Hello from Ireland!

We just wrapped up our 2-month Azores research trip and are now in Ireland! Our time in the Azores was amazing, which we'll share more about in the next section!

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What's new for Mind Over Matter Travel?

We visited all nine of the Azores islands this summer, and we met so many amazing partners. We collaborated with tour operators, hotel/guesthouses, and rental car companies that we look forward to sharing about soon. It was great to share about our business with locals and receive positive feedback about the work we're doing! We got an insane amount of content for our blog, Facebook group, social media, and our future guidebook, so stay tuned!

Where we've been recently

In the past month of traveling the Azores, we finished off the last 5 of the 9 islands: Pico, Faial, Flores, Corvo, and Terceira. We've been to all of these before but had a chance to explore new parts of the islands and participate in fun tours/activities.

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

Again, it's so difficult to pick a favorite experience from this past month, but one that definitely stands out to us was the dairy tour we went on with Azorica Tours while visiting Terceira Island. The company owner and guide, Carolina, took us to her father's dairy farm where we got to learn about the life of a dairyman and the process of taking care of the cows. We got to hand-milk the cows, taste the milk, feed the calves, see where the milk is delivered, and more. We were made to feel like family, making this tour that much more memorable. We definitely recommend it if you visit Terceira, Azores!

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:

6 Free Travel Contests And Giveaways Worth Entering This Fall! Forbes just published an article listing 6 travel contests to kickstart your next vacation without spending a fortune. They are free to enter, and some offer the chance for multiple entries for better winning odds. Enter here for your chance to win!

Practical travel tip

Decline conversions at ATM machines and when paying by credit card! If you use a U.S. bank, the first step is to check if your bank charges international fees. Aside from that, we always recommend declining the conversion option when using an ATM or when paying by credit card. This way, your bank will handle the conversion at a (usually) more favorable rate. This can help you have a more budget-friendly and enjoyable adventure!

Travel must-haves

Pretty much every time we travel, we pack a small packable umbrella just in case it rains. We have definitely put that umbrella to use during this first day in Ireland. It's convenient because it's small enough to stick in the side of my carry-on backpack or even to put in a larger purse. I was so thankful for it today!

What's next?

If you want to follow along with our travels, here are our tentative travel plans for the rest of the year:

• September: Ireland
• Oct. to Dec.: California

If you've been to any of these places and have particular suggestions, my inbox is always open! Or if you are looking for specific insight for me to share while I'm there, let me know.

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

As always, thanks for being here 🤗

✨ Elaina