30 amazing Gift Ideas all Travel Lovers need and want

by Tia C | May 11, 2022 | BLOG

Here are some nifty gift ideas any traveler will love!

Choosing the ideal present might be difficult at times. You’ll undoubtedly spend some time thinking about the right gift whether you’re buying for the holidays, a birthday, an anniversary, a thank you, or “just because.”

Here are some gift ideas that would be amazing for any travel lover on any budget.

***This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through clicking the link, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.***

1. World travel adapter

All foreign countries have their own adapters with different plugs. You will need to get yourself a universal travel adapter that converts plugs for any country in the world, I use to carry a different plug for each country, but this compact travel adapter is a game-changer.

The all-in-one plug can be used in 200 different countries and has 3 USB ports and a C-type charge that can double your speed when trying to charge your phone. Making this an ideal gift for any travel lover, no more trying to figure out which plug is needed, saving you time

2. Portable luggage scale

Nothing is more frustrating than arriving at the airport check-in counter and discovering you must pay a fee for overweight luggage. Avoid the disappointment and get yourself a portable luggage scale and check your bag weights before checking in at the airport.

This scale can weigh up to 110lb/50kg, is lightweight, compact, and portable to take anywhere you travel, and is able to weigh your bag in kg, pounds, grams & ounces.

3. UV toothbrush sanitizer

Portable UV Toothbrush Sanitizer will give you peace of mind if you’re traveling in the backcountry, sharing hostels, or going somewhere with a public restroom. 99.9% of germs and viruses are killed by this toothbrush sanitizer. All it takes to work is x2 AA batteries.

4. Phone and tablet holders

This handy light-weight, pocket-size phone & tablet holder will keep your arms from getting tired when traveling, why hold your device to watch a movie or to do some work, when you can carry this portable device in your handbag or backpack.

5. Travel packing cubes

Help keep your bag tidy and organized. If you’re traveling with more than one person, choose a different color for each person, making it easy to find and arguments avoided.

We use packing cubes each time we travel and makes our life so much easier when you are tired and don’t want to be rummaging through your bag to find what you’re looking for. Even better, when you get to your location, simply unzip your cubes, put them in a drawer, and you’re ready to go!

These packing cubes come in different sizes and different colors, one color for each family member.

6. Portable carry-on luggage

Everyone needs a carry-on bag when they fly, this Eagle creek bag allows for more space with an expansion zip to fit more of your belongings and still be able to have it as carry-on luggage or simply leave it zipped when carrying less. It offers a padded sleeve to keep your laptop protected for digital lovers.

You can’t go wrong with this as a present for any traveler because it’s built to last, useful even when not traveling, and comes with a lifetime warranty.

7. Pinnable World Map Wall Art

A map that will look wonderful in any home office or living area. Use the map to plan future trips or to start a conversation with friends about places you’ve visited, by using different pins to mark your adventures or future travels.

8. Portable power bank

We all use smart devices, like phones, Ipads, laptops, and our cameras, and know how frustrating it can be when they are going flat. This portable, compact charging device will fit in any bag without taking up any space and give you the peace of mind you need so that your devices will not lose battery when you need them most.

9. Collapsible water bottle

Anyone who enjoys hiking, camping, or backpacking will love this stocking stuffer, even a great gift for anyone who isn’t a traveler, we know when we finish a bottle of water and carry it empty can take up a lot of needed space, with this collapsible water bottle, just push it down, saving you space in your bag and refill it when needed.

10. Travel Scarf with hidden pockets

Your most valuable possessions are totally hidden with this lightweight zipper scarf while keeping you warm and ensuring your valuables are safely hidden. Pickpockets are no longer a concern. Hide your belongings like your passport, ID, keys, money, mobile, and more.

11. Travel slippers

When you travel, you spend a lot of time on your feet. That’s why a pair of soft slippers are the ideal present. They’re ideal for slipping into while on a plane or in your hotel room.

These Slumbies slippers are my favorite, not only are they comfortable, but come in a portable pouch to carry them anywhere.

12. Compression socks

Compression socks are a must for every traveler in my opinion, especially for long-haul flights, as a nurse, I wear compression socks every day. These socks will help reduce your legs from swelling, cramps, fatigue, and soreness, they help circulate your blood and give relief for varicose vein suffers and keep any excess fluid down, along with keeping your feet warm.

13. Passport Wallet & Passport Family Holder

If you are a frequent traveler then keeping your passport protected is a smart idea. These passport/document holders are a great way to keep your passport safe and to keep your boarding passes, cards ID in one place without having the hassle of searching through your bags. If you are a solo traveler, you can get a nice looking compact holder, while for families you can get passport holders that hold 4 or more passports all in one place.

14. USB rechargeable travel headlamp

Headlamps are under-rated, they come in handy for so many reasons, but are often overlooked, not only are they great for the adventurers, but useful for reading a book in the dark, or dig through your luggage in the middle of the night without waking others up.

This rechargeable headlamp is water-resistant, lasts up to 30 hours, and comes in a handy carry case, keeping it compact.

15. Water purifier- life straw

The Lifestraw filtered water bottle cleans 99.9% of parasites and bacteria from water in countries where water quality is compromised. It helps eliminate chlorine makes the water taste much nicer and keeps you feeling safe from any sickness.

16. Sea to Summit dry bag

The Sea to Summit dry bags are a great gift idea for the adventurer, a bag to place your belongs to avoid them getting ruined if they were to fall in the water and keep them afloat, so if you are heading to the beach, on a boat or waterfalls, this waterproof bag is for you.

17. Portable Multi-Tool

Having tools is always handy, without a doubt there has always been a time I have needed one, carrying a multi-tool is a perfect tool to help with any everyday task or adventure.

It has 14 multi-tools in one, making it compact and easy to carry. It includes a saw, knife, can opener, bottle opener, flat screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, needlenose pliers, regular pliers, wire cutters (Soft/Hard material), flintstone, whistle, reamer, scraper, and awl. Best of all the Roxen Spark comes with a 10-year warranty.

