Showing posts with label Travel Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel Tips. Show all posts
Y'all - I have to tell you about one of my favorite finds from my trip to France in August- this Go Travel Worldwide USB A & USB C Charger+. This dual USB Charger is now one of my favorite travel items and it is amazing.
This is in no way a sponsored post- just something that I came across by accident and it was an incredible find. Basically the background story is that when I arrived in Montreal for my flight to Paris I was given the option of checking my bag for free and I was so thankful and surprised that I forgot to take out my charger. It wasn't until I reached the gate that I realized that I had accidently left my charger in my suitcase and wanted to have a charger with me for the flight and the wait. This turned out to be one of the best mistakes that I have ever made traveling. I am not even exaggerating. Haha!
I headed into this little store across from the waiting area and was looking at all of the different options for chargers. As I was reading the large wall of what looked like hundreds of chargers, a man came up and picked up two of these Go Travel Worldwide chargers. He saw I was looking at different ones and proceeded to tell me that these were the best for traveling and it was all he now used. At that same time the woman working in the store agreed with him and I thought it was worth a try. I am so glad that I did! Here are five of my favorite things about this amazing charger!
First, I would definitely agree with this picture above that it charges faster than any other worldwide charger that I have ever used. This became such a blessing as I used this in so many different places to charge my phone (even in a small town in France) as I was taking so many hundreds of pictures and my phone battery was quickly dying throughout the trip. Within 10 minutes my phone was usually back to a full charge it was AMAZING.
Second, with the dual USBs there are many options for charging and that is incredible also!
Third, this little charger has so many different options for charger heads that are interchangeable and that is so helpful for future trips I have planned!
Fourth, I loved how compact that this charger is. It easily fit in my little purse that I was carrying, wasn't bulky like previous chargers I have had, and was incredibly lightweight. It was wonderful!
Fifth, It comes with this wonderful little carry pouch - so if you are traveling to multiple different countries that need different chargers you can carry them all together without losing the pieces.
It is incredible y'all and it is seriously my new favorite travel charger that I can't recommend it enough!
You can find it on Amazon HERE or in my Amazon storefront (along with other lists and travel items I love) HERE!
Please let me know if you have any questions! Happy Monday friends! I hope you have a wonderful start to your week!
Happy September 1st y'all! It is hard for me to believe that we are in September but as we look to fall in the Adirondack area quickly approaching, I am so excited to share just a few of my favorite and fun fall activities around the Lake Champlain area that should definitely be added to your bucket list if you live in this region or are visiting for the first time!
Drive to See Fall Foliage
Starting in mid-September (or later depending on the summer/early fall weather) through October the gorgeous leaves burst into color creating a beautiful view for all to see. Surrounding Lake Champlain are both the Adirondack and Green Mountains so you can see so many vibrant colors on both sides of the Lake.
Hiking
Both the Adirondack Mountains and the Green Mountains surround the beautiful Lake Champlain. If you love hiking in the New England area then this area of the United States is a hikers dream. If you are interested in hiking the Adirondacks and want to hike all of the "46 peaks" for the "46ers club" you can find out more about this HERE.
Not ready to hike a "46er peak" but still want to hike in the Adirondacks? There are still so many beautiful options that you can do! Feel free to reach out and I will be happy to share some of my favorites!
If you are interested in finding out more about hiking in the Green Mountains you can join the "Green Mountain Club" and find out more about it HERE.
I have shared before about one of my favorite towns, Essex, and all of its adorable charms. Essex is just one town along the lake that offers adorable New England charm, quaint and yummy dining options with beautiful lake side views, a rich and cultural experience, and unique shopping during the fall. You can read more about all of my favorite towns along the New York side of Lake Champlain HERE.
Biking
Just like it is for summer, biking is a perfect activity for the fall months! All along Lake Champlain there are tons of different bike paths that you can choose from that will take you around the Lake, or by the Lake (like the beautiful views that the Burlington Vermont Bike Path offers), and some that even "cross the lake" using one of the ferries or bridges.
Ride the Cloudsplitter Gondola at Whiteface Mountain
I shared about this adventure we did in the early spring and the views from the top are breathtaking. You can read more about our adventure HERE and the views with the leaves changed would be simply stunning. You can find out more about the Cloudsplitter Gondola at Whiteface Mountain HERE.
Adirondack Balloon Festival
The Adirondack Balloon Festival is a yearly festival that happens every September in Glens Falls, NY and in Queensbury, NY. You can find out more about this event by clicking HERE. There is also a Vermont Balloon Festival which is so fun and is wonderful to check out if you are wanting to be in Vermont.
