How to Save Money And Travel the World

How to Save Money & Travel the World

Do you want to travel the world? Perhaps you do, but your wallet is like “Woah, hang on.” It is possible to save money and travel the world. You just need to know how to do it. Don’t get discouraged about how expensive it can be to travel. Let’s face it, saving money takes discipline, keep this in mind as you learn how to save money and eventually travel the world.

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How to Get your First Passport

I had a friend recently get robbed. Her home was ransacked and her safe was popped open. They took everything inside including her precious jewelry. As we walked through the house talking about the things the burglar took and the things he left behind, I was probably most relieved for her that her passport was still in her filing cabinet safe and sound. I got my first passport when I was a teenager. It's probably one of my most treasured possessions. For me, I see it as my gateway to the world. If you are finding yourself limited in your travels and think it's time to get your first passport, read on. I've got everything you need to know so you can get your first passport.

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Visiting the Amalfi Coast with Teens

The plane tickets to Rome were purchased, but we knew we wanted to explore more of Italy with our two teens beyond the busy city. We considered Florence but ultimately decided to head to the Amalfi Coast a few hour drive from the Rome airport. We are beach lovers so we knew we wanted to go somewhere surrounded by water. The Amalfi Coast did not disappoint and while it's mostly thought of as a romantic location it made for the perfect area for our family to explore. There is plenty to do and more than enough to keep your teens entertained. Here are my top picks for things to do with teens when you are visiting the Alamfi Coast.

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The Best Place to Stay on the Amalfi Coast in Italy

The Amalfi Coast is a gorgeous stretch of coastline in Southern Italy made up of 13 villages between Sorrento and Solerno. You might be wondering where you should stay when you visit this beautiful coastline, but look no further! We did a ton of research before our recent trip and were not disappointed in the location we chose to spend the bulk of our time in Italy. Our family loves the beach and being surrounded by water but we also longed for an authentic Italian experience that felt a little off-the-beaten-path. We succeed in finding that and then some by staying in Montepertuso, Italy. Hands down, this is one of the best places to stay when you come to the Amalfi Coast if you want something a little more authentic unspoiled from the droves of tourists.

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5 Tips to Make the Most of a Quick Trip to NYC

I was recently invited to a conference called Social Media on the Sand at Beaches Resort in the Turks and Caicos Islands {more on that later}. Getting to the Caribbean isn't the easiest thing to do from the west coast, so my first thought was, let's look into flying into New York for a few days before heading to the conference. If I do say so myself, it was a genius idea. 
Not only did it break up the long, multi-leg flight, but it also allowed us a quick visit to New York City and an opportunity to quickly get onto the east coast time zone we'd be in for the next week. The last time I was in NYC was a quick stop in after a visit to New Jersey to visit my grandmother. It was 1984 and there was a complete restoration project of the Statue of Liberty happening. My most vivid memory isn't of the visit to the city, it was of being marched from room to room in my small town Indiana elementary school with polaroid pictures of the lady liberty in hand sharing my visit with every single classroom after that Christmas break trip. People in Indiana in the 80's did not get out much apparently.
With about 36 hours and six zillion recommendations from friends and family and of course the interwebs, we checked off many of the to-dos on our NYC bucket list. I've got 5 tips so you can make the most of a quick trip to New York City.

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Beaches Resort: More Than Just a Vacation

It started with a backpack.
In 2014 I visited my World Vision sponsored child in Uganda. Moses was 9 so I packed a backpack full of school supplies and of course, a soccer ball. We started sponsoring Moses when he was a toddler. We don't speak the same language {though he's learning English in school}, but we communicate through drawings. Every letter we've received from Moses has some beautiful hand-drawn picture on it and I reciprocate with some stick figure of my own on my letters. 
It's our thing. 

School supplies can be hard to come by. 

In rural places like the town Moses lives in Uganda, it's nearly impossible. Many school kids I met were using brown paper bags folded together to create a rough notebook of sorts that they would use the whole school year. 
I've since traveled with backpacks filled with school supplies and special items in my luggage to Zambia, Bangladesh and now the Turks and Caicos Islands. I've started looking at it as a gift of gratitude to the countries that are hosting me. I learn something every time I step foot on foreign soil, it's the least I can do to give back. It's why I was so excited to see that the Sandals Foundation was taking part in Pack for a Purpose when I went to visit Beaches Resort for the conference Social Media on the Sand.

Packing a backpack full of supplies in my suitcase wasn't the only way Beaches Resorts was giving back to the community. When you travel to Beaches all-inclusive resort, it's more than just a vacation, it's an opportunity to engage and empower the community you are visiting.

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Exploring Bellevue, Washington

Do you ever look at your calendar and try to plan something but then realize that you are weeks or months out before you have any ounce of free time? Our summer was like that. We started out with a few weeks in Kona, Hawaii with family, but then we all kind of scattered. I guess that's what happens as the kids get older. I realized that we needed to hit the pause button and I booked a night at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue, Washington. If you are local, maybe you have never thought of staying just outside Seattle. Perhaps you are travelling into Seattle before or after a cruise or you are making your way to see the beautiful PNW for a refresh and Bellevue isn't even on your radar. Seriously though, it should be! Bellevue is the gateway to the entire Puget Sound region and it will leave you centrally located for everything you want to explore. 

Within minutes you can be downtown Seattle exploring {it's only 9 miles away!}, visiting Kirkland and it's waterfront parks or touring Woodinville's wine country. Heck, you aren't far from nearby mountains for hiking, biking and skiing either. Come explore Bellevue, Washington with me! We found that it was the perfect staycation for our family.

