Subscriber's Favorite Travels | Part 1

How to Plan an International Trip | Part 1

Planning an International Trip

Part One: Six Months Out

Enjoying a warm, sunny morning in Michigan. 

    There are few things in this world I enjoy more than planning my next trip. The anticipation of traveling is nearly as euphoric as the actual traveling itself. Jessica and I have been hard at work planning our honeymoon, which coincidentally will also be our first international trip. Planning an international trip can be hard work, but with the right balance of preparation, organization and enthusiasm, it does not have to be the stressful ordeal that many people make it out to be. Here are a few points of information that I have gathered thus far on my venture into the international trip planning arena!

Get Your Passport 

    One of the first things that anyone who plans to travel internationally will need is a passport. While they are a little on the expensive side, you must have one to leave the country so you may as well bite the bullet and get it now. Even if you’re not planning on traveling for another year or even more, get your passport now. They are good for ten years and are a great thing to have if you stumble upon a great last minute travel deal! Standard processing for a US passport takes 4-6 weeks, but you can also pay (a lot) for an expedited processing and have it within three weeks. But why pay extra when you could get your passport ahead of time and save yourself some money and unneeded stress? 

    I’ve had people ask me if they need to get a passport even if they’re just going on a cruise. The answer is a definite and resounding YES! I’ve heard horror stories of people flying to the port only to be turned away and told they can’t board the cruise ship because they don’t have their passports. Get your passport now and avoid frustration down the road.

    Some countries also require a travel visa to enter the country, so make sure you do your research when you’re booking your trip. US based residents can go to http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html for country specific information. 

Get A General Idea of Where You Want To Go

    By six months out you want to have a general idea of where it is you want to travel. Begin looking at hotels in these cities. When looking into hotels & flights you should always use either an incognito browser or clear your cache before actually booking flights and hotels. This is because hotel & airline websites will actually track your search history and raise prices to destinations it knows you wish to travel. When I first began looking into flights to Paris for our honeymoon, I started receiving emails the next week with the price rising each consecutive day. The airlines want you to believe that the price of the flights is going to continue to rise and trick you into buying your flights right away, but this is not necessarily true. Don’t fall for the sales gimmicks of competitive airlines.

Our beautiful hotel in Aventura, FL.

    It is also a good idea to begin looking at hotels in the areas in which you plan to stay. If you’ve decided which cities you’re going to visit, begin narrowing down where you would like to stay. For instance, if you’re going to New Orleans, do you want to stay on Bourbon Street? Do you want to stay within walking distance of Bourbon Street? Do you want to stay as far away as possible from Bourbon Street? Start pricing different areas of the town and get an idea of what you’ll pay for different amenities. Decide if it’s worth the extra money to stay right in the heart of the city or if you would rather save money by staying somewhere a bit more off the beaten path. When Jessica and I went to Miami we were able to save quite a bit of money by staying about ten minutes north of Miami in Aventura. It was only a 10 minute bus ride down to the Miami Strip and we were able to save quite a bit of money and stay in a much more luxurious hotel.

Begin Learning a Little Bit of the Language 

    If you’re traveling to a country where they don’t speak English, begin learning a bit of the language. You’ll be amazed at how much you can learn in six months. At the very least, learn helpful phrases such as “hello”, “goodbye”, “can you please help me”, “do you speak English”, where are the bathrooms?”, etc. Begin learning these phrases six months out and practice at least once or twice a week. This will make it easier for your brain to quickly recall these phrases when you’re in the foreign country, as opposed to stuffing your brain with information a week before you take-off. It’s also a smart idea to take some time to learn road signs. Buy a phrasebook, stop at your local library, or download an app on your phone or tablet that will help you learn. 

    Personally, I use a mix of language learning podcasts/audio books and an app called Duolingo. Duolingo is a great free resource for anyone trying to learn a language. It’s essentially a free version of Rosetta Stone that you can use on your phone, tablet or computer. Just remember, a little bit goes a long way when it comes to learning a foreign language.  (On a more specific note, my favorite podcast for learning Spanish and French are the Coffee Break podcasts - Coffee Break French and Coffee Break Spanish.)

Start Saving Money

    Traveling, especially internationally, can be frighteningly expensive. If money is an issue, start saving up some cash reserves designated especially for travel. By putting $25 per week into a travel savings account (or even cash in an envelope), in six months you will have saved $600. That can be a huge relief on your wallet when it comes time to paying the travel bills. If you can put more away, then do! Any bit you can save ahead of time is that much less that has to come out of your checking account when the bill arrives. 

