Thrifty Travel Tips

Ginger's Great Adventure Ends

2015-04-24T07:50:00.001-07:00

It turns out that Ginger was headed for Besa Grill this whole time. This eatery, located in Clearwater, FL, serves pooches as well as people. Their doggy menu includes Bowser Beer (sorry Ginger, it's non-alcoholic), vegetable hash, a breakfast bowl, meatballs, and even a cookie plate for desert. I wonder if Ginger knows that Clearwater, located on the west coast of Florida near Tampa, is also the world headquarters for Scientology.

Soon after Ginger sent me this photo, she sent another one. It must be from the St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport. I guess she decided that it's time to come home and resume sleeping for 18 hours a day. After all, every great adventure must come to an end.

Ginger's Great Adventure: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

2015-04-22T20:49:00.001-07:00

Ginger has made a new friend at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia. This giant swamp, located on the Florida border near Jacksonville, is home to a diverse group of critters.

Ginger chose an excellent destination. Okefenokee has a hilarious name derived from what white people thought the Istate Creek Native Americans words for "water-shaking," (oka fenoke) sounded like. Okefenokee, unlike Michigan, also has the advantage of not boasting snow in April.

Tomorrow must be the last day of this doggie's big adventure. Where could she be going?

Ginger's Great Adventure: Big South Fork

2015-04-21T15:09:00.002-07:00

Ginger has now ventured all the way to Tennessee, where she is enjoying a dip at the Big South Fork recreation area. It's a good thing too, since if she was at home she would secretly indulge in a bowl of foil-covered chocolate eggs. She would then break into the closet, enjoy an unlimited buffet of dog food, and accidentally lock herself into the closet for the night, making me panic and think she had been stolen. All of this (hypothetical of course) would make her horrifically gassy, the effects of which I would be currently suffering.

But since Ginger is in fact on a grand adventure, none of this has happened. Instead she is happily swimming at this park, which is near the border of Tennessee and Kentucky. This 120,000-acre preserve in the Cumberland Plateau is located in a valley and has outdoor sports, camping, and hiking aplenty. Views of the river, sandstone bluffs, and gorges provide copious fodder for the annual photography contest. Perhaps Ginger should enter.

Any guesses as to where she's headed?

Ginger's Great Adventure: Mammoth Cave National Park

2015-04-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

Ginger now appears to have reached Mammoth Cave National Park. Located outside of Bowling Green, the park contains the world's largest cave system, with over 400 miles of underground byways. And here I was, thinking that Kentucky's biggest claim to fame was KFC.

Looks like Ginger is headed south. Where will she go next?

Ginger's Great Adventure: Hopewell Cultural National Historic Park

2015-04-19T20:36:00.001-07:00

Looks like Ginger made it down to Ohio's Hopewell Cultural National Historic Park. The park houses these distinctive burial grounds made by Native Americans between 200 BCE and 500 CE. The term "Hopewell Culture" now refers to the cultures of various tribes that lived in the Midwest during that time period.

The park is near Chillicothe, Ohio, which is directly south of Columbus. In addition to the mounds, there are old cities with walls shaped in huge geometric patterns. I wonder where Ginger will end up next...

Ginger's Great Adventure

2015-04-17T21:00:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend just left to go backpacking in Yosemite for a week. To add insult to injury, he left his 80-pound chocolate lab with me. As any sane, self-respecting person would do, I set her free immediately. Soon after, she sent me this photo:

Looks like she is having a good time so far! Who knows where she will be tomorrow...

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for Backpackers

2015-04-17T15:48:00.001-07:00

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the only National Park in Hawaii. Pictures of massive lava flows and glowing explosions draw myriads of tourists, but the reality is significantly less explosive. There was a lava flow while we were there, but it was going through a residential area (!) and was closed to the public.

If you want lush tropical forests, this is not the park for you. Black igneous rock blankets much of the park, making it look like a giant textured parking lot. It is cool to imagine the whole place blazing and oozing, but after a few hours it gets monotonous. In older flow areas some plants have managed to break through, but there isn’t much variety.

That isn’t to say there are no wildlife or forests, but this is no Maui. If you want Maui, go there. If you want endless vistas of volcanic rock, giant craters, and sulfur-scented steam, go to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Getting There

Getting to the Big Island is a task unto itself. There are two airports on the island; Hilo is closer to the park. There is a public bus that goes from Hilo to the park, but it is, as the website states, “very limited.” Unless you will spend a week or more in the backcountry, rent a car so you can see all that the Big Island has to offer (we rented one for $26 a day). If you are feeling adventurous, you could try and hitch a ride to the park.

Supplies on the Island

If you need camp food, fuel, or other supplies, Hilo’s got you covered. There’s a Walmart, Target, and grocery store all within a one-minute drive. There is a Sports Authority in the city as well, but it closes at 5 p.m. (the website is lying).

Front Country Camping

There are two car campgrounds at the park. One of them, Nāmakanipaio (nah-ma-ka-ni-pa-yo), is across the street from the main park area; it is so close to the crater that you can smell the sulfur and see the sky glowing red at night. It was fairly crowded, but we never had a problem finding a spot. I liked it because the eucalyptus trees made the whole campground smell good. We stayed at this campground for most of our time on the Big Island.

The other campground, Kulanaokuaiki (koo-la-na-oh-koo-eye-key), is located off of the main paved road in the park. We drove down to it to take a look. Like most of the park, it was paved with lava rock and featured scraggly foliage. We decided to stick to Nāmakanipaio.

Payment

Technically both of the car campgrounds cost $15 per night. However, we never saw attendants or rangers at either one. There was just a box on a wall that you were supposed to stick money in.

Considering that the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is having budget problems, this system seems unwise–but that’s the way it is. If you want to be an honest citizen, bring exact change.

Backcountry Camping

There are seven backcountry campgrounds in the park. Because of the unpredictable volcanic activity, they can close at any time. I spent a single night backcountry camping at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and that felt like plenty of time to see the unusual landscape.

Backcountry Camping in Hawaii

None of the campgrounds have water. Pack more water than you think you need, just in case. There are no bugs (no water, no bugs) so you can leave your bug spray at home, but bring layers–it gets windy out there. You’ll need long pants for the forested trails, which are so overgrown that they are barely visible.

In Michigan, backpackers are used to hanging food from trees to keep the bears away. Because Hawaii is an island that formed recently (geologically speaking), there are no indigenous mammals. Most of the wildlife is in the sky, and the mammals that are there–hogs, mongoose, mice–are invasive. We got no warnings about hanging food from trees, so we just kept it in the tent.

