What to do with extra foreign currency? If you’re like me, you hate to get rid of it. First of all, it’s much glitzier than U.S. money. Second, it’s a sweet and vivid memory of my trip. Still, what...
Volunteer Tourism: Is It for You? A Few Things to Consider…
Volunteer tourism: is it for you? Also called “voluntourism,” it’s a growing travel trend. About two million people a year–spending $2 billion–go abroad and donate their time to help a favorite cause. Given the world situation, volunteering certainly seems...
Gallo Pinto: Cost Rica’s Delicious National Dish
Gallo Pinto: It’s more than rice and beans. It’s one of the best food memories of Costa Rica. Ticos–as Costa Rica citizens call themselves–have a saying: “Más tico que el gallo pinto,” which translates as “More Costa Rican than Gallo...
Cool–and Important–Things to Know about Your Passport
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...
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...
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....
Favorite Travel Magazines to Give…or Get for Yourself!
“What are your favorite travel magazines?” When you write a travel blog, people are curious to know what you read for enjoyment and inspiration. Sometimes they ask for gift recommendations for the travelers in their lives…or what they should...