Waste(less)

As most of you trying to lead a greener life know, the bathroom is one of those places that produces the most amount of waste and garbage. From bottled shampoo, conditioner, body wash, to plastic toothbrushes, toothpaste, you name it. Every little thing comes in some sort of container and it's such a huge waste. When I first noticed this, and when I first began realizing I had to do something to create less waste, there were a few things I switched immediately, and there are some I'm still trying to conquer. I thought I'd write this post so I could share my accomplishments and failures and also try to inspire others to look into their own bathrooms and make a few changes.

My very first step was switching from hand wash and body wash to soap bars, this seemed like the easiest switch, and I honestly haven't missed the bottled stuff at all. Once the soap becomes too small and brittle to keep in the shower, I simply press it into the one I have by my sink and let them blend. If you'd rather not do that, you can keep the soap in a little soap bag such as this one by Made by Tyng, not only does it keep you soap but you can use it to gently scrub. This one is made from bamboo terry and woven cotton, which is great for you and for the planet, and you're supporting a very talented artist when you buy it. Regarding soap bars, you should buy your favourite, I like to buy a locally made one that comes wrapped in paper, and if you have such an option, you should definitely take it.

Next on the agenda, I hit a big gun: conditioner. This one was a big one to actually change because my hair desperately needs moisture to keep the curls looking nice, but it also dreads anything that will make it oilier. I decided to try an ACV rinse, which you can read all about right here. I've had a few bad days with it, used too much for too long and got my hair incredibly oily, and I've even used conditioner when visiting other people because I simply forgot to bring my ACV rinse, but otherwise, I've had nothing but nice things to say about it.

Once my regular plastic toothbrush was absolutely used to death, I made the decision to never buy one again, and so I turned my attention to bamboo toothbrushes. Plastic toothbrushes are one of the biggest problems we're currently facing when it comes to pollution as only one small part of them actually gets recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills and our oceans. Luckily, there are now plenty of brands that make better options. The one I use and love is from The Bam & Boo, a wonderful Portuguese brand that offers the chance to have a new toothbrush delivered right to your door every 1/2/3 or 4 months, without all the hassle of having to remember to buy a new one and with much less plastic. Each toothbrush costs just under €5 and shipping is free, worldwide. Additionally, they all come in recycled and recyclable paper packaging and a biodegradable PLA protection bag. The actual toothbrush is made out of bamboo (for the handle) and nylon 6 bpa free bristles. How amazing is that? If you'd like to know more about this amazing brand, just follow this link. I've also managed to influence my brother and his girlfriend to get some too, it's all about the little steps guys.

Still on oral hygiene, next came dental floss. As I was already familiar with The Bam & Boo, I decided to try theirs. The Bam & Boo Dental Floss is made with 100% natural products, such as bamboo charcoal fibre and candelilla wax, which means it's vegan and plastic free. It also comes flavoured with peppermint oil which just makes it feel fresher, which I love. Plus, it doesn't fray or get caught in your teeth, amazing!!

Lastly, cotton buds. Yet another product that seems to find its way more into our oceans than it does to recycling centers. Plastic cotton buds, as much of an enemy as plastic toothbrushes, can't be recycled after they're used, so they either end up in the regular trash or go down the toilet, eventually ending up in our oceans. The Bam & Boo have their own bamboo cotton buds, 100% biodegradable, zero waste and vegan and, because I already used their products, buying these was a no brainer. Sure, I could have gone with a stainless steel ear cleaner, and I still think I will, but that wouldn't really help me when I'm trying to fix my makeup, and sometimes you just want something you're already familiar and comfortable with. 

Sure, I've already changed a few more things besides these, such as buying a loofah sponge, like this one from Mind The Trash, instead of using a plastic one, I've stopped using disposable makeup removers and started using cotton towels instead, and I've also stopped using plastic tampon applicators, which you can read more about here: Let's Talk Periods & D. Reusable Tampon Applicator Review, but I think these 5 were the ones with the most impact in my life so far.

(picture by Daria)

As to those I'm still aiming to change, I think my next step will be toothpaste and mouthwash. If you're at all into the zero waste subject, you must have heard of Georganics, their goal is to create "a full natural oral care range which is 100% cruelty-free, plastic-free and environmentally sustainable", what more could you ask for? They sell everything from natural toothpastes, oil pulling mouthwash, whitening powders, eco toothbrushes, natural floss, and so much more. I'm really curious about their Activated Charcoal Toothpaste and their English Peppermint Oil Pulling Mouthwash. Their toothpastes and mouthwashes are free from fluoride, SLS & glycerin, promote remineralisation, are PETA cruelty-free & vegan, and come in recyclable glass jar, aluminium lid and compostable box, so many things to love.

