Best of 2023
A long exposure shot of Kuang Si waterfall outside of Luang Prabang, Laos
I kicked off 2023 in Sydney, Australia and will be ringing in 2024 in Thailand. In the last 12 months, I’ve been to 22 countries, which is why I took the last two months to sit still in Chiang Mai, Thailand to recharge. Reflecting on the year is always an exercise in gratitude for the beauty and diversity of the world and my experiences.
People often say I’m “lucky” because I get to travel for a living, which I wrote about in an old post. I’ve always found that slightly offensive because it devalues all the hard work, persistence and sacrifices I made to build this life. (If you’ve read my book, you know 2010 Anna was working three retail/service industry jobs and barely making $20/30K/year.) A friend recently had a slight turn of the phrase that I loved: I am lucky—lucky I found the courage to put in the hard work, quit jobs that didn’t align with my career goals, make the decisions and sacrifices (like the time I rented my friend’s living room for $230/month to save money for my first South America trip) it took to build this life. Bravery is often mistaken for luck.
Every year I share a recap of my favorite adventures and photographs of the year. I am lucky that I was brave enough to make these trips happen. From Laos to Corsica, here are my best travel photographs from 2023!
I’ll be hitting the road in early January to three NEW and exciting locations. Follow along on Instagram for updates. There will be ruins and a gnome.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Left: A roadside shop on the road to Wat Xiang Mine across the Mekong River from Luang Prabang. Right: A woman cooks pancakes at the Luang Prabang, Laos morning market.
Nestled on a peninsula on the Mekong River, the entire city of Luang Prabang, Laos is a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s been one of my favorite cities since my first visit in 2009. In January, I went back to visit for the first time in almost a decade, and the city is still intoxicating. It’s small enough to explore on foot but with enough attractions to keep you busy. Thanks to being a former French colony, it’s got the best wine and croissants in Southeast Asia. One of my favorite things to do is walk through the local morning market with my camera, which is where these photos are from. Street photography is one of my favorite things in Asia. For more about Luang Prabang, check out the Instagram highlight on Luang Prabang.
Cibolo Creek Ranch, Texas
The view from one of the highest points at Cibolo Creek Ranch outside of Marfa where I went on a trip for a travel story.
In March, I did a big West Texas road trip with a two-night stop at Cibolo Creek Ranch for a travel story. The five-star resort is one of the oldest ranches in Texas covering 30,000 acres across the Chinati and Cienega mountains in the Big Bend Region, 32 miles south of Marfa. For this story, I wrote an in-depth piece on the history of the ranch and its amenities. My favorite part of the visit was the llamas and the scenery. There’s nothing like the vast openness of a West Texas landscape. For more details, check out my Instagram highlight about my visit.
The Wave Hike, Arizona
One of the hardest hiking permits to get is The Wave (Coyote Buttes North) in the U.S. In addition to the 48 advance permits, there are 16 daily permits given out each day.
It took FIVE years for my hiking friend group to FINALLY win the lottery to hike The Wave, an epic sandstone rock formation in Coyote Buttes North in Arizona. The lottery is limited to 64 people daily. (You must apply online three months in advance (48 spots) or enter the daily lottery (16 spots) on mobile devices within a certain geofence.) We did the 6.4-mile roundtrip hike in May, and the scenery along the entire hike was stunning. We were worried The Wave would feel crowded, but we had the entire place to ourselves for half an hour. The handful of other people we passed were very polite about not being in our photos. The hike was completely worth the effort to get the permits. The best part was that this adventure reunited our friend group from across the world—I even flew back to the U.S. from Italy for the hike! (For more details, check out my Instagram highlight about the hike!)
Azores Islands, Portugal
Miradouro da Vista do Rei is a short trail with a stunning views of Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul on Saõ Miguel island in the Azores.
I actually went to the Azores twice this year, which is surreal. I went for work in April and then, again in July with friends for a hiking trip. The archipelago is an autonomous region of Portugal comprised of nine islands that are only a five-hour flight from Boston and roughly two hours from mainland Portugal. We divided our trip between Saõ Miguel, the largest island, and the third largest island, Terceira, because they were the easiest islands to get flights to/from and find rental cars/accommodation. (If you’re planning to go to the smaller Azores islands, book your accommodation and rental cars at least four months in advance.) The volcanic islands are known for the year-round spring-like climate and lush hiking trails. (For more details, check out my Instagram highlight about our hikes!)
London, England
A view of Big Ben from across the River Thames.
After a three-year restoration project, the scaffolding was removed in 2022. This summer I went back to visit for the first time since it was removed so I got up at sunrise for a fun shoot. It was my first time seeing the famous clock since my first visit to England in 2002 when I was studying abroad. Back then, I was shooting a film camera that put the date automatically on all my images so glad to shoot it again this time! This image was shot in the arch of a walkway on the other side of the Westminster Bridge.
Bonifacio, Corsica
A view of the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean from the fortified citadel of Bonifacio, Corsica.
I fell in love with the French island of Corsica this summer while working in the Mediterranean. Bonifacio, a coastal town on the southern tip of the island famous for a medieval clifftop citadel, was my favorite stop. The entire island is a hiker’s dream. I literally can’t wait to go back to hike. This image was shot from the eastern edge of the citadel walls.
Northumberland, England
Dunstanburgh Castle, England shot on Kodak Portra 120 film (ISO 400) on a Hasselblad.
When I visit my friend Fran in Northern England, I always borrow her dad’s Hasselblad film camera. I took three rolls of Kodak Portra film. Fran and I took a road trip to Northumberland located on England’s east coast just north of Newcastle. It was once the largest kingdom in the British Isles and is famous for a collection of castle ruins. And, you know I never pass up a chance to photograph ruins! My favorite castle was the coastal 14th-century Dunstanburgh Castle that’s only accessible by foot along a two-mile path through fields filled with sheep and cows. My favorite part about England is the public footpaths across the country that often go through private lands. It’s such a fun adventure to walk through these rural trails and hop through fields. For more details, check out my Instagram highlight about my visit.
Isle of Mull, Scotland
Left: The colorful port of Tobermory on the Isle of Skye. Right: The Tobermory Lighthouse, which is just a short walk from town.
For the first two weeks of August, I explored the Scottish Highlands and islands including the Isle of Mull, which has the most colorful harbor in Tobermory! (This was a work trip. One of my freelance jobs is teaching photography for a luxury travel company.) It’s one of my favorite little towns of the trip with cute shops and the best little homemade ice cream shop on the water. The lighthouses along the islands are so strikingly beautiful for photographs.
Vanuatu Water Music & Sand Drawing
Sand drawing on the island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu.
The sand drawings of Vanuatu are listed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Heritage. These complex drawings are traced continuously with one finger in an elaborate pattern that tells a story. It’s one of the most unique forms of communication I’ve ever witnessed.
Ëtëtung, Vanuatu’s women’s water music
Another fascinating aspect of Vanutu is the women’s water music, known as Ëtëtung. The women combine their vocals and use only their hands to splash, slap and skim the water in a rhythmic pattern. It’s a visually and acoustically astounding performance.
Alfred the Gnome’s best photos of 2023
If you’re interested in a print of the landscape or gnome images above, shoot me an email (Anna at TravelLikeAnna.com) with Photo Print in headline).
Happy New Year and Safe Travels in 2024!
13 Best Travel Gifts
Alfred the Gnome loves being part of my annual travel gift guide!
Since I’m on the road almost full-time, I’m always trying out new travel gear and clothing. I’ve collected a list of my favorite travel items that I’ve discovered this year that have made my life easier to help you find the best travel gifts. Several of these were suggestions from friends and other travelers that I wish I’d bought years ago!
Here are 13 of the best travel gifts (big and small) to help you find the perfect gifts for friends and family. Feel free to add these to your own Christmas list before you send it to Santa!
1. Peak Design Phone Cases & Accessories
Peak Design makes mobile cases and accessories for all phone types including Apple, Android and Pixel. Photo courtesty of PeakDesign.com
2. Nord VPN for Online Security
While this isn’t a physical product, Nord VPN is one of the most important things I use because it allows me to stream Disney+ in Thailand. 😊 All jokes aside—a VPN offers privacy protection while you are traveling both at home and abroad when connecting to public Wi-Fi at airports, hotels, etc. I’ve used NordVPN for years because it’s the fastest and most trusted VPN. VPNs are excellent for streaming movies or checking your bank accounts on both your computer and phone. It shields your IP address to protect your privacy and location while also offering secure data encryption. There is a 65% off Black Friday sale!