18. Noise-canceling wireless headphones

The Sony headphones are a must if you’re stranded on a crowded plane with crying kids, or in a hostel with a lot of noise or snorer (we have all been there) their superior noise-canceling technology drowns out all the sounds around you.

19. Sony Waterproof portable speaker

Music enthusiasts should have a portable speaker. It allows you to listen to your favorite tunes while relaxing by the pool or on the beach, in your hotel room, or even while viewing movies on your computer.

This Sony Bluetooth speaker is not only compact, but gives you up to 16 hours of battery life to pump your tunes.

20. Kindle Paper White

The Kindle Paper white is the ideal gift for anyone who loves reading without having to lug around heavy books. The Kindle offers an adjustable light feature to be able to read even if the sunlight is hitting the screen.

21. Travel Neck Pillow

Travel neck pillows are one of the most popular items to pack for long-haul flights, but finding a comfortable one can be hard, there are so many different ones on the market. This memory foam travel neck pillow pack is ideal and packs away in a compact bag, with an eye mask and earplugs.

22. Anti-Theft Handbag & Anti-theft Backpack

Investing in anti-theft travel bags can be a smart option whether you’re shopping for your next travel backpack or handbag an anti-theft bag will keep your valuables safe and stop the wanna-be pickpocketers from stealing your things.

23. Contigo Travel Mug

A gift for travel and use in everyday life. I tried many travel mugs and my favorite is the Contigo travel mug, keeping my coffee hot for more than 3 hours and keeps my drinks cold for 10+ hours bonus with its auto-seal it doesn’t drip anywhere.

24. Luggage Tags

Luggage tags will help you easily identify your luggage and get them back to you in case they become lost, not only in your luggage but place them on your backpack too, these tags come in bright green, making them easy to find.

25. Light-weight Turkish Travel Towels

We love our Turkish towels, we used to have microfiber towels, but personally, I hate the feel of them. When I found these Turkish lightweights, quick-drying towels I bought 8 of them, I have a set in our caravan to stay and a set for travel and trips to the beach, they roll up or fold so small they take up no room in your bags.

26. Reusable Bag

Not only great for the environment by eliminating the use of plastic bags, but they are also very compact, lightweight, and convenient to store in your handbag. You never know when you are going to do an unexpected shopping trip and need an extra bag to carry your things.

27. Hanging Toiletry Bag

Suitable toiletry bag for the whole family, keeping all your bathroom needs in one place and in separate compartments making it easier to find your things. I love the hanging feature when I am staying in van parks or in hostels and don’t want to put my things on the chair.

28. Travel Size Hair Dryer

If you’re not staying in hotels where a hairdryer is provided, this compact, lightweight, powerful and foldable hair dryer is a must.

29. GoPro 9 Camera & GoPro Dome

Undoubtedly the best underwater camera out there, but not only great for in the water, but its amazing picture quality is also good for any occasion.

30. FE Active Travel Hammock

Perfect gift for any Traveler and camping lover to unwind, hang it in the wild or on the beach or even on boats and soak up the scenery.

The FE Active hammock comes with a removable mosquito net and straps to go around any tree. It is lightweight, can fit 2 people with a total of 300kg weight limit, and packs away nicely in a travel bag.

28 Best Travel Souvenir Ideas That Will Save You Space

by Tia C | Mar 21, 2022 | BLOG

Everyone loves buying souvenirs when traveling

Souvenirs we all love collecting them. There are many things to consider when traveling. How much money will you need? What should you pack? How will you get around once you’re there? One question that often gets overlooked is what to do with all the mementos and souvenirs you’ll inevitably collect along the way.

Traveling is a great way to experience new cultures, learn about different societies, and even feel like you’re learning about yourself. But if you’re anything like me, you like to collect souvenirs to remind you of the amazing places you have visited, the problem is these can take up much need space in your luggage.

So, to save you space in your luggage, here are 28 awesome souvenir ideas that require next to no space at all – no matter how big or small your suitcase is, these ideas are perfect for travelers on any budget

***This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through clicking the link, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.***

1. Maps as Souvenirs

Maps are a great way to remember the places you have visited and take you on a trip down memory lane by marking out your route and circling the destinations on the map that you visited.

2. Airline Tickets & Ticket Stubs Souvenirs

Hold onto your airline tickets and ticket stubs to any attractions you visit. Not only do they remind you of how you got there and when, but it shows the dates and prices during that time, and better yet take no space at all in your luggage, when you are back home you can put them together in a framed collage or even a scrapbook as a way to commemorate your journey.

3. Material World Flag patches as Souvenirs

World Flag material patches can be attached to a backpack, jacket, a blanket, or get creative and make a material map, this way you can show off the places you have been to. Not only do they look pretty, but they can also act as a conversation starter with others who have visited the same places.

4. Local liquor, wine, or beer labels as Souvenirs

Traveling to a new destination, one of the best ways to experience the culture is by tasting their local alcohol. And what better way to remember your trip than by collecting the labels of the wine, beer, or liquor that you sampled. Not only are they a fun and interesting conversation starter, but they also provide a snapshot into the type of alcohol that is popular in the country or region you visited.

A pro tip for collecting the labels is to dampen them before peeling them off, this will help keep the adhesive intact and make it easier to stick them in a book or album. You could also get creative and make a wine or liquor map of the places you have visited.

Whatever you do, just make sure to drink responsibly and enjoy the local flavors!

5. Magnet Souvenirs

Magnets are a great idea and they take up little space and are not too heavy, display them on your refrigerator or any metal surface. Most magnets come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making it easy to find one that commemorates the place you visited.

Get creative and make your own magnets. All you need is a few pictures/items from the places you have visited, some magnets, and some glue. Simply attach the magnets to the back of the pictures and you have a custom souvenir that will last a lifetime.

6. Postcards & Stamps Souvenirs

Many people like to collect postcards and stamps. Postcards can be sent home to friends and family, or even used as scrapbooking material, and stamps can be mounted in an album or used as part of a collage.

Not only are postcards and stamps a fun way to remember your trip, but they can also be a great way to learn about the culture and history of the places you visit. Postcards often have images of local landmarks or attractions, and stamps can feature designs that are specific to the country or region you are visiting.

