Mind Over Matter Travel

02/09/2024

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away…

Did you know you can visit Far Far Away in Singapore? Universal Studios Singapore is the only Universal Park to have a whole Shrek-themed zone!

Kingdom of Far Far Away is home to several attractions centered around the Shrek 2 movie.

Rides:
✨Enchanted Airways
✨Magic Potion Spin
✨Puss in Boots’ Giant Journey

Shows:
✨Fortune Favours the Furry
✨Donkey Live
✨Shrek 4-D Adventure (also available at other Universal parks)

Restaurants:
✨Friar’s Good Food
✨Goldilocks

Shopping:
✨Fairy Godmother’s Potion Shop

This is the 4th Universal Studios Park we’ve been to, and we loved having a whole new zone to explore! And of course, we loved the Shrek 2 soundtrack they played throughout the area 🎶

28/08/2024

Singapore 2-day itinerary (save for later)👇

Day 1:
🇸🇬 Food tour with
🇸🇬 Explore Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam

Day 2:
🇸🇬 Walking tour with
🇸🇬 National Museum of Singapore
🇸🇬 Gardens by the Bay
🇸🇬 Marina Bay Sands

We’ll share more details in a blog post soon 🤗

22/08/2024

Our 50th country 🎉 yes, we “country count”…

There’s a lot of controversy around the idea of country counting, and my seemingly unpopular opinion is that there’s nothing wrong with it!

Do I believe you should ONLY visit countries to check them off a list? Absolutely not.

As a traveler though, I’ve encountered scenarios where I’m traveling near countries that I haven’t considered visiting before, and I decide to visit because why wouldn’t I want to explore a new country and culture I’m unfamiliar with?? A benefit of trying to visit new countries is that it pushes you past just visiting the places you’ve seen on social media or that are mainstream.

As a travel professional, keeping track of the countries I’ve visited also adds credibility to my expertise in booking people’s trips there. While the number of countries traveled doesn’t equate to how well-traveled a person is, it is one of the few metrics we can use to exemplify it.

I get why country counting can be a hot topic, especially when people abuse it as a way to check off a list or establish status. But if you do count countries for yourself, I say keep doing it 🌎

Do you country count?? Vote in the poll or share your take in the comments!

08/08/2024

We sent out our August 2024 newsletter! Read it and subscribe to our monthly newsletter here 👇

I hope your July went swimmingly! We went on an actual vacation last month, which was incredible. I say "actual vacation," because although people think all our travels are vacations, they really aren't. A lot of the time, like today, we are locked up in our room working away on our computers. You k...

07/08/2024

Out of office ☀️🌊

We went on an actual vacation recently! I say “actual vacation,” because although people think all our travels are vacations, they really aren’t.

A lot of the time, we are locked up in our room working away on our computers. You know, we have to fund this travel lifestyle somehow!

But sometimes we go off-grid for a while like the week we spent relaxing in the Bahamas 🇧🇸

08/07/2024

This past week in Greece (+itinerary) 🇬🇷

Zac and I brought my sister on a 3-week Europe trip to celebrate her high school graduation 🎓

Week 3: Exploring Greece ☀️🏛️

Here’s our 1-week Greece itinerary 👇

Day 1️⃣: Athens (free walking tour, explore on own, escape room (Athens is home to some of the best escape rooms in the world!))
Day 2️⃣: Athens (food tour, Acropolis museum, Acropolis tour)
Day 3️⃣: Naxos (ferry from Athens to Naxos and explore Naxos town)
Day 4️⃣: Naxos (rent a car and go beach-hopping)
Day 5️⃣: Santorini (ferry from Naxos to Santorini and relax by the pool or on the beach)
Day 6️⃣: Santorini (Fira and Oia)
Day 7️⃣: Santorini (rent a car and explore)

I’ll put together a blog post soon with more specifics on what we did in each place!

Have you visited Greece or is it on your list?

