How To Use Google Flights to Find Cheap Flights
Hello friend! I hope you're having a thoughtful, interesting, productive day. The last several weeks zoomed by in a ridiculously rapid haze of writing, creating, clients, emails, & making moves. During all the hubbub, Fred & I looked for flights throughout Europe. I get a lot of questions asking how I afford to travel. My secret? I use Google Flights as my own personal flight scanner.
It's a strategic process. I used Google Flights to search for tickets to Paris last year. I used it to find the best prices to Portland, Oregon. I've used Google Flights for several trips & it's my favorite way to save money on flights. We used Google Flights to book our latest trip too. In October, I headed to Spain, Germany, & Norway using tickets found via Google Flights!
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In an ideal scenario, we'd fly out from San Diego International Airport since it's the closest airport to us, but sometimes you can save $200+ from flying from LAX. It adds several hours of travel time but $200+ can make all the difference if you're on a budget or trying to travel affordably. Play around with the closest airports to you & to your destination to see price fluctuations. For example, roundtrip tickets from San Diego to Paris cost $560, whereas roundtrip Los Angeles to Paris is $360.
You're less likely to get a good deal if you have to travel during a specific timeframe. If possible, keep your dates open. Check different dates & compare prices. That's why our winter trip to London was so affordable. Cloudy, frigid, with a dash of snow, but holy moly, Christmastime in London still warms my soul when I think about it. Because we keep our calendar open, we accidentally booked Bucket List moments every time we travel: Christmas in London, Autumn in Portland, Spring in Paris, Halloween in Oslo.
We kept it simple by booking roundtrip flights the first couple Google Flights excursions. 7 nights in France. 9 nights in London (10, if you count the night we spent at London Gatwick Airport). If you're keen to explore multiple cities or countries on your trip, one-way flights or multi-city option is your best bet. It cost us a little over $29 for our flight from Barcelona to Berlin. $29. Less than a tank of gas & I'm off to a new country.
The $506 roundtrip LAX to Amsterdam flight with a 3-hour layover seems perfect until you look at the fine print: you have one stop in London where you have to transfer from London Heathrow Airport to London Gatwick. You'd have to deboard the plane, take your luggage, get a ride to a completely different airport, go through customs & security in 3 hours?! Sounds like a missed flight to me! Be aware of flight times & layovers on Google Flights. You might find a great price but there might be some sort of weird layover or stop or time. After playing around with dates more, I found a $493 roundtrip LAX to Amsterdam flight with 1 hr 45-minute layover in Philadelphia. Now that's doable.
Google Flights gave you affordable options & now you're ready to make a purchase. Heck yes! Save dollars when you book directly with the airline. Go to their website, search for your exact flight, date, & time, then make the purchase from there. Don't forget to sign up for any rewards to maximize potential savings.
Now that I booked my affordable flight tickets, time to find Airbnb accommodations, research things to do, eat, experience, & start my countdown! You have a trip planned? Have you used Google flights to find cheap flights? Do you use a flight scanner?
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* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Learn more about my disclosure. :]
Sinking House near Montmartre by the Sacre Coeur. |
It's a strategic process. I used Google Flights to search for tickets to Paris last year. I used it to find the best prices to Portland, Oregon. I've used Google Flights for several trips & it's my favorite way to save money on flights. We used Google Flights to book our latest trip too. In October, I headed to Spain, Germany, & Norway using tickets found via Google Flights!
Dying for more travel secrets? Sign up for travel tips, hacks, best photo spots, & behind-the-scenes designed for blogger, influencers, & travelers.
Play Around With Airports
In an ideal scenario, we'd fly out from San Diego International Airport since it's the closest airport to us, but sometimes you can save $200+ from flying from LAX. It adds several hours of travel time but $200+ can make all the difference if you're on a budget or trying to travel affordably. Play around with the closest airports to you & to your destination to see price fluctuations. For example, roundtrip tickets from San Diego to Paris cost $560, whereas roundtrip Los Angeles to Paris is $360.
