Tag: featured

Cruise Ship Tour: Amazing Norwegian Jade!

by Heather Anne • July 29, 2021

Watch my full video tour!

Norwegian Jade Cruise Ship Tour

Cruising has returned! USA Today reported in this article that the Norwegian Jade was the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship to sail post- COVID-19 delays. So it seems like a great time to post this full video tour I filmed right before the shutdowns started! The Jade offers some of the most exciting cruise ship tour itineraries in the world. My Jade itinerary sailed from Rome, Italy to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with stops in Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, and Israel. If you’re seeking some real adventure, consider a journey on the Jade!

Decks of Delight

There is a wealth of different deck areas on the Jade, each offering a unique perspective on the bright, sunny skies and brilliant, blue waters! For fun in the sun, easy access to the numerous bars, live entertainment, and the pool and jacuzzis steps away, visit the upper floors and Lido deck. For peace and quiet, a chance to relax and escape, and time away from the crowds, head for the Promenade Deck. Feeling frisky? There are athletic opportunities on the uppermost decks, including a basketball/soccer court and more. Your spectacular views, selfie ops, and the gentle breezes of the sea will be yours whichever deck you choose!

Delectable Dining

The Jade has dining options that will suit even the pickiest eaters’ taste buds! Your options will include complimentary dining options, specialty dining options that come at a fixed cost, and a-la-carte options. Your complimentary choices include two main dining rooms, a pub-style restaurant that’s open 24 hours, an Asian restaurant, a great big buffet, and an outdoor grill near the Lido deck. In the mood for a splurge? There are specialty dining restaurants including a steakhouse, Brazilian restaurant, French restaurant, Italian restaurant, Teppanyaki, and more. I believe you’ll find all of your bases covered! Whatever your whim, your appetite will be well-satisfied!

Luxurious Lobbies and Exceptional Entertainment

What’s better than a beautiful lobby to unwind in as you savor your favorite drink and watch the swirling seas float by out your window? Great entertainment too! Sure, the nightclubs and theater are there for you too, but first, for a more relaxed atmosphere, head for one of the luxurious lobbies to partake in some piano tunes and swoon-worthy singers. Close the night out with the excitement of a Broadway-style show in the Theater, some chills and thrills in the casino, and/or some dynamic dancing in the neon-bathed nightclubs! Whatever your mood or energy level, you’ll find just the entertainment you enjoy!

Conclusion

If you’re like I am, you’ve been really missing the #cruiselife. For more cruise content, take a behind-the-scenes tour of another grand cruise ship, the Norwegian Breakaway, here! And I hope you will be sailing again soon! In the meantime, I hope you’ll consider subscribing to my all-travel, all-the-time YouTube channel here for more great cruise and other travel-related content! Thank you for reading and I look forward to sharing my travel experiences with you again next time! Are you back to traveling? Never stopped traveling? Leave a comment below; I’d love to hear about your adventures!

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Travelogue

Paradise Awaits: Grand Cayman Tour!

by Heather Anne • April 28, 2021

Watch the video tour on YouTube!

Escape to paradise in this Grand Cayman tour!

Whether you’re seeking miles of pristine beaches, underwater adventures, magnificent marine life, spectacular snorkeling, submerged shipwrecks, covert bank accounts, or sweet rum distilleries, Grand Cayman is the place for you! The Cayman Islands are a self-governing British territory in the Caribbean. Temperatures remain mild throughout the year. English is the official language. And, yes, they drive on the “other” side of the road! Infrastructure around the island is top-notch, and the islands are dotted with both awe-inspiring mansions and cute, little “gingerbread” houses. Due to the coral reefs, if you take a cruise ship you’ll need to dock offshore and take a tender to the port.

Around George Town

George Town, on Grand Cayman Island, is the capital city of the Cayman Islands. Here you’ll find a booming financial industry, as George Town houses branches for 40 of the 50 world’s biggest banks. Customers from around the world deposit funds into Cayman accounts to shield them from court systems, tax agencies, and to maintain the utmost privacy. George Town is also home to the Islands’ major airport and cruise port. Shopping opportunities also abound. Finally, you’ll find the Cayman Islands National Museum here, and it’s a great starting point from which to explore the rest of Grand Cayman Island.

Cayman Turtle Center and marine museum

The Cayman Turtle Center, in the West Bay area of Grand Cayman, is the top attraction in the Caymans to view, touch, and learn about Caribbean marine life. There is also a robust bird sanctuary. This is an interactive museum, where visitors are encouraged to get close to and touch a number of the animals. There is even an underwater exploration opportunity, to engage with the marine life in their submerged home. I was amazed by how close I was able to get to the beautiful creatures here. If you’d like to see more, the Cayman Turtle Center offers a virtual tour on their website here. Stingray City is another option for interacting with the island’s native stingray population.

Bountiful beaches!

Grand Cayman is abundant with beautiful beaches! This is perhaps the biggest draw to the island, and for good reason. The brilliant aqua waters shimmer in the sun rays, and the sands are powdery soft. Many of the beaches offer lounge chairs, restaurants, and snorkeling. From some you can take a sail on a catamaran, or sample windsurfing or jet-skiing. All of them offer soothing sunshine and warm waters. 7 Mile Beach is particularly popular, but don’t miss out on some of the less well-known beach locations. This is the perfect place for beach-hopping!

Thanks for taking my Grand Cayman tour!

Thanks for coming along for my tour of Grand Cayman! I’m sure by now you’ll agree there’s a lot to see and do around Grand Cayman. Want to turn your Cayman excursion into an island-hopping adventure? Enjoy my tour of Jamaica here! And for more great video content – ALL travel ALL the time – subscribe to my travel channel on YouTube here! Finally, if you enjoyed this article, I hope you’ll consider supporting this blog so I can keep it sustainable. You can support my efforts with a donation of as little as $2 on Ko-fi here. Your support means a lot, and I couldn’t do it without you! I hope you’ll leave a comment below: have you been to the Caymans? Do you have a favorite spot? Have you not gone yet, but would like to? I’d love to hear from you!

