Tag: travel coach

London-Tap to Pay Tips

On By Travels with MelindaIn England, Europe, London, Travel, travel apps, travel hacks, Travel technology, travel tips, travelling, UK, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Technology is deeply integrated in any visit to London so be prepared to “tap to pay” and even “tap to pee”! Need to ride the Tube to get anywhere? Tap to pay. Need to go to the loo? Tap to pee. Going through Customs? Scan your passport. At a museum? Scan the QR code to hear about the exhibit or tap to donate to the museums. After a trip to London, you will go to other countries and wander why they aren’t as technically savvy as London. How to make a trip to London go smoothly? Follow these tips!

There are various ways to “tap” to pay. You can tap your credit card if it has a chip. You can tap your phone if it has Google Pay or Apple Pay. If you don’t have either of these methods, for public transportation, you can get an Oyster Card to do the “tap to pay”. Purchase the Oyster Card at one of the service desks at the major train/Tube stations and add money (called “topping off”) as you go in order to ride the Tube or buses. But the easiest and safest way to tap all over town is to use your Smart watch for all tapping. It eliminates getting out your credit card/phone every time and risking theft or misplacing it. Use a VISA for your payment because AMEX sometimes isn’t accepted. We used all these methods as sometimes Thom had some issues with his watch, credit card and phone not working so he relied on the Oyster Card when that happened. Be prepared! You don’t want your companion to be able to go through the turnstile at the Tube and you are left behind not being able to tap in to be with them.

As you enter the front door of the bus or go up to the turnstile in the Tube, hold your payment type (Smart watch, credit card, Oyster card or phone) about an inch away and you should see the light go from yellow to green. If it goes red, it means it isn’t working, which is not to say that it won’t work if you try it again. Wait a second or two and try again, perhaps at another turnstile. We had this happen numerous times and sometimes on the fourth try, it would go “green”. On the bus, if tapping is wonky, the driver will sometimes just wave you in to sit because you are delaying the forward motion of the bus. Remember, you must tap in for the Tube and tap out as well. For the bus, you just have to tap in.

Public bathrooms do exist in London and the nicest facilities that are staffed with an attendant, aka not the street latrines that I avoid at all costs, do cost money. The tech savvy bathrooms have a “tap to pee” model where you tap to get access into the bathrooms. The one I used in Covent Garden market was $1.50 euros and well worth it because it was warm and clean. You may find some bathrooms haven’t been updated yet and require a $1 euro coin to enter so have some of those handy if you visit London.

I appreciate how quick the Custom lines are at Heathrow even with the crush of people moving through this airport. You just scan your passport page and off you go! No waiting in lines to talk to a live person and get a stamp. I have had to wait hours before going through Customs (India, I’m looking at you!) so my sincere hope is that all countries embrace the UK technology and gets with the program. Automate now and save us all some time. Enjoy the journey!

Churchill War Rooms-London

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, London, Museum, Travel, travel tips, travelling, UK, Uncategorized1 Comment

Although I would not consider myself a war buff, in advance of our London trip, I read Erik Larson’s book, “The Splendid and the Vile”. It was a fascinating read to prepare me to visit Churchill War Rooms. This nonfiction book by Erik Larson is based on diaries, first person accounts, military records, etc. that chronicle how Winston Churchill led Britain through WWII to ultimate victory. Visiting this unique “frozen in time” museum is a great addition to any visit to London.

Housing the incredibly well-preserved underground bunker, which served as the control center where the British government ran their war efforts in WWII, you will learn what it was like to live and work beneath the streets of London for months while bombs shook the walls. They won the war, walked away from the war rooms and left everything “as is” to this day. So not only will you learn all about the character and actions of Churchill himself but what it was like for those that worked for him and worked, ate, and slept in the bunker.

Upon entering the underground space at Churchill War Rooms at your designated ticket time (purchase online prior to arriving), the entry fee will get you the audio tour, that will allow you to punch in the #’s on exhibits throughout the space to learn more. In addition to the audio tour, there are stations throughout the museum with videos to watch. I would recommend at least two hours to take it all in for a complete experience.

It is truly fascinating to see how a war was run prior to the internet and technology. No drones, no computers, no cell phones. Just a few rotary phones including the “hot” line from Churchill to President Roosevelt asking for US assistance, which was vital to defeating Hitler’s forces. The map room illustrates the low-tech way that the British tracked their forces on land and sea with pushpins on wall maps. You also get to see Churchill’s pink velour onesie (see pic below) that he liked to wear-what a fashionista he was! His collection of hats is also part of the museum.

VISIT INFO

While most government-run museums like the British Museum are free in London, this museum is 32 euros (under 5 free) and I felt it was worth the expense. Check out the awesome gift shop on your way out. Of course, they sell liquor as all museums do in the UK plus lots of tea and tea-themed merch. “Where there is tea, there is hope.” It was the tea apparently that got them through the war, probably heavily laced with liquor. For the kids or yourself, the Churchill duckie with a cigar is a unique souvenir. We collect rubber ducks for the grandkids and, trust me, this is a great addition to the collection! We already have a Queen Elizabeth duck from our last trip so they can play together.

Situated next to the lovely St. James Park and close to other key attractions like Parliament and Big Ben, plan a whole day in this area of London. Enjoy the journey!

Exploring Hampstead and Highgate Cemetery

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, London, Travel, travel tips, travelling, UK, UncategorizedLeave a comment

If you want to get out of central London and take a quick Tube ride to explore new sights, I highly recommend a day spent wander around Highgate Cemetery for hours, then ending your day with a cozy dinner at the historic Spaniard’s Inn. Another day, boutique shop and enjoy a leisurely pub meal in Hampstead, followed by taking in a movie in a luxurious historic theater. I love London and there are unlimited things to do but sometimes it’s nice to get out of the city and have a new adventure!

