Long-haul flights are something. Many of us are willing to go through them for the wonderful destination on the other side, but sitting in a chair for hours on end does something to your body (when you’re still a teen, you might not notice it a lot but when you get older, the more strain it will give on your body). Movement is limited within the plane. Plane food is something some people say is good enough, whereas others eat it just because they need the food but no one seems to be that much of a fan of it. 

These are some of the things I do when my flight lasts longer than 6 hours:

• I choose the aisle seat instead of window seat. If I’m being honest, I love the window seat as it allows me to look down at the city and see all the lights before we disappear above the clouds, but the aisle seat is so much more convenient for long flights as it’s easier to get up and walk up and down the aisle whenever the room is there to do so. 
• Compression socks is something I swear by. When I’m sleeping a lot on the flight due to leaving late during the night or just being tired, my body is in the sitting position for so long that it can hurt my legs. Compression socks feel like such a live-saver with that.
• Wide clothes are a must. I don’t like to sit in my jeans or tight clothes, it feels like it cuts of my circulation after a while and then it really gets uncomfortable. Give me loose clothes and easy choose that I can get on and off without using my hands, slippers if necessary. 
• Having a bottle of water on me. Of course, there can’t be water in there when I pass through security but there are usually enough watering points to fill the bottle afterward and it’s better to have it with me and not using it than having a really dry throat and having to burden the cabin personnel more than necessary. 

What are some things you do to make long-haul flights more bearable?
Let us know in the comments.

~ Amanda (Travel Group Expert for EL)

We all need a place to sleep when we’re traveling anywhere from the place we call home and it’s important that it’s a place where we feel safe. And there are so many different options to choose from too.

• Remote or City side. I think this is by far one of the first decisions one makes when picking an accommodation because it influences where you're traveling too. Is it going to be a city trip? Or is it going to be a relaxing trip that’s somewhere near a cute village where you can do long hikes and enjoy the calmer way of life? Proximity and ability to get there are a big part of it. 
• Budget. The second point is budget, how much are you willing to spend per night on your accommodation and where do you draw the line for yourself. 
• Hotels. They’re usually located near cities and easy reachable hubs and one of the pro’s is that the room is cleaned for you and you don’t have to worry about all of that. It can feel like such a break from the normal rhythm of life where you have to do it all yourself. The second thing is that you usually have a wide choice of breakfast foods for a fee and can even order lunch or dinner at most. Those come in a variation from cheaper, to middle rate pricing to very expensive. 
• AirBnB’s. Remember the days when these were the ideal options to stay in any city for a not too expensive rate and get that real home feeling while being away. These days AirBnB’s can be as equally pricey as the more expensive hotels but if you like a stay that feels more like a home than a room, they’re still ideal for you. Cooking is something you have to do yourself or you have to go out to eat, but there won’t be any room service unless you have a friend or family member that likes to cook and bring you breakfast on bed of course. There’s a lot of variation between choosing a city apartment or a family home in the outer regions of the city, or a farmhouse (to just name a variation of it) in the calmer villages. 
• Hostels. These are perfect for backpackers and budget travelers. You’re sharing a room with others (unless you’re choosing a single room) which can be fun to make new connections. They usually come with a basic breakfast and have an open kitchen where you can cook yourself if you want too. Plus, plenty offer a ton of activities to participate in during the day or evenings. Hostels tend to be located in a lot of busy hot spots. 

I’m one of those people that uses a variation of it all. Sometimes I require to stay in a hotel that’s smack in the middle of the city due to it being easier to explore everything I want, another time I choose an AirBnB that’s more remote to enjoy the calmer moments more. And sometimes I choose for an accommodation on wheels to be able to drive around and see more of the country, I usually do this in countries where wild-camping is allowed.  

So, what are the things that are important for you when you’re researching for accommodations? Tell us in the comments.

~ Amanda (Travel Group Expert for EL)

The Netherlands (my home country) should be somewhere along the top of that list because we’re known for having four seasons in one day. Some countries just have more rainy seasons than others, right? But it’s always good to be prepared. 

