Before I left on my latest trip to Europe, I randomly sent a WhatsApp message to one of my travel blogger friends, Isabel from Bel Around the World. It turns out she was in London finishing up her travels in Europe before heading down to Thailand to speak at TBEX. She met my friend and I at LHR as soon as we landed - and then we were off on a whirlwind nearly 3-day road trip of the countryside outside of London. Our first stop was Wrotham, the … [Read more...]
The World’s Most (and Least) Powerful Passports in 2025 — Henley & Partners
Singapore reclaims its crown as the most powerful passport in the world with visa-free access to 195 out of 227 destinations worldwide, leaving Japan as runner-up with a score of 193, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index, which ranks all the world’s 199 passports according to the number of destinations they can access without a prior visa, and is based on exclusive official data from the International Air Transport Association … [Read more...]
Where to Nest by Kristen Van Nest
At its core, Where to Nest by Kristen Van Nest is a book about self-discovery and finding a sense of place and purpose. And this searching is built around international experiences through most of Kristen's twenties while living abroad. She moved to Luxembourg on a Fulbright Scholarship, followed by three years in China working for a wine importer and spending time in Thailand during a government coup and in Greece during a banking crisis. … [Read more...]
Proposing On Your Couples’ Vacation
There are many keys to a successful relationship, and if you're lucky enough to be in one right now, you probably get away together often. Traveling with your partner is one of the quickest ways to find out if the two of you are genuinely compatible. Long flights, delays, adventures, and even how long it takes them to pack can tell you how successful your relationship will be. Suppose you already know the person you're in a relationship with … [Read more...]
British and American passports slide down global rankings as 2019 index is published
British and American passport holders may be concerned to hear that the value of their passports has slipped down the global rankings, with both citizenships sliding a number of places in the 2019 Nomad Passport Index. According to the annual research carried out by the leading offshore consulting firm Nomad Capitalist, Luxembourg citizens have the best passport in the world for the second year running. Its citizens are able to travel to 186 … [Read more...]
How to Tell if House Sitting is Right for You
In the past six months, I lived in a land-locked nation where Mercedes and BMWs rank in the top five most popular cars, enjoyed endless sunny days on golden sandy beaches along the sparkling Atlantic Ocean, and for a week called a tiny New York apartment home. Digital nomads, retirees with free time, and travelers hoping to live like a local have embraced the house sitting lifestyle. Despite this trend, it remains a generally untapped … [Read more...]
Trier – Rome of the North
“Ante Romam Treveris stetit annis mille trecentis” (Trier stood 1300 years before Rome) – legend of Trier’s founding. Trier is the UNESCO World Heritage city you’ve never heard of. While you were busy swooning over Berlin’s modern architecture or Munich’s copious beer gardens, you’ve missed Germany’s most remarkable city, quietly minding its own business along the banks of the Mosel river, the way it always has for two and a half … [Read more...]
Saarland, Germany’s best kept secret
My fondest memories as a kid growing up in Germany typically involved hiking in green forests, visiting medieval cities, exploring roman ruins, cycling along river banks, driving through vineyards dotting the many low rolling hills, or taking daytrips to the French side of the border to gawk at life on the other side. This is Saarland, Germany’s hidden gem. If you’ve followed any of my other articles, you’ll know by now that what I enjoy most is … [Read more...]
7 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Spent 3 Weeks in Europe
My husband and I took the European trip of our dreams last fall, starting with a week in Paris, one of my favorite spots, and making our way to Munich, Luxembourg, Amsterdam and Stockholm. We packed only one backpack each and set out excited, nervous and most-of-all, ready for whatever unexpected adventures would inevitably come up. Between our afternoon espressos and evening liters of wine, I learned many lessons that I’ll take with me for … [Read more...]
Bohemian Rhapsody
John M. Edwards takes the waters in the Czech Republic’s so-called West Bohemian Spa Triangle in order to spy out the local talent and bathe in the buff. . . . “Give me a place to stand on, and I will have the earth.” --Archimedes In the “West Bohemian Spa Triangle,” consisting of the old spa towns Carlsbad, Marienbad, and Franzenbad, now all hiding behind Czech names, I thought to myself that it doesn’t get any better than this! In … [Read more...]