Highgate Cemetery

Highgate Cemetery is one of the earliest private garden cemeteries in England and well worth a visit. It truly is a “garden” cemetery because nature has taken over and shaped its landscape. There is none of the maintenance like cutting back growth and mowing that you might see in other cemeteries. The large monuments are covered in vines, tilting from tree roots that have grown wild, and vegetation rules everywhere. This is a “for profit” cemetery that lured middle class and upper-class burials away from the more common church graveyards that had become crowded in the 1800s in London.

Allow yourself a few hours to wander this historic Victorian era cemetery north of London. Thom loves cemeteries so we try to check out any interesting ones as we travel. There is an admission fee of $10 and tours are available for $8 more-card payments only/no cash. We opted to wander on our own around both the East side and the West side, each with their own creepy charm. Don’t forget to go in the teeny tiny gift shop where they sell tickets on the East Side and get your unique Karl Marx doll refrigerator magnet. One of a kind! We told them they need to sell stickers (which we collect) but the cashier said they won’t let them sell them and that they had to fight to get the Karl Marx magnets. Okay. Their loss of income. Check open/close times online Highgate Cemetery as they vary by season. When we were there, the last entry was at 3:30 pm, which makes sense especially in the winter when it gets dark at 4 pm. You do NOT want to wander this place at night. Remember Dark Shadows? We went home and immediately watched the movie Fantastic Beasts, which they shot on location in Highgate (substituting for Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, another great place we have visited)

There is a very small amount of parking at the entrance. We took an Uber there and home. Only took about five minutes to get one. There are some bus stops nearby as well but not really anywhere to walk from/to and no close by Tube stations so plan your transportation accordingly.

West Side Cemetery

This side was the first to open of the two in 1839. Stay on the paths. Don’t disrespect the very old dead people. Use the maps you can get where you buy tickets to read about the people buried here and to make sure you don’t get too lost. We headed down the main drive to the far back to check out the Circle of Lebanon, Egyptian Avenue, and the Terrace Catacombs (great scenes in Fantastic Beasts of these spots). Speaking of beasts, when we saw a huge lion statue guarding a gravesite, we looked up and saw that buried under the lion was George Wombwell, the owner of several travelling animals shows and the statue represents Nero, his very own lion. This side is the most “prestigious” area to be buried. George Michael is buried on this side-I didn’t even know he was dead. He is described in the pamphlet as “one of the most significant cultural figures of the MTV generation.”

East Side Cemetery

Your entry ticket covers both sides, so we had to check out this side too because Karl Marx is buried here. Lots of flowers left here for Karl by visitors. As we wandered back, we saw a simple headstone that had bowls of pens left by visitors. Hmmm…a writer perhaps? Consulting our guide and looking at the engraving we discovered that buried there was Douglas Adams, author of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxies, a favorite book of Thom’s. You never know who you will find at the cemetery!

Spaniard’s Inn

After a long walk amongst the dead at Highgate, we were hungry and nearby just happened to be the lovely Spaniard’s Inn, established in 1585. We grabbed an Uber and a few minutes later were able to enjoy a wood-burning fireplace, low (not for those with any height) wood beamed ceilings and cozy wood booths. Mentioned in Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this place oozes British charm. The food was very good as well! I had a warm goat cheese salad; Thom had the traditional Shepherd’s pie, and we shared a sticky toffee pudding. Our booth was near the front window on the street, where that section of road is a “blind” which means with no signing whatsoever, cars and buses have to navigate a section that is only wide enough for one vehicle. In the old times, carriages and horseback riders could make it through but, because there is a historical gatehouse on one side and Spaniard’s Inn on the other and neither could be torn down to widen the road, they just somehow make it work. We saw many a vehicle backing up because the opposing driver was more aggressive and drove into the blind first. Chaos! Let’s just say that the double decker bus always won the right of way and rightly so.

I would recommend reservations if you are going at peak dining hours. They have a huge garden dining space that doubles their capacity in the summer.

Hampstead

Eager to check out another village close by, we took the Tube to Hampstead, known as the place where Harry Styles lives. It is certainly more posh than our village. How so? Well, there were many clothing boutiques, optical stores and cafes/pubs. Our village has more ethnic groceries/cafes and thrift stores-absolutely no boutiques. It was fun seeing how the other half lives. Lots of fancy folks walking around with their dogs. It’s easy to see why if you have the money, you live here in the lovely quaint village and commute to London, about 20 minutes away by Tube. If you have time, check out the luxury movie theater, Everyman, that is an intimate space with overstuffed chairs or couches with full bar/food service to your seats. It is just lovely, and I wish we had this theater experience back home. I would go all the time. Enjoy the journey!

British Museum-London

On By Travels with MelindaIn London, Museum, Travel, travel tips, travelling, Uncategorized1 Comment

A visit to the British Museum feels like a trip around the world both visually and physically because you will walk until you drop and still not see it all. Opened to the public in 1759, the museum’s 8+million pieces in their permanent collection focus on human history, art and culture. Even though I’ve been fortunate to take several trips to London over the last few years, I had never gotten around to going there. So, on our recent trip to London, we made it a priority and, even though you could spend days there and still not see everything on display, we spent a few hours soaking up all the history we could in an afternoon and plan to go back again soon. The British Museum is definitely a “must see” for your trip to London. Enjoy the journey!

Over the ages, there has always been controversy over all the relics taken from various countries all over the world by the British and housed in this museum. “Welcome to the British Museum-a museum of the world, for the world.” is the museum slogan and very appropriate. After seeing a fraction of the collections, you have to wonder if they left anything at all in Egypt, Greece, etc. for the citizens to enjoy but who am I to judge? I suggest you suspend the politics to enjoy seeing and learning from the exhibits that are here in London…for now.

The museum is broken down into geographic areas: Africa, Americas, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome, Asia, Europe and Middle East. Along the way, you may encounter museum staff engaging with patrons at a hands-on learning table. They let kids and even Thom handle the centuries old items! Must-see objects include:

  1. Rosetta Stone
  2. Parthenon Marble Sculptures
  3. Lewis Chessmen (most famous chess set in the world)
  4. Egyptian mummies-elaborate sarcophagus and skeletons
  5. Hoa Hakananai’a Easter Island Statue (watch Night at the Museum-Dumb, Dumb give me gum, gum!)

