THE THRIFTY TRAVELER

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Glacier National Park

Stop wishing, pack up the dogs and GO

We were approaching a four day weekend and I was driving home while on the phone with my husband, Mike.

“What are we going to do this weekend?”

“Want to go to Montana?”

“….yes!”

AND BOOM. We did an Amazon next-day-shipping and ordered some thermal blankets ($10) and a tent that would fit over the bed of our F150 ($40). The dogs comfortably slept in the blanket-compacted back seat with the windows down. Win-win for all. (Thank the lord for pet hemp chews.) It was about a 9 hour scenic drive from Tacoma to Kalispell #cornfields.

ENTRANCE: $30 for vehicles or $25 for motor bikes. Annual is either $50 to $70 depending on the season. (Free for Military)

ACCOMODATION: Now, we decided not to use the tent- just because it was reaching an uncomfortable 30 degrees at night and we felt bad for the doggos (myself). Instead, we stayed at a hotel. (AVG. $100/night) If we were to have stayed at the campgrounds, it would have been $23/night – NOTE: Don’t forget your bear spray ($35 OUCH) https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/camping.htm

FOOD: Pack your food in containers with tight lids (again, bears..). Sandwiches, Pringles and Gatorades- your usual roadtrip snacks (that you never really eat). By bringing your own, you will save A TON, as park food and nearby locations charge about $17+ per person, per meal. Now, I will say….you MUST stop at a local restaurant for Huckleberry Pie with vanilla ice cream. We recommend the Trap Line Café & Grill (4.5 stars). If you skip this step, you did not get the full GNP Experience! ($7). https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g45131-d2337071-Reviews-or90-The_Trap_Line_Cafe_and_Grill-Coram_Montana.html

Gas: When we went, a gallon was 3.50. My recommendation is to fill up at Costco if you have a membership. The Going to the Sun Road is 100 miles RT. For 3 days, we spent about $150 and ALMOST went empty at the park on day. 10/10 do NOT take that risk! You’ll have no cell reception and will likely have to hike to the nearest building.

TOTAL BUDGET PRICE FOR 2 PEOPLE = 300

Entrance Fee: $30
Camp (3 Nights) $69/$300 hotel
4 Days food/person $50
Gas $100

5 Reasons to NOT go to Dublin for St.Patricks Day

1. Flights and hotels are completely booked and way more expensive than usual. Not sure if the roads will be blocked off, so if you’re not near by, be prepared to walk home or take the crowded Metro.

2. If you want to be in the city, you’ll need to purchase your Guinness and Jameson Factory Tickets in advance, as lines will be 100 people long.

3. If you want to stop at the famous pubs such as Temple Bar, you will be waiting in line for drinks for a good hour. Also, if you have children, I’d recommend putting them in a bright neon outfit (not green, haha)- as there are literally a million drunk people stumbling past you in every direction. You’ll want to hold on to them the entire time.

4. You will not find a bathroom with less than a 45 minute wait. Or you can use the outdoor portapotties that people have been throwing up in all day….I decided to find a store with a restroom. I paid for a water bottle and they allowed me to use theirs. I was 4 beers in and literally about to pee myself.

5. There will be few locals there and mostly tourists from all over the world, shoving over one another to see the parade and certain attractions that the city has to offer. As you can see in the picture below, people are pushing all different directions while others are just trying to see the floats go by. Kids were lifted on shoulders, but that made the people behind them upset. In all, I think they need a better system. It was nothing but chaotic.

So readers, please reconsider traveling here in March. You can find months with nicer weather and no lines. You can enjoy your pubs and factories with no wait and without preordering. The city is beautiful and should be seen at ones own pace. Also, save your extra flight and room money because even though it’s all they drink, Guinness is not cheap! Thanks for reading!

Doha, Qatar

The first thing that might come to your mind when thinking what is in Qatar is desert and military. You aren’t wrong! However, Qatar is one of the safest countries in the world and is very rich. The only major threat that it faces is the small body of water separating it from other erratic countries (such as Iran). So to clear the air on what Doha has to offer, i’ll be answering some questions about what activities and fun you can find as well as some helpful notes on culture.

How many days do I need to see Qatar? 1-2. Make sure that when you head out, its not during prayer hours (double check on Fridays).

How big are the Souqs and will I likely get lost in them? The Souqs are iconic mazes of market style stores that sell cheap, unique items. The one you shouldn’t miss is “Souq Waqif.” However, in terms of size, this market is only a very small fraction of what Morocco and Turkey’s markets are. If you do find yourself momentarily lost, just keep walking forward. You’ll find yourself either in the square or right on the outskirts of the center within 5 minutes.

What can I expect to find in the Souqs? Fake name brand watches, sun glasses, purses, wallets, shoes, and clothing. Perfume and cologne- and watch out because they will come up and spray you without your permission. You will come across some Nepal themed stores that sell vibrant bags, cushions, blankets, pillows, baskets and rugs (but you’ll probably need to ship them home.) You can find sections of the souqs that specifically sell nothing but spices and teas. You’ll see piles and piles of cashmere scarves. Double check the quality and ask for 1/2 the price listed on the sticker. You will also find tons of your basic souvenirs as well as local fabric and clothing. They are also proud of their intricate chess boards and pottery. Also, If I were you, I would skip the entire caged animal section. It was devastating to see 1 week old puppies and kittens stuffed in bird cages.

