Now more than ever, people are taking road trips. With the current pandemic and air travel being severely reduced, people are looking into local travel and road trips to fulfill their travel desires.

I’ll be honest, I’ve usually overlooked road trips in favor of further away destinations. We’ve also had some disastrous road trips that have deterred me from planning more. Here’s what not to do on a road trip and how you can learn from my mistakes, and have a safe and enjoyable road trip!

Don’t Break Down – Make Sure Your Car Is In Good Condition

No one likes to break down. Before any roadtrip make sure that you don’t need an oil change, and make sure you’re topped up on things like windshield washer fluid. Of course you should be keeping up on car maintenance in general, but it’s especially important when you’re going to be far from home.

Also, have a plan if you do break down! We ended up on the side of the highway 3 hours from home with no idea of what to do. 

Don’t Get Hangry – Pack Snacks and Water

Hangry passengers and drivers are no fun. Packing car snacks and drinks means you won’t have to stop every time someone is hungry or thirsty. We also usually travel with our dog, so having water for her is essential too. 

Although my friend Hannah says you can have TOO MANY snacks. Check out how she’s simplified and perfected the road trip with kids!

Don’t Fall Asleep At The Wheel – Plan Rest Stops

If you plan to drive for 12 hours straight you will get burnt out. Plan where you will stop and rest, get out for a walk and switch drivers if possible. 

Don’t Run Out Of Gas – Get Gas Before You Need It

Thankfully I’ve never actually done this, but running out of gas would be a disaster! Make sure to get gas before you get close to empty so that you don’t run out. There are plenty of places where gas stations can be few and far between.

One time we almost ran out of gas driving from Grand Marais to Thunder Bay… my best friend “knows her car” and we didn’t… but I was nervous!!

Don’t Get Lost – Have a Map and GPS

Guilty! We’ve gotten lost a few more times than I care to admit. Don’t be like us, take a GPS and a map with you if you’re going to an unfamiliar area. Just a GPS or your phone is great, but if it dies, having a paper map is a good back-up plan. 

Don’t Be A Schedule Fanatic – Plan For Changes

No one likes a schedule stickler. It’s great to get where you are going but plan to stop wherever you see something fun on the side of the road! A scenic look-off or a fun photo-op can break up the drive and make your trip more memorable.

Don’t Be A Fun Hater – Have Fun!

You know the saying; getting there is half the fun! Pack some car games, play eye-spy, tell jokes, and singalong to your favourite songs! 

Final Thoughts

I’ll admit to being in a hurry on road trips, and not preparing adequately. Since road trips may become more frequent for us, I plan to use these tips to plan a better road trip! What about you? Are you a road trip lover?

Planning a road trip because you have a fear of flying? Here’s how I deal with my flying anxiety!

“International Date Night”

One thing we used to do every week was what we called “International Date Night”. We put the names of several countries into an envelope and drew one out. Then we drew for who would cook the main dish and who would cook the side dish or dessert. We would spend the rest of the week planning in secret until the big reveal: dinner time! It was so fun to learn about other culture’s food, and enjoy a fun meal together. While we don’t do this every week now, we still make a lot of the dishes on a regular rotation.

Here are some of our favorite recipes:

• Brazilian Cheese Bread – Pao De Queijo
• Swedish Pancakes – Pannkako
• Japanese Chicken Gyoza

Scrapbook

If you love crafting, scrapbooking your travel is a great way to relive your memories and pass the time between trips! Not many people get photos printed anymore, but it really is nice to sit and look through an album with your family. 

Home Decor

Naturally our home is decorated with photos and souvenirs from our travels. We have art from several places, and things like my beautiful wool blanket that I just couldn’t leave Iceland without. We also have a map on the wall that we put pins in for the places we have visited – color coded (yellow for places we have both gone, red for just me, and green for just Ryan). 

Travel Shows

We love travel shows to get a taste of places we haven’t been yet. Some of our favorites have been Departures, Rick Steves, and shows like Planet Earth. You can also watch YouTube channels (like ours!). 

Travel Blogs and Podcasts

Travel blogs, like mine, are a great inspiration to me. It gives us a way to connect with another person and see what they liked about a particular destination. I also love listening to podcasts; if you’re in to Disney check out Rope Drop Radio. 

Virtual Travel

Google Earth and Google Street View are great ways to check out places and virtually walk the streets! Google Arts and Culture allows you to see museums and historical sites virtually, as well as closer looks at famous works of art (definitely closer than you will ever get in a museum!).

Chat About Travel With Friends

My personal fav option is to chat about travel with other people! Seriously… don’t get me started because I might not stop! If you can’t get together in person, a Facetime video call or regular phone call will work… even texting works!

