My husband’s job doesn’t come with a whole lot of leeway for time off, so he has to use his vacation days sparingly. That meant I’d be going it alone for this trip.

I went back and forth quite a bit over when to book it—sooner, when Zara was smaller and easier to tote around? Or later, when she was a little older and could sit on her own and stay awake for longer stretches?

In the end, I wound up booking the trip for the most convenient dates, which fell a few days after Zara turned four months old.

Traveling alone with a baby isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a highly physical endeavor filled with lifting and lugging and schlepping. Aching back aside, our trip was largely a success and I’m so glad we went! I’m already looking at dates for our next trip.

If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you’re considering traveling or about to travel with a baby and trying, like I was, to avoid it being a total nightmare. Disclaimer: there will inevitably be some hiccups, and that’s okay. The key is setting a low bar, taking lots of deep breaths and doing your best to loosen that death grip you have on being in control (hi, I’m talking to myself).

Setup for Flying Alone with a Baby

Before I get to the tips, I thought it would be helpful to share our setup for flying. Before our trip, I was totally clueless about how to fly with a baby and the logistics involved.

A couple important things I learned: children under two can sit in your lap for free. If you want them to have their own seat, most airlines require you to buy a separate ticket. A few allow kids to fly free or at a discounted fare.

A baby’s travel necessities, like their stroller, car seat and diaper bag, don’t count toward your baggage allowance. So, in addition to all your baby gear, you can bring a personal item on board without an extra fee. Obviously double check with your airline before you show up for your flight, but this was the policy for Allegiant and JetBlue, which I flew with on this trip.

When I first booked the trip, I thought, babies fly free? Great, she’ll sit in my lap. The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized what a disaster this could potentially turn into with my daughter, who hates to be held while sitting down. At the last minute, I called both airlines and booked her her own seat. I’m so glad I did.

So, here’s what my traveling-with-a-baby setup ended up looking like:

• I packed one bag (from Away, which I adore) for both of us and checked it
• I rolled to the gate with her stroller + car seat. They make you take the baby out of the car seat at security, so I had our Baby Bjorn handy and popped her into that
• I gate-checked the stroller and the base for her car seat. Gate checking is super convenient for baby gear and doesn’t cost extra. You leave your items just before you get onboard and pick them up right when you deplane, instead of having to go to baggage claim
• I boarded with her in the Baby Bjorn, carrying the car seat for her to sit in

I have to give major props to the crew at Allegiant, who went above and beyond to help me get boarded and settled during our NY-to-FL flight.

It’s very easy to feel like you’re one big inconvenience when traveling with a baby, but they made me feel like it was totally normal and they wanted to make it as easy as possible. I will definitely be flying Allegiant again for our future Florida trips.

Now for what I learned from traveling solo with a baby.

1. Fly Early in the Day

If your baby is like mine, her mood has an inverse relationship with the hour of the day. The longer she’s been awake, the fussier she gets. Conveniently, airports operate on a similar clock. The later it gets in the day, the greater your chance for delays, crowds and other travel snafus.

Fly early. Our flights were between 10 a.m. and noon both ways and it worked out really well for the timing of her meals and naps. Next time I’d go even earlier—a 9 a.m. flight would be perfect.

2. Arrive Early

Before I had a baby, I would roll up to the airport 30 minutes before the doors of my plane were set to close. I’ve run to the gate more than once.

The thought of doing this with a baby and all the ancillary gear is laughable. While you’re probably worried about getting there too early and being trapped in the terminal with a baby, that’s highly preferable to rushing to your gate in a panic or worse, missing your flight.

Get there early, feed your baby, get yourself a snack. Lay out a blanket and let her kick around and get some tummy time since she’ll be confined to a seat for the next few hours. Get friendly with the gate agents, who can hopefully help you get onboard smoothly.

Getting some floor time before our flight

3. Sit at the Front and Board Last

Most airlines call for families traveling with children to board early, which is nice, but that just means you’ll be cooped up on the plane that much longer. With a small baby, I think it’s easier to wait and board last, especially if you can get a seat up front.

For our first flight, I was able to get us seats in the third row. We waited until everyone else had boarded and then breezed into our seats, taking off just a few minutes later.

On our second flight we were near the back and boarded early. We had to wait almost half an hour for everyone else to board and to finally take off, and Zara got pretty fussy during that wait. In the future I will definitely pay extra to be at the front.

4. Unpopular Advice: Get Your Baby Their Own Seat

I’ve heard a lot of moms rave about taking advantage of the kids-under-two-fly-free policy, but I’m so glad I went with my gut and coughed up the cash for another seat. I guess some babies love to be held, but Zara would’ve had a fit if I attempted to keep her on my lap for the entire 2.5 hour flight.

I followed popular advice and nursed her while we took off (the swallowing helps their ears with the change in air pressure), then transferred her to her car seat next to me. She complained a little but fell asleep after a few minutes and slept for the majority of both flights.

Just boarded. So far so good!

Napping the flight away

5. Book the Window and the Aisle

Babies sitting in a car seat are required to be placed in the window seat. When you’re selecting your seats, book the window seat for baby and the aisle seat for yourself.

Other people booking their flights will avoid choosing a single middle seat, making it more likely it’ll stay empty and you’ll have the entire row to yourselves. If it’s a full flight and you do wind up with a third person in your row, you can always switch with them for the middle seat.

6. Bring a Pillow

I wished I had brought one to prop Zara on while I fed her instead of having just the arm rest. The round neck pillows that snap together at the bottom would have been perfect to tack onto her diaper bag and carry onboard.

7. Wear a Watch

We take for granted that we’ll always have our phone to check the time, but when you’re traveling solo with a baby, your hands will pretty much always be full. This makes digging out your phone difficult. The last thing you want is to absentmindedly set it down somewhere, like I did on our first flight (bless the TSA agents who came running after me with it!).

Make your life a little easier by wearing a watch.

I was pretty stressed about flying with a baby on my own, but we made it from New York to Florida and back without any major disasters. I now feel a lot more confident about taking her places by myself and know that when Johnny and I travel with her together, it will be a piece of cake in comparison.

Have you traveled with your baby or do you plan to soon? Leave me a comment and let me know how you’re feeling about it/what other questions you have!

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The post 7 Things I Learned From Flying Alone With A 4-Month Old Baby appeared first on Cabana State Of Mind.

Whatever your situation, a weekend getaway is the perfect opportunity to break out of your routine, recharge your batteries and enjoy the inspiration that comes from experiencing a new place. The last thing you want, though, is for it to feel rushed and stressful. With a little planning, you can pull off a weekend trip that feels like an actual vacation and leaves you feeling ready to take on the week ahead.

How To Plan A Weekend Trip, Stress Free

Over the last few years I’ve mastered the 48-hour trip. Between friends getting married, moving to new cities, keeping in touch in with family, and satisfying my wanderlust, there’s been no shortage of reasons to travel. Since I run my own business, though, taking a long vacation requires quite a bit of planning and isn’t always in the budget. Weekend trips are the ideal in-between (plus it’s so much easier to bring pets along, which I love!).

In this post I’ll show you how to plan a weekend trip free of stress and without spending a ton of money.

