Beating Jetlag | Flying to Europe

If you are flying to Europe for the first time or need a new technique to arrive in better shape this is for you.

Try if possible to take a late after noon or night flight. Why you say? Well because it will be easier for you to sleep. Change your clock as soon as you get on the flight to the time at  your destination so you start adjusting. Once in the air dinner will be served. Eat it and if you are a picky eater eat dinner prior to the flight or pick up a sandwich to take on board and almost always pick the pasta (safer choice for the picky eater).

Once you are done with dinner go to sleep. Even if you do not sleep keep your ear plugs on and your eyes closed. It will help you avoid jet lag. You will likely arrive in the morning so sleeping now is important. Before landing a snack breakfast will be served. When you arrive at your destination  Stay up!! Check in at your hotel or drop off your luggae and go out. What ever you do try not to sleep. If you have to though keep it short 1 or 2 hours. The sooner you stick to the new time zone the better you will adjust.
At night stay in bed even if you struggle to sleep (and if you have stayed up all day this should be easier)

The next day wake up earlier no later then 8am or 9am and do not nap. This will help you sleep through the night.

Do you have any tricks or tips that work for you?

9 Paris Souvenirs That Don't Suck

A few weeks ago my husband and I traveled to Paris. This was my second trip and I decided before we left that I wanted to buy different souvenirs. I didn't want the tiny Eiffel Tower or mugs. Not that there is anything wrong with these (we did pick up some magnets that our friends/family always ask for). The more I travel the more I notice that the traditional souvenirs normally find a very comfy home in the trash can eventually. Authentic gifts I have found however are more appreciated and used! Anyhow I found some awesome goodies and shops that I wanted to share with you. Here are _ places to buy Parisian  souvenirs that don't suck:

La Chambre Aux Confitures:
I found this place as I was walking down the Marais. I was not planning on buying any honey or jam. I actually walked in out of curiosity. I went in and started tasting. The staff was really friendly and let us try as many as we wanted. I ended up buying 8 bottles. Some honey and some jam. The shop offers complimentary gift bags. I asked them to give it to me to take with me so I could wrap when I flew back home. My friends loved them!

 

Confiseur de Luxe Mazet:
So I decided to buy a few snacks and taste test them while I was at Monoprix on Champs Elysee. One of the snacks was a small box of the pistachios and almonds coated with caramel and chocolate . They were amazing so much so that when I noticed they had a store I decided to check it out. They were a little bit over the normal prices for pistachios/almonds but totally worth it. They have a few medium boxes you can get that come wrapped and ready to gift. They also have few mixed boxes that would make great gifts. Great little souvenirs and delicious snacks!! Monoprix sells the smaller box for 8€. The store sells a slightly bigger bix for about 10€ or 11€.

Blue lemon:
I walked into this awesome little store as I walked down Ile Saint Louise.  I was initially looking at the accessories and ended up buying leather purses. They ranged from 10€ to about 44€. Loved them!

Monoprix:
Ok so I read this before I went to Paris but like they say  it's not the same to read/hear it then to see it. Not all Monoprix are created equal. My favorite as a traveler was the one on Champs Elysee they have the traditional souvenirs and they have preselected French brands. Things like olive oil,tea, chocolate varieties, things from Maxims, Angelina's chocolate, Haribo Gummies and do much more...All this is down stairs. The stair case is by the cosmetics cashier. It's a little hard to find (we almost missed it). If you can't find it ask the clerks.

Fragonard:
 Visited this place looking for a souvenir or two for my mom and mother in law. The staff is friendly and normally willing to help. They have things for all budgets (4€- 60€ or more). We were able to find just what we were looking for and I ended up buying a perfume for myself. When we checked out we were offered gift wrapping material which I asked them to give me on the side so it would not damage during my trip back home.

Shops at Ile Saint Louise:
Ok so this one is not specific but trust me here. I found so many cute things for my friends and family. I found cute little leather make up bags for 10€, bracelets, accesories, purses, cloths, scarves, and so much more. Walk around the little island and explore the shops. We picked up these coffee cup set at one of the stores. 

Le Marais Neighborhood in the 3rd and 4th:
This neighborhood is packed with all sorts of boutiques and shops for all tastes. Explore the neighborhood and pop your head into some of the shops.

Musee de L'Armée Boutique:
We decided to go to the museum after realizing that the Rodin was closed. While there we took a look around the boutique l and found some pretty cute things. Christmas orniments,kids toys, quirky office supplies, and a few other things. The boutique is accessible without a ticket. If you will not visit the museum stay to the left and you will see the sign.

Laduree:
Macaroons are a little hard to transport unless you buy a gift box rather then the softer boxes that they are normally packed in and even then they may not make it

The Travel Tip I Didn't Know I Needed...

My friend and I love to review on Yelp and TripAdvisor. We get excited when we make it up a level or some one finds one of our reviews helpful. I also enjoy using my reviews for my own reference if I return to a place or someone needs a recommendation. I use these very often when I travel to find places to see, eat, or stay. However, I always struggle to get them done when I get back from my trips.

Well on my last trip to Paris I posted on Facebook that I was checking out a place and my friend commented asking if I'd liked it and telling me to review it on Yelp. I told her that I had tons of reviewing to do when I got back and she gave me a little trick which I LOVED!!!! I of course tried it as soon as I was heading home!

She told me she types her reviews on the plane in the notes on her phone and then just copy/paste when she gets home to each website ect...

I tried this on the plane like I said as soon as I could and it is fantastic!! I had plenty of time to type them and think about it on the way home. The best part was they were still fresh in my memory. When I got home just like she said I started copy/pasting and before I knew it I had reviewed over 30 places.