Planning your trip: Visit | British Museum

Plan on spending some time in line going through security screening. It was fairly chaotic when we walked up with a line designated for those with tickets, but the security guards were directing people into that line even if you didn’t have tickets. We are used to navigating crowds, so we just walked into line and kept going as there were openings. So, after about 10 minutes, we were through and walking into the main rotunda atrium. Grab a museum map so you don’t get lost and off you go! There is no entrance fee, but you can donate if you want. Photography is permitted.

There are free “highlights” and “eye-opener” tours led by museum staff-all are listed in the brochure for certain galleries. You can also download a free Rick Steves walking tour from his site or go to Audio app | British Museum and download their walking tour via the Apple App Store app or Google Play Store app. Lots of ways to learn and enjoy the many exhibits!

Families can take advantage of free family activities on the weekends. Just head to the Families Desk and get a special brochure listing all the events. Families can also borrow a backpack full of activities at the museum making for a very kid-friendly environment.

Eating at the Museum

I like a museum that has options to grab a snack, but they go all out in the refreshment category at the British Museum. From top to bottom, there are cafes in many places with everything from coffee to sandwiches/pizza to the Great Court Restaurant at the top where you can get afternoon tea, mains and a full bar. We were hungry by the time we made it to the top floor. We were able to walk right into the lovely restaurant and get a seat (or you can make reservations) and enjoy a cheese plate and tea. It was a lovely break to rest and hydrate before seeing some more great history. Note: they don’t allow food or drink outside the designated cafes in the museum.

My Passion for Travel!

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, pet sitting, Travel, travel tips, travelling, Trusted Housesitter, Uncategorized, wanderlust1 Comment

My passion for travel began with my first airline trip in high school to compete in a national speech contest. I lost the competition but loved the adventure. I began to dream of taking my next trip immediately, though it was years before I got to leave my hometown again. Once I did, however, there was no turning back. I still start planning my next trip immediately after returning home. “Always be travelling” is a lifestyle I embrace! My frequent work trips to NYC after college fueled my love for big cities and also presented me with the unique opportunity to meet a certain wild and crazy New Yorker, who became my husband and travel partner–35+ years together exploring the world and still so many more countries to see.

Adulting interfered with any travel as we began raising a family and didn’t have the time nor the money to travel extensively. As soon as the last one left for college, however, we were THE happiest empty nesters, our first European trip determined by the cheapest airfare I could find from Seattle, which just happened to be Barcelona. It was a fabulous trip filled with tapas and Gaudi gawking. Thus, the global travel obsession began in earnest, both for vacations and work, including living in China for a few years for my role at Microsoft and then working in Microsoft offices all over the world, anywhere from Moscow (pre-Ukraine war-MSFT offices closed there now) to Tokyo while vacationing everywhere from Stonehenge to New Zealand. I can work remote in my current role consulting with Microsoft, so my only requirement is strong Wi-Fi. We just wrapped up pet sitting in London for 40+ days and look forward to exploring new countries (and pets!) in a similar fashion via our membership in Trusted Housesitters. Truly the good life for avid travelers like us!

I often wonder why more people don’t love travelling like I do. Recently, I read an article that recommended an icebreaker when you meet someone to ask, “Where are your favorite places to travel?” and, for me, this sounded perfect because I am always interested in hearing travel stories. Maybe a fellow traveler has been somewhere that I should go! Surprisingly, the majority of the time, people respond by saying they rarely travel and, if they do, tend to stay nearby their hometown. Why travel when you have everything you need at home-family, friends, comfortable stuff you’ve collected over the years? I get it but feel sorry more than anything for people who don’t want to travel even if they could. They are missing out on that big, beautiful world out there!

I do strongly feel that the reason the US is where they are right now is because too many people don’t leave their American “bubble” and thus don’t appreciate the US for both the good (clean air and water thanks to regulations, general prosperity, etc.) or recognize the bad (no national healthcare, increasing racism, and intolerance for LGBTQ+). Too often Americans believe that the US is the best at everything. They think that citizens in all those other countries around the globe would move to the US in a heartbeat if they could. Wrong. Every country I’ve visited (25+) has unique beauty and history that their citizens cherish despite whatever challenges they may face. I always come away from a trip to another country with clear comparisons to their way of life vs. ours, both good and bad. Think gas prices are high in the US? Try Europe prices. Don’t think we need government regulations to ensure clean air? Visit China or India where the AQI often hits a very unhealthy 200+ (US average is 37). No country is perfect but it sure is fun exploring each and every one. 

I understand not everyone has the time or can afford to travel outside the US. If you can find a job where you can travel for business and they foot the bill, I would highly recommend it. Relocating to another country for your job is even better! I was able to travel across the US and then across the world for my work with Microsoft including living in NYC for six months on a work assignment and relocating to China for two years for a work gig. Not only did they pay for all my living expenses, but I got to really immerse myself in the local culture. When my China assignment ended abruptly a year earlier than was expected, I was sad to repatriate to the US. We still had adventures we wanted to have in China and the Asia-Pacific region. I will never regret that expat experience, even though it was hard to be away from my family during that time.

What’s next on our travel schedule? Our month in London just ended in February, the jet lag is over, and now we are deep into planning our upcoming trip to Florence for two weeks, then on to Milan for a week to catch a Bruce Springsteen concert, and finally to London to see the Mets play two games. London has so much to see and do that I don’t believe we will ever be “done” with London. The more time we spend in London, the more I like it. I think we will explore a long-term pet sit in France soon. We’ve been to Paris a few times and love it, but I would enjoy settling into a smaller city for a few weeks to see what daily French life is like. The next Girls Trip will find us exploring Vienna, a place I have never been, but I hear you can find exquisite coffee there, so I’m looking forward to checking it out. Oh, the places we’ll go!

