Think you’re a savvy traveler? Read a few of these posts and see if you don’t learn a little something new!
Budget Tips
How to Get What You Paid for in Your Travels - Here are the key ways that we make sure we get what we pay for in our global and domestic travels!
The Best Ways to Save Money When You’re Traveling - You saved for that trip, now you need to save at your destination. Here's how!
Exactly How to Have a Great Trip on a Tight Budget - The number one misconception about travel is this: Travel is expensive.
The Best Tips for Traveling on a Budget - Travel is for anyone who wants it.
The Ultimate Tips for Going Car-free on Your Next Trip - To make sure you're able to have a great, car-free trip, here are my top tips for you!
The 10 Ultimate Worst Money Wasters on Travel - We've all done it--don't feel bad!
How to Love Your Staycation - We're all pretty much over this quarantine business, but as a result of quarantine, a lot of us are also short on cash. Enter: the Staycation.
5 Ways to Travel without Leaving Home - Everyone who loves to travel gets it... that itch. That travel bug bites, and it's impossible to shake that feeling that you need to travel! Unfortunately for those of us who live in the real world, travel is not always an option. Or is it?
Couple Travel
Where to Travel According to Your Love Language - If you're also a fan of any of the 5 Love Language books, I hope you'll find some inspiration for future travels!
The World’s Best Hotels for Couples - If you're looking for a romantic place to go with your honey this year, here are the best ones.
How to Plan the Perfect Valentine’s Day Getaway - Here's your guide to exactly how make big plans for you and your honey!
The Secrets to Happy Couple Travel - Okay, no couples are perfect. But that's okay! It is possible to travel with the person you love and still love them afterward.
10 Most Romantic Travel Experiences - What's romantic to you? Travel is how my sweet husband Steve and I show love for each other.
How to Choose the Ultimate Anniversary Getaway - If you're looking for a fantastic place to spend your anniversary in the coming years, this post has all the inspiration you'll need!
Ultimate Travel Couple Bucket List - Looking for some adventures to have with your loved one? There are definitely some bucket list items out there that are best experienced as a couple, and I hope you'll find that this list is your ultimate guide!
Where to Get Engaged in Verona - Ah, love! It’s beautiful, it’s fun, and it’s, well, lovely! Our Valentine’s trip to Verona was an absolute dream, and I kept thinking, “Wow! What a great spot to get engaged!” and, “Wow! What a beautiful view for an engagement! So if you’re planning an engagement or a trip to Verona, here are a few ideas to help you find just the right setting to pop the question!
The World’s Most Perfect Honeymoons - I left the honeymoon planning up to my sweet, soon-to-be husband, and he did a fantastic job! So whether you or the love of your life will be the one planning your honeymoon, here are some suggestions to help you dream!
The Ultimate Guide to Romantic Mau’i - Islands are inherently relaxing, there's only so far you can go, and there is just something extra romantic about being truly away from it all, separated from real life by a body of water. So, to kick off my Maui blog post series, I'm starting with the most romantic things about our trip to Maui!
Destination Ideas
The Best Trips for Animal Lovers - Want to make some animal friends in your travels? Check out these epic trips!
The Ultimate List of 30 Trips to Take in Your 30s - Your life situation may be different in your 30s than it was in your 20s, and so should your travels be.
5 Reasons Why Everyone Needs an Island Getaway - I can't say enough positive things about vacationing on an island
The Best Cities in the World to Travel Without a Car - It's more important than ever to find destinations that do not require a car when you get there.
The Best U.S. Destinations to Visit Without a Rental Car - If your favorite didn’t make my list, please add it in the comments section!
10 Trips Every Traveler Should Take - If you need some travel inspiration to help you plan your next trips, here's the short list!
Epic Landscapes of the World - There's one thing that can make even the most oblivious traveler stop in their tracks and stand in awe: epic landscapes.
Ruined: Beauty in the Broken Places - Do you like ruins?
Most Underrated Travel Destinations - We love them: the underdog, the hidden gem, the secret wonder so few know about! In my travels, I've discovered a few places like this.
