Shereen Rayle's Blog, page 89

Your Last Minute Valentine's Getaway

Valentine's Day is coming and for some of you who like to go all out and have been saving up to do something cool, I've got a great list of vacation destinations for you. On Wednesday, I'll give you some fun ideas for romantic staycations, if you're like me and don't have money right now to get away, or have a trip planned later. Of course, there's always the option to plan one of these trips away from the holiday week.

Opentable has compiled a list of the top 25 most romantic U.S. cities, so...

My Portland Coffee Tour - Part 11

Happy end of the month! Do you need a little pick-me-up? Maybe a steaming hot cup of coffee? While I can't get that for you, I can bring you a few reviews of coffee shops that I've been to this month. It's been a crazy busy month and not in a great way. We've been battling the flu off and on, so I've not gotten out of the house as much as I'd like, plus I threw myself a 40th birthday party which took up a lot of time planning and prepping for, but it turned out awesome. You can see some...

How to Keep Yourself Safe On Vacation

When you travel, you don't just have to worry about your safety out in the world, but also for your travel companions and your stuff back home. With a few pointers, you can assure that you'll be fine wherever you are and when you get back home. We've all seen movies like Hostel and The Shallows, so don't let any of that happen to you if you can help it.
You can also find more infographics at Visualistan

What are your tips for staying safe on vacation?

The Good and the Bad of All-Inclusive Resorts for Couples

The popularity of all-inclusive resorts among vacationing couples is at an all-time high. At face value, they are the epitome of stress-free travel. Who wouldn’t want a travel package that covers all the fun parts of travel including entry fees, dining and accommodations? Not many people would resist the offer.

With all its advantages, all-inclusive resorts also have some downside. Before you book with an all-inclusive resort, you need to evaluate if the pros outweigh the cons. Here are some o...

10 Things I Take On Every Trip

I travel mostly the same way every time I go anywhere, no matter where I go. I have perfected my packing list and having a packing plan that works for me makes life so much easier. Part of my plan is taking the same things every trip, because it's familiar and it works. Here are the things I'm always packing, wherever I go.
Ziploc bagsYou  never know when you'll need to separate something from something else, but also when you want to take a bag of cookies with you or keep your wet bathin...

The First Swago: Shopping Edition of 2018!

Still recovering from all of your holiday shopping? The online rewards site Swagbucks has a smart and fun way for you to earn and save when you spend.
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Swagbucks is hosting another round of Shopping Swago! What is SWAGO you ask? It's a bingo-inspired promotion run by Swagbucks, a website that rewards you with points (called SB) for completing everyday online activities. You can redeem those SB for free gift cards. If you've never used Swagbucks, participating in SWAGO is a great introduction to...

Exercising On Vacation

I don't exercise much, but I do try to keep in shape by eating right and parking further from the store to walk more and taking the stairs. When on vacation it's hard to eat healthfully, so I look for ways to burn more calories when I'm out and about...and make the effort to order vegetables. 

Walk Whenever PossibleInstead of driving or taking public transit, try walking. Some destinations are more walkable than others, but you can easily walk 4-10 miles in a day (or more if you're going...

Simple Ways To Save On Food When Traveling

One of the most exciting parts of traveling, besides going somewhere new, is trying new food. Are you always thinking about when and where you’re going to eat next? Do you want to eat your way through the city? With all the fresh air and walking one gets while out sightseeing, it might be the thrill of being in a new city or because all the extra exercise, but it feels like you just ate and are hungry again! 
Unfortunately, it’s impractical to eat all day. Not just because it’s unhealthy,...

2018 Travel Trends

It's always good to know the latest travel trends when you are planning your trips. It can make or break your trip if you don't know that your destination is going to be overcrowded or more than usual. Check out this infographic from Airbnb to see where your top destination stands this year.

What are your 2018 travel plans?

Get $3 when you sign up for Swagbucks in January (US)

Looking for a way to rebuild your finances after the holidays? 



If you haven't tried Swagbucks before, you can get a bonus $3 for signing up as my referral during January. Swagbucks is a rewards site where you earn points (called SB) for things you're probably doing online already, like searching, watching videos, discovering deals, and taking surveys. Then you take those points and exchange them for gift cards to places like Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, Target, or PayPal cash. 
When y...