How to pack lightly for a long trip

With Christmas freshly finished, I’ve got my next trip planned: Blogmanay!  I’ll be celebrating New Year’s in Edinburgh, Scotland. Edinburgh, which I’ve long extolled as one of my favorite cities, has one of the world’s best New Year’s celebrations.  People come from all over the world to celebrate Hogmanay. I’ve been invited to be part of  Blogmanay , a groundbreaking initiative bringing 21 top travel bloggers from around the world to broadcast the celebrations live. Celebrating at Hogmanay Hogmanay is essentially nonstop mayhem for several days.  I plan to take in as much as possible.  Some of the highlights: December 30: Torchlight Procession — a beautiful parade of lit torches through Edinburgh’s city center. December 31: Concert in the Gardens  — Simple Minds are the main headliners this year.  If I play my cards right, I might get a chance to schmooze with them, too!  Also performing: Bwani Junction and The View. Hogmanay Street Party and Street Carnival — Imagine a

This week’s question is about how to help your parents adjust to the idea of you traveling — long-term or short-term, solo or with someone else. Hi Adventurous Kate! I’m planning to travel abroad for an extensive length of time (most of 2013), and my parents are very nervous about this. I’m 28, single, financially independent, and two years ago I spent five weeks traveling around SE Asia (4 weeks with a group, 1 week alone) and survived just fine. For this trip I’m planning to start in New Zealand / Australia to get my feet wet, and then continue on to many places in Asia and Africa. All of this is concerning for my mom and dad. They say they support my decision to travel next year, but they’ve vocalized how anxious they are and the topic has created somewhat of a rift in our relationship. Do you have any tips for making parents feel more comfortable when their adult children decide to go globetrotting? In short: communication, communication, communication. Be prepared to talk e

According to Project Time Off , 55 percent of Americans are not using all of their vacation time; moving from an average of 20.3 days in 1978 to a mere 16.2 in 2015. This statistic personally hits home as I have struggled to negotiate time off, feeling pressure to show my dedication and sacrificing precious days away from my desk. Extend your business stay One of the ways I have combated this shift in American work culture is to blend leisure travel into business trips. This strategy requires minimal additional days off from work. The best way to pack in the most travel time is to take advantage of the weekend and fly out on a Friday for a Monday meeting. It’s a great opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and explore a location that would otherwise go undiscovered. Another benefit to business travel is the reduced costs. One of the largest costs involved in vacation planning is air travel . When travelling for work, your company will pick up the tab. This frees up extra cas

If I had only known that as we sailed into Pučišća on the island of Brač in Croatia, that we would be seeing the single most beautiful village I had ever seen, I would have taken time to savor it. IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN! Pučišca was an all-too-brief stop on our trip between Omiš and Makarska.  It was only the second day of our sail.  We had lucked out, majorly, because the captain was responsible for all navigation decisions and decided that this would be a better place for a swim stop than out in the middle of the ocean. As we came into, Pučiśća, I admired the scene before me with my jaw scraping the deck — I mean, who wouldn’t? But at the same time, I assumed that all villages in Croatia would look just like this.  That?  Was not so.  Whatsoever.  As beautiful as Croatian’s seaside villages are, nowhere else in the world looks like Pučišća.  The gleaming white stone indigent to the island that makes this village one of a kind. To the Kate of Croatia Cruise Day Seven, it brought m

The Great Ocean Walk, Victoria, Australia. Stretching along the Great Ocean Road, the trail provides one of the best hiking experiences. The route is about 100 km (62 mi) long and can be completed in approximately eight days. However, one can choose certain sections and walk only for a chosen amount of time and still be able to enjoy the experience. The trail features numerous viewpoints, overlooking the dramatic coast and the ocean. Some sections are easier, while others are more challenging but adventurous. For instance, hiking along Aire River one might need to wade across it since there are no bridges. However, the picturesque beach of Johanna found at the end of this particular hike, rewards with amazing views. Why go there? Visitors are offered to choose from a variety of itineraries. They can sign for a few hours walk as well as extend the trip for eight days! The campsites allow hikers to have a good night rest and continue their trip the next day. The route indeed promises

