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I received a lot of comments and email about my recent vacation. You guys want to know what I take to wear, what shoes I love, what books I read, what my kids do while we’re away…and so many other things! This post is dedicated to the stuff I take on trips (and I’ll answer all of your other questions too!). Let’s get started…
My sunglasses probably received the most chatter. I love a basic aviator but these in particular can be found here at Nordstrom. If you don’t want to spend the money on Ray-Bans, then I also wear and love these from Loft. I always take one pair of glasses with me on a trip, and to me, nothing is better than an aviator!
I also had a lot of questions about what shoes I walked in. One day, we walked 6 miles alone and then another day, we walked 3.5. Everyday, we walked and walked and walked (because that’s what you do on European vacations!). I wore two kinds when we were at our ports. First, I wore my Sketcher’s Go-Walks.
I originally bought these for outside with my kids. Everyday, I’m out front running around with my kiddos, going to the park, going on walks, and so I wanted an easy shoe to throw on for those activities. These shoes are so, so, so comfy that I’ve recommended them to my mom, my aunt, my clients…they’re wonderful! They also come in a variety of colors too…but I, of course, bought pink! I absolutely love them! They also come in green, yellow, purple, grey, black, navy, and blue. I’ve washed mine in the washing machine twice and they wash great too. You will love these little shoes!
I also wore my Toms too. Toms are just easy. They’re comfy and easy to throw on. They don’t have a ton of sole support, but they work perfectly for walking and strolling on vacation. Plus, Toms are just so darn cute, right?!
I went online to find my Toms but since mine are two years old, they don’t have them any longer. However…brace yourself…I found these…
…aren’t these faded camo Toms just so cute?!?! I bought them. Yup. I just think they’re the perfect little shoe especially for fall. I love, love, love them!
I couldn’t find a picture of my shoes for our evening stuff (because they’re 3 years old), so I’ll use this one instead. On cruises, you often dress up at night, so I brought a neutral pair of heels to wear with everything. We dressed up 4 out of the 7 nights and these shoes worked perfectly with everything. When you’re packing, try and bring as many basics as you can so that you don’t over-pack. One great neutral pair of shoes should be able to work with all of your evening looks.
Sheaffer and I have blogged about these wedges so many times that I’m pretty sure each and every one of you own a pair. They are the most comfortable wedges you’ll ever wear. Period. I like to wear wedges on an airplane because my legs are shorter and my feet don’t touch the ground (so a wedge helps). If you are one of the few who don’t have these shoes, you should get them. Today.
I picked up this cross-body bag a long time ago, and it’s all I carry on vacations like this. I love a cross-body because they keep my hands free and are light. At home, I adore a big tote…but when traveling, I try and scale down. Since mine can’t be found any longer, I have a few similar options here…
This bag is part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, so it has a great price right now. It also comes in two other colors too.
I’m kind of obsessed with this Jessica Simpson bag too. It also comes in two other colors and looks really roomy and soft…perfect for traveling.
For a smaller cross-body option, I like this little faux-leather bag. It comes in 3 other colors as well.
I carried one large tote on the plane that held my magazines, books, iPad and whatnot. I started searching the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for good totes to show you and oh.my.word…
Doesn’t this faux-suede tote look luxurious?!? And it is on sale right now! A bag like this is perfect for traveling. Check it out in purple and black too.
I’m also loving this leopard tote. You would be the most stylish gal on the flight with this bag!
Now, on this trip, the weather was warm for us but when we go in the fall, it will be cooler. When you’re packing for a cooler weather trip, you need to make sure you have the following 3 items…
1. A great pair of flat boots. Since these boots are marked down $80 right now, I tried them on last week…and bought them for my next trip. They’re so cute, so comfy and my favorite part is the zipper in the back…
If you need a great boot for traveling (or just a great fall staple), I would highly recommend this pair!!
2. You need to pack a light-weight jacket. I love, love, love a little military jacket like this one from Old Navy. They’re light, they’re easy to pack, they go with everything and they layer well.
3. A great scarf is an airplane/travel essential. Airplanes are cold, so a scarf is the perfect layer. Plus, after you’ve been sitting/eating/napping/drinking on a plane for several hours, you just look rumbled…so a scarf is a nice way to hide the rumbled look. This taupe one is so pretty!
I also love this houndstooth one as well. It would look really chic thrown over a plain old t-shirt and jeans.