3. Goodr Sunglasses
I love bright Wayfarer-style sunglasses so much that they’ve almost become my trademark. For years, I would buy them every time I saw them. When my stash hit rock bottom this year, a friend suggested Goodr, an online company that makes fun colorful and affordable ($25) quality sunglasses with style names like Flamingos on a Booze Cruise and Gold Digging with Sasquatch. Originally designed for runners, these polarized, no-slip (even when you’re super sweaty) and no bounce styles come in any color from teal (my fave!) to plain black in three different head sizes.
The carbon-neutral company offers 30-day free returns and a one-year warranty. I scratched my sunglasses, and they just replaced them no questions asked this year! Their marketing is genius—their witty customer service emails and packaging are all hilariously written by their cartoon flamingo mascot named Karl. You can buy them online at Amazon, Goodr.com and REI, who sells their line of National Park inspired shades. No matter what style you choose, these will be one of the best travel gifts of the year!
4. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Card Game
This game is the most fun card game I’ve played in ages and perfect for travel. My friend’s kids got me into it this summer, but it’s a ton of fun even for adults. It travels well! Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza would be a perfect stocking stuffer. It’s on sale for only $5.99 on Amazon! The name alone makes this one of the best travel gifts!
5. Salomon OUTpulse Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Boots
I broke in my new Salomon hiking boots at The Wave this spring. I’m also rocking my favorite squirrel Darn Tough socks!
6. Oboz BFCT O Fit Plus II Insoles
The secret behind the perfect fit with my Salomon hiking boots was adding removeable Oboz foot insoles. These fit my
arch perfectly, and I no longer have tired feet after long hikes. Trust me, I really didn’t want to spend more money and buy inserts, but these literally made a difference. These are $35 at REI!
7. Patagonia Quandary Brimmer Sun Hat
The Quandary Brimmer Sun Hat packs easily and keeps both the sun and rain off my face.
Last week, I lost my luggage again for the third time this year so clearly, I have to put AirTags, a tracking device made by Apple, back on the list. I was able to track when my bag made it to Bangkok from Singapore and could even see the delivery truck a few blocks away from my hotel. I have one in my main suitcase and one with my camera. A four-pack is 20% off on Amazon now! These are literally the best travel gift you can buy yourself.
9. Darn Tough Mirco Crew Socks
10. Women’s Capilene® Cool Daily Hoodie UPF
Patagonia’s Capilene® Cool Hoodie with UPF is one of my go-to shirts now.
11. Sea to Summit Premium Silk Travel Liner
12. Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoodie
13. Patagonia UPF Sun Gloves
These Patagonia sungloves are the perfect length to cover the wrist and are easy to take off.
Your hands and neck show the most age so I’ve started wearing UPF gloves when I drive long distances, snorkeling or just out in the sun taking photos all day for work. I tried a pair from Uniqlo, which are fine for driving but useless elsewhere. These Patagonia UPF gloves are short and cover a bit of the wrist but have a cutout in the palm for airflow. I wore these almost every day on my recent Melanesia work trip.
If you’re buying something online anyway, go through Rakuten.com and use their link to the store’s website to get cash back. The percentage (1-20 percent usually) varies by retailer and the amount you earn can be directly deposited into your PayPal account. This is similar to shopping through your credit card’s “shopping mall” to get extra points. I just started using this for booking my accommodation when I travel through Booking.com and other online shopping including Amazon! You get $40 just for signing up with this referral link. PLUS, they give HUGE cash-back amounts during Thanksgiving weekend!
Travel Safety Tips: What to Pack
In July, I photographed Big Ben in London. The iconic structure spent five years covered in scaffolding for a reconstruction project.
As a woman who travels solo most of the time, I am always thinking about my safety. I wanted to share a few tips for things to pack for safety along with how to stay safe online. I’m currently typing this from the airport and have every single one of these items with me.
- Pack a rubber doorstop. (I have a lightweight one just like this in my checked bag.) I put this on the inside of every hotel, Airbnb, or apartment door. This prevents or at least makes it extremely difficult for anyone to open the door from the outside. It’s a travel-friendly alternative to a door stopper bar.
- Pack a keychain-size pepper spray. Whether I’m in Austin or Chiang Mai, I’ve always got a small bottle of pepper spray in my purse. While I took every self-defense class they offered in college including one on pepper spray, I never bought one until my 2015 South America trip. A friend I met was robbed/kidnapped in Peru and the pepper spray helped her and her boyfriend get away. To travel with it, it must have a safety latch and be in your checked bag. I put mine in a small Tupperware box. Important note: Pepper spray is illegal in England and many places in Europe. I didn’t know that until this summer when I noticed signs as I boarded the Eurostar train. This is the exact pepper spray that I carry.
- Put an AirTag in all your bags. I have one in every one of my bags and even my car. (I park my car for long periods of time, and I’m always scared it’ll get towed when I leave it in Austin.) This is tremendously helpful for lost luggage or even potentially locating stolen items. (The police got a friend’s stolen car back because they were able to track their iPhone that was in the car.) I recommend getting a four pack of AirTags.
- Use a VPN on your computer and phone. A VPN offers privacy protection while you are traveling both at home and abroad when connecting to public Wi-Fi at airports, hotels, etc. I’ve used NordVPN for years because it’s the fastest and most trusted VPN. VPNs are excellent for streaming movies or checking your bank accounts. It shields your IP address to protect your privacy and location while also offering secure data encryption. (Pro Tip: It’s also good if you happen to be in a country where Disney+ or any streaming service isn’t available. With a VPN you can use a U.S. IP address for streaming services regardless of your location.) Check out NordVPN here!
- Buy a stainless-steel water bottle. There are two reasons for this so hear me out. It’s easier to sanitize a stainless-steel bottle with boiling water when traveling in places where you can’t drink tap water than a plastic bottle that might melt. (I once got a very bad case of food poisoning in Mexico because I wasn’t washing my plastic Nalgene properly because I was scared of the local water. Learn from my misery.) The second reason might sound silly but as a solo female traveler, I’m always thinking of items I can use in self-defense to get out of an unsafe situation with another human or an animal attack. Thankfully, I haven’t had to do that, but I imagine it would hurt like hell to get hit with a stainless-steel water bottle. I prefer Klean Kateen over Yeti because Yeti’s bottles are way too big and heavy for hiking or most backpack side pockets. I recommend a 16-ounce insulated bottle.
6. Buy travel insurance. While my whole life is built on adventure, I don’t make any compromises with my health—I ALWAYS have travel medical insurance when I’m abroad. (Check out my in-depth travel insurance blog post here.) My go-to company is SafetyWing Nomad Insurance which offers coverage in over 175 countries. Their new Nomad Insurance 2.0 health plans have even more benefits with coverage included for adventure sports, theft of electronics and 30+ adventure sports like scuba diving and quad biking. As someone who’s had their iPhone stolen and travels with a carry-on full of camera gear, I’m excited about these new benefits especially the coverage for electronics. (Please note that these additional benefits aren’t currently available for U.S. residents but will be in the coming months.) Buy SafetyWing Nomad Insurance here.(AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Please note that some affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you, which goes toward the cost of maintaining this blog. If you would like to support this blog and are ready to make a purchase, these links are one way to show your support. I only recommend products and companies I truly love and use.)
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What to do about Lost Luggage & Broken Suitcases
Miradouro da Grota do Inferno on São Miguel island in the Azores, Portugal.
[I’m back after a summer break—my blog was cloned by a scammer in late June so I was trying to get that resolved before I started posted again.]
2023 has been the year of luggage woes for me. After more than two decades of travel, my luggage was lost for the first time. I knew my time was coming. (It inspired me to write a post about what to do if your checked baggage is lost so you can benefit from my misfortune.) The first time my luggage was just left in Dallas overnight on my way back from Asia in March and arrived the next morning—the best-case scenario.
Fast forward to July in Europe – London Heathrow had a massive malfunction with their Terminal 5 luggage sorting system, and my bag got stranded. I arrived in Lisbon for a short two-night stint before my flight to the Azores for a seven-day hiking trip. Of course, ALL of my hiking gear is in my checked bag – hiking boots, hat, camelback, etc.
Before I dig into the details of my luggage fiasco, I wanted so share some tips to help you in a similar situation:
What to do is your checked luggage is lost or delayed
- Always use an AirTag to track your bag. I recommend putting an AirTag in every checked bag and I even keep them in my carry-on bag with my camera gear. Buy a four-pack of AirTags for discount pricing! (affiliate link)
- Always keep your baggage tag receipt. Even better, take a photo of it when you check-in.
- File a report directly at the airport. It complicates things tremendously if you try to file one after leaving the airport. You’ll be given a reference number for tracking that you’ll need to keep.
- Keep all receipts for any toiletries or clothing purchased. Don’t go overboard with purchases. There is often a daily dollar or item limit for what you can claim.
- Call the airline if the status of your missing bag isn’t updated online. I did this to clarify I couldn’t pick up my bag in Lisbon for a week so they didn’t think it was abandoned.
