Got your passport? Good for you! Although the number is growing–latest estimates say that 42% of Americans have a passport–it still means that 58% have never left the country. Compare to the U.K., where 76% have a passport. In...
Airbnb: Growing Up and Scaring Hotels
Airbnb: A fairy tale come true. The only investment they could afford: Air mattresses! Once upon a time, in 2007, there were two broke guys in San Francisco. They had moved from New York, forgetting to get jobs first....
To Flush or Not to Flush…Let’s Answer That Question!
“To flush or not to flush…” Sorry Shakespeare, but sometimes this question is more urgent than pondering our existence. Americans don’t think twice about flushing toilet paper. We’re a young country and we have the sewage system to prove...
How to Eat Pasta: Instructions from a Sicilian
How to eat pasta? You mean there are rules? Assolutamente! Absolutely! Tommaso Pante, native Sicilian, licensed tour guide, and owner of Sunway, is adamant on the proper way to eat the pasta that is lovingly cooked by sisters, wives, mothers,...
Travel Show Tips: 7 Steps to a Fabulous Day
It’s that time of year! Travel shows are popping up all over the country, ready to tempt–and educate–us, as we wander the aisles of huge convention centers. Do we really need travel show tips? Isn’t it enough to pick...
Where to Go in 2018: 7 Places to Consider
Where to go in 2018? What’s the hot destination? What’s off the beaten path? Where does your dollar go the farthest? Is this the year for a bucket list trip? I gave you a list in 2017: Paris, Montréal, the...
TravelSmart Woman Award: Top Ten Story for 2017!
TravelSmart Woman earned a “Top Ten” award from GoNOMAD for a travel story about the Presepe tradition in Naples, Italy. Read the story to learn how manger scenes (presepi) are lovingly personalized and passed down through generations. There is an...
Globetrotter Gifts: Ideas for International Travelers
Groan…gifts for international travelers? Really, what could they possibly need? I thought the same thing, but then I realized there were lots of ideas for the nomads on my gift list. Here are just five gifts for international travelers....
5 Extra Reasons to Visit Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Sure, go for the birds and monkeys. Watch out for the beautiful–but poisonous–tiny frogs. Marvel at the giant sea turtles as they dig deep nests to lay a hundred eggs. It’s an incredible country with volcanoes, waterfalls, and...
Maple Recipes from Quebec: A Year-Round Tradition
Maple recipes from Quebec don’t get any more authentic. Not only is maple syrup unique to North America, but 80% of the world supply comes from Quebec. To give you an idea: Vermont is the largest producer in the...