Ifyou were alone in the woods, would you rather encounter a bear or a man?
A Tale as old as time…Beauty and the Beast. But which beast would you choose and why is it the bear?
Let’s start from the beginning.
When I was in my early 20’s, I remember parking my car, far from where I lived. Around midnight, Ball Road was a pretty quiet street until I saw a truck driving by and 2 men started yelling out at me. My stomach tightened while I said to myself “please don’t turn around, please don’t turn around.” Then, to my horror and I really mean horror, the truck started to make an illegal u-turn.
As I watched this, I made a split second decision to run into the nearest apartment complex (I was about 2 or 3 complexes away from home). It almost felt like I was doing some obstacle course, sprinting through the back of the complexes to get home. I did make it home safely but never would I forget the fear that I felt that night. Since then, I’ve been hyper alert of the potential risks that men alone, can pose. The sad part is that we women encounter these type of scenarios in our everyday life. I was a lucky one because not all of us go unscathed.
According to WomensHealth.gov, Violence against women, including sexual or physical violence, is linked to many long-term health problems. These can include:3
Of relative importance, the CDC cites (2018 U.S. report) heart condition to be the leading cause of death for women regardless of race, origin or age. Globally, unwomen.org, reported that “almost 1 in 3 have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life.” This number doesn’t include sexual harassment which can heavily contribute to mental health illnesses including but not limited to depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc. There is a dedicated Office on Violence Against Women under the U.S. Justice Department, that supports organizations across the U.S. to develop policies and programs to help end violence against women.
Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2021:
The percentage of females murdered by an intimate partner was 5 times higher than for males.
The stats above are only from formally reported incidents. During COVID-19, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported that intimate partner violence (IPV) increased and this may have impacted the social and mental health of children at home, in addition to the parent. “Witnessing IPV is an adverse childhood experience (ACE) and can have harmful effects on mental, physical, and behavioral health across a child’s lifespan.”
These are stats from men they know. From men that they are in relationships with. Now, the thought of being alone, in the woods with a male stranger is anxiety inducing for any woman. We can pull bear attack data and compare, with appropriate adjustments for population and gender ratios but that’s not really the point here.
How do we change this? It’s not only the role of mothers to raise good men. Not just the father’s either. It’s our societies and our communities. It’s our relationships with others and the commitment to our own self-improvement. It’s also movements, legislation and Justice. If we believe women who have been harmed and support causes that can help the betterment of men to not fall into societal traps of toxic masculinity, we may still have a chance.
I hear the “but not all men” counterpoint and that’s fair. I know more good men than beasts. But only men know what they’d do in a power struggle dynamic. What would they do if no one was watching? If no one would ever find out. That’s what will separate out the good men vs. the beasts but in this scenario, it’s not a risk that I would be willing to take.
It IS all about the size! No, but really. Soooo many factors can come into play when determining your travel bag size:
Checked Bag Price – Carry-on vs. checked bag. You’re looking at baggage fees upwards of $60 for a checked bag for most domestic & some international flights. If you pack a “heavy” bag (usually over 50 lbs. depending on the airline), you’ll be paying premium prices (e.g. Delta $100 for 51+ lbs. and it goes up from there when you go over 70 lbs.).
Wardrobe & Contents – Clothes, shoes and liquids. How creative can you get? TSA has liquid restrictions for carry-on items and airlines have luggage size limits for their overhead compartments.
Souvenirs – Do you plan on bringing magnets back or little bottles of small batch vodka? I have made this mistake with connecting flights and buying liquids (alcoholic souvenirs) at the airport during connections. Make sure they all fit in that quart-sized bag.
Accessibility – America is a pretty young country so we don’t normally deal with not having access to escalators, elevators or ramps. In my travels, I’ve had to haul a full ass, grown human sized, checked bag up numerous flights of stairs (mostly in Europe). Let’s just say, there was nothing glamorous about me sweating upon arriving in London.