Nāpau Trail

We were lucky enough to go when the Nāpau campground was open; it had been closed for a long time before we got there. An enthusiastic (and ridiculously handsome) park ranger gave it raving reviews and said he had just cleared the trail with a machete the week before. Of course I kept imagining him, shirtless and swinging a machete, for the duration of my trip.

The campground itself was nice, even featuring a little wooden outhouse. The seven-mile hike was relatively straightforward. The views of volcanic rock, steaming apertures, and craters for most of the hike made for lots of Lord of the Rings jokes (I’m glad you’re with me, Sam…here at the end of all things!). This eventually gave way to a damp forest path with lots of interesting plants. We were accosted by a mongoose in the middle of the night, and Andy slipped in the forest and nearly twisted an ankle, but we made it out unscathed.

Island Hopping: Flights Between Hawaiian Islands

2015-04-07T10:59:00.004-07:00

A hard-won view of the Big Island

I’ve been to Hawaii a handful of times, thanks to its convenient location between the U.S. mainland and Japan. However, I had only ever been to Oahu, the main island (where Honolulu is). On this trip, I was determined to make it to another island. Unfortunately, doing so was not exactly cheap.

The High Price of Hawaiian Inter Island Flights

Hawaiian Airlines is the main airline that offers Hawaiian inter island flights, and they are expensive. One-way flights are usually $80-$100. Theoretically, it would cost at least $560 to fly to all of the main Hawaiian islands (Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai). Since I only paid $386 for my round-trip ticket from Detroit, I felt pretty stupid spending $180 to go to the Big Island (but I still did it. I had to see the volcano).

Alternate Transportation

The real thrifty way to get from island to island would be to sail, but it seems like a difficult and dangerous endeavor. Perhaps a seasoned boater would want to undertake it, but for a newbie like me, doing so would be a death wish.

There are cruises that stop at multiple islands. A 7-day cruise from Norwegian Cruise Line starts at $899 (too expensive for me). You could also try to charter a boat to take you from island to island, but that is likely to add up to more than $500.

According to GoVisitHawaii, Maui houses two ferry companies that can take you either to Lanai ($30 each way) or Molokai ($63 each way). Theoretically then, you could go to all the islands for just over $500 if you took the ferry to Lanai.

Do you have any creative ways to get from island to island in Hawaii? Share your thoughts here!

How to Find Cheap Flight Tickets

2015-04-07T07:42:00.002-07:00

You could be here in four days!

In March, I planned two trips. One of them was a two-person trip to Hawaii. The second was a four-person trip to Japan. At the same time, my boyfriend was planning a trip to Iceland.

Total cost of two round-trip tickets from Detroit to Hawaii: $778 ($389 each)

Total cost of one round-trip ticket to Iceland: $350

Total cost of four round-trip tickets from Detroit to Japan: $200 ($50 each)

Here’s how to find cheap flight tickets like these.

Airline Specials

Most airlines have fare specials listed on a “Deals and Offers” page on their website. Usually, the airlines that have hubs at your local airport have the best deals. I live near Detroit, so I often check Delta’s Deals and Offers page.

Good deals can come from any airline, though–even one that isn’t as common at your airport. United Airlines had random $389 tickets from Detroit to Honolulu every Tuesday and Wednesday from February through April. A friend of a friend sent us the link on a Friday, and a few hours later we were booked to leave on Tuesday!

Which leads me to my next point…

Be Flexible

If you have your heart set on specific dates and a specific location, you'll pay a bundle. Stay open to random destinations and dates. My boyfriend wasn’t desperate to get to Iceland, nor were we nursing dreams of Hawaii.

If you can take a last-minute vacation, all the better. The more flexible you are, the more easily you can find cheap flight tickets.

Take a Weird Route

Don't expect to find lots of cheap nonstop fares to your exact destination. Subject both the departure and arrival airport to scrutiny.

Departure Airport: My boyfriend, for example is going to Iceland with his brothers. He is driving to Boston, where his brothers live, and flying out with them there rather than flying straight from Detroit.

For cheap international flights, consider leaving from the domestic airport with the cheapest fare, even if it is nowhere near you. For instance, Los Angeles has some of the cheapest fares to Japan in the country. If you use miles to fly there, you can get a round-trip ticket for $900 (vs. an average of $1,800 for a nonstop flight out of Detroit). I have a friend from Detroit who just flew to Japan out of Chicago for $750.

Arrival Airport: I was looking on the Delta Deals and Offers page and I realized that nonstop flights from Detroit to Nagoya (south of Tokyo) were deeply on sale. We will have to take the train up to Kanagawa, where my family lives, but it sure is worth the cheaper fare (there’s more to this story, so stay tuned).

Credit Card Miles

I’ve been talking with more and more “serial travelers” lately–the kinds of mythical folk who weasel their way into the First Class cabin for free. It seem that they use all kinds of tricks to get airline miles using credit cards. Start saving by signing up for a different credit card every once in awhile and snagging the bonus.

A few months ago I got the Chase Sapphire Preferred, widely considered the best travel credit card. I got the whopping 40,000-point bonus by “spending” $4,000 in three months. I managed this by

- Paying my rent and all of my bills with my credit card

- Paying for the whole impromptu Hawaii trip with the card (my boyfriend paid me back for his half)

- Getting an auxiliary card for my sister, who bought a bunch of stuff and paid me back

There are sneaky ways to get points as well. The Chase Sapphire gives users bonus points for their “Shop Through Chase” program, which includes lots of popular stores (including Macys, Sephora, Godiva, and Victoria’s Secret). Any time I want to make an online purchase from any of the stores included in the program, I route the purchase through the Chase website. I get up to five times the usual miles depending on the store.

Find a Friend With Miles

If you’re longing for a trip and don’t have the miles, you can always ask a friend. Businesspeople fly for work constantly and often get to keep their miles. Most of these people never have time to use all of their miles anyway, so they might let you use some.

In my case, an affluent friend agreed to let me use 200,000 miles. The cheap tickets I found from Detroit to Narita cost 70,000 miles each. I had enough airline miles in my own account to get four tickets–enough for the whole family.

Volunteer

One of your best opportunities to get free flight tickets occurs at the airport. If you can postpone your flight a few hours or overnight in exchange for airline credit, take it (unless it’s on Spirit Airlines–they are evil). If your flight is overbooked, airline staff is desperate for volunteers and will do anything to avoid kicking people off the flight outright, so you have some negotiating room. I once got $800 in flight credit for staying in a hotel in Hawaii for a night on the way to Japan. What a sacrifice.

Staying flexible, collecting miles, and scouring airline specials can get you an incredibly cheap vacation at a moment’s notice. Got other tried-and-true tips to find cheap flight tickets? Share them in the comments below.

