In the spirit of my newly wandering soul and semester abroad, I have come up with two fabulous travel-themed guest posts by ladies who actually know what they're talking about. Here's #2 - written by Alisa Kaiser. Find her travel tips and amazingly honest ramblings over at
Wordly.
Ah, the world. Beautiful countries with so much to explore. I get it –
you want to see it all. Put that cookie down and let’s plan your budget travel
to the next destination of your choice.
1.
Know your
limits.
“This summer I went backpacking through Europe. We slept on the roofs of
the buildings, ate everything on McDonald’s $1 menu, and stayed at the sketchy
hostels. It was great!” -- And it probably was. But let’s face it: a shower would be
nice, a feeling of security is a nice bonus, and obesity was not on the ‘to do’
list. You don’t have to go away for 2, 3, months at a time. Plan your trip
accordingly: if you typically go camping for only one night at a time chances are you
won’t enjoy a 3 month trip... And you might start stress-eating. And stress-shopping. Or
both! …while trying to change your fly out date to a closer one while you pay through
the nose in fees. No-no.
2.
Do your
research.
Explore the city before you get there. Hours on google maps are not
required, but knowing that an uber/lyft/cab ride from Queens to the Upper East
Side will cost you your daily budget might come in handy. But it would have
been nice to just hail a cab and go…. Back to the point: getting lost in order
to get the feel for the city is my personal must. But getting found is an insufferable
part of it. Otherwise you might start stress-eating. Or stress-shopping. Or
both! …while trying to request an uber paying surge pricing.
3.
All praise
Couchsurfing.
The. Best. Creation. Of all time. And if you are trying to google all
the couchsurfing-went-wrong stories: stop. Go back to the Tip #2. If you see
something on the person’s profile that even remotely makes you uncomfortable –
don’t send a request. Every online platform is full of creeps – you just have
to be cautious and look for the red flags. It is OK to leave your CS place if
your host is not what you expected: safety comes first. Nothing will make your
experience better than staying with a local. For free. You will be gaining an
accommodation for the night and a friend for life.
Make your profile look friendly, open, and inviting. “Empty” accounts
attract ‘empty’ people. We don’t want you to start stress-eating. Or
stress-shopping. Or both! …while booking a night at the very expensive hotel.
4.
Invest in
shoes before your departure.
Chances are you are going to be walking. A lot. Your feet are going to
sore and your whole body is going to be exhausted by the awesomeness of your
surroundings and the high altitude of your singing soul. Your shoes will see
the world with you. Don’t you want them to be special? To be the best? Keep you
warm and be there for you?
5.
Invest in
your inner ‘you’.
Don’t go on a trip if you are feeling blue… Remember the part about
stress-eating = money spending? Adventures will follow you as soon as you leave your house – just let
them do the trick. The cheapest way to enjoy your travels is to have fun.
Follow restaurants and cafes on twitter to find out about their specials and
happy hours. Crash someone’s party. Be free. Smile more. Money is good but irrelevant.
Life is what keeps us going.
Be curious. Explore. Enjoy. Save some money for emergencies – or spend it on souvenirs at the end of your trip. It is going to be great.
Alisa Kaiser is a proud Ukrainian expat living life is the USA. She recently found out that she likes camping and judging her husband's fashion choices. You can find her on Instagram @wordly.us