Give it a go let me know how you like it. Kudos to Luz  for the tip😎

What fuels your wanderlust...?

One of the things that I love the most when I am exploring a new country or place is to see the "real" country and places. Things like Where people eat, where they live, and where they shop. Enjoying food in they're houses or they're favorite restaurant. Understanding the culture. Things like sitting on the grass in Paris in the evening with wine and cheese, enjoying cheese by a canal in Amsterdam, eatting at a mayan village in mexico, having lunch in someone's back yard in Honduras,Izmir, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico , buying things for my house that are handcrafted or traditionally made rather than a souvenir, going to a local festival or party are just a few of the things that fuel my every growing wanderlust.

What do you like to do when you travel? What fuels your wanderlust?

Athens

This was my second trip to Athens,I've learned something during this second trip, One day is not enough!! There is something so amazing about the Parthenon it pulls you to stay longer to relax and take in the views around you. I could have probably sat their for hours as I had during my first trip, but I was pressed for time. Sitting at the top and seeing Athens spread before you, looking at what was and what is makes the difficult climb worth every moment. Be warned, wear comfortable shoes and cool cloths. 

The touristy streets are pleasant (this is what I stuck to this time--I was in a group) but the shops and restaurants of the beaten path are much more enjoyable and delicious. 

If I had the chance to return I would do it as I did the first time. The view of the Parthenon from the bottom at night is worth seeing and Athens is just a taste of the beauties of Greece!! 

Passport Nightmare!!!

Towards the end of April I mailed my passport renewal application. I requested a book, a passport card, and overnight delivery so that I would be sure that I would have it prior to my trip. about 4 weeks later I look online and saw when it should arrive. I began going to the mailbox every day to check for it. I received my passport card and in a separate envelope I got my old passport and all my documents. I continued to check for a week and a half and nothing came. Worry began to creep in and I decided to call the National Passport Center. I requested a tracking number and proceeded to check the delivery status. To my Horror it had been "delivered" over a week a go and the signature had allegedly been waived.

In a panic I called them back explaining what I had seen on the USPS website. They requested that I fill out a form (DS86 - which basically says you never received you book), and mail it in overnight. At this point I would be cutting it close. I asked if their was any way I could get this resolved at a regional office. The agent told me to wait until 14 days prior to my travel date to call in for an appointment. Relieved I marked my calendar to 14 days prior.

The day came and I called the number for my appointment, and followed the instructions. Minutes later I found out that there were NO appointments until the day of my trip!!! I called the center again and asked if they could help me set up an appointment other than that because of the situation. They said NO. The agent recommended that I overnight  my application and pay for over night shipping. I was on the edge!! A million things crossed my mind -would it be back in time - would it get lost again -should I mail it or not. I got in the car to mail it and then decided to ask around to see what people would tell me about their experiences with emergency passports.

I decided I would show up at the regional office and see what They could do for me. I arrived early and took the elevator to the 3rd floor where the office is located, an officer stood guard checking documents. I explained my situation and he asked me to go back to the 1st floor and see the officer their. I went down and  much to mu surprise there was a HUGE line I had failed to see when I arrived. I explained my situation again and showed him my Proof of Delivery (POD) from the USPS. He initialed it and I skipped the line. I got up stairs and was checked in and asked to wait. I waited about 5 minutes and was called, questioned about the whereabouts of the new book that should have arrived, and then asked to return on Tuesday to pick up the reprint with a receipt they gave me.

Here is what I learned this week

-The call center will always say you can not show up with out an appointment.

-For a lost passport printing out your POD goes a long way, and will save you time and money (I was charged nothing-I'll update if that changes on Tuesday)

-If you need an emergency passport show up as Early as humanly possible- the lines are pretty long

-Bring proof of travel

Planning for 18 days in Europe - 66 Days to go

I am in the process of planning my biggest trip ever!! Not so much in the number of people (7 others will be traveling with me-which is the normal amount) but in the number of days and the complexity of the trip. The plan is to fly to Barcelona to meet and embark on a 12 day cruise through the Mediterranean. When we disembark we will be flying to Paris for two days.

I thought I would begin sharing how I am going about the final steps of planning  (we are 66 days away).

I told everyone in my party to take care of their flights to Barcelona first since the cruise price would remain steady and we had until 70 days prior to pay it off, while the flight cost could continue to rise. Once those two things had been paid we reserved hotels and Paris flights which were the other two things that could fluctuate.

So far we have booked flights, paid of the cruise, made hotel reservations, started the final steps of budgeting which I will share later, booked two excursion (everything else is DIY,which I strongly prefer when possible, I'll explain later why I decided to book these two) and I am working on final itineraries. In the end I will let you know how well it went :o)


When choosing a hotel in Barcelona, I made sure that it met a few requirements:

• That the facility had Air conditioning (which isn't a given in)
• That their was a safe in the room
• Near a Train or Metro Station
• That it was clean-safe-and budget friendly 

I ended up choosing a hotel (apartment) that fit all 8 of us it has 3 bedrooms and a sofa bed. It turned out to be about $30 per person for the night and during high season.

Itinerary

1. Fly to Barcelona 
2. Barcelona -Embarkation day
3. Provence
4. Florence/Pisa
5. Rome
6. Naples
7. Sea Day
8. Mykonos
9. Istanbul
10. Izmir
11. Athens
12. Sea Day
13. Athens
14. Venice
15. Venice- Disembark and fly to Paris
16. Paris
17. Paris
18. Fly Home