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How to Spend One Day in Mainz, Germany

How to Spend One Day in Mainz, Germany

Tons of people each year end up with a layover in Frankfurt, and many opt to stay the night, but most probably make it to this gem – the city of Mainz, which is on the Frankfurt metro system. I didn’t even know Mainz existed, except perhaps an obscure reference in my high school history class a long time ago. But when I saw pictures of a fellow expat friend (thanks, Lisa!) taking a trip there to see the Chagall Windows of one of the churches, I knew I had to make a stop during my next visit to Frankfurt.

I had originally planned to go to Mainz for just a couple of hours in the morning, but was having such a wonderful time I ended up spending the entire day! And Mainz also had one of the most beautiful things I saw all of last year, which you can read more about in my Thanksgiving post here.

My visit to Mainz occurred almost exactly a year ago – in the dead of winter. My top 2 highlights? the Chagall Windows at St. Stephan’s Church & the Gutenberg Museum, seeing multiple Gutenberg Bibles.

If Mainz absolutely charmed me in the coldest weather of the year, you’ll love it whenever you are able to go!

Things to Do

Around Town

Gutenberg Museum

If you know your history, you’ll recall that Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the mid-1400s, which was revolutionary in allowing for the mass printing of books and pamphlets, spreading knowledge and improving literacy across all social classes. Although the machine was a feat of engineering, printing in those days was part art, part science, and Gutenberg’s printing of the Bible (and many other books and pamphlets) created some of the world’s most prized possessions. You’ll catch all of the relevant history at the museum, but be sure to time your visit to catch one of the printing press demonstrations by the friendly staff and also leave enough time to savor the beauty of the original Gutenberg Bibles on display. I couldn’t help but stand there awestruck, and visited the room with the Bibles again and again as I walked through different floors of the museum. Seeing the Gutenberg Bibles was one of my absolute highlights of all of 2016 – and that’s saying a lot!

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Mainz Cathedral (Mainzer Dom)

Located in the central pedestrian area, this Cathedral has been around for over 1,000 years, and its history can be traced in the different architectural styles of the building and adornments. Take your time strolling through to appreciate the details of the artistry and history displayed throughout, and be sure to visit the outdoor courtyard.

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Market Square (Marktplatz)

Surrounding many of these ‘Around Town’ attractions is the market square, part of the broader pedestrian plazas and streets. Even when not en route to or from one of the attractions, take the time to wander the old part of the city and join the daily rhythm of the locals.

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St. Augustine’s Church (Augustinerkirche)

Not far from the Mainz Cathedral – and a few hundred years younger – the Augustinerkirche has a very different feel. The interior decorations here are quite elaborate and include many gold accents typical of the Baroque style, and is beautiful in its own right.

Off the Beaten Path

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Citadel (Zitadelle)

The Citadel is an entire complex, originally an abbey and later a fortress, and has a lot of trails to stroll around. Housed on site is also the Historical Museum of Mainz and from April until October you can even take tours a couple of days a week that take you on and to the underground areas of the Citadel.

TRAVEL SAVVY TIP! While the main website linked above is in German, if you scroll to the bottom of the homepage there is an option to switch your browsing language to English.

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Synagogue, Synagogenplatz

Built less than a decade ago, the new synagogue of Mainz serves a local Jewish community nearly 1,000 people strong. The building is striking from the outside – seemingly an abstract, modernist creation – but in reality comprised of the hebrew letters for kedusha, holiness. In a moment of travel serendipity, one of the staff peeked out while I was photographing the synagogue’s exterior (as you can see in the photo above!) and was kind enough to let me in and join a tour that was in progress, so I got to view the synagogue’s stunning interior as well. Although picture-taking of the sanctuary was not allowed, you can see the incredible features of the building on the architect’s website here. The synagogue was the spot I visited that was farthest from the historical center, but local trams will get you there easily (see (More) Practical Tips for Visiting’ section below).

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Old Synagogue

The previous synagogue of Mainz no longer stands, however there is a plaque commemorating its location. Originally constructed in 1878, it was damaged during Kristallnacht in 1938 and then destroyed in 1942 by bombings during World War II. Above you can see the rendering of what it looked like before it was destroyed, a model that was on display at the new Synagogue when I visited.

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Roman Theater

There is not a ton to see, although it is an interesting juxtaposition to have the ancient Roman Theater abutting the modern train station. Since you’re likely to arrive in Mainz right nearby (see (More) Practical Tips for Visiting’ section below), it’s worth the short stroll from the train station to check it out.

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St. Stephan’s Church

People make a special journey to this church (and even the city of Mainz) for one thing – the blue Chagall windows. Notable as the only German church that the Jewish artist Marc Chagall designed for, his signature stained glass windows are even more breathtaking in person. The church is located a bit away from the most central part of town, but is another one of the absolute highlights of my visit to Mainz, and probably the #1 attraction for most tourists. Be sure to make this a priority during your time in Mainz!

TRAVEL SAVVY TIP! The main Mainz website offers itineraries for a variety of self-guided city walks, to help you logically navigate the different sights that interest you most.

Best Bites

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Eisgrub-Bräu

The oldest brewery in Mainz, this is a great spot to grab a beer and sample some delicious, traditional German food. The brewing takes place on site, so you’ll see the giant tanks inside the restaurant, maturing the several different types of in-house brews. The restaurant is a short stroll from the central pedestrian area – just far enough away that it was completely packed with locals when I went. I was on my own, but if you’re in a group (or really ambitious) you can order the giant cylinder with over 2 liters of beer!

TRAVEL SAVVY TIP! This restaurant is open for weekday lunch, while many restaurants in town are only open for dinner during the week. Anywhere you’re planning to eat, be sure to check the operating hours ahead of time.

(More) Practical Tips for Visiting

Coming from anywhere on the Frankfurt metro, a day pass is a great, economical option. And if you get a train pass, it’s also valid for transportation within the city of Mainz. There is an extensive tram system that takes you between different parts of town, saving you some walking and quite helpful in bad (or cold) weather.

Also, there are multiple train stops in Mainz. For access to the historical center and quaint pedestrian areas, you’ll want to travel to the S-bahn stop by the Roman Theater: Mainz Römisches Theater.

For me Mainz really over-delivered, with the Gutenberg Bibles being the absolute highlight that I couldn’t get enough of, but by no stretch the only amazing and beautiful thing I saw during my day there.

What’s your favorite part about Mainz? Any other tips for a visit? And what was the last city that wowed you unexpectedly? Share away in the Comments!

How to Spend One Day - 24 hours - in Mainz Germany
Travel Hack: Extra Items You Can Carry On a Plane for FREE

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

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 little bit different from everyone else in line holding their 2 allowed items and no more.

As everyone looked on in wonder, the flight attendants didn’t bat an eyelash and I boarded with no trouble at all.

No, they weren’t just shirking their jobs, it’s actually the *official policy* of many airlines to let all sorts of additional items on board that don’t count toward your baggage limit.

For those of you who may not know, Ryan Air is a discount European carrier that like most cheap-o airlines, make you pay extra for pretty much everything, including advance seat assignments.

But even with many (although not all) discount carriers, there are plenty of things you can wear or carry outside of the strict measurement limits for luggage when you board.

Extra Stuff You’re Allowed to Carry On

No, really!!

Many airlines even have these items explicitly listed in their official policy if you know where to look on their website.

There are actually a ton of things you can just carry in your hands if you somehow ran out of space in your luggage.

TIP! There are links to some sample policies from around the world toward the bottom of this post.

First of all, don’t squeeze the last ounce of free space out of your baggage on your way *to* somewhere, you’ll need all the wiggle room you can get on the return trip.

     READ MORE: Why the Best Packing Strategy is to Pack as Poorly as Possible

Inevitably, even if I don’t buy much along the way, it always seems harder to get everything to fit properly in my luggage when packing it all up on the final night of a trip.

So these tips are really intended for when you have that last item or two you just can’t squeeze in but still want to take back with you.

Here are all of the items that you can wear, hold, or have clipped outside of the allowed luggage dimensions when you board:

Jacket

Even if you’re not cold, even if you’re heading into a tropical heatwave, you can still wear your jacket when you board to free up luggage space.

And there’ll probably even be space in the overhead bin or under your seat if you don’t want to wear it for the entire flight. Or just drape it over your lap – plane rides can get very chilly sometimes.

Clothing Layers

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Coming back from my recent trip to Nicaragua, right before I boarded I needed to smush my purse into my backpack so it was a single ‘personal item’ for boarding.

Since the backpack was pretty full already, I wore my cardigan and scarf and tied my fleece jacket around my waist. Instant space creator.

You might not be able to wear all your layers for your security screening, but you sure can wear them to board the plane.

Neck Pillow

Neck Pillow Extra Items You Can Carry On a Plane for FREE DSC_0527 (2)

Many wheeled bags have a strap you can clip your neck pillow to if you can’t fit it inside.

This is probably the accessory you’ve seen carried separate from luggage most often besides a jacket, and some people even wear it around their neck to board!

Umbrella

I can often wedge this at the bottom of my wheeled back in between the two sides of the handle, but if you’re really strapped for space, it’s not a problem to carry this item separately.

Just put it somewhere on the plane where you’ll remember to bring it with you when you leave.

Camera/Camera Bag

Cam era Bag Extra Items You Can Carry On a Plane for FREE DSC_0654

In a pinch, I’ve strapped my bulky camera bag for my ‘fancy camera’ to the outside of my wheeled bag because I just couldn’t get that zipper to close with it inside.

Which is totally fine, because this is also an item that is allowed to be separate from your outer luggage dimension limits.

Hat

Hat Extra Items You Can Carry On a Plane for FREE DSC_0738

When you see someone boarding a place wearing their cowboy hat or wide-brimmed straw hat from the beach, it might not just be a fashion statement.

Wearing it to board can save you precious luggage space if you’re struggling to zip that bag.

Duty Free Purchases

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This must be part of some secret backroom deal between airports and airlines.

No matter how bulky or numerous your duty-free items, it’s totally fine to bring them onto the plane with you in addition to your other luggage.

And in some cases, if you purchase alcohol, you won’t even receive your duty-free bag until right as you board.