Fall Festivals
There are many Fall festivals that are held in the towns and cities along Lake Champlain!
Farmers Markets
There are numerous towns along Lake Champlain that hosts farmers markets each week. Each of these farmers markets offer the best of local products and offer a wonderful opportunity to support the local farms.
Take a Weekend Trip
There are numerous weekend trips that you can take surrounding the Lake Champlain area. You could head north into Canada or south to New York City or over to Boston... honestly for driving less than 5 hours you can step into a different world for the weekend all while witnessing the beauty of the fall colors!
Heroic Corn Maze, Fort Ticonderoga
If y'all know me at all than you know I love corn mazes. I know, I know. I am giggling too.
This corn maze in Fort Ticonderoga is also known as the "heroic corn maze" in Fort Ticonderoga is a family friendly activity for people of all ages to enjoy. This six-acre corn maze is designed especially for Fort Ticonderoga providing a variety of opportunities (including historical ones) for people to find in this life size puzzle. The maze is open throughout the season through mid-October and even has days that the maze can be explored at night. Find out more information about this fun fall event by clicking HERE.
Another fun thing I discovered a few years ago was the Moonlight Madness Corn Maze at Hathaway Farms in Vermont! I definitely can't wait to do this again this year! You can find out more information HERE.
Applefolkfest at Penfield Museum
Penfield Museum which is located in Crown Point, NY (on the lower part of Lake Champlain) hosts "Applefolkfest" each year which is an excellent fall tradition to be apart of. As the name suggests, the museum is paying homage and celebrating the staple of fall in northern, New York, the apple. You can find out more about this family friendly even by clicking HERE.
Apple Picking
I love fall. I really do. It makes me feel all cozy inside and there is something about going apple picking that makes it seem like the seasons have transitioned. There are numerous places to go apple picking in this area. (The same thing is true for going to pick out a pumpkin!)
There are so many different things to do around Lake Champlain in the Fall and these are just a few of the favorites!! What are your favorites?
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Ever since I was a little girl I have struggled with motion sickness. Despite my love of traveling in all different forms, I was always the one who would ask for the air to be higher, the windows to be rolled down, the temperature to be cooler, and would practically camp out to stake out the seats that would allow me to easily see out. Motion sickness was definitely not a friend and over the years as I have continued to travel more and more I have found a few ways to help handle this to make it better. Here are four of my favorite tips on ways to handle motion sickness as you travel!
1. Take Control
If you are taking a road trip but are not driving, the place that you sit in the car can contribute to motion sickness. Studies have shown that drivers are less likely to get motion sickness than passengers simply because the brain is being focused on the commands to control and predict the motion of the car. If possible try driving when you have the opportunity to help with motion sickness.
Another way to take control if you are not driving is to try to sit in a seat as a passenger where you can look out front. Studies have shown that looking out onto the horizon gives the brain a greater sense of control than just looking at the whizzing scenery.
If you are unable to sit in one of these situations or are on a cruise or a train or a flight, try to open a vent up to help the air flow, start a conversation, or pick a point that is steady to focus on. On a flight consider choosing a seat over the wing which has been said to be the calmest area of an airplane.
If you are on a cruise consider choosing a stateroom at booking that will help prevent motion sickness. Studies have shown that on a ship those in rooms near the center of the ship are less likely to experience as much motion as those on the aft or front part of the ship.
2. Pressure Points
Different people think different things regarding the idea of pressure points and acupressure, but I have found pressure points to be helpful in different situations, including extreme motion sickness. For some people wearing the pressure point wristbands is incredibly helpful. THIS ONE is very popular with over 29,000 four star reviews, has helped me, and is less than $9! Click HERE to purchase it on Amazon! Simply slip it on and wear it on your travels! So easy! Traveling with a child - here is the child's version of the wristband- click HERE!
3. Make Wise Choices
On any trip really make sure that you are watching your consumption of the type of food, drink and alcohol levels that you consume before and during your trip. A lot of people don't feel good when they travel simply because they start to eat lots of foods (think heavy creams, spicy, or fat-rich foods) that they don't typically eat in their daily lives. Try to keep to your normal diet on your trip which will help your stomach stay less queasy over all and in general.
4. Ginger
I have talked SO much about Ginger here on the blog, but one of my most popular travel posts, 16 Unexpected Things to Bring on Every Cruise, (click HERE to read) remains my highest read post with hundreds of thousands of saves. From that post I hear the most from people about the suggestion of how ginger has helped them in their cruise travels and it honestly is great for all different types of travel. One suggestion I have for ginger is to take it before you start your trip - and then continue to take it throughout.
