Viva Las Vegas!

If you want to do any thing else in Las Vegas besides drink a lot, eat a lot and walk around aimlessly a lot, then you need to make a plan! I did not do this so, I did a lot of the drinking, eating and walking around aimlessly. Don't get  me wrong that is fun too and is definitely part of the quintessential Vegas experience, but Las Vegas has so many cool things to see and do that you don't want to miss them. 

I had done some planning ahead of time of things I wanted to do but, didn't get the chance:

The Mob Museum

Circus Adventure Dome

Las Vegas Neon Museum

Zipline Down Freemont Street 

Pinball Hall of Fame

See a Show

I went to Vegas for a my best friends wedding, so that took up significant chunk of my time. The rest of my time was spent wandering from hotel to hotel, lounging at the pool, drinking ... lots of drinking, and acquiring a slot machine gambling problem.

The Aria Hotel, where we stayed! Definitely the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in my entire life.

I guess that just means I'll have to go back to Vegas to do all of those other awesome things. Oh bummer! (wink wink)

Have you ever had all of these ideas about what you'll do on a vacation and then when you get there it all goes out the window?

Off the Beaten Path - Eleuthera, Bahamas

When visiting the Bahamas most travelers head to the bigger more touristy islands like Nassua and Grand Bahama. The "out islands" or the "family islands" have less crowds, there are no cruise ships and no high-rise hotels and they give you a more unique, slow paced vacation experience. 

On my trip to the Bahamas, I visited the "family island," Eleuthera. It is a quick 20 minute flight or 2.5 hours ferry ride from Nassau. It is a long, thin island that is 110 miles long and at its thinnest point, its less than a mile wide. I decided to visit Eleuthera because my sister was doing an internship at Bahamas Methodist Habitat, which is based off the island and a stop over there was only a little bit more expensive than a flight straight home from Paraguay, so I thought, why not?

It was a whirlwind trip, many days spent at the beach and many days trying out some fun new activities. I went snorkeling and saw numerous tropical fishies. I went kayaking for the first time and hunting for starfish. I ate conch fritters, a traditional Bahamian food made from the conch shellfish. I attempted surfing, which might deserve its own blog post to describe the hilarity. We also rented golf carts to explore a tiny neighboring island.

All and all this week in paradise was a great way to relax and prepare myself for the overwhelming re-entry back into the United States.

Bahamas Travel Tips:

- The Bahamian currency is the Bahamian Dollar it is equal in value to the American Dollar so everywhere in the Bahamas also excepts the USD.

- Drivers in the Bahamas follow the British Rule, which means everyone drives on the left side of the road.

Have you ever visited the Bahamas? Did you venture out to any of the "family islands"?

There is More to the Bahamas than Paradise Island

When I was in the airport in Nassau, Bahamas waiting to check my luggage for my flight to the United States there was a typically American family standing in front of me and overheard their conversation.

Daughter: "So every flight out of this airport has to be an international flight doesn't it?"

Father: "I guess you are right, since this is such a small island and country"

This conversation is the epitome of what bothers me about tourists, when they go on a vacation to another country and make no effort to learn anything about the destination they have chosen. The Bahamas actually consists of over 700 islands, over 20 of which are inhabited, which means there are hundreds of flights leaving Nassau for other parts of the country every day.

That is my biggest recommendation to those wanting to travel to the Bahamas. Look  further than Nassau and Paradise Island, look further than the exclusive beach resorts and hotels. There is nothing wrong with a relaxing beach vacation because the Bahamas has some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been to and they are the reason so many people come to visit this wonderful country.  I'm just saying take a break from the sun and the sand and get out there and meet the residents of the islands you visit because they are incredibly friendly and welcoming, eat at the amazing restaurants outside your hotel and visit the historical sites. Try to learn more about the country and culture when you are visiting some place new.

How to Survive Long Layovers

As we speak, I'm on a day long trip from Asuncion, Paraguay to Eleuthera, Bahamas. The trip will take about 15 hours and and 3 different flights and layovers in Panama City, Panama and Nassau, Bahamas. Layovers can be tough. With all the excitement of traveling, being stuck in an airport for seemingly endless hours can make you a little crazy. Over my many years of traveling and flying, I've learned a few tricks on making long layovers fly by.

Sleep. This is an obvious and common one. Find a nice corner or bench that you feel comfortable in and take a nap. I usually make sure to wrap the strap of my carry-on around my arm or foot while I sleep to keep my stuff safe You should also set an alarm so you don't miss your flight.

