A few years ago, one night over dinner with some friends with whom I shared a love of gourmet food, sushi, great cocktails, politics, and movies, we realized that in all the years we’d known each other, we had never taken a trip together. As we all had lots of points and miles saved, we thought about how fun it would be to go somewhere spontaneously. “Let’s do it,” we all declared. So we found award tickets to Hong Kong for the following week. Halfway around the world, we arrived at our hotel late in the evening. After a late dinner, we went back to the hotel, where I decided to go to sleep ..read more

Berlin is a cool city. Multicultural and artsy, Germany’s capital city is home to artists and creatives from all over the world. A hub for freelancers, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs, the city also boasts excellent museums, a boisterous nightlife, and every type of cuisine imaginable. You could spend weeks (months!) in this city and not get bored. While I didn’t love the city when I first visited, after returning a few times, Berlin began to grow on me. I love the city now. As the biggest tourist draw in the country, Berlin has a lot of hotels to choose from. And they really run the gamut ..read more

Hello there! It’s been a while since I’ve written a real blog. Sure, there have been lots of how-to posts, itineraries, where-to-stay suggestions, and old-post updates to keep helping you travel on a budget. But it’s been over a year since I wrote anything personal — and it’s been even longer since I shared a story from the road. In the beginning of 2022, I wrote that I felt I didn’t really have much to say anymore. Sure, there are always new destinations to write about, but in terms of thoughts and advice, after over 14 years writing about travel, I was tapped out. There are only so many pos ..read more

Straddling both Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a bustling, sprawling metropolis of over 15 million people. Formerly known as Constantinople, the ancient center of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires was one of the most important in the world for centuries. As such, there’s an eye-watering amount of history here, with tons to see and do. I love roaming the (somewhat chaotic) streets just taking it all in. It’s a beautiful city to explore on foot. But, because the city is so huge, it’s important to pick the right area to stay in. The traffic here is infamous, and while the public transportation sys ..read more

Earning points and miles is the best way to fly more for less. It’s the way I’ve been able to stay on the road for so long — and I’ve seen what a difference it’s made for my readers too. I write a lot about the best credit cards to get depending on your travel goals, but I’ve talked less about how to use those points. Today, I want to change that because I keep getting emails from people talking about how it takes too many points to book a flight. When I follow up, it is because they are booking through the credit card’s travel portal and that’s something you should rarely, if ever, do! Trave ..read more

Bordeaux is a wine-lover’s paradise and an incredibly beautiful city. I first went there in 2010 and have been a huge fan ever since. Its 18th-century core is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the whole city is brimming with upscale wine bars, great restaurants, and some good upscale shopping. It’s a super beautiful city (my favorite street in the country is here). There’s a lot of history in this city and, like elsewhere, one of the best ways to experience this is to take a walking tour of the city. There are lots of wine and food tours in Bordeaux that can deepen your visit. But, since not ..read more

Posted: 6/10/2024 | June 10th, 2024 Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is a popular career choice for those looking to combine a passion for education with the thrill of travel. TEFL involves teaching students whose native language isn’t English, regardless of the teacher’s native language. I did it in Thailand and Taiwan and it was an amazing experience! The demand for certified TEFL courses continues to grow as students around the world strive to learn English. It’s one of the best ways to work overseas. Historically used in private schools, TEFL’s communicative approach contrast ..read more

Posted: 6/4/24 | June 4th, 2024 Most travelers only spend a day or two in Bogotá. It’s not considered a highlight of Colombia and usually gets overlooked by most travelers. I think that’s a mistake. I actually loved my time in Bogotá. The city hasn’t seen as much gringofication as other cities in the country, so it felt the most Colombian to me. I even ended up staying longer than intended because I liked it so much! However, where you stay in the city (and the hotel you stay in) will greatly impact your trip. Not all parts of the city are safe, and not all hotels here are created equal. To h ..read more

Posted: 5/30/24 | May 30th, 2024 London is one of my favorite cities in the world. I’ve been visiting regularly since 2008 and never get tired of exploring the city. There are tons of amazing (and free) museums, a lively pub culture, and an incredible food scene that keeps me coming back for seconds. But as much as I love the city, it’s very spread out. The neighborhood you stay in (and the hotel you pick) will greatly impact your trip. And, as one of Europe’s most visited cities, there are a ton of hotels to choose from here. It’s almost overwhelming. To ensure you pick a great hotel, here’s ..read more

Posted: 5/28/24 | May 28th, 2024 Located in Northern Italy, Bologna is considered one of the food capitals of Italy. And given Italy’s culinary reputation, that must be saying something. Food is what draws most visitors here (it’s what drew me there). I had heard it’s the place for foodies in Italy and I was not disappointed. Unsurprisingly, there are lots of amazing food tours here that allow you to eat your way around town while learning about the region’s traditional cuisine. There are also wine tours galore plus plenty of history-oriented tours to ensure you learn about this food-centric ..read more