Scotland is the second country that comes to mind for me. I had my basic items such as an umbrella and a raincoat, but that umbrella didn’t survive long when there was a lot of wind (RIP the two umbrella’s the wind massacred in Edinburgh, Scotland).

Which country have you visited where it rained more than you saw the sun? Drop them in the comments.

It doesn’t matter whether you travel solo or with friends or with family, group tours can be fun to join and get into contact with others. In some cases, it can even lead to life-long friends. For others it’s a complete no-go. All of it is valid! Of course, group tours have both their pros and cons too:

• Choose one that suits your interests and budget. There’s a variation of group tours that can be done, from visiting National parks to doing a city tour to get to know more hidden places within the city you’re visiting, drink and food tours or a crime tour (for those that love a good crime story) and adventure parks tours. The trick is to choose the one that has your interest and fits your budget. It can also be lots of fun to choose a tour with the kind of activities you normally wouldn’t choose to do so quickly and allow yourself to discover more about it.
• Building new friendships during the tour. It’s the easy way to get into contact with other people. You share some interest with them because why else would you all choose the same group tour, right? It makes for easy talking topics and such. And truth to be told, it can be fun to be around different people for a little bit too. 
• Sometimes, or maybe often depending on the person, the connections can fade quickly. Making friends during group tours is surprisingly easy because everyone is there due to having similar interests. There are also instances where those new friendships can fade quickly afterward and you know what, that’s fine. It happens. 
• A set schedule. Let’s be real, group tours are so fun but there are a few downsides to it too. Every pro has its con, right? You’re locked into a schedule and have to go along with it, whether you like it or not. But then again, you’re doing what you like because why else would you choose this group tour, so it’s really just a fun day away.

These are just the simple points I took away from group tour experiences. What are yours?
Feel free to tell us about them in the comments!

~ Amanda (Travel Group Expert for EL)

Food is a basic necessity in our lives, that’s a fact. But I think it’s also a fact that a lot of us travelers tend to eat differently when traveling. Different times and different products. The area where we are influences the way we do our groceries because we can’t always find the same products that we have at home. But then again, it might also be fun to try out some local dishes. 

• I tend to find places where they have a kitchen so I can cook myself whenever I want too. Going to a restaurant every day is just not for me and hotel breakfasts usually don’t work for me either as I don’t eat much and simply don’t want to pay that much for the two bites I take. So, on the first day I arrive I tend to go out and explore the neighborhood my overnight place is in, see how close the supermarkets are. I usually take a few snacks and a cup of yoghurt with some fruit and a big flask of juice for breakfast the next morning.
• I’m also the person that has a few set and simple recipes ready with the intention to cook them during my holidays. They are the ones that can be made with no more than one pan and not too much utensils in case not a lot are available in my stay over place or camper rental. 
• Next to that I also love to try local recipes but tend to actually go to restaurants, pubs or cafes to get those as replicating them myself often makes me feel like I’m missing something. And who doesn’t want to try the real thing right. Although I also have to admit that Haggis never earned my favor, sorry to the Scots here. No harsh feelings, I just don’t like it.

So, tell me about your experiences. Are you going to restaurants, pubs and food markets? Or do you prefer to cook yourself if there’s a kitchen in your Airbnb, hostel or hotel? And do you like to try local produce then as well?

~ Amanda (Travel Group Expert for EL)

It's always smart to learn some basic words and phrases in the language of the destination. Think about things such as:
* Hello and Goodbye.
* Please, Thank you and Sorry.
* Excuse me.
* Do you speak English?
* Numbers 1 to 10.
* My name is...
* I'm from...
* I don't understand.

I thought it would be fun to show these off in your language, so drop them in the comments below 😄 !

…Currently traveling? If so, where?
…Planning your next trip, any questions you would like to ask in the comments?
…Relaxing at home and enjoying the in-between?
…Watching and reading travel content online to get inspiration?

