There's No Place Like Oz

Guest Post: Eat Your Way to Glory: All About the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Heather — Mon, 20 May 2013 03:24:04 +0000

For most people, a summer barbecue might mean indulging in a hot dog or two — or maybe a few more!

Most people don’t eat more than 60 hot dogs, and definitely not in less than 10 minutes. But at the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in New York, that’s exactly what happens, as the world’s best competitive eaters take the stage to see just how many dogs they can stuff down — and keep down — in a few minutes. The Coney Island event is the best-known, and most well-attended, eating contest in the U.S. (and possibly the world), but that notoriety did not come overnight.

Eating Hot Dogs = Patriotism?

According to legend, the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest was born on 4 July 1916 when four immigrant men challenged each other to a hot-dog-eating contest at the original Nathan’s Hot Dog Stand at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in the Coney Island neighbourhood of Brooklyn. The premise of the contest was that whoever ate the most dogs was the most patriotic.

But in 2010, one of the contest promoters admitted that the legend of the first hot-dog-eating contest was actually made up, and there never was a battle over patriotism determined by the number of hot dogs one person could eat. However, the story remains, as no one can seem to agree on when the first contest actually took place. Newspaper records indicate that the Coney Island contest has occurred on 4 July every year since 1978, with evidence that other events happened as early as 1961.

Regardless of when the first event took place, today the annual event draws nearly 40,000 spectators in addition to the millions watching the live broadcast on ESPN. Apparently, the spectacle of grown adults eating a ridiculous number of hot dogs and buns is just too much to resist.

Not for the Faint of Heart

As you watch Uncle Bud put away an entire package of hot dogs at the family barbecue, you might think he’d be an ideal candidate for the Nathan’s contest. But getting into the Super Bowl of competitive eating is no easy feat.

There are only four ways to gain admission to the flagship hot-dog-eating contest: be the defending champion, win one of the qualifying events held around the country, qualify as one of the two wildcards (the second and third highest scorers who don’t win a qualifying event) or enter by special invitation, such as a celebrity contestant. The competition is generally limited to 20 contestants, and rest assured, these eaters will put your Uncle Bud to shame.

In 2012, the male division winner was Joey Chestnut, who ate 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes — almost seven dogs, with buns, per minute. The female winner, Sonya Thomas, managed to keep down 45 dogs in the same amount of time. And keeping the food down is an important part of the contest. Experiencing what’s politely referred to as a “reversal of fortune” will disqualify a competitor.

More Than Just Bragging Rights

The winner of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest earns more than just bragging rights and a serious stomach ache. Downing more hot dogs in a few minutes than more people eat in a year earns the winner a trophy, the legendary Nathan’s belt, cash and other prizes, such as donated trips.

Keep in mind, though, that many of the participants in the contest are professional competitive eaters and participate in events throughout the year as part of Major League Eating, the professional body that oversees competitive eating events. For example, Joey Chestnut has earned nearly $1 million and set seven world records eating everything from hot dogs to asparagus.

That doesn’t mean you can’t try, though. Qualifying events began in March, and run through 29 June; the 8 June event takes place in Calgary. If you’d rather watch people down dogs than do it yourself, the 4 July event will take place at Coney Island; the pre-show generally starts around 10:30 a.m. with the men’s event starting at 11 a.m. Joey Chestnut will compete for his fourth consecutive win in the 2013 event, which will take place even though Coney Island sustained significant damage during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

And of course, while you’re there, don’t forget to try one of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs — or maybe two or three if you’re really hungry.

About the Author: Janelle Moore set her own eating record as a child when she famously ate four hot dogs at a family barbecue at just three years old. If you’re thinking of testing the competition, click here to book a hotel for the event.

Our honeymoon in Hawaii: 7-day Big Island itinerary

Heather — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:36:13 +0000

Following 6 days in Maui, we’re heading to the Big Island for a week!

Day 1

We say goodbye to Maui and fly with Hawaiian Airlines to the Big Island’s Hilo International Airport (ITO). Instead of picking up our rental car at the airport, we’ll take a taxi to a nearby Enterprise location, saving us $100 on our week’s rental!

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Depending on how we feel, we may head straight to Volcanoes National Park or we may stay in Hilo to explore before checking into our vacation rental found through Airbnb, just 10 or 15 minutes north of the city.

Day 2

The Hilo Farmer’s Market is open! I’m looking forward to talking to the vendors, sampling fresh produce, and buying some food to take away.

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After getting our fill, we’ll explore Hilo or Volcanoes National Park, whichever we didn’t do the day before and hopefully snorkel at a spot that’s been recommended to us between Hilo and the Park.

Day 3

It’s time to depart Hilo and head for the Kona coast! Along the way we’ll stop for lunch and a tour at the Hawaiian Vanilla Company. If we’re up really early, we might stop at Akaka Falls, though we’ll probably do this on our last full day on the island.

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When we arrive in Kona, we’ll check into our vacation rental (yes, you guessed it, secured through Airbnb), before taking it easy the rest of the day.

Day 4

I’m not sure if I’m going to sleep the night before! On this morning we’ll be flying high over the island with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. The tour includes flying over Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes on the planet, which has been continuously erupting for the last 30 years. We’ll also get to see about half of the island from above! Of all the things I wanted to do in Hawaii, this was my number one, can’t-miss experience. I’m so thrilled for this flight!

Lava flow meets the ocean

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Days 5-7

It’s hard to believe, but for three straight days we have no set plans! I’m hoping we visit plenty of coffee plantations, snorkel, eat good food, and just enjoy one another’s company without having to be at a particular place at a particular time

Departure day

Our flight back to Maui doesn’t depart until late afternoon/early evening, so we’ll make the most of the time we have left! First, we’ll board a submarine and head underwater with Atlantis Adventures. I’m so glad we’ll be able to see the Big Island from so many vantage points

On the way back to Hilo, we’ll stop at coffee farms, Akaka Falls, and anywhere else we’ve missed that we want to see before we leave Hawaii and return to the main land.

Within a couple of months of returning from the honeymoon, I’ll tell you all about our experiences. Til then, aloha ♥

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Guest post: No Need for Spandex: How Perth Encourages Cycling in the City

Heather — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:18:11 +0000

Boris Johnson, the charismatic mayor of London, recently bicycled through the streets of his city in his shirtsleeves and dress pants, waving to passers-by and encouraging them to “de-Lycrafy” cycling. In London, cycling provides a crucial alternative to driving, which may help to thin out the city’s traffic congestion, as well as providing an environmentally friendly and healthy means of transport.

