A work trip to Egypt in January helped me earn American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum status thanks to a stopover in Dubai and flying oneworld alliance airlines. This shot of a camel in front of the pyramids near Cairo was one of my favorite images from the trip.  I recently achieved American Airlines Platinum status, my first elite status on any airline.  How did I do it? Is it worth the effort? Let’s dig into that in this post. American Airlines Status Levels There are four American Airlines status levels: Gold (40,000 loyalty points), Platinum (75,000 loyalty points), Platinum P ..read more

  Last year, I went to 22 countries—an epic year of travel. While it’s not always easy to work from the road as nomad, it is possible to create a productive work environment anywhere with the right tools. Here’s a recap of my current favorite travel and productivity apps. These are all nomad essentials! The majority of these apps are free or low cost and available on all phone platforms.   1. XE Currency Converter (Free) XE is my favorite currency app. It allows you to add up to 10 currencies and switch easily been them. The best part is that it even works offline using the la ..read more

A long exposure shot of Kuang Si waterfall outside of Luang Prabang, Laos  I kicked off 2023 in Sydney, Australia and will be ringing in 2024 in Thailand. In the last 12 months, I’ve been to 22 countries, which is why I took the last two months to sit still in Chiang Mai, Thailand to recharge. Reflecting on the year is always an exercise in gratitude for the beauty and diversity of the world and my experiences.   People often say I’m “lucky” because I get to travel for a living, which I wrote about in an old post. I’ve always found that slightly offensive because it devalues al ..read more

Alfred the Gnome loves being part of my annual travel gift guide!  Since I’m on the road almost full-time, I’m always trying out new travel gear and clothing. I’ve collected a list of my favorite travel items that I’ve discovered this year that have made my life easier to help you find the best travel gifts. Several of these were suggestions from friends and other travelers that I wish I’d bought years ago! Here are 13 of the best travel gifts (big and small) to help you find the perfect gifts for friends and family. Feel free to add these to your own Christmas list before you send it ..read more

  Since I’m on the road almost full-time, I’m always trying out new travel gear and clothing. I’ve collected a list of my favorite travel items that I’ve discovered this year that have made my life easier. Several of these were suggestions from friends and other travelers that I wish I’d bought years ago! Here are a few ideas (big and small) to help you find the perfect gifts for friends and family. Feel free to add these to your own Christmas list before you send it to Santa! (AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Please note that some affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a p ..read more

In July, I photographed Big Ben in London. The iconic structure spent five years covered in scaffolding for a reconstruction project.  As a woman who travels solo most of the time, I am always thinking about my safety. I wanted to share a few tips for things to pack for safety along with how to stay safe online. I’m currently typing this from the airport and have every single one of these items with me. Pack a rubber doorstop. (I have a lightweight one just like this in my checked bag.) I put this on the inside of every hotel, Airbnb, or apartment door. This prevents or at least makes ..read more

Miradouro da Grota do Inferno on São Miguel island in the Azores, Portugal. [I’m back after a summer break—my blog was cloned by a scammer in late June so I was trying to get that resolved before I started posted again.] 2023 has been the year of luggage woes for me. After more than two decades of travel, my luggage was lost for the first time. I knew my time was coming. (It inspired me to write a post about what to do if your checked baggage is lost so you can benefit from my misfortune.) The first time my luggage was just left in Dallas overnight on my way back from Asia in March and arriv ..read more

Left: Wat Doi Suthep; Right: Wat Phantao during the lantern festival in Chiang Mai I fell in love with Thailand just over 10 years ago when I was running photo trips for a student travel company in Southeast Asia. I’ve spent the two winters before the pandemic living in Chiang Mai and just returned for the first time after the pandemic.  While the city has changed a bit (places have closed and new ones have opened), it’s still the city I love so much.  Chiang Mai is the smaller laid-back sister to chaotic madness of Bangkok. It has a population of 200,000 and centers around the ..read more

The Acropolis in the late afternoon, Athens, Greece   Every month of 2022 felt like a different life. It was a blur of places across four continents—both new and old—and reunions with old friends. I finally feel like I’ve gotten my old life back—the one I spent over a decade building. Every year, I share a recap of my favorite adventures and photographs. Here’s the 2022 edition! I started and ended the year in my two favorite cities—Buenos Aires and Chiang Mai. These two places couldn’t be any further apart or any more different. I reluctantly flew back to the States in the spring. I s ..read more

Alfred the Globetrotting Gnome is excited to share our top travel gift ideas. 2022 has been an epic year of travel—Buenos Aires, road trips to Ocracoke Island and Marfa, hiking in Bend, Oregon, spending September on a four-mast sailboat in the Mediterranean for work, exploring Italy in October and now winter in Thailand! Now, that I’m back on the road full-time, I’ve been trying out new travel gear and clothing. I’ve collected a list of my favorite travel items that I’ve discovered this year that have made my life easier. Several of these were suggestions from friends and other traveler ..read more