02/07/2024

Week 2: Kotor, Montenegro 🇲🇪 + Tirana, Albania 🇦🇱

Zac and I brought my sister on a 3-week Europe trip to celebrate her high school graduation 🎓 After a busy first week exploring Croatia, we spent our second week hanging out in Kotor and Tirana.

Most people we talked to said to get out of Kotor and Tirana to see the rest of the country, but time didn’t allow for that. BUT, with that said, we LOVED our experiences in the two cities!

These are just some of our favorite experiences/meals in the cities:

Kotor, Montenegro 🇲🇪 - relaxing on Kotor Beach, dinner at Atrium, dinner at Pepe Nero, boat trip in bay of Kotor, drinks at Jazz Club Evergreen, all the cats 😻

Tirana, Albania 🇦🇱 - free walking tour, Bunk’Art 1, dinner at Oda

Between the people, the history, and the FOOD 🤤, we’ve already made a note to return to these two countries in the future! Next time, we plan to get out of the cities to explore deeper.

Have you had any countries you’ve visited that you KNEW you had to visit again in the future?

22/06/2024

Popping in to remind you to enter our giveaway for a $100 Airbnb gift card 😁 You just need to complete a short 2-minute survey at the 🔗 in the comments!

If you don’t have time to do the survey, it’d also be super helpful for our small business if you can share this post. Thanks friends!! 🥰

Also, do you recognize this city?? ⚔️👑🏰🐉

20/03/2024

Welcome back to another episode of playing catch up on social media with your host Elaina, the inconsistent travel creator 😅

It’s been about 2 months, how’s everyone been? I haven’t forgotten about you and I definitely haven’t stopped traveling. Here’s the updates of what’s been going on:

We have been making some serious moves in our business:
✨ I finally earned my travel coaching certification 🎉
✨ We just wrapped up our 3rd travel conference/convention of the year
✨ We have been working earnestly on a new blog we’ll be launching in April
✨ We have partnered with some companies we’re excited to work with
✨ We were planning to launch a small Travel More in 2024 course but instead decided to create a massive, comprehensive “academy” (more info and launch coming later this year)
✨ We are helping more people travel than we have ever before

On top of that, here’s where we’ve traveled the last 2 months (8/9 of these countries are new for us):
🇱🇻Latvia
🇱🇹Lithuania
🇪🇪Estonia
🇫🇮Finland
🇳🇴Norway
🇸🇪Sweden
🇬🇪Georgia
🇦🇲Armenia
🇩🇪Germany

I look forward to sharing more of what we’ve been experiencing recently with you (hint: the northern lights may be involved) 😁

12/01/2024

A safari experience is incredible for bringing us closer to wildlife and showing us the wonders of nature. Wearing my bracelets makes me feel even more in touch with nature by supporting wildlife conservation.

They fit right in during my Kruger National Park safari. And even if you aren’t on a safari, you can track an animal in the wild with the purchase of a bracelet.

They have several animals (and wildlife conservation efforts) to choose from: 🦒 🦁 🐘 🦍 🐻‍❄️ 🐧 🐬 🦈 🐢

Which would you pick?

05/12/2023

✨27✨ this is not where I thought I’d be at the age of 27. I’m neither ahead or behind where I thought I’d be, just simply in a different place than I thought. And I’m so grateful for where I’m at 🫶

I have amazing friends and family. I have the best life/travel partner. We founded our own business that allows us to travel the world and meet other inspiring people in the travel industry. And this is only the beginning.

Goes to show that just because you’re not on your anticipated path doesn’t mean you aren’t headed in the right direction!

25/11/2023

Things you need to know before visiting Japan: food edition👇

Food is an important part of Japanese culture (and one of my favorite parts of traveling here) 🍜 It’s important to learn the dining customs and etiquette to properly enjoy the Japanese culinary scene. Embracing these customs will not only enhance your dining experience but also show respect for Japanese culture.

