There are so many travel urban legends out there. The belief that dressing up and being polite at check-in will get you a free upgrade to business class. The Paris restaurant where the food is so good, you’ll cry, and prices haven’t changed since the 1980s. The mysterious Thai island that no “tourists” know about. But the […]
For the Love of God, Don’t Sew a Canadian Flag on Your Backpack Read More »
For years, I lived my life with one solid focus: to travel the world as much as possible and build my career as a travel blogger. And it was good. Lord, was it good. But over time, I learned that being singularly focused means that everything else in your life suffers to a degree. Relationships. Other
My Plan for 2017: A Commitment to Fitness Read More »
I wondered if I was doing myself a disservice, waiting so long to visit Kraków and Poland as a whole. As much as I hate to admit it, you do lose a bit of sense of wonder when you travel constantly. Would I greet Kraków with the enthusiasm of my early twenties? Or be underwhelmed and head to
How to Fall in Love with Kraków in 30 Steps Read More »
January is a time for goal-setting and making those long-held travel dreams a reality. This is the time to start saving and making tentative plans for one of your long-held dream trips. Now — if you have a specific, long-held travel dream, that’s what you should prioritize! I always encourage people to go after their biggest
Where to Go in 2017: Kate’s Top 12 Picks Read More »
And just like that, 2016 is over. It couldn’t have come soon enough. I didn’t buy into the “Fuck 2016” memes until the election in November, and then I was fully on board. Talk about an awful year. Now that it’s 2017, even though it’s just an arbitrary difference, I feel like a lot of
AK Monthly Recap: December 2016 Read More »
2016 was the year that my reading habits changed significantly. Casual reading no longer satisfies me. These days, a book either needs to feature excellent writing or teach me something new, or it won’t hold my interest. I used to need to alternate between heavier books and lighter reads; now I enjoy going from heavy to heavy. This
My Favorite Reads of 2016 Read More »
It’s time for everyone’s favorite post of the year — my worst travel moments! And I love writing this post every year. I think it’s important to reflect the not-so-pleasant times along with the happier moments, and I think that reflects in my coverage here. In 2012, I drove my car into a ditch in
My Worst Travel Moments of 2016 Read More »
This year I achieved a long-held travel dream: visiting Christmas markets in Germany. It’s crazy that I haven’t done this until now! I remember visiting my first German Christmas market, albeit in another country — it was during my semester in Florence in 2004. The market was set up a two-minute walk from my apartment
Christmas in Bavaria in 25 Photos Read More »
2016 was rough for lots of us, and I’m no exception. Between global events and personal setbacks, it was a very tough year for me. More than I’ve let on here. I have my health and security, which are the most important things, and I didn’t go through any significant personal losses, but this year was a lot rougher
My Best Travel Moments of 2016 Read More »
Every December, I put together a list of my favorite destinations of the year. I love picking out the places that made my heart beat the fastest! Last year, the big winner was Nicaragua. In 2014, Finland was a memorable standout. In 2013, Japan hit the hardest. In 2012, I loved the Faroe Islands. This year was far lighter
My Favorite New Destinations of 2016 Read More »