Enjoying Your Train/Plane/Automobile Ride

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? NO. It's
a train. 

I know a lot of people who really don't like long flights and train or car rides. This post is a guide to having a more comfortable, enjoyable time on your way to or from somewhere. Flights are probably the least easy to enjoy out of all of these, so first I've included some before and on your flight suggestions. Next, some general tips, a list of things to bring with you, and things to do during the flight/train/car trip. I hope you enjoy! 

Before Your Flight:

Your plane probably won't look
this majestic.

-Book seats over the wing of a plane for a more comfortable ride.

-Don't sit in front of an exit row; your seat will not recline.

-Aisle seat means extra leg room, a window seat means better for sleeping, a middle seat means the next few hours aren't going to be much fun.

-Avoid seats near the toilets unless you want a huge lineup of people next to you.

On Your Flight:

-On overnight flights, read or rest at least an hour before you want to fall asleep.

-Bring your own food and you won't have to wait for a meal.

As long as you have a good attitude and
don't eat too much food, you're set for
a comfortable trip. 

-Stretch and move around if possible on long flights.

-Use eye drops/nasal gel/lip balm to keep yourself from getting dehydrated.

Some Quick Tips:

Trains-    • the cafeteria car is a good place to get exercise; power-walking up and down between the seats gets people really annoyed.

Planes-   • Bring a small carry-on bag on the plane with you to keep at your seat. Use it to store essentials (phone, earbuds, snacks, more snacks, etc)

               • Working on homework? Don't spread out excessively or you'll lose your stuff.

Cars-      • Keep your seat/area clean and free of crumbs, because sitting in what's essentially a pile of compost for four hours isn't much fun.

Things to bring with you 

• Put these items in a small-ish bag or backpack •

- passport (and boarding pass for flight)

- hoodie, warm sweater or scarf

- ear plugs

- phone

- headphones

- book

- laptop

- lotion

- hand sanitizer

- lip balm

- nasal gel

- food (almonds, granola bar)

- gum or mints

- water

What do I do?

Lots of people that go on car/train/plane rides think that the only thing you can do to pass the time is by wasting it on iPad games, staring at the live flight map, and complaining. It's important to realize that there are other things you can do that might actually be productive! 

Plan your vacation with a guidebook
while on a flight, train, or car ride.

- If you're on your way to a vacation destination, plan your trip: where are you going to go? What will you do? Bring a travel guidebook with you and make a list of places to visit to make better use of your flight. 

- Another thing you can do is flight connection pre-planning. In most guidebooks, there's a map of some major airports that airline flies to. Figure out which gate your connection is at and how to get there. Look up the metro/subway map of the place you're going to, and find out how to get to your accommodation from the airport or train station.  

More Things To Do:

- Do your homework/assignment. Flights are a good time to work without disturbances, but trying to work on things you have to do gets really boring after an hour or so. Do this at the beginning of the flight or train ride, when you're not brain dead.

Travel diaries might sound dumb,
but they're fun to look back on
(see my blog post). 

- Write a story. What would happen on the plane if someone's dog pooped and they had to do an emergency landing? Your imagination is the limit.

- Read a book. This is a good way to relax and calm yourself on a flight or train ride if you're trying to get to sleep, but it's also a good way just to pass the time.

- Make a funny video. This is a good time to make a video of your travels, or you and your friends/siblings doing something funny. Don't do it on an airplane, though, there's not enough room.

- Watch a movie. Get your friends to suggest movies you haven't seen yet. Tune out and go on a movie watching marathon. TV shows are also great-- download an entire season you haven't watched.

Don't do this before you want to try and sleep, the movie keeps you awake and stimulated (wow, I can't believe I actually found a use for that word!)

Make use of your in-flight-on-demand-
super-fancy-video-picture-thingie.

- Listen to music. It's relaxing, calming and a great way to pass time, from a few minutes to an hour.

 Listen to quiet music to get to sleep, and more energetic music to wake up in a new city, especially after a time change.

- Play a game. Board games aren't great (DO NOT play Monopoly in the car unless you want to step on the little houses for weeks after), but cards, one word stories, and twenty questions are fun-ish.

Do this on train and car rides; your airplane seat-mate probably won't want to choose an animal, vegetable, or mineral.

- Eat food. Let's face it-- food is awesome. Bring small snacks like granola bars, chips, trail mix, and candy with you to pass the time and combat the not-always-tasty airplane food.

Plane food doesn't have to be plain food. Bring your own
snacks to supplement. 

-Sleep. Sorry I included this, it's kind of dumb. But resting on a flight is essential, especially if you're changing time zones. Note: Don't get on a flight utterly exhausted, thinking this will help you fall asleep. You will be cranky and miserable, and your seat-mates will thank you for getting a good night's sleep before your plane takes off. 

Well, this concludes my guide to enjoyment on flights, cars, and trains. I hope you learned a bit from this post, and maybe the next time you go travelling you'll be able to have a more comfortable, relaxing time.

Thanks for reading, and if you have any suggestions leave a comment below :)

Island of Maui (Part 2: Accommadation and Hazards)

Okay, if you clicked on this expecting a serious and informative post about Maui, you've come to the wrong place. Lately, I've been doing a lot of "useful" posts, but I want you to read for entertainment as well as learning important-sounding stuff. Let me be honest and upfront here: You probably won't get much useful information out of this at all. But maybe you'll laugh a little. Alright, end of rant. Moving on...

ACCOMMODATION ON MAUI: 

The first thing you want to do when you go to Maui is finding out where you're going to stay. The best way to book an accommodation is by going to the condo or hotel's website. VRBO and Tripadvisor are also useful sources for reviews and booking.  However, those advertisers can be very pesky, and they'll tell you that a hotel room is "oceanfront" when in reality it's six feet underground (more or less). To outwit them I'd recommend following the following guide.

Decoding different meanings for accommodation locations:

Beachfront: See plenty of screaming beachgoers and not much actual beach in this less than idyllic setting. If you're lucky, your accommodation might not be completely blocked by palm tree trunks.
Ocean Front: This is actually an Ocean View, but Ocean Front sounds way better doesn’t it.
Ocean View: If I give you this telescope, can you make it out? Just in the corner there, no, over there, just look past that shrub and…Is that a mountain? Well it might be a glimpse of the ocean. Ok, ocean view then. 
Garden View: All you will see is this lumpy green everywhere outside your windows. Just foliage. Maybe a little bit of dirt if you’re lucky. 
Scenic Mountain View: This could be more accurately named “Parking Lot View” because usually the parking lots are behind the resorts, and so are the mountains, but what sounds better?
Traditional View: Also known as the “Cheap View” or “Garbage Can View”. These are the resort rooms that are situated in the very back, right on the road next to the McDonalds outlet over there. 
Natural Paradise View: If you love dirt, you’ll love the Natural Paradise! Located underground, the 5-in window in your luxury suite will give you a view of all the local ants, worms, and pill bugs. 
Beautiful Budget View: Don’t ask. Please. 

