Author: RaShonda
Belgium is So Much More Than Waffles

A while back, Turkish Airlines offered an unbelievable buy one flight get the second for $1 deal for travel to select countries in Europe and Asia. Unfortunately, the deal really was too good to be true since the taxes were far higher than the cost of the flight itself. We still got a good deal nonetheless.
We (my retired Aunt and I) set our sights on two places in Europe that we’d never been to, Brussels, Belgium and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. With only three weeks to spare, I went to TripAdvisor to begin planning our week-long winter holiday in Europe.
Since Brussels is known for their chocolate I knew a tour and tasting were in order. Also, a tour to familiarize ourselves with the city and its rich history were number one on my list. Fortunately, I found a great tour through Viator that encompassed both. Continue reading “Belgium is So Much More Than Waffles”
Making The Most of Vacation Days

People always ask me, how can I afford to travel so much? In this day and age, with flight deals galore, I ask them why not?
In 2015, I went to Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy, Morocco, and Panama, and only used 2 days of vacation. Yes, you read that correctly. During that time, I also traveled in the U.S. to several states, both for work and for pleasure.
For most of my career, I’ve worked places that require you to accrue vacation days each pay period versus starting the year off with them. While this system can prove to be challenging, especially if you want to travel earlier in the year during shoulder seasons, there are ways to maximize your time off. Continue reading “Making The Most of Vacation Days”
#TeamCarryon – Best Brands?
I’m on the hunt for the perfect carry on bag because I’m #teamcarryon. Who has the time to worry about checking a bag these days, especially with checked baggage fees being so high? Besides, I’m impatient and rather walk off the plane, right out of the airport, and on to my destination.
Anyway, I came across this video on Facebook of a weekender bag made by hook+Albert. I love it but it’s pretty pricey.
What is your go to brand for a reliable, easy to transport carry on bag.
What’s the Deal with ZIKA?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, by now you’ve probably heard about something called Zika.
In the event you’re not familiar, the Zika virus is carried by the Aedes aegypti (or Tiger mosquito, see the photo to the right) and is said to cause microcephaly a condition that causes babies to be born with small heads and brain damage.
In most people the virus is said to be mild. Those that should be worried are women that are pregnant or trying to conceive (TTC). While precautions should be taken, it’s important to remember the Zika virus typically only lasts in your system Continue reading “What’s the Deal with ZIKA?”
DC Travel & Adventure Show

Washington, DC Travel & Adventure Show
February 20-21, 2016
Meet Celebrity Travel Experts. With celebrities such as CBS’ The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die author Patricia Schultz and CBS News Investigative Travel Reporter Peter Greenberg, you’ll hear the expert tips and inspirational stories that you can’t get anywhere else.
Explore Hundreds of Destinations From Around the Globe. Looking to book your next trip? Meet with local destination experts who can personalize your next vacation and give you the insider knowledge about where to go and what to do. Continue reading “DC Travel & Adventure Show”
A Weekend in Martinique
Last summer, I came across a great deal for Martinique on Norwegian. Norwegian launched nonstop flights starting at about $150 roundtrip from BWI, JF
K, and BOS to Fort de France, Martinique beginning in December.
While most people were like where’s Martinique, I’d been familiar with the small island since I was in middle school when I had a penpal (geez, that makes me sound old) who was from the small island, so it had always been on my radar.
Leading up to the trip, I’d read various blogs and articles about Martinique with mixed reviews. Some people loved their experience, Continue reading “A Weekend in Martinique”
Book Now, Ask Questions Later
Since this seems to be a growing trend, I figured I’d shed some light on this phenomenon. There are countless websites that report travel deals and every once in a while, they will post what we call a glitch fare. Just like it sounds, a glitch fare is a mistake made by an airline as it relates to pricing.
Somet
imes these glitch fares will only last for a few minutes, other times they will last for a few hours, which means when you see one you should book it immediately before the airline has a chance to correct their mistake.
It amazes me how many people don’t realize that since we live in the United States we are protected when it comes to purchasing airfare and cancelling Continue reading “Book Now, Ask Questions Later”
Welcome to Explore Savvy
After some encouraging from friends and former blog readers, I’ve finally decided to come out of retirement to start this new blog, Explore Savvy. Over the years, I’ve had a variety from one about dating in the District to one about things to do in DC. With travel always being my first love, I figured why not start a travel blog to share my experiences with the world.
Please join me as I explore the U.S. and the abroad. Hope you enjoy the journey!

(Photo from Martinique – January 2016)

