Lower Airfare based on "Supposed" Sale Location

Airfares are weird.  

We know that from the general lack of information that we have on pricing and sales.  We have trend data that can give us the best days of the week to fly for better prices, and even sometimes the best days of the week to BUY our tickets, but did you know that WHERE you SAY you're buying your tickets can actually affect the price you pay?  

I KNOW.  MIND BLOWING but true!

If you buy domestic flights occurring in a different country (read: the flights will occur in a different country than the one you are currently in while searching) it is often WAY cheaper if you can convince the airline or website that you are in the "different" country buying your ticket.

Example:  If I'm in the US but I want to buy a ticket from Lima to Cusco (this actually happened).  I search when I'm in the US, the prices come back around $250-$300 each and I say "no way" and I decide not to buy tickets ahead of time.  When I GET to Peru, my friend tells me the direct website of LCPeru (a Peruvian airline that flies between Lima and Cusco), and since I'm IN Peru, it recognizes Peru as the point of transaction and my plane tickets are miraculously over $100 cheaper for each one.

Now, take my personal experience and add this newfound info: you can get the SAME miraculous price drop that I got when I was in Peru by telling the website you are searching while in the US that you are in Peru already, even if you're not.  Do the search in Peruvian currency (soles, in case you're interested) and voilá  miracle price-drop without ever having reached Peru (If only I'd known BEFORE actually getting there).

It can save you a boatload just to change the point of transaction, maybe pay in a foreign currency on your credit card (bonus if it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees) and do a little extra searching.

This works for international flights, too, but it's a bit more tricky because you'll have to seek out one of many countries in the world that you could have as your transaction point to get the best price (hint to save you a search: it's probably NOT going to be the US...unless a US city is the destination or departure point).

You can see more examples and get more info. by clicking here.

Happy travels!

Get rich quick...Travel

DOLPHINS IN COSTA RICA

Reason number bajillion and five that I love Costa Rica... What an opportunity!  Seeing this dolphin cascade is like a dream.  It's actually a rather unusual sight; Most of the time, dolphins travel in smaller pods.  So this is quite a moment for these people to have witnessed.  I, for one, am glad they shared!  Take care of this planet - every corner of it - because it will all come back around in beautiful displays like this for generations to come.

Dolphin Cascade by boat off the Osa Peninsula, Osa, Costa Rica

A (semi)new way to visit a city near you!

Soooo you know Slip 'N Slides?  Those plastic tarp slides that you spray water on and run and slide on?  Would you believe me if I told you they are going to make a mile long Slip 'N Slide in cities across the US over the summer months for people to enjoy their city in a whole new way? I hear it's headed to Buffalo, NY this summer after starting out in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2014.  Yikes Stripes!

 I feel like this might be one fall away from a broken tailbone...but it might be worth the risk!

For more info or to find a Slide the City event near you, click here.

Want to travel but have too many excuses?

Here's a little secret: You'll always have an excuse.

There, I said it.  There will always be a million reasons why you should NOT quit your job or take sabbatical or take all of your vacation days at once to travel the globe.  There will always be rent to pay and bills to pay and loans to pay and weddings to go to and baby showers and your family holidays.  Those things will ALWAYS be an excuse.

They work as excuses for most people.  I try not to let them be my excuses, but the reality is if I could do whatever I wanted right now, I would sell everything in my apartment or bring it to storage, say many thanks to my employer, and peace out to travel the world.  So I still use these self-proclaimed excuses and they hold me back from the life I actually know that I am capable of and the life I believe most human beings desire until I decide not to let them hold me back.  Whether it's because they want to travel or to have more time with their families and stay at home or whether it's because they want to be their own boss or they have a dream business that they want to create, there is SOMETHING out there bigger than most of us understand that we are suppressing when we accept the "typical" path, the path that says we will work our way up the food chain, save for retirement and finally be "free" at the age of 65...at which point we will probably NOT retire because we have become so accustomed to being workaholics that we just don't know HOW to relax and enjoy the world around us!