Final Thoughts

I hope this helps inspire you to make travel part of your everyday life. If you ever want to chat travel with me, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram and even email me! Seriously I would love to chat!

Narrow Down An Area By Looking At What We Want To Do

The area you stay in can make or break a trip in my opinion. Some people will choose a hotel based on price and not based on where it is. It is why people stay in New Jersey and spend half of their vacation to New York on public transport. I start by looking at what we want to do when we are visiting a city. If most of the things are in one general area I start looking for a hotel close by. I also look at public transportation options and whether or not it is accessible from our preferred area. 

Choose A Budget

This is of course the hard part. We typically don’t spend much time at hotels because we are out exploring! A budget depends on how much you have to spend, and where you are traveling. For example I could not find a hotel in Miami or Fort Lauderdale for less than $200 a night, so your budget needs to be at least that much!

Pick A Hotel

I like to use websites like Hotels.com to explore all the hotels in my preferred area. I make a list of ones that interest me and compare. If I can find one that includes breakfast it’s almost always an automatic winner! Consider things like parking (paid or free, or if unavailable) if you have a car with you, whether or not you have a kitchen or fridge or microwave or coffee maker in the room. Sometimes a pool is important to me and sometimes it is not. It all depends on your travel party and what you are planning to do on this vacation! 

If nothing in my preferred area we will have to decide if we will up the budget or choose a different location. This happened on our recent trip to Toronto. We ended up booking a little bit further away (but within walking distance) from where we wanted to be. It turned out fine!

Read Reviews

The next step of picking hotels is reading reviews. I Google the hotel to read reviews from bloggers or other people who have stayed there, sometimes there is even a YouTube video tour! I am sure it has saved me from staying somewhere less than ideal in the past. 

Repeat If Necessary

If all the hotels on your favorite list have not so great reviews I would probably start again and maybe up my budget a little bit. It is important to me to stay somewhere where I feel safe, comfortable and have easy access to exploring!

 Final Thoughts

Everyone has different opinions on staying at hotels vs Airbnb vs hostel, etc. It is all up to you and your travel style. I personally usually opt for a hotel but we have used Airbnb in the past. Hope this helps you choose the right hotel for your next adventure!

Monthly Budgeting & Sinking Funds

It should be no surprise by now that I am a big fan of monthly budgeting and sinking funds to save for travelling. Building saving for travel into your budget will help you travel more often because you’re always saving for your next trip. Set up an automatic transfer to a high interest savings account so you can’t access it with your debit card, which will help the urge to spend it on an unplanned purchase.

How much you save per month will depend on how much you can afford to save. The zero-based budgeting method gives every dollar you earn a “job” by allocating it to either paying bills, saving or daily expenses. If you don’t have much room in your budget for saving then I would recommend looking at your spending and adjusting your priorities. If you spend $50 every weekend going out to eat, but then say you have no money to travel, that is a priority problem, not a money problem!

Jenn

Travel Off Peak

Being a family of four with a love of travel means we need to travel smart in order to save money/travel more. We also live in Melbourne. A great city yes (and I don’t see us ever moving) but to get anywhere it means a long, generally expensive flight.

Travelling off peak is a great way to save money on your travels. Of course, if you are looking to book a tropical beach escape then booking during the middle of the monsoon season is not the smartest choice; but you can still travel just outside the peak periods for a significant saving.

Travelling during the off peak season can mean cheaper flights, cheaper accommodation and a chance to see your chosen destination without the crowds.

We saved thousands on a family holiday to Thailand by travelling just before the peak season started. All we had to do was change our dates by two weeks. Two weeks earlier in the season is not going to make a huge difference to your weather. Weather can be unpredictable at any time of the year anyway. By simply rejigging your itinerary by a few days you can end up saving loads of money.

The weather cycle is not the only thing to consider when looking at travelling in the off peak season. You should also look into the various school holidays, public holidays and festivals on during this time. It is generally always cheaper to travel outside of these events.

Travelling during the off peak season can also give you more flexibility and cost savings whilst at your destination. Transportation such as buses and trains could book up months in advance during the busy season at a premium cost, but during the off season you may be able to pick up last minute deals at the time that suits you best.

Being wary of peak seasons and low seasons is a sure fire way to save yourself some money when traveling and help you travel more!

Amber, Hill Tribe Travels

Little Savings Add Up

Travel together: It’s best thought of as a perk or a side benefit, but traveling with a partner (spouse, BFF, whatever) means each of you pays a bit less. Two couples in the same place? As long as it’s big enough, even better!

Go grocery shopping: Even for tourist trips of less than a week, eat at home more often than eating out. This is easier said than done in some cases, but even modest hostels have kitchens for its guests. Just because they’re too often used for ramen doesn’t mean you can’t put a bit more effort into it!

