By Colin McFadden

Eating Street Food

Street food is one of my very favorite things about travel. In many countries, it’s the most surefire path to authentic, fresh, delicious food at a reasonable price. But I know many travelers who avoid it – whether out of personal fear of getting sick, or because they’re traveling with groups which are seeking to…

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By Colin McFadden

Getting and Spending Money

You might not have noticed, what with the global pandemic and whatnot, but I think we’ve passed through a golden age of paying for stuff while traveling, and have slipped into a more balkanized, complex world. Let’s try to unpack what’s happening. It used to be that you’d land in a city, grab some cash…

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By Colin McFadden

Must Have Apps for Travel

Making some smart choices about the apps you load before you travel internationally can improve your experience and save you time and money. Even though mobile websites can generally accomplish all the same tasks, an app can offer two main benefits: lower data use and offline access*. These are some of my must-haves when traveling….

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By Colin McFadden

Essential Travel Tech

I do my best to travel light – I hate to carry something around that only gets used once on a trip, or never used at all. So, when it comes to travel technology and gadgets, I keep things pretty simple. However, there are a few things that go in my bag for every trip….

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By Colin McFadden

Travel Paperwork

Compared to just about any moment in the past, modern travel is incredibly easy, especially for someone with an ultra-privileged passport like the US or UK. However, it’s still necessary to do your homework and get your ducks in a row to have a smooth trip. Below are a few of the categories of paperwork…

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By Colin McFadden

Booking Layovers

Strategic booking of layovers can be a great way to add an additional destination to a trip, and can sometimes even save serious money. Layovers can also be a great way to break up a grueling travel day into more manageable chunks. However, they can be tricky to book and the logistics can be intimidating….

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By Colin McFadden

Making Connections

One of the best ways to feel less like a tourist is to build some local connections while traveling. A local connection helps you understand the pulse of a destination, learn about the hidden gems, and have a deeper experience. This doesn’t always come naturally to many of us though – even if you’re not…

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By Colin McFadden

Travel Insurance

I’ve mentioned travel insurance in previous tips, but it seems worth diving in a little further. I don’t buy travel insurance for every trip, and the utility of it has potentially decreased a bit over the past few years, but there are times when it’s still worth considering. What does travel insurance cover? Travel insurance…

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By Colin McFadden

Florence 2023

We did it! Between COVID and cancer, I wasn’t sure we’d ever successfully pull off our European family trip. We did it though, and we’re now somewhere over the Atlantic on our way home. Everyone is still on speaking terms, which seems like about the best possible outcome. No play-by-play entries for this trip, but…

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