Enjoy this feature that I shared back in 2011, the home of iconic Atlanta designer, Dan Carithers who has since passed away in 2018. His Traditional style will always be the epitome of good design.
Dan Carithers has been a design fixture in Atlanta for many years and his featured cottage in Traditional Home caught my eye, once again. They have some of the best eye candy spreads around.
The post Feature Friday: Dan Carithers Atlanta Cottage appeared first on Southern Hospitality.
Posted: 2/27/2020 | February 27th, 2020
If you’re like me, you associate travel with positive emotions: the feeling of the sun on your shoulders halfway around the world, of breaking bread with people from cultures different than your own, and the inner joy of making your way across unknown lands safely.
Travel improves our lives, broadens our horizons, and helps us understand the world we inhabit.
Yet these are experiences few humans will ever have.
As widespread as it has become in recent years, travel is still a privilege afforded only to a few.
That is especially true of war zones, where residents are more concerned about living through the day than seeing the wonders of the world. Things we take for granted — the ability to turn on a tap and get drinkable water, to flick a switch and get light, to walk to the store and find food on the shelves — are rare or absent for those suffering through such conflicts.
While there many places in the world that are like that, today I want to talk about one in particular: Syria.
Lately, I’ve seen a number of folks visit Syria as tourists. When asked why, they usually talk about trying to highlight the good people in the country and how such places aren’t “just what you see in the media.”
And while both of those things are almost always true, I don’t think one should visit conflict zones as a tourist — whether you’re a writer, blogger, or everyday Joe or Jane. I think it’s reckless and shows a complete lack of empathy and respect for the people suffering through the horrors of war. It’s self-centered. It doesn’t actually help in any real way. It usually creates a distorted picture of the situation. It’s a misuse of Western privilege.
No one doubts there are wonderful people and places in Syria. In fact, one of my greatest travel regrets is not having visited Syria before the conflict, because friends waxed poetic about how the hospitality and openness of the locals were second to none.
And the media is always more “doom and gloom” than the reality on the ground.
But that doesn’t change the fact that there is a continuing war going on in Syria where millions continue to be displaced and dying. While bloggers or tourists are there taking pictures, hundreds of thousands are freezing.
The country has been in a civil war for close to nine years. Over 400,000 civilians have been killed (some estimates put that number as high as 585,000). That’s more than the entire population of places such as Iceland, Belize, the Bahamas, or Malta.
On top of that, over 13 million people have been displaced — with half of those being forced to leave the country entirely. And many can never return due to retaliation from government forces against them or their families.
And while ISIS has been pushed back, they still have control of some areas, and thanks to Trump, there is also now an influx of both Turkish and Russian troops. (And that’s only causing more chaos.)
As millions suffer through ongoing war, chemical attacks, and displacement, visiting as a tourist and having a fun time is a horrifying idea to me. It makes those who go seem more concerned with their ego than the plight of the country. “Well, I just really want to see the country, so fuck those who are suffering!”
War zones are not tourist attractions. Bombed buildings that used to be filled with life are not backdrops for Instagram shots.
While millions suffer and die just hours away or are displaced and cannot return home, bloggers or tourists shouldn’t be frolicking in the places where they used to live and laugh and spend time with their children, snapping pictures and having fun while giving lip service about how it’s sad to see what is happening to the country. That to me seems like a major disconnect.
If someone wants to go there and report as a journalist to educate the world and try to mobilize action to stop the conflict, that’s one thing.
But I’ve yet to see one person who wasn’t an actual journalist from the mainstream news media do that. Instead, I hear talk about how “complicated” the situation is, how things are being rebuilt, and how everyone is happy and things are safe, whitewashing the war crimes of President Assad. If you follow these accounts, you get the impression the worst is behind the country. (It’s not. And the fighting in Idlib is getting incredibly worse, with children being greatly affected.)
But that’s because these bloggers are (a) in government-controlled territory and (b) likely talking to Assad supporters or those too afraid to speak out.
