Chelsea is a travel maven that teaches others to see the world without breaking the bank! Follow her as she shares her tips and experiences on her blog TravelGirlMagic.com or on all social media platforms @travelgirlmagic.
Picture this, you're in Paris having coffee with a girlfriend at a cute little cafe with the perfect view of the Eiffel Tower.
She signals you to look over and you catch the cutest Parisian guy giving you the eye. You shyly return his interested gaze and he correctly takes that as a sign to walk over to introduce himself. After a light but flirtatious conversation, he invites you out for dinner before you leave. Sis! Soon, you're hearing wedding bells with visions of you living off the coast of Spain.
Dating abroad can be an fresh and adventurous experience, hopefully one that could change your life for the better. But with every risk and subsequent reward, there are precautions you must undertake to ensure that while you wear your heart on your sleeve, you keep your head with you. This big leap outside of your comfort zone calls for a few tools to keep near and dear. Here are a few tips for meeting that special someone while traveling abroad:
Don't be afraid to meet someone.
Being in a foreign country is daunting, but the joys of travel are often found in the people we meet. Don't be afraid to get out and meet someone even if you're only in a place for a short time. Who knows, a day or two may turn into a lifetime! To make things easier, you can get proactive by using sites like Tinder or Bumble to meet a prospective boo or just someone you think you would make a good connection with when you arrive.
You can also meet people at small places like cafes where the locals love to hang and kick back. In European cities like Paris, these are virtually in every district. The train can be hit or miss, but is a great place to spark interest. The beach is also a great place to meet someone, a bonus in this case would be the better visuals! I've also met many amazing people as the "Can you take my photo?" tourist. Locals tend to be genuinely excited to meet people from abroad.
Don't date alone.
Traveling abroad alone can do one of two things: make you really afraid or make you really confident. In the event that you get this unexpected boost of superwoman confidence, don't date alone. There are so many things to do in a public setting. This may even make things more relaxed between you two, especially if there is a language barrier. If the person insists on being alone, it is perfectly okay to express if you are uncomfortable and would prefer to stick to a restaurant, cafe, or even with a travel companion on the first date. Make your own arrangements to get there and back to your accommodations. After you've gotten to know each other, feel free to venture out all you want.
Don't get lost in the exotic sauce.
I get it, he's from Paris and he speaks French, or she's from Barbados and her accent drives you wild! It is important however to stay on planet Earth (hello Ms. Head in the Clouds) and stay level-headed. Sometimes a person can sense naivety and take advantage of that and it never hurts to be cautious and observant. After all, these are people just like us. They get angry and feel emotions the same as we do. It is important to treat someone you meet as a person and not a possession. After all, a man is still a man so don't be fooled by the accent.
Don't forget to learn the culture.
Now that you've exchanged numbers and set up your WhatsApp to talk internationally without running up a check from home, don't forget to take time to learn about his culture. Language barriers and cultural differences can make a huge impact on friendships let alone relationships. Google is a great start, but take a moment to talk with him or even get a few books that will give you better insight on how that person operates in their comfort zone.
Speaking of Google, Google Translate is a great tool to use when texting or just to get a clearer understanding of something you heard them say. You can also learn their language, and not just their love language! Learning a few words or phrases in their native tongue could leave a lasting impression by taking the initiative to show interest. If you really like a person and vice versa, this could be a challenging yet rewarding adventure!
Don't be afraid to have a little fun.
Be adventurous, travel off the beaten path, visit each other as often as possible. Writing letters and sending physical photos is also a fun way to get to know each other.
Remain open to the possibilities and make an effort to become a better person in the process.
Featured image by Shutterstock
Travel is often thought of as this super expensive, "boujee gang only" type of fun. In reality, travel is by far the most affordable luxury there is.
Before I set off on my first adventure, I used to think travel was for an exclusive and elite group that had money to blow. I applied for my passport as a gift to myself after hearing a good friend of mine speak so highly of her trip to Jamaica. This particular friend wasn't the boujee type at all. To hear her talk and show photos of blue water and beaches with people of our same complexion inspired me to take action. I believe that events like this are a subtle act of God, destined to happen and create shifts in our life. Shortly after, I took my first international trip to Turks and Caicos, spent under $500, including my flight, and never looked back.
Since then, I have traveled to several countries in Europe (Spain, London, Paris to name a few), Mexico more times than I can count, Canada, and my favorite island Turks and Caicos a few times. As you can see, the beach is kinda my thing.
If you've been dreaming of blue water and white sand, seeing timeless monuments, or experiencing things you never even thought were possible, and all within a price range that is totally doable for you... here's the only sign you need!
Check out these trips that will accommodate any price point and have you on a plane quicker than you ever thought possible.
Mexico: $1,000
I could lowkey drop the budget for this trip to $800, but I left a little room for things like emergencies. Mexico is the land of tequila shots and turn-ups! It can also be a perfect place to have a wedding, or just get away for a weekend.
Flash sale flights from Atlanta to Cancun for around $250 are pretty easy to come by. My suggestion is to book your flight one to two months in advance to catch this kind of deal.
