How to Spend a Weekend in Thessaloniki, Greece

How to Spend a Weekend in Thessaloniki, Greece

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Whether you know it as Thessaloniki, Salonika, Salonicco, the second-largest city in Greece is an ideal location for a weekend getaway any time of year. Regardless of variations, this is a northern Greek gem that does not get nearly enough attention when it comes to destinations in Greece, and you’ll get to explore quite a bit in just a weekend in Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki is a pretty compact city, so most of the things you’ll want to do will be in…

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Scottsdale Food Guide: Best Restaurants in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale Food Guide: Best Restaurants in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona

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Disclaimer: Some (but not all) of the experiences listed here were hosted in partnership with Experience Scottsdale. Food and drink opinions are of course very opinionated – and completely my own! As I looked into the best restaurants in Old Town Scottsdale – and there are a ton – one question kept crossing my mind: Why is the food in Scottsdale, Arizona so good? The answer that came to light over a week spent in town and snippets of conversation…

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Travel Hack: Extra Items You Can Carry On a Plane for FREE

Travel Hack: Extra Items You Can Carry On a Plane for FREE

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As I was standing in line to board my Ryan Air flight back home to Milan from a travel blogging conference in Stockholm two summers ago, I was the vision of chaos. There was the cardigan and scarf draped over my purse, an umbrella dangling from my wrist, and the bag of food I was holding from the Östermalms Saluhall food hall. In addition to my purse (‘personal item’ in airline lingo) and my wheeled luggage. I looked just a…

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View of Lake Como Italy
Milan to Lake Como Day Trip: How to Spend One Day in Lake Como, Italy

Milan to Lake Como Day Trip: How to Spend One Day in Lake Como, Italy

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When I say the word “lake,” what do you imagine? A small, oval-shaped body of water where you could easily row to the other side in a boat? A modest-sized swimming hole for a quick dip as you hike in the woods? Your imagination has probably conjured up something relatively tiny, but the lakes of northern Italy – including Lake Como – are anything but. Instead of your typical circular or oval body of water, Lake Como, Italy is like…

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Bucket List Adventure: Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua

Bucket List Adventure: Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua

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**While Nicaragua was a lovely destination when I visited in January 2018, it is currently not safe for tourists (as of December 2018). Be sure to do your research and keep safety as your top priority before booking a trip.** “Lana?” “Oh, hi dad.” “Hi sweetie, I just wanted to call and make sure you were still alive. You know, because you said you were going to go volcano boarding in Nicaragua.” “Yes, dad I’m fine.” (That is pretty much our…

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Top 13 Reasons to Make Nicaragua Your Next Tropical Destination

Top 13 Reasons to Make Nicaragua Your Next Tropical Destination

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**While Nicaragua was a lovely destination when I visited in January 2018, it is currently not safe for tourists (as of December 2018). Be sure to do your research and keep safety as your top priority before booking a trip.** I honestly didn’t know a ton about Nicaragua before my recent 9-day trip besides there being warm weather and beaches, the perfect combination for a winter getaway. Nicaragua wowed me on so many other levels, though, with lots of outdoor adventures…

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Things You’d Never Expect on a Trip to Haiti

Things You’d Never Expect on a Trip to Haiti

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**While Haiti was a lovely destination when I visited in February 2018, it is currently not safe for tourists (as of December 2018). Be sure to do your research and keep safety as your top priority before booking a trip.** Since returning to the US from time living abroad a year ago, I’ve been to quite a few destinations in the Caribbean for vacation. I just didn’t expect Haiti to be one of them. This was not my first visit to…

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Top 12 Reasons to Go To Malta & Malta Travel Tips

Top 12 Reasons to Go To Malta & Malta Travel Tips

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Malta felt like it was on my bucket list forever. At a short, direct plane ride from Milan, going never seemed urgent during the three years I lived in Italy. Which meant that I never went! Fast forward to an autumn European trip I was planning after moving back to the US, and I knew Malta was a destination I definitely wanted to include on my visit. The biggest question I got – “Why are you going to Malta?” Apparently…

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Practical Tips: How to Find the Best Restaurants When You Travel

Practical Tips: How to Find the Best Restaurants When You Travel

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Most people want to eat well on the road, but exactly how to find the best restaurants when you travel can be a tricky endeavor. Most travel destinations are inherently unfamiliar, and restaurants may not operate the way things do “back home,” wherever that is. Fortunately there are quite a few strategies I’ve picked up in my travels over the years. Not anything is perfectly foolproof, but there are many way to maximize the chances you will be eating fabulous…

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Summer Reading List

Summer Reading List

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Summertime means vacation for many, and even though I don’t have any long trips planned for this summer, one of the best ways I relax and unwind is curling up with a good book. Instead of being stuck with what to read next, I always spend some time in June compiling a Summer Reading List.  Whether I take a train or airplane, some of my best reading usually happens in transit – and I like to have a variety of…

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