Dreams DO Come True: How I Planned My First Budget Trip to Egypt and Israel

It was an odd dream. I was sleeping at a strange hotel in a foreign country. Rows of bunks lined the wall.

I woke up and mentioned the dream to Alan. He said hotels existed like that. They were called HOSTELS. How strange. The first time I ever heard of one was in my dream.

As I research the itinerary on my upcoming trip -- the more I learn about hostels, the better I like the idea. A hostel can run between $6 to $20 a night.

I was very amazed at how many hostels are located throughout the Middle East. Checking locally, there's even a nice hostel in Austin. I learn something every day.

To keep up with my travel plans, I've started a new section on my blog called, TRAVEL DIARY.

This is where I'll keep updates.

Right now, I'm currently trying to decide whether I want to fly open-jaw or round trip.

An open-jaw ticket is where you fly into one city and leave by another. My family had done this once when we had flown to Los Angeles and returned home from Las Vegas. Renting a car, we drove from California to Nevada.

My plans are to fly into Cairo, and leave by Tel Aviv. This way we won't waste any time backtracking. But the catch is price. We're talking about $300-$400 difference in airline tickets. Doing the math, I'm trying to determine if I break even on that return bus ride, and possible overnight.

My other concern is returning back to Egypt. From what I've learned, flying into Cairo I can acquire our visa's from the airport. Trying to get an Egyptian visa from the Israeli border is another matter. So many details I need to look into.

Half the fun is planning though!

Planning an international trip can be almost as exciting as taking the trip itself. Looking back, I smile at how much there was to learn before we ever boarded the airplane.

One of my biggest surprises was discovering hostels. Until then, I had always assumed hotels were the only affordable option for travelers. When Alan explained what a hostel was, I couldn't believe how inexpensive they could be. The more I researched them, the more I realized that budget travel opened the door to destinations I had only dreamed about visiting.

What Is an Open-Jaw Flight?

As I planned our itinerary, I also learned about something called an open-jaw ticket. Instead of flying into and out of the same city, an open-jaw itinerary allows you to arrive in one destination and depart from another.

For our trip, I considered flying into Cairo and returning home from Tel Aviv. That would allow us to keep moving forward instead of retracing our steps. Although the ticket cost more, I had to weigh that against the time, transportation costs, and extra hotel nights that returning to Cairo might require.

One thing I've learned over the years is that the cheapest airline ticket isn't always the least expensive trip.

Travel Planning Is Part of the Adventure

Researching visas, border crossings, transportation, hostels, and airline routes taught me that every successful journey begins long before you pack your suitcase. Each evening I found myself reading travel guides, comparing maps, and imagining what it would be like to finally stand beside the pyramids or walk the ancient streets of Jerusalem.

Looking back today, I realize those evenings spent planning became part of the adventure itself. Half the excitement wasn't simply reaching the destination—it was watching a lifelong dream slowly come together one decision at a time.

Boots and Backpacks

My daughter and I have been reading the book, Material World, for her geography lessons. Each chapter focuses on several countries representing each continent. We've learned how much the family earns a year, where they live, and what they consider important.

It was very eye-opening to see how many families got by on very little, yet they were very happy.

It was in the midst of our geography lessons that the thought crossed my mind for the first time -- Why don't Pamela and I travel overseas to see for ourselves?

Although we had discussed travel overseas many times, we were always daunted at the high costs of packaged tours. The possibilities seemed promising to do our own research, study up on geography, languages, and history. My husband, who does a lot of travel for his job, gave his blessings, and A few weeks later, our passports arrived!

Our backpacks are purchased, but not packed yet, as we're leaving March. I've been researching for hours our itinerary. We'll be flying into Cairo, and staying a few days before catching either a bus to Eilat Israel, or finding a ride into Jordan to see the lost city of Petra. After we cross the Allenby Bridge into Israel we'll be headed for Jerusalem.

So many things to research and learn before we go, making this the ultimate lesson in geography, math, history, social studies, and languages. We need to brush up on our Hebrew, learn Arabic, locate our embassies, make copies of our passports, extra visa photo's, learn our currencies and exchange... As anxious as I am to go now, I see the wisdom in waiting a few more months. We have so much to do.

So many decisions... Should I bring my laptop? Will everything get through airport security? After all, we're boarding the plane with just our boots and backpacks.

I've had many people express an interest in going with us! We plan to stay in hostels, eat street food, and ride the bus. It's not a vacation, but a trip. I haven't made up my mind how long we'll be gone. Two weeks, three, a month? Tickets won't be purchased till after Christmas, giving me time to plan our route. If I can find cheaper fare, I'd like to fly into Cairo and leave by Tel Aviv...

More later...

Hello Dolly: Miniature Stuffed Doll Necklaces from Fabric Scraps

Here's my newest creation - Miniature stuffed doll necklaces. Upon a search on the web, I do believe I'm the only one doing this. These are 100% hand sewn, and only 6" long.

My daughter and I are both sewing these for the Pioneer General Store at the living history museum where we volunteer.

We're having a lot of fun designing these!

One of my favorite parts of sewing has always been finding creative ways to use even the smallest scraps of fabric. Instead of throwing away leftover pieces after a project, I keep a basket filled with tiny bits of cotton, lace, ribbon, yarn, and trim. It's amazing what those little odds and ends can become.

These miniature stuffed doll necklaces are one of my favorite scrap-busting projects. Each doll is completely hand sewn, measures only about six inches long, and has its own personality. No two ever turn out exactly alike, which is part of the fun.

Sewing with Fabric Scraps

One thing I've learned over the years is that almost nothing needs to go to waste. Small pieces of cotton become tiny dresses, leftover lace makes perfect aprons or bonnets, short lengths of yarn become hair, and narrow ribbons turn into tiny bows.

Even worn-out cotton fabric can have one last purpose. Instead of buying fiberfill for very small projects, old clean fabric can be cut into tiny pieces and used as stuffing. It's a wonderful way to recycle materials that might otherwise end up in the trash.

Handmade Gifts with Character

Because each doll is sewn by hand, every one develops its own unique look. Changing the fabric, hair, or dress colors creates an entirely different personality. My daughter and I had so much fun designing these for the Pioneer General Store at the living history museum where we volunteered. They were small enough to tuck into a pocket, wear as a necklace, or simply display as a charming little keepsake.

One of these days I plan to create a step-by-step tutorial so others can make their own miniature stuffed dolls. Until then, I hope these little creations inspire you to look at your scrap basket a little differently. Sometimes the tiniest pieces of fabric become the most memorable projects. After all, sewing isn't just about making something beautiful—it's about using a little imagination to give every scrap a second life.