We do not get any compensation from Turo nor are we associated with the company to provide the review.
Travel Tip #2 |
Turo is a rent by owner company for cars all done through the app. We have used numerous car rental companies, and we have our preferences. Turo is a completely different experience. Everything is taken care of through the app before you arrive. You have to follow steps for rental agreements with Turo, as well as work out details with whomever you are renting from. However, once you arrive, the car is waiting with the key. That's it. No waiting in lines arguing with staff. No signing hours of paperwork at pick up. We easily found both cars. |
When picking up the car, you do have to take a number of pictures to send over for insurance/liability purposes. Note: There will be a check out policy sent 24 hours prior to drop off. That caught us off guard. While it was very simple to take the pictures and upload to the app at the end of the trip, some owners have extra steps. They weren't difficult, but you may need time to complete things like vacuuming or running it through the car wash. Be sure to ask about the check in policy prior too so you can plan your trip accordingly. |
We would like to note our cars were not perfect. There were some things that did not work, or were in slightly rougher shape. However, with the amount of money we saved renting through Turo, we overlooked small inconveniences. The cars were safe, dependable, clean, and got us to where we needed to go. You do rent at your own risk.
Tips for renting a car in Hawaii (or anywhere):
Fun Tip! Screen shot your map location when in a dream destination! You made it! |
We are Amazon Affiliates and do make small compensation from qualifying purchases.
0 Comments
You're flying to Hawaii! (or that other dream destination.) Want to know a secret? No one cares where you sleep!
(We do NOT make any compensation on recommended lodging. We are Amazon Affiliates and do may small compensation on designated links so that we may continue to travel and teach. Click HERE for our recommendations on items to purchase for travel.)
By all means, if you have the ability to book that type of vacation, please do. There are many amazing places in which you can hang out all day and take in amazing views. For the average traveler, it's just not a realistic vision if you want to be able to do more than one trip in your lifetime. And guess what? Not one person judges you if you don't. Because the reality is, you're at the dream destination. They want to know what you DID. Not where you slept and showered. |
s#1 - Sign up for Reward Points immediately. We recommend Best Western. (no compensation or affiliation)For budget traveling, signing up for rewards really does matter. While we have a few different places we have signed up for, Best Western came through.
We stayed at the Best Western on Oahu. Located right outside the airport, it was not fancy. It was clean, had a great breakfast, and we were able to use the pool with palm trees overhead. The freeway went right by the front near the 7th floor. It's a trade off. We weren't using the hotel as our getaway. We needed an affordable place in a great location to access the different parts of the island. And it's affordable without points. |
Picking a hotel chain that you can afford on a quick trip can help you collect points quicker as well as use them for bigger destinations. When we traveled to Hawaii, we had to stay an extra night in Toronto to ensure we crossed the border. We used our points for a free night that did not cut into our budget. |
A) Don't book with scams. It's probably the most obvious, but requires a little bit of finesse.
B) Calculate the cost with the extra fees. A great price for a night can turn quickly when cleaning and booking fees cost over half of what you are paying for the rental. The cleaning fee may be lower on a slightly higher rate than a cheaper night, so you'll end up getting more for less money. C) Be open to anything You never know what you may find as a place to stay. Tiny homes, cabins, campers, or trailers are just as nice or nicer than a standard booking for a better deal. |
D) Book big trips with others We were invited to see #thekauaipoolhouse in Princeville. It's a stunning accommodation that can save you big if you go with a group. Find it here: The Kauai Pool House. (We do NOT receive compensation.) For less than a week with the mouse, you can share the Hawaiian experience for a fraction of the cost in one of the most beautiful spots on the island. |
Here's your homework:
1) Find a hotel within your typical budget range and sign up for reward points. Take those small trips while building up your points.
2) Pick your dates and start searching. Compare hotels, multiple sites, and vacation rentals by owner.
