New Adventures in Traveling Cheap

Hello, fellow travelers!

As the days grow longer and summer nears, I’ve realized I have had so much on my plate the last few weeks. We have recently ripped up our carpet and installed hardwoods/laminate, started gardening, and even found out that B and I are expecting. Yes, it has been quite an adventure without ever leaving our hometown. Yet, this is not the post to discuss all of those things, but instead a post to inform you of some new things to check out. And yes, don’t fret; I will eventually post about my Russian adventures.

As a marketing manager, part of my normal routine in the mornings is to check for new and exciting things happening in the world. Occasionally, I find myself with a case of wanderlust and look for great travel advice. Today the travel advice was not for me, but for you all looking to travel abroad, but perhaps too scared to look at the possibilities of exploring the world around you. Did you just say you have a budget and/or can’t afford to travel? Wrong.

Here are a few great websites that I stumbled upon:

Vayable

Vayable is a great website to book daytrips in new cities for super cheap with a REAL local as your guide! Now, if you ask me, it can’t get much better than that! And hey, maybe you will realize that this is your dream job. Check it out, book it, and let me know your thoughts!

 

Camp in my Garden

Camp in my Garden is a website that offers a private garden as your very own campsite. How cool is that? Have you ever wanted to go camping in the English countryside? Well, now you can!

 

Norwegian Air

This airline may not offer too many airport destinations from the U.S., but they sure do offer cheap flights to the UK, Europe, and more. Has London been on your list for a long time? How would you feel if I said they offer a flight from JFK to London, one-way, for $249? Uh, hello, go check them out and start booking your next adventure!

 

If you would like to read more about traveling on the cheap, please check out this Time article! http://time.com/money/3652490/budget-travel-tips-tools-matt-kepnes/

Happy travels!

Katie

So You Want To Go To Russia: The Verdict!

“Please be a traveler, not a tourist. Try new things, meet new people, and look beyond what’s right in front of you. Those are the keys to understanding this amazing world we live in.”
-Andrew Zimmern

Hello,

As promised, I am writing this post to give you the follow up on my Russian visa. Did they or did they not grant B and I access to their country for 9 days?

The 12^th day arrived and I sent B to D.C. with a notarized letter from me stating he had permission to pick up my passport. This was the moment of truth. After all, we only spent 12 days sweating and biting our nails hoping that Russia would grant us access into their country.  And before those 12 days, we went through hours of tedious assignments to prove our worth. B and I spilling the contents of our wanderlust filled lives onto paper--hoping the Russians would not question the locations we have gone. After all, a traveler just wants to see the world, new cultures, and fall in love with things that are familiar, yet not familiar. And to someone looking at our paper, it must come off as either we are crazy or we are interesting.

The verdict is….

Our hard work paid off—we are going to Russia!! Здравствуйте  Российская Федерация! I think that is "hello, Russian Federation!"

Check back in a few weeks for reviews on Russia!

How to Plan a Girls' Trip to Iceland!

Name the first thing that comes to your mind when I say Iceland. For me, it is hard to say just one thing because I think of a land full of mystery, adventure, fire and ice, horses, puffins, elves, and The Oswald Girls. Yes, you have guessed correctly—The Oswald Girls are taking on Iceland for an all-girls trip! So, how did a bunch of girls decide to head to Iceland? Well, read on to figure out why Iceland was chosen and how to plan your own girls' trip!

Why Just The Girls?

For the past 7 years, my family has been through one hell of a roller coaster ride. We have experienced very painful years like when we lost my Father and Grandfathers, and then, quite a few wonderful years of children being born and B and I getting married. Yet, year 8 approached and showed signs of being another testing year for my family. So, we decided it was time for just us girls to have a vacation.

How Did We Pick Iceland?

My Mom and Steph!

The Travel Jar!

