Foreign Currency: It’s Not Monopoly Money
How to Handle Money I used to not be able to manage money. No, I'm not talking about budgeting. I'm talking about dealing with unfamiliar currency in another country. During my first...
travel psychology
Are You a Maximizer or a Satisficer?
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions Everyday we are faced with a multitude of choices, starting with what we are going to wear and what we want to eat for breakfast and ending with what...
Are You Scared to Commit?
Sometimes the hardest step in a journey is the first one, and entering your credit card information is the first step of turning your dreams into something real. It isn't surprising then...
How to Plan Your Travel Days
You've figured out when you want to travel, but now it's time to create a plan to actually structure your travel adventure. How do you want to spend your days? Priorities and...
Sleeping in a Cardboard Box and Conversations with Strangers
What do you talk about when you meet a stranger? If you're an American, you probably ask the other person what they do for a living, but this isn't always the first...
Check and Recheck Your Dates!
What Holidays Do You Celebrate? Do you live in a country that celebrates Boxing Day? If not, you might be surprised by the fact that many businesses are closed the day after...
Why Do We Travel?
Let's take a break from planning, shall we? Let's talk about why we travel because it is the why that makes all of the effort of planning worthwhile. My Travel Background From...
A Word of Warning About Reviews
Reviews of tourist locations and activities, restaurants, and lodging are all extremely useful when planning a trip, but it is important to know how to read reviews in a helpful manner. Negativity...
Research — What to See and Do
Researching the places you want to visit can be overwhelming, so it is important to pay attention to what you've identified as your priorities. It is also useful to think about why...
Research — How to Stay Safe When Traveling
Safety is a concern that prevents many people from ever venturing into independent travel, but it's often the illusion of what is or isn't safe rather than the reality that we focus...