So today, I was thankful to read an excellent blog post by a girl named Kate, who grew up not too far from where I am as I type this, and who is most likely somewhere completely and utterly different right now.  Her post might shock you or make you spring into action, or it might make you feel crappy because you accept that what she says is right and you also accept that you aren't going to do anything about it.  That's the amazing thing about life.  At ANY GIVEN moment, we are making a plethora of choices.

I'm a firm believer that timing is everything.  So maybe when you read Kate's post, it'll be your "ah-hah" moment, or maybe it'll have to wait.  Whatever the timing may be, I think her post is relevant.  It gives good information about how you can make the credit system (that holds so many people down) actually work FOR you not only giving youa swift kick in the rear, but also by giving you exactly what you need...with a little research, that is.  She'll give you some pointers on how to get to certain places from her own experience and she'll let you know just what it takes to make it work.

One of my favorite things about what she says is that we are more trapped and unable to get out of our own way when we have too many material things but when we have nothing, suddenly we are more free and capable of doing ANYTHING than we ever imagined we could be with all of our excuses.  It seems completely contrary to logic, but in some ways I think it's getting back to our darwinist selves...survival of the fittest.  We learn to survive, and thrive, because we have to...and if you've got wanderlust...it's probably your biggest thrill!

CANADA shared

I love pictures, videos, montages and traveling...what could be better than those?  ALL OF THEM PUT TOGETHER!  I thoroughly enjoyed the two minute Canada Shared video made from a compilation of over 60 hours of footage sent in from people experiencing all things Canada!  It makes me want to "Keep Exploring."  No complaints there!  Enjoy!

Take me to the COAST!

Buzzfeed came out with an awesome list of "coastess with the mostest" and it's awesome and I want to see all of them.  My favorites from the list for future travel plans are a toss up between Santorini Greece for the white architecture, Amalfi Coast Italy for the colorful architecture curvy cliffside towns and beautiful harbors, Cliffs of Moher Ireland because it's the Motherland, Vietnam and Thailand for the gorgeous scenery and crystal clear waters, and Mexico for the pristine beaches.

I'm spoiled by the New England coast, having grown up nearby, and I can attest to Norway making the list from firsthand experience (see Norway general travel planning, train transport and budget/itinerary articles).

Pretty much, take me to the water, and I will be content! :-D

What's the best coastal area you've visited?

What coast have you yet to see that you're looking forward to?

Ontario's Best Kept Winter Secret

If you're visiting Ontario, Canada this winter, make some time for nature at one of the best kept winter secrets...over 1 km of skating through the woods on an ice loop...the reviews are fantastic!  I've done Winterlude in Ottawa, which is great and you should check that out, too this coming January-February 2015...but this skating trail is next on my Canadian winter to-do list for sure!

Happy Winter, everyone!

Rosetta Stone below $200 for Cyber Monday!

CLICK HERE TO GO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE!

What is the nationality of someone who is from the US?

I'm sharing this because I was informed of this offense the hard way and I've been wrestling with how to overcome it for a while now.

One difficulty I have is that in Spanish you can identify yourself either as "Americano" (American) which would identify you only technically by your continent but which most people accept as US ignorance (and do we really want that?) OR as "Estadounidense" which I guess I would roughly translate to "UnitedStates-ian."

So, I understand why Spanish-speakers (and others if they also have this alternate option in their language) would be upset, given that in Spanish there is another word for identifying ones nationality if you are from the US, but since we don't, at least as far as I know, have a name that we use which is politically and technically correct, what SHOULD we call ourselves in English?

It it as simple to alternately answer the "Where are you from?" question with "I'm from the US" but it still doesn't answer the question of "What is your nationality?"  At least, not directly.  What I mean is, saying "I'm from the US" is not the same as saying "I'm Brazilian," for example (I know, they speak Portuguese, but this is just an example).  These sentences, while they can answer the question, do not answer it in the same way, and likewise, a Brazilian could say "I am from Brazil" but we would still be stuck with "I'm American" were we to try to communicate our nationality.

