Wow.

It has been quite some time since I have been here and posted. To be fair…COVID (if you know you know), but that’s not the only excuse. A lot has changed in the last few years. So how about we dive in?

I got married in June 2019 to my handsome man, Paul. We bought our first house and moved in in mid-November 2019. Shortly after that, COVID hit and we were sent to work from home in March 2020 (which is the bees knees by the way, so thanks COVID?). I remember thinking we would be back in the office in a couple weeks. Boy was I wrong.
I turned 30 during a lockdown, and wasn’t able to spend Christmas with my family for the first time in my entire life and we barely left the house for 2 years.
I discovered I have anxiety about, well, all the things and started seeing a therapist.
My best friend had a baby and made me an Auntie to the sweetest little girl in May 2021. Baby number two is on the way now. Crazy lol.
My beautiful Grandma, Audrey Nalewajek passed away in January 2022 which was the worst and I miss her everyday.
We sold our house, bought a new one and moved in in May 2022 and we LOVE IT.
I started a little garden and I truly can’t tell you how much I love seeing things that I tend to grow. Still working on the indoor plant thing, but I can grow tomatoes like no ones business.
Some of our best friends got married in July 2022 and October 2022 and they were really magical days to witness.

It truly has been a whirlwind over the last 3+ years, so I guess it makes sense that I haven’t had the time to sit down and write. Especially about traveling, since, well, I’ve barely done any for a long time.

However, now that the world is opening up and we can jet off to unknown lands, it feels right. So here I am, saying hello again and welcoming you back.

I’ve missed you and I really hope you’re doing well!

-A

I have to admit that I have done very little traveling within Canada. I know…shame on me right? Canada is my backyard and I can count on 1 hand the amount of cities I’ve truly had the opportunity to experience. Of that small list, Vancouver (or Van City as I call it) is at the top.

I have been to Vancouver several times. I have family there so it’s been a cheap vacation destination for quite some time. And something about the city will ALWAYS have me coming back. I can’t quite put my finger on why though…but let’s be honest, do I really need a reason? Probably not, but let me explain a few of the things that I think make Van City a true Canadian Gem.

The Food

By now you should know that I’m a foodie. Lots of my days revolve around where I’ll be eating next and Vancouver’s Food Scene is off the charts.

Salt Tasting Room

Canada has a plethora of incredible dining experiences, and Van City is no exception. The food scene in this city is AMAZING. You can find any and every type of cuisine, and it will blow your mind. There are hidden gems around every corner, and I urge you to find a place where you leave dissatisfied.

Paul and I have recently discovered Charcuterie, and are obsessed. Maybe me more so that him, but still. I love it. I mean hello…cured meat? Yes please. Cheese? Yasssssss. Truffle Honey? Hell to the yeah. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  So I took to Google to find the best charcuterie in Van City and The Salt Tasting Room was one of the top places. We were NOT disappointed.

Walking in the door, you’re immediately hit with a laid back and calm vibe. Maybe it was the subdued lighting, low music and the hum of people talking. But I was instantly at ease. We were seated by the window and tucked into a corner. Perfect. Paul and I love being in our own little world, and this was just the right spot. Sitting on our tiny table were our menus, topped with a blue piggy bank. While a small touch, and maybe a little out of place, I smiled. Our server quickly went to take away our little dining buddy, but not before I snapped a picture. I love thoughts like this one at a restaurant. While the menu explained the concept the real decisions were made with the chalkboards on the wall. These displayed the variety of meat, cheese and condiments to choose from. You had the ability to choose your own, or you could go with one of their pre-determined plates. We decided to choose our own, and let me tell you. It. Was. DELICIOUS.

The Flying Pig

Ahhh, The Flying Pig. This little gem is located in the heart of Gastown and tends to be a celebrity hot spot. Specifically for the cast of Riverdale (my new favorite guilty pleasure). Paul was here with the his guy friends in June of last year and saw KJ Apa (Archie), Cole Sprouse (Jughead) and Casey Cott (Kevin) from the popular series. I think Paul had a mini stroke, because while in the bathroom, he came face to face with Casey Cott…..and didn’t…say….a word. Just stared at him like a dumbfounded school girl. I still get a kick out of that story.

