Travel Daze - Adventures of a Restless Wanderer

Accomodation August 21, 2017

8 Awesome & Affordable AirBnBs in Las Vegas

Las Vegas isn’t typically thought of as being an affordable destination, but I’ve already proven that you CAN visit Vegas on a budget. An important part of traveling on a budget is finding affordable accommodation. Using AirBnB in Las Vegas is the best way to do just that!

AirBnB is a great option because you’ll get a lot of benefits you won’t get at a hotel. Between high room rates, resort fees, and parking fees, hotels in Las Vegas can be pretty expensive. And just by spending your time in the hotel, at the casino, and in their restaurants, you’re likely to spend even more.

Staying in an AirBnB in Las Vegas will cut out the hotel fees and extra expenses. Having your own kitchen will save you a lot on food, and you’ll be less tempted to head out to the overpriced restaurants every time you need a bite to eat. Plus, when it’s time to get some rest, you’ll be glad you’re staying off the Strip, where you can get some peace and quiet.

I love browsing through AirBnB listings, so I thought I’d put together a list of some awesome, affordable Las Vegas AirBnB rentals.

New to AirBnb? Use my link to get $40 off your first booking!

Stories & Essays August 10, 2017

I Travel Solo Because It’s the Only Way I Know How

There are a million blog posts out there on the topic of solo travel. Other bloggers will tell you how to get over the fear of traveling alone, or why solo travel will change you. This type of post has become particularly popular in the last year, especially in the solo female travel niche. While I do encourage people to try solo travel, this post is not a how-to or a why you should travel alone.

This is just me saying I don’t know how to travel any other way.

I am fiercely, stubbornly, annoyingly independent. I’m independent to the point that I don’t even know how to be dependent (or how to ask for help or how to compromise). One time a friend offered to carry my bag and I immediately shot back “what’s wrong with you?” Because you know, when someone offers to do something for you, it’s obviously an insult.

Guides August 7, 2017

A Guide to New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula

The Coromandel is where Kiwis go on holiday. This scenic peninsula is located on the Eastern side of the North Island, not far from Auckland. It’s full of lush forests, rolling green hills, beautiful beaches, and small, quiet towns. It’s the perfect place for a vacation, whether you live in New Zealand or you’re just visiting.

The Coromandel Peninsula is a wonderful place to visit if you love the outdoors and a slower pace of life. It’s definitely a beach-lover’s paradise, as you’re never too far from a nice sandy stretch of coastline. The weather is sunny and warm during most of the year. However, don’t be surprised if you’re met with lots of rain in the winter.

I have a pretty strong connection to the Coromandel, since I ended up living there for a total of 6 months. Most of my time was spent in the Mercury Bay area, but I had a chance to explore other parts of the peninsula too.

This guide is simply a collection of my favorite places around the Coromandel, as well as a few things I think everyone should add to their itinerary. It’s focused on major hubs, so activities are listed under the nearest town.

Activities July 31, 2017

Driving The Road to Milford Sound: Where to Stop & What to See

The road to Milford Sound (referred to as the Milford Road) is said to be one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand. And considering EVERY drive in New Zealand is pretty scenic, that’s saying a lot.

The Milford Road is the 119 km (74 mile) stretch of State Highway 94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound. It’s the only way to get there, unless you’re hiking or helicoptering in, which is definitely an option. It’s located within Fiordland National Park, so most of the surrounding areas have been left relatively untouched.

As you’re driving the Milford Road, you’ll see mountains, lakes, forests, open valleys, and waterfalls. If you’re taking the road to Milford Sound, it would truly be a shame not to stop along the way to see all of the stunning sights.

While every turn has something beautiful to see, there are a handful of popular stops on the Milford Road. These will be the busier places, since a lot of tours add these in to their itinerary, however they are worth the stop nonetheless.

Here are 6 places to stop on the road to Milford Sound, map included

Working Holiday July 24, 2017

How to Get New Zealand Working Holiday Insurance

Before heading off on my year-long New Zealand working holiday, I had to do a lot of preparation. I had to get my visa, I had to find an affordable flight, I had to pack everything into a carry-on size backpack, and I had to purchase working holiday insurance.

I had trouble finding information about what type of insurance I needed for my working holiday. The New Zealand immigration website only said that I needed to “maintain medical insurance” for the duration of my visa, but that short sentence still left a lot of questions. I asked other travelers who had done working holidays, and they didn’t seem to have much advice. It seemed my only option was to just buy something and hope that I got insurance with proper coverage.

Luckily, I did figure it out. So instead of sending you off to figure it out for yourself too, I’m going to tell you why you need insurance for your working holiday, how to get it, and my top choice for New Zealand working holiday insurance.

Note that this article is written with U.S. citizens in mind. Visa requirements may be different for citizens of other countries, however it is generally required to maintain medical insurance for the duration of your working holiday visa. This article should apply to most visa applicants, but check individual country details.

Activities Featured Posts July 17, 2017

Cruising Milford Sound, New Zealand’s 8th Wonder of the World

Cruising Milford Sound New Zealand 8th Wonder of the World

There are a lot of “Must Dos” on most peoples’ New Zealand itinerary. Those usually include places like Queenstown, the Tongariro Crossing, Mount Cook National Park, and Rotorua. But most of all, a good New Zealand itinerary will almost always include cruising Milford Sound.

Visiting Milford Sound is something I knew I wanted to do way before I flew off to New Zealand. Every photo I saw of it felt dark, moody, quiet, and undeniably beautiful. Milford Sound looked so far away, so far removed from the rest of the world.

Without getting too abstract and gushy, cruising Milford Sound was everything I wanted it to be and more. It was, without a doubt, one of the best experiences I had in all of New Zealand.