3) STICK TO YOUR TYPICAL BUDGET RANGE. This one is the hardest. It's easy to convince yourself to book more on a beautiful place because you're going to a dream location. It backfires in the end. By spending more you find yourself doing less or regretting the booking. Typically because you really don't spend as much time as you think you will at the booking location. Dream destinations call you to explore! Sitting in a house is something you can do at home!
Lastly - don't rule out camping! You can do amazing things with the freedom of a tent. Click HERE for our camping gear!
1) Find a hotel within your typical budget range and sign up for reward points. Take those small trips while building up your points.
2) Pick your dates and start searching. Compare hotels, multiple sites, and vacation rentals by owner.
3) STICK TO YOUR TYPICAL BUDGET RANGE. This one is the hardest. It's easy to convince yourself to book more on a beautiful place because you're going to a dream location. It backfires in the end. By spending more you find yourself doing less or regretting the booking. Typically because you really don't spend as much time as you think you will at the booking location. Dream destinations call you to explore! Sitting in a house is something you can do at home!
Lastly - don't rule out camping! You can do amazing things with the freedom of a tent. Click HERE for our camping gear!
Small choices with Big Impacts.
Start With the Flight
This is a really important rule to stick to. If the flights aren't able to be found in your budget range, the trip itself doesn't become worth it. Spending over half of your budget on airfare not only limits what you can do on your trip, it also limits future trips you can take due to having to pay so much for just one. Driving to an airport within 4 - 5 hours saves big. |
Our tickets to Hawaii, nonstop flight to Honolulu, were in our $600 budget range.
#2 - Stop Checking luggage We really can't stress this enough. It saves an INCREDIBLE amount of money. We did three of us with carry-on only. When we were able to walk through the airport and skip most of the wait times. The over-packing teenager converted and loved it. Click HERE for our carry-on choices. We each have a different one to fit our needs. You also need compression bags for those that like to make sure you're covered for everything. (We are Amazon Affiliates and receive a small compensation from qualifying purchases.) |
Here's your homework to get started:
1) List your top 5 travel destinations and set your budget limit.
2) Pick your travel destination and date six or more months from now. (Flights are cheaper the earlier you book them.) Go BIG. Don't Hold Back. Put that dream in the search.
3) Search your destination from multiple airports from multiple sites. Orbitz, Google Flights, etc. Don't limit to one search engine or one airport. The general rule for airports is about 4-5 hours from home or less.
4) Not in your budget range or less range right now? That's ok. Go through your list.
5) Write down (or create an excel list) of your flights and searches.
6) Check back a month later. Check on different days of the week. Record your searches. Find your best flight.
7) Do a little digging to find the carry-on bag that meets your needs. (Airlines outside of the United States have smaller bag restrictions. Please make sure you plan for this when buying a bag so you can use the same bag both within the US and outside of the US.) Buy it now to save on added costs later.
1) List your top 5 travel destinations and set your budget limit.
2) Pick your travel destination and date six or more months from now. (Flights are cheaper the earlier you book them.) Go BIG. Don't Hold Back. Put that dream in the search.
3) Search your destination from multiple airports from multiple sites. Orbitz, Google Flights, etc. Don't limit to one search engine or one airport. The general rule for airports is about 4-5 hours from home or less.
4) Not in your budget range or less range right now? That's ok. Go through your list.
5) Write down (or create an excel list) of your flights and searches.
6) Check back a month later. Check on different days of the week. Record your searches. Find your best flight.
7) Do a little digging to find the carry-on bag that meets your needs. (Airlines outside of the United States have smaller bag restrictions. Please make sure you plan for this when buying a bag so you can use the same bag both within the US and outside of the US.) Buy it now to save on added costs later.
Traveling with teens can be a challenge. Challenge Accepted!
