Travel Guides for International Destinations

Heading abroad? No problem! I’ve got travel guides for dozens of countries worldwide and easily sorted so you can find what you’re looking for. Start browsing or reading these articles to get information on what to see, where to go, what it costs, and how to plan your next big travel adventure.

Why I Didn’t Like Lake Atitlan

lake atitlan dock

This post was originally written in 2014; updates from 2016 & 2021 are at the end. There’s a phrase in Spanish, caer mal, which  is a way of saying you don’t like someone; for example, Me cae mal tu amiga means “I don’t like your friend.”  The phrase has a few other uses, typically for describing how food sits with you or impressions […]

Why I Didn’t Like Lake Atitlan Read More »

Comprehensive Harbin Ice Festival Guide & Winter Harbin Itinerary

dragon snow sculpture on sun island harbin

Everyone says winter is the worst time to visit China — unless you’re heading to the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, that is.  Before my visit, I found plenty of inspirational articles and photographs but I couldn’t pinpoint a recent Harbin ice festival guide to walk me through the logistics. I had zero desire

Comprehensive Harbin Ice Festival Guide & Winter Harbin Itinerary Read More »

Surprised by the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek Nepal-1-04

As an avid hiker, I was surprised by the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek in Nepal.  I envisioned dirt trails with scenic mountain vistas in all directions.  I expected pathways surrounded by goats and sheep but not many people.  I thought I’d sleep on thin mats on teahouse floors and pantomime conversations with locals who didn’t speak English.  I

Surprised by the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek Read More »

Mafia Island and Pemba Island: Two Zanzibar Diving Alternatives

mafia island palm trees

After close to a week of early morning game drives on bumpy, dusty roads, many travelers seek recourse from ‘safari fatigue’ by tacking on a few nights at the beach. The usual suspect for a safari add-on destination tends to be Zanzibar island in the Indian Ocean, but that’s not the only island getaway in

Mafia Island and Pemba Island: Two Zanzibar Diving Alternatives Read More »

Taxco Guerrero Has a Level 4 Safety Warning. I Went Anyway.

is taxco safe

Taxco, Guerrero is such a picture-perfect town that you’d never expect it to be dangerous. But sure enough, there it was on the U.S. State Department website: “Do not travel due to crime”. Immediately, I second-guessed my plans and wondered, is Taxco safe? Just a few years ago, Taxco was a popular side trip from

Taxco Guerrero Has a Level 4 Safety Warning. I Went Anyway. Read More »