Anyways, while celebrities are always cool, there is more to this restaurant than just that. While we only had drinks here, I loved the vibe, not to mention, the people beside us had the pulled pork poutine and it took all my self control not to lean over and steal a fry.

Jam Café

You can’t talk about the food scene in Van City and not mention Jam Café. I swear this is one of the busiest brunch spots in the whole of Van City. There was a line up down the block, and we waited for at least an hour to get a table. Was it worth it? Absolutely. I would wait again to have that bacon one more time. My mouth is watering again…

Food Tours

Our new favorite thing to do when exploring a city, is a Food Tour. We got this idea in New York, and it will definitely be a traveling tradition moving forward. We did two tours in Vancouver. First we did the Gastown Food Tour hosted by Taste Vancouver Food Tours (https://tastevancouverfoodtours.com/gastown-food-tour/). Highly recommend this one. It was awesome. I think we had about 8 stops and they were all amazing. My all time favorite stop was Bao Down Snack Bar. Here we had the Bao Chicka Bao Bao, which are basically dough pockets of goodness. I had one and was craving it for the rest of the weekend. No joke.

Our next Food Tour was the Granville Island Market Tour and one that I had first done with my Mom back in May. Granville Island is one of my favorite places to visit while in Vancouver. I love walking the market, looking at the various vendors, maneuvering the chaos and inhaling the smells of absolutely everything. The tour was so good the first time, I knew Paul and I would do it as well. This one was hosted by Vancouver Foodie Tours (https://foodietours.ca/granville-island-market-tour/), and it was just as good the second time around. We stopped at 8 different vendors throughout the market and tasted some of their best sellers. My favorite stop here had to be the doughnut from Lee’s Donuts. I’m a sucker for sweets, and this definitely hit the spot.

The Outdoors

When it comes to the outdoors, Vancouver has it all. I’m not kidding. You can go hiking on one of the MANY trails that surround the city. You can go scuba diving off the coast, bike riding through Stanley Park, go for a walk along the Seawall, or have a picnic on the beach. Maybe because it’s right on the water, but the amount of outdoor activities always blew me away. I don’t think you can ever be bored in Vancouver.

While Paul and I are NOT hikers (not even a little bit), we did 2 hikes while we visited. One was to Lynn Canyon. This was the cheaper version of the Capilano Suspension Bridge (and when I say cheaper, I mean free). I wanted to go to the Suspension Bridge, but the price was ridiculous. One of our tour guides recommended that we check out Lynn Canyon instead and it was just what we needed to satisfy the desire.

The second hike we did was at the Sea to Sky Gondola. Now this hike, I didn’t plan. I asked Paul to plan one day in Vancouver. One day that I didn’t have any part of. Little did I know that he had plans…big plans.

Our day started early and Paul told me to wear longer pants and t-shirt. Again, I had no idea what we were doing. I listened and we made our way to Canada Place. This was where I found out we were going to the Sea to Sky Gondola. I bring up again that Paul and I are not hikers. And we just hiked the day before. Really all there is up at the top of the Gondola is more hiking. And it was hot. Needless to say, I was a little grumpy. Paul, being the forever positive person he is tried to make everything seem awesome, and I wasn’t having any of it.

On his suggestion, we hiked to the lookout, which was supposed to have a very pretty view. I huffed and pouted the entire way and once we got to the lookout (which was swarming with people) walked over to him and said “I’m sorry I’m not having a good time.” I later found out that his heart just sunk when I said this. Ooooopppppssss.

We quickly decided to start heading back to the main chalet. Just down the path and off to the side there was a bench, shaded with trees and quiet. We sat for a few minutes, not saying anything, and then Paul turned to me and said “So there’s something I have to ask you…”

The rest is really a blur. I just remember one line ” You’re the Mary-Jane to my Peter Parker and the Black Cat to my Spider-Man, Alysha Ann Theresa Evans, will you marry me?” If you know Paul, you know how much of a Spider-Man fan he is, and I thought this was super cute. And of course I said YES! While the hike wasn’t my cup of tea, the end of the hike was something truly amazing that I most certainly didn’t expect.

Our entire trip to Vancouver was awesome, but the ending was most certainly my favorite.

I can’t wait to marry my best friend in just under a year.

June 22, 2019 can’t come soon enough!