Then there’s willful ignorance. Take the example of Drew Binsky. I’ve never met him, though I do enjoy his videos. And I’m sure he’s a well-intentioned guy. But he went to Syria and, when challenged about this for the same reasons I’m bringing up, said, and I quote:
I know that Syria has been in a constant state of war for nearly a decade and I choose not to make that a focus. Why? It’s a lose-lose for me, because A) it’s a touchy subject and B) I don’t know much about the war and politics in general. In fact, I can’t even tell you a thing about American politics cuz I don’t really care! I’ve spent the last 8 years on the road and I’ve purposely separated myself from any politics because I choose to spend my time doing other things that make me happy. I guess the bottom line here is that more eyeballs on my videos means more haters, and we all know that haters are gonna hate!
Apparently, people who bring up the notion that maybe going to a war zone is not a good idea are haters. And here he admits to not knowing much about the war or caring too much about the subject.
How can you visit a country torn by war and not want to learn more about it?
How can you have a platform and seek to educate people and not talk about the conflict? It’s a pretty important thing!
And he’s not the only one who has done this, just the most well known. There have been many others. (It would be hard to link to them all, but they are easy to find via a Google or Instagram search.)
I think trips like these to war zones or repressive regimes are further examples of the lack of ethics in the online travel industry, as well as “look at me” vs. “learn from me” writing that puts the reader second to the influencer’s own ego. Rather than using this visit as a teachable moment to expand people’s knowledge, educate, and talk about a dire situation, they visit without thinking about that deeper impact.
But against the backdrop of war, egos must wait.
A visit to government-controlled territory during an ongoing conflict is simply playing into the propaganda that says that the news is exaggerating the plight of the people. What gassing by the Assad regime? What war crimes? What factionalism? There’s nothing to see here, right?
Many of the Syrians I spoke to had even fewer kind words for those who go there. They talked of those who visit now as “taking joy in others’ misery,” whitewashing Assad’s crimes, and Western privilege. This quote from Zaina Erhaim, an exiled Syrian journalist, sums up what I heard from Syrians I spoke with:
Besides the active war going on and tens of civilians being killed on a daily basis, beside whitewashing Assad as [someone] who has brought life and security back, using their privileged background [to get] released if stopped at checkpoints, above all that, to cross to our home where half of us are forbidden from going to, as we are forced into displacement and in exile, to walk above our memories and wounds in order to get some extra views, is inhuman.
Their blogs step on our trauma as they take smiling pictures in our streets, with our destroyed homes and favorite restaurants in the background, while we are prevented from going back to because we simply did our work and protested for basic rights.
***
I think travel boycotts are dumb. People are their governments. But when war is happening and millions are dying and displaced, our desire to travel must wait. When Syria and these other countries are done fighting and need to be rebuilt, tourism dollars are a wonderful way to help make that happen.
Take Afghanistan or Iraq. While turmoil still exists there, these countries are trying to pick up the pieces and rebuild. There are new governments, and the society is trying to move past the conflict. There’s a functioning economy and civil society. Now is the time to visit those places.
But Syria? There is still an active conflict with other nations rolling tanks through part of the country. (Turkey and Russia are in conflict there, and Israel recently sent missiles into Damascus). Wait until the conflict is over, people aren’t dying and starving in the streets, and there is (hopefully) some sort of brokered truce or long-lasting cease-fire.
That’s when people will need our tourism dollars.
If you want to help those in Syria, lobby governments to try to find a way to end the conflict. Give to aid organizations like these:
But don’t go visit. Don’t give Assad his propaganda wins. Don’t make people think everything is fine and the world should move on. Don’t go to a place where so much suffering is going on just because you want to see it. It’s just the wrong thing to do.
Travel enriches the mind and expands the soul.
But it loses its charm when a place that is still shattered like glass and those around you are mired in a conflict without end.
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines, because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the largest inventory. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com, as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. I use them all the time.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all those I use — and they’ll save you time and money too!
The post You Should NOT Visit Syria Right Now appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.
I’ve got a fun post to share with you today. Do you love going in people’s homes and seeing their houses up close and personal? Today I’m joining a group of gals and we are all sharing how our homes flow. Sometimes it’s hard to tell how a house that you see from pictures only flows from room to room, so I’m sharing how our house flows on the lower level.
