How did I start a new decade? Fast asleep. Seriously. My friends and I went out for dinner on New Year’s Eve in Havana, but we were so exhausted that we were in bed by 10:30 PM! (I pushed through and read my book until 11. WHAT A PARTY ANIMAL.) This month, I returned to […]
AK Monthly Recap: January 2020 Read More »
Can Americans travel to Cuba? They can, because I’m American and I’m here. I’m nervous in the waiting line at Cuban immigration, but I know I shouldn’t be. I did everything right. Still, this is Cuba. I’m visiting Cuba as an American. Can Americans even visit Cuba? Yeah, we can. This country has been off-limits
Can Americans travel to Cuba? I did. Here’s how. [2024 Update] Read More »
I absolutely love traveling to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua! I planned on coming for three days; I ended up staying for eight. I haven’t felt such a strong pull to a place in a long time. At times it almost felt like a time warp — traveling back to a time when I was a
Why Travel to the Colorful City of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua? Read More »
I absolutely LOVE traveling alone in the Balkans! After traveling to more than 80 countries and all seven continents, I always tell people that the Balkans are my favorite region on the planet. It’s the truth. I love it here more than anywhere else. I love the Balkans because they’re zany and beautiful. They’re weird,
Solo Female Travel in the Balkans — Are the Balkans Safe? Read More »
One of the questions I get asked most often is how I make so many friends while traveling on my own. I travel solo most of the time, and while you think it might be lonely, it’s not. I’m able to meet so many people on my travels. Here’s the truth — I’m not the
How to Make Friends and Meet People While Traveling Read More »
When’s the best time to visit New York? New York experiences all four seasons, and often temperature extremes — but I think the best time to visit New York is in the fall from September to November. That said, that’s just one small part of the year — and it could be completely different for
The Very Best Time to Visit New York (by a local!) Read More »
One of the most popular day trips from Prague is the medieval town of Český Krumlov. So many tourists make the day trip from Prague to Český Krumlov with the best intentions, hoping for the highlight of their trip. The truth? Český Krumlov is often listed as of the best day trips from Prague —
Best Things to Do in Český Krumlov (Stay Overnight!) Read More »
How do you mark the last month of the year — hell, the last month of the decade? Well, with a lot of round-up posts, as is traditional for me in December. December is a weird time for a travel blog. It’s not a popular month for planning travel, so traffic is down. But if
AK Monthly Recap: December 2019 Read More »
Sicily travel kicked my ass and nearly destroyed me. I did not expect that. Italy is my zone. I go to Italy once or twice a year. I’ve visited 17 of Italy’s 20 regions. I lived in Florence for four months. I speak Italian (not as well as I used to, yet more than enough to get
The Joys and Challenges of Traveling in Sicily Read More »
I love traveling alone in Costa Rica. It’s a place brimming with joy. A nature destination filled with rainforests, volcanoes, cloud forests, golden beaches, coral reefs — oh, and tons of adorable sloths! And more than that, it’s a very easy place to travel, ideal for first-timers. “Pura vida” is a phrase you’ll hear throughout
Solo Female Travel in Costa Rica — Is Costa Rica Safe? Read More »