Here are my travel tips to really embrace the local culture wherever you go:

  • Take public transportation not only to get to where you are going quickly but to observe local life. The fashion you will observe on the subways is fascinating.
  • Go to places where the locals might go on a day off-try the zoo (I hugged a koala in Sydney), walk in the park (NYC Central Park is my favorite place) or visit a library (British Library in London is magnificent as is NYC Public Library)
  • Eat at a local (not a chain) pub/café. Bring your dog-they are allowed in many places like the UK. In Shanghai, we would go to trivia night weekly at the local Irish pub with other expats and had a blast.
  • Try the local delicacies if you can-Thom had haggis croquettes at the pub in London. Not my cup of tea but he enjoyed it and it’s not an item you would find in Boise.
  • Read the newspapers-yes, they still have those in Europe, Australia, etc.
  • If you pet sit, you’ll meet people walking their dogs, who will invariably be friendly and chatty.
  • Try a walking tour led by a local, which are usually free (you tip the guide). We’ve used this site: https://www.toursbylocals.com/
  • Watch the local news and tv shows-here in the UK the amount of travel/relocation shows speaks volumes about the locals’ desire visit places preferably with lots of sunshine and warmth.
  • Shop in the grocery stores even if you are staying at a hotel-great place for room snacks and souvenirs.

We are having the time of our lives travelling all over the world as often as possible. I hope you’ll start planning YOUR next adventure soon. Enjoy the journey!

Picking the Perfect Pet Sit

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Europe, London, pet sitting, Travel, travel apps, travel hacks, travel tips, travelling, Trusted Housesitter, UKLeave a comment

First, there are no “perfect” pet sits but, with my tips below, hopefully you can find one that is the best fit for you! Now that we have done several pet sits ourselves, both domestic and abroad, I want to share our best practices with you. We have used the app Trusted Housesitters for over six years, first to have people sit our animals and now we are sitting other people’s animals. The best part is that you get to meet lovely new animals and travel the world for free!* You don’t pay to stay at the host’s house (transportation to the sit location is up to the sitter to pay for and arrange) and the hosts don’t pay you to sit their animal. A win-win for everyone involved. For our current 40+ day pet sit in London, the cost of a hotel for that amount of time would be $20,000+. What an opportunity this pet sit is to embrace the British culture AND take care of a friendly and beautiful cavapoochen! Pet sitting for us is the perfect way to see the world. Enjoy the journey (while pet sitting)!

These photos are from our current and past pet sits. Check out my other blog posts on our pet sits at: https://travelswithmelinda.com/2023/09/06/down-on-the-farm-pet-sit/ and https://travelswithmelinda.com/2023/08/26/travel-free-as-a-pet-sitter/

How it works:

  1. Activate your profile on the app and fill out all the required paperwork.
    1. *join Trusted Housesitters here and get 25% off-annual pricing-membership levels vary from $189+). Membership includes a free background check.
  2. Set up a search for the dates, locations and type of pets (cats, dogs, farm animals, etc.) you want to sit.
  3. Apply for a sit that looks good for you. Here is my typical post to the host via the app: “Hi! We would love to take care of your (insert pet names/type) on (insert dates of sit). I work remotely as a tech consultant and my husband is retired so we will be home to care of your house and pets. Please let us know if you would like to do a virtual chat to get to know us. I’m happy to set up a meeting invite when you are available, either on Zoom or Teams. Thanks!”

Video chatting with the prospective hosts is essential to making sure this is the right pet sit for you. You check out if they have a good vibe, meet the pet(s) and observe their behavior and check out where you’ll be living. Is it comfortable, is it clean, can you see yourself being there. After you chat:

  1. Decision process: once you speak with the hosts, if they pick you, the app will send you an email letting you know and then you go to the app to either accept or decline.
  2. Communicate with the hosts after accepting a sit via the app to work out all the details.
  3. The hosts will share with you a House Guide that they fill out on the app. This guide should provide you with all the information you need for a successful sit with their pet. Review this guide in advance of the sit so you can ask questions about the information and anything the host might have left out.

Tips for creating a strong profile section on Trusted Housesitters:

  • Provide several personal character references from your friends and family touching on your reliability and trust worthiness.
  • There is a section on the app that shows your: background checked, ID verified, email verified, phone number verified and LinkedIn profile link. Having a strong LinkedIn page reassures the host that you are legit because it shows your work and education history. I have no doubt that my LinkedIn profile has helped hosts get to know me and feel comfortable picking us for sits.
  • Elaborate all about yourselves in the “our experience”, “about us” and “why we want to house sit” sections on the app as your content will help you get selected for the sit you want.
  • Always post lots of pictures of yourself and your own pets. Visuals give the host a look at your vibe to see if it’s a good fit with theirs.
  • Now that we have done several sits and gotten five star reviews from those hosts, we have people reaching out to us and asking us to sit without even applying. We’ve turned down a few offers but it’s nice to be asked.

CHOOSING A SIT:

Location considerations when choosing a sit:

  • You will want a safe neighborhood always. Check crime stats and use Google maps for street view of local area.
  • How’s the weather going to be in this location? We knew that the January weather in London would be rainy but still probably 20-30 degrees warmer than in Idaho where we live. We are in London now and are hoping for at least a few days without constant rain. Who knows? It might happen. In the meantime, we packed rain proof boots, jackets, umbrellas and don’t have to worry about dry skin with all this lovely humidity.
  • Listings will state whether the sit location is “accessible by public transportation”. If not, how do you plan to get around? Are you driving to the sit or renting a car? If you are driving, is there parking for your car off the street? The hosts can let you drive their car and the listing will state if that is the case. We haven’t done a sit yet where the hosts offered use of a car. Two hosts said we could only use their car in case of emergencies with the pets to take them to the vet.
  • If you are going to use public transportation only, really check out what that means. Are cafes, markets, stores nearby? How close is the public transporation to get to them if you can’t walk? Is it bus or underground? Does Uber work in the area if you need it?
  • If you can walk to the grocery store, how will you carry home groceries? We asked the host in London if they had a wheeled cart we could use. They didn’t but when we arrived, we were surprised that they had bought us one to use and it has been essential for getting home everything we need for a multi-week sit.
  • We have a quick walk to the bus but an almost mile walk to the Tube to get to the underground. Yesterday, we walked seven miles between walking the dog several times, going to/from the Tube and into London for a short museum visit. If you are not able to or don’t want to walk a lot, take that into consideration before picking a sit. Imagine what your day-to-day life will look like. It’s nice to have a change of pace from your normal life but not so much that you are not able to handle it physically.