Transportation – If you’re using public transportation like, oh I don’t know, the train in Bangkok (during rush hour where the trains are packed like sardines), luggage size might also impact when you can physically fit onboard. This can delay your airport arrival so plan accordingly.
For the 1st time in all of my travels (17 countries), I’m attempting to pack a carry-on sized luggage that I’ll be checking in to allow for some more souvenirs in my carry-on. What can I say? I’m a giver.
So, here’s my plan for my next trip:
Cost: Checked Bag Price = Factored in with plane tickets so it’s not “extra”.
Wardrobe & Contents
My next destination will have an average climate / temp during the spring of 30-50 Degrees Fahrenheit. There aren’t any cultural restrictions to consider for clothing but…. being from California, this is chilllay. SO, I’ll be packing as light as I can to include:
Thermal top and bottom;
Weather proof & cute boots;
Wool socks;
Cute outfits, clearly.
Souvenirs
I plan to take a backpack and semi-empty duffle bag as my carry-ons so I can shift around my luggage contents to make space for souvenirs.
Accessibility
Having selected Finland and Estonia for my next trip, they are relatively modernized countries with amazing public transportation so I’ll be using trains, metros and ferries so a small carry-on rolling luggage is best in this case since I’ll be mobile.
With all that said, wish me luck and maybe I should start doing some cardio. 🤪
Having just booked my next solo trip, the following selection process is still fressshhh.
I wish my thought process was a whimsical scene where I do a spin of the globe or just show up the airport and pick the next flight out (allowing for TSA time, obvs) but it’s definitely not that kind of reality.
It’s probably a little safer to plan your next adventure because that’s just the world that we STILL live in. Plus, having already traveled solo to a few foreign countries, I’d love to share some knowledge with my fellow Lady Travelers that will hopefully help manifest an experience of a lifetime. No pressure.
Okay, so…the logistics:
#1 – Weather!
What are you willing to bare? 🤪 Look up what the “low” been, historically, during that season cause ya only have your own clothes to work with. Are you down with negative degree weather? Or are you from California?
A California Girl in Iceland during a “mild” winter (11/2022). AKA: Cold AF.
# 2 – Are there religious or cultural norms strictly for women?
Researching dress codes for historical sites (e.g. exposed shoulders), chaperone requirements, etc. will help you assess your level of comfort, as those restrictions may impact sightseeing options and equally as important, your wardrobe.
#3 – What’s your budget? Go by the Big Three T’s: Time, Travel and Tourism.
Time: How many days are you prepared to be away for (e.g. vacation days, pet boarding)?
Travel: What are the costs for all of the travel for a single traveler? To our disadvantage, traveling solo tends be a little bit pricier. It’s a best practice of mine to compare packaged deals vs. a la carte bookings to see what is on the cheaper side. Airfare, hotels, trains, local transportation, etc. are all things to consider.
Tourism: What are some sights that you’d like to see or adventures that you’d like to experience? AND, how much are you willing to pay for them? This can include guided tours, Michelin star restaurants, fancy bars w/mesmerizing views etc.. I usually try to find the Free Walking Tours that are tip based so that I can splurge on the food and drink experiences cause that’s my jam.
Okay, so you’ve picked a Scandinavian country for 8 days in the Spring too? Woop! Jk jk.
Go on and click purchase (the most nerve racking but exciting part!).
Did you do it? If so, way to go you brave ass woman!
Now, make sure that you:
• Update your beneficiaries (that turned dark so quick, I know)
• Share your itinerary info with a family member or friend
The highlights and the lowlights of my “Ancient History Tour.” Athens, Greece edition, so let’s get to it.
For the record, I’ve also been to Athens, GA and it is a tad different than Greece. Just a tad.
Acropolis – Sony A6000
Pros Sites / Accessibility – Most ancient sites are walking distance to one another and there are free maps available throughout the city which is kind of awesome so walk it out baby.
I also booked a “Free Walking Tour” which is the concept where locals offer “free” tours and are compensated via tips. The tour I chose took me outside of the ancient sites area which covered the Temple of Olympian Zeus, National Garden and stadium.
