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Paige Watts is a travel blogger based in Atlanta, Georgia. She is focused on Southern travel because there are so many hidden gems one can find close to home. She loves bears, and she tries to collect teddy bears from every country that she visits! Don't forget to follow paigemindsthegap so that you don't miss out on her latest travel stories!
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My parents were always big on family vacations, so I’ve been
traveling my whole life. I got the chance to study abroad twice in college, and
the ease of country-hopping in Europe made me want to visit everywhere! And I
haven’t stopped since!
My husband and I try to do at least one big international trip a year, maybe two if I can talk him into it! We take smaller trips to places within driving distance throughout the year, and I like to explore the local area nearly every weekend. I usually like going to art museums when I travel; if a city’s zoo has bears, then that’s a must for me; and I love to tour historic homes, palaces, and castles.
We want to see everywhere, so where we go next is kind of based on our whims and what’s cheap at the time. There are a few places we’ve visited separately that we want to return to together; for example, we did a big tour of the U.K. and Ireland since I’d spent so much time there and he had never been; and sometime soon we’ll get to Japan since he loved his trip there and it’s still on my bucket list. Since my husband has a less flexible full-time job, most of our trips are short weekend trips with a few longer 4-7 day trips throughout the year. For longer trips, we might prepare by scheduling out a few must-see items each day.
I definitely tend to overpack because I’d rather be overprepared than underprepared! My must-haves include noise-canceling headphones for plane trips, my travel-sized noise machine to help me sleep at night, and an anti-theft backpack so that I don’t have to worry about being pickpocketed.
I always let my friends and family know my itinerary and make sure to check in with them daily. I never walk alone at night and instead take a cab or public transportation. I always try to be hyper-aware of my surroundings and listen to my intuition when a situation doesn’t feel safe.
I’ve visited 20 countries so far and will be visiting my 21st country in August if nothing gets canceled. I loved Ireland for solo travel.
The people are so friendly, especially in Galway, and the country is really easy to get around. If you’re a solo traveler who likes to go out, make friends, and party, Ireland’s pub scene is great for that. And if you’re a solo traveler who just likes to enjoy your time alone, there’s a tone of great natural beauty in Ireland that’s perfect for solitary exploration.
I usually travel with my husband; he’s the best travel partner I’ve ever had! Joining group tours is a great way to meet other travelers, either just a day tour or doing a group tour as an entire trip. I love doing walking tours and pub crawls to meet other people. There’s such camaraderie on pub crawls that it’s pretty easy to make friends.
I started Paige Minds The Gap in 2013 when I first studied
abroad in the little town of Harlaxton, England. I needed a name that would fit
my upcoming adventure, and so Paige Minds The Gap, inspired by the London Underground
refrain, was born! After moving back home, my blog has transformed from a study
abroad blog to a more locally-focused Southern travel blog. I still want to
inspire my readers to travel mindfully, at home and abroad.
I don’t stick to a strict budget, but I do try
to keep my costs low when I travel. I try to travel during the low season to
keep airline and hotel costs lower, and I do a ton of research comparing the
costs of hotels before booking. I always look for free attractions and really
try to consider what paid attractions are worth it and are absolute must-sees.
I’ve had so many great travel experiences! But my favorite by far is my husband proposing to me at the top of The Shard in London. Afterward, we walked around London to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. We got to see Tower Bridge open, which is considered lucky, so it was just a perfect day!
For planning my trips, I always use Skyscanner to search for the cheapest flights. While on international vacations, I always download an offline version of Google Maps for my destination so I can access directions even when I don’t have cell service.
While my job as a blogger is flexible, my husband is limited by his work schedule and allotted annual leave. We also have a house and all the fun expenses that come with homeownership, so there are other things to spend money on than travel.
I’m a full-time blogger and a part-time traveler, so I work a pretty standard schedule Monday through Friday during the week and then have my weekends open for short trips! And since blogging is flexible, I have no problem taking off a week when I want a longer vacation.
Other encouraging stories to read!
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