Anyone who has seen any footage of the recent fires in Southern California has to have been terrified. It looked as though Los Angeles, long seen by the world as a heavenly place, had been turned into a flaming inferno. The spreading, engulfing flames carried by high winds were beyond…

A Mississippi River cruise has been on my radar for a while, but 2025 might actually be the year I stop talking about it and actually do it. Europe always entices me, with its beautiful landscapes and rich history, but why do I tend to forget about the river cruise…

If a $5 fee is a good way to slow overtourism and protect the fragile ecosystem, then shouldn’t $10 work even better? That’s the question in Venice, which has announced it will bring back last summer’s tourist tax—and double it to boot—for 2025. Venice in 2024 introduced a €5 charge…

When traveling internationally, cellular data is important for many of us, whether we’re using our smart phones keeping in touch with friends and family back home or taking care of others matters such as banking or travel reservations. For example, when I land in Amsterdam tomorrow morning, I’ll want to…

After three weeks of exploring Austin, I’m still not used to the car-centric Texan lifestyle. In my imagination, I’d pictured Austin as an artsy place of bars and restaurants, cinemas, museums and theatres, all within casual strolling distance. Instead, I met sprawling highways that divide the suburbs into isolated clusters…

Have you ever heard of Tuvalu? Or perhaps met someone who’s visited? If your answer is “no,” you’re not alone. This remote Pacific nation remains one of the least visited countries in the world. Tuvalu offers a rare opportunity to experience natural beauty far from the tourist crowds.  At the…

In the Rif Mountains of Morocco, the bewitching blue city of Chefchaouen was certainly somewhere I dreamt about visiting for many years. Happily, I finally made it there and I’m pleased to say that captivating Chefchaouen lived up to expectations. With its blue-washed buildings, cute plazas, and delightful doorways, the…

The U.S. Department of State has stopped processing applications for passports that feature the “X” gender marker. As it stands, passports will only be processed and issued for individuals identifying explicitly as male or female, a spokesperson for the department confirmed. This recent action follows an executive order signed by…

We recently wrote about Close-In Bookings: Too Late To Book For Spring? In that story, cruise companies told us that folks were booking closer to their departure dates than in years past. While the norm was to book a year or more in advance, the trend now is booking for…

If your travel plans include venturing across state borders or collecting passport stamps, it’s essential to know what your health insurance will cover while you’re far from home. Facing an illness or injury abroad can be more than just unpleasant—it could lead to hefty out-of-pocket costs, even if you’re enrolled…

Foula is one of the most remote inhabited islands in the UK, situated 20 miles west of the Shetland Islands in Scotland. Its isolated location, amidst rugged seas and dramatic cliffs, paints a beautiful yet challenging picture of life removed from pace and place.  Foula’s history is as fascinating as…

On the rocky shores of Hudson Bay sits Churchill, Manitoba—a small, unassuming town filled with natural beauty, First Nations culture, and more than a few once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Referred to as the “Polar Bear Capital of the World,” Churchill offers up its unparalleled wildlife encounters to visitors. Churchill promises, and delivers,…