We know that the only constant in the world is change. As we come out of the world pandemic, I am starting to see important and significant changes in the travel industry. This is based on what they learned during those 12-18 months. Business exists to create a profit for the shareholders by creating system efficiencies. We are seeing the groundwork being laid for new efficiencies throughout the travel industry. Airlines The number of airline seats on sale worldwide in January 2023 are at 94% of pre-pandemic. One of the new changes for airlines are changes in filling seats.  I just recei ..read more

The gypsies are the biggest scam artists in Europe. On average, each gypsy scams 300-400 Euros a day from unsuspecting tourists. Most of that money goes back to the gypsy gang leader in Romania. Generally a gypsy gang leader will have 12-15 underlings working various tourist areas in Europe. We have run into many different scams over the years. My Credit Cards Don’t Work Scam My credit card doesn’t work’ is a common scam run by the gypsies in Rome and in Italy. The gypsy will stop their car and ask you directions. They will attempt to give you a gift then will pressure you for money to buy g ..read more

The gypsies are the biggest scam artists in Europe. On average, each gypsy scams 300-400 Euros a day from unsuspecting tourists. Most of that money goes back to the gypsy gang leader in Romania. Generally a gypsy gang leader will have 12-15 underlings working various tourist areas in Europe. We have run into many different scams over the years. My Credit Cards Don’t Work Scam My credit card doesn’t work’ is a common scam run by the gypsies in Rome and in Italy. The gypsy will stop their car and ask you directions. They will attempt to give you a gift then will pressure you for money to buy g ..read more

We took a day trip from Boca Chica up to the town of Boquete, Panama. The drive can be done in about 90 minutes. We were able to follow good quality secondary roads off the Panamerican Highway that took us through scenic terrain. Boquete is a popular town for visitors. There are many boutique hotels with high end restaurants. A lot of expats live here. They are attracted to the cool weather and the outdoor activities like hiking and rafting. One of the most popular hikes is overnight hike up Volcan Baru to watch the sunrise.  Volcan Baru is the highest point in Panama and on a clear day ..read more

We first visited Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco with our children and fell in love with the Côte D’Azur. A few years later we set-up house for a month in the old town of Nice. We spent the month explored the region using their excellent public bus service. The buses are luxury coaches and the fare is $2.50 anywhere within a two hour radius. The bus ride from Nice to Monte Carlo is 40 minutes. We took the bus to Monte Carlo every week to play games of chance at the world famous Monte Carlo Casino. The road is high up on the mountainside overlooking the Mediterranean with a steep drop on the wat ..read more

We first visited Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco with our children and fell in love with the Côte D’Azur. A few years later we set-up house for a month in the old town of Nice. We spent the month explored the region using their excellent public bus service. The buses are luxury coaches and the fare is $2.50 anywhere within a two hour radius. The bus ride from Nice to Monte Carlo is 40 minutes. We took the bus to Monte Carlo every week to play games of chance at the world famous Monte Carlo Casino. The road is high up on the mountainside overlooking the Mediterranean with a steep drop on the wate ..read more

Travel equals happiness. It is a scientific fact. Recent studies show that experiences are a key factor for creating and sustaining happiness; far more than material things. This is what I found out taking, The Science of Wellness, a course offered by Yale University through Coursera. (In keeping with our budget travel blog philosophy you will be glad to know that it is free to take.) The course is ten weeks in length. You go at your own pace and schedule. I completed the course over four months. A free course from Yale. You can even get a certificate with the prestigious Yale University at ..read more

Why I Fell in Love with Panama City, Panama It is easy to fall in love with Panama. It is tropical with one of the most diverse biospheres in the world. It has a variety of geography with mountains, valleys, volcanoes and is surrounded by the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It is safe for travellers and easy to get to and get around. There is amazing and plentiful seafood. The people have retained their own traditional culture and ways of doing things. Panama is a Spanish speaking country. Business people and people who work in the tourism industry speak English. Most of the local people we met ..read more

The gypsies are the biggest scam artists in Europe. On average, each gypsy scams 300-400 Euros a day from unsuspecting tourists. Most of that money goes back to the gypsy gang leader in Romania. Generally a gypsy gang leader will have 12-15 underlings working various tourist areas in Europe. We have run into many different scams over the years. My Credit Cards Don’t Work Scam My credit card doesn’t work’ is a common scam run by the gypsies in Rome and in Italy. The gypsy will stop their car and ask you directions. They will attempt to give you a gift then will pressure you for money to buy g ..read more

Crazy Things That Happen to You in London - Caviar “Do you want to try caviar!” the woman asked abruptly with a heavy Eastern European accent.  I looked up from looking through the curved glass counter at the beautifully displayed cuts of meat in Harrods. She caught me by surprise. I blinked and swallowed. She hit me with another abrupt question in her heavy accent. “You like fish?” I looked at her like a deer caught in the headlights before I blurted out, “I love fish. I love it so much, my wife says she gets tired of watching me eat fish when we travel.” She warmed up to me as she smi ..read more