So, despite the fact that I think borders are stupid and I recognize that we are all human beings and one human race.  I also accept that there ARE borders and that I AM from the US and that a lot of people, with good reason in my opinion, find it somewhat ignorant and offensive that we call ourselves by the name of a continent that is much bigger than our own country.  Given that I am not one to revel in my own ignorance nor do I like to offend people, I feel like it's time we stop blaming history and actually give ourselves a name.

What should we be called?  How should we communicate our nationality?

"I'm United?" "I'm States-ish?" "I'm under-Canadian?" or "North-Mexican?"

I know these are silly, but I'm serious about the question...what is a new (or old) name that we can use to identify our nationality without involving or excluding or ignoring the majority of our continent?  "I'm Yankee" or I'm "Gringo" are not options in my opinion, as they have a naturally negative connotation from history (so if you're calling yourself a gringo, you should probably stop).  I'd also rule out "I'm confederate," for the previous among other reasons.

Any ideas?  

What is or should be the name for the US nationality?

Babies? Travel? or Both?

People are having babies and I'm like..."What country am I going to next?"

Thanks for the find, CT! <3

Our finest moments

Get out there.

I'm 86% Free...Which qualifies me as a "nomad"

Take the quiz and see how free YOU are!

Don't like the results...take a look at the questions.  Are there any things that you answered one way and wish you could honestly answer differently?  Can you make any changes in your life that would allow you to answer differently? (and no, I'm not talking about putting your children up for adoption).  It might be worth looking into some small changes in the way you perceive your belongings and/or your career if you are feeling enslaved and looking for some more freedom.  I've found these are the two things that make me most different from my friends who always tell me they wish they were more free to do things that I have done and continue to do.  They probably aren't the only differences, and some of these people also have similar feelings on this but not in other areas.  What makes you feel free?  What makes you feel trapped?  What ACTUALLY makes you free?  What ACTUALLY makes you trapped?

I have found that a job in itself it not actually a trap.  A loan or debt IS a trap because it requires some action from you.  many people associate their debt trap with the need to keep their current job or career even when they want a change.  What I can tell you is this:  if you want the change, figure out what it will take to make the change.  Don't place your perception of "traps" on the wrong culprit.  This will help you find a way to be more free even when you have things that you need to take care of.

Be free.  Be you.  Most of all: Be happy!

My friends, My Neighbors, My Town

Playa Sámara, Costa Rica

I was not born here, but I call it "home" because of the incredible people that give it life and energy.

Pura Vida!  Beautiful video!

Why do we lust to wander???

Between Birth and Death

In between birth and death...there is an option called "life."  Choose wisely.

Just GO, Already!

The adventure is in the journey, not (necessarily) the destination!

Get GOING!

Adventure & Routine

Escape

We travel not to escape life, 

but for life not to escape us!

Move over, Ryan Air!

USA: Get ready to check out Reykjavik, Iceland!  Wow Air, an Iceland-based efficiency airline, is gearing up to begin low-cost flights from Boston starting in March 2015!  You don't just have to stop in Iceland, though, (but why not check it out?  You'll have a stop-over either way) the airline plans to offer round trip flights all the way to Copenhagen, Denmark and London, England!  Get this...the opening costs are listed below $300 round trip, with some as low as $99!

Part of the logic behind low-cost to the passenger, explained the spokesperson, is that the efficiency of an airplane depends on its distance and the weight of the fuel it needs to carry to get it that distance.  If the plane needs to go a longer distance (overseas, let's say), it needs extra fuel just to CARRY the extra weight of the fuel for that distance.  With a stopover around 1/2-way...you cut out not only the extra fuel needed for the distance of the trip compared to many domestic flights, but also the extra fuel needed to carry the extra fuel; Enough extras?  Don't worry, you'll pay for the other extras like bags and food (toilet use, I presume, will remain free...for now) but these add-ons are no different than the low-cost Ryan Air, that has yet to "test the waters" by soaring over the Atlantic, nor the budget US airline, Spirit Air, based in South Florida.

What makes Wow Air different?  Leg room.  Unlike many budget airlines that max out at 30" between seats, Wow Air has a minimum of 30, and goes up to 36".  So, my tall, wanderlust travelers on a budget...look no further, your Trans-Atlantic shuttle arrives March 2015!