Traveling with a third party has its advantages as well as it's challenges. In the world of technology, a long-distance trip with a lot of hiking can be very new to them. Thinking ahead can make all the difference. The cost can add up quickly if you don't plan accordingly, affecting the budget as well as the happiness of everyone on the trip. |
Start with clothing. Specifically shoes. We do a lot of hiking, and the right shoes can make or break a child's experience. Sore, wet feet are not fun for any adult. For a younger human with less coping skills, it can make a day hike completely miserable. So another pair of Merril hiking shoes was purchased and it was well worth the buy. We hiked four seriously hard miles in Hawaii. She wore them directly out of the box. No blisters, no pain. NOT ONE COMPLAINT ABOUT HER FEET. They are incredibly affordable and we cannot recommend them enough. (HERE is our Teen Travel List - we are amazon affiliates and make a small compensation. Read on for more and the link is also below) |
Teenagers, girls especially, can be picky about their clothing. How it looks, how it feels. Not to mention they outgrow everything quickly. Buying a whole new wardrobe was out of the question. Compromise! Find one or two items that aren't "cringe" and affordable and purchase them. Then: DO NOT LET THEM WEAR IT UNTIL THE TRIP. That's the important part for the rest of this. If you purchase things for a trip but give them ahead of time, you've wasted your time and money. The excitement of having something new with a trip helps sustain the trips value. |
Keeping with the theme of buying only for a trip, start putting together a travel kit only a teenager would love. Inexpensive travel items they can only use while traveling. Let them pick the colors and designs. Having ownership over their belongings they need allows them to feel a little bit of control in a time of their life when everything feels off. |
Lastly, it's time to allow for a little fun. Find items that are budget friendly, and teen approved. You'll find our entire list in HERE on our Amazon Storefront. (We are Amazon affiliates and make a small compensation to be able to continue to travel and teach.) Must haves: Card Games: We love Uno and Skip-bo Headphones: Buy plane jack headphones prior to save money and elevate cool. The phone ones will not work. Airpods: There is a converter you can purchase to hook airpods to the plane. We do not have them, but they'd be worth it if your teen doesn't want to give up their airpods Cool charging cords: Trust us. Purchase charging cords to take with you. Losing a charging cord on vacation is less frustrating. New Books and a Journal: They will get sick of the device and get bored. Promise. Have an old school backup plan. Luggage: CARRY ON. We converted her. She was able to pack for a week in a carry on bag and decided she never wanted a big suitcase again. |
Here's the real advice: Buy items weeks to months in advance and then PUT THEM AWAY. Build the excitement as you put together the trip in small pieces. It saves you a lot of money to buy over time instead of last minute, and they build their excitement. Save items like games, phone cords, and journals to give when you are on the trip as the need arises. They become mini surprises that help combat travel fatigue for humans with less coping skills. |
Above all, take the trip. Teenagers have a very small window of time left before they become adults. They don't want to be around you (that was made very clear at times). But you get moments and memories when they are completely involved and enjoying the moment. Those are the moments they will take with them when they become an adult. You hope one day they look back and realize how much they did and how the time spent was worth it. You'll never regret spending those moments together. You may regret the time change when returning. |
We receive a small compensation from qualifying purchases when you click the button. We are extremely grateful!
Give me a break!