Pet considerations when choosing a sit:

  • Really dive into the pet details with the owner. How big is the dog? Do they pull when you walk them, i.e. will they pull your arm out of it’s socket when they see a crow or are they old and walk too slow a pace that you might not enjoy? Some owners let their pets walk off leash. We don’t walk dogs off leash on a sit because the pet doesn’t know us well and we want to keep them safe either from traffic, jumping in the creek, getting hurt by other dogs, etc. Make sure dog owners have a leash for you to use as well as lots of poop bags.
  • Does the pet have any separation or anxiety issues in general? How long can you be gone from the dog? Most of our sits have stipulated that we can be gone from the house for max 4-5 hours. We interviewed one owner for a sit in the US and they shared that their 95 pound dog gets anxious and has jumped out a closed window after being left alone in the house too long. They were looking for a pet sitter to not leave the dog alone at all and, if the sitter did have go run errands, they could take the dog to a daycare center which the host would pay for but would really prefer you stay home. We were offered the sit but turned it down. I just couldn’t see walking a dog that big that lunges at crows per owner and jumps out windows. Even working from home, we would occasionally want to go out to eat and run errands without having to check the dog into daycare. 
  • Are any pets on medications or have medical issues? Do you feel okay with administering medicines to the pet?
  • If you don’t want to follow strict instructions on pet feeding, then don’t sit. All our hosts have had very specific feeding schedules for their pets including weighing the food, times of day to be fed,  limiting any treats, etc. You must follow their guidance.
  • Where does the pet(s) sleep? Do they sleep in a crate? We had a sit with four dogs and even though they weren’t big dogs, we opted to have them sleep downstairs vs. sleeping with us as they were used to doing with the hosts.
  • Does the house have a fenced yard where you can let out the pup for those early and late bio breaks so you don’t have to get dressed and go for walks every time they need to pee.
  • Are there parks nearby for walks on grass vs. cement?
  • Do the owners have shampoo supplies and a place (tub or deep sink for smaller pets) for when the dog gets muddy or will you have to take the pet to a pet spa to clean them if they roll in the mud? It rains A LOT in the UK so we have designated towels to wipe mud off paws at every door.

Host considerations when choosing a sit:

  • Preferably choose a host that has had previous sits done through Trusted Housesitters with great reviews from their sitters.
  • Check our the hosts on various social media platforms before accepting, i.e. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, etc.

Before accepting a pet sit, dig into these details to determine if this sit will work for you:

HOME FEATURES

  • What are your essentials? Mine are: strong Wi-Fi and dedicated office space, a good kitchen to cook in-which saves us lots of money and is necessary as I work remote but on West Coast hours from 2 pm to 10 pm when I’m in Europe so we can’t go out to eat during the work week. We download the local delivery app if we don’t want to cook and get our dinner delivered.
  • Comfortable furniture (Americans are used to oversized comfy couches-which are hard to find in Europe) is a plus as well.
  • Are stairs a problem? We live in a ranch house back in the US but in Europe you will typically have to be okay climbing stairs in almost any residence. Our lovely three story Edwardian home where we are pet sitting in London is great for getting some cardio but we also have both slipped when taking the curvy staircase steps a little too fast and not watching our feet. So, if you have any accessibility issues, make sure you ask about the layout of the house. Even in a one story, inquire if the laundry is in the basement.
  • Bed size may matter to you if you are tall. We are used to a California King bed and now have a full size bed at our sit where my hubby’s feet are hanging over the bed. Not much to do about it now!

COMFORT

  • Heating and cooling-check it out before you accept any sits! Especially in Europe, many homes don’t have air conditioning and, with global warming, it gets HOT in the summer and early fall. With heating, ask the host how the home is heated (radiators? forced air? controlled by app?) Our London hosts shared the app for their heating system. We raised their temperature programming by a few degrees because I like to be warmer than they do. For long sits like ours, it’s important to be comfortable.
  • Speaking of being comfortable, if you are used to creature comforts like a cozy throw, flannel pillowcase, washcloths (not a thing in Europe) then pack them! I have a travel throw that I don’t leave home without-find it here Travel Essentials – Travels with Melinda

SAFETY

  • For safety purchases, we brought a carbon monoxide travel alarm with us. Ask the hosts if their home has one of these and also smoke alarms. You can bring travel door alarms. Our house has a security system, which the hosts explained in detail before they left.
  • Ask the host if there is a door key hidden outside the house in case you forget your key on an auto locking door. You do not want have to take out the window screen and crawl through a window like we had to at our first pet sit when the door key code stopped working. The hosts were mortified because it was their fault that the guest key code setting expired. It happens. Be prepared.
  • Before the host leaves, get neighbor names, contact info, neighborhood groups on WhatsApp or Facebook, etc. You never know when you might need local help.

CLEANING

  • If you are lucky, the host will have a housekeeper and you won’t have to clean. At our current sit, there is a trusted cleaner who comes in for four hours every Friday to clean so we won’t have to do anything at all. Perfect!
  • In other sits, we have been asked to sweep/swiffer floors, etc. while there. No one wants to come home to a dirty house. We actually go above and beyond for our pet sits and, in addition to cleaning the house, we wash our towels and bed linens the day we leave so the hosts come home after their vacation and don’t have to do our laundry. This type of care will earn you five star reviews and it’s just the right thing to do.