Grand Canyon Bus Tours for a Day Away from Vegas

2014-02-17T17:44:00.001-08:00

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The last time I was in Las Vegas, I decided enough was enough: I needed to see the Grand Canyon. I had lived in Los Angeles for four years without making it out to the massive landmark, and knew that my chances of going there from Michigan were slim. So I did something uncharacteristic – I signed up for a super-touristy bus tour.

Vegas to Grand Canyon Bus Tours

There are plenty of bus tours that take people sick of the Strip to see a different kind of attraction. These tours are typically day trips and include transportation, park fees, and meals. You can also choose to purchase extras, like helicopter rides, depending on which area of the canyon you are headed to.

I will say that for nature types, a day trip from Vegas is not the best way to see the canyon…but it sure is better than nothing. For people who just want to go and gawk at it for a few hours, the bus trips are more than adequate. I hope to go back someday, but I am still glad I got to see the Grand Canyon, if only for a few hours.

For my trip, I chose the Grand Canyon Tour Company’s $109 Indian Country West Rim Bus tour because it was the only one that would get me back in time for my flight (the tour was 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) This company is very reasonable compared to some of the other ones – their cheapest tour to the South Rim is $79 per person!

Which Rim Is the Best Rim?

There are two parts of the Grand Canyon that Vegas bus tours service: the West Rim (where I went) and the South Rim. The West Rim is not actually part of the Grand Canyon National Park. It is on Hualapai tribal land and is now run in a very touristy fashion. The West Rim has lots of “cool” additions, like the glass-bottomed Skywalk bridge and helicopter rides, along with annoying extras like fake ranches. The actual park, in contrast, is focused on conservation – not on making money.

Skywalk. From what I understand, it looks cooler when you aren't on it.

The West Rim is closer to Las Vegas, so it takes less time to get there. However, it is also more expensive to go to, since the tribe that owns the land charges massive fees to visitors. If you are the kind of person who just wants to see the canyon, go to the South Rim. If you prefer some extra attractions, the West Rim is more your style.

What to Expect from the Grand Canyon Tour Company

The Food: The food definitely wasn’t gourmet. There were prepackaged pastries and office-grade coffees for the “morning snack.” There were a few options for lunch: chicken with canyon views and ribs in a touristy ranch area. I chose the view and had chicken, salad, bread, and some sort of dessert. It was edible but nothing special. The ribs were apparently pretty good, but I was there for the canyon, so I stuck to that.

The Drive: The West Rim of the Grand Canyon is about four hours away from Vegas. The drive begins with a shuttle bus that picks you up from your hotel (even if your hotel is not on the Strip) and takes you to a meeting point at one of the major hotels. That’s where the ‘morning snack’ is.

From there, you will depart on a tour bus. The ride was fairly comfortable, with nice seats and adequate rest stops. The driver was very personable and knew a lot about the route.

The Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam: The tour I went on included a detour at the Hoover Dam. Although we didn’t stop, there were plenty of photo ops as we whizzed by. It was actually very impressive.

West Rim: The bus first takes passengers to a service station manned by members of the Hualapai tribe, which owns this area of the park. You are then shuttled onto smaller buses that take you to various spots within the park, including the enormous glass-bottomed Skywalk bridge (which you can go on for a large extra fee – I didn’t) and a small hiking area. Lunch takes place at the last lookout or at a gimmicky little Western village.

Despite the considerable schmaltz, the canyon was impressive. It was so enormous I couldn’t wrap my head around how it could have formed. There were no barriers anywhere, so tourists could walk right up to the edge if they wanted to! I got pretty close, but I did exercise some caution!

Canoeing The Everglades

2014-02-16T13:06:00.002-08:00

My boyfriend and I went on a very active New Year’s vacation this year that involved three days of canoeing in the Everglades. The excursion turned out to be more complicated to set up than first anticipated, but with proper planning, it could easily extend for a week or more.

Canoeing or kayaking in the Everglades is without a doubt the best way to get up close and personal with the nature there. We saw dolphins every time we went out in the canoe (!), and they got really close to the canoe - enough to freak us out a little, in fact. There were also sea turtles, a shark, starfish, and tons of cool birds like pelicans and storks. The sunsets were amazing, and the white-sand beaches were lovely and secluded.

If you are willing to do the work, you can enjoy private beachfront locations for pretty cheap. We paid $37 per day with campsite and canoe rental, but if you bring your own canoe and camp in the free sites, the whole trip could be gratis! Now that's what I call thrifty.

No Alligators Allowed

The Everglades are a giant swamp that used to cover most of Florida and still cover a whole lot of it. Since Florida is long and skinny and surrounded by water, the Everglades abut the sea on both sides.

For canoeists and kayakers, the Gulf Coast Visitor Center is the place to go. Known as the “Gateway to the Everglades,” this visitor center is located where the Everglades meet the Atlantic, providing miles of waterways surrounded by mangroves and sandy Keys. Since this area is saltwater, you won't find alligators, although you may see them hanging out on the side of the road on the way in.

The Gulf Coast Visitor Center is only one of two visitor centers that sells backcountry camping passes (the other one is the Flamingo visitor center). It is the only visitor center that rents canoes and kayaks to visitors.

What You Will Need

Yep, that's a dolphin!

Unfortunately, the Gulf Coast Visitor center is located in the middle of nowhere. Everglades City has maybe five restaurants and four hotels at best, as well as an RV park and a few rentals. It’s hard to get to, so you have to plan ahead.

A Car: There is no getting around it, folks. The nearest city is Naples, and it is an hour and a half away by car. There are no buses or shuttles that go to Everglades City. The best way to get to the visitor center is probably to drive your own car, so you won’t have to pay a big fee for every day that your rental car is sitting in the parking lot like we did (fail).

A Canoe or Kayak: Again, if you have one, strap it to the top of your car and drive down. Rentals were only $25 per day for canoes and $35 for kayaks when we went, but the prices appear to have been raised to $40 and $55 per day respectively since our trip.

Camping Supplies: You are going to need all of the classic backcountry camping supplies. During the dry season (winter), it can get a little cold at night, so bring along long pants and sweatshirts, even if it seems silly.

The one thing you can leave at home is hiking boots – opt for flip-flops or lightweight shoes that you can get wet instead. Also keep in mind that, since you have a boat, pack weight is not as much of an issue than usual. Finally, a cell phone might come in handy – I actually had signal for parts of the trip.

