Category Archives: Print

Published on April 9, 2013

Getting Lost in MaHdia, Tunisia (Photos)

Tunisia is a fascinating place to experience off the beaten path and go exploring through small towns. And that is what I did during a recent trip. (Of course, accompanied by people in the know.)

I visited the country last summer in one of the more accessible ways to travel to Tunisia. I stayed in the tourist enclaves of Sousse and Monastir (Watch Video Here) filled with tourist beaches, resorts and restaurants.

Getting restless after a few days of sand and sun, I took a daytrip with my friends to a neighboring town. We drove for an hour along the coast and arrived in MaHdia — a small village on the water.

We took to the narrow streets, weaving our way through the town.

(Continue reading…)

Published on February 5, 2013

The No. 1 Budget Travel Secret

The dirty little secret sites like Orbitz, Travelocity, and Kayak don’t want you to know is that they are not the most inexpensive way to book travel. Nor is it through airlines or straight from hotels. It is through real, live travel agents.

I know, you are thinking, “What? Are we back in the 90’s?”

But I assure you this has been a piece of common knowledge in travel industry circles for quite some time. It is just that the general public, especially younger travelers, have not gotten the message.

Here are some benefits. (Continue reading…)

Published on January 16, 2013

Traveling for a Hobby

One way to take your vacation to the next level is to align your travel plans with events catering to your hobbies and interests. This is a surefire tactic to catch a glimpse of authentic, real life in another place, participate in it and make new friends along the way.

Here are some examples:

 Are you a music lover?

If your favorite band is playing in Amsterdam, Sardinia, or Buenos Aires, that’s the time to plan a trip. You’ll be rocking out with locals in a positive atmosphere where you’ll likely find it easy to make friends.

Are you a Comedy seeker?

(Continue reading…)

Published on December 17, 2012

Soul-Searching: Travel to Find Your Purpose

Lately, I have been watching Super Soul Sunday, Oprah’s show on OWN. I find it to be outstanding and inspiring beyond any expectations I have for television these days. Her guests from Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra to Gabrielle Bernstein and Eli Wiesel expand my mind in every episode.

A few weeks ago, there was something said that keeps popping up into my head. Oprah asked Jean Houston, ‘what is your definition of the soul?’ Her answer, “the lure of our becoming.”

As soon as I heard that I said to myself, “that is the definition of travel to me. I travel for the lure of becoming the best, most true version of myself.” (Continue reading…)

Published on November 21, 2012

How-to: 7 Tips for Learning a Foreign Language

There are many different programs out there to learn a language on your own like Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, Fluenz, Transparent, Living Language, Mango and others. These can be quite effective for some people – just not for me.

I have developed alternative ways to learn a language that I find more dynamic. First of all, I believe that to learn any skill the first step is to value the skill by finding relevancy for it in your life. The next step is owning your learning process, taking it into your own motivated and creative hands.

In this article, I’ll share with you the creative methods that served me well in becoming fluent in 3 languages – Spanish, French and Italian (Continue reading…)

Published on November 6, 2012

Imagine Waiting for your Flight in a Park

I was recently in Palm Springs for a family wedding. And due to the festivites, all I saw of the town was the airport and the hotel. Yet both proved to be quite unique and gave me reason to come back. Here’s my article about the hotel.

As for the airport, you might be thinking, an airport is an airport – but no, not at Palm Springs International. They have turned the airport experience into a real walk in the park.

No, really, the main terminal is an outdoor park! (Continue reading…)

Published on October 25, 2012

Palm Springs and The Parker Hotel

Going to a resort hotel in the desert is a confusing experience.

You go out into the hot desert and then you check in to a hotel that does everything possible to make you feel like you are at a beach resort – but there is no beach. And secluded with little distractions you are forced to relax and surrender to the tranquility of your surroundings.

Over last weekend, I went to a family wedding in the California desert held at The Parker Palm Springs. Part historical momento and part LA hipster getaway spot, this hotel is a stunner. Prepare yourself for these photos!

(Continue reading…)

Published on October 5, 2012

7 Tips for Traveling in Large Groups

Over the summer I was really lucky to go on two extended trips with big groups. One was a family vacation (with 11 people) and the other was with friends (30 people). While both were a ton of fun, I have to admit traveling with so many personalities can be a challenge.

At any given moment, there are variable hunger levels, energy levels, and agendas. Tensions sure can run high. And after trial and error, I learned that successful group dynamics are all about managing expectations.

With this in mind, here are 7 tips for a successful group trip. (Continue reading…)

Published on October 3, 2012

Vayable.com Is My New Obsession

Vayable.com is a website where you can book travel tours. But the platform is a bit unorthodox. For the most part, the guides are not professionals. Many are simply locals with a particular knowledge of their hometowns.

What does that means for travelers? You get an instant local contact that is more like a friend than a canned tour guide. And having a knowledgeable local friend is worth their weight in gold when traveling.

By nature, these tours reveal a non-touristy side of a destination. And it seems few parts of life are off limits for the experiences offered. Here’s what I mean. (Continue reading…)

Published on September 28, 2012

Bring Me a Bottle of Water, Please.

I arrived in Monastir, Tunisia on a scorching, hot day. It was about noon. And as I walked out of customs into the main foyer of the airport, two of my dear friends greeted me with smiles. My adventure had begun!

The first order of business was to drop my bags off at the hotel. Second was to drive to lunch. And the third, for me, was to learn something in Arabic. (Continue reading…)