Check out the full article from the Washington Post here.

How To Photograph Strangers

This is a difficult subject...especially when you have an eye for the beautiful in reality AND a heart for the people who are living it.  Snapping pictures with your $1,000+ camera of impoverished people who can't afford shoes and then turning your back and walking away isn't exactly kosher, and I know it can be hard to leave that one shot of perfect humanity behind...so take a look at Nat Geo's slideshow of suggestions for Photographing People When You Travel.

I think there are some great ideas for connecting with the people and situations that you want to photograph without robbing them of their privacy or their dignity.  It will make you both feel great about some of the most important photography out there: the reality of it all.  Don't just be a spectator: connect with humanity.  Then show the world the beauty and the beast so we can connect and make a change!

Living the dream

I've always been fascinated with the nature vs. nurture debate...and you might see a bit of that in this article or in the commentary afterwards.  I'm impressed with what seems like a genuinely respectful intercourse amongst people regarding the topic of world-travel (or any travel) with children, particulary for long amounts of time [think "military brat" style].  I like that the author, also the mother in this case, has found a really beautiful life not only for herself but for her daughter, AND for their relationship.  It's hard to imagine for those of us living in our 9-5 (or longer) cubicle lives...but I couldn't be happier to know that there are people living the dream, and really just LIVING.  I hope I can be that brave.

Check out the article: 11 Ways Growing Up is Ruining my Daughter's Life.

Be inspired :)

National Hispanic Heritage Month Scholarship!

To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage month, SpanishDict has created an innovative $15,000 #LoveSpanish Facebook and Twitter scholarship competition. Any student (must be 13 or older) is encouraged to apply for $15,000 in scholarships. To apply, they should Tweet or write a Facebook post saying why they love Spanish. 

The competition is open to applicants both in the U.S. and abroad during National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th through October 15th). Click here for the link to the #LoveScholarship scholarship application. 

Spread the word to students, friends, and social networks!

Humanity at Night: Flashes of a Greater Story

You can see so much life happening in one journey as a passenger at night. Be it in the city or countryside, in a car or on a train; the scenes flashing by fascinate me - the minuscule moments of domestic life that you bear witness to as you drift past on the journey to your destination.

I love seeing families around the hearth…an old fashioned word that now, more often than not, is the buzzing blue hue of a television. Sometimes human interaction reigns over technology though, lit by the dim glow of the ubiquitous low watt fluorescent bulbs. Babies in diapers. Spouses in mid argument. Siblings doing homework. Dogs scratching their fleas. Cats hunting their prey. Devotees worshipping at mosques and churches and neon-lit bars. Wedding receptions and funeral wakes. Grandmothers diligently sweeping the dirt that is the floor.

The slices of light in the night are like stills from a movie; each scene with different characters unaware of one another, even though sometimes only inches separate them.
I close my eyes and they play back in my mind, stringing together, flickering like an old fashioned movie. Intimate glimpses into personal lives that are unknowingly shared with me, the night passenger.

-M.D.

I can relate to this on so many levels.  I remember specifically riding the bus home to my town in Costa Rica after dark.  Houses that blended in with the landscape during the day became like little light boxes of life at night.  You got a glimpse into the lives of others in a way that was both insanely intimate but starkly separate.  Homes and people you would never meet, there in front of your eyes do just a moment.  Showing humanity in its purest form.

Trip around the world!

There are lots options opening up to wanderlust travelers...one such opportunity is that offered by some airlines or air partners/groups that include "world trip" as a means of saving money to book one world trip itinerary that doesn't require a billion expensive "one way"tickets, nor does it require you to book round trip bringing you back to qhere you started before heading off on your next adventure!  I believe that OneWorld travel partners even have prices given depending on the number of continents or the distance traveled in your trip, in order to better help you budget (though I believe they seemed a bit pricey for backpacker budgets unless this is your once-in-a-lifetime trip or you're rich).  WikiHow has a nice little article with some planning steps for anyone interested in world trips, and I'd suggest checking it out if you're even considering it.  Knowledge is power...and sometimes, it's money, too!