- Get written proof that you picked up your bag. You’ll often need this to file for reimbursement, especially with credit cards that pay a daily amount for expenses. (Chase pays $100/day per person for a max of $500.)
Now, back to my luggage fiasco….
An airline representative was passing out papers with QR codes linking to the missing baggage form when we arrived, which I filled out instantly. I selected that I’d pick it up at the Lisbon airport. Since I was island-hoping in the Azores, it seemed too complicated to get it sent there. Plus, British Airways doesn’t fly there. (Luckily, I did have a few pieces of clothing in my carry-on. I try to always have a change of clothes but airlines have gotten stolen strict on carry-on bag weight that I normally just have only my camera gear in my carry-on.) I bought a few toiletries, pieces of clothing and borrowed a pair of hiking boots from a friend. While airlines are supposed to provide reimbursement for clothing and toiletries, I didn’t go crazy with buying things because I wasn’t sure how much of a hassle it would be to get reimbursed.
Thankfully, I had an AirTag in my bag, so it was easy to track. British Airways’ antiquated system didn’t update for days–it said it was trying to locate my bag when it was already in Lisbon per my AirTag. Of course, it made it to Lisbon five hours after I left for the Azores!
When I flew back to Lisbon after my Azores trip, I picked my luggage up at the airport, which was another fun venture with a grumpy staff member of a third-party service. I made sure to get proof that I picked up my bag to use for my reimbursement claim. Afterward, I went online to file for reimbursement for the things I bought. The form was very tedious because every item must be listed individually.
After a month with no response, I followed up with the airline and decided to go ahead and file a claim with my credit card since it didn’t seem like British Airways was going to reimburse me. I bought the flight with my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, so I filed a claim through their system, which is operated by a third party (eclaimsline.com). The website was tricky and had trouble loading. I tried three different web browsers across multiple days before finally getting it to load for me to fill out another tedious form where I had to itemize everything and convert the currency to USD. Every airline in the world was listed in the dropdown menu except British Airways so the form kept giving me an error at first before I finally found an “other airline” option buried in the list. I had to include the claim number I’d filed with British Airways, upload proof my luggage was delayed, receipts of the items I purchased, my credit card statement proving I’d bought the ticket with my Chase card, proof I’d gotten my luggage back, etc. Both this form and my British Airways form asked for direct deposit for my bank account. This Chase benefit has a limit of $100/day per person with a $500 limit and was very specific about how many electronics chargers (one per device) they would cover.
Naturally, two days after I did this, British Airways responded with an apology and said they’d deposit the reimbursement soon, which they did in two days for $73. Of course, I heard back from my credit card claim right after that, and they also said they were reimbursing me, but nothing has been direct deposited. I possibly might get double paid for the claim, which honestly just makes up for the time it took to fill out the forms and find all the required documents! After reading this story from The Points Guy, I didn’t have high hopes for my Chase claim but was very surprised I at least got a response so quickly. I’d had a good experience with them paying for a canceled trip in 2019, which I wrote about in this blog post here.
(I also had travel insurance. If the airline or my credit card had not paid, then I would have filed with them. I pay a high annual fee for my credit card so that’s why I filed with them instead of my travel insurance first.)
Does travel insurance cover lost checked luggage?
It depends on the policy and the brand. I recommend Safety Wing Nomad Insurance. Their plans cover lost luggage and pay up to $500 per item, which is not subject to the plan’s $250 deductible. Safety Wing’s travel medical insurance policies cover people (including children) all over the world even when they are outside their home country. Other benefits include travel delay, emergency response, natural disasters and personal liability. Currently, I always use Safety Wing for my travel insurance because it just makes it easier for me to travel to the world knowing I can get coverage anywhere and at anytime. For more about travel insurance, check out this post.
Broken Suitcases & Suitcase Warranties
My brand new suitcase was missing a wheel after a SAS Airlines flight in Europe.
While I’d been lucky to not be cursed with lost luggage until this year, I’ve been plagued with broken suitcases for years. There was the time that early 20s Anna thought it would be smart to slide her suitcase down a staircase to avoid carrying it. The zipper on the front pocket of the soft-sided suitcase popped off. I was broke so I just duct taped the suitcase shut for the next two months of my trip.
Then, I was cursed with broken wheels – often caused by sketchy sidewalks. In 2019, I went through three suitcases in six months. When one would break in the middle of a multi-month trip, I’d buy a new one wherever I was. The new one was often subpar to the one of broken and made me realize that I just needed to suffer with the broken one.
Suitcase wheels that have dual wheels on each individual wheel are stronger and more durable than single wheels. (This is a photo of the replacement parts Samsonite sent me to repair my broken wheel that the airline had ripped off.)
TIP: Always buy a spinner suitcase with wheels that have two wheels per wheel. They are much sturdier and last longer.
Suitcase warranties have been mostly worthless to me because it’s not a quick fix when I’m in the middle of a multiple-month trip. Suitcase companies often want you to take it to an inconveniently located repair center or deal with lengthy paperwork.
When I flew from Athens to Copenhagen in June on SAS Airlines (good airline aside from luggage drama), my suitcase arrived missing the back left wheel. I had literally just bought the suitcase in April at the Samsonite outlet in Texas for $180.
I filed a claim with the airline, which was a tedious two-step process that yielded no results. Since I could still roll the suitcase if I did it a certain way, I just dealt with it and researched all public transport to ensure there were elevators.
After emailing Samsonite directly twice and never getting a response, I called a Samsonite repair center in San Antonio to ask if they sold extra wheels. The friendly guy on the phone asked me to email photos because the numbers on the suitcase tags were worthless. He had the wheels in stock and shipped them to a friend who was meeting me in Lisbon. Without even asking for proof of purchase, he sent the wheels for free to my friend! When I got my suitcase back, I was able to swap out the wheel with a screwdriver – very simple! Moral of the story: Call a repair center directly for parts instead of going through company website.
Are expensive suitcases like Away worth the price?
It depends on where you live, how often you travel and how long you travel. For example, Away’s website says it will provide a replacement kit under their lifetime warranty but likely will only ship to the US or UK, which are the only places it ships its products. For the average person going on short trips with a homebase in one of those countries, then it would possibly be worth it. I have friends who swear by Away bags. If Away sent me a free bag, I’d be willing to try it but just can’t justify the cost since I’m abroad too frequently for long periods. Plus, I have a Target brand carry-on suitcase that was a $100 last-minute purchase that’s been going strong for two years. I’ve never wanted to spend a lot on fancy luggage because I’m often abroad for months making it hard to get it repaired or get spare parts. That’s why I can’t justify the cost.
[AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE:Please note that some affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you, which goes toward the cost of maintaining this blog. If you would like to support this blog and are ready to make a purchase, these links are one way to show your support. I only recommend products and companies I truly love and use. To show your support for the blog, check out the resources page.]
Travel Gift Ideas
Alfred the Globetrotting Gnome is excited to share our top travel gift ideas.
2022 has been an epic year of travel—Buenos Aires, road trips to Ocracoke Island and Marfa, hiking in Bend, Oregon, spending September on a four-mast sailboat in the Mediterranean for work, exploring Italy in October and now winter in Thailand!
Now, that I’m back on the road full-time, I’ve been trying out new travel gear and clothing. I’ve collected a list of my favorite travel items that I’ve discovered this year that have made my life easier. Several of these were suggestions from friends and other travelers that I wish I’d bought years ago!
Here’s a few ideas (big and small) to help you find the perfect gifts for friends and family. Feel free to add these to your own Christmas list before you send it to Santa!
(AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Please note that some affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you, which goes toward the cost of maintaining this blog. If you would like to support this blog and are ready to make a purchase, these links are one way to show your support. I only recommend products and companies I truly love and use.)
1. AirTags
I bought two AirTags and keep one with my camera bag and the other with my regular suitcase.
After having several tight flight connections with delays this fall, I started using AirTags—a tracking device made by Apple. I have one in my main suitcase and one with my camera. (AirTags often come with free monogramming so I had these labeled with a camera and suitcase icon.) The devices are tracked in the Find My app so it’s easy to see that my luggage is in the same country as I am! The app also notifies me when the devices are no longer detected near me. This is helpful but also annoying when I’m just walking to breakfast and my things are in my hotel.