“Off-season” prices for attractions are discounted so it’s not advised to buy attraction passes in advance which I would TYPICALLY recommend during peak season for any high-traffic touristy cities (I.E. London, Paris).
Libations / Foodie Tour – WINE. That’s it. Like…thats actually it. Price = on point = drink up, like they did in ancient times y’all.
After basking in the wine, as I did ;), you will be happy to know that the tap water is potable aka you can drink it. It’s not like Mexico where you will regret it. So, go on and hydrate!
FOOOOOOD – Holy moly. If you’re in Athens, you MUST check out Ergon House. During peak season, and especially if you are traveling with someone, you will need reservations. As a solo traveler, I got lucky the 1st time and got seated right away but waited almost an hour, the 2nd time, but it was 100% worth it. I ate ALL the food. It’s a restaurant and “deli” combo so it’s great for dinner and souvenirs. Another random restaurant find, which I was introduced to by another tourist (chef/foodie), is called Apollonia Lyra. It’s located near The Parthenon and serves up great seafood dishes and has traditional live music. Because I did not come to play, I also did an excellent foodie tour which I booked through TripAdvisor (Small Group Food Tour – Ask for Martha H.). We went to a farmers market and visited small boutique businesses for honey, olive oil and teas / spices.
People – Everyone was so kind and helpful. I even got to meet some amazing fellow tourists who I bonded with and plan to visit in the future (post-COVID-19 madness).
Cons
Traffic – As with any major city, there are definitely some cons with regards to traffic which was a total womp womp so, walk, if you are able.
Taxis are expensive so use sparingly. I used a taxi because the airport is 30+ miles from the city center (I stayed in Plaka – the ancient city) and I had to get to the city ASAP due to time constraints.
Weather / Wardrobe – You would think “it’s the mediterranean so the weather must be nice” and you, my dear would be WRONG. It gets so cold that there is actually snow on the local mountains so pack accordingly during December / January.
Another lady wardrobe pro-tip, the floors are mostly marble in the touristy areas so wear your heels with caution or be embarrassed…for reals. I walked like a baby giraffe to my hotel because it was “walking distance” from the restaurant but underestimated my alcohol consumption and walking abilities.
Shopping / Souvenirs – Some of us enjoy shopping during our travels and guilty as charged! BUT, beware in Athens. Those of you that know me, know that I am thrifty AF and tend to price haggle if it’ll save me a dollar but I easily learned to not do this in Athens. Oh man, did I learn that the hard way. As in, the sales guy was like “I met this ex-U.S. President so you can trust me, you American dumb dumb.” Uhhhh, I don’t care for G. Bush Jr. but okay I’ll pay 1/2 price! ::Insert death stare.: = It’s not worth it.
In sum
Overall, Athens was magical like the damn gods themselves. Greek mythology was always so influential in my life. From Athena’s wisdom to Ares tendency to pick fights ;), I had always been drawn to Greece so this trip was truly a full-circle moment and I loved every second of it. Highly recommended so just do it. See what I did there??! Cause like Nike’s logo has Greek influence…so if you don’t know, now you know.
Hey there fellow travel lovers! Life has been flying by ::travel joke:: but I have returned to talk about my next adventure where I’ll be traveling back to ancient times. I’ve called this trip the End of Year, Ancient History Tour. Terribly clever, I know.
In preparation for this trip, I had to do the following:
Obtain a travel visa
Book a plethora of tours from free walking tours (highly recommended) to foodie tours
Look up rideshare availability
Seek out the advice from travelers that have seen the sites that I plan on visiting, for input
So, where am I going, you ask? Because of course you’ve asked.
I am excited to say that I will finally be going to Athens, Greece, Istanbul, Turkey and Budapest, Hungary. These countries have been on my list since I was a youngin so the excitement is REAL. I’ll also make a pitstop in Norway but I’ve been there prior so meh.
This trip could also be called the “she’s very ambitious/crazy/is she going to sleep at any point tour” because the current itinerary draft is about to exceed 3 pages.