Distract yourself. Do this by bringing a good book or fun magazines. If you have a laptop, tablet or mobile device load movies or TV shows on them ahead of time, especially ones you have never seen.

Get up, move around. Traveling can take a toll on your body, sitting on long flights can be uncomfortable. Take a walk around the terminals. Find a nice empty corner and stretch out and do some yoga or some squats and lunges, you may feel a little embarrassed but, who cares, people do all kinds of weird stuff in airports.

Eat and drink your layover away. Airplane food is the worst but airport food is quite the opposite. There can be some surprisingly amazing and diverse restaurants available to you. Check the airports website ahead of time to see what they offer and which terminal its in.

People watch. One of my favorite things about airports is all the people. There are all kinds of people there and sitting down, relaxing and watching people as they pass by can be quite entertaining.

Leave the airport and go sightseeing. Depending on how  long your layover is take advantage of the surrounding city and get out and explore! Leave your bags in a locker at a left luggage counter, just make sure you have your boarding pass and passport.

What are your tips for surviving a long layover?

Items You'll Never Regret Packing

As we all know packing can be tough, especially if you are like me, you don't' want to over pack because carrying around heavy bags can be a big pain, literally, but, you don't want to under pack either, you need options, duh! It can be hard to find that happy medium of being perfectly packed. Over my years of traveling, my first trip abroad was at age 14, I have over packed and under packed with the best of them and I have learned that there are some items that you will never regret packing. 

*two years of my life was packed into these bags for the Peace Corps

Wet Wipes - These can come in handy in several situations on a hot sweaty day or after using a public restroom with no soap.

Flashlight/Headlamp -  When everyone else in your hostel room is asleep and you want to read a book and headlamp/flashlight will come in handy or on midnight trek to the bathroom you don't want to be left in the dark.

Earplugs - These can be used anywhere when you are trying to catch some Z's, a plane, a train or a bus or even in a hostel room full of snoring people.

Eye mask - Going along with the earplugs a eye mask can be pretty useful when trying to catch some sleep on public transportation or in a crowded hostel.

Shower worthy flip flops - In Paraguay it is customary to shower with flip flops on even in your own home, but when it comes to hostels or even some hotels you never know what you'll find in the bathroom so these can be extremely necessary

Hat - Whether it is a baseball cap, a floppy sun cap or a fashionable fedora a hat can be useful whenever you travel to keep the sun off your face or to keep it stylish on a bad hair day.

Large scarf - I bring a scarf with me everywhere I go whether it is cold or hot. You never know when a warm day can turn into a chilly night and a scarf can make a perfect wrap for your shoulders to warm you up. Scarfs also can work as a great way to cover your shoulders or wrap around your waist if you happen to be dressed inappropriately to enter a church or temple.

Ziplock bags - These are one of my favorite travel accessories. They are great for helping to organize your packing and they also help keep dirty clothes separate from clean.

Wash line - If you are traveling long term a wash line is perfect so you don't waste money on getting your clothes laundered you can just wash them yourself in the sink or shower. But, even if you are traveling short term in can be handy, you never know when you'll spill something on your only pair of jeans.

Quick dry towel - These are one of the best inventions ever. Towels that dry almost instantly after using them, so if you take a shower before you leave you don't have to worry about packing a wet towel.

What are some travel items you never regret packing?

6 Must-Do Things in Uruguay

While a Peace Corps volunteer I had to opportunity to spend my first Christmas and New Years abroad traveling to Uruguay with some of my best volunteer friends. We chose Uruguay for a couple reasons. First ... the beach! Having lived in a land-locked country (Paraguay) for close to a year by then, we wanted to spend our time soaking up the sun and sand. Secondly, Uruguay doesn't require a visa or reciprocity fee for United States citizens like some of its other neighbors, Brazil and Argentina. It was an amazing trip. Uruguay is a small, laid back country but it packs a punch. It can be a little on the expensive side, but I can't wait to go back there and explore more of this charming country.

6 Things To Do in Uruguay

Wander along the Rambla in Montevideo. The capital of Uruguay, Montevideo is home to over a third of the country's population and on any given day a majority of them can be seen strolling along La Rambla. A boardwalk that spans the entirety of the Montevideo coastline, La Rambla is an essential part of the city's identity. Spend your time soaking in the views of the beach and the city skyline at the same time and experiencing life as the locals do.

