Blog
Ireland is a place famous for its beautiful green landscapes, never ending coasts, plentiful hiking opportunities, folkloric pubs, and heartwarming locals. Yet with all of it’s beauty and charm, there are also troubled and tragic chapters in it’s past. To understand all the facets of Irish culture & history, we have listed some of the best reads from known Irish authors or based in Ireland.
An entire city that could be dubbed a ‘museum without walls’, Florence offers an unending feast for the eyes. In this photo blog by Freethedust and Maggie Johnson, you can take a virtual tour among it’s cobbled stoned streets, iconic sites, masterful artworks, delicious foods, and jaw-dropping vistas. No doubt you’ll be pining to visit Florence by the end!
Beyond a condiment, true virgin and extra virgin olive oil is an essential staple of the Italian diet, with an impressive host of health benefits, flavor compositions, and a variety of uses. To preserve and nurture the continued cultivation of quality olive oil in Italy, the work of our community partner is inspiring.
To unveil the mysteries of all things travel insurance, we brought in our partners Wanderwell, who not only provide a variety of travel insurance options (along with excellent service!) but are also a B-Corp Certified provider and member of 1% for the Planet. Here are their answers to the most common questions we receive.
We sat down with Gina Cornejo - yoga instructor extraordinaire for our Retreat to Spain trip which is focused in the Camino region - to delve into her knowledge and experiences of the Camino de Santiago. Her multiple trips and hikes along different routes of the Camino have given her a wonderful insight in to the region, the history, and most importantly the feeling of what it’s like to explore this pilgrim’s path.
An easy drive from Split or Dubrovnik, Croatia, the charming city of Mostar, Bosnia-Herzogovenia is worth a visit for a morning, afternoon or whole day. From the picturesque river and iconic bridge to the enchanting bazaar and landmark mosque, Mostar is a place to soak up history, culture, art and cuisine. Guest blogger Satarupa Datta gives us her 5 reasons to make a stop in this fascinating town.
A visit to Tuscany can be nothing short of a foodie or wine lover’s dream. The rolling hills and lush landscape of the whole region is indescribably beautiful, and a traveler can fall in love with it even before taking a bite of food or a sip of wine! Each region in Italy is home to different delicacies and traditional dishes, and Tuscany is no exception. From beans to boar, here are the items you must try while you’re spending time under the Tuscan sun...
Did you know that Spanish is the official language in 21 countries? ¡Qué sorprendente! An estimated 450 million people speak Spanish around the globe, making it the second most spoken language en el mundo (second only to Mandarin)! Imagine how many different cultures and the wide variety of people you could connect with on a deeper level by speaking their language!
After calling Aotearoa (the Māori name for New Zealand) home for almost two years, I've experienced my fair share of nature's great wonders. Here, I list my 10 must-see spots for nature lovers in New Zealand from a locals’ perspective. No doubt after reading through the following you’ll understand New Zealand’s status as the most naturally beautiful country in the world!
As an introverted and typically solo or couple traveler, I was a bit nervous to sign up for a small group trip for the first time. When I joined up to travel with Traverse Journeys on their trip to New Zealand all my worries were squashed and I am now a firm believer that small group travel is ideal for anyone and a great way to travel, and travel responsibly.
With opportunities for engagement that include ‘Chefugee’ cooking classes and yoga sessions led by a certified teacher, our partnership with Madrid for Refugees has us excited in more ways than one! Of course, offering unique opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers in Madrid to share their skills, culture and local cuisine with guests is just one of the many incredible programs that MFR spearheads. We spoke with Madrid for Refugees founder Christina Samson about the integral work they do.
Blogger and world traveler Jennifer Fitzpatrick joins us to reflect on her experience hiking the Inca Trail. For every challenge, she finds, there was an even greater reward!
Being a socially responsible traveler used to be difficult. When I changed the way I traveled about five years ago, I felt like a fish swimming upstream. I’m thankful that every year it gets easier to be a responsible traveler as more destinations support this type of travel and ethical tour operators realize the benefit in preserving their environment.
Upon a first visit to Lisbon – a city of castles, fado, and seaport vistas - you might be met by an unexpected surprise: The prevalence of graffiti. Rather than writing this off as an act of novice, we looked to embrace this art form and recognize its historic role as a political voice and its current impact for social inclusion.
As a travel company, we often observe the inner though process of guests who consider traveling with us. In particular, we get a lot of questions from women. “Is it safe for a female to travel alone?” “Will there be other solo travelers?” “Can I travel alone?” And our answer is - of course! We invited guest blogger Jennifer Prince to give her reasons why.
With its exponential growth in tourism over the past few years, Croatia is a destination that travelers flock to for its white sand beaches, stunning national parks, and relative affordability. However, what many visitors don’t realize is that it is steeped in ancient history, from its early kingdom status, to rule by the Venetians, Ottomans and Hapsburgs, to its recent transition from Yugoslavia to the independent republic that it is today. Before you go, check out these 5 books on Croatia and be sure to save a couple for the road!
To make the absolute most out of your time exploring the Emerald Isle, read on for our very best tips which we’ve gathered from years of experience exploring Ireland! Don’t find yourself caught without essential items, surprised by car rental details, waiting in lines or bus stops for hours, expecting bland meals, exploring areas at the wrong time of year, or hopelessly lost without any juice in your phone or offline GPS. We’ve got all your burning questions answered, with plenty of helpful information to avoid all those issues and more.
We absolutely love Morocco, from its stunning landscapes, to its fresh, seasonal foods and its incredible artisan crafts. We chatted with our local guide Adil to see what he loves most about his country, and why he wants to share it with the world. Here’s what he had to say, from the eyes of a local.