Londoners might consider purchasing an airline ticket to Perth and joining us in the capitol city of Western Australia. If you love cycling, then you’ll enjoy the Tour de Perth, which takes place every spring. The first day starts with an 80-kilometre road race around Rottnest Island, which is followed by a 20-kilometre individual speed trial around the island on Day 2. On Day 3, cyclists race for 120 kilometres through the hills of Perth and around the town of Kalamunda, wrapping up on Day 4 with a 112-kilometre race around Perry Lakes and Bold Park.

Perth doesn’t have terrible traffic congestion like some larger cities, but the city is also working to promote cycling by developing bike routes and issuing grants to programmes that encourage cycling. In fact, Western Australia’s “Cycle Instead” campaign has also worked to get Perth residents as well as residents in other municipalities out of their vehicles and onto their bicycles.

Biking in Western Australia

During the month of March for the past 30 years, the Cycle Instead programme has sponsored Bikeweek in Western Australia. Over 70 different cycling activities put together by organisations around the state encourage Perth residents and others in Western Australia to consider biking for recreation as well as commuting. This year’s activities featured the Giro D’Perth—the backlane biking odyssey, the Y-Cycle? Film Screening in Northbridge and the Esperance Bike to Work Breakfast. The week wrapped with the RAC Freeway Bike Hike for Asthma, an event that attracts as many as 9,000 people each year and benefits the Asthma Foundation.

According to statistics, 22 per cent of Western Australians ride a bicycle at least once a week, which is far above the Australia-wide average of 18 per cent. On National Ride2School Day, which is part of Bikeweek, Western Australia has the largest percentage of participating residents of all states in the country. The state has a strong network of grants available through the Department of Transportation to develop shared paths, on-road cycling facilities and end-of-trip facilities that offer cyclists a place to shower, change clothes and store their bikes as needed.

The Cycle Instead sponsorship program allows volunteer organisations, local governments, health services and health/active transport clubs to set up events dedicated to cycling by providing some funds for operating costs, marketing, media kits, signage and merchandise. One such event is the MPs and Mayors Bike Ride, in which the Minister of Transport and other dignitaries take a 12-kilometre bike ride to promote both the benefits of cycling and the Perth Bicycle Network infrastructure. One event, hosted by the town of Victoria Park, features a ride from Parliament House, over the Narrows Bridge and along the Foreshore of South Perth.

Cycling in Perth

Perth is developing a strong cycling culture of its own and a strong network of cycling infrastructure. For example, Transperth has installed LockNRide Bike Shelters at many of its train stops, providing secure storage for bikes if residents want to cycle from the train station to their workplace or other destination within the city. The city-to-sea “greenway,” a path for both walkers and cyclists, runs between the Perth train station and city beach, going through park land and a series of reserves.

Cyclists can enjoy paths and trails in many different parts of the city including Eastern Perth, King’s Park, Perth Hills, Rottnest Island and Yellagonga Regional Park. A series of Heritage Trails, trails along the Swan and Canning Rivers, and the Sunset Coast Trail along the Indian Ocean provide insights into the city’s history, winemaking culture and natural beauty.

If you take a journey to Western Australia for any reason, bring your bicycle along. You’ll find many opportunities to ride while you enjoy the cultural attractions of this beautiful region.

About the Author: Sam McGregor is a dedicated participant in Bikeweek who works with many different communities to organise and promote the sport of cycling in Western Australia.

Our honeymoon in Hawaii: 6-day Maui itinerary

Heather — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:22:29 +0000

Gav and I weren’t engaged very long before we decided our honeymoon destination — Hawaii!

It was the ideal choice as neither of us has been to Hawaii before, and we needed to select a domestic location in case Gav’s green card hadn’t been issued. So many honeymooners around the world choose Hawaii, and with all of the stress surrounding the fiance visa process, planning and paying for a wedding, and waiting for his next round of paperwork to be approved, we can’t wait to let Hawaii take good care of us for two weeks.

We’ll spend our first week exploring Maui before flying to the Big Island for a week! I’m truly excited about the fun plans we’ve already made and the spontaneous adventures we’ll enjoy along the way.

Late afternoon arrival

We arrive at Kahului Airport (OGG) late afternoon and pick up our rental car from Budget (thank you, MVCB). We’ll be tired after a pre-dawn departure from our hometown, followed by two layovers, but our first stop in the car will be one of three health food grocery stores to stock up on groceries for meals we don’t plan to eat out.

For the first few nights we’re staying in Paia, a North Shore town that’s been described as cute and charming. Hopefully we’ll have time and energy for a walk along the beach before settling down into our Airbnb vacation rental.

On the beach in Paia

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Day 1

We’re going to take our first full day easy!

Originally we considered exploring Farm to Table Maui right from the start with a visit to O’o Farm, but we’ve opted to start our honeymoon by sleeping in and using the day to get to know Paia.

In the evening, we’ll have a couples shoot with Aubrey of Aubrey Hord Photography. Aubrey’s work has taken her around the world, and in addition to capturing stunning moments for couples on the beautiful beaches of Maui, she photographs celebrities and events.

Wailea beach

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Day 2

Time to get up EARLY for sunrise at Haleakala National Park! We’ll be 10,000 feet above sea level pre-dawn, so snacks, coffee, and warm clothing are a must.

Beautiful sunrise over the volcano Haleakala

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By late morning we’ll have pineapple juice dripping down our chins at Hali’imaile Pineapple Plantation with Mine Pineapple Tours. And in case we haven’t had our fill of pineapple during the tour, we each get to take one home as part of the tour price.

Next, we’ll make our way to Ocean Vodka, which produces organic vodka and only opened its doors for public tours within the last week! I just learned about them on Facebook and am excited to be among the first to see the farm and distillery.

Day 3

ROAD TRIP! Today brings another early start as we set off from Paia to drive the Road to Hana. If you followed my Aussie adventures, you know I *love* a good road trip, and the Road to Hana won’t disappoint. We’ll take turns driving and navigating blind curves and hairpin turns, all to be rewarded with fun stops and sites along the way.