    I’ll be putting out another blog soon about how to save money before traveling & while traveling, so be sure and keep an eye open for that! Until then, start putting away a little money week by week, you’ll be amazed at how quickly it adds up! 

Check Out Travel Deal Websites

    Don’t be afraid of sites like Groupon, Living Social, etc. You can really get some amazing deals for trips that would normally cost twice as much! These sites can also be a great resource when you aren’t yet sure where you want to go. Pick a price point, pick your dates, & see what conforms to your search!

Things to watch out for when booking travel with these sites:

You’ll generally have to fly out of a certain city (usually New York or LA) so be sure to add in what it would cost to fly or drive to the departure city.

There are usually only certain dates of departure, so make sure the dates of your vacation can conform. If you have flexible vacation days, this won’t matter very much, but if you’re constricted to a certain time frame make sure your dates will work before you purchase.

Many of the travel deals have itineraries, so decide if you like being with a tour group or not. Some people love the fact that everything is planned out for them. They don’t mind going on a tour bus to see all the big sights. Some people would rather travel alone and make their own plans. They want a good price on a flight and that’s all. Either way is perfectly fine as long as people are traveling, but be sure to take this into account when researching travel deals.

Begin Watching Travel Videos

    If you know where you’re going, begin watching travel videos of the places you want to visit. YouTube is obviously a wonderful resource for finding videos of other people’s travels. Take the time to learn from other people, both what to do and what not to do. For any place you plan to travel you’ll definitely be able to find both amateur and professional travel videos online. You can also check out your local library for travel DVDs & Blu-Rays. My library has an extensive set of travel videos for nearly every place in the world. You can easily learn local customs and attractions by sitting down with a well-made travel video.

Go To the Library

    If you can’t yet tell, I LOVE the library! It’s a completely free resource that so many people seem to take for granted. There are countless resources at the library in the form of travel guidebooks, DVDs & Blu-Rays, and even audiobooks & CDs. I’m all about saving money wherever I can and the library offers me the chance to read up on the places I travel without having to actually buy the books. 

    I’ll usually go to the library and check out 5-7 books on the place I’m visiting. Then, I’ll often find the one I like best & buy a copy for myself. That way I can have a copy to take with me, write notes in & keep without spending money on one I don’t like. If you’re a AAA member, you can also visit an AAA office for free travel brochures and often times, free guidebooks.

Check If You’ll Need Vaccinations

    Check to see if you need any vaccinations before traveling to certain countries. For most travel this will not be a big issue, but a quick Google search now can save you from a big headache down the road! 

Start getting pumped!!!

    Travel, in this writer’s humble opinion, is one of the most important things anyone can do in life. Travel will enrich your life. It is one of the only experiences powerful enough to give you a completely different point of view on the world. On top of all that, travel is exciting! There is nothing more in the world I enjoy doing more than planning my next adventure! They always say that it’s not the destination, it’s the journey. Well part of the journey is the anticipation of traveling! I don’t like my day job, but knowing that I have a trip planned on the horizon get’s me through the day to day drudgery. Travel is an amazingly powerful motivator. So get pumped, get excited! You’re traveling!!!

Comment below with your favorite travel planning tips!

Be kind to one another, 

Tyler

Mammoth Cave National Park

ABOVE GROUND

The Mammoth Cave Visitor Center is a great place to start your exploration!

    Jessica and I first visited Mammoth Cave National Park in the summer of 2014. Situated in hilly southern Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the largest known cave system in the world.  As of February 2015, over 400 miles of caves have been mapped and explored, and new areas are being discovered every year. Before heading out on your spelunking adventure, you’ll want to stop by the Visitor Center for information regarding guided tours & ticketing. Outside the Visitor Center, there are also several posters with key points of information regarding the history and science behind Mammoth Cave that will make your explorations even more meaningful. 

    Jessica and I always make it a point to learn as much about the places we visit before we travel. The enlightened traveler is a true traveler, the unenlightened traveler is not a traveler at all, merely a tourist. Inside the Visitor Center you'll find the very helpful, knowledgable and courteous staff, but be sure to take the time and explore the Mammoth Cave Museum. Offering a treasure trove of history, geography & geology, I would suggest visiting prior to descending into the caves. That way, as you're exploring you'll have the base of knowledge to understand what it is you're seeing. There are several interactive displays making it easy for anyone to understand the science behind the caves. The Visitor Center is also where you will purchase your tickets for any of the guided tours of the caves.

