How to Travel : Choosing the right case

I'm back today with a write up on how to choose the right suit case for your next trip.

Choosing a case is one of several important aspects to traveling.
First, of course you need to establish the type of trip you're taking.
Are you staying in hostels? hotels? Are you going on a tour, staying with friends or doing your own thing? Are you a backpacker who is traveling light? or are you a more luxury type traveler who is staying in hotels and likes plenty of variety?
These are the questions you need to ask yourself before you book your trip, and definitely before you choose your luggage!

For example, for this trip I am a hostel/hotel traveler. I will be visiting friends, and staying for a longer period on the English country side. I will also be visiting some cities, which I think requires a little more dressing up.
Therefore, I will be taking a medium sized hard case suitcase (Flylite), A small on board shoulder bag to carry all my bits and bobs (Lazana), and of course my handbag (LongChamp).

I've learned over the years to travel as light as possible. On my first trip abroad, I took the largest suitcase possible and the largest onboard case possible. I ended up over packing, and only wearing half of the clothing I packed.

Say, you're going on a backpacking trip - you're going to be catching a lot of public transport and you're on a tighter budget so a travel backpack would suit you best.

Of course, it also depends on the length, my trip is around 7 weeks. I feel like my luggage is large enough, and i can always do washing.

Always remember you can post your stuff home! I've done this plenty of times; it saves you baggage fees at the airport too!

Hopefully this has been helpful, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Until next time.
Cheers,
Cj. xoxo

How to travel series by Cj.

The how To travel guide will talk about everything from budgeting to types of travel, where to go, for how long and what to see.

Being a some what experienced traveller, this is my first real attempt to jot down what i've learned, where i've been, and tips and tricks for you.

While there are many out there; some lack the reality that not everyone can afford to travel, i know because i am one of them.

I don't do luxury, and i certainly don't do it dirt cheap. But i travel within my means and i take every opportunity i can to see the world.

From studying abroad, living as an expat or just seeing a few countries 'on the cheap' - i've seen the world many ways.

A traveler knows that it doesn't matter how many times you visit a country - you'll never see it all. 

A tourist, however, just wants to knock countries off their list and never go back.

I am a traveler. My favorite place is the UK. I have friends there, and i love England. I haven't seen it all yet, so next on my list is Scotland. Ill make a visit in London, but i haven't seen the British country side - so that's my next trip.

I will be documenting it, and telling you all about it.

So stay tuned my people.

Cheers;

Cj. xo

Different ways to travel abroad

It's 2015! A brand new year, and you have an entire year to see the world!
If you have ever planned to travel, but for various reasons you haven't had the chance to yet - fear not!

Here are a few ways i have personally traveled abroad. From group tours to solo endeavours - the world is your oyster; see it, feel it, breath it in. 2015 should be your year of adventures.

Here are 3 ways to see the world.

1 - Group tours.
For first time travellers in-particular or those heading over solo, or even the ones who just want to have some care free fun, a tour is for you.
You can go from 7,8 to 40 days! You can do these in Europe, America, Canada, Asia, Australia! Anywhere you can think of, there is a tour company that will take you there.
On my very first trip to Europe, i went on a Contiki tour with my best friend. It was the best experience ever, we didn't have to worry about whether we had transport, places to visit, or food to eat - it was all provided and completely fuss free.
There are also different types of tours you can do. From luxury tours, to camping.
Myself and my friend went for mid-range - hostels and camp sites with lodges. (No tents here). It was fun, we met so many people, and essentially we got completely lost in Europe, forgetting what country we were even in, but enjoying every single second of it.

2- Travel with friends.
This has it's pros and cons. Depending on who you're traveling with can make or break the situation. I've been lucky enough to travel with someone who is essentially me, but in a taller and blonder form. We like the same things, we eat the same foods, we travel the same way. And she likes to be in-control of the room keys so i don't feel guilty if she looses it. I have heard horror stories of friends who go traveling and come back as enemies! Luck for us, it never happened. We back packed Thailand together in July of 2013 and it was one of my favourite holidays. Despite us both getting sick and buying wayyyyyyy too much at the markets - we did absolutely everything, and laughed the entire time doing it.

3- Travel solo.
Solo travel can be the most liberating thing you can do, but it can also be the scariest.
I studied abroad in my winter break of 2014, then traveled eastern Europe alone (with a small stop over in my second favourite city, London). This was an amazing experience because i was by myself. I could eat what i want, sleep in when i wanted, go where i wanted (looking at a clock tower for 40 minutes for example). You can essentially tailor your trip for you, because it's all about you.
This experience helps you grow as a human being, it expands your mind, strengths and helps identify your weaknesses. These are important things to learn in your early 20s and why not learn them while globetrotting?


These are three of my experiences of seeing the world. If you want to know more about these, don't hesitate to ask.


Cj. xo

How to keep a New Year resolution.

Every year, countless people begin the new year with resolutions in the hopes that this year will be the best one yet.

This is a great practice, especially if you're making practical ones, such as quitting smoking, losing weight, or saving up for a killer hand bag.

But sometimes, people make resolutions that aren't practical, and may not be achievable. Like finding 'the one' or avoiding a cranky co-worker for a year.

The good news is, I'm here with a few tips to help you keep your practical resolutions and hopefully make positive changes in your life.

So, without further ado, here are my top 4 tips to keeping your resolutions in 2015.

1 - Write it down.

Write it in your diary, on your calendar, create a beautiful poster you can look at every morning to remind yourself of the positive changes you are making this year. A constant reminder will motivate you to see it through.

2 - Tell someone.

Tell a close friend, your mother, your sister... whoever is your go to person to talk about personal needs and wants. These people are often the ones who want to see the best you and who will support you through thick and thin.

3 - Start the change from day 1.

Never put something like a resolution off. Its a resolution, not a medical test(poor example, but you get the point). A resolution is personal, it's not something you can book in for and cancel. Make it happen. Start your future, today!

4 - Stay positive, and stay true.

Keeping positive can be hard. You will find rough patches in quitting smoking or weight loss, or essentially anything in which you endeavour to do. The point is to stick to it! Be positive, remember a better you means a happier you. And stay true. Stay true to who you are. Don't make a resolution about changing you as a human being, make resolutions that will improve you as a human being instead.

Hopefully these tips will help you stick to it in the new year!

Happy New Year! Be kind, have fun, and be the best you.

Cj. xo