Seeking a calm weekend getaway from San Francisco? Look no further than Mendocino.

Growing up in Northern California, I thought I had weekend destinations here well established. Somehow it still took years of living in San Francisco for me to finally get to Mendocino. When I finally did, for the first time last spring, it quickly became a new favorite spot to get a change of pace from the city. Mendocino refreshes you in a way that is hard to describe.

Just a few hours drive up the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco, being here always feels like a breath of fresh air (maybe because it literally is?) Whether clear or misty, a wild, jagged coast awaits you, and no matter how many times you visit it feels like you’ve discovered some nature-filled secret. The redwood-lined drive in alone puts me instantly at ease.

I first ended up in Mendocino when looking for a weekend trip from SF where we could bring our dog along. It’s not only dog-friendly, it’s close for most of the Bay Area but is just tucked away enough to feel worlds away (in a good way!)

We first spent five days exploring the area and enjoying its beaches, trails, parks, gardens, and cafes. More recently I had the chance to return for my first trip with a newborn in tow.

If you’re looking for a coastal trip that’s beautiful, calm, and friendly to all, it is definitely worth treating yourself to a Mendocino weekend. Here’s what you need to know to plan a visit of your own.

Getting from San Francisco to Mendocino

From San Francisco, it’s a short 3-hour drive through Marin and Sonoma, up the coast, and through the redwood forest. Plan 4 hours for a more leisurely drive with stops. You can also take two buses to get there if a car isn’t in your plans, but it’ll take you about double the time. I recommend driving if you can.

My favorite place to stop along the way is Boonville. It’s always where we grab a bite (shoutout to the Disco Ranch, the loveliest wine bar and specialty food market) but you can also pause at any of the Andersen Valley wineries that call to you along the way. A few I recommend include Toulouse Vineyards, Husch Winery, Navarro Vineyards, and The Madrones, which has four tasting rooms in one beautiful location. Healdsburg is another favorite wine country spot that’s easy to stop at along the way — although I typically reserve this for its own visit as it’s much closer to the city.

Where to Stay in Mendocino

I stayed at the same spot for both visits to the area: the wonderful Stanford Inn. There are many lovely inns along the coast, but for me, Stanford Inn checks all the boxes for a weekend getaway — peaceful, pet-friendly, family-friendly, and in general, friendly (i.e. wonderful people run the place!)

It’s set in a meadow with organic gardens and farmland, with ocean views from many of the rooms. It’s quiet but still close to town and has its own truly fantastic vegan restaurant on site (plus, breakfast is included each morning with your stay.) A bonus of the location is its proximity to Big River, with Catch-a-Canoe rentals and launch area steps from the inn’s front door.

To me, the highlight of the Stanford Inn is its focus on wellness. I recommend relaxing on the property for at least one day to enjoy their gardens, sauna, and pool. They offer yoga classes, massage (in the forest!), gardening classes, plant-based cooking classes, and art therapy regularly. You can also arrange to experience acupuncture, Ayurveda, meditation, breathwork, or Chinese herbology with their knowledgeable staff. They even have free mountain bikes available to guests. Or, you can opt for my favorite activity as of late — lounging in front of the fireplace. There’s one in every room.

They welcome all pets, but for us, the small touches like freshly made dog treats and blankets so that our dog could sit comfortably on the couch with us, make all the difference. We opted for the two-room suite for our family of four (furry friend included) and it was great to have the extra space. Having stayed in multiple different room types there, you’re in for a treat no matter which space suits your travel style.

Things to Do in Mendocino

Whether you’re in town for the weekend or an extended stay, there’s plenty to see and do (in a leisurely manner, of course.) I like to mix and match something active with something relaxing, like a hike with a restaurant or a beach trip with a bike ride. Here are a few things to bookmark as you explore:

Take a Hike

There is a wealth of places to enjoy a stroll in nature and get your forest bath on. A few noteworthy trails include the Russian Gulch Waterfall Loop, the Fern Canyon Trail, the Big River Trail, a Mendocino Headlands cliff walk, and the newly opened Noyo Headlands Coastal Trail a bit further up north.

Rent a Bike

You can bike all throughout Mendocino and its surroundings. Biking leisurely around the downtown area is always fun, stopping for a snack or a drink along the way. Mountain bikers are also welcome on many of the hiking trails listed above. You can bike on old logging roads in Jackson Demonstration Forest. Heading inland a bit, Manly Gulch Trail is a great forest path for biking. If you’re looking to bike next to the ocean, check out the Ten Mile Beach Trail just north of Mendocino in Fort Bragg.

Visit a State Park

Many of the area’s best trails are located in state parks. Bookmark Van Damme State Park, Mendocino Headlands, MacKarricher State Park, Russian Gulch State Park, Caspar Headlands State Park, and Jug Handle State Reserve, and visit whichever works best for you on any given day (they’re all beautiful.)

Be on the lookout for grey whales passing through if you’re visiting during the winter. Year-round, we love exploring the tidepools at MacKarricher State Park. For those of you with pups in tow, the Headlands trail and MacKarricher boardwalks are both dog-friendly.

Catch a Canoe

One of my very favorite activities in this area is a calming paddle up Big River. If your preference is to stay on land, there is also a great hiking and biking trail that follows the river, or you can enjoy the views at Big River Beach where the river meets the ocean. Canoeing or kayaking all but guarantees a slower pace, with a sense of connection to the nature around you. We always see tons of wildlife, including birds, otters, and harbor seals.

Soak It All In

If after hitting the trails and beaches, you may be inclined to slow down a bit further. Up the highway, you’ll find the Mendocino Botanical Gardens, a sublime garden spread out over 47 acres. You’ll need to purchase your ticket in advance ($15,) and check their website for their opening hours which vary by season.

