xx,
annie
Sunday, December 4, 2016
PACKING TIPS
I decided to make a video to help you out with some packing. There were some things that I wish I didn't pack and also other things I wish I had. Packing is one thing that you really need to think about the necessities and everything that you absolutely can't live without. It is one thing that I struggle with. I hope this helps!
xx,
annie
xx,
annie
Thursday, December 1, 2016
all the feels.
I'm sitting on my couch watching football with my dad right now, but for some reason all I can think about is Europe. Oh, how I miss it. I wish everyday that I could be there with some of the comforts of America, silly huh?
As I was looking through my pictures, I stumbled upon one from one of the very first weekends I was there.
Enjoy this cute video as I sit and wish I was living it all over again.
As I was looking through my pictures, I stumbled upon one from one of the very first weekends I was there.
Enjoy this cute video as I sit and wish I was living it all over again.
Friday, November 11, 2016
EU MONEY
Money in the EU always seems to be a little bit tricky. Maybe it is because it is different than ours and the conversion rates always confuse me. But I'm going to give you some tips that might help a little bit.
ATM's //
When you travel to Europe, it is so important to get a debit card that has little to no ATM fees. The reason I say this is because when I was there I ended up spending close to $300+ alone on ATM fees. It's so important to take out money only when you need to and the amount that you need to. Be sure to budget right so you don't have to keep going back and paying the fees.
CONVERSION //
It is also really important to figure the math out for the conversion rates in each country. Euros are very different than a Polski. It is important that you know the value of the different currencies so that you are not spending money unknowingly. They all have different values and can become confusing. There are many apps that you can use that help you convert your money from USD to any other currency. One of my favorite apps was Clear Currency.
CHIPS //
This was the biggest issue I dealt with when I was living in Europe. The United States is a little behind when it comes to this technology. At the time, my card did not have a chip reader in it. I ran in to this on the daily. Many times, stores and restaurants would not even accept my card and I would have to end up paying in cash, later resulting in racked up ATM fees. I know that most cards have chips now, but in case yours doesn't, I would seriously consider changing that!
I hope this helped!
xx,
annie
ATM's //
When you travel to Europe, it is so important to get a debit card that has little to no ATM fees. The reason I say this is because when I was there I ended up spending close to $300+ alone on ATM fees. It's so important to take out money only when you need to and the amount that you need to. Be sure to budget right so you don't have to keep going back and paying the fees.
CONVERSION //
It is also really important to figure the math out for the conversion rates in each country. Euros are very different than a Polski. It is important that you know the value of the different currencies so that you are not spending money unknowingly. They all have different values and can become confusing. There are many apps that you can use that help you convert your money from USD to any other currency. One of my favorite apps was Clear Currency.
CHIPS //
This was the biggest issue I dealt with when I was living in Europe. The United States is a little behind when it comes to this technology. At the time, my card did not have a chip reader in it. I ran in to this on the daily. Many times, stores and restaurants would not even accept my card and I would have to end up paying in cash, later resulting in racked up ATM fees. I know that most cards have chips now, but in case yours doesn't, I would seriously consider changing that!
I hope this helped!
xx,
annie
Saturday, November 5, 2016
SAFE HOSTELS
I made a video about a personal experience that I had at a sketchy hostel. When you are researching hostels, it is SO SO SO important to be very thorough and picky about where you are staying. Especially if you are a young girl, this is a huge part to traveling alone and keeping yourself safe.
Monday, October 24, 2016
AMERICA
I know that this blog is all about travel, but just hear me out for a minute.
Today in one of my classes, we watched a documentary on a family of refugees from Syria. It broke my little heart. A family that gave up everything for each other, and for their country. A family that put their lives in danger in hopes for a better one. I am happy and thankful that we live in a country full of freedom and safety. Despite the current election, believe it or not, there is still good in this country.
There is nothing like coming back to America and not having to pay to use the restroom, or being able to eat at your favorite restaurant. It's a great feeling to come to America and know that our Skittles taste better than Europe's. It's convenient to be able to go to the grocery store and know what the cashier is saying/asking you. It's nice to be able to ALWAYS know what you are eating. Or for hell's sake, being able to read the signs and understand what people are saying to you.