Questions! Questions! Questions! Here are some of your questions…
1. Does Andrew shop for himself? I like his personal style.
Yes. Andrew is a great shopper…he has better taste than me. Since he’s 6’5″, he’s pretty particular about brands because it’s rare to find a brand that fits his frame. He shops on his own and then I fold his stuff to put in the suitcase. He says he’s not as good at folding as me…I’m pretty sure that’s just his way of being lazy :).
2. What did I read on vacation?
I read 4 novels. Yes. Four! Between the two long flights, the day at sea and the evening time before bed, I managed to read four novels. One is a new book coming out in September that I was asked to review (more details on that later!) and then the other three are as followed:
I loved all three of them! They are total chick-lit, completely full of girly emotions, funny, lighthearted and easy to read. They were just plain FUN!
I also brought along 6 magazines and 4 cookbooks. On planes I like to read instead of watching TV, so with two 10 hour flights and two 3 hour flights total…I had a lot of “reading” time.
3. Do we follow any specific travel blogs?
No. We google and find blogs that mention places we are going and read their own personal reviews. Some of the blogs are people that live in the city and some are people that have traveled there. We find that blog opinions are more honest and specific than online reviews from other sources.
4. What did we eat while we were there?
Everything. The better question is probably what did we not eat! I had some people who thought we were crazy for eating burgers and Mexican food in Barcelona, but that was only two of the 10 meals we ate in Spain. We were in Spain a total of 5 days and ate two meals a day there…trust me, we ate a lot of local cuisine! We try not to be too rigid about where we eat. We walk, we tour and we stop when we’re hungry. We ate a lot!
5. Do I mind leaving my kids behind?
I missed my kids so much! The funny thing is that I get grief about taking my kids with me (they’ve been to 13 countries people, it’s not like we leave them at home all the time!), and then I get grief about leaving them at home. I can’t win for losing.
This year, we decided to go just the two of us and leave them at home with their grandparents. About half the time we take them and half the time we don’t. We have another little trip coming up this fall that we won’t be taking them on either but then beginning next spring, they’re going on two vacations with us…so, don’t feel too sorry for Kensington and Smith. They had a wonderful time with both sets of their grandparents (they split the time and each watched them for 6 days), they were spoiled rotten, and then next year, they get to go on two vacations. I love my kids so very much and enjoy spending my days with them, however, sometimes it’s nice to just spend time with Andrew.
6. Did we go into any of the casinos in Monte Carlo?
No. Casinos in Monte Carlo are not like the Casinos here. They are very formal (like, the men wear a tuxedo formal) and for most of them, you have to get pre-approval before you can get in. We just enjoyed the beautiful city.
7. Is Holland America my favorite cruise line?
It’s one of them! This was my third Holland America cruise and so far, I have no complaints. As a travel agent, I come into contact with cruises all the time…my favorites would probably be Holland America, Norwegian and Princess. Royal Caribbean is good too…a lot of them are really wonderful, but those three are my faves.
8. Where is your next family vacation?
Some place with palm trees.
I hope this answered all of your questions! When you’re packing for a trip, remember a few things:
1. Almost anywhere you go, there is a laundry service. Sometimes it’s worth paying the $10 to have a hotel or cruise ship wash your jeans than to pack and weigh down your suitcase with extra pairs.
2. Andrew and I always split our stuff 50/50 between our two suitcases (or we split it 4 ways when we travel with our kids). There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination without your luggage. At least if you split it up, you’ll have half of your stuff with you. No exceptions! Split it up!
3. Wear your heaviest shoes and/or coats on the plane. If you don’t want to go over the weight limit for your checked luggage, wear it on board the plane.
4. Put anything liquid in a plastic bag before packing it. Anything. Sunscreen, lotion, makeup, hairspray, anything liquid should be in a baggie because it really stinks to open up your suitcase and find that it’s exploded inside.
Don’t forget to check out Mix and Match Mama today…
…we’re linking up with my sweet friend Mel and her Summer Salad Swap!
Have a great day everyone!
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Aubrey says
Your travel tips are EXCELLENT! We could totally do a trip together — our philosophies are 99.9% the same. (The only tiny difference is that we probably do a bit more touristy sightseeing and a bit less shopping, but believe me when I say that I love doing both!)
I love your Sketchers! I want a pair asap! But I never ever wear my Toms on vacation. They are absolutely treacherous on wet cobblestones, and you know Europe is full of cobblestones! My go-to travelling shoes this summer are these: http://www.crocs.co.uk/crocs-sexi-flip/11354,en_GB,pd.html?cid=653&q=sexi%20sandal. I have been stopped by complete strangers on the street in three different countries (England, Italy, and France) this summer asking me where I found them. They are SHOCKED when they find out they are Crocs!