Work remotely, from home or abroad!

So you want to travel, but you need money to do it because you don't just want the typical 2 weeks, right?  Don't worry, you're not alone, and not only are you not alone in your search, but you're also not alone in seeing value in remote work...and luckily some of the people who are with you are hiring!  I found flexjobs.com a while back. They have full-time, part-time and temp positions that you can do remotely.  Be sure to read the full deceptions, though, as some still require that you e located in a specific city or that you travel to their territory or meetings at regular intervals and they will require more stability on your part.  All in all there is a decent range d opportunities and it's worth checking out if you're at all interested in working from home, or from abroad!

Here's a list put together about the top 100 companies most likely to hire remotely this year.

Super low OSLO fares!

In case you've been looking into a crazy trip to Norway like mine, here are some low fares from the States!  Get on them while you can...they can easily run between $800-$1000 so if you're in any of these cities, it's a steal! Check out itinerary pricing from my trip here. Check out new fares to Oslo, Norway (OSL) Area| Airfarewatchblog |Travel Q&A

Oslo, Norway (OSL) Update City Take a look at today's list of deals to Oslo! Read All... Fares To Oslo, Norway (OSL) Visit our Oslo page for up-to-date fares International Airfares See All Fares » Ft. Lauderdale, FL (FLL)  Norwegian Air Shuttle $433 RT ▸ Newark, NJ (EWR)  United $451 RT ▸ Orlando, FL (MCO)  Norwegian Air Shuttle $375 RT ▸ San Francisco, CA (SFO)  Turkish Airlines $782 RT ▸ Fares to Nearby Airports The Airfarewatchdog Team Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

Study Internationally...FREE!

So you want to go to college?  AND you want to travel internationally?  And you want to do it for FREE?

I may have called you crazy until just recently when German universities dropped tuition for all students...and not just German students.

German politicians seem to actually have their priorities straight:  putting youth, education, and the environment as their main priorities, so it's no surprise that the placement of fees on students a few years back would have some backfire...and the politicians, themselves, are the ones who helped to enact the change to ensure that all young men and women have access to a higher education, despite their backgrounds.  So, if you want to study abroad for free...start learning German and get going, my friends!  OR, take a look and see if you can find access to any of their English language programs, as those are also a popular opportunity.

15-20% off JetBlue airfares!

15% off international and 20% of domestic (us) base airfares on jet blue!!  Book by October 14, 2014! Check out the insider email for details!

NJ waterfront

While I'll admit that the armpit of America is not the first place I'd usually recommend for anything much less near any body of water...here I am recommending P13R (pier 13) in Hoboken.

You'll have to check out their website for seasonal hours because it's an outdoor venue with a gorgeous view of NY (because anyone who lives in the area knows the best views of the big apple are from outside of it)!!

Drinks are reasonably priced and they have a changing assortment of beers on tap and in cans as well as a rotating list of mixed drinks.  It's busy on a hot summer day for sure so I'd say get there early if you want a table or bench otherwise you're welcome to bring beach blankets or chairs from home for guaranteed seats!  They also have a variety of food trucks to fill you up (the pizza is EXCELLENT and the frozen banana treats will surprise you)!

Come on your own, with friends or family...even your dog (there's a dog park right off the pier for pet relief)!

There's no dress code that I know of so come as you are and enjoy a great view if the concrete jungle from across the Hudson!

JetBlue sale til midnight!