2. Peak Design 30L Travel Backpack
The Peak Design Travel Backpack is 30 liters and comes in three colors. Photo courtesy of Peak Design
I’ve struggled for years to find the perfect backpack for my camera gear. Everything I tried was too bulky or impractical because I need a pack that will hold my computer, camera gear and still be a regular backpack when needed. Enter the Peak Design 30L Travel Backpack – it not only fits my MacBook Pro but my camera gear with room to spare. For years, I’ve used hiking day packs instead of a traditional compartmentalized camera backpack but always struggled to make my gear fit. This bag was a few liters smaller than my previous one and is designed so well that there’s actually extra room. The best part is that it has a WAIST STRAP to take the load off my shoulders—this is critical for day hikes! (When I’m doing a proper hiking trip, I take an Osprey pack, which padded waist straps and a wire frame.) This pack is meant to be used with Peak Design’s cube system but I just put my gear in it without the cubes. I also like that my water bottle NEVER falls out of the side pockets, which are made from a sturdy material instead of a net that rips easily. The anti-theft zippers that lock or slide under a loop deter pickpockets. The reason I love this brand so much is because they really understand photographers—they literally think of EVERYTHING. Every feature I need/want, they have! (I also LOVE their lightweight travel tripod and slide camera straps!) Did I mention they have a lifetime warranty?
3. Cotopaxi Hip Pack
I’ve been rocking this hip pack (1.5 liters) for the past few months and love it.
My shoulders are wrecked after years of carrying around heavy camera gear. I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t even like a normal purse strap because it can still cut into my shoulders and be uncomfortable. Inspired by my friend Trevor, I bought this 1.5-liter Cotopaxi hip pack. It’s basically a colorful fanny pack with a llama on it. Each pack is one-of-a-kind and made from repurposed materials. People compliment me on it all the time. Due to the wide variety of colors, it honestly matches most things. Cotopaxi also makes hip packs in other sizes ranging from two to four liters. Some are equally colorful while others allow you to choose the color scheme you’d like. ( I’m so tiny that the three-liter packs are too big for my hips, and I didn’t care as much for the design of two-liter ones.)
4. Peak Design Phone Case & Car Mount
When I bought my new iPhone this spring, I bought the Peak Design phone case with a finger loop along with the magnetic wallet that connects to the back. I also got the charging car mount that has been a life saver on road trips because my car doesn’t have Bluetooth. Photo courtesy of Peak Design
Since I LOVE everything Peak Design makes, I decided to try their phone case and car mount when I got a new phone in the spring. (They make cases for all brands of phones—Apple, Samsung and Google.) I love the case for many reasons – it’s raised enough to protect the screen when you drop your phone. It also includes a finger loop, which I use to keep a sturdy hold on my phone in places where phone theft is common. The case is also magnetic, which is great for the detachable wallet and the car mount. I’m a big fan of the charging car mount as well. They also make mounts for bikes and motorcycles.
5. SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD Hard drives
I have four SanDisk portable SSD drives that are each four terabytes that I travel with regularly.
My goal is always to find ways to lighten my luggage. These SanDisk portable SSD hard drives were a godsend. I travel with four of them – one is a backup for my Mac and the other three contain my travel photo archive. Each one is four terabytes, lightweight and lightening fast! (I have two copies of all my data in two different locations stateside.) Online storage is impractical for someone like me who spends their life in remote corners of the world with unreliable internet. While these are not cheap, I bought all of them for 50% off. They were worth every penny. (Amazon currently has them on sale for 40-60% off depending on size. Sizes range from 500 megabytes to four terabytes.)
6. Vuori Joggers & Crew Tops
Vuori’s Weekend Joggers
My biggest pet peeve with mainstream retailers is that they literally cannot make lightweight summer clothes for the hotter places in the globe—Texas, Thailand, etc. All of their ads show someone wearing a sweatshirt with shorts. Is Alaska their target market? Yoga pants are TERRIBLE for humid places. Lightweight, breathable fabrics are key, which is why I love these Vuori Weekend Joggers. They are as lightweight as the thin elephant pants they sell in Thailand, which is the only type of material you should wear in humid weather. Since this is a summer pant, they are sold out now but will restock in the spring. I also really love their long sleeve daydream crew top. The fabric is breathable and wicking with a UPF 30+. It’s a great layering shirt as well. This one is in stock now!
7. Bare Republic Sunscreen
Alfred the Gnome wanted to be in one of the photos. Here he is with my favorite SPF and bug spray!
Bare Republic Mineral Face Sunscreen is by far the BEST face SPF on the planet! It’s the only light, non-greasy SPF I’ve ever found that works! It’s also chemical-free (zinc and titanium-dioxide based), biodegradable AND reef-friendly! I swear by their matte face SPF but love their new mineral gel-body lotion SPF, too! It’s all zinc-based but doesn’t leave a white, sticky sheen like their previous body SPF. It’s available at Amazon, Target and other pharmacies.
8. Wondercide Insect Repellent
This natural DEET-free bug spray is lovely. Unlike most natural bug sprays, the smell is subtle. (Earlier this year, a bottle of Repel’s Lemon-Eucalyptus bug spray leaked all over my luggage. I literally had to scrub my suitcase down about five times with Dawn and vinegar to get out the smell.) This Wondercide spray repels mosquitos and ticks for an hour. (It does have to be reapplied more frequently than DEET but it doesn’t destroy clothes or melt my flip-flops as DEET-based bug sprays have done. (DEET and greasy SPFs have been torture on my camera bodies, eating up the rubber grips and causing them to deteriorate.) This spray comes in four different scents—lemongrass, cedarwood, rosemary and peppermint.
9. Rothy’s
I’ve had these yellow Rothy’s for two years, and they’ve really held up well!
I bought a pair of yellow pointed-toe Rothy’s during the pandemic and they’ve become my go-to travel shoe because they are comfortable AND machine washable. Yes, they are pricey, but they will have a discount of some kind for the holidays. I have a yellow pair of The Point style, a pointed-toe flat, that I get compliments on all the time. They also pack well and retain their shape. (My pair is currently drying in my apartment in Chiang Mai because I just washed them.)
10. Marlow Maxi Dress
I’ve been wearing my Marlow Maxi Dress a lot this fall. It was one of my go-to dresses in Europe.
Athleta’s Marlow Maxi Dress is another great travel dress. It’s made with wrinkle-resistant, SPF 50+ and quick-drying fabric. And, it has POCKETS. Along with two side pockets, there is a zip pocket on the right for a credit card. It’s normally $108 but is on sale now for $59.99!
If you’re buying something online anyways, go through Rakuten.com and use their link to the store’s website to get cash back. The percentage (1-20 percent usually) varies by retailer and the amount you earn can be directly deposited into your PayPal account. This is similar to shopping through your credit card’s “shopping mall” to get extra points. I just started using this for booking my accommodation when I travel through Booking.com and other online shopping including Amazon! You get $40 just for signing up with this referral link. PLUS, they give HUGE cash-back amounts during Thanksgiving weekend!
Want to skip the lines at the mall this year? Consider donating to charities as a gift or gifting subscriptions to local newspapers to support journalism. Don’t forget your local NPR station!
Before you head out on your next adventure, don’t forget to sign up for travel insurance. I’ve written a detailed guide to policies that cover you in the U.S. (if you’re over 100 miles from home) and abroad. Or simply use the tool below to check prices from SafetyWing!
Six Travel Hacks for Fall
Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness, Alaska
I keep a running list in a note on my phone about the random things that make my travels easier, cheaper and less stressful. Earlier this year, I shared five of my favorites and wanted to continue the series. Travel is more chaotic than ever—here are five tips to help things go a bit smoother!
1. Check your boarding pass. TSA PreCheck is one of life’s greatest inventions, BUT it has to be printed on your boarding pass for you to be able to skip the normal queue. TSA PreCheck is often NOT printed on boarding passes abroad because it’s a U.S.-only system. If you’re flying internationally to the U.S. and have domestic connections, be sure to have the boarding passes reprinted when you arrive or request them in your airline app if possible. The good thing about having your pass printed abroad is they don’t usually have boarding group numbers, so I go with the boarding group after first class every time.
2. Download airline apps. While it’s common knowledge, these apps make it easier to change flights and check in. They also make it easier to spot flight delays. Often, the apps notify you of a delay before the airport staff are even aware and also show you the status of incoming flight. This makes it easier to adjust plans or change flights in the app quickly before everyone else scrambles to do the same.
3. Research Credit Card Benefits. Pay for all travel expenses with credit cards, not debit cards. Most credit cards offer trip cancelation and rental car benefits that save you money. (My Chase Sapphire Reserve has a sweet rental car coverage policy, so I avoid paying extra for car insurance when renting abroad. When I rented a car in Tasmania (my first time driving on the left), I called to get ALL the details in advance.) When my December 2019 trip to the Philippines was canceled due to a typhoon, Chase also refunded my all the money for my non-refundable flights and accommodation, which you can read about here.
4. Check Your Downloads. Before you board a flight, put your phone and other electronic devices in airplane mode to verify all your downloaded books, podcasts, TV shows and movies actually play or load normally. The Disney+ app has failed me a few times, so I always, always check now. Also, sometimes, the content expires after a set amount of time so it’s always good to double check before boarding!
