As a traveler, you may have had the experience of dating someone from another country – someone with different customs and traditions. I’ll admit, I have. And the truth is it comes with many exciting perks fueled by the desire to discover the unknown as well as frequent misunderstandings. Here are some observations and tales of my own and of my girlfriends, country by country.…
Thanks to a local organization, Empowerment International, I got an intimate look into life in Nicaragua – life far from ex-pat enclaves and tourist zones. What did I find? Well..Watch the video! Also, if you liked the music you can get Moises Gadea’s album HERE. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Empowerment International (EI) for welcoming me in and showing me around. The founder, Kathy Adams, is an astonishing woman who has achieved something very special. Here is an excerpt from EI’s About Us page: EI started in 1998 as a Costa Rican non-profit organization. Soon after, it expanded to Nicaragua. EI’s approach addresses the root cause and the plight of many street children in the slums (‘barrios’)…
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.…
Nicaragua is becoming an increasingly popular destination for travelers eager to get off the beaten path. That probably has a lot to do with all the recent buzz about the country in travel publications fueled by the Nicaraguan government’s initiative to bolster its tourism industry. On my trip to Granada, the city proved to be a destination that does caters to tourism. And expats. But it is not saturated. Traveling there it really is easy to be exposed to real life in Nicaragua. And if that is your thing, it is a great place to visit. PHOTO CREDIT: In the Travel with Kate opening sequence, the image behind Kate eating sushi (not of Kate) is by photographer Trey Ratcliff…
Ever wish you could really immerse yourself in local culture while traveling or have an adventure that gets you far beyond the touristy sides of town? One way is to align your travel plans with events and festivals – especially ones that cater to your interests and hobbies. 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…
Traveling to Rome and wondering where to go out at night where you might make some friends? I have just the place for you! PHOTO CREDIT: In the Travel with Kate opening sequence, the image behind Kate eating sushi (not of Kate) is by photographer Trey Ratcliff of http://www.stuckincustoms.com/…
