Familiarizing Yourself with the Foreign Country You're About to Visit

You're ready to travel outside your home country by yourself! Exciting, ain't it?

Now as crazy and liberating a decision this is, it's also one that you shouldn't just jump into without knowing about the country or countries you're going to be visiting. If you're going on a guided tour, you'll be learning about the countries on the agenda so long as you're on the trip, but it's still beneficial to know a few things about these places. And if you're planning on going it alone, it's absolutely imperative that you know something about the culture of the countries you'll be visiting.

So, where do you start when delving into the information about your destination?

Today we're going to look into some different methods of familiarizing yourself with the countries you'll be visiting. Some of these items will seem obvious, while others could come off as unorthodox. Remember that everything that makes my list is what has worked for me, so if you are a traveler yourself or looking to become one, you may come up with different methods of preparation. But that's one of the beautiful things about traveling: it opens you up to new experiences so that you can grow as a person.

Before we begin, most of the examples I will be using will be from the UK and Ireland, mostly because I spent extended amounts of time there. So if it seems like I'm favoring them more, that's why!

And now, let's set a course of action and set off into a different world!

History

Yeah, we'll start with the obvious choice. If you're going to spend more than a few days in one country, it's usually best to know a little something about the place.

Exhibit A in what you DON'T want to come off as

It's up to you to decide how you want to research this country. There's the tried and true method of doing a basic search through your favorite search engine and checking historical sites, or even just Wikipedia. But for the best resources, try to find sites that are from the actual country itself. Especially if they're a non-English speaking country. Thankfully, most websites today have translation algorithms so that you can read from that particular site.

The reason behind this is that for the most relevant and up to date information, selecting American websites to look at the history of another country will be far less informative because, let's face it, they're a different country. There may be American historians out there who have spent time in the country they're an expert on that do provide relevant info, but generic history sites won't have what you need.

And keep in mind that doing just the bare minimum of research is usually just enough when you reach your destination, your tour guides and hosts will tell you the history and significance of your locations. Be ready to have an open mind to hear this country's history without allowing what you learned beforehand to taint your understanding. Travel isn't just about being in foreign locations, it's also about learning about a different culture, and that includes their story.

In that regard, travel is a wonderful way for you to learn how to become truly open-minded.

Religion

Some areas in the world may seem to be utter no-brainers when it comes to this topic, but in reality, you should always check on what the dominant religion is in your destination. It may surprise you. And not only that, every country has different levels of religious traditions.

In Israel, a country that whose primary religion is Judaism, there will be many churches and synagogues open for tourists to come visit. However, some of these religious sites will require their visitors to have their heads covered if they would like to enter the building. If you are a single woman going to visit this country, I would highly suggest keeping a scarf with you at all times if you aren't the type to wear hats when you're traveling.

A different example would be countries whose primary religion is Catholicism. Let's use two examples of these countries: Ireland and Italy. When I visited Catholic churches and cathedrals in Ireland, there were no head covering requirements, and clothing, so long as you were decently covered, wasn't that big of an issue. Then there's Italy, where, if you want to go into the Sistine Chapel or visit many of their churches, you must have your knees covered. There will even be signs outside of these tourist attractions that will tell you that they won't admit you if your knees are exposed. I missed out on one in Florence because I was wearing shorts!

There are many countries out there that practice the same religions but have different means of exercising those beliefs. Regardless of your religious beliefs or lack thereof, it's best to show respect to these people and what they believe. You probably will come across locals who will try to convert you, but it's fine to politely inform these people that you aren't interested. There's a difference between being respectful of a country's belief system and allowing yourself to be conformed.

Music

Believe it or not, many foreign countries will still have popular American music playing wherever you go. That being said, if you take the time to listen to the country's music, you'll find yourself not only familiarizing yourself with their sounds, but often their culture as well.

Before I went to Ireland and Scotland, I delved into the genre that is Celtic music and found some artists that I absolutely fell in love with. As I studied Irish music more, I found that much of their history is sung about, from their folk heroes, to their battles against the English, and the families that left their country. Yes, they have many songs about drinking as well, but their music conveys a deep love for their homeland, which is also felt when you visit the country for yourself.

As for the Scottish music, I wasn't as lucky in finding popular music from their country since the majority of the Celtic music I found was from Ireland. What I did find though was one band in particular that I liked: Runrig. Now I have an older car that still has a CD player, so I buy CDs when I go to other countries. While visiting Scotland, we were at the Isle of Skye, and I found a small music shop that sold nothing but Scottish music albums. I found two Runrig CDs that I wanted to buy and opted for their "Stamping Ground" album. When I presented it to the cashier, he expressed that he was impressed that I not only knew who one of the country's favorite bands were, but that I was buying their best album.

Another reason to look into a country's native music and groups is because many of them are laden with historical tidbits. You may have noticed how I constantly reference the band Gaelic Storm in my blog. This reason isn't just because they're one of my favorite bands (did you know they were the Irish band in 3rd class in the movie Titanic?), but also that many of the things I wanted to experience in Ireland I learned from their songs! I've already blogged about the bachelorette parties in Galway and I've made mention of the Matchmaking Festival in Lisdoonvarna, both of which I learned about by listening to their music! And there are a few other items on my Irish bucket list to check out that I was introduced to by their music. By researching a country's most popular native bands and music, you may learn fun facts about the country that you'll want to experience for yourself!

When you show that you know and appreciate the music of the country you're visiting, you tend to develop a certain level of respect from the locals. From personal experience, I would say that it demonstrates that you aren't just visiting this country just as a tourist, but that you want to learn and understand their country and culture.

Never underestimate the power of music!

Comedy

Comedy is actually one of the best ways to familiarize yourself with the country of your choice. Comedians are often times the best sources for finding out about political stances in their homeland, crazy history stories, odd quirks about their culture, and how they are treated when they tour different countries. What else is interesting is how they often express their viewpoints on other countries, which sometimes reflects the country's views as well.