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Language Study

How to Learn a Language

by Heather Anne • February 9, 2021

How to Learn a Language

Interested in learning a new language, or multiple languages? If so, you’ve come to the right place! I hope this article will be useful to you whether your goal is to learn one or several languages, and whether you’re new to language learning or have dabbled in it before. Maybe you have a resolution to learn one or more languages for the New Year. Or you just felt inspired some other time of year. Either way, you’ll find tips to make the most of your language learning experience right here. Congratulations for embarking on your exciting language-learning journey! So, without further adieu, how to learn a language! (Some links are affiliate links I may earn a commission from at no cost to you. 100% will be used to support this site.)

The VARK Model

Your first objective should be to figure out what type of learner you are. This will help you determine what approach to study is best suited for you. That way, you can learn more efficiently and get more enjoyment out of the process. Perhaps the best model for determining your learning style is the VARK model. This model was developed by Neil Fleming. There are four learning types in VARK’s model: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. Fleming also indicated something called “multimodality” may be present. That’s when a person could have a mixture of these methods as their preference. You can take the VARK questionnaire here to help you determine your learning style or styles! Remember, you may not want to learn exclusively through one method, but instead prioritize. Variety is good!

Visual Learners

Visual learners are the first type. They prefer visual stimulation and graphic depictions. This includes not only photo and video, but graphs and charts. I’m mostly a visual learner. I have a short attention span, and find it easier to maintain my attention while watching or looking at rich visual content. Sound familiar? Visual learners also tend to enjoy keeping eye-candy rich notebooks for their notes and writing practice. If that’s you, you may want to invest in some colorful pens and markers and go to town in your notebook!

Visual Learner Study Tools

Fluenz is an excellent program for visual learners. It’s loaded with visually appealing interactive activities and spectacular photography specific to countries in which your target language is spoken. There’s also a video tutorial with an instructor in each lesson. Visual learners will also really love FluentU, chock full of videos to watch with accompanying quizzes and activities to help reinforce the content. I also recommend Innovative Language, which has plenty of video-based content. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention language learning videos on YouTube!

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners learn most effectively through sound, both listening and speaking. For some, the material is best picked up and reinforced through audio means. This complements language learning very well, since listening and speaking are high priorities for the majority of language learners. And as a hands-free learning method, it’s easy to multitask and fit these study sessions into your busy schedule!

Auditory Learner Study Tools

There’s many good tools for auditory learners. ITalki is a great way to learn through listening and speaking, while working with your own personal tutor selected by you. A lot of people swear by Pimsleur, where you’ll learn practical conversation through listening and repeating what you hear. Innovative Language has a vast library of audio podcasts as well as videos. And finally, international podcasts are great to listen to on your commute, or while your jogging, walking, or doing chores!

Reading-Writing Learners

Next there’s reading/writing learners. They learn best through the written word, whether they’re reading it or writing it. These folks will especially appreciate the beauty of some writing systems. They may have a particular interest in languages that use different writing systems than their home country. And they’re likely to enjoy reading a good book. They’re also the most likely group to enjoy taking copious notes.

Reading-Writing Study Tools

There’s lots of great resources for reading/writing learners. Textbooks, especially those that come with workbooks, are especially good. Look for one that has an audio component available either on disc or online so you can hear correct pronunciation. Reading foreign language books or magazines can be fun, and as a bonus gives you some cultural immersion. You could browse foreign language websites and participate in foreign language chat rooms for great reading and writing experience! You’ll need to set up your computer to have access to a foreign language keyboard. You can use Gboard for Android or Apple, or go into your computer settings to add a language. Linq is completely focused on digesting written content. I also really like LinguaLift, which is text-heavy but fun and engaging!

Kinesthetic Learners

Finally, there’s kinesthetic learners. These people enjoy learning through hands-on experiences. Examples of this include a classroom environment with activities where you interact with classmates, and immersion techniques where you envelop yourself in the culture, or dive in head first in the foreign country! Kinesthetic learners enjoy figuring things out on their own rather than having everything explained. And they benefit most from stimulating all of their senses. This can be accomplished by using a wide variety of tools.

Kinesthetic Learner Tools

Kinesthetic learners have many study tool options. ITalki is great, because of the personal interaction and unlimited options your tutor has for instruction. Classroom instruction will allow you to engage in activities with classmates. Immersion techniques, like visiting the country, will stimulate all your senses and fully engage you. Textbooks with online lessons will give you a variety of different interactive activities to complete. But I think the best approach for Kinesthetic learners is the use of multiple tools.

Choosing Languages

The next consideration is what language or languages you want to learn, and why? This may be an extremely tough, or an extremely easy decision for you depending on your motives. So know “why” you want to learn a language first. When you have a “why” to bear in mind, you’ll be more motivated to keep up with your language learning schedule, and it will feel more rewarding for you. Maybe it will help you choose your language, if your reason is something like a plan to move to a country, or having a significant other that speaks a particular foreign language. On the other hand, it may be extremely difficult to decide. Like if you enjoy language learning in general or are interested in a variety of foreign cultures. I feel your pain! But I have some things to think about to help you decide.

Factors to Consider

The possibilities seem endless, triggering the “paradox of choice” effect. This happens when you have so many choices you experience decision paralysis. Some of the factors I recommend considering include:

Difficulty

Difficulty – how challenging is the language? Does it have a different writing system from your own? Is it a member of the same language family as your native language? You may want an easier language, or you may want more of a challenge. Either way, there’s sure to be a language or languages that are right for you!

