

Healing Through Adventuring // My 2016 Travel Year in Review
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At the beginning of this year, if someone had told me I would be where I was today, I never would have believed them. In January 2016, I came back to university after my Christmas break. I also started to plan a Eurail trip for my extensive spring break, which I was very excited about. But looking back at my travel year in review? Yeah, none of that happened.
The Bad
At the end of February, I was visiting a different university and strongly considering making the move from London to Scotland for the next school year.
In March, I was on a plane back home for the weekend, and once more a week later home for good. I canceled my Eurail trip and had no plans of returning to my London university. In the midst of a seriously low point in my life filled with and dominated by depression and anxiety, I was not fit to continue schooling – let alone travel around Europe on my own for six weeks. All of my hopes hinged on an application to a new university that very well could have been lost in cyberspace. We took a family road trip to Nashville, and I smiled for the camera.
The Recovery
Fast forward a month later and I’m slowly recovering with a trip to New York City. It was my first time since I was eight years old, and my eyes were still as wide as they had been eleven years before.
From New York, it was on to DC for a few days to celebrate my boyfriend’s birthday with him in his hometown.
When I got home, I received my acceptance letter, and couldn’t have been happier.
May brought a cross-country road trip and another trip to D.C.
June was a month of firsts: my first time in Canada, my first time crossing a country’s border in a car, my first time taking a trip with a significant other, and my first time using Airbnb. Everything went swimmingly and I couldn’t have been happier.
I spent my July and August in the closest place to home that isn’t home: northern Minnesota, working at a German language immersion camp. And I couldn’t have been happier.
The Good
In September, I moved across the pond for the second time and felt an immediate sense of belonging. Soon enough, I was completely head over heels with my little Scottish town.
October meant a quick train trip and two nights in the attic of a castle.
November was a big one, with weekend trips to visit an old exchange student in Germany and to Barcelona.
Finally, in December I traveled 24 hours to get home and another 12 to make it to Panama. There, I rang in the new year to a sky filled with fireworks. And I couldn’t be happier.
MY FAVORITE TRAVEL TIPS & RESOURCES
Booking Flights: The first place I turn when I’m searching for flights is actually just Google Flights - it’s great to figure out what sort of routes are available. Then, I check Skyscanner and Kiwi for deals. I also love Kiwi for its destination: anywhere feature!
Transportation: I love Omio for figuring out the cheapest way to get from one place to another, and Trainline for booking train tickets within Europe.
Accommodations: I absolutely love Booking.com for finding great hotel deals. After you stay a certain number of nights, you get Genius discounts! For hostels, Hostelworld is my go-to, and I use Airbnb occasionally as well (click here for $40 off your first booking!)
Travel Insurance: I knew that I shouldn’t travel without insurance for the longest time, but I really learned my lesson when I got an infected cut in Bali. Thank goodness I had travel insurance! I use and love World Nomads for their extremely comprehensive coverage.
Travel Insurance: I knew that I shouldn’t travel without insurance for the longest time, but I really learned my lesson when I got an infected cut in Bali. Thank goodness I had travel insurance! I use and love World Nomads for their extremely comprehensive coverage.
Tours: I always check Urban Adventures for great day tours of cities first–I’m obsessed with them! GetYourGuide and Viator are also great options. For multi-day tours, I highly recommend Intrepid.
Camera Gear: I use a Sony Alpha A6300 camera with an 18-105 mm lens and a 35 mm lens. My tripod is the MeFoto Backpacker Air and I loooooove it! I also use a DJI Mavic Air and a GoPro and which allow me to capture everything my regular camera can’t.
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