Travel Gear

What to wear in New York City by a native New Yorker: A New York City Packing List for all seasons

August 1, 2018 by Karen Turner 46 Comments

If you’re planning a trip to New York City, you might be trying to figure out what to pack for New York City. I’m a native New Yorker, so hopefully I can help you figure out what to wear in New York City. Keep reading for tips on what to bring to new York City, what NOT to pack for New York City, and a New York City packing list for every season.

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What to Wear in Amsterdam: Your Ultimate Packing List for Amsterdam by a Local

July 8, 2017 by Karen Turner 31 Comments

This is my third year living in Amsterdam and it’s hard to explain to friends/family who are visiting Amsterdam on what to bring to Amsterdam to be prepared for the unpredictable and rainy weather that defines all but ~3 weeks in summer.

Packing for Amsterdam isn’t easy as it involves planning for the worst, so why not be prepared with a packing list for Amsterdam with what to pack for Amsterdam and what not to pack by one resident?

This includes what to wear in Amsterdam in winter (as well as what to wear in Amsterdam for spring/summer/fall). At the bottom, you’ll find a FREE printable/downloadable packing list for Amsterdam.

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How to Use Google Translate Offline Without Wifi or Data

June 17, 2017 by Karen Turner 33 Comments

I love challenging myself to visit new places where I’m out of my comfort zone, whether it’s Kosovo or Japan, however the reality is that I’m a cheapskate when it comes to paying for data and I have dietary restrictions. I often travel in areas where people don’t speak English fluently and sign language is not cutting it.

This means that you’ll want a good offline translator app, preferably a translation app that is free. This is a step-by-step guide on how to use Google Translate offline for iPhones, which means that you can instantly get translations without wifi and Google will pronounce difficult words for you.

Keep reading for my most used features from Google Translate, tips for using Google Translate like a pro, and how to install the best translation app you’ll find.

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A review of the Tortuga Setout Carry-on Backpack and Tortuga Setout Packable Daypack after three countries worth of testing

June 19, 2018 by Karen Turner Leave a Comment

I like to thoroughly test things and as I might have mentioned before, I have a way of breaking my carry-on backpacks as I often travel carry-on only. When Tortuga offered to send me the Tortuga Setout carry-on backpack and daypack to test out, I was ready for something more organized after my last carry-on bag. This is a review of the Setout Exploration Bundle, including the Setout Backpack and the Setout Packable Daypack.

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CabinZero: A review of CabinZero Classic 44L Carry-On Bag

May 20, 2017 by Karen Turner 29 Comments

I’m a destroyer of carry-on bags (5 in 5 years!). These are tips to keep in mind when buying a carry-on bag based on my mistakes, including a review of the Cabinzero Classic 44L Ultralight Carry-On Bag.

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Introductory Guide to Via Ferrata: What to know before your first via ferrata

February 7, 2016 by Karen Turner 25 Comments

Via Ferrata is like rock climbing although instead of using a rope, you are securing yourself to steel cables that are drilled into the rock. This allows you access difficult/isolated mountainous areas that would otherwise require expert climbing skills/ropes or the willingness to climb very steep scrambles without any assurances of safety.

It allows you to also get a glimpse of the isolated, raw beauty of the mountains. For someone who is reasonably in shape, it’s a great way to get off-the-beaten path, work out while on vacation, and have an adrenaline-filled adventure!

In this post, this is a via ferrata guide for beginners with why you should try out via ferrata, the best gear for via ferratas, and where to do via ferrata.

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Tips for traveling with curly hair & best curly hair travel products for every curly hair type

October 23, 2017 by Karen Turner 12 Comments

As someone with crazy curly hair, I have found many of the tips for traveling with curly hair not applicable to my own hair. I’ve asked some amazing ladies (+ one guy) with all kinds of curly hair for their tips for dealing with curly hair on vacation, the best curly hair products for them, and easy travel hairstyles for curly hair.

This includes natural hairstyles for traveling as straightening your hair 24/7 is not good for it. I also include travel beauty tips for WOC, which is often not included in tips for curly hair. Thanks to my contributors for their fantastic tips for their recommendations for travel tips for curly hair and the best curly hair travel products.

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What to wear in Muslim countries for female travelers by country

December 25, 2017 by Karen Turner 13 Comments

Let’s get this out of the way: not every Muslim country in the world is the same all around the world; what is appropriate to wear in Muslim countries differs by country and this is your guide to as many Muslim majority regions/countries that I could find advice for. Even within one country, what is appropriate clothing in one Muslim country might vary between the city and the countryside. Keep reading on how to dress appropriately for various Muslim countries for female travelers with tips on what to wear in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa by country….

Borneo packing list: A realistic guide on what to bring to Borneo

January 29, 2018 by Karen Turner 10 Comments

Ever since watching National Geographic, I’ve dreamed of visiting Borneo. Borneo is HUGE, so when I finally got my chance to visit, I ended up focusing my time on visiting the Malaysian part of Borneo as well as Brunei as it was easier to get around. However, one does not simply land in Borneo without significant preparations and a well-thought packing list for Borneo. Keep reading for tips on what to do before you leave for Borneo (including vaccinations and malaria tablets), what to pack for Borneo, and what you’ll definitely want to know about leeches in Borneo.

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What to pack for Iceland in winter on a budget

September 10, 2017 by Karen Turner 2 Comments

If you’re planning to visit Iceland in winter, you need to plan your Iceland packing list beforehand as Iceland is expensive. We planned a visit to Iceland in winter on a budget. This is what we actually brought on our 10 day Iceland road trip in winter. If you’re wondering what to wear in Iceland in December and what the Icelandic weather in December is like, keep reading for tips for what to pack for Iceland in winter.

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