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I’m excited to indulge in dairy free coconut ice cream at Coconut Glen’s — but not too much! Once we reach Hana we’ll enjoy an outdoor couples massage with Luana Spa Retreat, and if we’re not too full from the ice cream, we’ll enjoy a Thai lunch at the restaurant on the grounds of the retreat.

For dessert, we’ll continue just past Hana to ONO Organic Farm for a tour of the fruit farm and of course fruit tasting

Day 4

It’s time to check out of our accommodation in Paia. Before we move on to our next vacation rental, we’ll jump start our morning with an exciting 5-line zipline tour with Piiholo Ranch Zipline. Gav’s only been ziplining once, and I’ve never been, so we’re both really eager to see Maui from a new vantage point.

After zipping over Upcountry Maui, we’ll restock our food supplies at the natural health food shops before checking into our next Airbnb rental in Maalaea. Then, we’ll arrive at Snorkel Bob’s in enough time to pick up our snorkel gear rentals and enjoy the closest snorkeling spots for the rest of the day. Since Snorkel Bob’s has various store locations on different islands, we won’t return our rentals until our last full day on the Big Island, so we can snorkel whenever we want!

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Day 5

It’s beach day! Time to relax, explore West Maui, and snorkel.

In the evening, we’ll enjoy dinner for two at our first ever luau on the beach in Lahaina. When exploring the luau options of Maui, the Feast at Lele immediately stood out as my favorite. If you know me, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that making a reservation for the Feast at Lele was the number one thing I wanted to do in Maui when I first started researching for our honeymoon.

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Day 6

It’s our last day on Maui and we’ll spend it like we did the previous day — snorkeling, relaxing, and eating. We’re also planning on meeting Chef Paris Navabi. He’s incredibly involved in his community, and we plan on eating at one of his restaurants, learning about his community food efforts, and visiting one of his gardens.

Busy with room for fun

At first I was worried we had overscheduled ourselves, but looking at this list I think we’ll strike the perfect balance of having some pre-planned activities while leaving plenty of time for spontaneous adventures. I have a few restaurants I definitely want to visit while I’m there, and of course I’ll ask locals for their recommendations along the way.

Within a couple of months of returning from the honeymoon, I’ll tell you all about our experiences. Til then, aloha ♥

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Work and Holiday Visa: What to do when you finally get to Australia!

Heather — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:04:37 +0000

This is the last post in a 3-part series about the Australian Work and Holiday Visa for Americans. Read part 1 (the visa application process) and part 2 (the before-you-go research to consider) if you need to catch up before checking out part 3 (you’ve arrived — now what?!).

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Apply for your Tax File Number (TFN)

You’ll want to apply for a Tax File Number soon after arriving in Australia, especially if you plan to work sooner rather than later.

The TFN is a personal identification number (think SSN). While it’s not required that you have a TFN, you’ll lose more of your wages to taxes if you don’t have one.

You can apply for a TFN online, and I did this on day one! In addition to providing a few personal details, you’ll also need to list an Aussie address where you want your TFN sent once it’s issued. I think some people used the address of a hostel where they planned to be, while others enlisted the help of an agency that works with WHV holders on tax and other issues. If you know someone who’s living in Australia, ask if they mind having the card sent to their address — that’s what I did!

If you don’t have your TFN within the time frame they provide, be sure to call the Australian Taxation Office to follow up on your application. I never received my number in the mail, but a quick call to the ATO was all I needed to have the number in hand.

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Get an Aussie phone number

I wasn’t a smart phone owner when I arrived in Australia, and I didn’t have an unlocked phone that would work around the world. While I was setting up my Aussie bank account on day one, I asked the teller for his recommendation on a phone provider to work with, and I wasn’t too surprised when he suggested I visit the Telstra shop up the street. Telstra once had a legal monopoly on telecommunications in the country, so their network was very strong, and I would be able to get a signal almost everywhere.

The guys at the Telstra shop were very helpful, and I picked the least expensive phone and prepaid plan available. It took a couple of visits to the shop to get everything set up properly, but once I had my new phone, I paid $40 for a set number of texts and minutes per 30-day period. Once a 30-day period ran out, if I waited a few days before topping up my plan, no problem! I loved not being on a contract and being able to go without a phone for a few days or a week if I thought I could get by with it (early in the trip).

Toward the end of my Australian adventure, I sold my original Telstra phone to Nicole and picked up my first smart phone. Since the phone was purchased directly from Apple, it was factory unlocked from the beginning! I opted to get Vodafone’s 30-day prepaid option for $30. I can’t remember how much data, texts, or call minutes I had, but I never ran out of anything. I could have stopped at a Vodafone shop to pay to top up at the end of a 30-day period, but once I learned I could save $1 by topping up at a grocery store, I just added a top-up voucher to my grocery bill once a month

Compare the various Aussie mobile phone carriers before your arrival and decide which one’s best for you.

Melbourne

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Look for an apartment

I traveled around the country for nearly 3.5 months before settling down in Sydney. Thankfully my apartment search was easy — an Aussie I had met in week one invited me to rent his second bedroom once he learned his current flatmate had plans to move out and travel.

The apartment was older than I had wanted and in a quiet suburb where I’d never heard of other travelers setting up shop. But OH, how glad am I that I decided to go for it. Sydney’s Inner West is an awesome place to live, and I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t have visited these quirky, alternative, and sometimes quiet suburbs if I had lived in the Eastern or Northern suburbs.

While I didn’t need them, I heard other travelers mention Flatmate Finders and Gumtree. In fact, Gumtree is a great site all around to find just about anything a traveler will want in Oz. If I’m not mistaken, I think that’s how we found the van we purchased for our southern coast road trip.

When my best friend Nicole was looking for a flat in Sydney, she spent a couple of weeks contacting people who had listed a room through phone calls, texts or emails. She quickly realized that she needed to read the listings multiple times per day, because as soon as a new room was posted online, dozens of people would contact whoever listed the room to set up a time to view it. And even if Nicole was able to view the apartment and expressed a strong interest in renting it, her potential flatmates would of course pick the person who seemed to most gel with their personalities and current living style. After a couple of weeks, she found a nice flat in another suburb of the Inner West where she would have her own room and share the flat with three other girls.

Brisbane

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Find a job

Looking back, I’m so glad I traveled for several months before looking for a job. I was ready to settle down and work for a while at that stage. A few travelers who opted to look for work straight away soon found that they were spending everything they made and had very little money saved up to travel toward the end of their experience.