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Things to Do at Walt Disney World That Don't Require an Admission Ticket

I love all things free and cheap, but sometimes that's hard to come by on a vacation, especially a vacation to Walt Disney World! Much of the magic of a trip to Walt Disney World starts with admission to one of the parks. But, that doesn't mean it's absolutely necessary to purchase a ticket for the day in order to have the kind of fun you expect on a Disney vacation. How cool is that?

Here are a few fun possibilities of things to do. They're cheap {or even free} and don't require you to buy a park ticket for the day.

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10 Summer Activities for Teens

The summer activity planning was easy when the kids were younger, but now that they are all teenagers, spending time together and making summer plans can be a little more difficult. It's hard to find something everyone can enjoy together while still balancing "chill" time and making memories. I've got some ideas of things you can do this summer with your kids that everyone will enjoy and it will leave you with just the right balance of relaxation and exploration.

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The Best Food Trucks in Portland

There are hundreds of food trucks to choose from in Portland, narrowing down your options is the hard part. Portland is world-renowned as a popular food destination, mostly because of it's large food cart and food trucks offerings. After my wildly popular Best Food Trucks in Seattle post, I thought I'd follow it up with a post on the best food trucks in Portland. Here are a few of my top picks.

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Spend a Weekend in Seattle

I didn't grow up in a tourist destination. No one was coming to visit my town on purpose for vacation. It's still a little strange to me to live somewhere that people intentionally come to. I can see why. Seattle is a beautiful area and its got a little bit of everything from water to mountains and everything in between. Our summers are the absolute best! If you want to escape the insane heat of some of the other great states, Seattle's mild weather will be a welcome relief. And it's safe to say that the rain will stop for most of the summer leaving beautiful blue skies so you can enjoy the outdoors or the indoors and not be limited by running between the raindrops, though we've got you covered if that happens too! I've got everything you need to know so you can spend a weekend in Seattle.

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The Best Food Trucks in Seattle

It all started with the ice cream truck. Somewhere along the line, the ice cream truck evolved into the food truck and people started buying gourmet cuisine from the side of a truck. Totally normal. Everyone's doing it. In fact. there is even sometimes a social media hunt to find out what neighborhood your favorite food truck will be in. Seattle has some of the best food trucks in the Pacific Northwest. Heck, Seattle has some of the best food in general, so come hunt down some of the best food trucks in Seattle with me.

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The No Stress Guide to Preparing for Your Tropical Vacation

Sometimes you need a vacation from planning to leave for your vacation! It's a lot of work! Getting ready to leave home for any amount of time can be a little stressful, so why not ease the stress a bit and make sure you plan ahead with these easy steps so that you can not only be prepared to leave for your trip ready to unwind but that you can come home to an organized clean house ready to welcome you back to the harsh reality of life again. 

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Girls Trip to Olympia, Washington

My daughter turned 16 and wanted nothing more than to spend a night in a swanky hotel with her friends and explore an area away from home. She's got a wanderer's heart that one, and I was happy to oblige. We didn't have to travel far to find the fun capital city of our state. It's funny because we are often traveling in the opposite direction to head to Seattle, thinking that the boring legislative town is just for suits, but I think we found more than enough to give anyone reason to head to Olympia to visit. It's not a stuffy city at all and whether you are planning a girls trip or a weekend getaway to the Seattle area, Olympia is a city not to be missed!

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The Best Treats at Disneyland for Under 5 Dollars

Disneyland has a reputation for overpriced food, even with all of the seasonal specialties for the curious palate... Even with the trusted standbys fans clamor for.  Some of the best bites are often overshadowed by the inflated prices and mediocrity of quintessential theme park food.

But there are some great classic treats waiting around every Disney corner that you can feel much better about buying.  My favorite treats in Disneyland are under $5 and well worth the indulgence.  I won't mention churros.  I specifically want to share foods you won't find in any of the carts around the park.

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The Only All-Inclusive Resort Itinerary You Will Ever Need

I'm really good at vacation. It's like a special skill of mine. I originally thought cruises were my vacation of choice, but I get a little sea sick on the boat and just feel a little off when I'm spending days at sea. Then my husband and I found all-inclusive resorts and I realized that those are my vacation of choice. People are usually surprised when I tell them that our plans for an all-inclusive resort vacation is usually to not have any plans. The thing I like best is that I can do as much or as little as I want to do and I never have to leave the resort. How is that even possible you ask? Let me tell you about my no fail, all-inclusive resort vacation itinerary. 

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Why You Should Consider an All-Inclusive Resort Vacation for your Family

Some of the best memories in my childhood included family vacations and I want to make sure that I expose my children to similar travel experiences. In the past few years my husband and I started vacationing at all-inclusive resorts. We tried one as a couple and then decided that the kids would probably enjoy staying at one too, and since then we've stayed as a family at three different all-inclusive resorts. If friends ask for recommendations for a family vacation I usually point them in the direction of an all-inclusive resort. It's not always the first thing on a families mind, but maybe after reading this post, you will decide that an all-inclusive resort is the perfect vacation for your family.

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Tips for Surviving a Long Haul Flight

The worst part of travel for most people is getting there. I don't know too many people who like long-haul flights. I've flown my fair share and after a few 10+ hour flights, you get to be an expert. That doesn't mean all flights go by in the blink of an eye, some drag on forever, but these tips should help you survive a long flight with your sanity in tact ready to enjoy your final destination.

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