1. Don’t be afraid to leave the beaten path

When you’re going on a longer trip, there can be pressure to choose the perfect destination. You want somewhere with plenty to do, lots of places to eat, and so on.

The beauty of a weekend getaway is that there’s not that much time, and I look at that as a plus. You can enjoy a quaint one-stoplight town without being there so long you get bored. You can go off the grid and sacrifice cell service for a couple days without losing your mind. It’s also a lot cheaper than visiting a major tourist destination.

Some of my favorite weekend trips have been to small, random towns within a couple hours of where we live, places that I probably never would have visited otherwise.

2. Pick just one thing you really want to do each day

If you’re a planner extraordinaire, I urge you to leave your uber-scheduled ways behind for your weekend trip. If you’re trying to squeeze in a giant itinerary, it’s easy to feel pressured to get it all done and disappointed when you inevitably don’t.

Instead, pick just one thing you really want to do each day and let everything else fall into place around that. For example, plan a morning hike and leave the afternoon free for a leisurely meal and exploring. Or make a reservation for an evening wine tasting and spend the morning waking up slow and taking it easy.

When we visited Tuscaloosa last fall, the Alabama game was the main item on our itinerary

Having just a couple things on your itinerary will help you feel like you made the most of your trip without having to watch the clock. After all, that’s what you’re trying to get away from in the first place.

3. Pack light

Once you take a trip with only a backpack, you’ll never want to go back. Even paring down to a carry-on or weekender bag is freeing.

More stuff = more time spent schlepping = less fun.

I’m working on a post of the perfect packing list for a weekend trip, but in the meantime, build your trip’s wardrobe around these staples, which will cover 99% of events on your itinerary:

• Black leggings
• Dark skinny jeans
• Casual t-shirts
• One dressy top
• One versatile jacket
• One pair versatile shoes (like block heels or cute flats)
• Sneakers
• Trip-specific items (swimsuit, ski pants, etc.)

My weekend trip go-to’s. The Away Larger Carry On and this Under Armour backpack that I adore

I live with this backpack attached to my back. It goes everywhere with me and holds SO MUCH. Usually I use it to hold my laptop and charger, blowdryer/hair tools, makeup, go-bag (see item #4), hoodie, and any shoes I’m not wearing on my feet to travel.

I also recently took the plunge on the Away Larger Carry-On, and I absolutely love it. It’s more than enough space to pack for a weekend trip and could easily accommodate several days’ more worth of stuff with efficient packing. Use this link to receive $20 off your Away purchase!

4. Have a go-bag

Instead of dragging all your cosmetics out of the shower and medicine cabinet every time you go somewhere, make your packing mindless by putting together a go-bag you only use for traveling. Mine is a very sexy ziploc bag, but there are tons of cute options on Amazon.

My very enviable go-bag. Yes that’s a thermometer #readyforanything

Keep these items in travel sizes in your go-bag:

• Deodorant
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo
• Face wash
• Sunscreen
• Lotion
• Razor
• Advil
• Q-tips
• Nail clippers
• Bobby pins/hair ties

I love that I can just grab this bag and know that all the toiletries I’ll need aside from my makeup are in there and I don’t have to think about it!

5. Focus on experiences

If you’re planning a weekend trip with an eye for affordability, make the most of your budget by focusing on new experiences. You can easily rack up a huge tab having dinner at the best restaurant in town, but even if the food is amazing, it’s something you’ve probably done a million times before.

For the same price, you could experience something totally unique to your destination, like a ghost tour of haunted city buildings or a horseback ride through the forest or taking a class with local artists. These are the kinds of things that take you out of your element and give you a fresh perspective, which really makes a trip memorable.

Trying my hand at axe-throwing in the Catskills

6. Set yourself up for when you get back

Do not skip this part! This is an essential step in making your weekend trip stress-free and actually feeling relaxed when you get home.

A couple days before you leave, buy some staples to have on hand when you get back, like a box of pasta and a jar of sauce or a freezer pizza. Make sure you’re stocked up on your Monday morning essentials, like coffee and cereal.

On Friday morning before you leave the house, make your bed and wipe down your bathroom and kitchen counters. If you made a mess while packing, either tidy up or sweep it all into a laundry basket and tuck it out of sight to be dealt with later.

If anxiety is your jam like it is for me, make yourself a to-do list for the following week so you can put all of life’s tasks out of your mind for the weekend and pick up easily where you left off when you get back.

When I don’t take the few extra minutes to do these things, I come home and feel disheveled. They make a world of difference in transitioning easily from Friday afternoon to vacation mode and back to reality Monday morning.

7. Go with the flow

Traffic makes it take forever to get out of town. Flights get delayed and waste half the day. Shit happens. It’s part of life and traveling. The key to a successful weekend trip is to be able to go with the flow and adjust your plans as needed.

Bring a book or have a podcast queued up for unexpected delays. Grab a notebook, a pen and a cup of coffee or a cocktail and journal. Try to be mindful and enjoy the moment (I’m forever working on this one). Like anything in life, taking weekend trips gets easier and more fun the more you do it.

This weekend we’re headed upstate to explore Athens, New York! Where do you want to take your next weekend getaway?

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I’ve been on lots of vacations in my day, but this trip was one of my favorites ever. We surfed. We sunbathed. We ate at least 1,200 tacos. It was the most relaxed I’ve felt in a long time, and I already have a growing list of things I want to do on my next visit.

If you’re thinking of visiting Todos Santos or looking for the perfect vacation spot in Baja California, I highly recommend it. Here are a few of the highlights.

Visiting Todos Santos, Mexico

Todos Santos is a small coastal town on the Baja Peninsula—that little arm that juts out of Mexico’s western side into the Pacific Ocean. It’s about an hour north of Cabo, which is where we flew in after connecting from the U.S. in Mexico City.

We rented a car in Cabo and drove the rest of the way from the airport. Although this isn’t something I’d typically do on vacation, renting a car is a good idea for visiting this area. It’s more remote than a destination like Cabo or Cancun, so having a car is a must for being able to fully explore it.

We stayed in an AirBnb in Cerritos Beach outside the village of El Pescadero. El Pescadero is about 8 miles south of Todos Santos. We originally aimed to stay closer to town, but ran into some double-booking issues when we were setting up our stay. The place we wound up staying was insanely beautiful and about a five-minute stroll to the Pacific Ocean, so I’m actually glad things worked out the way they did. It had a ground-floor patio where we ate homemade breakfast tacos and a rooftop terrace where we drank many beers. We fell asleep each night listening to the crashing waves.

Todos Santos is the perfect destination for you if you’re into the outdoors, surfing, hiking, culture, great food, relaxation and a slow pace. Todos Santos is not for you if you’re looking for the tequila-fueled party experience a la Señor Frogs. Don’t get me wrong—there’s plenty of tequila to be had in Todos Santos, it’ll just be served to you in the most perfectly crafted margarita at an open-air taco place instead of poured straight into your mouth by a waitress in a bikini top.

Playa Los Cerritos

Playa Los Cerritos, or Cerritos Beach, is a crescent-shaped, cliff-framed beach about a mile and a half off highway 19, which runs up and down Mexico’s Pacific coast. There are a handful of restaurants and small hotels dotting the beach, but it’s nothing like the typical oceanside town where every inch of sand is covered with beachfront property. I loved that there was so little development (although word on the street is that that may be changing soon).