While the winos, I mean us girls, sipped wine near a fireplace one night we decided to fulfill a bucket list entry. There will be 4 of us going—Steph, Kim, my Mom, and I. So, with that in mind, I had everyone tell me 3 countries that they wanted to visit, which included Italy, Iceland, Switzerland, Scotland, Austria, Hungary, and Germany. I gathered the data and wrote it on dark paper and taped each one shut—I couldn’t have anyone cheating! I took the folded pieces of our bucket list and placed them inside a mason jar. We waited a full week with anticipation until my sister could get in from Cali. Once in, we toasted and each chose 1 piece of paper out of the jar. Then, each piece of paper was announced with a smile. I passed out 4 new pieces of paper and asked everyone to write down their top pick and 3 things they wished to find, accomplish, or wanted out of the trip. Well, majority vote ruled—The Oswald Girls will be heading to Iceland! Come back in September to find out what we each wanted to fulfill and if we succeeded. Also, follow me on Instagram @BrownEyedTraveler for updates on all of the adventures I go on.

Our 2 locations!

How Did We Book?

First, you always want to research! I had a list of places for my family to see, but it got narrowed down quickly based off of availability. I called American Express and spoke with a travel agent because we needed 4 plane tickets, 2 different hotels with 2 rooms each, and 2 different cities—like I have said in previous posts, sometimes travel agents are easier and cheaper to work with! Anyways, The Oswald Girls will be flying only 5.5 hours to get to Iceland from the DC area! Not bad, right? Next, we found two hotels in Reykjavik and Akureyri.

How Do We Plan To Get Around?

Yours truly! No, but seriously, we will be renting a car upon our arrival. I am looking at a Jeep Grand Cherokee for some off-roading for the 12 days that we are in Iceland. Also, the estimated time between the two cities is about 4.5-5 hours by car.  Did I mention that I will probably be driving since most of the time car rentals in other countries are manual?  

Where Do We Want To Go?

Iceland is more of a country for driving and exploring. It would not be the best idea to spend 8 full days in Reykjavik and 4 days in Akureyri. With that being said, we will also be visiting Gulfoss, Jokulsarlon, Vik, Snaefellsnes, Heimaey, Dettifoss, and...anywhere the road may take us. We plan to off-road a little and check out the roads less traveled. 

Snaefellsnes in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty!

Now, you wait for updates on my trip to Iceland and start planning your own trip immediately!

How Do I Plan My Own Girls' Trip?

1. Find a few close friends or family members.
2. Create a budget.
3. Create a list of 3 countries you want to see.
4. Create a jar full of all the countries everyone wants to see.
5. Have each person choose a piece of paper.
6. Have everyone vote for their favorite. Majority rules!
7. Now, get to researching!
8. Take your time. Do not expect to get this accomplished in a month if you are strapped for cash! Take your time to plan and build up your funds. For example, Iceland is not too pricey to fly into—less than $700 round trip! However, renting a 4x4 car is about $1600 for 12 days. So, you can see that small things may add up depending on what you are looking to do. Be smart!
9. Book it and start reading about activities you want to do! Sometimes it is worth booking activities in advance so that they do not fill up before you arrive. Go to Barnes & Nobles and pick up a travel book...I recommend making sure it is from at least 2014.
10. Good luck fellow travelers!

Check Back For:

-How to Save Money For a Trip

- A Review of Moscow

-A Review of St. Petersburg

- Russian Cuisine

So You Want To Go To Russia?

 

As I mentioned in my last post, I will be heading to Russia in March. After a long and tedious process to follow all the rules, I decided it was time to share the 7 steps for a smooth sailing to Russia. Word to the wise, follow these steps because I went through a much more difficult process to get my visa submitted and trust me, you do not want to follow that path.

Step 1: Passport

Please make sure your passport is up-to-date and has at least 2 side-by-side visa pages. This is a requirement not just for Russia, but almost any country you may step foot in. If not, order a new passport and have it expedited for about $180 and you will receive it within 2 weeks.

Step 2: Flights

Book your flights! As of right now, Russia is not too pricey to fly to. I think B and I are flying 12-14 hours with a layover in another country. Tickets alone are roughly $750. Best to book a package deal (flight + hotel) with Expedia or Travelocity. I think B and I are paying about $1300 per person for flights and hotels--not to bad, huh?

Step 3: Lodging

Backpackers be aware that this is not a country for spontaneity! Russia requires that you be INVITED to their country. Yes, you read that right. Russia has a two-step process that I will go into details about in step 4-6. Like I said in step 2, try to book a package deal. I suggest calling Expedia or Travelocity and ask them for assistance with booking if you plan to bounce around like B and I. We called Expedia and booked flights and two fabulous looking 5 star hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg—I will give you the names and reviews upon my return to the states. B and I are flying into Moscow and out of St. Petersburg—we plan to book a train between the two cities.

