Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
You know what the most popular post on my site of ALL TIME is? It’s the one where I talk about how to get the most out of your Wizarding World of Harry Potter vacation. All that can be found here and I’m planning lots of fun posts about geeky vacations in England (yay!) for the summer months, but today we’ve got a guest post from a vacation expert, Miss Riley White.
Why? Because vacations are hard. No one will say it. But it’s true. A fantastic vacation is always a bit challenging to actualise. How does one choose? Package holidays are perfect for individuals who want to achieve the perfect vacationthat has everything they need without having to plan every minute on their own. Bargain travel sites make it possible for people to pick and choose every detail on their own and stretch their cash. However, those two things aren’t nearly as important as these things:
1. Choose a destination that you’re excited about - NOT a popular destination.
What does this mean? Well, last year I was excited about Cardiff because that’s where Doctor Who is filmed. There’s not much else to do in Cardiff, so most travel sites won’t really offer me the most awesome deals there. I had to appreciate it for its own unique qualities, pros and cons. However, if I was traveling as a family or as a group of friends, it is best that everyone chimes in and in that case… well there would have been trouble.
That brings me to my second tip.
2. Don’t be afraid to travel alone. It can be intimidating at first, but it’s always worth trying at least once in life. Even if it’s just a weekend trip to a Con, these experiences will push you out of your usual.
3. Consider your group. If you can’t travel alone, then I understand. Sometimes it’s budgets… and sometimes it’s family! If you have small kids for example, destinations with amusement parks and roller coasters are always high on the list. Consider LEGO Land or the Wizarding World for something other than the standard Disney moment.
4. If you’re going the group route, don’t be afraid to use package holidays
My best girlfriends and I did this when we went to Costa Rica in the butt of winter and it was brilliant. Going on holiday to places you have never been to before can sometimes feel like a step into the unknown, mostly due to limited information about the destination and expectations for what exactly an “all inclusive” really means. People with significant experience in holiday planning and knowledge on destinations usually put these deals together, so they can cater to people from all walks of life and to suit varying budgets. Even just the Orbitz, Travelocity and Priceline group deals can be a win.
5. Do some research before traveling. Just ask a scientist. Going in blind isn’t always the best. At the very least, you should do some research to find out the prevailing weather conditions, political situation if you’re going to somewhere more remote or controversial and learn any laws that may be a bit strange. You’d be surprised how much j-walking tickets will cot you.
6. Be ready for anything. Planning is great, but being open is the key to any great vacation. Adjusting aspects of your holiday to suit the conditions, whether it’s weather, illness, attitudes or even present company can make all the difference. Being flexible allows you to still have a great time even when everything happens as planned.
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Post by Riley White. Riley is a wanderlust obsessed traveler who is swearing off social media for a year to travel the world and really see things. Her journey begins Aug. 1, 2014.
Sans all the be-headings, prostitution and murdering… you know, just enjoy the cool part where you live in a castle and wear inappropriately fancy clothing. I’ve always wanted to know how one rented a castle, because well it just seems like a great idea to go on a large trip with friends to a castle. Turns out there are a few sites out there.
If you want to stay in a castle similar to that of…
House Tyrell of Highgarden – Try Château de Challain
Located in France, the Château de Challain is all about luxury and romance - and with a family obsessed with who is marrying who, this castle seems like an appropriate venue with massive gardens and plenty of party space. You can rent it here.
House Stark of Winterfell – Try the Giant’s Ridge Lakefront
The idea of spending time in a castle in the middle of the winter might seem unfun, but one of my favorite family memories is spending a ton of time in this property in Biwabik, Minnesota. It’s a giant home, which feels like a rustic castle on the inside and presents you with so many beautiful views of winter mountains, it’s hard to imagine the Starks being more comfortable anywhere besides the harsh cold of Minnesota.
