How to pack lightly for a long trip

As a former teacher, I had plenty of vacation time. Unfortunately, nearly all of that time fell under the most expensive times to fly! It can be hard to find cheap spring break tickets, as summer, spring break, and Christmas are some of the priciest times to fly. But if you’re a student or teacher – or the parent of school-age children – you may not have a choice in the matter. Enter the amazing Skyscanner. Their “Everywhere” tool will allow you to find the cheapest options, including cheap spring break destinations. If you have an open mind, or a miles-long bucket list the way I do, this is an awesome way to travel! Here, I’ll walk you through the steps to show you how I found a variety of warm yet cheap spring break getaways, all for under or around $300 USD! 1. Set your search terms to find a cheap spring break deal Set your departing city, set the to field to everywhere,  your departing month (or if you have less flexibility, departing days...

Posted : 1/9/20202 | January 9, 2020 As travelers of the world, we have a unique opportunity to break down barriers, foster cultural exchange, and create a positive impact on communities around the world. We can banish stereotypes of our own cultures, stimulate the local economy, and bring fresh ideas and perspectives. Travel can be a life-changing experience — not only for the destination you are visiting but also for yourself. It helps us walk away a better version of ourselves and with a better understanding of the world. Yet too often, travelers become the worst versions of themselves — throwing up on streets, being obnoxious to locals, demanding that places conform to their needs, contributing to waste and overtourism, and ignoring local customs. Too many travelers treat destinations as their personal hedonistic plaything. Therefore, in order to foster positive social exchange, get the most out of travel, and be awesome, I say, as we begin this new year, we take the followin...

Updated : 7/17/2020 | July 17th, 2020 This week I am going to Sri Lanka and, outside a few facts I’d picked up by reading the news and talking to friends over the years, I realized I knew shockingly little about the country. I knew it was once ruled by the British, there was a long conflict between the Tamils and Sinhalese, the country produces a lot of tea, it has beyond-delicious food, its capital is Colombo, and there are some amazing jungles and beaches to explore. But, beyond that superficial understanding, I know nothing. I couldn’t tell you if the country was cheap or inexpensive, what to see, one famous ruin, safety issues, where in the country is popular to visit, how to get around, what their currency or culture is, or anything in between. Sri Lanka is a blank slate to me. While I have no intention of ever planning trips day-by-day or moment-by-moment, I never like to go somewhere blind — it’s a sure-fire way to get ripped off, eat the wrong thing, get sick, make a cul...