If you’ve had enough forest bathing and want to switch gears to actual bathing, look no further than the Sweetwater Spa. The eco spa in the center of downtown has outdoor soaking tubs to access either privately or communally (note that clothing is optional in the community tub.) There’s also a redwood sauna on site. You’ll want to reserve the private soaking tub in advance.

Where to Eat in Mendocino

These are my favorite places to grab a bite in and around Mendocino (after several visits:)

• Cafe Beaujolais – dinner, but The Brickery inside is fantastic for lunch
• Patterson’s Pub – lunch and dinner (don’t miss the fish and chips!)
• Good Life Cafe and Bakery – breakfast and lunch
• The Ravens Restaurant (Vegan) – breakfast, lunch, and dinner plus happy hour before 6pm
• Noyo Fish Company (Fort Bragg) – lunch and dinner, fresh from the sea at Noyo Harbor
• Princess Seafood (Fort Bragg) – lunch, women-owned, also at Noyo Harbor

And to drink, check out North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg if you enjoy craft beers! Fort Bragg is the area’s largest town, located about 15 minutes drive up the coast from Mendocino’s downtown.

I hope you enjoy the area, including the scenic drive from San Francisco to Mendocino, as much as I have! Let me know in the comments if you have other favorite spots you recommend exploring here.

:: save for later ::

The post Weekend Getaway: San Francisco to Mendocino appeared first on Part-Time Traveler.

I realize that there is a plethora of travel advice attempting to address just this, but seeing as it remains one of your most frequently asked questions I wanted to write about how I find the flights that I do (on a writer’s budget, no less!)

For the first time in recent memory, the availability of inexpensive flights (particularly from the expensive city in which I live!) continues to surprise and delight me! When I think back to what I used to pay for certain routes (i.e. SFO >> London, which I will be flying next week!) I am amazed at how much more manageable it has become to fly, particularly to Asia and Europe.

Even if you aren’t based in a city with a major aviation hub, there are more deals than ever (random as they may be.) What does this mean, exactly? ….We should all be traveling more!

So, how do I search for flights, and when do I book? I use a combination of different travel sites and flight search tools. Often I’ll keep my eyes on a route for a bit before I book, and I use alerts to strike when the iron/prices are hot. I flew to Paris for $220 (one-way) last year, for Pete’s sake!

The following tools are what I use most often:

The Flight Deal:: My most utilized source of flight deals. I love their daily emails.
Airfare Watchdog:: Tracks routes and sends alerts. Great for keeping an eye on multiple routes.
Google Flights:: What I use most to search for flights. You can also set alerts, and I love the calendar feature.
Secret Flying:: Less useful overall but worth watching for occasional exceptionally good deals.
Exit Fares:: If you’re really into staying on top of flight deals (guilty,) here’s another daily email that’s worth subscribing to.
Rome2Rio:: I use this for comparing all transportation options from one place to another (also presents flight price data.)
—
Other available tools I use less frequently, but other travelers swear by:
Momondo
Kayak Explore
Hipmunk
Skyscanner

Of course, I also use miles (though I’m certainly no expert travel hacker) to book flights for free by consolidating all my expenses on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. This popular card is a no-brainer for me because I essentially only spend money on food and travel, both of which earn 3x the rewards. Before I used this card, I also used the Capital One Venture card. Although the rewards aren’t as great, I liked it because I could simply charge any travel purchase and then retroactively erase the charge with points earned.

I keep track of my points using Award Wallet — which is great because it alerts me when miles are about to expire — and good ol’ Google spreadsheets. If you’re in the points game at all, you’ll want to read The Points Guy.

I’ve also learned a lot about cheap flights from Nomadic Matt, specifically the chapter in his book Travel the World in $50 a Day.

A few more of my best tips…

• No matter how you find the flight, try to book directly with the airline. I’m not a fan of booking through a third-party like Expedia or Orbitz, as I’ve had too many bad customer service experiences (such as being told I would receive miles on a discounted ticket and then not being able to receive them.) Also, keep in mind that some airlines do not show up on searches like Google Flights (i.e. Southwest) so you will want to try a few different searches at a minimum before you book something.
• Always, always expand your search to nearby airports. If looking only at LAX, you may miss an incredible deal into Long Beach or Burbank that may be worth the extra trouble. If you only search for Heathrow, you are limiting yourself from the options at the other five London airports (use LON or NYC instead of LGW or JFK for example, to see all airport options in a city.) Many flight search sites will allow you to explore two options and present the best price. For example, I can see the best of my two home airports in searches when typed as such: SFO, OAK. So many times I’ve saved money by expanding my search out of SFO by leaving from Oakland, and I still almost always forget to include the option!
• If you’re on the fence, know that airlines often adjust prices on Tuesdays. I published this post on a Tuesday, and I also booked a flight I had been watching that went down in price this day! Also, be sure to clear your cookies if the flight price goes up in a short amount of time since you last looked…

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It’s no secret that I’m a huge book nerd. My ideal afternoon includes prancing around foreign cities in search of the best libraries and bookstores. Yet in just over two years in San Francisco I’ve gotten to know my local bookstores — and they’ve become some of my favorites in the whole world.

In honor of National Book Lovers Day this week (which I am celebrating fully,) here is a list of what I consider to be…

The best independent bookstores and used bookstores in San Francisco.

Green Apple Books

One of my later discoveries but certainly one of the best, Green Apple Books is a SF classic. Located in the Inner Richmond, a trip to Green Apple pairs best with a stroll up and down Clement in search of the street’s best bites. The combination of their wide selection (hello, used travel book section!,) friendly staff, and proximity to dumplings makes this easily one of the best bookstores in the city.

