Polka Dots in Amsterdam

After spending three weeks in cold, rainy London, I was so happy to arrive in Amsterdam to a sunny 80-degree day! I had purchased this cute teal polka dotted dress at a street market in Camden Town, London, so I was finally able to wear it. (I was a wee bit excited. Three weeks of rain = no fun.)

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London Loves

I've been in London for three weeks now and, being my first time here, I've explored a variety of different areas and put together a list of my favorite places in the city. I never knew prior to coming here how HUGE London is, so I'm glad I've had a few weeks here to really take everything in.

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Ambergris Caye, Belize

Belize was recommended to me by a few well-traveled friends of mine, and since it's only a 5 hour flight from California, my boyfriend and I decided to vacation there last month. We were looking for a tiki beach hut style hotel, and we both agreed that the Portofino Beach Resort in Ambergris Caye looked like the best option.

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Food, Film & Fun: My L.A. Favorites

Okay, so I'm biased because I live here.

Having said that, I'm the best effing tour guide you'll ever have in the city of Los Angeles. So much so that I'm going to have to break this one down into categories:

 On the Cheap:

For those of you on a budget, here's a great way to navigate around the wonderful city of lost angels without breaking the bank:

Cinespia Movies: If you're visiting between May-October, every Saturday the Hollywood Forever Cemetery features a movie night with a photobooth, DJ's and usually surprise special guests from the movie itself. Again, bring blankets, munchies, drinks, chairs, etc. Tickets are about $14, but get them early because they sell out. http://cinespia.org/

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Top 10 Things to Do in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Here is a list of my recommendations for the top 10 things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand:

1. Tiger Kingdom: This was probably one of the coolest things I did. You can pick which size tiger you want to see, so I opted for the babies and the large tigers. (And don't worry, they're not drugged. The baby tigers were actually running all over the room wrestling with each other. Adorable!)  Piece of advice: don't wear white, and bring some wipes, because you get pretty dirty.

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Summer in Italy

I spent the summer of 2013 traveling through Italy. My friend and I started the trip in Venice, then made our way to Florence, Rome, and down to Naples to catch the ferry to Capri.

Here are some of my favorite spots:

Florence: Party on the Arno River. There's beach parties on the sand, bars along the water, you name it. So much fun nightlife! (And enjoy the sunsets. Seriously, look at this photo...)

Venice: Take a gondola ride. It's ridiculously overpriced (about $100 for a 40-minute ride) but totally worth it. A great place to photograph the canals, alleyways and ancient architecture on the island.

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Paris Favorites!

During my senior year of college, I spent my winter semester in Paris. Aside from the chilly weather and daily museum trips with my classmates, I managed to squeeze in some pretty rad experiences.

My favorites things about Paris:

- Eating crepes for every meal of the day.

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Why Martha's Vineyard is the Best Place Ever

 1. It's full of gingerbread houses. It's like the land of make believe.

2. Their bike paths are awesome. You can rent bikes and bike the entire island. 

3. Or you can rent mopeds and scooter yourself around the island...

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How I Travel For Free

This is how I travel for free... and how you can too.

1. Subletting on Airbnb  

 This lovely photo is of my apartment in Santa Monica, CA. It's cozy, affordable, and twelve blocks from the beach.

It also allows me the opportunity to travel anywhere in the world and spend practically nothing.

How?

By renting it on the life-saving website, Airbnb.com while I'm away. 

Now before I get into this, I want to warn you that this concept is not for everyone. If you have a roommate, valuables, don't live in a preferred destination for travelers, etc. this may not be for you.

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Become a House Sitter for Free Travel Stay

Right now, I'm sitting on a white sofa in front of a fireplace in Cape Cod, MA, which is my home for the next three weeks. Not only am I am living here for free with no utility expenses, but I'm also able to spend the holidays with my family who lives locally, without having to rush back to my home in California to avoid hotel expenses.

I am house sitting.

House sitting is, in a word, awesome - simply because it's a win-win for everyone. Home owners can travel without leaving their pets in a kennel, or paying for an animal or house sitter. And house sitters can travel without paying hotel expenses, and gain a chance to truly absorb what it's like to be a native in a foreign location.

There are all types of house sitting jobs - short term, long term, in the US, Europe, Australia, you name it. So if free travel sounds appealing, here's how you can find what works for you.

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