-A

👆🏼

So much truth in only 4 little words.

Some people dream about the career they want or the house the desire to own…

Me… I dream about the places I’ve never seen, and people I’ve never met.

I am perpetually reminiscing about my travels. About waking up with a view of the Italian coast. About walking the Old City Wall in Dubrovnik. About smelling the rain in Dublin and listening to the water lap on the shore of Koh Phi Phi Island in Thailand.

As I sit here, on my birthday, I remember that on this day last year, I was wandering the streets of NYC with my amazing fiancé. How I wish I was back there enjoying the sights, smells and sounds of an incredible city.

While I can’t be on a beach in Thailand today, or walking the streets on NYC with a bagel in my hand, I can still relive my experience through my photos and memories. And I will never stop dreaming of my next adventure.

Whatever your dreams are, never stop trying to reach them. To lose your dreams is to lose yourself, and that, is just not something you should ever give up on!

-A

– an ache to get away and travel to a distant place, a feeling even stronger than wanderlust

They say that your sense of smell invokes the most memory recall. A single scent can take you back to when you were 5 years old and bring up a memory you had all but forgotten.

The smell of Noxema reminds me of my Grandpa Evans and Lolita Lempicka perfume takes me back to Junior High when that’s all I wore.

I was standing at the bus stop today and someone walked by smoking a cigarette. I was instantly taken back to Europe where smoking happens in way more public places (it isn’t as frowned upon there as it is in North America). I was taken back to sitting on a patio in Cinque Terre, and walking the streets of Prague, and waiting for the train in Hamburg. Don’t get me wrong, I hate the smell, but the nostalgia makes me smile.

In June, it will be 2 years since my big adventure and I’m yearning for another one.

I miss waking up and wondering what the day had in store. I miss listening to people speak in every language but English. I miss wandering the streets of a new city, where every corner you turn is a new corner to explore. I truly miss where the only worry I had was what I was going to see that day, or when I was going to eat.

Until I can jet off again, I’ll take the scents that transport me back and the memories I will never forget.

-A

The place where the sun always shines, the people are always smiling,  wearing makeup almost feels taboo, and sandy toes, salty hair and a semi-soaked bathing suit are a permanent part of your wardrobe.

You’ve heard of it. You’ve seen pictures, you’ve watched movies, but I promise, NOTHING compares to experiencing all the amazing things that make up this incredible country.

Some people will disagree with me. They’ll say it’s overrated, and now overrun with tourists, but it’s the one place I went on my trip that I find myself missing the most.

Unlike Greece, I can’t pinpoint a specific event or moment when Thailand ended up on my bucket list. It’s just always been there. Maybe it was my cousin’s crazy stories of partying all night on the beach, or hearing about the incredible food (if you know me, you know Thai food is my all time favorite), or the photos that look so beautiful you’re convinced they’re photoshopped. Who knows, but Thailand truly is incredible and I’m here to tell you why. Here’s to hoping that Thailand ends up on your bucket list after reading this post.

Bangkok

The capital city and LOADED with people. If you think traffic is bad in Edmonton or Vancouver during rush hour, you’ve obviously never weaved the streets on the back of a Tuk Tuk at anytime of the day in Bangkok. It’s the true definition of a sensory overload. You experience smells you didn’t know existed. Car horns honk almost constantly, and the skyline is a sight in itself with temples popping up wherever you look. On our first day, we loved it. We loved everything about it. I was in awe of the kindness of the people, and the amazing temples we visited. Upon returning to Bangkok for a second and third time after being in Koh Phi Phi and Chiang Mai, Bangkok very quickly fell to the bottom on my favorite Thai city list, and you will soon discover why.

Koh Phi Phi (pronounced Ko Pee Pee)

It took quite some time and a lot of research to decide what island we would visit while in Thailand. I honestly can’t even tell you what the deciding factor was, but I can tell you, it was postcard gorgeous! Aside from a bed bug incident (let’s be honest, this is more than likely going to happen to you when traveling Thailand, it’s almost inevitable), Koh Phi Phi was everything you would hope for in a Thai Island.

I still remember being in awe of the landscape. Stunning blue water, beautiful white sand beach, giant cliffs covered in jungle with the brightest green. It seemed like a dream, and it was all right there in front of me.