My job search didn’t exactly go according to plan but it all worked out for the best.

Even though I didn’t plan on working until late August or early September, when I arrived in May I kept my eyes and ears open for opportunities. In week one, I stepped into a Lululemon store to buy a sports bra, and met a Canadian employee who encouraged me to apply upon learning about my interest in working for a company that supports a healthy lifestyle. I eventually applied and made it through two rounds of interviews — and then never heard from them again. Lululemon definitely wants passionate, goal-oriented employees, and when I interviewed, I didn’t have clear goals for my short or long-term future! For the first time I was trying to be as open as possible to what life had in store, and I didn’t want to predict what I wanted to do after Australia.

I also missed out on two other job opportunities — one I turned down because while it sounded intriguing, I knew it wasn’t a good fit for me. The second job possibility was with a major national arts organization, and I only learned about it because a new Aussie friend referred me to the interviewer, who just happened to be her aunt I knew the job was kind of out of my league, but I knew it would an incredibly unique experience. When my friend’s aunt interviewed me and one other person, they offered it to the other candidate, whose art degree and experiences were directly related. *Phew* Probably saved me from getting in way over my head!

Eventually I found myself doing exactly what I wanted to do — working for an organic grocery store where I could be surrounded by fresh produce, gluten and dairy free goodies, and coworkers from around the globe. The job was relatively easy to get — I walked into the store with my resume and asked to speak to the manager. She briefly interviewed me on the spot and asked me to return a couple of days later for a “trial”, which I learned is very common for retail, hospitality, and customer service positions. During the trial, I observed a couple of transactions at the cash register before being asked to step in and take over for the remainder of the hour. I fumbled my way through a few things, but by the end of the hour, I was offered the job, which I accepted on the spot.

I cannot recommend strongly enough the strategy of going to a shop in person with your resume when looking for a job. This was much more productive than my first few days of simply sending out emails with my resume attached.

For more job search tips, view the resources and strategies in the second post of this series.

Perth

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See Australia, meet Aussies, enjoy the year!

Above all, enjoy Australia and make the most of your time there! Go to sporting events, eat good food, support local businesses, attend cultural festivals, see as much of the country as possible, and spend time developing relationships with Aussies.

If you have questions you’d like to send my way, email me through the Contact form and I’ll help as best as I can!

Adelaide

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Australia Work and Holiday Visa: Before-you-go research

Heather — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:45:45 +0000

This is the 2nd post in a 3-part series about my experiences with the Work and Holiday Visa in Australia. Need to catch up on part 1?

For me, researching a trip is half the fun of the experience. I love reading about my next destination and learning about where I might want to eat and what I’d like to see and do.

In this post, I share some of the top things I researched in the months leading up to my move to Australia. And for good measure, I’ll add in my packing list too.

Research to conduct prior to your WHV Australia experience

1) Bank Accounts for Backpackers and Travelers in Australia

I’m glad I opened an account with an Australian bank so I could deposit those hard-earned Aussie dollars and then spend them with one of two bank cards I received!

I could have easily set up an account upon arrival, but I decided to open an account before I arrived so I could transfer some of my travel savings to the new account and have it ready to spend as soon as I visited the bank in person.

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During previous 1-3 week trips in various countries, I exchanged a bit of money before I arrived in the country, used my credit card, or used a card to take money out at ATMs. But for a year-long trip in one country where I would be earning that country’s currency? I didn’t want to rely on my Capital One credit card, even though they don’t charge a currency conversion fee. And I wasn’t about to use random ATMs and rack up serious service charges for each withdrawal.

I started by looking at the four big banks: Commonwealth, Westpac, ANZ, and NAB. I never found a chart online comparing each of them neatly, so I opened up a Google doc and copied and pasted information found on the “Fee” pages of each. I also noticed that each of the banks had a “Migrant Banking Team”, dedicated to helping travelers on a WHV start an account. Very impressive. After researching my options, I emailed the Migrant Banking Team at each of the banks for more information. Only two responded. I figured if I wasn’t getting customer service to begin with, how could I expect it later on? With my options down to two, I realized that NAB was the only one without a monthly fee to maintain the account. And when I started emailing them with questions on all of the fine print, they were super responsive and helpful. They made my choice easy. WIN.

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In a matter of a week of back-and-forth correspondence, I had a bank account and took that information to my home bank. I had already informed them of the year-long move, and we were able to set up a wire transfer to send some of my savings on to my NAB account. Both banks were able to confirm within a couple of days that the transfer had been successful.

Before I left home, I scheduled an appointment to meet with a NAB representative on the first business day of my time in Oz to sign various documents and get my ATM card. The rep couldn’t have been more helpful. And when the few hundred dollars I had brought with me ran out, I popped by an ATM and withdrew enough Aussie dollars to get me through the next few days with no types of penalties. Love it! If I had wanted, I could have ordered checks and even opened up a savings account. If your US bank doesn’t have a partner with a bank in Australia, I encourage you to explore the major banks and see which one works best for you!

2) Flights

The WHV requires that you have already purchased a return ticket home prior to your arrival in Oz OR you can provide proof of sufficient funds to purchase a return ticket down the road.

I had no idea what the year would bring, so I opted to go with the “sufficient funds” route. Essentially, I just made sure I had enough money in my bank account — and a certified bank statement to prove it — to show the immigration officer upon arrival if it was requested. It wasn’t.

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Your situation may differ to mine, since fuel prices are constantly in flux, and it’s possible that new routes will be available for your trip. For travel to Oz in May 2010, the best deal I found was a one-way trip from Los Angeles to Sydney on Virgin Australia. In addition to visiting flight aggregator sites, I also looked at the sites of the airlines with routes to Sydney from both the east and west coast of the USA. When Virgin announced a sweet deal from LAX to Sydney, I bought it without hesitation. Then, I searched morning, afternoon, and evening on a daily basis for the best deal on a direct flight from Dulles to LAX. I eventually purchased an American Airlines flight with a 5-hour layover in hopes that if the AA flight was delayed slightly, I would still arrive in plenty of time to check my bag and board the Virgin Australia flight to Sydney.

If time permits in your schedule, start researching flights and routes months in advance to secure the best deal.

3) Jobs

I thought that being a career counselor would give me an advantage in the job search.

Yeah, not so much.