Our home is not huge, but at 2600 s.f. plenty spacious enough for us. We have so enjoyed our home with all the windows and light coming in and feel that this is the house that was meant for us to buy almost 3 years ago.
The post How Our House Flows appeared first on Southern Hospitality.
“I don’t care what breed they are,” stated international dressage judge Stephen Clarke. “Dressage is about judging horses against the criteria — I don’t care how big, or what colour they are.
“There is only one horse in recent times who only has highlights and no real weaknesses — Valegro. He can fulfil almost all the criteria which is why he’s broken records, but it’s a rarity. Some horses find the collection work easy, while some find it easier to extend, but its very rare to find a horse who can go to the extremes of both.”
Stephen demonstrated his belief in this notion with an enlightening masterclass that featured a wide variety of breeds and types of horse.
Martin Greet presented the Welsh section D mare Watling Shakira.
Although the mare is no stranger to competition — competing at medium level — she started tense in the atmosphere of the Hartpury arena, and her trot was hurried and choppy.
“She’s a bit quick at the moment, but that’s the mind as much as the body,” Stephen told Martin. “Play with the transitions and ride the lateral work to start if the horse is nervous — it often gives them something else to think about.”
Stephen asked Martin to ride numerous walk-trot transitions alternating with shoulder-in steps.
“Do that until the horse ‘gives its self up’ and relaxes into the work,” Stephen advised. “The safer and more secure the rhythm becomes, the more you can think about riding forwards to encourage ground cover and improve the quality of the trot.”
The mare — a compact, responsive type — was hot and reactive.
“She’s sharp today, but I like this automatic sharpness,” said Stephen. “Later on, when her training is more established, that will pay dividends as you’ll know you’ll always get a reaction from her.”
Stephen encouraged Martin to ride lots of small changes of pace within the trot.
“Take time and make small variations in the bend and speed to relax her,” he suggested.
It worked wonders. By the end of their session, Shakira’s trot had slowed and she was showing a rounder, more elevated stride. She was relaxed over her back, allowing her to make larger steps, and her increased confidence meant she was no longer hurrying.
To finish, Martin stretched her neck down.
“When the horse stretches in trot, allow time for the horse to spring up onto the next diagonal pair with big strides so they can engage the back muscles and swing into a contact,” Stephen concluded.
With Jade Clark on the grey advanced medium Lusitano stallion Espirito, Stephen worked more on the basic trot.
“He has a lovely natural regularity in his paces and a correct natural frame,” praised Stephen.
After riding some more collected trot, Stephen asked Jade to lengthen the strides across the diagonal. Espirito was so willing to please that he flew across the school and, although his energy was wonderful, he pushed himself off the hindleg and onto the forehand.
Stephen had an exercise to fix it. Jade rode a short period of shoulder-in on the long side, then straightened and asked for some medium strides before putting Espirito back into shoulder-in for the final part of the long side. The effect was immediate.
“The quality of the medium trot is all about the level of engagement in the working trot,” explained Stephen, “so the horse can keep pushing without falling on to his forehand. For the higher marks, the engagement and uphill balance is key.”
Continued below…
Like this? You might also enjoy reading these:
At last weekend’s British Dressage national convention (19-20 November), Ferdi Eilberg began by focusing on the fundamental dressage building blocks
Stephen Clarke on being talent-spotted by Harvey Smith, judging record-breaking tests and being proud to be British
Credit: Ti Media
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When Charlie Samuel-Camps first asked her gypsy cob gelding Glasshards Warrior for some extended strides, she didn’t get much of a reaction.
“Don’t think for a moment that just because he’s a cob he hasn’t got lengthening,” chided Stephen. “It just about training his reactions.”
Stephen asked Charlie to give Glasshards Warrior a flick with her schooling whip as she asked, but that meant she also pulled back with the rein. To correct this Stephen had her ride the lengthened strides with her reins in one hand and use the whip with her other, free hand (pictured) so as not to interfere with the contact.
The resulting burst of energy from the attractive horse resulted in a round of applause.
“It’s amazing how we can unlock the horse’s potential when there’s a genuine reaction to be had,” said Stephen. “Don’t let him fool you; there’s a lot in there. Sometimes you just have to take a risk.