Choose destinations carefully. You can do a lot of research to figure out how expensive a place will be. Some places (think Switzerland, Iceland, etc.) are known to be quite expensive, while others (think Eastern Europe) are known to be quite inexpensive. Use numbeo.com, among other sites, to get a sense of how much a place costs.

Chris,  Worthy Go

Use Overnight Transportation

Travel can be expensive, so saving a few dollars wherever you can while on the road is a great thing for most travellers. One way I enjoy to save on accommodation during my travels is to take overnight transport.

Not only does taking overnight transport save a day in travel, you’re travelling while you’re sleeping rather than through the day, it also makes travel cheaper.

If you were taking a long distance bus or train during the day, you would still need to book a place to stay. But travelling at night, that bus or train acts as your rolling accommodation. Most overnight buses are least equipped with a reclinable seat, and trains are usually set up as rows of bunk beds, or a private carriage.

I’m a pretty tall guy, just hitting the 6-foot mark, and sometimes I do find it difficult to have a full unbroken 8 hours as the bus winds around tight corners or the train rattles over its rails. Taking earplugs/headphones, an eye-mask and possibly some sleeping aid will make the journey a lot more manageable.

These hostels on wheels are one of my favourite ways to save money and time while travelling.

Ben, Horizon Unknown

Couch Surfing

There is nothing like the freedom that comes from traveling full-time.  Once we had a glimpse of it, we focused all our energy on making travel a bigger part of our lives.  We needed more than the 4-5 weeks of vacation we got from working our full-time jobs.

With long-term travel, budget becomes such an important part of daily life. So we had to get creative on finding ways to get more bang for our buck. One of our favourite ways of doing this was to couchsurf.  Whether you’re traveling full-time or just taking a few weeks to discover a new destination, Couchsurfing is an amazing way to truly immerse yourself.

Beyond getting free accommodations, you get to make new friends for life. There is nothing like staying in a traditional home with locals, seeing what daily life is really like, and talking about things that you normally wouldn’t. It really redefined our way of traveling.

Although we love the fact that Couchsurfing is free, it should be known that there is etiquette to follow. So if you’re not looking to invest time into getting to know someone, their story or their way of life, this may not be for you.

However, if you’re looking to make new friends, learn about a culture, spend time cooking, drinking and hanging out with locals, discover places that not many tourists know about and make lifelong bonds, then Couchsurfing is perfect for you.

Carine and Derek, We Did It Our Way

Combine Business with Leisure

Who doesn’t want to travel more in an affordable way? Bleisure travel can do the trick! You don’t have to be a travel writer nor in the travel industry. You do need a job that needs you to travel often and you must be able to work from a distance.

If your boss sends you on a business trip somewhere you can add additional days for leisure. Work in the early morning and evening several hours and have the day free to explore. Business trips are often a few days and extending the trip to over a week usually gets the airfare down a lot. Your boss even saves money too and you can explore an area without having to pay for an airfare.

I, Chris from Chris Travel Blog, have done this for several years before starting my blog. The blog isn’t the reason I started to travel but does contribute now to travel even more. I still have another job that requires me to travel to each continent once a year. Adding 7-10 days per trip is possible so that I have about 70 leisure days a year without expensive flights. At some point I made a great deal for my other business while having a 5-star lunch high up in the Atacama Desert in Chile.

Bleisure travel is a great way to travel affordable!

Chris W,  CTB Global® (Chris Travel Blog)

Rent Your Place on AirBnB

Anytime my husband and I go traveling for more than a few days, we rent out our apartment on AirBnB while we’re away. This goes a long way towards paying for our trip. Depending on the cost of living in our destination, we sometimes even come out ahead and make money by traveling!

Of course, we don’t get to keep all of the profits. We have to pay someone to manage the bookings, clean the apartment and check in the guests while we’re away. Since AirBnB rentals are very popular in Lisbon, Portugal where we live, there are several companies that specialize in this kind of short-term rental management. They typically charge between 20 and 30 percent of the rental price.

We’ve actually had quite a few problems with the rental management company that we’ve been using, so we’ve recently switched to another manager. When dealing with a large company, we found that no one wanted to take responsibility when things went wrong.

So this time we’ve hired a single individual who will take care of everything while we’re gone. Despite the headaches we had with our previous property managers, we have no regrets about renting out our place. It’s been a great way to make passive income that will fund our travels.

Wendy, The Nomadic Vegan

Be Flexible

Making travel a priority in life is a great idea, but how do you make it happen when there’s bills or a mortgage to pay? I’ve employed a simple system that lets me travel more often for less.

