Tips for Roaming | Scarlett Roams

Things to Consider When Roaming

Stay on the Other Side

Most European cities are built on a river since the river provided critical transportation which was necessary for trade. I like to stay across the river across from the city center where most tourist attractions tend to be concentrated. I find that I have a better chance of being among the locals going about their everyday life. Also it tends to be more quiet and less hectic, yet still within walking distance of the attractions. If that aspect of travel is important to you, I highly recommend taking a wider lens when considering where you choose to stay. Another bonus : it’s usually cheaper too. I did this in Rome and Florence and thoroughly enjoyed the slower pace of the “other side”.

In-Between Travel

If airfare is high to your destination city, check airfare to nearby cities- it could cost significantly less, even after paying for transportation to your desired destination. Plus you get to visit another location in the process.

Trains, not Planes

Trains are EVERYTHING in Europe and the train stations rival any U.S. airport in amenities plus the old-world architecture are works of art. With the shorter distances between major cities, travel by train is comfortable and relatively stress-free. Also it is quite reasonable if you book early. Second class seats are very comfortable and significantly cheaper than first class, but are more likely to sell out, so you end up buying first class if you wait until the last minute. It’s a trade-off between flexibility and cost. Either way, watching the countryside and small towns whiz by as you read and or have a drink from the bar car is such a pleasurable experience.

Two-for-One Travel

Want to travel beyond the time your PTO provides? Consider booking trips around professional conferences or workshops or other work obligations. Conferences tend to be in cities with airport hubs which makes flights to a desired destination easy. I used this strategy to visit Havana. I scheduled a long weekend trip to Cuba on the front-end of a conference in Miami. My flight to Miami was covered by my company and a round-trip plane ticket to Havana from Miami was about $100 and my Airbnb was $150. For less than $500 and two days of PTO I was able to visit this beautiful country.

Fly When the Deals are Hot!

If you have flexibility, take advantage of airlines' promotions and specials even if they require visiting during a less-than-perfect time of the year. More than likely you'll encounter less crowds at the sites and have a chance to explore beyond the expected spots.

Go Local

Local operators are who U.S. based travel agents use, so why not develop a direct relationship with them? They are the ones who really know what's happening on the ground. How do you pick an overseas tour operator? There are websites that have directories. My go-to is Zicasso.com . The site allows you to list travel destinations, proposed budget, etc. then serves up several travel agents in the destination country along with contact information. You then have a direct relationship with that on-the-ground expert.

Things to Consider When Roaming

Sync up Time Zones

Planning to work remotely while traveling? Google calendar has a feature that allows you to have multiple time zones on your calendar so you have a visual comparison of appointments in your primary time zone and the travel time zone. Find this feature in the calendar settings and activate it several months in advance of the trip. This will prevent you from having to convert time zones in your head.

Make (new) FB friends

Join a Facebook group for the place(s) you plan to visit. You can get tips on places to go, recommendations for guides or hotels, excursions, best places to exchange money, etc. I have found other solo women travelers going to the same destination at the same time I would be there and met up with them when I arrived in country.

Team Carry-On

My friend Liz tells a story about arriving in Tenerife only to learn that she and her husband’s checked luggage was left on the tarmac in their home city. Their luggage didn’t arrive in Tenerife until two days before they were to return home, and their clothes were destroyed since it rained while their luggage sat on the tarmac. They vowed never to check luggage again. After that story, I vowed to only do carry-on, even on a 17-day bush-to -beach trip to Kenya and Tanzania. How do I do it?

Pack for one week and do laundry at your location.
Bring clothes to create mix-n-match outfits.
Wear your bulkiest shoes and pack two other pairs.
Use compression packing cubes or the army roll technique
Wear layers on the plane - even if it's hot, most airports and airplanes tend to be chilly.
Carry a large backpack(with lots of pockets) as your second carry-on item.