We're teachers. Of course, we are going to be excited about spring break. We're teachers. Of course, we're either going on a vacation or sitting on our couch all week. We're teachers. Of course, we have limited resources and time to travel. And, we are required to travel at some of the most expensive times during the year. We're teachers. Of course, we are going to try to learn something while we travel. |
We're traveling teachers. Of course we planned a trip on Spring Break. We're traveling teachers. Of course we spent hours looking for the best deals and how to save the most money possible. We're traveling teachers. Of course we are planning to learn things while we are away. We're traveling teachers. Of course we are going to return to work the Monday after break completely exhausted but completely excited about our travels. |
We are about to head off to our next adventure. While there are those out there that have the ability to travel from country to country months or years at a time, that's not the reality for most of us. Most of the world is working day after day, trying to balance life with having dreams. That's where we come in. We are working every day as teachers while striving to inspire people to not give up on their dreams. We want to teach others how it is possible to take that trip, and that you will never once regret it. |
Have a wonderful break! Follow our adventures on TikTok and Insta as we head off into the world! Click HERE to check out our store on Amazon for recommended products for your next trip! START PLANNING NOW! We are Amazon Affiliates and do make a small compensation from qualifying purchases so that we may continue to travel and teach, |
Who is actually the winner? |
On one side of the river sits Stirling Castle. A walking tour provides a glimpse of various architecture that was added on as various rulers built their legacy. Most famous of the occupants was Mary, Queen of Scots. However, other rulers came and went, both Scottish and British, as the claim for Scotland was a consistent battle. |
The castle tells heroic tales of those who fought valiantly. Ran by England, the British speak highly of those who ruled in the past from Stirling Castle, and explain the valiant efforts made by English Countryman to tame the Scots of the north. History is told through the lens of the British Monarchy, and the need to tame the rebels in Scotland. The castle is worth the visit, as its history is well documented within an exhibit. |
When you get to the top of the castles defenses and look over the city, you will notice and take pause of the William Wallace memorial in the background. We had just come from the Wallace Memorial, and it's location did not go unnoticed. On the edge of the Battle of Stirling sits two sides. The castle sits as the stronghold, reminding Scotland of the presence of the British Monarchy. Yet across the way, Scotland has built a memorial to their Scottish hero. It overlooks the castle, reminding the British the Scots too, have a side to their story. |
Once inside the WIlliam Wallace Memorial, there are four floors of interactive exhibits. Each one tells the story of Scottish Clans and how William Wallace made his way through history as a hero for the Scots. From a young child to his final days before being killed by the British, the Scotland National Heritage Site shares the fierce perseverance of the Scots, and their fight for freedom from the British Monarchy. |
The rebels written about across the river at Stirling Castle are given a different lens in the William Wallace Memorial. They are honored by their history and their clans, reminding the past the of the valiant efforts made to provide Scotland freedom from the British Monarchy in the south. The story explains Wallace's death at the memorial, and then leads into Scotland and England coming to terms with their relationship. However, you just leave with the feeling that there is still more of the story left to tell. |
History is not meant to be rewritten or disregarded. We learned about both sides of the story, cautiously learning the details and tried to understand the different perspectives. These are not easy moments to walk through. As visitors to the country, it's not our story to tell. However, it becomes an important piece of reflection. There are always two sides to history, and it's important to learn both of them to make your own conclusions. |
When visiting Scotland, and especially if you are near enough to Edinburgh, take the time to visit Stirling. The city is quaint and the history is incredible. Wear good walking shoes, as the climbs can be tough at moments. (You can find ours HERE. We are Amazon Affiliates and we really can't recommend the shoes enough. There's so much walking when traveling) Find your moment of history in Stirling. |
Keep going. It's worth the hike.
One last stop. It had been an incredibly busy day. We had been to most of the main attractions on the Isle of Skye, having started at 7:30 that morning at Kilt Rock, hiked the Quraing, saw castles, hiked Neist Point, saw fairies and cemeteries, and almost anything else you could think of. So when DC said one last stop...it was time to rally for one more hike. |
Traveling isn't easy. The goal of travel is to see and learn as much as possible, allowing the destination to guide you. The weather the next day was looking iffy, and we only had so much time to make it to everything we wanted to see. The Old Man of Storr is an iconic hike on the Isle of Skye, and we had saved it for last. The weather makes hiking tricky, and we needed the clouds to clear to be able to make it to the top. |
