Travel Tips

The case for staying longer in fewer places, and why your five-countries-in-two-weeks itinerary is making you miserable.

The taxi meter that wasn't running, the friendly stranger with a plan, and other scams that got me. What I learned and what to watch for.

Airport SIM card scams, eSIM confusion, pocket WiFi, and what actually works in 2026. A practical guide to internet access while traveling.

Tourist bubbles are comfortable but boring. Here's how I've made genuine local connections on the road -- and why it changed how I travel.

The plastic bag rustler, the 3am alarm setter, and other hostel roommates you'll meet. Plus what I wish someone had told me before my first dorm.

Nobody warns you about reverse culture shock. The grocery store that's too big, the conversations that feel small, and the strange grief of being back.

Independent travel is freedom. Group tours are for people who can't figure it out themselves. Right? Well, turns out I was wrong about a few things.

Things will go wrong on the road. They just will. Here's what I've learned about dealing with travel emergencies without losing your mind.

Dusty bus stops, confusing checkpoints, and the strange joy of walking between countries. What overland border crossings are really like.

Thought it was for Instagram aesthetics and people with too much free time. Turns out, my memory is worse than I thought.

The apps that earn their storage space when you travel. No filler, no apps you'll use once and delete.

Practical stuff about safety, meeting people, eating alone, and the parts of solo travel nobody warns you about.

I've been traveling with one carry-on for years. Here's exactly what I bring, what I stopped bringing, and why less stuff means better trips.

Practical ways to cut travel costs without sleeping in parks or eating plain rice. Accommodation, flights, food, and more.

Practical tips for taking travel photos that actually look good, using the phone you already have.

Practical, science-based strategies for getting over jet lag faster. No miracle cures, just stuff that works.

A straight take on travel insurance—what it actually covers, when to buy it, when to skip it, and how to avoid getting ripped off.

Practical food safety tips so you can actually enjoy local cuisine abroad. No, you don't have to skip the street tacos.

Practical ways to shrink your travel footprint -- the stuff that actually matters versus the stuff that's just performance.

Leaving for months or years isn't like planning a vacation. Here's the unglamorous checklist of stuff you need to sort out before long-term travel.

The first visit is for seeing. The second visit is for knowing. A case for returning to places you've already been.

The $10/day myth, the $30/day reality, and why your budget will depend more on your beer habits than your flight.

You'll meet someone incredible, spend three days together, promise to stay in touch, and never speak again. Here's why that's not actually sad.

Nobody posts about the argument at the train station or the silent dinner. Here's what couples travel actually looks like and how to survive it.

ATM fees, currency exchange traps, tipping confusion, and the cards that actually work. Everything I've learned about money while traveling.

Sleeper trains, scenic routes, and the case for slowing down. A practical guide to choosing train travel over budget flights across Europe.

I've tried Duolingo streaks, phrasebooks, language schools, and just pointing at things. Here's what actually sticks when learning a language on the road.

When the thing you love starts feeling like a chore. What travel burnout actually looks like, why it happens, and what helped me get through it.

Long layovers don't have to be miserable. Here's how to make them work, when to leave the airport, and what to do when you're stuck.