We decided to do a long boat tour while staying on Koh Phi Phi, and it was by far, the most incredible day. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I am a research fiend and there were so many positive reviews for Mr. Chet’s Long Boat Tour, we couldn’t resist. It was everything we’d hoped for, and more!

Let me paint a picture for you. You’re in a secluded lagoon. Just you, your travel partner, your tour guide, and the driver of your longboat. The water is crystal clear. Meaning, you can literally see to the bottom of the lagoon. You’re surrounded by giant cliffs covered in greenery. And your floating. Literally and figuratively. This picture is a reality in Koh Phi Phi, and you have to experience it.

Phuket (pronounced Poo-ket)

Even though our time in Phuket was very short (2 days) it was still memorable. This likely has to do with our night at Patong Beach, but still, if you have a chance to visit Phuket, you won’t be disappointed.

One of the most popular attractions in Phuket (aside from Patong Beach), is the Big Buddha. It was amazing. And most definitely a must if you find yourself in passing through this Thai city.

Chiang Mai (pronounced Chang My)

This was probably my favorite Thai city . It’s the second largest by population, but didn’t feel nearly as busy as Bangkok did. And that’s the appeal. There are also TONS of things to do while in Chiang Mai.

This is where we spent our day with the elephants, an ABSOLUTE MUST if you’re in Chiang Mai. I seriously, SERIOUSLY can’t rave enough about how utterly incredible our day with these gentle giants was. But please, do your research and DO NOT ride the elephants.

Chiang Mai is also where we attending a full day cooking class, climbed UP the Buatong (Sticky) Waterfalls, ATVed through the jungle, white water rafted down the river, and walked the endless streets of the Sunday Market. I fell in love with Chiang Mai and was so sad to leave.

Koh Tao (pronounced Ko Tow)

Koh Tao, the diving island. Every corner you turn on this island seems to be occupied by some kind of dive shop. Some of the best diving in the world happens here and I knew this was the place I would get my certification.

My girlfriend Shay told me about her night dive off the coast of Koh Tao, and it sounded like something out of a movie. Swimming in the dark, nothing but your torch showing you the way and then watching as the phytoplankton light up at the end of your fins. It sounded incredible, and I needed to experience it. Diving was the sole reason I went to Koh Tao, and it was the perfect way to spend the last week and a half of my trip.

It took me a long time, and a lot of research to figure out which dive school I wanted to go with. I knew I wanted to be a part of a smaller class size, simply because I didn’t know how I would react underwater, and I ended up going with Crystal Dive School. It was amazing. I met some incredible people and had some of the best instructors.

My Top Tips for Thailand

1. Don’t bother doing your hair, or wearing make-up. Seriously, it’s pointless. It’s so hot and humid year round that make-up melts off your face, and you hair is permanently frizzy. Plus side, everyone is in the same boat, so no one cares.
2. Barter for everything. And I mean EVERYTHING.
3. Eat all the Thai food. It’s worth it.
4. Get all the massages. Thai massages are something else, and you can’t go to Thailand and not get one.
5. The Thai people love their royalty. I was on Koh Tao when their King passed away, and people were devastated. So DO NOT speak ill of the Thai Royal Family.

Thailand really is a place everyone needs to experience. I would go back in a heartbeat. Get lost in Thailand. It’s worth every second.

Till later…

-A ❤

It’s such a simple little word, but it’s a simple little word that can completely change everything.

Before I left on my adventure, I was a research fiend. I talked to anyone and everyone about traveling and reading blogs became my not so guilty pleasure. A co-worker of mine shared her niece’s blog (The Fernweh Wolf), which I highly recommend, and I read a post about how saying ‘Yes’ is one of the best things you can do while traveling. I didn’t really get it at first, but after traveling, I completely understand.

You might not think much of it, but a simple ‘Yes’ could mean you get to discover a new place you had never heard of, and therefore wasn’t even on your radar.

I’m going to keep this one short and sweet, because it’s simple. Be open-minded. When someone offers you a weird local food, eat it. If someone asks you to wake up at 3 am to go watch the sunset, say yes and do it.

Just….say YES! And your opportunities will become endless.