Anonymous says
Hi Shay!! I LOVE the boots and tried to buy them but the website says they are $149.90, not $80? Am I Doing something wrong? Help! 🙂
Melissa
Mix and Match Mama says
I said the boots are marked down $80! They're on sale right now!
Anonymous says
Oops!! Sorry, i totally misread what you wrote. Okay, I think I need them! 🙂
Melissa
Libby says
Great advice! A great novel, scarf & my toms are travel musts for me as well! Love your sweet blog 🙂
Danielle says
Love all of these tips and picks! Those sneakers are perfect for lots of walking, plus they're so cute. Going to check them out now 🙂
Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says
Wow! This was SUCH a good post! I'm not sure how much information I will be able to apply to going to the ranch though?!? 🙂
The idea about splitting between the two suitcases is GENIUS!
And those TOMS? I want them. Now.
And listen, everybody should go out and buy those Steve Madden boots. They were SO CUTE on you and they are such a great price right now!
Looking forward to today! WooHoo!
Chantal says
Shay, is there anything you aren't a master of???? I LOVE these tips!
Have a question for you..we are going as a family to Disney World in November. FL weather and NC weather are a bit different. Last time we went, I changed on the plane which was a pain but I was so thankful once we landed bc I would have roasted. Should I layer then take off what I need to, change when we arrive, or as my husband says "Deal with it"? Thanks!!
Mix and Match Mama says
This happens to me a lot (but usually in reverse!), layer! Layer cute stuff and peel them off once you land and stick them in your carry-on.
Jessica says
So so so helpful! I'd love to know where your tall husband likes to shop. My dear husband is a tree and I'm always on the hunt for his clothes.
aprilparrish says
Excellent tips for vacationing! Thanks for sharing!
Beth says
Ok, so there is still one thing I am wondering about. How do you combat the motion sickness? I had a TERRIBLE experience on a cruise several years ago and nothings been the same since (like, not even riding in a car!). My WHOLE family wants to cruise next year and I'm trying to psych myself up for it, but I don't know if I can! How did you deal with it for so many days???
Mix and Match Mama says
Other than that one cruise I took in college, I've never been motion sick on a cruise ship. I avoid motion sickness on other boats by simply not going on them! The ship where I was sick was in really choppy, rough waters for 7 days straight. It was near Costa Rica. Most of the time, cruises stay clear of rough water. I don't take anything on cruise liners.
TorontoSAM says
I love your tip about splitting your suitcases. I've never done it, but it makes so much sense! Will definitely be doing that next time.
Trying to decide where to go in October (without our son) – Barcelona is on the list, also San Diego, New York, Las Vegas (quite an assortment I know).
Anonymous says
I hear you about leaving the kids. my husband and I got so many comments from people for leaving our daughter for a 5 day trip this year. the thing is, she got to spend qt with her grandparents and my husband and I got some much needed time alone. it's a win, win! from here on out, we are planning on taking one family vacation and one couples vacation a year. thanks for your honesty and great advice shay, Xoxo
Carmen says
You inspire me to travel so much!! Thank you for sharing your travel tips and tricks!
Carlin Smith says
I think it's great that you and Andrew do things as a couple! It's important to set aside couple time and you should NEVER feel guilty or take criticism about doing so. And what wonderful memories your children are building with their grandparents!
Erica says
Love the MUST HAVE wedges! I haven't taken the plunge yet but I'm pretty close to purchasing a pair….just not sure on what size to order?! I usually wear an 8 1/2 but they don't come in half sizes. What size should I order? 8 or 9? Thanks, Shay!
SarahN says
I'm usually a 7 1/2 or 8, bought the 8 and they are just perfect – I actually wish they were just a tad bigger. I'd get the 9 for sure.
Anonymous says
Get the 9. You won't be disappointed!
erica says
Thanks! I'll try the 9
Amber W. says
I love reading your travel posts!! I feel like it gives me the experience of travel without doing it. I would LOVE to travel but I have a husband who HATES to travel. He got to take awesome vacations as a kid with his parents and then was in the military for 4 years so he says he's filled his quota for travel. I, on the other hand, have been no where. My goals are to get him to take me to Disney World (we have a 4 year old with one of the way, they will NEED to go there), Hawaii, and Europe, mainly England, Ireland, and France. Not sure I'll accomplish this but a girl's gotta try 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
Order a size up on the Calisto wedges if you're a half size. That's what I did (I wear a 7.5) and it was perfect!