Step 4: Requesting Your Invitation

The best part about booking with a proper hotel is that they will send you an invitation to Russia. Once you book your hotel(s), please email the hotel(s) and ask for the proper documents for "Visa Support." Yes, if you are staying at more than one hotel, then you will need multiple invitations. The hotel(s) will either send you a Word document that requires extensive information and copies of your passport or they will just ask you to fill in your information on an online application. The hotels in Russia are quite quick at returning emails. I think the longest I waited for a reply was 48 hours and that was due to a weekend. Once you receive the invitation, please review that the information is correct and print a copy out.

Step 5: Visa Photos

Get 2 passport photos for your visa! This will probably cost you about $12-$13 at a photography place or CVS.

Step 6: Requesting Your Visa

This process is a little more tedious and nerve-racking. Please make sure that you are careful and detail oriented when filling out the online visa application: Click for Visa Application . Okay, once you spend about 20 minutes to an hour filling it out, submit and print it! Next, you will need to figure out the rules for the embassy or consulate you have chosen. The Russian Embassy requires that you book an appointment and bring a money order with your documents. However, the consulate is considered an expedited process and may cost a little bit more ($30), but they do not require an appointment. Also, you can pay with cash or a money order at the consulate—No credit cards are accepted at the embassy and/or consulate.

Step 7: The Waiting Game

I wish you luck! I find out next week if I really will be entering Russia. (Stay tuned for an update!)

 

**Total Expected Cost For 2 People in Russia for 10 Days: $3012 USD

-Flights and 5 Star Hotels: $1300 pp

-Passport Photos: $12 pp

-Visa Support/Invitation: Free

-Visa Expedited: $194 pp

-Passport if needed: $180 (not included in price above)

 

 Check back for the following posts:

• How to Plan a Girls' Trip to Iceland!
• A Review of Moscow
• A Review of St. Petersburg
• Russian Cuisine

A Traveler's Guide to Money

Hello fellow travelers!

I was recently asked how a seasoned traveler like me deals with money 

abroad—fantastic question, right? Now, before I get started, you are probably wondering how this Virginian could be considered a seasoned traveler. Well, as of today, I have been to 15 countries and stepped foot on 4 continents. By March, I will be adding Russia to my list, which will put me at 16 countries and 5 continents. I am not saying that I am any kind of expert, but I have gained quite a bit of knowledge while traveling that may be useful. Are you still reading? Good, let’s get started! 

First thing first, a seasoned traveler should always ask themselves two very important questions before they embark on their journey: 1) where am I going? And 2) how much time do I have to plan and save? Duh, right? The reason you should consider these two questions is because each country is different (e.g. Europe is more expensive than Central America).  The answers you provide to those two questions will affect your budget. ***Tip: Planning is a great thing, but do not be scared to be spontaneous and show up at the airport for a last minute trip! 

Next, how does your bank work with traveling abroad? For instance, I have one account with a military bank thanks to my Dad. Military banks do not charge much for international transactions, which is vital to my existence! I don’t want a bank charging me excessive fees for doing something I love. My suggestion is either plan for transaction fees or look for another bank specifically for travel. ***Tip: Check with your bank about international travel! 

What is your budget after you book the airline ticket(s)? Now, take out at least two hundred dollars in cash. After the $200 is removed, what do you have left for travel expenses like food, lodging, and fun? I would suggest considering a hostel, which is full of travelers from all over the world! Not for you? Okay, well then I suggest trying to CALL Expedia or Travelocity because they offer a much better deal via the phone then booking online--this was recently discovered by B and I when we booked our tickets/hotel to Russia. Keep reading to understand what you should do with that $200 in cash.***Tip: Look around for a week or two at different sites before you book--flight prices change constantly. 