Dogeared Books

With wide windows and tall bookshelves that beckon every book nerd walking through the Mission, Dogeared is a neighborhood favorite that keeps one of my favorite parts of the city well-stocked with classic books. What I love most about Dogeared the community feel they maintain. There’s also one in the Castro.

Russian Hill Bookstore

My former friendly neighborhood bookstore, it’s a cozy spot that makes you feel all warm and toasty while you browse the books and cards there. I especially love the discount cart out front (gets me every time) and the used cookbook section is always a winner (for you foodie bookworms!) It’s on another of my favorite city streets: Polk Street.

The Booksmith

A beautiful haven for bookworms on funky Haight Street. I especially love the staff recommendations (as designated on shelves) here.

Readers Bookstore at Fort Mason

This place is a hidden book lovers’ gem. Run by Friends of the SF Library, its tucked away but expansive inside, with a range of books from rare to super discounted (think less than $1.) You can most certainly treasure hunt here (my advice: set a time limit or you might get lost for hours.) It’s where I go to get my fill in between the SF Big Book Sale (the $1 book Sunday is by far the biggest treat I can think of.)

Book Passage

Deemed “the liveliest bookstore in the Bay Area,” the main store is out in Marin’s Corte Madera and is well worth the trek from the city, but they’ve also got a branch in the Ferry Building. Aside from being home to some of the city’s best literary events (including the Travel Writers and Photographers Conference, this week!) Book Passage has fostered an amazing community of creatives that is unparalleled in the area. The names both local and international that appear for readings here regularly blow my mind. The Marin location has a cute cafe as well, where you can even sip wine in between your book browsing. (I’m sold.)

City Lights Bookstore

Ah, City Lights San Francisco. The first time I walked by its exterior, the “Open Door, Open Books, Open Mind, Open Heart” signs in the window immediately drew me to the place. Its interior is even more full of quirks and quotes, my favorite of all being:

Where the streets of the world meet the avenues of the mind.

Its nooks and crannies are some of the most interesting spaces you’ll find, book lover or not, in the entire city. Outside of being a world literature hub, it has centuries of history and literary legacy as a publisher, including those of the Beat Generation poets.

City Lights harkens back to the San Francisco I imagine I’d love the most: literate, slightly rebellious, tolerant, progressive, bold.  I once heard someone call it “vibrantly old school,” which is basically what I aspire to be in life (ha.) Add in the fact that they’re the “sister” bookstore to what might be my favorite place in the whole wide world, and I can’t say that there’s any other bookstore that makes my heart go aflutter as this one does.

Do you know of any other bookstores in SF that I haven’t found yet? I’ll send you a delicious old book as a thank you. #thatoldbooksmell

Any other favorite bookstores you have found in your travels, or in your home city? Any favorite SF books? Tell me, tell me!

Happy reading, friends.

The post One Fine Read: Best Bookstores in San Francisco appeared first on Part-Time Traveler.

Still, the realities of work and life demand that we stay connected the majority of the time, in most of the world. If clients cannot reach us, there is no work. If friends and family cannot reach us, we have no life outside of said work. So while I am beginning to pay more attention to when and why I am connected, I most certainly must remain plugged in.
Ever since someone told me I hunt for wifi on the road “like a pig after truffles,” I’ve realized that the best way for me to enjoy the place I’m in, especially when I must work while I’m on the road, is to increase my connectivity…and then relax about it.  Strangely enough, having the ability to be connected makes it so that I don’t want to be. (One of many paradoxes of modern life, I’m afraid.)
These are the nifty little tools that keep me sane. May they help you in  your quest to stay connected — or disconnected when you don’t have to be.

For when you need wifi to go with you where it’s not available:
A personal 4G device (<< I use Skyroam – and you can get 10% off one with code parttimetraveler.)
For when you need stronger wifi/a secure connection, or want to connect multiple devices:
Travel router
For when you need phone power:
Mophie back-up battery
For when you need more power:
Travel surge protector

These four simple gadgets cover all connectivity issues for me: 1) do not have Internet or 2) need to strengthen existing Internet, and 3) do not have power and 4) need to maximize existing power. I make a little kit with these four items when I go, and I reduce nearly all worry that I won’t have a connection when I need one.
With this combination, I hardly ever have to think ahead about service or power (and that peace of mind is everything, even when I’m not using my devices.) And then, I get to choose when I work…instead of wasting time searching for a connection or feeling the urgency to do everything at once I find one.

Other options for increasing connectivity:

• T-Mobile global roaming/unlimited data while abroad (I don’t use because it doesn’t work well for me when at home.)
• Local SIM cards (I find this to be a greater hassle than it’s worth, but for many it’s a route worth pursuing.)
• International plan with your current carrier

Personally, I find that 90% of my connectivity needs are served by readily available wifi (especially when paired with above devices) so I don’t bother with international plans. In place of calls or texts I need to make, I use these! >>
Helpful tools you’re probably already using:

• Skype
• What’s App
• iMessage (free texting from your iPhone via internet connection)
• Facebook Messenger

(These might seems overly obvious, but really it’s just to demonstrate how connected you can remain simply by having wifi.)
Other Great Resource Sites (To Stay Connected While Traveling)
Will My Phone Work? (self-explanatory)
Too Many Adapters (connectivity resource, especially for country-specific SIM card info.)

So for me, whether traveling or at home, the secret to “turning it off” and enjoying the moment without needing to post about it is…ironically, having the connection available in the first place.
—-
May wifi connections and 4G networks never replace the beauty and simplicity of sitting across from someone you find interesting. May there never be a screen more enticing that the humanity behind someone’s eyes. And may we continue to contemplate what real connection is, as we add more devices to our repertoire and more apps to our iPhones.

The post How I Stay Connected While Traveling appeared first on Part-Time Traveler.

Should you go abroad during the holidays?

