Common Travel Mistakes

The ability to travel and see the world, in theory, does not sound all that complicated. However, there are so many things that ideally fall into place in order to make that happen and in order to make the experience an enjoyable one.

You set out with the best of intentions and spend copious amounts of planning and preparation, but to what avail? To ensure you show up to the airport on time? (Much easier said than done)  

I speak from first hand experience when I share these tips and common mistakes, especially when it comes to traveling abroad. I write this to ensure that you learn from mistakes that I have made or I have been privy to throughout my travels. What I want for you, is to not only to make the utmost of your travels, but to also come away with the knowledge to share with others as well.

Most Common Travel Mistakes:

• Not having some sort of credit card- You will not be able to rent a car without an actual credit card. Most rental companies will NOT accept a debit card.
• Not having travelers insurance- MOST IMPORTANT: I have seen scooter deaths, tourists being dragged to the hospital first hand. Travelers insurance is less than $200 for the year and covers so much. You can purchase this online very easily and there are many reputable companies out there. They will cover something as simple as food poisoning to catastrophic motorcycle accident. Not all areas are near hospitals, you might need to be airlifted and your regular insurance WILL NOT cover that.
• Not having a card that waves international transaction fees- Not only are you charged a fee at the ATM when withdrawing cash, your bank charges you an additional fee on the back end as well. This will add up to sometimes $10 per transaction. (Chase Bank and Charles Schwab waive these)
• Selecting ‘accept conversion’ at an ATM while withdrawing cash- it will charge you a THIRD fee.
• Overstaying your visa- you will pay a fine or worse, not be able to re-enter the country. Pay attention to the dates you arrive. Europe allows a three month visit with no visa required. Some countries require a visa upon entry and they only last a certain amount of time.
• Not reading hotel reviews on Airbnb, hotels.com, Google, etc.- User generated reviews are the real deal. Your fellow travelers offer more insight than the pretty pictures the company featured online. 
• Not haggling- In most cultures, this is actually expected and a common practice. 
• Confirming prices with cab drivers, tuk-tuk drivers before getting into the vehicle- in some areas, they will pull a switch on you and demand a different price if it is not set upon engaging. Not all countries have Uber or Uber-like services.
• Mapping out your route, twice- Screen shot your route as well because you are bound to lose service at one point. (or do it the old fashion way and have a map)
• Checking what time public transportation shut down- Some countries' transportation organizations go on strike, and often. Do not get stranded. 
• Researching appropriate dress attire for the country that you are in- not only is it a respectful practice, it will keep you out of unwanted situations. 
• Researching cultural faux pas’s before you visit- certain gestures are often seen as obscene in some cultures. Don't be THAT person.
• Not having a back up plan- sometimes things will not go as planned, or things will be closed, or no longer there. So set out a plan B before you hit the road.
• Not checking the weather, daily- weather can severely affect your travels, especially if you are commuting by boat. 
• Never give your passport information to non-reputable rental companies- always get receipts and documentation.
• Never put down a deposit for rentals- You should pay when you return it.
• Not having an international drivers permit for car and motorcycle- you will either get a fine or jail time. It varies per country so you can visit AAA to find out the local laws on driving.
• Not setting up travel alerts with your bank- the bank will shut your card down for 'suspicious activity' without warning you. (especially if you are traveling between multiple countries)
• Not using a SIM card or a cell phone provider that international is included- Verizon charges $10/day in addition to your plan charges. If you are going to be traveling for longer than 4 days, buy a local SIM card when you arrive at the airport, they are $40 or less. (see the math there) OR get T-mobile because it's included in your plan.
• Not having a VPN- Netflix, HBO, Showtime will not work without a VPN in most countries. Trust me, it's worth it, especially if you work remote.
• Not having digital copies of important documents and identification - You are bound to lose things, you are imperfect. (I hate to break it to you) Also, send a copy to a trusted person back home.
• Not having extra passport photos- You will need them for new visas and you won't always have access to a photo facility.
• Bringing too much luggage- You will regret this as you continuously pay for baggage fees which drastically vary between airline carriers. I promise you, it will add up and break the bank sooner than later. (Additionally, you end up wearing the same few items over and over again)
• Not researching airline policies- FEES! Each airline functions entirely different than the next. If you have to, call them and ask. These fees are bound to add up. For ex: not all airlines allow luggage to be carried on (even if it fits) So you will pay additional fees.
• Not researching national holidays and what they entail- In Bali, they have a holiday called Nyepi. It is known as a day of silence, meditation and reflection. The government shuts down all power and WiFi to the island. Had I not known this and prepared for it, I would have starved, I would have missed work, and if you are caught on the streets, you get arrested! More importantly, I wouldn't have enjoyed the holiday thoroughly for what it was because I would have been so concerned with how I was going to eat had I not prepared. 
• Not knowing local laws- A slight drug offense in some countries will possibly get you imprisoned for life or worse, death penalty. This is serious stuff and should not be taken lightly.
• Not bringing essentials- like toilet paper. In jest, I might say this is the most important one. Not all countries have stops with restrooms that are frequent along your route. Do not set yourself up for major failure here. (my years of camping prepared me for this one)
• WEAR A HELMET- Do you currently like the way your face looks? Let's keep it that way. If you choose to get on a scooter or bike or ATV, even as a passenger, please PLEASE wear a helmet. 
• Download Google Translate app- If you download it, you will be able to use it offline and have conversations with people, because contrary to what you might think, not all countries speak English. Remember, you are in their country, so try to immerse yourself. 