Take for my first example, a comedian I found from Scotland: Danny Bhoy. This Scottish/Indian entertainer does a wonderful job of pointing out the idiosyncrasies of Scottish culture and comes up with the craziest ways to explain the actions of the Scots.

Let's look at another comedian. This time, we're looking further south and going with a British comic named Russell Howard. Russell doesn't think that British accents are particularly sexy and does this brief bit on why British accents from all over his country are the least sexy thing you can come across. While reading a passage from Fifty Shades of Gray.

If you aren't familiar with this horrendous book, please be forewarned that this piece of trash that somehow passes for literature is not for children. But the line Russell adds at 1.30 makes the whole thing worth it!

Keeping on the British train, if you can find comedy panel shows that take on current events, you can educate yourself on what subjects are important at present. An English show that does just that is Mock the Week, which also features a Whose Line is it Anyway? styled game of "Things we'd like to see" and "Unlikely things..." that are quite a laugh! Here's a clip of one such game tackling the subject of trains, one of the most common means of transportation throughout the UK and Europe.

With comics like these, you can experience for yourself the unique ways that daily life or social commentaries are handled with humor in different countries. You will also come across phrases and terms you aren't familiar with that you can take note of and look up afterwards so that you can understand the vernacular and not look like an ignorant tourist.

Language

Notice that what I'm saying here is language, and not accent. Take it from a trained actress and improv performer whose strengths are in character voices and hopes to break into voice acting someday: do not try faking the local accent! You will only appear to be mocking these local peoples, and they will not appreciate that! Seriously, here's an example of how you'll look, even if you are trained like me:

Just catch the first 15 seconds of this clip, and watch for Iain de Caestecker's reaction. Seriously, how has that actor not gotten an Emmy nomination yet?

Learning common phrases, on the other hand, are often appreciated by the locals. If you already know the language, way to go! But if you're like me and it's difficult to understand languages that uses a different syntax from English, just pick a few lines to show that you're trying to embrace the culture.

Funnily enough, I have a personal example to use for this. I read travel articles whenever I can, and I often came across the tidbit that many French people don't like Americans. While going through France, my group's tour guide suggested that they appreciate it when Americans try to speak French so long as they keep it simple. So everywhere I went, whenever I interacted with the French, I would smile and say bonjour, which would either be accepted as it was, or reciprocated with a smile.

Thankfully, there are also translator apps out there that you can download to your phone to assist you when going through foreign countries. Just make sure that if you do choose one of those apps that you have the appropriate cell phone plan!

And this is an exceptionally important point too: if the country you're visiting is an English speaking country, they're going to have different lingo than Americans!

I would highly advise that before you visit a foreign country that speaks English to look into what words are considered to be profanity there. You'd be surprised to find what basic words you may use in everyday life that may be considered rude where you're at. In my group travels through Europe, I've traveled with many Australians, and I've learn from them that using the term "stuffed" is equivalent to an F-bomb (which is also why I like inserting that word when I'm allowed to improv while performing!). 

Then there's non-verbal language to look into as well. Many people across the US like to flash the two-finger peace sign in their pictures, and often in other countries. Now here's what a peace sign looks like:

And here's what the British equivalent of the middle finger looks like:

The classiest "f-you!" you'll ever come across

I've noticed this little error across many of my friends' social media pages. Even I've been guilty of this one a time or two. If you're going to flash a peace sign, already remember that your thumb points outward. You do it with the back of your hand exposed in England, and you're going to offend someone.

Just because a culture uses the same language as you doesn't mean that the culture is going to be the same too. Do your homework and find out what words and gestures are taboo where you're going so you can avoid pissing off the wrong people. If you want to be a solo traveler, one of the best things you can do is get in good with the locals. Taking the time to educate yourself on what may be inappropriate in another country also shows a huge amount of respect for those people.

Currency

This is another big one, especially when it comes to Europe. Most European countries are associated with the EU these days, and by default, those countries use the euro as their main form of currency. Right?

Not all countries in the EU use the euro. In fact, there are 8 countries total in the EU that still use their own form of currency. And sometimes that comes in super handy when it comes to the exchange rate! And then there are European countries that aren't even part of the EU. Make sure you know which ones you travel to in case you need to exchange for another form of currency.

I made the mistake of not double checking this when I went to Switzerland. Of course, I was aware that they are a neutral country, but for some reason, it didn't occur to me that they might not use the euro. Sure enough, when I got there, I learned that they used Swiss francs, which I had none of! Thankfully, I was able to procure some, but it was rather embarrassing that I didn't check first.

As for the UK, all the countries involved using the pound, or GPB, but Scotland made a point of using their own version of the pound. Their bills, instead of featuring pictures of the Queen, have pictures of their folk heroes and kings, such as Robert the Bruce. As of this year, they have added pictures of famous Scottish women to some of their bills. This cash can be used exclusively in Scotland but isn't always accepted outside of the country, so keep that in mind if you're traveling from Scotland into any other part of the UK. For a fun example, have a listen to Michael McIntyre!

It's also important to keep an eye on the exchange rate because you never know if that particular country will have a sudden drop in value so that you can obtain more of their money for less of yours. And made the trade before you leave for the country by using a bank or currency exchange locations. You can also take American cash with you to the country of your choice where it may have more value. Just don't do the exchange at the airport!

And now you know!

There are plenty of ways to prepare yourself for another country and culture, not the least of which is speaking to friends who have been there or maybe have emigrated from that country. You can also check out movies and TV shows that were produced by film and TV makers in that region or shows that take place in that country that the same country highly values, among other things.

The show Outlander has had a massive affect on the Scots, and...and...

I'm sorry, where was I going with this?

