A serene view of sailboats moored at a Barcelona marina with a seagull soaring above.
| | | |

The Mediterranean in Winter: Is January to March Worth It?

Yes, the Mediterranean in winter is worth it if you’re going for the cities, the food and the history rather than the beach. From January to March you trade swimming weather for jacket weather, and in return you get shorter lines, calmer streets, and hotels that aren’t running at full tilt. The first time I…

A hand holds two US passports with airline boarding passes tucked inside, ready for a flight.
| | |

Do US Citizens Need a Passport for Puerto Rico?

The short answer is no. If you’re a US citizen, you do not need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico. You can fly there on a domestic ticket, pass through security with a driver’s license or state ID, and land without going through customs or border control. For most Americans, it feels indistinguishable from…

Ivy-covered exterior of Rufflets St Andrews at dusk, with the formal terraced gardens and lavender beds in the foreground
| |

Best Hotels in St Andrews, Scotland: A Local’s Guide to Where to Stay

If you’re trying to figure out the best hotels in St Andrews, Scotland, this guide covers all of it: splurge-worthy stays on the Old Course, boutique hotels in the town center, and apartment or house rentals for groups, based on four years of actually living there as a student. I’ll walk through what each one…

How to Plan a Europe Itinerary: 7 Essential Rules to Stop Rushing
| | |

How to Plan a Europe Itinerary: 7 Essential Rules to Stop Rushing

I was standing at a miraduoro in Lisbon, looking out at genuinely one of the most stunning cityscapes I’ve ever seen in my life, when I noticed the couple next to me wasn’t looking at the view at all. They were looking at their phones, trying to figure out if they could still make the…

Orange Think Tank FocusPoint 22L rolltop camera backpack placed on the ground in front of the Nashville “What Lifts You” wings mural.
| |

Think Tank Photo FocusPoint 22L Rolltop Camera Backpack Review (Stylish, Comfortable & Travel-Friendly)

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Think Tank Photo. As always, all opinions are my own, and I only share products I truly love and use. Finding the perfect camera bag sometimes feels like the holy grail of travel photography. I’ve tested everything from bulky camera backpacks to sleek everyday camera bags, but when I…

Interior of Level8 Carry On suitcase packed with clothing and compression dividers, placed open on polished wood floor in front of a mirror.
|

Level8 Carry On Review: Is the Voyageur 20″ the Perfect Luggage for Travelers?

I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect luggage for years. Between hauling a backpack through Europe, dragging a budget suitcase across cobblestones in Boston, and cramming bags into overhead bins on budget airlines, I’ve tested my fair share of carry-ons—and learned the hard way what works and what doesn’t. So when Level8 reached out…