Once I return to London next year, I plan on covering the remaining countries in Europe that I haven’t yet visited. And a lot of them are in one of my favorite regions: the Balkans. What I love about the Balkans is that they offer some great budget alternatives to more expensive destinations. Here are
Three Balkan Alternatives on the Cheap Read More »
“Go to the Asian side — it’s one of the best things to do in Istanbul.” Nearly everyone told me this on my first trip to Turkey nearly two years ago. Yet for some reason, I spent my first trip firmly ensconced on the European side of the Bosphorus (journeys to Sabiha Gocken Airport notwithstanding).
A Day in Kadikoy: Scenes from Istanbul’s Asian Side Read More »
Mario and I have been on the road for two months now! From Malta to Dubai, here is the best and worst of Month Two of the SOTM Tour. Countries Visited Malta, Turkey, Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Romania, United Arab Emirates Favorite Destinations Ohrid, Macedonia — What a nice, beautiful, fun, and dirt-cheap summer resort town!
SOTM Tour: Month Two of Twelve Read More »
When I first arrived in Sliema, my friend told me to keep my expectations low: “Don’t judge Malta until you see Valletta tomorrow.” I could see what he meant — Sliema didn’t look overtly appealing during my evening arrival. Traffic raced along the water’s edge; the sidewalks were filled with kiosks. Pubs catered to middle-aged British
The Sweet Sliema Life Read More »
Driving through the Maltese countryside, a white city appears in the distance. It stands atop a hill, layered like a wedding cake from its walled edge, surveying all of Malta from one of the highest points on the island. It’s a city older than Valletta, dating back 4,000 years. It was built by the Phoenicians
Mdina: The Silent City of Malta Read More »
Every time I go to New York, I stay in Harlem. Is that the common answer? Nope. Is that the most convenient neighborhood? Not at all! I’ve got a sister with a Harlem apartment, which translates into a free place to stay (or a place to stay in return for a dinner for her and her
Convenient Neighborhoods to Stay in New York Read More »
Is Malta a great country for backpackers? Absolutely. It’s fun, it’s cheap, it’s got nice hostels, it’s easy to get to and get around. But are there backpackers here? Very few. I was shocked at how few people I saw actually backpacking Malta. Sure, there are lots of young people with backpacks, but they tend
Why Don’t More Backpackers Come to Malta? Read More »
While the world revels in excitement over the birth of Prince George, I thought I’d share photos of another George: St. George, venerated dragon-slayer and one of the patron saints of Qormi, Malta. Each summer, Malta explodes with festas — celebrations of the patron saints of each town. Each town has its own festa, or
Celebrating the Festa of St. George in Qormi, Malta Read More »
Though I used to be all about the party hostels, today I’m all about the cool hostels — ones that aren’t about partying but relaxing, socializing, and having a great time. In this week’s question, I show a reader how to find those hostels. Hi Kate (or Kate community), I was reading your blog post
Ask Kate: How Do I Find Cool Hostels (Not Party Hostels)? Read More »
I was so nervous about visiting Malta. While some of my friends had been to Malta and loved it, others had been and told me privately that they found it, well…a bit dull. What if I felt that way, too?! As usual, I was worrying far too much about nothing. Malta is the least dull
Malta: A Beautiful, Crazy, Formidable, Vibrant Island Read More »