Some points to consider:

• The biggest resource we have to spend to get abroad — for those of us working full-time — is not money, but time.  There’s either a rush or a cool-down at the end of the year.  Many of us get more of time off from work (or have an easier time requesting it) seasonally.  Can you use it to travel?
• You’re going to spend money either way.  When you’re abroad, the biggest cost is usually the flight. When you’re home, you’re spending on all those gift exchanges, holiday party fare, decorations… It can add up.
• Can you do both?  Perhaps a trip in the week between Christmas and New Years, somewhere closer?  I’ve never opted for this personally, but it is worth considering.
• If you find it better for you to be at home this year…how can you enjoy the places around you?  Many of us end up traveling domestically to visit family.  Are you exploring the area?
• December (in most industries) can be a “down” month at work anyways.  This varies from employer to employer, but with so many of my clients paring down hours in December, it was actually appreciated that I used saved vacation days for that month.
• You can alternate years.   Spend this year abroad, spend the next at home.  How can you balance it so it works for everyone?
• Are you able to spend time with family at other points in the year? For some of this, this is a ‘no,’ which would tempt me to instead travel at other times in the year.  If it’s a ‘yes’…could you make the most of your days off over holidays instead?
• Friends and families share their loved ones with others each and every year.  Could yours spare you for travel…your other half?
• If you do decide to travel, make your loved ones part of your journey.  
  • Plan to send gifts home from your destination that they can open on the day.
  • Skype them on their timezone’s clock.
  • If friends and family are supportive, ask them to contribute something to your trip in place of a gift!
  • Share some of the ways you are celebrating even though you are gone.  Just because you’re abroad (even in a country that is not celebrating the holiday) doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it there.
• Other cities and other countries are beautiful this time of year.  Just saying.

For some of us, the holidays at home are a non-negotiable. For others, it may be the optimal time of year to hit the road.  What do you think about traveling during holidays? Ask yourself…which will you regret missing more?

Do you opt to travel over the holiday season?  How do you maximize extra days off during the year?  Would you be willing to trade some of your annual traditions for new experiences abroad?

The post Should You Go Abroad During the Holidays? appeared first on Part-Time Traveler.

Why?  Well, I still get questions about it.  More than that, when I went to pack I drew collectively from several different lists and ideas to create a ‘pack that worked for me.

So — take what works for you, and leave the rest.  Or, follow my list to a tee.  I’m proud to say it worked out quite well for me.

Plus, there’s a pretty sweet packing list download at the bottom of the post — if you’re like me and you need something visual/printed on paper to refer to.Note: this RTW packing list can be modified for minimalist shorter term travel, if you remove items qualified only for durability and/or variety and perhaps add destination-specific pieces.

You’ve heard it before, but I’m going to tell you again.  PACK LIGHT.  The short version:

 The detailed version:

Literally everything I took for five months of traveling.

I’ll break down by category what I took and how I stayed organized during planning.  But first…
 

Commandments of the ‘Pack (For Long Term Travel):

•   Thou shalt not pack any clothes that don’t fit these parameters: cost = free or under $5 and/or age = five or more years of use.

Why?  This made it so that I wasn’t attached to any items.  Between not having access to a washer/dryer and the potential for theft, forgetting it somewhere, and stains — this reduced my stress about clothing.
The best part of this guideline for me was that I felt free to exchange or leave behind clothes that no longer served me.  There was no tinge of guilt to carry something just because it was worth something.

• Thou shalt not pack electronics with data is the same compartment as backup data.

Why? For obvious reasons.  If you lose one, you’ve got the other.

• Functionality and comfort > style.

Why?  Well, aside from accepting I would be wildly uncomfortable in many situations (I’m looking at you, overnight buses) and I just don’t need to add to that — I love using travel as an excuse not to stress over my appearance.  I prefer to focus on my interior.  Bonus: the
sad (but true) fact that as traveling as a woman means the less effort I put into my appearance, the less unwanted attention I am going to get.

• Thou shalt remember that plastic bags and packing cubes are your friend.

Why? They make things smaller, keep them dry, keep them organized, and possibly more hygienic.

• Thou shalt not pack the full-size anything and shall seek out mini-sized everything.

Why? One, mini-sized things exist for most every essential item.  Plus, they’re cuter. Plus, they take up less space.
 

First things first — the “long-haul” flight outfit.

For me, this must consist of the most comfortable clothing possible.  Breathable cotton, preferably stretchy, is the key.
I also brought along a jacket that had been given to me for free by my employer (after I took a sharpie to the company logo!)  Again, I’m all about the disposable clothes — which is good because though it kept me warm on a cold airplane,  it didn’t ever get cold again after my first country. I was able to pass it on and lighten my pack right away.
Also — a scarf is a traveler’s best friend.  Wear it on the plane.  You will never regret it.  I opted for a light, cotton one that I could wash (who wants to be on the road with a scarf they can’t wash?) I like this one.

Long haul flight outfit.

Carry-on essentials:

• I keep a small wallet and a money belt on hand, filled with local currency, US currency, credit cards, ATM cards, and forms of identification.  (Don’t forget your passport!)
• I cannot do without my self-created travel comfort pack: inflatable neck pillow, ear plugs, eye mask.  I’ve been known to keep a pair of socks in my bag if I’m not already wearing some.
• I like having an old-fashioned small Moleskine notebook and pen with me for note taking and journaling.
• Might I suggest a small snack in case the in-flight food is unavailable or unbearable?  (I like almonds.)
• Other freshen-up items: for me, it’s having tissues and hand sanitizer (not pictured.)
• Don’t forget any medications you can’t live without, and I always keep some ibuprofen and a sleep aid like melatonin accessible.
• Sunglasses.  Enough said.