We started every morning by making the short walk from our AirBnb down the bumpy dirt road to the beach, where surfers were camped out in tents and in the backs of vans waiting for sunrise.

If you’re interested in surfing—which is definitely a good reason to visit—you can rent a board by the day or week from one of the locals who set up shop on the sand. I sook a surf lesson one day and spent a couple more days going out on my own with a rented board, while my husband did a weeklong rental. My surfing abilities are the equivalent of Jerry Springer’s cha-cha skills on Dancing With The Stars, but it was still so much fun and a great workout to play in the waves.

We ate so many amazing meals in and around Playa Los Cerritos during our trip, but my favorite were the fish tacos at Barracuda Cantina a short walk off the beach. Honorable mentions include breakfast overlooking the beach at Beach Club Cerritos Surf Town and more fish tacos at Shaka’s Cantina.

Hacienda Cerritos

If you google ‘Playa Los Cerritos,’ 90 percent of the resulting images feature a gorgeous Spanish estate perched on the edge of the rocky cliffs at the north end of the beach (see the photos above). This is Hacienda Cerritos.

The property is stunning. There are arching ceilings, giant chandeliers, infinity pools overlooking the Pacific, a swim-up bar, the list goes on. We stopped in for sunset cocktails on the hotel’s terrace one of the first nights of our trip.

Not only is it the best spot in the area to watch the sunset, but about four months out of the year you can also spot whales jumping and playing in the foreground. We were there during one of those times, and the whole experience was surreal. The tequila may have been a contributing factor, but it truly took my breath away.

If you’re in the area, you can’t miss stopping by Hacienda Cerritos to take in the view. They also sell a day pass to the pool for something like $30.

Punta Lobos

North of Cerritos Beach before you reach Todos Santos, you’ll find Punta Lobos. This beach is where groups of local fishermen launch their fishing boats for the day, which we heard is fun to watch, but we came for the nearby hiking.

The trail begins slightly inland from the beach and winds gently up the cacti-covered hill toward the south. After about a 45-minute hike, you’ll reach a lookout point that offers some amazing views and photo opps.

The best part, though, is if you continue to follow the trail down the opposite side of the hill. It’ll lead you down the cliffs to a rocky inlet with the most crystal clear turquoise water I’ve ever seen. We climbed down at low tide and dove in to cool off. My phone almost took a dip as well, but thankfully my husband’s reflexes were quicker than the waves.

This is also a great a spot for seal sightings! We couldn’t see them super well without binoculars, but we could hear them barking and splashing as they played on one of the nearby cliffs.

After our hike and completely by chance, we stumbled on the most perfect, secluded beach bar called Pura Playa. It’s down a seemingly endless dirt road that to be honest, I don’t even remember why we were driving on. Suddenly, the road opened up to this open-air gem. The place was totally deserted and the handful of surfers in the water had the waves to themselves. This is the place I’ll forever daydream about when I think of Mexico.

Downtown Todos Santos

The funny thing about our trip to Todos Santos is that we didn’t spend a ton of time in the town itself. It’s adorable and charming and there’s plenty to see, but we spent the majority of our time at the beach and doing other outdoorsy things. It was just too beautiful outside to spend the day in a museum!

If you’re into culture, though, you’ll find a ton in downtown Todos Santos. The city was founded as a Spanish mission in the early 1700’s, and many of the historic buildings and churches remain. We had meals at the Hotel California (not the Eagles namesake, despite local lore) and La Catrina, both of which were very good.

This trip was utter relaxation and such a necessary break–both from the arctic freeze and the daily grind. If you’re thinking of planning a trip to Mexico, I can’t say enough good things about this area.  I want to go back ASAP and see more of the Baja Peninsula! Have you ever been to Mexico?

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Castle Peak, Colorado

This hike is one of the most strenuous things I’ve ever done, but it actually wasn’t our first Castle Peak experience. John and I climbed it back in 2011 when we lived in Grand Junction, Colorado.

From our 2011 climb. Selfies were so much harder pre-iPhone!

Second time around. Older. Wiser. Brunette-er.

The first time around we were a hot mess. We weren’t prepared for what climbing a fourteener entailed. We started way too late in the day and we accidentally took a serious detour off the trail that cost us a ton of time. Still, we reached the summit and were rewarded with the breathtaking view.

This time around, although we were much more prepared, we dealt with a totally different set of challenges in the form of unfavorable terrain conditions and altitude sickness. We did reach the summit, but getting there was a much tougher battle physically.

Between these two hikes I learned a lot about what to expect, both in terms of the trail and your own physical preparation.

Getting To Castle Peak

To begin climbing Castle Peak, there are a few different places you can start. Your starting point will be determined by how far you want to hike and the type of vehicle you have.

If you have a normal car, you pretty much have no choice but to start all the way from the bottom at the main trailhead parking area. Follow these directions to get there. It’s about 20 minutes outside of Aspen; your first mental test will be avoiding the overwhelming urge to ditch the hike in favor of a trip to one of the area’s many day spas. We parked at the trailhead for both of our Castle Peak hikes, each of which took around ten hours round trip.

If you have a vehicle with good four-wheel drive, you can drive up a little higher to the junction of Pearl Pass and Castle Creek Road. Be sure to get there early if this is your plan, as there are only a few places to park. This will knock about 60-90 minutes off your hike in either direction.

You’ll need to cross this stream offroad to make it to the Castle Creek/Pearl Pass junction

If you have a really good off-road vehicle, like a jeep with high clearance that can cross water, slush and serious rocky terrain, you can make it all the way up to Montezuma Basin at 12,800 feet. Starting from here, I would guess that you could do the hike in four or five hours round trip. Personally I feel like starting that high up is kind of cheating, but maybe I’m just bitter because the whole lower portion of the hike I was praying for some kindhearted jeep driver to come along and give us a lift.

What To Pack For Your Hike

The first thing to know about hiking a fourteener is that it’s going to take a long time. I mean, duh, but this was my biggest misconception the first time around. It’s one thing to think about hiking for eight or ten hours; it’s another to bring along enough food, water and clothing options that you’ll be comfortable while actually doing it (spoiler alert: you won’t be comfortable while doing it).

The next thing to plan for is how much water to bring. I’ve read a lot of different opinions on this, but for me, about one liter for every two to three hours of hiking is a good rule of thumb.

Bring snacks. Lots of them. You’ll be feeling pretty drained by the time you’re nearing the summit, and that extra energy boost from eating something really makes a difference. I suggest almonds, trail mix, Clif bars, and at least one solid food item like a peanut butter and banana sandwich. You probably won’t want to sit down and eat a full-on lunch, but it’s nice to have at least one substantial item like a sandwich to keep you feeling full.