MONTHS before I left — as early as 8 perhaps — I was gathering a list of organizations I would be interested in working for, and I even sent a few emails hoping to a) learn if they ever hired someone on the WHV and b) express my interest early in case they knew of opportunities that may be coming along down the road.

This approach yielded 1 result. One sweet lady emailed me back to say that it was way too early to be asking about jobs. She said, “On your visa, you just need to wait to look when you’re actually here. No one will talk to you ahead of time.”

And she was right. No one else ever responded to me. But I still kept researching my options because I LOVE to research.

While there are countless job listing sites, I really liked SEEK.

I learned that many WHV travelers look for work in:
● fruit picking
● hospitality (hostels, restaurants, cafes, pubs, etc. — there are training courses available for some of these areas, and if you’re going to serve alcohol, a Responsible Service of Alcohol/RSA course and certificate is required)
● customer service
● retail

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Since Australia opens its doors to countless WHV travelers every year, employers in those four areas are very aware of the visa and welcome applicants.

Several Europeans and Americans I met along the way wanted to work in professional office settings doing similar work to what they did at home. Sometimes it was as easy as applying to a job online, other times it came through networking like a champ, and for others, it happened by working with a temp or recruiting agency to get in the door to begin with. Within a few months of employment, a handful of people received offers from their employer to work longer than the maximum 6 months on the WHV and be sponsored on a proper work visa. Wow!

Before arriving in Australia, I knew I didn’t want to do the same type of work I did back home. I realized this was my chance to try something for fun, and my number one priority was to work with an organization that promoted a healthy lifestyle. Once I started looking for a job, it took 2 weeks to apply, interview, accept, and start a front-of-house position at an organic health food store. For everyone I personally know, the job search took 1 week to 1 month.

Curious about the details of my Aussie job search? Check out the guest post I wrote for GoOverseas.

One more thing. When I was in Australia, the full-time minimum wage was $15/hr and for “casual workers” (that was me!) it was $18/hour. Nice. Definitely helps make up for the cost of living.

4) Travel

Since all of my previous trips overseas had been 3 weeks or less, I always boarded the plane with a fairly good idea of the things I wanted to eat, see, and do. A few activities may have been pre-planned or purchased. There was usually a list of things that made sense to do on the same day due to their proximity, so I created a day’s rough itinerary without actually assigning it to a particular day.

I LOVE to research new destinations. In a recent professional development session at work, I realized that researching, gathering, and collecting facts just might even be one of my top strengths.

So what does a planner and researcher like me do with an entire year in one country?!

I quickly realized that I couldn’t, and didn’t want to, plan it all out.

Instead, I broadly planned the first 6 weeks and decided that I’d attempt to go with the flow and see where the adventure would take me next on 6weeks+1Day.

I knew I loved Sydney from the 2006 trip, so I started the 2010 journey by booking a week’s stay in the same hostel my sister and I had selected four years earlier. And thanks to the 2006 trip again, I knew I LOVED the State of Origin rugby league competition, so I purchased tickets to games 1 and 3 in Sydney — as soon as they went on sale, several months before I even applied for the visa.

Since game 3 of State of Origin would be 6 weeks after game 1, I used the time in the middle to explore Melbourne for 2 weeks, Adelaide for 2 weeks, and the Great Ocean Road and route from Adelaide to Alice Springs (including Uluru) through a group tour with Adventure Tours Australia.

Once game 3 came and went, I headed north to Brisbane, hoping I would meet some fellow travelers who wanted to explore Queensland together. Instead, I received a call from a potential employer in Sydney, asking me to return for an interview. When I realized I didn’t get the job 10 days later, I wasn’t quite sure what to do next. And then, wouldn’t you know it, fellow American, traveler, and blogger Brooke found herself in the midst of planning a 2-week trip along the Queensland coast and asked if I wanted to be her travel partner.

Our station wagon and tent for the 2-week road trip

From that moment on, I decided to stop trying to plan the month ahead and go where opportunities presented themselves.

During the trip with Brooke, one of the first friends I made in Sydney called and asked if I wanted to rent his spare room, which would become available as soon as I got back to the city.

I found a job within days of returning to Sydney and lived and worked in the suburbs of the Inner West until an exciting opportunity to road trip from Sydney to Perth landed on my doorstep a few months later.

And in the best, I-would-have-never-been-able-to-predict-or-plan-this-ahead-of-time, sort of way, I spent the last 2.5 months of my year in Australia slowly taking in the sites and finding good eats with two good friends.

Beach in Western Australia near sunset

If I could do it all over again, and I would in a heartbeat, I would still probably decide where I wanted to be geographically for the first two months and then let the rest fall into place.

Packing tips and my packing list for Australia

If you’re a seasoned traveler, you’re probably a packing PRO by now.

Even though I tend to pack a few more pairs of socks and underwear than most people recommend, I’m reasonably happy with my packing skills.

If you’re fairly new to travel or have never packed for a long-term trip before, I suggest creating a packing list DAYS in advance. Start laying out your items DAYS in advance too. A few days before your trip, pack everything as planned and see how the puzzle pieces fit together in your bag(s). I found myself taking things out and adding new things in. I realized a few travel products I thought I just HAD to have simply wouldn’t fit when other items became a bigger priority.

There’s no way I could pack clothing for various seasons and situations into one bag. Some people can (awesome!), but I crave just a little more variety. I packed enough to last 7-8 days. Then I would wash everything (expect what I was wearing at the time) and wear it all over again the following week. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. When I stopped traveling to live and work in Sydney, I purchased a few new items and my parents sent me a care package from home with a few articles of clothing too. Later, I stored a few things at a friend’s house while I road tripped around the country for 2.5 months. And when it was time to go home, I discovered it would be less expensive to ship a box home (via sea mail) full of clothes and other belongings than it would cost to buy another suitcase and check a second bag.

Oh. And please, do yourself a favor and pack something WARM.

In 2006 I went to Australia for 3 weeks with capris, short-sleeved shirts, and a super thin zip up hoodie. By the end of day one, I’d purchased a scarf and gloves.

Even though I KNEW Australia wasn’t warm year round (unless you’re only visiting the northern areas of the country), in 2010 I still thought I could get away with long pants, short-sleeved shirts, and a rain jacket for the entire winter. HA! Maybe in Sydney but definitely not in Melbourne or Adelaide. If you’re headed to Oz in the winter, bring more than just one or two long-sleeved shirts. You’ll be glad you did.

