Category Archives: travel

Dining in Dublin

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This past weekend, I went to Dublin, Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick’s day. The parade was extensive, the outfits were jaw dropping and the environment was electric. However, besides that, I picked up on a few things that relate back to the idea of marketing on social media. Before going to Dublin, people kept telling me that the food was quite miserable and that we should rely on Papa Johns and KFC to get us through the weekend. Once I landed, my phone picked up on the fact that my location had changed and all of a sudden my Instagram was bombarded with recommendations on where to eat food in the area. I ended up going to Fire which was recommended to me via an advertisement on my feed and it was one of the best meal I have had in months.

While that story seems minute and relatively uninteresting, how I got to the restaurant, Fire, touches upon how our society is changing. According to Paul Beelen, mobile devices are the way of the future in terms of accessibility, mobility and advertising. Mobile marketing will allow people to instantly gain access to a plethora of information regarding the restaurants, stores etc. that they are interested in.

I know very few people that don’t utilize social networks such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. This being said, people are constantly scrolling through the apps looking for new photos to look at, articles to read or memes to laugh at. It is no secret that implementing a mobile marketing strategy is the easiest way to reach an audience considering the audience is already utilizing the desired advertising platform in their day to day lives.

While ads on Instagram are such a small portion of the potential of mobile marketing, it has proven to work for me just within the last week. Mobile marketing includes but isn’t limited to: sending text messages, viral incentivizing, masked marketing, rumor marketing, social data bases, invitations etc. Mobile marketing has proven itself to be useful and relevant- a tactic that shows no signs of disappearing.

Cantering in Copenhagen

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In my eyes, there are two ways to travel. The first is traveling as a tourist and the second is traveling as a local. Traveling as a tourist means you are going to all of the most popular sights, eating at the most renowned- and somewhat basic- restaurants, staying at popular hotels etc. That is a great way to travel. However, in order to learn from the culture, to me, you must travel as a local. Hit up the most underground bars, attend hole in the wall restaurants that are recommended by locals, and bike around the city.

Check out the link below to get a professional’s thoughts on the value of travel.

The Value of Travel

A few weeks ago, I mastered a balance between the two ways of travel. I visited Copenhagen, Denmark and indulged myself in the beauty of Danish culture while getting to see the most famous spots. I have a few recommendations for Copenhagen if you are wanting to do some out of the box activities that really made my stay worth while.

  1. Stay in an Airbnb- Staying in a hotel is nice if you want to feel pampered 24/7. However, nothing says local like living in a local’s home.
  2. Hotubs of Copenhagen- An underground activity that proved the beauty of the city. Sitting in wildly hot baths with your closest friends on the river in Copenhagen isn’t something that everyone gets to say they’ve done.
  3. Horseback riding in the Danish country side- An 8am wakeup call seemed like a minor detail after riding horses in the Danish countryside and watching locals play polo shortly after the water-side ride. I got to explore an aspect of Danish culture that I never really knew existed. While cantering through the fields with hills on my left and water on my right, I realized that the world has so much to offer- whether concrete or cultural. This activity transformed my opinion on how I wanted to spend my time abroad. While I can’t go to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower or Rome without seeing the Colosseum, exploring the intricacies of each culture is more important to me than being a tourist.

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I have a strong opinion that traveling can teach you more than school ever will. Reading a textbook does not even compare to visiting different countries- all with different cultural traditions, cuisines and historical landmarks.

Check out the YouTube link below to learn more about how travel can shape you.

How Travel Can Shape You

Visiting with Valentí

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Valentí San Juan proved that everything does in fact happen for a reason.

When he first said “anyone can be a journalist”, I found myself quite skeptical. To me, a journalist is someone who acts as the middle man between society and the news, making sure people are well informed of daily scenarios as well as breaking news stories. I guess I had a closed minded perception that a journalist had to work for a renowned agency or had some sort of official employment. However, after hearing Valentí’s story, I have come to realize that journalism is simply a matter of telling stories.

After being fired from his job and facing many other personal struggles, Valentí felt as though his world was crumbling down. There is a good life lesson to be learned from his lifestyle since then. After facing controversy, there are two options. One, admit defeat. Two, move on.

Check out Valentí’s Instagram for more about his life.

Instagram

Valentí chose to dedicate his life to fitness and telling stories around the world at different Ironman’s, Ultraman’s etc. He may have a crazy lifestyle, but he has a purpose in doing so.

Now, I have a different perspective of journalism. Journalists need to tell their story and tell the story of others.

The video below was what solidified my belief in Valentí’s passion. It made me realize that you don’t have to be the face of Fox News or a writer for the New York Times to tell a story. You can be anywhere in the world with just a camera and a passion.

Loving Lisboa

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Looking for the perfect itinerary for Lisbon, Portugal? Look no further, I have all you need for your weekend trip.

Hotel: Located right on the outskirts of town, Almalusa is the perfect combination of quaint and modern. The inviting staff makes it feel as though you’ve been there for years. The concierge is overly accommodating (provides tickets for the aquarium, makes dinner reservations etc.) and the rooms are amazingly cozy.

Restaurant: Known for their Japanese cuisine, Yazuka is home to the most intricate decor, tasty drinks and most importantly, unbelievable food. You simply cannot miss this.

Cabo de Roca: Nothing like going to the most Western spot of Europe. The pictures speak for themselves.

            

Lisbon Aquarium: Imagine being in a real life Finding Nemo, because that is exactly what it feels like. (you can get your tickets from the hotel and they allow you to skip all of the lines!)

Cascais: The perfect beach town just a 40 minute train ride away. Hop on the train for three euros and enjoy the scenic views until you reach the last stop. After that, your only job is to enjoy.

Check out the link below to see some of my Instagram posts from my time in Lisbon!

Instagram

Instagram

 

Social Networking

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Social networking is the language of our generation. This social structure facilitates communication between people all over the world depending on certain interests, areas of expertise, shared values etc. In the most common sense, our society uses an array of social platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to inform friends and family of their experiences, reach out to potential employers and basically connect with people all over the world. These platforms alone have shifted the way in which we think and interact with people. Some may argue that social networks have ruined our society’s ability to have personable relationships, however, I believe that it has pushed our generation forwards.

I, for one, have used social networks to fuel my travels. My goal for my social media is to get a conversation started. Whether that means getting feedback on a restaurant I posted about, triggering a conversation based on a certain tourist location that I visited, or just opening a forum for discussion based on my travels while abroad.

This past weekend, I went to Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam is particularly controversial because of its liberal daily activities, such as the red light district. However, this is the perfect example of how a place one has traveled to instigates a conversation- either positive or negative. People can respond negatively, saying that the culture is too promiscuous for people around the world or people can respond positively, saying that the culture shock is just enough.

I enjoy indulging in both the touristy spots as well as the local gems when I travel to different countries. And by posting about all of those experiences, I give my followers a taste of what it is like to be abroad.

Click on the link below to see me at one of the biggest tourist hubs in Amsterdam, the Heineken Experience.

Instagram

Regardless of what I use my social media for, I view it as a powerful networking tool.