Merchandise purchased at airport

In many cases, any kind of merchandise purchased at the airport (and especially takeaway food that you’ll probably consume in-flight anyway) don’t count toward your luggage.

Of course, it helps to have this in some sort of obvious container or bag as you board.

TIP! Whether you have the space in your luggage or not, liquids over the 3mL are great items to purchase once you’re through security. On my last trip, both the 500mL water bottle and the 200mL sunscreen I purchased served me well in my travels!

Reading Material

Reading Material Book Kindle Extra Items You Can Carry On a Plane for FREE DSC_0653

Just hold your book in your hand. There is so much queuing involved with boarding an airplane between getting scanned and making it through the jetbridge, I’m usually holding a book or e-reader in my hand to keep me entertained anyway!

Infant Accessories

Image: Pixabay
Image: Pixabay

I don’t have children, but if you do, there are extra allowances for bringing on board baby supplies, even if the infant will be sitting in your lap the whole time.

These include a car seat, collapsible stroller, and a bag up to 5kg/11 lbs – or more! – with food and diapers (nappies) to cover whatever the baby might need during the flight.

Medical Devices

The interpretation here can be broad, but at a minimum include a cane or crutches, collapsible wheelchair, and any oxygen or dialysis devices you’re dependent on.

All free of charge.

Of course, the exact specifications vary by carrier, and you’ll definitely want to check the specific policy of any airline you’re planning to fly.

Some strict carriers aside (hi EasyJet!), most airlines won’t stop you from boarding while holding any of the above items with you, even if it’s not explicitly mentioned anywhere on their website.

Carry-On Baggage Policies from Around the World

Many policies explicitly will list most, or all of the items above. And some carriers, like Avianca (see below) even allow balloons!

Here are some specific policies from around the world:

North American carrier

Click here for the United Airlines policy
Scroll to bulleted list

South American carrier

Click here for the Avianca Airlines policy
Scroll to “What Can You Take?” then expand “Additional Items”

European carrier

Click here for the Air France policy
Scroll down to yellow border with “Additional Items You May Take on Board…”

Middle Eastern carrier

Click here for the Qatar Airways policy
Expand “Hand baggage allowance” & see box with “Carry more on board”

Asian carrier

Click here for the Malaysia Airlines policy
See #2 and #3

Even if there is no mention in the official boarding policy of the airline you’re flying, so long as it’s not a discount carrier, in all likelihood, no one will stop you with any 3-5 (or even ALL) of the knick knacks listed above whether you’re wearing or holding them or they’re clipped to the outside of your luggage like a neck pillow or camera bag.

I’ve flown dozens of airlines, and never once been stopped with any of the above accessories as I boarded!

Happy flying!!
Lana

Do you usually carry any of the above items outside of your luggage when you board a plane? Any time that you were prevented from bringing one of them on? Anything I missed in terms of carry-on luggage tips? Let me know in the ‘Comments’!

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Extra Items You Can Carry On a Plane for FREE

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

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

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 food when you travel.

What to Do

There are plenty of things you can actively do, both before and during a trip, to steer yourself toward delicious restaurants wherever you’ll be visiting. If eating well is a priority for you when you travel, here are a few things to do to ensure you’re eating your best!

Before You Go

Preparation goes a long way when it come to eating well on the road. Here are some specific ways I find great restaurant options in advance:

Research restaurant options ahead of time

Whether your preference is to flip through a physical guidebook or read blog posts online, take the time to research what restaurants are serving great food for you to check out. This is also a great time to keep an eye out for local specialties that are mentioned so you can do some additional searching for the best spots to sample them. It’s also important to plot restaurants on a map, so you know what other sights and activities are nearby.

TIP! Do enough research that you have at least one option in the different areas of the city or town you’ll visit.

TIP! If there are several recommended restaurants close to one another, when I am there in person I will walk by all of the options, read the menus, peek inside, and then decide where to go.

TIP! Sometimes there are great options far out of the city center, which may not be feasible if you have time constraints, so figure out in advance whether you need other closer restaurant options or will make the trek.

Read online restaurant reviews

This seems basic, but not all online reviews are created equal. In recent years, I have found that Google reviews tend to be relatively accurate, with many locals usually contributing, and there is the added convenience of having reviews in other languages automatically being translated into yours. Plus, if you search Google.com for “best restaurants in Venice,” you can then filter by rating, seeing only the results that are rated 4.0+ or 4.5+ out of 5 possible stars.

I tend to use it less for popular places, but if you are headed to a more off-the-beaten path destination, TripAdvisor is a great site to use. And especially for destinations that are not typically popular with tourists, it may be the only resource at your disposal. I found restaurant review information to be very limited on my recent work trip to Haiti, and

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Do targeted online searches

This is one of the best ways I’ve found to identify great restaurants to check out when I visit a new place. Instead of sticking to lists with blanket restaurant recommendations, I look for something specific in that place:

“<city/country name> foodie”
“<city/country name> best local dishes”
“Best Brunch in Sydney
“Best Coffee in Detroit
“Best White Rose Dumplings in Hoi An”
“Best Cardamom Buns in Stockholm

TIP! Also do targeted searches in the local language if it’s not English. It’s easy to use an online dictionary to translate so instead of looking for “Florentine steak in Florence” you’re finding the Italian results by looking for “bistecca alla fiorentina Firenze.” (This is how I found my favorite place in Florence to get this local specialty!)

Ask locals or frequent visitors

Even if you don’t think you have any connection to a place you’re traveling, you might be surprised. While I didn’t know any locals in Barcelona, Spain or Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a friend-of-a-friend was a frequent Barcelona visitor with great recommendations and I was steered in the right direction by my friend’s aunt who visits Haiti often to do non-profit work. In both cases, I had no idea I had a connection – until I asked.

La Paradeta for dinner

Reserve some restaurants in advance

If there is a place you’ll definitely want to go, it may be worth it (or necessary!) to book your meal in advance. Certain countries rely on reservations more than others and it is also helpful for any popular, high-end restaurants you may be considering, like something from the list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants or the most popular Michelin-starred restaurants in a major city.

TIP! Be flexible with what time you’re willing to reserve and consider lunch as an option to increase your chances of obtaining a hard-to-get reservation.

During Your Trip

Sure, preparation is great, but it’s nothing compared to actually being at a destination. There are also plenty of things you can do once you arrive to find the best restaurants and eat well:

Ask at your accommodation

Whether you’re staying at a hotel or an AirBNB, either the concierge or your host probably has great information about the local dining options. In both cases, if there’s something specific you’re looking for (think trendy, or authentic, or a particular cuisine), they can probably help. When in Verona, Italy, I had Osteria da Ugo recommended to me at my hotel when I was looking for local cuisine and it became my go-to restaurant there for return visits.

Osteria da Ugo Verona Italy Practical Tips How to Find the Best Restaurants When You Travel 20150510_135531

Ask a local for recommendations

This doesn’t need to be a formal process, but every local you encounter – from asking for directions to taking a taxi ride – is a potential source of great local intel about the best restaurants. I got some great restaurant pointers from someone I met admiring a mural in San Ignacio, Belize.

TIP! Be sure not to just ask for a blanket restaurant recommendation, because you may just have the local suggest the fanciest tourist spot in town they think will be good for a tourist. Instead, be specific with your request. If you want somewhere local, ask where the taxi drivers hang out or locals go.

San Ignacio Belize Practical Tips How to Find the Best Restaurants When You Travel 20170512_195307

Keep your eyes open as you stroll

You may already be on the path that will take you to the best food of your trip. Keep an eye out for long winding lines of locals like you’ll see at popular spots like Luini Panzerotti in Milan, Italy, or an appetizing item from a street vendor, like my favorite panelle (fried pancakes made with chick pea flour) in Palermo, Sicily or an amazing local buffet I sampled in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

TIP! Even if it’s not mealtime or you’ve already eaten, keep an eye out to see where locals are gravitating or if you see a cute spot you want to mark on a map to return to for a meal later.

Luini Panzerotti Milan Italy Practical Tips How to Find the Best Restaurants When You Travel

Try out restaurants with a menu you can’t understand

Be adventurous and don’t let a restaurant dissuade you even if there’s no English menu in sight. I had some of my best European meals at restaurants in Mainz, Germany Vienna, Austria and Liechtenstein that all only had German menus but were otherwise inviting. Usually there was a server who could help me to figure things out.

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TIP! When in doubt, try dishes or drinks you don’t know the name for. If you see something that looks appetizing, pointing still works for communicating that to a server. Or that time in Bruges, Belgium I picked my beer based on its cool glass, and it turns out I like how Kwak tastes as well!

Follow Your Instincts

No matter how much research you’ve done or how good the online reviews say a restaurant will be, ultimately you need to trust your instincts. On a day trip to Orvieto, Italy from Rome, I had identified a few restaurants as possible lunch options. However as I walked past each in turn during my morning exploring and peeked at their menus, I was not particularly inspired. Another restaurant along the way looked cute and seemed to have special local dishes I hadn’t seen on any other menus, so I went there instead of the places on my list and had an incredible meal!

     READ MORE: How to Eat Well When You Travel Solo

Orvieto Italy Practical Tips How to Find the Best Restaurants When You Travel 20160930_131238

What to Avoid

While there are plenty of things to seek out, there are also quite a view things that I try to avoid when I travel so I can also avoid having a disappointing restaurant experience. There’s always a limited number of meals you’ll get to experience wherever you’re visiting a destination– and I like to make them the best meals I can!

Things that will make me look for another place to eat:

A “Tourist Menu” or big signboard with multiple menu translations

In all likelihood, I can get a foreigners’ version of a local dish back at home. When I’m on the road, I’m looking to taste the authentic food of a city or country as one of the ways I learn about the destination, not getting something that’s been altered to fit tourists’ tastes.

Being right next to major tourist attractions

Any restaurant that is immediately adjacent to a major tourist attraction has no incentive to produce good food. It will have customers looking for a restaurant out of convenience regardless. So even if I am trying to find a convenient meal, I will walk at least a block or two away for what are likely better and more reasonably priced dining options. This strategy paid large dividends in Berat, Albania:

Berat Albania Taverna Lazaro Practical Tips How to Find the Best Restaurants When You Travel

Hearing lots of English and not the local language

While I wouldn’t expect customers anywhere to be completely comprised of locals, hearing an overwhelming amount of English being spoken somewhere (if it’s not the local language) may mean that a restaurant is catering to foreigners and not locals. Any good restaurant will still attract locals even if there are a lot of tourists who eat there as well.