Tips

Season: The dry season is the busiest season for Everglades boating because it isn’t unbearably hot and

everyone has time off. That being said, it could have been warmer on our trip – there wasn’t very much sun, it was pretty chilly at night, and it was never actually warm enough to go swimming. Also, there were so many backcountry campers that almost all of the sites were booked. Spring break might be the perfect time to go, so you get some heat and it isn’t as crowded.

Campsites: If you go during a busy time, try to go near the beginning (right after Christmas) so you can book campsites. Otherwise, all of the good ones might be taken. If worst comes to worst, there are some sites that are technically outside of the park – those are free or charge, but they may not be along the route you want to take.

Get There Early and Be Prepared: It takes hours to paddle out to the campsites, and if conditions are bad, it can take an entire day. Get an early start to avoid being stranded somewhere.

It is easy to get lost, so stick to the ferry trail with markers until you get out to open sea. Don’t forget to bring a map as well (you’ll need it). The keys have small signs on them, but it gets confusing with all of the mangrove islands everywhere. This Wilderness Trip Guide has more info on navigating the Everglades. Bon Voyage, and leave a comment if you have questions!

The Japanese Culinary Conundrum: Eating Local and Organic in Japan

2014-02-16T12:09:00.000-08:00

Sashimi in Sapporo: As local as it gets!

Fact: America is very concerned about local, organic eating these days. From Food Inc. to farmer’s markets, Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of processed foods and abused animals.

Personally, I subscribe to this new "trendy" mindset. I read the books and saw the movies, and made an attempt to convert to the socially acceptable side. The real change came when I started dating an organic farmer. Almost all of my food these days is from local sources – I even make my own yogurt from local milk and bake my own bread (such a hippie).

A Step Behind

While it is possible to live like this in the United States, things get a little hairier when traveling abroad. Japan, for example, embraced high-tech living and has burgeoned as a mature leading world market. Like other developed countries, it is home to supermarkets lined with processed foods. It is also very small geographically speaking and does not have the space to grow enough food to support its population, which exacerbates the problem.

While traditional Japanese cuisine is celebrated and adopted in many countries, Japan itself has been infiltrated by the modern food conundrum. Today, Japan imports 60% of its food; most of its meat comes from the US and Canada (United States Department of Agriculture). The population is getting fatter, and where once local eating was just a fact of life, McDonalds has become the norm.

Options for the Foodie Traveler

Unlike in the US, organic and local eating has not quite had its resurgence in Japan – yet. You aren’t going to find vegetarian options or Whole Foods in Japan, but it is still a major culinary destination for plenty of tourists. If you are a die-hard organic local food person and are traveling to Nippon, here are some tips to help you get an unprocessed bite or two.

Eat From The Land: Japan produces its own rice, tea, soybeans, dairy, and produce. Fishing is a major industry in Japan, so seafood is also a local commodity. Conversely, almost all of the meat (except for Kobe beef and other specialties) is imported. So, while you are in Japan, load up on the rice and fish. Sounds logical, no?

Eat For Your Area: Most areas of Japan have specialties that come from the area. These specialties are usually locally produced. For example, in Hokkaido, people eat a lot of dairy because there is actually room for cows up there. Pay attention to the local foods, and indulge in them.

Avoid Combini, Family Restaurants, and Grocery Stores: Japan is littered with Combini (convenience stores) and grocery stores full of processed food. It also has lots of chains, like Denny’s and other Japanese equivalents, that have similar food practices as their counterparts here in the States. True foodies probably won’t enjoy these places much.

Go to Markets: Luckily, Japan has a lot of open-air markets and little stores filled with local goods. These provide a great alternative to corporate food suppliers.

Go to Mom and Pop Restaurants: There are a ton of Mom and Pop restaurants in Japan that specialize in different types of Japanese cuisine. These places also often make their own ingredients, like fresh noodles and broth. Ask around for recommendations if possible.

If you have additional tips, please share here! I’d especially love to hear from vegetarians/vegans, since I know that is quite a trial in Japan.

Five Fun Facts about Italian Culture

2013-07-11T08:11:00.002-07:00

In America we mind our own business, eat big breakfasts, and expect 24-hour service. In Italy? Not so much. Prepare for some Italian culture surprises in this strange new land, and avoid making big American fool of yourself (like I did a few times).

Instant Connections: Italians are WAY friendlier than Americans. Many of them speak passable English and are more than willing to recommend a great restaurant or gelateria. It’s not uncommon to meet new friends in random places in Italy, especially on public transportation. Since in America talking to someone on the bus is often considered creepy, this can take some adjustment, but the open kindness and lack of suspiciousness is refreshing.

Business Hours: Italy is not a country of workaholics. They get over a month of vacation time per year, and you can bet they take it, usually during the summer. That means many of the shops are closed in July and August, right during peak tourism season. That may seem ridiculous to us, but Italian culture dictates that play is as important as work. It’s not a bad mentality.

They also have limited business hours even when they do go to work. Grocery stores are usually open during office hours – 9 to 5, with a one (sometimes even two) hour break for lunch. This means people theoretically have to leave their office jobs in the middle of the day to buy food. But is it better than a culture where people work around the clock, even on weekends and holidays? Who’s to say?

Expect this same sometimes open, sometimes closed approach for pretty much any kind of business in Italy.

Ciao, Bella!: Especially in the south of Italy, men can be very persistent and somewhat overly friendly. Prepare to say “no” a lot.

Go, Baby, Go: Buses, cars, motorcycles, and motor scooters all fight for control in Italy’s busy streets. Nothing moves like clockwork, so remember to be flexible; your bus may come on time, it may come late, and (sometimes) it may not come at all.

Fuel Up: Italy has McDonald’s now, but they still don’t have Starbucks, and they think about food in an entirely different way than we do. When in Rome, forget the phrases “low carb,” “large coffee,” and “bacon and eggs.” For more details, see this food-centric guide.

Above all else, remember than when traveling, you are experiencing a new way of thinking as well as new sights, smells, and tastes. Keep and open mind – who knows, maybe you’ll discover carbs aren’t such a terrible thing after all.

Thrifty One-Day Itineraries: Things To Do in Amsterdam

2013-05-23T02:44:00.003-07:00

Amsterdam is world-renowned for its acceptance of the grittier things in life, like prostitution and drugs. But that it just one of Amsterdam’s many faces. The city is very beautiful and is steeped in hundreds of years of history (not to mention swamp water). It also miraculously survived destruction in WWII, so many of the houses and other buildings are older than the good ol’ USA.

Amsterdam’s city center is not particularly large, so even if you have limited time, you can get a lot out of your trip. Here’s a good sample itinerary of things to do in Amsterdam:

Cool Amsterdam Houses

9:00 a.m.: If you did not arrive at the main station, make your way there to check it out and walk the surrounding area. Then settle in at one of the cheap breakfast joints near the station – there’s a big breakfast that all of the restaurants have called the “English Breakfast” that you should be able to get for around €5.