“In a judging situation, I feel we can be generous to riders for minor mistakes. It’s all about trying to encourage riders to take a risk and ask for a reaction that will lead to a future of good work.”
Stephen Clarke was talking at the 2016 British Dressage national convention (19-20 November)
Hi, friends! This last week kicked my butt and I have practically nothing to share with you today for fashion over 50. So I’m sharing an outfit I wore last weekend to the travel conference I attended in Thomasville, GA. I don’t think I mentioned I was going to that and between the bathroom and heading out of town, I just haven’t gotten dressed much lately. Unless you count paint clothes!
Thomasville was such a quaint and charming town with lots of history, good restaurants and I got to visited 2 plantations! I’ll be sharing all of that with you as soon as I can, so stay tuned for those posts. You’re going to love seeing the pics!
The post Fashion over 50: Camel Coat appeared first on Southern Hospitality.
I’m back with another Style Showcase to share with you today, so I hope you enjoy! These friends are all very talented and all have something unique to share.
The post Style Showcase 18 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.
Wrigley loves to play and has a lot of energy.
Dalton is young and loved to spar with his brother at Sweetbeau Horses.
Hmmmm, maybe it would be a good idea to put them together! They’d have so much fun!
… Uh, not so much.
You may wonder why I have Missy MIss and Mo in there… Well, it wasn’t the best idea but it was the only way I could do this because there wasn’t another open pasture. I had hoped to put Missy Miss and Mo in the upper pasture which is connected, but just realized that the recent rains has finally ruined the gate connection. The post has moved far enough away that it can no longer close safely. So there’s that. Sigh. Just another thing… I truly hate clay/sand soil.
Here we see Dalton with his butt to Wrigley – and Wrigley eating Dalton’s breakfast. Missy Miss has turned her hind end to this drama. Mo is protecting Missy Miss. (Mo dislikes Dalton.)
Here Dalton is posturing and Wrigley is paying no attention.
Dalton sees me and comes over for help. “Get him OUT OF HERE, please.”
“He’s eating MY food!”
I tell Dalton to play with Wrigley and have some fun. Dalton doesn’t want to play with Wrigley. Now Missy Miss has turned around to watch. Mo stands behind her.
Wrigley and Dalton posture together, and they all run to the upper pasture (where I cannot close the gate). Here Dalton is begging me to get rid of Wrigley in his space.
Wrigley storms off and pouts on the far side of the pasture. I put hay in the feeders, hoping everyone will calm down and eat. Here you see Mo, Missy Miss and Wrigley at the far end.
But strong and confident Dalton runs back over to the first feeder with Mo (who really doesn’t like Dalton but he likes Dalton better than Wrigley…) and they all eat together.
Here you can see Dalton’s expression. He is upset that I didn’t remove Wrigley. Look at him scold me!
Wrigley cannot believe that everyone went to Dalton’s camp. He is very upset.
Then the threesome move off to the far side of the pasture, leaving Wrigley alone. He wasn’t invited.
Wrigley, humbled and crushed, begs me to put him back with Finn and Beautiful Girl. I did.
Wrigley back with his homie, Finn.
The post I thought it would be a good idea to put the young boys (Dalton and Wrigley) together!…Uh, not so much… appeared first on Horse and Man.
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Don’t miss out on all the great things happening in Asheville this weekend. Explore new art exhibits, attend a live show and enjoy the local flavors of Asheville independent restaurant scene. If you love comedy, beer, wellness, or outdoor adventure, then you’re sure to find something fun to do.
Planning a trip to Asheville is easy. Utilize our easy-to-use search to check room availability and rates at Asheville area accommodations, and be sure to check out the special deals and packages. And, you can check events for any date by using our
Updated: 02/24/20 | February 24th, 2020
I remember when I started planning my first trip around the world. I had no idea what I was doing.
When I decided to quit my job and travel the world, I walked into a bookstore and bought Lonely Planet’s Southeast Asia on Shoestring. Buying that guidebook was my first step toward long-term travel. It made the trip seem more real, more tangilbe. It made it all seem possible.
