It’s Summer Playlist Time!

The other day, someone recently brought it to my attention that I hadn’t done a new summer playlist…how silly of me! I truly believe that having the perfect background music for your journey is essential. Your musical selections can enhance your travel experience ten fold! Here are some options to get your playlist started for your last minute summer road trips with Preferred Motorcoach Transportation! 🙂

 

Silento – ‘Watch Me’

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I’m sure you’ve either heard this song or at least have seen references to the dance moves. If not, it’s time to move from under the rock where you’ve been living. This is one of THE songs of the summer! Everyone has been dancing along including America’s new national treasure, Riley Curry. Full disclosure: I have a love/hate relationship with this song. It gets on my nerves but I love it at the same time. It’s SUPER catchy. You’ll be dancing right along after just a few minutes.

 

Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – ‘Bad Blood’

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This features Kendrick Lamar. That’s enough for me!

 

Whitney Houston – ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’

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So you know that moment when you’ve been on the road for HOURS and you need a little pick me up because you can’t even anymore? Turn on this song. Immediately. Classic 80’s Whitney always wakes me up! It’s fun, upbeat, and just as that carefree summer feel to it. When you get restless on the road, crank up this jam and thank me later.

 

The Weeknd – ‘Can’t Feel My Face’

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This song has an MJ feel to me. It makes me want to get up, put on some penny loafers and, well, I can’t really dance at all but I jig a little. Anyway, The Weeknd (I still can’t figure out why he decided to ditch the ‘e’, but whatevs) makes EXCELLENT music. And this is one of his one of my new favorites of his!

 

Janelle Monae – ‘Yoga’

Janelle rocks! Everything she touches turns to pure gold. This is a fact. So, her latest single is no exception. This song is so much fun! I’m not good at yoga, like, at all, but that doesn’t matter. I jam this! And it’s perfect for the open road!

 

Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – ‘Uptown Funk’

I LOVE this song. It’s catchy, upbeat, and so much fun! It has summer vibes, a summer beat, and it just screams summer. When it comes on, you will immediately turn up, because those are the rules. Mark Ronson, who produced the song, has a real gift and it shines through on this song!

 

Beyonce – ‘7/11’

Because Beyonce. Any questions?

 

Will Smith – ‘Summertime’

I’ve put this on a summer playlist piece before. I know. Let it go. The song is called ‘Summertime’, for crying out loud! It will go on EVERY summer playlist I ever make. #SorryNotSorry

 

 

So, what songs are in your travel rotation these days? Let me know in the comments!

Tips For Finding The Perfect Travel Buddy

I’m a textbook introvert. I enjoy my time alone and traveling is no exception. I love me some solo travel. But sometimes your travel experience can be enhanced and enriched when you bring a travel buddy along for the journey. There’s just something about having company, ya know? You have someone there to pass the time with, laugh at funny stuff, and people watch with. And let’s face it; people watching is ALWAYS more fun with a buddy! But before you choose your travel companion and hop on Preferred Motorcoach Transportation, there are a few things you should consider. I mean, just because you like someone doesn’t mean you should travel with them. #Amirite!? I am! And that’s a lesson I learned the hard way!

If you’re thinking of traveling with someone, and you’ve never traveled with them before, you might want to spend time with them first. Think of it like a pre-interview. Believe it or not, you don’t really know a person until you see their bedtime habits! I recommend a weekend together, so you really get a taste of their habits and quirks and they get a taste of yours. Find out if they snore, if they have insane rituals at night, if they sleep with their eyes open, all kinds of things! I had a roommate (I actually lived with her) who I loved dearly. She and I would hang out all the time and everything. Well, we decided we would go on a road trip together and let’s just say, it wasn’t a good trip. When we were at our apartment, I could go to my space and she could go to hers. But when we were in a hotel room with no escape from each other, that was a different story. Taking the time before to see her in her nighttime habitat might have saved me some very awkward conversations after that trip. I would have learned that that particular homegirl just wouldn’t cut it as a travel buddy. Also, I would’ve gotten some decent sleep at night.

Another thing to keep in mind, and probably the most obvious, is that you should choose someone you actually like talking to. Picture it: you and your companion are on a cross country road trip from one coast to the other. Now imagine the sound of that person’s voice grates your nerves like sandpaper on wood. Doesn’t sound like fun anymore, does it? And kind of hand in hand with this, make sure that you and your buddy don’t have any unresolved issues or beef. Because that’s just super awkward and ain’t nobody got time for that!

