Everyone has dreamed of taking that epic American road trip adventure of a lifetime. So we (with co-host Jeane Reveendran) did just that - while filming Crack The Cookie Code. But let's be honest, some parts of the U.S of A (or anywhere for that matter), especially for 2 women travelers, need extra precaution.
Not every town is as welcoming as the sun in Los Angeles or is as diverse as the streets of New York City. Sure, we weren't going to need vaccines where we were going - but when traveling, one should always have a few handy tips and 'check-ins' to go by, just to ease the stress of any unexpected surprise.
We're going to share some tips we learned while traveling and filming on the road from the East to the West Coast! Though we had to lug around some expensive equipment for filming, there are a few rules of travel that are similar whether if you're 'working' or not.
MOVING AROUND: What's your mode of transport in the city you're heading to? Is public transportation reliable there or would you need to rent a car? Is the parking lot where your hotel is well lit and/or find out if there's valet parking. More importantly – just because you can walk comfortably in the day, the situation in the neighborhood might be different at night. Ask locals, read travel reviews and trust your instincts when settling on a spot.
PACKING: Pack your items in 2 bags or a fanny pack (they're back in fashion too) - in other words never put all your valuables and items in ONE bag. Important stuff such as credit cards, jewelry, technology should be in a separate backpack. *tip: when taking a bus/train, never put your valuables in the bag that gets put away in the luggage area or in your check-in suitcase.
CHECK-IN: Jeane is usually the go-to for my Emergency Contact. But when you're traveling with that person, best to have someone else you trust on that list. Make sure a family member or reliable friend has a general idea of your itinerary. And we all know what a good disconnect does, but send a line every now and then to someone and just let them know all's well in your journey or if there are any changes in your schedule.
DRIVING: A big one while filming CTCC! When driving from Texas to New Mexico (a good full day), we made sure to get gas every 150 miles (read reviews on each station if possible). LOVE is a good stop! And we never pump after nightfall too. Even if we had a reasonably full tank, we'd top it up at that mark –especially if we're driving through the night, just to cover any miles we might need. *tip: always have the local 800 number for a tow service.
A GOOD NIGHT OUT: Traveling is not complete without one of these! But as women, we need to pay more attention. Jeane and I had each other, so we made sure if one of us was drinking, the other would pace as a good set of sober eyes. If you're traveling solo, make sure you always get the drink from the bartender. Check in with yourself – “Am I in control of this situation?” Resist any urge to drink because of peer pressure - there's a lot of that when getting to know locals or travelers at bars - You do YOU!
Last but definitely not least - arm yourself with TRAVEL INSURANCE!
Have fun, open your heart, travel smart and you'll be ready for a beautiful, wild adventure ahead of you!