What They Don’t Tell You About Traveling

This shit is exhausting. Like, seriously. You don’t hear that though. You just hear about the places and the cool things that happened there. What travelers don’t tell you is that the actual traveling part sucks. It’s time to call BS.

I travel for work and leisure. My job is sending me to 5 different states all within the span of 1 week, that’s only 7 days! You do that math. I love my job but after this contract is up, consider me Houdini because I’m disappearing. Actually, consider me Nefertiti because I’m a Queen. ha.

I’m asked so many times “how I get to travel so often”, and how people would love to trade places with me. No baby, you don’t want to.

There was a trip where I went from Chicago, IL, USA – Bonn, Germany – Milan, Italy – Marrakech, Morrocco – Agadir, Morocco – Essaouira, Morocco – Marrakech, Morocco – Madrid, Spain – Bonn, Germany – Chicago, IL, USA- Miami, FL – The Bahamas – St. Thomas – San Juan, Puerto Rico – Grand Turks – Miami, FL – Chicago for a week & a half then back to Bonn, Germany.

Sounds like a lot, right? But on Instagram it looked like I was living the dream. A little like this :

But I wasn’t. I can’t even begin to tell you how tired I was after that month. I was sluggish. I just wanted to sleep, every day, all the time. Your body needs time to heal after all of that. Honestly, I still haven’t really sat down since then, and that’s my own fault. It illustrates so differently on social media, but if you were to bump into me after any of my extensive trips you would see the bags under my eyes and how I turn every outing into something I can walk into with yoga pants and t-shirt.

It illustrates so differently on social media, but if you were to bump into me after any of my extensive trips you would see the bags under my eyes and how I turn every outing into something I can walk into with yoga pants and t-shirt.

And when I’m traveling for leisure, I usually need a vacation from my vacation. Ha. I’m not even joking.

It’s just funny that I write for a travel blog, I travel for work, I travel for fun, yet I only share the surface about traveling. I want when I write to feel like I’m talking to Muneek, Dean or one of my other close friends. I want it to be candid and raw and real.

And all my friends know that I’m a bit of a drama queen, so sometimes when I talk I just go a little overboard then dial it back down and say ” I still wouldn’t trade it anything else” and that’s true.

Yeah, I’m tired as hell, I don’t feel like unpacking, don’t feel like packing, don’t feel like taking a taxi to the freaking airport, don’t feel like paying for an upgrade to get out of sitting in that damn middle seat, don’t feel like putting my phone on airplane mode, and I don’t feel like searching for wifi so I can use WhatsApp.

But as soon as I step off that plane I go from DRAMA QUEEN to Woman of the The World, and I am so grateful for every opportunity and every piece of land that I get to walk on. I just had to complain a little before.

All jokes aside, I do realize how blessed and favored I am to be in this situation. Which is why you don’t hear me complain about it. I don’t take any of this for granted, at all. I just wanted to make light of the situation and tell you ( my readers) that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Ci sentiamo, Ciao ❤

Designer vs. Destination

Have you ever had to decide between the two? I have. Its not an easy decision either. Especially with me becoming an adult now, sometimes I think “Do you really need those Guiseppe’s?” “Do you really need to take off work for a month and travel Europe?”… Crazy!! The decisions you have to make being a 20 something year old in the city!

So I did a little comparison. Lets say one month you buy another pair of Louboutin’s Pigalle Follies (August, $675 ) and then the next month you plan out a month long trip in Europe for the same price. Which one do you think is more expensive? Would you be surprised if I told you that I actually spent less on the Europe trip than the Louboutins? This isn’t to deter you away from purchasing your luxury goods, because even with this information, Im still going to splurge when I can. haha. I just wanted you to see what else you could be doing if for one month the money you spent on shoes, bags, and shades were spent on a trip.

Here is a look at my itinerary for my October-November, Europe (and Africa) trip.

Germany to Milan $11

1 night stay in Milan $75

Milan to Marrakesh $51

4 night stay in Marrakesh** $113

Marrakesh to Madrid $31

3 night stay in Madrid** $80

Madrid to Cologne $32

Total $393

** accommodations split between 2 people, does not reflect entire cost.

Thats insane, right? I still have money left over! Im thinking of adding a weekend trip to Portugal, or maybe the Amalfi Coast, who knows. The world is my oyster, with these affordable prices it can be yours too.

If you’re wondering how accommodations and flights can be so cheap, check out my guide to Making Your Dollar stretch in Europe!

Making Your Dollar Stretch in Europe

People ask me all the time “How can you travel so much?”, “Where can I find cheap flights?”, “What do I need to do to be able to travel as much as you do?”. While most just assume I have a sugar daddy somewhere, unfortunately I don’t haha.

So I decided to make this list as a reference for those curious. Below I will list most, if not all, my secrets to getting to, through and beyond Europe for the low and how to make your money stretch.

Flights.

I have become a pro at this in such a short period of time, seriously! My first European trip, my bestie and I spent $800 each on a round trip ticket. Phew! I was still in school at that time and not nearly making as much money as I am now, 800 dollars was a lot to me. But it’s no point in living in the past, especially because since then I’ve scored roundtrip tickets for less than $300. Young grasshopper has grown.

