I love slow travel; mindful trips, where I get to ask myself, “What would make me happiest?” and use the answer to fuel days of exploration of a new place. But there are some vacations where I want to do absolutely no cultural discovery; where the point isn’t to go out and see things, but to recharge by bowing out of activities altogether. Enter: the … Continue reading “Fly and Flop” Trips: How to Plan a Truly Relaxing Holiday
Sometimes I think I’m becoming addicted to my phone. This gadget is my camera, my bank, my list-maker, my television, my music-sharing device, my gateway into my friend’s lives (via social media), and my communicator for my loved ones. So it’s understandable that there’s a draw to it—but I worry that I’ve started going full days without being able to put it down. This becomes … Continue reading How to Disconnect From Your Phone While Travelling (4 Simple Analog Tools)
Sometimes you don’t need a big trip to re-energize—you just need a few quiet days. Life lately has been feeling chaotic, and the impulse to get on a plane and forget about everything for a short-term trip is very tempting. When I imagine it, it feels simple. But I know that’s just because I’ve become too used to city breaks that they feel easy to … Continue reading What to Pack for a Slow City Break (and Why Less Is Better)
This week marks over 13 years of living in London. It was an adjustment, certainly—although I’ve written about how hard it was for me emotionally, some of the hardest culture shock moments actually happened gradually, as I was living in London as a Canadian. Culture shock in London can sneak up on you; there many things I never thought were unusual in my hometown of … Continue reading Culture Shock in London: 23 Things That Surprised Me After 13 Years
This week, I’m celebrating 13 years of living in London—what started as a post-university trip to get an internship became a full-time job, and although I’ve travelled a lot, London is the place I’ve called home for over a decade. I’m not a big history buff; it was never my favourite subject in school, and I can’t say that it’s something I go out-of-my-way to … Continue reading 3 Ways London’s History Shapes How the City Feels Today
Earlier this week, I wrote about how my wedding coming up has taken up a huge chunk of my variable-expense budgeting (ie, I’m now less able to travel as much as I’d like). And when I think about this too much, I do get a little blue. The thing is—I actually haven’t had time to think about this too much. Between the bustle of work … Continue reading Resting on Trips: The Most Productive Thing I Do
I’m getting married this year, and I’m so excited! I’m also broke. Weddings are expensive. Even when you’re eloping; even when you look for your dress in a sample sale; even when you’re getting your shoes at a discount. I’m convinced that when you add the word “wedding” to something, the price skyrockets, because of the once-in-a-lifetime specialness of the event. For that reason, I’m … Continue reading Travel Alternatives for When You Just Can’t
I love to travel, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love coming home after a big trip. Coming home is like being wrapped in a warm hug for me—seeing my things, that familiar smell of home, and knowing I can kick off my shoes and be myself without any pretence is so gratifying. The trip doesn’t even need to be that long—hell, … Continue reading Setting Up Home to Make Travel Easier
Today was the first day where to get close to the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy, it came at the cost of €2. From 9am to 10pm, lower-level access close to the fountain is no longer free for tourists; to help manage the bustling crowds in the piazza, those who want to get closest to the fountain will be charged for the experience. The fee … Continue reading The Trevi Fountain’s €2 Charge: A Step Too Far For Tourism?
If you’re on Threads today, you’ve no doubt seen the epic cake story—a woman in Britain who was volunteered (more like, volun-told) by her husband to host a birthday party on a weeknight has said no, thank you. She’s made it clear to her husband that as she’s got nothing to do with this party, he, his mother, and sister-in-law will be left to their … Continue reading Emotional Labour When Planning Trips
No Small Wander 