Related reading: How I Decided to Quit My Corporate Job While Traveling in Paris
Keep Your Dates Open
You're less likely to get a good deal if you have to travel during a specific timeframe. If possible, keep your dates open. Check different dates & compare prices. That's why our winter trip to London was so affordable. Cloudy, frigid, with a dash of snow, but holy moly, Christmastime in London still warms my soul when I think about it. Because we keep our calendar open, we accidentally booked Bucket List moments every time we travel: Christmas in London, Autumn in Portland, Spring in Paris, Halloween in Oslo.
Check for One-Way Flights or Multi-City
We kept it simple by booking roundtrip flights the first couple Google Flights excursions. 7 nights in France. 9 nights in London (10, if you count the night we spent at London Gatwick Airport). If you're keen to explore multiple cities or countries on your trip, one-way flights or multi-city option is your best bet. It cost us a little over $29 for our flight from Barcelona to Berlin. $29. Less than a tank of gas & I'm off to a new country.
Be Aware of Flight Times & Layovers
The $506 roundtrip LAX to Amsterdam flight with a 3-hour layover seems perfect until you look at the fine print: you have one stop in London where you have to transfer from London Heathrow Airport to London Gatwick. You'd have to deboard the plane, take your luggage, get a ride to a completely different airport, go through customs & security in 3 hours?! Sounds like a missed flight to me! Be aware of flight times & layovers on Google Flights. You might find a great price but there might be some sort of weird layover or stop or time. After playing around with dates more, I found a $493 roundtrip LAX to Amsterdam flight with 1 hr 45-minute layover in Philadelphia. Now that's doable.
Book Directly With the Airline
Google Flights gave you affordable options & now you're ready to make a purchase. Heck yes! Save dollars when you book directly with the airline. Go to their website, search for your exact flight, date, & time, then make the purchase from there. Don't forget to sign up for any rewards to maximize potential savings.
Did these tips help you?
Now that I booked my affordable flight tickets, time to find Airbnb accommodations, research things to do, eat, experience, & start my countdown! You have a trip planned? Have you used Google flights to find cheap flights? Do you use a flight scanner?
Sign up for travel tips & behind-the-scenes, a newsletter for blogger, influencers, & travelers who want the best, most current information & ideas.
* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Learn more about my disclosure. :]
Things To Do at Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso, Texas
I'm a tiny speck amongst the majestically carved Franklin Mountains & the vast Chihuahuan Desert landscape that surround me. I wipe a bead of sweat from my brow. It's barely 8 a.m. but the sun is no joke. I pull the brim of my El Paso hat down to cover as much of my face as possible. This is Franklin Mountains State Park.
I'm exploring Franklin Mountains State Park as a familiarization tour guest of Visit El Paso. El Paso is a city in El Paso County, which you can find located in the far western part of the U.S. state of Texas. I look at the other travel influencers, journalists, bloggers, & writers. Everyone is taking photos. I put my phone on a wooden post, set a self-timer for 3, 2, 1. I smile. "Cheese!" I say to myself. I look at the picture.
It's glorious. Mother Earth is photogenic in that way. If you're a nature lover, hiking fan, or desert enthusiast, add Franklin Mountains State Park to your El Paso, Texas To Do List. There are several activities you can do all year long, fall, winter, spring, summer!
Latitude: 31.908166
Longitude: -106.525458
Headquarters
2900 Tom Mays Access Rd.
El Paso, TX 79911
Entrance Fees
Adult: $5 Daily
Child 12 Years and Under: Free
Group - Adult: Contact the Park
Reservations and Hours
Since they tend to reach capacity, it's highly recommended to make reservations for both camping and day use. As far as their hours go: from the first Saturday in April to the first Saturday in September, gate hours are extended on Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Sundays from 6:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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1. Nature Watching
The state park has a diverse ecosystem of birds, reptiles, coyotes, squirrels & maybe a mule deer or perhaps you'll spot a mountain lion. Leave nothing but footprints! Leave all plants, animals, minerals, and artifacts in the park as you found them. Everything in the park is protected by state law for everyone’s enjoyment.
2. Rock Climbing
Go on a rock climbing adventure at Franklin Mountains State Park! Bring your own equipment & climb at the designated area in McKelligon Canyon or at Sneed’s Cory in the Tom Mays Unit. McKelligon Canyon has a 1,503-seat amphitheater for concerts, graduations, etc.
