Travelling on Rainy Days

9 Things to Do When Travelling on Rainy Days

Rainy Days can ruin any trip. The unpredictable weather, and murky skies, the shadowed sidewalk, covered with puddles of dirty water. Weather like this can be such a downer. It can even make you feel weighed down, and leave you feeling uninspired. If you have a limited number of days for your travel, this can be even worst as because of inconvenient weather, you are losing travel days.
Here listed below are things to do on rainy days, to lighten up your trip, and to make you  furthermore, enjoy your vacation, regardless of what weather it is.

• Libraries

Going to local libraries near your travel destination is one of the best things to do. Reading a book while you peek out the window at rain falling down can be relaxing (and also keep you warm and cozy!).

 It would also be great if you checked out a local bookstore and read something in the bookstore cafe. Nothing hits the spot better than a good read and a hot coffee. (mmmmmm....)

• Cafes

You can decide on just going to a normal cafe. Relaxing and sitting or doing some of your own work, can kill time and make the day go by pleasantly  If you are bringing someone with you own your travel, you can always sit  together in the cafe and just talk, perhaps taunt or pity those you see out in the rain. (Depends on the kind of person you are.)

• Museums

This may have been your first choice and obvious pick. A day at the museum on a rainy day is ideal as you go through exhibits  forgetting about what it's like outside. If the rain is really bad, chances are, the museums will be more vacant, and you can then get the whole place to yourself.

 I like to bring a sketch book, so I can sit and sketch art for as long as I want. (*Don't forget, most museums are closed on Mondays!)

• Movie Night

For those who don't went to venture out too far from the comfort of their hotel room, a fun idea is to gather your fellow travelers  buy snacks and food, and watch a great movie, all gather 'round the screen. I always suggest bringing any DVD on your travel. (preferably one relating to your choice of destination.) Or you may be forced to watch whatever is on the TV in your room, or in the hotel common room (if there is no DVD player). To make things more interesting, making a game out of what you watch or making jokes of what you are all viewing, can make your experience more enjoyable. (the mustache game is a favorite TV-playing game. Place a mustache on the screen and every time it lines up perfectly with a face, everyone must take a drink of beer or whatever alcoholic beverage you choose). There are other games to play if you are underage or don't like that game, and just making fun of the corniness of TV shows is great way to bond with others. you can also order in, if you don't want to leave the house at all.

• Movie Day

Movie Day, pretty much same idea as movie night (and this option can also happen a night), but instead, this option is for those who want to leave the hotel room. Find out which movies are playing at the local theater and have fun watching movies in another langue. If you want, you can choose movies with English subtitles (I always find American actors more attractive when they speaks a different language I don't understand). Remember the key Rainy Day Rule again: Bad Weather means less people in public places.

• Stay in Bed & Sleep

Or you can just decide to stay in your hotel room and do nothing. (If you really decide to be lazy in another country!!). Although staying if your room can also be beneficial if you decide to do so, you can catch up on some rest, so you have more energy to do more things the next day. (Hopefully, it wont be raining the next day too.)

• Socialize

Personally, not my first idea of fun. I may normally instead prefer the "Stay in Bed & Sleep" option.  but rainy days can give you an excuse to talk to other people of your age you noticed stay at the hotel, and do something fun with them. Let's face it your bored, their probably bored doing something  interesting around the hotel with others can give you something to do. you can always invite the movie night if you're not to self conscious. I get this idea from Plus Hostels which, is pretty easy for your people to find something interesting to do around the hostel. Not be afraid  knock on the door, ask if they want to do so and so (or say you and your fellow traveler were planning on doing this, if they want to come) the chances are they may say no, but to be prepare for that is key to be nonchalant about it. Being friendly can opt for other travelers to know you wouldn't mind getting to know them, and opens the door to more friendliness and possible future opportunities.

• Home-Cooking

This option is for those staying with friends or relatives. When at the house you have options of  cooking and baking. Go on a line Look up a recipe, buy ingredients, and make a great meal from starch! You can also treat yourself to baking something

• Be a Child, Play in the Rain!

Come on, you're on vacation, have a little fun! be silly and and jump in puddles. don't worry about your hair, it's worth  little child hood carefree attitude, and  you can always go back to hotel and spend the rest of the day repairing your hair for as long as you need, it's not like you're going out again for the rest of night. After playing you can then choice the movie night option, and drink a hot cocoa while you're at it. (Take a warm shower when you get home, dry up and go under the covers, please do not get sick over my suggestions!)

