Packing with Purpose

March 13, 2014 Aimee Slade

FROM A BED COVERED IN CRAP TO NEATLY, ORGANIZED PACKS OF ESSENTIALS - LEARNING A FEW SIMPLE PACKING TRICKS WILL MAKE YOUR TRIP LIFE MUCH EASIER. AS A SELF PROFESSED OVERPACKER, I'LL GIVE YOU MY TIPS TO PACKING WITH PURPOSE.

1. Pack with each day in mind:

What will you be doing on that day?
What will the weather be like?
What could change?

2. Don't bring anything you wouldn't normally wear or needs too many additional pieces to work. If you wouldn't wear it at home, you probably won't wear it while on vacation.

3. Do bring items that can be re-worn or are versatile (jeans, jackets, solid shirts).

4. Roll your clothes, don't fold. This keeps them mostly wrinkle free and you can fit more in a small space.

5. Remember, if a clothing emergency occurs, you can probably buy what you need (unless you're in the Amazon or Idaho (just kidding... kind of). Packing for the impossible is not the way to go and will just clutter your trip.

PACKING CUBES

My favorite travel accessory. Whether I'm going on a month long excursion or a romantic weekend getaway, my packing cubes come along for the ride. You can find them on Amazon for about $20 for 3 (my personal favorite is the Rick Steves set). I organize them 1 of 3 ways:

1. By Type of Clothing

Socks, underwear, accessories
Shirts, pants, pajamas
Jackets, dresses, extras

2. By Day(s)

Each cube has 1 or 2 days packed inside so that when I don't feel like fully unpacking, I can just grab that day's cube and save myself the mess

3. By Location

Especially helpful when you are experiencing major climate or activity changes during your trip
For example: beach wear, active, hot weather, cold weather, dressy, etc.

Do you have any packing secrets that you want to share?

Please add your tips and tricks for us all to learn from.

Travel Like a Local with Vayable

March 9, 2014 Aimee Slade

SIMPLY PUT, VAYABLE IS LIKE THE ETSY FOR TRAVEL. LOCAL EXPERTS IN NEARLY EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THE WORLD LIST EXPERIENCES THAT YOU CAN BOOK DIRECTLY WITH THEM. THIS ISN'T ANOTHER TOUR BOOKING COMPANY, IT'S A CHANCE TO EXPLORE A CITY WITH SOMEONE WHO LOVES WHERE THEY LIVE AND IS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SHARING THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH OTHERS.

I've been using Vayable for about 2 years now and it's become my go to site anytime I start planning a trip. Prices vary, but are usually very reasonable and the experiences offered are unique and unlike anything you'll find on a normal tour booking site. We have always had excellent guides who are excited to tell us about their personal thoughts on the city and the culture; honest conversations you rarely get when you are on vacation.

Here are some of the experiences we've booked in the past:

THE MARKETS OF LONDON - My husband and I booked a tour with Kelly and from the moment we met Kelly she instantly made us feel at ease and had the whole day planned out for us. She took us to some amazing places to eat unique food that we would have never found without her, showed us what was worth buying and what wasn't and spent the whole day telling us about life in London. She was so fabulous, ensuring that we had an unforgettable experience in London. We definitely felt like we walked away with a new friend and have kept in touch ever since.
ITALIAN FAMILY DINNER - My husband and I booked this during our 1 month tour through Europe. We traveled to 7 countries and nothing beat this fun and unique experience. Doug picked us up from our hotel, took us to his warm home, introduced us to his wonderful wife Erica and their beautiful little girls. Erica cooked us a spectacular meal where she showed us how to make each dish and even printed us a menu along with recipes so that we could recreate them when we returned home. They were so inviting and told us wonderful stories of their life in Italy and gave us a true feel for what it is like to actually live in such a magical place. While we did not know what to expect when we first booked it, we now talk about it constantly and how it was one of our favorite memories of the whole trip. Doug and Erica are marvelous and we can't wait to go back to have dinner with them again.
MIDNIGHT STREET FOOD TOUR - Jeff offers a different side of the NYC food scene by taking you out on the streets of Queens where a world of international cuisine appears below the metro tracks to serve the working-class as they return from their jobs in the city. Jeff has been building relationships with these food vendors for years by asking questions (in his attempt at white-boy Spanish) and showing a genuine interest to understand and promote the under-appreciated street food culture in this area. Jeff takes you street by street to try everything from fresh tamales and coconut milk to pig-ear tacos and goat stew. More than anything, we appreciated the authenticity of the food, the genuine kindness of the people and the merging of cultures that you don't get to experience in the Manhattan bubble. For a relatively low asking price compared to many other culinary tours, all food is included and you leave with just enough room to breathe. (Check out my full write up on NYC here).

Be a Souvenir Savvy Traveler

March 3, 2014 Aimee Slade

MOST PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH FIGURING OUT WHAT TO BRING HOME FROM AN EPIC TRIP TO A NEW LAND AND USUALLY END UP WITH A MAGNET OR RANDOM TOURISTY TRINKET THEY PICKED UP OFF THE STREET. THEN, IN TWO YEARS IT ENDS UP IN A PILE TO THE GOODWILL BECAUSE YOU CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE HECK IT IS! STOP THE MADNESS AND FOLLOW A FEW SIMPLE TIPS THAT HAVE SERVED ME WELL OVER THE YEARS.

Forgo the obvious items that say "FIRENZE" or "I HEART NYC" and stick to pieces that you can use in your everyday life. For example, I have a bathmat from Venice and a tea set from Morocco. Not only is it practical, it's fun to say, "oh I picked it up in Italy" when someone asks where they can get one just like it.
Focus on one thing you like and buy that for yourself (and others) everywhere you go. My husband and I drink a lot of tea, so we always look for tea that comes from the region and we try to bring some back for friends and family. Not only do they appreciate that it isn't an embarrassing burden they have to display in their house, they now bring tea back for us when they take a trip.
It doesn't have to be a 'forever' item. Sometimes the best keepsakes can be enjoyed for a period of time to then give you an excuse to go back and get more. I collect salts, yes salts as in a cooking ingredient. I have a huge collection of different varieties that come from all over the world that I can use to prepare meals and reminice about our time spent. The salts run out eventually and then I start making future plans to get more! Don't you love how that works? Think of other food items you could enjoy... jam, pasta, honey, wine, even cheeses.
If it doesn't fit, ship! On our honeymoon, I somehow convinced Colin to lug around an 18 piece plate set all over Italy for 3 weeks... if you've ever been on a train in Europe you know how difficult that is! After our marriage made it through that, we vowed to ship stuff that we couldn't fit or that was too heavy. It isn't cheap, but isn't as bad as you would think and can save a world of hassle. Don't make the mistake of shipping items that won't make it through customs or you'll never see it again. Tip: if you have any friends that live on a US military base overseas - they get US prices no matter where it's going!