The clothing and gear you need will depend a lot on the season. Both of our Castle Peak trips were in late summer; the first time there was still a pretty substantial amount of snow at that altitude, but the second time there was no snow whatsoever. You may have no way of knowing the conditions until you get out there, so here’s what I suggest wearing/bringing:

• Approach shoes, like plain old tennis shoes, for the lower, less rugged part of the trail
• Waterproof hiking boots or trail running shoes (here are mine—the waterproof part is key for if there’s snow or slush)
• An extra pair of hiking socks (it feels great to switch into a clean, dry pair halfway through)
• A lightweight, breathable base layer (NOT cotton. When you sweat, it gets damp and stays that way!)
• A light jacket or hoodie
• A waterproof outer layer (I wear the outer shell of this awesome jacket)
• Paper towels (for snack cleanup, pee breaks, nose blowing, etc.)

I packed it all in this backpack, which I’ve mentioned on this blog a few times now. It goes with me everywhere and holds a ton!

Taking cover during a passing shower. For some reason I grabbed Johnny’s jacket but I also had my trusty North Face

The Castle Peak Trail

This Castle Peak route guide is the best one I’ve seen. It contains detailed instructions for each section of the trail with photos to help you find your way.

The first time around, we thought, ‘it’s a trail! We’ll just follow it!’ We were wrong.

In some places, there’s a really obvious and well-marked trail. But in others—and especially when there’s a lot of snow—the “trail” is either hard to see or non-existent.

Tons of snow during our 2011 hike

For our most recent hike, we printed out the route map old-school style, and it was much easier to stay on course.

The conditions vary quite a bit over the different sections of the trail. You can expect some loose rock scrambling, big boulders, potentially deep snow, and steep uphill inclines at the end. It’s strenuous, but if you’re in generally good shape, it’s nothing you can’t handle. Believe it or not, I actually thought the hike was easier with a lot of snow on the ground. There was more solid footing, whereas without all the snow there were tons of little rocks sliding out from beneath us on the steeper sections of the trail, which made it harder to keep our balance.

The hike is physically challenging for sure, but it’s just as much mental. There were so many points where I would have given my right thumb for a helicopter to swoop in and carry us the rest of the way to the top (or straight to McDonald’s). I just kept telling myself to take one more step. More than anything else, don’t forget to keep taking big, deep breaths.

Altitude Sickness

I never really believed altitude sickness was real—that is, until I wanted to simultaneously puke my brains out and faint during our second Castle Peak hike. The nauseous, lightheaded, overall-horrible feeling hit John and I right around the same time as we passed 13,000 feet. His also came with a pounding headache.

At first, neither of us mentioned it because we thought we were just being wimps and needed to push through it, but eventually John said he needed to sit down and I was like omgthankyouimdying.

While neither of us felt so bad that we absolutely couldn’t keep going, it made the rest of the hike so much more difficult and slow. We took a ton of breaks, sitting down to rest every 10-15 minutes. We did make it to the top, but it probably wasn’t the safest thing to do given how we were feeling. We both started to feel better as soon as we got back down to the lower portion of the trail.

It’s worthwhile to note that we didn’t experience altitude sickness during our first Castle Peak hike, probably because at that time we were already living in Colorado and more accustomed to a higher altitude. From what I’ve read, the best way to prevent altitude sickness is to take your hike slower, i.e. by spacing it out over a couple days. The lower portion of the Castle Peak trail has some really beautiful campsites, so that’s something you could easily do by camping for a night in between hiking. If you’re traveling from somewhere closer to sea level for your hike, you might want to seriously consider making this part of your travel plan so you don’t get hit with the same crummy feeling we did.

Overall, Castle Peak was a very challenging experience both times I’ve hiked it, but the views at the top make the struggle along the way worthwhile. It’s truly breathtaking, and a pretty badass feeling to know your own two legs carried you all the way up there.

Next time we’re in Colorado I’d love to try a different—perhaps slightly less demanding—hike. If you have questions about Castle Peak or hiking in general, leave them in the comments below!

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But I’m not rich—far from it. In fact, I’m self-employed, which means I pay a lot more than the average person for things like taxes and insurance. Because of this, I stick to a pretty strict budget every month. But somehow I always make room in that budget for travel.

Through the years I’ve picked up a few tips to afford travel on a small budget, and I wanted to share them with you to show that you don’t have to have a ton of money to experience lots of different places and visit the people you love frequently.

1. Move Away From Chains

Aside from airfare, lodging is the most expensive part of traveling, so one of the easiest ways to make a trip cheaper is to stay somewhere cheaper. I mean, duh, but I’m always surprised by how many people pick a chain hotel as their first choice when planning a trip. Alternate options like AirBnbs, independent hotels and hostels can be so much more affordable!

My husband and I recently visited Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Instead of staying at a Hilton or Marriot, we stayed at the Silver Spruce Inn, a local motel. I know the very word motel makes some people squeamish, but that’s totally silly. This place was perfectly clean, had all the basic necessities and cost about half of what the chain hotels on the exact same block did.

I’m not saying you have to stay in a shithole, but think about it: how much time do you really spend in the room when you go somewhere? Probably not a whole lot, other than sleeping and getting ready. I’d rather take that money and use it toward an experience.

Related: 7 Awesome AirBnbs That Blow Hotel Rooms Out Of The Water

2. Think Carefully About Transportation

With Uber available basically everywhere, it’s easy not to think about transportation until you get to where you’re going. This is an expensive mistake.

All those quick Uber rides add up faster than Donald Trump’s list of paid-off porn stars. Being able to use public transit will save you a ton on transportation costs.

When I visited Boston last fall, I booked my AirBnb within walking distance of the Red Line so I could use the train instead of cabs to get around. Over the course of the weeklong conference, I easily saved over $200 on transportation by buying a single $21 weeklong train pass.

Don’t count out using a rental car, either. Depending how much you’ll need to get around, this can also be a more cost-effective means of transportation.

The more conscientious you are with your spending, the more you’ll have for experiences when you travel

3. Use A Mileage Credit Card

I’m so irritated I didn’t open a mileage rewards card sooner! Johnny and I opened one together when we got married and started using it for all our joint expenses, and we already have enough points for a free flight. If you travel a lot, it’s crazy not to use one (or more than one, which I’ve seen a lot of “travel hackers” do by stacking multiple benefits from multiple cards).

There are two things you have to do to make a mileage card work. First, you have to be sure you can pay it off every month (credit card 101). The interest rates on these things can be insane, and if it gets away from you you’ll be in a worse place than when you started.

Second, you need to pick a card with an airline that makes the most sense for you. Look at your local airport and see who flies there, as well as where they fly. If you’re in a major city, it makes sense to pick an airline with a hub there. If not, pick one that flies to a nearby hub with the best connections. The goal is to make it so that when you travel, you can use this airline as much as possible.

We opted for the Blue Delta SkyMiles card from American Express.

I love this card. Here are some of the reasons I picked it:

• No annual fee <– this was a huge one! Many other rewards cards charge a fee of anywhere from $50-$500 a year
• 2x miles when you use the card at restaurants and on travel, two of my biggest “splurge” expenses
• Free Shoprunner membership, which gives you free 2-day shipping and returns to a ton of my favorite stores, including Express
• Promotional cashback offers each month, for example right now there’s an offer for $20 off every $100 you spend at Crate & Barrel

If you’re just getting started with travel rewards cards, the Blue Delta SkyMiles Card is a great one to choose. If you want to give it a shot, use my link to apply and you’ll receive 10,000 bonus miles once you start using the card.