Cultural Interest

Cultural interest – is there a particular foreign culture or cultures you’re particularly interested in? Do you love K-Pop music, Japanese video games, Swedish films, Brazilian soccer, or Italian food? Enhance your experience with language! Like to visit a particular country a lot? Bonus!

Practicality

Practicality – Do you have time for this language, based on difficulty level? Be honest with yourself. If you think you only have 15 minutes per day, it would be very difficult to learn 4 languages, and you may want to stay away from one like Japanese that has multiple writing systems. Do yourself a favor, if you can, and have time for each language every week. Otherwise you’ll get rusty and have to waste time re-learning material you’ve already covered.

Resources

Resources- Are a lot of learning resources available for your language? If you’re learning something like Spanish, French, or Chinese, you’ll have an abundance of choice. But if you want to learn something like Georgian, Pashto, or Icelandic, finding a good supply of learning tools will be more challenging. This doesn’t mean you should rule out less common languages. In fact, sometimes these can be the most rewarding to learn. But make an informed decision based on what tools are available.

Scheduling Your Study Sessions

The next step will be to consider your schedule and when you will learn. Different schedules will be suited to different people. I suggest that you learn your language, or each of your languages, at least twice per week so you don’t lose progress. If you’re learning multiple languages simultaneously, you may choose to learn a little of each every study day, or dedicate specific days of the week to specific languages. Take a look at your schedule and your other responsibilities and see what days and times best work for you.

Time Management Apps

I find time management resources extremely useful when it comes to language learning. Some of my favorites are Google Calendar, Notion, and ClickUp. Notion is awesome for keeping most of your language learning tools, with the exception of textbooks, at your fingertips. It’s a great place to keep links to your favorite online applications and websites, notes, your study calendar, your study log, and so much more. I’m planning a post dedicated to using Notion for language learning, so stay tuned if you want to hear more about that! ClickUp is another favorite of mine for keeping up with everything in my busy life, including language learning. It’s so visually appealing I actually look forward to something as tedious as planning my schedule!

Programs, textbooks, apps, classrooms, oh my!

Language Learning Resources

Next on the agenda is choosing your language learning resources. With so many choices, depending on what language or languages you’re learning, this can be another daunting decision. I think the best guide to help you in your decision is your VARK learning style, as discussed earlier. Other considerations include your budget, how others have reviewed the product, and whether you have access to the resource. There’s classes, books, online apps, mobile apps, audio programs, and more. There’s a seemingly endless supply of resources out there, depending on the language or languages you’re trying to learn. I recommend doing your research and learning a little about each program to see what might best suit your needs. I’ve got a language learning playlist on my YouTube channel with language learning program reviews, and I plan to add many more in the future!

Whom Will You Study With?

The next question you’ll need to address is whom you’ll study with. Social learners prefer to study with others. iTalki, classroom instruction, and immersion techniques, like talking to native speakers, are good for them. Solitary learners prefer to study alone, and will appreciate programs and textbooks that give them the peace and solitude that helps them focus and thrive.

SMART Goals

So what are your long and short term goals? So what’s the best way to look at goals? They should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. If they aren’t all of these things, you may be setting yourself up for failure. If your goals are too vague, it’s an invitation to cop out, give up, or change your intention. If the goals are not measurable, you won’t be able to guage whether you succeeded or not. If your goals are not achievable, you’re self-determining failure before you even get started. If they’re not realistic, you won’t have the tools you need to succeed – whether that means learning resources or time. And if they’re not timely, there’s no incentive to keep up with your studies, because you have no deadlines.

Viki.com is great for Asian programming!

Incorporate Fun!

Finally, consider how you’ll incorporate FUN into your studies! This will help keep you motivated and inspired to learn. There are many resources online to watch foreign tv shows, movies, and music concerts and videos. Viki.com has dramas from Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan. Arte.tv has shows in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Polish. Sling International offers nearly 20 languages. And the Language Learning with Netflix chrome extension has a nearly unlimited supply of languages to choose from! Of course, there’s also always YouTube. And language learning apps can be fun too, bringing us to the next point…

Make Use of Dead Time

Finally, consider how you can incorporate language learning into your “dead time.” The next time you’re in an ethnic restaurant, try chatting with the staff. Talk to Uber and taxi drivers in their native language. Download a flashcard app on your phone to practice with in the checkout line. Use audio resources while commuting and doing chores. For most of us, time is the biggest challenge to learning another language or other languages. Multi-tasking will help!

Language Apps: Great for Dead Time

Apps you can download for your smartphone or tablet are great on the go, or when you only have a few minutes for a quick session. My favorites are LingoDeer and Drops. The reward systems deployed in these apps can also be highly motivating, as well as their fun factor. But I would urge you to compliment your study plan with these apps rather than attempting to learn with them exclusively. They don’t tend to be as good at “covering all the bases” as online programs and textbooks, which have the added benefit of encouraging you to make at least some of your sessions last longer. Flash card apps like Anki are also great for utilizing dead time to help reinforce your vocabulary skills. If you’re on a tight budget, Duolingo gives you access to most of the app for free (ad supported.)

More Motivation!

For more motivation, check out my language learning video playlist on YouTube! I also recommend my review article on iTalki here! Whatever your motivations for learning a new language, or multiple languages, it’s an admirable goal. Studies consistently show that language-learning is great for improving your memory and other cognitive skills and staving off Alzheimer’s later in life. And that’s on top of the travel and cultural benefits! Best of luck to you in this exciting endeavor. I hope you’ve found some useful advice on how to learn a language in this article!

Travelogue

EPIC Fall Michigan Road Trip! (Part 1)

by Heather Anne • October 6, 2020

Aerial view of american countryside landscape. Farm, red barn, cows. Rural scenery, farmland. Sunny morning, spring summer season

The Ultimate Fall Michigan Road Trip!