Want to know what I packed? Of course you do! Here’s my packing list Australia.

What’s next in the 3-part series?

In the next and final post in this series, I’ll share the visa and business related items I took care of in the first week to help get my adventure off to a good start.

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Guest Post: Top Attractions for Sports Fans in New York

Heather — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:01:27 +0000

Our friends and family from England plan to make the most of their upcoming trip to the US for our wedding by visiting DC, NYC, and other locations before or after the big day. Gav’s dad asked us about sporting events he could attend in New York, so today’s guest post from Jerry with HostelBookers comes at the perfect time.

As a sports fan visiting New York City, you will find many things to do. There will be plenty of athletic experiences. You can check out the baseball stadiums in the city or horse racing, basketball, tennis and other sports. New Yorkers take their sports very seriously and enjoy every moment of it. Here are the top sports attractions of 2013 that you can squeeze into your schedule when in New York.

Baseball

The city of New York is famous for its love of baseball. Although there are 4 teams – Staten Island Yankees, Brooklyn Cyclones, New York Mets and New York Yankees – the rivalry between the New York Mets and Yankees is very famous. You must attend a Subway Series game to be held from May 27, 2013 to May 30, 2013 to watch the fast action between the two teams. Be sure to book your seats early to avoid disappointment later. The series will be held in new Citifield Stadium, Corona, New York and Yankee Stadium at Bronx, New York.

The Staten Island Yankees and the Brooklyn Cyclones are minor league teams, but you can catch and enjoy the action here too. Brooklyn Cyclones will play from June to September, 2013 at Keyspan Park.

Basketball

credit: keithallison

If you are in New York, then you cannot miss the basketball matches. The city is home to some of the best basketball teams, which include New York Knicks, New York Liberty, and Brooklyn Nets. You can even catch the Harlem Globetrotters if you plan your visit between December and April.

New York Knicks plays from October to April at the Madison Square Garden; New York Liberty plays from May to September at the same stadium; and the Brooklyn Nets plays from October to April at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn.

Boxing
New York has had its share of boxing matches at Madison Square Garden since 1882 when John L Sullivan boxed with Joe Collins to defend his heavyweight championship title. Madison Square has been hosting boxing matches since then. You can also catch some professional boxing action at B.B. King’s or the Friday Night fights that are regularly held in Hell’s Kitchen.

Football

credit: mattbritt00

Although there is no football stadium in New York City, there are two famous football teams, New York Jets and New York Giants. The gaming season for both teams starts from September to January. Both the football stadiums are located at New Jersey.

Tennis
Everyone loves tennis, and the best is the U.S. Open. You don’t have to be an American to love the U.S. Open. If you are in New York between August and September, then do watch the matches at USTA National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows in Queens. The tickets are sold out quickly, so make sure you get the tickets as soon as they go on sale, which is early June. You can also watch free events like the Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day, Open Practice Day, and the Qualifying Tournament. The tickets are only for the prime matches.

Soccer
New York Red Bulls represent New York City for this game. This home team plays its games at the Red Bull Arena, New Jersey. Watch the game from March to October 2013 when they clash with various other teams from other cities. The Red Bull Arena is specifically for soccer games and can seat up to 25000 spectators. The stadium has a translucent roof to protect the spectators from the rain and other elements.

These are some of the main sports played in New York City and its local teams. The main stadiums that you can visit include, Richmond County bank Ball Park at Staten Island, Keyspan Park at Coney Island, Brooklyn, Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and Shea Stadium at Queens, Yankee Stadium at River Avenue, Meadowlands Sports Complex at New Jersey and Madison Square Garden. If you’re looking for cheap hostels in New York the check out HostelBookers.com.

Work and travel in Australia on the Work and Holiday Visa: Applying for the WHV online

Heather — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:52:44 +0000

Australia was the first country I wished I could visit.

When I was 13, my best friend spent 3 weeks in Oz on the People to People Youth Ambassador program. I was also invited to participate but the price tag was too much for my family. When she returned and shared every wonderful detail of her experience, I thought I had missed out on the opportunity of a life time. Little did I know that one day I would live, work, and travel in Australia.

My first visit to Australia in 2006, however, was only for three weeks! In between finishing grad school and starting a new job, I visited Sydney and Brisbane and had some of the best days of my life. As soon as I got home, I knew international traveled needed to be a more significant part of my life.

Making a new friend on my first trip to Oz

Three years ago I resigned from the first job I held after grad school to move halfway around the world and make a several-year-in-the-making dream come true. The dream? To return to Oz and give long-term travel a go. Fortunately, Australia makes this easy for citizens of 29 countries, allowing them to live, travel, and work in Australia for a year.

By the way, did you know that for the citizens of 19 countries, the visa is called the “Working Holiday Visa”, while it’s called the “Work and Holiday Visa” for US citizens and those of 9 other countries? Lucky citizens eligible for the former can apply for a second year on their WHV! Those of us on the “Work and Holiday Visa” are fortunate to get 12 months in Oz but are ineligible to apply for a second year.

So what does the Work and Holiday Visa offer to Americans?

If you’re 18-30, you can stay in Australia for up to 12 months from the day you enter the country with this visa. AND, from the time you’re granted the visa, you have 12 months in which to head to Oz, so you don’t have to go right away if you’re still saving for the experience or need to stay for a wedding or other big event. If you’re 30, as long as you apply for and are granted the visa before you’re 31, you’re golden.

You can work the entire 12 months or not at all, but you cannot work for the same employer for more than 6 months.

Need to leave Australia for a few days or weeks — or even months? No problem. But you don’t get to “make up” the time you missed. You must leave Australia for good within one year of the entry date stamped in your passport.

Over the last few years, several people have asked if I really left for Australia without a job already lined up, been baffled by the fact that I didn’t know anyone in Oz before going, and wondered about the logistics of picking up to move to another country, knowing that in all likelihood it would only be for a year. And recently, a few travel blogging friends with plans to head to Australia on the Work and Holiday Visa have asked for my tips and advice. Sounds like the perfect reason to write a post to me! This post is the first in a 3-part series about applying for the WHV and the logistical matters that follow.

