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!

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!

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

Product Review: The People’s Poncho

When people think of ponchos, they may think of either the flimsy plastic bag-like material that you buy at sports events when there’s an un

Interview: Director General, Visit Faroe Islands

Breathtaking, windswept green cliffs. All the weather you could ever possibly want. More sheep than people. Looking for an adventure? ...

Always Take the Hotel Shampoo

“Don’t you have enough of that stuff?”Asks my exasperated husband, cringing as I loot the hotel amenities on our travels (again), knowing wh

Help! I Lost My Passport!

Whether it’s before your trip on while you’re on your trip, realizing you lost your passport can be a panic-inducing moment. Even worse, wh

Product Review: Zakistar Flip Flops

Hooray! It’s Labor Day weekend here in the U.S.! Boo! Summer’s coming to an end! But don’t get out your winter sweaters just yet!There’s s

The Lowdown on Adapters and Converters

When you’re packing for a trip out of the country, two things that are easy to forget are adapters and converters. Hey, aren’t they the same

The Life of a Digital Nomad

Ever dream of ditching your 9-5 job for a life that offers the luxury to travel and work from anywhere in the world? Yeah, sure, we've

Passport vs. Visa – the Difference

It’s a common question – What’s the difference between a passport and a visa and why do I need a visa if I already have a passport? While th

5 Countries Getting Tough on Tourism

Did you know that tourism makes up about 10% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP)? WOW! That’s great news for a lot of countries, but th

8 Not-So-Weird Questions About Driving in a Foreign Country

Driving on vacation in a foreign country may be an ideal way to get around because it gives you so much flexibility. And, if you’re going t

Ugh! 10 Tips to Deal with Jet Lag!

You’re all packed and ready to go on your dream vacation to _________(fill in the blank) and you’re so excited!! Itinerary. Check. Passpor

13 Ways to Survive a REALLY Long Flight – In the Cheap Seats!

It’d be nice if we could all (a) afford to fly in first or business class on long haul flights or (b) transport ourselves to our destination

5 Tips to Do Napa on a Budget

You're joking, right? The name Napa evokes many things – wine, romance and unfortunately, expensive. In my experience, Napa is no barg

Guided vs. Self-Guided Cycling Trips

So, maybe you’re thinking of a different kind of vacation this time around. Instead of relaxing in your comfy beach chair sipping a fruity