Something else I've been eyeing up is switching from regular shampoo to shampoo bars, I've mentioned this before in another post, and I've yet to make the change, simply because of convenience, which I'm sad to admit. My first excuse was "if I'm truly aiming for a low waste life, is ordering a shampoo bar online really the best idea?" but now, I've run out of excuses, I found a handmade shampoo bar sold right in my city, 10 minutes away from my house, made with 100% natural products and by someone who actually knows what they're doing. As I'm growing more and more into the idea of helping smaller commerce, this seems like the perfect opportunity to do two things at once and so, as soon as I get my paycheck, that will be my very first purchase. I'll let you know how it goes. 

While we're on the subject of hair: hair brushes! I don't think I've ever really thought about them as waste, not until I grew up and started taking care of mine. They simply were there when I needed them and replaced when they're weren't doing their job, which I think is the reality for many things we use, and the reason why we use so much. Now that I know better, I'm seeking a better option as well. My first thought were these wooden combs I remember having when I was young, and I can't seem to understand why those ever went out of fashion, not only are they cute but they also are much better for your hair (read more about that here). I'm currently looking into getting one like this one from Mind The Trash, but I'll try to find a local option before I resort into buying something online, no matter how much I trust the store itself.

And there we go, a few changes I've managed to make and few more still to go. What changes have you made to turn your bathroom into a greener place? Much as I mentioned on my Zero Waste Swaps: Bathroom post, reducing is the most important step and consuming sustainable products is still consuming. Don't simply throw away all your things and buy sustainable ones to replace them, you’ve still put your plastic into the environment and it hasn’t been used to it’s full potential, given that it’s already been produced, which means you're still polluting. 

Let's talk periods. Over half the people on the planet have them and it seems people aren't talking about it enough, especially about their impact on our environment. Thousands and thousands of pads and tampons are thrown away by people with periods during their lifetime, and if we think about how much plastic and other toxic things go into making them, it really is unsettling and disconcerting to know that they can't be recycled and will just go into landfills, taking decades, sometimes centuries, to decompose.

The hard and cold truth is: our periods are anything but sustainable. And even though I know this, I have yet to make a complete switch from regular old pads to eco-friendlier options (although I have made other changes). But that doesn't have to be the reality, there is a whole world of sustainable menstrual products out there, and you only need to choose the one that is better suited for you. To some, it may seem like a hassle to try and find alternatives to something you already have, use and are somewhat comfortable with, but the truth is, spending a little extra (time and money) to make your period even a little bit more sustainable will result in less waste and it'll also save you money in the long run.

Before I began trying completely different products I started with something smaller and easier to achieve, I made the change to go from regular tampons to organic cotton ones. That might seem like an infinetly small change but organic cotton is also infinetly better than regular cotton, if you'd like to know more about what makes them different, read this Organic Cotton vs Regular Cotton post by The Sleep Sherpa. To save you a great deal of research, because not all eco-friendly period products are exactly the same, I thought I'd tell you about some of the options available and my own experiences with some of them.

Go Organic
Let's start with some familiar faces, if all you can change for now is going from regular pads and tampons to organic ones, then that's the change you make, as awareness grows around the environmental impact of disposable products, so does the availability of different options so finding these new and improved versions of the products you already know and love won't be too hard, simply search for organic pads & tampons in your country and you'll find they're widely more available than you previously thought. Natracare seems to be the brand I find the most, so you'll probably find it where you live too, here's where you can find them. Not only is this brand using organic cotton but their products are also plastic-free, hypoallergenic, free of GMO, perfumes, dyes and chlorine, vegan, biodegradable and compostable, what else do you need?

