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From Shenzhen to Kunming: A 10-Day Journey from China’s Skyscrapers to its Karst Peaks
From the gleaming skyscrapers of Shenzhen to the tranquil riverbanks of Luang Prabang, my recent 10-day journey through Southern China was a whirlwind of high-tech marvels, ancient landscapes, and a few “cultural adjustments.” For those of us used to the “Right of Way,” traveling through China is a masterclass in a different philosophy: the “Right…
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Holidays in Hong Kong: High-Rises, Hounds, and Island Hopping
Happy New Year, everyone! I’ve just wrapped up another holiday season in Hong Kong, returning to the same house-sit I enjoyed two years ago. Knowing exactly what to expect didn’t make it any less impressive; I once again found myself in a luxury condo in one of the city’s most desirable districts. Life at The…
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Ditch the Drag: 10 Reasons Not to Check a Bag
One travel cost you have complete control over is your packing. I recently calculated the costs of traveling with a checked bag, and it easily added over $100 every time we moved from one city to the next. That was my tipping point! It’s not just about saving a few dollars in airline fees; it’s…
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From Ancient Rome to Istanbul; My Quest for the Perfect Hamam
I recently found myself back in the magnificent city of Istanbul, a place where continents and cultures collide, and there was one thing, above all else, at the very top of my ‘to-do’ list: find a hamam. My first Turkish bath experience was 10 years ago in this very city at the truly iconic Hürrem…
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Highlights from our Western National Parks Adventure
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to travel across the American West without having to drive yourself or worry about a single itinerary detail? Our recent 16-day Travels With Theresa tour zigzagged through seven states, nine National Parks, and one Buc-ee’s. With Clay (our Driver), Theresa (our lead), and me (our tour director) working together,…
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How I save with annual travel insurance
Keeping with the travel promotion theme of the last couple weeks, I think now is a great time to bring up travel insurance. Given that Joan and I travel all of our lives, insuring ourselves just makes sense. As I was looking for a new policy, I stumbled across an option for an annual plan…
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Bring a jacket if you visit one of Mexico’s hill towns
“Bring a jacket” was the first response we got when telling anyone we were going to the Mexican hill towns of Mineral del Chico and Mineral del Monte. Having been a few times before, I knew they weren’t kidding. While air conditioning is readily found at any of the hot and humid beach destinations, heaters…
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The best way to beat jet lag: a nap
Everyone has ideas on how to beat jet lag, and they’re all correct, at least for themselves. As someone who is on a plane every few weeks, I’ve tried several different solutions, including once getting intoxicated before a trans-Atlantic flight. That was a big mistake! I didn’t sleep, and I arrived with a migraine. It…
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Making money living the life of your dreams
It’s not often I get schooled on how to live the life of your dreams, but it happened this past Monday. Joan and I went on a kayaking trip we found offered as an AirBnB experience. As a tour guide, I am often skeptical about paying someone else to lead me on an adventure. The…
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