General Travel Tips

11 easy ways to meet locals while traveling with stories!

June 4, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on June 4, 2019

If you’re traveling solo (or with friends), one of the best moments of trips is making a local friend who will show you the ropes of a city. There’s nothing like walking around with a knowledgeable local, hanging out all night learning about the local culture/food/language, and knowing that you have someone to meet up with next time you’re back in town. I’ve made a lot of great friends while traveling and I’ve rounded up more than 10 ways to meet locals while traveling with real stories from travelers!

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Should you write your flight number on car rental and hotel bookings?

January 15, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on January 23, 2019

This summer was full of surprises and this included spending about a month in Austria. Whenever you’re booking a rental car or booking a hotel (near the airport), you have the possibility of writing down your flight number and I’ve always skipped over it thinking that it wasn’t important….

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How to use your smartphone in Europe without incurring roaming charges

January 14, 2019 by Karen 2 Comments

Last Updated on January 15, 2019

As an American living in Europe, I’m a bit too used to the realities of using your smartphone in Europe. If you’re traveling from North America (or elsewhere in the world), you’ll need to do a couple of things to ensure that you can use your phone in Europe. I’ll be walking you through steps for reducing the data that you’re using, buying a SIM card (if needed), and ensuring that your phone can be used with a new SIM card.

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The best 15+ travel games for your phone that work offline

January 10, 2019 by Karen 2 Comments

Last Updated on January 11, 2019

As someone with limited data, I’m always astounded how few apps work well offline and without data. I’m often toying with a new phone app that I can play while on the road. After far too many apps that I’ve burned through during a long bus ride, I’ve asked my fellow bloggers for their favorite travel game apps for iPhone and Android that work perfectly offline, so even if you’re on a long plane ride, you can still enjoy playing on your phone! I’ve tried to focus this list on thought provoking games for your phone that challenge your mind, rather than games that just keep you busy (as they’re addictive).

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Tipping in the USA: Tipping etiquette in the United States by an American

December 3, 2018 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on December 5, 2018

As someone who has worked in the service industry, I believe that tipping in the United States is important. The United States does not have universal high wages. Although your perceptions of the United States may be different, if you’re traveling in the United States, you generally need to tip. Keep reading for tipping etiquette in the United States!

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Traveling with IBS: Travel tips for dealing with IBS while traveling

October 26, 2018 by Karen 5 Comments

Last Updated on January 28, 2019

Both my husband and I have irritable bowel syndrome (perfect right?). Traveling with IBS isn’t always easy, but I don’t let it stop me from seeing the world. Traveling with irritable bowel syndrome requires some extra trip planning, but it’s worth it.

Don’t let dealing with IBS stop you from visiting your dream destination. Keep reading for our tips for traveling with IBS.

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2 glimpse: The new way to meet locals abroad

August 31, 2018 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on June 4, 2019

One of the hardest things to do is to meet locals in a new place. I write this as someone who has traveled extensively, but not always found someone that I’ve clicked with. I recently tried out a new website called 2 glimpse. I’ll be discussing how I made a friend while traveling using this great alternative to Couchsurfing! This is a review of the 2 glimpse website.

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8 reasons why your hotel maid hates you and how to be a better hotel guest by a hotel maid

June 15, 2018 by Karen 3 Comments

Last Updated on June 15, 2018

As someone who has worked has worked in the service industry, I believe that it’s so important to treat the people who work at the restaurants, hotels, and businesses that you visit while traveling well. Today, a friend of mine who worked as a hotel maid (or housekeeper) is here to dish why your hotel maid might hate you—and how to be a better hotel guest. …

Houseguest etiquette 101: How not to be a bad houseguest

May 18, 2018 by Karen 3 Comments

Last Updated on May 19, 2018

As someone who has lived in Amsterdam, I’ve had my fair share of family and friends visiting. Needless to say, I’ve had some bad houseguests, including one who showed up at my door with no notice only to keep me awake all night on a work night with being noisy. I’m not the only one who has had rude houseguests, so I’ve asked my fellow travel bloggers for their houseguest etiquette 101 with some tips on how not to be a bad houseguest with some generally good houseguest etiquette. …

20 hotel booking hacks to help you save money while booking hotels

May 6, 2018 by Karen 12 Comments

Last Updated on June 2, 2018

I’ve teamed up with my dad (again) to give you insider tips for how to save money on hotels, no matter it’s a hostel or a 5* hotel. I’m proud to have a father who is a master of hotel booking hacks and although I thought that I knew quite a bit about how to find a cheap hotel, my dad has taught me some fantastic ways to save money when booking hotels. We’ve included 20 hotel booking hacks to save you money on your next vacation or business trip! Both my father and I have traveled extensively within the United States as well as within Europe, so these tips are not only for US-based travelers! …