Shereen Rayle's Blog, page 19

Splurge and Save Gift List 2023

The holidays are fast approaching and the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales will be coming soon, if they aren't already here. I wanted to give you some alternatives to expensive items that may not be in your budget or you may just rather spend more money on your actual trip than just getting there. Get ready for your holiday travel or get a jump on your gift list.

If an Away bag has been on your list, or you want to get a great piece of luggage as a gift and this is out of your price range, never f...

A Safe and Fun Thanksgiving

Are you getting ready to travel over Thanksgiving? A lot of people will be hitting the roads, so make sure you're prepared and you stay safe. Here's an infographic with some fun facts, things to look out for, some holiday history, and what people say they're thankful for. 

photo credit
I hope you have a lot to be thankful for and you travel safe to your destination. 
Where will you be spending Thanksgiving? We always stay close to home and have dinner at a local restaurant.

8 Budget-Friendly International Destinations for December

Are you looking to spend winter or the holidays on vacay? Or just looking to get away from the cold. We tend to do that in January. If you missed the last post and want to travel stateside, or somewhere closer, then go check that out, but if you want to travel farther away and still have good weather and save money, read on.

I have traveled over Christmas some years and it's been pretty great. We didn't go that far away, but I'd love to visit some Christmas markets in the future. There are some i...

7 Budget-Friendly Destinations for December

We've been forgoing holiday gifts for each other for quite a few years now, because we have so many things. We opt for experiences instead and now that includes traveling in January, because that's about when we're done with the dreary weather and just need to get out of town. 

If you're looking to get out of town for the holidays, or even in January, here are some of the most budget-friendly destinations that don't have terrible weather:

North & Central AmericaIf you aren't looking to go too far,...

Happy Halloween 2023

Every year in October, I run 31 days of Halloween posts on my Facebook page. I love posting about cool, creepy, haunting things you can do (or avoid) on your travels and October is the best time to really post all those things. If you missed any of my posts or just aren't on Facebook, I like to do a round-up here for all those things. Enjoy 31 Halloween posts:  1: Whatever happened to the Bermuda Triangle? For a long time, we heard a story every few months of people disappearing into it. Between...

Common Travel Nightmares

I don't worry about too much when I am on vacation, but I'm a thorough planner and Eric and I are pretty good about having a plan and not separating without knowing where the other will be at any given time. I've shared with you in the past my literal  travel nightmares. Generally, we roll with other issues, because not everything goes as planned, so while it might be disappointing, it's not a nightmare for us, but it's interesting to see what other people consider a nightmare:
photo credit
We just...

Packing Light for Fall Travel

It's that time again. Most places are starting to get cooler, or it will be when you are on your fall or holiday travel. Even when you have to pack larger pieces than for your summer trips, you can still pack light. I'm a big proponent of layering when I travel, since you never know if the weather will be unseasonably warm or colder than you expect. Don't fret though, because you can still pack light and bring everything you need for any kind of weather.


When we traveled to London and P...

Some of My Favorite Spooky Places - Part 2

In my last post, I took you through some of my favorite spooky places, but there are so many, I decided to break it up into two posts, giving you more inspo for your fall travels, or to build your own creepy stops into your existing trips.

Some places are creepy or spooky to some and completely normal to others. I visit a lot of cemeteries and undergrounds, but there are places that have so much history that they feel creepy to others. I find I have a mix of such things.

Colonial Williamsburg


While...

Some of My Favorite Spooky Places - Part 1

Often when we travel, we look for non-traditional activities and attractions. Sometimes this leads us to a cemetery or a ghost tour or a haunted building. It's easy to find these things in most destinations you visit, so we are always doing something that other people find odd. We have fun, which is kinda the point of traveling and doing it with another person or other people. 
An elaborate gravestone in Pere Lachaise
Here are some of my favorite spooky places that might be something to add to you...

Travel In Search of Monsters

Do you love creepy creatures and reading about the folklore? Everywhere you travel has their own myths and legends. If you want to encounter some of the most popular ones - or at least try your luck - here are some of the coolest or scariest monsters and places you can go all year long.  

Often, the scariest monster is man. And while I've been to the Paris Catacombs, I didn't find them scary in the least. What I did find unnerving and creepy was the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. 
Whe...