Reusable Pads
Another option are reusable pads, which are a sort of throwback to what our mums and grandmas wore, but made better. These reusable pads by GladRags are one of these options, available in different sizes (day, night/postpartum, and pantyliners), these are "a healthy alternative to disposable products we're used to, made of premium quality certified organic cotton flannel and terry cloth, they offer protection and comfort, lasting for over 5 years". This means that not only are they environmentally friendly, using minimal resources, but they're also easy on your wallet. Also, you can customise them to fit your needs, depending on how heavy or light your flow is. I'm currently eyeing up some of these beautiful handmade ones by Made by Tyng, who also sells other great handmade products to help you live a more sustainable life. If you're in Portugal, Pegada Verde, Mind The Trash and Maria Granel also have these available, so go show them some much deserved support.




Reusable Tampon Applicator
For a little twist on another product most of us use, we have the D. the reusable tampon applicator by Dame. If you're interested in a full on review on it, you can read mine right here D. The Reusable Tampon Applicator Review, spoiler alert: I love it. In short, what D is is exactly what the title says, a reusable tampon applicator you can use with whichever size or brand of tampons you prefer (hint: combine this with organic cotton tampons and the environment will thank you!). Not only is it easy to do, but it doesn't require boiling in hot water to make sure it's safe to use, like most reusable period products do, which only makes it easier to keep and make last. Much like menstrual cups, they're made to last years, and if it breaks or gets damaged in any way, Dame will replace it for you for free. Once you no longer need it, you can just send it back and they'll dispose of it properly. 

THINX has also recently released a reusable tampon applicator called re.t.a, made with medical-grade materials and can be used with most applicator-free tampons, if you'd like to know more simply follow the link, as it is such a new product there aren't many reviews out yet, but the internet is a nice place and will surely help us all with that.

Menstrual Cups
On a similar note, let's talk about the product most of you have already heard of: menstrual cups. Even though their design was patented in the 30's, it has taken until nowadays for the menstrual cup to go mainstream, which means I really don't need to go into much detail about it because, most likely, you've all heard and read about it plenty. Whether you're you've heard of Lunette, OrganiCup or Mooncup, they all do the same job. As Lunette explains the "menstrual cup is a bell-shaped cup that gives you a comfortable, safe, odorless and eco-friendly period for up to 12 hours a day. It’s also reusable and lasts several years meaning less time, money and stress!" All the brands previously mentioned have different sizes to choose from depending on your flow and whether you've been pregnant before or not. They also have a lot of helpful tips on how to use it, how to pick the right size, how to clean it, how to fold it and other general questions you may have. These cups are "made of soft medical grade silicone and are BPA free. This means no yeast, bacteria or odor" they are vegan and environmentally friendly and you can use them for up to 10 years. As with anything, there are people who love it and swear by it and other people who won't go near it, so it's up to you to pick whichever is your ideal product, no one else. My own personal experience wasn't really that great, I bought it, tried it or rather tried to try it and failed as I couldn't actually put it in, then tried it again, successfully put it in the right place and then had to remove it less than 5 minutes later because I found it so uncomfortable. If that's the case with you, don't be too scared, with most brands you can return it if it's not for you, no one is forcing you to keep something you can't use, but I'd totally advise you to try it before you make up your mind.

Period Panties
On the matter of items you've heard of before, let's talk about period panties. Along with reusable pads, these are the ones next on my list of period products to try, simply because they sound both amazing and non-invasive, which is all I want. There are quite a few brands already available, such as Lunapads, Dear Kate, Wuka and, the already famous, THINX* (by following this link you will get €9 off your order and I will get €9 too, what a treat), an amazing brand breaking all period taboos and making us feel sexy even when we're on our period. THINKX basically (very very basically, but here's more info on their amazing work) makes period panties, which means you can wear them all by themselves and be done with it or use them as back up, imagine you're wearing a cup, or a tampon but you have a super heavy flow, THINKX will be your lil helper and keep you nice and tidy. According to them their "period-proof undies can replace pads, liners, and tampons, or be worn with tampons and cups for extra protection. Like regular underwear, but so much better". You can build your own set of period undies and save a few bucks or you can buy them on their own, there are plenty of cuts to choose from, such as the hiphugger, their most famous cut, which holds around 2 tampons worth; sport, for medium days; cheeky, for light days; boyshort, for heavy days; hi-waist, a very sexy pair of panties for heavy days; thong, for the lightest days and many more. If you're curious to try them simply head on over to THINKX, place your order, try them on and decide for yourself if these are your cup of tea or not. With a 60 day money-back guarantee and free returns, there's no reason not to try something that may change your life, and our planet's too!