My traveling medicine cabinet and personal care items:

Medicine cabinet, to-go: 

• Stomach: Antibiotics: zithromycin aka ZPack, Cipro, antacid, Pepcid tablets, Imodium, oral rehydration salts (if you’ve ever gotten food poisoning, you know these are all essentials.)
• First aid:  aspirin/pain reliever, bandaids/Neosporin, small scissors, a few alcohol pads, Benedryl, moleskin (optional.)
• Other: Malaria: doxycycline, any other prescribed medications, sleep aid, bug spray, hand sanitizer.

Toiletries and self-care: 

• Shampoo/conditioner, face wash, chapstick, sunscreen, basic makeup (coverup, mascara, blush), tweezers, vaseline, deodorant, hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, mini toilet paper roll (I use one of these and refill it as I go,) razor, floss, headbands/hair ties, bar of soap.
• (Tip: bring a large sized deodorant for long term travel in Asia, as it can be difficult to find it there without whitener.)
• Other: You will see hair dye pictured (I went dark to travel India and the Middle East), immunizations card

Get mini-sized everything!  I love packing my own liquids in these.

Utilities (and generally useful necessities:)

• I used my dry bag 1,000x more than I thought I would.  Stay tuned for some of the ways it has served me during my travels.
• Luggage locks as well as a combination lock for any hostel lockers.
• A mini umbrella may be useful. I used mine as a parasol in the Indian summer sun more than as rain gear.  I also pack a small emergency poncho.
• LOTS of extra Ziplock bags (not pictured.)
• Laundry detergent sheets and a sink plug.  Many other travelers often bring a clothesline as well (I didn’t.)
• The doorstop pictured here is lightweight and but great for extra security.  Just set it behind the door when you’re sleeping, to prevent or delay intruders.  This gave me lots of peace of mind.
• Travel blanket and travel towel.  This one and this one are my all-time favorites.
• This small, reusable water bottle more resembles a plastic bag with a cap than your typical water bottle.  It can be rolled or folded to take up literally no space.  Bonus: it’s quite the conversation starter.

Electronics deserve their own category:

• I use this grid (pictured) to keep my cords and plugs compact and organized.  It’s very lightweight and saved me a lot of cord-induced headache.
• The Belkin mini-surge protector is a lifesaver in the common scenario of having many devices to charge and only one outlet or one converter.
• I used a Canon T3i DSLR for this trip, and I was completely happy with it.  I also love having this GoPro (with wifi) for many of my adventures, including scuba diving!  (Update: I now use the Sony a6000 and I’m obsessed with this case for it.)
• This Toshiba notebook (I now use a Macbook Air ) served me well.  It was lightweight, cost less than an iPad, and small enough to easily tote along, but large enough to feel comfortable typing on. I can’t recommend bringing an external hard-drive enough!
• Also pictured: Kindle with case, backup charger, card reader, flashlight, headphones, electric converters.

Shoes:

I brought: old, used tennis shoes, ballet flats (recommend nude color for versatility,) Haviana flip-flops (basically the only shoes I wore, recommend this brand for durability), and a pair of leather sandals.
IF I were to do it all over again, I’d exchange the leather sandals in favor of water-friendly sandals like these.
 

The final product, fully packed.

The daypack zips onto the front of the larger pack!

Ah yes!  How could I forget the all-important backpack recommendations?

After months (yes, months) of research, I settled upon this backpack/daypack combination from REI.  (Tip: got last year’s model at the REI outlet for significantly cheaper.) If you’re going to get both, I can’t recommend this complementary pair enough.  I loved using each separately and together.

I borrowed the small black bag from my mother after vowing for years that I would never use it.  Not the most stylish handbag in the world, but it was comfortable, functional and saved me from being robbed at least twice.  Bonus: it held my camera on days I didn’t feel like carrying the daypack.  Here is the latest version of the bag.

WOW! Look at you, you got all the way down here!  Congrats.

Here’s your bonus: My Packing List

(click to download PDF)

Preview: 

Well, phew.  I feel like I spent at least a week of time writing this, but I know how much I relied on others’ lists when I was doing my planning/packing.  If it has helped you out, please share it with the other travelers in your life!

As always, if you have specific questions or need additional advice…I’m happy to help.  Feel free to let me know.

Please note: some of the links above are affiliate links, so if you decide to purchase one of the items I’ve recommended a very, very small amount will be contributed to my travel fund at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting the site.

The post Five Tips For Pro Packing (Plus, My RTW Packing List and Tips) appeared first on Part-Time Traveler.

On Places

On Planning

How did you decide where to go?

• First, I had to decide where to start.  For me, it was easy: I was meeting a friend in Hong Kong, and I had always wanted to go there.  I knew I could work west from there across Asia, through the Middle East, and finish in Europe.  It all depends on where you’re heading, and for many travelers, where you can find a cheap flight.  I found a deal on a direct flight LAX –> HKG and I was sold.  Other common entry points include Bangkok for Southeast Asia and London or Frankfurt for Europe.  Large airports that serve as major hubs tend to have the best deals

• Once I knew where I was starting, I used several resources to then map out a reasonable itinerary (including several Skype planning sessions with fellow travelers!)
• By no means did I intend to stick strictly to my plan, but I knew where I wanted to go and about how long I wanted to spend there beforehand.  This kept me moving, otherwise…I enjoyed each place so much I could have stayed in one country the whole time!
• There is nothing more fun than whipping out the ol’ bucket list of countries and places and trying to fit them together like a puzzle.  I’ve kept a list for years and it was a dream come true to sit in front of it and plan how to get there!
• RESOURCES:
  • Your local library.  It’s free.  It’s (hopefully) extensive.  Guidebooks may be a bit outdated, but you can fill in the gaps with up-to-date information from the Internet.
  • Rome2Rio.com is a great resource to give you an idea of the many ways to get in between places.
  • If you’re visual like me, Traveller’s Point has my favorite ‘map your trip’ function online. (See mine.)
  • Travel blogs.  Just like this one.  People have done it before you, learn from them!

