Author: Lauren Mulvey

On a recent trip to celebrate my mother’s birthday we discovered the charm and allure of Porto, Portugal. We arrived on a humid Sunday afternoon and quickly found ourselves dragging luggage up sloping cobblestone streets to our Airbnb. Wasting no time, we headed out for the day to explore the city and grab some food.  After wandering through the city streets, we found that Porto is not only home to many active street musicians (we heard multiple renditions of “Pretty Woman” within the span of 10 minutes), but it’s also known as “the city of bridges.” Down by the Douro…

Have you ever dreamed of moving to a foreign country? Maybe you’ve dreamt of moving to a quiet town in Greece, Italy, or Switzerland. Lucky for you it’s possible.  Many countries have special programs that invite you to live in their country for a given stipend, which essential means you’ll get paid to live in your dream destination. These programs are often put into place when a particular town or location has a dwindling population. Local governments are desperate to repopulate these locations or attract workers, and they invite foreigners to inhabit them to rebuild the community and economy. Oftentimes,…

Lufthansa takes the undercover boss challenge to the next level with CEO, Jens Ritter, spending a day working as a flight attendant. On a journey between the Middle East and Germany, Ritter attended to guests in business class during the day and took the overnight shift on the way to Frankfurt helping with guests in economy. Ritter wrote about his experience on LinkedIn: “I was amazed by how much there is to organize, especially, if something doesn’t go as planned—for example the meals offered on the menu cards were not exactly the meals loaded on board. It was so interesting…

Travel writers and remote workers alike can often work from anywhere, allowing them to pick up their lives and move across the country or even across the world.  This has long been a popular lifestyle amongst the digital nomad community, and as it becomes a more popular form of employment, many countries are developing so-called “digital nomad” visas for those wishing to be nomads in their territory. The phrase “digital nomad” was first popularized by Tsugio Makimoto and David Manners, who together authored the book Digital Nomad in 1997. This book foresaw the concept that computers could eventually take office…

These days, pro-travelers, bloggers, and average tourists alike love to rattle off all the countries they’ve visited, flexing their travel muscles racking up 30, 40, maybe even 50 countries on their lists. Many people seem to be focused on visiting the most places possible rather than really experiencing the culture, history, natural beauty and cuisine one place has to offer. But have you ever thought of just taking the pace down a few notches? That’s where slow travel finds its place.  Slow travel isn’t just a relaxing vacation on a beach in Hawaii or the Bahamas, it’s a method used…

As one of Italy’s most touristic regions, Tuscany and its beautiful cities have a reputation to uphold. Made famous by sunny villas sitting amongst rolling green hills covered in healthy grapevines, a dusting of delicate flowers along old narrow roads, and a crown of medieval cities with stone buildings nestled into one another, no one who has visited can argue that the region’s beauty is overrated. There are many famous cities in Tuscany which often compete with one another, each offering its own vast history and cultural specialties. After many visits to the region, and conversations with real Tuscan residents,…

While visiting Croatia this summer, dividing my time between the cities of Split and Hvar, I decided to explore at least one of Croatia’s beautiful national parks. After some research, I chose Krka National Park, famous for a wonderful waterfall, and a must-see.  I booked a guided tour through Get Your Guide with a company called Splitalicious Experiences for just 20 euro. My online reservation instructed me to meet the rest of the group at the statue of Gregory Nin, a Croatian bishop, just outside Split’s ancient palace walls. The statue of Gregory had an almost cartoonish look that made…

After a month of traveling in northern Europe, I decided to spend some time in the sunny Andalusia region of Spain. I had heard bits and pieces from other travelers that Granada was everyone’s favorite city in Spain for one reason or another. They all told me “you’re going to love it,” and I was curious to see if it was worth all the hype. When I arrived in Granada by bus it was late afternoon, the sun was beating down on the city center. Off the bus, I lugged my increasingly heavy carry-on suitcase (bursting with souvenirs and bottles…

On trips to Italy, you may have spend one euro to enter a bathroom in the train station, a bottle of water is typically more than one euro, a good gelato can be anywhere from two to five, and a classic Aperol Spritz is typically five on a good day. So what’s this we hear about being able to buy a whole house for one euro? It’s true, houses in Italy are being sold and auctioned for incredibly low prices. You may be wondering why one of the most beautiful countries in the world is asking foreigners to come in…

Sunny afternoons visiting little cities along the French Riviera, coastal paradises along Italy’s Amalfi Coast, or Ireland’s gorgeous country backroads can be best accessed by car. Renting a car in another country can offer you some of the best adventures in your desired destination, but it can also be a big headache for those who aren’t prepared.  Rental car companies offer travelers vehicles all over the world, but before you swipe your credit card and head into unknown territory, it’s important to consider whether or not renting a car during your travels is the best call. Pros of Renting…

