7 Things You Should Know Before Traveling Internationally for the First Time

The first time I traveled internationally was a quick jaunt to Cancun with friends. I remember the excitement I felt about finally using my passport and having fun in a new country with friends. I also remember feeling somewhat nervous about the process. Did I have everything I needed? (I did.) Would I need to convert my money? And if so, how would I know if I was getting the right amount? (I didn’t.) Was I sure about the rules on what I could and couldn’t bring into and out of the country? (Nope, and I got detained as I entered the U.S. again. Fun times!)…. And a plethora of other questions that I had about my first international trip.

Travel ResourcesJalyn RobersonDecember 6, 2017international, travel tips, travel resources, passport, visaComment

How to Earn Airline Points Without Flying or Using a Credit Card

The holiday season is approaching and I'm already semi-stressing out about making my Christmas list and starting my Christmas shopping. I'm naturally a giver, and I really LOVE giving gifts...especially at Christmas time. As much as I enjoy gift-giving, I'm not a fan of actually getting in my car and driving to the mall to fight the crowds during the holidays. Honestly, I’m not a fan of going to the mall during any season!

Because of this, I like a lot of people, have come to prefer online shopping. Especially for gifts! And ever since I discovered that I could earn airline and hotel points by shopping online, I rarely step foot into a mall. Every year, I earn at least enough points to cover a one-way flight on Southwest. Wanna know how?

Read This Before Booking Your All-Inclusive Vacation

All-Inclusive resorts are a great option for all types of vacations. My favorite thing about all-inclusives is that you can pay one price up front, and not have to worry about pulling your wallet out while you're away.

As I write this, I'm currently sitting on the patio of my hotel room at the beautiful Grand Fiesta Americana All-Inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. While I've experienced a few all-inclusive resorts, this is Marcus' first all-inclusive experience, and to say that he is enjoying it would definitely be an understatement. All you can eat AND drink? This is right up his alley!

To date, I've helped over 50 clients book all-inclusive vacations and I get a lot of questions about choosing the right resort. So, if you're thinking about staying at an all-Inclusive resort the next time you travel to Mexico or the Caribbean, here's some things to consider.

Travel ResourcesJalyn RobersonAugust 9, 2017all-inclusive, caribbean, mexico, resort, travel resourcesComment

My Favorite Money-Saving Apps

As I've been preparing my own travel plans for the year (which includes 3 new places I'm super excited to visit!) I've been searching for easy ways to save some extra cash to have in my pocket while on these trips. Saving extra money hasn't been (and still isn't) the easiest thing for me to do. But these two apps below have been super helpful in getting the ball rolling for me!

How to Plan the Perfect Staycation

Valentine's Day is approaching and I really wanted to plan a quick weekend getaway for Marcus and I. Unfortunately, our work duties wouldn't allow us to jaunt off for the weekend. Instead of being bummed..(okay I was bummed, but only for a short while) I decided to plan a staycation for us to celebrate the weekend.

Travel ResourcesJalyn RobersonFebruary 8, 2017staycation, travel resources, hotel, deals Comments

7 Affordable Honeymoon Destinations for 2017

Weddings are expensive, but your honeymoon doesn't have to be! And after dealing with all of the hassles of planning your perfect wedding day, you deserve to have an awesome honeymoon. The key to having an awesome, yet affordable honeymoon is finding the right destination and knowing the best time to go. Here's some honeymoon destinations that won't drain your pockets!

$11 Flights and Other Advantages of Southwest Rapid Rewards

I've always been a huge fan of Southwest Airlines. From the great customer service to awesome flight deals to no baggage fees or cancellation fees, Southwest ranks at the top of my favorite U.S. based airlines. A few years ago, I decided to join Southwest's Rapid Rewards Program to start earning points on my flights. I didn't fly often, but figured that the few points I did earn per flight would be better than not earning any at all. After a few months, I started researching more about Southwest's Rapid Rewards and learned about the benefits of this rewards program. You can use your Rapid Rewards points to redeem flights and only pay the taxes..which for domestic flights total $11.20 Since I've signed up, I've traveled to San Diego, Denver, Puerto Rico and New York City on $11.20 flights!

The Southwest Companion Pass: Why It's Amazing and How to Earn It!

If you read my post where I gushed about the benefits of Southwest Rapid Rewards, you'll remember that I mentioned the Southwest Companion Pass and the need to dedicate an entire post to this holy grail of rewards travel. At the time of writing this post, I do not have a Companion Pass...but I've been strategically earning and positioning myself (well, Marcus) to get one in January. I hope to be able to update this with good news next month!

How to Travel More in 2017 While working full time

A few days ago, a co-worker came into my office and asked "How do you find the time and money to travel so often?" While this wasn't a new question for me (my parents ask me the same thing all the time), it did make me think about how I've learned to incorporate travel into my lifestyle. To be honest, I don't travel nearly as much as I'd like to. These past couple of months of travel have been more like the exception to the rule. Because I work a full-time job that isn't travel-related and does not require me to travel often, I've had to learn to get creative and resourceful when incorporating travel into my life.

Travel ResourcesJalyn RobersonDecember 20, 2016travel resources, travel tipsComment

9 Free Travel Apps You Need Right Now

Travel apps can be lifesaver when it comes to planning, saving money and navigating destinations on your trip. While it's certainly exciting to encounter the unknown and get lost in a new destination, its also very comforting to have some useful tools on your phone to get you through your trip. There are tons of apps out there to choose from but I've made a list of 10 of my favorite free and most used apps.

Travel ResourcesJalyn RobersonDecember 13, 2016travel resources, travel apps Comments

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