Where Am I Headed in 2016?

With a new year, comes the opportunity to go places you've never gone and do things you've never done.  Don't enter into the new year without mapping out your travel schedule and making plans for your vacation days.  At least get started with Quarter 1!  So here's what I have for the year:

Confirmed Travel 

Zambia

I'm hitting the ground running in 2016 and will be spending 2 months in Zambia.  While there, I'll be mostly working but plan to explore as much of the capital, Lusaka, as I can. I'll also be taking at least one weekend trip to Victoria Falls.  Approximately twice the height of Niagara Falls, Victoria Falls is bordered by both Zambia and Zimbabwe.  

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Photo Credit: Wikipedia 

Curacao

I'll be heading to Curacao for a long weekend, thanks to a free trip I won at an event from Diamond PR! I loved Curacao when I went in December 2014, so I look forward to my return.  And you can't beat a free trip!

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Photo Credit: Ashlee Tuck

Finger Lakes, New York

In April, I am headed to Finger Lakes, New York to take a tour of the Corning Museum of Glass and various wineries.  Finger Lakes is New York's largest wine producing region.  It should be a wine lover's heaven!

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Photo Credit: Huffington Post

Mediterranean Cruise: Spain, France & Italy

I'll be taking a cruise around the Mediterranean with my family and some friends later in the year. We'll be cruising on Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Harmony of the Seas, to Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Marseilles, Florence/Pisa, Rome and Naples.  I've never been to Spain but have been to France and Italy.  Needless to say, my appetite anxiously awaits all of the amazing meals I'll have.

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Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean

Travel Wish List

Napa Valley

In May (my birthday month), I have my sights set on Napa Valley and possibly a road trip down the coast to L.A. and/or San Diego.  I've heard great things about all three places and one of my long-term goals is to do more domestic travel.  

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Photo Credit: Trip Advisor

Colombia

The rest of the year is up for grabs, but with fare glitches and cheap flights, I see Colombia in my future.  I hear Cartagena has beautiful beaches and as you know, the beach is my happy place.

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Photo Credit: Andrea Williams

London

Simply put, London was amazing.  I loved it way more than I thought I would, and it deserves more than just 3 days of my time.  If I go back, it'll definitely be for a week or more.  

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Thailand

I put Thailand on my wish list last year.  I didn't make it but hopefully it'll come to fruition this year. Doesn't this beach look amazing?

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Photo Credit: Huffington Post

So where are you headed in 2016? Be sure to set your intentions and follow through with your plans.  Don't let your vacation days go to waste!

8 Things You Should Know Before Going on a Safari

I went on safaris to Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Parks earlier this year. Truly some of the greatest experiences and memories in my life so far!  I got amazingly close to the animals and marveled at the beauty that is Mother Nature like never before.  But I honestly wish I had done more research about what going on a safari actually means.  “Going on safari” sounds glamorous, when really you can ride around hot and sometimes dirty for hours at a time searching for animals you haven’t seen already. Not to mention the extreme heat and annoying insects!  But don’t fret.  Here’s how you can prepare for your safari adventure:

1) Bring mosquito repellant

This is obvious but it needs to be said…over and over again.  Make sure your bug repellant contains DEET and includes biting flies on the label. Apply any time you feel like it…seriously. Tsetse flies thoroughly enjoyed biting me through my blue jeans and black t-shirt!  I wish I would have known they were attracted to dark colors.  Which brings me to my next point…

2) Wear neutral & comfortable clothes

Wearing colors is a no-no.  I wore jeans and military-fatigued cargo pants and they proved to be plenty comfortable and stylish, but the bugs had a field day!  Neutral colors are the way to go.

3) Pay the extra money for lodges

A couple of colleagues went on safaris a few weeks before me and chose the camping option. I’m not a campy/outdoorsy type of girl but it was almost $800 cheaper than staying in lodges, so I considered roughing it for the weekend.  I’m glad that was a fleeting thought. Those same colleagues came back after their long weekend and said if they could do it again, they’d opt for lodges. They were faced with animals roaming through their camps and uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.  Call me crazy but the extra $800 was worth a working bathroom and peace of mind.  But hey, if you enjoy camping, go for it and save money.

4) Pack only what you need

Because you’ll be going from lodge to lodge or camp to camp, it can be annoying to pack up your bag every night.  You won’t want to lug around your whole wardrobe all weekend.

5) Bring toilet paper/wipes

…All I’m saying is that you just never know when you’ll have to use the bathroom…and there’s no bathroom around to use.  Bring toilet paper.

6) Bring sunscreen, hat, binoculars, and sunglasses

You may not think these things are really necessary because you’re in a safari jeep most of the time, but the African sun is brutal. You’ll also be standing to see the animals and taking pictures.  We didn’t buy our own binoculars and luckily our guide had some, but don’t risk it. Sometimes the animals are a mile away and your binoculars will be your best friend.

7) There aren’t many souvenir shops

There are only a few places to buy souvenirs along the way.  If you’ve been in-country for a while, you’ve probably seen most of what they sell already.  But if you see something you want, get it. There won’t be many more places to buy gifts.  I sent my family post cards just because I was in the Serengeti.  (How often does that happen?!)  Note: Be prepared to bargain!  Don’t just accept the first price given to you.

8) Tip your guide

The tour guides are knowledgeable and are passionate about what they do.  I was told a good tip is about $5-10 a day per person.  So if there are 3 people on a 4 day safari, that’s about $120 for the weekend.  Not bad, right?  This isn’t the time to be cheap, especially if he was nice and you enjoyed your tours!

With our safari guide in Serengeti, photobombed by wading hippos