Eat a Chivito. The national dish of Uruguay, its significance is up there with the Cheesesteak for Philidelphia and Deep Dish Pizza for Chicago. A meat-lovers heaven, the sandwich has thinly sliced beef, ham, bacon, mozzarella, lettuce, tomato and topped off with a fried egg. Honestly, the deliciousness of this sandwich cannot be described in words, it's one you just need to try.

Party Until Dawn in Punta del Este. If Uruguay is like the laid-back family of South America then Punta del Este is the crazy, wild, party-girl daughter that can get a little out of control sometimes but we all love. Punta del Este is modern, stylish and extravagant. A party is never far away when you are here and has many clubs and bars to choose from. A getaway for the rich and famous, if Punta del Este is good enough for Shakira it is definitely good enough for me.

Share Mate With a Local. If the Chivito is the national dish of Uruguay then mate is definitely the national beverage. It is a tea infusion of the yerba mate plant served with hot water. Like tereré of Paraguay, mate is not just a drink it is a social event. You will usually see locals sitting in groups drinking mate and talking about the issues of the day.

Embrace the Weird in Cabo Polonio. One of my favorite stops on my journey, Cabo Polonio is a small town located in a national park in the Rocha department only accessible by 4x4 vehicles. All of its electricity and running water, which there is little of, comes from wind and solar power. A bohemian hideaway, the town is full of hippies, drum circles and people partaking in a little recreational and legal marijuana. If that is not your style I still recommend taking a day trip to visit the adorable town and breath-taking beach and sand dunes.

Soak Up the Sun in Punta Del Diablo. This small fishing village is a great hangout for young travelers and families alike. While you can definitely party the night away here as well, relaxing on the beautiful beaches and experiencing the laid back restaurants and shops in town are another great way to spend your time. My time here included renting a house for Christmas and was one of the best parts of the whole trip.

Have you ever been to Uruguay? What were your favorite things to do there?

Before-You-Travel Checklist

Those last few days before a trip can be stressful, full of last minute errands and packing. A lot goes into traveling and there is nothing worse then being on vacation and realizing you forgot to do something important. There are many things you can do before you even leave the house that will make your travels go off without a hitch. 

Call your bank. Don't risk your bank card being frozen because of suspected fraudulent charges, let your bank know ahead of time that you will be in a different country/city. Do the same with all credit cards you might use.

Contact your cell phone provider. If you plan on using your phone abroad call your provider and enable your international plan or get your phone unlocked so you can use a foreign SIM card. 

Register with the US Embassy. This way if some crazy event like a national disaster or political uprising happens, they will know you are there and be able to help you in an emergency.

Program important numbers in your phone ahead of time. For example your hotel phone number or airlines number.

Take care of household needs. Put a hold on mail and newspaper delivery. Pay your bills ahead of time, you don't want to have to worry about that while you are gone. Make sure someone is feeding your pets.

Decide if you want to purchase travel insurance. Do your research, check if your existing insurance (health, homeowner's, renter's) covers your health needs and/or your possessions abroad. 

Make copies of important documents. This is in case you lose the originals. You can also take pictures of them and save them on your phone or cloud.

Make a list of valuables you are bringing with you. Include make, model and serial number. This is in case they are stolen so you can make a police report and/or file an insurance claim.

Know where you are going. When you are arrive in your country of travel make sure you know where you are going and how you are getting there. (i.e. - hotel address to give the taxi driver, public transportation stops, etc.)

What is on your before-you-travel checklist?

How to Avoid Looking Like a Tourist

When you hear the word tourist what do you think of? Tacky clothing, fanny packs, loud, overbearing and maybe even a little annoying. There are several negative connotations that are attached to being a tourist and sometimes it can make you feel like you are an outsider when you are visiting another country. But, if you give it a try there are some simple tips that you can follow to help blend in to the crowd. Blending in while traveling can be beneficial for several reasons including having a more immersive and engaging experience; it will also help protect you from pickpockets and other criminal schemes. 

Rethink some of your packing choices. Clothing is one of the first things that will alert people to your tourist status. Every country has their own idea of what is appropriate and normal attire. So do a little bit of research ahead of time so you won't stick out like a sore thumb. For example, in Paraguay and a lot of South American countries even though its hot, it is not normal for people, especially women to wear shorts.