3. Camping
Stay at one of 14 tent campsites or 5 RV sites. Campsites don't have water or electricity. Click here to find out more about Franklin Mountains State Park camping & RV options. Campfires are permitted but only in fire rings. No gathering of firewood is permitted.
4. Dining
Ok, there aren't any restaurants for visitors but you can still enjoy a meal on the mountain. Find picnic benches & shade so you can take in the view while you eat. It's such a good view. I loved eating my breakfast & watched the desert come to life in the morning.
5. Hike a Trail
Spend the day on the trail. The hiking trails at Franklin Mountains State Park are intense. You could spend a lot of time exploring the 100 miles of trails on almost 27,000 acres. Now that's quite a hike. Hikers should always bring water, cell phone, good shoes, & a hiking buddy. Walk around, enjoy the view and the trail.
6. History
Native American tribes made the area their home for thousands of years. Find their deep mortar pits for grinding seeds. If you're really lucky, you might spot their colorful pictographs & etched petroglyphs on boulders & rock walls.
7. Events
Franklin Mountains has an active events page which you can check out here.
8. Bring Your Pet
You can bring your pet but they have to be on a 6-foot leash. Please pick up after them.
Clear your mind & spend time with nature at Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso, Texas. Start off with a peaceful brunch on the mountain then camp overnight after a long day of exploring the trails. The entrance fee for adults is $5. Children 12 years & under are free. What are you waiting for? :] State parks are always fun to visit. Since there is no water or electricity available at RV camps or campsites, don't forget to bring plenty of water.
There are so many things that you can do in El Paso if you're in the area. From food to craft beer to plays, there's no shortage of ideas.
Sign up for travel tips & behind-the-scenes designed for blogger, influencers, & travelers who want to make an impact.
Sign up for travel tips & behind-the-scenes designed for blogger, influencers, & travelers who want to make an impact.
Related reading: Celebrating My 1 Year Self-Employment Anniversary in El Paso
Which activity sounds the most fun to you? :]
How to Set Effective Personal & Business Goals So You Actually Get Things Done
Instead of sitting, waiting, & wishing for things to happen, establish clear goals & create actionable tasks to complete them. There's no time to wait. NOW IS THE TIME. Follow these tips to make the most of your goals. Interested in establishing successful blogs?
Take it from me, someone who CONSTANTLY gets off track. These strategies increased my overall productivity compared to the month before.
Take it from me, someone who CONSTANTLY gets off track. These strategies increased my overall productivity compared to the month before.
1. WRITE IT DOWN
What good is a goal if you can't even remember it? Write your goals somewhere so you can see it. Type them in the notes section of your phone. Write it down on paper. Looking at your list serves as a constant reminder to strive for your goals.2. BE SPECIFIC
Simply saying "I want to blog more" doesn't amount to much. How often do you want to blog? For how long? On which days? Where? What were you doing before? Vagueness is not your friend. The small details make a difference. A better & more specific goal is: "I want to publish one blog per week for the next 4 weeks. I can commit to writing, editing, & photographing my post on Saturday mornings since that's my only free time."3. SHARE YOUR GOALS
What pushes you more (or is more embarrassing) than having a friend ask, "Did you ever finish that thing you were working on?" or "I thought you were going to give up watching so much Netflix." Sharing your goals might be the shove in the right direction. If you feel unmotivated, your friend asking "Whatever happened to...?" could be just what you need to keep going. So tell your friends & family! Share it on your blog or on social media. You could also hire me as your coach. :]4. DON'T GIVE UP
It isn't easy to create successful blogs these days. Whatever your goals are, don't give up if it doesn't happen or work out right away. Sometimes life gets in the way. Distractions happen, but don't let it completely derail you. Don't be discouraged if it doesn't instantly work out. Keep at it! I was blogging for 4 years before I earned even one cent!!5. DO IT
Don't just say you're going to do something, do it. Don't procrastinate. You want to workout more or write more? Well, get up off your butt & head to the gym or go on a walk or start typing on your laptop, even if you have nothing to say. Actions speak louder than words, so let your actions do the talking.
Related reading: The Real Reason I Quit My 9 to 5 Corporate Job
1 Year Self-Employment Update: Life as a Blogger, Influencer, Entrepreneur
Holy spicy guacamole.
I quit my job one year ago.