While helpful, the book didn’t exactly prepare me for planning a trip around the world. Back then, there weren’t really travel blogs, guides, sharing economy websites, and apps like there are today. I was excited and determined — but I was lost. I just had to figure it out as I went, hoping I didn’t miss anything important.
Trip planning can be a daunting task. Where do you begin? What’s step one? What’s step two? What’s step three?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially when you haven’t done something like this before — and especially considering just how much information there is out there these days. Blogs, social media, and guidebooks have never been more plentiful. There’s a firehose of information out there which can sometimes make the task of planning a trip even more challenging and overwhelming.
After a decade of traveling the world, I’ve planned countless trips and vacations for myself, friends, family, and even group tours. In the beginning, it was trial by fire and I learned a lot of lessons the hard way. However, that helped me develop an efficient checklist that ensures I don’t miss anything important during the trip planning process.
After all, I don’t want to get to my next destination and then realize I forgot something. And neither do you!
There is a lot of information on this website (and even more information packed into my book), but one question that comes up frequently is, “Matt, how do I put this all together? How do I plan a trip?”
In a continuing effort to help you get out the door and into the world, I’ve created this step-by-step guide on how to plan a trip. It works for any kind of trip and no matter how long you’re going for! Just follow this checklist and you’ll be off in no time!
Table of Contents
Step 1: Decide Where You Want To Go
Step 2: Decide the Length of Your Trip
Step 3: Will you Travel Solo?
Step 4: Research Your Costs
Step 5: Start Saving Money
Step 6: Get a Travels Rewards Credit Card
Step 7: Switch to No-Fee ATM Cards
Step 8: Stay Focused and Inspired
Step 9: Check for Last-Minute Deals
Step 10: Book Your Flight
Step 11: Book Your Accommodation
Step 12: Plan Your Activities
Step 13: Sell Your Stuff
Step 14: Automate Your Bills
Step 15: Tell Your Card Companies You’re Traveling
Step 16: Pack!
Step 17: Buy Travel Insurance
Step 18: Enjoy Your Trip
If you want to jump ahead, simply click on any of the links above.
Defining where you want to go sets a goal to work toward. A lot of people talk vaguely about travel. They never say where they are going, just that they are going. Picking a destination is immensely important, as it gives you a definite goal.
It’s a lot easier to mentally get behind “I am going to Paris in the summer” than “I’m going to Europe” or “I’m going somewhere.” Not only will your trip become more concrete for you and easier to commit to, but it will make planning easier as well…because you know what to work towards. Get specific with your plans. Get detailed. The more focused and concrete your goal, the easier it will be to actually reach it.
Resources for picking your travel destination:
How much does it cost to travel? That depends!
Without knowing how long you’re going away for, I can’t answer that question. And it’s a question you need to answer so you can start planning!
In order to figure out how much you need to save you’ll need to know how long your trip will be.
Are you going away for a week? A month? A year?
The length of your trip is a huge factor in determining how much money you need. Spend some time mulling that over until you have your answer.
For example, after you say “I’m going to Paris this summer,” add “for X days.” That way you can start to narrow down just how much money you’re going to need to save. “I am going to Paris for 10 days” is a trip that you can plan for. It’s an attainable goal.
Want to learn how I travel the world for free? GET MY FREE GUIDE
One of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is whether you’re going to go alone or travel with someone. Both are great options — but they are decidely different choices too.
Traveling solo will give you the freedom to go anywhere you want. No compromising. You just go wherever the wind takes you! However, it means you have to do all the planning yourself — which can seem daunting if you’re new to trip planning.
Traveling with someone means you have someone to help plan the trip with you. It will make researching your itinerary faster and you’ll have someone to spend time with on the road. However, it also means you’ll need to compromise sometimes. Perhaps on meals or activities or accommodation. It will just depend on you and the person you travel with.
At the end of the day, there is no wrong answer.
Personally, I love the freedom of solo travel. But I’ve had some incredible trips with friends too. Chances are you’ll get to do both over the years. But for now, what is this trip going to be? Solo or with someone?