Fall is by far the BEST Time of year to take a road trip in Michigan! The apples are ripe at the orchards, the weather is cool and comfortable, and the leaves on the trees are starting to burst with vibrant color. It is truly a sight to behold, and there’s so much to do on your adventure! (Please note that this post is NOT sponsored by any of the places mentioned here. I just really enjoyed them and wanted to share my experience!) Welcome to Part 1 of my two part blog post on my epic Michigan fall road trip itinerary. I have a full video tour of the trip here, with maps!:

EPIC Michigan Fall Road Trip on Ultimate Travel Adventures on YouTube

Apple Picking Pleasures in Fennville!

We start our tour in Fennville, on the west coast of the mainland. Or as Michiganders refer to it, the “mitten.” Crane’s Orchards has a wide variety of apple types, and you can pick-your-own. There’s no comparison between fresh-picked apples on the orchard and supermarket apples! I was blown away by the difference when I tried these! Fresh-from-the-tree apples are sweeter, jucier, and tastier. And besides that, it’s fun to pick your own! You know you’re getting the best quality ones. Also, you can get a mixture of only your favorite types! So stock up for snacks, and baking!

Apple-Picking Primer

The staff give you a sack to fill at the entrance. You pick whatever combinations of apples you want, in any quantity. You’re free to roam the grounds on your own. Or you can hitch a ride on a cart or tractor to take you to your apple destination. When you’re done, you place the bag on a scale and pay based on weight. These apples cost even less than in the supermarket, and are far better! Fresh pumpkins and other items are available too. Once you’re done, it’s time for a delectable lunch of local specialties, washed-down by some fresh apple cider. And for dessert, you can partake in a flight of pies, or fresh, warm cider donuts! Most orchards also have a corn maze and hay rides too! The website for Crane’s is at Crane Orchards. A trip to an apple orchard is a bushel of fun!

Grand Haven South Pierhead Lighthouse

Before you leave Grand Haven, make sure you make a detour to visit the Grand Haven South Pierhead Inner Lighthouse. This charming beacon was constructed in 1881, and is protected under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. Michigan is a state replete with interesting and historic lighthouses, and this is one of my favorites. Decked-out in fiery-bright red, it’s ready for fall! If you enjoy this one, you may want to plan an all-lighthouse Michigan road trip for next time. There’s plenty to keep you busy! You can learn more about many of Michigan’s lighthouses on the official tourist site, Pure Michigan.

Variety of delicious candy apples covered with white, milk and dark chocolate, caramel and nuts on a stick on display

Tour a Chocolate Factory!

The next stop on our tour is Grand Haven, where you can take a chocolate factory tour at Chocolates by Grimaldi. When I took the tour, it was a mere $4 – and included tastings and a goodie bag, suitable for devouring, at the end! During the tour, I was allowed to walk through the facility while a guide explained the chocolate-making process. During the tour, I got to see the equipment they use in action, and smell the sweet, tantalizing scent of chocolate wafting through the room. You must call them ahead to book a tour, as they are scheduled and limited to small groups. You can get their contact info and learn more about them on their website at Chocolates by Grimaldi. In addition to taking the tour, I found this destination an ideal place for shopping, too… The chocolate is delicious!

Traverse City Overnight Stop

The next stop on our tour is Traverse City. Traverse City is a great place to take a stroll on the promenade by the lake, or do some shopping on Front Street, the main drag in town. It’s dotted with cute, boutique shops selling local crafts, culinary delights, and more. Traverse City has numerous great restaurants and nightlife spots, and is an ideal location for your first overnight stop. It’s the biggest city in Northern Michigan, kind of a de-facto capital up here. It’s most famous for the cherry harvest in July, when the Cherry Festival is held. (Time to start planning another road trip for next year…?) Until then, pick up a jar of local cherry jam or chocolate covered cherries in the shops!

Victorian “gingerbread” houses in Petoskey

Petoskey’s Gaslamp District and Gingerbread Houses

In the morning, it’s off to Petoskey. When you arrive in Petoskey, I suggest a drive through the historic Gaslamp District, with real gas-powered street lamps and century old buildings. Petoskey has been named by Smithsonian as “one of the best small towns in America,” and for good reason. After exploring the Gaslamp District, head over to M-131 by the lake, and turn on the side streets to get off the beaten path. Here you can view the gingerbread-house Victorian architecture of the residential neighborhoods overlooking the lake. Some of the streets in the residential district shut down completely for the winter, and people winterize their houses in plastic, so September may be your last chance to see some of these for the season! House after house here is all decked out in detailed, ornate trim in vibrant colors.

Tunnel of Trees Scenic Route

Before you head off to Mackinaw City, take a detour through the “Tunnel of Trees” along M-119 to enjoy the brilliant fall colors hanging overhead and carpeting the ground. This scenic route got its name from the hanging tree limbs that envelop the road in foliage, creating the illusion of a tunnel. Fall provides by far the most spectacular scenery along this winding road. There’s something innately satisfying about a country drive along scenic byways. Perhaps it’s the fresh air. Or the the freedom of the open road. Then there’s the peacefulness of being away from civilization. Whatever it is, the allure cannot be denied. You’re heading further north, and getting closer to the Mackinac Bridge to the Upper Peninsula.

Mackinaw City and Mackinac Bridge

The impressive Mackinac Bridge is the gateway to the Upper Peninsula, affectionately referred to by Michiganders as the “U.P.” You may be tempted to head up the to the bridge and enjoy the spectacular views of the Straits of Mackinac, but before you do take some time to explore the fascinating sites in Mackinaw City. Two good places to start are Fort Michilimackinac is a trading post established in 1715. Today it’s a National Historic Landmark, and is exquisitely preserved. In addition to the 18th century architecture, you can observe re-enactments by staff in full costume on such things as shooting the cannons, blacksmithing, tending the gardens, and more. Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, next to Fort Michilimackinac, is also worth a tour. It was founded in 1899, and today is open to visitors.