We all have a bucket list of dream destinations right? Well I simply watch the deals from my home airport and when any cheap flight to one of my destinations comes available I book it, typically getting the airfare for half off.  While I might not get to pick and choose my next destination as much as a typical traveller, being flexible like this allows me to travel twice as much as I would otherwise.

Being flexible doesn’t just apply to destinations either. That fancy 5-Star hotel by the river? Sure it’s nice, but if I stay in equally nice accommodations just a few blocks outside of the tourist area I save huge amounts of cash & get a more authentic experience too!

Apply this quality to everything you do while traveling and suddenly everything becomes more affordable. I’m not saying you have to skimp—Treat yourself; nobody goes on vacation to save money—but being flexible can save your wallet!

Patrick, Adventographer Travel & Photo Blog

Use Public Transportation

One of the best ways to save money while travelling is by using local and public transportation. If you are travelling to developed countries or big cities, the public transportation network is usually well developed with multiple modes of transport. These may include metro/subway, skytrains/trains, trams and buses. Remember the golden rule: No Taxis. Taxis are the most expensive means of transport and end up eating a substantial chunk of your budget. For instance, airport transfers are best done by airport shuttle bus or metros. Most airports around the world will have regular shuttle bus services to take you to the city. Another tip: Most cities have tourist bus/metro passes of different durations. If you intend to sightsee a lot within the city, work out the individual ticket costs and check whether buying a pass is cost effective.

On the other hand, if you are travelling to developing places where the transportation options are limited, make use of local options like tuk tuks or cyclos. Not only are they cheap, they are a fun way to experience the place. In any case, buses and trains are present everywhere for airport transfers and inter city transfers.

Neha, Two Flashpackers

Home Exchange

Five years ago, we made the decision to turn our dream of travelling into reality. We sold our home in New Zealand and took the opportunity to transfer to Germany and then on to the USA. While uprooting with a 3-year-old and newborn may seem like a crazy idea to some, relocating gave us so much more opportunity to travel.

With cheap airline flitting around Europe flights were only a small expense but accommodation was still taking a large chunk of our budget. It was a trip to Copenhagen that prompted us to try home exchange and after saving more than 1000 euros in one week we were hooked!

A few years later we are on our 12th home exchange, I am even writing this from our beachfront house swap in Hawaii! There are pros and cons to home exchange, it is not for everyone. For us it has allowed us to stretch our budget, travel more, get off the beaten track, live like a local and make lifelong friends.

Kaylie, Happiness Travels Here

Final Thoughts

We firmly believe where there is a will there is a way, and if you are looking for a way to afford to travel more, then you can find it! You can always combine these tips to make the most of your vacation dollars. Do you have any tips to save money on travel? Please share them in the comments so we can all save!

Wanderlust: n. a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. – Helen Keller

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. – Augustine of Hippo 

Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before. – Dalai Lama

If you’re not lost, you’re not much of an explorer.— John Perry Barlow

There are no foreign lands. It is the traveller only who is foreign. — Robert Louis Stevenson

Traveling can never be taken for granted, no matter how meticulous the preparations. — Eugene Linden

Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. – Andre Gide

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. – Mark Twain

You get a strange feeling when you’re about to leave a place. Like you’ll not only miss the people you love, but you’ll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you’ll never be this way ever again. –Azar Nafisi

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough — Mae West

Travel is not really about leaving our homes but leaving our habits. – Pico Iyer

Traveling is like flirting with life. It’s like saying “I would stay and love you but I have to go; this is my station.” – Lisa St. Aubin de Teran

If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet, he said. – Rachel Wolchin

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us – J.R.R. Tolkien

You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place. – Miriam Adeney

I can’t think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything. Suddenly you are five years old again. You can’t read anything, you only have the most rudimentary sense of how things work, you can’t even reliably cross a street without endangering your life. Your whole existence becomes a series of interesting guesses. – Bill Bryson

Travel makes you realize that no matter how much you know, there’s always more to learn. – Nyssa P. Chopra

It’s a funny thing coming home. Nothing changes. Everything looks the same, feels the same, even smells the same. You realize what’s changed is you. – F. Scott Fitzgerald

The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark. – John Muir

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness – Mark Twain

Need Travel Tips? Check out my best travel tips here!

Do you have a favourite wanderlust quote to share? I want to hear it!

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How To Get There

The west rim of the Grand Canyon is about a 3-hour drive from the Las Vegas Strip. It’s a fairly easy drive, but we opted to go with a tour group!

Want to stay a few days? Check out camping at Havesu Falls, it is absolutely beautiful!