1️⃣ Remove your shoes: When entering some traditional Japanese restaurants, it is customary to remove your shoes and leave them at the entrance.
2️⃣ Bowing: It is common to bow as a sign of respect when greeting someone, especially the chef or the host.
3️⃣ Chopstick etiquette: Do not stick your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, as this is considered disrespectful. Instead, place them on a chopstick rest or across your bowl.
4️⃣ Slurping: Unlike in some Western cultures, slurping noodles is considered polite and a compliment to the chef in Japan.
5️⃣ Eating sushi: Sushi is traditionally eaten with your hands, not chopsticks. However, sashimi is typically eaten with chopsticks.
6️⃣ Saying “Itadakimasu” and “Gochisousama desh*ta”: Before starting a meal, it is customary to say “Itadakimasu,” which means “I gratefully receive.” After finishing the meal, say “Gochisousama desh*ta,” which means “Thank you for the meal.”
7️⃣ Tipping: Unlike in many Western countries, tipping is not customary in Japan. In fact, it can be seen as rude.
8️⃣ Respect the food: In Japan, food is highly respected. It is considered impolite to waste food or leave anything on your plate.

Now that you’re briefed on the proper etiquette, you’re set to enjoy your culinary adventures in Japan! 🇯🇵

24/11/2023

Find the perfect gift for the travel-lover in your life 🎁 (or for yourself 😁). Get your FREE gift guide here: https://mindovermattertravel.ck.page/86ab5513a2

There’s less than 2 weeks until Christmas, and I created a guide of 50+ travel gift ideas of items that I use traveling full-time. As someone who has been nomadic the last 2.5 years, I’m well-versed in exactly what travelers need!

My guide breaks down gift ideas by topics like packing, vanlife adventures, tech, health/safety, and more!

22/11/2023

Let’s set the record straight… major tourist attractions, yay or nay?? Share your vote in the comments!

I love hearing the reasoning of why travelers love or hate touristy things when visiting a new place.

As you know, I’m all about traveling deeper and finding unique or “hidden” things to do, but sometimes the touristy things are worth it!

I’ve never been one to pay for observation decks. I’ve never really seen the point and thought of it as a waste of money.

But I heard great things about Shibuya Sky and thought I’d give it a try. Tickets were 2200 yen (~$15 USD) for timed entry, but check out those views 😍

If I were to pay for any observation deck, this is the one. The open air rooftop really gives a sense of awe as you look over the massive metropolitan city from 46 floors up.

So let’s see what the consensus is, do you enjoy tourist attractions when you travel?

21/11/2023

6 things that helped me finally start traveling full-time (and can help you do it too) 👇

✨ Find a community of people working towards or currently living a similar lifestyle. Finding like-minded people through social media showed me that it’s possible and that I wasn’t delusional for thinking it is.

✨ Create a financial safety net. No, you don’t need a huge savings to cover years of travel expenses, but it is good to have a little money saved up just in case. I worked 2 jobs leading up to leaving to travel full-time to ensure I had a little financial cushion to start out.

✨ Get travel credit cards and take advantage of their welcome bonuses. Credit card points can help practically eliminate major travel costs like flights. My first 2 cards I went for were Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture.

✨ Get educated on how to get free accommodations. This is another major travel cost that can be virtually eliminated by utilizing the right resources. I have a whole free guide on finding free accommodations. Feel free to DM me if you want it!

✨ Find ways to make money on the road. There are so many ways to make money while traveling whether it’s a remote job or starting a business of your own. My revenue stream while traveling was becoming a travel agent. And it’s been good enough to fund my last 2.5 years of travel.

✨ Do mindset work. You can give all the excuses in the book about why you can’t leave to travel the world. But most of the time, it’s just that, an excuse. This isn’t to say that there aren’t some valid reasons out there. It’s more so to say that the REAL reason most people don’t travel more is they have a limiting mindset. Mindset work really helps to show that there is a solution to almost every excuse and a way to get around almost any barrier.

