Traveleidoscope.com A kaleidoscope of ideas for active travelers

Tips & Tools

Over the years, I've learned a few tips and gathered a few tools that may be helpful to you in your travels!

12 Tips to Take Care of Travel Troubles

Yeah, it’s an alliterative title, but the tips are still great! I gathered some of the best tips from the last month to help you out of...

What is the U.S. State Department’s STEP Program and Why Travelers Should Use it

Wouldn’t it be great if there was some way for U.S. citizens to let the embassy know where you were so they could notify you in case of an e

Here’s My Alaska Itinerary: Recommendations for What to Do and What to Skip if You Have Limited Time

I was recently in Alaska for 12 days. That’s a lot of vacation time that not everyone has. If you’re crunched for time, here’s what you...

What to Do When an Airline Damages your Luggage

On a recent trip, I checked my luggage (first mistake - don’t judge). When I retrieved my suitcase from the baggage belt and started to...

"Unraveling the Mystery of Jet Lag: Is It All in Your Head?"

Is jet lag real? Do you feel horrible after a long flight? Is it difficult to adjust to the time in your new location? Are your sleep...

All the Ways I’m Saving Money and Maximizing Travel in 2024

My hubby suggested I write this post after he teased me for always having multiple deals for our travels. Here are all of the travel...

Decluttering 101: Where to Take Your Unwanted Items in the New Year

Happy New Year! Is one of your new year’s resolutions to declutter? Are you trying to figure out where to take your outdated technology,...

Lessons Learned: Why I Won't Be Using a Travel Agent Again

In the last year, I've used a travel agent twice for my vacation plans. In both cases, using a travel agent created significantly more...

Travel Tips If You Need Medical Care in a Foreign Country

Ever been sick in a foreign country? It's no fun. My husband and I have had the unfortunate distinction of landing in the hospital in...

Italy’s Lake Iseo is as Fantastic as You’d Imagine!

Aaah Italy. La Dolce Vita. I originally planned to visit Italy’s Lake Iseo in 2020, but of course COVID threw a wrench in those plans....

What’s the Deal with Gas Prices Ending in 9/10?

Gas prices were insane in 2022. Even though they’ve seemed to have leveled off a bit, it still ain’t cheap to fill up. So, as you’re...

Hey, Where’d the Word Airport Come From?

Now that many of us are travelling again, what probably comes to mind when we think of the airport is what a hassle air travel has become....

A Germophobe’s Pandemic Hotel Stay

Recently, I needed to stay overnight in New York City. Living in New Jersey, I didn’t have to quarantine because the two states have a...

Which U.S. States Don’t Follow Daylight Saving Time?

In the U.S., Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends on November 1, 2020. You know what that means? An extra hour of sleep!!!

Why Do We Have Daylight Saving Time, Anyway?

Ah, the time change is upon us and we'll soon be "springing ahead". But do you know why we even have Daylight Saving Time? Here's why!

Hey, Where’d the Word Airport Come From?

Many of us use airports all the time, and probably what comes to mind is the hassle air travel has become. But, do you know the origins

Figuring Out "Reef Safe" Sunscreen

This post was originally published in 2019. In 2020, when Palau became the first country in the world to ban sunscreens that are harmful...

Art Project: Maps & Money

After you come back from a trip you’ve probably got a lot of what I call “trip detritus”. You know what I’m talking about – ticket stubs, ma

What To Do If You Get Sick On A Trip

Last week, I wrote about 10 Ways to Stay Healthy When You Travel. This week, here's what to do if you get sick on a trip!

10 Ways to Stay Healthy When You Travel

As a former flight attendant, I spent A LOT of time in the air, and on the road, so I learned a fair amount about staying healthy when trave

A Free Ski Trip to Mont Tremblant Canada

Okay, full disclosure - it’s not actually a “free” ski trip. Rather, it didn’t cost me anything extra for hotel and skiing. Since that was

It's Raining...Now What?

We’ve all been on vacations that depended on a certain kind of weather. Here are four suggestions about what to do when the weather isn&#39

Why is New Year’s Day on January 1?