Coming Next Week!

Next week we’ll continue this road trip across the Mackinac Bridge and into the Upper Peninsula. We’ll explore the powerful Tahquamenon Falls, take a cruise around Pictured Rocks, visit a Shipwreck Museum, see the Aurora lights, and more! Thanks for reading, and follow to join me next week for the rest of the itinerary! Check out the video at the top of this post for maps and more information if you are interested in replicating this trip! Please comment below on whether you’re planning any road trips, and what’s your favorite thing about hitting the road for an adventure!

Travel Tips

Greyhound Bus Travel Tips!

by Heather Anne • March 4, 2019

Professional bus driver at steering wheel. Passenger transportation

Welcome aboard the bus!

Greyhound Bus Travel Tips

Time for more transportation tips: specifically Greyhound bus travel tips! A quick note to start off: this is not sponsored by Greyhound. More and more people are traveling domestically due to recent events impacting the economy, foreign government restrictions, and global health issues. I expect bus travel to become more popular in this environment. Greyhound is the most common and well-known bus operator, and there are ways of making sure you have a better experience traveling with them. Greyhound Bus can be a very cost-effective method of ground travel. (Note: this post is NOT sponsored by Greyhound.) As air travel security and health measures become more of a hassle, bus travel has become a more attractive option lately. If you’re not traveling too far it can be a more efficient and comfortable way to travel than air travel. And that’s not to mention much cheaper than air or train travel! So I’ll go over my top tips now. While I’m focusing on Greyhound, many of these tips will be applicable to other bus lines too.

Toronto, Canada: Served by Greyhound

Greyhound Travel in USA, Canada, and Mexico!

Sure, it’s disappointing when you can’t travel the world for whatever reason, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an abundance of interesting things to see in your back yard, wherever that back yard is. Greyhound now services the USA, Canada, and Mexico, so you have an endless number of options! At this time destinations are more limited in Canada and Mexico, but hopefully more will continue to be added. Be sure to check on current entry requirements to visit any foreign country, and be prepared so you’re not turned away at the border.

Greyhound Bus Website

Buying Your Ticket Early and Seat Selection

Buy your ticket as EARLY as possible. For some stations you’ll receive a boarding number on your ticket, and boarding will be permitted in order based on your number. Lower numbers, or those sold further in advance, will receive boarding priority – and have a chance to score a better choice of seat. Not all stations do this, but it’s worth a shot in case you get one that does.

Waiting at the bus station

Save Money on your Bus Ticket!

Prices are lower if you can book 3 weeks in advance, when you can save a quarter or even more off the full price of the ticket. If you can’t, then it may help to at least book 2 weeks in advance, which is still better than last-minute. Whatever you do, don’t wait until you get to the station. Book your trip mid-week if possible. Prices are lower if you can hop on on hump day! Note that discounts are available if you are a member of Student Advantage or Veteran Advantage; go to “Discount Options” when making your reservation to choose this discount. Finally, do a search for promo codes – there’s a good chance you can score an additional discount that way. You will have a chance to enter the code before submitting payment. REMEMBER: There is a surcharge to “gift” a ticket to someone else. If at all possible, the traveler should be the one to pay for the ticket on their own credit or debit card, rather than someone else buying it for them!

I used this 25% off code – and it worked

When to Arrive at the Bus Station

Give yourself plenty of time to check in and find your bus; it will mean a less stressful trip for you if you’re not hustling. And those that arrive first, can line up and board first, if the station does not board by ticket number (as described above.) Your bus may already have seated passengers on it if your station is a stop along another route, making this even more important if you want a good choice of seats.

Let’s go!

Luggage Tips

Note that you are allowed 2 pieces of luggage at no additional charge: one checked bag up to 50 pounds and one carry-on that will fit in the overhead compartment. (Avoid placing fragile items in the checked bag – disturbance of bags due to potholes and bumps is not unlikely!) Be careful about leaving carry-on luggage on the bus when you disembark on breaks, and keep your eye on your bags in the stations. Don’t create a temptation for thieves! Instructions for claiming luggage at different stations varies – listen to the driver for directions each time you disembark. Place an identifiable marker on your luggage, such as a brightly colored tag, to help distinguish it from other suitcases that may be identical or similar in brand and color.

Group of Young People Boarding on Travel Bus

Travelers Boarding the Bus

Ticket Management Tips

You will be able to print out a ticket or pick it up at will-call at the station, or have a digital ticket sent to your mobile device. Keep your ticket through the entire trip – you may need it to change buses and collect your luggage en route and at your destination.

Bus Travel Comfort

If you need an outlet for your electronic devices, try to get a seat towards the front; not all seats have outlets. Free wi-fi is available on the bus. Keep in mind it may not work 100% of the time. Travel pillows and blankets can be a welcome comfort on overnight trips – both on the bus and during long station transfers. Make sure you set an alarm on your cellphone to wake yourself up before your next stop – just in case! Finally, try to limit your restroom breaks to the bus stations if possible. You will find them cleaner and more pleasant to use. And don’t forget to pack some snacks! Whatever you bring will probably be cheaper than anything you can find at the rest stops and bus stations.

Greyhound Bus

Bus Travel Safety Tips

It’s safer to sleep on the bus than in the stations. People are less likely to give you any trouble with the bus driver and other passengers so nearby. You may be more isolated in the station, particularly at night. That said, having a seat closer to the front will keep you closer to the driver for added safety. Keep your purse, cellphone, and wallet in a safe place. You don’t want to have a phone loosely in your hand and inadvertently fall asleep on the bus, or be walking around the station with a wallet in your back pocket. Keep your guard up and protect your valuables. If you really want to be on the safe side, invest in a money belt to store these in. I recommend this belt for your money/wallet, phone, and identifying documents… It includes RFID protection, so people can’t scan your card numbers: RFID Money Belt on Amazon.

