Planning: Trip Planning Template (Basic + Realistic to Use)

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Reading Time: 3 minutesIn this post we share a trip planning template that has been a key resource for planning Engaged Abroad’s travel.

This itinerary planner has proven itself as a useful for all types of travel – from solo trips to large groups meeting up from all reaches of the world.

Though there are travel planning apps and options for preparing for a trip (TripIt and the likes), we have yet to come across a planner that highlights travel details and also provides space for long-form reading.

That’s why we use this custom-made document. Engaged Abroad relies on Google Documents as the primary tool to create, edit and store itineraries. The benefit of this approach is that this itinerary can be accessed by all travelers in the group, can be made available offline for access anytime, anywhere, and makes it easy to collaborate and share ideas to build a great trip.

This version is a basic form and is meant for travelers who would like an “at-a-glance” itinerary.

Engaged Abroad hopes to one day make available an Advanced Version for those who are interested in a more comprehensive trip outline.

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Family Travel: Preparing Your In-Flight Kit – Tips

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Reading Time: 2 minutesIn this post we share the categories we include when we create our in-flight kit for travel with a family.

The idea of this kit is that it is lightweight and can be attached to your one-bag with your carabiner. The kit is purpose built to placed under your seat for easy access.

This is *not* a comprehensive one-bag packing guide. The goal is to avoid having to search for items in the depths of backpack in an overhead compartment mid-flight.

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Family Travel: A (Small) Bag for Days Out

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Reading Time: 3 minutesIn this post we share a bag that has become a go-to for days out.

This is for an excellent option for toddler+ aged children. The use case for this bag is for running errands, park trips, field trips etc. Note that it may not be a good fit if you still use formula or bottles.

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Books & Media: Notes from Project 333

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Reading Time: 2 minutesIn this post we share our notes about Courtney Carver’s “Project 333”, a fashion challenge designed to force us to reexamine our relationship with stuff.

In the process, travelers readying themselves to live out of a backpack/carry-on for long-term travel can experiment with living with less.

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Packing: Preparing for a Semester Abroad – What Should I Bring?

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Reading Time: 5 minutesIn this post we discuss what items you may consider packing when preparing for a (university) semester abroad program.

We recommend bringing the essentials and other items that may drastically alter the experience without them (i.e. medicine, electronics etc.). By starting with a less-is-more approach, you’ll have a chance to spend some time in-country and assess what additional items you may need to purchase based upon your schedule, activities, weather etc.

Note that most of these recommendations assume you are based in a place with moderate-to-high accessibility to goods. For those studying in the bush, rural areas, or an atypical setup, this post may need to be adjusted to suit your specific circumstance.

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Packing: Easy Travel Makeup

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Reading Time: 3 minutesThis post shares the makeup Engaged Abroad’s founder, Sophia, uses when traveling for a quick, easy-to-apply sun kissed look.

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Family Travel: Why We Now (Mostly) Travel with Our UppaBaby Vista

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Reading Time: 4 minutesIn this post we share the reasons for our transition from a compact travel stroller to a full-sized UppaBaby Vista when on the road.

While there are a few exceptions and places where smaller & compact almost always wins out for the majority of use cases (thinking of Southeast Asia), we’ve generally found that our UppaBaby is a preferred stroller for most types of trips and terrain.

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