The point is that by going to a country to learn rather than to just tour is what will make your experience more rewarding overall. And one of the best things you can do before you go is to do your research. Learn about these people and their customs. Indulge in their popular culture and folklore to find what aspects you like best. Listen to their languages and teach yourself a few phrases. Have questions about the country that you would like to have answered when you go there.

Above all, be ready to allow yourself to be immersed in a place that's not your home. When you do, you find that your entire mindset can change! That's definitely a trait we need to see more of in the world today.

I hope this helps! This post was a little late in coming, so my next post will be inspired why the reason I didn't have as much time to write this month. I'll be posting about how to get into physical shape before your trip. If you want to make it far on your solo traveling, you must have the stamina and endurance to cover as much ground as possible!

Thank you for reading, and here's hoping we can travel again soon!

Crazy, Silly, and It Could Only Happen to Me: Travel Tales!

First of all, I'd like to thank you for actively reading my blog and keeping up with my posts. I've told you lovely readers enough about what to do for solo travels, so how about some stories from my travels?

Listen well, friends! Every traveler is different and will have amazing experiences based on their preferences. Some travel to party, some to delve into history, and others to submerge themselves in a different culture. I tend to be more of the latter, so my best experiences tend to be the ones where I feel absorbed in the place I'm visiting. But don't worry, there are plenty of short stories I can share about my adventures that will hopefully inspire you to give solo or at least travel in general a chance!

Enjoy my stories, and hopefully soon more will come!

My new napping spot - England

I had my first ever travel experience when I was 11, which was a 2-day stay in England followed by another 11 days in Israel. Being only a kid at the time, I didn't handle the jet lag well at all. I spent a good part of my day in London nodding off everywhere, despite us visiting wonderful tourist landmarks including Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and the British Museum.

It was at the British Museum that I got to touch the Rosetta Stone before it was encased in glass and view the original manuscripts for Jane Austen's work and the sheet music of several Beatles songs. Then I leaned up against a display case and promptly passed out for a minute or two.

When my dad woke me up, he told me that I'd fallen asleep on the Magna Carta. 

The last two times I've been to London I've tried to revisit my napping spot but have failed since it was relocated to the British Library. This means I'll have to go back and try again!

There are souvenirs, and then there are Souvenirs - Israel

Continuing from the previous story, we arrived in Israel and started our journey from Tel Aviv and went northeast. Early into our trip we stopped at Beit She'an and visited the amphitheater. Being a kid who loved Indiana Jones, I wanted to take home a souvenir that could possibly be put into a museum. So, I found a large chunk of marble that looked like it was a piece of an old Roman column and took it home with me.

Once we got back to the hotel, I stashed that piece of column safely in my suitcase where I made sure it wouldn't break. I kept it safe until the trip ended and we went to the airport. This being Israel and their having major security detail even in the late 90s, we had to open our luggage for inspection before our suitcases were stowed away.

Sure enough, the security guard happened to spot the piece of column and took a good look at it. And what did he do? He just said to cute little 11-year-old me, "that's a good piece." And continued with his job. I essentially was given the ok to take a piece of history out of a country.

I still got it!

Thanks, Israeli security guard!

Crashing a bachelorette party - Ireland

Though I briefly mentioned this one in my first post, I figured now would be a good time to go into the details of what happened. I found out after seeing one of my favorite bands, Gaelic Storm, in concert, that Saturday nights in Galway, Ireland, are notorious for their bachelorette, or "hen," parties.

My second trip to Ireland had our group staying in Killarney on a Saturday night, one night too early for us to be in Galway, which we would be stopping by the next day. However, I learned this night that these hen parties weren't exclusive to Galway because I counted 6 in the city that night! The hotel we stayed at was directly in the city center and was set up right along a pedestrian street. This night, a stage was set up so that a local band could play . There was one hen party going on inside the hotel restaurant that seemed rather low-key and formal (although one attendee brought along a blowup doll), but there was a rambunctious one happening in the pedestrian street.

After enjoying a cider, I split from my group and decided to join in on the bachelorette party. They were dancing and cheering, but most importantly, they were already drunk and didn't notice for a while that someone else had joined them!

I decided to reveal myself soon enough and asked the bride-to-be for a selfie, which she was more than happy to call her girls in for. I took the shot, congratulated her, and then moved on to see if I could crash any other parties. Unfortunately, the other parties going through the city were more formal and I would've stuck out like a sore thumb, but I was beyond satisfied that I had successfully crashed one for a few minutes.

It was the next time I visited Ireland that I would spend a Saturday night in Galway. I ran into several bachelorette parties, but it was too early in the night for them to be rambunctious enough for me to join in. Guess I'll have to go back and try again!

Here's one of the parties I tried to crash in Galway, but they weren't drunk yet

This could only happen to me - Northern Ireland

In case you were unaware, I'm quite a geek, and always have been. On my third trip to Ireland, the first half was done with a Contiki tour. Halfway through the tour, we crossed the border from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland and stopped in the city of Derry and had some time to explore. I went in search of the latest High Kings CD and after succeeding, went to a nearby mall to look around.

And as I wandered just to see what a mall in Northern Ireland looked like, I came across some Irish cosplayers dressed up as Storm Troopers. I swear, this could only happen to me: looking around a foreign country and finding other nerds without even trying. They insisted I handle the light saber too!

Join the Dark Side, we have Irishmen!

I guess you could say, the Force is strong with me. Speaking of which...

Call of the nerds - England

...I mentioned once before that I got lost in London on my first full day there. I decided to stop for some coffee at a Caffe Nero at one point so I could access the Wi-Fi to find out where I was. I wound up near two young men discussing Star Wars at the table next to me.

Once again, I was readily accepted into foreign nerd culture and spent a decent amount of time discussing the original trilogy and the prequels with these two lads. I also asked if they could direct me toward the Globe Theater, but all they could offer was to follow the Thames. It was so cool to connect with geeks on a global level!

Meet Alex and Tom!