5 Trips for Positive Vibes - Hopefully every trip you take leaves you feeling exhilarated, accomplished, and longing for more experiences just like it!
10 Trips to Take in College - College... your last chance to be a kid without adults giving you the stink-eye about it!
10 Life-changing Trips - In hopes of inspiring you, here are my top 10 picks for life-changing trips around the world.
The Ultimate 20 Trips to Take in Your 20s - Here is my list of 20 trips to take in your 20s to challenge yourself to become your best you!
Essential Travel Skills
10 Essential Blog Posts All Travelers Need to Read - If you're like me, you don't like to waste your time!
9 Habits of Successful Travelers - We were all beginners once, you know? Even the most well traveled person began their journey with a first trip ever.
7 Travel Rules You Don’t Know Until Someone Tells You - Everyone was a beginner at some point, even the most seasoned traveler!
Ultimate Guide to Travel Lingo - Every field has its own lingo. But with travel lingo, every traveler needs to be able to decipher it. So next time you look at your boarding pass or try to read a travel blog, just refer to this post and you'll be in the know in no time!
Words to Learn in the Local Language - Confession: I am only fluent in English. Braggadocious moment: I can say "Thank you" in 18 languages!
How to Read a Map - This week's tip involves something near and dear to my heart: map reading!
The 5 Ultimate Habits of Flexible Travelers - Savvy travelers are above all flexible. Here are 5 ways you can improve your globe trotting experience with a little flexibility!
Passports and Visas
How to Apply for an Australian Tourist Visa - In case you haven't heard yet... I'm headed to Australia and New Zealand this week! I have two long layovers in Sydney, Australia, on my way to and from Christchurch, New Zealand, and I may be making my way back Down Under in the next few months, so I needed to get a Tourist Visa.
How to Renew Global Entry - My husband's Global Entry was set to expire this year, so I decided to document his renewal process so you will know what to expect!
How to Apply for Global Entry - Are you ready to revolutionize (and speed up) your travels? Global Entry is just the thing for you!
What To Do When You Lose Your Passport - This week it's all about expecting the unexpected and preparing for the one of the worst possible travel scenarios: losing your passport.
How to Get an Impossible Visa - Think you can't visit the country you want because you're not allowed to get the visa? Don't give up hope!
The Traveler’s Ultimate Guide to Passports - I've got you covered. Here's everything you need to know so you can start traveling the world without limits!
How to Get a Tourist Visa - So you’re wondering how to go about getting a tourist visa. Do I need one? How soon should I start the process? Do I seriously have to send my passport?
Personal Care
The Most Scandalous Things Women Need for Travel - Read to the end... I saved the most scandalous one for last!
How to Practice Self Care on Travel - Travel is one of my favorite parts of life, but much like exercise, it's hard on the body after a while!
The Ultimate List of Tips for Traveling with Curly Hair - We all want what we don't have. Hair is one of those things we don't get to choose for ourselves, making it one of the more frustrating things!
Perfect Trips Aren’t Planned - Unfortunately, I have learned over the years that no amount of planning can make for a perfect trip. So...
How to Travel and Still Have Good Hygiene! - Okay, ladies, let's talk about it. All of it. We all deal with ourselves when we travel, and it can be kind of gross!
Top Travel Tips
5 Practical Ways to Travel Sustainably - I know, I know. You have a million people and companies and advocates basically yelling at you to save the planet, but very few of them are kindly explaining some practical ways to do that. So I decided to do that.
How to Plan Long-term Travel in Europe: The Ultimate Guide - I got a question from a fellow female traveler recently about how to manage traveling in Europe for four months. Or should she spend two months in Europe and two months in Southeast Asia? Well, those are excellent questions, and I have some strong opinions about that!
6 Winter Days in Switzerland and Liechtenstein - Looking for a winter wonderland? One that's really fairytale material? Look no farther than Europe! My sweet husband Steve and I had a fun and unexpectedly exciting time in Switzerland and Liechtenstein this past January, and we highly recommend the experience! Here's an itinerary for your own trip to this Alpine winter playground!