A lot happened. I chronicled all the details in my 3-month update & again in my 8-month update with a word of encouragement - I talked about my travels, my brand campaigns & sponsorships, & all those juicy details. But it's been a few months since then.
I ended up spending my one year self-employment anniversary in El Paso, Texas as part of a press trip!
Read my updates from Year 2 & Year 3!
It's crazy to think I gave my two weeks notice & quit my corporate job one year ago!! I recall that nerve-wracking day. How could I forget? I left the office for the last time feeling scared, excited, hopeful.
I had no idea what it would be like to be on my own as a San Diego blogger, influencer, & budding entrepreneur. Ups & downs. Highs & lows. Successes & failures. A bit of everything, really.
One year later, I’m walking around downtown El Paso, Texas for a familiarization tour with Visit El Paso. We had breakfast on a mountain at Franklin Mountains State Park, then I fed a state park AJ the giraffe. We hopped over to La Union, New Mexico for wine at La Viña Winery. It's all a part of the job. It's part of the ever-changing landscape of being a writer, a San Diego blogger, a content creator, a travel influencer, an inspirer.
Expect to see an El Paso travel guide in the upcoming weeks!
My El Paso, Texas press trip inspired my career even further. It reinforced the reason why I quit corporate America in the first place. Dare to follow your dreams, but more importantly, don’t forget to put in the work. In the day-to-day, it’s practically impossible to see your progress but you must believe, have strength, & faith & continue putting in the effort.
Dream on.
Work hard.
Live harder.
After weeks of struggling with self-doubt, I empowered myself to take action & LAUNCH.
I launched the July Blogger & Influencer Challenge as a way to cover some of the information in my private coaching but make it affordable & accessible to more people. Every weekday in July each registrant receives coaching content straight to their inbox geared for badass bloggers & influencers looking to increase their social media reach, following, opportunities, & income.
Need some help making progress on your blog or social media platform? Want guidance on how to get more views, followers, opportunities? Struggling to understand the online world or how to find readers/clients? Fill out my FREE Discovery Questionnaire if you're interested to find out about more coaching & how I can help you.
I launched the July Blogger & Influencer Challenge as a way to cover some of the information in my private coaching but make it affordable & accessible to more people. Every weekday in July each registrant receives coaching content straight to their inbox geared for badass bloggers & influencers looking to increase their social media reach, following, opportunities, & income.
Need some help making progress on your blog or social media platform? Want guidance on how to get more views, followers, opportunities? Struggling to understand the online world or how to find readers/clients? Fill out my FREE Discovery Questionnaire if you're interested to find out about more coaching & how I can help you.
Stay up-to-date on my travels & San Diego blogger adventures on Instagram & Instagram Stories.
So tell me: are you new around here? What kind of blog posts do you want to see? How can I HELP you? :]
A Mini Guide to Tijuana's Breweries, Craft Beer, & Tasting Rooms
San Diego's craft beer scene began in the 1990s, expanding from a handful of breweries to 125+ (& growing). With the #SDBeer scene well established, grab your passport & let's head to Tijuana, Baja California for a delicious array of beer at an affordable price.
Watch out for the growing craft beer scene in Tijuana, a border city in Mexico, just south of San Diego. Craft beers range in price, but cost around $4 on average, a bargain to the $7+ craft beers of San Diego. I checked out a few local breweries during my Tijuana travels. Here are my findings!
Cheers from Tres Fuegos Cervecería! |
Watch out for the growing craft beer scene in Tijuana, a border city in Mexico, just south of San Diego. Craft beers range in price, but cost around $4 on average, a bargain to the $7+ craft beers of San Diego. I checked out a few local breweries during my Tijuana travels. Here are my findings!
Donkey Punch Brewing Co.
Located on Paseo de los Héroes, Donkey Punch offers a good range of beers like blonde ale, imperial stout, or coffee porter. They have a flight board in the shape of a donkey ear - pretty cool!Border Psycho Brewery
Try the Imperial Psycho Ale or La Perversa (double IPA). Better yet, order a flight. Take a peek at their tap handles while you're at it. Spoiler alert: they're dildos.Cervecería Insurgente Tap Room
Insurgente has an eye for design & packaging. I tried Cervecería Insurgente while visiting Festival Plaza in Rosarito, Mexico. The La Lupulosa is an American-style IPA with 7.3% ABV (alcohol by volume).