Bus Break Yoga!

Stay Healthy on the Bus!

The most important of my Greyhound bus travel tips may be to be conscious of your health. Remember to wash your hands frequently and carry hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your face. Window seats are the best for minimizing contact from any potentially infected people, since you’ll be keeping your distance from people traversing the aisle and standing in the aisle managing their carry-ons. It’s also a good idea to carry along a small first-aid kit. You can pick up a good travel kit here: Travel First Aid Kit on Amazon. If you buy a pre-assembled kit, you’ll want to take an inventory before your trip to see if there’s any additional medicines or products you’d like to add. I always like to make sure I have some headache and antihistamine tablets. Also, make sure you get up and get some exercise during breaks!

Greyhound Road Rewards

Join Road Rewards

Join Road Rewards on the greyhound.com website. It’s free to join, and you can earn rewards like: 15% off your ticket, companion pass for a friend, and 10% off food at greyhound stations.

Greyhound App

Download the App

With the Greyhound app you can have easy access to your trip information, station location, and track your bus (and transfer bus) locations. And if your bus is running late and you may miss your transfer, you can find out when the next one is and make a bolt for the ticket window at the station to reserve a seat on that next bus before it fills up, potentially minimizing transfer time. Other customers may be clamoring to make the same alternate arrangements as you, in which case that next bus might fill up fast!

More Travel Tips

I hope these Greyhound bus travel tips have been helpful for those traveling by ground on a budget! When it comes to traveling on a budget by land, road trips and buses are by far your best options.

Need a money belt to protect your valuables? You can get one here:

RFID Money Belt

And for a travel first aid kit, you can head here:

Travel first aid kit

View more travel tips, tours of destinations, and hotel tours and reviews on my YouTube channel here!:

Ultimate Travel Adventures YouTube Channel

And check out my blog post on saving money on travel!:

How to travel MORE for LESS: Build Your Budget Travel Game Plan!

Travel Tips

Travel MORE, and for LESS!

by Heather Anne • May 21, 2018

At the Airport

How do you travel more for less?

You CAN travel more for less! So with all the expenses involved in planning a trip, how is that possible? I am frequently asked how I’ve managed to make travel such a consistent part of my day-to-day life. Therefore, I wanted to provide some tips for ways I have been able to accomplish this. Some sacrifices and compromises are necessary, and may not be for everyone. But I for one think they are well worth it! This is a long post – and that’s good news! It means there’s a lot of ways to save money on travel!

Time and Money

It really comes down to two obstacles: time and money. Often, people have plenty of one and not the other. Maybe you are retired or between jobs and have plenty of time, but money’s tight. Or maybe you have a very demanding job which pays you well but doesn’t allow you the time to enjoy it. Unfortunately, if you want to live a more nomadic lifestyle, it will probably require some compromises. You may need to wait until any children are older. Or it could mean swapping jobs for one that allows more flexible scheduling. And it may mean passing on the big house, new car, and other luxury expenses to put money away for travel. But there are some easier solutions that may not turn you into a nomad overnight but could help you move in that direction.

Tokyo, Japan Skyline

Time: Friend or Foe?

First, I’ll address the time issue. Life is short, and it’s up to us to make the most of that valuable, and all-too-limited commodity. While that bigger paycheck is tempting, and could certainly help with travel, what good is it if it takes workaholic gymnastics to earn it and you don’t have time to enjoy it? There aren’t enough flex-time jobs out there – but they are out there. Jobs that allow telecommuting and/or setting your own schedule (like working monster hours the week before and after the trip so you can miss a week, or job sharing so you can take “turns”) are ideal for the aspiring nomad. If you are satisfied with your career and this is not an option for you, there are other ways to incorporate travel into your life in a bigger way.

Take an Inventory of your Schedule

Take a look at what days you do have off. How many of those weekends or long weekends could be spent elsewhere? Think outside the box. Travel comes in many forms: long and short, close and far. And the world is more connected than ever. But what about all of those chores and errands you do over the weekend? Here’s where the compromise comes in. It may mean harder work the rest of the week – the job and all of these other things. That’s one way to free up your weekend, or week if you work flex-time. (I can tell you first hand it’s worth the effort!) Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

At the Train Station

Money matters

As for the money issue – there are a number of ways to do more and save money doing it. Some of my favorite ways to travel that save money are:

Road trips.

Road trips force you to stay overnight on the way to your final destination (depending on distance), allowing you to see MORE, and that’s the idea. Not only is it cheaper than other ground transportation, it allows you more freedom. And compared with air travel it might cost you more depending on how many hotels you book along the way… BUT when you compare apples to apples – if you flew to all of those places you will be stopping at which one would have cost you more? And, obviously, the more people you are traveling with the greater the savings, since there are no individual tickets to buy! You may find some amazing surprises and hidden gems in places you never expected traveling this way.

Cruises.

Like long road trips, cruises allow you to visit multiple destinations. The difference? You have a floating “hotel” room throughout the trip. (No schlepping luggage once on board!) Many things are included, like meals and entertainment. And as for anything else, you can pre-pay practically everything now, which helps with eliminating the financial anxiety of unexpected expenses during travel. I don’t know about you, but that has been a concern of mine. I have found cruises to be an excellent value offering great peace of mind. Just don’t go “overboard” (pun intended!) on your spending on non-included shopping and other optional luxuries on the ship!

Road trip to cruise port, then cruise!

For the same reasons noted above! If your cruise port isn’t close by, consider road-tripping it!

Parking discounts.