If you’re serious about wanting to travel more, I’m offering FREE 1-on-1 coaching sessions next month. These sessions will focus on creating a plan (using strategies and expertise from my past 2.5 years traveling) to help you start traveling full-time too!

As a little holiday gift, I have 5 spots available to the first 5 people to DM me that you’re interested 🎁

02/11/2023

Full 2-week South Korea Itinerary 👇 (save this post for your trip to South Korea)

Days 1-6 in Seoul:
✨ Free walking tour
✨ Gwangjang Market food tour
✨ Explore the neighborhoods (Myeongdong, Hongdae, Gangnam, Insa-dong)
✨ DMZ day tour
✨ Eat at some of the amazing restaurants/cafes (Myeongdong Kyoja, Egg Drop, Nuldam Space Cafe, Tosokchon Samgyetang, Cheongsudang Cafe)

Days 7-8 in Andong:
✨ Hahoe Folk Village
✨ Andong Maskdance Festival (in October)

Days 9-11 in Gyeongju:
✨ Templestay at Golgulsa Temple
✨ Bulguksa Temple
✨ Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond

Days 12-13 in Jinju:
✨ Jinju Lantern Festival (in October)

Day 14 in Busan:
✨ Gamcheon Culture Village
✨ Jagalchi Market

This was the itinerary that we used for our trip in October, but I’d highly recommend reallocating days from Andong and Jinju to Busan if you’re not going for the festivals!

Are you convinced yet to visit South Korea?? If so, we can help plan and book your trip! We’ll help curate your perfect adventure using personalized recommendations based on our own knowledge and experience from our time there!

06/09/2023

I loved contributing to this article on The Travel Coach Network! Check out # 3 to see what I had to say ⬇️

https://thetravelcoachnetwork.mykajabi.com/blog/five-things-travel-coaches-wish-you-knew-about-travel?fbclid=IwAR04bw90tWnwZg27FtegqTxDUU2cUKF_VvuYT0cmisirgQ-ESctMf1kQtvU_aem_AU_AWZTP5_Y-I5LktKsU6cGxFHqnJReLyjq0aEn93XCkStS1QOicrsS7aiKVLec_ghk

We asked members of the Travel Coach Network to share five things they wish everyone knew and understood about travel.

25/08/2023

Experiencing different cultures, trying new food, and meeting people is cool and all… but do you know what else is cool?? Art 🖼️

Whether it's exploring museums, stumbling upon street art, or admiring architectural wonders, the creative aspect of travel can add a whole new dimension to your adventures!

Appreciating art while traveling is a great way to connect with the local culture and history. It allows us to delve deeper into the soul of a place, to better understand its people and their stories. Another incredible aspect of art is its ability to transcend language barriers and speak to people, making it a universal language.

The Uffizi Gallery was a museum that Zac and I had been itching to go to. So, we took a day trip to Florence to finally check it off our list after not having enough time to see it the last time we were in Florence in 2017. We were not disappointed; the gallery is chock-full of incredible artworks. And if you know us, you know we spent hours in that museum (and recommend you set aside a good half-day to really appreciate it).

Art isn’t just contained to museums though. It can be found in unexpected places during our travels. By keeping your mind and eyes open, we can discover artistic treasures in every corner of the world.

So, the next time you travel, immerse yourself in the creative energy of a place to more deeply connect with the destination.

22/08/2023

As someone who has been to the Vatican 3 times, this is my biggest tip 👇

The Vatican is on many people’s bucket list, and I can see why!

The artistic masterpieces that fill the Vatican museum are enough to impress anyone. And for those who are religious, visiting this sacred place can be a deeply meaningful experience. For those who aren’t religious, the history and art is reason enough to visit.

From Sistine Chapel to the Raphael rooms to the several other paintings, sculptures, and tapestries, you’ll never run out of new masterpieces to appreciate.

