Thank you!

These past 5 weeks I've told you all about the places I most want to visit and my favorite places I have already gone. Thanks for listening to my rambles about why and where I want to go. Now, it's your turn...

So go.

Go out there and discover the unseen, do something new with your life!

Try things you've never done, go places you've never gone. You never know where life will take you.

Maybe one day you'll go lobster catching in Maine like I have...

(here's a free laugh on me)

 

Safe Travels...

 

 

 

 

That Question On Everybody's Mind...

What is that question you ask...

WHY?

Why is it important to travel? Why do people want to travel? Why should I experience new cultures?

why, why, why is always the question

Well, like I've said before, there's an endless amount of reasons for someone to travel. Whether it's to discover new land, cultures, oceans, food,  or fashion, there's always a unique reason for each person why they should travel.

I'll keep it to the top 5 reasons why I think it's so important to travel..

1. New cultures and opportunities to learn. There are always those chances to learn, like school and work, but traveling will teach you new things that you would never be able to learn otherwise. Yes, you could learn in class about other's cultures and how they live, but like the famous saying goes 'seeing is believing.'

2. Gives you a break from your fast paced life and reduces stress. When your life is spinning crazy and out of control, what's the first thing everyone says? I need a vacation. Well here is your opportunity to go somewhere, relax yourself, and refresh your mental and physical emotions.

3. Discover yourself. Yes, you know who you are and what you like, but when you discover a new place and all of the options and places to see, you discover what you like deep down inside. This discovery is priceless.

4. Discover new foods. This is the best way to get out of your comfort zone! It's hard to go to another country and be able to order all of the American food you eat daily, so what better way of broadening your horizon and trying food you've never had before. Forget your calorie count for the week and dig into those new delicious types of food.

5. Make new friends. Everyone has their friends at home, but it's those friends you don't get to see often or talk to on a daily basis that holds a true friendship. Start a conversation with the person next to you on the train, or in the same hotel as you. You never know, you might leave there with a new lifelong friendship.


So whether it's new cultures, foods or friends, each and every one of these reasons will leave you with an impacting life lesson. I hope after reading these reasons you will think highly about why traveling is important, and hopefully one day you can agree with me and these 5 reasons.

Safe Travels...

Attention: Black Bears Ahead!

Watch out for those glaciers, black bears, wolves, never ending highways, fish, and maybe even some falling Northern Lights.

Have you guessed yet where I'm taking you this week?

Well, pack up those rain jackets and make sure you got your hiking boots because we're going to Alaska!

...yes, you heard that right.

I've heard from friends and family that the cruise to Alaska was the BEST cruise or vacation they have ever been on. After being to 24 states, I've figured it's time I make my way to the northernest city in the United States, Barrow, Alaska.

Why do I want to go there you're probably wondering?
ice fishing. national parks. northern lights. tiny towns. air tours. never ending highways. seafood.

Have I got you interested in Alaska yet? 

Well if not, I'm sorry for your loss of the beautiful sights and I will be sure to share my pictures with you when I finally get there someday!

Safe Travels...

Inside America

So as you know, any chance you get to travel around the world is a great opportunity to take. But I don't think people feel the same way about traveling inside the United States. Most people you talk to consider traveling to be going across the world and experiencing new cultures or ways of living, very little people talk about the different cultures they have experiences within the country. I think that it is just as important to take the opportunities to travel within the U.S. as it is to travel outside of the U.S.

Being able to see 24 out of 50 states has opened my eyes to new cultures just as much as traveling to Guatemala or Aruba has. So why is it that people don't take advantage of this opportunity to travel to states? Well America is looked at as all the same culture and type of people, but I can tell you first hand that is not right at all. Just to name a few places like Georgia, Maine, New York, and Nevada, all have completely different cultures and way of life then I am used to in good old Pennsylvania.

Traveling develops your thoughts and lets you experience things you wouldn't have otherwise experienced. You embrace new cultures that make your country whole, and are better able to understand the country you live in. Not only are you experiencing new cultures but you are seeing new beautiful scenary that lets you appreciate your country like you may not have before. I know when I traveled to Nevada and Arizona and got to experience the Hoover Dam, I was amazed and stunned by the beauty of the nature and land that this country has. 