Beachfront accommodation.

Garden view at its best.

Now that you've decided what accommodation type to look for, it's time to figure out where to book a place to stay. If you're wondering where to stay in Maui, here's another list that conveniently points out the pros and cons of each area: 

Where To Stay In Maui:

Kapalua: Yay! Where are we? I haven't seen any humans in the last week I've been here. Well, the tour guide brochure said this area is secluded, but I wasn't thinking of this exactly... Okay, time to forage for food! (In all seriousness, Kapalua is a very nice place to stay if you want a quiet resort area, but it's a 20 minute drive to... basically anything.)

"Time to forage for food!" This is Kapalua (when sunny).

Napili: Some older condos, most surrounding beautiful Napili Beach. Again, it's a pretty isolated area. Also, it rains a lot here. 

Kahana: Eh. Quiet and calm, but there are definitely more fun areas to stay in Maui. I guess you could stay here if you really hate parties or something. 

Honokowai: See Kahana. 

Ka'anapali: Out of all the areas in West Maui, it's the busiest and loudest. But it's also got great beaches, great resorts, great shopping, great activities and great food. 

Beautiful (and windy) Ma'alea.

Lahaina: Lots of stores and restaurants, but there isn't much actual accommodation (or parking, for that matter) here. No actual "beach" here. 

Ma'alea: What? I can't hear anything... It's too windy here! This is probably the windiest place in the entire state, but on a happy note look at my outdoor BBQ-- it's been beautifully sandblasted. However, this area is convenient (being between south and west Maui), it's quiet, and the beach is nice for walking. 

North Kihei: Ew, the beaches are gross and it's too windy here. 

South Kihei: Beautiful beaches, shops, restaurants, barely any rain (ever). Although crowded and sometimes noisy, it's pretty nice here. 

Makena is quiet, but it's also very picturesque. 

Wailea: Possibly the most beautiful place to stay in all of Maui. Paradise, beaches, tropical atmosphere, not isolated and not overcrowded-- the only catch is the price. 

Makena: Prettier than Kahana and Honokowai (and with better beaches), relatively isolated, and quiet. 

Hana: Stay here for awesome nightlife, you crazy party animal! (Just kidding.) Very isolated, with some nice beaches. Being on the tip of East Maui, you'll either have to drive there or fly in. 

Kahului: The only reason you'd stay here would be closeness to the airport, and why would you do that? 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another integral part of travelling is knowing and understanding the risks. Maui is a pretty safe place, but from sharks to rabid geckos to rocks that attack your foot, it's important to learn about how to deal with these hazards. 

*NOTE: I'm doing this for your entertainment, which means I probably don't have your best interests in mind. If you actually follow my advice on this, you probably deserve whatever happens to you.*

MAUI'S HAZARDS: 

Gecko: If you find a gecko in your condo, don't worry. It probably got in through your air conditioner. Most species don't bite, but if you encounter one that does go out to a pharmacy and buy a pacifier to satisfy his/her chewing needs. Once they are calmed down, gently pick it up and push it back through the air conditioner. Problem solved!

I was thinking of an actual gecko, not the
GEICO Insurance gecko, but it looked so cute. Sorry. 

Cockroach/Other Nasty Bug: Put a sugar cube on a shovel, and when the roach climbs on just flip him out the window! Warning: Watch you don't hit the window with the shovel. Warning: Watch you don't let go of the shovel as well as the roach. 

Jellyfish: If you see what you think is a jellyfish while swimming, touch it to make sure it's not a plastic bag. If it hurts you, swim away. If it turns out to be a plastic bag, then it's not a hazard unless you're a turtle.

Turtles: Not a hazard! They're cute but don't try to pet them as they are not pets. If you want them to be friends with you, chase them around while snorkelling. Then, feed them some algae and you guys will practically be besties! Hint: Watch the turtle doesn't bite you when you try to feed it.

Stingray: Just stay away from the tail (which hurts) and take a cool picture with your underwater camera for Instagram.

*insert Jaws music here*

Snake: I'm pretty sure there are no snakes on Maui. If you see one, you're on the wrong island.

Nakalele Blowhole: Don't fall in. Enough said. (A post on this coming up.)

Sharks: Some sharks on Maui are more dangerous than others. While reef, tiger, and bull sharks can pose a threat to swimmers in offshore waters, another species is even more hazardous. I like to refer to them as touristsharkus domesticus. These sharks can be found in many local tourist shops, and their tiny plastic teeth are unbelievably sharp when someone snaps you with them. See the picture at right for a better description. 

The Sun: If you exclude the accommodation taxes, this hazard affects the by far the most people on Maui. Try to avoid being out in the sun between 11am and 2pm, when the rays are strongest. It's easy to get fried when swimming on Maui because the wind and water hides the symptoms of a sunburn. Make sure you wear a strong sunblock (SPF 15 or higher). Ignore any claims of it being waterproof, sunproof, sandblast proof, nuclear radiation proof, etc. and reapply every few hours to avoid a burn.

The oceans of Maui are great for swimming, snorkelling,
and yes, Instagram photos. 

Water hazards: Don't turn your back on the ocean; a wave might sneak up on you and knock you over. Never swim alone, in the mouth of a river, in murky water, or when the seas aren't calm. Make sure you observe ocean conditions carefully, and don't let the island's idyllic environment cloud your judgement. Like geckos, oceans are a powerful force and they need to be respected.

Rocks: As I've found out, toes have well-known magnetic properties and will often attract a rock. Water shoes give you better grip, and they'll keep your feet safe from those pesky rocks.


This concludes my post on Maui's accommodation and hazards. (I know, it's kind of a weird combination.) The next post might be more useful, but it's a lot of fun for me to write about strange things. Hopefully you laughed at something, even if it was the plastic shark.

Well, sea you later! (Hahaha... that was one two many bad puns.)

