Taking a vacation can obviously be costly, even if you are headed out with paid vacation time. Between flights, hotels and activities, not to mention eating…vacations can add up, and quickly. Thanks to the recent expansion of the “sharing economy,” there are now ways to make some money all while lounging on the beach, or hitting the pavements in a new city. If you are willing to put in a little time and effort during your time off, it’s possible to make some good money, maybe even enough to pay for the trip itself.

A solo trip can be scary, especially the first one. But it’s also exciting, fun and an amazing opportunity for growth. Hardly anyone walks away with LESS confidence than before, so that in itself is enough reason to go for it. Here are some tips that will help you feel confident about your first solo trip.

Los Angeles, the City of Angels, is probably best known for its endless entertainment options. From theme parks like Universal Studios to movie studio lot tours, there are countless ways to spend a day in Los Angeles. But if you want to go beyond the famous attractions and discover a weirder side to the city, there are plenty of opportunities for that too. Los Angeles has a little something for everyone: from the spooky Museum of Death to the sweet bunnies at the Bunny Museum, no matter what you want, this city has it all.

Air travel isn’t the same as it was two decades ago. With so many travelers flying each day, including business travelers willing to pay for upgraded seats, the amount of open seats at the front of the airplanes has diminished drastically. Getting an upgrade when traveling is not an easy feat, but there are a few ways to possibly help your cause that potentially could work. If you don’t try, you’ll never know, and the worst that can happen is you end up in your same seat that you already paid for – so really, there’s no hurt in trying.

Backpacking any country is a scary adventure. Traveling in general, depending how you go about it, can be scary too. Nonetheless, traveling is ALWAYS worth it!

Now that we're done getting together with family, it’s time to get together with colleagues for annual office gatherings. Whether there is an office party in the works, or you’re trying to spread a little holiday cheer, shopping for your co-workers is not always an easy task.

Looking to get away from the busy cities for your next break? Why not immerge yourself in nature and visit one of the National Parks. Enjoy the stunning scenery, get some exercise while hiking along the most beautiful trails and admire whole new views. Put these 10 U.S. National Parks on your 2016 bucket list – you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a great trip.

On a recent trip to Club Med Punta Cana, travel writer Breanna Wilson stayed in the newly unveiled Zen Oasis. Here’s her take on the experience.