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

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.

🚶‍♂️ Who: Sarah W. from Collingswood, NJ

☀️ Length of trip: 25 days

💬 Quick recap: I flew to the West Coast to explore Oregon, specifically to attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Then, I visited my primary destination, Bali (via Bangkok), where 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, and I also spent several nights in Seattle (more than I planned for because I got Covid despite 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 a lot 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!!! Seriously! But also, don't drink tap water in Bali. Don't worry about lodging– there are a ton of lovely options available, and don't worry about money too much– everything is quite affordable, and you can enjoy it without stress!

EXPENSES

✈️🚗🚆 Transportation: $2500 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 for Bangkok, $200 for Bali ($24/night!), $40 for Jakarta, free stay with family on Lopez Island, $300 for 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– the food was especially affordable in Bali. My most expensive meal, 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.