4. Opt Into Rewards Programs And Use The Crap Out Of Them

So you’ve got your miles credit card, that’s great. But you won’t get rewards on everything, and you won’t always be able to fly with your preferred airline. That’s why it’s important to opt into and use other rewards programs whenever possible, too.

For example, sometimes I use Expedia to book a hotel room or rental car because they’ll have the lowest price. I’m a member of the Expedia Rewards program, so I get points on every booking. The great thing about Expedia Rewards is that you don’t have to accumulate a certain number of points to use them; you can use them piecemeal to take a few dollars off your next purchase, or save them up to cover an entire booking. I almost always get $10 or $20 off when I book on Expedia simply because of this program—every little bit adds up!

I’m also a member of several rental car and restaurant rewards programs.

Almost all travel sites have a program like this nowadays, and joining is usually as simple as creating a user name and password.

*One caveat—I only opt into rewards programs if they’re free to join and have no annual fee.

5. Cut Your Wardrobe Spending

I’m about to make a big generalization here, so don’t sue me: women spend a lot of money on clothes.

I never realized just how much until I started working from home and having nice clothes for work was no longer a concern. I was saving so much each month just by cutting out those random lunch hour strolls through Banana Republic (shoutout to the CityPlace BR for taking my paycheck straight out of my pocket!).

I know most people still have to get dressed up each day for work, and besides that, it’s still fun to buy cute stuff to wear outside of work. But you have to prioritize. If traveling is important to you, get comfortable with buying fewer pieces of clothing much less frequently. Now I buy a handful of new things at the start of each season, and that’s it.

Here’s another interesting thing that I’ve noticed about clothing. The less you own, the less stressful it is to get dressed. I’ve moved a few times in the past few years, and each time I’ve offloaded a chunk of clothes in the process. Our most recent move to Long Island was probably my biggest clothing cleanse.

I own fewer clothing items than I ever have—and it still seems like a lot!—but I spend far less time worrying about what to wear. It’s true what they say, most of us wear the same few items over and over. Might as well buy a few things you really love and put the rest of that budget toward seeing the world.

My itty bitty closet

6. Curb Your Enthusiasm (For Big Meals)

I swear this isn’t an endorsement for starving yourself to save money.

What I mean is, your eyes are bigger than your stomach, and realizing than can save you a lot of money on food when you’re traveling. How many times have you stuffed yourself at a meal and then not felt like doing anything afterward?

Instead of having an entire sit-down lunch at a restaurant, grab something small from a café or pack a banana and a pastry from your hotel’s breakfast spread. Split an entrée at dinner instead of trying to tackle the entire thing by yourself. I promise you’ll still get full and you’ll spend about half as much on food.

7. Budget!

I saved this one for last because it’s the most important tip no matter what your financial goal is. You can’t save money for anything if you don’t have a good handle on what you’re spending!

I’ve kept a strict record of my spending every month for the last eight years. During this time I’ve been able to pay off more than $5,000 in credit card debt, quit my office job to work from home, and fund several major purchases (car, house, etc.). None of it would have been possible if I hadn’t started budgeting.

I go through good periods and not-so-good periods with my spending, but having a budget means I at least know where I stand and can correct course when I screw up. If you really want to travel more, you’ve got to set a budget for your monthly expenses, stat. Maybe I’ll dedicate an entire post to this in the future—if you think that would be helpful, leave me a comment and let me know.

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The post 7 Tips To Afford Travel On The Cheap appeared first on Cabana State Of Mind.

I’ve been wanting to write a Catskill Mountains guide for a while now, but I’m worried I can’t do it justice. There’s a peacefulness there that I haven’t really experienced in many other places, and lots of people I’ve talked to feel the same way. It’s hard to put down in words, but I’ll try.

Visiting The Catskills

The Catskills are about a two-hour drive north of New York City. You can easily make the drive up interstate 87, or take the Catskill Mountain Railroad, which runs from Kingston to various mountain locations and back.

Aside from having some of the most incredible natural beauty, the area is dotted with dozens of little mountain towns that are filled with charm. I’m partial to one of those small towns, which is where I’ve spent the most time in the Catskills: Tannersville, New York.

A million miles away from New York City

Downtown Tannersville is made up one main road with a single stoplight. The main street is lined with historic buildings painted in vibrant pinks and yellows and greens—hence the nickname ‘the Painted Village In the Sky.’ Does it get any cuter?

If you’re looking into visiting the Catskill Mountains, it’s a great place to choose as the home base for your trip.

Things To Do In The Catskills

The real question is, what can’t you do there? The great thing about the Catskills is that there’s plenty to do no matter what time of year it is.

Exploring the Overlook Mountain House ruins

View from the top of Overlook Mountain

In the summer, go hiking on Overlook Mountain up to the Overlook Mountain House ruins. This crumbling structure and its grounds were once the site of a fancy shmancy Catskills resort, and it’s a really cool area to explore.

Kaaterskill Falls right outside of Tannersville is another scenic and relatively quick hike to a beautiful two-tiered waterfall.

After your hike, reward yourself with a Hudson Valley wine tour at one of the area’s many wineries. I love Hudson-Chatham Winery, which has its main location in Ghent and a tasting room in Tannersville.

In the winter, ski or snowboard at Hunter Mountain or Windham Mountain. Windham is my pick between the two because it feels a little more laid back, whereas Hunter seems to be the choice for more “serious” skiers.

A bunny slope is still a slope, right?

Spring and fall are the in-between months, but I think they might be my favorite because the weather is just so beautiful. Crisp, sunny days and cool nights—perfect for camping, which is the next adventure I want to tackle on my Catskills bucket list.

Where To Eat In The Catskills

Assuming you’re staying in or around Tannersville, Last Chance Cheese on Main Street is a must-visit. It’s everything you could want in a mountain town café: cozy, delicious and filled with antique tchotchkes hanging on the walls. Everything on the menu is good, but I almost always end up getting a reuben. They also have a stockpile of more than 300 beers to choose from.

Just down the street from Last Chance Cheese is an awesome breakfast spot, Twin Peaks Coffee and Donuts. They make homemade donuts and breakfast sandwiches that put my beloved Dunkin to shame. Everything is made to order, so just be sure you’re not in a hurry (which I feel is a good rule for the Catskills in general).

Burgers and fries on the front lawn at Mama’s Boy are also a great dining option when it’s nice out.

If you’re feeling lowbrow, pop into one of my favorite dive bars of all time, The Spinning Room, on Tannersville’s Main Street. This place has it all: a juke box, a foosball machine from 1994, whiskey shots that make you want to die. You can’t miss it.

Where To Stay In The Catskills

You won’t find many chain hotels almost anywhere in the Catskills, which is an upside in my book. Part of the experience is staying at a local inn, bed & breakfast or historic Catskills resort, many of which date back to the 1800’s when visitors would take the now-defunct railroad up from the city.

I was recently given a complimentary stay at Scribner’s Lodge, a property that’s been around since the 1960’s, and I highly recommend it as a Catskills lodging option. The Lodge recently underwent a total facelift incorporating many of the original fixtures, like wood-burning stoves that are now used for nightly s’mores roasts.

