Author Archives: Shelli

About Shelli

Shelli Stein is a health and fitness entrepreneur who travels the world in search of culture, food, and fun! Besides contributing to Travel with Grant, you can find her at Joy in Movement.

a close up of a bag

Carry-On Bag Guide: What’s Allowed, What’s Not

Do you travel with only carry-on luggage? If you do, I congratulate you. I’m not there yet, but I’m heading in that direction. That means learning about the pitfalls of packing lessor-known forbidden items in my carry-on bag.

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a green text with a map and a glass of wine

Who Wants To Be Italy’s Next Dubbing Star? Do You Have What It Takes?

I love traveling to Italy. Is there anyone who doesn’t? One way I immerse myself in local culture when in Italy is to go see a movie, even if I don’t completely understand the language. I do this whenever I travel and it’s always fun. Movie-going culture is so different and fascinating around the world. I’ve noticed that often movies use dubbing rather than subtitles.

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Chase Employees Game The System, Too!

I had an interesting conversation with a Chase bank employee that threw me for a loop. I have a Chase bank branch that I’ve been using since the old days when it was a Washington Mutual. I know many of the employees there, and from time to time we chat about all things Chase. Last year Southwest Airlines had a special promotion, if you lived in California, giving its companion pass as a bonus when you got the Chase Southwest credit card. Quite a deal!

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a hammock on a beach

Maybe You Can’t Avoid Resort Fees, But You Can Pay Less For Your Hotel Room

Resort fees, destination fees; call them what you want, they all stink. Hotels have a menu (except we don’t get to pick and choose) of junk fees that are attached to our bills for all kinds of “services and amenities” that used to be complimentary or something we could choose to pay extra for. I don’t think any of us really believe hotel claims about why they’re now adding on these fees. From what I’ve read, it seems like these fees enable hotels to still claim their rates are lower and also pay less to travel agents since commissions are paid based on the base rate, not the total rate.

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a blue and red airplane with black text

Southwest+Hawaii = Not The News We Were Hoping For

Come on, Southwest, get us to Hawaii already! I’m craving some aloha, a cup of Kona coffee, and an authentic poke bowl. I’ve been following the Hawaii-Southwest saga since early August. Next the October start date for service came and went and still no word from Southwest Airlines on its expansion to Hawaii. Disappointing, to say the least.

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