Posted: 4/17/2024 | April 17th, 2024 Japan captured my heart from the moment I firs visited. The delicious food, the rich culture, breathtaking landscapes, vibrant history, and the very friendly and polite people – it all blew my mind. But Japan often feels impenetrable, especially to first-time visitors. While I think Japan deserves a minimum of 10 days, I get that some people might only have a week, so I wanted to write this, my ideal seven-day itinerary for Japan for a first-time visitor. With only a week, there’s not much you can see unless you really rush it. And I don’t think you should ..read more

Last Updated: 4/16/24 | April 16th, 2024 I used to hate renting apartments from websites like Airbnb or VRBO. As a solo traveler, I preferred the social atmosphere of hostels. You got to meet people, they ran activities, hosted events, and were where you were “supposed to stay” as a backpacker. When I did want something other than a hostel, I used a hospitality network liked Couchsurfing or simply stayed with friends. But, after a decade of life as a nomad, there are times when I like my privacy (and sometimes I also need extra space for work). While I may not use apartment rentals all the ti ..read more

Posted: 4/11/24 | April 11th, 2024 Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. Its entire historic center is a picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site, there’s art everywhere, and the food here is insanely delicious. I’ve been visiting the city off and on for the past sixteen years and am always blown away by how gorgeous it is. Visiting here feels like you’ve stepped back in time. Since Florence is such a popular destination, there are tons of hotels here. Some of them are great, and some of them not so great. Over the years, I’ve stayed in a lot of different hotels in the city. To ..read more

Posted: 4/10/24 | April 10th, 2024 With its iconic Renaissance architecture, picturesque streets, world-class museums, and incredible food, Florence is one of my favorite cities in Italy. I’ve been a handful of times over the years and it never disappoints. It’s also a compact and easily walkable city, so nothing is too far from anything else. That said, each neighborhood has its own unique feel and accommodation options. For that reason, it’s a good idea to choose a neighborhood that best suits your travel style and budget. To help you do just that, here’s my list of the best neighborhoods i ..read more

Posted: 4/8/2024 | April 8th, 2024 TravelCon is back! In 2022, after five years (through a pandemic), I ended TravelCon. However, my friends at FinCon offered to run it (thus reducing my workload) so we brought it back! If you’re media or PR in the travel industry, this is the best industry event for you to attend! TravelCon is a three-day travel media event that focuses on helping you improve your craft, learn new business skills, network with your peers, and connect you with all the awesome brands and tourism boards that attend! This year, TravelCon will be May 15-17th in Portland, Oregon a ..read more

Posted: 4/2/2024 | April 2nd, 2024 Trip planning can be a daunting task. Flights, insurance, gear, itineraries, accommodation, and so much more all need to be considered and sorted out before you go. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially when you haven’t done something like this before. After over close to twenty years of traveling the world, I’ve planned countless trips and vacations for myself, friends, and family, even group tours. In the beginning, it was trial by fire. I learned a lot of lessons the hard way. However, that helped me develop an efficient checklist that ensures I don’t ..read more

Posted: 4/2/2024 | April 2nd, 2024 Iceland is a magical country. It just feels out of this world, like you’re on another planet. The rugged volcanoes and black-sand beaches give the island a desolate but striking appearance. If you ask me, it’s right up there with New Zealand and Norway in terms of the most beautiful countries in the world. And, just like both of those destinations, it’s an amazing place to take a road trip. Thanks to its stunning natural beauty, safety, and ease of transportation, Iceland has become a popular destination for solo travelers and first-time road trippers. Yes ..read more

Posted: 4/1/24 | April 1st, 2024 Madrid has it all: incredible food, world-class museums, stunning architecture, non-stop nightlife, and picturesque winding streets. The vibrant capital of Spain, here you can spend your days exploring iconic landmarks like the Prado Museum and your evenings luxuriating over glasses of wine in bustling tapas bars. While my first visit to the city was a bit ill-fated (I was sick and spent most of the time in bed), I’ve been able to visit many times since then. Over the years, I’ve stayed at lots of hotels here. To help you plan your visit, here’s my list of the ..read more

Posted: 3/28/2024 | March 28th, 2024 Milan is a popular destination for travelers who are into fashion and design. But there’s a lot of history and culture here too. The city was both the former capital of the Western Roman Empire and influential during the Italian Renaissance. I consider it a must-visit stop on any trip around Italy. As the country’s second largest city (over 6 million people live here), where you stay during your visit will have a big impact on your trip. While it’s pretty easy to get around the city, you don’t want to spend all your time in transit. Instead, you’ll want to ..read more

Posted: 3/28/24 | March 28th, 2024 Prague is one of my favorite cities in Europe. Ever since my first visit in 2006, I’ve loved coming here. The winding cobblestone streets, medieval buildings, and spacious squares give the city an unrivaled historic allure. Since my first visit, the city has skyrocketed in popularity. It gets crowded in the summer and there are now tons of hotels to choose from. I’ve stayed in a bunch of them over the years, so to help you plan your visit, here’s my list of the best hotels in Prague: 1. Hotel Metamorphis This four-star hotel is located in a historic buildin ..read more