Travel Tips

I've been traveling more than half my life, and have visited nearly 30 countries.

Along the way, I've learned a few tips to help make the process of traveling more enjoyable.

Scroll down to see them all.

  • Away Travel Alternatives Hero
    Packing Lists for Travel

    9 Away Travel Alternatives to Save Money & Still Look Good

    When it's time to buy new luggage, get ready to be totally overwhelmed. There are so many choices for luggage out there – colors, sizes, styles, features... it's almost like buying a new car! And it's almost as important as buying a new car since if your luggage doesn't hold up well or protect your belongings, you're likely going to be really frustrated. Enter: Away Travel...

  • Texas New Mexico National Parks Road Trip Itinerary Hero
    Itineraries,  Road Trip Tips

    How to Plan a 4- or 7-Day Texas & New Mexico National Parks Road Trip

    There are some epic road trips in this world – especially if you love national parks. Think of the National Park to Park Highway. A drive to all of Utah's Mighty 5 (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion). Or a loop through all four of Colorado's national parks, from the Rocky Mountains to the deserts of the southwest. There is no shortage of ways to explore our national parks, connecting the distance between them by car, and crossing some of the most scenic landscapes in the world...

  • One Day in White Sands Hero
    Itineraries,  National Park Travel

    How to Make the Most of One Day in White Sands National Park

    There are some incredible natural wonders across the U.S., evoking the sensation that you've just stepped onto some alien planet; many of them are protected as national parks. Think of Joshua Tree and its weirdly alien trees. Or Badlands in South Dakota, with striated hills as far as the eye can see. White Sands National Park in New Mexico is another one of those strangely alien landscapes: once you enter the dunes, you're in another world, climbing up and sliding down the seemingly endless gypsum dunes...

  • UnCruise Hawaii Review Hero
    Cruise Tips,  Reviews

    UnCruise Hawaii Review: How to Spend a Week in Paradise

    When most people go to Hawaii, they pick an island, choose a beachfront hotel, and call it done. But you're not most people, are you? If you're considering UnCruise in Hawaii, you already know you want more from your Hawaiian vacation than a tan and a Mai Tai hangover – though you can certainly have both during your Hawaii UnCruise experience...

  • One Day in Guadalupe Mountains Hero
    Itineraries,  National Park Travel

    How to Make the Most of One Day in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    Well, Guadalupe Mountains is a hiker's park, after all, the man said, speaking to another couple in the cool and quiet museum of the Guadalupe Mountains Pine Springs Visitor Center. If you don't want to hike, there's not as much to do here. Let me be clear: I don't think this man was speaking poorly of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, nor should this deter you from visiting. Guadalupe Mountains is great for one thing: hiking...

  • National Park Travel

    My Top 5 Favorite National Parks
    & Why I Love Them

    Every so often, I feel the need to share a post just because I want to – not because Google is going to show it to lots of people. Instead, I write stories like this one because I know that you and I share something in common: we love exploring and finding new places to call our favorites and recommend to our friends and family. After all, what is a blog if not a big megaphone to share my travel advice with (future) friends like you...

  • Itineraries,  National Park Travel

    How to Make the Most of One Day in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

    America's national parks have something for everyone. Whether you love historic sites, back-country trekking, or delving deep underground... there's a park for that! It turns out that I personally am partial to the latter: I have loved caves and caving since I was a child (along with mining and mineshafts, which is a weird thing for kids to love!). Unsurprisingly then, some of my favorite national parks have caves – and it's also unsurprising that Carlsbad Caverns National Park jumped right onto my list of personal faves since IT'S ALL CAVES...