When I first started traveling, I picked all the wrong hostels. To be honest, I had no idea what I was looking for. I’d see something that looked great in photos, and then find out it wasn’t near any restaurants. Another would be close to everything, but was so loud that you couldn’t sleep. I […]
Tips for Long Haul Flights in Economy
Prior to this year, I’d never had the honor of sitting on a plane for 15 hours straight. No that’s not a typo. If you include my layovers, and short second flights, I’m usually traveling for a full 24 hours to get to Asia. Now that I’ve made the trip six times, I feel like […]
12 Tips on How to be a Better Tourist
It amazes me how important being a good tourist has become to me over the last year. When I started planning my year long trip to Southeast Asia, I didn’t consider half of the things I think about now. My biggest concerns were where I could take the prettiest Instagram pictures, seeing the biggest tourist […]
What is a Homestay? Why Should You Stay in One?
Every once in a while, I realize that people are fascinated by what I consider the most trivial parts of my travels. This week it came to my attention that homestays are a mysterious thing. After telling a couple of women that we were staying in a homestay, they looked intrigued and said, “What is […]
Shopping in Asia: A Guide to Haggling
Every once in awhile, I realize I have a skill that I didn’t know was unique. I grew up with parents who owned an antique business, and I was going to flea markets before I could walk. Haggling is something I was exposed to at a very young age. As I got older, I’d go […]
What Are Hostels Like? Your Questions Answered
Hostels are a funny thing. Once you’ve stayed in one, you wonder why you ever questioned them. But prior to that, you have at least one million questions. No joke, I’ve answered more questions about what a hostel is like than what a country is like. No judgment, I asked all the same questions about […]
6 Things You Should Do Before Leaving an Airport
Entering a new country can be scary. You don’t speak the language, and you’re so focused on finding the baggage claim, customs, and the exit that you don’t really take advantage of anything the airport offers. Every time I enter a new country, I go through an “airport checklist,” that way, when I leave the […]