Zigmas Pekarskas has planned enough independent trips to know that scanning a destination's crime headline tells only part of the story. The 2026 U.S. State Department advisories for Caribbean and adjacent destinations now span every tier on the scale, from Level 1 in El Salvador and Mexico's Yucatán to Level 4 Do Not Travel in Haiti, and that range makes destination-by-destination legal vetting the discipline that separates a well-constructed … [Read more...]
Quinn Cox, CEO and co-Founder of Giving Bag
Quinn Cox is the co-founder and CEO of Giving Bag, a social-enterprise conceived in 2013 during his time at Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration. Giving Bag was honored with the 2025 Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award for Sustainability. In addition to Giving Bag, Quinn also founded Impact Hotels, a global community dedicated to sharing best practices in sustainability and social responsibility. Q. The concept for a Giving Bag started in … [Read more...]
Is it Safe to Travel Alone in Central America?
Sometimes I feel like a broken record talking about my recent backpacking trip in Central America and South America, because I’ve written so much about it on my own blog. But here I am on a brand new website, with a brand new audience, and I guess I’d better start from the beginning. I had this grand plan to spend a year backpacking from Mexico City to Santiago de Chile, completely by bus, boat, train, car; anything except from flying. This … [Read more...]
Top Four Must Visit Places in Costa Rica
One of my earliest international trips was to Costa Rica. I remember spotting a flyer posted in a hallway while in college and being immediately intrigued. My major was related to Biology and the advertised trip led by one of the professors trip focused on the flora and fauna of the country. I remember making a decision almost immediately after I read through the trip description; have fun, see a new country and earn college credits while abroad. … [Read more...]
It’s about to Become More Complicated for Americans to Visit South Korea
Whether it’s traveling to see the cherry blossoms bloom during the spring, enjoying a K-pop concert with thousands of other fans, or taking in the relaxed atmosphere of Jeju Island, there are thousands of reasons to visit South Korea. However, starting this month, there is a new version of the South Korea visa for U.S. citizens rolling out. Known as the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (or K-ETA), this travel authorization will be … [Read more...]
Hurtigruten Expeditions Launches Epic Pole-to-Pole Expedition Cruises Hurtigruten Group
Hurtigruten Expeditions Launches Epic Pole-to-Pole Expedition Cruises -- Hurtigruten Group - Jun 01, 2021 16:00 UTC Hurtigruten Expeditions, the world leader in exploration travel, has unveiled an epic 93-day Pole to pole expedition cruise – exploring Alaska, the Northwest Passage, Greenland, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, South America, and Antarctica in one monumental voyage. August 8, 2022, marks the start of the epic 93-day adventure … [Read more...]
10 Things You Need to Know About Costa Rica
Most people know Costa Rica for its biodiversity, adventure tours, and beautiful beaches. But its landscape and various terrains doesn’t make it any different from neighboring countries such as Nicaragua or Guatemala. So do you REALLY know Costa Rica? Here’s a list of 10 things you probably don’t know, but should. It’s Not Cheap Visitors tend to think that because Costa Rica is located in Central America, it must be cheap--Wrong. There are … [Read more...]
A Remington and a Volvo
At 9, I thought it was crazy. My dad was going to squeeze Mom and all six of us kids into a boxy, top heavy, narrow Volvo station wagon, and we were going to drive for three months from our home in Paraguay to Kansas where my father grew up. This trip had been his dream since coming to Paraguay in 1951 to found and manage a Mennonite leprosy mission. “Is there really a road that goes all the way from Paraguay to the States?” I asked. Dad … [Read more...]
She Becomes a Judge and I Become a Mountain Nomad
As usual, I was in my office sipping my cup of soy latte when I heard screaming from a group of female colleagues down the hallway. Having been here at this office for 13 years, my first thought was, “Oh, someone just announced she’s engaged or having a baby.” My legal office is full of female attorneys. Actually, a majority of them are females. I hit 40 this year. So, as you can see, I spent majority of my fertile years as a female in this work … [Read more...]
11 surfers’ paradise spots in Sardinia to be visited as soon as possible
Surf junkies travel the world to ride the perfect wave. A few countries have the reputation for being a real paradise for surfers – Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Australia, South Africa, Hawaii. Others, such as Cuba and Uruguay, are becoming more popular destinations to surf. However, not many know that at the very heart of the Mediterranean there’s an island that is rich in lush nature, mountains, beautiful small cities, unique archeological sites, … [Read more...]