Greeters posted at the street offering you menus and inviting you in

Maybe that’s how it happens in the movies, but in real life, the best restaurants are always busy and don’t need to work so hard to entice people in. I often see this in my travels along pedestrian streets where all the restaurants are virtually indistinguishable and can only attract business by paying someone to stand outside and usher in customers. A better meal is likely waiting at a restaurant that does not need to do this.

Unsanitary appearance

If something looks off when you first approach a location, take that as a sign that the restaurant does not take great care with its food either. If I see somewhere that is excessively dirty or has visible bugs or animal droppings, I don’t stick around to find out what the food is like. Even if I’ve already sat down.

A restaurant that is not that busy

Certainly there are exceptions to this one – if you are eating earlier or later than typical meal time, for example – but in general if a restaurant is pretty deserted, there is a reason for that. Again, it depends on the context, but even if a spot got great reviews and is on my list, if I walk up and it doesn’t look popular, I am likely to go elsewhere.

Of course, none of these strategies is completely effective, but by doing research in advance and keeping an eye out as I visit a new place, the chances are much greater that I will be finding the best restaurants and eating well on my trip.

What do you look for when picking a restaurant in your travels? Any other things you seek out or avoid? Share your best tips in the ‘Comments’ below!

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Practical Tips How to Find the Best Restaurants When You Travel

Summer Reading List

Summer Reading List

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 books in mind to keep me entertained.

READ MORE: Summer Reading List 2017

READ MORE: Summer Reading List 2019

This new Summer Reading List is as eclectic as my travel style, so you’ll find it packed with both fiction and non-fiction, covering my randomly-determined categories of Easy Reading, Memoir, On a More Serious Note, Self Improvement, & Thriller.

Here’s what made it onto my 2018 ‘Summer Reading List’:

EASY READING

Circe

by Madeline Miller

This Greek goddess who is the daughter of Helios breaks out into her own and after being banished by Zeus has some of the more memorable encounters in Greek mythology with the Minotaur, Icarus, and Odysseus. Billed as part-fantasy, part-drama, this will definitely offer an escape to another world.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

The Kiss Quotient

by Helen Hoang

As a former math teacher (and lifetime math enthusiast!) how could I not already love a book that has quotient in the title?!? The main character uses math to organize her life and decides to hire a professional escort to get her acclimated to everything dating-related. Totally logical, right? I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy this one. Plus, there’s already another book in this series planned for next year.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

When Life Gives You Lululemons

by Lauren Weisberger

The title might be a bit too cute even for me, but after a second book that most people didn’t read, this is the third novel of The Devil Wears Prada series, with former unfavored assistant Emily taking her latest Hollywood image consultant skills to ritzy Connecticut. Sounds like this one is going to be one entertaining read for summer.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

MEMOIR

All Over the Place: Adventures in Travel, True Love, and Petty Theft

by Geraldine DeRuiter

Written by fellow blogger Geraldine DeRuite, this memoir is by someone who describes herself as inherently unsuited to travel . . . but does it anyway. I can’t wait to experience all her misadventures in her several years of traveling the globe and all the ways she gets lost – literally and metaphorically – along the way.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

Educated: A Memoir

by Tara Westover

Westover, born to survivalist parents, was nearly 18 years old before she ever attended school or saw a doctor. She was so motivated in her quest for education that it eventually resulted in her earning a PhD from Cambridge University. I can’t wait to experience this most unusual journey vicariously through her eyes.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

Priestdaddy: A Memoir

by Patricia Lockwood

Patricia’s father, already married with children, gets unusual approval to become a Catholic priest. And that seems to be the most normal part of her upbringing! The memoir looks back on her childhood and her experience as an adult moving back in with her parents, and all her hilarious observations along the way.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

Without You There is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea’s Elite

by Suki Kim

This book is from 2014, but feels incredibly relevant this summer as one of the only available first-hand accounts of what it is like inside North Korea. Kim is an investigative journalist who posed as a missionary to get a position teaching English at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology to the country’s elite. Her novel has been controversial enough that the author addressed the ethics of her being embedded there on her personal website, but regardless of how you feel about her methods, it is one of the few independent accounts available of life on the inside.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE

American Kingpin

by Nick Bilton

Set around the Dark Web, the underbelly of the internet, a single person created a marketplace for all sort of illicit transactions in 2011. By the time law enforcement finally hears about it, it is a $1 billion unidentified enterprise nearly impossible to take down. The story of the manhunt may sound more like a thriller, but I imagine the possibilities of the evil of the internet will have me thinking some serious thoughts along the way.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

An American Marriage

by Tayari Jones

Once this book got picked as a selection for Oprah’s Book Club, you knew there were some serious ramifications to this story. An American Marriage touches on America’s criminal justice system and wrongful incarceration, and the havoc it can wreak on personal relationships. This one is definitely near the top of my Summer Reading List.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

Girls Burn Brighter

by Shobha Rao

On the surface it’s about two teenage friends who become separated and then struggle to find one another again, but along the way the story shifts from India to America and explores issues like extreme poverty and human trafficking. It ultimately seems to be about the friendship between the women though, which is what I find so compelling.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

Into the Raging Sea: Thirty-three Mariners, One Megastorm, and the Sinking of the El Faro

by Rachel Slade

After watching a movie that involves an airplane crash while traveling on an airplane (2012’s Flight, in case you’re curious) I have no hesitation reading this highly anticipated book about a giant container ship that went missing in the Bermuda Triangle. Even if I end up reading it while I’m on a boat! More than anything, this strikes me as both a mystery solved and an unsettling look into the modern shipping industry.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

The Power

by Naomi Alderman

Named The Power because this book envisions a world in which women hold the power, but it seems to be grounded enough in reality that it reveals a lot we don’t necessarily want to see about power dynamics. Apparently terrifying at points when it takes situations to their logical conclusion in this alternate universe, the intersection of power and gender roles is bound to be interesting.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

Three Daughters of Eve

by Elif Shafak

This bestselling author who writes in both Turkish and English spins a tale set in Istanbul, where the main character has to reconcile memories from her time abroad at Oxford University with the modern terror attacks taking place in Turkey. Turkey has always been at the crossroads of continents, but this story also seems to explore the far scarier conflict between modernity and tradition, and the violence that results when they clash.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

Turtles All the Way Down

by John Green

The teenage main character chases a lavish reward by a billionaire, but the journey serves to unmask someone struggling vividly with mental illness and their attempts to cope. This story sounds like one that will draw me in and I just won’t be able to look away, even as she unravels.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think

by Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, and Anna Rosling Rönnlund

When Bill Gates puts a book on his 2018 list of 5 books worth reading this summer, you pay attention, especially when he calls Factfulness “one of the best books I’ve ever read.” The book addresses misconceptions people hold about global trends and how we’re not as bad off as we thought. I am already thinking of it as the 21st century version of “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” and hope Rosling changes my outlook for the better.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

THRILLER

The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century

by Kirk W. Johnson

It’s the only non-fiction one in this category, but this one sounds like a real page-turning thriller. Unusual in that it tells the story of a heist that involved no violence, the American author happens to hear about the rare bird specimens that went missing in England two years prior and then becomes obsessed with the topic, doing his own investigating to find out more about this most unusual theft.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

The President is Missing

by Bill Clinton and James Patterson

Who cares what it’s about, former American President Bill Clinton and bestselling author James Patterson wrote a book together! Well, the title kind of gives the premise away anyway, but this a thriller that unfolds over three days that I can’t wait to read.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

The Wife Between Us

by Greer Hendricks

This seems to me to be in the same vein as Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, a suspense novel about love and marriage. From the reviews I’ve seen people seem to feel strongly about this one, and I get the feeling I’m going to breeze right through reading it to form an opinion of my own.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

The Woman in the Window

by A.J. Finn

A recluse in New York City sees something as she looks out her window that causes the whole spiral of the book. I haven’t read many of the details because I’d prefer to be surprised, but this might be the most-hyped book on this list – I’ve had it on hold at the library since March and am only just now in June approaching the top of the list to borrow it to read.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

The Word Is Murder

by Anthony Horowitz

I just read and loved Magpie Murders by the same author and his latest novel came out just a few weeks ago. The action seems to kick off when I woman is strangled just hours after arranging her own funeral. My previous read involved some quaint British mystery-solving in the style of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple or Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, and I can’t wait to see where this one leads.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

Two Girls Down

by Louisa Luna

Two young sisters disappear in a parking lot and their mother hires a bounty hunter and former cop to find them. I’m not sure where this will all lead, but it certainly sounds like an interesting premise that will keep me turning pages to see how it all turns out.

Check out versions and prices HERE.

READ MORE: Summer Reading List 2017

READ MORE: Summer Reading List 2019

Where are you headed this summer? Do you know what books you’ll be reading yet? Any great books that didn’t make my list? I love book recommendations, let me know what your favorite summer reads are!

And in case you missed it, my 2017 “Summer Reading List” is HERE.

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Summer Reading List - Books to Check Out Travel Savvy Gal

Practical Guide to Achieve Your Travel Goals this Year

Practical Guide to Achieve Your Travel Goals this Year

Happy new year! January 1st is a fresh start for many people. Have you made resolutions for the new year? Or are re-energized for a project that has languished?

One thing I always think about leading up to a new year is what kind of travel I’d like to do in the year ahead. Sometimes my focus is on visiting new countries. Other times it’s exploring close to home. Or visiting friends in new places. It depends on the year.

Whatever my travel goals though, it always takes a bit of planning to make my dreams a reality.

Sure, planning is not as fun as ogling over pretty pictures on Instagram, but a little bit of preparation goes a long way.

Here’s what you’ll want to think about *soon* so this is the year you actually make it happen!

When You Can Travel

It sounds so basic, but the reality is that if you don’t start blocking off times now at the start of the year, weeks will turn into months and the time to achieve your travel goals will slip away.