Island of Maui (Part 1: Beaches)

Maui's a beautiful island-- rich in everything from pineapples to geckos-- even if it doesn't look that big. Despite the fact that their magical credit card machines will suck out more money than you thought possible, I'd highly recommend going there for winter or spring break.
I'm going to split up all the information into a few different posts, but this one's going to be all about Maui's beaches. Future posts will help you decide where to stay, where to go, and what to do if you ever decide to go on a vacation to this tropical island paradise. Even if you've already been, read the next post for a few tips on 9 of Maui's best beaches.

Maui's Beaches:

Out of all the hawaiian islands, Maui has some of the best, most user-friendly beaches. Whether you want to swim, snorkel, surf, or just frolic around on the beach like an idiot, there's definitely a beach for you! Although South Maui has the most good beaches, West Maui has a few gems. I'm not going to review all the beaches (there are a LOT), but I'll describe some of the island's best, from the bottom of South Maui, clockwise around the island. 

A view of Big Beach from the lava point on the north side. 

Big Beach- Nearly a kilometre long and over 30 metres wide, this beautiful golden crescent of sand is amazing to look at. 

Conditions: When waters are calm, the sea is very inviting, but in the winter be aware of large waves. Because it's right at the bottom of South Maui, wind isn't usually much of a problem. 

Crowds: This is a very popular beach, and as a result you'll want to get there early. 

Best for: Walking, frolicking, sometimes swimming and boogie boarding. If you're not a strong swimmer, don't go swim here because the waves break right on the shore, and the surf comes in at strange angles. 

Location: A minute or so past Makena, in South Maui, just north of 'Ahihi Cove. 

Po'olenalena Beach- One of the least used large beaches in the Wailea/Makena area, this beach is one of the island's best spots for snorkelling. 

Po'olenalena is one of the best snorkelling spots in South Maui.

Conditions: The surf is usually quite gentle, and the offshore waters are almost completely free of rock outcroppings. 

Crowds: Unlike a lot of other South Maui beaches, this beach is quiet, calm, and very much uncrowded (although weekends can be busier here). 

Best for: Snorkelling (especially for beginners) is amazing thanks to the clear water and interesting topography, boogie boarding is good (when there's surf) and swimming is great too. 

Location: In South Maui, south of Palauea Beach and in between Wailea and Makena. 

Palauea Beach- Another great beach near Wailea that offers excellent swimming, calm surroundings, and relatively clear water. 

Conditions: Water access is easy, and the gently sloping shoreline is free of rocks. The recessed bay doesn't get as windy as other beaches in the area. 

Crowds: It's a little busier than Po'olenalena beach, but considering the location is certainly one of the quietest beaches in the area. 

Best for: Swimming, and snorkelling around the left side (the right is good too, but offshore waters can be cloudy). 

Location: Near Wailea, and south of Polo beach (in South Maui).

That's it... we're not leaving... EVER! (Wailea Beach isn't usually this quiet.) 

Wailea Beach- Almost half a kilometre long, this classic crescent of sand is a must-go-to beach on Maui. 

Conditions: The setting is picturesque and waters are calm most of the time. In the afternoon, it can become windy so morning is the best time to visit.

Crowds: Unfortunately, you won't find this beach empty (it's backed by the Grand Wailea resort), and parking can be a problem. 

Best for: Swimming and frolicking is excellent here, and the snorkelling is decent at both ends of the beach. Boogie boarding is good at the left side when there's surf. 

Location: This beach is located in Wailea in South Maui, south of Mokapu and Ulua beaches. 

Keawakapu Beach- A long, excellent beach with lots of sand on and offshore, and very clear water. 

Conditions: Mornings are best as with most South Maui beaches, as afternoons can be windy. Even in the winter, the surf is pretty calm.

Crowds: Like Wailea beach, Keawakapu can get pretty busy, especially on weekends and during the winter season. The left side of the beach is less used than the area by the main public access.

Best for: Frolicking, swimming, and snorkelling (which can be good at the northern rocky point at the end of the beach). 

Keawakapu Beach is one of South Maui's best beaches.

Location: In South Maui, in the South Kihei/Wailea area, north of Mokapu and Ulua beaches. 

Kama'ole Beaches- An awesome trio of South Kihei beaches, each a great place for a different activity. 

Conditions: Mornings are best, as the afternoons are windy. Kameole 1 is the biggest and best of the three, Kameole 2 has the same clear water and fine sand, and Kameole 3 has a little more seaweed (and is most used of the three). 

Crowds: You won't find these beaches quiet, as they are some of the most popular in South Maui. Kameole 3 is most used by locals. 

Best for: Kameole 1 is good for swimming and snorkelling (especially at the right end), Kameole 2 is a great place for frolicking and swimming, (decent snorkelling at the rocky points), and Kameole 3 has the most reliable boogie boarding in South Maui, due to bigger waves even during calmer seas. 

Location: In South Kihei, a ways north of Keawakapu Beach. 

Ka'anapali Beach- This beach fronts lots of resorts in central Ka'anapali, and one of the best ways to spend your evening in West Maui. 

Conditions: The entire beach has a fine, sandy bottom (and very few rocks!). During calm seas, the swimming and snorkelling is great, but when the surf's up, don't go in the water. 

Crowds: This beach may not be hidden and untrampled, but you won't be disappointed. There's a concrete path along the beach, and it's a great place for an evening walk or run.

You won't find it empty and untrampled, but Ka'anapali
Beach never disappoints. 

Best for: Walking, swimming (when calm), bodysurfing (in the middle of the beach), and snorkelling (at the north end).   

Location: In Ka'anapali, in West Maui; south of Kahekili Beach Park. 

Kahekili Beach Park- A sandy bottom, clear water, and protection from afternoon winds-- this is one of the best West Maui beaches.

Conditions: A windbreak running north of here helps to protect you from wind, but like Ka'anapali beach, high winter surf can partially erase the sandy bottom and make the water cloudier. 

Crowds: Although less crowded than some other beaches in the West Maui area, it's still a pretty popular beach. Mornings are best here. 

Best for: Walking is great all the time. Frolicking and swimming (when seas are calm), and snorkelling (but you'll have to go farther out). 

Location: Just north of Ka'anapali beach, in West Maui. 

Napili Beach- A small but fun West Maui beach with lots of sand and a cove that blocks much of the afternoon wind. 

Conditions: When seas are calm, it's good for swimming but beware that the steep shoreline causes waves to slap the shoreline and recede quickly, creating an impressive undertow during high surf. 