One of the old wood-burning stoves now used to roast s’mores

That natural light!

Scribner’s has an on-site restaurant, bar and to-die-for pool area, and cozy nooks for curling up can be found around every corner. My biggest compliment for Scribner’s is its attention to detail; from the personalized welcome note in the room to the locally sourced toiletry kits, everything seemed so thoughtfully planned.

The rustic Phoenicia Lodge in nearby Phoenicia is another place where John and I have had a great experience staying.

Kicking back in a hammock at Phoenicia Lodge

Both Scribner’s and Phoenicia Lodge are dog friendly! And of course, there are also tons of AirBnbs to choose from.

Unlike pretty much every other place in the country that has such natural beauty, the Catskill Mountains haven’t been completely eaten up by developers and condos and Starbucks. That’s one of the main reasons I love the area so much.

If you’re looking to leave the traffic and chaos of the city behind in exchange for small-town charm and incredible scenery, you should definitely pay this area a visit.

Download my quick reference guide to the Catskills with many more suggestions for lodging, dining and activities. Just enter your email address below to access it!

The post NYC Getaways: Catskill Mountains, New York appeared first on Cabana State Of Mind.

This itinerary will take you to three of the city’s five boroughs and includes some of my favorite spots to bring friends when they visit. I’ve left most of the major tourist attractions like the Empire State Building and The Met off this list; if hitting those sights is important to you, I’m assuming you’ve already got a spot for them on your itinerary!

Day 1

9:00 AM: Fly into LaGuardia Airport

Out of the three major airports that serve NYC (LaGuardia, Newark and JFK), I think LaGuardia is the best one to hit the ground running on a quick trip.

From the airport, hop on the M60-SBS bus or grab an Uber for a short ride into Astoria for our first stop.

10:00 AM: Brunch at Queens Comfort

This is the very first place Johnny and I went when we came to scope out neighborhoods before moving to the city. We picked it because it was open and we were starving. We had no idea it was a Queens staple, but we quickly found out why.

There’s a hype man out front that tells jokes while you wait (get there early—a line forms pretty quick after it opens). The interior is decorated with vintage toys. You can bring your own booze.

The menu is classic comfort food and is always changing. When we were there the selection included dishes like deep fried mac and cheese covered in Sriracha and French toast dipped in Fruity Pebbles.

Bacon grilled cheese french toast via Queens Comfort Instagram

12:00 PM: Walk the High Line

The West Side Line was an elevated train track within the New York City Railroad line that was abandoned in 1980. It sat unused until 2006, when the city began work to turn the space into an elevated park.

Today, High Line Park runs adjacent to the Hudson River from the Meatpacking District up into Chelsea. It’s a totally unique feature in a city known for its skyscrapers and a great place to take photos.

2:00 PM: Drinks at City Vineyard

Cool off from your walk with an ice-cold cocktail at nearby City Vineyard. Grab a spot on the rooftop deck for some of the best Hudson River views in the city.

4:00 PM: Stroll the Shops at Chelsea Market

This one-time Nabisco factory has been converted into an indoor flea market of sorts (but like, not gross). You’ll find local shops, food vendors, artisans and plenty to look at. This is a great place to pick up souvenirs of the non-I-heart-NY-tee-shirt variety.

Google’s New York City headquarters is across the street, which is also kind of cool to see.

5:30 PM: Freshen Up

You’ve been walking all day. If it’s summer, you’re stinky. If it’s winter, you’re frozen. Take a few minutes to freshen up and grab some Starbucks from any street corner.

7:00 PM: Dinner at Mermaid Inn

One of my favorite restaurants in the city—seafood, if you couldn’t guess from the name. The Mermaid Inn has two locations, one in the East Village and one on the Upper West Side, both equally delicious.

I recommend a reservation if you don’t want to wait, but they do take walk-ins. If you’re ready before 7, pop on over early for the daily happy hour, which includes $1 oysters!

9:00 PM: Music at Rockwood Music Hall

I’m not big on nightclubs, so that aspect of Manhattan nightlife is wasted on me. What I do love, however, is live music. If that’s your bag too, you’ll love this spot.

Rockwood Music Hall is a multi-room music venue with three stages. Every night, each stage has a rotating lineup of different acts across all kinds of musical genres, some of which require tickets and some that do not.

Stage 1 is always no cover and no tickets required with a different act every hour. I love this because you don’t have to commit to paying cover for a band you’re not sure about (although they’re almost always great). If you’re not feeling it, you only have to wait until the top of the hour until the next act starts.

12:00 AM: Nightcap at McSorleys

A New York City mainstay, McSorley’s is billed as the oldest Irish tavern in New York City. From what I’ve read, the accuracy of that is debatable, but in any case it’s been open a long freaking time.

There’s so much history to this place. It’s been frequented by Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt. No women were allowed in until 1970. They only serve two drinks: dark and light ale, which makes it the perfect no-frills spot to grab one more before calling it a night.

Day 2

10:00 AM: NYC Ferry to Williamsburg

There are lots of transit options to get from Manhattan to Brooklyn, but in my opinion the best one for sightseeing is hands down the NYC ferry. It’s the same price as a ride on the subway and you don’t have to risk getting blasted in the face with a hot garbage breeze while getting on it.

Take the ferry from East 34^th Street to the North Williamsburg stop and you’ll find yourself in the heart of one of Brooklyn’s most popular neighborhoods.

11:00 AM: Smorgasburg (Saturdays and Sundays, April through November)

How do I describe Smorgasburg? Let me see… quail eggs on a stick. Spaghetti donuts. Waffle ice cream cones made of an actual waffle. And a whole bunch of other less exotic but really, really good food, all lined up in rows of tents just waiting for you to come and Instagram—I mean eat—it.

The aforementioned quail eggs on a stick

Smorgasburg is held Saturdays in Williamsburg (close to the ferry stop mentioned above) and Sundays in Prospect Park (also in Brooklyn) from April through November.

12:30 PM: New York Transit Museum

I’m not a huge museum person, but this one is right up my alley. It’s located underground in a decommissioned subway station, with the exhibits housed in subway cars from various eras.

I love that unlike many of the city’s museums, which overwhelm me with their sheer mass, you can easily get through this one in an hour or two.

3:00 PM: Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

Make your way back into Manhattan on foot via the Brooklyn Bridge. Photo ops galore! Just be sure to stay in the pedestrian lane or risk getting creamed by a pissed-off cyclist (my husband).

4:00 PM: Power Nap

So. Much. Walking. Sneak in a little snooze before the evening’s festivities.

5:30 PM: Drinks at the Top of the Rock

Top of the Rock is an observation deck perched 70 floors up on top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza (’30 Rock’ ring a bell?). The views are incredible, but it costs $40 just to go up there!

A better bet is to head up to Bar SixtyFive, an upscale cocktail lounge located almost all the way at the top. You’ll have to fork over about $20 a drink, but you’ll experience the same amazing views and at least have a cocktail to show for it.

Note that the dress code is “cocktail chic” (their words, not mine), so you’ll want to change out of your grubby tennis shoes first. Call in advance to make sure it’s not closed for a private event.

7:00 PM: Dinner at Becco

All of the cheese. All of the pasta. All of the wine. That’s all you need to know.

