I’ve written about getting cash while traveling in past newsletters, but I had an experience in Amsterdam which got me thinking about one specific aspect of the equation – dynamic currency conversion. Sometimes when you use a credit card or an ATM abroad, you’ll get the option of conducting the transaction in USD or the…
View MoreDo you love the idea of traveling through beautiful countryside on foot, but kind of hate the idea of eating freeze-dried pasta from a pouch and sleeping on dirt? Well then you sound like an ideal candidate for hut-to-hut hiking, one of my favorite ways to explore around the world. The name kind of gives…
View MoreIt’s 2023. It’d be really nice if wifi just worked. Alas, when we travel, that’s often not the case. We’ve all dealt with the frustration of a wifi network that just doesn’t seem to do anything, or works just enough to give you hope, but not quite enough to be useful. The reality is, often…
View MoreStreet food is one of my very favorite things about travel. In many countries, it’s the most surefire path to authentic, fresh, delicious food at a reasonable price. But I know many travelers who avoid it – whether out of personal fear of getting sick, or because they’re traveling with groups which are seeking to…
View MoreYou might not have noticed, what with the global pandemic and whatnot, but I think we’ve passed through a golden age of paying for stuff while traveling, and have slipped into a more balkanized, complex world. Let’s try to unpack what’s happening. It used to be that you’d land in a city, grab some cash…
View MoreMaking some smart choices about the apps you load before you travel internationally can improve your experience and save you time and money. Even though mobile websites can generally accomplish all the same tasks, an app can offer two main benefits: lower data use and offline access*. These are some of my must-haves when traveling….
View MoreI do my best to travel light – I hate to carry something around that only gets used once on a trip, or never used at all. So, when it comes to travel technology and gadgets, I keep things pretty simple. However, there are a few things that go in my bag for every trip….
View MoreCompared to just about any moment in the past, modern travel is incredibly easy, especially for someone with an ultra-privileged passport like the US or UK. However, it’s still necessary to do your homework and get your ducks in a row to have a smooth trip. Below are a few of the categories of paperwork…
View MoreStrategic booking of layovers can be a great way to add an additional destination to a trip, and can sometimes even save serious money. Layovers can also be a great way to break up a grueling travel day into more manageable chunks. However, they can be tricky to book and the logistics can be intimidating….
View MoreOne of the best ways to feel less like a tourist is to build some local connections while traveling. A local connection helps you understand the pulse of a destination, learn about the hidden gems, and have a deeper experience. This doesn’t always come naturally to many of us though – even if you’re not…
View MoreI’ve mentioned travel insurance in previous tips, but it seems worth diving in a little further. I don’t buy travel insurance for every trip, and the utility of it has potentially decreased a bit over the past few years, but there are times when it’s still worth considering. What does travel insurance cover? Travel insurance…
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This post is part of a series called Sri Lanka 2023 Today was my chance to get out of Kandy and see some of the sights that we’d been discussing at our workshop. It was also a nice low intensity day after yesterday’s adventure. I’d prearranged a guide/driver via Airbnb Experiences, and Janaka showed up…
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This post is part of a series called Sri Lanka 2023 We had a couple great days of workshop activities, including lots of opportunities to just make connections with new friends around the world. I especially loved getting a chance to talk politics with Indians. Today and tomorrow are my free days before I start…
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This post is part of a series called Sri Lanka 2023 Oh hello! I’m in Sri Lanka! This is a work trip that came together relatively last minute, but I thought I’d put up a couple posts along the way. I’m primarily here to participate in a workshop on the preservation of South Asian art…
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We did it! Between COVID and cancer, I wasn’t sure we’d ever successfully pull off our European family trip. We did it though, and we’re now somewhere over the Atlantic on our way home. Everyone is still on speaking terms, which seems like about the best possible outcome. No play-by-play entries for this trip, but…
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This post is part of a series called Southeast Asia 2023 Wrapping up this blog series from somewhere over the pacific on the last leg of our trip home. We left Penang on Saturday morning, around 6am. After a quick stopover in Kuala Lumpur, we spent most of Saturday in the Hanoi airport. The original…
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This post is part of a series called Southeast Asia 2023 Our last day in Penang – sad to be heading back, but glad we had such a relaxing visit. We got up early again to have breakfast, because Kat had an Important Business Meeting at 8am (Dungeons and Dragons). I popped over to a…
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This post is part of a series called Southeast Asia 2023 We’re winding down our time in Penang, and we’ve ticked most of the items on our abbreviated todo list. We had to be up early so Kat could be on a zoom board meeting, so we got roti and kaya toast before the sunrise….
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This post is part of a series called Southeast Asia 2023 After a slow day yesterday, we needed to “get our sweat on” today. (Ok technically we sweat just existing here.) We decided to go for a hike around Penang Hill. First off, we had breakfast at the local hawker center, ticking some delicious nasi…
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