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Category: Travel Tips

  • How To Plan A Trip with Friends

    The easy guide to getting your next trip out of the group chat

    We’ve all been there. Sending tiktoks to our friends of beautiful locations with the message “we have to go there”. Everyone reacts with enthusiasm, but the trip never happens. What people don’t tell you is that planning a trip with your friends can be an incredibly complicated process involving Olympic-level scheduling and some top-notch accounting to make everyone’s budget work. So how do you plan a trip with friends that actually makes it out of the group chat without losing your mind? Lucky for you, I’ve done it before and am here to share some tips. Here’s how to get your next trip out of the group chat.

    #1 Keep the Group Manageable

    Unless it’s an occasion that absolutely calls for a big crowd, such as a large family vacation or bachelor/bachelorette trip, we are capping the number of people at six. Why? Because it’s the right amount of people to keep planning simple, travel manageable, and conversations fresh so nobody gets tired of each other. Bonus points if you keep it an even number. Bigger groups aren’t impossible, but they require a lot more structure. I’ve traveled with a large group before and it’s hard to be spontaneous. Twelve people can’t just stop in a cute cafe you stumble upon for a coffee, but four people absolutely can.

    #2 The When is Harder to Figure Out Than the Where

    There are so many amazing places to visit, but the first thing to figure out is the timing of the trip. As we all get older, we get busier with more commitments and so the time periods where everyone is actually available becomes extremely limited. One of the easier ways to sort this out is to create a poll for the year. Have your friends tell you when they are free for the whole year, and see what the best time is for everyone. I used a Google Form for my recent girls trip to the Caribbean and it allowed me to figure out all the important details, including the timeframe. Once I had all the answers I needed, I could finally start putting the trip together. If you need some trip & tricks on how to start researching, check out my other post!

    #3 No Dancing Around the Budget

    Once you’ve finalized the time frame of the trip, it’s time to get serious and that means talking about everyone’s least favorite topic: the budget. This is going to be the moment where people either commit or back out. Everyone has different circumstances, and so it’s a key moment between the trip actually happening or not. 

    For this one, it really depends on your friend group and the people you want to go on this trip with. In my friend group we are pretty open about money, and so I had them select various price ranges on a Google Form. In other situations, I’ve provided options to show what is possible at various price ranges. People will either be willing to pay that much and agree to go, and others will not.

    WanderBea Tip: Click here to see an example of the Google Form I always use when planning group trips.

    #4 Transparency is Key

    Traveling is a situation where a lot of people are out of their comfort zones, and so there is always going to be a level of anxiety from someone in the group. That person has even been me some things, and so I’ve learned that as the planner, you’ve got to show the group what you are doing, especially if this trip is to a new place where nobody has been. 

    I create a spreadsheet with the first sheet containing all of the basic information (where, when, how much, etc), and the second sheet containing the more specific details, aka the itinerary as I’m forming it. Those who are more anxious and want to know exactly what we will be doing can, and those who just want to venmo me and get on the plane have that option as well. 

    What To Remember

    When it comes down to it, getting the trip out of the group chat isn’t magic. It’s actually a lot of work, but that work isn’t too bad when you have the right steps in place. And once you’ve done it, it becomes easier every time. So send the TikTok, drop the Google Form in the chat, make the spreadsheet, and watch how quickly the phrase “we should go” turns into “I can’t believe we actually made it.”

    -Happy Planning,

    Bea

  • How to Sleep on an Overnight Flight: 4 Tips that Worked

    How to sleep on a plane has always been a mystery to me. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always struggled to fall asleep — especially on planes. Long-haul flights, cramped economy seats, and the hum of jet engines make restful red-eye travel feel like a fantasy.

    But with my cousin’s wedding kicking off my Greek summer itinerary, I couldn’t afford sleep deprivation.

    How I found this $100 flight to Greece.

    I needed real travel-tested sleep solutions for overnight flights—and fast. So I did what any determined traveler would: researched every sleep hack, packed essentials, and braced myself for disappointment. Much to my surprise, I slept for 3 hours on the flight — my own personal record.

    Curious which air travel tips & tricks actually worked? Here’s what I did to actually get some rest at 30,000 feet.

    Tip #1: Be Prepared with the Essentials

    I came prepared to sleep on this flight, and that was the key to my snoozing success. I packed everything: travel pillow, eye mask, noise-canceling headphones, and my go-to-sleep-aid — Dramamine (not the non-drowsy one). Having the right tools totally changed my mindset – I felt ready and capable of getting some rest.

    My Airplane Sleep Toolkit

    • Bose QuietComfort Headphones
    • A silky sleepmask – I got mine at a hotel years ago, but any sleep mask that blocks out light and is comfy on your face will do. 
    • Dramamine (or any sleep aid that works for you) – I avoid melatonin because it always makes me feel more tired after the flight, but use whatever works for you. 
    • J-Pillow Travel Pillow – The J-Pillow was hands down the best travel pillow I’ve tried.

    Tip #2: Stick to Your Normal Wakeup Routine

    I used to ruin overnight flights by sleeping in and breaking my usual routine before heading to the airport. Travel days were catch-up-on-sleep days because I knew I was doomed on the overnight flight.

    For this flight, I did the opposite and stuck to my everyday routine. I set my alarm, and work up at the same I normally would on a Thursday morning. I went to work in the morning, stayed engaged, ran errands, and knocked out a few last minute chores. No downtime, no nap – just kept moving and grooving throughout the day. 