Going anime at the Leaning Tower of Pisa - Italy

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the few places in the world where just about every single tourist regardless of what country they come from has the same mindset:

"Hey look, I'm holding up this tower!"

Fun, but everyone who comes to this landmark more or less does the same thing. If you're clever enough, you can come up with other ways to utilize the tower's gravity defying structure to be totally unique. Now I don't know how unique this would make me, but I decided I wanted to do something other than holding the tower up like everyone else.

So, I did this:

Hadouken added after the shot was taken

I'm not really much for anime, but for some reason the idea of doing a hadouken just seemed like fun. So I did it! Maybe one of these days I'll have someone Photoshop an actual energy blast in there, but until then, I channeled my inner Street Fighter and gave it the best pose I could!

The TSA and I both failed - California, Washington

I booked my first ever solo flight to Seattle when I was 28 and was super nervous about it. Having not flown in 13 years also added to that apprehension. To ensure that I wouldn't have any trouble with my carry-on luggage or TSA, I made sure to remove anything from my bags that could be confiscated as a prohibited item.

So paranoid was I that of course missed something!

However, as I went through TSA and airport security, I had no issues at all. My bags went through the scanners without being subject to a search, nothing was on my person, and the agents were all very polite. I boarded my flight, landed safely in Seattle, and was picked up by my uncle, whom I was there to visit along with my aunt.

As he was driving me to his place, I decided to remove my keys from my bag and put them in my duffel since I wouldn't be needing them. As I took them out, I suddenly yelped. My uncle asked what was wrong, and I showed him my keys.

I had left my pepper spray on my key ring, which was prohibited in carry-on luggage! Somehow, I had forgotten to remove the most dangerous of my purse items and the TSA didn't catch it!

Needless to say, the spray stayed behind in Seattle.

Ever partied in a bomb shelter? - Switzerland

I sadly didn't get to spend as much time in Switzerland as I'd have wished to, but what a country! Our group stayed at a chalet located on a campground in Lauterbrunnen, which just so happened to have a bomb shelter on its lowest level.

Since there's been no need for bomb shelters for a while, this bomb shelter was converted into a bar!

Ever seen so many people wearing beanies?

The bar had limited options on their drink menu, but there was plenty of room to dance and party, and a Nintendo 64 emulator hooked up! Obviously, the partying took precedence, so our group, along with other groups staying at the same chalet, enjoyed a "Swissco Disco," in which we all showed up wearing Switzerland beanies.

I'm telling you, partying in a converted bomb shelter really does feel more badass than it should. We all had a great time down there.

Oh yeah, and being the geek I am, I slaughtered both a bartender and another guy in our group at N64 Mario Kart. Earned a free drink for one of those victories!

I've become my mother! - Ireland

My sister and I finally made it the Cliffs of Moher in our trip to Ireland. We began our exploration of this majestic site at Hag's Head and made our way north toward the visitor's center. Right as we reach the cliffs, I notice that there are three main paths: one against the fenced pasture blocking off the property hugging the cliffs, another a safe distance away from the cliff edge, and one right up against the edge.

Immediately, my sister goes straight for the path right up against the edge. Being the big sister that I am, my first instinct was to yell, "don't walk too close to the edge!" Then I paused and thought to myself, "hey wait, mom's not here!" I followed after her instead with, "wait for me!"

We kept to the cliff edge for the majority of our hike.

My next adventure at the Cliffs of Moher - Ireland

Having completed the Hag's Head Trail at the Cliffs on my previous trip, it was my intention to finish the trail going north. However, our group was only allowed 2 hours to explore since it was October and a bit dismal outside. I wasted no time in running up to O'Brien Castle and then taking the trail north, but sadly not making it far due to the lack of time allotted.

So why did this story make this post? Well, here's why:

They had fenced off the trail, and I hopped the fence.

In my defense, that fence really wasn't much of a barrier, and others (as you can see) had hopped it as well. But everyone else in my group was either appalled or impressed that I went on despite the landslides!

The next time I went I still may not have made to the end of the trail, but I did make it further north since it was August and we had more time to explore.

Falling is no joke!

Reenacting a scene from our favorite movie! - New York 

I took a trip to New York to attend a Newsies rally, organized by a fan of the original movie (not the Broadway show, which is amazing, but there's a HUGE difference between the two fanbases). Our rally was to meet in front of the NYC City Hall, from where we would cross the Brooklyn Bridge to see other historical sites from the movie.

One of the iconic scenes from Newsies is when Jack and Boots lean over the side of the Brooklyn Bridge and scream off the side of it for kicks and giggles as the camera pans away for a wide shot of the bridge circa 1899. So, what do a group of fans who have been involved with this base for over 20 years do?

You guessed it! Reenact that very scene!

Obviously, it didn't have the same effect as the film did, but it was still insanely cool to do this at the site. Even better, one of the girls in the group had director Kenny Ortega's phone number and sent him this video, which he absolutely loved! Too bad I shot the video and wasn't in it, but oh well! I love my fellow Newsies fans.

Always there for my mates! - Scotland

I loved Scotland, but unfortunately my experience was dampened due to being allergic to something out there and spending much of my time sneezing. Now this being a Contiki tour, I was assigned a roommate, and she and I got along pretty well!

During our first day in Edinburgh, my roomie kept asking me to remind her what room number we were in at our hotel. She and I split off for different activities in the city since it was during the Fringe Festival, and I had to call it a night early because all the sneezing was wearing me out in addition to some slight jet lag. As I was getting ready for bed, I became concerned that my roomie wouldn't remember which room we were in.

A normal person probably would've shot them an IM or text message, but all the sneezing was making my brain fuzzy. So instead, I did this:

Sure enough, that worked! When we had breakfast the next morning, she thanked me very emphatically for what I did, and the story spread a bit through our group because it was such an unorthodox thing to do. 