Have Fun and Stay Dry! ;)

Prep # 3-Saving Money for your Travel

Ways to Save up Travel Money

The third step of preparation is firguring out how to save up for your next trip. Below is a list of  some ideas on how to save up money other than working. This list will especially help if you are a student or a young person:

• Piggy Bank-Those extra pennies you save up can pay for one meal on your travel, or maybe even for something more(if you earn alot more money!!). Save up spare change you find around the house.
• Interning-While interning itself does not pay, you can intern anywhere you choose (and it's hard for anyone to say no, when you are asking to work for free!). Afterwards go to the Work department of your college. this department has programs that if you do interning they pay you for your time (usually $7-10/ hour all you have to is hand in your time sheets by a certain date and they pay you!
• Baby Sitting-if you know someone with children, ask them. Parents believe or not, would like some time off from parenting all the time, and you can start off cheap ($4/hour at first perhaps).
• Tutoring-Colleges tend to need studnet tutors for other students. Evey one needs help with math, and you don't have to be an expert, if you learned it already and know it, than try it.(** Benefits of attending a College is that their are money oppurtunities everywhere, trust me. Even if it seems tidious, keep looking around your campus, you'll find something that works for you.)
• Dog Walking-If you like dogs, decide to walk dogs on your free time. Put up signs around your neighborhoods, and put your number. This way people will come to you ;) and you spend time with dogs, and you will get some exercise!
• On Campus Employment/Work Studies-Colleges offer employment for their students. If you are interesting in Work Studies there are two different types: One type pays for only your college tuition, the second type what you do with the money is up to you .
• Yard Sale-Put together al lthe thigns you can live iwthout and dont want and plan a yard sale, it beats throwing your old stuff in the garbage.
• Bake Sale-You can choose to do it at your house or find someplace you will be bale to do it, if you are interested.
• Fund Raiser Letter- You can send letters to all your families, friends, and colleagues, those you know who are willing to help you. Send a letter of why you are doing this and help them feel involved.  If desired, you can buy whole-sale little pins or items to put along with the letter. A small item pertaining to place you want to visit (i.e. Italy pins,  Greece pictures, etc.). Or you can thank them by sending a lovely thank you letter back

These are some ideas to get you started, if you break down how much money you plan to make a month that can help you in the long run, for by the time your trip comes you are prepared.

Prep # 1-Finding Travel Sources

Finding Travel Sources

The way in which to begin a trip, is to prepare for it. The more time we have before the trip, the better it is. Because any time before a trip, gives more time for preparation.

Ways in which to prepare for a destination you know almost nothing about, is by finding reliable sources that can help you organize your trip. Below I will post helpful travel guide sources that cab be used for any trip, however, these links will also be available under links on my blog profile.

Reliable Sources can be travel books, travel websites, and if you plan to go to one, a travel agency can also help you opt for the best decisions in accommodation and transportation.

Travel books

They are extremely useful tools in figuring out how to travel in a convenience way. On obtaining the books, you can always purchase a travel guide book on amazon and Barnes and Nobles, but even these books can be about $15-20 dollars, depending on the condition of the book. If you really desire to have your own book, buying a used copy would be a good option for a reduced price. Even buying an older edition of a travel guide can help you save a lot of money. Keep in mind small changes in price do vary happen from time to time, and so it is wiser to get an edition from recent years.
(*always check information on how book appears before you buy it!)

If you want to save a couple a books, I always found it cheaper to read the travel books at the library or at bookstores (such as Barnes and Nobles). Libraries do not always have the latest edition, but asking the librarian to order the latest edition from one of the neighboring libraries

Travel Books include:

• Lonely Planet-Their editions of "on a Shoestring" (such as Europe on a shoe string, has always been thought as the key travel book for backpackers who want to travel affodarable. These books will give extensive information on tranportation prices, where to eat, accomadation, tips, etc. ideal for those who need to learn extensively on what they plan to have a trip. These books are as big as bricks, so I cant imagine anyone bringing it with them on their travels, but they are good resources for the "prepping" of explorations. If you do not wish to purchse a whole On a Shoe string guide, Lonelyplanet's website offers their customers to buy a chapter pdf file on their buyer's page. It helps if you plan on just going to one or a few countries, and you print out the pages as many times as you desire once you purchse it. It beats carrying around 20 other chapters of lesser known countries weighing down your bag. (www.lonelyplanet.com)

*Lonely planet also carries varies books on travel, that focuses on main spots, main cities, and countries, and although have useful information and are pretty helpful, I dont particularly like their other line of books as much. They tell you main places of where to go and what trips to take to make your destinations experience worthwhile, but hardly give as much information as I would like, on free attrations in these locations.

• Fodor's-I very much like Fodors books as well, and they are as extensively informative as Lonely Planet, but have their own slightly different style, which i like. They as well as lonely planet, have their big chucky dictionary-type, country travel guide books, as well as smaller books pertain to specific regions. For me personally, I am the opposite with Fodors books and I am with lonely planet. I find Fodors brick books to be a bit duller than that of Lonely Planet's On a Shoestring, yet I positively adore their smaller books, which i find myself always returning to. they have lovely pictures in their smaller books as well, but you will find it less pictorial than the Eyewitness books I will mention below. (http://www.fodors.com/)

• Eyewitness-very beautiful illustrations, and little key facts are display in these pictorial guides. Eyewitness is also very nice in having maps of museums and attractions, and telling you exactly where everything is depending on which eyewitness guide you buy. Eyewitness books have less information on travel prices, and is not as informative as Fodors or Lonely Planet, however, this will be a good book to bring on the travel, and will be likable to those who like t know a little background information on the sights and museums they see as well as some brief history. 