NEWSFLASH™ - VIP Edition

From the Travelzoo Newsdesk JetBlue 2-Day Caribbean Fare Sale from NYC By Amanda Mulligan   NEW YORK--SEPTEMBER 30, 2014-- JetBlue Airways just launched a two-day sale on nonstop Caribbean fares from New York City. These fares are some of the most aggressive we've seen the airline offer for fall travel. Fares are available for travel select Mondays-Thursdays and Saturdays Oct. 14 - Dec. 18. Sample one-way nonstop Caribbean fares from JFK, including tax, are: Bermuda ... $139 (we're finding flights for $130) Ponce, Puerto Rico ... $149 St. Maarten ... $159 Turks & Caicos ... $189 Note: Return fares may be slightly higher due to additional taxes on inbound flights. These fares are part of a larger sale on domestic and international routes. For more information and to book, click below. The sale ends at 11:59 p.m. ET Wednesday. Read More » About the airline: JetBlue flights feature 36 channels of free DIRECTV® at every seat in the continental U.S., the most legroom in coach, and free, unlimited snacks and beverages. The first checked bag is also free. Group Publisher: Jaime Freedman Newsflash Publisher: Karyn Strauss Terms & Conditions: DIRECTV® available on flights in the continental U.S. only. Legroom in coach is based on average fleet-wide seat pitch of U.S. airlines. Baggage weight and size limits apply. All airfare prices listed include mandatory taxes, but do not include baggage fees, which may be additional.

Find deals near you wherever you are, wherever you go

How to get better airline seats...FREE

So airlines have been looking for any way possible to make an extra buck, (and who isn't?) but if you know some tips and tricks, it can save you money and or make your trip more comfortable.  One of my go-to tricks when bookin flights is that I purposefully avoid choosing seats when in flying solo.  Often, the airline makes it look like choosing seats is a requirement but if you scroll to the bottom, you'll usually see an option to skip choosing seats.

Why would you skip choosing your seat, you might ask?

Here's why:

They charge for better seats (an some airlines charge you to choose ANY seat and you won't notice unless you're really paying attention to your fare total throughout the online process-so beware major airlines, too)!  If you're on a budget airline or a go-to for lower cost or economy seats, you'll often see that people, when given the choice to pay extra for a seat with more space will choose not to.  They will choose a seat because they think they have to, and they will automatically be out of the running for the lottery should the bigger seats not sell, since they already have one assigned to them.

You, though, now have the upper hand.  If there are still "privileged" seats available, I'd take the gamble and not choose a seat. Only once since I have started doing this has it NOT resulted in either an open window or "big/more space" seat (or both)!

So, there you have it.  If you don have a seat and they haven't sold their priority seating, it goes to you!  Enjoy that extra leg room!

Love knows no borders!

Wake Up and Live

“You live like this, 
sheltered, 
in a delicate world, 
and you believe you are living. 
Then you read a book… or you take a trip… and you discover that you are not living, 
that you are hibernating. 

The symptoms of hibernating are easily detectable: 
first, restlessness. 
The second symptom 
(when hibernating becomes dangerous and might degenerate into death): 
absence of pleasure. 

That is all. 

It appears like an innocuous illness. 
Monotony, 
boredom, 
death. 

Millions live like this (or die like this) without knowing it. 
They work in offices. 
They drive a car. 
They picnic with their families. 
They raise children. 

And then 
some shock treatment takes place, 

a person, 
a book, 
a song, 

and it awakens them and saves them from death. 

Some never awaken.” ― Anaïs Nin

WAKE UP AND LIVE! - Bob Marley

You may have wanderlust if...

...a coworker is absent and you become immediately jealous that this may be indicative of leave taken for an Aftican safari...or they might just be sick...but the chance of that African safari...

Toros! Bulls!

One of Costa Rica's major pastimes is the Rodeo!

Here, it is not a bullfight where the end result is a dead animal...instead it is a celebration of strength and speed as much to show off the bull as the man.  The ranchers that breed these beautiful creatures are proud of their strength, speed, breadth, and form.  They send bulls not only to be ridden, but even to run the ring with locals who dare to enter and try their speed against the 4-legged ones!

Check out some of the best of Playa Samara's December 2013-January 2014 Rodeo Week!

International Paths of Life

There's something about a path laid out before us that captures the imagination...the beauty of the way, man-made, ancient, fresh, flowered, mystical.

There's something that gives us hope and desire and is very much a physical version of our life questions...where does it lead?  What is the climax of this trail?  What is the purpose?

For these and countless other reasons, paths are often the subject of professional and amateur photographers alike, all over the world.