When we planned our visit to Australia last year, we made sure we reserved enough days for Tasmania too! Many of our friends said it was a waste of time. But we love all things natural like waterfalls, coasts and mountains and didn’t care much for large cities. So we decided to explore this place for hidden gems and we simply fell in love with Tassie! Here is our 9 day road trip in Tasmania!   How to Get to Tasmania Tasmania is an island south of Australia, the size of Florida, population 500,000.  You can fly to Hobart or Launceston from Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane, or take the ferry from Melbourne (9 and half hours). We flew Melbourne-Launceston (Launnie!!) in an hour.   Where to Stay and What to Eat in Tasmania In a relatively small area, say Wales, we make a central location our base and make day trips to see the sights. This would not work in Tasmania during our 1,700 KM journey. We prefer rural B&Bs, hotels being the second choice. Aussies are friendly and hospitabl

Planning on heading on your holiday? Once your packing’s done and you know everything’s in check, you only have one more thing to think about: the airport outfit. The outfit you decide to wear to the airport can influence your commute. From feeling on-trend for drinks at the airport lounge to feeling comfy on a long flight, this SS19-inspired fashion guide will set you straight on how to dress in style and comfort when you check-in. Long-haul flights Bear in mind that you’ll be spending more time in the airport and on a plane with a long-haul flight. So, comfort merged with style is crucial to make your commute pass swiftly. Style your look in a way you know will make you look good but feel at ease. Go for a plain tee in a shade that matches the band on your side-stripe joggers — this clothing piece was on all the catwalks at the men’s SS18 international fashion shows. Match with neutral-colour, lace sneakers that are easy to slip on and off at security and throw over a light-weigh

Is there any greater phrase in the English language than ‘You are now landing in California’? Probably not – it’s a phrase of welcome, palm trees, sunshine, friendly faces and a Hollywood sign presiding over you with the calming presence of a megalithic deity. That’s why the state of California is one of the best places in North America to visit. Whether you want to hit the beach, traipse along the Walk of Fame, witness orange groves that stretch as far as the eye can see, or just relax in your local dive bar, there’s something here for every vitamin D craving tourist. But there are a multitude of things to see and do here, so much so that it can be overwhelming for the casual tourist. That means you’re going to have to don your planning cap and start thinking about an itinerary for your journey. If all that sounds intimidating, fear not – we’re here to give you top tips on how you can make the most out of your first time in this hotspot of the west coast. Fly Ontario Ontario In

Each week or so I will be bringing in a guest to ask them about their experiences with travel and what it has done for them. Why just take my word for it? Most travel sites and blogs focus on interviewing the “average Joe” that has left everything behind to travel the world. This “average Joe” typically has a travel site of their own and are still out there wandering the globe. Sure I will be tracking down those Joe’s  but what about the “ average average Joe?” The ones that travel for the sake of traveling. The ones that have no ulterior motives. They are the ones truly experiencing everything out of their trip as they are not tidied to a keyboard, a smartphone,  or a deadline. That’s who I am interested in hearing from. In This Post... The Average, Average Joe Series – Cort Smith on Quitting Your Job For Something More What was the proverbial straw that set your trip in motion? Do you miss anything from the 9-5? How did it (quitting) go down? Many people dream of telling off

It was by chance that I visited the Algarve in winter. After a year of living in Spain, I was supposed to be moving back to Scotland. But a visa delay meant that I found myself on a road trip along the Algarve and up to Lisbon and Porto. And thankfully, it turned out to be an awesome detour before I finally made the move!  You might not find the Algarve featuring on a lot of top places to visit in Europe in winter lists, but it really deserves more credit, and I’m going to tell you why! Check out 10 reasons to go, where to go, and what to expect.  Table of Contents 1 Why visit the Algarve in winter 2 Algarve at Christmas 3 Where to go in the Algarve in winter 4 Where to stay in the Algarve in winter 5 What to pack Why visit the Algarve in winter Good weather While some places are definitely worth visiting in winter for the cold and snow (Iceland for example!) the Algarve is a destination that allows you some respite from it. The overall warm and temperate climate in Portugal