Canyon Tours Review

We went with a company called Canyon Tours. I booked their West Rim Deluxe Tour with Hoover Dam Stop online before our trip.It was $128 (June 2018), the regular tour was $114. The day we landed in Las Vegas I called and confirmed with the tour company, and they confirmed our pickup time and location. We were picked up outside our hotel, and after picking up a few more passengers we were on our way right from the strip. This is a perk of booking a deluxe tour; otherwise you would get a bus to their depot and then get on the tour bus (I think this is worth the price of the deluxe upgrade alone). The bus was brand new and very comfortable, with a bathroom on board!

Our first stop was at the Hoover Dam for a quick photo op, and then we were given a boxed breakfast of a muffin, apple, crackers, orange juice and a bottle of water. We were shown a video about the formation of the Grand Canyon while we drove to the Canyon. Our guide Gerry was super knowledgeable, helping us decide where to spend most of our time while we were at the canyon.

Hualapai Indian Reserve

Once we arrived at the entrance to the Grand Canyon West Rim, which is located on the Hualapai Indian Reserve we started at a gift shop/ main office. You could book a helicopter tour here. There are buses from the main building to three stops along the Canyon.

The first stop is Hualapai Ranch, a replica village with shops and entertainment. You can also rent cabins here to spend the night. We don’t recommend spending too much time here if you’re on a tour. The other two stops are much more interesting!

Eagle Point

The second stop is Eagle Point, where you’ll find the Skywalk. The views of the canyon are beautiful here, but there’s not much hiking at this stop. The Skywalk is a glass floor horseshoe shaped bridge allowing you to see 4000 feet down to the bottom of the canyon. We opted not to pay the extra money for this. You can also dine at Sa’ Nyu Wa, a more upscale restaurant with a view.

Guano Point

The third, and best stop in our opinion is Guano Point. We spent the majority of our time here, as recommended by our guide Gerry! Our first stop was lunch at Guano deli. This lunch was included in our tour, and it was so filling! We had our choice of chicken or beef, with mashed potato, corn on the cob, a roll, a side salad and a cookie. I was actually impressed by the portions and it was delicious. After lunch we headed out to explore. We walked to the remnants of a tram that used to stretch 8800 feet over to a guano cave (guano is used as a fertilizer!).

We then did the “highpoint hike” up to see 360-degree views of the stunning canyon and Colorado River. There are a few spots here for “brag photos” It looks like you are in danger on the edge of the canyon, but really there is a ledge not far down. Canyon Tours guide Adam helped us get a lot of really funny photos. Plus he was super fun to chat with. Our guide Gerry took us to his secret spot to help us get some awesome photos as well.

After spending about 3 hours at the Grand Canyon we loaded back onto the bus to head back to Las Vegas. Our guide put a Jeff Dunham video on for the drive back. We arrived back at our hotel around 5pm.

All in all we had an amazing day with Canyon Tours, and I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone visiting Las Vegas. I know my best friend and I will remember this trip for the rest of our lives!

Do you have any advice for visiting the Grand Canyon West Rim? Let us know!

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The Flamingo

Did you know The Flamingo is the oldest resort still in operation on the Las Vegas strip? It opened in 1946 under the hands of mobster Bugsy Siegel. In the original hotel, Siegel had a presidential suite with a secret ladder to an underground garage where a driver was always waiting in case a quick escape was needed. Of course the hotel has gone under many ownership changes and renovations since it opened. It is beautiful to walk through. The middle of the hotel has a wildlife habitat featuring none other than Chilean Flamingos. You can also find koi fish, turtles and other birds. We also enjoyed looking through the wonderfully pink gift shop inside the hotel!

The Venetian

I don’t know about you, but the Venetian is one of the first hotels I think of when I think of Las Vegas. It is the second biggest hotel in the world! You can find replicas of many famous Venetian land marks, and of course you can take a gondola ride, either inside or outside! Make sure you check out the Grand Gallery (that ceiling!) the Grand Canal Shops, and you can even get a treat from Carlo’s Bakery!

Bellagio

The Bellagio is more than just fountains! Although the fountains are amazing and should be viewed a few times, especially at night. Head inside the Bellagio and check out the botanical gardens and conservatory, which undergoes 5 seasonal changes a year. We checked it out during the “Japanese Spring”, and it was beautiful. The Bellagio also houses a gallery of fine art, where you can find a rotating collection from many famous artists.

Circus Circus

It’s not a fancy hotel, but Circus Circus packs in a lot of fun! It’s very whimsical to walk around the midway and play carnival games. You can check out a circus performance in the center theatre, which happen multiple times a day. If you’re looking for something a little more adrenaline pumping, head over to the Adventuredome – an indoor theme park, including roller coasters, a rock climbing wall, mini golf and more! I think this was my favourite of the hotels in Las Vegas to walk through!