So get out there and discover all that there is to see in the country. Don't hold yourself back from, let yourself be free and learn new things.

Safe Travels...

Benvenuto

Ciao!


Welcome to my dream trip to Italy! If you haven't noticed already, I'm just a tiny bit Italian... I know, who would have thought by my name right!?

Well I've always had that dream to go back and see the place my ancestors grew up in. Having a grandmother growing up who spoke Italian was always something I loved to hear. Although I can't tell you much more than 'ciao' and 'MANGIA, MANGIA' because like every other Italian, food was always being forced down my throat!

But it's more than that, it's the history and culture, the unique food, and the impressive mountains and rolling hills that are so inviting to my eyes.

Take me to Milan, the fashion capital and capital of design, and I will love you forever!

Or take me horseback riding in Sicily and you'll never be able to get rid of me.

But my all time favorite and one thing I will not leave Italy without doing, is a canal ride. The Grand Canal in Venice...oh my god.
 

You can't tell me that isn't beautiful...

Whatever it is, make sure to explore every inch of land in Italy, or anywhere you travel to for that matter, because you never really know if you'll ever have that opportunity again. So don't waste the time you do have, and get out there and enjoy every second of it!

But one more thing you can't forget, how freaking cool would it be to live somewhere like this? Maybe one day...

Safe Travels...

Some Tips To Make You Richer

So you're thinking about taking that trip you've always wanted, but you think to yourself...when should I travel? What sites are the best to use to book my hotel, flight, car, etc.? Should I do all inclusive deals? Well, let me try and give you those answers.

As some people know already, there are days of the week which are the most expensive days to travel by plane and some that are least expensive. According to FareCompare, the most expensive days are Friday and Sunday, and the days of the week which are cheapest to fly are Wednesday or Tuesday. When booking these flights, it is also important to book them at the right time of the week. Typically, Tuesdays at 3 p.m. are the best time to book a flight because deals are then taken down on Thursdays. So if you're psychically buying a flight on a weekend, you're probly paying way too much!


There are a couple sites that have been researched and are guaranteed to save you money. USE THESE SITES!
Kayak.com has been known to be the best site to use for booking your airfare.

If you're looking to book your hotel, go to Hotels.com and you'll be sure to find awesome deals there!

Are you looking for vacation packages for cruises? Visit CruiseCompete.com to see what travel agent will get you the best deal for your buck.

And of course you can't forget about those car rentals that always seem to be way more than they should be. Well go on over to Hotwire.com before you book any cars to make sure you're not missing out on the latest hot cars.


And what's those common questions you have about all inclusive deals? Should you do it, should you not? Well let me give you some pros and cons to the question, and then you decide what is best for your situation.

Pros

You know how much money will be spent

Drinks, alcoholic or non, are available at all hours (mostly)

No need to go grocery shopping or make any meals

No need to worry about coolers at the beach

No need to carry money around with you for food

 

Cons

Dining choices are limited to those at your resort

Many activities, like tours or excursions, are not included

If you do not eat or drink a lot it may be more expensive

If you go out to eat, you will be paying for a double course b/c you're paying for meal @ hotel

 

 

So before booking your trip, make sure you do all of the research you can about every topic, because we all know, money doesn't just grow on trees!

Safe Travels...




http://www.farecompare.com/travel-advice/tips-from-air-travel-insiders/
http://www.kiplinger.com/article/spending/T059-C000-S001-23-best-travel-sites-to-save-you-money.html

Where In The World...

Time's up, now on to our next destination...

This week we're taking a little trip to the other side of the world to France. 
What much is there to say about France. Well for starters....
                  wine, fashion, cars, the Eiffel Tower, love, art, food....

I think that gives you a pretty good explanation as to why I, along with many other people, want to visit the great country of France.

Check stop two off on my list of destination places. Stay tuned to see where we will be venturing to next week.

Safe Travels...