Skyscanner. I live by this app. I love the search filter. You’re able to choose your departing city and select everywhere as your destination. That allows you to play around with your destination and get creative on how to get to your next one.

For example, say you really want to go to Paris, but you find a cheaper flight on skyscanner going to London. Don’t splurge on the flight to Paris! Stop by London and take a train to Paris, they run daily and if I’m not mistaken every other hour.

Do your research and get creative. Europe is easy to travel. Start googling planes, trains, buses, ferries and ships.

Accommodations.

This will depend on the person. I personally love splurging on hotels, especially when I grab a super cheap flight! But I am no stranger to Hostels and Airbnb. When I am in a new country and I don’t have any friends, I hostel it up. I usually check on Hostel World. It has reviews from other hostelers ( don’t know if that is a word, just go with it) and you can price check a bunch of them. If you’re not a fan of sleeping with 7 other people, you can always book a private room. Sometimes the private rooms are cheaper than booking a hotel and you can still mingle with your peers outside of the dorms.

Airbnb, the best way to live like a local.Its nice feeling like you’re home even when you’re miles away.

I love airbnb-ing in Paris, haha, I feel like a true Parisian every time I wake up.

But if you go the hotel route, sign up for as many point rewards as possible. I book all my hotels through Hotels.com, with every 10 nights, you get 1 night free. I travel a lot for work and leisure so its super easy for those nights to accumulate.

Last but not least, how keen are you on the idea of sleeping with strangers? Couch Surfing. It’s a free way to hop around and have a place to stay, but should be used to experience ones cultures and not to just be cheap. I’ve only used it to meet locals, but I have a friend Mandi , who swears by it. So there is always that.

Getting Around.

As I mentioned before, Europe has some pretty solid ways to hopping around country to country. Like the infamous low cost carrier Ryanair. Its like Spirit in the states… But instead of going state to state, you’re traveling country to country for less than $50.

Have you heard of BlaBlaCar??? I just found out about it! Its like Uber but for long hauls. You can ride with someone who is going from country A to country B for a fraction of the price of a plane ticket. It sounds super cool, I haven’t used it, but I plan on using it when I have a less structured itinerary.

While you’re in the city? LEARN THE UNDERGROUND AND BUS SYSTEM. Fortunately, you can map out everything on Google and it will provide you with step by step directions. It’s much cheaper than a cab/taxi.

If you rely on Uber? Don’t. It’s becoming popular here. I’ve only used it in Milan and Paris, but it’s still cheaper to walk or take the train. I’m in Germany right now, and Uber is not happening. haha. I think thats why the people here are so skinny. They walk and cycle everywhere.

Also, walk. Stop being lazy, just walk.

Money.

Here is to actually making your money stretch. Very simple and straight forward. You’re an adult.

Cash? Always exchange a little before reaching Europe. It’s not good to walk around with all that money, don’t be stupid.When you’re running low, take out cash at the ATM.

Credit Cards? Try to find one with low or no exchange rates. *** Not to pressure you or anything but my Capital One Journey card is amazing for traveling***

Oh…

And avoid dining, shopping and all things that cost $$$ near tourist areas. Prices are increased, and you are not getting a deal, trust me.

The End.

Hopefully this helps you save a little bit and you can spend it on some nice shoes or that cooking class in Rome.

Ciao

How to survive being the traveling friend

You see the inside of airport terminals more than you’ve seen your friend’s (not-so) new apartment. You feel like an outsider at brunch because “you should’ve been there last Sunday to see blah do blah blah & blah”. You’ve had layovers that lasted longer than girls’ night.And while you love your friends, you love exploring new soils more. I’ve noticed that the more trips I go on, the more distance there is between my friends and I. This recent trip has brought more light to my eyes than any other. When I first came back from my move to Milan, they were excited to have me back but of course I was greeted with the famous question “So when do you leave again?”. That’s also my family’s number one topic! “What?! You’re in town? Must not be for long, when do you leave? When is your next trip?” While I would love to say that there is a loving tone when asked but more often than not its more a tone of resentment. Towards me, or the fact that I’m always on the go. At first, I was sad about it. I should be able to travel and have friends, right? I mean it makes no sense that I can make and keep in touch with friends from all over the world but I’m not even be able to connect with my friends from back home. I think its more of a travelers woe. After talking with a friend (she gets me, she’s a traveler too) she let me know that it happens to the best of us, and I’m not alone.

Of course you can’t help but wonder though, is there a remedy? Even if there is, is the relationship worth fixing? I think with many test and trials, the strong will survive. I may lose friends to traveling, but its shown me friends that I should value a lot more. Muneek said it best “Not everyone signs up to be a long distance friend”.

While any departure is typically sad, these lost friendships haven’t been. People come and people go, myself included. But what makes this sorrow a little sweet, is that I am a traveler, I’m an expert at moving on. That’s how you’ll survive.

