Priyanka, Author at Champagne Flight

In Europe

6 of the Best Things to Do in Athens Beyond the Acropolis

January 10, 2018 25 Comments

When people think about Athens, they immediately think, “Okay, I just need to do one day jam packed with every single historic site there is in Athens and then I’ll hop on my flight to Santorini and be on my merry way”. I then ask those types of people how they liked Athens and the response is “eh it was okay, not for me.” Well of course it was just okay, you ninny. All you did was play tourist and check items off your list. Don’t get me wrong, the historic sites of Athens are breathtakingly amazing. To stand on the Acropolis knowing that you are witnessing thousands of years of history, is a truly awe-inspiring moment. But, that’s not all that Athens has to offer and it would be a shame to leave the city without seeing the rest! So what are the best things to do in Athens…

In In My Suitcase

My Top 10 Packing Tips

December 26, 2017 20 Comments

Five years ago there would be no way that I could write this post. In fact, I would probably laugh in your face if you told me to give packing tips. I’m the girl that would have to sit on her suitcase, hoping that my body weight alone would be enough to somehow make all the contents compress to half the size, while someone else had to try and zip it. It was rough. I mean zippers broke, the sheer effort lacerated people’s fingers, and I was always left having to think of creative ways to somehow get all my stuff to my final destination. Clearly, I was an idiot. I never even wore half of that stuff. Luckily, studying abroad in Spain my junior year of college was like going into rehab and I quickly learned how to be a smarter packer. Sometimes I do relapse (don’t we all)…

In Europe

5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Greece in the Off Season

December 19, 2017 22 Comments

Thinking of planning a trip to Greece in the winter and not sure if the off season is for you? Well, go ahead and purchase that airline ticket because winter in Greece is a perfect time to travel. Don’t believe me just yet, here are some reasons to convince you: The weather is still nice The first time I went to Greece was in the summer and there were moments of the day where my shirt was sticking to me and I had to stop at every stand to buy some more water. Dehydration is not a game, folks. As much as I love the summer, sometimes a nice brisk breeze is what I really need in life. If you go to Greece during the off-season, especially in the month of November, the weather will be in the low 60’s which is extremely pleasant. Plus if you’re lucky, there will…

In Europe

A Wonderful Stay at the New Hotel in Athens, Greece

December 13, 2017 8 Comments

On my second trip to Athens, I fell absolutely head over heels in love with the city (I know that tends to happen to me a lot but seriously…this was quite the love affair). Part of this was definitely attributed to the hotel I stayed at, the New Hotel. In the heart of Athens, the New Hotel was the perfect home base for exploring the ancient city. Ideally situated just a few blocks away from Syntagma Square, I was able to walk from one historical site to the next and discover all the local spots in between. If there is one thing that will help you have the best time in Athens, being well located is definitely it. Formally the Olympic Palace hotel, the New Hotel is the product of renowned designer duo, Fernando and Humberto Campana. And boy what a talented duo…I mean why can’t I be that talented? This…

In Work/Travel Balance

How to Travel with a Full-Time Job

November 20, 2017 28 Comments

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me “How do you travel so much with a full-time job?” I would be filthy rich. In fact, I would be kicking up my feet at some luxury resort and drinking a tropical drink by the poolside. People are always dumfounded that it’s possible to work full time AND travel a good amount. Lucky for you, I am about to divulge all my secrets in this post. Of course, there are a few stipulations. First of all, if you have a job that doesn’t give you any vacation days, well then I can’t help you. But you should also probably quit because no one likes working for Satan. Second of all, you have to be okay with taking shorter trips sometimes. Third of all, you have to get creative (don’t worry…not artistic levels of creative. Just basic creativity) I get…

In Europe

How to Have a Perfect Day Trip to Tallinn, Estonia

November 8, 2017 21 Comments

I’ll be honest. Tallinn was a city that wasn’t on my bucket list. Not because I didn’t have any desire to go there but rather, I just hadn’t heard much about it. But once I did hear about it, I barely had to do any research. I was hooked just by looking at the photos of the town. If you’re headed to Tallinn trust me, you’ve made the right choice and you’ll soon realize that you could spend days if not weeks exploring this enchanting city. But if time is of the essence, here is how to spend an incredible one day in Tallinn How to get to Tallinn By Ferry from Helsinki, Finland It is incredibly easy to get to Tallinn from Helsinki. You can take a high speed ferry from the Katajonakka terminal in Helsinki. This ferry will get you to Tallinn in under two hours! There is…

In United States

The Ultimate Guide to Denver in a Weekend

November 1, 2017 30 Comments

I didn’t know jack about Denver prior to booking my first trip there. But those, my friends, are always the best trips. I decided to go back less than two months later and fell even more in love with the city, if possible. Here is the ultimate guide to Denver in a weekend. It includes things to do, the best restaurants, and fantastic bars. Need this guide on the go? Click here for a map that opens up right in your google maps app Before You Go The airport is a bit outside the city. But luckily, there’s a train that’ll take you right to Union Station, the center of Denver. Plan for around 45 minutes for this journey and a $9 ticket which you can then use on any public transportation for the rest of the day. Pretty sweet deal. Denver’s weather can be a bit unpredictable. Freezing cold in the…

In Work/Travel Balance

7 Things to Know About Taking Time Off Work

October 25, 2017 25 Comments

So you have all of your vacation days left and you want to take a trip. What’s the appropriate amount of days to take off at one time? Just a few? One week? Two? Who cares because I’m not coming back? Just kidding. The question can be a difficult one to answer as every situation is different but following these general steps should help you arrive at the appropriate answer. Set expectations Every time I start a new job I am up front with my manager. When you’re having the conversation about general guidelines (ex. Can I work from home? What time does the team usually get here?, etc), work in a question regarding vacation policy. Something to the effect of, “I love to travel. It’s really important to me to maintain that balance. And generally I like to plan a few trips a year. What is your policy for requesting…

In Europe

How to Make the Most Out of Three Days in Stockholm

October 12, 2017 13 Comments

Tips Where to Stay Things to Do Food to Try Amsterdam gives you a taste of everything. You can be transported back through time with a visit to the Anne Frank House, partake in the “coffee shop” culture, eat as much cheese as you could possibly stomach, and so much more. The city is full of unexpected charm and you can’t go wrong with exploring the narrow streets and many canals. Pack your bags, grab some euros, and check out this guide to Amsterdam: Before You Go While card is accepted in a fair amount of restaurants in Amsterdam, most bars only take cash. So if you plan on tasting any of that delicious Dutch beer, have some euros ready. Be prepared to pay to use the bathroom if you aren’t dining or having a drink at an establishment. Keep coins handy for this. It rains a ton.…

In Europe

The Perfect DIY Tour of Stockholm’s Largest Art Gallery

October 4, 2017 14 Comments

Stockholm’s largest art gallery is underground. You heard me right. You can access this art gallery by just taking the subway and stopping at different stops. Of course, Stockholm’s subway system is too large for you to stop at every single stop. And time is always of the essence. Save your time because the best way to see the art is to follow this DIY subway tour, which includes three of the best stops. All you need is this post and a subway ticket and you are ready to go. All three of the subway stops are right next to each other on the blue line so it’s a breeze to do this as a DIY tour. Kungstädgården Kungsträdgarden is a stunningly dramatic installation with vibrant colored abstract designs covering the cave. This was painted by Ulrik Samuelson in 1977. T-Centralen Artist Per Olof Ultvedt used his talents to paint the caves of T-Centralen.…