diy travel

6 Reasons to NOT Take a Cruise Excursion

Leave a comment January 2, 2019 The 2 Idiots

When traveling by cruise, you may feel like the cruise ship has everything under the sun to keep you entertained and show you the world. While that may be true on the ship, it’s when you get on land that they lack the same oomph. Excursions are run by local guides and work on a partnership level with cruise lines. You can trust they have been reviewed and they will get you back to the ship on time, but they don’t give you a chance to explore and discover a new port stop as you would if you were to arrive by plane or train.

How to Do a Cruise Excursion on Your Own

2 Comments January 2, 2019 The 2 Idiots

Just because you are a passenger on a cruise ship does not mean you have to follow the hordes of passengers who disembark to embark on a cruise excursion. Families have the freedom to do exactly what they want in every port – including staying on the ship, should you so choose. Personally, after taking numerous cruises, we learned quickly we would rather do our own thing in port. (In fact, we even have an article on the 6 Reasons to NOT Take a Cruise Excursion.) To us, visiting a place and trying local foods, meeting local people and seeing local neighborhoods enriches a trip and makes any planning worth it. We have a few simple tips to keep in mind when setting off on your own – trust us, we learned the hard way!

Finding The Best Private Tours When You Travel

4 Comments January 29, 2019 The 2 Idiots

Finding and booking reputable private tours can be especially daunting when you are going to a new and unfamiliar city or country. When you don’t have recommendations from friends and all you can do is search, how can you find good private tours (including transportation), not to mention get the best rates?

How do you plan an 8.5 month trip across the world?

4 Comments February 5, 2019 The 2 Idiots

Hello, everyone! It’s AJ here, offering some thoughts on what goes into the planning of an eight-and-a-half-month trip. You may be wondering why I’m flying solo on this one, and the short answer is that I handled 99 percent of the planning for our family’s sabbatical. But don’t worry: Natasha will be writing a first-person post of her own, and it’s bound to be interesting!

One of our favorite pictures from the boat tour in Jinze Water Town with the family and our tour guide

5 Tips For Traveling In Non-English Speaking Foreign Countries

2 Comments June 7, 2019 The 2 Idiots

One of the biggest fears that prevents people from traveling is the fear of not being able to communicate. Visiting a country where English is not widely spoken can definitely be nerve-wracking: How will you find your way? How will you purchase tickets or order a meal? So many “what ifs” may run through your mind, but having visited numerous countries where we couldn’t speak the language, we discovered it’s much easier than you think.

6 Reasons Why a FREE Walking Tour Is Better Than a PAID Walking Tour

Leave a comment May 16, 2019 The 2 Idiots

The best way to get your bearings in a new city is to join a walking tour. In practically every city we traveled, we took a walking tour to learn our way around and get insights from a local. But even more than suggesting everyone take a walking tour in a new place, we suggest a free walking tour. Yes, we understand the obvious reason, but there are many more!

Five Reasons Why an Airbnb is Better Than a Hotel

1 Comment September 18, 2019 The 2 Idiots

Where you stay during a vacation can make or break your entire experience. Years ago, we didn’t have much of a choice other than booking a hotel room. Today, we have Airbnb, and with those, our options are endless. We’re not limited to a single room like we are when we book a hotel. We have an entire house that actually feels like home. Cook meals in a full kitchen, and catch a little break from the kids with separate bedrooms. Want a house with three bathrooms? You got it. Looking for a penthouse suite? Just tick the box under the filters. In a battle between Airbnb vs. a hotel, who would reign supreme? We think Airbnb. Here’s why.

How to find a babysitter when you travel

How To Find Babysitting Help When You Travel? (exclusive book preview)

2 Comments June 28, 2019 The 2 Idiots

It can be extremely daunting to leave a child with a babysitter we just met in a different country. While traveling as a family for 9 straight months, we decided a babysitter was necessary every now and then — we needed and wanted to have dates on our travels. It’s not for everyone to make such a decision; we get it. However, we used a babysitter in Bali, Rome, Lima, Peru, and Santiago, Chile, so we learned a few things. If you are wondering how to use a babysitter during your next trip, our tips may help you feel more at ease.