Hanging out with the Brisbane Lions mascot after a game

Gather evidence before you apply to the Australia Work and Holiday Visa

To apply to the WHV, you need to read the Australian government’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship most up-to-date requirements to see if they have made changes to what is required for eligibility. At present, and based on my experience, Australia asks that you:

● are 18-30 years of age
● graduated from high school or completed an equivalent
● have sufficient funds to get you started in Australia and a return ticket home — or enough money to buy a ticket home at the end of the year
● have health/travel medical insurance

When you complete the WHV online application form, you may be asked to supply evidence to demonstrate you meet the requirements, so it’s important to gather documentation ahead of time. I spent way too long trying to get an electronic copy of my graduate school transcript, but thankfully I had been working on it, because once I hit “submit” on my application, I was asked to supply a copy!

Many people have asked, “what does Australia mean by ‘sufficient funds’” and when they learn it’s 5,000 Australian dollars, they wonder if they REALLY need that much in their account. I strongly suggest that YES, you save or borrow that much as a base, because Australia isn’t cheap. And you never know if they’ll ask for proof of sufficient funds at the time of application. Even if they don’t, one of the questions on the application asks if you have sufficient funds, and you definitely don’t want to be misleading. After a couple of trips to the bank, I had a certified bank statement showing exactly how much I had in checking and savings accounts, ready to be uploaded if need be. TIP: I also returned to the bank before I left so a banker could add a few notes to my account, indicating I would be out of the country.

Choosing travel medical insurance was a bit of a challenge! At the time, I knew of a popular provider that many travelers seemed to choose, but I also wanted to choose the best option for me. After speaking with an insurance specialist on a top independent traveler site, I chose a provider that ended up working just for me. I never had any claims, but the price was right, and my dad, who has been in the insurance business for over 30 years, read through every detail before giving them his seal of approval. I secured this coverage before applying for the visa so I could copy and paste the details if necessary.

One of the checklists on the website mentions needing certified copies of the bio pages of your passport and birth certificate, along with two passport-sized photos. However, the checklist also mentions it’s for the paper version of the application.

Uluru/Ayers Rock at sunset

Apply for the Australia WHV online

Have your credit or debit card ready? In early 2010, I had to pay $230 for the visa, but a couple of years prior it was only $180. At present, the WHV visa costs $365. Ouch.

Want a sneak peek at the questions you’ll be asked? I thought so! Here’s the paper version of the WHV application. From what I remember, the questions here are very close to or exactly the same as the items in the online application.

Once you’ve completed the questions, you may or may not be asked to submit documentation to demonstrate you have sufficient funds, are a high school graduate at a minimum (provide documentation about your highest level of education), and have health/travel medical insurance.

What’s next?

I had read that the visa could be approved within 24 hours or it could take as long as 3 months. To be on the safe side, I applied just over 3 months before my intended departure date. Imagine how THRILLED I was when my visa application was approved in just a couple of hours! An email arrived so quickly in my inbox that I had to do a double take. The other Americans I met on the WHV had a similar experience — I believe our visas were all approved within 48 hours.

A note on providing proof of required documentation

One of the biggest questions I had was a shared concerned with other WHV applicants — the Australia Immigration and Citizenship website made it clear that you need to be ready to provide proof of required documents at time of application or upon arrival. Our question? If we weren’t required to provide proof at the time of application, would we need to provide these documents upon arrival?

I contacted Immigration, and a representative emailed me back saying that if documentation was not requested at the time of application, it would not be asked for upon arrival. I found this to be true. In fact, I wasn’t asked any questions upon arrival in Australia, which is very unusual! I’ve asked fellow Americans if they were asked to supply documentation, and they’ve all said no. I always recommend being on the safe side, however, and bringing all documentation that may be asked for — who wants to have problems once you’re finally ready to begin your year of adventure in Australia?!

Up next — 2 more posts with tips and advice

I had SO many questions before I arrived in Australia — which bank should I choose?! What kind of phone plan could I get for one year or less? How easy would it be to find a job AND a place to live?

What seemed like BIG things ended up being fun challenges to investigate and own. In the next post, I’ll share some of the research I conducted before I left for Oz and how it helped me make some good decisions. Hope it will be helpful for you!

Weekend trip to London: My packing list

Heather — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:34:34 +0000

Over the Easter holiday, I’m traveling across the pond and back for a 3 day trip to London!

Two of my dear friends are getting married, and I’m so excited I get to celebrate with them and spend time with our great friends who I haven’t seen since my last visit nearly a year ago.

With the soon to be Mr. and Mrs. in December 2009

And this isn’t my first quick weekend getaway to London!

In 2008 I crossed the Atlantic to surprise my friends. When they invited me to a group event, they never expected I would actually come. Air Canada must have been surprised about the trip too because the airline lost my bag for over a week. When you’re crazy enough to plan a weekend trip overseas, you’d kind of like your bag to show up while you’re still at your international destination.

Ridiculous picture of me hugging my bag upon its return

Now, I’ve already written about what you should really pack for a London getaway when I wrote travel articles for Her Packing List, but one item on this trip’s packing list is a little unique. And for that reason, for the first time, I’m checking a bag when ordinarily I’d travel carry-on only for such a short trip.

Why do I need to take advantage of the 1 free checked bag option?

I tried to think of a way to pack the items I need for the weekend PLUS 3 suit jackets and sets of pants in one carry-on bag, but I fell short of achieving such awesomeness. *Maybe* I could have made it work, but I didn’t want to risk damaging any of the suits I’m traveling with — although I’m just as nervous to check them at the airport and I pray I see them again at Heathrow!

These suits belong to Gav’s best man and two of his groomsmen, all fantastic guys that I’ve known 4.5 years longer that I’ve known Gav! With Gav and one groomsmen in the US and three groomsmen in London, there was no perfect way to select and order suits for our May 4 ceremony and reception. In the end, we stumbled upon a great sale at a department store, ordered them online, and had them delivered to our apartment. Since the Brits may need to get them hemmed or altered, the guys need to try on their suits prior to their arrival in May!

Gav bought this bag before moving to the US. It’s a duffle-style bag with a hard base/back, wheels, and a pop-up handle. We recently used it for a weekend trip to DC

How else am I using the checked bag?

● Packing in-mid-use full-size toiletries instead of opting for travel-size bottles. Might as well pack the normal size since I have a big enough bag to allow it! I’m thinking toothpaste, conditioner, shower gel, face wash, and lotion.
● It’s going to be COLD this weekend, so I’m bringing a hoodie so I can take a walk on Friday and Sunday without freezing. If I was traveling carry-on only, I’d leave this at home.
● Gav left some items in London when he moved to the US last October, and I’m going to pack as many of them as I can to bring home.