New York New York

You’ll think you’ve walked right off the strip and into a borough of New York when you walk into the New York New York hotel. There’s a mini version of the Statue of Liberty outside to greet you, and there’s even a roller coaster that takes you around the top of the hotel. My favorite part is walking around what feels like Greenwich Village, with lots of places to eat! You can grab a slice of pizza or an upscale dinner.

Planet Hollywood

Home of J.lo, the Backstreet Boys, and Gordon Ramsey Burger, you’ll want to walk through Planet Hollywood. We thoroughly enjoyed shopping at some of the 200 stores at Miracle Mile Shops; my BFF even got a tattoo here! Make sure you check out the ceiling, painted to seem like you are outside; you might even experience a thunderstorm! For something unique, check out the Tipsy Robot to see a robot make your drink!

There you have it! What do you think are the best hotels in Las Vegas to walk through? Any you could add to my list?

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I was so excited for my trip to Vegas, I knew it would be hot, but like man, it was H-O-T. And that’s not even as hot as it gets! Summer in Las Vegas regularly gets 100+F temperatures in June, July and August. If you’re not used to the heat (or even if you are) it can be uncomfortable or actually dangerous. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun!

Here are my tips for surviving summer in Las Vegas:

1. Pack A Water Bottle

This was a lifesaver for me. I brought it with me from home and filled it up all the time. I would fill it in our room, at the buffet, and at the airport. You’ll want to keep water on your and its expensive if you have to keep buying it! The Southern Nevada Health District recommends one glass of water per hour.

2. Stay Inside During The Day

The hottest times of the day are going to be in the late morning and early afternoon. Do some inside stuff during the day and then head outside at night. The lights are pretty cool anyway!

3. Wear Sunscreen

This pale white girl from Canada wore SPF 50 at all times. AND NO SUNBURNS!

4. Get Lip Balm With SPF

You do not want sunburned lips, trust me.

5. Bring A Sweater Anyway

The casinos/ air-conditioning feels cold compared to the outside world.

6. Be Prepared For Crowds

Las Vegas is crowded in the summer. The pools, and hotels will be packed, be prepared for less deals and full price shows!

Read More: The Best Hotels In Vegas To Walk Through

7. Bring A Hat

Nobody wants a sunburned scalp!

8. Drink Alcohol Starting At Happy Hour

If you start drinking in the afternoon you will 100% end up dehydrated. Drink one glass of water for each boozy drink to keep yourself hydrated.

9. Rest When You Can

Don’t over exert yourself in the heat. If you start to feel dizzy or unwell get into a cool area and hydrate! Heat exhaustion can turn into heat stroke, which is dangerous and needs medical attention.

Don’t Miss Visiting The Grand Canyon!

10. Wear Loose Clothing

It’s easier for your body to cool itself down without tight clothing.

Final Thoughts

Do you have any tips for surviving Las Vegas in the summer? If you need any more info check out the Southern Nevada Health District website.

Wondering what to do in Downtown Las Vegas? Check this out!

The Best Beaches In Nova Scotia By Region

 South Shore

Beach Meadows Beach

The South Shore has many beautiful beaches, but I think Beach Meadows is a hidden gem. About 15 minutes from the town of Liverpool, you’ll find an almost deserted beautiful sand beach. It’s usually a bit cooler out here than in town, making it a perfect destination on the hottest days of summer. The ocean is a bit chilly but if you can stand the cold, there are often some fun waves to swim or body-board in. This 1km beach also has a playground, picnic area, washrooms and change rooms. We love to walk to the end and climb the big rock for a beautiful view of the beach and ocean.

Summerville Beach

Summerville Beach Provincial Park is one of my favorite beaches ever. About 15 minutes past Liverpool on Nova Scotia Trunk 3 E you’ll find a beautiful white sand beach. It’s the perfect spot to spend a summer day. This mile long beach has some shallow water to swim in, which means it’s a bit warmer than the rest of the ocean. If you’re feeling brave you can jump off the old train bridge! At the other end of the beach you’ll find The Quaterdeck Beachside Villas & Grill. If you need a place to stay, this place is right on the beach. If you just need something to eat, you’ll find an amazing menu of fresh seafood at The Grill.

Carter’s Beach

A hidden gem no more, Carter’s Beach has exploded in popularity over the last few years. For good reason though, you’ll think you traveled to the Caribbean instead of the South Shore of Nova Scotia (except for the pine trees!) You’ll find three separate white sand beaches, and beautiful blue water, but you wont find any change rooms, parking or garbage bins! To get here follow the Lighthouse route to Central Port Mouton Road, then to Carter’s Beach Road, about 20 minutes from Liverpool. Hopefully there will be parking along the road. Definitely one of the best beaches in Nova Scotia!

