I realized that I've never actually reviewed my all-time, favorite hostel, Palmers Lodge in London, England. Every time I go to London, which is becoming much more frequent these days, I stay at the Swiss Cottage location, a former mansion. On my first visit, for New Years in 2008, I stayed … [Read more...] about Hostel Review: Palmers Lodge Hostel
Photo Essay: The Tiles of Portugal
Immediately upon arriving in Porto, the beautiful hand-painted tiles on the churches and buildings around town pulled me in. It's not something I would ever see back home, turning the most bland buildings into works of art. I think I stopped for every single color of tile in my week or two … [Read more...] about Photo Essay: The Tiles of Portugal
The Night I Spent in a Monastery
After a long day of sightseeing and a bus breakdown, I was relieved to find out accommodation for the night in Guinmares was a beautiful former monastery tucked into the surrounding peaks of the Douro Valley. Pousada de Santa Marinha is not the type of place I would typically stay, but I can't say … [Read more...] about The Night I Spent in a Monastery
What Hospitality Has Taught Me About Travel
For the last three years of my life, I’ve worked in the hospitality industry. Hotels, restaurants and bars have been my life when I wasn’t traveling and even when I was. I like working in hospitality because the jobs are easy to find in between my various jaunts around the world. I like meeting … [Read more...] about What Hospitality Has Taught Me About Travel
Experiences, Not Expenses
Throughout my travels, I've learned that sometimes it's not about keeping things as cheap as possible. It's the experiences, not expenses that you remember years later. Some travel splurges are worth making. While I may stress at the time about adjusting my budget for those tours, accommodations or … [Read more...] about Experiences, Not Expenses