Crowds: Like most good West Maui beaches, it can be fairly crowded (especially on weekends and holidays). 

Best for: This beach is a great place for swimming and frolicking, as long as the seas are calm. During high surf, sit on the sand and watch the waves. 

A dramatic sunset on the shores of Sugar Beach. 

Location: In Napili (in the northern part of West Maui), south of Kapalua. 

Other beaches: The 9 beaches I've listed in this post are some of my favourite, but there are lots of others. If I gave detailed information on all of them, this post would be way too long. Here are some honourable mentions that you can look up if you're interested or going to Maui:
Best Long Walk: Sugar Beach (Ma'alea/North Kihei area)
Best West Maui Snorkelling: Black Rock (Ka'anapali) and Honolula Bay (north of Kapalua)
Best Secluded Beach: Pa'ako Beach (past Big Beach)
Best West Maui Swimming: Kapalua Beach (Kapalua)
Best Less Known Beach: Black Sand Beach (Makena)

Thanks for reading! The next Maui post will be all about where to stay, and also how to find the best accommodation (does "oceanfront" mean actual oceanfront, or "you might just make out the ocean past those palm tree trunks"?).

Finally, if you have any travel advice, tips, or feedback of your own, leave a comment below :)

Ways To Save Money While Travelling

For this post, I'm going to list some of the easiest and most effective ways to save money on vacation. Basically, try to avoid tourist traps and instead get a glimpse of the local culture and lifestyle. Just remember that saving money doesn't have to ruin your vacation and make it miserable-- sometimes the best vacations are the spontaneous ones, planned with very little money. In general, you can save lots of money on food, accommodation, tourism, and transportation. Keep reading if you want to learn some ways to make your next vacation just as fun, but more cost-effective.

FOOD: 
Buy food at a market or grocery store, not a restaurant. Let's face it: restaurants are expensive. In Tripadvisor that you really want to go to and you know serve good food. You can still get lots of the local cuisine from markets, which are common in most of Europe. Another option is to buy food at a grocery store (for example, Monoprix in France has good prices and pretty nice food).

Markets are an inexpensive way to get a taste of the local
culture and cuisine. 

fact, they can eat up more than half your vacation budget if you're not careful. Instead of eating out whenever you see a restaurant, research two or three on sites like
Eat fancy lunches, not dinners. As you read from the previous tip, it's a good idea to minimize eating out because it saves a lot of money. However, there will be times during your vacation when you do eat out, and when you do I would highly recommend eating lunch at a restaurant instead of dinner. Most restaurants offer lunch specials much cheaper than those on the dinner menu, especially in Europe. For dinner, cook something with what you bought from this morning's market.
Don't eat near a major tourist attraction. This simple tip is easy to forget, but just know that the food will be half as good and twice the price. Walking for three blocks in any direction will get you much better, cheaper food. And as I mentioned in the first tip, remember to research restaurants beforehand; you'll get more good food.

TRAVEL EXTRAS:

Bring home memories, not souvenirs. Let's admit it: Souvenirs are fun. However, if you didn't buy that vintage dishwasher, maybe you would actually be able to afford another vacation. It's easy to go overboard when getting stuff to remember your trip, but photos are far less expensive (and take up a lot less space!). I don't need a ton of junk from the airport to prove that I had a great time on vacation, and neither do you. If you do buy a souvenir, get one thing that is useful and will serve a genuine purpose.

You don't need to get that. Or that. It's amazing how much money you can save just by not getting those extra things. You know, the travel pillow at the airport, or the hotel room with a slightly better view. Or the in-flight entertainment system, or the more expensive dessert, or the cool-looking rental car... the list goes on and on. But it's up to you to decide what to splurge on and what is basically a waste of money. Sure, these things will make your vacation a little better, but is the $12 gelato really worth it?

TRANSPORTATION:

Flight connections aren't that bad, and they can save a lot
of money. 

Take buses, not taxis. This is a pretty obvious tip, I don't think I have to elaborate on this much. Same goes for the Metro system-- It's a lot more cost-effective and also more efficient in busy cities where buses can get held up in traffic jams. If you're really in a rush, catch The Gopher (reference to my experience in Rennes le Chateau; don't ask).
Fly in economy or on connecting flights. Again, not exactly a very clever tip. The economy class thing goes without saying. Know that even on travel points, business/first class can be a lot more expensive as there are so many "airport fees" (baggage collecting fee, plane swagginess fee, etc). Travelling on points is a good idea, but be aware that it's NOT FREE. Also, check the airline websites very carefully when you're booking a flight, because you can get much cheaper flights if you're okay with flying overnight or with several connections.
Don't check your baggage. I was very surprised when I realized how much money it costs to check a bag, especially overseas. (Some airlines charge up to $100 for a checked bag from Victoria to Europe). A hundred dollars to lug my oversized bag over a lot of water? A hundred dollars could (theoretically) buy food for several days! All you have to do is read this guide to packing light and hopefully you'll be able to fit everything into a carry-on sized bag.

Major attractions-- like this esplanade in Paris-- are nice to visit,
but with a family, not a tour group. 

LOCATIONS:
Explore on your own, not on a tour. Besides tours being more expensive, you might find that you're "herded" around and not given enough time to look around. Or maybe the guides talk to much... It's usually hard to find a tour that's just right for you, and you'll probably enjoy yourself more exploring the city with friends or family. However, I'd highly recommend going to the town/city's visitor centre, or reading about some of its history and major attractions. This way, you'll be gently guided, but not herded.
Learn about the city and look for discounts at major attractions. As I mentioned in the previous tip, check out the local tourism centres and online if there are some touristy places you really want to go to. Pick a couple, but don't forget to enjoy just being in the city. Paris is no fun if all you're doing is running around between the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Notre Dame cathedral. You have to become a citizen, and embrace the life and culture of the place you're visiting. (Wow, that was cheesy.)

ACCOMMODATION:

You don't have to stay in the city centre;  a short commute is
definitely more cost-effective.