So whether you’re traveling for leisure or for work, make sure to collect postcards and stamps as a way to remember your journey!

7. Pressed Pennies Souvenirs

One of the cheapest and easiest forms of souvenirs to collect is pressed pennies. All you need is a coin, a coin press (which can be found at most tourist destinations), and some imagination.

The best part about collecting pressed pennies is that there are no limits to what you can create. You can press pennies with the image of the landmark or attraction you visited, the date, your name, or any other design that comes to mind depending on where you find the press penny machine.

Not only are pressed pennies a great way to remember your trip but they can also be used as decorations or even gifts for friends and family or to create a photo album. So the next time you’re on vacation, be sure to stop by the nearest coin press and start collecting!

8. Thumb Pins / Pins Souvenirs

The easiest things to collect when traveling is pins and thumb pins. They’re small, lightweight, and can be easily stored in a suitcase or backpack. You can purchase pins at local tourist destinations.

9. Spoon Souvenirs

Another great option for those looking for a lightweight and easy-to-carry souvenir is spoons. Yes, spoons! Most places that sell cutlery will also have a selection of spoons with local designs or images on them. And unlike pins and other small trinkets, spoons can actually be used which makes them a great functional souvenir to collect.

10. Pens/ Notebooks/ Bookmarks/ Stickers for Souvenirs

If you’re looking for something a little more unique, why not try collecting pens, notebooks, bookmarks, or stickers from the places you visit? All of these items can be easily stored in a bag or suitcase and don’t take up much space. Plus, they’re perfect for scrapbooking or using as decorations in your home.

11. Travel Purse / Coin Purse

When you’re traveling, the last thing you want to worry about is your money. That’s why a great way to keep your cash organized and handy is to use a purse or coin purse specifically designed with the destination you have visited. Not only will this help you stay organized, but it can also be a fun way to remember your trip.

There are a number of different types of purses and coin purses available on the market, so you’re sure to find one that fits your style and personality. Plus, many of them are made from lightweight materials which makes them easy to carry around.

12. Miniature Souvenirs

Miniature souvenirs are the perfect option for travelers looking to collect a few mementos without taking up too much space. Miniature souvenirs can be found at most tourist destinations and range in sizes. They can be made from a variety of materials such as wood, metal, or plastic and often depict famous landmarks or attractions.

One of the great things about miniature souvenirs is that they are affordable and easy to store. Plus, they make perfect decorations for your home or office.

13. Shot Glasses

Shot glasses with an image or the name of the place you visited are a nice souvenir to collect and very popular, show them off at home in a wall case or even use them when you are at home, just be sure to wrap them when packing the shot glasses in your luggage to avoid them breaking.

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14. Clothing

There are a number of different types of souvenir clothing available, so you’re sure to find something that fits your style and personality. Popular items include t-shirts, hats, jumpers, scarves, and shorts. All of these items are lightweight and easy to pack, making them perfect for travelers.

I started buying t-shirts from “Hard Rock Cafe” in every city I visited, saving loads of space in my bags, just keep in mind with clothing if you are wearing it, in time it may deteriorate, so clothing maybe a souvenir that might not last you a lifetime, but then there are always photos of you wearing the clothing also.

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15. Tea/Dish Towels

Tea towels are not only a practical item, but they can also be used as a souvenir to remember your trip. Many tea towels feature beautiful and colorful designs that depict the culture or landscape of the destination you visited.

Tea towels are also lightweight and easy to store, If you’re looking for a unique souvenir to remember your trip, tea towels are a great option. Tip: You can iron them and put them in a frame.

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16. Sports memorabilia

When traveling to different parts of the world, it’s always a great idea to experience the local sports. Not only is it a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening, but it’s also a great way to learn about the culture and society. As you attend different sporting events, be sure to collect memorabilia such as tickets, programs, and souvenir cups and hats, buy yourself a sports jersey, if you are lucky enough you may even be able to get it signed.

The very first souvenir I got for dad was an original Liverpool FC jersey from the FC sports store in Liverpool, although not the cheapest option, you can get knock-offs to just have as a souvenir or to wear, or even frame it if you’re a sports fan!

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17. Snow Globes

Snow globes are perfect for travelers because they capture the essence of the place you visited in a small, easy-to-carry package. They’re also great for recalling memories from your trip.

I always enjoy looking at the different snow globes my family and friends have collected from their travels. It’s fun to see the different landmarks and landscapes that have been captured in these tiny replicas. If you’re looking for a unique souvenir, snow globes are a great option. Be sure to pack them carefully in your luggage, though, as they can easily break if not treated with care.

18. Local Art Prints

Every place I travel to I like to collect a piece of artwork from a market or art store to capture the essence of the place I visited, sometimes this can also be an artwork piece made of wood, metal, or canvas, just be sure you keep it safe when in transit, ensure it is rolled or in a tube or laid flat properly to avoid the art being damaged. Once home you can find a beautiful frame to show your travel destinations and memories.

19. Taking pictures with friends and family

When traveling, it’s always great to capture memories with friends and family. One easy way to do this is by taking pictures at various locations or interesting objects.

Be sure to take plenty of pictures and capture all the special moments you experience while traveling. This is a great way to look back on your trip and recall the amazing memories you made.

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20. Coins & Currency

If you can avoid spending every penny in the country you are visiting, it’s a great idea to hold onto some local currency and coins. This can be a fun way to relive your experiences each time you look at your currency, place a coin and note for each Country into a photo album along with your plane tickets and other collectibles and photos as a great reminder or make a travel box with all your travel memories.

21. Charms for bracelet

Do you have a charm bracelet? if not, you may think about getting one to start collecting charms for a charm bracelet.

Be sure to select charms that are unique to each destination and reflect the culture and landscape of the place you visited. This will help you to remember all the amazing places you’ve been to.

You can also find charms that represent different activities you enjoyed while on your trips, such as a tennis racket for a tennis vacation or a dolphin for a beach vacation. The best part about collecting charms is that you can add and remove them as you please.

