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Travel Tips & Tricks

What to Pack for Europe: The 6+ Things I Wish I Packed for Europe {And You Will Too!}

January 24, 2024 by Dana Zeliff 31 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

After years of traveling around Europe, there are a few things that we’ve learned to always pack in our suitcase.  If you’re traveling here for the first time, we’ve put your mind at ease and list exactly what to pack for Europe.  Make sure these 6 things are in your suitcase on each visit.

What to Pack for Europe:

1. Washcloths – Most European hotels and apartments don’t provide washcloths. The exception is the UK where we’ve found them more often than not – but not always. My most recent hotel in London didn’t have them, so it was a good thing I packed my own.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Europe Travel with Kids, Travel Tips & Tricks

Gift Guide for Traveling Kids

December 13, 2023 by Dana Zeliff 2 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Travel Gift Ideas for Kids

Do you know someone who travels a lot with their kids?  Or may be you’re looking for inspiration on what to get your mini travelers.  We put together a gift guide for traveling kids to help you out this holiday season. These items were suggested by my kiddos when they were younger and approved by their travel fanatic parents. You can also check out these toy guides from the experts at American Toy Store for more options.

Travel Gift Ideas For Kids:

:: PROGRACE Kids Camera Waterproof – Let kids record their own adventures.

  • Camera Gift Boys Photography – kids camera is ideal Vlogging Youtube video camera for kids toys gift, starter children digital camera age 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 year old christmas birthday presents.
  • Multifunctional Kids Camcorder – This kids action camera has CMOS image sensor, HD 1080P/30fps videos and 5MP photos, 40 photo frames, 7 color video modes, 4X digital zoom, burst shooting, time-lapse photo, face recognition.
  • Kids Waterproof Camera Depth UP To 98ft – Really kids underwater camera comes with strong case and accessories for skating swimming bike skateboard helmet. Cool kids camera can take pictures and videos. Great action camera for kids sports toy!

:: VTech KidiZoom Camera Pix – Young travelers can snap pictures without parents worrying about damage to the camera.

  • Take real digital photographs with the durable Kidizoom Camera Pix by VTech; real 2.0 mega pixels camera; 4x digital zoom; Frustration Free Packaging means it comes easier to open in a plain brown box
  • The kid-friendly Kidizoom Camera Pix includes all the tools that budding photographers want in a digital camera; durable design protects from drops and tumbles
  • Selfie mode detects your face and automatically takes the perfect picture; four built-in games add to the fun; includes a video recorder and voice recorder for more creative ways to play.Operating Temperature:0 – 40°C

:: KODAK PIXPRO FZ55-BK 16MP Digital Camera – Older kids can capture their own memories with a digital camera just like their parents but for a lower price tag.

  • 16 Megapixel CMOS Sensor
  • 5X Optical Zoom – 28mm Wide Angle Lens
  • 1080P Full HD Video – Vlogging Camera
  • SD Card Compatibility: At least Class 10, no more than 512GB (SD, SDHC, SDXC)
  • 2.7″ LCD Screen – Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery

:: Trunki: The Original Ride-On Suitcase – Little travelers can ride on their luggage when they get tired or bored!

  • Hard-wearing and light weight plastic
  • Award-winning British design, made in the UK and China
  • Ride-on, tow-along, carry-on suitcase, ideal for vacations, sleep overs, weekends away
  • Perfect for planes, trains and automobiles and att home, encourages pretend play and doubles as toy trunk
  • Free five year warranty & holds up to 75lbs

:: Wired Headphones For Kids – While earbuds are smaller and easier for travel, they aren’t as comfortable for my kids.  Plus they tend to turn those up too loud.

  • On-ear headphones has padded soft cushions with a soft touch finish. Adjustable headband for a perfect fit, and a lightweight design for kids age 3 and up. Foldable design for a more compact and easy storage. The cord is a 5 feet long nylon braided cable. Designed for kids, girls, boys, children, toddlers, home/online school, training.
  • 24-Month Hassle-Free Warranty, Easy to Reach Customer Service.
  • There is NO microphone, remote or volume control on these headphones but you can still speak into the device’s mic that you are plugged into. The receiving end will hear you through the device mic’s.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Kids Travel Picks, Travel Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Gift Guides

6 Unusual Jobs to Travel for FREE

October 18, 2023 by Dana Zeliff Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

6-Unusual-Jobs-to-Travel-for-FREE

I know you want to find out how to travel for FREE.  There are a ton of great ideas out there, but we’re going to look at usual jobs to travel for free.   While it isn’t often you can travel completely for free, there are some wonderful ways to make it happen.

Keep in mind some of these are true life changes that enable travel to be commonplace and included in part of your life.  Others are simply methods you can work toward providing your family with a great fun filled free vacation.

You’ve probably heard that working on a cruise ship is a great way to combine work and travel.  It is and many people choose this path.  It didn’t seem that unusual to me, so it’s not on the list.

I also didn’t include teaching English abroad. There are a ton of great programs around the globe that will allow you to travel to a foreign country while making a living.

Now that we’ve got those 2 jobs out of the way, lets move on to the more unusual.