Lastly I suggest you make sure you and your companion have similar tastes. Similar tastes in people, entertainment, how money is spent, etc. Again, this may seem like common sense but you’d be surprised! Not that they have to be your carbon copy (because that would be weird) but you should be like minded. For instance you might want to have a similar stance on interacting with unsavory strangers, or whether it’s better in be bed by 10pm or 10am, or if they value flexibility or prefer to go with the flow. Or whether we stop at a gas station for the bathroom or just pull over on the side of the road, a situation I was put in in real life because I didn’t travel with a like minded person. Never. Again.

So guys, any travel companions you wish you’d vetted first? Let me know in the comments!

Perfect Father’s Day Gifts For Any Travel Loving Dad

Hi guys!

As I’m sure you’re aware, Sunday will be Father’s Day! My dad enjoys traveling. He’s had the opportunity to go all over the world so I was thinking that the perfect gift for him might be something he can use on his next trip. I know some of you are the perfect kids and already have the perfect gift picked out for the special day. Then there are those of us who just can’t make up our minds about what to get! So if you fall into the latter group, along with myself, I have a few gift ideas for you!

A New Set of Luggage

I really like luggage. And I like switching it up every now and then to suit your mood and ever evolving tastes! This would be perfect for Pop’s next getaway! Plus, Macy’s is having a Father’s Day sale on luggage. You’re welcome.

Rechargable Travel Shaver

This is so neat. Sleek, light weight, and you charge it just like you would your phone! Perfect for the guys into shaving stuff! And it’s pretty adorable as well. Get this one here.

Ray-Ban Aviator Shades

These are the epitome of cool. And dad will step into his next destination looking super cool, dad bod and all. Get them here.

An Apple Watch

This is a bit pricey but look, it deserves a spot on this list. This watch does everything! It will even help if he maybe gets lost. Maybe. But the best feature is, in my humble opinion, the ability to speak into it like James Bond! Dad will approve, I’m sure! Pick one up here.

A Digital Camera

Is your papa a budding Annie Leibovitz? Of course he is. For his next trip, you can send him with the perfect photo tech to document his every move! If you want to be really next level, pick that man up a selfie stick, too! Amazon for the win!

Practical Things

Travel adapters. Insulated mugs. Yes, these things may seem boring BUT these are things I know my dad uses on a daily basis. It’s always a great idea to have some extra adapters and what not for dad to take with him. You never know where you might end up! Amazon is the perfect place to find this stuff!

Happy Father’s Day from Preferred Motorcoach Transportation!

So have you picked up your Father’s Day gifts yet?

Five Perfect Movies for a Road Trip

We all know the feeling; a big group of us are all going to hop into a chartered bus and head out on a long adventure across the state or country. I know I spent MANY a trip on a chartered bus in my life. I happen to love them. They’re comfy, spacious, and best of all I don’t have to drive (I hate driving). One of the best things about these trips is that most of the time there are TVs available to play awesome movies. And you’re on the bus long enough to probably watch several. So I’ve complied a short list of some movies you should watch on your next trip with Preferred Motorcoach Transportation 🙂 Each movie is perfect for all ages so you don’t have to worry about that. Happy Trails!

The Harry Potter Series

The classic story about the boy wizard who lived is perfect for a long ride. There movies are so entertaining and magical plus each one is easily around 2339.87 two hours long.  Just start at the beginning and go. I mean, there are eight films in the series so this will definitely give you something to pass the time.

The Incredibles

It’s a movie about a family of superheroes so what more could you ask for? It’s funny, witty, and downright good. I don’t know a single person who doesn’t enjoy it! It runs just under two hours so it will definitely take a nice chunk out of the travel time.

A Goofy Movie

This movie follows the loveable goofy and his son (yes, his son) Max on the father-son trip from hell. I LOVE this movie. It is a classic in my eyes and no one call tell me differently. It isn’t quite the big hit that the other films on this list are and it is a bit older than most of the others; it came out in 1995 at the height of Tevin Campbell’s fame and when I was about [redacted] years old. But it is great with AMAZING songs! This one is especially good because they’re actually taking a road trip through the film!

The Sound of Music

Wait, hear me out. I actually really love musicals so I’d be all for watching this on a trip, but the good thing about this movie is that it seems to even draw in those who don’t like musicals. It’s the timeless story of the von Trapp family and their time in Nazi occupied Austria. The Sound of Music is also an older movie (it just celebrated its 50th anniversary) but like I said before, it’s timeless. The songs are catchy and believe me, you’ll enjoy it more than you think! And plus, it’s nearly three hours long so you won’t even notice the time go by.