The city of Stockholm is a sprawling landscape of interwoven islands at the inlet of a larger archipelago. This makes the city somewhat fragmented, but allows each island to play a larger role in the layout of the city. A favorite island of many tourists and locals alike is Djurgården. Sitting southeast of the city’s shopping and historical center, it acts as an oasis, an escape from the city’s crowded streets.  Hills shrouded in dark green trees, speckled with castles, beautiful museums, bright riverside homes, and even an amusement park, Djurgården has something for visitors seeking tranquility, history, thrills, or…

Any traveler’s worst nightmare is losing their passport. Not only is it your primary form of identification, but it’s essential to have when returning home. We hope this doesn’t happen to you, but if it does here’s what to do to get a new or temporary passport so you can continue your travels until you return to your country of residence.  It’s not uncommon for passports to be lost or stolen as you travel, but it’s important that you report your missing passport to local authorities or the embassy for your country as soon as possible. If not, your passport…

Record-breaking heat in major tourist destinations such as Greece, Italy and Spain have made travel to southern Europe almost unbearable during the summer months. However, there are plenty of alternatives in the northern regions of Europe for those wishing to travel more comfortably. These countries offer plenty of culture, history, art, and natural wonders to discover and enjoy. Norway Offering respite from the blazing heat of central and southern Europe are Norway’s cozy cities and gorgeous countryside. A traveler who knows what’s good for them will save their trip to Greece for the cooler months and book a ticket to…

Record-breaking temperatures in top summer travel destinations, including Italy, Spain and Greece, have raised concerns for the vast numbers of travelers in the region this year. The New York Times reports that in some parts of Italy including Sardinia and Sicily, temperatures are close to 118 degrees Fahrenheit, but forecasts predict that the heat wave will pass by the end of July.  Though the heat wave is temporary, sources across the web report that this may be the coolest summer for the rest of your life.  The fourth of July became the hottest day on Earth in recorded history with…

London is one of the best cities in the world to find global cuisines of all types. With a vast bar and restaurant scene, it could take you a lifetime to try all the recommended eateries in this city. But on a day out in London, you may by chance stumble upon one the city’s food halls or markets where cultures from all over the world present their finest street food and signature dishes for you to choose from.  Located throughout the city, these food halls and markets are the perfect spots to grab a bite to eat while seeing…

This year, the State Department has been inundated with up to 500,000 applications per week for passports so they are now offering a new way to process your application with Special Passport Acceptance Fairs. The State Department will venture around the country to host these events in public libraries, city admin offices and recreational centers in New Jersey, California, Florida, Texas, and more throughout July and August, with new events added to the calendar weekly. However, these events are only accessible for new passport applications, so if you need to renew your passport you should follow standard procedure, or use…

The U.S. The State Department has issued a travel warning for China and Hong Kong that urges visitors to reconsider travel due to potential wrongful detention or “arbitrary enforcement of laws,” according to reports from Travel and Leisure.  The warning designates mainland China and Macau as Level 3 destinations meaning U.S. citizens should “reconsider travel” there. It also identified Hong Kong as a Level 2 city which recommends that travelers “exercise increased caution” when visiting.  Travel advisories are ranked on a scale of 1-4 in which level one suggests you “exercise normal precautions,” and level four recommends you do not…

Learning languages is paramount for travelers looking to have an authentic experience when visiting foreign countries. Learning the language of the country you are visiting signals respect and appreciation of the location and its culture, and it’s also an important tool when navigating cities, visiting restaurants, shopping and interacting with locals. Many bilingual people believe the best way to learn a language is to be immersed in it, but hanks to evolving technology there are new ways to practice different languages that are accessible through your mobile phone or computer. Apps make it easy to use your free time to…

Airline flights are one of the biggest expenses when planning a trip, and if you don’t know where to look you could end up paying hundreds of dollars more than necessary. If you’re looking for a last minute deal on your next trip, we’ve compiled a list of sites where you can find the best prices for your flights.  All platforms included are user friendly and make it easy to find flights by in putting your destination and current location along with desired travel dates to find the best flights. From there you can filter your findings based on airline,…

Dublin sees millions of travelers touring the city each year, but surely one of the most attractive features in Dublin is its rich pub scene and live music culture. From 5 p.m. on visitors can pop into any bar in the Temple Bar area and experience traditional Irish tunes and covers of pop hits, dine on classic pub grub, and decide if Guinness is your favorite beer or the worst thing you’ve ever tasted.  Though you can have a good night at nearly any bar, here are some favorites that can guarantee you a quintessential night out in Dublin.  The…