A wise woman who once told me, “you’ll sleep when you’re dead” and since then, I’ve tried to soak every minute, during my travels where yes, I’ll need a vacation from my vacation. Those of you who have traveled with me know what I’m talking about. 😉
From early morning walks to mosques to boat rides to sunset tours of ancient ruins to late night vampire castle walkthroughs, this trip is on course to supersede some prior excellent adventures.
So, rock on!
::because I’ll be seeing a lot of rocks / stones, duh::
Upcoming Post: Recap of the “she’s very ambitious/crazy/is she going to sleep at any point tour” highlights and lowlights.
Last year, I hit a milestone. I completed an MBA program (hence the long hibernation from the blog-verse) and as a gift to myself, because who doesn’t love gifting themselves, I took my first solo trip to London.
Meeeeee
Why London? For one, I had been there already and felt comfortable with the area. Second, they speak English so easy peasy nice and what did you call me? Ahlo-govenah!
The itinerary was simple. I know what you’re thinking. “A simple itinerary coming from you? Am I being punked? Where are you, Ashton?” Uh, yeah, I can be basic sometimes. Since I had already done most of the touristy stuff the 1st time (London Eye, Westminster Abbey, obligatory Beatles crosswalk picture…etc.) this time, I wanted to focus on art, food and of course, libations so I did… just that.
Markets = Take my monies
Borough Market
One of the smaller markets but size isn’t everything said no one ever but maybe one person did. The shop stands ranged from cheese (chez!) to paella. Around Borough Market are 2 really great restaurants. Padella (literally next to the market and not to be confused with paella which I just mentioned) offers amazing homemade pasta dishes. Wheatsheaf, a gastropub that has solid bar food and beers. This bar attracts both locals and tourists and has kind of an Irish vibe.
Camden Market
“Tho’ I battle blind,
Love is a fate resigned
Memories mar my mind,
Love is a fate resigned
Over futile odds,
And laughed at by the gods,
And now the final frame,
Love is a losing game.”
Amy Winehouse
Need I say more as far as a reason to go to Camden Market? Aside from the statue of Amy, it’s a regular ol’ flea market. Cheap souvenirs and a Bart Simpson patterned dress ✅ .
Did someone say food?
St. Martin’s Courtyard is home to one of my favorite restaurants in the WORLD: Dishoom. I can eat that Chicken Ruby dish and Roomali Roti bread errryday. Sadly, this location will be closed for 6 months in 2020 for renovations but save your tears! There are other locations. Just prepare yourself to wait in line but it’s well worth the wait. It’s a guaranteed stop for me, anytime I’m in London.
Trending across the world and mainly in the Midwest because, well it’s the Midwest: indoor “cafeteria” style food venues. Mercato Metropolitano houses various bars and food options in one stop as well as live entertainment. It’s not central to tourist attractions (nearest is probably Tate Modern) but if you don’t want restaurant traps ($$$$) and if you can’t make up your mind on 1 restaurant, this would be a good option.
Art
The Tate Modern is your typical modern art museum. Art work responses ranged from “ahhhh” to “oooooooo” to “wtf” so, it hit all the marks. To be or not to be an efficient planner? You can knock this out and the Shakespeare globe since they are near each other.
The “WTF” moment was brought to you in part by….
I’d have to say that the Street Art Tour was a total highlight for me. I got to wander the streets and see some amazing artwork, some of which was commissioned by the city and known apparel brands. I got introduced to Afro-Futurism artwork which I would have otherwise never seen. Basically, learned soooo much about street art vs. graffiti. Totally recommend this!
Obviously, you shan’t go to London without visiting the British Museum. I mean, it literally has the Rosetta Stone. The actual Rosetta Stone.
As a souvenir, I may or may not have gotten some ink down in Lambeth. As one does. But the world will never know and I may or may not love it.
Per usual, London did not disappoint and further proved that this Lady Traveler, can handle it abroad all by herself so – thank you, next.