A few months later, Contiki's Facebook page posted about the best stories involving traveler's roommates, and this got posted:

I may be a solo traveler, but experiences like this are priceless.

I could never play an instrument...until now - Ireland

We went to Taylor's Three Rock Pub for their cabaret night of dinner and entertainment, with comedy, music and dance acts. In this particular group, I was the only young woman below forty that wasn't traveling with anyone else (the other girl was in her late teens and traveling with her grandparents). At one point, some of the dancers went into the audience to bring people onstage for an impromptu performance.

Guess who got invited onstage by a sexy dancer?

Could you say no to a dancer that adorable????

That adorable lad invited me to join them onstage, and everyone in my group excitedly urged me to go, which I would've done without the urging since I'm an actress and was thrilled at the idea of becoming an international performer. He took me by the hand and led me to one side of the stage where another audience member selected by one of the girl dancers was brought up as well. I was handed a tambourine, and he was handed a bodhrán, as seen being played in the picture above by the musician next to the dancer. 

This is my proof I was onstage. Others in my group took pics and video but I forgot to remind them to send them to me. Am I a moron or what?

Having a little experience with the tambourine, I was able to keep up with the music fairly well, while the other guest (seen leaving the stage in that picture up there) was having a hard time figuring out how to use the bodhrán. After the one song, the instruments were switched at I got to play the bodhrán. And guess what? I PLAYED THE FRICKIN' THING.

The song they had selected to play was the popular Irish song, "Whiskey in the Jar," which I was very well acquainted with. So, I knew the music and the beat and somehow was able to play along! All this time I'd thought I had no musical ability, but while I was up there, I was able to play an instrument I'd never laid hands on before. I was so amazed at what I was doing and excited to be performing in a foreign country that I just had a ball up here.

When the song was over, I got a standing ovation from some of the other patrons, and even the entertainers were impressed and told me so after the show! I left the stage in one of my most triumphant moments in my life, and was told by one of the other guys in my group that while I was up onstage, I "brought everyone up there with [me]."

To this day, I don't know how I did it. Nor can I play the bodhrán anymore!

A wish came true - France

I thought I'd save the best story for last.

My group had reached Paris on the final day of the Tour de France, which disrupted our plans a little bit but not so much that it was an issue. The next day was the last full day our group was together as well as our only full day in Paris. I was feeling a little melancholy after traveling with this great group of people and decided that I didn't want to explore the most romantic city in the world by myself.

Luckily, one of the other young men in our group invited me to join him at the Louvre.

Unfortunately, the Louvre was undergoing renovations and only allowing a certain number of guests in per day, so by the time we arrived they had already reached their limit. He and I decided to tour the grounds instead and explored the shopping center beneath the museum and the gardens outside, which were also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We poked fun at the statues along the paths and rode a few rides at the carnival just outside the grounds before we went to check out the fountains and gardens. My handsome escort suggested we toss coins into one of the fountains so we both took out coins to toss in at the same time. However, I tried flicking my coin in with my thumb, so his coin went in but mine flipped backward over my shoulder, which he thought was a hoot.

As he picked up my coin for me and handed it back, he teased me with, "ha ha, now your wish isn't going to come true." Not being one to be told something can't be done, I thought to myself, "wanna bet?" He then proceeded to show me how to properly flick the coin into the fountain with my index finger, so I made my wish, did as he instructed, and the coin went into the fountain.

Here's the fountain

It was after we'd had an extremely full day that we found ourselves outside of the O'Sullivan's By the Mill Bar that is settled right next door to the Moulin Rouge. My wish came true when that same young man kissed me right then and there.

He never knew that the wish I'd made when I tossed my coin was that he'd kiss me.

And those are my stories!

Of course, there are plenty more, but these are easily the best I've had. I hope to have new adventures soon so that I can do another list, but with the world the way it is right now, it may be a while. I will still take every opportunity to get out there and compile more stories, especially since I experienced the revelation that most of my best stories were ones of traveling with other people and not by myself.

Just because there really aren't many stories of my traveling alone doesn't mean that it's not a wonderful experience, but sometimes the best adventures come with the people you travel with. And when by yourself, I've found that sometimes words just can't express the feelings you had when you explore a foreign country.

So, what's coming next? Well, I think it would be best to put out a blog about what you need to do to prepare for the country you're about to visit. With the world slowly reopening again, foreign travel prices are super low and now is the time to start looking into where you want to go! And yes, I already know where I want to go and when, depending on the Covid situation.

Thank you for enjoying my stories, and may you have just as many to share when you get out into the world!

All photos were taken by me or with my personal devices. 

Gifs courtesy of Giphy

Tips on How to Afford to Travel!

Making the decision to start traveling is one seldom regretted but going into massive debt to do take your trip isn't always worth the effort. And let's face it, travel is an expensive hobby to have, especially solo travel when most travel agencies out there tend to plan their trips for couples and groups. The sad truth is that this world isn't very accommodating toward solo travelers.

Still, it is a hobby, and one you don't need to break the bank to make happen. I for one definitely fall under the poverty line but travel is something that can be achieved without breaking the bank if you're motivated enough.

So, how can you afford to take a trip if your finances aren't so great? Well, after doing some research on other methods I've come up with several different methods of finding the best deals on travel so that you can stay in the black even when you're returning from your trip.

Now a lot of research went into this post, and some of what I'll be posting about is from my own personal experience. If you have any other tactics for finding deals or saving money, feel free to comment below so we can get that info out to all potential travelers!

First: trim the fat in your finances

I spent several years working at Starbucks and most often heard the complaint of how high the price of coffee is. Out of curiosity, I started asking these people, "do you have cable?" The response almost every single time: "yes, why?" To which I would respond: "just wondering."

In reality, there was a reason for that question. At the time, I was going to university, working two jobs, and was actively involved in the entertainment community as both an actress on stage and in local films while also providing backstage assistance to other shows. My roommates and I had actively chosen not to add cable to our home services because all of us were far too busy to spend time watching TV and we didn't want to waste our money.

