Why Oktoberfest Is The Greatest Thing, Ever

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If you want to go to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany this fall, book your accommodations now. That's why this post is going up at the beginning of summer rather than closer to Oktoberfest, because, well, if you want to go, you'll need to make sure you have a place to stay (some hotels/hostels even sell out a year in advance). Make sure you do this soon so you don't miss out on it, because Oktoberfest is AWESOME.

Six million people attend Oktoberfest in Munich every year. Oktoberfest lasts for 16 days, starting mid-September and finishing the first weekend of October. Celebrate and party at the world's largest beer festival with people from around the world. I met people from all over including Brazil, Australia, a bunch of Europeans, and of course, some awesome Germans.

Now onto why Oktoberfest is the greatest thing, ever:

The beer is exclusive to the festival and is really, really good. Six Munich breweries brew their own Oktoberfest Beer. I didn't like beer until I went to Oktoberfest. Now I love it, and I have the beer from Hofbrauhaus and Hacker to thank for that. When you order beer, it comes in a stein: a large glass with a handle that holds 1 liter (34 ounces) and the beer must be a minimum of 6%.

oktoberfest beer

The food. Giant soft pretzels, sausage, pork knuckle, schnitzel, and sauerkraut are just a few of the traditional German foods you'll find  at Oktoberfest. They all pair really well with beer.

oktoberfest bretzel

People dress up in lederhosen and dirndls. And not just a few randos - you'll look more out of place in regular clothes than you will in lederhosen (guys) or a dirndl (girls). Pretty much everyone is dressed up in the traditional German outfits which only adds to the festive feel of Oktoberfest. You can find authentic, good quality lederhosen and dirndls at plenty of stores around Munich before you head to the tents.

Fun, lively atmosphere. Everyone is jolly and having a grand ol' time inside the tents. A lively atmosphere calls for great memories, possibly with new friends that you meet in the tents.

It's also a CARNIVAL. There's a reason they say it's like Disneyland for adults. How much more fun can it get when Oktoberfest also doubles as a carnival?! Outside the tents you'll find plenty of games and amusement park rides. The one that that goes up really high and does a big drop gives you a great aerial view of the festival grounds.

hofbrauhaus

Headed to Oktoberfest?

Book a place to stay, ASAP! Oktoberfest season in Munich sees a heavy amount of visitors from all over Germany and the rest of the world. The earlier you book your place to stay, the better - as availability for hotels, hostels, Airbnbs, and Couchsurfing can go fast.

I recommend using my all-time favorite booking website, Booking.com - I’ve used it for years all over the world.

It is the easiest way to search and find the best hotels (hostels too!), especially based on reviews. I always check the reviews on Booking, even if it’s a name-brand hotel. You never know!

The ABCs of Studying Abroad in Florence

A: Acqua - whether it's sparkling or flat, water is not free at restaurants, and sometimes more expensive than wine.

Florence Duomo from Piazzale Michelangelo

B: Bars. If you studied abroad between the age of 18-20, you got to enjoy the awesomeness of being of age and getting let in (legally) to a bar. If you were already 21, then you at least got to enjoy going to the bars with all of your friends without leaving out the youngsters.

C: Cooking. Italy is the food capital of Europe, and Florence is arguably the best city in Italy for finding the best food and fresh, high quality ingredients. Pesto pizza, pasta bolognese, or a tomato and mozzarella panini...yum.

D: Duomo. The most iconic church in Florence is enormous and beautiful. You'll never forget your first time walking up to the piazza and seeing it in person - it literally takes your breath away.

Duomo Florence

E: Experience. One that you'll never forget.

F: Florence! Where a majority of American students study abroad in Italy. Also, a small, gorgeous city with beautiful renaissance art.

G: Gelato. You know it's good when the smallest size still comes with two flavors.

H: Hostels. You'll always remember your first time staying at a hostel - bringing shower shoes, sharing bunk beds with other travelers...

I: Italy. While you spent most of the week in Florence, you likely got to see more of the country - the gorgeous Tuscan countryside, historic Rome, and the beautiful Amalfi Coast were musts. Maybe you made it down to Sicily, or up to Venice.

Florence, Italy

J: Just go. Your motto when deciding whether or not to do that last-minute weekend trip.

K: Knocking on the door to a secret bakery at 2am. Warm, nutella-filled croissants for a euro each was the best way to end a night out.

L: Language. The beautiful Italian language that flows up and down, and sounds almost musical when listening to locals converse.

M: "Molto delizioso" means "very delicious," which is what you answered when your host mom asked how the pesto lasagna she made for lunch was.

N: Never leaving. Or what you told yourself while you were in denial during the final days of your study abroad.

