I Wanna Travel To Paris and Rome

Around this time last year I was a few days away from  wrapping up my first international trip.  I had an entire week of scouring the streets of Paris and Rome, both two equally exciting and sexy cities, and I was bursting with excitement to head home and share my travels escapades with friends and fam.  While I had thee most amazing time, I mean it was almost epic, I couldn't help but fight the feeling that I wished I had did a little bit more. Don't get me wrong I covered a lot in both places but this fear of missing out was wearing on me thick.  What I realized is,  it is almost impossible to see everything when you travel, especially if you have a limited amount of time but there are some key things you can do to make the most out of your travel when you are running on a tight schedule. Here are four tips on how to make the most out of your international vacation when low on time.

Plan A Daily Schedule
Plan, Plan and Plan. I can not stress this enough. Planning will help you  layout your travel goals and you'll have a greater chance of hitting that goal if it is mapped out.

Research
Do yourself a favor and thoroughly investigate the area you will be visiting. You can start by calling your hotel with questions in hand and ask away. Is there a subway station that the locals use? If so, what is the nearest station near your hotel? How long is the subway ride to a specific attraction? Answering these questions or any others you may have beforehand allows you to hit the ground running without wasting any time.

Rise And Shine
On most days I usually have a hard time waking up early but when traveling I force myself into the lifestyle (Yes, I think it's a lifestyle). Why? Because starting early gives you a greater chance to hit more of your goals. In some cases you can beat the tourist crowd if you start early.

Invest in Special Passes
While in Paris I made the investment in a Paris Pass. This Pass allowed access into different attractions in addition to that I was able to skip long lines and a special shuttle was provided to wisk me to place to place. Look into special passes like these when traveling. It can make getting around less complicated and also can save on time.

What are some of your travel tips?

I Wanna Travel to Chicago

If I'd asked you what comes to mind when you thought of Chicago you’d probably answer Deep Dish Pizza, Chicago Hot Dogs and the Windy City.  Your answers would of course be one hundred percent spot on, as Chicago offers all of those things and so much more. Yes more! In fact it was the more that made me fall head first in love with the city while on a getaway to Chicago earlier this month. I know you’re probably thinking Chi-town doesn’t exactly seem like an ideal place for a getaway and while I would agree it's  not a number once choice in the vacation category, it’s certainly a getaway I think you should experience very soon.  Here’s why.

The Architecture will leave you speechless:

To experience the Chicago skyline is to experience art in building form.  The attractive skyline filled with a variety of designs and intricate carvings is in a league of its own. The beauty of the city doesn’t stop there as art spills out on to the streets and parks of Downtown Chicago where some of the most amazing sculptures are on display.  Be prepared to take a lot of photos.

Chicago has more to offer than just Pizza:

There is absolutely no way of escaping Pizza while in Chicago. It’s just embedded in the culture. But Chicago has so much to offer than just its Pizza. Slurping Turtle is one of them.  Slurping Turtle is a Japanese Comfort Food Restaurant known for its amazing Ramen and Duck Fat Fried Chicken.  And yes, it’s as amazing as it sounds.  Also making a big splash over Pizza is Stan’sDonuts and Coffee.  The Shop originates from Los Angeles but now calls Chi- town its home.  Please believe me when I tell you that you will not find another donut that will compare.  Oh and just in case you need another dose of convincing, they also serve gelato *squeals*.  And I of course can’t forget The Violet Hour.  The Violet Hour is a pre–prohibition era type bar.  At first glance it looks like a boarded up abandoned building from the outside but once inside you are introduced to some of the most tasty spirits you’ve ever tasted.

The Public Transportation gets Five Stars:

I'm a Brooklyn girl, born and raised.  So I know a thing or two about public transportation.  Trust me when I tell you that Chicago is one of the cleanest mass transit systems that I’ve ever seen. Grant it I was only there for four days but a lot can happen in four days. A lot like track delays, weekend track work or even trains being put out of service without notice *Coughs* MTA. I see you CTA looking all sexy in the transit world.