I wouldn’t say any specific tool was more effective than the other, I would say when you go to make a website sometimes it can be quite tedious with all the details involved, what I found most helpful was being able to customize a certain theme and the whole blog being set up. No tedious details needed. I wouldn’t say there were any tools that stood out as completely ineffective, because of the tools that WordPress gave me, everything went pretty smoothly. 

I was unable to find the slideshow feature when it came to creating my photo gallery, I worked for two hours to try to find it and it made it quite difficult to complete the assignment. 

Being a pubic relations major, I am sure I will need writing examples when applying for jobs. I will show blog this in my portfolio as part of my writing examples. This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped train me to write in a professional manor using only my creativity. I believe this could benefit me in a professional setting. 

My most popular week was 10/15/18-10/21/18. I had 24 views and 11 visitors. My most popular post was “Tips, Ticks and Travels” ringing up 14 views. I think this post was most popular because it covered a variety of topics. This particular post was so broad that it could apply to everyone. 

I would say I was most surprised by the fact that I had someone from the Czech Republic viewing my blog. 

Since we’re wrapping it up, check out my video assignment on YouTube. Ashlynne Elrod shares her experiences with traveling. Thank you for reading, its been a pleasure.

Love always,

H

Hands down, my favorite place I have ever been to has been Switzerland. I have been twice and I loved it so much that I have decided to move there after graduating from Texas State University. Moving across the world sounds crazy, but hopefully after reading this blog you’ll begin to understand. 

 Switzerland was the first place I flew to on my own. It was the first vacation I ever paid for by myself. I was able to meet so many people my age, I was hosted by real Swiss people, so they showed me all of the “must-see” sights. 

I had the opportunity to really see the culture and not just vacation on a resort of some kind. I have never tasted food so good, seen sights so breathtaking, felt air so cold, or experienced such a magical destination. 

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Packing can be one of the most stressful things to do when preparing for a trip. You’re constantly left asking yourself, what will the weather be? How much do I actually need? Did I overpack? Do I have everything I will absolutely need?  These are all questions that I ask myself while I sit on my floor surrounded by mountains of clothes, toiletries and other items I could possibly, but probably not need.

The first step in efficiently packing is writing down the events you will be attending and what the weather will be like in your destination. Once you have your events in order make sure you have an outfit for each event you have planned. This helps me weigh out a huge chunk of clothing I probably would have packed but didn’t really need.

The second step is to print a checklist for any toiletries or other items you could need. Let me tell you from personal experience, you can never go wrong with a checklist. This is a way to remind yourself what you have and what you need.

The third step is to RELAX, I know traveling can be stressful but always remember to relax. If you get there and realize you forgot something, there is probably a store around the corner that has exactly what you need. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Love always,

-H

 

Imagine waking up, looking out your window, and seeing nothing but endless ocean, no land in site just you the ship and the people around you that love travel just as much as you do. Going on a cruise is an ideal way to travel with an abundant of amenities, and without a doubt amazing views.

Think about waking up everyday and looking out your window to a new country and endless possibilities of experiences and memories that will last you your entire life. I don’t know about you, but waking up in a different country with thousands of people who are there to do exactly what I am there to do is something I always look for in traveling.

While the views and experiences are a huge plus to going on a cruise, it is also a pretty affordable way to travel. Think about it, everything you could possibly need to stay afloat are there for you right at your fingertips. If you could find a cruise port that you could drive to, you immediately weigh out a huge chunk of money you would be putting towards airfare. Food, a place to sleep, fun things to do while on the ship, are all there for you at an amazing price and allows you to be able to wake up in a brand new place everyday.

Cruising is something that I will always love to do alone, or with a big group of people. It is full of endless opportunities of exploring and adventure. As a travel bug myself, I will always recommend going on a cruise as a form of travel, and I think you should try it yourself.

Love always,

-H

Lets talk about backpack travel. Many people do it, but sometimes it can seem daunting. I mean for real, what all do you even bring with you to be able to live out of a literal bag? Is backpacking only for a certain age group? Is it only for people who can’t afford the fancy shmancy stuff?

These are all questions that i’ll answer for you. First of all, lets get rid of the stigma that only young and broke people travel via backpacking. Backpacking is for everyone. It’s an experience that you can’t get quite anywhere else. Sometimes it can even be humbling to know that you don’t need much to thrive.

I’m going to list what I personally think should be your ultimate essentials for your backpack. First of all, stay charged. Get yourself a power bank, an extension cord and maybe even an international adapter. Next, always consider health. I keep a small first-aid kit in my backpack that is equipped to help with minor injuries/headaches/vitamins. Think about safety, one of my favorite knickknacks to have in my pack is a security lock. Lock your valuables up into a safe locker at the hostile so you don’t have to worry about it while you’re out experiencing travel. I recommend having a compact travel clothes line and a quick-dry, light weight travel towel.

Other than that, just pack enough clothes to last five days. You can wash your clothes in a sink or a bathtub if a washing machine isn’t available. This way, you’re not overpacking. If you ever get the chance to travel via backpack, take it! Here is a link to my favorite travel backpacks. Enjoy!