Check out this great collection of trails from around the world and try NOT to be inspired ;)

Seeking Perfection

"We dream of the perfect wave, the perfect job, the perfect house and when we get there, we dream of something else" - Rob Machado, Professional Surfer

If you haven't seen it yet, you should check out "The Drifter" starring Rob Machado about his time taken away from the pro-circuit to travel Indonesia and find himself.  So many perfect quotes that describe wanderlust and the trials and tribulations of life to a T!  

Thanks Rob, for your honesty and humility in revealing your personal experiences that so many of us can relate to.

Adventure in your own backyard!

I had the great opportunity to live near one of the seven natural wonders of the world; Niagara Falls.  It was a constant reminder that sometimes incredible things are right in our own backyards...and that every day can be an adventure.  I imagine this is the grand life lesson that a Turkish man discovered when he tore down a wall of his home to remodel and instead found an entrance to an 18-story-deep underground city.  AMAZING.

Check out the story and the pics here!

Visit Costa Rica - SinWa

If you speak Spanish this post may be slightly more helpful to you but google translate and amaizng pictures are worth a thousand words in any language!

There once was a boy named Wady and a girl named Sindy...well you can guess most of the background but they got married and started a company with the intention of helping people to travel in Costa Rica for less.  To help them see wonderful things and say in special locations that they may otherwise not be able to afford at typical prices.

I met Wady one day after having misunderstood a bus map and gone 2 hours out
I my way only to end up at the intersection that would eventually bring me up to Monteverde where I had studied and had friends and family!  I had a hungry and tired companion and there would be no bus for another 3 hours. Hitch hiking would work better if we weren't still over an hour downhill from where we we're headed...and as desperation set in, Wady!  He pulled up in a shuttle bus and offered to take us for about $25 if I remember correctly...the taxis had all tried their tricks but I know better than to pay $50-$60 when I left home at 6 am to save money by taking buses.

A note: I am blonde and very pale...I can easily expect prices to double if they are not written down as fixed in a visible location.  And it doesn't help to have a Tico (Costa Rican) with you unless they negotiate and then you magically appear from the brush.  But in THIS case being blonde helped Wady to recognize us as backpackers and not your typical bus stop patron.

Wady to the rescue, and the two weary travelers up up up to the cloud-laden Monteverde that I love.  Wady shared his dreams of having his own tour company that he had just begun.  He told us about his wife Sindy and her unending desire to satisfy the wanderlust of her customers.  "Call her anytime" he told us.  He took our picture to put on their Facebook website to share with their customers and to get reviews.

We called Sindy.  And she WAS available anytime for anything. When our plans fell through, she came up with a tour on horseback through a family-owned organic farm that lasted nearly 4 hours...and it was inexpensive.  They picked us up from where we were staying and picked us up at the end (a real treat and time-saver if you've eve driven unknown roads in Costa Rica).

Sindy and Wady successfully saved our trip to Monteverde and continue to exude the service that Wady prided himself on those 4 years ago when we first met.  They write me to ask how I am as to let me know about their new accomplishments.  Hopefully, I'll even be able to help them translate their website so it is more accessible to non-Spanish speakers.

...And now they have activities and hotels and transport all over the country!

So if you're headed to Costa Rica, check out their website.  If not to book anything with them, to see all of the amazing options that you may not hear about otherwise!  Appropriately named, you can find them at SinWaTourDreams.com.

You've Got Mail...

When 6 of your 7 most recent emails are deals or articles for travel...should you be sad and delete them?  Are you a masochist for not removing yourself from the lists that send you such temptations? ...Or should you drop everything and go?

Destination Addiction vs. Wanderlust

Some words of wisdom as you travel onward...

Wanderlust is not the same as Destination Addiction.  

When you have wanderlust, you have a desire to see new places, and have new experiences, but you are content with each moment that you get.  Destination addiction is more like having an end-goal in mind and never being able to reach it because you set the bar so high that nothing can compare to the fantasy "end-result" that you're looking for.  Sometimes I actually think destination addiction happens more to us when we AREN'T traveling...working so hard to get that bonus or that raise, or that cash, and we forget WHY we're doing it in the first place.

WHY ARE WE DOING IT?

