JANUARY 2026

Adventures With Carli

A monthly round of tips, travels, adventures and what's next

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Hello adventurers!

Well it's been a pretty rough month. As many of you know, I'm from Minnesota which has been under siege from ICE for months, but escalated in this month with the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. If you're unfamiliar please check out MPR for factual local news coverage.

The community is hurting right now. Businesses are suffering, people are afraid to leave their homes. If you're able to help, Stand with Minnesota is a great resource for ways to support from outside the Twin Cities.

Where in the world is Carli San Diego?

Last week I left the US to fly across the pond to London kicking off a 3+ week European adventure.

While I'm here I get to see (3) of my friends that are in Europe. Laura, my friend since first grade, Brittany, my bestie from college, and my new(ish) travel friend Terry (check out her instagram).

This trip came together pretty last minute and continues to evolve as I'm here. With the exception of flights, hotels, a rental car in England AND tickets to the Olympics, I have basically nothing planned and am running mostly on vibes 😅😅

As of this week I've had to adjust my plans (again) to stay longer in order to volunteer in Milan at the Olympics! As a Minnesota child of the 90s, I believe (rightly) that the Winter Olympics is the superior of the two Olympics, and it's been a lifelong dream of mine to go to the Olympics (not as an athlete). It took awhile, but my time has come!

If you want to follow along for daily story updates make sure to follow my instagram. Or check out my new substack page, where I'll have a more stream of conscious note sharing.

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Tips for London

London is popular for a reason. It's an amazing city that is full of life, history and culture. Its a very cosmopolitan city, I heard no less than 10 different languages walking around. It can be expensive, but there are also lots of ways to make your London trip more affordable,

Visit off season - There's probably never a true "off" season, but visiting outside of summer and the holidays will be less expensive and less busy. You might not be able to do as many outdoor activities, but you'll never be bored in London at any time of year.
Public transportation is your friend - London is HUGE and the fastest and most cost effective way to get around is with public transportation. This can be overwhelming for people that aren't used to taking buses or subways regularly. The good news is, you can use Google or Apple maps. Set your map directions to transportation and it will direct you to the nearest bus stop or tube (subway) station and show you where to get off, and how to get to your final destination.
- Pro Tip: Do not use the ticket machines, this includes the Elizabeth Line at Heathrow. Instead, use contactless tap to pay. This can be with your card, or via Apple/Google Pay on your phone or watch. There is a cap for daily cost, so at the end of the day if you use it 1 time or 20 times, you will either pay as you go, or the capped maximum cost. You have to tap on (and tap off) the same way every time. If you use your Chase card via Apple Pay, you need to use that the same way every trip for that day so the system can properly track your trips.

Museums - London is a museum city! You'll find world class museums throughout the city, and the best part is many of them are FREE. In my 2.5 days I visited the London Museum Docklands, Tate Modern, Science Museum and the Victoria & Albert. If I had more time I would have gone back to revisit the National Gallery. Museums are also perfect for winter visits to get out of the rain and cold. There are museums for everyone and every interest, including some very niche museums like the Jack the Ripper Museum, Charles Dickens Museum and the Household Cavalry Museum.

Markets - There are a number of markets throughout the city that are open daily. Some are focused on food, vintage clothes, antiques, or a mix of everything. These are fun to browse while visiting a local neighborhood.
- Borough Market
- Camden Market
- Covent Garden Market
- Greenwich Market
- Portobello Road Market

Parks & Gardens - There are a number of large parks in Central London, perfect for a stroll or to enjoy some peace from the bustle of the city. Surrounding Buckingham Palace is Green Park and St James Park. Regent's Park is to the north next to Camden Town, and Battersea Park along the Southwest end of the Thames. The largest park in the city is Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Hyde Park is known for it's large walkways that were used by the elite to promenade back in the Regency Era (a la Bridgerton).

The Cotswolds

If you're unfamiliar, the Cotswolds is a region in the English countryside northeast of London by about 2 hours. The region is comprised of small (and tiny) villages, dotted along the countryside. It is very quaint and peaceful. Think Cameron Diaz in The Holiday.

I stayed in the (very small) village of Blockley which has (1) hotel, (1) cafe/market, and (2) pubs (one of which is in the hotel). But it was very relaxing and the town is centrally located to explore other nearby villages.

Travel Lessons Learned

Ever look at flights, find a good deal but decide to come back to it later and the price has jumped $100? Same 😩

I've had to make a number of changes and tweaks to my travel schedule (mostly due to the fact I was only accepted as an Olympic Volunteer 2 weeks ago). As you can imagine, there aren't a lot of options left in Milan during the Olympics at the last minute, especially without breaking the bank. And I missed booking a decently priced studio apartment because I wanted to "sleep on it". whomp whomp.

With changing flights, most of my my flights are through award travel (using points and miles). However, these are limited, especially when not booking direct. Ex: I can book award travel with Air France using my Delta miles. I was able to book my flight from Krakow to Vienna on Austrian Air using United miles, which I transfered from my Chase credit card.

But not all flights are available to book miles (especially when booking via another airline). Or, if the airline decides to change the prices in a matter of days, it might all of a sudden be double the miles.

Lesson: Check the cancellation policies.

All flights in and out of the United States have a 24 hour free cancellation period. Airbnb usually has a 24 hour cancellation period even with "non-refundable" bookings.

If you see a good deal, and there's a good chance it will be booked or prices will go up, book it right away. Then set an alarm or reminder to review/change/cancel your booking before that window is up.

Need help with planning a trip?

Starting to think about travel for Spring Break next year, or even a trip next summer? Reach out for assistance with planning and booking your future travels.

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Blog Posts

Catch up on some of my blog posts below:

Must Have Essentials for Long Haul Flights

Flying all day can be very confusing on your body. These essentials for long haul flights will help you enjoy the flight and limit your jet lag.

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The Sis Kata Resort is the Adults Only Hotel You Need to Book in Phuket

Dreaming of a tropical getaway without the sounds of screaming children? The Sis Kata Resort in Phuket might just be the perfect hotel for you.

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The Best Things to do in Antigua Guatemala

Best known for its colorful streets and historic buildings, there are many things to do in Antigua Guatemala beyond just the instagram moments.

Read Article

Travel Must Haves

Luggage Scale

As a consummate overpacker (I like to be prepared for all circumstances!) I am also sometimes over weight for checked bags. This year for Christmas I asked for a digital luggage scale. This will help me asses the weight of my bag while traveling to avoid overweight fees.

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