Christine says
Thank you for posting about leaving your kids home. I always feel guilty but you have made me see the light. I think time with just your hubby is important and a trip can revitalize your relationship. Plus the kids have just as much fun with their grandparents. Thanks for being so honest and open.
Jaren says
I so enjoyed this post! However, I have to be careful about clicking on those awesome links to those shoes and those aviators! I'm trying to save for my European vacation!
V @ X-tremely V says
Love reading about your trip! You mentioned Andrew does his own shopping…What stores does he shop at? My husband is also 6'5'' and has a terrible time finding stores that have his size. Any tips are greatly appreciated 🙂
http://www.xtremelyv.blogspot.com
Sarah says
What a great recap, I think I need to go out and get those books STAT! Also the packing thing. I totally do that too, my husband thinks I'm crazy, but one day he'll thank me when one of our suitcases gets lost and he has at least half of his stuff 🙂
Sarah says
What a great recap, I think I need to go out and get those books STAT! Also the packing thing. I totally do that too, my husband thinks I'm crazy, but one day he'll thank me when one of our suitcases gets lost and he has at least half of his stuff 🙂
Emily @ LaForce Be With You says
Great suggestions! I have worn ked's on two European trips and they are great because they look good with jeans, shorts and skirts and dresses. I think they have great support for walking all day and I threw a Dr Scholls insert into my suitcase incase I needed it but I didn't.
You are so right – scarves are definitely a must on a cooler weather trip! My SIL and I even share scarves and jewelry on a trip to have even more outfit choices and then you don't have to bring quite as much!
I couldn't find your cruise itinerary anywhere on the Holland America site.. was it a special/chartered cruise?
{Hi Sugarplum!} says
Such great tips…love the idea of splitting up your stuff in each others bags. After all these years, we've got a pretty good system too. Isn't it awesome how seamless traveling together becomes after awhile? And enjoy kid-free trips now…once they are both in school, it's another chore! And grandparents have to stay at your house so the kids can go to school everyday!
Katy_Potaty says
As always – your tips are awesome – any plans for an Australian vacation soon?
Natalie Stephens says
I consider myself a pretty seasoned traveler, and some how it has never dawned on me to split our clothes between bags! I was 6 month pregnant in Paris wearing the same clothes for two and a half days because I never thought of this genius little tip! Thanks!
Chris and Erica says
Loving your travel posts. Thx for all the good link-ups too. I'm always looking for comfy walking shoes on vacation.
Detroit Duchess says
Great travel tips! I will have to try the go walk shoes, if you can walk that far with no blisters, they are definitely winners!
I love the houndstooth scarf it is adorable!
Pam Saltmarsh says
Hi Shay! How do the Skechers run? Thanks! 🙂
Pam
AmyJo says
I would never have thought to split luggage! Genius!
Kelly Jo says
Splitting luggage seems like a no brainer… but I've never thought about it. This was a great post!!!
Ellie Spindler says
What a helpful post! Thanks for sharing all your travel wisdom! Love those Sketchers Go-Walks – might have to invest in a pair of those!
Elie
http://www.ChoosingPeaceBlog.com
Third Grade Cupcakes says
I have been searching for a new pair of sunglasses and after reading this post, off to Loft I went and snagged aviators for $15! Thank you!
Anonymous says
Hi, I wanted to say hi, since I've never commented before. I've been reading for a few months, and LOVE your blog. I found you from Kelly's Korner.
I'm a rescue response nurse with Samaritan's Purse, and have gotten to travel quite a bit (Thailand, Haiti 3x, Bolivia 2 weeks ago) and I totally agree with your travel tips. I love to travel. I LOVE to read, and love to people watch.
Thanks for your cute blog. Just wanted to say howdy.
Kelly in Michigan
Caravan Sonnet says
Thanks so much for these lovely tips!!! My best friend and I are going on our first cruise this coming year and I can not wait!! I love the tip about the nude shoe to go with lots of different things! (yes, I tend to overpack everything including shoes! *smiles*) Thanks again!
🙂 Rebecca
Mary De Bastos says
HEY! I used to work on Holland America Cruise Line!! They are world class all the way!
Brandie says
I have a question about the Skecher GoWalk shoes. When on vacation walking a lot do you wear them without socks? Thinking of buying them for Disney trip but worried about blisters with no socks!
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! I wear them without socks! I have never had a blister with them but if that concerns you, you could wear some no-show socks? I think you'll love them! They are so soft and comfy!