No Regrets

Making up for lost time...

2009-04-21T16:42:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been so long since I last ventured into the blogoshpere. It is crazy to think that over a year has gone by since I started this puppy for Dr. Russels Word of Mouth and Social Media Marketing class. I learned so much, and have been able to apply it to all my studies. I am so grateful to her for all I have learned.

I'm now almost a college graduate (my status will be official in 19 days... gross), and I am looking forward to my next adventure. I am finally putting all of the travel advice I have given on this blog into practice; I am heading to Europe for 5 weeks with the one and only, KatyRavensberg.

Together, we will tackle Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, Switzerland, Florence, Rome, Ibiza, Barcelona, Madrid, and hopefully, if we don't run out of money, we will end up somewhere in Greece.

This blog will now be my official communication with everyone back home. Hope you enjoy!

Audio Podcast about EF College Break

2008-04-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School

2008-04-21T10:21:00.000-07:00

Never before has there been such an amazing way to get college credit. Costa Rica Rain Forest Outward Bound School creates the possibility to explore the great outdoors and receive college credit.

I went on an 8 day Outward Bound Course in Costa Rica and absolutely loved it. There are week long programs to semester long programs, all offering the opportunity to test your personal limits and explore the beautiful country of Costa Rica. The trips include rappelling, white water rafting, kayaking, surfing, hiking, and community service projects. You get to interact with locals and meet a great group of people.

Pura vida!

Great Resource

2008-04-15T13:03:00.001-07:00

I found a website on how to find cheap flights and thought I would pass it along.

Spotlight: Prague

2008-04-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

Prague: City of a Hundred Spires

On April 30, they will burn fake witches to ring in the springtime. On May 1, they will hold hands and exchange flowers on their own version of Valentine's Day. And every day of the year, they walk past gothic churches, along cobblestone streets, and in and out of cavernous underground pubs. Yes, Prague is always a good place to be. For the city's best eats, drinks, shops, and more, check out EF College Break's Prague City Guide.

Opportunity for High School Students

2008-03-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

High school students have an opportunity to travel for FREE this summer, so tell your little brothers and sisters! They could star in EF’s new reality travel series, Life on Tour™!

Selected individuals will travel for FREE on a 10-day EF educational tour. Learn more at

www.eftours.com/lifeontour

Act FAST! Casting is open only until MARCH 31, 2008, enter now!

Spring Breakin

2008-03-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the joy of visiting Nassau, Bahamas for spring break. I went to the Atlantis with my family, but I was MORTIFIED by the prices of EVERYTHING at the hotel. DO NOT GO THERE if you are a broke college student. Sit down dinners for 3 were hundreds of dollars, slices of pizza were $7.50.

Other than the beds, nothing was included in the price of the hotel. We stayed at the Reef, the newest tower to the Atlantis compound. While the rooms were nice, there was not a business center or a fitness center in our hotel. What they do not tell you is that after you pay thousands of dollars to stay in a room, you have to pay an extra $10-$150 every time you use these auxiliary services. We didn't even have a restaurant- only a Starbucks in the lobby.

However, the pools were fabulous and so much fun! The Cain Pool at Atlantis was the "hippest" and most enjoyable for our demographic. The daquaris and Pina Coladas were to die for. The hotel itself is incredible and huge, and a great destination for any fun loving twenty something.

So here are some hints to travel to Nassau on a budget and still enjoy the Atlantis:

1. Don't stay there! There are plenty of other hotels on the island that are way cheaper.

2. Bring your own drinks. While liqueur is inexpensive, mixers and beer are not. Pack your extra suitcase with drinks to enjoy on your vacay (if you are of age of course)!

3. Sneak into the Atlantis to enjoy their amenities. Supposedly, you have to buy a one day pass to enjoy the Atlantis pool. I never had a wristband on (their measure of whether or not guests were there legally) and never once ran into trouble. Just take a cab over to the Atlantis and lay low by the pool all day. Don't cause a scene, act confident, and you should be fine.

4. Travel in off season times. Prices are high over winter and spring break and lower over the summer.

FareCast

2008-03-08T19:21:00.000-08:00

I love playing the airfare game. Before I book a flight, I check out StudentUniverse, Kayak, Priceline, Expedia, and any other search site I stumble across to ensure that I am getting the best deal available. Now, my game has gotten even more fun.

A relatively new (free) service called Farecast helps travelers predict whether the price of airline tickets are going to drop, rise, or stay the same in the coming weeks and months.

While it is not good for booking last minute travel, it is very helpful for booking trips far in advance. For example, this summer I will be working in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and I know I need to book a flight out there on June 6. When I looked at flights in December, the price of a round trip ticket from Atlanta was $650. Farecast told me to wait to buy my fare, and sent me weekly emails with their predictions. Sure enough, the price dropped significantly and farecast urged me to buy my ticket when the price hit $320. Just by being patient and utilizing new technology I saved $300.

Farecast definitely helps travelers play the airfare guessing game and come out on top. They have a very high success rate and their site is very easy to navigate. The only down side: it does not have tracking information for smaller U.S. airports.