And there we go, just a few of the most popular options to replace our old and eco-unfriendly period products. I know there's a lot of pressure nowadays to go green overnight, I feel it too, but reality is, becoming fully sustainable will never happen like that, it takes research, time and commitment, and every little step counts and helps, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Do your best, keep trying to do better, but never at the cost of straining yourself.

Let me know below some of your favourite products when it comes to sustainability while you're on your period, I'd love to learn more.

I'm finally back home, my week in Norway was amazing as always and I often wonder why I still haven't moved there, but that's a subject for a different time. This week I thought I'd go back to my usual subject but still not deviating completely from the travel theme and so this post came to be, low waste traveling. I think we're all aware that traveling isn't the most eco-friendly thing in the world but, truth is, we all get the travel bug sometimes and all we can do is try to reduce our waste as much as possible to somewhat offset our travel footprint. There are plenty of ways you can do this:

• If you're traveling by plane make sure to check-in in advance, that not only saves you time but also, you can ask for your e-ticket instead of printing one, less paper, less things to carry around, one less thing to worry about, plus, most trains and buses also offer this option where if you buy your ticket online you can choose if you want to print it or show it on your phone instead. 
• Know what to take with you but also what you're allowed to take, a water bottle is always necessary, if you're traveling by plane remember to empty it before going through security and fill it up once you're past it, I recommend you buy a stainless steel bottle, there are plenty of options out there, but the one I have is the 24 Bottles Urban Bottle (500ml) and I love it, although, if we're being honest, if I were to buy mine now I would go with the Clima Bottle instead to keep my water fresh when I'm in the sun all day or my tea warm when I'm in the cold. 
• Bringing your own cutlery is also a good idea, you can obviously buy travel cutlery in bamboo or even something like this stainless steel folding spork, but why buy something you already own? Grab a cloth napkin, a spoon, a fork and you're done, the napkin can be used to clean up after a meal or even to wrap your food. Just don't forget to leave the knife at home, let's not get into trouble at the airport. 
• If you're a snacker, then you should always make sure you have your own snacks and containers with you, this way you can avoid the expensive prices of airport food and the plastic that comes with it, also you won't be stopping at every corner store you see. I usually take my own Tupperware with me, for instance this time I had lunch included on my plane ticket, but I still had to take something to eat afterwards as I was only getting to my final destination at around 10pm, so I took an apple wrapped in a cloth napkin and a few cookies on a small and light Tupperware. Obviously, you have to think about your own eating habits and what you have at home already, but if you'd like to buy a container, I'd recommend you go with a stainless steel one, as they're usually quite light and won't keep odours. 
• If you're someone who likes to have smoothies and coffee on the go, you should remember to take a cup, I've previously mentioned Keep Cup as I absolutely love their look, especially this Brew Cork I designed. If you'd rather not buy something else, a glass jar will do too. They're allowed on board, as long as they're empty when you're going through security. This is a great idea because we all have glass jars at home we can use, so you're not buying anything new. 
• If digging around the bottom of your bag looking for all your items isn't really something you're interested in then you have to divide and conquer. Set one or two pouches aside and divide your travel essentials among them. Decide what you need to take with you on the plane and put it in one pouch, for me this would look like this: headphones, toothpaste and a small jar of toothpaste, hand & lip balm, handkerchief & cloth napkin. As for the day to day pouch keep in mind what you use/might use eveyday, this pouch would look like this: cloth napkin, reusable cutlery, a produce bag in case you want to grab a pastry or some fruit, a tote bag for any shopping, a handkerchief and some lip balm. Obviously, your essentials may look totally different to mine, so feel free to customize them to your own needs.
• I always carry a reusable grocery bag in my day-to-day life and when I'm traveling that doesn't change. Make sure to bring one that can be folded easily that you can carry with you for any grocery or souvenir shopping you might do or even to use as a beach bag if needed.
• Speaking of souvenirs, these might seem like a bit of a step back on the whole low waste movement, but that's really up to the way you're doing it. My tip is: buy what you already need! Forget fridge magnets and keychains, don't buy things you wouldn't usually buy. Keep a mental list of things you need but that you're in no hurry to buy (be it extra handkerchiefs, tote bags, a blanket, you name it) and save those purchases for trips. Once you're on vacation, if you happen to come across one of those items you'll feel no guilt in buying it because you actually need it and, every time you use it or look at it, you'll be reminded of your trip. Another option would be going with a consumable, if you're a coffee or a tea addict that would be a great souvenir to take home with you, tea is usually my first choice, especially because I can always buy it in bulk or a pretty tin, which I can then reuse for years.

