travel tips Archives • The Bliss Movement

4 Solo Travel Fears And Why You Shouldn’t Let Them Stop You

If you had asked me seven years ago if I would ever get on a plane, fly across the world and proceed to backpack around without much of a plan, I would have called you crazy. I wouldn't have given solo travel a fleeting thought. Hell, I wouldn’t have even gone into my local Walmart alone and don’t even think about asking me to sit and have a coffee all by myself! Being all on my own was easily one of my biggest solo travel fears. Now, I tell my friends that they’re crazy not to. I get that it is a scary feeling to take such a huge leap of faith in yourself[...]

Travel More: 5 Steps to Afford More Adventure In Your Life

There is a misconception that traveling can only be for the top 2% of the world - that you need to have a lot of money or that travel is expensive in itself. I absolutely hate being asked how I afford to travel so much. Not because I don't like talking about money (I do), but because the people who are asking usually aren't the ones who are actually interested in making it happen for themselves. The question usually comes from people who say it as a backhanded compliment. I will say that no, it's not available to everyone but for the average middle-class person, i[...]

Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

4 Signs You Need To Quit Your Job And Travel ASAP

So, you've graduated college and here you are - the real world. It was exciting at first; your very own desk, a work phone, your name on a shiny gold nameplate at the front of your desk. You even had free reign to personalize your office space - you had your seashell collection from around the world in a mason jar, some inspirational quotes, perhaps some flamingos hanging from the ceiling? If you were going to be spending the majority of your life in this office, it was going to be a place you wanted to be. At the very least, it would remind you of the best momen[...]

Mood and Mindset, Self-Care, Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

Overcoming Post-Travel Depression: Make The Most of Coming Home

For many people, coming home can be harder than it was to leave. You've spent the last little while on the adventure of a lifetime, yet you come back to a place where it feels like time has stood still and you can't help but shake that post-travel depression feeling. I know that for me, that space between actively traveling feels a lot like a state of limbo, where I'm just not really sure what I'm supposed to be doing in this place that is supposed to feel like home but doesn't really. Post-travel depression is a reality for many travelers, but you don't have[...]

Caribbean, St. Lucia, Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

Staying with a Local Host Family in St. Lucia

Traveling through the Caribbean is not cheap, especially if you're looking for accommodation. It might be cheap by some standards, but by backpacker standards everything can be a bit pricey. There's no $2 rooms like in Southeast Asia and virtually no hostels to be seen. We found our best bet was to look on websites like Couchsurfing.com, which we didn't get a chance to use, and Air BnB, which we used in Tobago and St. Lucia. Lucky for us we found an amazing host in St. Lucia, who welcomed us into her home like we were family. I had never before stayed with a loca[...]

Barbados, Budget Travel, Caribbean, Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

How To Travel To Barbados on a Budget

Barbados is known for its white sandy beaches and being the birthplace of Rihanna. What it's not known for is its affordability. The Caribbean isn't a popular place for those on a backpacker budget, as many are drawn to the extreme budget prices seen in Southeast Asia or South America, but the Caribbean is home to some of the most beautiful islands in the world and shouldn't be missed just because it seems a little pricy. Here are some traveler tips to make the most of your time in Barbados without breaking the bank: Shop Local Food prices in the supermarkets can[...]

Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

9 Ways To Make A Long Flight More Enjoyable

"When you get into an airplane by yourself and take off, you find yourself in this lovely, three-dimensional world where you can go in any direction. There is no feeling any more exciting than that," - Gene Roddenberry The harsh reality of travel (for some) is that it can quite literally take days to arrive at your destination, even by plane. For those on a budget, this is even more of a reality in which you end up having to take a plane, bus, and donkey just to get from one city to another in order to save a couple dollars. Even without all of the transportat[...]

Asia, Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel, Vietnam

Traveller’s Diarrhea 101: What Is It, How To Prevent It, What To Do When You Get It

You’re walking through a crowded market that lines either side of a narrow street. It’s 40 degrees, hotter than the hottest day back home and vehicles, motorbikes, and humans all weave in and out of one another. And then it hits you. You start sweating, more than you already are, your stomach begins to flip and make the most animalistic noises, and you find yourself clenching your butt cheeks together. You need a bathroom, and you need it NOW. Traveler’s diarrhea (TD); a backpacker’s worst nightmare. My second time back to Southeast Asia, I was hesitant[...]