When you travel to other countries, please, I beg you not to get sucked into any of those money exchanges they have in the US, other countries, at the airports, and even outside the airports. Why? Well, let me tell you my first real experience with a money exchange place…it was my first time to Europe and I had only been to countries that took US currency (like Nicaragua) beforehand. Now, I arrive in Italy with my $200 in cash and wanted to exchange it. I found a place in one of the many crowded streets of Venice and walked up to the exchange counter. I will be honest; I did no research about the euro and went to Italy, which was the worst thing I could possibly have done! So, like I was saying, I walked up to the counter and gave the man running the exchange $200 USD and he gave me less than 110 in euros. I was like okay and signed the paper. Hello, where was that lightbulb that should have been going off? I got ripped off and they got a nice chunk of change for that exchange. Lesson learned!  Wait, what do you do with the $200 in cash if not exchange it? Keep reading!***Tip: Read about your travel destination beforehand and understand the exchange rates. Take advantage of drops in currency from other countries—makes for more affordable travel! Hence why B and I are heading to Russia. 

This brings me to my next suggestion; please take at least 1 debit card and 1 emergency credit card—American Express does not charge for international transactions (Something I recently heard from my Mom)! ATMs in other countries offer the best exchange rate because it is current at the time of the transaction! Voila! You will never need to worry about the exchange rate again! That $200 in cash is your emergency money so tuck it away in a shoe or safe. Also, now you don’t need to carry around your passport because you don’t need a passport to go to an ATM. ***Tip: Alert your banks that you will be abroad. Do not let them cut off your lifeline because you neglected to tell them it isn’t fraud.

Better yet, if you are quite interested in where technology is taking us, then I dare you to take a gander at Bitcoins while traveling to Paris or Tokyo. Bitcoins are a digital currency that is not regulated by any government. Sounds scary, huh? Well, Xapo is a company that will offer you a secure, convenient place to maintain and spend your Bitcoins. One of the many benefits of becoming a member of Xapo is that you will never have to worry about exchange fees while paying for something abroad. Xapo offers a vault and a wallet for the upmost security of your account. The vault is insured for any fraud and/or bankruptcy that Xapo may experience. Now, the wallet is like your checking account that you access from your phone. So who actually takes Bitcoins? This is a growing trend amongst small businesses due to no fees, but you can also order a debit card and use it at MasterCard or Visa accepted locations (Xapo has not officially released which card they will go with). Bitcoins could be the future for traveling! Always remember that like any bank, Bitcoins can be hacked, too. ***Tip: Check your finances while traveling abroad. Being proactive will ensure that you have the best trip and stay on top of any possible fraud!

B and I at Machu Picchu

Lastly, these are opinions that I have gained from experiencing the good, the bad, and the ugly side of traveling. I want you to find what works for you. If you like the fact that you can exchange money in our US airports and then come back to get the same exchange rate with no fee, then great—do it! (Keep the exchange receipt to do so!) Please just be smart about how much money you take with you while exploring the city you chose. Lock the rest of your money up in a safe or get creative and hide it. Don’t take all your lifelines with you to explore either—lock up that $200 emergency cash and at least one credit card. Keep your cash and credit cards safe and always check after you get back from exploring to ensure that your lifelines are still locked up. Being cautious is a necessary survival tool while traveling abroad. Consider embracing technology while traveling and try Bitcoins. Like I said, find what works for you because my advice is simply derived from my own experiences abroad.

Be smart, be safe, and be adventurous.

Me walking in the streets of Peru

Happy travels!

-Katie

Quick Look at Germany!

Hello, fellow wanderlusters!

It has been so long since my last post and I apologize. Only one word describes why it took me so long...life!

Instead of boring you with stories I decided to show you the fun pictures of beautiful Berlin! If you want to know details about anything just let me know.

Crazy first class seating!

View from our room at the Hyatt.

Reichstag: Parliament Building

Currywurst: curry powder, ketchup, and a hotdog

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

Berlin Wall! Oh, and my friend Kari :)

B on the East and West side of Berlin!

Brandenburg Gate: Courtesy of Kari!

B 

Tasting our way through German beer.

Potsdam

Sanssouci: Summer Palace of Frederick The Great

Secret garden

Once an Orangerie, and now a remodeled guesthouse. 

The End

Books: Helping Us Survive the Holidays

Hello, fellow travelers!

During the holidays, one may find oneself in need of some entertainment or relief from a family like the Griswolds. 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Many of us find ourselves on a long flight back home or off to a vacation in a far away land. So, the question is how do we entertain ourselves? Personally, I find curling up with a good book is the best way to pass time.

Soon to be B and I!