Once upon a time, specifically in 5th grade, a guest Liberal Arts Teacher introduced my class to French culture and language. Needless to say, I was mesmerized (it took very little to mesmerize me then). Throughout my teen years, I took as many French classes as I could since I knew that someday, my dream to travel to France would become a reality. Fast forward to 2013 (it took a long time), I was days away from boarding a plane that would finally make my dream come true when it happened. I was so stressed about my trip that I self-induced shingles. This blog entry isn’t about shingles but just FYI, they are terrible. This entry is about helping relieve some unnecessary stress when planning for an international adventure. To date, I’ve been to England, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia so I’ll pass on what I know specific to those countries and hopefully, you don’t self-induce anything. 😉
Timing can be a deal breaker when looking for your international destination. It is especially important make sure that your passport is valid. I cannot even tell you how often this happens when someone has to pay to expedite their passport so it arrives before their trip (soooo stressful). Some countries may not allow you to travel if your passport expires within 6 months of your travel dates. Also, make sure to make some copies of your passport (1 to leave with family and 1 to pack with you in case you lose your passport). Timing is also important with regards to weather. Do you want to visit Ireland when it’s so cold that you can’t feel your face? If not, search for weather records on the world-wide web so at least you have an idea of what to expect.
Searching for the right location can be stressful and to add to your stress, before you go booking a trip, I highly recommend visiting the CDC website. With the current Zika scare, it is super important to make sure that your international destination doesn’t turn into a nightmare with wings. On top of that, I also suggest visiting the U.S. Passports & International Travel site because it’s probably important not to kick the bucket while you’re trying to check stuff off your bucket list.
Shots aren’t fun unless they are the alcohol kind – JK those are pretty bad too! Make sure that if vaccines are recommended for the destination(s) that you’re visiting, that you do this ahead of time. So, don’t be like me where I didn’t get the whole series of Hep A / Hep B combo since it’s about a 6 month process and I only started it 1 month prior. Tisk tisk to me.
You’re going to learn today, or tomorrow, since it’s important to learn about the culture, customs, local laws…etc. about the city / country that you’re visiting. Especially, if it has religious places of interest. For example, in Bangkok, if you’re visiting the Grand Palace / Temple of Emerald Buddha and you’re a woman, your shoulders need to be covered and your skirt / dress needs to be at least knee length and the men must wear pants ? (not shorts) in order to be allowed in. It’s always a good idea to know basic phrases and thanks to YouTube, you can learn just about anything. As a wise friend once said over and over again, “they’re so nice if you just try.” Truth!
Mo-money mo-problems said no one ever. Maybe one rapper did but still, the larger your budget the better (obvs) but have no fear, you can do many things with a smaller budget as well. For instance, in Rome, there are self-employed individuals that will do tours for tips. This also holds true in the states (Seattle, NYC…etc.). These are great opportunities to get tours by locals on the cheap. You just need to reach out to them (email) in advance to save a spot. If you have a bigger budget, I recommend pre-paying / booking tours so you don’t have to worry about exchanging money in person. Don’t forget about Groupon and LivingSocial since sometimes, they have deals in the areas that you may be traveling.
On the $ front, also make sure that you notify your bank and credit card companies that you’ll be out of the country beforehand. This can usually be done online. If you don’t do this, there’s a chance that your cards could be temporarily frozen. Typically, I pull money beforehand to avoid pulling money overseas since I don’t like all the fees (I’m a part-time rapper). It’s also a good idea to download a currency converter app so you can open it / refresh it every morning (over WiFi of course) during your trip. This way, you can use it throughout the day even when you’re not connected to the internet. Some destinations’ currency system is totally different than ours so try to learn the difference ahead of time so when you pull 2 million Rupiah (Bali, Indonesia) from your bank account, you don’t shat your pants. In some rare occasions, you might need to bite the bullet and exchange some money at the airport for the cab fair or for public transportation (I.E. Airport train from Bangkok’s airport doesn’t take card). The airport exchange services often have fees and the exchange rate is lesser than going to a bank or exchange booth outside of the airport so it may be best to exchange the rest of your cash money elsewhere. If you do plan on exchanging money at a bank, make sure to bring your passport.
