Why The Best Packing Strategy is to Pack As Poorly As Possible

Why The Best Packing Strategy is to Pack As Poorly As Possible

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There are a lot of competing ideas about which packing strategy is best, but this is all about a very different, but highly-effective piece of advice. Most define packing success as sitting on top of an overstuffed bag and just getting it to zip closed. Possibly by sitting and jumping on top! The packing ritual been hilariously portrayed in many films, and you’ve probably lived it yourself getting ready for a vacation. But here’s the thing. One of the eternal…

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Berlin Cheat Sheet: What to Do & Where to Eat

Berlin Cheat Sheet: What to Do & Where to Eat

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Impressions Berlin is very different from other German cities I’ve visited, and at some moments does not feel like Germany at all. It has this young, industrial bustle, is teeming with hipsters, and embraces ethnic food and the latest trends. However, there are still moments when you feel like you could be in any European city and not Berlin specifically: walking along the tree-lined Kurfürstendamm for high-end shopping, or strolling the Alexanderplatz hunting for bargains with the masses at TK…

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What’s the Big Deal with ‘Country Counting’ Anyway?

What’s the Big Deal with ‘Country Counting’ Anyway?

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I don’t always come into contact with other frequent travelers on the road, and when I do, the topic of ‘country counting’ doesn’t come up. Until last week when I was in Belize and happened to take a day trip to Guatemala with a bunch of frequent travelers, including a pair who worked at a ski resort 6 to 8 months a year and traveled the rest of the time. Travel blogging doesn’t always lend itself to interviewing or conducting…

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Foodie Scoop – The Table in Boston

Foodie Scoop – The Table in Boston

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On a recent weekend trip to Boston designed for catching up with friends and loved ones, I wasn’t expecting to have any notable experiences to share on the blog. Until I went to the Gardner Museum, site of the largest unsolved art heist, and loved the vibe of the museum even beyond the noticeably empty picture frames on the wall. And then that night, my foodie revelation – enjoying my best dining experience of the year so far. In between…

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Top 10 Travel Destinations for 2017

Top 10 Travel Destinations for 2017

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Happy 2017! As the new year starts (along with some New Year’s resolutions, maybe?) this is also the time of year to start to think about what places to visit in the coming year. For many, vacation days are precious, but with a little creative planning there is a lot of travel destinations that you can squeeze into a single twelve-month period. Last year for me was the year that I visited the most new countries. Final tally: 11 new…

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What It’s Like to Go Up Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, World’s Tallest Building

What It’s Like to Go Up Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, World’s Tallest Building

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Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy Dubai. I knew Dubai was highly commercialized, a city that was constantly focused on building the latest modern skyscraper and where foreigners outnumber locals by a margin of around 10 to 1. I had transited through before, but never left the airport. But this trip, with my Emirates airline status on the verge of expiring, I figured it was worth it to finally spend a few days in the city. If nothing else, I…

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How to Plan Solo Travel in 8 Easy Steps

How to Plan Solo Travel in 8 Easy Steps

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Solo travel can look like so many different things, and is one of the most rewarding things I have done as a frequent traveler. I love having a buddy (or several) to share my travel adventures with, but there is a totally different perspective and awareness that comes from taking a trip just for you. Most destinations have an abundance of organized activities as well as plenty of things you can do solo, so you really can tailor the trip…

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Best Views in Stockholm, Sweden

Best Views in Stockholm, Sweden

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In any new place, I search for a high spot where I can overlook the city or surrounding area, so I knew I’d be seeking out the best views in Stockholm on my visit last summer. I’ll pretty much go anywhere to see a sweeping vista, whether it’s an elevator ride to the top of a tall building (like ascending the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and Berlin’s TV Tower), climbing hundreds of stairs to the top of a tower (like…

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How to Spend One Day in Cremona, Italy

How to Spend One Day in Cremona, Italy

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Living in Milan, I was always on the lookout for easy day trips from the city, and I just could not pass up the opportunity to check out Cremona. What started on a whim turned into one of the most rewarding day trips I took anywhere during my three years in Italy. What makes a day in Cremona so incredible? Like Mainz (my favorite day trip from Frankfurt, Germany), Cremona has stunningly beautiful sights to see, all of which can…

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Bringing Common Sense Back to the Discussion after the United Airlines Fiasco

Bringing Common Sense Back to the Discussion after the United Airlines Fiasco

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When the media frenzy started about the passenger dragged off a recent overbooked United Airlines flight, I watched the video in horror, like many of you. And then – probably unlike many of you – instead of heading straight for my social media soapbox, I had a bit of the opposite reaction. I instead wanted instead to run away from the incident and bury my head in the sand. But Lana, you say, you’re a travel blogger, surely your initial instinct…

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