Finding Nemo

Because, obviously. This is one of the best movies that Disney/Pixar ever released! This is the story of an overbearing dad/clownfish who goes on an epic journey through the sea to find his son. Everything gets even better when the loveable Dory pops up. It is so funny, so adorable, and so brilliant. It’s not quite as long as the others (just over an hour and a half), but it doesn’t matter. It’s great and deserves this spot!

Thoughts You Have When You Roadtrip With Your Best Friend

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of taking a quick overnight road trip with one of my best friends. She is one of those friends who you’ve known for so long that she’s pretty much like a sister now. And when you travel with your bestie, these thoughts are bound to happen.

“Yay! This is going to be epic!” (Because you love your friend and you guys always have fun!)

“We’re going to have so much fun!”

“What in the world are we listening to?” (I never have this issue when it’s just me.)

“You need to stop again?!” (Because we’ve already stopped once but they won’t stop drinking things.)

“Isn’t it your turn to drive?” (Because you hate driving so you you don’t until someone realizes your turn was two hours ago.)

“I don’t want to be in charge of the radio anymore. Too much pressure.” (Because everyone has an opinion.)

“I don’t want to be in charge of Google maps anymore. Too much pressure.” (So it’s my fault we got lost?!)

“Are we there yet?” (I mean…seriously.)

“Yay! We made it!” (LAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

“That was so much fun! Let’s do it again soon.” (Because regardless of how much we get on each other’s nerves, we still love each other.)

Overcoming Homesickness on Vacation

Hey guys! If you’re like me, you’ve definitely experienced homesickness while on vacation. I know it seems kind of backwards, after all, you go on vacation to get away from home. But it happens all the time; you’re super excited to get out there for a new adventure and BAM! You see something a loved one would like and all of a sudden you find yourself wondering what you’re missing at home or what your family is up to. This can be especially hard if you haven’t gone far from home before, but there are things you can do to combat that feeling of longing and enjoy your adventure with Preferred Motorcoach Transportation!

Pack a picture of favorite thing to keep with you. This can help keep you  comfy in your temporarily new environment. A stuffed teddy or a family photo can really do the trick. This is something I do because it just makes me feel better. Don’t judge me.

Like ET, phone home. But not too much. If you don’t get the balance just right, you could end up missing home even more than you already do; wondering what’s going on and completely missing what’s going on around you. If you’re on the phone too much you also run the risk of missing out on opportunities to meet new people or make new friends!

Try to immerse yourself in the new city. Go to the popular cites and get to know the city for yourself. You could also establish a “daily ritual” like going to a local coffee shop every morning. It can be very comforting when you walk into a place out of town and you’re recognized. Trust me! Make new friends!

Share some photos and videos on social media with your friends and family. Let them live vicariously through you. When I am out and about, my mom really loves to see my pictures. One of the pictures I took during some time in New York is her screen saver on her phone. Moms like that kind of thing.

Just like the phone, you shouldn’t spend too much time on social media. You don’t have to post every single picture you take. Save most of them for the special folks waiting for you back home. When your head is buried in your phone, you’re not aware of your present. You want to make sure you enjoy your time away and you’ll have some epic stories to tell everyone when you get back home!

So, how do you deal with homesickness when you’re on vacay? Do you even get homesick? Let me know in the comments!

Tips For Road Tripping With Your Pet

This lovable pooch is Sage.

Sage inspired me to cover this topic. See Sage gets car sick. When we used to travel across Dallas to my parents’ house poor Sage would usually get sick to her tummy. A friend of mine recently traveled with her dog and worried about the same thing. There are a lot of questions that can come up when you travel with a pet. You want to take your furry bestie along but will they be ok? Well, I’m going to help you out with a few things to keep in mind.

1. Make sure Fido is secure in the car. This is something I never actually thought to do. I got lucky that Sage wasn’t the type to try and pace the seats but it could happen. It’s recommend to use a travel crate, a pet seat belt (apparently these are actual things) or a pet barrier. And your pet should never ride in the front seat. If there’s an accident, the airbag can really hurt them. Oh and just FYI, it’s very unsafe for Fido to ride down the highway with his head out the window. So let’s not do that.

