Research–How to Get Around
Transportation, both to your destination and around your destination, is second in expense and importance only to your choice of lodging. Not planning thoughtfully can lead to added expense, wasted time, and...
Sandi McCoy Kramos
Sandi McCoy Kramos is a licensed clinical psychologist with a doctorate from the University of Virginia and over 30 years of experience as a therapist. She is also a lifelong traveler with years of experience planning and implementing individual travel adventures for herself and family and friends. When asked why she started this blog, Sandi said, "Over the years I've realized that when people say they want to travel but don't actually do it, it's often their own insecurities and lack of knowledge that get in the way. I want to give individuals the knowledge they need to actually make their travel dreams come true."
Why Do We Travel?
Let's take a break from planning, shall we? Let's talk about why we travel because it is the why that makes all of the effort of planning worthwhile. My Travel Background From...
A Word of Warning About Reviews
Reviews of tourist locations and activities, restaurants, and lodging are all extremely useful when planning a trip, but it is important to know how to read reviews in a helpful manner. Negativity...
Research — Places to Stay
For me, figuring out where to stay is equally fun and overwhelming. The options seem endless! This is where I usually get practical and serious with the budget, if for no other...
Research — What to See and Do
Researching the places you want to visit can be overwhelming, so it is important to pay attention to what you've identified as your priorities. It is also useful to think about why...
Research — How to Stay Safe When Traveling
Safety is a concern that prevents many people from ever venturing into independent travel, but it's often the illusion of what is or isn't safe rather than the reality that we focus...
The ROI of Travel Research
If you've picked a location and your travel companions, it's time to start your research. Wait! Please don't leave yet! I promise this isn't going to be as painful as you think...
How to Avoid Death by Committee
If you're considering traveling with more than one person, or maybe if it's only one but you both have big personalities, it's important to not let group dynamics stop the planning process....
Time and Money (aka Reality)–Part 2
A previous post about travel planning (Time and Money Part 1) focused on the financial budget and limitations, but just as important to planning is the time budget. It is important to...
Time and Money (aka Reality)–Part 1
I was once with a group and we were swapping stories about trips we had each taken when the topic of trip planning came up. As we shared how we initially choose...