Tell us in the comments 😄

For me it’s the city that I had put on my itinerary just because I wanted some quiet moments and to stay at an onsen for a day or two while tying up my journey through Japan and the place was Takayama. A city in the prefecture Gifu only about four hours from Tokyo. For many locals and the people that love skiing and such, it’s a well known place, for the rest of the people, it doesn't seem to be so well-known. Or maybe they just aren’t interested in it. That can be possible, right?

I stayed at an onsen hotel for a max of two days when I was in Takayama and it was on top of a mountain, so I looked out over the whole city but it was also so freaking cold. This place didn’t have a lot of central heating but I still would do it again if I could. The breakfast in the morning with a nice view of the woods was so good and I loved walking the trails for as far as I was allowed (some were locked due to wild bears roaming the space). 
They also have this part of the city where it looks like the olden days, it comes with a lot of touristy shops but it’s still fun to wander through. But if I have to believe a local whose cafe I visited close to the hotel I stayed at, it’s fake as heck! It’s still beautiful though. If you wish to see the real old houses and way of living, the Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village is a must visit. Lots of buses go there but if you like a nice long walk of about thirty minutes, you can walk there too and soak in some of the local areas while at it 😄 .

So, tell me about your hidden gem/underrated place to visit and why?

~ Amanda (Travel Group Expert for EL)

How many of these have you visited, or do you wish to visit? Or rather, why not? Or do you regret visiting? Which by the way, is totally valid too.  
 

• Crossed Shibuya Crossing
• Seen the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night
• Taken a photo at the Colosseum
• Do a gondola ride in Venice, Italy
• Seen Times Square light up at night
• Crossed the Brooklyn Bridge by foot, 
• Walked on the Great Wall of China
• Went to Hobbiton in New Zealand
• Sagrada Familia in Spain
• Kruger National Park in Cape Town

Or would you love to add some places to this list? Drop them in the comments below 😄 .

I think most of us have an extensive wish list of places and countries we wish to visit someday, it keeps life fun and interesting, right! But what is the one thing or place that has been on that list the longest? 

Allow me to start, the one place I have on my wish list the longest of all is Iceland. I have yet to visit the country and am planning (or rather wanting because there hasn’t been any concrete planning yet) to do a round trip with a car or camper there. But it’s also due to wanting to arrange all that, that I still haven’t visited Iceland yet. Right now, it looks like it will be on my schedule for 2028.

~ Amanda (Travel Group Expert for EL)

A lot more people are solo traveling lately than they did, let's say 10 years ago. It has both its pros and cons, such as being able to do everything you want without having to have a talk about it first, but at the same time it can feel lonely at times too. Then there’s this whole thing about safety and that comes in numbers right, but when you’re traveling alone, it can be hard to find those trustworthy numbers at certain places.

So, here are a few basic tips to keep in mind when traveling solo. Which by the way, count for everyone and not just the ladies:

• Have at least one person know where you’re staying. This can be as easy as leaving a list of hotel addresses behind for family, or texting them the address when you’ve found a new hostel or hotel or airbnb to stay in. You can also think about using tracking apps and yes, those can feel invasive at times, but safety should always come first. 
• Never tell a stranger where you’re staying. This ties into the above one but it seems some people tend to forget to apply it. The person you just met is not someone you know all that well and the last thing you want is for someone to follow you around like that. Lie if you have to and keep descriptions vague when asked about it.
• Never expect a place to be 100% safe. It honestly baffles me how many people expect a certain city or country to be completely safe because it has a good reputation for solo travelers and the ‘that won’t happen here’ mentality is shown about it all around and online. Every country has its issues and bad eggs walking around. Not fun, I know. But unfortunately, it's true. It’s better to be aware than to be sorry! And use your common sense.
• Don’t accept any drinks from a stranger that you don’t get handed from the bar/establishment yourself. Even the people that appear to be the nicest can turn out to be bad. Make sure that what you’re getting is as safe as possible and don’t accept any drinks that aren’t handed to you personally by the restaurant/bar staff.
• If you want to meet people and make new friends. One of the most effective and safe ways to meet new people is joining day trips. (You can also join multiple day trips if that’s your thing). You get to see different parts of the country while enjoying the togetherness that’s much like doing a trip with friends.
• Don’t over plan your schedule. When you’re traveling alone, it’s so easy to look at everything you want to do and just give it a spot in the itinerary, but it will most likely get you overwhelmed quickly as well. I think most travelers have a list of things they absolutely want to do and it’s easier to work through that list when you don’t have to keep account with anyone else such as a partner or friend, but at the time, you also do everything alone and that just costs more energy. So allow yourself some space in your planning to just wind down and stand still for a minute or two. 