Above all, don’t forget to plan to be flexible!  I know it sounds counterintuitive, but if even if you’re doing a loose outline of places you’d like to go, it is necessary to add extra days as problems can and will arise…as well as opportunities for adventure you never could have planned.
Where did you go that you COULD have (if necessary) crossed off of your itinerary?
Only places that I had already gone.  I did revisit places like the Taj Mahal  (and honestly, never assumed I would be back to.)  I was traveling with a friend who hadn’t been.  She did the same for me in places I hadn’t been– like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and honestly, revisiting a place (I mean, who’s lucky enough to have been to the Taj once, let alone twice?) always allows me to see how far I’ve come since I was there last.
Where do you wish you could have ADDED?
ALL THE PLACES!  I’d keep going to every corner of this world.  On this trip in particular, if I had kept going I would’ve liked to have explored more of Eastern Europe: Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovenia.
What did you pack?
Utterly complete packing post is in the works!
I’m going to ____ next month.  Can you give me your tips or offer any suggestions?
Of course!  This is my number one FAQ (after ‘how do you afford it?’) and I love connecting with my readers. Let me know how I can help you.
 

The temples of Abu Simbel, Nubia, Egypt

On Favorites

I absolutely love sharing the answers to the questions I received about “favorite” places.  Many of them I visited only because they were raved about by other travelers.  May this list give you some fodder for your travel bucket list!
Most beautiful place?
Santorini, Greece.
Close runner-ups: U Bein Bridge (Burma), Udaipur (India), Lake Como (Italy), Cappadocia (Turkey.)
 Most fascinating place?
Jerusalem and the West Bank, Egypt, all of Burma.
Favorite country?
Friends and family joke with me that my favorite country is whatever one I went to last.  This trip, or any, if I HAVE to choose one…it’s India.  Visiting India is truly, almost like visiting another planet.  In every good way.  It turned me–and everything I thought I knew about the world–upside down.  (This trip was my second time there, and it definitely won’t be my last.)  And while it isn’t perfect, I do appreciate and admire the culture and the people tremendously.
Close runner –ups: Burma, Laos, Italy…well, all of them damn it!
 

Pamukkale, Turkey

How I feel about Paris (and macarons.)

What’s on your favorite places list? How to choose where to travel?

Up next: On My Story

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On People

“A journey is best measured in friends, not in miles. ”

I’m curious about the people you met and how you met them.

There are two types of people you meet when you’re traveling:

1. Local people
2. Other travelers

For meeting locals:
Some countries are friendlier than others.  Some are notoriously not friendly.  Others have language barriers that seem near impossible to crack.
The good news is: English is more widely spoken in the world than we think (but always respect the local language first and foremost.)  Nonverbal communication (such as gesturing) can get you places!
Here are a few suggestions that have helped me meet locals (one of the best things about traveling!):

• Learn a few basic words of the local language.  The most basic being “hello,” and “thank you.”  It also helps to learn “do you speak English?”
• Smile.  It’s simple but it’s huge. (In my experience this works everywhere except Paris.  Don’t smile in Paris, and you’ll have an easier time making friends. Seriously.)
• Bond over things that transcend cultural barriers, like FOOD (my go-to) and photos of your home, family, and/or travels.
• Share your favorite discoveries about their country or culture.  Everyone likes to see their home positively through new and different eyes.
• Ask questions.  Most people love to share their home with visitors and enrich your experience.
• Keep in touch!  With nearly anyone and everyone having email and/or Facebook these days, it’s not just possible but likely you can continue the friendship after you leave. (Beautiful!)

As for meeting other travelers, it’s really, really simple:

• Stay in hostels.

I could stop there, but here are a few more tips:

• If you overhear a language or accent you know, especially from your own country (sadly quite rare if you’re an American, so that’s an instant bond) speak up and ask them about where they’re from.
• Just as mentioned above, everyone likes to hear positive things about their home from an outside perspective.  If you meet another traveler, and you happen to have been to their home country…share what you loved about it.
• Ask them the obligatory long-term question: “how long are you traveling?” as well as a short one: “what are you doing today?”  Since that’s all we travelers tend to know, it’s easy to then share experiences and perhaps even make plans together.
• Strike up a conversation with any solo traveler.  It may turn out to be a person who hasn’t conversed with a native English speaker in days or weeks. You may even make someone’s day!

Travelers are notoriously friendly and open-minded.  Not only are we all in the same boat, facing the same challenges and hopefully sharing the sense of natural curiosity about the world and about others…but any traveler worth their salt knows: it’s the people, not even the places, that make the experience.
I met more people in the weeks I traveled solo than in the months I traveled with one other person.  That is the beautiful bonus of traveling alone.  So…get to it!
 

Stopping for a chat with baby monks is a surefire way to brighten your day!

How do you approach taking pictures of people?  Do you ask permission?

Once again, there are two scenarios you’ll encounter while taking portraits on the road.

1. They don’t know you’re taking their picture.
2. They know you’re taking their picture.

If you have a really awesome zoom lens (I don’t) or could pass for a sneaky paparazzi in your next life, you will find yourself getting away with the former.
For the rest of us, we really should approach taking someone’s photograph with the golden rule.  That is: how would you feel if someone came up to you on the street or in your home and started taking your photo?
When I was first traveling, I used to snap away.  Everyone else was doing it!  It wasn’t until I traveled to a country where people were taking my photo without my permission, or even once I said no, that I realized the importance of asking first.

Why should you ask permission when taking someone’s photo? Most people will say yes. If they say no, you’ll be glad you asked and didn’t invade their privacy.