If you need to park and fly or park and cruise, research your options. The airports and cruise ports charge a premium for parking. I usually use Way Parking for cheap and reliable airport and cruise port parking. They have a great app where I have my receipt and everything else I need in a convenient, digital format. And my car is always locked up safe and secure. Some hotels also offer cruise packages that provide parking. Google “hotel cruise package” and your port city for those.

Travel re-imagined

Don’t underestimate the value of more “local” travel. If you can’t afford a major trip, or your time is severely limited, see what your home city or state/province has to offer, or a neighboring one. You might be surprised what was in your backyard that you never knew about!

Pictured Rocks, Munising, Michigan

Financial planning to facilitate travel

Here are some of my favorite ways to facilitate saving for travel:

Eliminate debt.

Debt imprisons you. It forces you to work more hours to cover the bills (including interest), leaving you less time to travel, devours more of your paycheck (and, in some cases, most of your paycheck!), and cripples your ability to save for more travel. Sure, it’s nice to have a bigger house, newer car, and all of that cool stuff you can buy with credit cards. But the price is too high if travel is a priority for you. If you can (it may take time) pay those cards down to zero and save them for travel emergencies. Or get travel reward cards to use for groceries, utilities, and gas that you have to pay for anyway and pay them off every single month. Big mortgages and car payments not only hinder your ability to travel, but put you at risk. So make more modest choices if you can. If a financial emergency comes up, and your home or transportation to work are at risk, travel will be the least of your concerns.

More frugal lifestyle

This may seem obvious, but people don’t often implement it. Be more minimalist at home and save that money for travel. This is related to eliminating debt too. Smaller home, older car, going out less often at home… I have found that a smaller home has the added benefit of being more low-maintenance, which is more consistent with a nomadic lifestyle. Of course, with children you may need to wait to downsize these things. Look at your monthly bills and see if there is anything you wouldn’t miss. For example, I prefer video games at home to regular movie nights out. I can get unlimited (fun!) use out of that video game for the cost of a handful of one-time movie theater tickets. And I would rather go out to restaurants when I’m traveling than when I’m at home.

Location, location, location…

Location over size in housing. I would rather have a smaller place closer to many destinations I’d like to visit than a bigger or more elaborate place that is more isolated. If you are in the market for a new place, are your “local” travel options abundant or scarce? This is even more important if your time is limited. I’ll be saving by getting a small condo… and increasing my travel options by purchasing in Florida (more to come on that in future blog posts!)

Money around the World

DISCOUNTED travel! Don’t pay full price, ever!

Here are my favorite ways to get DISCOUNTED travel!:

Founder’s Card

Founders Card. This is NOT a credit card. This has been the number one most significant way I have been able to save on travel for the past several years. It is a selective program that requires application, but if you can get approved the value is endless. (Entrepreneurs and executives have the highest rate of acceptance). With this membership, I have annually been promoted to Total Rewards Diamond tier level, Hilton Honors Gold, and much more. You can also get instant tier level upgrades on car rentals and airlines, as well as discounts on many other travel and lifestyle products and services. To give you an idea on how much I save with this card, I’ll use Total Rewards Diamond as the first example. It takes 15,000 tier points to earn Diamond the “hard” way. How much casino play is that? One point for every $5 on slots and every $10 on video poker. Tables are variable, but it’s not any easier. The math is pretty clear here. The Total Rewards benefit alone pays for Founders Card several times over.

You also get a $100 celebration dinner yearly, free valet, no resort fees, 20% discount on Norwegian cruises, and skipping all of the lines on Total Rewards Properties (skipping lines=priceless!) Another example: Hilton Honors Gold. This one requires 20 stays or 40 nights in one year at Hilton properties. But with no stays, I was received the welcome gifts, free upgrades, and free $15 breakfasts at Hilton Garden Inn properties. So if I had to name the one thing that allowed me to save the most on travel, it would be Founder’s Card. To apply to join Founders Card, or get more information, visit Founders Card.

Founder’s Card Website

AAA (American Automobile Association) Membership

AAA Membership. AAA has a membership fee, but is well worth the cost. My favorite thing about AAA is that I can get AAA discounts while still booking directly through my favorite hotel brand websites. It means I will earn rewards for my stay, while still getting the discount. Hotel websites like Hilton and Marriott have a “special rate” option with AAA listed. If I were to book through a travel website for a discount, like Expedia, I would not get credited through the hotel brand’s rewards program. An added bonus with AAA is that I can also save on emergency road service (great peace of mind for long road trips), car repairs, and get free maps and other goodies. I have found AAA well worth it, and been a member for over two decades! AAA has a reciprocity agreement with CAA in Canada, so whether you’re in the US or Canada, road service is covered!

AAA Website

Costco Travel

Costco Travel. Like AAA, use of this site requires membership. I consider the travel discounts, along with other benefits of the card (discounts on gas, groceries, and more), worth it. Car rental rates and theme park packages are especially good on this site. Perks are often offered with cruise bookings, like on-board credits.

Costco Website

Cruise Line Websites

It’s often worth checking cruise line websites directly. A google search will get you to your desired cruise line’s website quickly. Many of the major cruise lines run promotions frequently. For example, the “Free at Sea” promotion through Norwegian is (at least as of this writing), very commonly found on their site. It’s an outstanding offer that lets you choose from several coveted freebies. Best of all – even if you have a cruise voucher from a casino and aren’t paying for the cruise you’re still eligible for the promotions on NCL (your results may vary here depending on cruise line.) I like to compare offers on the different cruise lines when I’m ready to book. You may still want to check one of the other resources listed here too for comparison. I’ve found that the best deals of the year on these sites can be found around Black Friday.