ENTERTAINMENT

  • Strong wifi is needed for so many things so check with the host.
  • Like to watch your tv shows? Get a chromecast device and program it at home before you leave. Bring your chromecast to enjoy your channels like Netflix, Apple TV, etc. on the host’s tv. Make sure you bring the instructions on how to hook it up!
  • We will also stream shows on our computers and cast to the tv via bluetooth if possible when they aren’t available via the  chromecast.
  • Enjoy music? Bring along a Bluetooth speaker to stream music from your computer or phone.
  • Bring enough adapters to the appropriate country to plug in all your devices. Also, we have found a travel extension cord is really valuable to have. See my Travel Essentials – Travels with Melinda to find the one we use and like.

Best of luck in your new pet sitting journey!

Trip Prep-don’t forget these 10 essentials!

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, packing tips, Travel, travel essentials, travel hacks, Travel medical care, travel tips, travelling, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Now, we travel ALOT and I’m currently deep into preparing my packing list for our month in London that starts in just a few days, so I thought I would share some of my trip prep tips on what NOT to forget to pack.

Honestly, even with all my experience, I still manage to forget things that I later find that I need when I’m in a new country. So, for me AND for you, here is a list of 10 items you may not think you need until it is 1 a.m. in Lisbon or you’re roaming the British countryside by train:

  • First aid kit including ice packs and wraps.  After the hand getting crushed by the ferry bathroom door incident in New Zealand, the falling off the curb and rolling an ankle in Vietnam and slipping down rain-covered stairs in Lisbon, we learned the hard way that you may get hurt while travelling so you need a robust number of supplies to self-treat yourself just in case.  Countries in Europe have pharmacies (identified by a big green cross on the outside) but in other countries like India and Vietnam, you are SOL if you do not plan ahead.  Even the ferry in New Zealand had NO FIRST AID KIT!  That has to be against some law, right? So, depending on where you are going, pack accordingly. Note: ice is not a thing in many countries, thus pack an ice pack, the kind you smash and it gets cold quickly. Otherwise, you’ll be holding a can of Coke on your ankle like Thom did in Vietnam on vacation.
  • OTC meds (especially sleeping aids like Advil PM) because when the party on the street outside your Airbnb just gets going at midnight, you are going to need help getting asleep. Pack those ear plugs too. Or you can just go out and join in the revelry.
  • Day pack to carry the first aid kit, umbrella, raincoat, suntan lotion, snacks, when you take that train ride to Sintra for the day. 
  • Water bottle to refill as needed (remember to go through TSA with it empty!). You can fill up in the many European fountains on the streets. Just check to see if public water is clean and not going to get you sick before partaking.
  • Bluetooth music speaker is a “nice to have” to enjoy music while gazing at the water from your balcony. You can buy really small portable ones so you can stream your music at the cottage in Ireland or the beach.  On Waiheke Island, our Airbnb had a great Bluetooth Bose speaker that we used daily. When we arrived in Portugal on our next trip and there was no such thing provided, we really missed the music at night while we wrote out our stories of the day.
  • Ziplock baggies of all sizes for that lotion that leaks, the seashells you collect, the wet bathing suit you need to pack, etc. Not to mention in Europe, you need a quart size one for your liquids to get through security. 
  • Kleenex-it isn’t the same in other countries and your nose will be hurt by the roughness of local tissues. Pack a few travel packs with you.
  • Downy wrinkle releaser plus does it all and we used it every day on a recent trip. One travel size bottle lasted us for a two-week trip.  Love this stuff! You can dewrinkle your clothes, freshen up your room and even works with ironing clothes if you do that, which I don’t. 
  • Travel blanket/pillow is something I never knew I needed until I bought one and now it is my all-time favorite essential. I can use it was a pillow if needed or unzip the cover and pull out the blanket if I get cold on the plane/train and use it in the hotel room to get cozy. Slips over the handle of your carry-on. Trust me, you want this item!
  • Portable power charger bank you can take everywhere with you to charge your phone when it dies at 10 pm while you are trying to get an Uber to take you home in a rainstorm in London.  

For a packing list template, go to https://travelswithmelinda.com/packing-checklist/ and for more travel essentials, see my list of recommended items here: https://travelswithmelinda.com/travels-essentials/

Enjoy the journey!

San Diego Holiday Cheer!

On By Travels with MelindaIn California, San Diego, Travel, travel hacks, travel tips, travelling, Uncategorized, vacationLeave a comment

We were in San Diego the first weekend in December when it seemed like everywhere you looked there were holiday events taking place-on Coronado, in Balboa Park, at Seaport Village, and the streets of Little Italy. Definitely a beautiful time to enjoy warm weather and experience holiday cheer while walking along the beach!

We are thinking of bringing one or both of the grandkids with us on future trips here, so everywhere we went, we were on the lookout for experiences and places that they would enjoy. San Diego is an awesome place for kids of all ages. Here are some of the places we’ll go with the grandkids when the time is right:

CORONADO

We would definitely stay at the Hotel del Coronado with the grandkids. This historic property dating back to the 1800’s is a resort filled with everything you would want-pools, onsite gelato and candy store, many restaurants, etc. At the holidays, there is a real ice-skating rink and gorgeous decorations to enjoy as well.

After walking through the property several times and sitting in the rocking chairs on the veranda, we made a vow to stay here next time we come to San Diego, hopefully with the grandkids in tow. They seem to offer a variety of rooms/suites though we were definitely eyeing the ground floor with a patio that included nice seating around a fire pit and ocean view. How much could it cost?? Hotel del Coronado | San Diego’s Legendary Beach Resort.

What else is there to do in Coronado by the resort? Take a stroll down the beachfront and watch the surfers. While we were there, they had posted a warning not to get into the water due to issues with pollution in the water but while that warning deterred swimmers, the surfers were still out there. We even saw a pod of dolphins having fun in the surf too. I hope the polluted waters didn’t hurt any of them.

When you are hungry or ready to shop, walk Orange Avenue on Coronado which is lined with boutiques, cafes and even a large grocery store and Walgreen’s. Everything you could need is located on this one main boulevard. They even have a small movie theater showing the latest flicks and a theater with live performances.