What can I do for fun outside of the city center? You’d be suprised but their malls are unforgettable. Have you been to the Villagio in Vegas? They have the same thing here! The entire mall is a scene from Italy with gondola rides and all. IF you stop by “Festival City mall,” be sure to stop by the massive gaming arena and VR rooms. They also have indoor ice tubing! The Mall of Qatar is MASSIVE. And there is an Ikea…need I say more?

Are there any bucket list activities that I can cross of my list, here? Yes! I went dune riding in an ATV with a group of friends for about $40 (for 2 hours.) You can choose what CC you want and can split the price with someone if you don’t want to drive alone (making it $20/pp!). You can also ride a camel on the beach (…or eat camel meat!)

What is the weather like? It’ll either be cold and windy or SUPER HOT and windy. From Dec-April, I would stick to leggings or jeans with a tshirt and a sweater. I had to bring out the gloves and hat some nights. For summer, or May-November, be prepared for a fluctuation of 90-120 dry heat. Sometimes Qatar will humor you with 130 degrees, full humidity and blow dryer wind.

What should I wear? The locals are very modest and will stare at those who are not. My first time out, I wore flip flops and had to suffer through a day of people looking at nothing but my feet. No need to wear scarves because there is a lot of tourism – however, I probably would as a solo traveler. No shorts, skirts, tank tops or low cut shirts. I would also avoid wearing a bikini unless you are at a resort pool. Even the locals go to the beach covered from head to toe.

What should I eat while i’m here? The great thing about this city is that not even half of the vendors are from Qatar. Most people come from all over the world. Pakistan, India, Philippines, Nepal, etc. You will find all of these cuisines here! Some restaurants have amazing views of the city center or skyline. Some gems are stowed away somewhere in the center or within the souqs. One thing to note is that you probably wont find any that sell alcoholic products. However, they provide delicious mocktails (mainly blended tropical drinks and mojitos. OH, AND YOU MUST GET MOROCCAN TEA WHILE YOU ARE HERE.

Ryan Air Holds the Key to Our Hearts

Prepare to have your MINDS BLOWN.

Three words. Five…dollar…flights

Go to https://www.ryanair.com/us/en

Scroll down to “Fare Finder.” Choose any location of your choice and select “anywhere” for your destination. Select your budget. (See below)

When you click go, you should have results under $20..maybe even as low as $5.

The photos above were taken from a Jan 2o2o search and are LEGIT. The flight may be on a small plane and they will show ads every 30 minutes but for 5$, I’ll take it my dudes.

The key to saving money going from the states to Europe is to fly to the cheapest airport overseas- such as London or Dublin ($250 for a one way- via Skyscanner). From those places, you can hop on a Ryanair flight to the ideal destination for under 15$.

You can then hop from one city to the next (within Europe) for the same price! I once hopped from Frankfurt to Barcelona to Paris to Rome and back to Frankfurt for less than $100.

You’re welcome, people! SuBscRibE tO SAvE

Seattle

When you think of Seattle, I’m assuming that you immediately think Space Needle ($37.50) and Starbucks HQ. Well, you’re not wrong, but those are outrageously expensive and not very impressive. Here are some fun, cheap (and free) things to do in Seattle.

PARKING Park in a parking garage by the shopping center. Sometimes its free- and if not, it’s not as expensive. NOTE: Most places offer free parking on Sundays.

PIKE PLACE MARKET Vendors sell fresh cut bouquets (sometimes with veggies!), Paintings, lavender products, home-made crafts and snacks. When you reach the corner with fresh seafood- they’ll entertain you by throwing fish to each other while singing. Inside, you can find international craft stores as well as ‘hippie shops.’

FOOD Right across from Pike’s you’ll probably see a line of 10+ people at a restaurant called “Beecher’s Handmade Cheese.” Your Panera-sized snack will probably cost you $8, but it is TOTALLY worth it. You can watch them make the cheese while you stand in line (and casually take 5+ samples, like me.) https://www.beechershandmadecheese.com/

FOOD Piroshky Piroshky is another great hidden spot right down from Pikes. $5 meat/desert/cheese/veggie/cream filled baked goods. They are AMAZING and have like 30 options. https://www.piroshkybakery.com/menu.php

SEATTLE GUM WALL Add your own and take a picture for the gram- if that’s your thing!

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM Believe it or not, this is FREE on some days. Check the calendar to take advantage! If they have a special expedition, the entrance fee is a donation of your choice. Check the calendar to see what gallery will be there when you are! http://seattleartmuseum.org/visit/

OLYMPIC SCULPTURE PARK This is also Free! It’s outdoors, 9 acres and is maintained by the Art Museum.

MY FAVORITE: If you have the time and means, take a 30 minute drive to Woodinville, AKA Wine country. This cute little town has over 15 wineries! Some are also walking distance from each other. See a list below and visit https://www.visitwoodinville.org/sip/wineries/ for more information!