Gatwick, in April on my way to the Dominican Republic

If you, like me, are going to spend umpteen hours on a plane this holiday season — and in the back of the plane no less — it helps to be prepared. Over the years, I’ve flown hundreds of thousands of miles all around the world and I’ve really learned that you can never be too prepared. One of my worst flights was a few years back, when I loaded up my iPad with movies and TV shows for the long flight from Chicago to Amman Jordan, only to get on the plane and realize I had no battery left on my iPad. Also, the entertainment system on the plane was also broken. (#firstworldproblems, I know.)

The long stretch of boringness during that Amman flight still serves as a powerful, simple lesson for me all these years later. So starting with that, let me give you this gift. My holiday travel tips for 2015..

1. Make sure your iPad is full of good stuff — movies, TV shows, books, and games — before you get on a plane. (I like logic problems, myself.)

2. Make sure your iPad is also fully charged before you get on a plane.

3. Stop saying “It’s impossible for me to sleep on planes.” Try to sleep during your flight. My mindset now is “I must sleep!! I must sleep or I will die!” My family lives in Florida, so by the time I get from London to Florida, I am exhausted. (Especially when I have to connect through Newark like this upcoming flight.) I like to think I am a relatively calm person, but I can tell you that family squabbles are not infrequent within an hour or two of my arrival. I don’t know whose fault this is, but I’m much calmer about it all if I’ve had some sleep. So now I make sure to take two Tylenol PM when I get on a plane and try to rest for an hour or two.

4. Fly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for maximum space in Economy. Stretching out is NICE. My work schedule means that it is hard to get away mid-week. BUT! Whenever I can, when I am flying long-haul economy, I try to book tickets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Flights just seem to be less crowded then, and if you are are really lucky, you will get an entire row to yourself!

5. Nylon tote bags are your friends. I bought a bunch of these puppies and boy am I glad. My normal routine when I get to the airport is to head to the newsstand and buy all the trashy magazines, snacks and the biggest bottle of water I can find. (Hydration, people.) Rather than use one of the plastic bags from the store — the plastic bags ALWAYS rip —  I unroll my nylon tote bag and in everything goes. Tip: Get one in a bright color. Otherwise, you may accidentally leave your new nylon tote bag behind. eBoot makes nice ones.

6. I’ve learned the hard way that some coach seats may have the plane’s audio/visual equipment under them, making it hard to stretch out. So check Seatguru before you board and choose your seat carefully.

7. Check your passport in advance. One of my most stressful travel experiences was a few years back when Virgin Atlantic threatened not to let me on my flight to New York because my passport expired in exactly six months. (I defeated them with logic.) So make sure you are always travel ready. Last minute getaways are brilliant, but not so brilliant if you realise your passport has run out. If you need to renew your passport in a hurry the Passport Office offers urgent passport services to UK citizens and you can have your new passport within a week or even a day depending on your needs. So if you need your passport quickly visit www.passports-office.co.uk/booking.asp for more information. Find out more about your travel destination’s requirements by visiting the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website here: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice before you book.

8. Compression socks are your friends. I don’t care how dumb you might feel or look wearing them. For a long-haul flight when you are sitting down for hours on end, they are very important for circulation. GET THEM.

9. SIGN UP FOR HEATHROW REWARDS. I spend a lot of money in airports. I don’t know why. Actually, I do know why. I am a captive audience. You are too. If you plan on buying magazines and having a meal in Heathrow, sign up for Heathrow Rewards. Like seriously. (They should pay me for saying this, but they’re not.)

10. Most importantly, relax. Don’t stress out if the guy in front of you puts their seat back. Don’t stress out when the US airlines charge you for booze.  (Thank you, United Airlines, for providing wine for free again.) And don’t stress out when your flight is delayed eight hours. Just try to relax! Really.

The post My Holiday Travel Tips first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

Lake Eola Orlando

Florida is a destination full of sun, fun and rum, but Orlando is where the state gets truly magical. If you’re looking for a place where you can find everything from alligators to acrobats, it’s definitely the city for you! Here are just a few stops you should make during your trip to Orlando.