 

-H

Today we’re doing something new, we’re reviewing one of my favorite traveler’s websites. She’s smart, she’s beautiful, she’s the one and only, Traveleah. I first found Leah on YouTube about a year ago. She is an American who moved to Basel, Switzerland to teach English. While in Basel, she took the opportunity to travel all over. Leah went to Dubai, Portugal, Africa, Rome and so many more places. She finally saved up enough money, quit her job and became a full-time traveler. She is now in Thailand and brings us all with her on her social media platforms and blogs.

One thing I love about Leah is that she doesn’t sugar coat anything. If you want to know the details, down to the nitty gritty, she’s going to give them to you. Leah’s website features all kinds of blogs. You’ll find her travels in Santorini, Greece breathtaking, her blogs on saving money in order to travel often informational, and the motivation she gives you to start traveling invigorating.

The aspect I find most unique about Leah is that she offers travel services to her followers on her website. She has designed group travel experiences for her and some of her followers that want to take the dive. For a small fee, Leah will book your ticket and design your itinerary for the group. This is what sets Leah apart from other travel bloggers. She has designed a group travel to Bangkok, Thailand and another to Dubai in early November.

To find about more about Leah, visit her website!

Let’s be honest, traveling is amazing, but often looked at as impossible or inconvenient due to factors like money, time, careers, family or your very own personal fears. I encourage you to save that money, I urge you to make that time, but most of all, I dare you to get over that fear. Life is short. It’s quite tragic to wait for things in life simply because you believe there will be a time where it all suddenly lines up. No one is ever really ready to do anything. Sometimes there is no such thing as ready at all. We only have the moment we’re living in.

My best advice is to travel while you’re young and able. Sure, you might be broke, but if there’s a will, there’s a way. Don’t worry about that money, don’t worry about whether or not you have the time, just book the ticket and go, otherwise, you may never get the chance. When I decided that I wanted to start solo traveling, I was terrified. However, I was never going to go if I waited for someone to come with me. There is a quote that I love written by Randy Komisar, he says, “And then there is the most dangerous risk of all- the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet that you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later”. If you want to travel but keep pushing it aside, I hope this quote resonates with you.

Go wherever you feel the most inspired. Buy that plane ticket, pack those bags and give yourself the permission you need to live a colorful life. Break out of your comfort zone, I promise you won’t regret it. If you decide to go for it, but you’re feeling a little lost on where to event start, click here for some tips and tricks.

-H

(not my photo, courtesy of Pinterest)

Okay, If you’ve never stayed in a hostel, you might think of it as a step above a correctional facility of some sort, a lot of people believe they’re potentially shady places where they need to have their eye on their belongings at all times. Luckily, that reputation is mainly just based on stereotypes. You might as well know about the positives that are really out there if you’re considering the hostel life for travel. I bet I can convince you that they’re not all that bad.

First and foremost, lets address the elephant in the room: safety. There are so many things about hostels that can help you keep all of your belongings without stress. Many hostels have amenities like safety deposit boxes, private rooms and round-the-clock security. Most hostels also have lockers to put your things in, and you can even bring your own lock; some even have gender-separated dorms.

But what should you expect from a hostel? Usually, you’ll find yourself with simple, basic and decently clean accommodation. Bedrooms and bathrooms will usually be shared if you’re going the cheap route. However, if you get a private room, the most cost-efficient way to travel is going with the dorms. In a few hostels they can be as big as twenty people or more, but don’t let that scare you, as a general rule you’ll find about six to eight beds per room. For more information, click here to see what facts about hostels surprise you. And always remember, don’t knock it ’til you try it!

-H

Ever wonder what you will need for a solo trip? Read below to get the tips and tricks!

Before taking a solo trip, map out where you want to go, how much it will be to get there, and where you want to stay. I recommend taking a few self-defense classes before, as well as having some pepper spray handy. For budget-friendly people like myself, Google flights has a ton of options on great and CHEAP flights, this will work wonders when it comes to your wallet. Also, don’t be afraid to pack some protein bars or whatever snack you like, to help save money on the food costs. The biggest part of solo traveling is always the amount of preparation you put into it.

 

Next thing to think about is all the things you want or plan to do on the trip, and appropriate attire to wear to achieve all those things. Do you want to go hiking? Visit museums? Attend concerts? Based on the answer to this, you need to properly prepare for transportation and figure the cost of that into whatever activities you plan to do. Do you want to walk? Uber? Call a taxi or ride a bus? Do you need to pack bulky jackets, hiking boots or maybe a swimsuit?

 

It might seem overwhelming, but just remember you are there to have fun! While preparation is a big part of the trip, the trip itself should be relaxing and enjoyable. Just remember that you are there to have fun, and don’t sweat the small stuff! Rules of thumb are: pack less than you think you need, bring more money than you would like to spend and if you splurge on ANYTHING, let it be on safety. Safety should be your number one concern while traveling alone. Below is the link to Google Flights so you can check it out yourself!

https://www.google.com/flights/#flt=/m/0f2rq..2018-10-09*./m/0f2rq.2018-10-13;c:USD;e:1;sd:1;t:e

 

 

 

 

My name is Hope Zuckerbrow and my website is all about solo traveling!

I chose this topic because as soon as I graduate, I will be solo traveling through every country you can think of! I hope to explore new ways of budget-travel and secret cities nobody really talks about. There is SO much of this world to see, I want you guys to see it too!

This blog goes out to anyone who is thinking about solo traveling or has ever been interested in seeing what more the world has to offer.

I have my own YouTube channel focusing on this topic: Hope Flying Solo

-H