To this day, I have no streaming services or cable because I just don't have the time, and because I want to use that for my next trip. According to my searches, the most popular streaming services out there with the best quality available are Netflix, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime, and the Disney+ bundle that also includes Hulu and ESPN. If you are subscribed to all 4 of these top streaming services, you're forking out an estimated $80.96 per month. If you work full time and spend less than 10 hours a week watching TV and movies on your available streaming services, then you're using up $20.28 per week.

Now I'm not here to dock streaming services, but when people ask me how I'm able to travel, this is what I tell them: I have no streaming services. Based on the data I just used as the example, I'm saving $81 every month because I'm not watching TV or movies like that. Multiply that number by the months in the year and you come out to saving $972. You can book a mini vacation to Hawaii on that amount!

Something else you should take into consideration: coffee! I can't function without it, but I have a handy dandy coffee maker that I bought for a super discounted price and brew my own mug full every morning with my favorite creamer. If you're the type to go out and buy a coffee before work, there's nothing wrong with that, but you can save a buttload of cash with the one time purchase of a coffee maker with a timer.

Since I used to work for Starbucks and they're the most popular chain around, let's look at their numbers. Being in California, the prices are higher than most other states, so if you want to calculate these numbers by your location check out this site here. Let's start with the most likely option: a grande cup of coffee. In California, a grande coffee averages $2.69, not including a tip (*coughtipyourbaristascough*). If you buy one every workday, then you're looking at paying $13.45 for a 5-day work week, and a monthly total of $53.80.

Or, let's say that you are like me and prefer fancier drinks when you're out buying a coffee. For a grande mocha in California, the price averages $5.31, adding up a weekly total to $26.55, or a monthly total of $106.20. If a monthly price for a basic coffee is $53.80 and $106.20 for a mocha, you're looking at a yearly amount of $645.60 for your cups of coffee and $1274.40 for your mochas.

In the hypothetical situation of a year having the four main streaming services and buying a grande cup of coffee from Starbucks 5 days a week, we're looking at spending $1617.60 for those two extras in your budget. You can spend a weekend in Europe for that much!

Ultimately, if you want to make travel happen in the simplest way possible, take a gander at your finances. After you take a long hard look at what else you're paying for after taking care of your basic needs of rent/mortgage, utilities, cell phone, Wi-Fi, student loans or medical bills, pets, prescriptions or medications, car payments and maintenance, insurance, gas, and food, factor in how much you have left over and where you're spending it.

Remember that I'm not discouraging any activities or services that you employ in your everyday life, but if you want to travel without going broke you will need to make sacrifices. Ask yourself these questions: is going to the salon twice a month absolutely necessary? Can you cook instead ordering takeout every night? Do you need another pair of shoes? Is buying name brand clothes that important?

It's your call to choose how you want to finance your trip. The first step in making sure you can afford it is cutting back or out any activities or purchases that you can put toward your travels instead. You can always pick them back up when you get back! The sacrifice is worth it!!!!

Second: Factor in Expenses

Once you have an idea of how you can save money for your trip, look at your destination and the amount of time you plan to be traveling. There are going to be several factors to take into consideration before you start packing your bags.

The trip itself

How are you going to take this trip? Will you be entirely alone within your own country, or going abroad? Are you going through an agency? Will you be going with a tour group? Are you starting out with a tour and then going on by yourself? Are you booking all your hotels and flights on your own?

These are just some of the questions you first need to ask yourself when preparing to book that trip. I love traveling on my own, but then I must plan everything myself, and that can be costly. You can book a solo trip through an agency to save money, and they usually include insurance and trip protection (covered in a previous post) in the event of an emergency.

However, going solo means modifying your trip. Most companies book groups of two or more and charge accordingly, whereas if you are traveling by yourself, they would need to book you a separate room, and that would mean you pay more. Be ready for extra fees.

Booking through agencies also covers transportation, attractions, and often meals, usually breakfasts. It is more cost effective, but you're on a tight schedule and are only allowed to be at most sites and attractions for a certain amount of time. For example: I've been to Blarney Castle twice with two different travel agencies. Both groups I toured with only allowed 3 hours to tour the grounds, and the wait time (both times) to kiss the Blarney Stone was just under an hour, though the line still moved faster than a Disneyland ride. What most tourists don't know though is that the grounds at Blarney are huge. Aside from the castle, there are gardens, nature hikes, a manor, cafes, and even a Woolen Mills right outside the visitor's center. You could probably spend half a day at that one attraction alone and have an extremely full day.

MWAH!

The agencies you book through do tend to offer the best deals, but what you save in money sacrifices time. Creating your own trip and doing everything you want may be costly, but you're in charge of your schedule and can spend your time however you want. The agencies may be cheaper and include everything you need for an enjoyable trip, but they are required to adhere to their schedules. Both are worth the effort, but each have their pros and cons. For the cheaper route, go with agencies.

Food and beverages

If you do opt for a trip booked through an agency, you can expect at least breakfast to be included, and maybe a dinner or two. Going on your own means that you'll need to oversee all your food, so when booking your lodgings make sure they include breakfast. Either way, you will most likely be paying for your lunches and most of your dinners.

If you have an itinerary, find out which days you don't have dinners included and expect to pay at least $20 worth of whatever the local currency is per meal. Then put aside a little extra money for snacks, additional beverages, and indulging in local cuisine. What's my favorite thing to seek out when I'm out traveling? ICE CREAM.

Top: milkshake from Stax in NYC and gelato from Gelateria Conti in Florance, Italy

Bottom: cone from a sweet shop in Lake Windermere, England, and my favorite: Murphy's in Dublin!

