[MM]: Would You Book a Flight With Zero Planning?
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Hello Reader, Heya Fit Travel Tribe! Let's get global and chat about what's in a name... I'm currently in Antalya! (For those with me last time, I know I mentioned Cappadocia, but there's been a plot twist >> see below!!) If you're not familiar, Antalya is on the southwestern coast of Türkiye. "Heidi, Do you mean....TURKEY???" I had heard and seen this newer/different spelling before, but hadn't actually done any research or was provided insight into Türkiye vs. Turkey. My Couchsurfing host here in Antalya ended up mentioning it during our late night chat after I arrived. Long story short..... 🇹🇷 >> Türkiye is how it's always been spelled and pronounced in Turkish (so this is not a change) 🇹🇷 >> Any other countries speaking English would call it Turkey. However, a few years ago in 2021, Türkiye officially changed their international name. WHY?? My host said....because they didn't want to be associated with the bird. WAIT...you mean the one we eat on Thanksgiving in America?? 🦃🍗 Yep yep, that's the one! And it's honestly as simple as that reason. (Again, that's the short story) PLUS, keeping in mind that Türkiye is how Turkish folks have always named their country, this just reinforces a stronger national identity. Especially if you may not get the memo throughout your life for every country's name change, it can be a bit confusing. So let's get you caught up!!!
Did you know one of the countries above changed their to celebrate someone's 50th birthday? Learn more HERE! Besides name changes, there are sometimes NEW countries also popping up. Kinda wild!! Whatever globe or map you have now might be widely outdated in several decades....who knows?! 🌍 🌍 🌍 Okay, I mentioned last time that I shall fly to Türkiye.....buuuuuut I'm not actually in Cappadocia! 😜😜 Yet.... Honestly, we will see! Because I'm trying to embrace the "I can do whatever I feel like tomorrow" -type mentality. Even if I don't make it there this trip, I'm really not that far away now living in Sofia. I'm trying not to get stuck in the mindset of viewing the future through the lens of my "original plan." As streamlined and time-saving that might be (to not consider all of the options), it is quite freeing to know I could stay here for the whole three weeks or even just fly to another country. For whenever I DO get there...Shoutout to my pals Mike & Anne from HoneyTrek who have an AMAZING Cappadocia resource for when I eventually get there. Anyway, BEFORE I shifted countries, I... I have NEVER booked a flight that soon after wondering Hadrian's Gate (shown above) is definitely the most iconic feature of the downtown. I've been a bit busy with audio walking tour creation, creating a virtual coaching program, and setting up some new pages for my blog. I'm excited about the new blog sitemap I have in mind! I have my next blog post out, honing in on my Midnight Sun Marathon race, I scripted out more detailed information about why Tromsø, Norway is one of THE BEST places to visit to experience the Midnight Sun magic! Next up will be my full race review! Here you can learn more about this island and why it's a haven in the Arctic landscape. If you've ever wanted to experience nonstop daylight to enjoy a myriad of outdoor activities, then THIS is the place to go. Learn more about the invigorating physical activities Tromsø and how to best explore by land and by sea!
🎧 AUDIO WALKING TOURS! 🎧 I've mentioned that I've been creating an audio walking tour of Sofia for awhile now, but let's dive a bit deeper... In my opinion, the best way to authentically explore a new city is with a walking tour. You get up close and personal with the sites AND it's very accessible physical exercise. FREE WALKING TOURS are a huge go-to experience for many travelers. (They are frhttps://voicemap.me/ee to sign up and you just tip the guide at the end based on your experience). GuruWalk and SANDEMAN are great companies I have used in the past. However, during a trip to Copenhagen a few years back, I discovered these scheduled tours didn't align with my carefully planned itinerary. This scheduling conflict introduced me to VoiceMap's audio walking tours, which have since become my preferred method of city exploration. Audio walking tours offer incredible flexibility that traditional tours simply can't match! 🌟🌟You can begin whenever it suits you, whether that's sunrise to beat the crowds or late afternoon when you've finally shaken your jet lag. 🌟🌟The self-paced nature means you can linger at particularly photogenic spots, taking all the time you need to capture the perfect Instagram moment without feeling rushed. 🌟🌟The ability to customize your tour experience extends even further with audio guides. You can pause the tour midway to enjoy a spontaneous lunch at that charming café you discovered, or even split the tour across multiple days if you're feeling fatigued. 🌟🌟When walking with an in-person tour guide from site to site, you may miss what they say. Here, audio quality remains consistent throughout your journey, ensuring you never miss important historical details or interesting facts because you were stuck at the back of a large group. https://voicemap.me/ 🌟🌟By having access to the script, you can review the proper spelling and easily refer back to resources (like names of restaurants, etc.) later on for continued exploration. Plus, some folks are visual learners! So next time you travel, I HIGHLY recommend checking out the Voicemap option. You'll have a tour guide in your ear the entire time! When Flights Get Canceled: Your Action Plan ✈️ Flight cancellations can quickly derail even the most meticulously planned trips, as I've experienced three times already in 2025. When that dreaded announcement comes, having a clear strategy is essential. Documentation is your strongest ally in these situations! Contact SafetyWing or your travel insurance provider right away. Their team will guide you through what's covered and what evidence you'll need. Remember to photograph boarding passes, capture screenshots, and timestamp all conversations. These details make all the difference when filing claims! 🧳 I know if I document "in the moment" that I can just go back later and write a full report with all of in the information I've collected. It makes a huge difference to not just rely on your memory, but show them that you have keep ALL THE RECEIPTS! Always on my mind: More money for more travel! It's often worth a little homework for those savings 💸 If you've found this content helpful, please consider sharing this email with a friend & using these affiliate links in the future. Please note that I never make referrals unless I truly believe this product or service is actually helpful 💗 If you use my affiliate links included in the email, it is at no additional cost to YOU, but it does benefit me. It's a small "thank you" and continuous motivation for me to keep sharing this helpful content. Feel free to always respond back to this email with any thoughts and questions you might have or content you'd love to see in the future. Happy travels and healthy living, Heidi |