-Alysha ❤

Well, no I didn’t just get here this morning. In fact, I have been home from New York for over three months, I just haven’t been able to find the time to sit down and write about it.

First off, let me say this. New York is a city that everyone MUST experience at least once. Two or three times would be better though. There is SO much to do, we barely scratched the surface!
We stayed at an AirBnB in Brooklyn, that was about a 5 minute walk from the train station, and about a 25-30 min train ride to Manhattan. Unfortunately we couldn’t afford to stay Downtown, but quite honestly, I didn’t mind the subway ride into the city! It’s all a part of the true New York experience.

NYC Tip #1: Buy a 7-Day Transit Pass, and take the Subway to get around. It’s faster and much more efficient than renting a car.

On our first full day, we went on the Sandemanns NEW Europe Free Walking Tour. This is always our typical first day activity. Personally, I love learning about the history of a city, and getting to see some of the sights by foot at the same time. We love the free walking tours, and ALWAYS recommend them! Out tour started at Bowling Green, close to Battery Park. We wandered the Financial District, and ended at the 9-11 Memorial.

Following the tour, we decided to go check out the all New York’s famous buildings. We went to the Flat Iron Building, the Empire State Building, and Grande Central Station. We also wandered Eataly and snacked on some fruit and Nutella.

Day 2 was our rainy day. And when I say rainy..I mean poured all day long. And it was COLD! We took this opportunity to spend the day at the American Museum of Natural History (the one from Night at the Museum). We wandered the halls, saw the giant t-rex and watched an IMAX movie about Humpback Whales. Paul and I are not museum people, but all in all, it was a decent way to spend the day.

Day 3 was FOOD TOUR DAY, and probably one of my favorite days. We got up early for some bagels at Murray’s Bagels. OMG, you gotta have a bagel from Murray’s. We even saw Susan Sarandon as we waited in line! So you know they must be good. Then we made our way to Greenwich Village. Greenwich had to be my favorite part of the city. The food tour probably helped, but it was a very hipster kind of area.

Anyways, back to the food tour. We went on the Foods of NY – Greenwich Village Food Tour. This tour came recommended by Paul’s brother Raj, and Raj’s fiancée Nikki. They went on this tour when they were in NYC and loved it. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Below are the list of tastings we did:

1. Joe’s Pizza (As seen on Spider-Man 2 with Toby McGuire and voted #1 Pizza by the Slice in NYC) – Slice of Cheese Pizza
2. O & Co. – Olive Oil Tasting, Truffle Salt and Truffle Popcorn Tasting, 8 yr Aged Balsamic Tasting
3. Faicco’s Italian Specialties – Arancini Tasting
4. Pesce Pasta – Meatball Tasting – Voted Best Meatball in NYC, it didn’t let us down!
5. Ristorante Rafele – Eggplant Rolotini
6. Milk & Cookies – Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Tasting
7. Murray’s Cheese – 5 Cheese Tastings
8. Rocco’s – World’s Best Cannoli Tasting (I don’t like cannoli’s and I loved these!)

I loved every second of this tour. Our guide was awesome and the food was delicious! We re-visited several of the stops on more than one occasion.

Following our food tour, we headed to Broadway! No trip to New York is complete without seeing at least one Broadway show. We settled on Chicago for our first experience and it was INCREDIBLE!

NYC Tip #2: Purchase your Broadway tickets at Tix on the Square, or directly at the box office on the day of the show. We went directly to the box office for both the shows we saw and didn’t pay over $100 USD per ticket, and we got amazing seats!

Day 4 was spent wandering Greenwich Village. Indulging in all the food, getting lost in the side streets, finding the Friends loft, taking the train to Coney Island, venturing to the Chelsea Market and walking the High Line!

Day 5: My birthday! Of course this is a highlight! We started with breakfast at “Good Enough to Eat” a cute little place close to Central Park! Next up was the Rooseveldt Island Tram, followed by lunch at the Stardust Diner! Stardust was awesome! Food was mediocre, but you go for the entertainment! All the servers sing and are trying to get on to Broadway, so they are talented! After Stardust, we headed to the Empire State Building, with the simple intention to buy tickets for another day. The line was short however, so up we went! Stunning view of NYC! Most certainly a must see! To finish the day, we went out for some awesome Italian food to Cafe Altro Paradiso. This came as a recommendation from my boss at Cibo. If anyone knows Italian, it’s her, and they didn’t disappoint!