2. Make sure you pack the essentials for Fido. Food and water should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. You can find spill proof water bowls at any pet store and you also want to make sure you have their favorite chew toys on hand. If your pet has medications or things like that, you’ll want to remember to bring that as well as any medical paperwork because you just never know if you’ll need it.

3. You know how you want to be comfy during a long road trip? Well, so does Fido. Keeping you pet comfy can actually help ensure they aren’t barking, whining, screaming, etc. the whole time you’re on the road. If your pet is prone to car sickness, your vet can give you a prescription to help and let you know some other things you can do to soothe their tummy. If also heard of a garment you can put on your pet that basically makes them feel like they’re being hugged. I’m not sure how it works and I’ve never used one but I know some folks who swear by them so I think it’s worth a shot.

4. Remember to stop so Fido can, um, relieve him or herself. Keep and eye on them and when they start getting restless, or circling or sniffing, it’s probably time to make a rest stop. You can somewhat minimize the amount of times you have to stop by kind of limiting the amount of food and water you give your pet. Make sure they’re getting what they need, but don’t over do it. The more they eat or drink, the more likely they are to relive themselves in the vehicle. And no one wants that. At all.

5. I think it’s a good idea to take Fido to the vet before you embark upon your road trip. The doctor can help and answer any questions you might have and even give you more tips. And always remember to check that your accommodations are pet friendly. You don’t want to do all this stuff and get turned away from your hotel or something because Fido isn’t welcomed there. That would be wack.

Happy trails, Fido and Company!

My Texas Bucket List

Spending time away from Texas shown me that I really love Texas. I think growing up in Texas caused me to take my wonderful state for granted a little bit. But I know better now, and I realize that Texas has so many things to offer and see. A lot of times I’ll be doing research for this blog and stumble upon some Texas attraction I had no idea about and jot it down. Well, I’ve developed quite the little bucket list. I thought I would share!

RIDE THE TEXAS STAR

Look. I don’t really do heights. I’m not totally opposed, but I’m the kind of person who has to drink psych myself out before I get on a roller coaster or something. I used to be a lot braver when I came to things like this, but I guess as I’ve gotten older, I’ve also gotten more chicken – don’t judge me. But as a Texan, I feel like I should ride the Texas Star at least once. One of the most iconic fixtures at the Texas State Fair, the Texas Star Ferris Wheel is the tallest in the Western Hemisphere – a fact that I will try not to think about when I’m stopped at the top.

SEE THE PRADA MARFA

I am an artsy girl. I love all of that. Take me to any museum and I’m in heaven. So when I found out about this art installation, I knew I had to se it at some point. Despite the name, Prada Marfa isn’t actually located in Marfa. It’s located in Valentine, and practically in the middle of nowhere. It is basically a Prada store that you can’t go in. It doesn’t do anything but I don’t care. I want to see it anyway.

SEE THE MARFA LIGHTS

I also love the paranormal so the Marfa lights are right up my alley – interesting seeing that I actually scare pretty easily. Visible from a platform erected by the city of Marfa, spheres of light appear to be floating above ground with no explanation (!!) like little light ghosts. The lights have bee attributed to vehicle lights in the distance, but I prefer the other explanation – none.

VISIT THE PAINTED CHURCHES

Vibrantly colored interiors are the hallmark of these famous Texas church houses. Built by Germans and Czech settlers in the area between Houston and San Antonio (mostly), these “painted churches” are now protected historical landmarks. There are more than 20 and there is a popular tour to see them all. I plan to be on it one day.

DRINK A SHINER AT THE SHINER BREWERY

There is, arguably, no beer more ‘Texas’ than Shiner. Named for the town where the brewery is located, Shiner is Texas. So imagine my joy when I found out that the brewery offers FREE tours and FREE beer? Sign me up!

SPRAY PAINT A CAR AT CADILLAC RANCH

Similar to Prada Marfa, Cadillac Ranch is an art installation in the middle of nowhere on the outskirts of Amarillo. The piece was made with old Cadillac models in the 1970s. The cars were placed nose down in the ground with their original exteriors but and as time went on, they became covered with graffiti. And apparently, visitors are encouraged to add more art to the cars which is great because I really didn’t want to end up with a vandalism ticket.

