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• Cruises

Best invention ever. You get on a boat with all the amenities you can wish for and it takes you to the most fabulous countries, cities and islands in the world, without having to repack, get on crowded transportation and airplanes, keeping track of time and papers, and all the un-fun stuff that traveling brings. Cruises let you experience the entirety of Earth (well, anywhere with a coast) in a safe, fun and friendly environment. They basically eliminate all the disadvantages that backpacking my bring. You don't have to lock up your valuables because you have a private room and can leave all items in there, you don't have to have a buddy system because you are on a boat in the middle of the ocean, you don't have to cram in a full schedule of site-seeing and activities because the cruise activities director does it for you, or you can just sun-bathe all day on the lido deck, and you don't have to worry about transportation because you are on a boat. I have been on two cruises, Mexican Riviera and Caribbean, and I had the best time. I prefer companies that include everything on the boat in the price you pay, like Carnival. That way you don't get caught at the end of your trip with a massive bill; that isn't the last memory you want. And cruise prices aren't as expensive as people think. Many great sites have last minute deals, family packages and local discounts. And since there are many different cruise lines to choose from with hundreds of destinations, something will be sure to catch your eye. Imagine, sunning on your own private deck, while the kids are engaged in one of the many age-appropriate activities, with an ice-cold beverage heading towards a pristine island. I call that a vacation.

• Currency

This seems like a potential problem for travelers when really, it is quite easy to exchange currencies and use ATM machines in other countries. I would suggest having some money on you before you leave for your trip of the country you are flying into. But numerous of times I took out money using my American ATM card in airports. Just make sure you use an American bank that deals with international travel and business. Look into banks with low foreign fees and 24 hour international customer service. Something is bound to happen, though hopefully not too monumental. However, if it does (which it did to me plenty of times; blocked debit and credit cards, stolen, not compatible) don't panic and don't let this ruin your opinion of the country or your trip. Everything is fixable. Just make sure you call your bank and tell them the length of your trip and your destinations, if you happen to be traveling to more exotic and less known countries, perhaps call your bank more frequently to ensure they don't put a security block on your account. It happened to me a lot and got quite frustrating, especially when you deal with a different employee each time you call. Now, there are tons of exchange places, dozens of them, lined on every street. Be observant on which ones offer the most for your exchange. Forex seemed to be pretty good in my opinion. And remember to save a few coins or bills (depending on their worth of course) for an easy to carry home memento.

• Comforts

By comforts I mean little pieces of home that you might want to bring with you while you are away. This might help with homesickness or bring a little cheer on a everythings-gone-wrong kinda day. My grandma gave me a little silver guardian angel coin that was easy to bring everywhere and it made me smile. I also took pictures of my house and yard to look out if I got sad, which especially came in handy during the dark, cold winter months in Sweden (I'm from San Diego). More comforts include a pillowcase, backpack, piece of jewelry or book. Of course don't bring anything too valuable or personal just in case anything happens to it. If it brings out a smile on a winter day or a deep breath in a chaotic city, then it has done it's job.

• Couchsurfing

Alright. So I never tried this myself but all my friends swore by it when they traveled. Couchsurfing.com is a website dedicated to travelers and the cities they visit. Anyone can join as long as they have a bed/couch/room to post on the site for someone to use. It is completely free and gives travelers a chance to meet new people and see a city from the perspective of a local while getting free boarding. The commitment from the host person can range from showing their guest around and making dinner to just letting them sleep on the couch. And if you feel uncomfortable at any moment you can leave. There is no contract that you have to stay so many nights. If you on more on the adventurous side and travel with a limited budget, this is definitely for you. Personally, I have looked into but couldn't sum up enough courage to take the leap. But it is always there to try. Safe Travels!