Hey Reader
At the end of this week, I'll be headed to a country I have never been to on a group trip with G Adventures, and I’m so excited!
It's been a long time since I have been this excited about a place. I was practically in tears when my husband gifted me this trip for my birthday. I didn't expect this at all, considering it's our final countdown to retirement and we are in that final push to save money for life after the Military.
I'll give you a hint: There is a desert involved, some cool archeological sites, and I'll be doing a bit of hiking! You'll have to wait for my next newsletter to find out where it is, or follow along on Instagram!
However excited I may be, packing is my arch-nemesis; I hate it with a passion. So, in honor of that...
I wanted to share how to plan a trip and what checklists I use.
Planning and packing for a trip can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. After years of traveling, I’ve developed a simple process to make it easier.
Here’s how I plan my trips step by step:
1️⃣ Pick your destination – Do you want a city escape, a nature retreat, or a mix of both?
2️⃣ Set a budget – Decide on flights, accommodation, food, and experiences.
3️⃣ Find a place to stay – I love using booking.com to find accommodations that fit my travel style. I have used it in Asia, USA and Europe and it never fails to help me out!
4️⃣ Plan your must-sees – I always leave room for spontaneity, but bookmark key sights I don’t want to miss.
5️⃣ Pack smart—I keep it light and functional. I have this awesome packing checklist, which you can download here. It might say solo, but anyone can use it for anything!
Solo Travel Packing Checklist.pdf
While it says solo travel, anyone can use this PDF!
Want a little extra help? I created a free travel planning checklist to guide you. Grab it here:
Travel Planning Checklist.pdf
In the Press
I still write for United on the Rok in Korea. If you haven't had a chance to check out my latest article with them, I hope you'll head on over, share this, and help support me and the publication.
It's a great resource for families and servicemembers stationed in Korea!
On the Blog
I wrote a deeply personal blog post just recently, and I'd like to share it with you.
It's been 9 years since I lost my mom, and while grief never really goes away, I want to talk about how travel helped me manage those feelings of grief:
I FINALLY pressed publish on another great travel guide for Buddha's Birthday in Seoul, this was by far my favorite festival in South Korea that I had a chance to attend, all because of a chance encounter with someone I worked with while at the USO!
I am considering starting an email series on the Dolomites. This region has captivated me while living here in Northern Italy, and I am always surprised when people tell me how much they don't really know about the Dolomites. The region is huge, and there is so much to see aside from the main sites like Seceda, Tre Cime, Ortisei, and Alpe di Suisi.
| Would you like to know how to plan your PERFECT vacation in the Dolomites? |
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| Would you join a facebook group that focuses on hiking in the Dolomites? |
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Lastly, I was approached about leading a group trip in 2026, I am not 100% on this yet, so I need your opinion-- Would you want to go on a group trip with me? Could you take this survey and help me out?
Trova Trip Group Trips Survey
Stay Curious
Kimberly
Check out these other AMAZING Travel and Food Bloggers below!
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Jordan Campbell | Global Debauchery
Content Creator + Blogger
Jordan Campbell is an off-beat flashpacker with a penchant for tasty beverages, and the creator behind Global Debauchery. She's traveled to 69 countries and all 50 states, and absolutely LIVES to help people travel deeper. You might know her from The Travel & Adventure Show, the WITS Travel Creator Summit, Wanderful, The Nomadic Network, or Camp Indie. |