A lot of people use Dramamine (or the patch) for motion sickness for traveling which is a wonderful option, but ginger can be a great natural resource to help with nausea. You can read more about ginger and its health benefits by clicking HERE. I have mentioned this in several posts but I swear by THIS ginger here and it is LESS than $7! Seriously- SO awesome!! Click HERE!
Also, if you are wanting to use dramamine- did you know that there is now a non-drowsy version made with ginger? You can find it HERE!
I hope that you find these four tips helpful for handling motion sickness y'all! I know how difficult it can be and I hope that this post helps to ease this area so that you can enjoy your travels even more! Let me know if you have any questions! I am happy to answer! Looking for additional travel tips for road trips, cruising, or flying? Check out my travel page HERE!
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor and this post should not be taken as medical advice. Make sure to always consult with your doctor on all products suggested in this post and on this blog.
Happy Wednesday friends! If you missed my post yesterday, The Best of Caravan Sonnet Travel-2024 (you can read it HERE), I am catching up a bit from the beginning of the year on some long overdue travel posts! I hope that these inspired you in some way for your own adventures! And read to the bottom for an exciting announcement coming next week!
Today I am so excited to share what the top well loved and read travel posts of 2024 were with this community! If you haven't had a chance to read these posts then I hope this will provide you with some inspiration on this beautiful March morning!
I have loved seeing how this post remains in the top 5 read travel posts on my blog ever since I wrote it back in 2015! Each year I update the post with relevant information and it is hard to believe that it has been NINE years since I originally wrote it.
At the time I wrote it I was heading on my first New England and Canadian Cruise in the early fall and the weather in October varied. When I had researched for tips and I couldn't find any so it was a fun post to write and I love that it has been helpful to others!
My mom and I had the beautiful opportunity to take a different New England and Canada cruise with Holland America in the late summer of 2019 (you can read about it HERE) and this list came in handy when we were packing. No matter the time of year you may be traveling on a cruise through or to New England and Canada I hope you find this helpful!
You can find the post HERE!
When I went on my first river cruise in 2017/2018 I was a complete newbie! While I have done a lot of ocean cruising, I knew nothing about river cruising and searched to find the best packing lists so that I wouldn't forget anything.
I fell in love with River Cruising on our Rhine River Cruise with Viking Cruises seven years ago and can not wait for our river cruise with Viking in April. You can read all about our beautiful adventure on the Rhine River HERE! I can't wait to take y'all along on every part of that cruise! I love all cruising but if you haven't had a chance to do a river cruise, I can't recommend it enough!
This post is perfect if you are in this same position and are afraid of forgetting something- don't worry! This list will help remind you of 5 things not to forget in your planning!
You can read the article HERE!
One of the questions that I receive on a weekly basis is for packing tips and suggestions along with vacation tips! These are great questions and realistic needs as you plan to leave on a trip and before I went on my first Caribbean Cruise back in 2014 I spent a ton of time researching these answers.
Since that time ten years ago I have been so blessed to go on 6 additional cruises including a river cruise on the Rhine River (which I mention in #2 above) and am looking forward to some additional cruising adventures in the coming year! (As a side note if you ever want to see where I am heading next for travel you can find the information HERE!)
I share that to say that along the way there has been lots of different learning curves and so I hope that this list of 10 things to do before you leave on your Caribbean Cruise post will help you have a stress-free and fun-filled and memorable vacation!
I share that to say that along the way there has been lots of different learning curves and so I hope that this list of 10 things to do before you leave on your Caribbean Cruise post will help you have a stress-free and fun-filled and memorable vacation!
You can read this blog post HERE!
I originally wrote this blog post back in 2016 and also update it every single year. It remains one of the most read posts on this blog with several HUNDRED thousand reads and saves! Y'all. I am always humbled and shocked when something I have shared could help someone. I am so thankful that it is helpful!
The 16 unexpected but necessary things to bring on every cruise listed in this post will help you with any type of cruise you are going on at any time of the year. While a lot of packing tips and lists can be found on the internet that include the usual items you would think to bring (clothes, camera, passport/documents/toiletries/etc) I wanted to share a few things that you might forget and are unexpected but are must pack items. I hope you find it as helpful as other people have!
You can read this blog post HERE!
Back in August of last year I started a whole new type of travel posts and wrote this post on creative reuse shops. It has been a joy to explore this type of travel and the response has been AMAZING. It is always exciting to find something new and creative when you travel and I am loving all of the feedback! The map is constantly updated with new reviews so feel free to check it out and be inspired to check out these creative reuse shops!