Norwegian Cruise Line Website

Hotel Reward Programs

Google your hotel brand for the link to the rewards site where you can sign up for free. The perks you receive are based on your tier level, which increases depending on the number of stays you have purchased (or not, if you have Founders Card!) The “basic” level, at zero stays, usually has limited perks but will usually give you something, like free internet. As you increase in tier level you will start to see perks like free gifts at check in, free upgrades, premium internet, and free premium breakfasts. And if you’re a member with the hotel’s rewards program, they will often “price match” third party websites like Expedia.

Marriott Website

Online Third-Party Sites

Kayak, Viator, Expedia, and other online travel sites for air travel and activities. As I previously mentioned, I don’t like these sites for hotel reservations because I cannot earn rewards through my loyalty programs. However, I have booked flights this way and still earned loyalty rewards from the airline. (Your results may vary depending on airline.) Since I’ve found that flight costs vary a lot more from airline to airline, and different airlines fly different routes, I don’t necessarily want to stay “brand loyal” when it comes to flights. The ease of use on these sites is a plus too, especially if you need to book complicated open-jaw or multiple destination trips. Bear in mind you may need to make your seat reservation through the airline’s website or customer service number. Tourist attraction and activity tickets can also be a good value on these sites. I prefer Kayak for airline tickets; I usually find the lowest prices there. And I prefer Viator and Expedia for things to do, because they offer the best selection.

Kayak Website

Travel Insurance

BE CAREFUL with travel insurance. Some travel insurance offers are deceptively limited. Many of them won’t pay except in EXTREME cases, particularly in the case of flights (read: documented death in immediate family or severe personal illness and nothing else!) Don’t expect them to necessarily pay because your transfer form of transportation didn’t arrive in time, work won’t let you go after all, or you made a mistake. If you need comprehensive coverage, read the fine print!

Organized tours and passes.

I often take advantage of tours to save me both hassle and money. My transportation is efficient, reliable, and covered. And the cost of all of the attractions are combined, usually at a cheaper expense than if I’d visited each one independently. Same goes for city passes, which often include things like double decker bus tours and water taxis that cover my transportation. My favorite companies, both of which I’ve had great experiences with, are Viator and CityPASS. Tours and passes are available in single-day and multi-day varieties. Best of all with these passes, you can usually skip the lines!

New York Pass Website

Coupons

Groupon. This site offers a number of travel options, but where it really shines is with attraction and entertainment tickets. You can often find cheap attraction tickets to theme parks and other tourist sites. And Groupon is also a great place to find discounted professional sports tickets and concert tickets. Inventory changes frequently, so if you don’t find what you were looking for you may want to check back at a later time.

Groupon Website

Casino Players Clubs

My favorite way to cruise: with a FREE cruise voucher from a land-based casino where I had a free room and meal to go pick it up! Do you have to play? Yes. Do you have to be a high roller? NO! You just have to play smart. This means while you don’t need to be a high roller, you do need to be aware of something called your “ADT” or “average daily theoretical.” You aren’t rewarded on your total play, but how much you play on an average day you’re there. So, you should go less often and play more, not go often and play less. DO NOT use your players card for comps or to check your balance at the kiosk if you’re not playing much: it triggers a “trip” and hurts your ADT. If you play the way that maximizes your ADT, the better rewards you can get, including cruise vouchers, free rooms, and meals. I’m partial to Total Rewards because of the Diamond upgrade I get from Founders Card and the huge number of locations to choose from.

Caesar’s Total Rewards Website

Delta Skymiles

Delta Skymiles Vacations and Cruises. I want to thank Mr Traveler on YouTube for this suggestion which I was not previously aware of. Delta is offering sweet perks for booking with them on travel arrangements besides air travel, and, as an added bonus, they will reward you miles in their Skymiles program for booking all kinds of travel with them. I’ve received great customer service from Delta in the past, and it’s definitely one of my favorite airlines.

Delta Sky Miles Website

Demographic-specific discounts

Other groups that are often eligible for discounts include AARP members, members of the military (active and retired), students, and senior citizens. Always bring your ID cards (college ID, military ID, etc.) when you travel! These discounts are often available at attractions and are sometimes available on hotel rooms and transportation. For example, I typically save huge at museums with my student ID, such as a full year membership at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for $10!

If you have children…

If you have children, things are more challenging. I waited until my children were older to ramp up my travel ambitions. But here are some tips:

Road Trips! With no individual tickets to buy, this is the cheapest way to travel with a larger group. Just remember – children are less patient with car rides. Plan frequent stops.
Camping Trips. Camping is cheap, doesn’t charge by the person, and offers a lot of high-energy activities that are great for kids like hiking and swimming. (As long as the adults can tolerate “roughing” it!)
Amusement Parks. Kids love amusement parks, and often you can find great deals on sites like Groupon. Sometimes you can find “rain check” tickets on Ebay too.
Group Lodging. Some hotels charge a surcharge for extra people in the room. And most hotels have limits on how many people can sleep in the room, so it may not even be an option with a larger family. Rental cabins are a good solution.

Final thoughts…

Keep in mind, not all of these websites that offer discounts on multiple providers will offer every provider, so shop around. (For example, no Southwest Airlines on Expedia.) Finally, I have one more suggestion. A trip is only a good value if you have a positive experience! That’s why I often refer to Tripadvisor for reviews of hotels, restaurants, destinations, and more! Planning and researching ahead is critical to budget, and high value, travel!

Your turn to travel more for less!

I hope this post helps you save some money – and time – in your future travel ambitions! Next week: my series on my back-to-back cruise on the Carnival Pride will begin. I hope you will come along!

For more destinations, travel tips, and hotel and cruise ship tours, check out my YouTube channel!:

Ultimate Travel Adventures YouTube Channel

And for a great budget travel transportation option, check out my blog post on Greyhound Bus travel tips!:

Greyhound Bus Travel Tips!

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