Why You Will Most Likely Hate Bangkok On Your First Visit

Posted on by Krystal
A lot of traveler's first impression of Thailand is Bangkok - it's cheap and easily accessible to the rest of the region by train or cheap flights so it made sense to start my trip there. I had heard a lot of negative things about the Thai capital - it's dirty, smelly, and full of corruption. But I kept an open mind as I got off the plane with my backpack strapped tightly to my...more
woman with elephant at chiang mai elephant sanctuary

Spending Two Nights in the Jungle at the Best Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai

Posted on by Krystal
Being able to spend time with elephants was one of, if not the main reason for my trip to Thailand. Along with participating in the Chiang Mai lantern festival, visiting an elephant sanctuary was what sparked my interest in the country from the very beginning. Trying to find the best elephant sanctuary can be hard, so I want to tell you all the reasons I loved the one I chose. I wanted to see elephants...more
slow boats docked on mekong river

Everything You Need to Know About Traveling By Slow Boat from Thailand to Luang Prabang

Posted on by Krystal
Before I started really planning a trip to Southeast Asia, I only knew a few things I definitely wanted to do on my first trip: go to the Lantern Festival, eat spicy noodles, see elephants up close for the first time in my life, and travel by slow boat to Luang Prabang from Thailand. Although a slow boat down the Mekong river isn't the quickest way to travel from Thailand to Laos, it is cheap...more

Small Town Charm and Traveling to South Carolina with my Best Friend

Posted on by Krystal
Welcome to the South, where the grass is [actually] greener, the humidity is high and the people are as sweet as their iced tea. I just spent four days going from my best friend’s hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina to Charleston and back again. A short trip filled with good food, great people, charming sights, and beautiful landscapes. A lot of people asked me when I told them where I was going on vacation this...more

Pennsylvania Countryside: I remember thinking ‘I could do this, I could live here.’

Posted on by Krystal
I love New York City, I really do. Just passing my three-year anniversary living here I can say with confidence that I have no intention of leaving anytime soon. But last summer was particularly hard for me to spend anytime in the city. It was miserably hot (probably the worst summer I have ever experienced), I was getting very limited hours at the bar I work which was leading to a lot of financial stress,...more

Visiting the Magical Place that is Sintra, Portugal.

Posted on by Krystal
One of the best things about open-ended traveling is winding up in places that you didn't know existed. Or being pleasantly surprised that a destination highly exceeds your expectations, like Sintra. When I decided to start my 14-week trip off in Portugal, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew it was conveniently located as one of the closest countries to fly into from the United States. I knew it was relatively affordable, and I...more

Budget Advice: How to Save Enough Money to Quit Your Job and Travel

Posted on by Krystal
I'm writing this from the back of the bar I work in.  Staring down the row of empty bar stools, wishing I could enjoy the mild February temperatures that have graced New York this week. If you can believe it, I actually wore sandals. Most New Yorkers are out enjoying the weather and not sitting inside a dark bar. So as I sit here thinking about the little amount of money I stand to make today,...more

All About the Time I Hiked the Italian Coast in Cinque Terre

Posted on by Krystal
On my first long backpacking trip to Europe, my travel partner and I were terrible planners most of the time. To missed trains, running after buses, and not checking in for our Ryanair flight before we got to the airport, we were the target of most rookie travel mistakes. But sometimes terrible planning worked out better than we could ever have imagined. Like the time we got on a much later train than expected from...more

My Top Three Unplanned Italian Destinations

Posted on by Krystal
When it comes to Italy, it is easy to ramble on about the impeccable cuisine, high quality coffee, beautiful language, the winding canals of Venice, breathtaking coast of Cinque Terre and the ancient cobblestones in Rome. From top to bottom, it is arguably my favorite country. It is also one of the first places I recommend to anyone who is planning a trip to Europe. There are so many obvious reasons to love the country....more