9:00 PM: Broadway Show Or Rock The Yacht Cruise

Pick your poison: step into a nearby theater for a world-class play or musical, or head to the piers and hop on a nighttime sightseeing cruise around Manhattan (if you want to see the skyline at night, this is the way to do it!).

I’ve done Hornblower Cruises’ ‘Rock The Yacht’ cruise with friends a few times and the photo ops did not disappoint.

Skyline views from the Rock The Yacht cruise

Pro tip: if a Broadway show isn’t in the budget, Off-Broadway (or Off Off-Broadway) are often of equal caliber at half the price or less.

Aladdin off Broadway was amazing!

12:00 AM: Late Night Bite

Head to the East Village and hit up Crif Dogs, where a hot dog saying ‘Eat Me’ hangs out front, and take your pick from a listing of topping-covered wieners.

If you’re in the mood to keep the party going, step into the phone booth and enter the not-at-all-secret secret speakeasy behind the wall, Please Don’t Tell.

Day 3

9:00 AM: Pre-Flight Nosh

Grab a bagel at Katz’ Deli before heading to the airport to jet off.

Enjoy your trip!

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The post 48 Hours In New York City: Travel Itinerary appeared first on Cabana State Of Mind.

For starters, AirBnb is almost always comparatively priced if not cheaper than a hotel room, and it often comes with better amenities like a private pool or a full kitchen.

It’s also a great option for traveling with a dog. I’ve found AirBnbs to be way more flexible in allowing pets than most hotels, and they don’t come with the added pet fee that even pet-friendly hotels charge you.

Finally—and my favorite reason for using AirBnb—it adds one more special element to the trip that you don’t get from your standard-issue bed-minifridge-bath hotel room. This post is in no way affiliated with AirBnb by the way, although I sound like a walking advertisement. I just really love the service and want to encourage more people to take advantage of it!

To show just how awesome AirBnb can be, here are seven completely unique places I’ve stayed at that I never would have gotten to experience if I’d opted for the Holiday Inn.

1. Houseboat in the Florida Keys

For my birthday one year (27? 28? Gosh time flies), we rented a house boat in Key Largo to stay on for the weekend.

It had everything you’d need for a 3-day stay—a bedroom, kitchen, normal bathroom, etc.—and this amazing rooftop deck where we spent the mornings sipping mimosas and soaking in the sun.

In the afternoons, we launched our paddleboards off the back of the boat and cruised out into the ocean. Bo even stayed on the boat with us! It was one of the most memorable trips and definitely one of the coolest places I’ve ever stayed.

2. Townhouse in the Garden District

I had my bachelorette party in New Orleans and we stayed in a big historic townhouse in the middle of the Garden District. It was walking distance to some of the best food the city has to offer and an easy streetcar ride to the French Quarter.

I loved that everybody could hang out together in the big airy kitchen, lounge on the living room couches and easily chitchat between rooms as we got ready and sipped cocktails. We wouldn’t have been able to do that if we were all split up in different hotel rooms.

3. Cozy house in the Poconos

On a freezing weekend last fall, we drove up to the Poconos to get together with some friends. I booked a pretty standard-looking Airbnb, a house in a lakeside residential community.

When we got there, though, I was pleasantly surprised by how charming it was, nestled back in the woods down a dirt road. Although it was part of a neighborhood, it was so tucked away that you could barely tell there were any other houses around.

Aside from hanging out with our friends, my favorite part of the trip was enjoying my morning coffee all bundled up on the front porch looking out at the changing leaves.

4. Beach bungalow in Costa Rica

This should help convey my love for Airbnb: I used it on my honeymoon!

Johnny and I stayed in a beach bungalow in Tamarindo, Costa Rica and it was the perfect location, slightly removed from all the crazy party spots but still within a five-minute walk to the beach.

It had a private pool that was shared among the five units on the property, and each unit had its own balcony where we relaxed with glasses of wine before dinner every evening.

The best part? It was only $100 a night, so much less expensive than the luxury resorts in the same area.

5. Mountain cabin in the Catskills

We were the first guests to stay at this newly-listed AirBnb property a few miles from Windham Mountain. The funny thing was, we had been scoping out the house on Trulia when it was for sale a few months prior!

It had a wood-burning stove which I used to fill the house with smoke on our first night, and the bedroom we picked to sleep in was up at the top of a spiral staircase in an attic that had been converted into a loft.

We visited this cabin in the middle of winter when there was about four feet of snow on the ground, and Bo had a blast romping through the drifts in the backyard. I would love to go back and stay again in the summer.

Bo loving life in the sun-drenched cabin

6. Studio in Cambridge

When I was getting ready to visit Boston for the first time last fall for a marketing conference, I was floored at the price of hotel rooms. I’d heard that Boston was even more expensive than New York City, and it was proving to be alarmingly true.

In a bit of a panic, I turned to AirBnb hoping to find something in the price range I had planned for. I found a cute little studio apartment in Cambridge that was a short ride on the T (Boston’s equivalent of the subway) to the conference center, and snapped it up right away.

While it wasn’t as convenient as staying at the conference hotel, it also wasn’t nearly as cookie-cutter. I got to see a lot of the city while walking between the apartment, train station and conference center that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise since most of my trip was spent in marketing sessions.

7. Basement Apartment in Long Beach

Finally, our most recent AirBnb stay was right in our own backyard. Our plumbing had to be cut off for a couple days while we were having some work done, so we stayed in a basement apartment across the street from the Atlantic Ocean.

It was kind of funny packing a bag to go and stay less than a mile from our own house, but it also felt sort of like a mini-vacation. If you’re craving a getaway but don’t have the time or money for a big trip, booking an AirBnb nearby is a nice compromise.

If you’re ready to plan a trip, get a $40 travel credit when you sign up for AirBnb using this link! I’ll also get a $20 credit (which I’ll use, like, immediately), so it’s a win-win.

I’d love to see you back here again! Subscribe below and get my latest updates delivered to your inbox.

The post 7 Awesome AirBnbs That Blow Hotel Rooms Out Of The Water appeared first on Cabana State Of Mind.

I’ve never been on a cruise ship in my life, so although I was obviously overjoyed for my friend and his partner, I have to admit I was nervous about how the whole thing would go down.

For starters, I usually get super anxious when I’m cooped up anywhere for too long. I worried that I’d start to feel panicky being confined to a ship for so many days.

For seconds, I’m not the biggest fan of crowds. It’s not a phobia or anything close, I’d just rather have my space than be around a ton of people.

Now before I start sounding like a Debbie downer about taking a weeklong Caribbean vacation (poor me!), let me say that the trip was amazing. It was a one-of-a-kind wedding filled with so many memories that I’ll treasure forever!

I survived my first cruise, but I did learn a few things along the way. If you’re about to take your first cruise, here are some things to know before you go.

1. Unpack when you first arrive 

I probably would’ve never done this if I was traveling with my husband, but my mom (who came along as my date) suggested it and I’m so glad we did it. It made all the difference in the world in the room being livable for seven days.

Hot tip: cruise ship staterooms are small. I know, you’re shocked. But they actually do a great job maximizing storage space between the closet, a few drawers, and random shelves and cubby areas around the room. Use these!