It's a blessing to think that we do not live in a country where we have to seek refuge from and flee to another place. While there are scary things that happen everyday, we are not being bombed and having out homes destroyed on a daily basis.
America is great. It is good. It is pretty. It is fun. It is home. It is nice. It is happy. It is.
Today in one of my classes, we watched a documentary on a family of refugees from Syria. It broke my little heart. A family that gave up everything for each other, and for their country. A family that put their lives in danger in hopes for a better one. I am happy and thankful that we live in a country full of freedom and safety. Despite the current election, believe it or not, there is still good in this country.
There is nothing like coming back to America and not having to pay to use the restroom, or being able to eat at your favorite restaurant. It's a great feeling to come to America and know that our Skittles taste better than Europe's. It's convenient to be able to go to the grocery store and know what the cashier is saying/asking you. It's nice to be able to ALWAYS know what you are eating. Or for hell's sake, being able to read the signs and understand what people are saying to you.
It's a blessing to think that we do not live in a country where we have to seek refuge from and flee to another place. While there are scary things that happen everyday, we are not being bombed and having out homes destroyed on a daily basis.
America is great. It is good. It is pretty. It is fun. It is home. It is nice. It is happy. It is.
This photo was taken in Vienna, Austria.
October 2015.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
TSA + Customs// PART ONE
Hi guys!!
I decided to make a couple podcasts with some tips and tricks that I have found helpful during the TSA and Customs process of traveling. I hope you find these helpful!
xx,
Annie
I decided to make a couple podcasts with some tips and tricks that I have found helpful during the TSA and Customs process of traveling. I hope you find these helpful!
xx,
Annie
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
PLANE STUFF
Let's be honest, after a long plane trip overseas, you're basically dead. You've been wearing the same clothes for 24+ hours, your hair has been in the same top knot and all you want to do is sleep for nine hours. I've been there and done that plenty of times. There have been times where I felt like the long flight isn't worth it. But trust me, it sure as hell is. I hope some of these tips help make the flight worth it for you.
MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE
You've been sitting on a plane for 8+ hours with the AC on full blast and your skin is completely dehydrated. It pays to have a carry-on size moisturizer to use mid-flight as a little pick me up.
REHYDRATE
You may not feel thirsty, but you need to be sure to keep drinking water while you're on the plane. I promise it will help once you're off the plane. You will feel so much more energized! Even though the airlines offer water bottles, it never seems to be enough for me. Be sure to pack a stainless steel water bottle with you to keep your water cold, and be sure to refill it before boarding the plane.
UNWIND
Try your absolute hardest to sleep on the plane during your normal sleep hours. If you sleep the whole flight, your body clock will be hella mad at you and it will be hard to adjust. If you're headed to the EU, red-eye flights are super common and they automatically mess up your sleep schedule and make it pretty hard to adjust, but sometimes there's no way around them. Be smart about your rest. It will make it much easier to function once you get to your destination.
REFRESH
I know that if I've been traveling for 24+ hours, all I want to do is wash my face and brush my teeth. These are my main things. In my carry on, I be sure to pack my toothbrush, toothpaste and my fav face wipes. I've noticed such a big difference whether I have these or not. They automatically make me feel more refreshed and energized.
CHANGE
Be sure to pack an extra change of clothes in your carry on. You start to feel gross after being in the same pair of yoga pants after so long. Whether you pack an outfit you slay, or just another pair of your favorite yoga pants, just be sure to PACK SOMETHING. I promise you won't regret this. It's an instant pick me up.
MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE
You've been sitting on a plane for 8+ hours with the AC on full blast and your skin is completely dehydrated. It pays to have a carry-on size moisturizer to use mid-flight as a little pick me up.
REHYDRATE
You may not feel thirsty, but you need to be sure to keep drinking water while you're on the plane. I promise it will help once you're off the plane. You will feel so much more energized! Even though the airlines offer water bottles, it never seems to be enough for me. Be sure to pack a stainless steel water bottle with you to keep your water cold, and be sure to refill it before boarding the plane.
UNWIND
Try your absolute hardest to sleep on the plane during your normal sleep hours. If you sleep the whole flight, your body clock will be hella mad at you and it will be hard to adjust. If you're headed to the EU, red-eye flights are super common and they automatically mess up your sleep schedule and make it pretty hard to adjust, but sometimes there's no way around them. Be smart about your rest. It will make it much easier to function once you get to your destination.