Check websites for last-minute hotel deals. This is risky, but if you look carefully on sites like Priceline and Hotwire, you might be able to get some really good deals on hotels that would usually be a lot more expensive. Don't do this if you're travelling in a group because a) the group will become annoyed due to your lack of planning and b) it's hard to find multiple rooms reliably on these sites.
When travelling with more people, get a suite. Especially when travelling with families. Getting a two or three bedroom suite --while it sounds expensive-- is probably going to be cheaper than getting separate rooms. And remember, the view your accommodation has will affect its price a lot. 
Stay in a nearby town or suburb instead of in city centre. This travel tip isn't always applicable, because sometimes being in the city centre is part of the atmosphere and awesomeness of going to that place. For instance, in Paris you'll have a lot more fun staying in the city centre than in the industrial suburbs. Use your judgement, but when visiting certain cities it's a really good idea to book a hotel in a nearby town and drive the ten or twenty minutes to the more expensive city with all the major attractions you want to visit. (For example, when visiting the Pont du Gard in Southern France, stay in Uzès, not Nimes.)

Other ways to save money: 

• Get free WiFi from cafes instead of paying extra at your hotel. 
• If options are available, take the slower method of transportation (bus > airplane). 
• Vacation homes and condos are cheaper than hotels. 
• If you're staying in a hotel, skip the breakfast and try a local café instead.
• Fill up your rental car before you return it instead of paying for someone else to do it.
• Travel off-season (not during the peak times for that destination). 

Conclusion: When you go on vacation, you want to splurge-- and you deserve to splurge. But by being smarter about how and where you spend your money, you'll have more of it to spend on the things that matter, like extra activities or shopping opportunities you wouldn't have back home. Plus, forcing yourself to save on vacation will often get you out of the tourist traps and land you where the locals hangout. A good vacation doesn't get better than that. 

Well, thanks for reading! If you have any feedback or other travel tips, leave them in the comments section. 

Travel Products: Worth It?

Let's face it: There are so many travel accessories out there, and all of them are tempting. A neck pillow with a hood? Packing cubes? A suitcase that zips into three pieces? Laser-beam umbrellas that microwave your toast? Well, maybe not. But there's so much stuff that's been invented to help you with your travels. This post will answer which of these things are actually useful, and which you can do without. Or if you can use them, but only in a certain situation.

#1) Packing Cubes
Description: Packing cubes are lightweight zippered mesh or fabric bags that can be used to help you organize your clothes. They can help to separate your suitcase into manageable sections and come in various sizes and colours.

Things you should know about packing cubes: 

Packing cubes come in a variety of sizes and colours,
but you might find that they're not as useful as you think.

• If you really want to be organized on your trip, the packing cubes will help you. Because of their versatility and different sizes, it's easy to put your toiletries in one, shoes in another, and have one for dirty laundry. 
• You'll find yourself having to pack around the cubes since they'll never quite fit the dimensions of your suitcase.
• If you're travelling with someone else, I'd recommend colour-coding your stuff with different packing cubes so it's easier to know whose clothes are whose.
• If you're moving a lot from one hotel to another, you'll only have to pull out one cube instead of having to take apart your whole suitcase.
• Frankly, I don't need to pay $10 for a laundry bag. A pillowcase or a plastic bag can be folded up when not in use and is certainly less expensive. 

Conclusion: Although packing cubes are useful in some certain situations, you'll find that they're not worth the money. 

Buy Packing Cubes: http://www.ebags.com/category/travel-accessories/packing-aids/packing-cubes/dept/accessories

Final Verdict: 4/10. Not worth it. 

#2: Cocoon Grid- It Organizer 
Description: A flat surface with interwoven elastics that hold all your cords, cables, and gadgets in place. This "ultimate organizer" is supposed to keep these items from strangling each other, and comes in a variety of sizes.

Things you should know about the Cocoon Grid-It:

The Cocoon Grid-It offers endless configurations for
organizing gadgets and travel items.

• Because of all the different elastic widths, it's easy to put the Grid-It to good use. It's very versatile and can hold items as big as a camera and as small as earbuds. 
• Everything is visible at the same time, and accessing different items is simple instead of insanely difficult because they're stuck way at the bottom of your bag. 
• The thick, stretchy elastics can easily secure items and actually keep them secure. You won't have to worry about them falling out. Unfortunately, we all know what happens to elastics over time, so don't try to force items that are too big for the elastics or they will stretch out. 
• Carefully organized, the Grid-It could fit many items, conceivably more than the average person could carry around. This is great, but for travel I wouldn't buy any size larger than small because how much stuff am I actually going to bring with me? (See my packing list.)
• Weight can also be a problem. Carrying around a pair of earphones in my pocket, I'd barely notice. The Grid-It is certainly heavier (0.24kg), so only buy one of these if you know you can actually fill it with stuff.  

Conclusion: This awesome organizer can be adapted for use when travelling, but you need to get a smaller size (7"x 5" or 10.3" x 5") or it will become a burden. 

Buy the Grid-It: http://www.cocooninnovations.com/cat_info.php?cat_id=61

Final Verdict: 7/10. Worth it!

#3: Travel Pillows

Description: Travel pillows are soft, colourful, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are inflatable, and others are made from memory foam. They can help you to sleep and be comfortable when travelling. (Read: a pillow.)

Things you should know about travel pillows:

Although travel pillows are okay for short trips,
they're a waste of space when travelling internationally.

• One of the most popular types of travel pillows are the inflatable ones. These are easy to pack; after all inflatable travel pillows are basically like plastic bags! They're about as comfortable as resting your head on a plastic bag, too. Let's not mind the fact that you paid $20 for it and it still takes three hours to inflate. 
• Some are made from memory foam (it remembers the shape of your head? This thing is a genius!). This type of travel pillow is more comfortable than the inflatable ones but can still be stored without taking up too much space. More or less.
• Sleep collars: More like "neck brace". Do not buy. (If you want, just google it. I'm not putting a picture of it on my blog, it's too embarrassing.)
• Hoodie pillow: Just no. (Google again.)
• Of course, you could always just roll up your hoodie and make it into a pillow. But I guess that's out of the question. More important to waste even more space by getting a travel pillow. 

Conclusion: These are a waste of space and money unless you're bringing the dishwasher with you. In that case, a travel pillow is a GREAT idea! Just remember to get one of the 25kg-life-raft-sized-memory-foam ones that will have to go in the cargo hold because you can't get them through the door of the plane. 

Buy a travel pillow (if you feel you have to get one of these, get this one):  http://www.luglife.com/Nap-Sac-Travel-BlanketPillow-Set?sc=2&category=28416

Final Verdict: 2/10. Not worth it.

Thanks for reading! If you agree or disagree with my product advice, leave a comment below. And if you enjoyed this post or want to request an item for me to review next, let me know :)

Happy travelling (and shopping!) 

