Traveling Archives | Greg and Laurie Duncan

Travel Packing Tips: Smartly Choose Items To Bring & Leave Behind

January 15, 2020 Greg and Laurie Duncan Travel

Smart packing is a huge factor to be able to travel wisely and conveniently. You want to pack enough essentials to still feel like home even while on the road. On the other hand, you cannot possibly bring your whole house with you. With limited space for things you can bring, it all comes down to making wise choices. The following tips can help you determine the things to bring and the ones to leave behind.

Things You Should Bring

Spare yourself some worries by squeezing in some space out out of your luggage for these must-haves:

Just enough clothing and footwear.

Stash enough tops and bottoms, depending on the length of your stay. It is advisable to bring lightweight clothes for easy packing. You also want to choose pieces that you can mix and match with other clothes so you do not end up with travel photos where you are seen wearing the same outfit. As for the footwear, the number of pairs to bring and the style will depend on the activities you plan to do.

Medicines, supplements, basic toiletries.

Traveling requires stamina so do not forget to pack any supplements you are taking. Likewise, you do not want to be clamoring for medicines in case you need it. Thus, it is wise to include medicines for common illnesses or if you have conditions that need special medications. You also want to bring other items for comfort and protection such as an eye mask, sunscreen, and basic toiletries.

Smartphones and chargers.

Smartphones are a very useful device nowadays. You can use it to constantly communicate back home and document your journey. Technology can also serve as a guide as you explore an unfamiliar place. To keep your gadgets on full power, you cannot afford to miss bringing a reliable charger or a powerbank. Your charger back home may not be compatible with the power outlet in your destination so a universal adaptor will be helpful.

Things You Can Leave Behind

These are the things that are not really worth that extra space in your luggage:

Extra outfits and whole make-up kit.

Unless you have an event to attend that will require frequent outfit changes, you do not really have to bring too many clothes or shoes. Their bulk of these items can even prove to be a nuisance. Besides, the place you will stay will likely have a laundry area you can use to have fresh clothes to wear for each day of your trip. Likewise, you do not need to bring your big make-up bag with you. A few small items such as powder, lipstick, and eyeliner can keep you looking fresh and presentable during your travels,

Books and magazines.

Even certified bookworms may need to say goodbye to their beloved hardcovers for a while. Insisting on tagging them along may feel like a burden later on because of the weight and extra space they will occupy. So it is recommended to save your reading sessions back home. Anyway, you can still spend your free time reading by downloading ebooks. Many hotels also provide newspapers and magazines.

Valuable jewelry.

You are hopping from place to place so the chances of finding items you will lose along the way are quite slim. Thus, do not risk the chance of misplacing or forgetting anything that is too valuable to lose by not bring them at all on your trip. Besides keeping jewelry and other expensive items in a safe place at home can help you avoid unnecessary worries while traveling,

Knowing how to pack properly is one of the skills frequent travelers should strive to master. The ability to sort the essential from the non-essential ones is one of the keys to a great vacation.

How to Combat Post-Travel Blues

September 15, 2019 Greg and Laurie Duncan Travel

So you’ve just returned home from the most relaxing, rejuvenating vacation in your favorite tropical locale. As soon as you step off the plane, the weight of reality hits and sadness floods your every pore. You want nothing more but to turn around and jet back whence you came! Sound familiar? If so, you’ve come down with a case of post-travel blues. Here are three ways to shake them off!

Practice Gratefulness

One of the most effective ways to counter negative feelings is to replace them with gratitude. You are totally allowed to feel sad and mourn the conclusion of your vacation. But instead of living in the past and allowing those emotions to linger, celebrate the present. Center your thoughts on your silver linings. Even if you can’t muster up a long list of unique reasons to feel grateful, start with the basics. If you have a roof over your head, food to eat and people who love you, dwell on those gifts.

Explore Your Own State

Although filling your passport with global stamps is a goal worthy of pursuit, your own backyard is undoubtedly brimming with untapped adventure. If your lack of travel has you feeling down in the dumps, get out of the house and unearth some fun. Ask around, or consult the internet, to find exciting sights and wonders within driving distance. Use your weekends to become a local tourist. Doing so will help quiet any leftover sorrow from your most recent vacation.

Start Planning Your Next Trip

Last but not least, to get over your last trip, start planning your next. Travel plans can take a lot of time and research to complete, so the sooner you start, the better. Turn your attention to outlining savings plans, itineraries, and must-see sights. By staying busy, your next vacation will be around the corner before you know it.

It’s common to feel a bit depressed after experiencing such a euphoric break from reality. In order to let go of your post-vacation blues, you may need nothing more than a focus shift. Take a week or two to decompress, catch up on sleep and transition back to normalcy. However, if the three tips above don’t help and your depression feels long-term and more severe, it’s time to talk to someone about what you’re feeling. Click here for more helpful resources.

Traveling On A Budget? Hacks To Enjoy First-Class Luxuries

January 15, 2019 Greg and Laurie Duncan Travel

Travel is a leisure associated with wealth that not everyone can afford it. However, despite the high cost, traveling is a worthwhile activity to pursue because the experience gives immense benefits. It is no wonder that there are ingenious tips and creative advice abound for people who are passionate about exploring other places but have to do so on a limited budget. To stretch your dollars while visiting a new place, you must be willing to forego some luxuries and comforts.

Business-class flights and five-star accommodations become out of the question. However, smart travelers plan ahead and discover easy hacks that allow them to enjoy luxuries without spending a fortune. How these savvy tourists manage to do it is no secret. Check out some of the travel hacks below to travel on a budget for your next getaway.

Choose to book directly.