BALBOA PARK AREA Home – Balboa Park

The 18 museums in/near Balboa Park are great for any rainy days or when you need to get out of the sun for a while. The park is free, but the museums do charge admissions. If you want to go to several, consider buying a pass that is good for 7 days-details on museum pass here: Explore | Balboa Park Explorer; About | Balboa Park Explorer

Our grandkids would definitely enjoy:

Comic-Con Museum – The Magic of Comic-Con, All Year Round (not included in the Balboa Park Museum pass)

San Diego Air & Space Museum – Historical Balboa Park, San Diego (sandiegoairandspace.org)

The San Diego Zoo is considered part of Balboa Park. We plan to spend an entire day at the zoo with the grandkids-first, it is expensive, and you want to get your money’s worth, but it is so massive and there is so much to see that it deserves a whole day and not just a few hours. Get on your walking shoes, wear your sunscreen, and get ready to see the animals. Plan Your Visit | San Diego Zoo

If we are able to visit San Diego in December, we will take the kids to see the annual theater performance of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas at the Old Globe Theater in Balboa Park Home | The Old Globe  This is a favorite movie for both of them!

EMBARCADERO

Embarcadero is a Spanish word for “landing place” and San Diego’s Embarcadero is a scenic waterfront area with a rich maritime history and culture that runs next to San Diego Bay. We stayed at the Marriott Marquis Marina, which is right on the Embarcadero, so we were able to walk this area quite a bit. We even got on a two-seater bike courtesy of our hotel and biked the waterfront. So. Fun. Here are the highlights of the Embarcadero area:

I think our grandkids might enjoy taking a tour of this enormous aircraft carrier and hearing about its history. This experience would definitely take several hours at least. After visiting the USS Midway, it’s a quick walk over to the Seaport Village which is a great place for lunch.

Worth an afternoon to shop and enjoy the various restaurants by the water at Seaport Village. We dined with relatives at the Edgewater Grill that has indoor and outdoor seating with direct water views but there are also casual taco and pizza places. Very nice!

The San Diego Symphony’s home stage, the Rady Bandshell also have a variety of other programs so check out their event schedule online before your trip. It is outside seating so even though the weather is usually perfect in San Diego, check for rain first before buying tickets and in the winter, it gets cold at night so bring a blanket. San Diego Symphony – The Official Travel Resource for the San Diego Region

DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO

There are lots of historic sites, shopping, restaurants, and museums in downtown San Diego to check out. Got kids and you need to get out of the sun/rain? The New Children’s Museum | Think, Play, Create (thinkplaycreate.org) is a few blocks away from the Marriott Marquis Marina where we stayed this trip and also next to a great children’s outdoor playground.

I would recommend you take the Trolley Tour and hop on, hop off downtown if you see spots you want to visit. I would NOT recommend you randomly stroll around downtown on your own like we did. Even veteran urban dwellers like us who love to do this should not if they are not familiar with the area. On this trip, we decided to walk from our hotel to Little Italy on a Saturday to check out the farmer’s market there. We randomly chose a path that unknowingly took us right by the downtown jail and through a deserted section of town since it was Saturday, and no workers were around. Confronted by a person masked and dealing with obvious mental health issues in an underpass, we were able to get away and stay calm but even my New Yorker husband was rattled by the close call that could have gotten ugly quickly. So, take the trolley and enjoy the city but always be checking your surroundings and have a plan in case you get into a situation.

Our trolley driver told us that the Gaslamp Quarter is THE place to party into the wee hours in San Diego. They close off Fifth Avenue to traffic from 11 am to 3 am so everyone can just parade down the street going from bar to bar. We were so tired from walking during the day that even our best laid plans to try out a Speakeasy on Fifth Avenue did not happen. Next time if we don’t have the grandkids!

The Little Italy neighborhood is a great place to enjoy their Saturday farmer’s market (come hungry-there are lots of enticing food stalls!) and also many restaurants to savor. We got real Italian cookies (think buttery, chocolate and tasty) at the Italian grocery. Just like I remember from New York Italian bakeries!

On a previous trip to San Diego, we met relatives here and enjoyed awesome Mexican food at a café and walked around the historic buildings. The trolley stops here so you can hope off and probably eat and spend hours just wondering around. Lots of souvenir shops!

San Diego Padres play at a rare downtown field, Petco Park. Years ago, we stayed at a downtown hotel and our room looked out over the field-so close we could see the players and scoreboard. So, if you are a baseball fan, check out their schedule, get a hotel close by and enjoy! Official San Diego Padres Website | MLB.com

SEAWORLD Visit with Purpose: SeaWorld Orlando, San Diego & San Antonio – Park to Planet | SeaWorld

We didn’t make it to SeaWorld on this trip, but we will definitely include a visit if we bring the grandkids here. Plan to spend the whole day here and bring your $$$ because it is not cheap. Check around for deals and coupons but with amusement rides, animal experiences and more, it is very much like a trip to Disney World and costs just as much.

WHERE TO STAY

 We stayed at the San Diego CA Lodging | San Diego Marriott Marquis on the Embarcadero and close enough to walk into downtown San Diego. The Marriott is a huge hotel next to the convention center, where you can easily walk along the Embarcadero promenade to the USS Midway, Seaport Village, the Rady Bandshell and get the ferry to Coronado across San Diego Bay. They have multiple pools, outdoor bars by the pools and multiple on property restaurants. They have a M Club for status members, but it was disappointing in that the food selection was very limited compared to other clubs I’ve visited at Marriott properties all over the world. But we still we got free coffee, beverages and some limited snacks which are nice to have around. The huge win for us was that they honored my status suite awards and we got upgraded to the Luxury Suite on the 23rd floor with a kitchen, dining room, and balcony overlooking the water. So lovely and appreciated so much!

I don’t think you could ask for a better location unless you wanted to be on the ocean in Coronado, in which case the Hotel del Coronado is the best choice! Hotel del Coronado | San Diego’s Legendary Beach Resort.