11:00 a.m.: Walk over to Dam Square and go behind the National Monument to join SANDMANs free tour of the day. You can make a reservation for €3 online beforehand, but you really don’t have to. Try to get there a few minutes early to avoid chaos.

The Smelly but Delicious Herring Sandwich

2:00 p.m.: Grab a raw herring sandwich, fries, or croquettes from a fast food place – this meager fare is all Amsterdam has to offer in the way of national food. Then hit up the Van Gogh museum for some masterpieces.

If you would rather not ogle art, you can renta bike for about €9 to see the city from a local’s point of view. If you are couchsurfing, ask your host to rent the bike for you; it’s only €4 for locals to rent one. It sometimes seems like Amsterdam has more bicyclists than cars, and the city boasts a sophisticated bike lane system. Just try not to mow over any unsuspecting tourists.

You can also take the free ferry across the main canal to check out some of the modern buildings on the north side. One futuristic building called Eye looks like an airplane; inside you will find a small exhibition on Dutch films, along with a large and impressive café.

View from the Library

6:00 p.m.: The Amsterdam Public Library is a tall building right on the main canal. Go to the top floor for an affordable smorgasbord of food and an incredible view of the city. The restaurant is not too swamped with tourists, and there is even a balcony where you can sit if the weather is nice.

7:30 p.m.: Stroll back over the bridge and go to one of the canal tour places on the Damrak, a street perpendicular to the main station. I paid €9 for a 1.5 hour sunset cruise from a company departing from the end of the Damrak; the glossy companies outside of the station charge €15.

9:00 p.m.: Walk over to the Red Light District to see the city’s famous window prostitutes and “coffee shops.” If you walk down the streets, you will notice that there are different sections for different “types” of ladies (chubby, older, etc.). If you are feeling particularly adventurous, you can go see a special show for as little as €2.

SANDEMANs Tours: Free Europe Walking Tours (in English!)

2013-05-08T02:23:00.004-07:00

Say you’re in a new city for a day or two of traveling. You don’t speak the language and, like most tourists, you didn’t bother to read up on the history of the place too much. How do you get the most of your trip?

The best answer, for me, is starting your day off with a walking tour. Walking tours are a great way to see a new city: you are on foot, so you have the freedom to explore, and the tour guide can take you to all the best spots tell you a little bit about what you are seeing. A history lesson may sound boring in theory, but it actually lends a lot of insight to your surroundings and makes your experience much more enjoyable.

The building in question. The story makes it way better!

Case in point: I went on a SANDEMAN tour in Amsterdam last week. Kate, our cheerful and knowledgeable tour guide gave life to even the more boring edifices. One tall, stately-looking building, she told us, had served as the royal palace for Napoleon’s brother, who Napoleon had put in charge of the Netherlands. The unfortunate monarch, who did not speak Dutch, tried to give a speech to the people from the balcony of the building to announce that he was king. Instead of saying “I am your king,” though, he accidentally declared, “Ik ben je konjin” – “I am your Rabbit.” He was henceforth known as the Rabbit King, and that building, which I would have glanced over otherwise, was the site of that memorable statement.

Logistics

SANDEMAN tours are perfect for bargain hunters. The tours take place in 14 cities across Europe and Israel, including Paris, London, and Madrid. The company runs on the principle that anyone should be able to afford a tour, so the tours are tip-based. You essentially get to name your own price based on your financial standing and the quality of the tour. I paid €7 for the three-hour Amsterdam tour, so while I didn’t leave the guide hanging, I also got quite a deal for a tour that long.

How to Learn German in Frankfurt: Tandem Frankfurt, Podcasts, and Conversation

2013-04-30T03:03:00.002-07:00

Looking for a cheap German language school in Frankfurt? I may just have the answer for you. It’s called Tandem Frankfurt and is located three minutes or so away from the Rödelheim train station on the S-Bahn. This German language school for foreigners is equipped with (weak) WiFi, has nice facilities, and sells coffee for €0.50 during breaks. My class is large and a little rowdy, but at €250 for 5 weeks, I can’t really complain. As for how to learn German in Frankfurt, the combined effort of school and other means seems to be doing an OK job.

Not a bad place to learn how to speak German!

Growing Pains

I was placed in the beginner class, as the one semester of German I took in college seems to have leaked out from between my ears. To others, I would recommend taking a refresher course before you get here so you can take the intermediate class.

The beginner class has about 15 students in it, and in my class four or five of these students are 16-year-olds from Afghanistan who do not speak English or German, so no one an talk to them and tell them to shut up. They are ridiculously annoying. A little birdie told me that the upper-level courses are small and much more enjoyable, as I have found from experience as well. So shoot for that, and avoid the rampant teen hormones.

Other than that, this German language school is a great find. You get three hours of instruction a day, either in the morning or evening. Each course lasts four weeks – mine is five because there are so many holidays that fall during the interim. Because you are taking three hours a day, you do progress fast, especially if you take the time to memorize vocabulary and study out of class.

The school is also willing to accommodate weird schedules if you aren’t afraid to press a little. I wanted to add a week on after my course was over, but the week I was interested in only had three days of school due to various German holidays. After I got turned down by the slightly moody 20-somethings who work the counter, I asked my teacher to help. She talked to someone higher up, who happily pro-rated me a price of €40 for that week. Not bad at all.

Supplemental Instruction: Language Podcast

Seeing as my stay in Germany will last under two months, I need a little more than classroom instruction can provide to help me spreche Deutsch in so little time. As Tandem Frankfurt is a train ride away, I’ve been going through podcasts like mad here, and I found a good one for learning German. It’s called Warum Nicht? – Why Not in English – and was produced by Radio Deutsche Welle some years back. Because the whole series is already recorded, you can download all four seasons off iTunes for free and listen to as many as you want.

Unlike other language podcasts I’ve tried, Warum Nicht does not include obnoxious ads for premium subscriptions. It also follows a storyline with characters, which makes it much more interesting to listen to. The combination of this podcast, classroom time, and asking my German friends lots of questions is expediting the process as much as possible.

Getting Short-Term Internet in Germany

2013-04-24T03:14:00.000-07:00

I am currently in Germany, where I am attempting (rather unsuccessfully) to learn Deutsch. My stay will last just under two months, so buying a router was out of the question. But, since I need Internet to earn my bread, I obviously needed to find a way to get short-term, high-speed Internet in Germany.