5. Check Device Charging Settings. Apple has this rather annoying setting on all devices, from computers to AirPods, called Optimized Battery Charging. To help maximize the life of your battery, it will delay charging past 80% based on your normal routine. While this is fine for everyday life, it’s not ideal when charging your devices for a long flight or trip. Be sure to turn it off so devices fully charge before any long trip so you aren’t fighting people for airport power outlets. (I also bring a backup pair of old school corded headphones just in case!)
6. Drink Electrolytes. Before and after any long flight, I drink a glass of electrolytes to stay hydrated because I’m terrible at drinking water on planes. I love Nuun’s sports electrolytes (affiliate link), which only have 1 gram of sugar. I always travel with a tube of these!
Hope you enjoyed these tips! Safe Travels!
The Ultimate Guide to Austin, Texas
The ever-changing Austin skyline photographed from the pedestrian bridge.
Austin knows the key to my heart – flip-flop weather roughly 10 months of the year, a plethora of outdoor activities, amazing food and craft beer. And, live music—of course!
The capital of Texas has been my home base since December 2013. It is a nice mixture of all the things I love about the South (biscuits, grits, the word “y’all,” and barbecue) merged together with the things I loved about California (fitness-focused outdoor culture and the ability to recycle everything easily) sprinkled with a little LA-style traffic and no state income tax.
It is literally my job to write and photograph many of the coolest spots in my current hometown and the great state of Texas. If you’re heading to Austin for SXSW, ACL or a football game, here’s my list of all the great places to eat, drink and explore, which are categorized by topic for easy scrolling! (If you want to check more of my Texas travel writing, check out this page with a list of my most recent stories!) Keep reading for the best things to do in Austin, Texas!
The brisket sandwich at Franklin Barbecue in Austin.
Where to Eat in Austin, Texas
The Best Barbecue in Austin, Texas
There is always a line for barbecue but most places have free beer while you wait!
- There’s nothing better than Texas barbecue. Wake up early and join the roughly 4-hour-long queue outside Franklin BBQ on 11th Street before 9 a.m. Bring a chair and pick up a six-pack of local brews on the way. It’s just like tailgating for a football game minus the traffic. Like many restaurants in Austin, Franklin’s started as a food trailer in 2009 but grew quickly thanks to their delicious and tender brisket. (They do online orders now!)
- For shorter lines, try Micklethwait Craft Meats for sausage, pulled pork (my favorite) and cheese grits. Their new Saddle Up Beer Garden is a cool spot with delicious oatmeal cream pies!
- Other favorites include: La Barbecue for brisket and pulled pork. LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, located at Cosmic Coffee, only serves brisket on weekends. Their brisket burger and cheddar cheesecake are phenomenal.
- Interstellar BBQ in North Austin just made Texas Monthly’s top five list. Aside from the brisket, the turkey, jalapeños slaw and banana pudding are delicious.
- If you want to ship barbecue home, I recommend ordering from Black’s BBQ. I shipped some to my dad in South Carolina for Christmas. He took one bite and said he was moving to Texas!
Left: The Crossroads beef brisket taco from Torchy’s. Right: Pad kapow (basil pork) at Dee Dee
The Best Food Trucks in Austin, Texas
Food trucks like to play musical chairs especially during festivals like SXSW so check their websites/Facebook pages for their current locations so you don’t disappoint your stomach!
- Dee Dee has the best Thai food in town. (Trust me on this one, I lived in Thailand and so did the owners.) The pad kapow (basil pork), som tom (spicy papaya salad) and moo ping (marinated pork skewers) are amazing!
- Artipasta serves up a variety of homemade pastas from gnocchi to Fusilli and pizzas. The panna cotta is also delicious!
- East Side King is an Austin legend. These two Japanese-inspired food trucks belong to former Top Chef winner Paul Qui. My favorite is at The Liberty Bar, a dive bar with a picnic table-lined patio. Try the deep-fried chicken thighs, pork belly steamed buns and the Brussel sprout salad. The Thai-inspired Thai-Kun used to be a truck but now it’s a brick and mortar at the Domain. The waterfall pork is the closest thing in town I’ve found to my favorite Thai dish. It’s crazy spicy, which is why I LOVE it, so be sure to order an extra sticky rice!
- Veracruz has some of the best tacos in town. I recommend the steak fajita and el pastor. There are multiple locations in town. For hours and directions, visit veracruzallnatural.com.
- Via 313 has Detroit style pizza which goes very well with beer! They now serve breakfast pizzas for on weekend’s for brunch!
- Barbecue trucks. For barbecue, Micklethwait Craft Meat’s, La Barbecue and LeRoy and Lewis mentioned above are food trucks.
Cafe No Se’s delicious hotcakes
Brunch in Austin, Texas
There are few things I love more than brunch. Sunday is the big brunch day in Austin, but more places are starting to do a Saturday and even a Friday brunch! Go early or be prepared to wait in line for hour or two. After living in Austin a while, I got tired of the lines so I tend to avoid the places that don’t take reservations. If you can’t make it to brunch, try these places out for dinner/lunch!
- Café No Se is hands down my favorite breakfast spot in town! Start off with one of their signature pastries—a delectable croissant or kouign amann served with homemade raspberry jam. (Their pastry chef, Amanda Rockman, is a James Beard Award Semifinalist.) I also recommend the ricotta hotcakes. Breakfast is served daily.
- Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden is legendary thanks to the Manmosa, a behemoth-size mimosa. There’s a 104 beers on tap if you aren’t feeling the Manmosa. The menu features house-made sausage, jalapeño cheese grits and gigantic flakey made-from-scratch biscuits. The expanded their space a few years ago so there’s plenty of seating. Expect a line. Sunday only brunch.
- Irene’s is a funky spot off West 6th Street decorated with window panels from an old airplane. On Fridays and weekends, they have their biscuits and booze brunch. My favorite is the bacon, egg and cheese biscuit! The homemade jam is amazing. They also have a great weekday happy hour.
- Wu Chow serves dim sum on Sunday’s only. Menu highlights include chicken pot stickers, char siu bao (steamed pork buns), scallion pancakes, pineapple puffs and $1 chrysanthemum mimosas. Reservations recommended.
- Eberly’s blueberry buttermilk pancakes are the best in town! Call the day before for reservations. Brunch Saturday & Sunday.
- Jacoby’s is a fun Eastside spot that takes brunch reservations! Their grits and strawberry cake are delicious.
- Moonshine Grill was one of my favorite Sunday brunch spots when I first moved to Austin in 2013 with a giant buffet, but they’ve transitioned to a plated menu instead due to COVID. I always loved this spot, but the long lines got annoying. Go early if you want to try it out because they don’t take reservations.
Dessert
- Amy’s Ice Cream is the only place you in town should go for ice cream!
- Everyone in Austin can spot a Tiff’s Treat’s box from a block away. The cookie shop is known for delivering their boxes of fresh warm cookies. You can buy cookies individually, and I recommend the Tiff Wich – two warm cookies with a scoop of ice-cream between them. Double yum!
- Hayley Cakes makes the most beautiful and hilariously decorated giant sugar cookies with icing!
- Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop has the best cupcakes I’ve ever eaten in my life. I’m drooling on my keyboard thinking about them.
The highlight of the dessert menu at Lutie’s Garden Restaurant is the kouign-amann ice cream.
Best Restaurants in Austin
- Lutie’s Garden Resturant is one of the best meals I’ve had in Austin! This dinner-only spot focuses on a highly seasonal and locally-sourced menu. Highlights include the estate bread with layered butter, the green dish, Texas beef and the kouign-amann, a French pastry that’s broken into pieces and folded into vanilla ice cream. It is located on the Commodore Perry Estate, a 1928 mansion turned luxury hotel. Reservations recommend.
- Eberly is a swanky multi-room restaurant with two patios and a separate bar with a stunning centerpiece – a mahogany wooden bar that was moved from New York City’s Cedar Tavern to Austin. It’s one of the most beautiful restaurant in Austin.
- Tumble 22 is the best spot for hot chicken! For sides, try the mac and cheese and slaw! Formerly a food truck, there’s now three brick and mortar locations.
- Fixe, an upscale Southern restaurant, is famous for their made-from-scratch-while-you-wait biscuits. It’s the best $9 you will EVER spend.
- Easy Tiger has beer CHEESE. The bakery bar combo has a full menu of pastries, sandwiches and giant pretzels that go well with the BEER CHEESE. All four locations have great patios.
- Pinthouse Pizza is your place for pizza and craft beer. They have three locations and a gigantic South Austin brewery.
- Kemuri Tatsu-ya is a funky new izakaya located in an old barbecue restaurant. The Texas-influenced menu includes brisket ramen, Mexican street corn, sticky rice beef tongue tamales and roasted banana pudding.