As I continue on my week away at my brother's I thought I'd keep the travel theme going and so, welcome to the second installment of my Budget Traveling Series, if you didn't catch my first post on How to Fly & Get Around, make sure to give it a read first. Today I'll be showing you how I save money when booking my stay, and share a few of my favourite places, just keep reading.

Much like I did on my previous post, I must advise you to travel off peak, it might not seem as exciting but trust me, your wallet will appreciate it. Also, remember you don't have to stay right in the middle of all the action, usually city centers have the most expensive places to stay at, but if you look for places a few minutes away, I promise you, you'll save a lot of money. Make sure to pick a place off center but still in walking distance so that you don't have to spend the money you saved on your stay on public transport.

The kind of place you stay at is also very important, most of my traveling days have been spent at hostels instead of private rooms, which I'm okay with. For me, hostels are the way to go, and if you're traveling with friends, you may even get the entire room for yourselves, something that has happened to me, it's like having a giant sleepover. If you're not comfortable sharing a bedroom with strangers, which is totally acceptable, maybe try to book private rooms in hostels, it will be pricier than a shared room, but still cheaper than staying at an hotel or an apartment. I know it's hard to look for places online, you can never tell if they're as good as the pictures make them look or if they're trustworthy, so I thought I'd show you the places I've stayed at before, just to help you out.

If you're staying in Porto, something you should do because it's absolutely beautiful, check out these places: Magnólia Porto Hostel & Suites, this was the first place I stayed at when I first visited Porto, it has quite a warm and familiar feeling to it, the breakfast is great, it's walking distance from most things you'll want to see and the staff was lovely, also you have a great selection of rooms to choose from, mixed dormitory rooms, female dormitory rooms, family rooms and budget twin rooms, they've got it all; for my second stay I chose the Urban Garden Porto Central Hostel, which has a different vibe, a little bit more modern, quite young and hip, the breakfast was also great, the bedrooms were so comfortable and there was this little garden where you could lay down on a hammock or have breakfast in the sun, it was great, the room selection isn't as big, they are all mixed which means you'll stay with both men and women, but you can choose how many people you'd prefer to stay with, if not, there is always the private studio; finally my personal favourite, which you'll be shocked because it's not an hostel, Citybreak Apartments Coliseu, (Standard Studio) this was a bit pricier but so worth the money, the room is so so comfortable and clean, warm and inviting, you have your own kitchen, fully equipped, affordable parking nearby, plenty of great restaurants, supermarkets, and it's right by the most popular shopping street in Porto, I loved every single second in this place and I think this is the only place I'll be staying at in Porto whenever I visit.

If you're visiting Sintra, there's really no other place I'd recommend other than Villa Maçã House, and I'm making this recommendation as a weekend getaway place more than as a young-people-hopping-across-Europe place. I say this only because there's absolutely nothing around besides the beach (Praia das Maçãs), their restaurant and a few mini-markets and cafés, this is a place to rest, to recharge your batteries, to get away from the hustle and bustle of your day to day life. My boyfriend and I took a few days off and decided on this place because it was the perfect resting place right between Azenhas do Mar, which I've always wanted to visit, and Sintra, which I hadn't visited since I was much younger, we took our car and enjoyed the short rides we had to make: only 5 minutes until Azenhas do Mar, 30 minutes to Sintra and around 45 minutes to Cascais, where we ended our stay with the best ice-cream in the world, Santini. Every morning we would walk down the road, with the ocean being the first thing we saw, and go buy some food at the market for breakfast, which we would then prepare in the little common kitchen available, which had everything you could possibly need for a short stay. The bedrooms are perfectly comfortable, with AC and automatic windows, lovely decoration, super clean and I found there was enough space for us to store our things for the short time we were there, but the only thing I was uncomfortable with was the bathroom situation, there's no real separation from the bedroom itself, so keep that in mind if you're staying with someone you're not 100% comfortable with, they'll always know what you're doing in the loo. Also, and this can be either a good or a bad thing depending on how much of a people person you are, there's not really anyone on site, there'll be someone waiting for you to check in or you can go find them at the restaurant which is what I had to do as we got there a bit late, but the desk at the house is always empty, even to check out all you have to do is leave the card at the desk.




