Traveling is in my blood... my mom was an international flight attendant and from a young age I was hitting the slopes in the Pacific Northwest, skipping along the beaches in New York, screaming at leeches in Vermont, skiing the mountains in New Zealand and so much more. As an adult I've trekked through Thailand, drank bubbly in Champagne, France and climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge amongst many other memorable adventures. On a recent trip to Havana, Cuba I thought to jot down some interesting and easy travel tips for those who would like to save money, ease stress and maximize your vacation. 

Once you know when you are off from work, or the time period you want to travel, then you can start doing your research. I highly recommend not traveling during a 3-day weekend, or on a Friday, Saturday or Monday. Also if there is a major holiday the days leading up to the holiday will lead to less availability and higher rates overall. Supply and demand. 

If you are renting a car or staying in a hotel, it is advantageous to sign-up for the rewards, honors or preferred membership. Most of these are entirely free and you'll reap the MAJOR benefits. For example with car rental you will have preferred car pickup, less of a line, easier drop off and sometimes better rates. For hotel you could have free happy hour, complimentary upgrades, mixers, coupons for breakfast, discounted rooms, rewards points, etc. 

I am embarrassed to admit, but I have accidentally booked things in the wrong place multiple times. Like did you know there's a San Jose in Costa Rica and California, also I've booked a car rental in Florida but not at the airport. You type in a specific location but sometimes your booking is somewhere else. So when you arrive you are lost and don't know where to go. Well guess what the car isn't at the airport it's off-site and I often mistakenly took the cheaper option which wasn't at the airport at all. Look at the address and double check by inputting it into your maps. 

Third party apps and websites appear to offer great deals, but sometimes they don't include the taxes, parking and fees and you end up paying the same price at the hotel anyway. With that if you didn't book with the hotel direct you could see some problems and issues with your reservation... then the hotel can't do anything to help you because you didn't book with them. Most of the time it works out ok, but I have found that you think you're getting this great deal but you end up paying the same price or more and are at more of a risk. *Pro-tip, if the hotel is under renovation you will see cheaper rates, but with that comes some construction noise and mild inconvenience with the potential for stellar views.  

I like to use websites as a barometer to judge what the climate is going to look like. All these hotels offer this rate and this car rental has this rate. Then I go to the site direct and book straight from the source. My husband and I both do this and it helps with gauging where you want to stay and with whom you want to book. 

It's best to buy your snacks, meals, food and beverages off site. I mean if you are going to the airport and on a trip the cost for your meal is going to be way cheaper if you get it outside of the airport. (Example $4.99 sandwich versus $10.99 sandwich). Also if you buy water, gum or other essentials at a hotel the cost is going to be 3x higher on-site than if you stopped at a nearby market or even a convenience store. We get all our snacks and sandwiches/chips prior to heading to the airport. *Pro tip, remove the food from your carry-on luggage prior to TSA screening and keep it separate until you're in the terminal. TSA requires you take the food out and if you don't you may backup the line and have to send your bags through again. If coming from Kauai, Kulolo has to be taken out and unwrapped. 

Overall I am huge fan of Air BnB or VRBO, when looking for a place to stay always look for the amenities, Even in a hotel, do they offer free parking, free wifi, early or late checkin. These are conveniences that are essential and could end up costing you more if you are unaware of whether these are provided. It saves you a ton of time and peace of mind to know your next place to rest your head has everything you need to be comfortable. Look for pool, parking, AC, internet, transportation, location, the view, nearby eateries, are things walkable in this neighborhood, etc...

I am not sure if I am ready to talk about this... The fact that I am entertaining the idea of writing about this means I am ready to some degree. Writing has alway been so therapeutic for me and I know this will help. With it being Mother's Day of course the timing is appropriate, but at the same time it is also very hard, difficult, challenging, heartbreaking and emotional. But here I am with tears in my eyes hoping that down the road this will bring some relief...

Last year, in April 2018, my birth mom passed away at the home I grew up in on Kauai. She died after a very admirable years-long aggressive physical, emotional and taxing struggle with breast cancer. A few years before that my hanai mom also passed away, while I was on a trip out of state. Thinking about my life and how I am literally alone with no parents, no siblings and no biological family within a few thousand miles is hard to take. But I am grateful for the exceptional friends who have become my family over the years and my absolutely incredible husband who each and everyday goes above and beyond for me and shows me the utmost unconditional love. 

So why am I writing this? Well, no one wants to hear a sad story or a sob story for that matter... I almost always try to post positive, uplifting or educational/beneficial content for others to enjoy. But this is part of the healing process and this is how I cope.

My mom was from Brooklyn, New York. She wanted to get as far away from the east coast as possible and stumbled upon the island of Kauai. She felt the islands called to her and that this was where she was meant to be. She was a world traveler, an impeccable writer and a woman with a lot of passion. She raised me as a single parent and did the very best that she could. She taught me many lessons about life, focus, being driven and determined and also the importance of education. 

In many ways I am somewhat like my mom and she always said I got all the good parts. In the end she was very proud of me and my accomplishments. I feel as though she instilled in me to always pursue my dreams and to work very hard. She was an animal lover, a very elegant and classy lady who loved the ocean.

Before I was born she would swim the waters of Kalihiwai Bay. When I was a baby she would bring me to the beach in a portable crib and all the locals thought she was crazy. Even as an adult when I see neighbors they would comment about how she would swim back and forth in the bay and I was on the beach playing, swimming and etc. It was only fitting that we scatter her ashes there where she was most happy and when we did my husband paddled me out. I said a few words in my mind thanking her for everything and when I poured her remains in the water at sunset she appeared to swim out to sea. 

Every day is a new day... I will always remember the good times we had and the memories we shared. Mother's Day is a very hard day... but with that I am so grateful and know that she lived a great life.