Oltre Arno Florence Ponte Vecchio

O: Oltre Arno. Heading across the Arno river to the less touristy part of Florence, where you could encounter some great cafes and shops, and take a breather from the crowds by the Duomo or Santa Croce.

P: Piazzas. Piazza Repubblica, Michelangelo, Santa Croce...

Q: Quotes. Hopefully you made a list of all the funny things people said so you can look back on it a few months later when you get nostalgic. #memories

R: Resume. Studying abroad is a culturally enriching experience that you should definitely put on your resume.

S: Studying. The actual reason you were there.

T: Tiramasu. A delicious Italian dessert.

U: Umbrella. Something you were so glad you had during the random late summer downpours and also so the guys selling umbrellas on the streets would stop bothering you about buying one.

go seek explore ponte vecchio florence italy

V: Vacation. Knowing that most people only have the opportunity to take a week or two of vacation to Florence, but you were lucky enough to live there for months.

W: Wine, and lots of it. Whether it's red or white, you drank way too much of it last night, vow never to drink it again, but then somehow find yourself at Dante's in Florence a few days later with your friends where you proceed to do it all over again.

X: X-change rate. Calculating it to see if those 80 euro ($110) shoes were really worth it.

Y: Year abroad. Those lucky enough to extend their summer or semester study abroad into a full year.

Z: Zero regrets.

8 Majestic Time Lapse Videos: Beauty in Nature

Over the past couple of weeks, I've posted 8 Majestic Time Lapse Videos of the USA and another one of World Cities. To complete this series, I've compiled eight videos of nature in time lapses. The world is a beautiful place, and if we stop to take a look around, we'll see that some of the most breathtaking places are in nature.

El Teide, Spain

This was filmed over seven days on Spain's tallest mountain. Noted as one of the best places in the world to photograph stars, the photographer captured some breathtaking footage while in the Canary Islands.

Yellowstone National Park, USA

The footage of the world's oldest national park is stunning. Scenic views of the park and wildlife are shown through time lapse and make you wish there was more to see than the five minutes presented.

Northern Lights, seen from Norway

Seeing the Northern Lights (or "aurora borealis") is definitely something on my bucket list. It's almost unreal to think that natural, colored lights like that actually exist.

The Nile/Egypt

While most of the video isn't time lapse (there's gorgeous starry night sky time lapse footage though), this video shows the inspiring journey of a man who kayaks up the Nile to the pyramids, as well as exploring some lesser-known, remote parts of Egypt.

Patagonia

"The end of world," Patagonia looms on the edge of South America. If you have dreams to backpack Patagonia, this video is sure to feed your wanderlust.

China and Pakistan

Part city and part nature, with snow-capped mountains, rice terraces, and more.

The Grand Canyon, Arizona

One of the seven natural wonders of the world looks absolutely stunning at sunset.

And lastly, Planet Earth

Earth, viewed from the International Space Station. It's crazy to think how much beauty there is within the world, but our little planet is just a small piece of the puzzle.

Where To Find Cheap Flights

With flights often being the most expensive portion of a trip (at least for international ones), finding cheap tickets can feel like a scavenger hunt. If you wait too long you're screwed, unless a magical last-minute deal pops up. Before booking flights, I always make sure to compare fares from at least a few sites. Here are six of my favorites that you can use to get the best airfare deal and make that dream trip happen:

1. Skyscanner

My all-time favorite flight search site. I've been using Skyscanner for years and like how it shows you the cheapest flight, and shows you what that specific flight costs at different sites so you know you're getting the lowest deal. I also like using the other features, such as the low fare calendar to find the cheapest day to fly on, or looking up flights from my departure airport to "Everywhere" to view prices all over the world.

2. Airfare Watchdog

I've come across Airfare Watchdog more recently, and it's great for finding last-minute deals or cheap flights for certain times of the year. Check out their Twitter, too, where they tweet especially good fares.

3. Hipmunk

I've used Hipmunk a couple times, and it really helped me find an okay deal when I needed to book a last-minute flight to DC (literally only four days before I left). With Hipmunk you can organize your search by price, duration, or my favorite, agony, so you can avoid the seemingly "great" deals that happen to use multiple airlines, 3+ stops, long layovers, etc.

4. Student Universe

If you're a student or under 26 years old, you are able to book through Student Universe which offers a flight search engine, comparison tool, and also other travel options like rail passes, hotels, tours, and activities.

5. Rome 2 Rio

If you're doing a multi-city trip or want to utilize more than just air travel, Rome 2 Rio is a great site to use because it gives you different route options to get to places. If you're in Rome and you want to get to Paris, it will offer a number of ways to get there, such as taking a bus to one city, then a plane, then a train, or taking a train to a different city that has a cheaper flight to your final destination. Choose to travel by plane, train, bus, ferry, car, or a combination.