Ever wondered why the new year starts on January 1 as opposed to say, March 1? Well, in case you’ve ever wondered (and even if you haven’t)

What to Do When Your Trip Goes Sideways

My trip to Burgundy a couple months ago was amazing, but the trip would have been a total disaster had it not been for some quick action on

Why I Didn't Love My Instant Pot

When I realized I’d have to replace my beloved crockpot, I thought the Instant Pot would be a great replacement. It wasn't.

Holiday Gift Ideas for the Traveler in Your Life

It’s that time of year again – we’re all scrambling for gift ideas. If you’re looking for something for the traveler in your life, here are

September Travel News Roundup

Wow! There was a lot of travel-related news that happened in September, so I’ve put together a recap of some of the month’s top stories!

BYO or No? Sports Gear!

A lot of people ask me, "do you BYO (Bring Your Own) sports equipment on trips?" After many trips, I’ve developed a completely un

Building A Road Trip Itinerary (Part 2)

Last week, I wrote about picking a destination, setting a budget and managing vacation time. This week, it’s all about building the itinera

Building A Road Trip Itinerary (Part 1)

My recent posts have been about my road trip from the State of Washington to Glacier National Park in Montana. A number of people asked abo

6 Lessons I Learned Planning A Trip to Glacier National Park (Part 1)

One of the things on my bucket list has been to visit Glacier National Park in Montana. Well, this year, I did it! So, if you’re thinking

13 Facts About the American Flag

Independence Day in the U.S. is July 4th, so this week seemed like a good time to do a post about the American flag. Since there were 13 or

10 tips for a successful group tour (Part 2)

Last week, I posted numbers 1 through 5 of successful group tour tips. Here are tips 6 through 10. Enjoy! 6. The group dynamic. We had...

10 tips for a successful group tour (Part 1)

Ever thought about a group tour, but you weren't sure if it'd be right for you? Here are 10 tips for having a successful group tour

Is Annual Travel Insurance Right for You? (Part 2)

Last week, I wrote the first part of a two part post, "Is Annual Travel Insurance Right for You?"; this week, I’m continuing the c

Is Annual Travel Insurance Right for You?(Part 1)

Buying travel insurance can be a real pain, but necessary. But what about an annual travel insurance? Here are things to think about if you

10 Things to Know About the Azores

I spent an amazing week in the Azores! And if you’re thinking of going, here are 10 things to know before you go!

6 Places to Get Your Easter On!

Happy Easter everyone! Some of us are gearing up for lots of indulge in chocolate bunnies and Easter egg hunts! And, while not everyone ce

What to Do if You Get Sick on a Trip

Last week, I wrote about how to stay healthy when you travel. This week, it's what to do if you get sick on a trip!

10 Ways to Stay Healthy When You Travel

As a former flight attendant, I spent A LOT of time in the air, and on the road, so I learned a fair amount about what to do and what not to

Beyond the Guidebooks: Using Your Library for Travel Planning

What’s the first thing you think of when you think of the word “vacation”? Is it beaches? Maybe cruises? I bet you don’t think of the librar

What You Need For Every Road Trip

Who doesn’t love a good road trip? Whether it’s in the U.S. or elsewhere, there are a few things you should have to help make sure your trip

Greeting the French: The Right Number of Kisses

Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, I thought I’d do a fun post on an issue that baffled me when I lived in France - how many kisses are yo

How to Avoid Vacation Debt

Planning a vacation is so much fun, but the aftermath, usually in the form of credit card bills - yeesh! Well, it can be a real nightmare.

17 Travel Websites and Apps You’ll Actually Use

Aren’t we all looking for ways to make travel easier? Well, here are 17 travel apps and websites you might actually use!

Travel Stories of 2017

With 2018 here, I thought now would be a good time to reflect on some of the big travel stories we heard about in 2017 and what's coming

Renting Winter Clothes

Where can you rent cold weather clothing when you live in a warm climate? That’s the question I got from a friend of mine when he suggested

Happy Holidays!

This week, I'm taking time to enjoy the season with my friends and family and I hope you're lucky enough to be doing the same! What

3 Hilarious Xmas Traditions of Family and Friends

Yay! Christmas is almost here! Most of us have traditions that we look forward to every year, and so do my family and friends! But with us

A (Mostly) Free Trip to Portland, Oregon

Ever wonder how you can score a completely free trip? Well, I pulled it off (sorta)! Here’s how I got most of our expenses for our long wee