Put the map away. There is nothing that will point you out to potential thieves more then walking around with a giant map. Honestly, in this day and age there is no excuse. I guarantee that almost all of you have smart phones now, so use them, Google Maps is awesome and works everywhere or just take pictures of maps before you leave the hotel. If you get really lost you have two great alternative options. First, ask someone! It is a great way to meet locals. Or second option, just go with it! Sometimes when you are lost you find the most interesting places.

Not everyone speaks English and just speaking louder at them won't change that, so put in some effort and try and learn some key phrases in the local language. There is no need to be fluent but the locals will definitely appreciate the effort so don't be to worried if it doesn't come out perfectly.

Look into local customs before you go. Customs and etiquette are different in every country and if you do some research you can learn about the ones that tourists encounter most often. Just because you aren't from there doesn't mean that they don't apply to you. In many Middle Eastern and African countries you will get weird looks if you eat with your left hand and in Paraguay, Brazil and some other countries the "rock on" hand gesture means something completely different. It can be a way of insinuating that someone's significant other is cheating on them. Tipping is also different in every country and a vital thing to know before you arrive, in some countries it can be in insult if you do and insult if you don't.

Tone it down. This is in reference to a couple things. I know when you are traveling getting the best shot with your camera can be super important but try not to be annoying and get in people's way doing it. Also, try and not live up to the stereotype of the loud American.

Do as the locals do. If all of these other tips fail (which they shouldn't) just follow the example set by the people who live there!

What are your tips for blending in while traveling?

Travel Inspiration

How do you decide from the endless different and wonderful places in the world? How does a place make it onto the list of places you must see before you die? How do you choose? The world is so vast and beautiful it is hard to pick!

Travel inspiration can come from so many places. What makes you decide to take the plunge and buy a plane ticket, make a hotel reservation and just go there?

Books, TV, Movies and Music

For me these are some of the biggest forms of travel inspiration. Seeing The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and the gorgeous landscapes of Iceland made me wonder why I had never considered it as a travel destination before. Books, TV shows, movies and music can show you adventures you never thought were possible.

The Internet

The internet is an endless source of information about any subject you could ever imagine. It is hard for me to think back to a time when the internet didn't exist, how did people get anything done? I peruse travel blogs on the regular, always learning about new destinations, new hotels, new must-see attractions. I mean just look at Pinterest, I could spend hours looking at photo after photo of beautiful scenery from some far away land.

Friends, Family and Random Strangers

One of the best ways to find great new places to visit is from recommendations from other people. When someone has a fabulous trip they can't stop talking about it and honestly I'm one of those people that can't stop listening! I love hearing about other peoples adventures abroad and their advice on places to see, where to stay and what to eat.

Life

Sometimes you get ideas of where you want to travel and you can't explain what drew you to it. That desire has just always been there. Or things you have already experienced lead you to new ones. Studying Spanish over the years in high school, university and beyond has really given me a love for the language and is one of the main reasons I've traveled throughout Central and South america, and its also one of the reasons I hope to one day make it to Spain.

Where do you get your travel inspiration?

A Visit to the Sand Dunes in San Cosme, Paraguay

Paraguay is a mystery to travelers. Many people skip right over it in their South American adventures (here is why you shouldn't) and if they do manage to make it here they usually stick to the big cities like Asuncion or Ciudad del Este. But, trust me there are so many unique and interesting things to see in Paraguay if you take a step outside of the metropolitan areas and go exploring. One of those places is the Sand Dune islands off the coast of San Cosme in the middle of the Parana River.

This past weekend the boyfriend and I, joined a group of Peace Corps volunteers for a trip out to the islands. The week leading up to the trip I was nervous about the weather, it had been rainy and cold for days. But, we lucked out, it turned out to be a beautiful, sunny, warm day. The boat ride to the islands takes about an hour and there is not much scenery to look at on the journey, expect the water. You typically stay on the island for 1-2 hours and then its another hour back to San Cosme. There is literally nothing on the island. So make sure you bring anything you might need, including water and snacks. The dunes are quite beautiful, you feel like you are on a deserted island (well, maybe because you are) or a desert in the middle of no where. We spent the afternoon wandering around the island, taking photos and simply relaxing. They say that each year the dune islands are getting smaller and smaller and eventually, within the next several years they will disappear completely.

In San Cosme there is also a small astronomy center that you can visit at night and take a look at the stars. They also have some smaller Jesuit Ruins that are worth a visit. The best way to get to San Cosme is take a 10mil guaranies (roughly $2) bus ride from the city of Coronel Bogado on Route 1 or you can take a direct bus from Encarnacion for 20mil guaranies (roughly $5).