Cherry Blossoms in Takayama, Japan

Long time readers know I love travel credit cards because of the huge amount of points and perks they bring. (New readers now know this.) In fact, this month alone I signed up for an Amex Platinum (50,000 points) and United Airlines card (60,000 points) with more sign-ups planned next month. Points bring lots of benefits like free flights, elite status, free checked bags, and priority boarding. And, while I know a lot about this subject, there are people who [...]

I’ve dreamed of Kyoto and its thousands of temples for as long as I’ve dreamed of Japan. I love Japanese architecture and zen gardens. One day, when I own a home, my backyard will be designed as a Japanese zen garden, complete with pond, koi fish, rock garden, and little waterfall. On my recent visit to Japan with G Adventures, Kyoto was the only place I wanted to see as much as Tokyo. Though it rained (sometimes heavily) during my [...]

A rushing river in the lush Khao Sok National Park in Thailand

As I’ve been planning my move to Sweden, I’ve been trying to figure out how to get past the 90-day limit placed on tourist visas. This is a problem encountered by travelers every year and a question that regularly pops up in my inbox. “How can I stay in Europe for more than 90 days?” I am asked. It’s a great question with a very complicated answer. I’ve always known it to be difficult but until I started researching on [...]

Kanazawa Castle in Kanazawa, Japan

“Your job sounds like the most exciting job in the world,” the cute blond girl — let’s call her Jessica — said to me. Jessica had just overheard a conversation with some friends I hadn’t seen in years and they were peppering me with questions about my job and lifestyle. People I meet usually do, and I’ve gotten used it. “He has the best job,” replied my friend. “So, can you get me to Ireland cheap? I really want to [...]

I can still remember the first time I heard about Thailand. I was around 15 and watching Hard Copy. It was one of those late afternoon “news” shows in the 1990s that focused on “hard” hitting journalism but were really a precursor to sites like TMZ. Hard Copy was doing an exposé on sex tourism in Thailand. The program showcased the Marines and old men who came to Thailand to buy the services of young, sometimes under-age girls (and boys). [...]

Sunset Over the Grand Canyon

I’m currently in Japan on a G Adventures tour and I am loving every minute of it. Japan has far exceeded my expectations, though I am definitely not eating enough sushi. In 4 days, I’ve only had it twice. For someone so addicted to sushi, that just feels so wrong. I’ll be rectifying that soon enough though (tomorrow for lunch). Japan is a country with a fascinating culture and history so I thought I would share some of the interesting [...]