22. Jewelry

Jewelry serves as a physical reminder of your experiences. It’s important to choose pieces that are unique and reflect the culture and landscape of the place you visited. For example, you may want to select a pair of earrings inspired by the architecture of ancient Greece or a necklace with a pendant in the shape of the Eiffel Tower.

Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you’ll be proud to wear and that will remind you of your amazing travels every time you look at it.

23. Key Chains

Key Chains are found everywhere, are lightweight, and generally, an inexpensive option as a souvenir, a great way to show all your travel key chains are to put them on a string and run them across a room or make a map and stitch/glue them on to represent the country visited or a map corkboard and pin the chains on, get creative to show off all the amazing places you have been.

24. Pack of Cards

If you’re a fan of card games, one fun way to collect memories from your travels is by collecting packs of cards from different countries that have images related to that city or country you visited. A pack of cards is also a great gift idea, my son loves learning new card tricks and is always going through decks of cards (AKA: mainly losing cards ) and now we buy a deck of cards in each country we visit, its a great memory when we see the pictures from the destination on the cards and a great conversation starter.

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25. Flags

Collecting flags from different countries is an awesome idea and takes up no space at all in your bag, you can make for a really cool decorative item in my home by hanging them up around a room or in your shed, or you can even sew them all together to make a really cool blanket or quilt.

26. Guide Books/ Language dictionaries

One way to make sure you never forget your amazing travel experiences is by collecting guide books and/or language dictionaries and a great way to learn about the culture and society of the destination you visited. Not only do they serve as a physical reminder of where you’ve been, but they can also be really handy tools to help you plan your next trip.

27. Art- Tattoos

If you’re someone who loves getting tattoos, then consider using your next trip as an opportunity to get inked with a design that commemorates your travels. You could choose something as simple as the outline of a map or as intricate as a replica of the Eiffel Tower. Whatever you decide, make sure it’s something you’ll be proud to show off and that will always remind you of the amazing places you’ve visited. Be sure to check the safety and health of the place you choose to get inked, make sure it is clean.

I have 2 tattoos from my travels abroad, one in England and one in Portugal, although they are not tattoos related to travel, every time I look at them they are a reminder of where I got them from.

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28. Collapsible Items

Collapsible souvenirs are a great way to save on space, some ideas are collapsible water bottles, collapsible binoculars, collapsible wooden fruit bowls, tourist stores or markets often have great collapsible souvenirs, make sure if you collect things made out of wood that they are treated to avoid customs giving you any hassle.

On a recent trip to the local market, I found these cool collapsible fruit bowls or a bowl you can use for anything you choose, and the best thing is they don’t take up any space in your luggage. How cool are they?!!

So there you have it, 28 different ideas for awesome souvenirs to collect that won’t take up any space in your luggage. Whether you’re looking for something to hang on your wall, something to play with, or something to wear, there’s definitely a souvenir out there that’s perfect for you.

No matter what type of souvenir you decide to collect, make sure to take your time and enjoy the process. After all, the best part of traveling is the journey, not the destination.

What are your favorite souvenirs to collect? Let us know in the comments below

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Easy ways How To Save Money For Your Next Holiday

by Tia C | Feb 10, 2022 | BLOG, Travel Tips

Tips on How to save Money – making life easier

The formula is simple. Live below your means, and save the rest. However, putting this method into practice is not always simple, being able to become a good saver is an art form in itself, it takes practice and most of all persistence. There are social pressures to consider too, but if you have the discipline, you will crush your financial goal and go on that dream holiday.

We want to enjoy that dream holiday, but coming back from a holiday in debt is stressful and not enjoyable at all. Below are some ways to save money for the next trip and have you coming back feeling refreshed and not stressed.

***This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through clicking the link, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.***

Become financially responsible to save money

Money management is an acquired skill, but most of us don’t fully understand the principles until we’re adults. Saving enough money for travel, a house, a car, or for anything that you desire can be difficult and requires sacrifice, which is why so few people succeed. It’s all about having the appropriate mindset and discipline to achieve what goal you set for yourself!

Figure out your budget to start saving.

The first thing you will need to determine is figuring out “how much money” you actually need to have that budget or luxury getaway. Depending on the experience you are wanting to have while on holiday this will help you calculate an estimate on how much money you will need to be put aside to start saving.

Think about the things that will add to your expenses while away. Things that you need to consider a budget for are:

Flight tickets
Travel insurance
Visa’s and vaccines (depending on the country)
Appropriate luggage (suitcases/ backpacks)
Accommodation
Transport (hire care, bus, train, taxi’s, so on)
Phone / internet connection
Entertainment/ Activities
Food and drinks
Gifts, Souvenirs, a little something for yourself
Consider fees if using a credit card, or ATM fees.

Start tracking your spending

Tracking your expenses is an important part of figuring out where you can save money or even stop spending altogether. It’s all about being aware. “OK – this is where I am,” you say, staring your financial situation in the face. This is where I need to be.” Developing this level of awareness and keeping track of everything takes time. You don’t change your behavior overnight, that’s the nature of habits.

Things to consider cutting or changing are:

Cutting Netflix, Stan, Disney, Foxtel, any cable TV
Cancel your gym membership and work out at home (be creative, be savvy)
Cut your take away meals, cook at home, take lunches to work
Stop the daily coffee run, make your coffee at home
Ride a bike more often, cutting down your car costs
Quit smoking or cut your smoking in half, less drinking
Cutting down on luxuries like massages, nails, hair appointments

Booking.com

Make a visual of your spending and goals

Take some time and write out your living expenses, having a visual helps to see where your spending is actually going, break it down into sections or get on your online banking and get a breakdown of your expenses.

You can put your spending into categories like:

Health
Retail Shopping
Home & renovations
Bills & utilities
Transport
Travel
Eating out & dining
Groceries
Fitness & beauty
Fees & charges
Entertainment, and so on.

This list is only an example of categories, you can list as many as you need depending on your spending habit.

Once you have written out all your categories total your spending for each category, you will then see where you can start budgeting ruthlessly.