Machu Picchu: An Adventure Traveler's Paradise

2008-03-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like hiking off the beaten path. Leaving a world of cars, computers, and cell phones behind, it is invigorating to travel to a land and place where technology and progress are irrelevant. Head into the Andes mountains high above the Urubamba River and experience one of the world's most sacred remains.

Machu Picchu is an old Incan ruin that cannot be accessed by car or plane. While a windy train ride will get travelers close to the ruins, only backpackers can reach the sacred land, and they must travel by foot. Time is running out however, and as "adventure" travel becomes more appealing, Machu Piccho will become overrun with tourists. For now, enjoy the daily visitor limit that the Peruvians have implemented to preserve their sacred history, and experience Machu Picchu for yourself.

A Cheapskate's Guide to Spring Break Financing

2008-03-03T20:34:00.000-08:00

I am committing social suicide when I depart for my spring break destination on Saturday. I am not hopping in a car with 5 of my best friends heading to Destin or to South Florida to meet my boat for a Booze Cruise. Instead, I am heading on spring break... with my parents!

SO lame, right? I mean, who does that? Unfortunately for me, I have no money and my spring break options included sitting at home with my mom and dad staring at the snow fall in St. Louis. So I got to thinking... I have never been to the Bahamas before and I have always wanted to go there, but on my budget that kind of travel is just not possible. What did I do? I talked mama and daddy into taking me. It wasn't too hard, but it did take a little buttering up. Use these tricks and you'll be sipping Pina Coladas on the white sands of Paradise Island before you know it.

1. Agendas succeed when it appears that no agenda exists. Start by sending your mom and dad a sweet note in the mail just to tell them you love them and you miss them. I got crazy and went to moo.com and had personalized greeting cards made. I usually use them to send to friends all over the country, but I designed a special one with a picture of my parents and me to send to them... they loved it!

2. Your next phone conversation with your dad needs to go something like this:

Hi Daddy! Classes are fine but I am already on the countdown for spring break. My friends all want me to go to Panama City. MTV Spring Break will be there, and I think things might get too crazy for your little girl... but I don't really have any other options because it is the only trip I can really afford, and all my friends are going, so I guess I will too. Well, gotta run. Love you daddy! Bye!"

3. Give him some time to think about his precious daughter surrounded by 500 drunk guys at a wet t-shirt contest. Also, give yourself enough time to "seriously reconsider your spring break priorities," and call back and tell him that after a serious self-reflection, you decided that you could not see yourself partaking in a week of debauchery on the beach (what they don't have to know is that it is because your liver needs a break from the debauchery you take place in on a daily basis in college).

Tell him that you think you want to go to Iraq and volunteer in an orphanage for a week. Hopefully, they will say yes. If they are anything like my parents, however, they will not send their daughter to a war zone for spring break, but they will know your heart is in the right place, and it will open their mind to other spring break options.

4. Step 4: Throw yourself a pity party and say that you will just come home and do nothing on spring break. When they give you the witty parent line along the lines of, "Come on, honey, we aren't that bad are we?" You say, "No, its not you guys. I never get to see you and I would actually love spending spring break with you, but I don't want to go home... that's lame."

They will feel sorry for you and you can tell them that you will do some "research" about places you would all enjoy as a family. All this takes on your part is pulling up the power point you have already made explaining all the wonders of The Atlantis in the Bahamas. Mom can lay by the beach, dad can play golf, little brother and sister can go to Kid's Club, and you can be free to mix and mingle with like-minded college kids from all over the country.

So here's to you, mooching college kid who still wants to live off your parents money for a few more years. Good luck!

City Spotlight: Kaikura

2008-03-02T18:19:00.000-08:00

Kaikura, New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is a quaint town on the South Island of New Zealand know as an eco-tourism mecca. I had the chance to visit Kaikura with the University of Georgia Study Abroad in the Pacific program in the summer of 2007.

I recommend going swimming with dolphins, horseback riding, vineyard tours, and renting bicycles to explore the quaint little village. It is right on the water but also has a beautiful mountain backdrop. If you ever make it to New Zealand, Kaikura is a town you do not want to miss.

How Legit is the Curier Industry?

2008-02-25T19:57:00.000-08:00

I hope your travels are going well. I just got back from a trip to Los Angeles. I followed my own advice and did the AirTranU fare for a last minute little trip. Everything went VERY smoothly, however, let me warn you, AirTran does not have TV's on their flights from Atlanta to LAX. It was probably the longest 5 hours of my life. Miserable. Anyway...

I started talking to the man sitting next to me on the airplane and we started chatting about traveling (duh... it is kind of all I talk about). Well, he told me about something I have never heard of before. He said in college, he spent a summer being a courier. I had no idea what the guy was talking about, but he informed me that companies sometimes need things shipped immediately, both domestically and internationally. Rather than paying UPS or FedEx ridiculous amounts of money, they hire couriers to fly their goods for them. Couriers usually trade a free (or EXTREMELY cheap) ticket for their luggage space. When he told me this, I was completely FREAKED out. I was convinced he was discretely asking me to be a drug trafficer or something. However, when I got home, I checked out a courier website he told me about and it seems pretty legit.