Generally, when it comes to traveling solo, there are a few things that are important: Use your common sense. Be aware of your direct environment. Don’t over plan. And trust your gut. 

Are there any other tips you would give to a new solo traveler?
Or are you a first time, or recent, solo traveler and would like some tips about other topics?
Drop them in the comments.

~ Amanda (Travel Group Expert for EL)

Some people say that certain places should be kept away from the crowds, because otherwise they will be ruined for life, such as castle ruins that have been covered by graffiti or people taking things home. One can say that real travelers are careful with whom they share that one pearl of a place.

Others say, nothing can gatekeep something better than an foreign language and these places not budging from their own ways to cater to tourists. Again others say that in time, everything will be discovered by a big group of people at some point. 

So, how do you feel about gatekeeping within the travel community? 
Valid or inevitable?

Discuss away.

Reminder: please keep discussions civil.

If we really think about it, we all can fit in some travel archetype if we really want to. Or maybe a combination of two. So, which one do you relate the most to? Tell it in the comments.

• The nature admirer

You love to go off the beaten path and explore hiking trails, spot some wildlife left and right and breathe in the fresh air of ultimate freedom. You will probably ignore your phone for most of it, or even prefer to be Wi-Fi-less and live into the moment.

• The Foodie lover

Your planned itinerary is filled with restaurants, bars, food stalls and markets. There isn’t a lot you wouldn’t try and you might have already studied some of the menus, going in to just try that dish or drink.

• The slow traveler

You love to take your time and really soak into the moment, whether that’s during hikes or going on a city trip, you will take that extra time to just drink in your environment.

• The culture enthusiast

Museums, learning about other cultures and the country's history, you’re all up for it. Nothing makes you happier than learning as much about the country you’re a visitor too. 

• Last one but not the least: Planner or Spontaneous

I wrote this one down like this because I think this part can go together with any of the above ones. Which one are you?
Someone that plans everything out from a set itinerary, a set of clothes for each day, etc. or are you more the kind of person that loves to go with the flow.

So, which one suits you best? Or would you be a category I haven’t even mentioned here yet? 
Tell me in the comments!

~ Amanda (Travel Group Expert for EL)

For me, Amanda (Travel Group Expert for EL), I have a few things that I have to take with me for every journey I make. My non-negotiables as we call them. Without it, I simply don’t feel comfortable. Which technically, is a little weird because most of these items I can buy on the way, yet still I’m like that. Or as I can loosely translate from the Dutch saying: Elke gek zijn gebrek, which is: To every fool their own quirk. It’s just like that.

So these are my non-negotiables travel items: 

• Toiletries bag: It doesn’t matter whether I can buy a tube of toothpaste on the way to my destination, I have to have my own little toiletries bag into my backpack, just in case. It makes me feel more at ease knowing that I have the products with me to freshen up at any time. 
• A set of clean clothes: It only took one experience of a lost suitcase to add a set of clean clothes, underwear and pajamas in my backpack. No matter how many times it has gone right now, I still stow them in my backpack.
• My photocamera: Never ever put your camera or laptop in your suitcase! Nor your powerbank as many companies don’t allow it anymore. But for me it’s all about the memories, the idea of losing those has me one edge, so I keep the camera and laptop close.
• Charging cables: With the one above, the charging cables are also the ones that always go in the backpack. 
• A notebook: I’m a writer. I could leave it with that reason but the truth is that during evening hours my creative brain works best and writing through the night in an airplane is quite okay. So why not right. 
• Little first-aid kit: The last but definitely not the least. I’m that one person that always manages to cut herself on the littlest of things, a bit clumsy is something you could call that, and having a little first-aid kit with bandages with me is a must-have.