I'm a total foodie and want to try as much food as I can when I'm traveling abroad, and desserts are something I want to make allowances for; so if you're like me, be prepared to keep a little extra cash on hand to indulge your sweet tooth. And drinks? Well, that's up to you. If you like an alcoholic beverage from time to time or make it a point to go to a bar every night, make sure to be prepared to buy your own drinks. Yes, I've had a few covered by both men and women when traveling, but never expect that you'll have locals buying all your drinks.

And always try the local drinks

In the event where you do have to provide your own breakfast, try booking your accommodations within walking distance of a grocery store or market depending on if you're staying more than one night in the same place. Buying groceries is far more efficient than ordering breakfast every morning. When I stayed in New York, the hotel I stayed at with my friends didn't offer breakfast but had a Whole Foods less than a block away. They offered breakfast options in the morning at a rate far cheaper than the restaurants nearby.

There are plenty of ways to skimp on travel expenses, but food should never be one of them. If you're going to travel, bring extra money for the food. You won't be sorry.

Clothing

I already covered shoes in my last post, so I won't revisit that point. When and where you travel can be a little costly depending on the weather. Let's say you want to visit Scandinavia in January, but you're from California where the winters are generally mild. You will need to invest in appropriate clothing before you leave.

Clothing can eat up a good part of your pre-trip budget if you don't take it into consideration. There's also the matter of checked luggage with air travel; not all airlines offer free luggage. In fact, even if they do allow for one free stow-away bag, they limit the weight you can carry to 50 lbs. and will slap you with a ridiculous fine for the amount of weight added over the limit. Make sure that regardless of if you're traveling with a group or solo that one of the hotels you stay at has laundry services so you won't have to pack as much clothing.

When shopping, try to find the discounted and wholesale stores to find the best prices. Or, if you're like me and love a deal, hit up the thrift stores!

Thrift stores can be truly magical places!

Only buy what you need; if your trip agenda has fancier places on the list, bring a dress or some nice shirts and tops to dress appropriately. Dress for the weather but don't plan on wearing more than one outfit per day unless the trip agenda has an upscale event planned. And if your agenda will have a hotel or lodging that offers laundry services, lighten your suitcase with a few less items so that you can wash what you brought and wear it again after it's clean. Believe me, everyone else will be doing it too!

Souvenirs 

Bouncing off the previous point, you will probably bring back a few knickknacks home with you. You should set for yourself a certain amount of money you plan to spend on souvenirs, and always remember that they will add extra weight. If your suitcase, full of clothes, shoes, toiletries, and other personal items weighing 45 lbs., adding more than 5 lbs. of souvenirs will add extra fees to your luggage unless you can include them in your carry-ons.

Keeping yourself limited to, say, $15 USD per day, for souvenirs is a good way to keep from going broke. You can also bring a backpack for your carry-on only and use that for bringing heavier souvenirs, but remember that when heading home you'll have had an adventure and will probably be sore and tired and don't want to add to any strain on your back and shoulders. Buy sparingly and try to buy light.

Third: Booking Your Trip

We're finally to the part you probably wanted to get to the most. So how exactly do you get the best possible deal when it comes to booking your trip? I did briefly mention booking through agencies, so I will go deeper into that option here. But how are you going to pay those agencies? Let's take a look!

Pay Up Front

This is the most obvious answer, and the option least likely to happen if I'm being honest. If you're making a paycheck that puts you above the poverty line so that this is a viable option for you, I applaud you! Seriously, that's impressive.

So if it's at all possible for you to pay off your trip with one payment, DO IT.

Credit Cards

Even if you can pay off your trip in one payment, you will still need to use a card of some kind. If you aren't able to pay it off all at once and opt to use a credit card for several payments instead, first make sure you don't have any outstanding debt.

As someone who used to work with loans, I can tell you that debt can really stack up fast if you already have long-standing bills, contract payments, or loans of any kind. Adding another few thousand dollars to your credit card statement can be a mistake that could affect your personal credit. Make sure that adding credit card payments to your budget isn't going to take too much out of your paycheck before confirming your trip.

There are also certain cards out there that are issued by credit card companies or banks that do have excellent rewards programs that can be put towards hotels and airlines based on the purchases you have made. If you want to see if any of the cards you already have qualify for any of these programs, speak with a banker or representative about the rewards and make sure you ask about the fine print, particularly interest rates. Accruing interest is something few people consider when booking their trip, so double check on what your current rate is so that you don't end up paying an extra 10% in interest alone.

Something else major to consider is your credit score. Having too many credit cards open under your name can bring your credit score down.

If you want to open a new one for travel specifically for the rewards offered, try speaking with a financial advisor first who can examine your current credit history to see if it's a wise economic decision. As wonderful an experience as traveling is, you shouldn't do anything to hurt your credit score to make it happen.

Groupon

Do you remember that I mentioned that I went to Ireland for the first time on a Groupon? I wasn't kidding.

It's crazy, but sometimes you can find amazing deals on vacations and trips on Groupon! Now, the only downside to this is that they usually offer trips that are meant to be for two people, so what looks like one price is in actuality half price with the expectation that the person you'll be traveling with will have bought the same deal too. Check the fine print!

Despite this, they still have some great deals. Look at the Groupon deal, find out what's included in the package, and see if you can still save if you buy two deals if need be. You can also live chat with a Groupon representative to ask any and all questions about their vacation and trip packages to see if you've found a steal of a deal!

And if you're not ready to solo travel but want to take advantage of this deal with a friend, family member or partner, give this option a try! And if you're traveling domestically, make sure to use Groupon as your guide to see what discounted restaurants or attractions you can purchase in the area you're visiting!

Financing

Most travel agencies will offer some kind of financing option, in which you set up a payment plan that you will continue paying even after you have taken your trip. With credit cards, you generally pay a deposit first and then the full amount at least a month before your trip begins. Financing is a contract between you and the travel agency to pay them an agreed upon amount directly until the entire trip is paid off.