*There is also the Top 10 books from Eyewitness, which are very turiscy to put into one word. hard to explain really. they are very flashly and give short information needed such as eating entraintment accomadation, sights, etc. but they are all for the torisc attractions in the world, and not particauray about "economy-friendly". It seems to me more like advertisement. Dont get me wrong, I actually do like these books, my first travel book was in fact a top10 book, that my old boyfriend's parents gave me as a gift on Rome.
They can be useful. They do help though on figuring out which places to see, and the books have this fun theme in which they name the top ten of everything. (i.e. the top ten churches, top ten restaurants, top ten attractions, etc.). they are fairly thin and small, making them good books rather, to bring with you on your trip, and each book comes with a map as well.

• Frommer's- Another reliable guide source which is similar to the guide above has the similar theme, same concepts . They include brief histories of the countries for people who are interested in the background of places they visit.

• *Frommer's have their own version of the Eyewitness top 10, which is called "Day by Day" which has one for each country and main city.. These "Day by Day" books I like, and personally prefer over the top 10. Others may disagree.(www.frommers.com)

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• Rick Steves-I have not particularly used these books myself (I regret to say, only because they are not in my public library).  However,  they are very popular among travellers. I know Rick Steves' website is fantastic, and I would expect the same from his books. He also has videos on youtube(Rick Steves Youtube Link), which he gives travel lectures for different parts of the world he has visit.(www.Ricksteves.com)

Frankly, It all depends on your preference. it would be good to wise to check out the books at your local book store before purchasing one of these travel guides, to test out which one works good for you. Going to the Barnes and Nobles near my house and sipping on a delicious decaf coffee, i learned alot from taking bits and parts from each of these books. There are naturally more travel guides out there, but i find these to be my favorite, and also very accessible.Each line of travel guides also have additional small books such as language books, dictionaries etc.

Websites

These travel guides also have their own websites, which can help give you additional information(links given above. they also have forums, in which people talk and share their own personal experience. If you have any questions that are impossible to find on the web, you can post your questions on these forums and others may be able to shed some light.

The websites are below:

National Geographic-I have also found National Geographic to be helpful in giving me ideas when I had no idea where to go in Italy and which places to visit. National Geographic also gives lovely pictures, which helps of course make my decisions of which places to go to Italy much easier, (and also in a way also much harder!) (www.nationalgeographic.com)

Tripadvisor- Can also help. I used this website a fwe times to find specific places in italy, like which museums and sights to see, and I was able to view other persons reviews which aided me in  making decisions such as whether places are actually good or not. The review factor of this site is really good, and is the reason why I like it. (www.tripadvisor.com)

When looking for general information on how to travel, I looked at these sites (if you already have an idea of what you are doing you probably wont need to look). On Wikihow you can look up how to travel to "asia" or wherever you plan to travel, I post these just because I am first travelling throughout Europe, but they almost very general. they can help you with anywhere you pretty much go :

How to BackPack Through Europe http://www.wikihow.com/Backpack-Through-Europe

Plan a BackPack Trip:http://www.wikihow.com/Plan-a-Backpacking-Trip

Affordable Trips in Europe:http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/13-affordable-trips-europe

Healthy Affordable Eating (I will post more on Food later, you dont have to settle for crap!):http://www.aswetravel.com/backpacking-food-cheap-healthy-food/

Trips, inexpensively-http://www.traveldudes.org/travel-tips/backpacking-cheap-5-tips-save-money/14444

Backing through Europe:http://www.ehow.com/how_4550454_tips-backpacking-through-europe.html

There are many others, but this is a start. 

Travel Blogs Are excellent. Other blogs really do give you the travel information you crave for  if you find the really good ones. They are also fun to read as people give their insight. (I also love a blog with a good sense of humor!!)

I suggest finding the blogs you want on the google search engine, typing in "travel [your country,place name] blog" will do, and they will come right up. 

Most research on reliable travel resources, i suggest you discover yourself, to find what exactly you need and what will be best for you. these sites above are fine if they are all you decide to use(if you are too lazy to look for your own.)
 however, there ar more things out there that will probably be more useful to you yourself personally, and I suggest people to do their own homework as well. It is fun, rewarding, and hey, it's worth it. Plus I know their are many other helpful resources out there that i have not mentioned here. IF anyone finds anymore useful information, please post sources, in the comment boxes.


Additional Helpful Resources

The articles I found below I have found to be very helpful on basic information on how to backpack throughout a country, and on traveling. (Most pertain to Italy, however, it is general enough to be helpful tips for any travel):

Packing List-http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/italy-packing-list.html

How to Budget:http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/how-to-budget-for-an-italy-trip.html

The do's and donts of italy:http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/dos-and-donts-in-italy.html

Top Attractions & things to do in italy:http://opentravel.com/Things-To-Do-In-Italy-Attractions-1

10 ten places all through Italy(each place):http://www.10things.it/