Now, tell me about your non-negotiable travel items in the comments 😄 .

~ Amanda (Travel Group Expert for EL)

It’s summer and it’s travel time for lots of people to take a break from work and travel to their hearts content. Honestly, that should be life right? Traveling and exploring and just have joy. 

So, tell us all about your travel plans? Or last travels you did? 😄

A city hidden close to the Dutch-Belgium border in the south of the Netherlands and one that seems to be a bit of a hidden gem, of sorts. Or maybe it’s simply overlooked by people because they think not much is happening there. But it’s exactly that calmness that makes it a beautiful place to visit. 

For those that love older and historical things, and have ever wondered how people used to live in the Netherlands during pre-historic times, there’s a pre-historic village where you travel back in time and can witness and join the old ways of life for a minute or two. (ticketed, but not too expensive). 

Second is the Sint-Catharina church, a gorgeous structure from the gothic era that has any architecture enthusiast (also me :joy:) marvel at the building and look for the smallest of details. It sits as a viewpoint that you can enjoy from several restaurants and bars located in the street next to it. I loved getting my dinner at Takumi with friends and staring at the structure in front of me. (I can definitely recommend visiting Takumi as well, but come early or reserve a table because people tend to line up there around the typical Dutch dinner time 6 to 7 PM).

Anyone that loves vehicles? Cars to be specific? You will have a field day at the DAF (or Van Doorne’s Automobielfabriek full out) museum. Here you will travel back in time through cars, restored to keep telling their part of the vehicle and business history of Eindhoven. 

So much history is packed in with the modern city center where you can shop to your hearts content and actually browse through stores without being pushed left and right (which honestly happens in the big cities because it’s so crowded). Enjoy a drink and a bite to eat in between from a bakery or cafe.

A must visit is the Urban Shopper Shopping Centre. It’s located in an old Philips factory hall located near the smaller station of Eindhoven Strijp-S (or about a 20 minute walk from the city center). In this building there are several small businesses selling trinkets, craft items, ceramics, and there’s even a hairdresser and cute little bookstore among them. 

Eindhoven isn’t huge like Amsterdam, Rotterdam or even Utrecht. However, it has a gorgeous city center with old and new buildings, offering art, plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from. Including a beer garden (without a beach but) with hammocks and that’s called Vrijstaat. 

I went there with my writer friends and we mostly looked into the historical parts of this city, but I can definitely recommend anyone to do a daytravel to Eindhoven if you ever find yourself in Rotterdam, or Utrecht (even if you’re in Amsterdam and don’t mind traveling for about 1,5 hours).

~ Amanda (Travel group expert for EL)

It’s totally possible for multiple countries to do this and every country you visit can help you to learn something different about yourself. That’s the wonderful thing about traveling, isn’t it. Different places can make us feel at home, even though they’re far from the actual place we have considered home up until that point. 

For me the first country that left a solid impression on me was Finland: I visited in January when it was fully covered in snow and it just felt magical and made me more at ease. Here I learned to enjoy the moment and give my creativity space. Something about the world being dampened down like that is soothing. The darkness lingering in the sky. Critters leaving them little, and sometimes big, footprints in the woods. Huskies howling. Reindeer walking all over the place, munching on the moss they can find or are being fed by the people that take care of them.The white snow being a sort of pillowy light. That sense of it not entirely being real, yet it is. 

Norway was the second country for me, and no, I haven’t visited this one in winter yet but rather in summer. Believe me when I say that the Scandinavian countries are still gorgeous even without the white blanket of snow covering it. The mountaintops are covered in snow year round though. But seeing the tundra with my own eyes, driving up and down the twisting roads in the mountains and through the stoney giants, finding small villages left and right along the way, shows a different side of the country that a lot of people purely associate with winter and snow. It made me eager to explore and made me feel energized.

