erica james travel Archives - Page 8 of 12

14Apr 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva

Solo Travel (I’m Moving On to Something Better)

What do you do when you come across an amazing vacation package with an amazing price? You do what lots of people would do – send out a group text to your friends, shouting about a great travel opportunity, and hope everyone is on board. These are the same people that you have been talking to all day, but then there is radio silence – no one responds. Every time a notification goes off on your phone, you are picking it up to see if anyone responded to your travel idea because it is such an amazing deal and you don’t want to miss out. You are waiting by the phone hoping that someone will respond, that someone will acknowledge you. But nothing. Now you are at the fork in the road – in one…

12Apr 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva

Episode 37: COVID-19 Testing Required for U.S. Entry – My Experience

Podcast

[podcast_subscribe id="715"] I was in Cabo, Mexico, when I heard about the new executive order that requires passengers to have a negative COVID-19 test to enter the US, so I decided to get back to the US rather than risk getting stuck in Mexico. With 2021 coming around, travelers were excited to get back to traveling, and the prospect of getting stuck in another country because of a COVID-19 test put those plans on hold for many people. Being on vacation and having to find a lab and arrange transportation to and from that lab just adds an extra layer of stress to that vacation. So, I heard of a resort in Mexico that opened recently, Planet Hollywood, and they offer Covid tests on-site, and I decided to try this…

07Apr 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva

Work + Wanderlust: How To Travel While Working Full-Time

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Travel Tips

If you are not aware, I have a full-time job. I know that may be hard to believe for some people because it appears that I am always traveling. However, I get four weeks of vacation each year, and I use them all! Trust and believe. Now, I know that the pandemic has been brutal for some people, and I genuinely empathize with everyone. However, the side effects of the pandemic have been beneficial for me in so many ways. Listen to my podcast episode below of how my summer went during COVID-19. One of the best ways the pandemic has benefited me is the fact that my company has had us working from home since the pandemic hit in March of 2020. Working from home has allowed me the…

05Apr 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva

Episode 36: Solo Travel That’s Good For The Soul

Podcast

[podcast_subscribe id="715"] In this episode, I talk to Catherine Smith from Her Bags Were Packed. Her Bags Were Packed is about helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel. In this episode, Catherine drops so many beautiful gems and words of wisdom that will truly help you get on the path to discover your truest self, overcome challenges, and be a badass - not only while traveling but in all areas of your life. And the best part is, you don’t need anyone else to do it. Highlights from this episode: [01:56] Solo travel is therapy.Catherine’s philosophy is that solo travel allows you to be independent and discover more about yourself than you would if you were travelling with someone else - you are forced to deal with and process your own…

31Mar 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva

Here’s What You Need To Know About Planet Hollywood Cancun

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Resort Reviews

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day and love, and by that, I mean self-love…I jumped on a plane and headed to Mexico, not only to celebrate the day with myself but to check out the brand new Planet Hollywood Beach Resort in Cancun. Entering Mexico Currently, there are no COVID-19 protocols or requirements to travel to and gain entry into Mexico. A passport is required, as usual, and that is about it. However, as of January 26, 2021, a negative PCR test is required for all travelers flying into the United States aged two and older. You must take the test no more than three days before your flight. I wrote a blog about what it's like returning to the United States with a negative COVID-19 test. My original travel date…

29Mar 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva

Episode 35: House Sitting to Travel

Podcast

[podcast_subscribe id="715"] Today, I talk to Malina Padgett. After working several years with a yearning to travel, Malina got into house sitting, and now travels full-time. Imagine traveling to all your bucket list places without having to pay for accommodation. This is truly a fascinating conversation, and I’m sure you’ll get some very valuable information. Highlights from this episode: [02:22] Malina’s travel history.Travel was a big part of her life growing up. Her parents’ goal was to have her and her sister travel to all 50 states before graduating high school. They almost made it. With just Alaska on hold, they finally managed to cross it off their list recently. [03:36] Travelling full-time.After starting her own business working with clothing boutiques and brands, and then becoming a freelancer to free…

17Mar 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva

What You Should Know Before Booking a Vacation with your Friend

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Travel Tips

In the words of George Costanza from Senfield, “…trips are relationship killers!” This can be extremely true! Taking a vacation with someone can make or break a friendship and you should not take the decision to travel with someone lightly. When it comes to traveling with friends, I’m sure the first thing you think about is sharing a room or spending long periods of time together, but what about before you even get on the plane? There are multiple things that can cause a friendship to sink or swim prior to arriving to your destination….if you even make it there with that friend. My best advice when you decide to book a trip with a friend is to use the following guidelines: Purchase travel insurance: When you are traveling, you…

15Mar 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva

Episode 34: The Cons of All-Inclusive Resorts and How to Solve Them

Podcast

[podcast_subscribe id="715"] Today, I’ll be talking about a post I saw on the Black People Love All-Inclusive Resorts Facebook Page. The post was a question asking what people DON’T like about all-inclusive resorts. I jotted down some of the responses to the post, and this episode is going to be about how to solve the issues that were brought up. Here are the top 17 issues and how to solve them: [02:50] The frozen drinks have chunks of ice - they need better blenders. This sounds like a once-off thing. You couldn’t possibly travel all over and have this exact same experience at every single all-inclusive resort. [03:29] The food is not great. It’s unlikely that this is the case at all resorts, but it is more likely if you…

10Mar 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva

What It’s Like Returning to the US When a Negative COVID-19 Test is Required

EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Travel Learning Lessons

As many of you know, on January 26, 2021, President Biden passed an executive order requiring all travelers coming into the United States, including citizens of the U.S., to present a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a flight headed for the United States. The only way to avoid having to take a COVID-19 test is to show proof that you have recovered from already having COVID-19 plus a letter from a medical professional stating that you are clear to fly. With the new rules in place, a lot of travelers have postponed their vacations because the thought of having to find a laboratory in a destination that is not familiar seems too complicated. As well as find your own transportation to and from the medical laboratory. That just seems like…

08Mar 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva

Episode 33: Vaccine or Retire Passport

Podcast

[podcast_subscribe id="715"] In this episode I am talking about a hypothetical question --- If you were told that you had to get the COVID-19 vaccine in order to travel, would you get the vaccine or retire your passport? Future travel may require digital documentation showing that passengers have been vaccinated or tested for the Coronavirus. It could be something like when you travel to West Africa and you have to get the yellow fever card, for example, Ghana requires you to show proof that you have had this vaccine in order to enter the country. So that's what I'm thinking that this digital or documentation will be similar. I asked the question on Instagram to my followers. I asked if they would take the vaccine or retire their passport and…

Tag: erica james travel