6.  Budget Airlines' Websites

Do a little research to find budget airlines according to the region you're in. With a number of flash sales and special deals, you can easily find flights one-way for only $20 on some. Note that you get what you pay for, however: most budget airlines, especially in Europe, charge extra for carry-ons, snacks on the flight, only fly to out-of-the-way airports, etc. A few to consider:

-Southwest Airlines: my favorite way to budget in the US, it actually allows two checked bags free plus a personal item. Also, many planes now offer free WiFi on board. Southwest flies all around the US as well as some places in Mexico and the Caribbean.

-Frontier Airlines: based out of Denver, Colorado, Frontier flies all around the US as well as some other destinations in Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. I've flown them a couple times and have found some great deals, especially when I go to Colorado.

Update 6/13/15: Since writing this post I've flown Frontier from Denver. One of the newer changes was a $20 charge to bring a carry-on bag on the flight. Then, the flight was canceled due to weather conditions (it was January in Colorado, after all), but they didn't refund the $20 baggage fee.

-Easyjet, Ryan Air, and Wizz Air: grouping these together because they're pretty similar. All are budget airlines that fly within Europe at extremely low prices.

-Norwegian Airlines: this airline just opened up flight departure options from the United States - you can find one-way flights from the US to Europe for only 300 euros. Again, it's a no-frills airline.

-AirAsia: a Malaysia airline based out of Kuala Lumpur, you can find great deals on flights all around Asia and Australia.

Photo: We Heart It

4 Essentials For a Weekend in Istanbul

Istanbul Mosque

Last fall I had been itching to go somewhere a little more exotic and different than Western/Central Europe, and was thrilled when I found cheap flights to Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. For a long weekend, I wandered around the city with a friend to explore a place neither of us had been to. Immediately we were in awe, as the city blends the east and the west, evidently seen through the culture and architecture. The people were friendly and the streets were bustling. Since we just had a few days there, we set out on hitting the major must-see attractions, but also walked around plenty in the attempt to stumble upon random shops and cafes. Here are a few must-see things we did that I highly recommend you do if you find yourself in Istanbul:

Galata Tower

Galata Tower View

Head to the top of the Galata Tower for a fantastic view of Istanbul. Once at the top, you slowly make your way around the tower which gives you an amazing panoramic view of the city, the water, and the mosques in the distance. Look down and people watch those walking around the streets or dining at an outdoor cafe.

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi palace

The Topkapi Palace was one of my favorite places we visited. Nestled on a hill, there are spectacular views of the city and the water surrounding the castle. The rooms throughout the palace are covered in bright colored tiles and stained glass windows that add to the grandeur of the former stomping grounds for the Ottoman Sultans. Inside the palace was the jewel room, which I LOVED. You aren't allowed to take photos in the jewel room, so I only have my memories - think swords and other weaponry completely covered in gems, decorative bowls, and large chests with giant, pure emeralds.

Mosques

Istanbul Mosques

The mosques in Istanbul are grand and elaborate from the outside, but even more so on the inside. While we didn't have a chance to go to Hagia Sofia (something to do next time), we did get to the Blue Mosque and the New Mosque. Being inside the mosques was relaxing and peaceful. I instantly felt a sense of calm. Make sure to dress conservatively in the mosques with covered shoulders, knees, and toes, plus a head scarf for women.

Grand Bazaar/Spice Market

Spice Market Istanbul

The Grand Bazaar and Spice Market were two places I weren't very fond of, but nevertheless are interesting to experience. The shop salespeople were mainly men who were very pushy and annoying just to get you to look at their items. The Grand Bazaar was large and there was a ton of selection on Turkish goods, plus some of the typical souvenir stuff. The Spice Market had a ton of spices (of course), and if I were one to cook, I would've stocked up on everything from paprika to cumin to pepper. The Spice Market also had shops with plenty of Turkish gifts to buy, including traditional Turkish foods like baklava. While these weren't my favorite places to go to, I'd still recommend a look around because there is quite a variety of shops.

There is plenty more to do in Istanbul, and these four essentials only scratch the surface - but will definitely make for a trip to remember as part of your weekend itinerary.

Everything Happens For a Reason - Go With The Flow When Traveling

I wasn't originally supposed to go to Ireland. During my study abroad program, I had planned a weekend trip to Barcelona with a large group of friends and was so excited to see one of the cities that still to this day has a spot on my bucket list. We were all flying out of different cities near Florence, like Milan, Bologna, and Pisa. For me and three of the guys, we were flying out of Pisa. Once we were literally about to step onto the plane, the airport was evacuated. Apparently a bomb was found in the airport!

