
Guide to the Best Hotels in Bucharest, Romania (apartments too!)
We have spent more than 5 months in Bucharest during multiple visits in the past two years and love the city. Read on for our recommendations for the best hotels in Bucharest, Romania (plus apartments) in all price ranges. If you're planning…

Book review: London’s Hidden Rivers
London is one of our favorite destinations in the world to visit. One of the reasons is that there are so many hidden sights in London that we've never heard of before. But with each visit there's less and less new, or in London's case, old,…

Handling language barriers while traveling
One question that keeps cropping up in our global travels is, “How do you handle language barriers while traveling?” As full-time global nomads, we can't become fluent in the language of every country we visit, that’s just impossible.…

So you want to chuck it all and travel the world?
Our friends tell us, “You’re living the dream.” Well . . . yes and no.
In 2011, when Larissa was 52 and Michael 51, we walked away from our jobs in, respectively, life sciences and commercial real estate. Heartbreaking personal circumstances…

Product review: The best men’s travel shoes
The Best Men's Travel Shoes
Larissa has written about the best travel shoes for women, but now it's my turn to talk about the best mens travel shoes.
I have only two pairs of shoes with me, both by Ecco. I've worn Eccos almost exclusively for…

10 tips for women to avoid pickpockets
Unlike strategies for men carrying wallets, here are my favorite tips for women to avoid pickpockets. I’ve seen all sorts of wacky gadgets for protecting valuables, including the mind-boggling “bra stash,” which must be uncomfortable (not…

Staying at the Pineda Aparthotel in Bibione, Italy
The Venetian resort town of Bibione is a beautiful destination for a beach getaway. The gold sand beach hugs the crystal clear waters of the upper Adriatic Sea, providing a lush backdrop for a sun and surf vacation. The beach has been awarded…

Avoiding scam artists on vacation
Even though we try not to look like tourists while traveling, there are still some places where visitors stand out and are approached by people trying to separate them from their money. To scam artists, tourists who are not familiar with…

Tips for Using Mobile Phones Overseas
Several years ago I traveled to Israel on a business trip and ran up a $900 mobile phone bill in 3 days. The coverage was good and the connection so clear that when the phone rang I forgot I was 8,000 miles from home and in "roaming mode." BIG…

Is a Eurail pass worth it?
Is a Eurail Pass worth it?
If you've ever dreamed of wandering around Europe with no plans and a flexible schedule you might consider buying a Eurail pass. This special train ticket allows those with not many time constraints to travel over…

12 tips for men to avoid pickpockets
Since travelers stick out in most places and are obvious targets, protecting your wallet and avoiding pickpockets is very important when you're on the road. Once Larissa and I were posing with a group of elderly local women on Tiananmen Square…

Review of women’s travel shoes
Before we left last August I wrote a post about what I’d be packing for a year. I made some good choices, but there’s nothing like experience to tell the tale. Now, after over nine months of travel, here is a status report on that most…

Road trip tips: 7 rules for a smooth ride
Whenever you take a road trip it's important to set up some rules of the road. A simple road trip tip (or seven) can keep a dream drive from turning into a nightmare. You want wide-open spaces and adventure, not wrong turns and flat…

Get retro at the Plains Historic Inn
The turquoise Princess phone in the corner was the first clue that the Plains Historic Inn in Plains, Georgia was going to be different from any other place we'd ever stayed. The second was the note from former President Jimmy Carter welcoming…

Road Trip Book Review: Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure
Ahh what a simpler time. When a recently minted ex-President could hop in the car with his wife and take a road trip, unescorted by any security, halfway across the country to visit his daughter and some friends.
Even though Harry…

Our 13 favorite international travel tips
We've been full-time global nomads since 2011 and have made our fair share of mistakes. Here are our favorite international travel tips that we'e learned along the way.
1) Get a day rate at an airport hotel upon arrival --- We’re not talking…

Guide to vacation apartment rentals: Skip the hotel and rent a place
Part of planning a long trip is considering where to stay. For long-term travel, hotels can be too expensive or impractical while finding a vacation apartment rental by owner is often a better choice. A vacation apartment rental is usually cheaper…

Packing for a year: A woman’s perspective
Michael has already written a few posts about getting rid of our stuff and how we are going to pack for this year-long trip. Based on our prior travels I’m a pretty efficient packer. (Truth be told, this all started when we…