Ultimate Guide to Travel Lingo - Every field has its own lingo. But with travel lingo, every traveler needs to be able to decipher it. So next time you look at your boarding pass or try to read a travel blog, just refer to this post and you'll be in the know in no time!
Your Ultimate Guide to Travel and Your Money - One of the most common questions I get is, "how can I afford to travel?" The answer is different for everyone, but the general rules apply to all.
Travel: The Best Medicine - It’s Flashback Friday! I posted this a couple of years ago, but since then I’ve come into some new information, so I thought it was time for an update! No matter how far away you go, at some point you will likely need to travel with a prescription, or maybe just some ibuprofen and melatoninContinue reading "Travel: The Best Medicine"
6 Unexpected Ways I Afford to Travel - For this post, I'm addressing a question that I typically find to be tacky and even rude, unless it comes from someone who truly wants to travel, but believes it's just too expensive. Here I'll be sharing my tips and secrets for travel bargain hunting!
6 Things that Happen to Travelers - Let's be practical for a minute. We all know I LOVE to travel, but I'll be completely honest, there are some uncomfortable and less than convenient parts to traveling.
Clothes that Pull Their Own Weight - I’m revealing my most effective packing secrets! Ready to get serious about packing light? You can pack like a real pro with a few strategic pieces and a positive attitude! You can make it through a trip of any length with fewer clothes than you think, especially when your clothes can pull their own weightContinue reading "Clothes that Pull Their Own Weight"
“SSSS” on My Boarding Pass - On our recent trip home from Venice, my husband had some trouble getting access to his boarding pass upon online check in. He received a message saying he needed to get his boarding pass at the airport. It was the dreaded SSSS of shame.
How to Trip Plan with Trip Advisor - This is not a sponsored post. I just really love this tool! If you’ve ever found yourself completely overwhelmed when planning a trip, you are not alone. I’ve written about Trip Advisor and recommended their app a few times because it’s my go-to trip planner. They have recently changed their app to add an amazingContinue reading "How to Trip Plan with Trip Advisor"
What I Found at Unclaimed Baggage - Have you ever wondered what happened to that lost luggage you never could locate? Well, it probably ended up here. Unclaimed Baggage is the only buyer and seller of lost or unclaimed luggage (and cargo!) in America, and they have new items coming in every day!
Travel Revolution: Changing the Way You Travel - It’s Travel Tip Tuesday! This week, I’m letting you in on my secret weapons: products that have revolutionized the way I travel. Travel harder, not smarter, my friends. Many of the photos below contain affiliate links via Amazon. This means if you purchase a product from one of these links, you will be helping meContinue reading "Travel Revolution: Changing the Way You Travel"
What to Do on Guam on a Rainy Day - Islands generally get a lot of rain and a lot of sun. Guam actually gets an average of 80-110 inches of rain per year, which is a lot! It rained off and on every day of our trip, but especially on the first day. Instead of being disappointed in the rain on our beach vacation, we found some fun ways to enjoy it anyway! Here are six rainy day activities for your trip.
Math+Travel=Success - It’s Travel Tip Tuesday! This week we’re talking about why math is so important for travelers. I am NOT a mathematically-minded person. I’m a wordsmith who can write cycles around rocket scientists (and has), but it takes me more than a few minutes to figure out mathematical problems. Thankfully my husband is a numbers-loving engineer!Continue reading "Math+Travel=Success"
How to Read a Map - This week's tip involves something near and dear to my heart: map reading!
The Best Apps for Travelers - This week we are going hi-tech and letting you in on some awesome travel apps to help you be a savvy and efficient traveler!
D.C. in Winter - Winter is a beautiful time to be in Washington, D.C.! Contrary to many other cities in winter time, D.C. can be very sunny all day long. It's hard to feel gloomy when the sun is shining!
Travel Splurges Worth the Price - I am all for saving money where you can and finding a great flight and hotel deal, but occasionally, budgeting for something special can be well worth the extra cost. Here are a few examples!
The Ultimate Ladies’ Guide to Traveling Solo - Here's a freshly updated guide, complete with links for more information and better photos so you can clearly see how much fun solo travel can really be!