That solution turned out to be a little white USB. In Germany, lots of phone companies sell “Internet sticks” – USBs containing SIM cards that connect your computer to the Internet. These USBs cost around €40-100 to purchase, and from there you can get monthly access for about €15. However, the number of GBs you get is very limited, so no watching YouTube videos – you’ll have to go to Starbucks for that.

The USB I got is from a company called LIDL (pronounced Lee-tle). I looked it up online before I got here, then sought out the store, expecting cute little cell phone displays and friendly staff. I found a supermarket instead. I weirdly dawdled outside of it for 10 minutes before I decided it was the right place. The stick was behind the counter, and I help up a long line of annoyed grocery shoppers while purchasing it. Though the experience was unconventional, I got what I wanted.

Here’s the catch: you absolutely cannot use LIDL unless you are fluent in German. I am not, but my friend who I am staying with is, and she was kind enough to help me. The pamphlet that comes with the internet stick is entirely in German, as is all of the information available online. Even the customer service line connects to an automated system that speaks German, all German and nothing but German.

If you are an English speaker and need temporary internet access, try a different company that offers internet sticks. VodaPhone, Verizon Wireless’s German cousin, or T-Mobile, which has a strong presence here, might be worth a try. If you’ve gone those routes, let me know how it went. Tschüss!

Study Italian in Italy: Scoula Leonardo da Vinci in Rome

2013-04-20T02:33:00.001-07:00

The best way to learn Italian is, naturally, to study Italian in Italy. Incidentally, the Italian school I went to after ACLE - Scuola Leonardo da Vinci in Rome – is the exact same school that was featured in the book turned movie Eat, Pray, Love. The school itself is in a historic but not very interesting building located near the Piazza Navona in central Rome.

The huge Vittorio Emanuele monument. I saw this
every day on the bus on the way to school.

You have to take the train AND a bus to get to the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci, unless you don’t mind walking for half an hour or so from the train station. Even so, I highly recommend the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Rome chapter to anyone who is looking to study Italian in this beautiful, ancient city – and who doesn’t mind paying a significant amount. No, this wasn’t really a thrifty choice, but I was able to pay it all with the money I made with ACLE. Especially considering the fact that my food and lodging were free, the cost wasn’t too bad.

Prices

There are a lot of different Italian schools to choose from (here is a semi-comprehensive list of Italian schools in Rome). The main attraction to the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci when I was enrolling was perhaps the intensive nature of the course. I paid €780 for three weeks of intensive courses – five hours a day, five days a week. There is a €70 registration fee, but Scuola Leonardo da Vinci waves it if you pay in advance via credit card. The school also offers homestays, but I didn’t have to opt for that, as I found alternate accommodations via ACLE! Even so, in retrospect the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci was rather expensive – about €52 a day. Chalk it up to novice naiveté.

The view from Castel Sant'Angelo, a five-minute walk
from Scuola Leonardo da Vinci

The School

Once I got there, I learned fast. The dynamic and friendly teachers were hugely helpful. Seeing as most Italians are dynamic and friendly, it may seem as though that’s not saying much, but a good teacher is very important when you are struggling to turn your thoughts into words in another language.

I was placed in the intermediate class, since at this point I had been in Italy for a while and could sort of communicate in a juvenile manner. The intermediate class was very fun because we could all somewhat speak. We were able to have conversations, and each day we chose a different topic – organic food, crime, whatever –and had giant class discussions involving lots of new vocabulary. We also had to incorporate new grammar points, such as the conditional tense, which we covered before the discussion.

I took both mooring and evening classes, so during the break I got to walk around, go to the nearby farmer’s market, or just sit in the courtyard and have lunch. There are several cute cafés right outside of the school where you can go for a quick espresso. Since the school is I such a central area, you could easily go sightseeing before or after class. Che bella!

Transform! - ACLE English Camp Tutor to Private Tutor

2013-04-15T00:42:00.002-07:00

The family I stayed with in Rome ended up hosting me for a full three weeks after ACLE English camp was over. Essentially, I lived in Rome for three weeks with free food and free lodging. You can’t do much better than that!

That's right. This crazy city fo free.

Here’s what happened: I had registered for Italian classes in Rome before ACLE started, as the whole point of my trip was to learn Italian. It just so happened that I was placed in Rome during my last week. I saw an opportunity, so before the camps ended, I made a proposition. I would stay and tutor Rachele, the family’s 9-year-old (who already spoke exceptional English), for an hour every weekday. In exchange, I would be permitted to keep up residence in the basement (and in the kitchen, during mealtimes). To my delight, the family accepted.

While this situation is obviously out of the ordinary, tutors who wish to take time off during ACLE may wish to make similar arrangements. Staying for an extra week for a family and doing some exploring could be great fun, especially if you are stationed in an interesting area. And, honestly, all of Italy is interesting.

ACLE English Tutor Part III: When in Rome

2013-04-15T00:34:00.002-07:00

I worked as an ACLE English tutor for a total of three weeks. In my third and final week, I worked at a monastery/school in Rome. Outside of the monastery sat a giant billboard for a sex shop, so luckily it wasn’t hard to find. The building itself was lovely, with white stone walls and a high gate to match. The monastery served lunch cafeteria-style in the main hall, which was a nice change.

Unfortunately by this point my slightly sore throat had progressed to full-out laryngitis, which I’m sure wasn't helped by my constantly having to yell at the kids to get their attention. I was again stuck with a very young age group (and temper tantrums), but most of the kids were a pleasure, and the final show turned out as adorable as usual.

The nuns were all old, picture-perfect Italian ladies who loved cheek-pinching. I couldn’t understand any of their Italian, which was rapid and somewhat dated. I found that this goes for most Italians over a certain age: unless you are actually fluent, don’t expect to be able to talk to them.

There were about five of us tutors at this camp. Due to a confusing circumstance with housing, we had to draw straws to see who would get to go home with a family. I ended up losing, along with two other tutors, and spending one night in an ACLE apartment with them. The apartment was in pretty good shape considering the volume of people who must move through there, but there was some very old and questionable food in the kitchen.

After that first night, in a very unconventional move, we all got moved to a home with an Italian family. The family – headed by a strangely hot magistrate Judge/mother - had a finished basement with a bedroom, bathroom and main area, so the two boys slept in the main room and I slept in the bedroom. The house had WiFi and a live-in maid, Marisel, who was from the Philippines and spoke excellent English.

Unlike in the other places I had stayed, this family didn’t really tour me and my fellow tutors around, This is probably because they hadn’t actually signed up beforehand and a host family and hadn’t been planning on chauffeuring tutus around the countryside. That being said, the dad, Fabio, had taken cooking classes at one point and was an exceptional chef even for an Italian. Some of the best food I had in Italy came from that house!