You can find the article HERE!
Thank you so much for reading today friends! What have been your favorite travel posts you have read this year?
I am so looking forward to sharing so many fun and beautiful adventures this year. It is a BIG year of traveling for Caravan Sonnet and I am so excited to share with y'all some beautiful collaborations, tips, and ideas for your own travels that I hope will inspire you.
And stay tuned for an exciting announcement all about a new venture that will give back in a unique way- Postcards with mom is launching next Wednesday! I am SO excited to share more!!
Happy Wednesday friends! I hope you have a wonderful day!
If you are heading on a river cruise and worried about forgetting something- don't worry! This list below will help remind you of 5 things not to forget in your planning!
1. Local Currency
1. Local Currency
One of the most important things that you can do to prepare and bring on your trip is some of the local currency where you will be going. You can do this ahead of time at your bank or at a local vendor which will result in less fees than if you use a money exchange booth in an airport. While some people would prefer to use their credit cards - which is great, you will still need to have money for tips or for small shops that don't take credit cards so make sure to prepare for this ahead of time. (Also if you are going on a river cruise around the holiday season and plan to visit the European markets, like in Colmar, you will need to have local currency for this!)
Looking for a cute wallet to travel with to hold all of your different cards and some local currency? THIS ONE and I love because it contains a space for your passport also!
2. Passport Holder/Wallet
You will need to have your passport with you and I would definitely recommend carrying it with you at all times while you are on excursions. I use my wallet which is an older beautiful green Travel & Passport Wallet that is no longer available, but is very similar to THIS ONE (I mentioned above) and I love it!
2. Passport Holder/Wallet
You will need to have your passport with you and I would definitely recommend carrying it with you at all times while you are on excursions. I use my wallet which is an older beautiful green Travel & Passport Wallet that is no longer available, but is very similar to THIS ONE (I mentioned above) and I love it!
If you are looking just for a Passport Holder and don't want the entire wallet- there are so many different adorable passport holders that are available today! A favorite I found (for less than $10!) is THIS ONE (which has more than 21,000 amazing reviews and comes in TONS of different colors!!) The best thing is that many of the colors are currently are on sale!
3. OTC Medications
While it is true that you can purchase all different over the counter medication when you are off the ship- it can be more pricey and also be difficult to find depending on where you are traveling. Sometimes on river cruises there is not a doctor but there is a basic first aid kit available. You will want to think ahead and bring some of your own items.
Prone to seasickness when you travel? Definitely check out my post 4 Ways to Prevent Motion Sickness when Traveling by clicking HERE!
Even though river cruising is an excellent choice for those who are prone to seasickness, there were still some people who said the movement on our cruise was difficult to them. A lot of people use Dramamine (or the patch) for motion sickness on a cruise which is a wonderful option, but ginger can be a great natural resource to help with nausea. You can read more about ginger and its health benefits by clicking HERE. I have mentioned this in several posts but I swear by THIS ginger here. It is organic and for less than $13 you can save yourself a whole lot of sickness!
4. Comfortable Shoes/Sandals
I shared this in my post, 13 Must Pack Items for Your Caribbean Cruise, but it is a definite thing to remember. Pack comfortable shoes and sandals!! You definitely want to look cute and have fun, but you don't want your cruise ruined by blisters either so take the time to pick out cute and comfy shoes. On a river cruise you do TONS of walking and you will want to make sure your shoes are comfortable!
5. A Watch
I was surprised to hear this suggestion from those who had done a lot of river cruising but honestly, have now seen the value in having a watch. One of the best parts of a cruise is having the chance to take a break from the "real world" and simply enjoy the moment. But if you are wanting to make sure that you are ready to meet for excursions, meal times, etc. and want to put away the phone, you will want to know the time. I LOVE my fitbit versa and totally recommend it! You can find it HERE!
What about y'all? Any items that you wish that you had brought on your first European river cruise that you would recommend to a first-time cruiser?
Check out more cruise tips by clicking on the links below:
Check out more cruise tips by clicking on the links below:
Curious to find out more about our upcoming trip with Viking or the one that we took with Viking Cruises in 2017? Click on the posts below:
Viking River Cruise (2025): // A Beautiful Upcoming Blog Collaboration //
Viking River Cruise (2017-2018): // Viking River Cruises: Answers to Your Most FAQ's //
// Viking Eir Ship Review // Viking Eir Stateroom 203 Review // Viking Eir Food and Dining Review //
// A Brief History of Old Town Colmar // Saint Martin's Collegiate Church (Place de la Cathedrale)//
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