What are the Benefits of Airline Loyalty? - Are you loyal to a specific airline or airline alliance? Is it always best to go with the cheapest ticket on the cheapest flight? I think it depends, but here are some reasons airline loyalty may be worth looking into!
- Making the Most of It - It’s Travel Tip Tuesday! Travel is awesome, don’t you think? There’s almost nothing I’d rather be doing than traveling the great big world. But as with all wonderful things, sometimes it doesn’t turn out exactly as you think. On a recent trip to San Francisco, my husband and I couldn’t seem to catch a break.Continue reading "Making the Most of It"
The 5 Ultimate Habits of Flexible Travelers - Savvy travelers are above all flexible. Here are 5 ways you can improve your globe trotting experience with a little flexibility!
- Travel Fear: I Can’t - Happy October, one and all! I’m starting a new series in preparation for one of my most favorite holidays: Halloween! This series is all about travel fears. People have all sorts of “reasons” (ahem, excuses) not to travel. We’ll be exploring these travel fears and debunk them! For our first “Spooky Saturday” post, let’s start withContinue reading "Travel Fear: I Can’t"
- Carry-on Only: 14 Days, 5 Cities - It’s that time again… time to pack! My husband is whisking me away for our annual Trip of a Lifetime, and this year we’re hitting up five cities in five different countries, four of which are new to us–and all of which are new to me! Luckily it’s summer (or summery weather) in all these places,Continue reading "Carry-on Only: 14 Days, 5 Cities"
- Flight Risk: Boredom! - It’s Travel Tip Tuesday! Here’s one that was originally published on 28 September 2015. We all love long flights, right? They take us to exciting, faraway destinations, you can’t get where you’re going any faster than in a plane, and you get free meals (which you paid for with your pricey plane ticket)! But afterContinue reading "Flight Risk: Boredom!"
Travel Advice
How Travel Helped Me Heal from a 22-year Eating Disorder - How's that for a click-bait title, yes? Usually I stay away from titles like that, but sometimes you need the shock factor.
7 Things Your Tour Guide Wants You to Know - Here are the things that your ghost, house, and walking tour guides want you to know!
The Top 10 Things a Traveler Should Never Do - “Never say never,” right? Well, that’s not always true!
The Most Important Lessons Travel Has Taught Me - They say you learn something new every day... And on every trip!
How to Think Outside the Box for Travel Solutions - Anyone can be this kind of traveler if they want to be. Here's how!
The Worst Travel Advice You Should Never Follow - Here are the worst pieces of travel advice I’ve actually heard!
The Top 10 Guaranteed Ways to Ruin Any Trip - Be forewarned so you don’t ruin your—and everyone else’s—trip!
The Top 5 Ways to Bounce Back from a Bad Trip: The Ultimate Guide to Making It Better - Here are 5 ways I’ve found to bounce back from a bad trip. I hope they help you, too!
The Ultimate Harsh Truths about Travel - The sooner you know the truth, the better!
How to Get the Most Out of Your Trip - From planning to actually being there, here’s how to get the most out of your next trip!
The Best Advice for New Travelers - If you’re thinking of trying out this travel thing, here’s my best advice!
How We’re Leaving 2020 Better Than We Found It - Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints...
How to Be Your Own Travel Advocate - I'm about to blow your mind with travel advice that's also life advice. These two little tidbits will get you through some rough patches, help you think outside the box (or travel outside the suitcase!), and keep you from being disappointed in many situations---travel or no travel!
How to Savor Your Travels - In an effort to truly savor our travels from here on out, and to help you do the same, here’s your list of ways to savor your travels—because we will never take travel for granted again, will we?
7 Travel Rules You Don’t Know Until Someone Tells You - Everyone was a beginner at some point, even the most seasoned traveler!
What I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started Traveling - I have recently passed my 14th blogging anniversary. I know, I can't believe it either!
Travel Lists
The Ultimate Foodie Destinations Around the World - If you’re a foodie like me, it might be fun to pick your next trip based on a destination’s foodie-friendliness.
The Luckiest Things that Ever Happened to Us on Travel - The short answer: YES! Here are some of the luckiest things that ever happened to us in all our travels, whether solo or together.