The trails around the Visitor Center offer many beautiful sights! 

    Before plunging into the depths of the underground, take some time to explore the surface. The park is home to over 84 miles of trails ranging from beginner to expert and everything in between. The hike may be long, but it’s well worth the effort for the views it offers. The park also offers horseback riding, hiking trails, biking trails, & (weather permitting) canoeing on the Green River.

HISTORY

    The history of Mammoth Cave is as intriguing as it is long. The cave system itself is millions of years old. Bones of Native Americans have been discovered in recent years that date back over six thousand years. The first European explorers are said to have discovered the caves in the latter part of the 1700's. While the area officially became a National Park on July 1, 1941, cave tours have been offered since 1816. Many early farmers, when crops were not especially bumper, began exploiting the caves, using them as a means of bringing in extra cash by charging tourists to see the curious natural wonder. This time period, often known as the "Kentucky Cave Wars" period was marred by deceitful cave owners placing misleading road signs on the way to Mammoth Cave and even jumping on moving cars and convincing tourists that the 'official mammoth cave', was closed. 

    One of the more famous stories of the cave's past is that of Floyd Collins. He was an avid explorer of the caves for over a decade in the early 20th century. One fateful day, he accidentally dislodged a rock that landed on his leg. He was not able to remove the rock and eventually succumbed to starvation.  The story was a media sensation and even today there is a musical about the story (and you thought Sweeney Todd was weird.)

GEOLOGY

The flat layers of limestone rock. 

Mammoth Cave is primarily limestone but is topped with a layer of sandstone. One of the staples of Mammoth Cave is known as Frozen Niagara, a stalactite formation that looks like a waterfall frozen in time. Never remember which ones are stalagmites and which ones are stalactites? Remember this: Stalactites grow downward - they “hang tight” to the ceiling; stalagmites grow upward - they “might” grow to the ceiling someday.

TOURS

    You’re sure to enjoy any tour you take, but be sure to pick a tour you will physically be able to master. Some tours have as few as 12 stairs, while others have well over 500, and once you begin, there’s no turning back. The park offers between five & ten tours depending on the time of year you're visiting. Jessica and I opted for the "Domes & Dripstones" tour. We chose this one because it offered a well rounded view of the cave system as a whole. We were able to see both a "dormant" (dry) cave as well as a "living" (wet) cave. (Living caves are those that are still changing, moving, and growing, while a dormant cave is dried up and unchanging.) The cave is lit by a state of the art lighting system, a very important feature as it’s easy to forget, without these lights, it would be pitch black. On our tour we visited the Rotunda Room, in which they turned off all the lights and let us experience the piercing darkness of the underground. For some of the more popular tours that tend to sell out, it’s best to reserve your tickets ahead of time. 

Flash photography is not allowed in the caves, but the lighting is so great you probably won't even miss it!

Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly adventure, a historical journey beneath the earth’s surface, or an adventure packed excursion, everyone is sure to find something they love at Mammoth Cave National Park. 

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You can check out a full list of tours and reserve your tickets on the Mammoth Cave National Park official website here: http://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm

Check out the companion video to this blog on my YouTube channel!

To Ski, or Not to Ski

or, Snowmageddon: One Man’s Failed Attempt to Get Down the Bunny Slope

     I keep a list of all the things I can’t do. For instance, I can’t win at video games. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t seem to master the art pressing of the all minuscule buttons in a specific order with split second accuracy while simultaneously telling my opponent that he plays like a little girl. I’ve tried, I’ve failed, I’ve accepted it. I also can’t play sports. My hand-eye coordination just never matched up to my peers who had spent their lifetimes mastering the art of throwing, running, tackling and jumping while simultaneously telling their opponents that they played like little girls. I’ve tried (occasionally), I’ve failed (horrifically), I’ve accepted it (begrudgingly). 

     I bring this up because I’ve recently discovered another fun hobby at which I am woefully untalented: skiing. One may be under the impression that it is easy, but this, I’m sad to say, is a mocking understatement to the unparalleled skill that one must posses in order to fall gracefully down a giant snowy mountainside….or, at least, that’s what I’m telling myself. If it really is easy, then I am even more uncoordinated than I first believed. Allow me to walk you through the embarrassment of my recent trip.