Places of Interest are typically packed all the time. For example, say you want to visit the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin but didn’t purchase tickets / passes in advance. You best bring a book cause you’ll be in line for a while. Irish-it wasn’t true (see what I did there?) but it is and when we were in this situation, I was so relieved that the Dublin Pass took us to the front of the line. More importantly (just kidding, nothing’s more important than beer), when creating your itinerary, it’s also super important to confirm the operating hours and last entry hours of the venue since this can totally ruin a trip.
The harp at the Guinness Storehouse.
Packing is like the worst. Deciding which outfits will go down in Instagram history can be grueling. Anticipating the weather will help with part of that and so will the attractions. Make sure that you research public transportation options since that may determine how much walking you’ll do. Either way, comfy-walking shoes are a must! Many hotels provide shampoo, conditioner and lotion so unless your locks are high maintenance, you can leave those at home. It is generally a good idea to “pack light” but I usually start heavy (pre-pack water bottles) and end heavy so meh. The essentials include sunblock, mosquito repellent, vitamins, electrolytes supplements, money-belt, stuff for the plane (earplugs, earphones, eye mask for sleeping, book…etc.) or you’ll be bored out of your mind. I also pack a large empty overnight bag / tote with a zipper as a potential 2nd carry on (1 personal item like a purse, 1 carry one are usually allowed) for souvenirs since I love buying stuff. All joking aside, the fees for overweight luggage are heart attack inducing so still be mindful of that when you pack and leave room for shopping.
Jet-setter would be my middle name… if I had one. I could fall asleep before everyone has even boarded the plane. Yes, I’m talented / narcoleptic in that way. Flights are a pretty important part of your trip so if you’re going to multiple countries in one trip, make sure that the flight times and accommodations are aligned. Case and point: arriving at the airport at 7am is great since you’ll have the rest of the day to sight-see but some hotels won’t let you check in that early (some will though) so I usually email the hotel in advance so they know what we’ll be there early and hopefully we can snag a room. If they can’t, they’ll usually hold your luggage while you’re out and about. The same applies to later flights. We had a midnight flight recently and did sightseeing throughout the day so we didn’t return to the hotel (had luggage with us / our tour guide driver) so after a long and sweaty day, we had to board a plane for a 25 hour flight. ‘Twas as gross as it sounds and not even the cleaning wipes or body spray put me at ease but no regrets! Also, remember that flights can be delayed (thanks Jetstar #neverforget) so they can also interfere with pre-scheduled plans. This is why I like attraction passes that you must use within a certain amount of days (usually 3-10 days from 1st use) so that way, you don’t buy tickets a la carte for a certain time that you might be stressed for. Sometimes, you don’t have a choice but when you do, those flexible passes are awesome just make sure to print your vouchers / purchase receipt to redeem them!
::Cue Safety Dance song::
In a previous entry, I mentioned safety awareness so I’ll briefly touch on that. Italy, France and Spain have the sketchiest of characters since they are prime locations for tourists. Rule #1: Don’t make yourself a target. Save your diamond earrings and flashy necklace for a fancy dinner at a restaurant near your home unless you live in Santa Ana then just don’t. ? Rule #2: Be vigilant. These jerks look normal (not like the hamburgler) and travel in pairs. One to distract you while the other grabs the goods like,”Oh, look at this map that is now blocking your view while my friend steals from you.” Seriously, I saw this happen at a Starbucks near the Moulin Rouge in Paris and that family lost their fancy camera. Fear and sadness followed. Rule #3: When using public transportation, don’t put your stuff down that you don’t want to lose and watch your purse / wallets. Metros, Trains, Skytrains…etc. get pretty packed during rush hour (learned this the hard way lugging around luggage) so just keep an eye on your valuables. Rule #4: Don’t hand your camera over to someone who is eager to take a picture of you and your boo boo. Chances are, they want something in return…like your camera. Plus, everyone is a pro at selfies nowadays so you’ll be fine. If those don’t make due, single out another poor tourist to be your temp photographer.
