Shereen Rayle's Blog, page 142

Super Useful Travel Links

Super Useful Travel Links
Happy Friday, everybody. It's been an interesting week, but not much travel news beyond there being crap weather pretty much all over the country. I'm sorry for any of you who might be trapped in part 2 of the Polar Vortex in Atlanta. Ouch. I'm sure you're all looking forward to a little warmth. If nothing else, you can at least start planning a trip to somewhere that isn't covered in snow and ice.

With all the awful weather, there's a good chance you'll end up getting...

Start Planning for Warm Weather

I know throughout most of the country it is still cold, cold, cold. In Portland, it isn't quite as frosty as some other places, but it sure isn't warm right now. I'm sure, like me, you're looking forward to spring and summer and the days when you can wear shorts...or at least less than the three layers most people are wearing. It's never too early to start planning your trips for the year. I like to spend the time figuring out my wardrobe. Of course, maybe you are also taking a tropical getaw...

What to Expect From Travel in 2014

Travel is something that changes constantly, but there are some trends that can be forecast for the coming year and here are 3 that I find to be important and/or fun.


Truly unplugged vacationsWe are bombarded all day every day with digital media and our electronics that people are returning to the true vacation and leaving their laptops and mobile phones at home. Two weeks of no posting, tweeting, poking, blogging. The more access we have to digital lifelines the more we are glad to get away f...

The Harry Potter Studios in London

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Harry Potter. I'm not the only one out there that loves the boy wizard and the world he lives in. In 2011 Harry Potter:  The Exhibition stopped in Seattle, so I made a point to take a weekend getaway surrounding it. While I was in London, there was going to be no way I could miss a trip to Leavesden Studios, so Eric and I splurged on tickets to the place where the movies were filmed. In some ways it was a good deal, because it was hours of fun for a P...

Versailles: a Luxury Palace Visit on a Budget

On our last day in France, we packed our day with some interesting things, including taking the RER out to the city of Versailles to see the infamous "chateau" where Marie Antoinette and other French royals once called home. Most don't know that the palace began as a small hunting lodge and was expanded enormously by Louis XIV, the Kardashian of his time. He used his excessive wealth to create the biggest and most lavish dwelling he could, causing the people of France to dispose him. A few ro...

Super Useful Travel Links

Happy Friday! It's been a long few weeks for people with bad weather and travel delays of all kinds. I hope you're back home safe and sound and looking forward to a warm getaway. I know I am. Unfortunately, I'm going to be waiting a while, but maybe something unexpected will come up. While everyone has been snowed in, I have been looking for links to help you travel better when you get back out there.
photo creditBefore I moved to the great Northwest, I used to enjoy going camping a lot. Of co...

Where the Geeks Go

If you're like me, going to a totally obvious thing at a destination can be really awesome. As a self-proclaimed geek, this list is pretty fun. I have done some on the list, but I could definitely do better and have marked some for future travel. I also like that a lot of them are totally free! Where do you stand on this bucket list? Have you been to any of these destinations already?
Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.
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What to Do After Fat Tuesday is Over

Mardi Gras is right around the corner and it got me thinking about Fat Tuesday celebrations. It’s all in good fun, but what to do when you aren’t partying it up and watching parades? There are actually a lot of things to do in New Orleans when there aren't drunken crowds showing their goods for beads. If you're wondering how to fill the rest of your trip around the hoopla of Mardi Gras.
photo creditDid you know that New Orleans is a great budget destination? I didn't either! Why not take a lit...

Plus Your Points and Maximize Your Road Trip Fun

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Enterprise Rent-A-Car for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

We rent a lot of cars when we travel. Sometimes it’s just a necessity at your destination, like to get to all the theme parks in Orlando or to get around to parts of a city that doesn’t have the best transit. Rental cars can make your vacation a lot more convenient and saves you time. In the past, we have even rented a car to take road trips. Your family car can take a rest an...

Sitting Down to a Medieval Banquet

If you've ever been to Medieval Times or Exacalibur's Tournament of Kings in Las Vegas, you probably decided it was more money than it was worth and you did it once and that was enough. The food isn't all that great and you have to (get to) eat with your hands. Though the show is fun, it can be pretty hokey. I'll admit, I love such cheesy activities whether I'm at home or on vacation – though I'm more willing to pay for it on vacation – but agree that they can be expe...