Happy Tuesday! Before every trip, I have a checklist I follow to make sure I have everything ready. These things help me communicate with locals, stay safe, have a stress-free arrival, and be prepared for any emergencies. Here are a few things I always do before I leave: Buy travel insurance: I use SafetyWing because it’s affordable, easy to buy whether I’m traveling for a week or a few months, and covers a lot. Even though my credit card includes some travel insurance, I still buy SafetyWing...
13 days ago • 2 min read
Happy Tuesday! I've been packing for my next trip, so I thought it would be the perfect time to answer a question I get a lot: what do you pack that you actually use on all your trips. Here are a few things I bring on almost every trip. They make my life a lot easier when I'm on the road. Dry bag: Perfect for beach days, boat tours, kayaking, and protecting your electronics if you get caught in the rain. Microfiber towel: Lightweight, dries quickly, and doesn't take up much space. Great for...
20 days ago • 3 min read
Happy Tuesday! I'm so excited to finally share something I've been working on... my Patreon is officially live! Over the past few years, this community has grown so much, and I'm incredibly grateful for everyone who reads my blog, watches my videos, and follows along on my travels. I wanted to create a place where I could connect with you on a more personal level and share even more of the journey. On Patreon, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at life as a travel creator, including weekly...
27 days ago • 3 min read
Happy Tuesday! One of the things I've been enjoying most this summer is catching up on the long long list of books I want to read. I've been reading lots of travel books, as well as thrillers, mysteries, and memoirs. Here are a few reviews of books I've enjoyed recently: All You Need is Flights by Jen Ruiz On the Hippie Trail by Rick Steves Oh, and anyone that knows me knows that I never hide my true feelings... which you can see in my first 1 star review here. If you have any books you want...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone is having a great summer so far! I'm enjoying the sunshine in Chicago, from catching up on books, to White Sox games, to planning an insane next year of travel. I have lots of fun travel plans coming up very soon, and I can't wait to share them. Until then, I'm going to try to enjoy the heat in the city this week. If you're up to anything fun this summer, I would love to hear about it! Hit reply and let me know. Make sure you check out the giveaways, sales, and...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Happy Tuesday! I'm celebrating my birthday this week! I'm home enjoying the week in Chicago before heading on a fun road trip this weekend. If you're new here, you might not have noticed the giveaways at the bottom of my emails. I do research every week to find great giveaways for trips, experiences, and more. They're free to enter and give you a chance to win a trip to somewhere amazing. Today, I wanted to highlight this week's giveaways because there are some GOOD ones this week. Think of...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Happy Tuesday! Last week, I talked about my favorite travel resources I use for travel planning (check it out here if you missed it - you can even bookmark this page for future planning!) This week, I wanted to share what I've been up to so far this year, and what's coming in the next few months: I started the year out in Peru where I actually... got stranded at Machu Picchu. Yep, it's as dramatic as it sounds, and the YouTube video comes out in just a few weeks, along with a bunch more fun...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Happy Tuesday! Today I wanted to help you get ready for your spring and summer travels by sharing all my favorite travel planning resources. They help me find hotels at the best prices, get cheap flights, and stay connected. Hotels & Accommodation Booking.com – This is one of the main sites I use to book hotels when I travel. It has a huge selection of hotels and hostels around the world, and I like that you can filter by location, price, and review score to find good options quickly. Agoda –...
5 months ago • 3 min read
Happy Tuesday! Let's be real here, it has been a while. The last time I emailed you was about five months ago, and as we all know, life can get busy quick. But I am getting back into it starting now. Since then I have been traveling, filming new videos, and working on plans for upcoming trips. My primary focus has been on YouTube, where I have been sharing all my adventures through Southeast Asia. That's where I spent the fall. I last emailed from there, and if you check out my videos, you'll...
5 months ago • 1 min read