Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” – Anonymous

This big, beautiful world has so my places to visit, it will take a life time. If you want to explore and grow, this simple quote says it all. I crave new experiences, learning about people and cultures and I do that by going somewhere new at least once a year; if I’m lucky, I get to see a few more!

2019 was a year of change and growth. I was able to step away from a career of 14 years and take a sabbatical. During this time I traveled to Europe, Canada, the Caribbean and a few places in the US. Traveling gives you a new perspective on life. Ron, my husband and I traveled with one of our favorite couple friends in Europe last spring. We were literally in planes, trains, and automobiles 24/7 to visit as many cities in 7 days.

One of my not so favorite memories is lugging around this enormous suitcase- of course I overpack because I felt I needed to be prepared for any occasion! As I watch my friends effortlessly pull their carry on suitcase around all of these European cities- Zürich, Geneva, Lauterbrunnen, Cinque Terre, and Milan, I think to myself, why did I not pack smarter to jet set and move through these cities with various modes of transportation with ease?

Here are a few packing tips I learned for a fast paced, jam packed travel itinerary:

Use Compression bags for travel to save space in your luggage.
Don’t pack shoes for multiple occasions: only take 2 pair of shoes (daytime/nighttime).
Recycle your jeans and pair with a different blouse for a new look.
Use a packing list and stick to it :)
Leave the bulky clothes at home or wear them on the plane.

Needless to say I did not wear 50% of the clothes I packed. It’s safe to say, in the future I need to use a packing list and stick to it. I’m a big believer in laughing at yourself, so when it was all said and done I had to laugh at myself.

Some of the best moments were trying some delicious food and sweet treats. I love cheese so when I have some good cheese, I go all in. And let’s just say, I’ve never meet any cheese I don’t like. The best fondue I ever had was on this trip in Geneva.

Not only was the fondue amazing, the service at Restaurant Les Armures was exceptional. We walked by this seemingly popular restaurant and looked at the menu, it was definitely a winner for dinner. We were very excited we were able to accommodate us and seat us, although we did not have reservations. We shared a delicious meal and forgot about our suitcase woes.

I have adopted the growth mindset philosophy, you either win or you learn. Learning to pack light has been so liberating in my season of growth and change. When you travel, you grow in more ways than one. Now we can walk into our future with assurance knowing travel is about the experiences you will gain, not the clothes you think you will need that you probably won’t wear.

Let me know your travel tips in the comment section!

Writer: Chericka Johnson, Travel Advisor

Travel Diary- My Paris Trip

Transportation: We flew from Dulles in DC to Paris via Air France. While in Paris we used Uber 75% of the time and walked when we could.

Day 1
We dropped our bags off at Hotel 34B. It’s an Astotel Hotel. We really liked the fun decor and feel of the hotel. It was considered 3 star but it was modern, tasty breakfast, clean, staff super friendly, and right next to allllll the shopping like Galleries Lafayette.

More about Hotel 34B

AN ODE TO FRANCE- Discover the 34B, 3-star hotel paying tribute to France, near the Grands Boulevards, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Haussmann. Paris 9th.
Stay in one of its 128 rooms, each decorated in an unusual style. Exceptional comfort with high quality, spacious 2-metre beds. Use the free WiFi to organise your days.
Enjoy a free breakfast (direct booking) with fresh and varied produce in the cosy lobby, then relax on the comfy sofas in the lounge. Travel guides and other books on France are at your disposal, to introduce you to the riches of the country and perhaps help you organise your trips.
Soft drinks and snacks are available at the open bar in the afternoon.
The attentive staff and warm atmosphere of the Hotel 34B will make your stay in Paris truly memorable!

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We had Breakfast at Hardware Societe...DELICIOUS!!! You have to have breakfast there. Afterward, we explored and walked throughout the city and went to the catacombs (creepy and cool). We spent the rest of the evening at Galleries Lafayette which is a shopper's dream, especially if you're into designers/labels.

More about the Catacombs

“In the late eighteenth century, when major public health problems tied to the city’s cemeteries led to a decision to transfer their contents to an underground site. Paris authorities chose an easily accessible site that was, at the time, located outside the capital: the former Tombe-Issoire quarries under the plain of Montrouge. The first evacuations were made from 1785 to 1787 and concerned the largest cemetery in Paris, the Saints-Innocents cemetery.

The site was consecrated as the “Paris Municipal Ossuary” on April 7, 1786, and, from that time forward, took on the mythical name of “Catacombs”, in reference to the Roman catacombs, which had fascinated the public since their discovery. Starting in 1809, the Catacombs were opened to the public by appointment.”

Day 2
Eiffel Tower and the Louvre (that was plenty for one morning/afternoon). Went to dinner and found a hip hop lounge, Le Comptoir General. Dinner was at Le Coincidence. Very yummy. They speak English there as well.