On our last 2 days we did the following:

Visited the Cookie Do place. You may have seen on Facebook. Luckily we went right before it opened and didn’t have to wait long. Their website quoted anywhere from a 1-4 hour wait!

Walked the Brooklyn Bridge. At first, I didn’t want to see the Brooklyn Bridge..it’s just a bridge right? Wrong! The Brooklyn Bridge was gorgeous! Don’t second guess going..just go, you won’t regret it!

Took the Staten Island Ferry to visit the Statue of Liberty. We chose not to spend money and go to Ellis Island. But we still got a nice view on the drive by!

Show # 2: Phantom of the Opera! I have seen Phantom before, but nothing compares to seeing it in NYC on Broadway! AH-MAZING!!

One of our last adventures in NYC was Central Park. We were there at the very beginning of Spring, so nothing had bloomed, and it was still brown, so while still beautiful, it was hard for me to be super excited about Central Park. This disappointed Paul, but it just means we have to go back.
New York was something else, and we didn’t even come close to seeing everything. I can’t wait to go back and explore and experience the city again!

Until then…
-Alysha ❤

The planning stages of a trip are both incredibly exciting and incredibly stressful. You’re trying to decide where to stay, what to do, and if you’re anything like me, you’re trying to find the most cost effective way to do it. I mean, where do you even begin?

I know that the beginning is probably the most stressful, but let me help.

Below is my Guide to Planning a Trip
*(Some of this may apply more to a longer trip, but a lot can be applied to short vacations as well!)*

1. Choose your Destination

Where have you ALWAYS wanted to go? And don’t sell yourself short. Because honestly, no where is off the table. For me it was Greece. I needed to see Greece and everything the beautiful country had to offer.

Maybe you can’t choose between 2 places, but you know that either of them would be amazing. So, flip a coin, draw out of hat, have your best friend choose for you. Either way, you know you’re trip is going to be great. Just choose.

2. Buy the Damn Ticket

I have never been the girl with a rainy day account. I don’t have an abundance of cash lying around “just in case” I need it. I’m a spender…NOT a saver. Except when it comes to traveling. If I have a destination I will save every penny I possibly can. The best advice I received from my cousin, was to just buy the ticket, and everything else will fall into place. It worked. So buy the ticket, and figure out the rest after.

I am a cheap flight fiend. I hate paying those ridiculous fares, so I will scrounge the internet everyday for hours until I find the cheapest option. There are several cheap flight websites. Lots of which compare prices and offer several departure options. I personally like CheapFlights.ca. It provides you with the cheapest option, the smartest option and the quickest option.

Another flight tip: Sign up for the emails from your favorite airlines. WestJet, AirCanada, etc, they often email out their promotions, so be the first to know by being on their mailing list!

3. Accommodations

There is no right answer here. Everyone is different, therefore, everyone travels different. Some people will stay in a 20-person bunk because it’s cheap. Others will splurge on a fancy hotel. I’m a cost effective traveler, so I would say I’m somewhere in between. I paid more money for a hotel in Barcelona cause I couldn’t stand the AirBnB we had. And then I stayed in a shitty dorm in Belfast with 5 drunk guys who were talking about me as I was ‘sleeping’. So really, there is no right answer. Book what feels right and what you can afford!

I love AirBnB for accommodations. In my many stays, I’ve only had 1 bad experience. AirBnB is now my go to whenever I travel. For those who are more budget travelers, Hostelworld is your best friend. I used Hostelworld when I was traveling solo and with a few of my friends. Never had an issue. Both AirBnB and Hostelworld have apps as well, which makes booking even easier!

4. Do Your Research

This applies to accommodations, things to do, restaurants, everything. I read all the reviews before booking a place or a tour. Try to remember that everyone’s opinions will differ, and sometimes a person will have a one-off bad experience. That being said, if the place you’re looking at has lots of bad reviews, and only 1 or 2 good reviews. I would listen to the bad reviews. I love Trip Advisor for reviews and it often has a ‘Top 10 Things to Do’ for cities.

