I’ve been traveling through China for the last 2 weeks. It’s a fascinating country with amazing archaeological treasures, breathtaking scenery and pandas. Yes, pandas. Although I’ve been here half a dozen times, I find travel here to be some of the most challenging in the world. It can be extremely frustrating because of language barriers and customs that westerners...
Everyone in the World Hates Americans. I’m sure you’ve heard that. I actually know people who don’t travel because of this widespread belief. While I feel that some countries may not agree with our foreign policy, I’ve rarely seen any of that sentiment directed toward me. Think about it. You’re in a bar and you start chatting with a nice foreign guy and you suddenly...
I’m often asked by my friends what kind of suitcase they should travel with, how any pairs of shoes they should bring and what voltage blow dryer should be packed. What they usually get from me is a lecture as long and as passionate as a Sunday morning Bible-thumping sermon. I’m always happy to share my message: “Carry on shall set thee free”...
Part 1- Getting on a Plane I travel a lot. I sometimes feel like I’ve been on more planes than Edward Norton in Fight Club. After so many departure lounges and security checks, I started realizing that I had started evolving into a different kind of traveler. I was doing things different than most of the other passengers. They looked crazed and panicky; I was...
I’ve always said that the first day of your vacation is the most expensive. Why is that? Chances are you don’t know prices or currency conversions. You probably have to exchange money, get transport to your hotel and then tip a bunch of people who stand between you and your hotel room and you don’t really know how much. For many people, the unknown...