Traveling is not always easy to do and there are sometimes circumstances that limit travel. In early 2020, that’s the (nearly) worldwide quarantine. What’s a traveler to do? READ. The following YA travel books changed my life and I credit it with my decision to move abroad. It wasn’t the only factor, but it was a strong one all the same. Though I never imagined I’d be living in Mexico (since 2017), here I am and this incredible book series played a huge part in my decision.
We like spending time outside swimming. Children’s rash guard shirts are great for helping protect their skin from the harsh rays of the sun. Even if your kids don’t mind using sunscreen, rash guards can allow people to stay outside longer, without fear of getting burnt or forgetting to reapply the sunscreen. Let’s find some of the best rash guards for kids!
Knowing I was heading to Cozumel, I wondered: Are there ruins in Cozumel, Mexico? Yes! The Mayan ruins, Cozumel, called San Gervasio, are located in the northern third of the island in the state Quintana Roo. Though some of the lesser visited ruins in the Yucatan peninsula, the San Gervasio Mayan ruins are an absolutely fascinating piece of Maya history and definitely worth a visit! I definitely recommend checking out the ruins. Read on to see how easy it is to do it!
This year, our new tradition of going to the beach during the second week of December was thrown off due to our new school schedule. On a whim, I checked the prices for the week of my birthday. To my surprise, Cozumel was affordable and heck yes, I booked the trip! The third week of November we were off to stay at the Allegro Cozumel on Cozumel Island, Mexico. My husband visited the Allegro Cozumel several years ago. I felt comfortable booking this hotel based on his experience, without reading any Cozumel Allegro reviews. The other plus was that there was a water park for the kids. How did we get on?
I love to read about what people have been up to during the year. Yes, I genuinely enjoy reading Christmas letters from friends and family, from those few who still send them. Being connected through social media is great for day to day, but it has taken its toll on old fashioned letter-writing. 2019 was an interesting year for my expat life, and I did manage a fair amount of traveling.
Where did we travel? How’d it go? What was my favorite destination? All the answers are here!
Are you considering staying overnight near Mexico City airport, in order to board your flight the following morning? If you aren’t staying in Mexico City for long or you’d like to be closer when you have a flight the next day, the Hotel Camino Real is a great option for families.
We recently took the bus from Queretaro to the Airport (Terminal 1) and stayed for one night in the Camino Real Hotel Mexico City Airport. Our family had arrived late enough in the day that going out and exploring Mexico City wasn’t on our radar. We wanted to eat and have a swim.
Big thanks to Andrew for this awesome post about exploring in our own backyards, in this case Carriage Hill, Dayton, Ohio, USA. Even if Dayton isn’t your backyard, this post is meant to inspire others to seek out new adventures close to home, in lieu of always traveling far away. There is likely plenty to see within a few hours of your current location!
Often when we think of travel we imagine ourselves far away from home. Usually hopping on a plane and going somewhere tropical but that doesn’t have to be the case. The truth is that adventure is always lurking in your back yard and often it’s affordable. Sure, it may not be as glamorous as a whirlwind European tour but sometimes you have to take what you can get. My backyard is Ohio so I hope to highlight some fun, affordable, and overlooked spots for you to visit.
Halloween is a holiday that really appeals to my theatrical side. I still dress up, even if I don’t necessarily go all out nowadays. Here are some great Halloween costumes, because even expats and travelers need costume ideas! You may already own most of the costume. Some are practical and can be worn again after Halloween. All are fairly compact and will travel well.
As always, please be aware that there are things that could be very offensive in other cultures. I strongly recommend researching customs in the area you are living or visiting before dressing up. When in doubt, don’t. For expats living in and travelers going to the USA for Halloween, almost anything goes. Enjoy these funny Halloween costumes!