The good news is that it doesn’t take much to get organized!

Passport Tips for not losing things when you travel Practical Guide to Achieve Your Travel Goals this Year 20170129_112032

First, break out the calendar. I’m old school, so I still have a paper version that I maintain each year. You’re probably using some form of app or electronic calendar. Whatever the format, the process is the same:

When You’ll Be Busy

  • Mark holidays. Public holidays in the country where you’re living, plus any religious holidays not already on there or any special days off (like possibly in an election year).
  • Block off busy periods at work you won’t be able to travel. It’s important to merge work obligations onto your personal calendar so you don’t accidentally book a trip when you’re expected to attend a conference somewhere or have another conflict or big deadline.
  • List other obligations. I know I’ll have a cousin’s wedding this June, so I’ve already marked that date on my calendar. Last year was a big celebration for my grandmother’s 90th birthday. If there’s anything you know is coming up, capture it now.

Time for Travel!

Anything not already marked off as a busy time is now fair game for all that travel planning you’re itching to do. You may want to consider things like having a weekend at home if you’re traveling for several consecutive weekends prior, but other than that, go nuts:

  • Block off times for top priorities. There are the travel goals you definitely want to achieve this year, so make those your top scheduling priorities whether it’s finding a weekend in common to travel with friends or blocking off two weeks in a row for a bigger trip.TIP! Of course, you’ll probably also want to think about the weather where you’re heading, so you don’t end up in Asia during rainy season – even if it’s a good time for you to vacation.
  • Ask for time off (if needed). If you have a full-time job like me, you probably need to request time off in advance. Some offices even approve limited vacation based on who asks first, so it’s definitely to your advantage to ask early!TIP! It’s also possible if you’re considering two different times (or comparing prices) to get tentative approval for both, and then later confirm what days you’ll actually be out of the office when you book.

Who to Travel With

Being back in the US after several years of living abroad, this is definitely the area where I struggled most last year.

In Milan, I had it easy. For many of the weekends I was looking to travel, I had a friend ready to go on an adventure with me, and it was also very affordable to travel solo.

This year I had some solo trips (including a week in Belize) and traveled several times on my own to visit friends in different cities – New York, Boston, Detroit, Washington DC – but I was far less successful managing a weekend escape with friends.

Hiking Weekend with friend Practical Guide to Achieve Your Travel Goals this Year DSC_0526

In the end, I only successfully planned ONE weekend trip with a friend this year. Everything else fell through.

I’m definitely getting on the planning for this much earlier than before (including reviving some of the trips that were planned but didn’t happen last year). I already have tentative plans with several sets of friends for weekend getaways and hope to get to some of those destinations early in the year.

Where to Go

Maybe your travel goals for this year include specific destinations, or perhaps you’re simply trying to visit 2 new countries and you’re not sure which ones to choose.

     READ MORE: Top Travel Destinations of 2018

Here are some things to think about when deciding where you’ll go in the coming year:

Staying Close to Home

Many of us (myself included!) are guilty of gallivanting off to faraway places while leaving spots closer to home unexplored. I even did this when home was Perth, Australia and only when I was leaving for good did I finally explore the other parts of the country.

But no more. Wherever you are in the world, there is something (& probably several somethings) that are notable in your area, whether it’s a museum or restaurant or amazing spot in nature.

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Think about:

  • What is in your town (or village or city)? There is this glorious thing called the internet – which you can obviously access if you’re reading my blog! – that let’s you search for anything and everything. Even if you’ve lived in the same place all your life, you might be surprised about what information is out there. Find bloggers who write about things locally, or simply search for things like “Best Brunch in <your city>” or “Best Instagram Spots in <your city>”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZn8hXoHWe4/?hl=en&taken-by=travelsavvygal

    • What hidden gems are nearby for a day trip? You’ve maybe never looked at your hometown or where you currently live from a tourist perspective, but there may be a quirky museum you’ve never heard of before or a beautiful spot in nature within a half-hour drive. I’ve found great information about various cities I’ve lived around the world by searching for things like “Best day trips from <insert your city here>” or “Best Hiking in <insert your state or country>”

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  • What is in driving distance for a weekend? For me, if I am driving somewhere for the weekend, I try to keep it around a 3-hour drive or less if I can. There is actually quite a lot encompassed in that area, from beautiful national parks to beaches to ski destinations to wonderful city escapes. This past year I enjoyed the beach in Delaware and Maryland, towns in Virginia like Richmond, Williamsburg, and the adorable college town of Charlottesville, and a girls’ hiking weekend. Figure out what towns you have yet to explore that are nearby – they might surprise you!

Winery in Charlottesville Virginia USA Practical Guide to Achieve Your Travel Goals this Year 20170610_133805

Heading Further Afield

      • Where can you get to easily by bus or train? For me, traveling by bus or train gives me a bit more flexibility with my travel plans, as I can relax more or be productive on the way (there’s usually WiFi) as opposed to when I’m driving. When I lived in Milan, Italy, there were a ton of adorable small towns just a train ride away, plus cities like Florence, Venice, Rome, Naples, and Geneva, Switzerland. Check out the routes of where you can get to easily. Some of the destinations may be unexpected!

Lotus flowers in Bangkok, Thailand - a direct flight from Milan!
Lotus flowers in Bangkok, Thailand – a direct flight from Milan!

      • Where will a short, direct flight get you? Okay, so nowhere is exactly easy to get to from Perth, Australia, but Bali is only a 3-hour plane ride away. From Milan I flew direct to places like Seville, Spain and Bangkok, Thailand and Tel Aviv, Israel. And from Baltimore there are all sorts of spots easily accessible around the US, Canada, Caribbean, and Mexico. A quick search will tell you all the places you can get to directly from your local airport. Short flights make it especially easy to squeeze in a weekend escape without having to take any time off of work.

Tel Aviv, Israel - another direct flight from Milan!
Tel Aviv, Israel – another direct flight from Milan!

      • What are your top destination priorities for longer trips? Last year for me this was Vegas for a long weekend, a week-long solo trip to Belize, and visiting several spots in the Caribbean on a cruise that left out of my current city, Baltimore, Maryland. For this coming year, I have a few priorities set including a return to Central America and several weeks in Europe. Longer trips are the hardest to schedule, so get these on your calendar early!

Booking that trip!

This is the hardest part for most would-be travelers. There are always endless reasons to delay actually committing to a trip, which means if you wait long enough, you’ll never actually make it anywhere. So even if it makes you a bit nervous to commit to that train ticket or flight, JUST DO IT!

Image: Pixabay
Image: Pixabay

Some of my least-stressful travel planning has been when I’ve booked a bus or train or flight several months in advance. There’s none of that back-and-forth of debating whether to go or not the week before, or analyzing if it is a good weekend for a trip. You already have a ticket and you’re going!

Do you already know of some trips you’d like to take this year? Look at flights RIGHT NOW!

With your transportation taken care of you can focus on getting excited for the trip, even if you do minimal advance planning before you actually arrive. I’ve taken trips where I’ve researched extensively beforehand and others where I only first started looking into what to do as I was at the airport waiting for my departing flight. Either way, I always have a great time.

And if you’re not staying with friends or family, take the time early on to also book where you’ll stay. I like to arrange my accommodations through Booking.com, because most properties allow you to cancel with no penalty up until a few days before the trip.

You can find Booking.com prices and other sites on TripAdvisor for hotel bookings, where you can enter your dates and it will show you availability at the top-rated places to stay, including comparing the cost across multiple booking sites so you can get the best deal. So no need to worry, just lock in something now that can be cancelled later – and you can always re-book if you find a better spot.

And when I’m looking to have a kitchen to do my own cooking or am finding hotels to be a bit pricey, I check out what’s available on AirBNB. I’ve stayed in properties around the world and have had mostly positive experiences. Plus, if you run into any issues, their customer service is excellent.

(If you’re new to AirBNB & book using this link, we’ll both get travel credit!)

My Travel Goals This Year

This year’s travel goals for me are a combination of doing more exploring close to home and also making it to at least 3 new countries. Close to home for me in part includes doing more in Baltimore where I currently live. Despite having lived here before and a year and counting now, there is still plenty left to explore.

I also have some new US cities in mind for a visit, like Denver, Colorado (where family just moved), Savannah, Georgia, or Asheville, North Carolina. Plus, some cities I’d like to re-explore after a long while like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mexico City, and Quebec, Canada.

     READ MORE: The Best Advice to Travel More

In terms of new countries, I’m already booked for a January trip to Nicaragua! I hope to explore other new countries on a European trip, possibly Malta (which has been on my bucket list for a while) and Norway (where a friend recently moved).

What My Travel Plans Look Like So Far

This month I’m headed to Nicaragua for the first time! I locked in flights back in November, and arranged my accommodations shortly after, so now I just need to finish with some planning and get on that plane.

I do take my own advice of course, so I’m working on confirming dates for other trips I’d like to take. The biggest one is a return trip to Europe where I haven’t visited since moving back to the US a year ago. Of course I want to see old friends in familiar places as well as hit up some new spots.

Just as important though is identifying weekends to block off for all those other shorter trips! My focus is currently on some weekend ski escapes this winter, and making it to some of those US cities I can get to easily by train or a direct flight. I’ve already made tentative plans with friends for a foodie weekend in Philadelphia and a trip to Savannah, Georgia – now we just need to lock down dates.

And of course, there’s my wish list of places to go. I’d love to get to the countries of Portugal, Georgia, and South Africa for longer trips. Closer to home is maybe Belize for a return trip or a weekend in Puerto Rico once hurricane recovery is further along. A road trip along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail or in Yosemite National Park would be amazing, plus city escapes large and small around the US.

     READ MORE: My Travel Lists

Now granted, now that I’m living back in the US many of my wish list items are those spots close enough for a weekend trip, which means it’s centered around North and Central America.

Certainly my wish list has shifted every time I’ve moved continents – and yours should too! Think about spots that are close enough that you’ll reasonably make it there. And keep an actual list of where you’d like to go so when you’re itching to go somewhere it’s already handy.

I wish you the best year of travel yet – now go make those plans!

