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The two most frequent questions I get are:
 

1. "how do you plan your trips?".

I spend A LOT of time researching, and I'm blessed to have another fantastic travel companion, my cousin Marisa, who is happy to read through reviews, blogs, Instagram posts, and travel guides with me. We will easily spend at least one month working out exactly what we want to do and prioritizing our top sights/ excursions. It's best to utilize social media to find "regular travelers'" photos so you know what to expect; Google Maps can be your best friend for working out routes and borrowing and stealing ideas from travel bloggers and locals. 
 

 

2. "How do you afford your trips?"

I don't have an easy answer for this one. First, we pick our destination at least 8-6 months out to find cheap airfare. We booked our flight to Peru (traveling in April) in August and paid the same price most people pay to go to Florida over spring break. Second, planning far out will allow you to pay for things over time, making it less daunting. Third, you gotta work for it. I work two additional jobs after school and during my lunch, so I can afford to travel the way I do. I make budget cuts when I can, and we don't travel luxuriously. Food and lodging are where we cut costs (with a few exceptions- we usually have one lodging splurge per trip). This doesn't work for everyone, but it works for me and my #1 travel buddy. Finally, wise words from my siblings that they probably don't remember saying to me or realize how much it has shaped my attitude and outlook towards life.
 

 

My older brother: 

I said the phrase "once in a lifetime opportunity" while referring to the six weeks I spent in Italy. My older brother responded, " Only if you want it to be." 
 

 

My older sister:

She had us book a flight to NYC for a long weekend VERY last minute, and I was worried about paying for the trip. She looked at me and said, "If it's important to you, you'll figure it out."
 

 

These don't have to apply to traveling, but for me, they do. Happy exploring!

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