After hatching a slightly crazy plan to travel with my 11-year-old niece for seven months across Southeast Asia, there was a lot I’ve had to get in order as her primary guardian in this endeavor. Top on the list was tackling our homeschooling travel plan. Then I had flights, accommodation, soothing the fears of a …
Traveling lacks predictability. For a Type A-er like me that causes heart palpitations at random times, but I also love the constant pressure to think on my feet and come up with instant and creative solutions to problems I never anticipated.
Sometimes this means just verbal and active solutions, but other times it’s a mad scrounge through my backpack to find the needed ingredients to diffuse that bomb in my hostel room.
Wait. Errr. You mean there’s no bomb?
Should you buy an around the world plane ticket or book as you go? This is the biggie question for many round-the-world travelers. Central to the question is: Which one costs more? But it’s the wrong question. The right question is: Is an around-the-world plane ticket the best way to visit the countries you have …
The backpack debate is a big one in the travel community, and unlike some issues, this one warrants debate because the backpack you choose can have a huge impact on how much you enjoy your trip around the world … or anywhere for that matter. As a general piece of advice, most backpackers (including year …
I feared entering China—and not because I didn’t think they’d let me in. My visa was expensive (US $150), but easy to obtain. It was the internet. Back when I first visited, everything I read focused on China’s “Great Firewall”—how the government blocks access to huge parts of the internet. And for me, that wasn’t …
The U.S. offers a wide range of diverse cultures, foods, and landscapes. There’s just no denying our country’s natural beauty—our national parks are stunning, and I grew up soaking in the beauty of Florida’s coastal beaches. But there’s a fascinating world outside our borders, too. One we see far too little of since we internally …
I’m not exactly sure why I was so woefully under-prepared for my seemingly easy visa run to Malaysia last week, but let’s chalk it up to sheer laziness and a touch of travel arrogance. Thailand gives visitors from the United States (among other nationalities) an easy 30 days on-arrival visa if you enter the country …
Together, my debit and credit cards and I have been through the good (no withdrawal fees), the bad (two percent transaction fees), and the ugly (whaddaya mean withdrawals and transactions are blocked in Slovenia? … I’m traveling in Slovenia right now). Although every traveler can benefit from the right card, long-term travelers and expats especially benefit …