A few days in Mexico at a 4-star resort is cool but a 4-star All-Inclusive resort is like the cherry on a sundae! All-inclusive resorts are definitely the way to go in Mexico and a trendy beachfront stay will cost $150-225 a night depending on the time of year. If you like to party with a view, Mexico will definitely give you the most bang for your buck, can you say girl's trip?
My Recommendations:
Where to stay:Hyatt Ziva Cancun, a newly renovated all-inclusive resort with a private and public beach
What to eat: Anything at one of the 16 all-inclusive restaurants
What to do: Catch a $10 catamaran or party boat ride into the beautiful blue waters of Isla Mujeres, jetski on the resort for $35, or both!
How to get around:Canada Transfers (Try their upgraded champagne on arrival and departure option for $15 pp).
Turks and Caicos: $1,500
My absolute favorite place in the world is the beautiful Providenciales, Turks and Caicos! The people are warm and welcoming, the food is bomb, and the beaches are to die for! You can snag a flight here for less than $400 from Atlanta many months throughout the year.
Your hotel accommodations are where you will spend most of your budget. A 2-star hotel may cost you up to $200 a night, whereas a 3-4 star hotels can cost $400 and up. I added this trip to this budget range because of this, however, the transportation is easy and the food is cheap! Every time I visit, I find that a scooter rental is substantial and, if absolutely needed, a taxi is not that expensive. Typical hotel transportation should be less than $30.
The island also has many exciting excursions such as parasailing, horseback riding on the beach, and, my personal favorite, party boat snorkeling cruises! These excursions range anywhere from $80-$150, so one or two excursions will do.
Caribbean destinations are definitely just as easy to snag on a budget as Mexico destinations. Have a rum punch for me!
My Recommendations:
Where to stay:Grace Bay Suites
What to eat: For lunch, have a seat directly on the beach as the waters gently wash ashore at your feet, all while enjoying a fresh meal! For dinner, Las Brisas is a fancy yet cozy dining choice over the bay.
What to do: Horseback ride through the beach and catch a fresh conch to eat at Bungaloos.
How to get around: If you stay in the main city of Provinciales, motor scooters are an easy yet fun way to move around.
Paris: $2,000
The Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa, the French Fries (I'm joking)! But seriously, Paris is one of the most magical cities I've ever visited, and you can see it too for less than $2000, trust me.
Flying from Atlanta will cost you about $650 with proper research and schedule flexibility. A five-day stay is required at minimum to truly experience the City of Lights. The hotels in Paris are available to the masses in all price ranges. There is a hotel or two at every block in the city of Paris. In fact, there are several 3.5-4-star hotels near the Eiffel Tower that will cost you under $125 a night. Even at $600 for the week, you can still stay well under your budget, or even opt for a lower-priced hotel. Airbnb is another smart choice and offers a better variety of nice stays within this budget range.
The train system is a great way to get around the city without paying a grip on taxis (because yes they cost a grip). Many of the popular landmarks are also in the same areas, so one-stop may place you in the middle of five attractions to see! The best thing about being a tourist in Paris is that most of the must-see places in Paris are, you guessed it, FREE! With the exception of museums like the Louvre, you can expect to pay very little to get out and be active. If you visit Paris, I hope you think of ya girl! One more tip: visit the Eiffel Tower at least once at night and thank me later.
My Recommendations:
Where to stay: Airbnb is the best way to go! There are hundreds of hidden gem apartments, many with breathtaking views of the city.
What to eat: Lunch at Epicure is a little pricey but the Parisian vibes are worth it. Besides, you're saving major bucks so live a little!
What to do: Go into full tourist mode! My absolute favorites were the Louvre Museum and Basilica du Sacre-Couer de Montmartre.
How to get around: Catching a taxi in Europe is fairly easy and the train system is very efficient and cost-effective.
Dubai: $2,500
The ultimate luxury destination has to be Dubai, right? This man-made island is fit for a King, no really you might luck up! The flights are undoubtedly the most painful part of this vacation but it's so worth it. A flight to Dubai is around $700 round trip if you have little flexibility in your schedule and can book as soon as you're alerted on a price drop (please tell me you have the Skyscanner app).
The beautiful thing about planning a trip to Dubai is that despite what you may think of such a luxurious place, it's not that expensive to stay, you can easily find a 4-star hotel for $100 a night or less here! I would also plan to stay at least five days. A daily budget of $160 is a safe number to comfortably enjoy yourself and eat three times a day, as well as move around the city.
Everyone wants to experience the famous desert safari and camel ride when they visit Dubai, and guess what? That's cheap too! A half-day desert excursion will cost you $80, and after all of this, there's a big chance that you'll return home with money in your pocket from this trip...winning!
My Recommendations:
Where to stay: Grand Hyatt Dubai or Coral Beach Resort Sharjah (because, the beach).
What to eat:Moana Seafood is an on the water delight, and a fancy dinner at Atmosphere in the Burj Khalifa, one of the tallest buildings has views to die for!
What to do: Visit the Dubai Mall, which has an aquarium by the way, and take a day excursion to the desert to ride camels and ATVs!
How to get around: Not so fun fact, women are not allowed to drive here. However, there is a train system and taxis are an option as well. Feeling athletic? The city is also accessible by bike!
Featured image via Chelsea Waddy/Instagram
