Who's ready for October??

September was one for the books, and we look forward to this upcoming month! We have a busy month ahead here in California, but don't worry, we have plenty of travel content to share during that time.

Disclaimer: Some links shared in this email may be affiliate links that earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.

What's new for Mind Over Matter Travel?

To be completely honest, we don't have a lot of new stuff ready to share YET! But keep an eye out for lots of Azores content, our annual travel gift guide, and maybe some other exciting freebies!

We'd love to hear from you! Is there any particular content you want to see from us on a specific destination? Or do you have any general travel questions you want us to provide info on? We're here to help make your adventures possible and purposeful, so reply to this email to let us know what you want to see in future content, newsletters, and freebies!

Where we've been recently

We spent the first two weeks of September exploring parts of Ireland we've never been before including Kilkenny, Galway, and the Donegal area. Of course, we also spent a few days in Dublin which is always a good time! The rest of the month has been dedicated to getting settled back home in California and preparing for the next few months of content preparation, travel planning, and wedding festivities!

Are you interested in visiting any of these destinations? We are here to help and provide personal recommendations based on our experiences. We offer FREE travel planning and booking services. Complete our travel planning inquiry, and we will reach out for an initial consultation.

Favorite experience

We attended TBEX for the first time and loved it! TBEX is one of the best conferences for travel creators, making it the perfect event to make new friends and reconnect with old ones. Our host city also did an amazing job of making us feel like part of the family there in Donegal County. If you've never been to that part of Ireland, we highly recommend visiting. And if you're a travel creator looking to attend TBEX, join us for TBEX Asia in Kazakhstan next year.

Bucket list travel opportunity

A key way to have a transformative travel experience is to take advantage of travel opportunities. I found this one for you:

Win a Luxury Alaska Cruise! Travel Perks by Dream Vacations is hosting a giveaway for an Oceania Luxury Alaskan Cruise for two! "Experience all-inclusive luxury as you sail past towering glaciers, majestic fjords, and remote coastal towns teeming with wildlife." Enter here before October 12th for your chance to win!

Practical travel tip

Get the MPC App! The Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app has saved me so much time when traveling back to the U.S. that I tell everyone about it. If you’ve ever been stuck in a customs line after a long flight, you know the struggle. This app basically lets you skip most of the line; it's like a free version of Global Entry!

Here’s how it works:

• Download the App: Get it from the App Store or Google Play.
• Set Up Your Profile: Enter your passport details and snap a quick selfie.
• Declare Your Trip: Before you land, open the app, select your arrival airport, and answer the standard customs questions.
• Get Your QR Code: Submit your info and receive a QR code.
• Use the MPC Lane: At the airport, look for the MPC line (it's usually shorter than the regular one), show your QR code and passport to the officer, and you're good to go!

Bonus: you can add your whole family or travel group on the same app so you can all go through together.

Travel must-haves

When traveling with just a backpack like we do, it's important to pick the right backpack! I'm so glad we chose right on our first try back in 2021! Our Tortuga backpack has been a lifesaver and has continued to serve us well over the past 4 years. After being with us on almost all of our adventures, our backpacks still feel practically new, and I'm confident they will serve us for several more years! I also LOVE that it opens like a suitcase so it helps me to keep all of my belongings nice and organized. If you're in the market for a new travel backpack, we highly recommend it!

What's next?

For the rest of the year, we plan on spending our time in California, but of course, we can't stay completely still. We'll be traveling to some California destinations like Sacramento, Los Angeles, Yosemite, and more!

If you want to follow our journey, connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

As always, thanks for being here 🤗

✨ Elaina