So you know where you’re going and how long you’ll be there, but to really nail down how much money you need, your next task is to research the costs in your destination at the style of travel you want.
Do you want to backpack, or would you rather stay in luxury hotels?
How much are hostels, hotels, restaurants, and attractions?
Knowing will allow you to estimate how much money you’ll need for your trip. Here is how to research costs:
You don’t need to do more than that. There’s so much information on the web that if you go down the rabbit hole of overplanning, you’ll get lost and confused by the firehose of information. Stick to those four things and you’ll be set!
In our example, if you are going to Paris for 10 days and need $75 USD a day (not including your flight), you know you need to save $750 USD (though round up to $800 USD since it’s good to have extra) for your trip.
If you were to travel around the world for a year, you’d need $50 USD a day.
Here are some other insightful posts that will help you better estimate your costs:
Before you can start saving money, you need to know how much you have and how much you’re spending. Start to write down all your current expenses so you can determine where you are spending money — and how you can cut back.
People bleed a lot of money every day through small purchases: a coffee here, a snack there. It all of that adds up. In order to make changes to your spending habits, you first need to understand them. Making a list will do just that. It will also put your financial needs into a better perspective.
For example, if you need $2,000 USD for the trip you’re taking in eight months, that means you only have to save $8.33 USD per day. Couldn’t you find a way to save $8 USD per day? Heck, your daily coffee is most of that!
If you’re struggling to save money, here are 22 ways to cut your expenses and save money for travel. This will help you get started and on the road to saving money in no time!
While you’re working to save money, get a travel credit card so you can earn sign-up bonuses to redeem miles and points for free flights and hotel stays. Collecting points and miles from travel credit cards is how I get tons of free flights, free hotle stays, and free travel perks every singel year — and without any extra spending too!
These days, most cards have welcome offers of up to 50,000 points when you meet their minimum spending requirement. That’s enough miles for a free flight almost anywhere in the world!
If you want a free flight, sign up for the cards that help with that. If you want free hotel rooms, get a hotel card. Either way, sign up for a travel credit card and start earning points today. As long as you can pay off your monthly balance, you’ll get free travel credit.
You don’t need to sign up for very many cards either; pick one or two and focus on those. Do this the moment you decide you want to travel. Don’t wait — waiting equals lost miles, which means less free travel.
Collecting points and miles (which is called “travel hacking”) is what all the experts do to cut their costs and travel longer. It’s what has kept my costs down and me on the road for so many years.
I am always doing this so I can travel for as cheap as possible.
For more information on travel hacking and travel credit cards, check out these posts:
Once you’re abroad, you;re going to need money. While many countries will accept credit cards, in the majority of countries cash is still king. That means you’ll need to use ATMs to withdraw the local currency. And that also means you’re going to get dinged by ATM fees.
If you’re just away for a week or two, paying a few dollars in ATM fees isn’t the end of the world. But if you’re away for a longer period, those fees will add up and chew into your travel budget — a budget you’ve worked hard to grow. Don’t give banks any of your hard-earned money.
How? By using a no-fee ATM card.
I use Charles Schwab, but there are lots of other banks (don’t forget to check your local banks) that don’t charge ATM fees. Additionally, you can join a bank in the Global ATM Alliance.
By using a no-fee ATM card you can avoid those pesky ATM fees, leaving you more money for what it was intended for: travel
Here’s exactly how you can avoid ATM fees while traveling.
While you get closer to your goal, make sure that you keep feeding your desire to travel. Travel planning can be exhausting and overwhelming — especially if you don’t have support from your friends and family. It can often get discouraging and feel out of reach at times.
Luckily, there are tons of ways to stay focused and keep your spirits high thanks to the amazing community we have on this website. Here are some inspiring travel stories to help keep you inspired to travel:
Wanderlust
Additionally, be sure to join our online travel group The Nomadic Network. Not only will you find support (and tons of tips) online, but we also host regular in-person events all around the world. These are a great way to get inspired, meet other awesome travelers in your area, and get travel advice.
Okay, you’re inspired, prepared, and on your way to saving money for your trip. But before you go buy that flight or book that hotel, check for deals you might have missed. You may dream of Paris but maybe there are great deals to Berlin right now. Or maybe you can get a seven-day cruise for 70% off, a package deal to Hawaii for the price of your flight to Paris, or 50% off sailing trips around Greece.