Cool & Free things to do in Chicago

Chicago is such a great city, and it offers so many activities for locals and tourist. Most of which you can do free of charge! I’ve decided to take on an ongoing project while I’m in Chicago and explore all of its activities. Who said being broke is boring?!

1. Lincoln Park Zoo

Its free everyday. Tourist, Locals, green people you name it, free! Parking can be quite expensive after 30 minutes, but if you pay attention to the street signs you can find free parking and avoid the city tow trucks!

2. Garfield Park Conservatory

Free parking, free conservatory (donations are welcomed) and free clean air! This is a great activity to do rain or shine as majority of the exhibits are indoor with the exception of one.

Traveling with Scoliosis

Ciao,

Before I dive into the tips about traveling with scoliosis. I feel as though I should tell you a bit more about me and my health. I was diagnosed with scoliosis about 11 years ago and had two high degree curves which resulted in me needing to have a corrective surgery. While my posture and overall health benefited greatly from the surgery, my spine is not 100% straight and often when traveling I host moderate level pain in my back. I can’t always fly first class ( sucks, I know) but I have found a few airlines that have comfortable seating which allow my pain to lessen, especially for long hauls from US to Europe. Below you will find my favorite airlines for long hauls ( over 4 hours) and tips while in flight that helps me with my pain. I hope it helps you as well!

My Favorite Long Haul Airlines

Turkish Airline: I flew from Turkey to Chicago, an 11 hour flight, and was amazed at how comfortable the seating was. It also helps that they provide you with blankets and a pillow, since I forgot mine! Often when I am flying I have to position myself in the most awkward position because after the third hour my back cramps heavily. With TA, the seats in economy are extremely spacious and I had enough space to move around in my seat and not disturb my neighbor.
AirEuropa: I love flying AirEuropa but ONLY when its an AirEuropa plane. You know how you can book a flight, but its serviced by a different plane? This can happen on an AirEuropa flight, so make sure to check your itinerary! Once, my flight was serviced by a LOT! plane, and while the service was great, the plane was not so comfortable. The reason why I love AirEuropa’s fleet is because even in economy the seats are extremely spacious and allow you to recline your back and legs… Turning your seat into a little bed for your travel.
AirBerlin: The seats are okay, the food is pretty good, the service is great and the isles are big!

Tips to make the best of your flight

I am not a doctor! But these tips have worked for me and I noticed a difference in the amount of pain that I experience when traveling. Feel free to try them at your own risk.

BRING A SMALL PILLOW – I usually place the pillow in between my seat and the middle part of my back. It helps because my ribs are twisted from the scoliosis, so I still have a slight hump in my back. The pillow helps me fill in the gap on the rib that is normal.
DRINK LOTS OF WATER – Water will help alleviate the cramping in your back and muscle tension.
STRETCH!!! – I know you don’t want to be that awkward person walking up and down the aisle, but you have to be. I usually try to stretch at least once every hour, if you experience more cramping than normal I would say stretch every 30 minutes.
BRING TYLENOL – Or whatever pain reliever that you use. Sometimes even with the mentioned tips I still have a lot of pain, and I have to bring in extra help.
NO HEELS – I’m guilty of wearing heels on shorter hauls but never a long one. We need ALL the support we can get, and while I’m not trying to lug around a fancy pair of orthopedic shoes, I will wear my comfiest sneakers. Heels are cute, but they don’t help us in this case.

I will continue to update this list as much as possible! If you have any tips that you would like to share feel free to comment or you can email me at she@shewentwear.com.

Best,

Flying Solo

So you can ignore my last post about going on a Euro tour with the bestie. That trip has been postponed and the traveler in me just couldn’t let me be idle in my free time. So here I am, writing to you all in my hotel in Paris. This will be the start to my first ever solo trip abroad.

When purchasing the tickets & hotels, I was extremely nervous! But I overcame that feeling by joining a few groups on facebook (thats actually been my main source of inspiration). If you are contemplating a solo trip, or just a trip in general, I HIGHLY recommend checking out facebook groups dedicated to travel. I will list the few that I joined and feel free to join too :).

So how does it feel to travel solo? I’m generally a pretty private person. I always have been, Growing up I would come home from work or school and just go straight to my room. Nothing has really changed, except now I live in a one bedroom apartment alone, so its just one giant room dedicated to my solitude. Which makes me even question myself on why I was so nervous to travel alone in the first place. I honestly just think it was not being able to have that tangible sense of familiarity traveling with you. Its nice having a piece of home with you when going to a foreign land. Its something that I think we all secretly crave, but which do you crave more? Having a piece of home or discovering a land new to you and finding a home?

I think we all know which one I indulged in. Now its time for you to indulge, and if that wasnt enough, search for these groups on FaceBook and be inspired!

Solo Women Travelers
Girls Who Travel
African-Americans Abroad
She Went Wear ( you can always stay tuned into my adventures 😉 )

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Flights.

Accommodations.

Getting Around.

Money.

Oh…

The End.

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1. Lincoln Park Zoo

2. Garfield Park Conservatory

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My Favorite Long Haul Airlines

Tips to make the best of your flight

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