What are your travel goals for 2018? What travel challenges can I help with? And what topics should I cover in this year’s blog posts that would be most helpful, so this is the year you achieve your travel goals?

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Practical Guide to Achieve Your Travel Goals this Year

Top 8 Travel Destinations of 2018

Top 8 Travel Destinations of 2018

It’s a new year with endless travel possibilities. So which travel destinations should you seek out?

Don’t get overwhelmed with the unlimited options, instead think about your travel goals for the year or even just what type of place you’d like to get to. And then pick one place for your first trip.

Maybe you want a warm beach escape during winter? Or a place that is very different culturally from where you live? Or somewhere off-the-beaten-path that won’t be overrun with tourists? Or finally make it to the top item on your Bucket List?

     READ MORE: Practical Guide to Achieve Your Travel Goals this Year

Regardless of your desires, this list has a little bit of something for everyone, with destinations all over the world. It’s a mix of places I’ve been and loved and spots with timely reasons to go in 2018, in alphabetical order.

Read on, get inspired, and then book that trip!

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Belize

Within my first day in Belize back in May, I knew it would be my new 2017 destination that I’d be screaming from the rooftops about. Not only is a beautiful country with a wide range of adventures, historical ruins, and opportunities to relax, it is just so easy to travel there.

     READ MORE: Fun Facts – Things to Know About Belize Before You Visit

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As a former British colony and still part of the Commonwealth, English is widely spoken. For those traveling from America, the US Dollar is accepted everywhere and interchangeable with the local Belizean dollar at a simple 1:2 exchange rate. And everyone is so friendly and helpful anytime you need to get somewhere. Which leaves you free to focus on enjoying all of the amazing things Belize has to offer!

     READ MORE: 9 Reasons Belize Should Be Your Next Travel Destination
     READ MORE: Exploring Belize’s ATM Cave, a Mayan Archaeological Wonder
     READ MORE: Foodie Bucket List – How to Eat Like a Local in Belize

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Caribbean Islands

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Yes, 2017 was a rough year for some parts of the Caribbean that were devastated by hurricanes. Which makes 2018 a great year to support islands undergoing hurricane recovery as well as checking out some other islands that escaped hurricane season mostly unscathed (over 70% of them!). There is a Caribbean Travel Update website that has the latest information, island by island. Check it out HERE.

     READ MORE: How to Spend One Day in Nassau, Bahamas

And even on some of the islands most affected by last season’s hurricanes, cruise ports were some of the first parts to re-open for tourism. A Caribbean cruise will let you island hop and ships have already adjusted their itineraries to ensure that you are getting the best vacation experience in the region.

     READ MORE: Top 7 Excuses for Not Going on a Cruise – And Why Cruise Anyway!
     READ MORE: Top Tips for Taking a Cruise

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Israel

A destination where I’ve lived, but have also been again several times recently, continues to astound me with how much it changes and evolves with each visit. As a clueless 18-year old, while I traveled nearly every weekend, most of my meals on the road were with friends and family, or from the bakery section of a supermarket. On my last few trips I’ve savored one of the best (and most memorable) tasting menus of my life, inhaled the latest trendy street food, & sipped cocktails at a speakeasy. Not to mention some pretty fabulous wine tastings.

Israeli beer Machane Yehudah Market Top 8 Travel Destinations of 201820151204_144729

     READ MORE: Best Places to Eat & Drink in Israel
     READ MORE: Foodie Bucket List – The 16 Best Local Foods and Drinks in Israel

     READ MORE: 8 Best Wineries to Visit in Israel

There are so many sites with religious and historical significance in Israel that . . . I can’t even come up with a good way to end this sentence to do the country justice, history is simply everywhere – retracing Jesus’s footsteps on the Via Dolorosa of Jerusalem’s Old City and hiking through coastal Roman ruins, palpably feeling the millenia of history that have touched this land. You’ll just have to come explore yourself!

     READ MORE: Insider Bucket List – Top 20 Experiences to Seek Out in Israel
     READ MORE: Why Visit Israel During Chanukah

     READ MORE: Top Insider Picks – What to Do in Jerusalem

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(Small Town) Italy

Sunset over Orvieto Italy Day Trip from Rome Top 8 Travel Destinations of 2018 20160930_184317

I’m not the first person to wax philosophical about all the reasons to visit small town Italy, but after 3 years of living in Milan, I can attest to how worthwhile a visit can be. While the big cities in Italy are draws for a reason, there is endless charm and authentic interaction with locals that you’ll only get when visiting one of Italy’s smaller towns.

Italy Corinaldo Top 8 Travel Destinations of 2018 DSC_0253 (2)

A day trip from a major city will give you a taste of small town living, but for the real fairy tale life in the Italian countryside or seaside, carve out at least a night or two of your vacation – you won’t regret it!

Taking a holiday to Rome? Take the time for a day in Orvieto.
Heading to Milan? Make a day trip to Bergamo or Cremona.
Vacationing in Tuscany? You’ll love exploring small town gems all over nearby Le Marche.
Wandering the canals of Venice? It’s an easy train ride to romantic Verona, city of Romeo and Juliet.
On an escape in Sicily? Spend a day in the coastal gem of Cefalù.


 

Malta

Image: Courtesy of Pixabay
Image: Courtesy of Pixabay

Malta has been on my bucket list for a while, and with its capital Valletta being named a European Capital of Culture for 2018 and hosting a range of festivals and events, there is no better time to plan a visit. An archipelago south of Sicily toward the northern African coast, it also boasts mild weather in winter and a hot but not scorching summer.

READ MORE: Top 12 Reasons to Go To Malta & Malta Travel Tips

Whether you’re interested in historical sites, beautiful beaches, or adventure – or all three like me! – there is no shortage of activities to keep you entertained during your stay. Plus, almost everyone speaks English, so you’ll have an easy time during your stay.

Explore more of what Malta has to offer!

Mexico City, Mexico

Outside the Anthropology Museum. I like how they used the white stone to form the middle section of the Mexico flag.
Outside the Anthropology Museum

Another 2018 accolade is in store for Mexico City, which has been named the World Design Capital of 2018, the first city in the Americas with this designation. I last visited the sprawling metropolis known locally as D.F. (Distrito Federal, or “federal district”) nearly a decade ago and even then it stood out for the culture, art, design, and of course, the foodie culture that has since exploded all over the city.

Mexico City Frida Kahlo Museum Top 8 Travel Destinations of 2018 CIMG2368

With over 20 million people, there is no shortage of bustling areas to explore. There are tons of reasons for a visit in 2018, just remember with the high elevation, always wear sunscreen 😉

Seychelles

Image: Courtesy of Pixabay
Image: Courtesy of Pixabay

Most people think of the Seychelles as a luxury beach destination like the Maldives, which it is, but this African nation of islands also has a variety of AirBNB properties available at a much more reasonable cost for those looking for a value escape.

It’s a large enough destination that there are a variety of activities from visiting a nature preserve to water sports to a tea plantation. And it’s unknown enough that the beaches don’t tend to get crowded and you can have a whole stretch of pristine white sand all to yourself.

Singapore

Singapore Gardens by the Bay DSC_0977

For many, Singapore is a spot to stop briefly for a layover or a day or two en route to another Asian destination. I came for a full week, and never ran out of things to do and eat. English is spoken all over Singapore, which makes it an easy place for foreigners to get around, whether you’re shopping in Chinatown or strolling through Little India. Certainly, if you get a chance, pop in and explore!

Singapore is known for its food culture, recently taking over the title of cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world from Hong Kong and featuring street food in informal hawker stalls located just about everywhere. Plus, it has one of my favorite breakfasts ever, you’ll get addicted, too!

     READ MORE: Singapore Foodie Bucket List – 8 Foods You Must Try

     READ MORE: How to Order and Eat a Typical Singaporean Breakfast

     READ MORE: 11 Ways Singapore is Like Hong Kong – And Why You Should Visit Both!

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Click here to explore what to do and where to stay in Singapore!

Not everywhere I visited and loved in 2017 made my list of top spots, but there are plenty of other posts up on the blog as well from my past year of travel, including some off-the-beaten-path US destinations like Detroit, Michigan and Charlottesville, Virginia.

Looking for even more travel inspiration? Also check out my Top Travel Destinations of 2017!


What destinations are inspiring you for 2018 travel? Anywhere I missed with something timely happening this year? What’s the biggest trip you’re planning for 2018? Let me know more in the ‘Comments’ below!

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Top 8 Travel Destinations of 2018

Summer Reading List: Books to Read on Vacation

Summer Reading List: Books to Read on Vacation

Like many of you, I typically take a vacation of a week or longer during the summertime, and one of the best ways I relax and unwind is curling up with a good book.

I love easy reads on vacation, but if I’m gone longer than a weekend I want to have some more serious books too, and a mix of fiction and non-fiction to choose from. That way as I finish each book, I have a lot of options of things to read next and can follow my mood in the moment (as I try to do on any good vacation).

READ MORE: Summer Reading List 2018

READ MORE: Summer Reading List 2019

I’ve divided my picks into categories of Easy Reading, Memoir, On a More Serious Note, Self Improvement, & Thriller.

Here’s what made it onto my 2017 ‘Summer Reading List’:

EASY READING

Neanderthal Marries Human

by Penny Reid

I was first recommended this light-hearted author by someone in my book club as writing an easy read, smartly done. I read and enjoyed the first book Neanderthal Seeks Human when I was in Belize last month, and have been waiting for an equally relaxing trip to be lounging around and read what happens next.

Rich People Problems

by Kevin Kwan

This is the third and latest book in Kwan’s series about the ultra-rich of Singapore. I first got into the series when I visited Singapore for the first time last November, and it gave such a great insight into life there that it made my list of 6 Books to Inspire Travel in 2017. I’m sure I’ll devour his latest book too during my summer reading binge on vacation.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette

by Maria Semple

As far as I can tell, this book seems to be a cross between a comedy and a thriller, so I’ve stuck it here in ‘Easy Reading.’ About an eclectic mother-architect who disappears, and all of the creative ways her daughter tries to track her down. I’m not sure exactly what to expect, but it certainly sounds entertaining.