Making a vision board of the things you want to do on your holiday can be a motivator.

Time to get serious about saving money

Take a breath- after crunching all the numbers, it can be overwhelming sometimes to see where our money is actually going and I bet you thinking to yourself, “Gee that’s a lot of money I wasted throughout the year”.

I hear ya! I often break down our expenses and think “WOW” we seriously need to sort our finances out, because “if we didn’t spend this, we could have had that” and this goes for the very reason you want to save for a holiday, just imagine if you didn’t spend all that money on the things you wanted but didn’t really need, what that money could have been used for on your holiday.

Now you have worked out where you can save money by eliminating all the things you really don’t need and you have worked out where all your current income and expenses are going it’s time to get serious and start budgeting and saving.

Less spending and learning to budget = Epic holiday.

Extra ways to save money

1. Store reward cards – if you don’t already have them, maybe start thinking about signing up for some. I often use store cards to collect points that can convert into money, for example here in Australia we have Woolworths and Coles (food stores) that we can collect points every time we do grocery shopping and when we have enough points we can convert the points into money off our food shopping.

2. If you are a credit card user, look into options of credit cards that offer points for every dollar you spend, a credit card is only good if you have the discipline not to spend like crazy, after all, you are trying to save money, not have a bigger debt, but maybe a credit card with a low limit may be an option, if using a credit card for point options, be sure to pay off your limits to avoid getting interest charges.

We choose to live on our credit cards, simply because we are good with our finances and never allow our credit cards to accumulate interest, we do this as we figure for food and essential items we are going to pay for it regardless and feel we may as well get some benefit out of it in the use of vouchers, gifts, money back, and so on.

** Be aware with point credit cards there are often annual fees, so if going for this type of credit card, be sure you use it enough to make over the fee value.**

Our credit card has an annual fee of $115 which is quite high, but by the end of the year, I generally have made $700 with my points, so that’s a saving of $585.00 I sometimes use at Christmas time to buy gifts or use it at our travel center.

On the flip side to credit cards, if you already have a credit card and are incurring interest on your amount owing, it may be an idea to use the money you are saving and pay off your credit card, not only will you feel more relaxed having less to no debt, but the money you are saving on paying interest is more money in your savings account.

3. Talk to your bank and see if they offer a savings account that has a lock on it and cannot have any withdrawals until a certain date that you specify, banks often bring out a special savings account where you can put money away and not touch the amounts until a particular date, maybe they have holiday accounts, often they have Christmas accounts for people to put money into, but cannot be accessed until December, this is a great option especially if you are not very disciplined and tempted by using the money you see in your accounts.

If you have self-discipline then be sure to put any spare dollars into your savings account as soon as you have paid for all your expenses, such as bills.

4. Collect all your coins in a money box, or a money jar and cash it in at the bank prior to your holiday, you will be surprised how many coins you actually have. I do this every year, I don’t like carrying around coins, so I put them in my kid’s money box and at the end of the year, we count it all up for fun and we are surprised every time how much the money box can actually hold in the hundreds of dollars.

Options to make your savings go further.

Opt for Off-Season

This is our number-one tip to cut your expenses. Airline tickets, accommodation, tours, food, and activities are always higher if you’re traveling during the high season or popular holiday season.

Book Activities Ahead of Time

If you do your research well, you can get cheaper prices if you plan ahead of time, be sure to be checking different websites to ensure you are getting a good deal, and keep an eye out for deals such as “black Friday”, “end of year sales”, often you can snag yourself a better deal and put extra money in your pockets for your trip.

Make extra money on the side

Everyone wants to earn more money. Find a “side-hustle” that you can work part-time. It doesn’t have to be a fantastic job! It’s just something to help you supplement your income. Do some research to see what kinds of part-time jobs may be a good fit for your skills and talents.

Earn money as you travel

This is a very helpful shortcut while traveling on a budget. If you can create a side hustle that you can actually generate money from while you travel, this will give your extra $$ while away, there are many different options and some that include turning it into a passive income, below are a few ideas.

Blogging

Affiliate Marketing

Social Media Marketing

Create digital products

Freelance Writers

Virtual Assistant (VA)

Tutor / Language teacher

This is just a snippet of the thousands of options available to you, you can check out my post for a more detailed list of side hustles.

Additional options you can look into are:

Dog walking or pet sitting
House sitting, saving you costs.
Complete online surveys that pay you for your opinions and answers, they are free to join, some that I personally use are:
Pureprofile, SurveyCompare, Survey Junkie, Swagbucks and you can do these all from your phone while sitting at home or on your lunch breaks at work.
Mystery Shopper- I use FieldAgent here in Australia and you can go into shops or restaurants and complete a review on products or services, even with some visits, they even reimburse you for your purchase.

How to get free trips as a travel blogger: Best ways

by Tia C | Jan 28, 2022 | BLOG, Making Money, Travel Tips

Do you want to start a travel blog and begin a life of adventure and pleasure, then becoming a Travel Blogger is for you.

As your travel influencer status grows, you’ll notice that there are numerous chances to collaborate with tour companies, travel brands, hostels/hotels, tourism boards, and others in exchange for social media coverage, writing reviews, and a variety of other services. But first and foremost, you must have your blog up and running!

Here are a few guides on how to become a travel blogger and make money.

Provide value and good content

Make sure your website is up to scratch, be sure your site isn’t slow to load, that it’s easy to navigate, and avoid having too many pop-ups come on your site, as a visitor it can become very annoying.

Be sure your blog posts have minimal to no spelling mistakes and have good quality photos. If you are going to be pitching brands, the first thing they will do is have a look at your website to see what value you can provide.

Be clear on what value you can provide the brand, such as X amount of posts shared on X amount of social platforms, or provide high-quality photos.

***This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through clicking the link, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.***

Craft your online persona & build your social media following as a Travel blogger

Be active on your social media accounts, after all, they are called “social” for a reason, being social is a large part of blogging and having a good network of followers is important, gaining authentic followers is hard, but if you provide value and good content (aka- good photographs and written content) your followers will come.