GETTING AROUND

Arriving in San Diego at the airport, I am always surprised at how close it is to the beach and downtown area. It is smack dab in the center of it all, making it easy to get to your hotel. Our Uber was a quick 10-minute hop to the Marriott and cost about $20. We don’t rent cars as a rule when we travel, opting for public transportation, walking ALOT and Uber. San Diego has a light rail, buses, and is very walkable. We also took the ferry from the marina over to Coronado which I would highly recommend. Only $8 each way and running every 20 minutes, it is a great way to get out on the water and super convenient to the many hotels on the Embarcadero. https://www.flagshipsd.com/cruises/flagship-ferry

OLD TOWN TROLLEY TOURS San Diego Tours Voted #1 | Save Up To 20% On San Diego Tours (trolleytours.com)

Instead of the hop on, hop off buses you see in many cities, the cute trollies in San Diego take you to all the top sites. They offer one- and two-day tours of San Diego so check it out, look online for any coupons and use this as your transportation between all the sights for a reasonable $50 per person. I know our grandkids will love riding around in the open-air trolley cars. We took the one-day option and had several different drivers on the segments as we hopped on and off several times. They were all friendly and informative in explaining about the various areas as we drove through them. Time efficient AND entertaining! Enjoy the journey!

Enjoying Ile Saint Louis-Girls Trip 2023

On By Travels with MelindaIn France, Girls Trip, Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Travel, travel tips, travelling, Uncategorized1 Comment

We had originally planned to stay in an Airbnb on Ile Saint Louis but after watching the customer reviews for that particular apartment get decreasingly negative, we opted out and got another place in a different arrondissement. Strolling the idyllic streets on Ile Saint-Louis on our Girls Trip 2023, we wished we had been able to stay there. With the stylish cafes and shops and very little surface traffic, it really is an island oasis within bustling urban Paris.

Consisting of 27 acres, it is one of two natural islands in the Seine River. The other natural island is the Ile de la Cite where Notre Dame is located. Ile Saint-Louis is connected to the rest of Paris by four bridges to both banks of the river and to the Ile de la Cite. The island is located within the 4th arrondissement. With only a population of 4,000+, this island is supposedly the costliest real estate in Paris.

We enjoyed dinner at  SORZA, Paris – Ile de la Cite / Ile Saint-Louis – Menu, Prices, Restaurant Reviews & Reservations – Tripadvisor. The food was outstanding. Make a reservation in advance as it is a tiny place and very popular. My salmon risotto was to die for! From the salad to the entrée to dessert, we were in heaven!

Another day we came back to the island to sample the “best ice cream in Paris” at the Tea Room – Berthillon. You can wait in line for ice cream, but we lucked into a table in their cute tearoom so that we could enjoy ice cream sundaes. After our sweet break, we wandered the streets enjoying the architecture and interesting shops and markets.

We had great luck shopping at the boutiques on the island. Becky was able to find a lovely top and I got Thom the real Parisian scarf that he had wanted. One of my favorite jewelry lines, Sobral Design, has a brand store at 79, Rue Saint-Louis en lÎle on the island, so I was able to stock up on several fall pieces for my collection.

Next time I visit Paris, I think we will stay at Hotel Saint Louis en Isle – Hotel Saint Louis Paris (saintlouisenlisle.com). We were on our way to dinner and saw this hotel. Ducking in to check it out, the manager told us about his charming hotel and said he would be waiting for our return. They have a complimentary private shuttle from the airport/train for stays of 5 nights or more. Full of Parisian charm, experiencing Ile Saint Louis is a must do when you visit Paris. Enjoy the journey!

Embracing Paris Cafe Life

On By Travels with MelindaIn Food, France, Girls Trip, Paris, Travel, travel apps, travel hacks, travel tips, travelling, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Oh, how I miss the cafe life in Paris! Seemingly on every corner there is a cute bistro with outside and inside seating serving affordable delicious food. Why would anyone cook when you can get your food here? The majority of cafes offer the standard fare including omelets, French onion soup, burgers, pomme frites aka fries and a wide variety of salads. Snails, charcuterie boards and crepes-sure, no problem!

We used the Google translator app on our phones to translate menus from French to English. Our apartment was in a local not tourist neighborhood and English menus weren’t a thing. This helped us avoid menu mistakes. Patti was going to order a salad with salmon until we saw it was smoked not cooked salmon. An older Parisian woman sitting next to us was smoking and drinking Chardonnay while enjoying a lunch of a small serving of smoked salmon. That’s it. No salad, no bread just raw protein. So Parisian!

The waiters were almost always male. Not sure why but just what I’ve observed over many trips all over Paris. Tipping is not a required thing, though if you get great service, some euros handed to the waiter won’t be refused. A basket of bread is usually served for free alongside your meal. You can ask for tap water, which is also free. The rude French service is really a myth. Now, if you present rude behavior then it may happen, but we had lovely service.

Travel tip: Don’t just sit down at a cafe. First, find a member of the wait staff and ask for a table and wait to be seated. They may ask if you want food or just drinks. Depending on time of day, they may not sit you if you aren’t ordering food. They will give you a menu or there will be a QR code to scan. TIP: Put down your menu and close it after you’ve made your food decision, and the waiter will then know to approach to take your order.

One night after a few missteps and lots of walking, we stumbled into a cafe with pizzas and when I spoke with the waiter to get a table and was told it would be a few minutes, I ordered a margherita pizza to get started baking for our very “hangry” group. He was the only waiter for the whole cafe, so the pizza came out before he took the rest of our order and before we had plates or drinks. Like hungry American animals who acted like we hadn’t eaten in days, we ripped into that pizza with our hands. Yum! Later we got our tableware and more food. This waiter was still nice to us despire our behavior, so he got a tip and a hearty Merci beaucoup!

Need to use the facilities? You can either buy a beverage at a cafe and then use the bathroom, usually found in the basement, or you can just march in like you are actually a customer and just don’t make eye contact. Facilities are just for customers, and I get that but there are times when you have to take charge and go.

Bon Appetit. Enjoy the journey!