For convenience, booking a room or flight can be done through travel agencies or online merchants. This comfort comes with an extra charge but if you book directly with the hotel or airline, you can manage to save a few bucks. Aside from eliminating the convenience charge, you can also score great deals or promotions. Since you are directly dealing with the establishments, it may also be easier and faster to cancel or modify a reservation.

Inquire about upgrade during check-ins.

Seasoned travelers know that under the right circumstances, hotels and airlines are willing to offer an upgrade. So if you want to enhance your flight seat and hotel room, you can subtly request or suggest an upgrade. Who knows? Your efforts may just pay off. Just remember that certain factors can increase your chance of flying first-class or enjoying upscale accomodations.

For example, you have a great chance to get upgrades at a much lower rate when you ask for it right before checking-in. During the time of booking, you can naturally expect airlines and hotels to charge higher rates for first-class accommodations and business class seats. This is because they are still waiting for other travelers to book rooms or seats. This is no longer possible during check-in time, so companies are happy to offer vacant rooms or seats at a much lower price than leave it unoccupied.

Take advantage of off-season rates.

Even the most sought after hotels may have empty rooms during off-season months and during this time, they usually come up with promos and offers to entice travelers. You can get the grandest room or best package at the lowest possible rate. The same room or package can cost thrice as much during peak season, so you can probably lounge in the hotel happily thinking of how much you have saved. You can even take full advantage of the hotel amenities during off-season months. With fewer guests, you do not have to line up or wait for your turn to use amenities. It may even feel like you have the hotel all to yourself.

Sign up for loyalty programs.

Airline companies and hotels usually have loyalty programs that rewards frequent guests and clients. So if you are a frequent flyer to an airline or have a favorite hotel, you may be missing out on great deals by not signing up for their loyalty programs. Especially because some loyalty programs do not even require a membership fee. By simply being a loyal customer, you get reward points that you can use to book a flight or a hotel room for your next trip.

As a member of their loyalty circle, you may also be the first to know about their deals and promos. To get the latest updates about their offerings, it is a great idea to sign up for their e-newsletters. You can also follow their social media pages to get updates.

Most people get excited with the idea of travel. In fact, to travel the world is one of the most common items you will see on someone’s wishlist. Still, money matters can make this wish a not so easy dream to fulfill. But the most resourceful travelers do not allow money to curb their wanderlust. With simple and wise strategies, they continue to make memories and collect experiences without breaking the bank.

Travel Essentials You Won’t Want to Leave Home Without

April 4, 2017 Greg and Laurie Duncan Travel

Wherever your destination is, whatever you plan on doing once you arrive, there are just some things you won’t want to leave home without. And it might not be the things you’re imagining. Sure, you’ll need your passport, your wallet (with the appropriate currency), your camera, and weather-appropriate clothes. But more than that, you’ll need a sense of adventure, an open mind, and a full heart. Traveling the world takes more than material preparation; it takes getting in tune with who you are; it takes having an understanding of other cultures and an acceptance of the way other people live their lives. It takes joy and willingness to explore. And in the end, bringing all of those things along with you will enrich you more than you know.

Let’s take a deeper look at each of these travel essentials you won’t want to leave home without:

A Keen Sense of Adventure

Exploring a new country can be fraught with anxiety and uncertainty. Especially when you don’t speak the native language, it can be daunting to figure out how to navigate the streets and find your way.

Don’t let that fear stop you from having an incredible time. Harness it. Use that heightened sense of awareness to drink in your surroundings. Tap into your keenest sense of adventure and let it lead you to places you might never have found otherwise.

An Open Mind for New Experiences

Once you get to those places that your sense of adventure led you to find, it’s important to unpack your open mind for new experiences. It’s easy to be comfortable and seek out the familiar.

You know that you enjoy lounging on the beach, but what if parasailing is your true calling? You won’t know until you let yourself try. Open up to those new experiences, and you will be unbelievably rewarded in kind.

A Full Heart, Ready to Give

As much as travel should reward you, you should also give back through your experiences. This is not a tacit endorsement of service trips, which are, of course, wonderful and worthy. Having a full heart that’s ready to give means so much more than planning a service trip, a volunteer trip, or even a mission trip. It means being prepared to give of yourself to others, no matter when or where the opportunity arises.

Once you bring your full heart along on a trip, you’ll never want to leave home without it.

The Truth No One Admits About Going on Mission Trips

February 2, 2017 Greg and Laurie Duncan Global Impact

It is a noble cause to set out into the world with the aim to make it a better place. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” That scripture can be taken to heart and put into practice in the form of going on mission trips. But there are some simple truths about mission trips that few people like to admit.

Before you commit to serving others and thereby serving God by going on mission trips, please consider these points of view.

The Best Way to Help Others Isn’t By Doing For Them

As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”

When you’re heading out on your next mission trip—or your first mission trip—keep in mind that the best way to have a sustainable impact on any community is not to do for them, but to do with them. The most meaningful change comes from a heartfelt exchange of ideas.

Many Villages Have Been Around Longer Than The U.S.

Keep in mind, no matter where you go in the world, that their culture and traditions have likely been around much longer than the U.S. has been established as a nation. We have so much to give others as a country, but we also have a lot to learn from other cultures that have been around for centuries longer than we have.

Enter into any mission trip situation with a heart that’s full of respect and reverence, and you’ll likely be met with surprising wisdom and gratitude.

You Will Likely Be More Impacted Than They Will

You may only go for a week or two to help build a school or teach art classes to orphans, but that week will stick with you for a lifetime. The school may fall apart (hopefully to be refurbished before too long), and the art lessons may fade from their memory, but the impact that community had on you will last forever.

That impact will flow through you and speak out in your everyday actions and choices. If you let them, mission trips can be truly transformative experiences.