Don’t overstretch yourself and try to be overall platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Pinterest, youtube, you will soon become overwhelmed, Pick 1 to 2 platforms you want to share most of your content, they all offer different views:

Instagram is photo-focused and hashtags before the written content
Facebook is content first, image second.
Pinterest is an image that is linked to something like your website or page you want to send people, it is like google, it is used as a web search platform.
Youtube is for videos, more long-form videos
TikTok is short videos

If you don’t have a large following on your socials you can still be noticed by brands if you stay consistent and provide value, but try focusing on growing one particular platform and that will help you be seen as an influencer by more brands.

Create a media kit for your Travel Blog

A Media Kit in a sense a resume, but for bloggers, this is where you can share a short bio, your social media stats – how many followers you have, engagements, visits to your website, previous collaborations, and more.

Media-kits vary on how many pages you should have, depending on how long you have been blogging or how many collaborations you have had, but if you’re new to making a media kit, keeping it simple 1-3 pages is enough, companies don’t have the time to be reading through multiple pages.

Canva have great templates to get started, be sure to change them up to suit your brand and style, you want to stand out and reflect who you are. Other places you can find templates are Creative Market and Etsy for a low cost to have a stand-out and different template from the rest.

Remember to keep your media kit up to date with the most accurate stats of your social media and save it as a PDF file.

What you should include in your media kit can differ, but as a basic guide, you should include:

Your Brand– your logo, blog name, URL
An intro of who you are, what your blog is about, and include a photo (no need to write your life story) make it quick and punchy
A tagline – a short description that sums up what your blog is about. For example

Disney- Happiest Place on Earth

KFC- Finger-Lickin-Good

RedBull- gives you wings

I bet you all remember these types of brands for their tagline, it’s catchy. My tagline is – Find your Serenity, the world is our teacher.

Contact details– Don’t forget your name and email, and phone number if you are available to receive calls, if pitching different countries, sometimes an email is enough, you don’t want to be getting calls at odd hours.
Social and blog stats– number of followers, combined or each platform, can include email subscribers, monthly page views, and unique visitors to your site
Audience demographics (location, age group, gender %)

Include photographs throughout your media kit and brands you have collaborated with and testimonials, brand logos are a good visual.

Pitching Brands

Combined with your media kit, If you are emailing travel brands, you will need to write a short to the point email summarizing information the company will be interested to know, it’s your media kit in a nutshell.

Here is a basic pitch template, use this to get you started on crafting your own pitch, edit the pitch accordingly to what brand you are pitching and choose to add more things like social stats or previous collaborations, this template below is only a basic one to give you an idea of where to start!

Here’s the interesting part…

Email Subject- Collaborations request with (company name) and (blog/IG or FB handle)

Hi (person’s name) if not known (To whom it may concern)

(Optional Ice-breaker) Thanks for taking the time to read my email.

My name is (your name) and I (what you do) run a travel blog (your website) I am based in Melbourne, Australia)

I am planning my trip to (destination) on/ or from (date/s) and I would love the opportunity to collaborate with (hotel name).

I would like to showcase your hotel on my blog (name of the blog) that receives (number of page views) and is aimed at (whos your audience target) and with my (x) amount of social media followers.

I am impressed with what your hotel has to offer (name features) and feel your property will be a great fit for my audience.

In exchange for (whatever you are asking for) (complimentary stay/tickets, tour) you will receive (whatever you can do for them)

I have attached my media kit for your reference. I would love to partner with you and hope to hear back from you soon.

Regards,

(sign your name)

But wait, there’s more – Ideas of offers you can put forward to the company are, but are not limited to:

1 x 2000 word blog post with SEO keywords that will help them be found
3 x Instagram/ Facebook stories with them tagged and hashtagged for more exposure
2 x Instagram and Facebook post feeds with hashtags
2 x Pinterest idea pins
2 x Pinterest Pins to drive traffic to the blog post

>> If you want to Quantify your offer and stand out more, you can add things like >>

1 x 2000 word blog post – READ BY (x) amount of readers
3 x Instagram/ Facebook stories SEEN BY (x) viewers
2 x Instagram and Facebook post – Average impressions of (x) each (total of x amount of impressions)

Generally, you will be the one pitching travel brands, but on occasions, companies will reach out to you, if so high five.

Be active with pitching businesses, reach out to the companies that align with your brand and audience, be prepared you will get rejections and you will get no reply at all, but keep pitching, don’t be spammy, but if you don’t hear back, send a follow-up email.

Keep pitching, you will eventually get a yes.

Tip: when pitching try asking for times when it is an off-peak season, pitching in peak season, can be harder to get into if you are new to collaborations because why would the place give a free stay when they would generally be fully booked at that time.

Networking, Facebook groups, and Tourism boards

You may choose to pitch the company directly or check out the tourism boards of the city you are visiting like: Visit Portugal, Visit Melbourne, Tourism Australia, you get my drift.

Be sure to check out their menu or footer area for contact us, or press/media page, they may have a section for influencers/ content creators (check out Visit London they have a form you can submit for collaborations.

The other way to find opportunities is to attend networking events, try going to some travel expos, travel conferences and join Travel Massive, a travel community, you don’t need to pitch them directly, you don’t want to be pushy or salesy, but have a general conversation around what you do, build a relationship and you may find you will be given a business card to contact their media/PR area.

Facebook is another great resource to join groups around blogging, or whatever your niche may be, often within the groups, opportunities for press trips come up, or people will be asking questions that might help you gather information.

Nothing is for Free – Be prepared to work for your collaboration

Free isn’t exactly really Free, nothing in life really is, so I use the term “Free” lightly, In exchange for getting a “free” hotel stay, or tour, you must remember you actually have to work for it.

It’s not just getting back to the hotel, throwing your shoes off, and relaxing, you will need to be taking photographs of everything, waking early to get that sunrise photo and getting all the details about the hotel and surrounds, or things that stand out on tours or whatever comped trip you are promoting.

Your trip will be glorious and fun, but you need to remember you are there to promote the business on your social media, your blog, and with photography and this can take a few hours to craft a blog post, edit photos and engage in social media comments and questions.