- Fareground, Austin’s first food court, opened in January 2018. The venue serves up three meals a day from six different vendors that range from ramen to cheese plates. They have both indoor/outdoor seating and two bars/coffee houses.
- Torchy’s is a taco stable in Austin that was a food truck but now has only mortar locations. My favorites are the Crossroads brisket taco topped with avocado on a corn tortilla and The Wrangler, a breakfast brisket taco smothered with eggs and potato. Bonus: They serve breakfast tacos all day!
Kitty Cohen is a great Eastside spot for cocktails with a great patio with a pool!
Where to Drink in Austin
Breweries
Craft beer is booming in Austin. There’s no shortage of local taprooms to check out. Here’s a few favorites:
- Hold Out Brewing is my favorite spot in town. Located in walking distance from downtown, this quirky half-domed building has East Austin vibes with a gigantic courtyard it shares with it’s sister resturant, Better Half Coffee & Cocktails. Their hazy pale ales and IPAs are tasty along with their happy hour burgers. The chicken biscuit from Better Half is excellent for brunch!
- Lazarus Brewing Company opened on Christmas Eve 2016 in an old gas station on East 6th Street. They serve tacos, beer and coffee. Their English premium bitter, Shackleton EPB, and single hop German pils, Naked Sapphire, are a few of my favorites. Both go well with their el pastor tacos.
- Eastside Favorites: Zilker Brewing on East Sixth Street is a great spot with rotating food trucks. Central Machine Works has a huge patio that’s a great hangout spot on the far Eastside. Hi Sign Brewery is even further east and opening a new taproom soon.
- DYI Brewery Tour in North Austin: There are a great batch of breweries that are within reasonable walking distance of each other AND the Q2 Stadium including HopSquad Brewing, 4th Tap Brewing Cooperative, Celis Brewery and Austin Beerworks.
- South Austin Breweries: While these aren’t all in walking distance of each other, South Austin is another great area for breweries. A few highlights are Nomadic Beerworks, ABGB, St. Elmo Brewing Company, and Meanwhile Brewing.
The Cedar Tavern Bar at Eberly is one of the most beautiful bars in Austin.
Bars in Austin
- Tiki Tatsu-Ya is the the coolest bar in Austin. Inspired by a fictional backstory, this tropical paradise has two levels and elaborate decor with a menu of tasty drinks and bites. Reservations required.
- Yellow Jacket Social Club is one of my favorite dive bars in Austin with a spacious patio filled with picnic tables. They have a wide variety of good beer and excellent food. The beet and goat cheese sandwich is amazing and so is the Frito pie. Around the corner is The White Horse, an Eastside honky tonk with live music nightly and free dance lessons. They have a nice patio with a food truck. Two other bars I love are nearby are The Liberty Bar, home to one of the iconic East Side Kings food trucks, and The Grackle.
- If you’re looking for a good cocktail bar, check out swanky Ah Sing Den, which is modeled after an opium den, and Whisler’s, a hip spot on the Eastside.
- Kitty Cohen’s has the best patio in town with a pool for lounging on hot days and a tropical-themed bar. Be sure to check out the amazing flamingo wallpaper in the ladies’ bathroom!
- Many of the restaurants I mentioned in the previous food section are also great spots to grab a drink including Easy Tiger, Eberly’s Cedar Tavern Bar and Banger’s.
- Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches is a great spot near Mueller with the best (and cheapest!) happy hour in town. They serve up sweet and savory kolaches along with a massive selection of craft beers. (There’s a wall of beer fridges to choose from!) Happy Hour is all day Monday and Tuesday and nightly the rest of the weekdays.
- Ask around for the passcode to get into the Red Headed StepChild (also referred to as Floppy Disk Repair), a small speakeasy with great drinks and a creepy décor that looks like the set of a horror movie.
The Nightowls, an Austin based R&B/soul band, performs at the historic Scoot Inn music venue in East Austin.
Best Music Venues in Austin
- The sleek new Moody Amphitheater in Waterloo Park is a great spot for live music and a good view of the city skyline.
- Mohawk is by far my favorite venue in town. The multi-level bar has both an indoor and outdoor stage.
- The Paramount Theater is one of my favorite places to photograph live shows. The former move theater was built in 1915 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Other favorites include The Parish on 6th Street, Sekrit Theater, a private outdoor event space located in a neighborhood that occasionally hosts public events. Geraldine’s, a restaurant located in the Hotel Van Zandt off Rainey Street has a small stage with great musical acts, Scoot Inn on the Eastside has an amazing outdoor stage and space.
- Drop by The Continental Club . The venue opened in 1955 and is one of the longest continually running clubs in town.
- Sunday’s in Austin are Chicken Shit Bingo day. The event originated at Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon, a super tiny hole in the wall honky-tonk off Burnet Road. To play bingo, you buy a ticket and hope the chicken literally poops on the number on your ticket.
Pedernales Falls State Park is one of my favorite day trips from Austin. It’s a great place for photography and swimming!
Best Day Trips from Austin
- Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center is one of the Hill Country’s hidden secrets located 30 miles from Austin! This stunning nature preserve features a photogenic grotto with a 40-foot waterfall and nature trails. Reservations are required.
- Barbecue lovers should flock to the tiny town of Lockhart, the “Barbecue Capital of Texas,” which is home to four iconic barbecue restaurants including Blacks Barbecue, the oldest family-owned barbecue restaurant in the state. It’s 45 minutes Southeast of Austin. (In my opinion, Black’s has the best brisket and sides while Smitty’s Market has great sausage!)
- Head to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area to climb the giant Uluru-style pink granite rock rising from the ground and explore 11 miles of hiking trails. Camping is available.
- Pedernales Falls State Park is by far my favorite state park near Austin. The 5,212-acre park is located 30 miles from town along the Pedernales River and features a stunning set of short waterfalls, a swimming area, hiking and horse riding trails. Camping is available.
- Stunning Hamilton Pool Preserve, a box canyon with a 50-foot waterfall, is a great place for a swim. The pool was formed when a grotto collapsed. Reservations are required. Please note the pool can be closed for swimming due to bacteria levels.
- Other great swimming spots include Krause Springs and the Blue Lagoon in Wimberely.
- If you love antiques and wine, head to Fredericksburg, a former German settlement known for their annual Oktoberfest celebrations
The Texas State Capital offers free guided tours daily.
Best Free Things to Do in Austin
- Visit the Library. Austin’s new Central Library is the coolest building in town! The state of the art facility feels like a swanky boutique hotel combined with an upscale mall with sweeping skyline views. Highlights include the rooftop butterfly garden, second floor art gallery with rotating exhibits and a technology petting zoo featuring the latest gadgets. There’s free WIFI, free computers to check out and free “shared learning” rooms that offer video conferencing capabilities for meetings and workshops.
- Austin’s Barton Creek Greenbelt hiking and biking trail covers 12.86 miles with multiple access points for swimming or wadding into the water. Twin Falls is one of my favorite spots. Here is a great guide with access points/parking.
- Explore the outdoors. Mayfield Park and Preserve, a 23-acre nature area with a historic cottage and two gardens filled with peacocks. It’s walking distance from The Contemporary Austin’s Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park at Laguna Gloria, which is a stunning outdoor space. Nearby, Mount Bonnell, a ridge-line peak overlooking the Colorado River, is great for sunset.
- Explore the lake. Run/walk/bike the 10-mile trail around Lady Bird Lake in the heart of Austin. It’s the most popular outdoor recreation area in the city with plenty of free parking options. For more info, visit the City of Austin’s website.
- Free museum days: The Bullock Museum focuses on the history of Texas and offers free admission the first Sunday of every month. The Blanton Museum of Art offers free admission on Thursdays.
- The Texas State Capital is the icon of the Austin skyline. The stunning four block complex is taller than the U.S Capital in Washington D.C. Free guided and self-guided tours are available daily.
- Go see the BATS. The world’s largest urban bat colony lives under South Congress Bridge. From mid-March to November, the bats’ mass exodus from under the bridge every night is a spectacular show. Check here to find the best time to see the bats nightly. For the best photos, watch the bats from the Statesman Bat Observation Center adjacent to the Congress Avenue Bridge.
- Be on T.V.! Sign up for a chance to win tickets to an ACL Live taping! All tickets are disturbed for free via a lottery. If you don’t win, you can also wait in line to see if there are extra tickets available. (I’ve won tickets to several shows including Iggy Pop!) For more info about upcoming tapings, http://acltv.com/upcoming-tapings
- Follow the Instagram account WWW ATX, for a list of upcoming events, which are mostly free.
I always take my friends to Lady Bird Lake to canoe, paddle board or kayak!
Best Outdoor Activities in Austin
- Stand-up paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake is a must! There’s several places on the lake, but I prefer Zilker Park Boat Rentals, which is located adjacent to Barton Springs Pool. They offer buy-one get-one coupons on weekdays!
