Blog

Our 14-year-old daughter wanted to join her classmates to go to Cancun for the spring break. Her reason was that during that trip, she would turn 15 and will be old enough to travel without her parents. We told her that it would be out of the question. A bunch of 16...

We camped in many states of the USA, Canada, and Scandinavia. We slept at campgrounds in tents, in a converted van, and in a pop-up. Camping helps you relieve stress. In nature, without city distractions, you can spend quality time with your family. You breathe fresh,...

I love all kinds of massage: Shiatsu, Swedish, deep tissue, Thai. I think of myself as a massage connoisseur, not just an “addict.” To save money, I am always on a lookout for less expensive treatment. After many years of traveling around the world, I learned how to...

We have a lot of endless flights under our belts. After we moved from Los Angeles to Miami, we had to start our journeys from Florida. It added more than two hours to the flight time since many of our international trips began from New York. Our most extended...

1.  “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – Lao Tzu (ancient Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism)People who do not travel abroad can give you a long list of reasons: crime, terrorism, fear of flying, lack of money, lack of time, lack of...

We had more memorable moments staying at hostels than when we stayed in 4 or 5-star hotels. Of course, centrally located costly hotels have many amenities: room service, doorman, fully staffed reception. But if you are on a budget, hostels are a great place to save...

Dubai was our country #71, but only the second Muslim country that we visited. The first one was Morocco a year earlier. Everything in Morocco was exotic for us: Sahara desert, date palms, camels, people in traditional Moroccan clothing, local food.  The trip to...

Best time to visit GreeceThe timing of our trip to Greece was perfect – the end of March. Not too hot, not too cold. And everywhere – spring flowers. During this period (from the end of March to the middle of May), the contrast between ancient ruins and the abundance...

During all our extensive travel, there were two instances when I felt like a hero. I saved the lives of two kids. These stories could end tragically for the two families with small children if by the will of fate I was not in the right place at the right time.Don’t be...

For me, any trip lasts much longer than the period of time when I leave my house in Florida and come backDreamingFirst, I think about places I would like to see. For example, I try to choose between Machu Picchu in Peru, or geishas in Japan, or penguins in South...

Do not lose your passport in a foreign country! Even if you have a copy of your passport, you can get stuck in another country for some time. It never happened to me, but there were quite a few situations when my husband and people from my travel groups misplaced...

Varanasi is one of the most exciting and intriguing destinations in India. The tour bus picked up our group from the hotel in Varanasi to take us to the holy sights on Ganges River. After a short ride, we were transferred to the bicycle rickshaws. They took us through...

Have you heard the expression: Queenstown – adventure capital of New Zealand? Yes, it is one of the most popular destinations for international visitors. This town provides activities for any interest, budget, and physical ability.Activities in QueenstownHere is the...

We went to Peru with a tour group at the end of November, at the beginning of the rainy season. We got lucky with the weather – there was no rain while we traveled around the country for two weeks. Like many other people, I have read about Machu Pichu, high mountains,...

During our travels, we came across many different guides. Some were great, some so-so, and some probably chose the wrong occupation. Altogether, the majority of the tour guides were excellent. We will give you a few examples.Great guidesIn IndiaProbably the most...

So far, we visited 71 countries. To some of them, we went more than once (Japan, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Mexico, Canada). It means that we had to cross the borders probably more than 100 times. Entering Chile and leaving Chile were the most memorable events...

These are the reasons why I travel only with a small carry-on and a backpack; sometimes I have just a backpack: I try to save money. International airlines allow passengers to check one or two suitcases for free. But to catch the international flight, very often I...

Suddenly, Abdullah yelled: “Watch out!” The donkey, overloaded with a mountain of pots and pans, was moving towards me. I could see only the animal’s head and legs: the load was at least twice the size of the animal and covered most of its body. At that moment, I was...

Addiction to the Japanese onsens During my travels to Japan, I got addicted to the Japanese onsens (bath houses). I was lucky to enjoy at least 30 onsens in Japan, and I loved them all. From the onsen in a small provincial town Sanwa-machi in Ibaraki prefecture to the...

First impression – Morocco has an abundance of storks Our first morning in Morocco started with the tour of Rabat. We saw the King’s palace and then visited the ancient Roman ruins of Chellah. In Chellah, every high place (towers, walls, and tree tops) was occupied by...

Here are the most common answers to the question “Why so many Americans do not travel abroad?” It’s too expensive I am too busy I do not speak any foreign language Travel abroad can be too dangerous I do not know when and where to go I am too old to travel abroad I do...

Should I call the police to find my husband? I was jet-lagged but tried to stay awake while sitting in the empty lobby of the expensive Japanese hotel. Next to me were two heavy suitcases and two overfilled backpacks. The clock above the receptionist showed 3 am. Two...