Cell phones are great for quick pictures and emergency situations so I typically take mine when I travel overseas. I don’t buy the international phone / data plan (this is recommended for remote areas that have limited or no WiFi) and just put my phone on airplane mode and run off of the free WiFi. If you download an app like Viber, you can make calls over Wifi for free or for real cheap. And as you know, if you’re calling another Apple device, FaceTime works too. Just be careful when connecting to public networks since hackers are everywhere. Everywhere!
Part 2 will hopefully be more fun than this one! ?
Back in 1987, I was a 1 year old baby when I arrived sunny Southern CA. I knew that I’d love Anaheim, California (I was a wise baby). Mainly because of Disneyland, No Doubt, culture / diversity in schools, food options and lets not forget, the weather. Premium, Grade A, 1/2 your paycheck goes to rent / mortgage weather. So, it was not difficult to determine what travel destination I’d like to share with you all first: Anaheim, CA aka. the city where the Happiest Place on Earth resides.
Main Attraction(s): Disneyland and California Adventure (2 separate parks).
How to get here: The closest airports to Anaheim, CA are SNA (Santa Ana / Orange County John Wayne Aiport) and LAX (Los Angeles International Airport). SNA is a smaller airport (although constantly expanding) so the experience is definitely “nicer.” The drive is about 15-16 miles depending on the route taken which can take from 20 minutes up to an hour depending on what time of day you are driving. LAX is a different beast. A cheaper, more flight options but terrible traffic kind of beast. It’s a 45 min. drive (without traffic) but can take what feels like a century (1.5 hours+), depending on the time of day you go which is basically anytime between 6am-8pm.
Where to stay: There is no shortage of hotels in Anaheim, especially near the Disneyland Parks. You can stay in some cheesy hotel across the street from the park, in the fancy pants Grand Californian (inside Downtown Disney – steps from the park) or in an AirBnB in the surrounding area. I’d recommend looking at sites like Groupon, LivingSocial, and Kayak to price compare. TripAdvisor is especially helpful to look at reviews so you get an idea of what you’re paying for. Although Anaheim is relatively safe, there are some neighborhoods that are better than others so I find Crime Maps to be especially helpful when determining where to stay, especially if you’re traveling with little ones or if you just don’t want to die. Most major cities have these sites so it’s a good tool to use! This will come in handy when I do travel tips on Los Angeles.
How much time should you stay: It depends! Is this your only vacay for the year? Do you want to do every single thing there is to do at the parks (you’ll be here all year)? I’ve been to Disney World so in comparison Disneyland is much smaller and much more crowded. Like, they’ll stop letting people in sometimes because they are at capacity, crowded. So, to do the major attractions at both parks and fully-utilizing your Fast-passes, you can do it in 3 days. I’d like to note here that my itineraries are a little intense so it’ll be jammed packed to the minute.
Where to buy tickets: Some companies are able to get discount tickets for their employees (Employee Savings Tickets…etc.) but it’s usually a better buy to go through the Disney website to get multi-day passes. You can get hopper passes (visit both parks the same day) or single park passes. I’d recommend doing single day since the walk in between parks can get tiresome. If you are doing the Southern CA tour, you may want to consider doing the Southern CA CityPASS but to make the most of it, you’ll need to go to all of the attractions.
What you’ll need for the day: Sunny California is truly sunny most of the year so sunscreen and sunglasses are pretty important. In an effort to save your head from burning up and maintaining a stylish look aka: killing 2 birds with one stone, a souvenir / an awesome character hat may be purchased in practically any store. Comfortable shoes are also essential. Most people at the Disney parks are tourists so there’s no shame in wearing comfy sneakers. You can bring in a backpack with snacks and drinks. Just know, that everything will be searched prior to entering the park but bringing these goods can save you some $ so that you can spend that on churros, corn dogs…etc. instead. It can get chilly at night so a jacket or a blanket for the firework show may be a good idea. If you plan on going on rides where you may get wet, a poncho is a proactive way of minimizing wet clothing. As a reminder, there was a recent ban on bringing in selfie sticks into the parks so leave those in the car or at your hotel room because the walk of shame is long and grueling. Also, prior entering the park, make sure you download a wait times app so you can see how long the wait is for each attraction so you’re not walking back and forth only to be disappointed by 1+ hour waits. This leads me to encourage you to get Fastpasses since they can be amazing. For more details on these, please visit the Disneyland Parks site.