Don't forget :)

Ice Cold Beverages...NOW

If you're traveling in a hot place and you need an ICY cold beverage...NOW!

Here's a great two-minute trick that requires ice, water, and a few shakes of salt.

SCIENCE!: Keeping us refreshed since we learned this great natural-freeze trick!

Subway World

The subway certainly is an interesting world.  Many consumed with their technology like the world that we know outside of the deep dark tunnels...what are you doing on your phone now that service doesn't reach your antenna, hidden beneath the surface if your sleek technological device?  Do you write? Take "selfies" at awkward angles so as to be inconspicuous?  

A man reads a book. Yes! A real book! Like the ones you see in movies or perhaps you remember from childhood...which seems ever-so far away as you notice the man in the corner, about your age, without a shirt, lathering himself with a lotion, of sorts. His shoes look new from halfway down the car, but his face says otherwise.  You recognize your adulthood and the necessity for action down here without service.  

LIGHT!! We've surfaced in Brooklyn.  Your own humanity disappears in the dark tunnel behind you as you snap back to the world where you ignore your neighbors because they ignore you.  A man comes on yelling at someone through his phone. We are probably all more affected than the person on the other end of his seemingly one-way conversation.  

A hard hat with a backpack, a flowing dress and a baby strapped to the back of a woman's waist with just a sheet...what world is this? In and out, up and down, on and off.  Warm air rushes into the refrigerator I'm sitting in.  Thaw.  Darkness.  Back out into the light.  

The man yells on...but now at a fellow passenger that he entered with. Maybe he isn't yelling.  Perhaps this is how he communicates. 

I flash back to a boss who used to yell profanities as part of his normal speech at volumes that would reach the next two cars if he were here...I shutter.  Glad to be in this subway world where anything is possible.  

There are trees here and other greenery. It almost doesn't look like New York but the bright orange and dull red seats remind you that this train from the 70s is still bound for glory...

And suddenly the doors close for the umpteenth time...I check my phone...that was my stop.  Strange that people look for time traveling machines and try to beat the speed of sound and all I have to do to achieve it is step into subway world... At just $2.50 per ride it's better than Disney. Until next time...little world.

NYC Dollar Vans!

In case you were worried that you couldn't get everywhere in NYC and its suburbs...and I mean EVERYWHERE...fear no more!  The dollar van campaign has been growing for decades and it's even got route maps and legitimacy to boot.  So go out, have fun, find a new apartment away from typical subway travel...and seek out a different type of public transportation that allows you to cut down on your Carbon Footprint AND live, go, dream, and do, when and where you want :)

Check out The Dollar Vans, for more info!

Why we travel...

Clear blue sea...

Everyone's dream locations.  Beautiful, clean sand and bright and clear water...paradise beaches throughout the world!

$15 flights til Midnight!

NO, I'm not kidding.  Frontier Airlines just opened up shop in Dulles (DC region).  Get to this site for more details, and then get yourself to their website before midnight and go see the world!!!

WANDER AWAYYYY

The WHOLE World...

Free + Concert + NYC

All of these are cool on their own...but combined?!!  You'd think you'd died and gone to heaven, but you'd be better off just heading to NYC...for their free concerts all summer long!

Thanks to this list, I can relive high school with Sisqó, June 7, check out a TON of bands and aertists that are new to me, and see one of my newest faves, and the winner of reggae artist of the year, CHRONIXX and the Zincfence Band on July 26!

Get to NYC.  Get to a concert.  Do it for free.  All summer long!

CHEAP NORWAY FARES!!!

After getting you all hyped about Norway with my posts about planning, my experience, and a basic budget, the time has come for YOU to head to Norway...and I don't imagine you can beat these prices!  $409 RT from NJ?!  That's a steal!  Get on it, and let us know how it goes!

Oslo, Norway (OSL) Update City Take a look at today's list of deals to Oslo! Read All... Fares To Oslo, Norway (OSL) Visit our Oslo page for up-to-date fares International Airfares See All Fares » Newark, NJ (EWR)  United $409 RT Orlando, FL (MCO)  Norwegian Air Shuttle $534 RT