Travel Budget Blunders

25/9/2012

How is your travel budget being sabotaged?

Our recent trip to Northern Vermont ($200/2 people/2 days) taught me a lot of lessons about saving money. We challenged ourselves to stay on a very tight budget, but there is always room for improvement and we learned a lot. Small changes can make a big difference in your budget, allowing you to have greater freedom and experiences when you travel.

What do you really want from your accommodations? How much time will you be there?

0 Comments

The Vermont $200 Challenge Recap

24/9/2012

Is Northern Vermont really a budget friendly travel destination?

I've always believed that you can live large on a teensy budget – especially when you’re travelling. It’s one thing to travel frugally, but it’s another altogether to do so in a way that feels rich! And that is exactly what I wanted to accomplish with the $200 challenge. We chose Vermont as our first location.

See previous posts on the Vermont $200 Challenge:
Vermont: The Conception
Vermont: Planning Stage 1

It’s about a 4-5 hour drive from our home in Ottawa and a great choice to enjoy the fall colours. We reasoned by going early enough in the season we could still manage to camp warmly and still enjoy the autumn display.

We reserved our campsite at Smugglers’ Notch State Park about a month in advance. We chose this location for its convenience to the town of Stowe and proximity to the fabled Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. We were thrilled with our campsite – the state park was small but spotlessly clean – the bathrooms were immaculate, with bowls of potpourri and decorative gourds on the counter, and the campgrounds had the gravel and soil raked between guests to ensure cleanliness. We enjoyed a dramatic scenic drive on the way in to the park and the entire surrounding area was beautiful. Our tent set up went smoothly and, overall, we were very happy with our accommodation selection.

Maui – Cheap n’ Calm in Peak Season.

11/9/2012

Traveling to Maui? We've got the inside scoop on Hawaii budget travel options and the best things to do in Maui. Here's how to save money and have more fun - updated for 2021.

Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase through said link. Thank you for your support.

The view from Lahaina's waterfront. This is why I love Maui!

Cover of National Geographic Traveler Picture

March, 2010

Dreaming of a Maui vacation? I can't blame you! As far as tropical vacations go, it’s pretty great. And it’s no secret – Maui is synonymous with “paradise” the world over!

Yes, Maui can be busy. But so much has been made of the tourists who are "overrunning" and "overwhelming" Maui, it’s almost become trendy to write articles on “hidden” or “undiscovered” Maui. In fact, National Geographic Traveler had an entire cover story on it a few years ago! And while Maui does indeed have many under-explored, off the beaten track destinations (which ARE fantastic!) you can still enjoy its most popular destinations – cheap n’ calm in peak season.

We spent a week in Maui, loving every moment of it, and we stayed on budget. And you can too! This isn't your ordinary Maui travel blog post! Follow along with our Maui vacation adventure.

Rucksack Roundup: Making the Most of Travel Toiletry 3-1-1 Kits

11/9/2012

Updated for 2022! Rules, Regulations, and Travel: Everything you need to know about mastering travel toiletry 3-1-1 kits.

Note: This blog post contains affiliate links and ads

Understanding travel toiletry 3-1-1 kits Picture

My travel toiletry 3-1-1 kit sits on top of my regular toiletry kit.

Example image from Amazon.com

I've been thinking a lot lately about the role of travel toiletry 3-1-1 toiletry kits – you know, the small, see-through kits we all must present to the airport security staff to prove we have limited liquids. They're a key component of travel toiletry kits (or travel dopp kits or travel shaving bags, depending on your preferred vocabulary!)

So much has been made of travel toiletry 3-1-1 kit restrictions and regulations that many travelers believe it poses a huge problem. Some people will even pay to check their luggage because they cannot fit all their liquid toiletries in the regulation size bag. And if the delays at security are any indication, there are many people who still don’t understand the regulations or are trying to get around them.

But if you pack smart, and choose the right products, a 3-1-1 kit will never be a hindrance. Let me try to convince you!

Anywhere in the World with Carry-on.

2/9/2012

Here's our original carry-on packing list!

There is a Spanish proverb that, on a long journey, even a single straw weighs heavy. And like any travel blogger, I have developed my own packing list to defeat the heavy straws, to make travel simple, fun, and light, and to wear “carry on” only with ease. Save your precious travel dollars for food and fun and never check your luggage again.

Save your precious travel dollars for food and fun and never check luggage again!

While the actual list may contain several variations depending on the climate and focus of the trip, the basics remain the same. Of course, if you are planing a more unusual focus for your trip – hiking in Nepal, for instance – the unique nature of your voyage may dictate an entirely different packing agenda altogether.