1. Get a Travel Credit Card

On my trips abroad, I take my Capital One Venture card because of the zero transaction fees. I’ll typically take that and one debit card. It’s actually more cost efficient to take out cash at an ATM rather than exchanging it at the airports or at an exchange stand. I’ve found that exchanging currency elsewhere normally comes with higher fees.

Note: Make sure your debit card works outside of the country before traveling.

2. Look for Travel Deals

I always use europeandestinations.com when I’m looking to travel abroad. This travel website is the reason I can afford to travel as much as I do. They have package deals for as low as $700 for flights and hotels depending on the time of year and destination. It’s a great way to explore the world at a low cost. Recently, I traveled to Paris and Amsterdam for 6 nights and spent around $800-$900 per person for hotels and flights out of Jacksonville.

3. Research the Country You’re Traveling To

This is a no brainer and is important because it gives you insight into the country you are visiting. One thing I’ve discovered is that some countries might frequently use credit cards while other countries almost only take cash. For example, when we traveled to Japan we had to use cash pretty much everywhere, but when we traveled to London, credit cards were widely accepted.

It’s also important to research the activities you want to do and on what days. Some attractions are closed on Sundays and Mondays. When traveling to Berlin over a weekend, I found that most of the restaurants were closed on Saturday and Sunday. It sucked because we didn’t get to try some of the foods we wanted to. This could have been prevented if I had done a little more research ahead of time.

4. Pack Light

The first time I traveled abroad I packed way too much and had to lug around a giant rolling bag. The second time around I wanted to give backpacking a try. Backpacking makes traveling easier and makes you more mobile. 

I purchased an Osprey 46 bag around 5 years ago and I highly recommend this bag because it’s still going strong, fits all of my essentials, and is super comfy while wearing.

So what does my typical bag look like for a 10-12 day trip? See below:

• 1 pair of jeans
• 3 pair of leggings
• 1 pair of cute flats for nice dinners (Note: Wear heavier walking shoes on the plane)
• 5 pairs of underwear
• 4-5 pair of socks
• 2 bras (Wear one, pack one)
• Makeup, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, Tylenol, etc.
• Empty water bottle (This helps save money in the airports where bottles of water can be 5-7$)

If it will be cold where I’m going, I will attach a thick, waterproof coat to the outside of my backpack. Along with my carry-on, I also take a larger purse (see picture above) with my camera, iPad and phone chargers.

Note: I do not pack shampoo, condition, hair dryers etc. These items are typically at the place I’m staying.

5. Stay at an Airbnb

There are many benefits to staying at an Airbnb. It’s great because you can split the costs with other travelers, it makes you feel more like a local, and you can stay close to main attractions.It’s also my secret to packing so light on longer trips. I take less clothes and wash what I need to at the Airbnb. 

These are the top 5 things I’ve learned over the years and I hope these tips help you on your next adventure. If you have a question or want to share your experience please do so in the comments. I would love to hear from you!

The post 5 Tips for Traveling Abroad appeared first on Angela Van Winkle.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. -1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV

It seems like just yesterday I was in school, living at home, working part-time, fighting with my siblings, and enjoying a somewhat care-free lifestyle. I used to think after I graduated college I would have more time on my hands for the things that I enjoy. However, it seems like I have been going full speed ahead since graduating. It’s crazy to think that I turned 30 years old this month because I still feel like my younger self, just a little wiser. Over the past 10 years I have experienced and gone through so much and I wanted to share some of my good memories from my 20s with everyone. 

One of my first memories from my 20s was traveling out of the country for the first time on a study abroad. It opened my eyes to a whole other world and would change my outlook on life forever. I was hesitant to go on the trip because the guy I was seeing at the time did not want me to go. My mom, however, encouraged me to go, reminding me that I may not get an opportunity like that again. I’m so glad that I went on that study abroad in 2009 because it gave me a new perspective about what I wanted out of life.

Some of my not so favorite memories include partying and drinking a lot, staying up until 4:00 a.m. and then waking up to attend classes the next day. Thinking back to it, I’m not really sure how I managed that and I often wonder why I was so driven. 

All and all, there were good and bad times in my 20s, but I like to focus and remember the positive things. One of my happiest moments was when Griffin proposed to me at the Pantheon in Italy. It was so surreal and a memory I will cherish forever. What you don’t know is that I never wanted to get married. I saw first hand what divorce does to families and I never wanted that. However, God had different plans for me and brought me the perfect person to do life with.

With all the things that happened over the past 10 years some of my favorite memories came from traveling the world with Griffin. We’ve seen some amazing places together and traveled to Italy, England, France, the Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland and Japan. We’ve also traveled around the U.S visiting Washington D.C., Savannah, Atlanta, Asheville, Charleston, Portland, Seattle, Las Vegas, Orlando, Tampa, Chicago, Austin, San Antonio, Beaufort, and Panama City.

Now here I am, sitting in our second home reflecting on how great God is. All of these experiences I had were because of God. He loves and cares for me so much that he gave me these amazing opportunities in life.  Over the years, God has shown me that I am loved and perfect just how I am. I’m excited for the future because Griffin and I have so much planned for the years to come. I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on something positive in your life. Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

The post Another Year Goes By appeared first on Angela Van Winkle.

That study abroad changed my life. Before that trip, the plan was to get married and have a large family because that’s all I had ever really known. My trip to Italy in 2009 changed my perspective and opened my eyes to whole other world. I had a new appreciation for the art and architecture I only read about in my art books. I remember seeing the Coliseum in person and was just so amazed! The tiny picture in my art book just did not do it justice and I truly feel like you have to see these things in person to appreciate them. It was at that point I knew there was so much more to experience in life and I wanted to do just that.

I fell in love with traveling that summer and it was after that trip I decided to create a list of things I would experience and see before I settled down.  So far I have traveled to 6 different countries with plans to visit more! My husband and I have been to Italy, Japan, England, Ireland, France and the Netherlands. Next on our list is to visit Belgium and Germany. Some other top destinations on our list include the Ireland Coast, Spain and Iceland. I’m so happy that my husband loves traveling as much as I do and I can’t wait for our next destination!

If you are interested in traveling abroad, I highly encourage you do it! Traveling doesn’t have to be super expensive and there are ways to do it on a budget! I love helping people, so message me if you need some guidance on where to begin!

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