your destination are so different from at home, but it helps if you've done your homework before you get there. Learning about the language, customs and just how to blend in a bit in general can really help you have a better time and not stick out like a sore...
Do you find it hard to adjust when you travel and find yourself trying to stick to some of your normal routines? It can be hard to touch down and just go with the flow sometimes, especially when things at your destination are so different from at home, but it helps if you've done your homework before you get there. Learning about the language, customs and just how to blend in a bit in general can really help you have a better time and not stick out like a sore...
February 19, 2014
10 Great Sites to Find Travel Clothing
10 Great Sites to Find Travel Clothing
I know other websites suggest bringing your favorite pieces with you when you travel, so you know that you'll wear what you take, but when travel I love to buy new things for my trip. I count it as part of my travel budget and purchase items throughout the year when I find them on sale. This is not to say that I don't take things I already own. I do. Especially when I know they are comfortable and going to be a great addition to my travel bag. The reason...
I know other websites suggest bringing your favorite pieces with you when you travel, so you know that you'll wear what you take, but when travel I love to buy new things for my trip. I count it as part of my travel budget and purchase items throughout the year when I find them on sale. This is not to say that I don't take things I already own. I do. Especially when I know they are comfortable and going to be a great addition to my travel bag. The reason...
February 15, 2014
Easier (and Cheaper) Travel with Kids
Easier (and Cheaper) Travel with Kids
Just because you have children doesn't mean you can never vacation again or have to pack up the tent and go camping. Of course, I'm not opposed to camping. I did it all the time as a kid, but nothing beats a good old fashioned family vacation. One where you don't have to do all the work and take freezing showers for a week. Sure, traveling with more than two can be hard on your wallet, but you can save on things to make it more manageable. T...
Just because you have children doesn't mean you can never vacation again or have to pack up the tent and go camping. Of course, I'm not opposed to camping. I did it all the time as a kid, but nothing beats a good old fashioned family vacation. One where you don't have to do all the work and take freezing showers for a week. Sure, traveling with more than two can be hard on your wallet, but you can save on things to make it more manageable. T...
February 12, 2014
Making the Most of Your Cruise Dollars
Making the Most of Your Cruise Dollars
Do you dream of getting on board a cruise ship with your bag full of shorts and bathing suits and sailing the seven seas, all while being completely catered to and visiting new ports of call? With Summer fast approaching, there are cruise deals galore! Of course, not all of them are for Summer, many are for late Spring and even Fall. Luckily, with the exception of Alaskan cruises, the weather will be warm and (hopefully) beautiful. I learned a lot on my f...
Do you dream of getting on board a cruise ship with your bag full of shorts and bathing suits and sailing the seven seas, all while being completely catered to and visiting new ports of call? With Summer fast approaching, there are cruise deals galore! Of course, not all of them are for Summer, many are for late Spring and even Fall. Luckily, with the exception of Alaskan cruises, the weather will be warm and (hopefully) beautiful. I learned a lot on my f...
February 11, 2014
Why Timeshares are Worth the Price
Why Timeshares are Worth the Price
Some people want to enjoy a vacation that doesn't involve a traditional hotel experience. Instead of making hotel reservations for a short term, tourists can participate in timeshare programs throughout the United States. A timeshare is simply a property that can host individuals for a period of time that's much longer than a traditional hotel stay. For example, people may reserve an entire month within an exclusive resort complex anywhere in the United State...
Some people want to enjoy a vacation that doesn't involve a traditional hotel experience. Instead of making hotel reservations for a short term, tourists can participate in timeshare programs throughout the United States. A timeshare is simply a property that can host individuals for a period of time that's much longer than a traditional hotel stay. For example, people may reserve an entire month within an exclusive resort complex anywhere in the United State...
February 8, 2014
Washington, D.C. Wishlist
It's a snow day here in Portland and not being able to go anywhere for a few days due to icy roads, hail and quite a few inches of fluffy snow has a way of making me think about getting the heck out of here. Don't get me wrong, I love being snowed in, but when it melts and we're only left with the cold, it's not going to be as magical. So, I'm thinking about my next big trip, which is going to be tot he East Coast. We're going to spend two weeks between Williamsburg and Virginia Beach, VA and...
February 5, 2014
Do You Have Vacation Rage?
Do You Have Vacation Rage?
I can't be the only one who gets what I call "Vacation Rage". One day of my vacation, I find myself cranky and hating my travel companion and myself and maybe even having a good cry over something completely trivial. It could be from lack of sleep, jet lag, or being in a new environment. Generally, you can find me eating chocolate cake and probably buying something I don't need that I will wonder why I bought when I get home. One of the best ways I've found to combat...
I can't be the only one who gets what I call "Vacation Rage". One day of my vacation, I find myself cranky and hating my travel companion and myself and maybe even having a good cry over something completely trivial. It could be from lack of sleep, jet lag, or being in a new environment. Generally, you can find me eating chocolate cake and probably buying something I don't need that I will wonder why I bought when I get home. One of the best ways I've found to combat...
February 1, 2014
Who Would Pack That?
Who Would Pack That?
Sometimes you may forget that you can't take certain things in your baggage, or hope to get a little something through security, like a lip gloss or a slightly larger-than-allowed bottle of lotion, but some people just can't help themselves from bringing illegal or just plain weird stuff with them when they travel. No matter what's been taken from you at security or customs, it's probably not as odd as some of these things.
What's the weirdest or craziest thing you've...
Sometimes you may forget that you can't take certain things in your baggage, or hope to get a little something through security, like a lip gloss or a slightly larger-than-allowed bottle of lotion, but some people just can't help themselves from bringing illegal or just plain weird stuff with them when they travel. No matter what's been taken from you at security or customs, it's probably not as odd as some of these things.
What's the weirdest or craziest thing you've...