Books Worth Reading:

• 50 Shades Trilogy: $27.75 
• FIFTY SHADES OF GREY: "When college student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating.  The unworldly Ana realizes she wants this man, and Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian’s secrets and explores her own desires."
• FIFTY SHADES DARKER: "Daunted by Christian’s dark secrets and singular tastes, Ana has broken off their relationship to start a new career. But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and while Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Ana is forced to make the most important decision of her life."

• FIFTY SHADES FREED: "Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to turn Ana’s deepest fears into reality."
• Lolita: $10.85 (I am currently reading this one.)
• "Awe and exhiliration--along with heartbreak and mordant wit--abound in Lolita, Nabokov's most famous and controversial novel, which tells the story of the aging Humbert Humbert's obsessive, devouring, and doomed passion for the nymphet Dolores Haze. Lolita is also the story of a hypercivilized European colliding with the cheerful barbarism of postwar America. Most of all, it is a meditation on love--love as outrage and hallucination, madness and transformation."
• A Walk in the Woods: $7.99 (I am currently reading this one as well.)
• "The Appalachian Trail trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America–majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaing guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way–and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the great outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in)."
• Me Talk Pretty One Day: $10.87
• "A recent transplant to Paris, humorist David Sedaris, bestselling author of "Naked", presents a collection of his strongest work yet, including the title story about his hilarious attempt to learn French. A number one national bestseller now in paperback."
• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy: $35.51
• "All across America, readers are talking about Stieg Larsson’s best-selling novels, set in Sweden and featuring Lisbeth Salander—'one of the most original and memorable heroines to surface in a recent thriller' (The New York Times). The trilogy is an international sensation that will grab you and keep you 'reading with eyes wide open' (San Francisco Chronicle). '[It] is intricately plotted, lavishly detailed but written with a breakneck pace and verve' (The Independent, U.K.), but 'be warned: the trilogy is seriously addictive.' (The Guardian, U.K.)."
• Anna Karenina: $12.24 (I plan to read this on my way to Germany!)

• "Described by William Faulkner as the best novel ever written and by Fyodor Dostoevsky as “flawless,” Anna Karenina tells of the doomed love affair between the sensuous and rebellious Anna and the dashing officer, Count Vronsky. Tragedy unfolds as Anna rejects her passionless marriage and must endure the hypocrisies of society. Set against a vast and richly textured canvas of nineteenth-century Russia, the novel's seven major characters create a dynamic imbalance, playing out the contrasts of city and country life and all the variations on love and family happiness."
• "While previous versions have softened the robust, and sometimes shocking, quality of Tolstoy's writing, Pevear and Volokhonsky  have produced a translation true to his powerful voice. This authoritative edition, which received the PEN Translation Prize and was an Oprah Book Club™ selection, also includes an illuminating introduction and explanatory notes. Beautiful, vigorous, and eminently readable, this Anna Karenina will be the definitive text for fans of the film and generations to come."
• Tigers in Red Weather: $17.15 (I'm intrigued by this book and will read it soon.)

• "Nick and her cousin, Helena, have grown up sharing sultry summer heat, sunbleached boat docks, and midnight gin parties on Martha's Vineyard in a glorious old family estate known as Tiger House. In the days following the end of the Second World War, the world seems to offer itself up, and the two women are on the cusp of their 'real lives': Helena is off to Hollywood and a new marriage, while Nick is heading for a reunion with her own young husband, Hughes, about to return from the war.
  
  Soon the gilt begins to crack. Helena's husband is not the man he seemed to be, and Hughes has returned from the war distant, his inner light curtained over. On the brink of the 1960s, back at Tiger House, Nick and Helena--with their children, Daisy and Ed--try to recapture that sense of possibility. But when Daisy and Ed discover the victim of a brutal murder, the intrusion of violence causes everything to unravel. The members of the family spin out of their prescribed orbits, secrets come to light, and nothing about their lives will ever be the same.
  
  Brilliantly told from five points of view, with a magical elegance and suspenseful dark longing, Tigers in Red Weather is an unforgettable debut novel from a writer of extraordinary insight and accomplishment."

Budget Friendly Route:

• Head to your local library to rent!
• Borrow from friends and family members who already own them.
• Go check out a used book store!
• Head to your local Salvation Army for cheap books!
• Ask Santa to bring you books for Christmas ;)

Check back soon for Christmas present ideas!

Happy reading!