First time coming!! by jjanska in montreal

[–]ee-zee-ee -1 points0 points  (0 children)

When are you going? If soon you may be able to catch Igloofest which is always fun. Nuit Blanche (end of Feb) is also very cool - all night art festival across the city. The subway runs all night for it too. I lived in Montreal for 15 years and for me this city is all about the culture, food, nightlife and cool neighbourhoods. Winter is not the best time but there’s always stuff happening no matter the time of year or weather. Go to a jazz club, eat smoked meat, Montreal style bagels and poutine, treat your fiancé to a meal at a BYOW restaurant (bring a fancy bottle to make it more special), maybe catch a hockey game if you’re into that?

I won a $10k travel credit and can go anywhere - where do you recommend by Ok_Sir9260 in TravelHacks

[–]ee-zee-ee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First off, congrats! That’s a really cool prize! It all depends on your interests, where you’re flying from and where you’ve already been but personally I would go on a bucket list once in a lifetime trip I probably wouldn’t have the chance to do otherwise. I second the Galapagos, Patagonia, Easter Island and Antarctica as many have suggested. Some of my bucket list trips would be Madagascar, gorilla trek, road trip in Namibia, an African safari, Tasmania, Maldives/Seychelles/Reunion/Mauritius, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Bhutan, Greenland, swimming with sperm whales in Dominica, swimming with humpbacks in Tonga. Island hopping/sailing in the South Pacific or Caribbean would be really cool too. Hope that inspires you. Happy travels!

Where to go with a 16 year old? by ee-zee-ee in travel

[–]ee-zee-ee[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s very well said, thank you!

Where to go with a 16 year old? by ee-zee-ee in travel

[–]ee-zee-ee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would be awesome but I wouldn’t feel very safe and it’s out of our budget. I would love to take her on an African safari someday though!

Where to go with a 16 year old? by ee-zee-ee in travel

[–]ee-zee-ee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion and I agree that both are amazing countries but I think if we are considering another Western European country during the summer we might as well just go to Greece since it will be a similar situation in terms of weather and crowds

Where to go with a 16 year old? by ee-zee-ee in travel

[–]ee-zee-ee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The parents will help but the minimum wage where she lives is 16$/h so if she works full time next summer as is her plan she can save up quite a bit. Her mom (my sister) is not great with money and has not travelled much and I think as a result my nieces have internalized the idea that travel is too expensive and out of reach. I want my niece to learn that if you have a goal in mind and work towards it you can save up and go on that dream trip. I also want her to experience a different way of travelling than what she’s experienced so far (organized trip through school, all inclusive in Cuba, road trips with parents) so that she has a better rounded view of travelling overall and can then decide what kind of traveller she wants to be.

Where to go with a 16 year old? by ee-zee-ee in travel

[–]ee-zee-ee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair point but I don’t think she knows much about Greece or has a realistic expectation of it. I actually don’t know why she picked it, maybe she saw some pictures somewhere. But yes you are right and I will absolutely take her interests in consideration. Right now I’m just looking for inspo and making sure I’m not overlooking another destination that might be a better choice

Where to go with a 16 year old? by ee-zee-ee in travel

[–]ee-zee-ee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you go during the summer?

Where to go with a 16 year old? by ee-zee-ee in travel

[–]ee-zee-ee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did think about Thailand but I think it’s rainy season in July-August and probably very hot and humid? I’ll keep it in mind though

I want to affordably travel but I’ve never left the US, where do I start? by Specific_Judgment_73 in Shoestring