Vacation Hair: Five Tips for Traveling with Minimal Product

2013-03-19T18:43:00.002-07:00

I swear, it doesn't usually look this bad (I'm on the left)

Vacation hair can be tough. I've got longer hair now, and carrying shampoo, conditioner, towels, brushes, and all of the other normal accoutrements of hair care is not an option. Shampoo and conditioner can leak in your bag and get taken away by the TSA, towels and brushes are too bulky, and your hair somehow ends up a mess anyway.

Luckily, I've got a vacation hair game plan now, even for longer hair. Feast on my secrets.

1. Shampoo Bars: My recent obsession with all things natural led me to the shampoo bar, which is also the ultimate tool for the long-locked traveler. Essentially, you wash your hair with soap. Before you back away screaming, hear me out. Soap is made of oils processed with lye, and when made sans excess chemicals, it does a great job cleaning your hair. It doesn't strip your hair and scalp of natural oils like normal shampoo does, so it is excellent for people with sensitive skin/dandruff/itchy scalp/dry hair problems. You won't even need to condition (I still do it about once a week, but skipping out while traveling is no big deal). Perhaps best of all, solid soap is SOLID, so the TSA will not steal it from you.

My favorite way to use a shampoo bar is to flip my head upside down and rub the bar around the periphery of my head, then scrub and rinse. Takes about two minutes. Your hair will feel distinctly tangly in the shower, but once you get out and dry it off, it is very manageable. You can buy soap bars made specifically for shampoo purposes online or at Whole Foods, but the nice fresh bars they share at the farmer's market will work just as well. When in transit, wrap them in a washcloth.

Me and my multi-tasking sarong

2. Sarongs: Towels are the bane of travelers. They are huge and take forever to dry, leaving you with a soggy, bulky suitcase. Sarongs, the same kind you use as a cover-up on the beach, are the answer. They are lighter than towels, so they dry faster, and they can multi-task as sheets or clothing in a pinch. Whenever they get dirty, a quick soap-up in a bathtub and a few hours hanging on a door will cure it. No, they aren't as good as luxury hotel towels, but they are much more practical for hostel-hoppers.

3. Combs: Unless your hair is completely insane, a flat comb should work just as well as a brush. Combs are flat, so you can slip them into any pocket on a bag.

4. Dry Shampoo: For when you get smelly and don't have access to a shower. Sample-size bottles of dry shampoo are easy to get in drug stores in America, and a quick spritz can keep you from getting too gross. Just make sure to put them in a clear baggie when you go through security. To use, part your hair in a few random places and spray directly onto your scalp, let it sit for a minute, then rub it into your skin and hair.

5. Hair Ties: Always have a good supply handy. And no matter what, ready to embrace your natural hair, no matter how frizzy/insane/unmanageable it is. There are no hair dryers and straighteners when you are a budget traveler! :)

Traditional Italian Food Guide: Meals

2013-03-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

Don’t expect five-minute instant meals or copious preservatives in traditional Italian food. In the land of slow food, lunch and dinner are coveted, even revered. Traditional Italian food is all about culture and fresh, high-quality ingredients. Goodbye Burger King, hello wine at lunch!

Cookies for Breakfast: Don’t expect bacon and eggs in Italy. As my rambunctious host sister told me, for Italians, “Salt in the morning is vomit.” A cappuccino or espresso coupled with COOKIES or some other starchy fluff, smeared in the requisite nutella, is supposed to get you through to lunch.

Craving something more substantial? Yogurt is finding its way into Italian breakfasts, and no one will laugh at you for having some fruit with your sugary meal. Clearly there’s nowhere to go but up.

Lunch: No self-respecting Italian scarfs down a few bites of something frozen or processed for lunch, unlike us Americans (ever dry-swallowed an energy bar? You are not alone). Lunch tends to include the two main components of an Italian dinner – a primo piatto (pasta) and a secondo piatto (meat or fish). And no, having a glass of wine with lunch is not frowned upon – but having a second or third glass probably isn’t the best idea.

If having a huge lunch every day is not your thing, there are plenty of places where you can get lighter fare. A hearty chunk of focaccia loaded with herbs, olives and prosciutti, or a heavenly sandwich, will fill your stomach until dinnertime. You could also go grab pizza, but beware: you won’t find many by-the-slice places.

Crazy Italian Dinners: Dinner is an especially fantastic affair, filled with lots of different dishes. It is practically impossible to stomach a full Italian meal unless you haven’t eaten anything all day, which is perhaps why Italians start off their mornings with nothing but cookies. One thing to keep in mind is that Italian cuisine changes drastically from one area to another, so everywhere you go, a delicious new menu will be awaiting you.

Described below is what you will get if you go somewhere really fancy for dinner in Italy. You will pay up the butt, since all of the courses are priced separately - it’s unusual to find a fixed price for a full meal in a non-touristy area.

Antipasti at an Italian home

· Aperitivi (before-dinner drink): the equivalent of an Italian happy hour. If you are in an Italian home, wine will probably fill this need, and it won’t stop flowing until the meal is out. That being said, Italians don’t usually drink to get drunk: their drinks complement the food, so don’t guzzle down bottle after bottle like you’re at a frat party.

· Antipasti (appetizers): can consist of cold cuts (prosciutti), cheeses, bruschetta, and local specialties. Bread may also come, but don’t expect dipping oil – Italians eat their bread plain with the appetizers. When Italians do use dipping oil, they sprinkle it directly on the bread so as not to waste it.

· Primo piatto (pasta): a pasta dish. Pasta is not just pasta in Italy – there are a jillion different types of pasta, and it is often freshly made. The sauces are equally fresh, varying, and delicious, and again, offerings change with the specific location. Some favorite bases for sauces are tomato, cream, and cheese, always cooked with a generous helping of olive oil. Gnocchi and lasagna also make regular appearances.

· Secondo piatto (protein): meat or fish, cooked in endless versions of scrumptious.

· Contorno (veggies): vegetables cooked or raw, served with the secondo piatto.

· Insalata (salad): salads finish off Italian meals instead of starting them.

· Formaggi e Frutta (cheese and fruit): Local cheeses and fruit, fresh and cleansing. Again, something we as Americans would expect to see at the beginning of a meal.

· Dolci (dessert): something sweet, like tiramisù or gelato. Other local delicacies (like cannoli in Sicily) can also be served.

· Caffè (coffee): a small shot of espresso to polish off the meal.

· Digestivo (digestive): a shot of liquor, like grappa or limoncello. The alcohol is supposed to help your body process the insane amount of food you just ate.