And now, for a sample itinerary (Adults w/out kids) of the awesome things that I’d recommend. Please note, I’ve had a pass (on and off) for the last 8 years but I still haven’t done it all. These are just my favorite things to do. The itinerary for families is coming soon.
Disneyland Parks Itinerary – (Adults w/out Kids)
Disneyland – Day 1
*Breakfast @ Hotel or near hotel (save your $ for lunch, special snacks and dinner)
Star Wars craze / Season of the Force = Start in Tomorrowland
Space Mountain
Star Tours
Get a fast pass for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Fantasyland
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Mad Tea Party
Dumbo the Flying Elephant (if you want to be a kid again)
*Lunch time at Pizza Port –> Chicken Fusilli is just yummy
**You deserve a Dole Whip Pineapple float (after lunch, of course).
Frontierland
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Splash Mountain
*Dinner time (for a quick and highly rated bite) at the Little Red Wagon which is located at the end of Main Street off to the side for a corn dog.
*Fireworks Show @ 9:30pm –> takes place above the castle so get there with enough time to find a good spot
Paint the night @10:45pm (times may vary)
Disneyland – Day 2
Adventureland
Indiana Jones (Get a fast so you can return later (check wait times in case it’s better to go now instead)
New Orleans Square
Pirates of the Caribbean
Haunted Mansion
*Lunch time at French Market Restaurant -> Gumbo
**You deserve a mint julep (sans le alcohol) and some Mickey Beignets at the Julep Bar inside the French Market Restaurant patio area.
3. Critter Country
Splash Mountain
If have time: Go back to Frontierland and go on the Jungle Cruise (if open)
*Dinner outside the park in Downtown Disney at the Uva Bar (great burgers and Mediterranean cuisine)
Mickey’s Soundsational Parade –> Performance times vary
California Adventure Park – Day 3
Cars Land (Latest Addition to the park = most popular)
Get a fast pass to Radiator Springs so you can return later (check wait times in case it’s better to go now instead)
Hollywood Land
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Come back later to Hollywood Land at night to enjoy live music and adult beverages
Paradise Pier
CA Screamin’
Toy Story Midway Mania
*Lunch time at Pacific Wharf Cafe à Clam Chowder Sourdough Bowl
**You deserve a treat at Ghirardelli’s
Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
Grizzly Peak
Soarin’ over CA
Grizzly River Run
If you have time:
Paradise Pier
Goofy’s Sky School
Mickey’s Fun Wheel
Silly Symphony Swings
*Dinner at Cove Bar –> Lobster Nachos
Shows
For the 1st time in Forever: A Frozen Sing along Celebration
Performance Times: Check the Disney website for most current performance times
World of Color – Celebrate 9pm (times may vary – check previously linked site for updated information).
You guys! Welcome to my blog. The purpose of this blog/site is to provide resources that can help everyone. Seriously. That’s it!
My main squeeze: I travel often for work and for personal (domestic and international) so I plan on sharing tips and “hacks” for those first timers or multi-timers who can add some tricks to their travel toolbox.
Side squeezes: I’m also a human being (surprise!) so I intend on sharing some lessons that I’ve learned throughout my life with regards to food (true love) since I enjoy cooking and whatever else I learn and feel that I can pass on. Oh! I’m also an HR professional so I also plan on giving tips on being a happy employee. You’re welcome.
PS: I am a feminist so you’ll see crazy stuff like occasional equality rants…blah blah blah. No likey? No worries. You can always close the browser. 😉
