Category Archives: Trip Reports

a hammock on a beach

What Did I Learn From My First Year As a Travel Blogger?

I know what you’re thinking, because before I started travel blogging, I had some of those same thoughts, too! Travel bloggers have all the fun and get all the special privileges. They eat, drink, and maybe even travel on someone else’s dime. And to get all that, perhaps they spend an hour or so each day cranking out blog posts. People have funny reactions when they find out you’re a travel writer! Actually, I really never thought much about what the behind-the-scenes life of travel blogging was like. Given my background in health and fitness, the travel blogging crowd wasn’t my crowd. But I did like to travel, and travel a lot. I never could have guessed that as of 2017, travel blogging would become such a big part of my life.

I’d been writing for years, but not about travel. I’d also known Grant for a few years. So looking back, in a way, it was a good match and great opportunity for me to explore. I was recently told that travel, and all its related categories, is the largest industry in the world. Now that I’ve got a year of travel blogging under my belt, which of course is just a mere drop in the bucket of the travel blogosphere, I thought I’d look back and share with you some of what happens behind the scenes.

a woman smiling in front of a building

Shelli in front of the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia

Continue reading

a hammock on a beach

PSA: Don’t Forget your International Driver’s Permit (IDP) to Drive in Japan!

Since I started traveling more-or-less full time around three years ago, my planning skills have gone a little down the drain. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the planning process, it’s just that I couldn’t possibly plan everything for every trip ahead of time.

The trip I most recently returned from began in Amsterdam in August and I just flew home from Japan on December 20. For the most part, there weren’t any major hitches with the trip, but there was a small one in Japan.

I had booked the Ritz-Carlton Okinawa with the three free night certificates I earned from signing up for the JPMorgan Chase Ritz-Carlton Credit Card last year. It was an easy round trip flight from Tokyo Haneda (HND) for only 15,000 Avios plus about $5 in taxes per ticket. Since the hotel is a bit far outside of Naha City, where the airport is, I had been planning to rent a car all along but hadn’t actually made the car rental reservation.

a pool with lights and a building with a large pool

Image source: http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/japan/okinawa#Rooms%20%26%20Suites

Continue reading

a blue text with white background

14 Free Things to Do in San Diego

When you mention San Diego, everyone has a different image and reaction. Some people picture the beaches, and some start craving the Mexican food. But everyone has the same question: what can we do and see that’s free? After all, I’m a local so I must know the answer, right? With great weather year around, San Diego lends itself to many free sites and places to explore because many of them are outdoors. So there’s never a bad time of year to visit. Here are some FREE ideas for you! See what you think.

1. Mission Bay Park

I never realized until recently that Mission Bay Park is the largest aquatic park in the country with 4,600 acres, including 27 miles of shoreline, 19 miles of sandy beaches, and 8 designated swimming areas. I walk along Mission Bay quite often. It’s a great place to watch the sunset and in the summer, you can enjoy a great view of the SeaWorld fireworks. When I have visitors, we’ll bike all along the bay and over to Pacific Beach. The park has bike and walking paths, boating, picnic areas, playgrounds, basketball courts, swimming, windsurfing, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding. There really is something for everyone. And maybe the best part is that there is plenty of parking, and that’s free too.

a body of water with palm trees and a beach

Sunny and relaxing day at Mission Bay Park. Image source: https://www.outdoorproject.com/adventures/california/parks-wilderness/mission-bay-park


Continue reading

a group of wrapped presents

(Reposted 12/18: 1 Week Before Christmas) My Top 10 Best Holiday Gifts for Travelers

Updated 12/18 at 8am PT: Reposting this if you need gift ideas for the travelers in your life. Most items are shipped by Amazon Prime, so you should get everything before Christmas. Thank you and happy holidays.


Not a day goes by when I don’t receive questions about my travels. What products do I use? What travel gear I own and how I stay so healthy logging all those miles each year? Last year, I put a list together and people have requested I do it again this year, so here it is. I’ve made some changes! I hope you’ll find it useful for giving gifts or receiving gifts! If you have any questions, be sure to let me know.

1. Q-Link Pendant: $39.95

Maybe you’ve never heard of Q-Link. But I’m certain you’ve become aware of how electromagnetic fields affect our health and well-being. I’ve actually been wearing a Q-Link for twenty years already and never travel without it. You’ve probably seen it around my neck and never knew what it was. The pendant helps your human energy field function more efficiently, strengthening its resilience and resistance to the effects of stress. Get it on Amazon.

 

a close-up of a black necklace


Continue reading

a wifi symbol with a wifi signal

WiFi on Airplanes: Here’s a Great Guide for the Best Deals!

With the holidays around the corner, many of us will be on an airplane going somewhere! But even during the rest of the year, using WiFi on airplanes can come in handy. Are you familiar with how to get the best deals for WiFi with each of the major airlines? I wasn’t, so I went looking for some information and want to share what I found. Sure, we might know about Gogo, which provides inflight WiFi to Alaska, American, Delta, and United, but there are other internet providers as well. And some airlines don’t yet offer WiFi. It can be confusing! Here’s the best guide I’ve seen that breaks it all down for us. Check it out!