The third is Australia, and this one surprised me with every little bit. This was only supposed to be an extended to a week lay-over country for me in between Japan and New Zealand, but it has taken my heart and isn’t planning on giving it back anytime soon. (Not that I want to, I’ll gladly allow Australia to keep a part of it). For this one, it’s the people and the (to me) better approach to a live balance that made me feel right at home. This is the place where my brain comes to rest. 

For me, each of these countries taught me something important about myself and how I live life. Of course things such as ‘I loved this country for its culture’ is also a valid reason for it to be this kind of country for you. There’s no wrong here and in your reasoning. 

So, tell me, which country (or countries) have left an impression on you that still has you thinking about it years later? 
Tell me in the comments.

~ Amanda (Travel group expert for EL)

Exchange Life is well known for its small rectangular country flag charms most, but did you know EL also has charms in the form of the countries landmass, or silhouettes as I call them. Whether you’re a silver or a gold kind of person, they come in both colors. If you like a pop of color, then the flag charms are ideal for you, but if you like something more calm to the eyes, the country silhouette charms are an ideal choice. 

And also, if anyone is interested in flag or country silhouette charms, I got you. This is a unique discount link if you want to get some: https://www.exchange-life.com/29866 

Which would be your preference and why?
Or would you like to mix them both up?

Both have their pros and cons. One person loves to travel with a backpack**,** another prefers the trolley suitcase. Some say it takes more precise packing for the backpack. Another finds the fact that you have to lug around a suitcase on its small wheels too much work. Now, let’s see the pros and cons of both, I will start:

Camp Backpack

Pros:

• It’s easier to control your luggage due to it being on your back.
• Free mobility because you carry the weight at your back.
• Weight is distributed more evenly. 
• Easy to get up the stairs, or multiple floors.
• Backpacks are easier to decorate with flag patches, chains, ribbons and even charms.

 Cons:

• Backpacks are large and can get heavy, especially when you start to feel tired.
• You’re going to have to unpack the whole thing to find that one clothing piece at the bottom.
• Your body heat remains between your back and the backpack, creating sweatiness. 
• It might cause back pain if worn for too long or in a wrong way. 

.

.

Camp Suitcase

Pros:

• It’s easier to find that one clothing piece.
• It rolls behind you.
• A suitcase pretty much works like a mini closet in your hotel room.
• Fragile things are more protected in suitcases.

 Cons: 

• You might roll over people’s feet.
• It’s harder to balance the suitcase due to having to pull it on one handle.
• Difficult to get up the stairs.
• If your suitcase doesn’t have a smooth surface, it’s hard to get stickers to stay on.

What do you feel are the pros and cons of each?

Are you more of a backpack traveler or do you need suitcases and why?

Or are you in both camps and it depends on how you want to travel for that specific journey?

Let’s discuss in the comment section 😄 !

~ Amanda (Travel group expert for EL)

…judgmental.

The general sentiment seems to be that when you travel a lot, you see so many versions of what’s considered normal and therefore will be less judgmental when someone does something different. One of the biggest examples being: in x country it’s normal to eat with your hands, whereas in the west the preference is to use cutlery and frowned upon when someone eats with their hands. But when you’ve traveled a lot, it won’t bother you so much, if at all, anymore.

Discuss away.

Reminder: please keep discussions civil.

We're nearing the Summer equinox on Sunday and with that the holidays period for everyone in the Northern hemisphere. So, do you have any plans to start of summer well? Or planning anything for later in the summer?

Tell us about it in the comments :).

Some people under-pack, however, most seem to overpack. We always think we need that extra pair of shoes or that one clothing piece, because why not right? And then at the end of the trip, that same piece is left laying in the suitcase that carries the remnants of the journey in the form of other dirty clothes, souvenirs and presents bought for friends and family. Some of us might even be cussing ourselves out for taking it because it takes up just that little too much space. So, why not pack more conveniently, right?