As someone who has visited the Vatican 3 times, my top tip is to visit with a tour. Visiting a place of such grandeur and popularity on your own can be extremely overwhelming. Especially with the vast size of the place and number of art pieces it holds.

Having a guide helps to narrow in on the highlights while telling you some background that you might not know otherwise.

Three other major bonuses of visiting with a guided tour are:

1️⃣You get to skip the line: the Vatican gets SUPER busy, and being able to skip the line makes a big difference. Not all tours skip the line, so be sure to clarify before picking which tour to go with.

2️⃣You get special access to certain areas: tour groups often get access to areas that may not be fully open to the general public. This is great to get away from the masses and appreciate the art.

3️⃣You can access the Vatican outside of general public tours: some tour companies offer early access or late access to the Vatican outside normal public business hours. This is not to say that you won’t have any crowds, because there are quite a few tour companies who offer this. But you’ll definitely have less crowds than during normal business hours.

(Check the comments for my final pro tip!)

I hope this helps with planning your future trip to the Vatican! Is the Vatican on your bucketlist?

14/08/2023

Last month, I took a day trip from Porto to meet up with my grandparents and have them take me to my grandma’s birthplace and the village she spent her childhood before immigrating to Brazil then later to the U.S.

It was so special to me to roam the small streets of the village with my grandma while she told me stories about her life and about my great grandparents.

We even paid a visit to the house my grandma was born in (2nd picture). Not only was she born there, but so was her mom AND her grandma.

Moments like these are the travel experiences I cherish deeply.

What’s a place that holds special or sentimental meaning for you?

23/07/2023

Instagram vs. reality 🍸😅

If you know me, I tend to lean toward budget-travel to continue living our life on the road. But every once in a while, a girl can use a luxury trip (even if I sometimes feel out of my element)

This whole week in London was just that. We stayed in a gorgeous hotel, enjoyed high tea, got great seats for a show at the theatre, went shopping, and indulged in upscale food and drinks. I’ll share more soon!

The fact that luxury trips are very few and far between makes them that much more special.

Where do you fall on the travel style scale from budget (1) to luxury (5)?

P.S. Don’t let the face fool you, lemon drops are one of my favorite drinks (just a little tart though) 🍋

12/07/2023

One reason I love visiting London is to watch shows at the theatre 🎭

I’ve heard people say before that every city is the same. But really, it’s about the experiences that you have in the city that make your travels there special.

Going to watch a show in the theatre can be a unique experience that contributes to the richness of your overall travel journey. The magic of live performances, the energy of being part of an audience of both travelers and locals, and the connection to the local arts scene are just a few of the reasons to add a play/show to your itinerary.

Have you been to a live show or play before? Which is your favorite?

05/07/2023

2-week UK roadtrip itinerary ⬇️

Our 2-week UK roadtrip came to an end today, and I still can’t believe how much we saw in such a short period of time. Yes, we moved faster than we would have liked, but rental cars in the UK are expensive (so we had to make do with the time we had) 😅

Here’s our rough itinerary for our trip:

Day 1: Birmingham
Day 2-3: Manchester
Day 4: Peak District
Day 5: Liverpool
Day 6: Wales North Coast
Day 7: Isle of Anglesey
Day 8: Snowdonia National Park
Day 9: Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Day 10: Brecon Beacons National Park
Day 11-12: Cardiff
Day 13: Cotswolds
Day 14: Oxford

Now, we are finishing off with a week in London!

I’ll be sharing more about our roadtrip experience. So if you want to roadtrip the UK one day, save this post and keep an eye out for my upcoming ones 🤗

01/07/2023

1 week into our UK roadtrip and these are only some of the amazing views we’ve had so far 😍 Follow along for another week of our UK roadtrip. I’ll also share the route we took for anyone thinking of doing something similar 🤗

26/06/2023

I’m usually a proponent of getting off the beaten path and discovering the non-touristy side of a destination! But sometimes, you have to let yourself be a full-blown tourist. Visiting the city of the Beatles is that time for me!