All of the flights were cancelled and a bomb squad came in to take a look. Luckily, the bomb was described as "an ancient not exploded World War II bomb," according to the airport alert monitors, so everyone was safe. Still, we were unable to get out of Pisa that night to Barcelona. We fortunately were able to grab a taxi in the swarm of people outside the airport, and then caught an extremely crowded bus (since the trains stopped running) back to Florence so we'd have a place to sleep. To be totally honest, I was really bummed that I was missing out on the weekend in Barcelona. However, we still took advantage of our weekend in Florence by experiencing some of the local culture and nightlife, as well as a day trip to Siena.

Since I had ended up getting my flights refunded, I had some spare money and a free weekend coming up. Two friends had a trip to Ireland planned and invited me along. It was such a fun weekend! Even though I was originally bummed about missing out on Barcelona, if I had gone, I wouldn't have gone to Ireland the following weekend. Everything happens for a reason. When you miss your train, or your flight gets cancelled, or anything else goes wrong, the best thing to do is simply make the best of it. Barcelona will always be there, and maybe one day I'll get to go. And I had a wonderful time exploring three cities in beautiful Ireland!

Makeup/Beauty Tips For Travelers

If you're like me (or most girls) you probably like to bring your makeup with you on trips. Just because you're not at home doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your typical beauty routine! I've compiled plenty of tips on how to pack your products as well as tips on makeup for traveling.

Packing Your Makeup & Beauty Products

-You don't need to pack your whole bathroom intoyour suitcase. When you're traveling, packing light is key and makes everything easier. Plus, having extra space means more room for goodies on your trip! When you're deciding on makeup and hair products, think: Do I actually use this every day? Will I actually use this on my trip? If the answer is no, leave it behind. Chances are you'll completely forget about it. The last thing you want is to have a giant bottle of hairspray, a ton of extra eye shadow palettes, and full-size shampoo bottles taking up space in your luggage, especially when you don't use them.

- To minimize space, use travel size bottles. I take a tube or two of travel size toothpaste, and if I don't use the whole tube, I throw it out. Since I like to use a certain type of shampoo and conditioner for my hair that doesn't come in travel size, I get the plastic empty bottles from Target for $1 and take the amount I need with me.

- If you're traveling with a friend, coordinate on stuff you can share. Do you both need to bring a flat iron? Maybe one of you brings the flat iron and the other brings the curling iron. Could you share shampoo? Toothpaste?

- Always put your liquids in ziploc bags. The last thing you'll feel like dealing with when arriving to your destination is buying a whole new wardrobe because your pink strawberry scented shaving cream exploded and stained all your clothes.

- Another tip for liquids: put a piece of plastic wrap over the opening of the bottle, secure with a rubber band, and screw the cap on over it. This helps ensure minimal leaks.

- If you're traveling long-term, there's no need to stock up on a huge amount of product before you head over (that is, unless you're totally attached to it and won't be able to find it in your new country). Many countries have Sephora, department stores with beauty sections, or other makeup/beauty shops. Grocery stores often sell similar toiletries like they do in the US. Check before you go so you don't have weigh your luggage down with 10 pounds of lotion and five large tubes of toothpaste.

- Take advantage of pockets or compartments in your suitcase. On my suitcase, I have a small outer pocket that I put most of my liquids in. This makes it extra safe for not leaking onto my stuff, but also makes it easy to take out when I go through security.

Makeup and Beauty Tips for Traveling

- For nail polish, light colors tend to show less when chipping, so you can make your mani/pedi last longer. If you need to do touch-ups, bring your bottle with you - it's small and doesn't take up much space!

- If you got a spray tan before your beach vaycay and you want to stretch the life of the tan, make sure to moisturize daily with lotion. For showering with a spray tan, avoid exfoliating, and when you towel off, pat instead of rubbing to avoid smears and loss of color.

- Protect your face with one less item to bring - if your foundation has SPF in it, then you don't necessarily need to bring a bottle of face sunscreen.

- If you have a long flight, layover, or you just didn't want to use the icky hostel shower to wash your hair, wear a hat. Baseball caps and beanies pack well. Headbands, hair ties, or bobby pins are other alternatives to help on a dirty hair day.

-  For summer trips, bring bug spray. I brought a mini bottle with me to Florence and it saved my skin! (Florence, Italy especially has a ton of mosquitoes in the summertime). If I forgot to wear bug spray out at night, I'd wake up the next morning with over 30 bug bites. I am not kidding - I still have a few scars. One of the best creams I'd always bring for bug bites is a small tube of Cortizone. It helps reduce redness, swelling, and itching, so I use it for bug bites, breakouts, dry skin, etc.

- Instead of my normal face wash, I usemakeup remover wipes when traveling. Luckily, my skin isn't prone to breakouts, so I don't have to use a specific skincare routine. If you're going somewhere (or multiple places) where the water is different than what you're used to at home, then chances are your skin won't be used to it either. Makeup remover wipes clean and moisturize skin sans-water so you can avoid unwanted breakouts.