travel

Ms. Worldwide-ish

Ms. America

I’ve done a fair amount of traveling in the United States, and while there’s a lot to see, I think I’m good for now. Too many international destinations are beckoning to me. That being said, some American sights I’d like to see are:

• Yosemite Park
• Yellowstone Park
• Grand Canyon
• Alaska in general
• Zion National Park
• Sin City–Las Vegas, NV
• New Orleans, LA [specifically during Mardi Gras]

Until then, here’s all of the states that I remember visiting.

Traveling is hard. It’s great fun, but it takes a lot of planning, time, and money. Not to mention the unpredictability that comes with being away from home. I’m far from an expert, but here are some lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Some general tips…

• Check out my travel post to learn more about traveling on a budget
• GOOGLE FLIGHTS/Hopper can help you save loads on tickets.
• Don’t know what to do when you get there? Ask people and/or Google Trips is awesome for planning days/itineraries/whatever you want to do.
• Charles Schwab has free ATM withdrawals and no international fees.
• Capital One Journey credit card gives you unlimited 1.25% back on purchases (1% if you don’t pay your bill on time, still good) with no foreign transaction fees AND it doesn’t require stellar credit.
• T-Mobile has an amazing international plan for its customers (unlimited data, international texts/calls for cheap, with calls/texts back to the US free, and $25 extra/month)
• Don’t purposefully be rude when you’re staying in hostels that have a lot of people (complaining, turning on lights in the middle of the night, bringing someone back and being so loud you wake everyone up, etc.)

Brazil

   May/June 2016:

• Be up to date on your shots. Yes, all of them. Look into the typhoid shot.
• Rio does not treat it’s sewage before putting it at sea. Swimming in Ipanema/Copacabana is great, but inhaling any water can get you sick. Ex: I got bronchitis/pneumonia–seriously.
• Learn some Portuguese if possible, but Spanish can get you decently far with the right accent.
• Northern Brazil is warmer than Southern, is less touristy, and has far more exclusively Brazilian culture.
• Go to a Brazilian Steakhouse.

Tokyo, Japan

   March 2017:

• There’s wifi almost everywhere, including most of the subway stations.
• Learn Japanese, bring someone that does, or have a translating app ready, because very few people speak English.
• Fly into Haneda, not Narita. It’s much easier to get to from the city center, and has more flights.
• Be overly respectful of people, especially elders.
• Conveyor belt sushi. Single stall ramen. Tsukiji fish market. Flavored Kit-Kats. Eat all of the food.

Europe

   Winter Break 2017/2018:

• A good hostel beats a good Airbnb, ESPECIALLY if you’re only 1-2 people.
• Layering jackets, while annoying, is IMO better than a big jacket.
• People are generally pretty friendly, so talk to them if you wanna. You’ll make friends! You might get free stuff! You might get stared at too, but who cares?
• Thermals are not optional, 100% required. You will be outside a lot unless you’re rich and cab it everywhere, but where’s the fun in that?
• Pick a hostel with laundry and a kitchen, particularly if you only bring a carry on like me.
• Drink responsibly, so tread lightly around packs of guys who can definitely drink more than you.
• You’re entitled to compensation if your flight is delayed by 3+ hours or cancelled by EU 261. File a claim yourself or through a site like ClaimCompass or AirHelp for a commission.

New Zealand

   Thanksgiving 2018:

• I cannot recommend booking tours ahead of time enough–particularly if you’re on a tight schedule. The popular ones sell out fast.
• Thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies, this is the place for you! Bungee jumping, skydiving, and ziplining in the most picturesque places!
• If public transport isn’t your thing, a hostel near the city works just fine. I took all of two ubers over four days.
• The Skybus is an excellent mode of transportation to and from the airport! The view is lovely, it’s reasonably priced, and there’s free wifi (which is great because the ride is an hour into Auckland proper.)
• They take the environment very seriously! Hopefully you do as well, but in the event that it’s not a priority for you, temporarily make it one.
• Don’t forget that the seasons are reversed!