Travel, Pray and Slay: 5 Tips to make your next vacation memorable and slay worthy!

April 28, 2018 / Comments Off on Travel, Pray and Slay: 5 Tips to make your next vacation memorable and slay worthy!

So, I’m back in Chicago after nine magical days in Paris 🇫🇷 🛫 It was wonderful to experience Paris with a fun bunch of Wisconsin ladies and a wonderful Australian writer that I met along the way. Thanks to Paige Engle, of Paris by Paige, my friend, and tour guide, the trip was flawless!  Here are a few highlights from the trip:

Wine and the best view of the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero

 

Afternoon bike ride to Marie Antoinette Estate at Chateau Versailles

 

Hey Mona Lisa!

It was the definition of #TravelPraySlay, so here are my five tips to help you make your next trip just as memorable and slay worthy:

 

  • Keep a Travel Journal

 

Last year my bestie gifted me with the cutest journal, luggage tags and passport holder. Paris was the perfect opportunity to put those gifts to use. I thought it would be a good idea to journal each day of my trip, record the events of the day and capture how I was feeling. So many times we come back from a trip and have a hard time recalling all the places we visited and people we interacted with. I loved journaling in addition to chronicling my travel journey on social media, because after all, Instagram Stories don’t last forever.

 

  • Stay Connected

Speaking of social media, having wifi accessibility on the go is a great way to help you stay connected. Paige provided us with a mobile WiFi Hotspot to make sure we never missed a text, tweet or DM. It also proved to be helpful from a navigation perspective, as we were easily able to pull up Google Maps on the few times we got turned around, so we could stay on track to our destinations and make it back to our hotel safely. If you don’t do a hotspot, you can also reach out to your carrier prior to your trip to purchase an International plan to extend your data & text usage. Last year when I went to Mexico, it was only $5/day upcharge to call, text and use data.

 

  • WERK your Camera Phone

 

I had every intention of buying some fancy DSLR camera for this trip but never got around to it. Then I remembered I was also the owner or an iPhone 8 Plus which is supposed to have all kinds of professional camera capabilities, so I decided to put it to the test. Once I figured out portrait mode, angles, lighting effects and filters, I got THE best pictures!

Shot with iPhone 8 Plus

At one point the other girls were asking me to use MY phone to take their pictures. We worked magic with Paige’s Samsung Galaxy 8 Plus phone too. Trust me when I tell you to take your next photo with the selective focus mode! You don’t have to break the bank on a new camera to get a few slay worthy photos to add to your digital scrapbook.

 

  • Embrace the Culture

 

Avoid the typical tourist areas and well-known hotel chains. To have a more authentic experience, choose to stay at a boutique hotel or AirBnB in a local neighborhood. In Paris, we stayed near a popular area but a little off the beaten path and more residential. It was great to be surrounded by Parisians and not other American tourists.

Sidewalk Dining

Our dining experience was also more unique, as the majority of neighborhood restaurants didn’t have English menus, as they catered to locals. Talk to a local expert or insider to make sure you have an opportunity to really immerse yourself in the culture.

  • Be Purposeful

Look for opportunities on the trip to connect with experiences that are meaningful and provide a spiritual connection. This could be performing an act of service or volunteering, purchasing goods or souvenirs that support a cause or simply taking the time each day to pray and journal.

While in Paris, we toured L’eglise la Madeline, the church where Josephine Baker was funeralized. We also had lunch in their Foyer de Madeline. Daily the church feeds 300 people for lunch thanks to the over 100+ volunteers. They provide food, showers, and clothing to those who need it most in the community. It was great to dine with purpose and support the church’s mission.

More detail on these tips and my experience in Paris on the podcast. Click to listen!

 

How do you plan to #slay your next vacation?