Since I was a child, the biggest thrill I felt was starting a new adventure, whether it was exploring a new town in France with my family or running through the "fairy forts" of Killarney National park (one of my favorite places in the world)! The thrill of seeing a new and beautiful destination, eating some distinct and delicious food, and meeting interesting people has stayed with me ever since.

My perfect vacation is a multi-destination adventure with early starts and late finishes, where I come home needing a vacation to recover from my vacation! That is when I know that I have made the most of the time I had.

I've had great food everywhere I've been but I don't have one that was too exotic if I am being honest! Possibly preparing a traditional Sumo meal, which was apparently one-third of a normal Sumo's meal but was more than enough for two!

A list of essentials, ticked off one by one is a great start to calm any pre-trip nerves about forgetting something. Unexpected situations are bound to happen on at least some of the trips I take but years of traveling have thought me that the worst thing you can think of rarely happens and what usually does happen is not that bad and certainly won't keep you up at night after the vacation. Once I am mindful of that I know I can find a solution to any problem that comes up! Google is also your best friend!

Don't be afraid to get to know the locals, especially if they speak English! Some of the best experiences I've had in Europe have come from the advice of random locals we stopped to have a chat with!