What’s going in my carry-on bag?

My favorite carry-on bag! It’s several inches smaller than the maximum size allowed and can fit more than you’d expect.

Clothing
● Cute new dress I bought to wear to the wedding
● Adorable flats to pair with the dress (below)
● Red wrap/shawl (I received as a gift for being in a wedding years ago and haven’t used since) to keep me warm and add a pop of color
● 1 pair of jeans to wear Friday and Sunday
● Top for Friday
● Black top and cardigan for Sunday
● Pants and shirt to sleep in
● 1 regular bra, 1 sports bra
● 5 pairs of underwear (I always over pack these!)
● Socks TBD
● 1 shirt to wear under hoodie when I go on walks

Toiletries, Health, and Sleep
● 2 prescription medications
● 3 natural supplements
● A few tablespoons of coconut oil (more on this in a future post!)
● Deodorant
● Shampoo
● Electric toothbrush
● Floss
● Moisturizer
● Chapstick
● Foundation
● Razor
● Eye mask
● Ear plugs (hoping to sleep a few hours on the overnight flight from the US to England)

Electronics
● iPhone
● iPod nano
● Charger for phone and iPod

Food
Since the weekend will be a whirlwind trip, I decided to pack a few gluten and dairy free goodies for quick meals and snacks.

● 2 Kind bars
● Kind granola
● 4 ProBars
● Applesauce in a squeeze packet (I have some supplements I’m currently taking 3 times a day, and this helps me swallow them more easily)

Paperwork
● Flight itinerary and e-boarding passes
● Passport
● Driver’s license (shouldn’t need it but just in case)
● 1 credit card
● Mini notepad and pen

Items for others
● 3 greeting cards for wedding and birthdays
● Virginia and other USA maps for Gav’s dad who loves planning travel with maps

Jewelry
● 1 pair of earrings and 2 bracelets for the wedding guest outfit that I won’t wear on the plane

What I’m wearing for the flight

● Super comfy long yoga-like pants, which I’ll also wear for my weekend walks
● Thin long-sleeved shirt
● Sneakers/running shoes
● The earrings and necklace I’ll wear all weekend except for the wedding
● My nice winter coat

Maybe I should finally pack…

Now that I’ve written out my packing list, maybe I should actually gather all of the items I’ve just mentioned, photograph them, and start packing. Think happy travel thoughts for the checked bag…I hope we both arrive at the same time!

Happy Easter, everyone! Happy birthday Kev and Kristin! And congratulations Andi and Amy ♥

POST WEDDING UPDATE

Bride and groom visiting the table

Me with one of the first friends I made in London

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Guest Post: Unique Engagement Party Ideas on a Budget

Heather — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:29:47 +0000

When throwing an engagement party, you want it to be perfect. You want to invite all family and friends from both sides, and you might even want to use the party as a preview for your guests of what your wedding day is going to be like. Whether you both want the engagement party to be large, lavish, intimate, or outrageous, the cost of putting on such an event can be quite high. Always keep in mind that setting budget is a good idea, especially considering the wedding is not too far away, and you don’t want to run out of money for your important day. For some unique engagement party ideas and inexpensive party supplies, find out how you can throw that perfect engagement party on a budget.

Get Creative With Your Invites
Invitations that are personalised can be quite expensive, especially if the guest list is large. Add on the postage of each invite, and the expense can be rather significant. Personalised invitations aren’t necessary when planning an engagement party on a budget. You can purchase pre-printed invites and simply fill in the details yourself. This is a much cheaper option and still allows you to give each invitation a personal touch if you choose to write something special inside. If you want to get creative, make your own invitations out of simple but attractive paper and party supplies. To save on postage, be sure to keep them to a small-sized envelope.

Decorate the Party Yourself
Steer away from using a catering company or events coordinator to decorate your venue, and instead, decorate the venue yourself. Party supplies that bring to life your engagement party ideas need not be expensive and over the top. Interesting place cards, some well-placed helium or hanging balloons, coloured ribbon, and some unique and simple table centrepieces may be all that you need to decorate your party venue in keeping with the chosen theme. A glass vase filled with sand and a lit candle can make a great beach themed centrepiece, or go for a glass bowl filled with fresh green apples for a spring theme. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to decorating for your engagement party. Also keep in mind that less is often more when decorating with style and sophistication.

Set the Party for Between Meals
One of the greatest expenses of throwing an engagement party is the food catering costs. A sit-down meal will cost far more than simple finger foods. If you set the party for between meals your guests will find the nibbles more than acceptable. If doing an after-dinner party, guests will love a few choice dessert options. Otherwise, go for a light-hearted afternoon tea with a few club sandwiches and a small selection of canapés. To avoid the problem of hungry and unsatisfied guests, just be sure to add a menu list into each invitation. This way guests can come prepared and they won’t feel disappointed or hungry.

Consider BYO
Alcohol is another expense that can easily be avoided. Many people today consider BYO an acceptable request from any party host. If you don’t feel comfortable not supplying any alcohol, you can always offer one complimentary drink to each guest and charge for additional drinks, or you can supply wine or beer, and keep the spirits at a charge. If you choose the BYO option, it is a good idea to supply some cold storage options where guests can store their bottles for the duration of the party. A few metal buckets filled with ice placed around the venue are inexpensive to supply but are a nice courtesy for guests to keep their drinks on cold storage until consumed.

Choose Your Venue Carefully
A venue can cost as little or as much as you like. Having an outdoor engagement party at a relative’s home, at the park, or the beach is a very inexpensive option. You can find all sorts of party supplies suitable for an outdoor venue. If the weather is a bit risky or it’s the wrong time of the year, then you can always choose to hire a local community hall, church, or sports club venue. These venues tend to charge very little for hiring of their premises.

Keep the Guest List Realistic
Naturally, the fewer people you invite, the less expensive your engagement party will be. Don’t underestimate the enjoyment of an intimate affair. Feel free to be selective of who you choose to invite, and don’t feel pressured to invite all your extended family, old school friends, and every person you work with.

Image by Flickr’s Creative Commons

About the Author: This article was written by contributing blogger Sandra Mackenzie. She began her career as a wedding cake designer over 20 years ago, and she now regularly writes guest pieces on all sorts of topics relating to engagement and wedding ideas.