How to travel well on a budget

The last time I was at Niagara Falls , I was about 13 and traveling with my 7th-grade class on a trip to Toronto. I don't remember anything about the waterfalls other than the yellow ponchos we wore to go behind the crashing water on the Canadian side. So when my partner, Elliot, and I decided to plan a trip to Niagara this spring, I vowed that this time I would do things “right.” We decided to visit both sides of Niagara Falls and have a little romantic couples weekend away. If you, too, think a weekend at the falls sounds like fun (and, believe me, it is!), here's a look at our itinerary. (But first: a video!) A romantic weekend itinerary for Niagara Falls Friday 1 p.m. — Drive to Niagara USA Living in northeastern Ohio, Niagara Falls is actually pretty close for us — it was only a 3.5-hour drive from where we live to the American side of Niagara. 4:30 p.m. — Hotel check-in We stayed at the Giacomo, a historic boutique hotel full of character within walking distan

Updated : 03/17/20 | March 17th, 2020 As I tubed down the slow river back into town, all around me were signs of a previous era: zip lines and rope swings sitting unused, bars long ago boarded up, and fading signs advertising cheap drinks. Vang Vieng’s riverbank was a reminder of the town’s recent past, like a modern Gomorrah. Now there was barely a peep coming from the surrounding area. No blaring music. No backpackers jumping into a too-shallow river. Just a few kayakers, tubers, and friends enjoying the day’s final warmth from the sun. I came to Vang Vieng to see what had become of the place now that the infamous tubing had been shut down. I found a destination reborn. In the late 1990s, backpackers discovered this little town in the middle of Laos. Located by a beautiful, refreshing river and surrounded by caves, lagoons, and mountains, it was the perfect mountainside chill-out spot. It was cheap, drugs abounded, and anything went here. Over the years, the secret got out,

Anguilla may be a small island but it has a great food scene with a large variety of cuisines. Since Anguilla is right on the ocean they have some amazing seafood but also Moroccan, Mexican, Italian, French, and much more. If you are traveling with kids don’t worry even the best restaurants in Anguilla have kid-friendly options. Bring your wallet and your appetite when traveling to Anguilla. Restaurants in Anguilla aren’t cheap and most meals will cost $20+ per person. However, there are a few rare gems that are amazing and don’t break the bank. Just remember it doesn’t have to be expensive to be good. Here are the top 7 best restaurants in Anguilla, according to us! ALL PRICES BELOW ARE IN USD but can be paid in Eastern Caribbean EC but they will have to convert as the menus are in USD at all restaurants in Anguilla.  The Best Restaurants in Anguilla 1. Blanchard’s Beach Shack Blanchard’s Beach Shack is the #1 restaurant in Anguilla on TripAdvisor and one we agree with.  Blanch

Updated: 10/30/2018 | October 30th, 2018 When I was younger, I was very socially awkward. I used to get anxiety when I talked to strangers. Travel forced me to get over that and become what is termed a “learned extrovert.” It’s sink or swim on the road and, since I wanted to travel and be on the road so much, I decided to swim. I had to learn how to talk to people if I didn’t want to be alone. For many, it’s an even harder challenge. Many people are scared to travel and suffer from travel anxiety. My friend Lauren of Never Ending Footsteps suffered such bad panic attacks when she was younger that she barely left the house, developed an eating disorder, and never took public transportation. Today, Lauren writes in-depth about her panic attacks and travel anxiety, how travel helped her cope with that, and what others can do to get over their fears and travel the world. I was 16 when I had my first panic attack. I thought I was going to die. I was drenched in sweat within seconds, I

If someone tells you about the Philippines, you most probably associate it first with remote, white sandy beaches with coconut palms bending towards the turquoise ocean like El Nido. Indeed the country’s top destinations are the more than 7,000 tropical islands in Southeast Pacific, the capital, Manila, on the other hand, gained less popularity as a tourist spot in the Philippines. Despite the low interest in tourism, in recent years Manila has become one of the most attractive relocation targets in Asia among ex-pats. Thanks to the numerous multinational companies that outsource their activities or set up their regional HQ here due to the well qualified English speaking workforce. There are a ton of things to do in Manila and you should spend at least 2 days in Manila on your next trip. Lying on the crossroad of cultures Manila has a unique combination of Filipino, Spanish, American and Chinese heritage and despite its sometimes unpredictable and crazy traffic the metropo

Think the only things to do in Macau are gambling? WRONG!  Don’t worry there are tons of things to do in Macau that don’t involve putting money on the table. Trust us, we spent 3 days in Macau and never spent a dime gambling. Here are our favorite things to do in Macau that aren’t gambling. Things To Do In Macau For The Non-Gambler 1. Visit  Senado Square Love the swirling ceramic tiles in Senato Square! Also known as Senate Square, it’s a paved town square with gorgeous pastel colored classic buildings on all sides. There are a bunch of shops and restaurants in the square or even get lost wandering around the side streets, you never know what you’ll find. Start and end your day exploring all the things to do in Macau at Senado Square. The below 3 things to do in Macau are all in walking distance to Senado Square. 2. Take a photo of the St. Paul Church ruins The St. Paul Church ruins is one of Macau’s best-known landmarks and officially listed as part of the Historic Centre o

Tips For Renting A Car In Morocco Morocco Driving Guide Renting a car in Morocco and driving yourself is a great way to experience this beautiful country. But there are a few things you should know before you embark on a road trip. When Anna and I were planning our first trip to Morocco together, we were initially hesitant about renting a car to explore the country by ourselves. Morocco has a bit of a reputation for crazy driving (and drivers!). But the more we researched, the more we realized renting a car in Morocco wouldn’t be as difficult as we thought, plus it would save us a lot of money. We love the freedom of road trips and planning our own travel itineraries. Morocco is such a diverse country that it made sense to rent a car so we could stop anywhere exploring local villages, mountains, and deserts at our own pace. Here are some important tips we learned from our experience renting a car in Morocco , to help you save money and stay safe while driving around the cou