    Why did I do? Because I was trying to tire myself out. I wanted my body to believe it was bedtime by the time I finally settled into my seat that evening. I’m not saying absolutely kill yourself, but treat your day like your normally would, maybe with a bit of extra productivity. By the time I was on the plane, ate dinner, watched a movie, and put on my headphones, eye-mask, and pillow, I was tired and actually able to fall asleep.

    Tip #3: Embrace the Blue Light Glasses

    Airplane movies are one of the best parts of flying. It’s a time to catch up on movies I haven’t seen or re-watch old movies that are my favorite. So of course, I’m going to watch a movie on the plane before attempting to sleep. But here’s the thing – staring at the screen for long periods of time isn’t exactly setting the stage for sleep.

    That’s where blue light glasses come in. My prescription glasses already have blue light lenses in them, but you can pick up a pair in almost any store. They even sell them at the airport now. Do they guarantee that you’ll fall asleep on the plane? Probably not. But they’re a helpful thing that you can try if you are trying to sleep on a plane, even if it interrupts the Twilight moving marathon that you are having at 30,000 feet.

    Tip #4: You Don’t Have to Skip Dinner

    There’s a lot of sleeping-on-a-plane advice out there that says you should skip the meal on the plane, avoid alcohol, and basically pretend that you are at a health retreat for the next 7+ hours. And hey – if that works for you, more power to you. But if there is one thing you need to know about me, I am not missing the airplane meal that I paid for as part of my ticket and will enjoy all of the goodies – snacks and tiny wine bottles included. 


    On this flight, I ate dinner, had a glass of wine, and still managed to fall asleep for a few hours before I landed. I didn’t overdo it – just had dinner, finished my movie and digested, and then put on my airplane sleep accessories and settled in. If you are super tired, skip the food and get some rest, but don’t feel like you have to do this in order to fall asleep on the plane. Eat, drink, watch a movie, and relax – whatever makes you comfortable if going to be what helps you fall asleep.

    One Restful Flight Later…

    So there you have it—proof that even someone who’s never quite mastered the art of sleeping on planes can finally catch some decent rest with a little planning, a few handy tools, and just the right mindset. I’m not saying I’m suddenly a plane-sleeping pro, but this trip gave me hope that restful travel isn’t completely out of reach. If you’re also like me and convinced yourself that sleeping on a plane is your new arch nemesis, give these tips a try—you might just surprise yourself too. Sweet dreams and safe travels!

  • My Flight Search Tips and Tricks – How to Get the Best Flights Easily

    At least once a day, a travel influencer’s video shows up on my FYP. There they are, lounging in a first-class seat sipping champagne, and raving about how they scored the “deal of the century.” But here’s the truth behind those videos: those influencers have had a lot of practice, and at one point in their life probably spent hours refreshing tabs and comparing prices to find the best deal. 

    We’ve all been there – scrolling the internet, trying to find a flight that works with our schedule and doesn’t break the bank. That is why booking flights will always be the hardest part of planning any vacation because it separates you from planning the trip to actually going on the vacation. Once you click “purchase flight”, the real fun can begin. 

    So how do I make sure I’m getting the best possible deal on airfare? Well I’m about to share my go-to tools, strategies, and favorite travel hacks. Let’s go!

    My Favorite Flight Search Tools

    Whenever I start any flight search, I always go to the same three websites: 

    1. Google Flights
    2. SkyScanner
    3. PointsYeah

    The first two sites are very similar, but I always check both. Sometimes GoogleFlights will uncover a deal with a new low-cost carrier that SkyScanner hasn’t picked up yet – or vice versa – so it’s worth comparing the two to understand all of your options and what the prices look like.

    Wander Bea Tip: Always search in Incognito mode. Sites can track your activity and may bump up prices when they know your looking

    Now, let’s talk about my current obsession: PointsYeah. This tool does all the points and miles math for you. Just plug in your destination, select what rewards programs you are a part of, and you’ll be able to see all the best redemption offers for the day. It even accounts for transfer bonuses – a total game-changer when I booked my summer trip to Greece. (More on that win here!)

    Flexibility is Your Superpower!

    Planning ahead and staying flexible is your greatest superpower when it comes to finding flight deals. Airlines profit from travelers who are locked into specific dates, and so if you can leave a day earlier or return a day later, your chances of getting a better deal become exponentially higher. Taking a weekend trip? Try flying home on a Monday morning before the work day begins. All of the sites I mentioned in my flight search toolkit make this easy with user-friendly, color-coded calendars that highlight the cheapest days to fly.

    Write It Down

    Let’s be real: searching for flights means juggling a lot of information: dates, departure times, layovers, airlines, etc. The best way to stay on top of it all and not forget something? Write it down!

    I keep a simple spreadsheet to track everything. It helps me compare options side-by-side to ensure I am getting the best deal. And honestly, I treat it like my own little travel-hacking trophy.

    Is Flying the Best (or Only) Option?

    Flying somewhere might be the obvious choice – but it is by no means the only one. If you’re traveling within Europe or certain regions of Asia, trains and buses are often cheaper, more scenic, and sometimes a lot less stressful. 

    I’ve even had times where I rented a car and took a road trip. I saved some money and got to stop at a lot of cool places along the way.

    TL;DR – My Flight Booking Formula

    Booking a flight can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve got a lot of people involved. But if you stick to these tips & tricks, you’ll save money, avoid stress, and get to the fun part faster – actually going on vacation! 

    Wander Bea’s Flight Booking Tips

    • Check My Favorite Sites
    • Book Early & Stay Flexible
    • Write Down Your Options
    • Explore All Of Your Options 

    Happy deal hunting,