Pinterest is also a favorite. Pinterest offers a selection of blogs you can read and these blogs will often give you ideas or tips that you can’t get on Trip Advisor. Trip Advisor and Pinterest are also apps by the way.

5. Talk to People

People love to talk about their experiences. I know that when someone asks me about my trip, my heart skips with excitement and lots of times, people will tell you about a restaurant they went to on a whim, or a tour the caught, just by chance. Those are THE BEST recommendations. There are so many experiences I never would have had if I hadn’t talked to anyone and everyone I knew who had traveled to the places I was going. I never would have went to the Magic Fountains or the Fairy Forest in Barcelona had I not talked to friends and co-workers. And I never would have climbed the Sticky Waterfalls in Chiang Mai, had my cousin not recommended it. So, if you hear people talking about traveling, even strangers on the bus, talk to them. Ask them what they loved, what they hated. I promise they won’t mind, and it will make your trip even better!

6. Your Non-Negotiables

Make yourself a Non-Negotiable list, of all the things you want to do and see at your destination. These are things that you are not willing to compromise on. Things you MUST DO. I often find this to be more important if you’re traveling with someone as opposed to solo. But either way, having a list will better help you plan out your days while you’re there.

7. Don’t Plan Out Every Single Day

If you’re anything like me (Type A Personality, Organzied, a Planner) this will be the HARDEST part! You’ll want to make sure that everything on your non-negotiable list is checked off and that you’re making the most of your time. But stop. Plan some days, but not all of them. You will meet people on your travels that will make recommendations you hadn’t heard of and you’ll want to go. Don’t be a slave to your own agenda. Be open to all opportunities.

8. Budget

Okayyyyyy, so this probably should have been mentioned earlier on in the post. Your budget is obviously very important. And that changes from person to person. I know that I should have budgeted WAY better on my trip that I did. But I’m also impulsive and, as I like to refer to it, a ‘When in Rome’ traveler. I will never say no to an incredible opportunity while traveling because I didn’t have the money. So I might not be the best person to give you advice here.

What I can recommend is doing research on the place your going. Find out the average cost of accommodations per night, the average cost of lunch and dinner and then set a number for yourself to save. I knew I needed to have a certain amount of money in my account to cover my bills for 4 months. And then I figured out how much I wanted to have in the bank when I left, based on the amount per day I wanted to spend on accommodations and a rough estimate of the amount I was willing to spend. Having a firm number in mind helped me save as well. I had a goal to reach.

9. Transportation

Getting from one place to another is always tricky, especially in a country where they don’t speak the same language. However, the train systems in Europe are FAR SUPERIOR to those we have here in Canada, specifically Edmonton. Paul and I took public transit EVERYWHERE. Not to mention, you can get anywhere in Italy and Spain on the train. It’s incredible. We even took the train from Hamburg, Germany to Copenhagen, Denmark, and the train boarded a ferry and then continued on the track once reaching Denmark. It was awesome.

I also used the Rome2Rio app A LOT. This provides you will all the possible transportation options. Plane, Train and Automobile. So you know you’re making the best choice.

10. Don’t Panic

Paul made sure I added this part. Anyways, things are likely NOT going to go as you planned. I guarantee that something will go wrong. You’ll miss a bus or a transfer, you’ll stay in a crappy hostel or AirBnB, or you’ll get sick (I got sick 3 times on my trip). But it’s okay. Don’t panic. It’s NOT the end of the world. Sure, it will cost you a bit more money to get a new ticket, or more money to find a hotel last minute, but it’s all a part of the experience.

You may also be like me and end up having a meltdown days before you leave. This is also normal. Honestly, I would be worried if you didn’t have a minor freak out. But remember why you’re going away, and I promise the day of, you’ll be riding a high like you’ve never experienced.

And, if all else fails..

11. Have Someone Else Plan the Trip for You

I get it. Some people just can’t handle the stress of planning and making decisions. If you find this to be you, you can always enlist the help of someone else. There are SO many travel companies out there that take care of all the small stuff. And you pay for everything up front. All you need to worry about is spending money.

Below are a list of my favorites!

Contiki – I booked with Contiki for my first solo adventure to Greece. To say is was incredible would be an understatement!

LBW (Life Before Work) – The name says it all. Personally, I haven’t used this company, but I know people who have an LOVED it.

