Ice-glazed lighthouses. Glittering ice caves. Snowshoeing between wineries. A Bavarian village? Michigan in the winter is a surprisingly cozy blend of vibrant cities, charming towns, and a pristine wintry wonderland. The long, cold, and — yes, snowy … [Read more...] about 9 Magical Places to Visit in Michigan in the Winter
Travel Credit Cards
8 Magical Winter Getaways in Ontario
Ontario’s cities and towns turn into picturesque snow globes as snow softly falls on frozen lakes and rivers. Take a winter walk under a canopy of snow-covered coniferous trees, snuggle up by a fireplace on a frozen lake, or sip mulled wine under … [Read more...] about 8 Magical Winter Getaways in Ontario
What to Pack for Canada in Winter: 31 Canada Winter Essentials
Softly falling snow. Sticky maple taffy. Herds of Caribou. Canada in winter is a pretty freakin' magical place, whether you're soaking in thermal hot springs in Banff or eating poutine (the ultimate winter comfort food) in Quebec City. Canada is … [Read more...] about What to Pack for Canada in Winter: 31 Canada Winter Essentials
How to Save Money for Travel (& How We Saved $30,000 for a Year-Long Trip)
Finances are often the biggest hurdle to travel. Everyone has a trip they dream about taking, but too often, that once-in-a-lifetime vacation seems like a faraway dream. Well, I'm not here to tell you that it's super easy to save money for travel. … [Read more...] about How to Save Money for Travel (& How We Saved $30,000 for a Year-Long Trip)
The Best Credit Card for International Travel (& Why I’ll Never Travel Without It Again)
The summer after I graduated college, I took my first independent backpacking trip. I'd won a fashion design scholarship (RIP, my sewing skills pre-blogging) so I decided to use the cash prize to treat myself to 2-week trip across Europe. I … [Read more...] about The Best Credit Card for International Travel (& Why I’ll Never Travel Without It Again)
What to Pack for Maui: Essential Hawai‘i Packing List
Swaying palm trees and crashing waves. Turtles laying on sandy beaches. Sweet shave ice and fresh poke. Maui has long held visitors entranced by its charm and beauty, but Hawai‘i is so much more than a travel playground: its history and culture run … [Read more...] about What to Pack for Maui: Essential Hawai‘i Packing List
The Best Backpacking Travel Insurance: Complete Travel Insurance Guide for Backpackers
Here’s the thing: I am a walking disaster. I am clumsy, forgetful, scatterbrained, and generally prone to mishaps. But up until a few years ago, I had never purchased travel insurance in my life. I’d never even heard of it. Now, I refuse to travel … [Read more...] about The Best Backpacking Travel Insurance: Complete Travel Insurance Guide for Backpackers
The Ultimate Packing List: 43 Must-Have Travel Items (by a Full-Time Travel Blogger)
"What are your must-have travel items?" is one of the most common questions we get asked. And while we’ve written a bunch of very specific packing guides for everything (see them all here), we have yet to create a big ol’ chunky ultimate travel … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Packing List: 43 Must-Have Travel Items (by a Full-Time Travel Blogger)
What to Pack for Bali: The Essential Bali Packing List
Bali, Indonesia: land of white sandy beaches, glittering temples, cute but evil monkeys, lush green jungles, and active volcanoes. It's no wonder that Bali tops the bucket lists of everyone who's ever watched Eat Pray Love (or casually browsed … [Read more...] about What to Pack for Bali: The Essential Bali Packing List
What to Pack for Disney (& What NOT to), The Ultimate Disney Packing List by a Former Cast Member
Years ago, when I was a Walt Disney World Cast Member, I didn't think about what I threw into my day bag on my way to the parks. Some days, I didn't even have to pack a bag at all: I would just hop on a bus and go have lunch in Epcot or grab a Mickey … [Read more...] about What to Pack for Disney (& What NOT to), The Ultimate Disney Packing List by a Former Cast Member
43 Travel Essentials to Pack for Hot Climates
Backpacking and hot climates go together like people without a lot of money and ... destinations that are inexpensive to visit. Look, I'm not great at writing analogies, but I AM great at researching travel gear and field testing it. After a … [Read more...] about 43 Travel Essentials to Pack for Hot Climates
25 Essentials for Cold Weather Travel: Winter Travel Packing List
Living in California makes us antsy for winter. We crave snow and cold weather and yearn for hot mulled cider and a crackling fire. The good news is that living in the San Francisco Bay Area means snow is only a few hours away from us, so we've … [Read more...] about 25 Essentials for Cold Weather Travel: Winter Travel Packing List
Europe in Winter Packing List: 32 Essentials for Christmas Markets & Winter Weather
Living in California makes us antsy for winter. We crave snow and Christmas weather and yearn for hot mulled cider. But other than watching cheesy Christmas movies and crying into our peppermint bark every night, the only way we can get our Christmas … [Read more...] about Europe in Winter Packing List: 32 Essentials for Christmas Markets & Winter Weather
27 Long Haul Flight Essentials, Plus Travel Tips for Economy Fliers
As a full time travel blogger, I do a lot of flying. It's part of the gig. Except unlike my old corporate job, I don't have the luxury of a corporate card, priority anything, or any other amenities. Every time I fly, I'm stuck back in economy with … [Read more...] about 27 Long Haul Flight Essentials, Plus Travel Tips for Economy Fliers
Essential Galapagos Packing List: What to Pack for the Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands, located off the coast of Ecuador in South America, are a bucket list destination. From the clear turquoise water and white sand beaches to the incredible variety of unique animals and happy, ecologically protected … [Read more...] about Essential Galapagos Packing List: What to Pack for the Galapagos Islands
Our Year-Long Honeymoon: What Happened (& How Much We Spent)
Our year-long honeymoon is officially over. Really, it was officially over on July 11, 2017 - 1 year after we boarded a plane for Cartagena, Colombia to start our year-long journey. But now it’s like, officially over. Yesterday, all of our … [Read more...] about Our Year-Long Honeymoon: What Happened (& How Much We Spent)
How to Plan a Trip in 8 Practical Steps (& What NOT to Plan)
Planning a trip can feel like both the most exciting AND the most overwhelming part of travel. Sure, creating a Pinterest board full of gorgeous pictures is fun, but then you start trying to figure out the actual logistics and it hits you ... oh … [Read more...] about How to Plan a Trip in 8 Practical Steps (& What NOT to Plan)