MEMOIR

Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman

by Lindy West

I’ve had a library hold on this one for over 6 months (since December of last year – yes, I looked it up), but the timing of it becoming available is lining up perfectly for me to be able to read it on vacation this summer. West’s attitude seems to be to find humor and fun on this crazy journey we call life, and she sounds so hilarious that I want to be along for the ride.

Heat: An Amateur’s Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany

by Bill Buford

What kind of stories would you have to tell if you were a home cook that decided to go work for Mario Batali for a year? Bill Buford found out and tells all, providing entertainment along the way. Other than being funny, this also hits on two of my greatest loves: food & Italy. I can’t wait to savor this one!

ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE

Everything, Everything

by Nicola Yoon

About a girl who is allergic to the world and hasn’t left her house in nearly two decades. The book seems to pick up when a boy moves in next door and she’s sure she’ll fall in love with him. Due to the girl’s condition, I think there are more serious aspects to this one, although this might be the lightest read of my serious ones. I’ll have to read them all to find out for sure!

It Can’t Happen Here

by Sinclair Lewis

Nobel Prize winner Sinclair Lewis is possibly most well known for his novel Babbitt, however this novel written during the Great Depression about how fascism can take over has found a new audience in modern times. It sounds like a classic that still rings true today, and I’ve been loving some of the older books I’ve read that still have wisdom for the current day.

Mrs. Fletcher

by Tom Perrotta

About a mid-forties divorced woman with a son recently off to college, I think this one is a combination of wacky entertaining and deep insights into love and relationships as the characters make mistakes along the way. Another of the lighter, serious reads.

Standard Deviation

by Katherine Heiny

This one is not world politics serious, and is supposed to have many funny moments, but it seems to examine the nature of love and family in a deep way so I’ve mentally placed it as one of my summer reading books that may require deep thought. A man seems to be happily married with a son, and then the first wife comes back into the picture, causing him to reexamine his choices.

Exit West

by Mohsin Hamid

This is a love story set in a tumultuous, unnamed country about to have a civil war. As violence escalates, the couple decide to leave and the novel tracks their journey. Another one of those summer reading books that I’m expecting will be engaging, but also make me think about the issues it raises.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

by Mark Manson

I read one of blogger Mark Mason’s posts that went viral on 7 Strange Questions That Help You Find Your Life Purpose (which I highly recommend!) and his unique perspective had me hooked. So of course when I found out he wrote a book, I was intrigued. When I found out he wrote a book about how to focus your effort in life to be happier, I immediately added this book to my summer reading list. Manson is wonderfully honest, but has a turn-your-world-upside-down style that I want to fully absorb on vacation, away from the hectic pace of everyday life.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

by Marie Kondo

Fine, so I might like to hold onto objects for longer than most people. Some might even call me a hoarder. But for me things = memories, whether it’s a Broadway ticket stub from the 90s or a map of Mainz, Germany that I picked up on my wanderings there a few years ago. Of course, there is the other perspective, coming from the acclaimed founder of her own method for organizing. I’m calling it now that I won’t take all of the recommendations she makes, but I am curious to see what I might be able to incorporate into my life to make it better.

THRILLER

Camino Island

by John Grisham

About a heist at a Princeton University library and a rare book dealer in Florida, you can already start to see how the drama unfolds. Even though this is not a book about lawyers, it does seem to be a thriller like most of Grisham’s novels, so easy summer reading.

Good as Gone

by Amy Gentry

Portraying every parent’s worst nightmare, a teenager is kidnapped from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Then, years later, someone claiming to be the missing daughter reappears. I feel like I’ve seen a similar scenario on a TV show once, but I love a good thriller to race through cover to cover when I’m on vacation and have the time.

 

Where are you headed this summer? Do you know what books you’ll be reading yet? Any great summer books that didn’t make my list? I love book recommendations, let me know what your favorite summer reads are!

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SUMMER READING LIST - What Books to Check Out!

6 Books to Inspire Travel in 2017

6 Books to Inspire Travel in 2017

In case you haven’t already figured it out – I’m an avid reader. I especially like to read books set in countries where I’m living and traveling, and sometimes books I’ve selected for other reasons end up inspiring me to visit the places where they’re set.

To kick off the new year, here are my pics for the top books to inspire travel, and get you excited for your next adventure:

crazy-rich-asians

Crazy Rich Asians
by Kevin Kwan

I started this book right before my trip to Singapore at the end of last year, and was so hooked that I immediately read Kwan’s follow-up novel (the third book of the trilogy is expected to be released in May 2017). A bit of a guilty pleasure or beach read kind of book, there is also a great sense of what it’s like in Singapore. Although many of the characters come from very well-to-do families, there are a lot of drool-worthy descriptions of Singaporean food and the street hawkers that make eating in this tiny island nature such an adventure – you’ll want to eat your way through Singapore, too.

in-a-sunburned-country

Down Under / In a Sunburned Country
by Bill Bryson

After reading one of Bryson’s most popular books, A Short History of Nearly Everything, I was hooked on his sense of humor and how craftily he uses levity to present facts in a memorable way. When I moved to Australia in 2012, Bryson’s book on his travels in Australia (titled differently depending on where in the world you live) was the first book I read upon my arrival. Not only are his descriptions absolutely hilarious, they are also spot on in portraying this island nation and continent. And although it was over a year later that I finally had the chance to visit some of the parts of Australia that Bryson describes, his imagery is so vivid that I still clearly remembered his passages and how exactly they corresponded to the reality on the ground.  One of my all-time top books to inspire travel!

the-great-railway-bazaar

The Great Railway Bazaar
by Paul Theroux

This book chronicles the author’s trip by train from London across Asia and back. I read it during my trip to Sri Lanka a year ago – for the small part of the book that is set there – and ended up completely engrossed start to finish. Descriptions cover human nature and the train journey itself, as well as the various destinations on the train journey. For places like Vietnam where I’ve traveled before, I smiled knowingly as I read the passages, and for the countries I haven’t visited, I got a unique view of the culture through Theroux’s descriptions. Covering so much ground, surely one of the stops on this train journey will pique your interest. And in the meantime, the book will keep you highly entertained.

my-brilliant-friend

My Brilliant Friend: Neapolitan Novels, Book One
by Elena Ferrante

Naples is not always a destination for visitors to Italy, but this first book of Ferrante’s four-part series about two friends shows why it should be. The sometimes harsh reality of the city living in the shadow of a volcano also means that there is a vivacity to Naples – and southern Italy in general – that is just not quite the same up north. It is also a great window into the mentality of a southern Italian, and how challenging it can be to break the mold of where you were raised. Not only will you want to go to Naples, you’ll have a much better understanding of the city when you do.  It’s one of those books to inspire travel you might not have expected, but will land you in an incredible destination!

wild

Wild
by Cheryl Strayed

Raw and honest, the descriptions in this book are so vivid that I was quite surprised to find out that it had been written many years after the journey took place. In the wake of personal problems, Strayed decides to hike the Pacific Coast Trail solo. Not only was this book inspirational for me as a frequent solo female traveler, but it also illustrates how time spent outdoors can be transformative. If it’s been awhile since you’ve trekked through nature, you’ll want to get back out there after this read.

yes-man

Yes Man
by Danny Wallace

Although there are some specific travel destinations that come up in this book, I took the most from its central idea – that people these days say “no” quite a bit, whether to an invitation to go out for drinks after work or a proposition for a far-flung vacation. And you open yourself up to so much more adventure and unexpected experiences by simply saying “yes” more. There will always be reasons not to take that next trip or embark on a new adventure, but you gain so much more by going anyway. I doubt most people will go to the extremes that Wallace did, but the underlying reminder is a strong one.

What would you pick as the top books to inspire travel?  Which one has affected you most?

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6 BOOKS

How to Avoid Common Mistakes Travelers Make on their First Visit to Bangkok

How to Avoid Common Mistakes Travelers Make on their First Visit to Bangkok

I hated Bangkok the first time I visited.

I’m the kind of person who goes to a new city, and even before I leave, am planning itineraries in my head for when I am able to return. Questions like “What city would you like to go back to?” always stump me because the honest answer is “Almost everywhere.”

In Bangkok, I spent my time thinking about how quickly I could escape the city and never have to come back.

Fast forward to when I was living in Milan, Italy and as part of a holiday raffle, won a prize that would have excited anyone else – a free round-trip flight to Bangkok!

Winning a Trip to Bangkok from Milan How to Avoid Common Mistakes Travelers Make on their First Visit to Bangkok Thailand 20141125_160018

Honestly, I felt a bit restrained in my excitement. How did I end up with the one gift everyone would want but me??

Quickly rationalizing in my head, I realized that a flight to Bangkok would be a good excuse to go to Hong Kong and celebrate Chinese New Year there. And that I could tack on some time in northern Thailand for rock climbing and other adventures that I had skipped on my first trip.

Rock Climbing in Chiang Mai, Thailand before returning to Bangkok
Rock Climbing in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Even though I had to fly through Bangkok both coming and going – honestly? I debated spending any time in the city at all.

In the end, to avoid having multiple back-to-back flights to get back home to Milan, I decided to spend a minimal amount of time in Bangkok and would try to have a better experience the second time around.

Why I Hated Bangkok & Tips for What to Do Instead

Bangkok is not an easy city for many travelers, even experienced ones. It boasts its own special brand of chaos that is hard to handle and can be quite frustrating. Even more so if you’ll be traveling solo.

READ MORE: How to Plan Solo Travel in 8 Easy Steps

Here I break down all the parts of Bangkok that drove me crazy on my first visit – and what to do instead so you don’t repeat my mistakes and have an enjoyable visit when you go. I even came away from my return visit liking the city.

It’s possible, I swear!

#1 | What Went Wrong with Taxis and Tuk Tuks

Trying to go somewhere? Transportation in Bangkok can be a challenge.

The drivers with orange vests are motorbike taxis

It was sometimes hard to hail a tuk tuk – the open-air mini transport common in southeast Asia – if you weren’t going to one of the most common tourist spots. Other than heading toward Khao San Road where backpackers tend to stay, drivers would often shrug their shoulders at your intended destination and simply drive off.