One of the many slopes at the ski resort.

     The day started off well enough, I enjoyed coffee and snacks with Jessica and her best friend Sarah on our way to the ski resort while listening to the musical stylings of Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj. Once arriving at the slopes we all suited up and readied ourselves for what was sure to be a fun filled afternoon of gaily sliding down newly tufted hills of snow before retiring to  the fire and drinking hot chocolate into the early evening hours; laughing and enjoying a great orange sunset over the white peaks. Unbeknownst to me, however, was the mocking torment that one feels as they slip and slide and fall on their butts with everyone watching while they’re on the slope and their ski has fallen off on their right foot and they try desperately to get it back on but for some reason it won’t snap into place and you keep slipping down the hill and falling over and you happened to have crashed right under the ski lift so everyone is right above you watching as you make an ass out of yourself and your stupid boot won’t click into the stupid ski even though you try over and over…but I digress. 

     After purchasing our tickets and renting our equipment, we were soon out on the slopes. Jessica and I opted for skis while Sarah decided to snowboard, a choice which would be made clear to me in time. I should have foreseen the danger of the skis when, before we had even moved ten feet, Jessica fell while trying to maneuver around a couple of twelve year old boys (who, by the way, were skiing so well they may as well have been in the Olympics). We made our way to the bunny slopes, where by some sheer act of God I didn’t run into or injure anyone, and then (stupidly) decided it would be fun to tackle some of the larger terrain; the bunny hill 2.0 if you will. We cautiously made our way to the ski lift and before we knew it, were looking out on the great spectacle of seasoned skiers making their way down the hillside with grace and skill that would make a ballerina jealous, juxtaposed with skiers who were obviously on their first day and spent more time on their butts than they did upright.  

     As we were getting off the ski lift, we were forced to either go left or right off the runway. I went to the right as I didn’t have a choice because that’s where my skis decided to go, and Jessica went to the left (I’m assuming for the same reason). We could see each other on either side of the lift and I saw Jessica motion for me to come to the left side with her. I couldn’t very easily get to that side so I made the dumb assumption that since we were skiing down the same hill, we would obviously end up in the same spot….I didn’t see her again for another hour and thirty minutes. 

     I made my way to the edge, Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” playing in my head as I prepared for the epic fun that was surely about to ensue. The first 7-9 seconds were great fun! With the wind in my face, I was rapidly approaching speeds of four miles per hour, and then it happened…I tried to turn (beginner’s mistake) and before I knew it I had landed face first in the snow, one ski gone and both my poles ten feet back up the mountainside. This, however, was not embarrassing. Of course I fell, it was my first time ever skiing. I had mentally prepared for the fact that I would fall several times throughout the day. What I had not prepared for, was how unbelievably hard it is to get going again once you have fallen! First of all, you’re halfway up a slippery mountain side, rendering it difficult to do anything. Second, if your ski falls off, it is a nightmare to get it back on! There are clips in the back of the ski that must be pressed down in order to put your ski on (thanks for explaining that one equipment rental staff), and when it falls off as you crash your ski boot gets packed in with snow that you have to clear out before it will clip back in, which is all but impossible as it’s extremely hard to stand on one foot on the side of a mountain.

     As I ask myself who in the world would do this for fun, I crawl the ten feet back up the hill to grab my poles with one ski on and one ski off which makes me look like a wounded deer with mental problems. I slide back down to try to get the other ski back on, all the while six year old ski prodigies are zooming past me and laughing. I attempt to put the ski back on, falling and slipping over and over again for several minutes before some kind young person on the ski lift (which, by the way, was eight feet directly above my head), told me that I needed to push the tab down in the back to put it back on. I finally get all equipment back in it’s proper place, and compose myself as I prepare to make it down the remaining 95% of the slope.

Jessica and her friend Sarah.

     All in all, I go through this exact routine six times and let me tell you; it does not get any easier, nor any less embarrassing as it repeatedly happens over and over again. But as going back up the hill is not really an option, it must be endured. At the bottom of the hill I spend nearly forty minutes cross-country skiing looking for Jessica and Sarah. I finally find them back at the lodge taking pictures and laughing. It seems as though they had gotten down the hill after many falls of their own, decided to use the restroom and had been at the lodge ever since.

     This all being said, I had a great time! Sure, it would have been nice to have actually “ski’d” once, but nevertheless, any time spent outdoors is time well spent, especially when it’s with the ones you love. Next time though, I think I’m gonna bring my sled. 

