Colorado looks like a beautiful state, and I’m sure there’s lots to do there, but it was never a place that was high up on my travel radar, but just how I found myself going to other places I never considered, like Las Vegas or Munich, I now find myself planning a trip to Colorado. Last June I attended the Travel Blog Exchange Conference in Vancouver, and it worked out great. I got a seat sale from Edmonton to Victoria, and I used a prize I’d won to stay at a nice hotel for practically free (I think I only paid $30 in tax for two nights). Then I boarded the ferry (super cheap if your only going by foot) and went to Vancouver, and spent a few days there before going home.
TBEX is in Keystone Colorado this year, and I went back and forth on whether or not I should attend. I enjoyed the conference last year, and I wished I made more of an effort to meet people when I was there. But traveling from Edmonton to Denver is much further, and more costly than traveling from Edmonton to Vancouver, or nearby Victoria. I’m a student on a limited budget, and I can’t just charge a trip on my credit card, and just hope it goes away.
I weighed the pros and cons endlessly. I kept checking the TBEX website to see if tickets were available. I asked other travel bloggers if they were going. Of course that was no help because some said yes and some said no. I also thought about New Orleans. Would I be able to afford to go there this year if I go to Denver and Keystone?
The Big Blue Bear (I See What You Mean) at the Denver Convention Center.
There are moments when I can go round and round in circles weighing pros and cons. Despite the rather ironic statement I’m going to make the best course to take in a situation like this is not to think, but to do. If you think too much you’ll end up hesitating too much. Last year I could have gotten an Edmonton to New Orleans flight for ridiculously cheap, like $400 roundtrip (plus tax). I debated too much, and by the time I was ready to purchase a ticket, the price had doubled, and gone out of my budget.
In 2010 I did the just act, don’t think too much manoever, and booked a great flight deal to New York. Of course after my excitement I soon came crashing down, as practical and critical me began asking all these questions. Where was I going to stay? How was going to afford this?
But I made it work. So when I started to panic a little bit after purchasing my TBEX tickets this year I reminded myself that I’d figure things out. The general idea of my trip so far is this:
- Go from Edmonton to Denver.
- Spend a night or two in Denver.
- Go from Denver to Keystone (that’s where the conference is).
- Spend two or three nights in Keystone.
- Go back to Denver. Hopefully find a cheap flight to New Orleans.
- Spend a few nights (maybe five or so) in New Orleans.
- Go from New Orleans to Edmonton.
The research part of a trip is always fun for me. I’ve already started to look at airfare, even bus and train options. I’m keeping an open mind and trying to be creative to stretch my travel budget. I may have not expected to go to Colorado this year, but now I’m starting to get excited for it. So I think I am going to Colorado, and the more I start looking into it, the more I want to make this trip work.
What travel plans do you have this year? Are you going to TBEX in Keystone, CO? Let me know in the comments.
It was so great to meet you at TBEX, sadly I’m not going this year. I agree Colorado would be beautiful though – but make sure you spend lots of time in New Orleans.
That’s too bad you won’t be able to make it to TBEX this year, but I know it’s not possible for everyone to go there. It was great meeting you as well. I don’t know if I’ll be able to spend lots of time in New Orleans, but I’ll try my best.
I’ll be at TBEX this year!! Have already booked my accommodation, and now need to keep an eye on airfare. I think it’ll be fun! Keystone is sort of in the middle of nowhere, but I was there this past summer, and it’s GORGEOUS!
The more photos I see of Keystone and Colorado the more excited I am for TBEX. Glad to hear you’ll be there as well. We’ll have to meet up when we’re there.
I found this post via your SU share and it’s so funny – I’m going to be at TBEX and in New Orleans this year, too! Though I’m taking a 3-4 month road trip across the U.S. starting in NYC, so I’ll be in New Orleans before heading to Colorado. Hope to see you there!
Thanks for the comment. A New York to New Orleans road trip sounds like fun. And TBEX is looking more and more likely for me, so I’m sure I’ll see you in Colorado.
You should go. I’ve never been to Colorado, but that skyline photo looks AMAZING. I’m thinking of driving there this summer…so…for purely selfish reasons, go! (and tell me all about it lol)
You should definitely take a road trip there. And I’ll definitely make sure to blog all about Denver and Colorado.
I really want to go but I am on the other side of the world! Have a great time!
Colorado is gorgeous!!!! Denver is a great city! I hope you have a great time.
Thanks Diana. I’ve been looking at photos of Colorado and it does look pretty spectacular.
I hope you decide to come! I feel like Colorado is a hidden gem that a lot of people forget about as it is lumped in with all the other ‘square’ states in the middle of the nation. It has some of the most impressive archeological ruins in the US (Mesa Verde), posh ski towns (Vail and Aspen), 53 peaks towering over 14,000 feet, the largest sand dunes in North America (Great Sand Dunes), sweeping prairie grasslands, dense forests, incredible lakes (hanging lake)…I could go on and on. And of course, there is Denver – a vibrant, youthful, outdoors loving city that gets over 300 days of sunshine a year. If you can’t tell, I’m from Colorado…so I might be a little biased. But if you have any questions or need any recommendations, feel free to ask!
John I love your enthusiasm for Colorado. If I had any hesitations about going to Colorado they’re gone now.
Agh, I’d love to go, but WAY too expensive for me! Wish they had picked somewhere more accessible. Although I guess Vancouver wasn’t, either.
I think expense is the biggest thing that prevents people from going to TBEX. Hopefully next year the TBEX location will be a somewhere a little closer to you.
Have fun at TBEX
Thanks for Sophie. I’m sure I’ll have a great time.
I won’t be attending the conference this year. It hasn’t been on my radar from the get go, and I don’t even know the dates. I’m finding that other conferences may be a better investment for me.
BUT … I absolutely LOVE Colorado and I’m sure you will too! Enjoy what you can of it while you’re there!
Thanks JoAnna. Every year there are more conferences I find out about, and want to attend. Colorado looks like a beautiful state. I’m sure I’ll love it.
I’m jealous! I’ve been wanting to attend TBEX for a few years now, but our travel plans never work out. Of course we’ll be traveling in Europe, so it’s not all bad, but I would love the opportunity to meet IRL so many of the awesome travelers I’ve met online.
I’m sure you’ll have a blast!
Thanks for the comment. Europe doesn’t sound so bad in comparison. Perhaps you’ll get a chance to go to TBEX or TBU in Europe.