House Greyjoy of Pyke – Try the Castle of Aragon
There’s not much Greyjoy love to be found here, but their geographic perks make them worth considering for a future geek inspired vacation. Unlike the other Houses of Westeros, the Greyjoys sit atop their castle of Pyke ruling over the Iron Islands, which means their property is both hard to reach and difficult to navigate. That’s why the ancient Castle of Aragon is perfect. On an island near Ischia, Italy, the castle is so remote, you must use an ancient bridge built in 1438 by Alfonso of Aragon to access it.
House Lannister of Casterly Rock – Try the Ballyhannon Castle
If the Lannisters have one thing going for them, it’s their taste in real estate. The Lannister fortress is well protected, largely due to its location in Westeros, where it has been carved into a rock wall. Similarly, the Celtic Ballyhannon Castle is a 15th century dwelling which utilizes massive stone walls and honestly strikes you as impenetrable on first glance. You can rent it here.
Now if only I had planned a Game of Thrones premiere party far enough in advance to rent one of these castles… alas.
Hi everyone!
I’m back from vacation!
It was soooo nice out.
So nice. Americans really don’t take enough vacation. It’s true.
So basically people: Take more time off. Have ice cream with your boyfriend on a lake somewhere in the Midwest. Go swimming with your mama. Go to Comic-Con with your childhood friend. Just go. Experience things.
OK, that’s that. Want to know who won the Motherhood/John Hughes DVD/$50 Visa gift card giveaway?
Alright, other announcements.
I haven’t sent out a newsletter in a long while, but I’m working on a really good one, so please sign up for the newsletter if you haven’t. The box is up there by my head picture.
Also, I need to do some more writing of things that I can sell. So if I have more contributor stuff around here, I promise it will be because they are TOP-NOTCH and because I’m writing other (hopefully) top-notch stuff. That being said, you want to contribute? Shoot me some alphabet sentences at beinggeekchic(at)gmail(dot)com. I’m looking for:
1. Photo tours of your geeky home
2. Photos of you wearing geeky stuff at work
3. Nominations for Lady Geek of the Week
4. Other great ideas
Ok, onward. Still jealous of all yous who went to Comic-Con.
I’m on vacation. No, not at San Diego Comic-Con. When this goes live, I’m probably somewhere near a wave pool in the Midwest. And it’s probably still hot. And I probably have a bit of a sunburn.
Lot’s of probably’s. Why not add to the list?
8 Probably Awesome Things at Comic-Con
My vacation might not have a Firefly reunion, but it does have lots of food. Food that I don’t normally allow myself to eat. Why is that? Because vacation is for eating!
Now you can wear the stars
Ordered this scarf and had to write about it. So fun. So cute. So awesome. Check it out.
My writing is appearing elsewhere while I’m elsewhere. Here’s some of it:
Logitech K760 Wireless Solar Keyboard review: In summary, it’s pretty sweet.
Going to the beach? Protect your tech
Three $1 DIY iPad cases
It’s that time of year when I’m winding down and trying to figure out what’s next for the New Year. Plus, there’s all that traveling and eating and wrapping and visiting that comes with the holiday season. So I’m on vacation for the next couple days as I reevaluate the topics I’m covering, the videos I’m producing and the future of the blog.
I feel strongly that there’s something here worth investing in. I started this in May 2010 as a way to talk about all my silly interests converging, but it’s grown to something so much more. The number of visitors is growing and my passion for it continues to grow too. So here’s hoping in 2012, you will continue to tell your friends, co-workers, family and Facebook friends about BGC.
I’ll be back next week, but while I’m gone, let’s reflect on the things that didn’t get done in 2011 because I was blogging:
1. Washing dishes
2. Sweeping the floors
3. Painting our guest bathroom
4. Cleaning the toilets
5. Washing my clothes
6. Visiting the dentist
7. Vacuuming the stairs
8. Re-upholstering my rocking chair
9. Making my grandma’s tuna spaghetti recipe
10. Sleeping
… So maybe that’s what I’ll do while I take a couple days off. In the meantime, I’d really appreciate it if you send An Ode to Tights to all your friends, family and fellow fashionistas.
Happy Holidays! And Be Merry!
(P.S. Aren’t my new biz cards cute?)