REFRESH
I know that if I've been traveling for 24+ hours, all I want to do is wash my face and brush my teeth. These are my main things. In my carry on, I be sure to pack my toothbrush, toothpaste and my fav face wipes. I've noticed such a big difference whether I have these or not. They automatically make me feel more refreshed and energized.
CHANGE
Be sure to pack an extra change of clothes in your carry on. You start to feel gross after being in the same pair of yoga pants after so long. Whether you pack an outfit you slay, or just another pair of your favorite yoga pants, just be sure to PACK SOMETHING. I promise you won't regret this. It's an instant pick me up.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Some women find it scary and intimidating to travel within the EU. There are many valid reasons, such as, language barriers, currency differences and the simple fact that you're a young American girl. Once you are able to set these all aside, it is so convenient, cheap and easy. I found it to be easier than traveling within the continental US. There are so many ways to do it and I'm going to help a sista out.
PLANES//
Actually getting to the EU can be very expensive. If you play your cards right, you can find a cheap flight. From my experience, it is better to buy tickets in the off-season. So be sure you avoid times like Christmas, summer, and school breaks. It is also typically more inexpensive if you buy your ticket one-way instead of round-trip. It can be a little scary to click that button, with no plans of returns, but it really ends up to the the best thing.
Once you're in the EU, that's when plane tickets start to get hella cheap. I flew from Vilnius, Lithuania to Frankfurt, Germany for €15, which is equivalent to $17 USD. To put that in to perspective, that's a trip from Chicago to Dallas for less than $20. The main website I used while there was https://www.skyscanner.com/. There are many other websites, but this is the one that I became most comfortable with and felt safest using.
HEADS UP GIRLY! The reason these flights are so cheap, is because they get you with your baggage. They weigh every piece of baggage you have, and if it weighs over a certain amount or measures too big, they are going to charge you ridiculous amounts of money. You need to be extra super careful about what you pack and the size of bag you're bringing unless you want to get drained of all of your money.
TRAINS//
I haven't had any personal experience on the trains in Europe, because they are not as popular in the Eastern part. I have had many friends that have used the train system and loved it! It is a system where you can buy different packages that allow you to access the train in multiple different countries. The website is http://www.eurail.com/. When buying your passes, be sure that you are buying the one that will allow you to reach all of the countries you need to. If you buy one that will only get you around one country, you are going to need to buy another one. So be sure you read all of the details!
AUTOMOBILES//
I never actually used any taxis or Ubers while I was in Europe. I tried to stay as safe as possible while there, and I still felt uneasy about being in a car with a European man. When I was in my home city, I used their public transportation system. It is a system of buses. I highly recommend this. If this is something you're going to do, be sure to buy a bus pass, and be sure to scan/punch/activate it every time you step on that bus. Even if it is just for one stop. In Europe, they have police officers that do random checks at bus stops to be sure that you have scanned your bus pass. If you need help buying or activating your pass, try and make friends with a local that speaks english and can help you. It will be much easier than trying to figure it out on your own, because it can get pretty tricky.
So, for my main ways of travel to different countries, I took a bus! I travelled to multiple countries via bus. It is extremely cheap, and it is pretty quick. Many of the buses that I took were night buses and fairly comfortable so you could get a nights sleep. The bus company that I used was https://luxexpress.eu/et. When making your reservation, be sure that you are booking it to the right bus stop. Many of the major cities have multiple stops, and you want to be sure that it is closest to your destination.
I hope this helped! Happy travels.
xx,
ann
PLANES//
Actually getting to the EU can be very expensive. If you play your cards right, you can find a cheap flight. From my experience, it is better to buy tickets in the off-season. So be sure you avoid times like Christmas, summer, and school breaks. It is also typically more inexpensive if you buy your ticket one-way instead of round-trip. It can be a little scary to click that button, with no plans of returns, but it really ends up to the the best thing.
Once you're in the EU, that's when plane tickets start to get hella cheap. I flew from Vilnius, Lithuania to Frankfurt, Germany for €15, which is equivalent to $17 USD. To put that in to perspective, that's a trip from Chicago to Dallas for less than $20. The main website I used while there was https://www.skyscanner.com/. There are many other websites, but this is the one that I became most comfortable with and felt safest using.