Be kind to each other, 

Tyler

P.S. - If you would like to watch this failure of ski trip, check out my video on my YouTube channel! 

2015 Travel Plans

Jessica and me.

     While we’re far from packing our suitcases and begging someone to give us a ride to the airport, Jessica and I have made a few preliminary decisions regarding our travel plans for this year. 2015 going to be a fantastic year for the two of us, both in terms of travel and our day-to-day lives. For those who don’t yet know, Jessica and I are tying the knot in June, so we of course saved the best decision for first and decided where we were going on our honeymoon almost as soon as we got engaged. Flower arrangements and table runner colors are all well and good in their own way, but even “the dress” came second to the ever present pull of planning our next trip. This being our honeymoon, we knew it had to be a big one, so we’re pulling out all the stops! 

     Before I go on talking about our honeymoon, let’s take a step back and talk about the next couple months. First, Jessica and I are taking a day trip with her best friend Sarah to a local ski resort in Indiana called Perfect North. This probably would’t amount to much if it weren’t for

the fact that none of us have ever been skiing before. I see the draw of it…grown people racing down the side of a cold, steep mountain with nothing but a two by four strapped to either foot…sounds like a ball! But, I must say I’m a sucker for anything that involves the chance of me making a fool out of myself.

     Following our frolics in the snow, I will be soaking the sun on a cruise in the Caribbean with my lovely mom, Benita. When my two older brothers graduated high school, part of their graduation gift was a cruise with our mom. I, being the rebel that I was, dropped out of high school early in my junior year (another blog post, another day), and never got to experience the pride in embarking on a well earned journey for my accomplishments in the field of academia. Instead, I get to go on a cruise for no other reason than my mother loves me! I’ve never been on a cruise before, but I can’t think of a better way for my mom and I to spend some time together before she gives me away to my lovely new wife. 

     Speaking of my beautiful wife-to-be, that brings me to my next travel endeavor; our honeymoon! And what a honeymoon it’s shaping up to be! We’re starting off our journey by flying to the most romantic city in the world, Paris. After that four or five day escapade (plus one day in Disneyland Paris), we’ll be heading south to the Alps of southern France and possibly sections of Switzerland before heading further south once again into Italy. 

     One of the greatest joys I had growing up was my families involvement in the Foreign Exchange Student program. Throughout my childhood and early teens my family played host to seven students from all over the world including Brazil, Germany, France, Spain and Italy. While Jessica and I make our way through Italy, we have the wonderful fortune of meeting with my foreign exchange student from Milan, Fabrizio. He’ll be taking the time to show us his favorite places in and around Milan, giving us a tour through the eyes of a local. 

My beautiful fiancee and me in Rhode Island.

My foreign exchange student, Fabrizio and me in Epcot!

     After our time in Italy, we will be packing our things to fly back to the States….however, we’ll be making one last stop before touching down in Indianapolis. Any guesses where? I’ll give you a hint….it’s the most magical place on earth and it’s inhabited by everyone’s favorite mouse…you guessed it; Walt Disney World! What honeymoon would be complete without spending at least a little time in Orlando with the world’s greatest anthropomorphic mouse? 

     Even though it won’t be easy landing back in Indianapolis to our everyday lives after such an amazing trip, it will be made considerably easier by the fact that we will soon be back in Europe! Over Christmas and New Year’s, we will once again be taking the long plane ride over seas, this time landing in the home of fish and chips and the Beefeaters: London! My entire family will be celebrating the holidays with a little extra class this year along side our brethren in one of the greatest cities on earth! After the holidays, Jessica and I will be taking a little extra time (I mean…we’re already in Europe so…we may as well…) and traveling north to visit Scotland and then over to Jessica’s ancestral home of Ireland. I’ve always considered myself to be an honorary Irishman. Something in me has always felt as if I’ve belonged there, like some ancient ancestor was a great Irish royalty and it is my birthright to visit the Green Isle. A pipe dream? Maybe. Nevertheless, it’s how I feel! 

     So add this incredible year of travels to us getting married, buying our first home, and a slew of other fun adventures we’re sure to embark on and 2015 is shaping up to be the best year on record for the both of us! I’m the luckiest man alive to have such a wonderful companion to share these adventures and my life. I hope you’ll follow along on our journeys with social media and on my YouTube channel! It’s sure to be one heck of a ride! 

Be kind to each other, 

Tyler