Free & Easy – Another one I haven’t used personally, but a co-worker has gone on 2 trips with F&E. One to Thailand and one to Indonesia. She said both were amazing.

BusAbout – I don’t know too much about this one. But it was recommended to me at one point.

Last, but definitely not least….TALK TO ME!!!

I LOVE helping people plan their adventures and I would be over the moon if you asked for my help. Give me a budget and your destination(s) and I will plan a trip you’ll never forget!

So get planning TJ’s!

‘Till later…

Ciao!

-A ❤

ˈwändərˌləst/
noun

a strong desire to travel.

“a woman consumed by wanderlust”

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My love for traveling started at a very young age. Before I had ever been to a place where I could understand what ‘traveling’ really was.

I remember being in Grade 6. We were learning about Greece. The history of the country, the history of democracy, and of course, the stories of Greek Mythology. I was fascinated. I loved Zeus, Hercules, Hera, Aphrodite, Mount Olympus. Everything. And I knew then, I NEEDED to see this place. My family also played host to several exchange students while I was growing up, so that’s probably another reason I have this strong desire to see new places. I was constantly exposed to people from other places, and stories of things so vastly different than what I was used to. However, it was during a family trip to Europe where I truly caught the “travel bug.”

When I was 9, Kristian came to live with us. He was a German exchange student from Berlin, who lived with my family and went to school in Canada for a year. He became my German big brother, and to this day, we still remain in contact and continue to visit when we have the chance. A few years after Kristian went back home, my brother went to Berlin on a private exchange. The summer following his time there, my parents and I flew to Berlin to meet up with him and venture throughout Europe. We started in Berlin, drove to Rothenburg, Munich, and then Nuremburg. From there we flew to Rome and did a bus tour to Venice, Lucerne, Paris and London. There were several times throughout our 3 weeks where I just stared in awe and thought, “This can’t be real. There’s no way I’m standing in front of the Vatican right now. That’s not the Eiffel Tower, you’re dreaming.” But it was real. And I remember every single memory. Something happened to me on that trip. Something was awoken inside me what I didn’t know existed. This desire to see the world. Something that I had never experienced before.

I went on a high school trip to Europe as well. We went to London, and a few smaller towns in France, finishing in Paris. Greece however, was my very first solo adventure.

I graduated high school and had NO idea what I wanted to do. All I knew was that University wasn’t on my radar, even though, that’s where most of my close friends headed. I was lucky that my parents never forced me to go to post secondary. In fact, quite the opposite. My mom and dad told me to wait and encouraged me to travel first. So, I stayed at home, in little old Vegreville, got a full time job working for ATB, and a part time job working at Vito’s and I saved money.

I remember thinking to myself: “I don’t care who comes with me. In fact, I don’t care if anyone comes with me. But I’m going to Greece.” It was this mindset, with some help from my Mom, that allowed my first ever travel dream to come true.

I decided to go on a Contiki Tour. Well, let me rephrase that. My MOM decided I was going on a Contiki Tour. To be honest, it made the most sense. I was 19 years old, and didn’t know the slightest thing about traveling, so Contiki made sense. All my flights, accommodations and transfers were paid for. I just had to decide what extra activities I wanted to do. This was the BEST decision I made. For those who are considering solo traveling but are really unsure, go with some kind of tour group. Contiki (https://www.contiki.com/ca/en), Life Before Work (https://lbwtravel.com/), Free and Easy (https://www.freeandeasytraveler.com/), and BusAbout (http://www.busabout.com/) are all great companies to consider.

I can’t stress this enough. You may not think that solo traveling is for you, but I promise, if you go for your first time with a tour group, you will instantly change your mind. Traveling brings a variety of people together. Not to mention, you share a connection that you likely won’t have with your friends at home. You don’t just make friends, you make lifelong friends. And another bonus, you get free places to stay all over the world when you meet people!

I started this blog to keep track of my adventures on my 4 month trip, and while this is still a place I can talk about all my various travels, I now want this to be a place where I can offer advice to those who are thinking about traveling. The world is huge and infinitely beautiful. Go explore it! Seriously…do it now.

If you’re thinking about traveling, but don’t know where to start. Message me! Please! I would LOVE to help you start your journey!

‘Till later…

Ciao!

-A