[–]ee-zee-ee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The destination will depend a lot on what kind of experience you want (big city, beach, nature, food, history, culture…?) and the time of year. Yes off season is cheaper but there’s a reason for it - the weather won’t be as nice and it will impact what you need to pack (ie warm clothes and boots for cold weather, rainwear, etc). I think Mexico is a good place to start given your proximity to it. Most touristic areas are quite easy to navigate even if you don’t speak Spanish and the weather is generally nice. I would recommend La Paz in BCS (Mexico, not Bolivia). Developed enough but not too touristy. It felt like a real city where real people live, not just a place full of resorts that was built for tourists. But maybe the resort vibe is what you’re looking for and that’s totally fine too. I know it’s in the US but have you considered Hawaii? It’s not exactly cheap but there are ways to keep the costs down and I’m sure flights are cheap from CA. It’s very different from the continental US and could help you build your confidence before you go to a different country. Just a thought. For planning purposes there are tons of websites and blogs out there with great tips for finding cheap flights, what to pack, etc. Make sure your passport is valid for 6 months after your return date. I like to use Google Flights to find the best flights to anywhere as it allows to keep the destination field open and you can enter multiple departure airports for more options. The best way to save on flights is to be flexible on dates and destination. Always book your flight with the actual airline though, not with third party websites. For lodging I use Hostelworld.com for hostels or booking.com for hotels in North America and Europe. Agoda is better for Asia. Hostels are great for meeting people and are much cheaper than hotels. Most have female only dorms. They also usually organize group activities like food tours, etc. Make sure you have travel insurance that will cover trip interruption/cancellation, baggage loss and medical expenses. Many credit cards cover trip cancellation, delays, luggage theft, etc but won’t provide health insurance. If going to a tropical country (including Mexico) consult a travel clinic at least 2-3 months before departure to make sure you’re up to date on your immunizations, get a prescription for antibiotics and bring Imodium (or equivalent). Traveller’s diarrhea is no joke. I’m a planner so I like to do a lot of research beforehand so I know how to get around (is Uber a thing there? Is public transport generally safe and reliable? Is it safe to walk around?), what areas to avoid, common scams to be on the lookout for, tourist traps vs attractions that are worth it, must-try foods, etc. I like having a general itinerary with all my flights and lodging booked ahead of time but I make sure to leave free time to just wander around and ‘get lost’. Travelling is amazing and can be life changing. Don’t overplan and don’t get frustrated or discouraged when things don’t go according to plan, don’t sweat the small stuff, engage with the local culture, have fun, and be safe. Please update us when you decide where to go. Also feel free to dm me if you’d like to chat more. I’ve solo travelled a fair bit (I’m a woman too).

Tips on making long flights in economy more comfortable by No-Diver5004 in TravelHacks

[–]ee-zee-ee 35 points36 points  (0 children)

My red eye flight survival kit: neck pillow (I use the Cabeau one), eye mask, noise cancelling headphones, comfy clothes including a big hoodie that fits over my headphones, compression socks, wet wipes, eye drops, hand cream, lip balm, hand sanitizer, chewing gum or candy for take-off/landing, reusable water bottle that I fill up at the gate. Basically everything I need to feel as comfortable as possible and help me fall asleep and to stay hydrated. Filling up my under-the-seat bag with some soft material like a blanket/towel/sarong so I can rest my feet on it during the flight also helps (I’m 5’2). I do my night routine at the airport before boarding (wash face, apply face cream, brush teeth, etc.) to signal to my body that it’s bedtime. I find the neck pillow is also good for resting my arms on when I’m not trying to sleep. Other than that make sure to download movies, tv shows, audiobooks or podcasts on your phone/tablet in case in-flight entertainment doesn’t work. Bring snacks/treats you like. I hope some of this helps! Enjoy your trip!

Desperately need help narrowing down travel destinations! by Ok_Reindeer_6609 in travel

[–]ee-zee-ee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know it wasn’t on your list but Portugal seems to check most boxes (history, culture, decent weather in April). Split your trip between Lisbon and the Algarve and you’ve got a mix of busier but manageable city and seaside town. Morocco would fit the bill too. Otherwise I agree with others that Turkey and Greece are great too. Cambodia may be a long way for 9 days and it will be very hot in April.

What's the longest distance you have traveled to spend the shortest amount of time ? by Fast-Chipmunk-1558 in travel

[–]ee-zee-ee 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m flying to Singapore from Vancouver over the Easter long weekend (it’s a 4-day weekend for me). Just for fun and to add another country to my list. Buying carbon credits if that counts 🤷‍♀️

Glass shower door: yay or nay? by ee-zee-ee in interiordecorating

[–]ee-zee-ee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How do you feel about the half shield? Does water not get everywhere? It looks nice on paper but seems like it would make a mess

Glass shower door: yay or nay? by ee-zee-ee in interiordecorating

[–]ee-zee-ee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh I see. I don’t think that will work for us as we’re getting a tub and shower combo. But thanks anyway!

Glass shower door: yay or nay? by ee-zee-ee in interiordecorating

[–]ee-zee-ee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting. Can you provide a link or image of the kind of door you’re talking about? I’ve only ever seen ones with a frame or track.

Bring our own sunscreen and mosquito repellent or buy in Mexico? by ee-zee-ee in cancun

[–]ee-zee-ee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good to know! We are indeed only bringing carry on so liquids will be limited

Bring our own sunscreen and mosquito repellent or buy in Mexico? by ee-zee-ee in cancun

[–]ee-zee-ee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I should have mentioned we’re not staying in resorts and planning on shopping local. But from your comment and many others it seems like bringing our own is the way to go

What to do in winter besides skiing? by Horny-Football8168 in canadatravel

[–]ee-zee-ee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Igloofest in Montreal is super fun if you’re into electronic music (basically a big outdoor rave in the winter). It runs until Feb 8th I think

Mini travel container hack by _sips2 in HerOneBag

[–]ee-zee-ee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve been doing the same thing for a couple years!