Unusual Jobs to Travel for Free:

Become a trucker.  This one may seem unlikely to work, but you would be surprised at how many individuals enjoy seeing the country simply by getting behind the wheel of a truck making deliveries.  This is something that is a huge life change, but can work for many individuals, couples and even families.   Packing the kids up and homeschooling on the road is also an option that allows families to see new places while making a living.

Obviously, this career choice can have many drawbacks.  Long separations between the driver and family can be difficult for everyone including a marriage.  If you have a young kids, this likely isn’t the job for you.  You also have to be okay with the solitude that comes from being on the road for extended periods of time.

Become an RV park caretaker.  There are tons of RV parks nationwide that are looking for individuals to live and work in the park.  You bring your RV and get free hookups in exchange for running the front desk or doing a few maintenance jobs here and there around the park.  You can stay in one place for a few months, then move on to another location that is in need.

Become a hotel reviewer.  Just like many restaurants look for critics, so do hotels.  Start searching online for hotel review programs, or join a media group that gives you discount or free stays in exchange for photographs and reviews.  These vary from hotel to hotel, but they are a great usual job to travel for free.  Look for the PR or media contact at the hotel chains you want to consider and let them know you are looking to do reviews of their facilities.

Sometimes they want to know if you have a social media following, website or other publication that could reach more potential customers.  Other times they simply need and want reviewers for one and two night stays in various locations.

Work vacations around business travel.  This is one hidden trick to traveling for free that takes a bit of planning but can easily be managed.  If you often travel for business purposes, you can easily combine things like a 2-3 day business trip with exploring a new city.  Choose travel locations you haven’t been to and enjoy the non business or work related hours to explore, take in local culture and learn something new.  Many times you can negotiate staying an extra day if you have a cheaper flight option, or if you pay for that extra night in the hotel yourself.

Do road tests on vehicles.  If you have mechanics experience or an engineering background, many car manufacturers will pay you to take their vehicles on road trips to test out their performance under various conditions.  They often have some required skills, and sometimes this is only open to full time employees for the car company, but it is a great industry to look into for single individuals who don’t mind driving long distances under various conditions for testing purposes.  Not a great idea for couples or families to do.

Transport RV’s across country.  Almost every RV manufacturer has a program that allows you to pickup an RV and drive it to a different location for delivery.  If you live near cities where RV’s are manufactured, this could mean a free trip for you.

You will have to consider the costs of food, gas and your return trip, but a discounted sight seeing RV trip can be a great choice for many families.  Just ensure that the company allows you to bring along your spouse or family.

These usual jobs to travel for free are great for many individuals and families to look into.  Traveling is a thing that many are passionate about and is easy to incorporate into daily life when you think outside the box.

What other jobs ideas can you share?

You might also like 8 Simple Tips to a Plan Road Trip & Pack Smart.

Filed Under: Travel Tips & Tricks

Newbie Guide to Using the Bus and Tram Systems in France

February 13, 2023 by Dana Zeliff 24 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Using the Bus and Trams in France

If you’re like me, using a bus or tram is not part of everyday life.  Heck, I’d never stepped foot on a bus before I started traveling in Europe.  I used the subway once in New York and twice in DC.  That’s it. Public transportation was just not part of my daily life and this is true for many Americans.

Arriving in Europe, I looked at the bus like this big speeding object of stress that would make me feel like even more of an idiot in a country where I can’t even speak the language.

In my hope to help Americans traveling in France, I’ve put together a newbie guide to public transport.  While these tips are specifically for Nice, the bus and tram systems are similar throughout France and the rest of Europe.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: France, Travel Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Nice France, Travel in Nice

5 Ways to Respectfully Interact with Local Cultures

February 9, 2023 by Dana Zeliff 1 Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

5 Ways to Respectfully Interact with Local Cultures
{Pin It}

You’ve heard the “ugly American” stereotype right? The loud, rude, obnoxious American tourist that visits a country leaving a very indelible mark. Learning how to interact respectfully with the local well traveling can mean the difference between having an amazing experience, and one that just downright stinks. Small things make a big difference and even just employing one of these tips can net you friendlier service, local friends, and also helps preserve the local culture.

Learn the Taboos

Various different cultures have various different taboos or “no-no’s.” For example, in many Buddhist cultures, it’s considered rude to touch a child on the head. In many Middle Eastern cultures showing the bottom of your shoe or foot is seen as offensive. While these may not be a big deal in your culture you may have just seriously offended someone else. Most people understand that you may not know but taking a little time to learn cultural taboos before visiting another country can help keep you out of hot water.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Europe Travel with Kids, Travel Tips & Tricks

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Welcome!

Hi, I’m Dana. Planning a great trip shouldn't mean spending endless evenings scrolling travel forums, watching videos, and sorting through conflicting opinions online.

I've spent years exploring the world with my husband and our two kids, and those experiences shape how I help clients plan their own vacations. Together, we've visited 48 countries across four continents and spent nearly four years living in France.

Whether you're planning a European itinerary, a cruise vacation, an all-inclusive resort stay, or a family getaway, I'll help you sort through the options and create a trip that works for your travel style, interests, and budget. Read More…

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