However, every agency will offer their own financing and travel loan options, and they will have their own interest rates in their contracts. These rates can be around the same amounts of what your current credit card company is set at, or it can be more. It may seem like a great option in order to get out of town fast and have more cash to use on the trip for all necessary expenses, but you may come up with more to pay in the long run than if you used your credit card.

Again, check with a financial advisor, or ask the travel agency you're booking through to go over the best options for paying off your trip and discuss the fine print of the financing option. Every agency will have different policies, so it is entirely possible that you could find one that has a good deal.

Independent Travel Sites

It's best to book directly through the agency site of your choice in the event you choose to go that route. However, there are some third party sites out there that are completely legit and can find you a trip that's cheaper than the agency you're looking to book through.

As always, there are pros and cons to this option. First, you do need to make sure these sites are legit. For example, if you wanted to book through the third party website of Affordable Tours, then I can tell you that they are one of those legit sites that I have successfully booked through. What you want to look for is the Better Business Bureau accreditation because that will mean the company is willing to be a trustworthy source. You will also want to see that the company has a link to a review site so that you can see what others are saying about them. If you find a site with nothing but glowing reviews, that may be a bit suspect, so keep an eye on the number of positive reviews as opposed to the negative. If their positive reviews are numerous and has a small number of less than perfect reviews, they may be worth booking through.

However, booking through a third party won't always include all the possible extras that the direct agency offers. They normally book you the trip and the insurance, which is fair enough. Still, there are often offers for additional activities you can add to your trip before paying that are offered directly from the source. When buying through a third party, they may not be able to offer those extras, leaving you to book them when you're on the trip itself if it's still available.

Sometimes with these third party sites, you simply get what you pay for. If that's what you can afford, go for it! Even if you can't add on all the activities you can find other things to do.

Talk to your friends!

In this digital age, a lot of people are finding other means of earning income, and one of those opportunities comes through booking trips! In fact, one of these friends helped me out with the previous section!

When you have friends who work with travel, they can help set you up with some pretty awesome deals. Sometimes they can be involved in booking cruises, Disney adventures, or overseas tours of varying lengths. Your friends will not only want to help you find the best deal available, they will also want to promote their services so that they can make profit.

So if you do have friends who can book you on an amazing trip, they're not only helping you, but you're helping them build up their business. Support your friends!

Speaking of which, much thanks to my friend David of Explore Travel LLC for helping me understand how financing a trip works.

Fourth: Transportation

How are you going to get where you're going when you reach the country you're visiting? If you've booked a trip through an agency, you'll likely be on buses or trains, or even ships if you've booked a cruise. However, if you're going at this solo, how are you going to get around?

Some vacation packages include a car rental, but if you book everything by yourself you'll need to decide if you want to rent a car yourself, or if you'd like to rely on public transit. In places like Europe, where public transit is the main means of getting around, you can easily go all over the country or countries for relatively cheap. Sometimes you can even purchase reloadable transit cards so that you can have cheaper access to trains and buses.

Now I covered car rentals in my post about road trips but driving in a foreign country is much different than driving in the US. Different countries will have different driving laws for starters, such as Paris, France not having any stop signs while the rest of the country does. So, keeping up to date on these traffic laws is important because you don't want to be pulled over and have to pay a fine!

There's also insurance to take into consideration. For instance, insurance rates for Americans driving in Ireland are particularly high. And why would that be? Well, to quote Patrick Murphy of the band Gaelic Storm: "they're called roundabouts, not over-and-out-abouts!"

Insurance premiums for Americans in other countries are going to vary but can be costly. Also, many roads are toll roads! Some countries will have toll plazas, while others will have cameras set up at specific areas on the roadways and you'll have to pay at local gas stations, hotels, or even apps for your phone within a certain amount of time. And if you miss one of these tolls, you can incur some nasty penalties.

While I highly recommend renting cars for road trips in your home country, renting a car in a different country is a completely different ball game. Having complete control over your itinerary by driving a rental is a wonderful freedom to enjoy, but make sure you are aware of what the cost of transportation is versus the cost of rentals.

Finally: Airport Parking

Airport parking fees are ridiculously exorbitant.

Let's say that you've purchased a trip to Canada and will be gone for 9 days, and you're flying out of LAX. All parking at LAX is $40 per day unless you get the economy parking, which is $12 per day. That's $360 if you do the regular parking, or $108 for the economy lot. Now let's look at ORD: their parking fees are $42 for daily, $22 for the first economy lot, and $15 for the secondary economy lot, even more expensive than LAX. If we stick to the LAX economy rate, $108 can take care of your food budget for at least half of your 9-day trip.

Many people don't take this into consideration which is why I'm mentioning it here. If you want to save money, you can either check with a friend to drop you off and pick you up with you return and pay for the gas. Or ask a family member and offer to pay for the gas as well or to bring them back something extra special from the country you're visiting. 

If you're lucky enough to have public transportation that leads to the airport, use that instead of driving. In the end, you want to have as much money as you can spare for your trip and that alone. Anywhere you can cut corners safely and economically, do it.

The Final Word

If a single lady like me can travel both internationally and domestically without being overwhelmed by debt, then you can too! Always remember that if you are motivated enough, you can make it work. I gave you a lot of information here to process so if you're going to walk away with a few points, take a moment to remember these:

1. Any extras that are not part of your living expenses can be sacrificed for a short time

2. Always check the fine print

3. Avoid making financial decisions that can affect your credit

4. Interest rates can be sneaky!

5. The pros and cons of your choices often whittle down between cost and time

Don't let the prices for your trip scare or discourage you from traveling. If this is something you really want to do, you'll find a way to make it happen. 

Thanks for reading this post, and I hope you were able to learn some valuable information! Coming up in my next post, I chose to go with something a bit more upbeat instead of advice and counsel on travel. I'll be sharing stories of my adventures!

Stay safe out there, and start looking at your budget!

Images courtesy of Giphy.