Quick recap: In this section, we’re aiming to crowdsource details about epic trips – then provide the whole playbook for the experience to y’all.

• Have you ever gone on an epic, once-in-a-lifetime trip? Tell us about it here.

From Collingswood, NJ, to Oregon, Bali, Lopez Island, and Seattle

🚶‍♂️ Who: Sarah W. from Collingswood, New Jersey

☀️ Length of trip: 25 days

💬 Quick recap: I flew to the west coast to explore Oregon, and specifically to attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival on the way to my primary destination, Bali (via Bangkok). There I spent six days and nights falling in love with Balinese food, dance, and culture! Then I flew back to the US for one night on the San Juan Islands, then spent several nights in Seattle (more than I planned for because I got Covid in spite of taking all precautions!).

🤔 Anything you wish you would’ve known?... I wish I'd planned for a little more time to explore the rest of Bali because I spent most of my time in a single city and there's lots I didn't get to see. I also wish I'd extended my layovers in other parts of Asia (Tokyo and Bangkok specifically) so I could have explored more places. Then again, I ended up with Covid on the last leg of my trip, and I'm glad that didn't happen until I was back in my home country!

😍 MUST dos: In Oregon, visit Ashland and go to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival! In Bali, do the sunrise hike up Mt. Batur (and bring a jacket!), take a local cooking class, get a Balinese massage (or three!), take a surfing lesson, and plan on eating really well because all of the food is fabulous!

🙅‍♀️ Must don’ts: Don't get Covid!!!😝 But also, don't drink tap water in Bali and don't worry about lodging--there are a ton of lovely options available. And also don't worry about money too much--everything is quite affordable, and you should enjoy it without stress!

EXPENSES

✈️🚗🚆 Transportation: ~$2,500 for everything--flights from Philly to Portland, buses from Portland to Eugene and Eugene to Medford, local buses to/from Ashland, Ubers to/from Airbnbs, flights from Medford, OR to LA, LA to Bali, Bali to Seattle, and Seattle to Philly. All flights were booked at once through the website kiwi.com.

🏨⛺🏠 Lodging: All lodgings were found on Airbnb--$700 for Oregon and LA, $50 Bangkok, $200 for Bali ($24/night!), $40 Jakarta, free stay with family on Lopez Island, $300 Seattle, plus an additional sum for the extra quarantine dates that I plan to get reimbursed through insurance.

🏰⛷️🎫 Activities: Tickets to two plays at Oregon Shakespeare Festival ($100), Balinese cooking class ($24), Bali full day tour with driver and admission fees ($50), surfing class on Canggu with transportation ($50), yoga class pass for three sessions ($27), sunrise hike up Mt. Batur with transportation ($24).

🍔🍕🥗 Food: Average of $35/day -- food was especially affordable in Bali. My most expensive meal there, which included two cocktails, an appetizer, and an entree, was $42.

P.S. Have your own epic trip you’d like to share? Tell us about it here for a chance to be featured in next Wednesday’s newsletter.