In the case of a language barrier (and it’s often there), I will usually point to my camera and ask “ok?”  It seems to get the message across, and I usually get a smile in the process.  In some countries, especially with the children, I make it a point to then show them their photo (bonus: more smiles.)

My number one method of getting pictures of or with people: when they take your photo or ask for one, you reply “yes, but I get to take yours, too!”  This kind of exchange usually results in my favorite photos of people.

There’s also the tactic of taking pictures of people while in a moving vehicle.  It’s challenging, but almost guaranteed you won’t be getting in anyone’s way.
And again, if you never knew that someone took your photo in the first place…no harm done.  But good luck with that one.
 

What makes a successful lone traveler?

Hint: there is no such thing as a successful lone traveler!  Aside from having the courage to travel by yourself, I suppose the real win is learning to enjoy it.
Sure, talk to anyone who has traveled extensively on their own and they have stories of bouts of loneliness or homesickness.  I’m willing to bet they have many more stories about the people they met along the way than a person who traveled with someone else.
Like anything, traveling alone vs. traveling with someone has its trade-offs.  If you find yourself in the position to travel solo, embrace it!  The most “successful” thing about it to me was learning to love being by myself.  I never thought I could have the confidence to eat out alone, or could enjoy a place without someone to share the experience with.  Traveling alone has given me that, and it’s something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.
Bottom line: you open yourself up to meeting more new people when you’re traveling solo.  If you’re not meeting anyone, you’ll learn to enjoy your own company.  You can’t lose.

How do you connect with others while traveling? Have you found that it helps you better form or maintain relationships at home?

Up next: On Places

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On Safety

You went to ___! Why? Wasn’t it dangerous?

Yes, I went to Turkey (no, it wasn’t dangerous.)  Yes, I went to India as a woman and (no, I did not get “Delhi Belly,” and I was not harassed, other than by touts.)   Yes, I visited Burma/Myanmar despite having read the news and having zero idea of what to expect.  These are three of my absolute favorite countries in the world…and to think I almost didn’t go to them!
Yes, I went to Egypt (on a tour, and left the morning of the second revolution. Though I would not recommend this today, I am glad I went when I did.)  Yes, I went into the West Bank while in Israel and I gained a perspective I quite simply couldn’t have gotten without visiting myself. I’ll admit there are times I ventured to places where my personal safety was at slightly greater risk, but this entire trip was a risk.  The only way to guarantee your safety is to stay at home…and never leave.  No thanks.  So, in the places I wanted to visit that made me a bit nervous, I did some reading and I chose to listen to my gut instead of concerned family members or the news.
Arm yourself with knowledge from your country’s state department, or better yet, someone who has actually been there.  Certainly something awful could have happened to me, but I believe it is much less likely than we’re made to believe, and to me, the rewards were far worth the risk.
A friend I was traveling with who had been living in China told the story of Chinese students who were preparing to visit America.  They kept asking her if it was safe. How could they not be concerned after reading the media coverage of the dozens of mass shootings across the country?  Would this be enough to deter YOU from visiting the United States?  Something to think about.
In other words, read the news…but don’t let the news alone dictate your choices.

How do you stay safe as a female traveler?

Always have an exit plan.  Don’t be afraid to trust others (it’s where some of best moments of travel will originate) but never put yourself in a situation without a figurative, and sometimes literal, exit door.
Listen to your instincts about people, and keep your awareness level high.  If you’ve got a strange feeling about a person or a place, there’s likely a reason why.  Always be aware of your surroundings, and use your exit strategy when in doubt.
Don’t flaunt your valuables (if you are toting any.)  This is common sense that unfortunately, some travelers forget. Lock your bag.  Hide your computer in your room.  Don’t carry exorbitant amounts of cash.  Don’t make it easy for someone to walk away with your things.
Make an effort to blend in with local customs and dress. Keep the target off your back.  Wear local (modest) clothing, speak a few words of the local language, have local law enforcement or a local contact’s number available, and respect the local ways of living (in other words, if a local woman wouldn’t do it, maybe you shouldn’t either.)  There are certain places in the world where it might be smart to not make eye contact with the opposite sex or to drop that “your husband is waiting for you back at the hotel.”  The truth is, however, that the majority of people will treat you with dignity, respect, and genuine kindness.  This is the far more important takeaway from any journey where I worry about my safety.
Learn from other travelers before you.  I utilized many of the safety tips from other blogs that kept my peace of mind in tact on the road, everything from carrying yourself with confidence to carrying things like a doorstop and a safety whistle.
Finally: don’t worry so much.  Quite simply, the world is much safer than we give it credit for.  Be prepared for the worst, and then choose to see the good.  While unfortunate events can and do happen to travelers, the same is certainly true for people who drive cars.  That doesn’t stop most of us from driving around town every day.
Your personal safety should always be a priority.  Before you let fear stop you from ever leaving your house (or the country,) stop and think about the real risk, and what you may be losing by not taking one at all.  The more we travel, the more we realize that people are generally good.  For every time I’ve been nervous or felt unsafe while traveling, there’ve been at least five times someone has shown me random kindness. Do your best to maximize the possibility of positive experiences.  Then go out there and face the dangers of this world…I know it won’t be as scary as you think.
Or you could always do something drastic, like…dyeing your hair.

Reality check: are you letting fear and concern for your safety stop you from traveling?  Or from traveling to certain places? What steps do you take to put your mind at ease, whether at home or while traveling?

Up next: On People

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 On Money

There’s a myth going around town that travel is only for college kids and rich people.
Well, my friends, I am neither one of those things.  Many of you have been shocked to hear that I only spent $10,000 traveling for five months.  And by far the most frequently asked question I get is:
 

How do you afford it?