Moral of the story is, you can never be too prepared. Your whole purpose for traveling is to have an amazing time, is it not? So do yourself a favor and take the extra time to ensure that.

Tips on Traveling Full Time: It is Possible!

I have so many people asking me how I was able to uproot my life in Los Angeles to travel full-time. And I am happy to share how I did it!

There is no secret formula to making this happen. I am the first to tell you that it is all relative. It began with a desire, a strong and passionate desire for me. I travelled often, yet not nearly as much to satiate my desire. I saved money as best as I could while living in Los Angeles, however, daily expenses never ceased to deplete those savings. 

So I decided to make some changes. At first they were minor, such as cutting back on frivolous spending, gym memberships, identifying better insurance plans, etc. I took an in depth look at what I was spending money on and how I could cut back on certain costs or eliminate them entirely.

Then, I simply mad the decision to leave. To leave my friends, my family, my apartment. It was not an easy one. It was terrifying. But I knew if I didn't make a move in that moment, I probably never would. I have done so many things in the past few years that stretched my comfort zone and I feel that in doing so, I was preparing myself for a bold decision such as this.

I have continued to work in digital marketing as I travel, mainly as a contractor. So I am in charge of my own schedule and communicate with clients even with the change in time zones.

Below, I have outlined my tips on getting closer to making that decision. I know that some of this isn't exactly replicable, but I urge you to do what you can if you find yourself just as passionate about this as I am and was.

• Get into a profession that allows you to be remote
• Learn a skill if you aren’t in a place currently in a profession in which you work be remote
• In the meantime, save money like crazy
• Make a decision
• Sell your belongings. You don’t need them all, I promise you this. (Marie Kondo your life!)
• Move into a studio if your rent is higher than it needs to be. Downgrading should not be a place for shame if you have a goal in mind.
• Run outside/workout at home, skip the gym
• Download travel apps- any and all. (I will provide a list in a later post)
• Save destinations for inspiration on instagram- I do this in my Collections in Instagram
• Make it a reality- Start talking about it, put it out in the universe, it holds you accountable
• Talk to people that have done it, they know a lot and are willing to share
• Join groups: travel, networking (they’re free)
• Learn how to be productive remotely, test it out. Ask your employer for a few remote days a month as a start.
• Don’t over commit, it’s an excuse to stay
• You owe nothing to your job. Loyalty is better placed elsewhere
• Get out of your comfort zone: start doing things you never thought you could do to get a taste of it. Things that scare you
• Find a reason or make one, Travel with purpose. (Philanthropic or 'voluntourism' helps)- For me it was Habitat for Humanity International.
• Get ready to work remote: good computer, back up hard drives, switch to T-Mobile for international plan.
• Do it cheaply! These changes do not need to cost an arm and a leg. There are inexpensive ways to do just about anything if you do your research.
• Have a support system- Surround yourself with like-minded people and people that understand your desire to do this. 
• Get appropriate visas at your local consulate weeks in advance. (For Indonesia, I applied for a 60 day visa which renewed itself every 30 days after if I left the country for 24 hrs.)

Traveling Full Time: How it all began

After living as a 'digital nomad' for the past 11 months, untethered to my previous Los Angeles life, I began to realize that I was living a more purposeful life on the road.

I loved Los Angeles, I still do. It was my home for 15 years. But my life was not fulfilling, nor was it challenging. I constantly felt the need to 'do more' and 'see more'. I felt that the perspective I was seeking was elsewhere.

So I made a somewhat rash decision to begin to minimalize. I began selling my possessions, to my surprise quickly and with great ease.

What was left over from my studio in Hollywood, I left in a storage unit. So my rent now became $120 per month.

I cancelled my bills and memberships, which dropped my expenses down to just the necessities. I was working full-time and transitioned to remote only. This task is much easier for me than others since my field of expertise is primarily digital and can essentially be done from anywhere.

I took three suitcases with me to Bali, Indonesia. I had visited Bali two months prior and knew that it would be an ideal place for me to recharge, reassess. My expenses in Bali, due to the exchange rate and the simple fact that things just cost less there, dropped by thousands per month. Not only was I making money, I was saving so much more than I ever had while living in Los Angeles.

Every 30 days, as in most foreign countries, I had to complete a 'Visa Run'. This means that in order to stay in one country, I had to leave that country every 30 days to ensure my visa stay valid. So I took this as an opportunity to explore. Airfare was rather inexpensive to the neighboring countries, all of which I had never been to, so it was an ideal excuse for me to travel. 