I went all out with the big red tourist bus for a Beatles tour, visiting the Beatles Story museum, and getting drinks at the Cavern Club (known as the birthplace of the Beatles).

Any other Beatles fans?? What destinations/attractions do you allow yourself to be a total tourist at?

10/06/2023

7 ways the ocean helps mental health ⤵️

Whenever we are traveling to destinations by the ocean, Zac and I always talk about how it just feels right. We always feel good when we are by the water, and a big part of that is these mental health benefits of the ocean:

1️⃣Promotes relaxation and stress reduction: the sound of crashing waves and the vastness of the water can induce a calming effect on the mind. Soft sounds with regular frequencies lower cortisol levels, which is a hormone that leads to stress. The blue color of the ocean has also shown to be associated with feelings of peace.

2️⃣Fosters mental clarity and promotes creativity: water helps the mind switch to a different mode of engagement known as the default mode network. This brain network is associated with daydreaming, imagination, insight, and introspection leading to higher levels of creativity.

3️⃣Promotes physical activity and exercise: activities such as swimming, surfing, and walking along the beach offer opportunities for physical activity, which releases endorphins and improves mood. 

4️⃣Generates more energy: the ocean provides negative ions increasing oxygen flow to the brain, helping you feel more alert and energized.

5️⃣Increased feelings of balance: those negative ions I talked about also help to balance levels of serotonin, a hormone that stabilizes your mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness.

6️⃣Increased happiness: like how the sound of the waves lowers cortisol levels, it also increases dopamine levels. The sunlight that is often present in coastal climates also provides vitamin D, which regulates mood and fights off depression. 

7️⃣Improved connection with Earth: the ocean provides a multisensory experience through the sound of the waves, feel of the ocean breeze, sight of the vast body of water, smell of the seawater, and taste of the salt in the air. Using all your senses and focusing on the surrounding environment helps to foster that appreciation of and connection to the earth.

Have you noticed any of these benefits when you’re by the water? 🌊

01/06/2023

Today’s thoughts: sometimes it’s not about discovering new places but rather about re-discovering the same destination in a new way ✨

This is my 7th time in the Azores, and it’s still one of my favorite places. I don’t know if it’s my family ties here, the unspoiled nature, or the slow pace of life.

What destination do you enjoy revisiting?

08/05/2023

A reminder that you can still have a bucket list without treating it like a checklist! Treating travel as a checklist is a common mistake that many people make, as they try to cram in as many destinations and activities as possible, without taking the time to fully appreciate each experience.

To avoid falling into this trap, here are some tips to help you savor your travels and avoid treating them as a mere checklist!

03/05/2023

Transformative travel tip #3: do a work exchange

Work exchange programs provide the opportunity for travelers to explore new cultures, gain valuable work experience, build meaningful connections with locals, and immerse themselves in a life-changing adventure.

Unlike typical tourist experiences, work exchange programs let travelers engage with locals and gain a deeper understanding of their way of life. By living and working alongside locals, you can learn about their customs, traditions, and values.

Many of the opportunities available are also meaningful work that helps contribute to conservation efforts, community development, and more.

An extra bonus to work exchanges is that it can also make travel more affordable and sustainable by working in exchange for free accommodation/meals.

Save this post to use when looking for your next work exchange opportunity!

02/05/2023

🚨Only 1 day left to enter our giveaway!🚨 Enter to win a $50 Airbnb gift card for your next travel getaway 🤗 To enter, complete the 2-minute survey below. It would also help us tons, so we really appreciate everyone who enters!

Share this post for an extra entry into the giveaway!

https://linktr.ee/mindovermattertravel?fbclid=PAAabEGCz_pTvHpx_-G21oK9SU6s3qodSR4hYsfjiSCVB-IbWohxjnp9zu1gA