My Tour de France Experience

I know, I know. Why do I always have to post travel stories? Sorry. If you don't want to read about the Tour de France, then you'll just have to wait a few weeks until I make another travel advice post. But if you need something to do or will be visiting France next summer, read "Information". If you want to read a story, scroll down to where it says "Story." There's also a cool video from the Tour de France at the end. Happy reading!

Information: 
First of all, the Tour de France is an annual bicycle race that is based primarily in France (duh) but it also occasionally passes through surrounding countries. Over 23 days, the competitors from various countries complete 21 stages (étapes), over 3000km. The final stage always ends on the Champs-Elysees, and leader at the end of the race gets a highly coveted yellow jersey. (The cyclists can't just all go to Walmart and pick up yellow shirts after the race; I guess there's some symbolism involved here.) There are also more coloured shirts for best climber, best youth cyclist, and best sprinter. Every summer, people come from all over the country (and other parts of Europe!) to watch different stages of the race.

If you want to see the Tour de France, you have two options.
#1) Watch the sweaty cyclists race past you in a blur as you stand on the roadside along the racecourse.  No matter how much you de-blur your photos, they will not even be worthy of Instagram.  OR:
#2) Go to the city/town a stage of the Tour is starting in, and take part in the hours of festivities before and after the cyclists leave to begin their next stage. This includes floats, prizes, food, and even a few Instagram-worthy photos.

A map of the 2012 Tour de France course.

Well, there's certainly an obvious choice here (and it's not #1). So in 2012, my family went to Limoux to see the start of a stage of the 99th Tour de France.
Even if you don't like biking, it's a pretty awesome event to get to watch the start of a stage. If you're in the right area of France at the right time, I would definitely recommend going. An added bonus is the fact that there's always lots of food.

More information: http://www.letour.com/de/

Story: (My Tour de France experience)

It's six in the morning when I'm woken up. I sit up and look out the window at our garden and open up the windows, feeling the fresh air of Southern France on my face. I'm trying to savour the moment when I hear a strange noise downstairs. *splurch slurp chomp splorch* Oh, it's the pet cat eating breakfast. So much for savouring the moment. Now I remember that today we're going to watch the Tour de France! Yay! I'm so excited! But I still want to go back to bed.

Before...

After breakfast, we drive through the morning light for an hour and a half. Why is everything so dark? Oh yeah, it's because I woke up at SIX IN THE MORNING to get dumped into a car where the door handle gets in the way of my jacket/pillow so I can't sleep. Trust me, there are serious considerations when choosing a car to rent. You have to find one where the inside of the car doesn't have the window button in the wrong place because it wedges into your ear when you're trying to relax... got a little off topic.
We get to the outskirts of the town of Limoux, and I'm awake thanks to the guys with little plastic glow sticks directing us around.
The good news: We got here early so we should get a great parking space close to city centre, where the Tour de France starts.
The bad news: "Good parking space" constitutes as "only a 2km walk!"
*sigh*

...After!

The walk was actually pretty interesting. We got to see the local wildlife (pigeons of Limoux), I almost tripped over a Tour de France banner, and I saw a squad of these tiny cars herding people around. They were actually part of the Tour de France organization, but I didn't know that until later. (I was a gullible kid back then... thought that it was okay to use a group of cars to herd a bunch of people.)
After about half an hour, we got to the main street of Limoux, where the organizers were just setting up. There were still two and a half hours until the actual festivities began. Almost as if I didn't have to get up at six in the morning. We were able to pass the time by eating croissants, getting Tour de France t-shirts, and taking pictures of the aforementioned local wildlife.
Soon after, they started playing music and everyone crowded around a big stage in the centre of a nearby square. The mayor of Limoux and some important-looking people wearing suits welcomed us to the Tour de France, etc etc. Then, the crowd of people rushed back to the start line, and we got to see a giant parade of the Tour's sponsors.
Each company was represented by an elaborately decorated float with lots of cars around it. Besides looking fabulous, lots of the floats threw free samples into the crowd as a promotion. I got a bag, a hat, a keychain, a (non metal) water bottle, a pen, and my favourite-- a blow-up plastic pillow from the Ibis hotel chain.

"The guy with the yellow jersey"

The crowd was at least ten rows deep, but I was lucky-- right in the front, mashed into the metal gate that ensures nobody falls out onto the road and gets run over by a float. (That would be a pretty embarrassing way to die; getting mowed down by a truck that throws blow-up pillows as free samples to everyone.)
I have to say, I was pretty impressed with the experience so far-- and I hadn't even seen the cyclists yet! The stunning ambiance is like a spectrum of colours... (insert fancy vocabulary here)... it was good.

And they're off!

Finally, the floats were replaced with cyclists, all grouped in teams, with very expensive-looking bike-racing suit things. According to my travel diary, "the guy with the yellow jersey was in the front" (excellent observations by my 10-year old self). The herding cars moved out of the way, and the music was replaced by a stunning silence. Two massive clocks on either side of the start banner showed the seconds before the cyclists could leave. I don't think it was really necessary to vocally count down from 50... but never mind. I'm ruining the Tour de France Vibe here.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1... GO! My thoughts, in order, after the cyclists started down the road:
1) MY CAMERA! This is definitely gonna make it onto Instagram! *fails to take decent video because of all the people screaming around me*
2) What am I doing? Savour the moment, you idiot! *puts camera in bag* *watches for one second*
3) Okay, let's get that video! *pulls out camera*
4) Darn it they're around the bend.
5) Okay lets go home. I'm hungry.
6) Ooooo airplanes flying overhead! They have contrails the colour of the French flag! *gets decent photo of airplanes*
7) That was pure genius... I missed the cyclists but I got the airplanes.

A great way to end my experience with the Tour de France 2012.

It really was an amazing experience. Luckily I did get some decent photos, some of which were of the natural wildlife (they are not included in this post.) I also gained about 30 pounds in croissants-- my family basically rolled me back to the town we were staying in. To conclude I'm definitely going to remember the 99th Tour de France for a long time, and I hope one day I can watch the beginning of another stage... even if it means waking up at six in the morning :)

And to conclude, here's a video of the Tour de France. If you find yourself in France at the right time, in the right place... you just might be able to watch one of the world's greatest bike races.