- Austin’s Barton Creek Greenbelt mentioned in the previous section is a great hiking and biking trail that covers seven miles with multiple access points for swimming or wadding into the water. Check out this guide with access points/parking. (FYI – You have to pay for parking at many access point now.)
- Explore the waterfalls and hiking trails at McKinney Falls State Park. The park lies within the city limits and is only 13 miles from the Texas State Capital. Camping and swimming is allowed.
- Go for a dip in two of Austin’s natural pools: Barton Springs Pool, a spring-fed pool that’s 68-70 degrees year-round, located in the heart of Zilker Park. Deep Eddy Pool is the oldest swimming pool in Texas! The man-made pool is over a 100 years old!
- Play putt-putt at Peter Pan’s Mini- Golf. You can’t miss the giant dinosaur statue overlooking the corner of Barton Springs and South Lamar. This colorful putt-putt spot opened in 1948 and has two courses with colorful statues of Austin landmarks and Peter Pan characters. The courses are challenging but fun. The best part is this spot is BYOB – no glass containers.
- There’s also plenty of places to go tubing near Austin. The Comal and Guadalupe Rivers have great tubing. Here’s a great guide of all the places to float!
Last but not least….
If you are driving to Austin, you must stop for gas at Buc-ee’s. The gas station chain is known for their gigantic Texas-sided stores. Some stores have up to 120 gas pumps, which sets the bar high for the convenience store world. The stores sell an endless array of Texas souvenirs including many decorated with their iconic beaver logo. (You must take a photo with your friends holding an armful of the stuffed animal beavers they sell! My friends and I have an ongoing battle to top each other’s previous photos!) They are famous for having the largest and cleanest bathrooms of any gas station!
Alfred the Gnome posing with some stuffed Buc-ee’s!
7 Ways to Save on Hotels & Lodging
La Résidence d’Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia is one of my favorite hotels where I stayed on a work trip to Southeast Asia just before the pandemic.
Accommodation, food and transport are the top three expenses in life and travel. With gas prices and inflation increasing, I wanted to share a few tips to reduce the cost of accommodation, including hotels.
1. Book Direct
By booking directly with your hotel or lodging, you cut out the middlemen and their commissions. Often hotels will only give you loyalty points if you book directly through them, which is the best way to maximize savings and rewards. Many hotels will even price match discount travel sites. The best tactic is to use those search engine sites like Kayak or Google Hotels then, book directly through the hotel. If you are certain about your travel dates, consider the cheaper non-refundable rates that many properties offer.
2. Use your Rewards
Since many people have credit cards with rewards, it’s a good idea to check your points balance to see if you can get some free or discounted stays. (I have a stockpile of rewards points from my pandemic travel hiatus that I’ve been slowly redeeming.) Many credit cards will also let you pay partially with points and cash to also help reduce the cost.
3. Be Flexible
Being flexible with your dates can also help you score a deal. Many sites will let you search for a month at a time to see the lowest rates for each day. On a recent trip to Marfa, Texas, I moved my travel dates back a week to save money since there was more availability.
4. Shoulder Season
Even though it’s peak summer travel season as I’m writing this, consider moving your trip dates back a bit into the fall for cheaper rates and fewer crowds. Spring and fall are the best times for deals. For example, I scored a great deal at this wonderful bed and breakfast in Ocracoke, NC in early April by booking my trip the first week of the spring season before rates increased. (For more on Ocracoke, check out my story I wrote for the Washington Post a few weeks ago.)
Alfred the gnome enjoys the occasional hotel stay.
5. Discount Programs
Both AAA and AARP offer a roughly 10% discount on most types of accommodation, from hotels to campgrounds. If someone in your group has one of these, be sure to take advantage. If you’re a frequent Booking.com user, you can unlock their Genius discount pricing level on select properties from hotels to hostels. Don’t forget to use programs like Rakuten to get cashback—simply use their referral link when booking directly through a hotel or with sites like Booking.com. The money is sent directly to your PayPal account quarterly.
6. Be Aware of Hidden Fees
Most sites, from hotels to Airbnbs, don’t include taxes and cleaning fees in their pricing totals, so prices might look deceptively cheap initially. (Airbnb is notorious for expensive cleaning fees!) Booking.com doesn’t always include taxes either. On my Puerto Rico trip last fall, all the properties on Booking.com had a small note in fine print that said there was an additional 9% tax AND up to a 13% property service charge added to the final booking! (It’s a bit evil to tack on an extra 20% in fees in such a sneaky way. Why not just be transparent with the total cost?) Instead, I booked directly with hotels and Airbnbs for cheaper, more transparent rates. Also, check to see if your lodging includes breakfast or at least a fridge for you to store your own food. That can also help cut costs. (I totally travel with my own toaster so I can eat bagels for breakfast! Haha!)
7. Book Last Minute
Another great way to get a deal is to book last minute with apps/sites like HotelTonight or Hotwire.com, which offer last-minute deals on empty rooms but often don’t tell you the property’s name until after you’ve booked.
The Best Budget Alternative: Camping
In late April, I booked a safari tent at El Cosmico, a luxury campground in Marfa, Texas where you can rent everything from tepees to vintage Airstream trailers. The safari tent had a double bed and electricity. It was $69/night compared to the cheapest hotels in town, which were close to $200 with taxes and fees. The average tent campsite in the U.S. is $35 or less at both national park campgrounds and chains like KOA. (I really like KOAs and private campgrounds.) I thoroughly research reviews for campgrounds and really enjoy staying at them. Last fall, my friend Rolando and I drove out to Mono Lake from San Francisco and stayed at two really nice independently-owned campgrounds. One night we slept in our car because we got in really late and had to be up early. (I literally HATE paying for hotels in these situations because it feels like a waste of money when you’re in the room for only six hours. Sleeping in a car can be much more comfortable than you imagine unless you’re extremely tall or have back issues.) I don’t have my own tent and just borrow one from friends. It’s literally the most inexpensive way to travel in the U.S.
Also, I feel like Airbnbs used to be cheaper than hotels but now, I they are almost the same cost especially in major cities. The one benefit to Airbnbs is that they often have kitchens, which can reduce your food costs. I recommend comparing prices with Airbnbs and hotels before booking anything to see which is the better deal. Or even better, check out campground rates!
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How to Avoid Travel Bank Fees
The easiest way to save money while traveling is having the right kind of bank accounts. There are two big fees that add up when using your debit and credit cards abroad. Here’s how to avoid travel bank fees.
1. Foreign Transaction Fees
Most banks and credit cards charge a small fee to convert the currency ranging from one to three percent.
2. ATM fees
Banks will also charge you a fee for using a non-partner ATM abroad. Plus, the ATM you use abroad will most likely charge you a fee as well. That can be as much as $15 per ATM withdrawal! That’s six meals at the street market in Thailand!
Offerings in a Buddhist temple in Ladakh, India
How to Avoid Bank Fees
1. Find a free, no-fee bank account
The Charles Schwab Investor Checking Account is the greatest thing since the invention of the burrito. No minimum balance. No ATM fees. No foreign transaction fees. They also refund any ATM fee charged to you by another bank at the end of every month. (I get refunded $80-40/month when I’m abroad!) They also have 24-hour customer service, and they are seriously nicest people ever. You can call them toll-free in the U.S. (From abroad, Skype allows you to call toll-free numbers in the U.S. for free.)
This is a free account, so it can be used solely as a travel account or as your main account. I opened two accounts with them in case one card was lost or stolen. That way I can transfer money from one account to the other without any issues. It’s also my main checking account.
For more information on free, no-fee checking accounts, check out NerdWallet.com. I have no affiliation with them, but find their site to be a good resource for banking. They offer charts and lists of the best financial accounts available ranging from credit cards to savings accounts.
2. Use Partner Banks
If you want to keep your current bank, research their partner banks abroad. Both the ATM fee and/or the foreign transaction fee could be waived or lowered. Outside of Europe and Australia, there aren’t many options if you use U.S.-based banks.
3. Look for ATMs that don’t charge fees.
Unless you’re traveling in remote corners of the world like Mongolia, most ATMs nowadays will charge you fees to withdraw money. Avoid well-known worldwide bank ATMs like Citi or HSBC because they always charge a really high fee. Use local banks instead. They might still charge a fee, but it will be less than a mainstream bank.
4. Credit Unions
Local credit union accounts might also help you avoid fees. ATM fees might still be an issue but are usually lower at credit unions than larger bank chains. Foreign transaction fees will be less of an issue as well. Check with them in advance before any travel to confirm rates.
5. No-Fee Credit Cards
There is no foreign transaction fee for any Capital One credit card. Many airline cards and Chase have followed suit. Keep in mind that some rewards cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, have annual fees but no foreign transaction fees. Bottom line: Only use cards with no foreign transaction fees. There are also many rewards credit cards without an annual fee that waive foreign transaction fees.