1. La Nouba
Home to the Cirque du Soleil show, La Nouba will offer you an unforgettable night filled with lights, music, gymnastics and gravity-defying stunts. There’s nothing else on Earth quite like a Cirque du Soleil show.

2. SeaWorld
Home to literally thousands of species of aquatic life, SeaWorld is perhaps most famous for its whale shows, but it also has everything from sharks to dolphins. It’s a great place for your kids to get a little education with their entertainment!

3. Orlando International Premium Outlets
Shop ’til you drop at Orlando International Premium Outlets. If your money is burning a hole in your pocket, this is the perfect place to load up on souvenirs for your trip home. Just make sure you have enough room in your bags for all of them!

4. Wakoola Springs
Wakoola Springs is one of the biggest water parks in Florida, housing all kinds of pools, slides and hot tubs across a staggering 75,000 square feet. Many luxury resorts are located nearby, as well. You’ll never be far from a bed in any direction!

5. Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary
You don’t have to be religious to appreciate this gorgeous, spiritual shrine. It’s a wonderful piece of architecture and an even greater place to get away from the bustle of the city, so stop by when you need a break from all the chaos of your vacation.

6. Discovery Cove
If you’ve ever wanted to swim with dolphins, this is your chance. Just be prepared for colorful fish, coral, seals and sting rays to also join the party! When you go diving in Discovery Cove, there’s no telling what marine life will want to say hello.

7. Walt Disney World
You didn’t think there would be a list of famous Orlando attractions without Disney World, right? One of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet, Disney World offers light-hearted fun for the whole family. It doesn’t matter how old you are as long as you’re still young at heart.

8. Gatorland
Like the name implies, Gatorland is full of alligators! The good news is that you’ll be quite protected by the marshes, and you can also throw them hot dogs under the careful supervision of the guides. How many times in life do you get the chance to feed an alligator hot dogs?

9. Paddleboard Orlando
Get your heart pumping with Paddleboard Orlando. In addition to the promised paddleboarding, you’ll also have the chance to swim, dive and jump off small cliffs into the water below. It’s perfect for both the athlete and the couch potato who just wants to try something new.

These are just a few of the attractions you won’t want to miss in Orlando. To really take advantage of your trip, consider researching attractions online. Many vacation companies, such as Bluegreen Resorts, for instance, offer information available online that can help travelers choose their favorite destinations. Whether you’re there for the thrilling adventures or the relaxing beaches, Orlando is a city that has a little something for everyone, so all travelers should enjoy it.

A note about sponsored posts: Occasionally, to cover my hosting, domain and back-up costs, I accept sponsored posts that fit within the context of my site. Running a self-hosted blog is not cheap. Given my annual pilgrimage to Orlando every Christmas, I was okay with this accepting this post.

The post {Sponsored Post}: 9 Great Attractions in Orlando first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

Red Nose Day is UK charity day run by Comic Relief in March of each year, and the gist is that you either wear a red clown nose on Red Nose Day or just do something funny to make people laugh. And raise money for charity, of course. The video above is a gentle reminder to pick up some Red Noses in your local UK Sainsbury’s by Friday in support of Comic Relief.

The first few years I lived in London, I would get a little weirded out on my walk into work on what I later learned to be Red Nose Day. You know, because people would be dressed up as Superman or be doing cartwheels across London Bridge. It was odd. Until I finally Google’d “Why are people wearing red noses?” and figured out what it was all about. (This is terrible, but I had to do the same with “Why are people wearing poppies?” as in the US, it’s really only the older generation that wears poppies in November, if at all.)

To quote from the Comic Relief Web site, “Red Nose Day [helps] transform the lives of poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged people across the UK and Africa. From restoring the sight of children in Africa to giving isolated older people in the UK the support they need to enjoy their lives – your cash can do all this and much, much more.”