These days, there is always a deal to be found — especially if you’re flexible with your dates and/or destinations. Some deal websites worth checking out are:
After you’ve used your travel credit card and received your sign-up bonus, use your miles to book your flight. It is harder to use miles these days due to less availability, so make sure to book early to ensure you get your desired flight.
Fortunately, there are still many ways to avoid being the person on the flight who paid the most for their ticket. My favorite sites for finding cheap airfare are:
For the best deals, book your flight about two-three months in advance. Here are two articles on how to score a cheap flight:
If you’re traveling for under two weeks and have a set schedule, feel free to book accommodation for the duration of your trip if it will give you peace of mind (or if you’re visiting during the high season).
For trips longer than two weeks (or if you are going to be traveling long-term) just book your first few days. That will ensure you have a place to go on arrival. Once there, you can get insider advice from your hotel/hostel staff as well as other travelers. You can then use that info to plan your next steps.
While you can book more than your first few nights, you might end up wanting to change your plans once you land. I prefer having flexibility, which is why I always just book my first few nights and go from there.
Here are my go-to sites when it comes to finding the best deals on accommodation:
If you plan on staying in a lot of hotels during your trip, sign up for a hotel credit card before you depart. Cards like Marriott’s Bonvoy Boundless offer a huge welcome bonus, 6x the points on hotel stays, and a free hotel stay every year. Whenever I stay in a hotel, it’s because I’ve earned it with free points!
If you’re on a tight budget or you want to connect with more locals furing your tarvels, consider joining paltforms like Couchsurfing or Be Welcome. These communities allow travelers to stay with locals for free as sort of cultural exchange.
Long-term travelers can also try housesitting or WWOOFing as well as they both offer free accommodation (in exchange for either pet sitting or farm work respectively).
To make sure you have budgeted properly, outline the major activities you want to enjoy during your trip and how much they cost. Make any last-minute adjustments to your savings so you can ensure you have enough money. This will also help you figure out if you need any reservations for your chosen tours or activities.
Search online for discounts as well. While some countries offer cheaper prices in person, others give discounts to those who book early/online. Research which is which for your itinerary so you can save money.
For shorter trips, you can also book your activities in advance to ensure you get tickets. For longer trips, book as you go.
Additionally, before you leave home, have a rough idea of what activities are priorities for you. That way, if you run out of time or money, you can focus on your top activities so you don’t miss out. Also, make sure to double-check that there are no holidays or other obstacles that will prevent you from certain activities as well.
If you are going on a long-term trip (six months or more), sell your stuff in order to earn extra money for your trip. Start doing this about 60 days before you leave. Some sites to use are:
If you aren’t going to be gone that long, skip this step. If you are going away long-term but want to keep your stuff, move it to a friend’s house or keep it in storage. A good storage company in the US is Public Storage. It’s one of the most affordable options out there.
Get rid of your mail, go paperless, and set up online bill payment for your recurring bills to ensure you won’t miss any while overseas. If you are still going to get paper mail, use a service like Earth Class Mail, which will collect and scan your mail for you. (If you are going on a two-week trip, you don’t really need to worry about this, so you can skip this step, too.)
If you have the option (and don’t want to pay for a mail service), you can also have all your mail sent to a friend or family member.
Additionally, you’ll want to make sure you cancel any phone plans you have or switch your plan to one that is more travel-friendly. T-Mobile is great for travelers going on trips under 3 months. For any trips longer than that, you’ll want to cancel your plan and just buy SIM cards abroad. That will be much cheaper!
No matter how long you’ll be gone, it’s a good idea to let your credit card companies know you will be overseas; that way any transactions that you make aren’t flagged as fraudulent and your card is less likely to be blocked. There’s nothing worse than having to sit on the phone with your credit card company instead of enjoying your vacation.
Also, make sure you have multiple credit card and debit cards with you. That way, should one card get flagged, lost, or stolen you won’t be left high and dry. I’ve lost cards, had them stolen, and had them flagged many times over the years. Without a backup, I would have been stranded — so plan ahead and bring some backup cards just in case!
