A guide to using this website

I post travel-related things every week, but not every entry is necessarily helpful to figuring out how to plan a trip or pack for a trip.  I have decided to create a guide that can be used as a reference to navigate through my travel tips so that you can use them on your upcoming trip. I've had a few people tell me it would be helpful to have these articles organized in a way that was easier to find specific tips that are sorted by subject-matter, rather than just sorted by the date they were posted.

First off, the reason I started writing about these things was to provide tips and insight for the part-time travelers.  Read my philosophy about part-time traveling and why I choose to focus on certain aspects of travel. 

Before you even plan a trip, you have to save for it.  Here are my tips on how to budget and how to cut down expenses so that you can afford to go on vacation.

1. How to plan a budget for a trip
2. How to save money for a trip
3. How to cut down on travel expenses
4. Ways I've cut down on regular expenses to save more for travel

Now that you're saving, or have money to spend, the next step is actually planning the trip.

1. Tips for finding cheap airfare
2. Tips for using TripAdvisor to help plan the trip
3. Tips for purchasing inexpensive travel guides
4. Tips for booking accommodations
5. Tips about food and restaurants 
6. Tips for budget (and free) accommodations 

If you're a newbie to planning a trip, you may want to check out a few fake trips I planned using some of my favorite travel websites like TripAdvisor, Kayak and Airbnb.

1. Solo trip 
2. Couples trip
3. International trip

One of my most favorite things to write about is packing.  I have learned a lot about what not to pack and what to pack from my travels, and these are some of the things I've learned through trial and error.  (There are many more packing-related articles available on the website, if you are interested in reading more packing hacks that I have learned and am continuing to learn.)

1. Why you need packing cubes
2. Why you should pack light
3. Pros and cons of suitcases and backpacks as your main travel bag
4. 25 random items you may not think to pack
5. What not to pack

1. Beauty product recommendations
2. Packing your quart-size bag with essential items  (If you're interested in my five favorite liquid items for the quart-sized bag, check out this article.)

1. Tips for putting together outfit combinations
2. Travel fashion tips for men
3. Two of my favorite travel clothing items
4. Choosing the right shoes
5. Using black as your base color when creating outfit combinations
6. Tips on packing for destinations with very different climates

1. What to wear: California National Parks
2. What to wear: California
3. What to wear: Chile (Patagonia)

Before you leave on your trip, be sure to look at my checklist I've created before I leave the house to make sure I don't come home to rotten fruit and dead house plants.

Whether you're planning to travel by airplane or car, here are some tips for each of those modes of transportation.

1. Tips for going through airport security
2. What not to do on an airplane
3. What to wear on the airplane
4. Five things to always pack in your personal item and why
5. Flying with Allegiant Air from Columbus

1. Using RoadTrippers app to make the car ride more fun
2. How to get along in the car

If you have an overseas trip planned, below are my tips for international travel.  I try to share things I've learned the hard way, such as over-packing, not bringing the right shoes, not speaking the language and even getting into a car accident with a rental car.  I hope these tips will help you feel more prepared when you go to a foreign country.

1. Visiting a country where you don't know the language
2. Five mistakes I learned on my first trip overseas
3. Things I've learned about Americans when traveling abroad
4. Why learning some historical information prior to the trip can enhance your travel experience
5. Getting in a car accident overseas
6. What to learn when you don't know the country's language

Since my husband is an expert camper, I've learned ways, as a woman, to get prepared for camping. 

1. Tips (and product suggestions) for making the most out of back-country camping
2. Tips for hairstyles you can use while camping (with no electricity)
3. More tips for camping (including review on Dolly Sods, West Virginia)
4. Checklist for an overnight fall camping trip

Some of my tips don't necessarily fit in any of the above categories, but I still think are worth mentioning in this list.

1. Pros and cons of cruises 
2. Tips for traveling with other couples
3. Tips for hosting a good travel party
4. Tips for planning a trip over a holiday weekend
5. How to pick a travel destination as a group
6. 10 reasons you hated your last vacation (and tips to avoid those pitfalls)

1. Places within four hours of Columbus, Ohio

I hope this guide will help you get started on budgeting, planning and going on a trip.  Sign up to receive email updates for more practical travel tips from a central Ohio girl!  (New posts every Monday.)