New Blog Pages

Hey everyone,
I'm happy to announce that I've added some new pages to this blog: Start Travelling, Best of Blog, and Travel Lists. (I've also redesigned my blog's template!) The main purpose of these pages are to help with navigation and reference you to posts that are related to things you want to look at. They also provide some new information. Here's a summary of the functions of the three new blog pages:

Start Travelling: I've been requested to write about the most important steps to planning a trip, and this page is the answer to your questions about that. This topic can be quite confusing, as there is a lot of information on the Internet about this subject and all the sources are annoyingly different. So, I've collected details about this from the web and my personal experience, and compiled them into 12 steps. Click HERE to read this page. 

Best of Blog: This is basically a new feature on my blog that will help you find a post that interests you, based on what you want to learn about or where you may be going. For example, if you want to know about the best gardens to visit in Paris, you'll be directed to the "Luxembourg and Tuileries Gardens" blog post. I hope this makes it easier to navigate between posts that you'd like to read. Click HERE to read this page. 

Travel Lists: The purpose of this page is to help you when preparing and travelling by reading dumb lists I've written (for some reason I find it fun). Right now, I've made a list of almost everything you'll need when packing for a trip, but in the future I'll update the Lists page with (for example) the things you'll need to do when you leave your house on vacation. If this interests you, check back every few weeks for an update. Click HERE to read this page.

I hope you enjoy these new features... Happy Reading! (Cheesy as usual.)

 UPDATE: I've added a new video about packing to my blog under Travel Lists. (It's called Timelapse Packing.) If you have a minute, you might want to check it out.

What I Wrote In My Travel Journal

I am embarrassed to admit that my parents made me write in this travel journal (NOT a diary) when we went to France, to "remember my experiences" and whatever. However, when I was looking through it for other ideas of things to review and write about on the blog, I noticed a lot of strange/funny stories and experiences. So here we go: Some strange things I wrote in my travel journal during our 2013 and 2014 trips to France. This will include cities, cats, motorcycles, and sometimes gophers. I hope you enjoy! Note: I was 10 and 11 years old when I wrote this, so don't juge me spelling/grammar.

Something I wrote on a napkin in a restaurant in 2012 after our experience at the medival fortress of Carcassonne in the south of France:
"We are invaders from another country, breaking in to the walled medieval city of Carcassonne. We were unable to continue with our horses (car) so we abandoned it (parked it) and set off on foot. The defenders tried to stop us with a black Mazda (security patrol) but to no avail. We break into a treasure keep (souvenir shop) and emerge from it with 2 Coke cans. Success on our first mission! We manage to break into the inner wall... well, the defenders let us in after we pay 8 euro. From there, we get past another Mazda and are in the inner keep! We manage to escape from the fortress alive with six postcards and two books. Spoils of war! We return to the parking lot, triumphant on our raid."

The walled city of Carcassonne, also known as the fortress we're invading.

We took care of a cat while in the south of France (her name was Minette). However, we certainly got some unwanted company.

This is Minette, our feral, furry feline in France.

July 5: We think Minette has a friend! There's a feral cat that has been coming into our yard. She's really cute and we named her Gris because she's greyish coloured. Unfortunately, she's really thin so we've been letting her eat a little of Minette's food.
July 6: Not so sure if Minette's friend is cute. Gris is not leaving much food for Minette, and she visits several times a day. We don't want to chase her out, though, she and Minette seem like good friends.
July 8: Okay, first of all, Minette's so-called "friend" is a "he", not a "she" (don't ask how we found this out). They got into a big fight and Stefan got it on video which is pretty stupid because who stands in the middle of a feral cat fight in a foreign country? I guess Gris was trying to take over Minette's territory. So Gris got chased off our property with a broom and if we see him coming back he's gonna get a good whack.

She's a HE? Here's Gris the cat in Servian.

July 9: Turns out Stefan got bitten by Minette. Not surprised. We will be seeing a doctor later today. So much for a day of sightseeing thanks to a 10-year old kid trying to hug a feral cat.
July 10: Saw THREE cats in our yard that looked just like Minette. Could not figure out which was which so we tried to get them out but they did not move. Finally Stefan stuck his head out the window of the house and started yelling "MOO" at the top of his lungs. The cats left. Go figure.

A photo of the Eiffel Tower from below (duh).

List of things you should remember when you should go to the Eiffel Tower:
1) Don't fall down the stairs. Failure to comply could lead to injuries, crying, and a major inconvenience to the next few thousand people going up.
2) Don't fall off the tower.
3) If you didn't pay attention to #2, then unravel your parachute and float gently to the ground.
4) If you don't have a parachute or you didn't read #3, try to land on your feet.
Note: This probably won't happen.
5) If you don't land on your feet (which I'm not surprised about), please understand that a refund is not included, and neither are funeral expenses.
Well, this should clear everything up!

When we ate dinner in the plaza in Servian (the town we stayed in):

The plaza we ate dinner in (La Panouille is on the left).

Tonight, we are going to La Panouille for dinner. I ordered the usual chorizo, and my brother ordered a ham one- I forgot what it is in French. We were starting to get really annoyed by all the motorcyclists that drove around in the plaza without their mufflers. At one end of the square plaza was the street, along the sides were buildings and at the end was a railing to warn people of the big drop. (The town of Servian was built on a hill, and this plaza at the top basically overlooked the entire city.) There were some steep steps going down from the plaza that could take you to the bottom of the hill, but from my experience they are just like a ladder. I know it's a bad joke, but when the stupid, loud motorcycles got close to the edge, I said "just keep going" and my brother and dad and I all started laughing. Later, when they stopped tearing around the plaza and finally left, I said "excuse me, wrong way" and we laughed even harder. It's been a great day in the south of France.

It's a long drop off the railing!

An excerpt from my travel diary on our 2012 trip to France. We were hungry and wanted food, so we decided to stop at the bottom of a hill (there was a town at the top). But how did we get up? 
I SAID I wouldn’t write this. I know I will hate myself for it years later because I will never want to admit I ever did this. Okay, fine. Entertain the reader. I will tell you IF you don’t laugh... So we were super hungry and lost so we parked at the bottom of the hill on which a random french town was built and hopped out. Doesn't sound sketchy at all, does it? Did we walk to the top? No! We saw one of those tourist trains for “transportation”. It was RIDICULOUS! Red and white on the outside, crappy seats on the inside. The only thing that could by worse is... Thomas the tank engine. It’s that bad. But I want to complain about how lame the train was and what a waste our 1.8 euro was. It was fun to duck every time we passed someone to save ourselves from a life of embarrassment from the residents of Rennes le Chateau. You may think that I’m just complaining because it looked dumb. I’ll give you some good reasons to walk instead!