Does it beat sitting in an office, 100%, if you enjoy what you are doing, it’s not really like working, is it!

Over-deliver on your promise

Brands talk to each other, word of mouth on an exceptional job done by you can get you way more collaborations in the future.

Over-deliver what you promised, go that one step further, and give more than you agreed on, so, if you said 3 posts on your socials give 4, share extra value and complete your blog post sooner than agreed.

If live videos were not talked about, you can jump on and do a live video during your stay, showcase the business more than talked about and you will be likely to get raving reviews by the brand and giving you a higher chance of other brands reaching out to work with you.

Recap

Provide Value – great written content and photographs
Be genuine, be unique, be consistent and gain social media followers
Create a media kit (AKA- travel blogger resume)
Craft a pitch for hotels, tours, attraction passes, and so on
Free, not so free, you are there to work promoting the company
Join Facebook groups, go to network events (local travel expos)
Over-deliver on your promise, companies talk to each other, word of mouth is key.
Be Humble, be Professional

You got this. The best way to gain press trips is to be “YOU” and be professional.

Happy Pitching!

7 Easy Steps To Be A Successful Digital Nomad You Need To Know

by Tia C | Jan 23, 2022 | BLOG, Making Money

Become a Digital Nomad in Easy steps.

Digital nomads make a career by working online while living in several locations of their choice rather than from a workplace setting. Digital nomads can choose to be full-time travelers because their profession is fully remote, as long as they have access to Wi-Fi and the digital gear like laptop or smartphone they need to conduct their work from anywhere in the world.

***This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through clicking the link, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.***

There are many benefits of being a digital nomad, and having the option to live location-free, while ticking off all your bucket list locations all while working from your laptop.

Travel to popular destinations (skip them cold winters)
Learn about new cultures, new languages & make new friends
The flexibility of your time and your lifestyle of choice
No Boss telling you what to do, or asking for time off
Work whenever and wherever you want – true freedom.

With benefits there are struggles and the novelty of traveling around the world can eventually become overwhelming for some. This is not to say you will feel like this, but things to always consider. A few con’s from personally living abroad can be:

Loneliness and missing your family
Staying motivated (remember you don’t have a boss telling you what to do)
Living out of suitcases and always moving around can be exhausting
Lacking privacy depending on your accommodation choices (hostels can be crowded)

What jobs are there for Digital Nomads?

There are many different options to working remotely, either with a company or by becoming an entrepreneur and being your own boss.

With the global pandemic, working from home has become a way of life for many businesses, and many people have taken to the entrepreneur lifestyle and begun working online.

Here are a few examples of Digital Nomad Jobs.

Blogging
Affiliate Marketing
Social Media Marketing
YouTube
Freelance Writers
Virtual Assistant (VA)
Tutor / Language teacher
Creating online courses, funnels, web designs

I have a travel blog and a high-ticket affiliate marketing business. This is what I find works for my family and me to travel and work as we go, it gives us the lifestyle we were looking for, but also something that I enjoy doing.

If starting a blog is something that you might find interesting, click here to find out more or if high-ticket affiliate marketing might interest you, you can find more about starting your own Brand (AKA Business) here and be supported by an amazing community that is worldwide.

There are endless options for working online, this is a list of a few ideas, for a larger list, check out my post here.

Booking.com

Tips to start your digital nomad life

1. Making preparations

Before you plan your digital nomad endeavors, you should scout out what you already have and what you consider to be essentials. (travel gear, tech gear, health, etc)

2. Figure Out How You Want to Live

Once you find a destination, you’ll need to secure housing or at the very least, figure out what kind of accommodations you want. You can look at options like Airbnb, hostels, and shared housing to save on costs, but working remotely will require a good WIFI connection, so an important thing to look for when looking at accommodation.

Booking.com – Best for hotels and hostels accommodation, and offers a great cancellation policy.
HostelWorld – Best hostel search engine for every country.
Airbnb – A very popular option for digital nomads to find housing/ apartments for short-term/long-term rentals.

3. Decide your destination

The first step in carefully choosing your selection of destinations is to determine the cost of living in each location and the safety if you are traveling alone. You’ll need to be able to pay for everything from rent to food and entertainment and transportation to get around, so be realistic about your salary in relation to the cost of living in different locations.

Remember to be a digital nomad you do not have to travel, you can choose to stay in your county and you may just work from home or travel around in an RV/Caravan.

4. Join a digital nomad community

Finding new networks of like-minded people is the best part of being a digital nomad. Being a part of a community is helpful not only to your business but also to our lifestyle! There are many Facebook groups that join Digital Nomads together like Nomadbase – The Digital Nomad Community & Digital Nomads Around the World Working from cafes and libraries can be a great way to meet new people.

5. Making money and paying taxes

When it comes to earning money as a digital nomad, you will need to check your country/ state on paying taxes, if you spend more time out of your home country and pay taxes to the foreign country you have been living/working, you can claim for a “foreign income exemption, however, you will need to check with your countries tax rules. If you are making working online your main source of income, I suggest getting yourself a good accountant to assist you with the rules on earning an income while living overseas.

6. Get insurance

You might be thinking about why you should pay this additional monthly cost if you’re in good health. When you travel full-time, you never know what will happen, and let me tell you accidents do happen. As a result, insurance is the greatest option to protect yourself and your wallet.

Many digital nomads make the mistake of not considering health insurance before starting on their adventure. Some popular health covers for nomads are World Nomads and Safety Wing.

7. Set Boundaries

Becoming a digital nomad is hard, it takes time and sacrifices, you need to set yourself some boundaries, no longer being an employee and becoming your own boss, it takes time to condition yourself to set a routine to be more productive. Here are a few tips to help:

Set the number of hours you will work

Allow yourself breaks
Prioritize your work schedule and workspace
Have a daily routine
Be active throughout the day- get out for a walk or exercise or yoga
Eat well and stay hydrated

You got this!!

HOW TO START A BLOG WITH BLUEHOST 5 EASY TIPS

by Tia C | Oct 13, 2021 | BLOG

Getting started with Bluehost- Let’s Go..

