Journal

Every traveler will take infinite photos (perhaps a concern for data storage on your phone), but how often does a person really go back to relive those captured moments? Apart from the necessary review to glean which snapshots are deemed worthy of a social media debut and the public’s watchful eye, the precious stockpile of memories will remain unvisited. The almost duplicates of varying zoom settings, awkward arm positions and staged facial expressions from each destination visited patiently wait for nostalgia to strike.

Pictures may speak a thousand words but your own verses paint a far more truthful story. A journal allows you to capture your own impressions of a new place, a new culture. It allows your reactions and feelings from each moment to be stored in a physical form, protected from ever changing opinions and perceptions and the fickle tricks of the mind.

Start a journal as… A way not to just relive a previous adventure but to recall your younger self in that precise moment. A hilariously entertaining self review. Not to mention it is far easier to recount the names of places visited, food enjoyed and lessons learned from a book than it is to trust the memory. Consider one of these guided journals to help aid you in creating the ultimate personalized memento…

Flight Tips

Flight Searches

Trying to find a cheap, last minute flight can be a frustrating puzzle. Use the following flight search applications to simplify the process.

• Skyscanner – The ideal choice for flexible fly dates. Peruse potential flights either by city or country for an entire month at a time. Additionally, there is an option to enter “Everywhere” as the search destination. Skyscanner opens a world of possibilities for the spontaneous traveler.
• Skiplagged – A devious mastermind of discovering price saving shortcuts through skipping out on the last leg of a flight. This application allows users the additional option of entering an entire continent as opposed to the “Anywhere” option just a city or country for both departure and arrival destinations although a specific date is required.
• WeGo – Once you have a drafted itinerary, check the flight prices in WeGo. Structure may be required in terms of input (a specific date to a specific city) but the application is far less buggy compared to Skyscanner.

Ticket Providers

When using any of the above search applications, a list of ticket providers will be displayed. Purchasing from the airline itself is always the safest option and least troublesome if problems do arise, but it is not always the cheapest option. If the budget path appeals to you, trust in one of the providers listed below for reliable ticket purchases.

• Kiwi.com
• Booking.com
• eDreams
• Trip.com
• MyTrip

Don’t be fooled by a pretty price! Some of the listed providers on these search applications are quite treacherous. Do not book anything with SmartFares as it is an absolute scam.

Passport Tips

General Information

• Expiration – Most countries will not allow entry if a passport is 6 months within expiration.
• Blank Pages – Most countries require a minimum of 1 blank passport page for entry, but some countries require even more. Contrary to how it sounds, a blank passport page is actually 2 pages. Picture opening a book. Both the left and right pages need to be empty to equate to 1 blank page. If a country requires more than 1, the required number of pages can be spread out and do not need to be back to back.
• Passport Cover – Do not bother with a case if you are a frequent traveler as immigration will always require this to be removed.

Passport Renewal

If you need to renew your passport, check the expected processing and mailing time. At times passport agencies can be extremely backed-up (2-3 months) so take this into account. Passport renewal varies per country but generally there are 4 different options:

• Standard Mail-In Renewal
• Expedited Mail-In Renewal
• In-Person Appointment Renewal
• International Renewal

Fast USA Passport Renewal

If you are a USA passport holder and in a rush, check out the video below for a detailed breakdown on the in-person appointment renewal process.