Mamut Brewery Co.
Don't miss Mamut Brewery Co. inside Pasaje Rodríguez, an arts & culture alleyway. Pasaje Rodríguez used to be an arcade for tourists in the 1950s but relaunched in 2010. Mamut offers India Pale Ales, stout, amber, & more.A look at Teorema/Lúdica Co. Tasting Room |
Teorema/Lúdica Co. Tasting Room
This sleek tasting room allows you to sip inside or people-watch Avenida Revolución from the patio. I loved the minimalist look & convenient location to downtown Tijuana.Tres Fuegos Cervecería
Browse the murals & art throughout the brewery, then grab a table near the balcony. They usually have three house-brewed beers, with the rest being guest. We stopped by for a pint one night but they invited me back to taste some of their vegetarian cuisine options. A yummy bonus!Vibra Tap Room
Stop by Vibra if you enjoy unique flavors like the Hu La La... (peanut butter cinnamon milk porter) or Aloha (fruit beer with tangerine & peach), among others. Grab your beer & head to the second story balcony to enjoy the view/sunset/nightlife.By the time you're done reading this, another brewery popped up in Tijuana, Mexico! Tijuana's craft beer scene continues to grow, so what are you waiting for? Pack your passport & get hopped up on North Baja California's breweries & taprooms. See you there. Cheers! ¡Salud!
When in Tijuana, make sure to stop by Playas de Tijuana, Mexico.
How to Survive a Family Vacation as an Adult
This post is sponsored by Perrier® Carbonated Mineral Water but the content & opinions expressed here are my own.
Family vacations are just peachy when you're a kid, but surviving a family vacation as an adult is something else entirely. When you're young you can fall asleep in the stroller & get shuttled around to the next destination by your parents. As an adult, sorry buddy, but Mom & Dad won't be rolling you around in an adult-sized stroller anytime soon. When you're a kid on a family vacation, you can spend time with your cool aunt. When you're the adult on a family vacation, you are the cool aunt! Here are my tips on how to survive your next family vacation as an adult.
Related reading: How I Saved Hundreds of $$$ on Flights!!
1. Schedule time to yourself
It's vital that you allow yourself time to be alone on the trip. That might be an hour each day of your three-day-weekend getaway to the woods or that could be an entire day to yourself on the month-long family voyage. You set the rules. While the family went out for Sunday brunch, I stayed in our ocean view rental, popped open a Peach Perrier, & blasted music on my laptop. It felt nice to breathe in the salty ocean air, feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, & be by myself. I drink Perrier because it surprises my tastebuds & inspires the unexpected & my family has been drinking carbonated mineral water since before I can remember.
2. Do a Snack Run Immediately
Grab snacks with the entire crew (harder task) or make a couple people buy some supplies at the nearest store (easier task). Having some water & food is always a good option. There's nothing worse than 12 people coming back to the rental after a long night out with absolutely no food or water. We had a supply of bread, peanut butter, jelly, bananas, & oranges to curb any hangry moments.
3. Bring games
Card games. Board games. This is the 21st Century so you can even download game apps to your phone. After a couple days of bickering, nothing beats the hilarity that ensues after a game of family poker. Try it. We played games until 1 a.m. & laughed the entire time. Games can help cut the tension, allow people to get to know each other, or simply facilitate good old fashioned family bonding time.
4. Keep your perspective
If your family is pestering you about your career or relationship or life choices, remember that this family vacation is a small blip in life, a small moment in time, & you never know when the next trip is. My last vacation with cousins was 11 years ago. We were kids then. Now we're grown-ups. Some of us are married, some have kids, some moved across the globe. Things change. This family vacation is a tiny part of your life, enjoy the details.Enter to win a year’s worth of Perrier flavors! Perrier’s new Peach flavored carbonated mineral water is a sparkling fusion of air & water. Add zest to your morning or serve as afternoon refresher, or enjoy it while your family is out to brunch like I did. Here's hoping you'll survive your next family vacation. :]
* Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Perrier® Carbonated Mineral Water. As always, all opinions are 100% mine aka Carmen's. Learn more about my disclosure. :]
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