If you’re looking to start a website for blogging or a website for any of your needs business or personal. Bluehost is a great choice.

I personally am using Bluehost with WordPress and they have been great and make your website look very professional.

Bluehost is easy to navigate if you were just starting out, not to mention they have affordable prices to get you up and going and with some affiliate links, you can make that money back quite quickly and cover the costs of your website.

With Bluehost, you can start your own blog for as little as $2.95 a month. If you sign up on a longer plan such as 12 months or three-year plan you will get a cheaper price, I personally signed up for the three-year plan straight away as it saves you money in the long run.

The benefits of using Bluehost with your WordPress for your blog are:

Bluehost is affordable and you get to pick a free domain and word press is included in Bluehost. It’s super easy to use if you are just learning and starting Bluehost makes it easy tier use a WordPress blog.

Bluehost has an amazing support team, which I have used a few times and they are very prompt at fixing any issues that you may come across.

You will be self-hosted giving you the freedom you want with your blog and to monetize.

***This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through clicking the link, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.***

There are many different web hosting businesses, but Bluehost in my opinion is one of the best you can use, it is so easy to use and offers great Technical Support.

Blogging can be one of the best ways you can earn money by using affiliate links within your website and you can join most affiliate programs for free.

Setting yourself up to run a successful blogging website can get you earning a very lucrative income and will give you the opportunity to work from home and travel whenever you want, it gives you complete flexibility to make your own schedule and so much more.

You will be very surprised at how much you can start loving life when you set yourself up to earn a living or from the comfort of your home or anywhere that you choose to be around the world.

Anyone can make money online and especially with a blog and it is easier to create a website than you think, being a nurse by trade when it comes to techy things, I have no idea but found that using Bluehost made the process super easy.

Tips to help you get on your way to blogging!

1. Think about and register your domain name.

You will need to think about what your domain name will be, a domain name is what people search on the internet, for example, mine is “suitcasesandserenity.com” this can be a hard choice as you might have many ideas.

Keep in mind when picking a domain name not to choose something that might be hard for people to spell otherwise you will be forever trying to explain the correct way your domain name is.

Have a few different options in mind, because the one you choose may be taken already, so, don’t get discouraged, have some backup ideas.

2. Select the provider for web hosting and your domain

As mentioned, I recommend Bluehost for many reasons, below are just a few.

Easy to use – Bluehost is user-friendly and the interface has been designed to make it simple for newcomers, installing WordPress, and so many other plugins make designing your website a breeze and not to mention making it look professional.

Using Bluehost you can get your domain and web hosting together, which saves a lot of confusion.

Amazing support – I have needed help with my website on a few occasions, and have been happy with their support team every single time, I jump on their chat and they walk me through it, if I cant fix it, they do it for me. The process is so easy and such peace of mind.

Great rates – Bluehost has amazing rates on offer and different plans to suit each budget and does not have much downtime or glitches like some of the other web hosting options.

If you choose to buy the 12 months or 36-month plan you will get a much lower price for the longer you buy, I bought it straight away with a 36-month plan saving me money on my website in the long run and not having to worry about renewing it.

A step-by-step guide to getting you started with Bluehost.

You will arrive on the home page of Bluehost, start your journey by clicking on the get started now button

Select the package

Select a package that best suits your needs, as they all have different options depending on what you require for your website, I use the basic package and that suits the needs for my website, as mentioned earlier, I recommend buying in with the 36-month plan, as it saves you money in the long run and avoids the hassle of having to renew every year.

Remember when I said to start thinking about a domain name to call your website, you have now arrived at the place you get to select your “new domain name” type in your ideal domain name or use a domain name you may already have.

**Don’t be disappointed if that ideal domain name is taken, tweak it or have another up your sleeve to use.

Fill in your personal information

Fill in your personal information and make sure your correct package is selected, I recommend having the domain privacy protection selected, for minimal cost, it is worth it to keep your personal details hidden.

You can untick any others, but have a read and choose what options you like, if you have any questions, reach out to the Bluehost team they have a great support team.

Getting WordPress installed.

Bluehost makes it extremely easy to install WordPress and easy to create your web design.

Bluehost will have you select a Theme, pick the theme you like best, but don’t worry too much as you can change this at any time by loading another theme, there are many free themes or paid theme options.

I have a paid Elegant theme (Divi) on my website but don’t worry you can just use a free one if you choose.

Click “start building” and when prompted you can select either “personal or business” and you are on your way!

CELEBRATION TIME!! You did it! WOOHOO…

On the left-hand side in Bluehost is the dashboard menu, familiarise yourself with this menu, it will be your next best friend.

Below I will share with you some basic steps that will help you get started in creating your wonderland!

If you need any help, reach out to Bluehost, and they will walk you through anything you need or simply be able to do it for you!

Happy Creating!

Here are a few tips to help you navigate using the Bluehost dashboard.

Posts are where you will write your content, your blog posts, all you need to do is click “Add new” and start creating. Under “posts” you can create “categories” & “tags” that can help organize your posts. Categories could be anything you decide, for example, you could have “travel tips” “blogging” “recipes”, etc.
Media is where you will upload and find your pictures, videos, and PDFs.
Pages are more of a static page where not much changes, it is like a landing page for your posts to go on, or pages “your About” page and your “contact” page
Appearance is where you will find the “Themes” and where you can create your website’s brand, like the color scheme, fonts, headers, footers, you can also create your menus and sub-menus & widgets.
Plugins are where you can put add-ons to help your website function more effectively and allows creativity, there are so many different plugins available, depending on what your niche is, will determine what plugins you require. For example, for recipes I use “WP recipe maker”, there are endless choices available for you!
Settings are where you can change your login details, you can also select how many posts to show on your home page, etc, have a look through all the options in your dashboard and get familiar to help you with your needs.

Making Money with your blog

If you are feeling inspired and ready to get started with blogging, there are many different ways you can monetize your blog and earn a passive income from it. You can see my post about 4 ways to make money with your blog.

If you are ready to get started in creating your own site with Bluehost, Click here!

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