Comic Relief has posted a list of ways you can get involved in Red Nose Day this year on March 18. There are a lot of different ideas, but as this is a food, blog, I’ll post the food-related suggestions:

Fast, Fun, Food Fundraising

• Get sponsored to give up chocolate, biscuits or crisps.
• Host a dinner party for your friends, collecting a donation to dine.
• Hold a bake-off and ask for donations to sample the tasty treats.
• Get sponsored to eat only red food for a day.
• Organise a master chef competition with all entrants paying a donation.

You can read more about how you can get involved in Red Nose Day and Comic Relief on the Comic Relief Web site.

The Disclosure: I was asked to write something about Red Nose Day in return for money. I was happy to do so because it’s a day for charity and it’s nice to remind people in advance that Red Nose Day is coming up so they can make some plans. As it is obviously ridiculous for me to accept money to advertise a charity, I will be donating proceeds from this post to a similar US charity. You can read more about advertising on my site and why I do it over here.

The post {Sponsored Post} Red Nose Day for Comic Relief first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

Yogurt. I LOVE it. Some of my favorite things in life are Yoplait’s Original Vanilla yogurt and Pret a Manger’s Pret Pots. Ah, and tangy Greek yogurt with the occasional dollop of honey. I am not one for fruit-on-the-bottom. Give me plain yogurt (or maybe vanilla) and I am a very happy camper.

So when the agency that’s distributing the creative behind Chobani yogurt approached me about their product, for me, it was a no brainer. I had no food in the house anyhow, so it was time for some grocery shopping. I found some vanilla Chobani at Whole Foods in Chicago and gave it a whirl over a late-ish and odd-ish lunch. (Marcona almonds. Asparagus. Corn chips. And Chobani. Yes.)

Yoplait used to have a yellow container yogurt that I think was called custard-style although the photos I found online say Thick & Creamy. Whatever the name, it was my favorite given its denseness and richness. (This is odd because I generally dislike dense and rich things like creme brulee.) I haven’t been able to find the Yoplait yellow containers since I moved back to Chicago from the UK in August, so I think they must have discontinued this style in favor of their lighter, fluffier versions. I’m a bit bummed about this.

Given my love of the old Yoplait, I was immediately enamored by how thick Chobani was: hard-shake-off-the-spoon thick. Good stuff. Then there’s the tangy-ness. This is not a yogurt full of sugar or fruit or anything else to give it flavor. (OK, the nutritional information says they use evaporated cane juice.)  It’s just yogurt. I like that. Add that there’s no fat, no cholesterol and only 120 calories in a 6 oz container. You can call me a convert. Need to be convinced further? Check out the video.

I’m a little upset that I haven’t been chosen to give away a case of Chobani like some other bloggers, but I’ll survive. I’m intrigued to see how that works out for them.

The Verdict: Um, yum.

The Disclosure: I was asked to write something about Chobani in return for money. I was happy to do so because I like their product. I paid for the yogurt myself in order to determine if I should write this post.

Why Sponsored Posts
Occasionally, I run sponsored posts on my Web site to help me break even. This year’s blog costs so far include the following: a year of Web hosting through December for $91; $20 worth of beer for two of the graphic designers I work with in exchange for help with my site; I still have to pay for Typepad through June which will run me $75; $150 to the graphic designer who did my banner, navbar, and background as a retainer on future tweaks. (We’ve been strategizing. I had to give him something.)

That’s $336, and it’s only February.

The post {Sponsored Post} Chobani Yogurt first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

Occasionally, I run sponsored posts from trusted sponsors to pay for my blog. This year’s blog costs so far include a year of Web hosting through November for $83. I also promised to buy beer for two of the graphic designers I work with in exchange for their help with my site. So that’s about $20 there. Lastly, I still have to pay for Typepad through June which will run me $75.

The post {Sponsored Post}: Come Out & Play with Actimel first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

So now I’m back in the market for a coffee machine. And the Nescafe Dolce Gusto might just fit the bill…

Coffee is not just black.

Dolce Gusto brings you a new and exciting way to enjoy deliciously stylish coffee.

Click here to find out more. WWW.DOLCE-GUSTO.COM

The post {Sponsored Post} Dolce Gusto first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.