If you're staying in Madrid, I stayed at the same hostel both times I visited, which says something about it, The Hat is the place I stayed at 3 years ago when I visited with my best friends, and the same place I chose to stay at last June with my boyfriend. The hostel is huge and you have a BIG selection of rooms to choose from, I stayed in the same room both times, by chance, but I can vouch for the quality. The cheapest rooms aren't really very cozy but they also aren't horrible, there's AC, Wi-Fi, a very nice restaurant and rooftop bar with a great view of the city, a personal favourite of mine, and the staff is mostly very nice. Breakfast is available and it's quite good, especially because you can slather everything in Nutella, there's a good selection of things to choose from and you can either have it as a little buffet included in your stay, or pay each day for it and have it made especially for you. The location is also amazing, right by Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, there are a few supermarkets around and little cafes and restaurants, and the only time I had to use public transport was to get from and to the airport/train station.

Lastly, if you're staying in Amsterdam, the only recommendation I can really make is the Hostel Stayokay Vondelpark, which I stayed at in 2016 and would consider staying at whenever I next visit Amsterdam *squeals with excitement*. I visited Amsterdam with 3 friends and at the time there was really only one room available for us to all stay together, not that I minded, it was really quite cheap, but that meant we had to stay at a 12 bed mixed dormitory room. The only downside to this was that some of the people we stayed with weren't really very hygienic which made the stay a bit uncomfortable, but that's not something I can blame on the hostel. Besides the great breakfast and super nice staff, the best part of this hostel was the location, we were right by Vondelpark, one of the most famous parks in the city, something I didn't know when I was booking us our room, not only that but it is less than 300 meters away from the Museumplein, where you have most of the must visit museums in the city, Anne Frank's House, Dam Square and the Red Light District are all just a few minutes away, and the only time we had to use public transport was when we are going from and to the airport, the bus stop to the airport is around 5 minutes away from the hostel and the ride takes around 40-45 minutes. 

Now that that's off the way let's talk booking. There are plenty of booking websites out there that do pretty much the same thing, you've got Trivago, Momondo and so many more, but my absolute favourite is Booking*, that's where I always book through and I have absolutely no complaints. By now, I've reached Genius status and have a small discount in some hotels/apartments/hostels, which is great, but even before that I already loved it. Booking basically looks through every place in their website to show you the best fit for your preferences. You may choose how much money you want to spend for each night, the area you'd like to stay at, if you'd like breakfast, parking spot, pool, private room, shared room, you name it. The greatest thing about this is that most times you can get a better price through Booking than you can if you book through the hotel's actual website, crazy right? Just make sure you book in advance, prices are always changing but they do tend to rise as you get closer and closer to your dates, so keep that in mind. Also, most places do offer free cancellation, which is great if you have a change of plans or if you find a cheaper room, but do confirm before you book, there's no need to lose your money because of a small distraction. If you book through Booking make sure to create your account through this link and win 15€ to spend on your stay, just a friendly discount.

Another tip would be to check if your preferred airline has any affiliation with the website you're using to book your stay. For instance, TAP, my country's airline, is affiliated with Booking, so if I go through this special link and use my Frequent Flyer Number, I'll get two frequent flyer points for every 1€ I spend on each booking, even if I'm not flying anywhere. This is a great way to add up a few points and, in the future, use those to fly for cheaper.

If after all this you're still more into apartments and hotels, which is fair, maybe check Airbnb* (if you create your account through this link you'll get a great discount on your stay, and I'll get a few euros to use too, isn't that great?). I haven't actually ever booked anything through Airbnb, but as most of you know, it's quite a popular place to use, my boyfriend and I actually tried to use it last month when we visited Porto, until we realized the place where we wanted to stay at was actually cheaper through my old friend Booking, Citybreak Apartments, I'm looking at you. Whether you choose to book through them or Booking or the actual places themselves, just make sure to always check them all before you make your final decision. And lastly, make sure to have your Ebates* on (if you're not sure what Ebates is make sure to give my How I Save Money Online Shopping post a read), some websites might be affiliated and let you get some of your money back after your stay. Who said you couldn't save and make money while traveling?

First things first, you've probably been told before that you should always set your browser to incognito mode when searching for flights and such, and although it doesn't hurt, I don't believe there's actually any proof that you'll find cheaper flights for doing so. Having said that, I always keep mine in incognito mode, just in case.