Bayswater Beach

Bayswater Beach was, for a brief moment, my favourite secret beach.

I first discovered Bayswater Beach by accident. My mother was visiting from Ontario and we were just exploring a bit of the South Shore, doing some antiquing and whatnot. As we drove past the coastline we realized we were passing a swimming area so we decided to check it out. The water was unbelievably warm and clear. We just rolled up our shorts and waded out though the gentle waves.

I couldn’t believe that there was only handful of people out enjoying this gorgeous, sandy beach. We decided that we’d definitely have to come back with our swimsuits to take advantage of what was clearly a hidden treasure….well, it must have been an anomaly that day because when we returned later that week, the beach was FILLED will happy swimmers and sunbathers. As it should be, of course.

Krista, Halitrax.com

Sandhills Beach

When I think of Nova Scotia beaches I don’t immediately think of warm waves and lazy days floating in the ocean but I have a little secret to share!  Sandhills Beach Provincial Park located in Villagedale, Nova Scotia is a local gem on the South Shore of the province.  When pulling into the park, before hitting the beach, there are several green spaces with picnic tables where you can gather to eat or play some Frisbee.   There are change rooms and washrooms for use as well in the same area.   There are a series of gravel paths leading to the beach and everyone is requested to use them exclusively as this is an important bird watching and bird habitat area.  The sand dunes are incredible and back directly onto the beach.  The beach itself is 2.5kms long and at low tide the sun heats the exposed sand, which creates the ability to actually have a comfortable swim in the Atlantic Ocean as the tide rises.  I have a lot of great childhood memories from this spot and I hope you take the trip down Highway 103 this summer to check it out!

Meggan, letsgettripsy.com

Blue Rocks Beach

It’s the seclusion and quietude of Blue Rocks Beach that makes it my favourite location on Nova Scotia’s beautiful coastline. It’s a place to stroll, think and soak up the calm sounds of lapping water and seabirds. The village of Blue Rocks is less than 10 minutes’ drive from the UNESCO-designated town of Lunenburg and well worth seeing while in the region.

Colourful fishing huts reflect in the water of the Atlantic Ocean, making it a lovely spot to photograph or paint rustic scenes. If you enjoy kayaking then it’s possible to take to the water and explore while paddling. But for me, nothing beats walking along the shore and breathing in the sea air.

Stuart,  go-eat-do.com

Rissers Beach

Rissers Beach Provincial Park is the perfect place for a family to spend the day at the beach. Located in Lunenburg County close to Bridgewater, this park has camp sites, and a large beach with boardwalks. One of the best parts is the amenities like a change room with showers, a dish washing station, a playground, and a picnic area. You can also get grills, wood and ice onsite.

You can also kayak in the area, there is supervised swimming on the main part of the beach. Perfect for a day at the beach!

Halifax Metro

Crystal Crescent Beach

Located in Sambro, about 40 minutes from Downtown Halifax, you’ll find Crystal Crescent Provincial Park. A popular spot on a beautiful summer day you’ll find beaches, boardwalks and a trailhead to hike. The first beach tends to be crowded, so walk further down for more space! The water is a beautiful deep blue. It’s a great place to spend the day, hiking, swimming and sunbathing. Bathroom facilities are onsite. I think this is one of the best beaches in Nova Scotia that’s closest to Halifax!

Rainbow Haven Beach

Just outside Cole Harbour, locals flock to Rainbow Haven Beach Provincial Park in the summer. There is a large parking lot but get there early on hot summer days! One of the biggest draws here is there are lifeguards in July and August. This large sand and cobblestone beach is a great place to spend a summer day! There are also washroom and shower facilities onsite.

Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley

Bramber Beach

With 7,579 kilometres of coastline, Nova Scotia offers up plenty of opportunities to enjoy fresh air, exercise and marine life – qualities I look for in a good beach. Throw in a centuries-old fishing technique and the highest tides in the world, and a quintessential Nova Scotian experience takes shape. All this can be found at Bramber beach, on the southern shore of the Minas Basin, eighty kilometres from Halifax.

Home of the Bramber Weir and 17-metre-high tides, the beach is a veritable classroom on the ocean floor. Twice a day, between April and July, an energetic crew of workers fish the weir, educating any visitors who drop by. The weir itself, the sustainability of the fishery, the intersection of local, traditional, and academic knowledge all contribute to a remarkable experience at my favourite beach in Nova Scotia.

For more information, see Off the beaten path in Nova Scotia at Bramber Weir.