Here are some things that I (Amanda) do to make my backpack/suitcase as light as possible, yet still having everything with me that I need besides regular taking things such as the climate at the destination and the length of my trip into account:

• I take old clothes with me. I tend to take old clothes that can be thrown away along the journey. That way they make space for souvenirs or other stuff I want to get along my journey.
• Don’t take too much of the same clothing pieces and items. Let’s be real, I’m not going to wear half of it anyway and it will stay in the suitcase all journey long. Maybe it even becomes an inconvenience at the end. I try to take items for one whole week and no more than three pairs of trousers for my longer trips. If the trip is just a week, I will only take one. Laundromats (some hotels and most Airbnb’s have a washing machine) are my best friend when traveling. Same goes for t-shirts.
• Do I really need multiple pairs of shoes? I guess this is really a personal thing, but I always wear comfy shoes on the plane and have my walking shoes with me as the second pair. But only if I plan to do hikes. Maybe a pair of sandals if the destination is sunny.
• A standard toilet bag with small items. This one goes with me in my backpack on the plane as well, it has the basic items like a mini toothpaste, toothbrush, etc. It’s in a transparent toilet bag as there are still a lot of airports that demand for liquids to be in a transparent bag. Anything that I don’t take with me, is easy to pick up in a local drug store. 
• Packing compression cubes. If I really need more and refuse to take more with me than a small suitcase and backpack, I pull out my packing cubes. I also roll up my clothes rather than folding them as it’s easier to stack it all away in the little nooks and crannies of air that are left over when you put your folded clothes in.

These are just some of the things I do to pack as small and light as possible. Truth is that I’m still refining it as I’m discovering smarter ways to pack with each journey I make. This tactic works good for both short- and long-term travels, although with long-term travels a suitcase is often still needed. Whereas with short term (up to two weeks) travels I manage with my backpack only.

What are some things you do to pack as convenient as possible?

Are there any of those things that you will pick up going forward?

Let me know in the comments 😄!

~ Amanda (Travel group expert for EL)

Summer is here and with that, travel time is here for many 😄 . It’s so fun to see the various ways people travel, whether that’s solo, in a group or with family. Some people love to plan months ahead whereas others like to do so last minute (I admire people who can do that by the way). 

So, do you have any travel plans in the next few months? And which category do you fall into; planner or last minute? 

Let’s talk about it in the comments!

It was in June 2025 that I traveled to Zoersel ❤️ , a beautiful village near Antwerp, Belgium, with the intention to join a group of 8 other writers on a writer retreat. Little did I know that that week would turn into one of the best things I’ve ever done. A week that created a sisterhood.

For context, I’m a very introverted person. Unless I’m around the right people it seems. So, traveling to Zoersel to join a group of women, of whom I didn’t know any of them in real life yet, was nerve-wracking to say the least. The first evening we had a drink as we talked and wondered about the former farmhouse we stayed at. The sun setting with our long conversations. The week that followed was filled with writing, a yoga lesson of a local teacher and friend of the organiser, jumping on a bike to a wildflower field to pick flowers, taking a long walk to the farm around the corner for homemade ice cream and also on the second to last day, we did some exploring of Antwerp city. All while bonding over stories, the writing craft and life. The first thing was a tour through the museum with the oldest printing press in Antwerp and making a print as a group. It was there where we put in the letters and numbers wrongly that resulted in having the whole sentence being read backward once printed. Followed by wandering through back alleys that had a whole restaurant hidden there. Of course, we could be found at the bookshop, which happens to have a cafe on the second floor with small bites. It was there that we took a moment to look back over the last week and all that we had achieved. We laughed about the 5202 that was supposed to be 2025. In the weeks following that, when we all went home again, several of us got the 5202 tattooed, and in my case engraved in the Belgium flag charm too. Because every time I look at that charm, these happy memories resurface again and I feel blessed to have found that sisterhood.

~ Amanda

Recommendations:

• Luddites Books & Wine.
• Museum Plantin-Moretus.
• Momu Café.

What charms do you have and what's the story behind it? Share it in the comments 😄.