SEE THE RODEO IN REAL LIFE AT THE HOUSTON RODEO

A rodeo is not typically my thing. I’ve just never been interested. I really couldn’t even tell you what goes on at the rodeo, what you do at the rodeo, or what to wear to the rodeo. Basically, I know absolutely nothing about the rodeo. But I feel, as a Texan, I need to go at least once. So at some point I’ll visit the one in Houston (I hear there’s food).

What are some things you think every Texan should experience in our great state? Let me know in the comments!

Signed,

Preferred Motorcoach Transportation

The Red River Rivalry and the BEST State Fair Ever

It’s officially Fall, y’all!

We took a little break for the end of summer but fall is here and we are back in action. This happens to be my absolute favorite season. The colors, the cool weather, the clothes, all of it! Not to mention the national holiday that is my birthday is in fall (I’ll tell you where to send gifts closer to time.) But anyway, one of the best parts of Texas in the fall is the arrival of the State Fair of Texas. It is held at Fair Park in Dallas (my hometown!) and has the distinct honor of being the country’s biggest state fair. Because everything’s bigger in Texas, obvs. Our fair happens to be the absolute best state fair in this country. That is not debatable. Our fair has…

The unhealthiest best food.

We will fry anything. We have no shame.

The creepiest best mascot.

He talks, waves, and looks at you. Which is not creepy at all…

Plus, Oprah dedicated a whole show to the Texas State Fair so that pretty much squashes any arguments.

Here is Oprah doing Oprah things at the Texas State Fair.

One of the most anticipated events of the State Fair of Texas is the Red River Showdown. The Red River Showdown is the big college football game that takes place between University of Texas, located in Austin and University of Oklahoma, located in Norman. The Texas/OU rivalry is one of the biggest college football rivalries ever and Texas/OU weekend at the Fair is a pretty big deal. For several days, floods of burnt orange and crimson descend on the city of Dallas and let me tell you, they really get into it. My sister is a graduate of Texas and by default she has very strong feelings about OU. It’s really an incredible time to be in Dallas!

Sides are CLEARLY drawn. This is not a game.

The famous game has been played since 1900 and has undergone a few name changes over the years. When I moved to Texas, it was called ‘The Red River Shootout’. It was then changed to ‘Red River Showdown’. Now, we apparently call it ‘Red River Rivalry’. Whatever name you call it—it’s still the Red River Shootout to me; I don’t care what ‘they’ say—the atmosphere is still the same. It’s fun, loud, and vibrant! I mean, this is one of the most fun times to be in Dallas! Even the local businesses get involved, displaying flags and signs and what not. My favorite thing is the ball on top of Reunion Tower. Leading up to the game, the ball will light up half crimson and half burnt orange. When one team wins (OU has won three of the last four games), the ball will light up fully for that team. It’s pretty cool to see in person.

 

If you haven’t experienced the State Fair, Texas/OU weekend is a great time to go! Your ticket to the game includes admission to the fair. This year, the game will take place on Saturday, October 6^th. So make your way on down. You know you want to!

 

 

Is anyone heading to the game this year? Let me know in the comments! Preferred Motorcoach can get you there!

It’s Time To Talk About…Snacks!

Whenever I’m about to depart on a trip, be that by car or bus, I must have two things: music and snacks. That’s got to be pretty universal, right? I mean, who doesn’t like snacks? Exactly. So I asked a bunch of people that I know conducted a very scientific survey and asked people what snacks they absolutely had to have when they traveled.

The consensus seemed to be that the snack had to be easily consumed in a moving vehicle. Because duh. It was really interesting to see how much we all have in common when it comes to our road trip snacks. Food is a great equalizer.

If you’re going to go the healthy(er) route:

Nuts

Trail Mix

Sunflower Seeds

Chex Mix

Fruit

 

 

If you’re just looking for a good (snack) time:

Chips

Sour candy (apparently, it helps keep you awake. I heard this from several people. Who knew!?)

Twizzlers (also heard from multiple people…)

Popcorn

String Cheese (I don’t like cheese but, I guess…)

 

 

The best thing that happened when I posed this question were the super specific snack stipulations some of my friends have:

“McDonald’s french fries…”

“…those really small ready made sandwiches you can find at the store (for when the hunger struggle gets real)”

“…an energy drink and a Whataburger chicken biscuit…”

“Chester’s hot fries (specifically) or hot pork skins, big peach soda, gummi savers, whole dill pickle (kool aid pickle if possible), sour cream and onion Pringles, and a large bottle of water.” <— This was my favorite one.

Happy Snacking!

 

Signed,

Preferred Motorcoach Transportation