The Best FREE Travel Apps

If you are anything like me, your smartphone might as well be an appendage.  We live in a day and age where no matter what the question is, the response is… There’s an app for that. And it’s true! There probably is an app for just about everything you may need or want. I have found so many useful travel apps that make traveling abroad easy and stress free, and I wanted to share my favorites with you. So, make your way to the app store — It’s time to get downloading.

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1 day Paris Itinerary

Paris. Oh, Paris. I am not the first person to fall in love with this city, nor will I be the last. It has inspired the world’s best poets and writers, given birth to some of the greatest art the world has ever seen, and it is home to some of my favorite things in the world— namely croissants, red wine, french fries… and now you can add macarons to the list. It is the perfect blend of modern and history, with just the right amount of class and sophistication. What is there NOT to love about the city of light?

I wanted to share with you a helpful guide to experiencing this city, based on my recent personal trip. It's a logical itinerary of activities that give you insight into the city, people, and culture, while showing you the must-sees and top attractions. It is a great starting point, especially if you are a first-time visitor.

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Planning Travel for Olympians - A Full Circle Moment

I love being able to share real-life travel experiences with you. I think it helps you see my process and understand that no two trips are exactly alike because they are created with the specific traveler in mind. Today I wanted to share a couple vacations that are close to my heart. They are trips I’ve planned for athletes — people I know from my days as the same.  It’s kind of a full circle moment, and I love it.

So, how do Olympians travel? Well, here is a sneak peek at a trip in process and an exciting adventure happening next month that just might be the most exciting trip I’ve planned to date!

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The Top 5 Destinations for Adventurous Travelers

Adventure travel speaks to me…sometimes. I am the type of traveler that can thrive on doing absolutely nothing for days on end, and also find great enjoyment in having the most mind blowing, adrenaline pumping, heart racing adventures.  I constantly have to ask myself, is this trip seeking to be an epic adventure of a lifetime, or will the most adventurous part of my trip be having two desserts? Decisions, decisions.

I know there are some people who fall firmly in one camp or the other, no matter what. Adventure seekers are always a blast to plan trips for because I know I can really let loose and create a fast-paced trip they are sure to love.  They aren’t going to call me a few days in asking me to cancel the rest of their plans because they just fell like laying low at the spa. They are going to go, and then go some more. 

If you are in that camp, I want to share with you a few of my favorite destinations I recommend for my fellow thrill-seekers.

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How to Eat Well While Traveling

I consider myself a minor league foodie. By this I mean that there is nothing very sophisticated or educated about my food obsession, other than the fact that I simply love good food. And because I wouldn’t say that I really love to cook, I’m a person who loves good food someone else cooks.  It doesn’t have to be fancy, or complicated, or even hard to pronounce… it simply has to be delicious.  

For this reason, I am a firm believer that every amazing vacation should include great food.  There are very few destinations on my list of places I have immensely enjoyed visiting that didn’t offer this component.  (Besides maybe the Czech Republic. I loved Prague...hated the food!) As such, I like to make it a point to discuss this topic with clients when creating custom itineraries.

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Delayed flight? What to do NOW

I can still remember my longest flight delay... almost 24 hours in Paris and 10 of it stuck at the airport, before they finally let us in on the obvious secret that our plane wasn’t going anywhere that day.  The savvy traveler I am now would have never wasted such an opportunity, but all I did  then was fill myself up with McDonald’s and sit despondently by the gate.

Even when you are the best planner and have double checked your flight status before leaving home, sometimes the inevitable still happens— flight delays.  Nobody wants to start or end a vacation inside of an airport for extra hours, but the inevitable is just that. However, there are a few tips and tricks of the trade I’ve picked up over the years that are important reminders and just may come in handy for you. 

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Top 5 Romantic Destinations Around The World

Romance can be found in so many different and unique places around the world. Yes, you want that beautiful romantic element to your travel experience, but what else are you looking to pair it with?  The following is a list of some of my favorite destinations around the globe, compiled into categories you can identify with and will be drawn to based on your own interests. This list could easily change seven times before Friday, but it’s a fantastic starting point to help you think about creating the type of travel experience that fits you personally.

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How Far Ahead Should You Plan Your Next Vacation?

Is planning a vacation last minute a good idea? No. Not if you really are trying to have your best experience.  I think many people either don’t realize that planning in advance can work to their advantage, or they believe that all the best deals are found last minute. That’s simply not true. Planning in advance allows you to craft the perfect trip to suit your tastes, and gives you access to everything your trip should encompass. You aren’t settling, you are able to set the tone for your perfect trip. 

So, the question to ask is when is the optimal time to start planning your next vacation? There are 3 main things to consider when deciding how far in advance you should begin planning, and booking all the necessary components.

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Location Freedom

I have an entrepreneurial spirit.  I have always known that about myself, and it was further confirmed when I took a multitude of tests after I retired from being an athlete that were supposed to help guide me into my next career. It told me I was driven, self-motivated, unafraid of taking risks, resourceful, don’t need to actually get paid to work my tail off… and on and on.

I took that entrepreneurial spirit and paired it with my love for travel for two very important reasons. The first is pretty obvious — I am passionate about travel and love helping others experience more of the world in an authentic way. Planning and organizing is a skill set, and I pair it with my knack for understanding the desires of others and finding great joy in seeing their dreams come to life. The second reason that lights me up as well, is that it is a business I can build that allows me to have location freedom.

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End of year travel: Where to go and why

Here is yet another thing I love about traveling the world: You can literally pick the season you want to enjoy at any time of year, and go somewhere perfectly suited to experience it. Did you miss your opportunity for a summer vacation? Or are you like me, and jump at the chance to work on your tan any chance you get? Well, you’re in luck.

Since most people don’t start their winter travel until mid or late December, traveling in November and early December means crowds are small and your vacation dollar will go a lot further in huge sections of the travel world.

Today’s blog gives you some fantastic ideas to help you add a week or two of summer vibes toward the end of the year.

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How to skip the line at customs withOUT Global Entry

Is there anything worse than getting off of an international flight tired, cranky, and hangry, only to be met with a ridiculously long custom’s line, that inches forward at the slowest pace known to man?! Of course, the person right ahead of you will have forgotten to sign their paperwork and the agent will probably have about 17 extra questions for them. These are all first world problems, I know. But coming home from international travel and dealing with customs is by far my least favorite part of traveling. Unless you have Global Entry, you’re stuck- until now.

Enter Mobile Passport. Music to my globe-trotting ears.

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