Taxi rides were equally difficult to come by. Even once after getting in the taxi – ably hailed with assistance from hotel staff – I got lost on the way (even with a street address written out in Thai!) because so many street names are identical or don’t go in order depending on which direction you’re traveling in the city.

Another time when I had Google Maps open on my cell phone in Thai, and an address marked off with a star, after minimal effort glancing at the screen, the taxi driver decided that it was too much effort to figure out the destination and he simply drove off without me.

What to Do Instead

Even though it doesn’t help all of the time, having verified locations with Thai writing and marked on a map ready to show the driver will increase your chances of hailing transport immensely. The one time I could not get a taxi to take me to my destination, a tuk tuk driver consulted the map on my phone and was able to go right there.

Orderly lines at the Skytrain station
Orderly lines at the Skytrain station

It also helps to stay somewhere that is close to the Skytrain or other public transportation, so that you are minimally dependent on tuk tuks or taxis to get around. I stayed right by a Skytrain station on my return visit and it was much easier to get around the city on my own.

Check out budget hotel deals in Bangkok HERE

TIP! If you are staying at a hotel or near a hotel, it is probably much easier to get a tuk tuk or taxi organized there. Staff are happy to hail one off the street or call.

TIP! There are also some taxi apps that were not available on my first trip but exist now – see the ‘General Travel Tips’ section below.

#2 | What Went Wrong with the Weather

Bangkok the first time around was quite uncomfortable with the heat. Even though it was December, it was quite hot visiting attractions during the day, and I was coated in a glistening sheen of sweat within minutes of walking outside.

What to Do Instead

The obvious solution, which did not occur to me on my first visit, is to simply do a tour of outdoor attractions at night, when temperatures are cooler. On my return trip, I did a fabulous Bangkok Night Lights Tuk Tuk Tour with Expique.

Wat Worawihan at night
Wat Worawihan at night

Wat Pho at night
Wat Pho at night

While I don’t always opt for organized tours when I travel, this small group tour was perfect. During the more moderate weather after the sun went down, tuk tuks whisked us around the city, and our engaging guide shared tidbits of information at every stop and shared a Thai local’s perspective.

Explore Tour Options with Expique HERE

In addition having a guide, taking the tour made transportation easy. The meeting point was at a Skytrain station and since there are dedicated tuk tuks for the entire tour, you don’t have to contend with the hassle of hailing a tuk tuk yourself between each attraction as you would have to do on your own.

Expique Tuk Tuk Tour How to Avoid Common Mistakes Travelers Make on their First Visit to Bangkok Thailand 20150301_214009

TIP! You can also pay extra to have your tuk tuk transport you back to your accommodation at the end of the tour.

#3 | What Went Wrong with Money

You would not believe how many arguments ensued with taxi drivers about making change.

It goes something like this: I offer a bill sufficient to pay the fare. The driver holds up his hands helplessly explaining that he does not have enough change and asks if you have a smaller bill. As a tourist, it’s hard to tell if it’s a real predicament or if someone is trying to scam you.

What to Do Instead

While in some cases it may seem like someone trying to extort you into paying more, the reality is that most street vendors and tuk tuk or taxi drivers only have small bills. If you have anything decently large (500 Baht or more), they may legitimately struggle to make small change.

Even though 500 Baht is only around US$15 or 15, it is often too large a bill for vendors or drivers to accept or make change for.

Thai Baht How to Avoid Common Mistakes Travelers Make on their First Visit to Bangkok Thailand

Be prepared to over-tip or even easier – avoid conflict by having small bills on hand. Otherwise the Asian custom of saving face may prevail, and the driver in an effort to avoid conflict, will drive off without any money at all. Don’t put drivers in this difficult position.

TIP! Change out any large ATM bills at a currency exchange – this is easy to do at the airport or your hostel/hotel – or at a brick-and-mortar store like a 7-11 or supermarket if you make a small purchase.

#4 | What Went Wrong with Public Transportation

In many cities I’ve traveled around the world, local public transportation systems have pretty thorough coverage of the city center. In Bangkok on my first visit, this was not the case.

My hotel was not particularly close to a Skytrain station, and there were very limited options to get around without taking the long trek or struggling with other transport options. It was a hassle, and felt limiting in terms of exploring the city.

What to Do Instead

Stay near a centrally located Skytrain station!

TripAdvisor

As I’ve already mentioned, finding taxis or tuk tuks are not always easy, so having nearby access to the reliable transportation system dramatically changes your experience in the city. I was able to easily get to my accommodation from the airport when I arrived and had close access to get around Bangkok on my own once I arrive.

READ MORE: Top Reasons to Savor Solo Travel

Of course, being central as well as near a Skytrain station ensures more access on foot as well, and there were several attractions and markets within walking distance.

Walking around Bangkok
Walking around Bangkok

For my second visit, I stayed at In A Box Hostel.

Find budget accommodations at In A Box Hostel HERE

Find other great deals on accommodation options in Bangkok HERE

#5 | What Went Wrong with the Crowds

When Bangkok gets crowded, it is really crowded.

My first visit was over New Year’s Eve, and the city was completely packed during the holiday period. Like other cities around the world, Bangkok has a large fireworks display that attracts a lot of tourists looking to celebrate somewhere memorable.

Traveling during a holiday period also meant overwhelming crowds and lines at tourist attractions, with most people heading in similar directions to the most popular markets and sights around town.

Wat Pho during the day. Not pictured: the immense crowds below.
Wat Pho during the day. Not pictured: the immense crowds below.

What to Do Instead

First, the Bangkok Night Lights Tuk Tuk Tour with Expique that I mentioned in #2 above was a great way to experience the city and sights minus the crowds. I wish I had known about it on my first visit.

Explore Tour Options with Expique HERE

Bangkok also boasts also lesser known but equally amazing tourist attractions, like The Jim Thompson House. Seek out more sights that are off the beaten path to experience Bangkok in a more relaxed way.  Or visit during the off season.

Museum dedicated to the American businessman who revitalized the Thai silk industry before his mysterious (still unsolved) disappearance in Malaysia in 1967
Museum dedicated to the American businessman who revitalized the Thai silk industry before his mysterious (still unsolved) disappearance in Malaysia in 1967

General Travel Tips for Bangkok

Of course, compensating for all of the typical first-time visitor mistakes won’t be enough to keep you safe and happy in Bangkok all on their own.

Most of the tips listed below are general city smarts, although some are specific to Bangkok and Thailand.

Here are some more tips for when you go:

Plan to haggle.

Take at least half the price off the initial offer from any vendor when you make your counteroffer, but be kind when reaching an agreeable price.

Keep valuables secure.

Especially with all the motorbikes zooming around, the threat of a snatch-and-grab for your purse, camera, or other valuables is real. Be aware of your surroundings and keep your valuables secure and out of reach of any rapidly passing vehicles, especially motorbikes.

Mid-day traffic

Watch out for scams.

The most common scams are people telling you either that “tourist attractions are closed for official reason X” or that there are “no restaurants are in that direction” – and then re-directing you to their friend’s jewelry store or overpriced tourist restaurant.

At tourist attractions, scammers may even be wearing official-looking badges!

Also, don’t buy any gems or jewelry or tailored suits unless it is from a reputable store someone reliable has vouched for. These are common products that many scammers target.

Be Savvy with each Transit Option.

Tuk Tuks. Be sure to negotiate a price before you get in and don’t pay until the end of your trip when you have arrived at your destination.

TIP! It helps to ask at your hostel/hotel what the approximate price should be before hitting the streets, so you can have confidence with your negotiations.

Peering out at the brightly colored taxis
Peering out at the brightly colored taxis

Taxis. Be sure you are running on the meter, and then track the route on your phone to be sure you’re being taken the direct way. If the driver refuses to run on the meter, leave the vehicle and find a different taxi.

Apps. Uber and GrabTaxi are great alternatives to hailing a taxi off the street.

TIP! If you plan to hail taxis with the apps, buy a local SIM card or be sure your home country’s data plan will work.

Boats. I didn’t realize that boats were part of public transit until late in my first visit. It’s a great way to get between many places most directly.

Practice good Buddha etiquette.

Buddha How to Avoid Common Mistakes Travelers Make on their First Visit to Bangkok Thailand DSC_0164

Don’t sit with your feet facing the Buddha or take any pictures where you are higher than Buddha. Even if it’s sweltering, having something lightweight like a scarf or cardigan to cover up. And remove hats and shoes before entering a temple.

Explore local cuisine.

Street Food Vendors How to Avoid Common Mistakes Travelers Make on their First Visit to Bangkok Thailand 20150302_162209Street Food Chatuchak Market How to Avoid Common Mistakes Travelers Make on their First Visit to Bangkok Thailand 20150301_145229

Gorge yourself on street food, especially at Chatuchak Market on the weekend. Many dishes come as a series of little bites, so easy to sample many different items from different stands, whether you’re at a market or just strolling around the city.

You’ll also see sidewalk cafes that have tables to sit-down, but are basically full restaurants where all the cooking happens on the street!

Tasting menu for one at nahm
Tasting menu for one at nahm

And of course, Bangkok has great upscale and fine dining spots. But what you may not know is that they are likely to be way more affordable than comparable spots at home. As a solo traveler, I was pleasantly surprised at how many dishes I was able to sample off tasting menus, like the one at nahm, on my return visit.

READ MORE: How to Eat Well When You Travel Solo

Take a cooking class.

Cooking Class at Silom Thai Cooking School How to Avoid Common Mistakes Travelers Make on their First Visit to Bangkok Thailand DSC_0188

Using a large mortar and pestle to grind green curry paste.
Using a large mortar and pestle to grind green curry paste.

I don’t always take cooking classes when I travel, but it is a great approachable way to learn about the ingredients you’ll find at Thai markets and how to turn them into delicious dishes. I still use what I learned at a cooking class with Silom Thai Cooking School in Bangkok to cook Thai dishes at home regularly.

Find Silom Thai Cooking School Reviews & Booking Information HERE

Treat yourself.

Foot Massage How to Avoid Common Mistakes Travelers Make on their First Visit to Bangkok Thailand

Massages in Thailand are ridiculously cheap. I found my favorite spot on my last visit by looking at reviews close to where I was staying and found a great, local spot.