White Temple, Chiang Rai, Thailand. The ATM fees in Thailand are pretty high so make sure you have the right checking account before your trip!
What Type of Credit Card is best for travel?
Ideally, you shouldn’t pay more than one credit card annual fee a year even if you are a frequent traveler. It’s also easier to maximize your points if you only use one card for all of your spending. I recommend at least having another card with no annual fee to use as a backup in case one doesn’t work while traveling, which is very common issue abroad.
Rewards Credit Cards
If you are going to have a credit card, you should be earning rewards of some kind. The best travel card on the market right now is the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which offers 3 points per dollar spent on travel and food. They also offer a 1.5-point ratio when redeeming for travel. You also get free Global Entry ($100 value) every five years. The fee is hefty ($550/year), but you get a $300 credit for travel expenses during the year, which brings the fee down to $250 a year. It’s technically only $150 the first year if you get Global Entry. You also get Priority Pass, which is a $100 value and gives you access to airport lounges worldwide. (Both Global Entry and Priority Pass are life-changing! If you don’t Priority Pass with your credit card, I recommend just buying a year’s pass if you’ll be traveling frequently.)
If you spend $4,000 in the first three months, you get a 50,000-mile bonus worth $750 in free travel! Another perk for the card is you can redeem miles for a partial cost of travel and pay the rest.
Is it worth the fee? If you travel a lot, then yes. For me, it’s been the perfect card. (Although, I’m reconsidering it now that the fee and increased to $550.) If you don’t travel a lot, then consider the lower-tier Chase Sapphire Preferred with only a $95 fee and two points per dollar on travel/dining.
Keep in mind that when you redeem credit card miles for travel, you can still earn frequent flyer miles on those flights. Don’t forget to add your frequent flyer number to the reservation!
Check out NerdWallet.com for more options. They have a great list of the best travel rewards cards on the market. The highest rated travel rewards card with no annual fee is the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card, which offers 1.5 points per dollar spent.
Airline Cards
If you are loyal to a specific airline, then airlines cards are worth it. I also have the American Airlines card, which gives me free checked bags on all flights and priority boarding. These cards are now starting to offer no foreign transaction fees! Since the airlines revamped their reward structures over the past few years, I find that I often need to fly airlines that aren’t my preferred airline, so this card isn’t as valuable to me personally partly since I now live closer to a United hub than American Airlines.
Anakena, Easter Island. I saved $54 by paying for my accommodation on Easter Island in local currency versus paying in U.S. dollars.
Nine Essential Travel Banking Tips
1. Plan ahead. Open any new bank accounts three months before you leave for your trip. This eliminates any hassles with holds on funds that occur on new accounts.
2. Ask about fees. Some banks charge a monthly maintenance fee if you don’t keep a large daily balance or have a monthly direct deposit. Check with your bank in advance if you will be traveling long-term without any direct deposits. This was a huge issue for me and the reason I closed both my Bank of America and Wells Fargo accounts to switch to Charles Schwab. Be sure to also ask about foreign transaction fees and alert your bank to your travel plans so they don’t block your cards.
3. Take multiple cards. I always travel with a Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Visa and MasterCard are the most universally accepted cards, although I find American Express can work better on some airline websites abroad like Qantas. But beware—despite their catchy slogan, American Express is not everywhere you want them to be. They were not in Cambodia. They left me stranded and living in Western Union commercial calling my parents at 5 a.m. to transfer me money. (I ended up closing my American Express card because I rarely used it, and don’t miss it at all!)
4. Keep an eye on exchange rates. If your home currency looks like it’s dropping, then take out cash before it gets worse. If your home currency spikes, hit up the ATM! When I lived in Australia, there were a few weeks when the Australian dollar dipped really low so I took a good chunk of money out of my U.S. accounts and deposited it into my Australian account. I recommend the XE app for checking rates.
5. Avoid exchanging currency at airports.You will get the worst rates. You are better using an ATM. The only exceptions are countries like Burma, Argentina or Vietnam, where you get better exchange rates with cash on the black market in town. If you have no choice but to exchange at the airport, exchange a small amount then go to a bank inside the city for a better rate.
6. Always take U.S. dollars. No matter the currency, many places will accept U.S. dollars as payment as well. Ask for prices in both the local currency and U.S. dollars to compare. For example, I saved $9 paying in USD for the Easter Island park entry fee but saved $54 paying for my six-night accommodation on the island in local currency. Larger bills often get the best exchange rates but keep some smaller cash handy as well.
7. Find proper ATMs. If the ATM is in a strange place, like a hotel lobby or in a sketchy corner of a restaurant, it probably has higher ATM fees and the worst exchange rates. Go to a proper bank ATM.
8. Pay in Local Currency. Many shops will give you the option to pay in your home currency (or USD), but the rate is 5 percent higher! (Trust me, I did the math!) Always pay in local currency in shops that give you the option to do both. I had no choice but to pay in Euro for my rental car in Iceland, which worked out in my favor since I booked far in advance. The rate dropped by the time I arrived so I saved about $25! (They didn’t charge my card until I picked up the car.) Sometimes, the USD rate can save you money. Download the free XE app first to check rates before deciding.
9. Don’t Get Foreign Currency in Advance. While your local bank may offer the option to get foreign currency in advance before your trip, keep in mind that you will likely be paying a higher rate than if you do it when you arrive. This might seem easier, but it’s takes a while to get the money. You’re better off just getting money out of an ATM when you arrive with you Charles Schwab checking account.
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I am not sponsored by any of the banks, credit cards or products mentioned above. I have used all the products myself and found them extremely helpful. Please note affiliate links are included above for Priority Pass. If you click on the link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission with no additional cost to you. If you would like to support this blog, please consider using the links on the Resources page when planning our next trip. Please email me if you have questions.
My Top 5 Travel Hacks
Mono Lake, an ancient saline lake on the edge of the Sierra Nevada in California, is famous for unique limestone formations.
I keep a running list in a note on my phone about the random things that make my travels easier, cheaper and less stressful. I picked five of my favorite ones to share with you here. If you like this, let me know, and I’ll continue the series.
1. Rental Cars
When pricing rental cars, compare airport and city location rates. I saved $350 in Puerto Rico in November by renting from a location in a suburb of San Juan. Before the pandemic, the cheapest rental car rate I’d ever gotten was $17/day from the Oakland airport. While I prefer to book directly through a rental company, I find Hotwire* is the next best option when prices are high.
2. Free Flight Upgrades
After check-in has closed for a flight, I ask at the gate counter if there are any empty rows or empty aisle seats closer to the front of the plane. In the past year, I ended up with several free upgrades to main cabin extra and my own row on four flights! By asking at the gate counter, the agent can often waive the fee for the preferred seats, which is why I use this strategy.
3. Sim Cards
Buy a local SIM card instead of paying for an international plan for your phone. I have NEVER had a good experience with using my U.S. phone plan abroad. Not only is it expensive, it never works properly. (Seriously, Verizon, why can’t you get it together?!?) In January, I paid $10/month in Buenos Aires for a 15GB monthly plan. In Thailand, I paid $10/month for an unlimited plan. It’s always cheaper to buy sim cards and data plans outside the airport. TIP: If you’re going to the UK or Europe, I recommend Giffgaff because they’ll mail a SIM card to you in advance internationally. That way you just turn your phone on and it works! They have free roaming in Europe, but the roaming period is longer if you use the SIM in the UK first.
4. Luggage Carts
You can always find abandoned luggage carts by airport taxi and rideshare pickup areas. It is absurd that it’s $6 or MORE to rent a cart at U.S. airports when they are free in most other countries. I would run for political office solely on a platform to make airport luggage carts free. (In addition, I’d ban leaf blowers and injury lawyer billboards—I’d replace the billboards with photos of kitties, puppies and baby alpacas with a thought bubble that says “Drive safe!”)
5. A Word About Band-Aids
Always always always pack Band-Aids. It is literally impossible to find decent quality Band-Aids in certain countries. (That’s right, Chile, I’m talking about YOU!) Most of South America and Asia don’t do Band-Aids well.
Quick Update:
After three months abroad, I’ve been stateside for a month and laying low on social media because I’m swamped with work. I’ve been visiting my parents and building furniture with my dad. (He makes 18th century furniture for a living, and I wanted to build a bed!) I’ve got some more location guides in the works (Croatia, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, Portugal, etc.) but haven’t had the time to finish them. I do this blog in my free time, and it takes at least three days straight to write a detailed location guide. I’ve got some exciting work travels in April and May so follow along on Instagram! I’ll do my best to get some new location guides up in the next few months. Just a reminder that I’m currently posting monthly.
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