Must-know update if traveling to Europe this year (& other travel news to know!)
I had to make this video since a few things have changed since my last travel update post!
More details for UKA eta in particular:
āļø You donāt need the UK ETA if youāre just transiting through the airport! BUT if you have to go through customs at all ā you will probably need to get it. Go to gov.uk and check!
š You need to get it however youāre entering by land, sea, or air!
šø Remember this should only cost you $13USD and take 10min to fill out!
Have you gotten your REALID yet? I havenāt š¬ but Iām planning to use my passport or global entry card for domestic travel!
Got any questions? Let me know & share with your friends who are traveling this year!! š«¶š»āļø
I didnāt think this could be such a big deal but lesson learned šµāš«
Has this ever happened to you abroad?
Sometimes I feel like the more I travel, the more mistakes I make because Iām very used to everything working out, but this was a huge wake up call!
Miscommunications while traveling are almost a guarantee, but I hope this can help remind you of at least one thing for your next trip (no matter where youāre going!)
Let me know if you want my Japan Map of saved locations + itinerary (Iāve been 4x now and love it so much and have sooo many recommendations!)
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Japan, Japan travel, travel mistakes
the truth about how I travel so much w/ a jobā¦
Sometimes I just goā¦. š¬ and I donāt take PTO, because I work while Iām there.
I take meetings at 2am or 3am local time so I can talk to my team during their working hours.
I donāt get a lot of sleep.
I take short trips (this was a 5 day trip to Japan).
I try to go over federal holidays as much as possible.
Most importantly, I still do my work well and have established trust with my team to the point where I CAN do this from time to time.
Would this work for everyone? Probably not!! I also recognize that the sacrifices Iāve made to do this arenāt super healthy for me (like the lack of sleep + added stress to my work).
BUT ultimately travel is so important to me and I refuse to wait until I retire to experience the world.
I know this style wonāt be possible forever so Iām taking advantage while I can ā and I rest hard whenever I am at home!!!
Okay so am I crazy? Would you do this? š¬
Photos arenāt allowed on this island in Japan⦠šØš
No photos can do Naoshima justiceāliterally. Many places here donāt allow photography, so you have to experience it yourself to understand why itās so magical. āØ
Top things to do:
š Explore the Chichu Art Museum, where the art and architecture blend seamlessly with nature.
šØ Visit Yayoi Kusamaās iconic pumpkin sculptures.
š Stay in an art installation with the Benesse House Museum.
Itās an island unlike anywhere else and Iād love to go back to visit again!
Credit:
Naoshima Pavilion
Owner: Naoshima Town
Architect: Sou Fujimoto Architects
Red Pumpkin Yayoi Kusama,2006 Naoshima Miyanoura Port Square ©YAYOI KUSAMA
#discoverjapan #visitjapan #VisitJapanUS #usjapantourismyear2024
the travel product I WISH I had sooner + my fave for long haul travel days!
@therabody just launched their new Mini 3 and I am in love. Itās sooo compact and quiet I canāt wait to bring it with me on my next flight & upcoming road trips!
Favorite features:
- Bluetooth enabled to connect to Coach by Therabody
- helps you sleep better and fall asleep faster
- you can travel lock it so it doesnāt turn on when going through tsa
- 3 speeds and attachments to get whatever type of relief you need
Definitely going to be my new travel essential and I wish I had it sooner. Reallyyy needed it after my 16hr Econ flight last month!
#TherabodyPartner #therabody
Why had I NEVER heard of these places in Japan?! šÆšµ
Everyone talks about Tokyo & Kyoto, but these underrated spots deserve a place on your itinerary:
š¾ Tottori: Famous for its stunning sand dunes that meet the sea, charming onsen towns like Misasa, and fresh crab thatās a foodieās dream.
šØ Kagawa: Home to Naoshima, the āart island,ā and some of Japanās best udon noodles. Itās a mix of creativity and deliciousness.
šø Okayama: Known for Korakuen, one of Japanās top three gardens, and the picture-perfect Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter with canals and quaint streets.
Credit:
Naoshima Pavilion
Owner: Naoshima Town
Architect: Sou Fujimoto Architects
Red Pumpkin Yayoi Kusama,2006 Naoshima Miyanoura Port Square ©YAYOI KUSAMA
Which would you visit first?š
#discoverjapan #visitjapan #VisitJapanUS #usjapantourismyear2024
My 4-step trip planning process (updated & quicker!) featuring @amd !
I used to spend way too much time planning trips, but this system makes it so much
faster and less overwhelmingā¦
Hereās how I do it:
šŗļø Step 1: Map out my calendar & set flight price alertsābeing flexible with when & where I travel helps me find the best deals!
š»Step 2: Use Copilot with AMD Ryzen AI to generate an itinerary based on my exact travel style & interests. (Game changer!)
š Step 3: Plot everything on a map so Iām fully prepped when I land.
šØ Step 4: Book hotels & restaurant reservations in advance to avoid stress later.
I do all of this on my HP OmniBookāits Ryzen AI processing power handles my 100+ tabs (lol) & the 21-hour battery life keeps up with my travel & work schedule!
Planning your next trip? Get a laptop powered by Ryzen AI to make it seamless. Let me
know if you have any Qs!
#AMDAILaptops #AMDRyzenAI #sponsored
Not exactly where I thought Iād be⦠itās honestly way better.
And TRUST ME, I often think all the āfollow your dreamsā type of advice is cornyā I thought those people telling me to ātake a riskā were just lucky, or different, or came from a ton of wealthā¦
BUT then I met some of those people who seemed to be living my dream, and I realized theyāre just normal people ā not unlike myself...