Taking a picture of the train was too
embarrassing, so here's a photo of a gopher
(what we named the train).

1) So slow it could’ve been pulled by a cat! Or worse... a gopher.
 2) If you walk you are not ‘inconvenienced’. That is, you don’t have to duck every time you pass someone.
3) It’s FASTER to walk! (sorta)
4) So who designed and painted this again? What kind of investment WAS this?
5) A TGV train might have been a LITTLE more popular...
See? 5 good, logical reasons not to ride this train (affectionately named THE GOPHER by my brother). I hope this saves you a lot of money if you ever go here. Just ask my dad. He didn’t take a picture of the train because a) why would you want to? and b) he didn’t want to admit that he’d ridden it. Well, I guess 2 pages is enough to warn you.. I hope you don’t ride this stupid train if you ever find yourself at the town Rennes le Chateau.

Well, I hope you enjoyed these travel stories... I know they're dumb but maybe they made you laugh. I know this doesn't qualify as travel advice, although hopefully it gives you some insight into the culture of another country (even if aforementioned "insight" is given through experiences with feral cats that bite my brother).

Don't forget to tell me which was your favourite story/experience in the comments section! Also, I'm not sure whether to give more travel advice and reviews of specific places, or stories and personal experiences. Let me know what you think; I'll be posting again in a couple weeks :)

PS: New video about how to and not to pack your suitcase will be coming out soon!

TRAVEL ADVICE: Packing Light

The importance of packing light on a long trip cannot be overemphasized, and although this may seem easy, it can be surprisingly difficult to pack effectively. Use this short post as a guide on your next long trip. 

The first time I travelled internationally, I found the whole "packing" thing very confusing. Figuring out what to bring on a trip was a complete nightmare.

Me packing on a trip to Maui: 
Let’s start with the bare essentials: iPod, toothbrush, a couple of extra pairs of shoes, my WiFi modem, a glue stick in case I need to glue stuff, the surfboard can go carry on, some cutlery in case it’s not provided, and my dishwasher to wash the cutlery. Oh and clothes. And a swimsuit. And toothpaste because what use is a toothbrush without toothpaste. Of course I gotta fit in with the locals so I should bring my flower lei. Made from good quality plastic flowers! This is getting to be a lot of stuff. So I go onto one of those travel advice forums. “Pack items for every situation.” Well, done that. “Consider any unexpected locations or conditions.” Hmm. Maybe the laundry machine should come along too... 

Luckily, I've gotten a little better at packing (and also a little less random). Here are some tips for travelling light that you might find useful on your next trip. Some of it's pretty obvious, but I hope it at least helps a little.

Hand-to-makeup-bag comparison
(or at least how big it should be).

1) Never check your baggage. A good limit is 20 pounds in a 9" x 22" x 14" carry-on-size bag (it'll fit in your airplane's overhead bin). For many people who haven't travelled much, this is a radical concept: "What? That's the size of my makeup bag!" But besides being more expensive, checking baggage will make it more likely to get broken, lost or stolen. With a smaller bag, last-minute changes in hotel and flight plans become simpler. You can have access to your bag at all times, and when you arrive you can charge past all the annoyed people waiting for their checked bag...that may have just got put on the wrong plane to Mongolia. 

This is what I mean by
"small day bag".

2) Packing light isn't just about saving time or money-- it's also about your travelling lifestyle. Too much luggage marks you as a typical tourist, and you'll walk with it more than you think. Before flying to Europe, give yourself a test. Pack up completely, go into the city you live in, and practice being a tourist for an hour. If you didn't enjoy your experience, stagger home and thin out your luggage.

Corral your cables in a small pouch
so they won't strangle your speakers.

3) Bring one bag; a small day bag is optional. A large backpack or duffel bag is great because you can compress it into a small space, unlike a hard suitcase. They can fit more than you think! A very small purse or shoulder bag can be a good idea if you're going on day trips and need space for a water bottle, money, phone for selfies, etc. but this should only hold a few essentials. Don't make it into a second large bag, and only bring this if you have to. The more you bring, the more stuff you have to keep track of.

Hopefully that helped you with what bags to bring.. However, I haven't actually given you any tips on packing effectively. (This is my personal experience, so don't trust it too much.) Here we go: 

Absolutely NO hardcover books
(use eBooks when travelling).

1) Wearing is not carrying. Stuff your pockets, have on layers and a jacket. Pack your flip-flops and wear your boots. 

Rolled (top); folded (middle)
and crunched (bottom)

2) Black holes are so compact that light cannot escape their gravity. Your bag should function on a similar principle. Folded is smaller than stuffed. Folded and rolled: smaller still.
3) The value of each item increases exponentially with each function. For example, a frisbee can be strategically packed on the outside of your bag to protect breakables in addition to its international friend-making potential.  It can also be used as a cutting board, plate, bowl, fan, and a dry place to sit. A towel could be used as a changing room, a bag, a sunshade, a blanket, or even a giraffe excluder (roll lengthwise and stuff under door). 

One accessory can be great,
but notice I said one.

4) Magic of three. Three pairs of socks. Three shirts. Wash one, wear one, dry one. Choose quick-dry cotton-poly blends that handle wrinkles well. (Note: You won't need as many pants as shirts because they don't need to be washed as often. For example, if you pack 3 shirts, only bring 2 pairs of pants.)

Ditch the jewellery and hair
flowers when travelling
 (especially if you're a guy).

5) Bring clothes that work easily with your other clothes, instead of packing a different outfit for each day. It's surprising how much space you can save this way. (And when I say clothes that match, I don't mean a neon pink shirt with orange zebra stripes.)
6) Be logical. Really consider each item. Don't just ask yourself "Will I use this?" but instead, "Will I use these fins enough to feel good about hauling them over the Swiss Alps?" Think in terms of what items you can do without-- not what will be handy on your trip. 

Don't bring random clothing
that doesn't work with your
other articles, as shown above. 

7) If all else fails, buy your way out. Rather than carry a whole trip's supply of toiletries, take enough to get started and look forward to running out of toothpaste in Bulgaria. Then you have the perfect excuse to go into a Bulgarian department store, shop around, and pick up something you think might be toothpaste. And if you still can't find the item you need, ask yourself how half a billion Europeans can live without it.

Buy your way out!

Well, I hope these tips help you with packing for your next trip. Just remember that in the end, you can't travel heavy, happy and cheap. Pick two.


And don't forget to leave room for souvenirs! :)