Not to worry - you don’t have to eat that much every day! Normal dinners are abbreviated versions of the above, and at-home family dinners can consist of a mishmash of antipasti and the primo and secondo piatto, paired with contorno (if you are lucky), bread, and wine. Even so, between Italian lunches and dinners, I found myself feeling overwhelmed at times.

One crucial thing, however, was often lacking from my meals. Dessert happens on special occasions only, which is why I was constantly indulging in chocolate bars and tiramisù by myself in my room after dinner. I am not ashamed.

Faenza, Emilia-Romagna: Ceramics, Clock Towers, and ACLE English Camp

2013-03-14T19:20:00.002-07:00

Faenza, the second stop on my ACLE English camp tour, is a small city located in Emilia-Romagna. I stayed on the outskirts of Faenza, in a farmy/residential area surrounded by fields. My temporary Faenza family was very accommodating, and my host mom took me on some excursions that stuck with me.

International Museum of Ceramics: Faenza is affectionately known as the ceramics capital of Italy, thanks to a lush history of pottery production. To commemorate this lasting trend, the International Museum of Ceramics was erected in Faenza. The museum boasts the largest museum ceramics collection, not just in Italy, but in the world.

Some of the ceramic pieces seemed to defy the laws of nature. There were tiny cups made of china as thin an intricate as lace, while other pieces soared over my head and peered back down at me, leering with the immobile heads of snakes. If there weren’t small children along for the visit, my host mom (a pottery artist herself) and I could have spent all day engrossed in tableware and vases. And yes, I am aware of how nerdy that sounds.

Brisighella: Brisighella has character. The houses are multicolored and could be the subject of some artsy print in a New York City apartment. Just outside the city center, a historical fortress (la Rocca Manfrediana) and clock tower (Torre del’Orologio) sit on twin peaks of natural chalk. You can pick up the pebbles that fall off of the mountain and crumble them in your hands. The surrounding natural vistas are beautiful, and the ancient buildings only add to the charm (pictured at the top of this post).

Kiwis: Yes, kiwis. Who knew that 70% of kiwis grown north of the equator come from good old Italia? My host mom’s uncle (I think it was her uncle) has a kiwi farm near Faenza. During a quick visit, I found myself fondling the unripe fruit, still attached to hundred of yards of vine in a vast field. It was August and the kiwis were still hard; two more months would pass before my lifelong distaste for the fruit was cured by one succulent bite, taken in a convent in Rome. More details to come...

English Camp, Stop 1: ACLE in Foligno, Umbria

2013-03-03T18:42:00.001-08:00

Commence my first ACLE English camp! Italians have a reputation for being friendly, warm folk. The stereotype, in this case, is completely justified. Thrust by ACLE into my first week as a tutor, I was floored by just how kind everyone was. Foligno, a quaint little city in Umbria, set the stage.

The Family: I stayed with a cute four-person family – Raffaella, her husband Nicola, and their two fantastic kids. Raffaella spoke very good English, which was great because she is also an art history genius and I never would have understood her art history lessons in Italian. ACLE mandates that host families provide tutors with meals and their own room, but my host family went far beyond that, as is apparently the norm. The meals were INCREDIBLE – we had four different kinds of fresh and mind-blowingly delicious mozzarella for dinner one night – and I was treated to several trips to neighboring cities and tourist attractions. More details on that later.

The School: My first week, and in the weeks to come, I taught children of around 6-8 years old. I did not want to teach kids in this age demographic and was hoping for an older age group, but it happened nonetheless. To top things off, I began coming down with a bout of laryngitis during the latter part of the week (a bout that would inconveniently plague me for the rest of my time with ACLE). Instructing a group of rambunctious foreign children without a voice was, to say the least, a memorable experience.

That being said, I was not killed or torn to pieces. My miniature pupils were good sports and, although there were some behavior problems, it was overall a pleasant endeavor. The extent of the behavior problems was mostly children wanting to be released for lunch way too early and children complaining about their lack of language learning skills. On the flip side, because my students were so young and Italians do not have the pedo-geared "don't touch the kids" rules, I was regularly smothered with adorable prolonged hugs.

The Food: ACLE tutors eat hearty lunches, consisting of pasta and some sort of meat or fish, along with the rest of the students and staff. The food at the Foligno school, as with the food elsewhere, was delicious. There was also an unlimited and much-appreciated supply of espresso.

The Show: My first ACLE show had a cartoon theme. My kids dressed up as cartoon characters and spouted accented one-liners like, “My name is Timmy Turner, I have a pink hat.” For some reason, “The Fairly Oddparents” and “Scooby Doo” are big hits in Italy, as is “iCarly.” If you get the chance, watch these shows in Italian. They are hilarious.

Teaching English in Italy: ACLE English Camps

2013-03-03T15:45:00.002-08:00

Teaching English in Italy (and elsewhere abroad) allows many a thrifty traveler to go abroad without incurring a huge bill. Most popular, non-English speaking travel destinations are dotted with ESL programs that require little to no training for tutors, much less a teaching certification. The only qualification you need for teaching English in Italy is the ability to speak English, and I’m going to go ahead and assume you have that covered. These programs typically set teachers up with housing, meals, and a small stipend. Not a bad way to see a new country on a budget!

My journey into the world of newbie English teaching began through ACLE (Associazione Culturale Linguistica Educational). ACLE runs summer camps for children throughout Italy. Each camp lasts for a week and includes all kinds of ESL games, songs, and other activities, culminating in a musical show for the parents on the last day. I did the City Camp program, which provides homestays – a surefire way of boosting my Italian skills in just a few weeks.

All ACLE tutors are required to participate in a weeklong orientation course, which is held intermittently at ACLE’s northern base in Sanremo. The course costs €150 and includes housing in a hotel room (with a few other tutors) and food. This comes out to as little as €25 per day for lodging and meals in Italy, which any experienced traveler will tell you is quite a deal. However, you do have to spend five whole days (about 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at ACLE training, so don’t expect to be gallivanting around the countryside.

Sanremo at Dusk

Training is run mostly by senior tutors and full-time staff. It covers everything from how to deal with behavioral problems to teaching tactics for different age groups. At the end of the week, groups of soon-to-be tutors put on shows similar to those that the children put on at the end of their camps. Because many of the tutors are around the same age (18-30) and are by nature gregarious, the whole experience is less painful than one might imagine.

In fact, ACLE is a dream come true for any social butterfly. Opportunities for fraternization abound, especially during breaks and after the daily training sessions. ACLE arranges some really nice dinners at area restaurants, and the director even puts on a tour of the city for the tutors. All extracurriculars are always filled with friendly chatter. And the chatter only continues when the camps start….