Outside of fancy hotels and spas you’ll spend a mere US$5 or 5 for either an hour-long foot massage or full body massage.

TripAdvisor

Obviously there are a lot of great reasons for visiting Bangkok and Thailand, and yes, I recommend that you visit. However, having a great time is not as easy to do as it might be in some other places you’ve visited.

So keep your travel savvy heightened when you go and follow these tips – and you’ll have an amazing time.

Happy travels!
Lana

Have you ever been to Bangkok? Did you enjoy your visit? Any other tips that I missed?

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How to Avoid Common Mistakes Travelers Make on their First Visit to Bangkok Thailand BuddhaHow to Avoid Common Mistakes Travelers Make on their First Visit to Bangkok Thailand National Museum

Fun Facts About Detroit: Things to Know Before You Visit

Fun Facts About Detroit: Things to Know Before You Visit

“Why are you going to Detroit?”

“For fun.”

A blank stare ensues. Apparently no one goes to Detroit for fun. And my answer is not yet sufficient.

So I continue after the pause, “I have some friends who live there that I’m visiting.”

There it is, suddenly. The knowing, almost imperceptible nod of approval.

And it bothers me. So I interject –

“I hear they have a really great food scene there, I’m excited to check it out. If I didn’t want to go to Detroit, I would have asked my friends to meet me somewhere else. I’m going because I want to go.”

And that statement basically covers it, I went because I wanted to. And I had a blast because it’s a great city. Oh yeah, my friends are pretty wonderful and amazing, too =)

Most people know the city of Detroit, Michigan as an industrial giant (which it is), but these days there is oh-so-much-more to experience when you go, and my head was swimming with fun facts about Detroit within minutes of my arrival.

I had the benefit of being hosted by two friends when I went – a native and a recent transplant – and getting some great local perspectives. Plus, I had a day of exploring on my own to get yet another view of Detroit, getting even more answers to the question, “What is Detroit known for?

Some fun facts about Detroit that I picked up along the way

Detroit sure is known for a lot of things . . .

It is ‘Motor City.’

Motor City Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0744

Detroit is probably best known for the American car industry giants that call the city home. Many skyscrapers downtown are named for the big three: Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors. And despite the financial struggles of the last decade, they are all still a strong presence in the city.

But Quicken Loans is catching up quick.

Quicken Loans Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0248

It’s not the only large financial company based in Detroit (Ally Bank also has its headquarters there), but in Detroit these days, Quicken is larger than life. The company has been expanding its footprint, and famous founder Dan Gilbert now owns a whopping amount of downtown Detroit.

Detroit is equally well-known for its music.

Sure, I knew about the legacy of Motown and rapper Eminem. And that there’s even a Motown Museum in town. So I wasn’t surprised to hear plenty of tunes from that era playing at the Food Bank Fundraiser/wine tasting event I went to my first night in town.

Less expected ‘Detroit music’ heard that night? San Francisco area band Journey’s ballad “Don’t Stop Believin’,” when everyone in the room belted out the line “born and raised in south Detroit.” Ah yes (that was the moment I realized Detroit was in that song). Except that there is no such thing as south Detroit.

Third Man Records Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0143Third Man Records Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0148Third Man Records Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0153

Detroit-area local Kid Rock gets some pretty good air time on local radio stations still. And The White Stripes are also hometown sweethearts, further cemented by the now local Jack White-owned Third Man Records, which was a blast to visit.

Detroit has a Zero Mile (Point of Origin), but it’s not as easy to find as you’d think.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Baebblgn-ZC/

Rapper Eminem’s movie 8 Mile brought Detroit into the public consciousness, and given that there are many mile roads throughout the city, I thought finding the marker of the zero mile spot would be a breeze. Not as famous as I think it should be, you’ll find it if you look hard enough in the right place!

READ MORE: My experience Finding Zero Mile in Detroit

There’s a vibrant craft beer scene.

Craft Beer Scene Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0566Craft Beer Scene Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit 20171009_142325

Perhaps its the sheer number of breweries that hail from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but I definitely associate the American Midwest with beer. Detroit doesn’t disappoint on this front, with many craft breweries in the city and surrounding areas. I made it to two on my recent weekend trip – Axle Brewing Company & Batch Brewing Company – and both not only had great beer selections but some gourmet food options to give you every reason to linger.

And a cocktail scene, too.

Cocktail Scene Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0947 (2)

Less expected for me was the Detroit cocktail scene, with expertly crafted cocktails that rival the best bars in London and New York. We’re talking crazy flavor combinations, house-infused spirits, and expert mixologists making your taste buds swoon. Sugar House and Standby have some great cocktails. Sit at the bar for a front row seat to the action.

Plus, it’s the only American city with all 4 major sports arenas downtown.

Major Sports Arenas Downtown Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0434

It may not seem like a big deal to have the major arenas all downtown, but professional sports are a huge draw, and represents an influx of money into a downtown that needs the investment. Plus, it’s an easy stroll to the various Detroit arenas. Fun fact: not intentionally, but I passed them all just strolling around!

Lots of immigrants have left their mark.

Greektown Craft Beer Scene Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0761

Without even seeking out ethnic neighborhoods, I encountered quite a few during my weekend in Detroit. Centrally located downtown is Greektown, which you’ll spot almost instantly by the blocks of restaurants serving up Greek cuisine. Corktown, the Irish part of the city, has plenty of restaurants and bars alongside buildings showcasing the neighborhood heritage, like the Gaelic League.

Corktown Craft Beer Scene Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0550

And while I didn’t make it to Dearborn, known for its Arab population and the largest mosque in North America, I knew of its prominence. You’ll also see plenty of British influence around town, from the layout of the Grand Circus to the ‘upper peninsula pasty’ on offer at local spots.

Joe Louis.

Joe Lewis Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0285 (2)

Known for being a boxing heavyweight champion for over a decade in the 1930s and most of the 1940s, Joe Louis is considered by many to be America’s first black hero, seen as a national hero and not just for the color of his skin. His physical prowess also came at a time of national unity aimed at fighting the Nazis during World War II. It is in this context that you visit the sculpture of Joe Louis’s fist in the heart of downtown, as a show of strength for the man who moved to Detroit at the start of his teenage years and achieved his successes from his time in the city.

Street art is everywhere – even parking garages have crazy artwork!

Street Art Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0647

There is a lot of street art all over Detroit, but in a parking lot?!? Yes, that’s where you’ll find some of the best stuff! Head to the Gallery for the Z Project to check out winding walls of creation after creation. And keep your eyes open around town, too 😉

Street Art Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0616 (2)

Canada is right there.

Canada Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0693

Before my trip I spent some time poring over the Detroit map to get acclimated, and that’s when I realized just how close Canada is – a short distance just across the river. Walking the waterfront, the expanse definitely seemed swim-able, although with boats and the bridge going across, a dip in the water wouldn’t have been necessary.

Detroit was a major outpost on the Underground Railroad.

Underrground Railroad Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0702 (2)

Thanks to its proximity to Canada, Detroit was a huge part of the Underground Railroad, serving as many slaves’ final stop before freedom on the far side of the river. Surprisingly, this fact didn’t come up in any of my reading about Detroit, and was only something I noticed in my wanderings on foot. There is a large memorial on the RiverWalk and museum exhibits as well as churches that served as safe houses. You’ll also see smaller plaques at various buildings strolling around downtown if you’re paying attention:

Underrground Railroad Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0588

Pewabic Pottery should be decorating your house.

Pewabic Pottery Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0859Pewabic Pottery Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0875 (2)

Another item I had never heard of before this trip, Pewabic Pottery has been around for over a century and is Michigan’s only historic pottery. It’s signature glaze gives it a unique sheen, and Pewabic tiles are used locally in fireplaces, kitchen counters, and anything else you can imagine. Even if you’re not planning on a purchase, visiting the National Historic Landmark is free and you can peruse various artists’ take on the style. I couldn’t resist the appeal, and took home some Pewabic art of my own:

Pewabic Pottery Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit DSC_0877 (2)

They sure love their Art Deco in Detroit.

A lot of historic buildings in Detroit have stood the test of time, so there are plenty of Art Deco gems lurking in easy walking distance of one another downtown, with a few further afield. Most famous are the Guardian and Penobscot Buildings, which you can see in all their fabulous glory:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ9XSrjHLPk/

Watch out for those Michigan lefts.

I had never heard of this, but if you’re driving around Michigan, taking a Michigan left at some point is probably inevitable. It’s sort of like a u-turn, sort of like an on ramp going from the left lane of the road to the left lane heading the opposite direction. Definitely proceed with caution.

Coney dogs are a thing.

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As a native Brooklynite, anything named ‘Coney’ conjures up the sights and smells of iconic New York destination Coney Island. In Detroit, ‘coney dogs’ were recommended to me again and again as a local specialty that is consumed at all times of day, and especially late night on a weekend. And depending on who you ask, hot dogs originated at New York’s Coney Island, while the ‘coney dog’ is a Michigan original, consisting of a hot dog topped with beanless chili, mustard, and chopped raw onion. Eater has a thorough take on the history and controversy of the ‘coney dog.’

Cider Mills are an autumn must do!

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These weren’t on my radar before my trip, but that’s the benefit of visiting a city with locals – it was on the itinerary to go to a cider mill even before I arrived. They’ve been in Michigan since the mid-1800s and there are dozens around, many offering pony rides, petting zoos, and carnival games to entertain families with children. But the main attraction is the locally made apple cider – whether chilled, piping hot, or in slushee form – and the incredibly fresh donuts that come in original and cinnamon sugar varieties. Even if you don’t stay long, it’s worth a wait in the long line to score these goodies!

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As you can tell, I ate and drank well in Detroit, while taking in some beautiful scenery and sights. There is definitely more than meets the eye, and certainly more than I expected. It felt like I was almost constantly recording brief notes with all of the fun facts about Detroit. And I didn’t even get to explore everything.

Yet another reason to get out there and explore places for yourself!

Happy Travels!
Lana

What’s the most interesting thing you learned about a place while visiting? Anything fun facts about Detroit you’ve discovered? Or anything else you’d like to know before you go? Share in the ‘Comments’ below!

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Fun Facts Things to Know About Detroit Michigan Before You Visit

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