So if they were able to make their dreams happen and live a little unconventionally⦠why couldnāt I?
Turns out the only regret I ACTUALLY have is that I didnāt dream even bigger all those years ago... But thatās okay because thatās what Iām doing now!
I canāt leave you without a smart travel tip from all of this so⦠š
If youāre planning ANY type of adventure where youāll be staying somewhere a week or more, @bluegroundhomes has BEAUTIFUL, fully furnished homes all over the world!
I love staying in these ā they make it easy to work remotely, stay somewhere for an extended time or even to test out a new city before moving (which Iāve been thinking about a lot lately š).
š Comment HOME & Iāll send you a booking form where you can use my discount code RAIbg731 to get $150 off your less than 6 month bookings and $250 off your 6 month or longer bookings! *I do get some affiliate from this if you book!*
And pleaseeee⦠go take whatever risk it is youāve been thinking about taking! š„¹š«¶š»
As always, let me know if you have any questions at all!
The perfect 4-day itinerary for this city ā the safest in the world!š #ad
I loved my time in Abu Dhabi ā the hospitality is unmatched, thereās SO much to do, and the city itself is beautiful.
Heres how to spend you time around the city (trust me itās worth a visit more than just a quick layover!)
š Day 1:
š Explore the breathtaking Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
š Walk through the National Aquarium (the biggest in the Middle East!)
āµ Take a sunset boat tour for insane skyline views with @yellowboattour
š½ļø End the night with dinner along the Corniche
š Day 2:
šµ Start with afternoon tea at Conrad Abu Dhabi + city views
šļø Chill at your hotel pool & beachātrust me, Abu Dhabi does luxury RIGHT
š Check out local events (when I was there, the Surf Championship was happening!)
š Day 3:
šØ Start the day at @louvreabudhabi āone of the most beautiful museums ever
šļø Spend the afternoon on a desert safari with @desertrosetourism (dune bashing, traditional meals, and a sunset you wonāt forget)
š Day 4:
š° Step back in time at Qasr Al Hosn
š Wander through the stunning Qasr Al Watan (Presidential Palace)
šļø Grab some last-minute souvenirs at Yas Mall or a traditional souk!
Abu Dhabi was amazing and I know Iāll have to revisit again for everything I didnāt have time for! What questions do you have?
#InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi
Comment MAP and Iāll send you my map of favorite restaurants & sights around the city!
Only got 24 Hours in Tokyo? Hereās what to doš šÆšµ
Hereās your time stamped, action-packed day around Tokyo:
8:00 AM ā Sensoji Temple: Kick off the day at Tokyoās oldest temple in Asakusa. Donāt miss the snacks and souvenirs on Nakamise Street!
10:00 AM ā Tokyo Skytree: Head up for stunning city views and check out the shops and cafes at Solamachi below.
12:00 PM ā Shabu Shabu Lunch: DIY hot pot with thinly sliced meats and fresh veggiesādelicious and fun! š„¢
1:30 PM ā Akihabara: Explore the anime, gaming, and tech hub of Tokyoāitās a geekās dream!
3:00 PM ā Meiji Jingu Shrine: Take a peaceful walk through this iconic shrineās lush forest.
4:30 PM ā Shopping in Harajuku: Stroll Takesh*ta Street for funky fashion, accessories, and sweet treats.
6:00 PM ā Shibuya Crossing: Experience the worldās busiest intersectionāan absolute Tokyo must!
7:00 PM ā Izakaya Dinner in Roppongi: Wrap up with yakitori, karaage, and sake at a lively izakaya. š
š Where I Stayed: The Pokemon Room at Mitsui Garden Hotel in Ueno! Perfect for a cozy nightās rest before the adventure begins. ā”ļøš¾
One day in Tokyo is definitely not enough, but this will give you a great preview of all the amazing things this city has to offer!
Let me know if you have any questions!š
#discoverjapan #visitjapan #VisitJapanUS #usjapantourismyear2024
All my travel faves in one place + the book that changed my travel lifeš
Comment TRIP and Iāll send you the full guide with links to everything for ease!
*Especially for the travel rewards card recs which I canāt fully mention here due to bank rules!*
šøTravel insurance: @safetywing š«¶š»
š§³Luggage: @monostravel + @nomadlane
āļøCheap flights: @thriftytraveler @dailydrop @hello_going
š³Travel cards: comment TRIP for my current picks!
šGroup trip companies: @intrepidtravel @efultimatebreak (also Iām hosting a group trip to China this October! Let me know if you wanna join thereās a few spots left!)
šā⬠I hope you enjoyed the cameo of my cat, Moon!!
As always let me know what questions you have ā I love sharing more specifics in the comments!
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travel planning, travel tips, cheap flights, points and miles
Yes⦠Iām scared before every flight I take. But I go anyway.
Can anyone else relate? š„²
The other day, I was talking to a friend who has never traveled internationally. I asked, āWhatās the biggest thing holding you backāmoney or time off?ā
While those were factors, she admitted something else: she was simply intimidated.
She didnāt know where to start.
She thought it would be way too expensive.
She wasnāt sure who to travel with.
She was afraid of a long flight.
And honestly I totally get it!!!! Iāve felt (or still feel) all of these things too.
Spending your hard-earned money on a trip is scary. Saving up or finding ways to travel affordably or asking for time off or going solo can feel overwhelmingā¦
But it IS possible.
My goal with this page has always been to show you how with practical, detailed tips that feel achievable š„¹ And thatās why I had to admit this!!
So if youāve been holding yourself back or feel anxious about an upcoming tripā¦
Consider this your reminder: you can do itāeven if youāre scared.