I am in no way advocating this as the right way to travel, but I am curious about it and am wondering if anyone has any more information to share.

I will keep researching, too, and keep you all updated if I find out anything more.

Money in tha Bank...

2008-02-07T13:39:00.000-08:00

This is not very travel related, but this site will help you save money so you CAN travel. It has some of the most creative and useful ways for college kids to save money. It has great tips like call 1-800-goog-411 for FREE instead of calling the real 411. Check it out, save some money, put it in a piggy bank, and start planning your trek across the globe!

City Spotlight: Amsterdam

2008-02-05T11:10:00.000-08:00

Amsterdam has always been a city of intrigue. The mysteries hidden behind the walls of the Red Light District and the meandering canals cutting through the city create a culture of vibrance and an exciting atmosphere for any fun loving college student. While Amsterdam isn't usually number one on any college kid's travel list, it is easier to get to than you may think. EF College Break, a travel company offering ridiculously inexpensive travel options for college students, offers trips to Amsterdam for as low as $1,200. Check out EF College Break trips to Amsterdam to get more information on the programs they offer.

Shameless Plug: Enter the code Holley1000 to get another $50.00 off your trip (and I get $50.00 too! We both win!). Want other options? STA also offers trips to Amsterdam, both sites are worth checking out, but EF College Break offers a "low price guarantee" so if you can find a comparable trip at a lower price, EFCB will match it.

Want something to do once you get there? Check out jpayette's blog on college kids in Amsterdam at Getting Around the World. Let me know if you have any questions!

Happy travels!

Airtran U : A Procrastinator's Paradise

2008-01-31T23:50:00.000-08:00

Let me ask you two simple questions:

1. Are you between the ages of 18 and 22?

2. Do you have between $69-$99?

Well good news, my friend, your airplane is waiting!

Through their special AirtranU program geared exclusively to college students, Airtran Airways provides one-way, standby flights for $69 anywhere in the United States**. All you have to do is show up at an airport with CARRY ON luggage, pay $69.00, and if their is room on the airplane, you are on your way. You can check out http://www.airtranu.com to get more information, but here are a few more tricks they might not tell you:

1. Call airtran in advance (1-800-air-tran press 0 to get to a real person right away) to see how many seats are available on the flight you select. Get seating availability for a few flights the day(s) you plan on traveling to save time. If there are more than 5 or 6, you will most likely get on your flight (unless some crazy weather or airport malfunction occurs).

2. Be Flexible! Most flights early in the morning or late at night have more open seats, try traveling in off peak hours.

3. If you are planning a round trip excursion, make sure that their are seats available on the day you want to return as well!

So my procrastinating compadres, think a 24 hour SLC was the best thing that has ever happened to you? Think again: Airtran lets you travel last minute which is WAAY cooler than studying... duh.

**Flights to/from San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, or Denver are considered long-haul segments, and cost $99* per segment.

Freaking GO already!

2008-01-31T23:11:00.000-08:00

Results of a recent poll mentioned on NPR show an alarming fact. They polled 100 people that were in their 80’s and asked:

“When you look back on your life, is there anything you wish you could change?” The remarkable thing was this: Every single person said the same thing. They regretted not taking more risks when they were young. Choices had been presented to them, but they had made the safe choice or taken the easy road instead of the bold choice or the road less traveled. And now, looking back they couldn’t remember what had made them so afraid. What had seemed insurmountable at the time seemed almost trivial now.

As college students, we are able to capitalize on travel discounts that will not be available to us again until we are registered members of the AARP. Why don't we go on a crazy adventure this summer? Let's go ride elephants in Thailand, tour the Guinness factory in Ireland, sky dive in Switzerland, and see the light show on the Eiffel Tower in Paris. More importantly, lets clothe street kids in Honduras, cradle orphans in Africa, and fight for the rain forest in Brazil.

To every college student reading my blog, I propose a challenge. Where do YOU want to go? I will get you there.

That's right, post a comment on this blog or contact me individually and I will find a way to get you anywhere in this world that you want to go... Seriously. Want to go on a volunteer trip to Ethiopia? I will find you a group to go with and help you get the funding needed. Have you always wanted to backpack across Europe with 6 of your best buddies? Great- I bet I can get you there cheaper than anyone else.

If you are reading this and thinking that I am being crazy and ridiculous, you might be right. But this is where my heart is, and I hope that yours might follow. Seriously, try me- it doesn't cost you anything.

I can help you find cheap airfare, nice hotels, great restaurants, hostels in Europe, dolphin encounters in New Zealand, a train ticket to visit your Granny in Omaha, and a sweet all inclusive spring break package that will have you sippin' Pina Coladas in Mexico for 10 days, or a little orphan who needs sponsoring in Sudan. Want to go on a trip, but don't know where you want to go? I can help you find a passion of your own to pursue, and in turn, you will help me pursue mine.

So what are you waiting for? Freaking GO already!