That's the moment in which the Isle of Skye had us captivated. The entire day had lead to the moment in which we walked among clouds and stood face to face with the earth. Millions of years of history lay within the rock around us. The Trotternish Mountains stood out, as the gray weather rock begged us to stand in silence and marvel at the sheer power of the rock formations. |
As we said good-bye and descended back down the side of the mountain, we passed another couple. We could see it in her eyes. He was motivated to climb to the top, she was struggling under the weight of the difficulty of the hike. "Keep going". The words were easy to share with her. Keep going. The most difficult hikes are always worth it. It's worth the struggle, it's worth the frustration, it's worth getting over the feeling of wanting to give up. |
The truth of life sits within the hike to the Old Man of Storr. So many times in life you may want to quit, or give up, or view something from afar. But when you keep going, when you keep reaching, when you keep trying, you land yourself in a place of humbling silence and awe. Places so beautiful they really do not need words to describe them. These places in your life come after those tough times. And, like the Old Man of Storr, they become just as legendary. |
Don't miss this iconic hike. Make sure that you get the right jacket and shoes. You can find our recommendations HERE for hiking. We saw a few people who had not anticipated the hike being as difficult as it was, and they had to give up because they couldn't hike in flip flops. Our favorite shoes can be found HERE. We are Amazon Affiliates and we do make a small compensation from qualifying links so that we may continue to travel and teach. |
The History of London sits on the edge of the River Thames
At first glance, London Tower could seemingly be missed. Nestled within the backdrop of London, the castle sits well below the skyscrapers of modern day London. At some points along the street, passerby's are eye level with the walls. It's only until you enter into London Tower you realize it's incredible size and power throughout London's history. |
The location of the tower on the River Thames made it a stronghold for the British Monarchy. The river's speed and power made crossing difficult, allowing castle defenses to hold against attacks. The river also rises and falls with the tides, allowing the kings of the past to use drowning as a form of punishment. |
The castle takes a few hours to explore. Each of the areas has a different piece of British history. The Crown Jewels are stored in the castle, and are open for public viewing. Be warned, they are heavily guarded. The bloody tower hold numerous stories of those who were imprisoned, including that of Sir Walter Raleigh, the famous explorer. |
History, Beaches, and Bacardi
As winter drags on, it's important to find a way to beat the winter blues. Puerto Rico offers an excellent escape to another country without the need for a passport. (Although, don't forget, we highly recommend you get a passport.) |
Starting with the history of San Juan, take a trip to the San Juan National Historic site. As part of the National Park Service, you can earn your passport stamp by touring the fort and surrounding area. Puerto Rico's location as the entrance to the Carribean created multiple attacks on the island. The Dutch, during the time of intense trade across the region, also attempted at capturing San Juan, although they failed to do so. |
Every adventure is a chance to challenge yourself, reflect, and reset. Having the right book to guide your mindset matters.
The book is written in Nick's voice, light hearted and easy to follow. He takes the reader through his life, sharing the highs and lows he endured as he set his sites on achieving one of the highest honors of an athlete. As he does so, he mixes in small moments and favorite things along the way (like Riverside Pizzeria in Iron River!) |
As the reader, it's easy to get drawn into your own life reflection throughout the book. Nick's ability to challenge status quo, live simply, and stay connected to small town humble roots, gives readers the ability to look within. What goals are you setting? Where did you come from? Where do you want to go? And above all, you are never too old to start or achieve the goal you set before you. |
The older we get the more we may feel there's a can't or shouldn't in front of choices we make. Society puts expectational norms on decisions as we age, creating invisible barriers we sometimes don't even realize are there. Nick pushes the reader to break through those barriers. He continuously demonstrates and asks the reader to get outside of what "should be" and think about what "could be". He recognizes the sacrifice this requires yet teaches throughout the book that the sacrifice makes the goal that much more worth it. |
As the book ended, and our trip came to a close, we couldn't help but reflect on what could be. How continuing to move life forward, continuing to travel and teach, and continuing to live just outside expectations and norms can make the all difference in this life. The book is well worth the read and highly recommended. Find your copy in the link below! We are Amazon Affiliates and do make a small compensation at no cost to you for qualifying items so that we may continue to travel and teach. |
Quick Info
We're two Midwest teachers trying to do something we love while being able to teach others along the way. Check out our About page for more!
Copyright 2022 - present
All visitors are advised to read our DISCLOSURE page for important information.
Archives
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
Categories
This website uses marketing and tracking technologies. Opting out of this will opt you out of all cookies, except for those needed to run the website. Note that some products may not work as well without tracking cookies.
Opt Out of Cookies
Proudly powered by Weebly