HEADS UP GIRLY! The reason these flights are so cheap, is because they get you with your baggage. They weigh every piece of baggage you have, and if it weighs over a certain amount or measures too big, they are going to charge you ridiculous amounts of money. You need to be extra super careful about what you pack and the size of bag you're bringing unless you want to get drained of all of your money.
TRAINS//
I haven't had any personal experience on the trains in Europe, because they are not as popular in the Eastern part. I have had many friends that have used the train system and loved it! It is a system where you can buy different packages that allow you to access the train in multiple different countries. The website is http://www.eurail.com/. When buying your passes, be sure that you are buying the one that will allow you to reach all of the countries you need to. If you buy one that will only get you around one country, you are going to need to buy another one. So be sure you read all of the details!
AUTOMOBILES//
I never actually used any taxis or Ubers while I was in Europe. I tried to stay as safe as possible while there, and I still felt uneasy about being in a car with a European man. When I was in my home city, I used their public transportation system. It is a system of buses. I highly recommend this. If this is something you're going to do, be sure to buy a bus pass, and be sure to scan/punch/activate it every time you step on that bus. Even if it is just for one stop. In Europe, they have police officers that do random checks at bus stops to be sure that you have scanned your bus pass. If you need help buying or activating your pass, try and make friends with a local that speaks english and can help you. It will be much easier than trying to figure it out on your own, because it can get pretty tricky.
So, for my main ways of travel to different countries, I took a bus! I travelled to multiple countries via bus. It is extremely cheap, and it is pretty quick. Many of the buses that I took were night buses and fairly comfortable so you could get a nights sleep. The bus company that I used was https://luxexpress.eu/et. When making your reservation, be sure that you are booking it to the right bus stop. Many of the major cities have multiple stops, and you want to be sure that it is closest to your destination.
I hope this helped! Happy travels.
xx,
ann
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
SOS: Music
I don't know about you, but there's only so many times you can listen to a certain playlist or a few songs until you want to stab your eye out with a fork, and there's only so much that Discover Weekly can do for you. While in the EU, I travelled a lot through different countries, which meant a lot of buses, trains, and airplanes. This also resulted in extensive searches and many hours looking for new music. So I thought that I would share the love and some of my favs that I found so that you can add them to your traveling playlists.
xx,
ann
coffee x sylvan esso
closer x chainsmokers ft. halsey
dessert x dawin
ghost x halsey
ILYSB x lany
ooh x jon bellion
home x phoebe ryan
colors x halsey
vcr x the xx
search party x sam bruno
we wont x jaymes young + phoebe ryan
seeing stars x BORNS
poison + wine x the civil wars
end credits x eden
weight of it all x handsome ghost
love wont sleep x lostboycrow
doses + mimosas x cherub
so high x ghost loft
overwhelming x jon bellion
current location x lany
what if i go? x mura masa
cheap sunglasses x RAC + matthew koma
YOUTH x troye sivan
missed calls x mac miller
home x dan croll
paper pools x smija
manana x los 5
ophelia x the lumineers
daylight x matt + kim
XO x eden project
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
LIETUVA
In the fall of 2015, I found the need to leave. I needed to get out of my hometown, away from my family and the furthest from my comfort zone that I could get. I decided I was moving to Europe. I was enrolling in a program where I would be teaching elementary aged kids English. I was teaching, but I was also given many opportunities to travel. Above all else, I was able to leave my comfort zone, learn of a completely different culture and make some of the best friends I will ever have.
For any of you that have never been to Eastern Europe, you are truly missing out. It is the true definition of a hidden gem. It is a place filled with rich culture, loving people and delicious foods. It is a place filled with cobblestone streets, gelato that is to die for and lush, green forests.
Lithuania was the exact place I needed to be. I learned about more about myself in those 5 months than I had my whole 19 years of living. Traveling is everything to me.
For any of you that have never been to Eastern Europe, you are truly missing out. It is the true definition of a hidden gem. It is a place filled with rich culture, loving people and delicious foods. It is a place filled with cobblestone streets, gelato that is to die for and lush, green forests.
Lithuania was the exact place I needed to be. I learned about more about myself in those 5 months than I had my whole 19 years of living. Traveling is everything to me.
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