Anne, Packing Light Travel

Medford Beach

Accessible to the public via a walk from Kingsport Beach, this beautiful beach is worth the trek. The sand formations and beautiful red sand make you feel like you’ve been transported to another world. If you are going to make the trek from Kingsport, ensure you check the tide times and begin your adventure as the tide is still on it’s way out and head back before it is on it’s way back in to ensure you don’t get caught in the tide! **

Read more on Confessions Of A Fitness Instructor

Blomodin Beach

Blomodin Beach is only a hop skip and a drive away from Medford Beach, and if you aren’t feeling like taking the trek to enjoy Medford, Blomodin will still satisfy your red sandy beach dreams. As a provincial park, Blomodin has ample parking and a staircase leading you right down to the beach as well as an adjoining campground if you want to spend a few days. **

** during clam digging season both of these beaches are great locations to go clam digging!

Suzi, Confessions Of A Fitness Instructor

Blue Beach

Located off the exit to Avonport, Blue Beach is somewhat of a hidden gem. A rocky beach that is perfect for families as it is full of fossils and you can spend hours searching for treasures. Just off from the parking area is a fossil museum (which is free to visit) where you can learn more about the fossils found and learn how to identify them when you go in search of them for yourself.

Suzi, Confessions Of A Fitness Instructor

Black Rock Beach

Up the north mountain in the Annapolis Valley, you can head to Black Rock to see the – you guessed it – black rock. The giant black rock that is visible (and accessible) during low tide completely disappears at high tide making it another beach you want to be mindful of the tide if you go out adventuring on the black rock or else you could get trapped as the tide comes in. For adventurers, at low tide, you can walk from the wharf beach all the way to the black rock beach, or skip them both and head down to the beach by the lighthouse. With so many places to access beachfront, you never have to worry about it being too crowded.

Read more on Confessions Of A Fitness Instructor

Eastern Shore

Taylor Head Beach

Close to Sheet Harbour you’ll find this beautiful white sand beach at Taylor Head Provincial Park. 16km of unspoiled, and mostly empty coastline waiting for you to enjoy. There’s also a 14km hike around the park with beautiful views. The combination of things to do makes it one of the best beaches in Nova Scotia.

Cape Breton Island

Chimney Corner

My favourite beach in Nova Scotia is Chimney Corner. Unfortunately I don’t get there very often since it’s on the other side of the island from where I live, but if I had my way in summertime I’d live there. It’s perfect: it stays shallow for a nice long while, the water is warm (well, later in summer anyway) and the rocky cliffs surrounding it form a mesa-like bowl. There is a stream that runs out through it and is perfect for kids to play. Sunsets are especially stunning there.  I unfortunately don’t have many photos of it, this one was taken in 2012 just after a storm… I guess I have to go back soon and take more photos! And will of course stop at the Dancing Goat on the way to pick up a sandwich and some sweets.

Leah, leahnoble.com

Which do you think are the best beaches in Nova Scotia? Let me know what it is in the comments!

Read more posts about Nova Scotia here

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Read more about Iceland:

Things To Do On Your Iceland Stopover

Dos and Don’ts of the Blue Lagoon

Everything You Need To Know About Reykjavik 

So here’s the thing, packing for Iceland can be a challenge. You want to look good for those epic photos but your clothes need to be functional. I’ve been to Iceland twice and I did not pack the right things. Even on my second visit. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did! So here’s my list of things you need to bring to Iceland!

This coat is not waterproof.

Packing For Iceland: The List

• Warm winter coat that’s wind and waterproof – Trust me on this because I clearly did not learn my lesson the first time.
• Warm, waterproof boots – hiking boots especially if you’ll be out enjoying the scenery!
• Fleece lined leggings or thermal underwear for under your pants
• Hat and mittens/gloves – fleece lined or wool
• Shirts for layering
• Scarf – my saving grace was bringing my scarf!
• Warm socks
• Bathing suit – for the hot springs. You don’t want to miss out on this!
• Quick dry towel – the hot springs will either charge to rent one, or not have any available
• Moisturizer and lip balm – the air can be very drying! My poor ears and lips were so chapped from the wind.
• Backpack – to carry things for the day, ideal if this is waterproof too!
• Sunglasses – it’s still going to be bright out! Duh, I didn’t think of this.
• Sunscreen – you can still get burned even if it’s cold out.
• Sleeping mask – it doesn’t get dark in the summer!
• Nice clothes – if you plan to enjoy Reykjavik’s night life
• Plug adapter – if you’re not coming from continental Europe.
• Camera and tripod – you’ll need a tripod if you want to photograph the elusive Northern lights
• Extra batteries / chargers – the cold will drain the batteries of your camera/phone much faster!

If you want a printable version of my list, you can get that here! As you can see, packing for Iceland means lots of waterproof gear. We had such a great time, and mostly good weather, although it did rain quite hard a few days we were there.

Do you have any advise for anyone packing for Iceland?

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