Time to pack for your trip! It can be tempting to want to bring everything with you “just in case” but when it comes to travel, less is more. You don’t need 5 sweaters or 8 pairs of shoes. You can get by with less, I promise. it’s actually quite liberating once you get used to it!
I travel with a 40L REI bag and then a smaller day bag.
Unless you’re heading to multiple climates and need bulky winter hear, you don’t need a massive 70L bag stuffed to the top. Here’s my suggested packing list to help you take just the right amount of stuff and avoid overpacking (here’s a list for female travelers as well).
While what you pack will depend on where you are going, remember that you don’t need to pack everything you own. You can buy things you need on the road. You can do laundry overseas. At the end of the day, you have to carry everything you bring. So bring less!
There are a few extra tiems you might want to pack beyond your everyday clothes, though. Some things I like to bring with me are:
Additionally, make sure you bring any prescriptions with you so you have enough for the duration of your trip. If that’s not feasible, bring a doctors note and prescription with you so you can fill it abroad.<
While a lot of people think, “I’m healthy, I don’t need travel insurance. I won’t get sick,” travel insurance is much more than just medical protection. It covers you when your camera breaks, your flight is canceled, a family member dies and you have to come home, or if something gets stolen.
Yes, it’s an added expense. But it’s always better to be safe than sorry. I never leave home without it because I’ve seen first-hand just what can happen on the road.
I never thought I would pop my eardrum while I was scuba diving in Thailand or break my camera in Italy.
I didn’t know I would get stabbed in Colombia.
My friend never thought he would break his leg hiking.
Another friend didn’t expect her father would die and she would have to fly back home.
Unfortunately, bad things can happen when you’re traveling. True, these events are few and far between. But they can cost tens of thousnds of dollars to handle on your own. If you’re not prepared to pay out of pocket, buy travel insurance.
To help you figure out the best plan for you and your trip, here’s my ultimate guide to picking a good insurance company. It will show you how to pick a good plan that covers you for when you get sick, your flights get canceled, if you get injured, something gets stolen, or your trip is delayed.
My favorite company is World Nomads and I use them for all my trips. If you’re older than 70, check out Insure my Trip as they are the best provider for older travelers.
For more information on travel insurance, you can check out these posts:
And now, everything comes together. It’s time to go on your trip and have fun! Head to the airport, board your plane (don’t forget your passport!), and enjoy the fruits of your labor. You’ve earned this!
If you’re feeling nervous, don’t worry — that’s perfectly normal. You’re about to embark on an amazing adventure — and that’s a huge change. Feeling anxious or nervous or unsure is something every traveler experiences. But you’ve made it this far. Trust your planning, follow your instincts, and you’ll have the trip of a lifetime. I guarantee it.
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By using this post as a guideline for your trip planning, you can better organize and prepare for your trip. You’ll check all the boxes, not miss anything, and have plenty of money for your vacation. It can be as simple as booking a flight and packing or as complex as rearranging your entire life to go backpack the world forever.
But, no matter how long your trip may be, this list will help you stay organized and motivated as you plan your trip and to step onto that plane and out into the world.
P.S. – Yes, I did leave out visas and vaccinations, because needing those isn’t as universal as the other stuff on this list, but don’t forget to check if you need those, too!
Want to have this information at your fingertips? Download this post as a PDF
Stop paying full price! Download my free guide to travel hacking and learn how to get free flights and accommodation. You will learn:
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the most comprehensive inventory. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!
The post 18 Easy Steps for Planning Your Next Trip appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.
Weddings are such beautiful and special events. There’s just something so sweet about a wedding, so I wanted to share a wonderful family event that happened in December. December 14th, 2019 was the wedding of Mark’s youngest daughter, McKenzie, who married her long time beau, Patrick. They’ve been together since they were 15, truly childhood sweethearts. They are a beautiful couple and we are so happy to celebrate their wedding and the beginning of their married life together. We wish them every bit of happiness in their future as a couple.
The post Family Wedding: Patrick and McKenzie appeared first on Southern Hospitality.