The Top 10 Places I Could Visit Again and Again - There are two kinds of travelers: those who always want to go somewhere new, and those who only want to go back to "their place." It has to be "their coffee shop," "their breakfast spot," "their restaurant," "their beach." To each his own, I say!
World’s Most Overrated Travel Destinations - “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” —Susan Sontag. I don’t know about everywhere, actually. There are some places that just don’t pique my interest. And while I’ve never been one to follow the crowd and do something just because it’s popular, sometimes I do want to see for myself what all the fuss is about.
Steve’s Best Travel Moments - Tomorrow is Steve's birthday! Woohoo! Fun fact: It's also my mom's birthday! Woohoo!
Quick Whit’s Best Travel Moments - I've also found reminiscing about past trips to be fun and soothing, with the added bonus of appreciating all the amazing things I've been able to do over my last 14 years of travel. Check out my top 10 list of my favorite travel moments!
What I Love About Travel - I am grateful for the travels and adventures I’ve had up to now. Travel has given me so much, and I love everything about it. Here’s the short list!
5 Ways to Surprise Someone with Travel - I love to be surprised, and I love to surprise the people in my life, and it made me think about the best surprise anyone ever gave me, when Steve came to "pick me up" at the Burbank airport when we were newly engaged! He flew across the country just to surprise me, and that memory prompted me to give you some ideas about how to incorporate surprises into your travels!
10 Things Every Traveler Should Know - Some travel by car, some prefer flying, still others take trains, sail, cruise, or even walk! But no matter how you travel, there are just some things that absolutely every traveler should know!
Some Things Travelers Know - The more you do something, the better you get at it, right? In an industry as changeable and varied as travel, it seems like the rules change all the time; but despite all that, there are a few things travelers know for sure.
My Top 10 Best Travel Hacks - Are you ready for this? I love giving away my travel tips, but I was recently compelled to compile a list of my very top travel hacks--the lifesavers that work every time! Well, this is it. Get ready to travel like a pro!
6 Things that Happen to Travelers - Let's be practical for a minute. We all know I LOVE to travel, but I'll be completely honest, there are some uncomfortable and less than convenient parts to traveling.
Travel Tips by Season
Spring
The Best Spring Travel Tips - Here are the best tips to travel in springtime!
The Best Places to Travel in Spring - Whatever your fancy, I've got a springtime travel destination for you!
Summer
Sunscreen for Travelers: The Ultimate Guide - I teamed up with my dermatologist to answer all your (sun)burning questions!
The Ultimate Guide for What to Pack for the Beach - Here's a quick reminder of the things you simply shouldn't forget for any beach trip!
7 Tips for Traveling in Summer - Summer has always been my favorite season! I was born in the summer. I was free from school in the summer.
Endless Summer Bucket List - Lots of people I know look forward to fall. But not this girl! I'm a summer girl through and through.
Fall
The Ultimate List of Fall Destinations - Whatever you call it, if you're traveling this season, you're most likely looking for changing colors on the trees, chillier temperatures, and maybe some maple-flavored items along the way. Here are the best places to travel in the fall--and the autumn!
The Best Tips for Traveling in Fall - Fall is a beautiful time to travel! The leaves are all colors, the mornings are crisp, and the afternoons warm up nicely. But I have to admit, fall is probabaly the hardest season to pack for, and it has a few other challenges as well! But never fear. I have some tips for you to make sure your fall getaway is a success!
Winter
The Best Tips for Traveling at the Holidays - I thought a few tips about traveling at the holidays might be helpful!
The Ultimate Christmas Bucket List for Travelers - Some will have to wait until next year, but some you can do right now!
The Best Tips for Traveling in Winter - Winter travels can be awesome! Whether you like skiing, snowboarding, winter hiking, Christmas markets, or just a lot of snow, winter is a fun time to travel! Here are my best tips---from packing to weather conditions. Take a look, and start planning your winter trip today!
Top Winter Destinations - Sometimes even a summer lover gets a hankering for a frolic in the snow! Here's a quick run-down of some of the best snowy, wintery places I've visited!