Our cute little stateroom felt bigger with all our stuff put away. Hi mom!

Unpacking our stuff meant we could slide our suitcases under the bed and keep them out of the way. It also meant we knew where everything was, so we didn’t waste time digging around for stuff while trying to get ready.

2. A balcony makes the room feel a lot bigger

We sprung for a stateroom with a balcony and once again, I’m so glad we did this. It makes the room feel much more like a standard hotel room, and opening up the sliding door is a great way to make the room feel bigger.

Breakfast on the balcony. Waking up to this each morning was amazing!

One of my favorite parts of the trip was eating breakfast out on the balcony while looking down on the beautiful Caribbean sea every morning. We felt so fancy!

3. Pack an over-the-door toiletry case

I saw this tip online a little too late to use it, but I’ll definitely do it if I go on another cruise. A hanging toiletry case like this one is perfect for the inside of the bathroom door so you have all your goodies within reach without them taking up precious counter or shelf space.

4. Use a backpack as your carry-on

I bought this backpack when we were moving to New York City and it’s been one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Seriously. I take it everywhere. Hiking, weekend trips, working at coffee shops. I always use it as my airplane carry-on. It fits a ton!

Cruise ships treat carry-on bags differently than regular bags just like planes, which was news to me. You check your larger bag before you get on the ship and it’s delivered to your stateroom later that evening. Your carry-on, on the other hand, stays with you when you board. While it might be tempting to use a cute duffel or straw bag as your carry-on, I think a backpack is much more practical.

My Under Armour backpack goes with me everywhere! I love it.

Not only can it easily hold your swimsuit, a change of shoes, a toiletry bag and anything else you’ll want easy access to when you get on the ship, but it’s great for the days in port. Every morning before we went ashore I’d fill it with my beach gear, our towels, bottled water and a few snacks, and we’d have everything we needed for the day. It’s much easier than toting around a purse or shoulder bag while you’re trying to explore.

5. When in doubt about what to pack, lean toward the casual side

I saw all kinds of fashion on this trip—truly the best and worst of America. One thing I noticed across the board, though, was that comfort came first in terms of what to wear.

I brought a bunch of cute outfits for the days we were in port, but when it came down to it I just ended up throwing on a cotton tank top and denim shorts over my bathing suit most days. It was hot! A silky top or a snug fitting romper just wasn’t practical.

Before one of the formal dinners onboard the ship

On the ship, most cruises will have at least one “formal night” where you dress up a bit more for dinner. Even for this, though, most people were on the casual side. I wore this cocktail dress and felt plenty formal.

6. Know the tipping policy before you go

I found it really hard to get a clear answer on this. Some people told us we’d need cash to tip onboard. Others told us you don’t have to tip in cash because it’s automatically included in the price of things. It took us a few days to finally understand how the tipping worked. If you’re not clear on this, you could end up spending way more than you anticipate!

Here’s how tipping worked on our Royal Caribbean ship: almost everything we purchased onboard automatically included a 15% gratuity, which was shown on the receipt. On top of this, we were also being charged a flat gratuity of $15 per day, which was added to our final bill. This covered the dining room and stateroom attendants who served us each day.

So, there’s a lot of tipping going on before you even whip out any cash. In general, I tipped $1-2 more on any cocktails I ordered and we left a few dollars a day in the room for our stateroom attendant. At the end of the trip my mom also handed a tip directly to our dining room attendant, who had taken care of us every night at dinner.

We learned that it’s possible to opt out of the $15/day charge if you prefer to tip solely in cash instead.

7. Bring more cash than you think you need

This is like, a rule for life in general, right?

Even though some cruise ships claim to be “cashless,” i.e. you use your credit card or your sailing pass to make purchases, you’ll still need cash for a decent number of things. Here are just a few of the things we needed it for on our trip:

• Tipping
• Gambling in the casino
• Shopping with the local vendors in the ports
• Grabbing quick drinks and snacks from street carts
• Paying cab drivers
• Paying highway tolls on the way to and from the ship

Keep in mind that taking out cash when you’re outside of the U.S. will usually cost you money in exchange fees, so it’s best to have it on hand before you go.

Congratulations to one of my BFFs, the groom!

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by my first cruising experience. If I ever go on another one, I’ll feel way more chill about it.

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I looked up City Island and learned that it’s a small island community just a mile and a half long in the easternmost part of The Bronx. Johnny and I made the trip out there to check it out on a recent Saturday and were pleasantly surprised.

I realize it’s technically still in New York City, but I’m including it in my NYC Getaways series because it feels like a totally different place. It has much more of a New England vibe, with coastal looking beach houses, fishing boats and seafood restaurants on every other block.

To get to City Island, we took the 1 train to 215^th Street, transferred to the Bx12 bus, and then transferred again to the Bx29. Getting there is a hike, but it also adds to the feeling that you’re leaving the hustle and bustle of the city behind.

Eventually we crossed the bridge onto the north end of the island. We got off at the first stop and just started walking.

We strolled through neighborhood streets lined with Cape Cod-style houses painted blue and white, and I stood on my tiptoes to try and take pictures of Long Island Sound through people’s fences (normal). Pretty much every street that runs across the island dead ends at the water, and we explored the little stretches of shoreline at the streets’ ends overlooking the sound.

I was delighted to learn about City Island’s creepy neighbor to the east, Hart Island. Over the last 200 years this remote island has been home to a Civil War prison camp, a psych ward, a tuberculosis sanatorium, and a massive public burial ground. More than a million bodies are supposedly buried on the tiny island, which is now (obviously) uninhabited. It’s the stuff of Murderino dreams. The city offers public tours of the island once a month, and I’m considering signing up. Wanna come?

The view of Hart Island to the east. Creepy!

Anyway, back to the less morbid City Island… within an hour we’d reached the south end of the island, which is filled with seafood joints. We were starving, so we grabbed a table at the first one we saw, Sammy’s Shrimp Box.

I wish I could say we were blown away, especially since we’d ventured so far with visions of mouthwatering local seafood in mind. Unfortunately, we weren’t. I hate to write something negative about a place, especially in such a cool neighborhood, but it was definitely not what we were expecting. Our meal was okay—coconut shrimp for me and fried oysters for Johnny—but it was nothing special and it was pricey, even for New York standards. To put it plainly, it felt like a tourist trap.

If we’d done a little more research first, we probably would have opted for Johnny’s Reef Restaurant just a few steps further to the south. It’s been a City Island staple since 1950 and is known for having awesome seafood at affordable prices in a more authentic setting, which was closer to what we had in mind. We’ll have to check it out next time.

After lunch, we made our way back up the island along the main drag, City Island Avenue. We came across The Snug, a cozy looking bar, and stopped in for a few beers before finally catching the bus back home.

One of the city’s oldest yacht clubs

In the 18 months I’ve lived in New York I’ve never heard anyone mention City Island; I think it’s a totally underrated day trip and definitely worth a visit! Go on a nice day when you won’t mind walking around outside, and just be sure to do a little homework before picking a spot to eat if you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg.

Be sure to check out my NYC Getaways page for more day trip and weekend ideas.

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The post NYC Getaways: City Island, The Bronx appeared first on Cabana State Of Mind.