I’ve heard it said that the more money we spend when we travel, the more we distance ourselves from the things we went to experience. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about travel and money, it’s that don’t need to spend a lot to exist comfortably  in most of the world.
I remember a moment in the Greek isles where I realized I had spent less money that day on everything (room, food, even transportation) than I do on one’s day’s rent back at home.  And this is on the Euro, mind you!
That being said, unless you plan on working while abroad, you will need to have a nest egg for basic expenses while traveling, and you’ll want to make good choices with your money while traveling so that you don’t have to cut your trip short.
Here are my top five tips for affording travel:

1. It’s all about priorities. Do you want that $10 glass of wine? Or do you want an extra night on the beach in Thailand? Look at where you can cut back on spending at home. Through a series of trade-offs and conscious spending in the year before my trip, I was able to save all the money I needed to travel with for five months. Downsize your living space. Cancel cable. Choose walking over driving when you can. Choose travel, and you will eventually have the necessary funds to make it happen.
2. Establish and contribute to a travel savings fund. Take it one step farther and look at your monthly spending versus income. Find out what you can spare each month, and set up an automatic transfer to a separate account in an amount you’re comfortable with. Congratulations, you’ve prioritized your money for travel once more.
3. Set up your financial accounts in a way that will minimize travel costs. Get a credit card that accrues miles, and use the miles for your longer, more expensive flights. This consistently takes a chunk out of my overall spending on travel. You’ll also want a credit card with no foreign transaction fees (I use Capital One) and a bank that will reimburse your foreign ATM fees (especially important on a longer trip, or in countries where your bank may not have a local bank partner.) If I had had to pay for each time I used an ATM in five months…
4. Do as the locals do.  If you eat where the locals eat, stay where the locals live, do as the locals do, and in some cases wear what the locals wear…not only will you be immersing yourself in the culture and flow of a place, you’ll be saving a lot of money. No matter the currency, when you seek local ways of life you’ll be living mostly as they do, which is to say, sustainably. I’m all for splurging on life experiences unique to a place, or on an extraordinary meal from time to time. Most days, shop at the local market and make your dinner. Or eat street food. Look beyond the obvious areas for tourist accommodation. Take public transportation. It’s a win-win for your experience and your wallet.
5. Travel off season. There’s a reason there’s a “season.” Often it’s because the weather is ideal. But if you can manage “off peak” timing, the rewards will follow. In most destinations, people live and work there year round, so while you’re likely to encounter less tourists and less crowding at these times, you’ll also find lower prices and more potential to bargain. The best part about traveling in low season to me is the flexibility that comes with high availability. Arriving in an environment in which you can wait to book rooms and activities allows you to stay spontaneous.

Where did your money go the furthest?

Where (in terms of location): Southeast Asia and India. (Luckily, these are two of the most fascinating places to travel!)  If I hadn’t spent my last two months in some of the most expensive cities in Europe, I would have significantly reduced my overall costs.
Where (in terms of spending): Food!  I was able to eat much cheaper than I ever do at home.
 

How did you decide on a budget?  How did you stick to it?

1. Calculate the number of days you anticipate traveling, and create a per day budget.  You’ll want to include accommodation, food, transportation, and set an amount for discretionary expenses such as activities and entrance fees.  You can separate or include and disperse the inter-destination expenses such as more costly travel between cities or countries and things like visa fees in your per day amount.  I personally chose to set aside a separate $1,000 for inter-region flights and visas that I did not include in my daily budget.  Don’t forget to consider the higher costs involved in large cities and of course, different currencies and exchange rates.  (For example, I spent an average of $10 per night on accommodation while in Cambodia and Laos, whereas it was closer to $35 for Italy.  How to find out costs? Do a quick search on your favorite hostel/hotel website before you leave.)
2. Know when to cut costs and when NOT to. Finding a cheaper flight just by spending an extra five minutes looking at a different website? Great.  Skimping on a hostel in a less than secure location or refusing to buy that malaria medicine because you’ll don’t think you’ll need it?  Not great.  Be smart with your choices, but never sacrifice your health and safety or you’ll jeopardize the entire experience.
3. Track your spending with apps or online.  I use Spending to track my own expenses, and Trip Splitter when traveling with a companion.  I use mint.com for my expenses at home, but find it only useful when I am charging expenses on credit cards. By always knowing where you stand, you can adjust accordingly and get where to you need to be.
4. Use filters when searching for accommodation online.  This way I restricted myself only to deciding between places within my budget.  Often I will place a price restriction on my search and then sort by rating.  This way I can find the best possible place to stay at the price I have set.  Or, if you’re traveling off season and have a sense of adventure…show up in your destination and negotiate directly with hotel owners (I did this about half the time.)
5. Eat street food.  From the crepes in Paris to the food stalls of Bangkok, often the best–and definitely the cheapest–meals you can find on this planet are found on the street.
6. Create a trip that lasts.  Travel doesn’t have to constantly be the five-star experience advertisers want you to have.  I’ve seen people spend in one night what I would spend in a month.  Again, it’s about choices.  What kind of travel experience do you want to have?

Note: Traveling part-time (with a job) and traveling full-time (without a job) for me led to very different budgeting decisions.  $5 extra a night on accommodation doesn’t kill your bank account like $5 extra per night over several months.  This was the biggest adjustment I had to make in the transition to full-time traveling, knowing that small daily decisions made a huge impact on my overall cost in five months.
>> Whether your trip is four days, four weeks, or four months…the world is full of backpacker-friendly (i.e. cheap!) options awaiting your arrival. No matter the amount of money in my bank account, this is always the way I prefer to travel.

Think: where could you afford to go if you stopped using money as an excuse and started prioritizing travel?

Next up: On Safety.

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The post Your Frequently Asked Questions: Affording Travel appeared first on Part-Time Traveler.