It can be difficult for teachers to plan their vacations when so many others share the same holidays and breaks. However, there is one great advantage to this – many homeowners who need housesitters also tend to travel during these times. So, if you’re a teacher who likes immersive travel experiences and saving money, this is the perfect travel opportunity!
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My trip to Benin, West Africa. (The airfare cost me $86 from Denver & included several days in Paris on the way home–find out how in the teleseminar!)
If you missed my call last week, I’ve got the replay ready for you! I’ve also added slides to it for your viewing pleasure. Before you start watching, be sure to grab a copy of the free handout HERE.
In this call, you’ll see and learn:
A couple months back, I published a blog post on how to pack everything into carry-on luggage. Now, recently returned from our two and a half month trip to Ecuador, I have some real-life examples of how not checking a bag saved our behinds (twice!) from being stranded in an airport overnight, hundreds or thousands of miles from our origin and destination. Not only that, but by carrying everything with us we were able to jump into the front of many long lines and avoid what could have been hours of hassle. FREEDOM!
FREEDOM!!!
Currently my husband and I are traveling in Ecuador for 2.5 months, and we came down without any checked luggage. Each of us packed a small duffel bag that easily fits in the overhead compartment on the airplane, and a day pack.
Day pack and small duffel bag: my only luggage for our 2.5 month Ecuador trip.
Packing light proved advantageous several times over even on the flight down. Continue reading
Being able to speak even a few basic phrases of the language of the country you plan to visit will pay off in more ways than one. This is a strategy I use to not only help me save a little more money, but also to increase my safety and connect with the locals in a more fulfilling way. By making the effort to speak the language of your destination, in most cases the locals will be far more likely to help you, give you better prices on their goods, and generally like and respect you much more than the next tourist who expects everyone to speak English to them. Even in situations where the guides, shopkeepers, waiters and others speak English, if you speak to them in their own language it will put a smile on their faces and you’ll get a lot more positive attention from them.
A few nights ago my husband and I landed in Ecuador. We spent our first day in Guayaquil. As we walked along the Malecón Salado (boardwalk along the river), we found a man with a long pole reaching high into a mango tree and decided to interact with him. “¿Qué está haciendo?” I asked him (What are you doing?). Continue reading
I have literally flown all over the world on Frequent Flyer Miles, including to Benin (in West Africa), France, Ecuador, Mexico, Hawaii, and all over the continental U.S. I have also used my miles to get plane tickets for friends and family members. When I went to Ecuador, I had enough miles for two other people. I got their tickets for them, and in exchange they covered some of my expenses for a trip to the Galapagos Islands. As a result, I spent a mere $600 for two weeks on the islands, which are notoriously expensive! Continue reading