Tiffany Murphy
By the time you’re reading this I will have landed in Paris to walk for designer Celeste Victoria at Paris Fashion Week (if you read my article two weeks ago, you’ll better understand how surreal it is to say that and something I never planned on pursuing). I’m so excited to see the Eiffel Tower, eat lots of yummy bread, walk the city and fill up my phone with pictures.
If you’ve followed my journey on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter since moving away from Creston nearly two decades ago, you’d see I travel a lot. It’s a passion of mine. From spending months exploring Argentina and South America to a few months in Italy to shorter trips to Mexico, Greece, Alaska and other states in the lower 48 and beyond. I have a system when I travel to make it easier, less stressful and cheaper. It’s recently been coined “Travel Hacking.” There are a handful of apps and websites I use to track flight prices and I am alerted via email when airlines post accidental prices that tend to be fantastically inexpensive (we’re talking half price or cheaper than a normal flight).
I almost always fly the same airline (those miles add up and I’ve noticed you’re treated better when flights get canceled or bags get lost. If you travel a lot, chances are you could get upgraded to first class.) I hold a credit card with the same airline I most often travel and pay off the credit card monthly. The perks of airline credit cards vary, but I get two free checked bags (even though I rarely check luggage), the opportunity to board first, access to the lounge with free food, drinks and a quiet space, among other perks.
Seems small, but I always take a large reusable bottle when I travel and I fill it up after I get through TSA. Water at the airport is about $6. That amount definitely adds up.
Because I travel so often, I constantly have a “go-bag” set up. I have reusable bottles full of all my hair and skin products. This is a huge money saver too as smaller bottles tend to be really pricey. I also keep my personal items in my go bag. Additionally, I have a small travel jewelry bag, a travel makeup kit, an emergency bag full of alcohol wipes, gum, antacids, anti-inflammatories, first aid, cold medicine, etc. I also always stash protein packed snacks, packets of my powdered green juice, fiber and energy sticks. I do all this because I hate having to waste time dashing to the pharmacy last minute and overpaying. Traveling can be taxing and having everything at my fingertips makes it more fun and comfortable.
I also have a cute tiny fold up blanket the size of my palm that happens to be really warm, a facemask to block out the light, earbuds to block out the noise and I always carry this amazing neck pillow with me. It’s reminiscent of a neck brace and works very well, unlike those traditional half doughnut looking neck pillows.
I used to travel with traditional books, but now I am obsessed with the ease of reading from my iPad when I take the plane. It’s filled with an array of magazines, crime and self-help novels.
I also am not a big fan of overbooking vacations. I usually do extensive research on the area I’m traveling to and keep a running list of must-see favorites and do one or two of those a day with a “chill” day or down day in there so I can act like a local and explore or sit by the pool/beach and read. I also love to try to workout classes when I travel. It’s a fun experience to experience something new, a workout on the beach, rock climbing or a spin-class. My favorite class I ever took was yoga led by a French speaking teacher in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
While traveling to your destination can be stressful, I have taken it on as an opportunity to explore and meet new people. One of my favorite people was a stressed out traveler who barely made her flight and was seated right next to me. We became fast friends during our three-hour endeavor.
There’s so much more I could write about when it comes to traveling. I still have a long bucket list of places I’d like to visit. While you may think you don’t have the ability or resources, I promise you do. Small things add up and for me, it’s a trade off so I can travel. Eating at home, no shopping, no coffee trips, doing more “free” activities near me and putting money away in a savings account just for travel.
If you have specific questions about products or websites I use or would like to follow my journey, find me on Instagram: @ReporterTiffany
Happy travels friends.