I used Bali as my home base for 8 months. In Bali, I had friends, who quickly became family, and I even gained business clients. During this time, I traveled to Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore and then moved on to Europe where I traveled to Greece, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Portugal and France.

I have traveled to over 17 countries in the past two years and over 41 countries in my life. I have been blessed to have been able to do this and continue to pursue my global perspective. However, as I continue my journey, I find myself with more of a desire to learn culture from the locals, outside the grasp of tour guides. I seek knowledge from varied generations in each country I visit, probing for answers about their feelings on their culture, government, future and past. My greatest source of education has been obtained through my travels. 

My hope is to share my continued experiences as I circumference the globe. I have photographed and documented my experiences along the way, sharing to my social media as well as my website. I do this in an effort to expand the mindset for Travel and encourage purpose in others. 

I've Only Just Begun

*Editor's Note: Since I wrote this, I have packed up all of my belongings and placed them in storage. I now am living on the road entirely. 

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So here it goes…

I am writing this blog post after almost three years of silence (aka, a much needed break) from a place of rebirth. But I use the term ‘rebirth’ for a loosely. 

When I was younger, I travelled to 14 countries prior to the age of 16. I often think that those experiences I was lucky enough to be exposed to were wasted on an adolescent, however, in my adult years I realize they only added immense value to my education of culture in addition to sparking my desire for more.

I moved across the country by myself to work two jobs so I could pay my way through college at the age of 19.

After graduation I navigated my way through sales jobs, marketing, retail, the aggressive fashion industry and the dawn of social media until I found myself working as a ‘blogger’.

As a self-employed and self-managed influencer, I spent most of my days conceptualizing content and cold calling brands for collaborations while building a following. I found myself creating grandiose campaigns for brands that included days of travel, months of production time, not to mention an abundance of creative freedom. I believe this was the catalyst to jumpstart my long-lost desire wanderlust.

Utilizing the voice of the brand that I had now created for myself, I decided to incorporate my need to travel into my work. But as much as I would be ‘on the road’ I never seemed to satisfy the hunger for absorbing culture and society with the appropriate rapaciousness. I would often think to myself, ‘more, I want to see more. I want to go further.’

I took a break from traveling to get my life in order and reassess what was important to me. I asked myself, ‘why do I want to do this, for what purpose and to what end?’ That’s when I realized my brand had taken a turn away from being ‘me’ and into a channel and avenue for product promotion that wasn’t providing my bohemian soul with much fulfillment.

So instead, I decided to begin to travel without sponsorship, remiss of collaborating. I would travel to places I actually wanted to visit, take the time to absorb what I came there for in the first place. I found myself actually living the moments in lieu of capturing them.

That’s when I realized....I’ve accomplished a lot! I have hiked 10 miles in the snow to reach a glacier in the dead of winter in Colorado at 10,000 feet elevation. I have pranced in the white sand dunes of New Mexico. I have sat front row New York fashion week and had my picture taken by the late and great Bill Cunningham. I’ve ridden the merry-go-round at Coney Island...and Central Park...and Paris. I’ve played piano to a bar of strangers in Dublin, Ireland. I’ve snuck into an abandoned smallpox hospital on Roosevelt Island in the middle of the night. I’ve sat in the field where Henry Miller wrote Tropic of Cancer. I’ve attempted to find Ferlingetti’s cabin in Big Sur. I’ve had beers in some of Bukowski’s old haunts. I’ve ridden a motorcycle through deserts, mountains and along coastal highways. I have bribed a Manhattan doorman with pizza to allow me to sneak onto a fabled rooftop farm only to find out it was all true. I have swum with turtles in Hawaii and jumped off cliffs into waters where World War II remnants remain just below. I have hiked 8miles over flowing lava in converse to the oceans edge just to see an active volcano flowing into the water. I’ve ridden horseback in Mexico and Malibu. Run through fields bursting with poppies in California. Built a home for a family in Argentina and Fiji. Attended a silent piano concert on the beach at midnight. I’ve ran for miles along the Mississippi River in the middle of Summer. Camped for countless days in freezing temperatures as well as scorching. I’ve hung off the edge of Horse Bend and wandered through the mazes of Antelope Canyon. Walked proudly among my fellow women (and men) in protest for a brighter future. Explored the Cuban home of Earnest Hemingway and where he wrote ‘Old Man and the Sea’. I’ve participated in ancient kava ceremonies with Fijian tribes. Swam with sharks in open waters. Run through the streets of Paris with little sleep. Hiked miles in the wrong direction to finally find solace in natural hot springs. I’ve done yoga with goats and slept a mere 100 yards from wild bears in Yosemite. I’ve crawled over slippery rocks just to sit at the bed of a waterfall.

I’ve done so much....and I’ve barely just begun....this is 33.

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More to come.