Hi Reader, Happy Halloween! Whether you’re taking photos of spooky decorations or saving memories from your travels, your phone can capture the moments you want to remember. You don’t need to carry extra camera gear to get great trip photos. Taking Better Travel Photos With Your Phone A few simple habits can make a big difference: Look for good light. Early morning and late afternoon often give you softer, more flattering light. On sunny days, try photographing in the shade. Clean your lens....
8 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, These are the travel items that have been in our suitcases for every trip we’ve taken this year. They’ve earned their place because we use them trip after trip, whether we’re heading out for a full day or organizing everything in a carry-on. Gear We Reach for Trip After Trip A compact travel toothbrushA small rechargeable toothbrush is easy to pack and doesn’t take up much space. I like this one because it’s compact and recharges with USB-C, so I can use a cable I already carry.See...
15 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, One of our favorite parts of cruising is stepping ashore and exploring somewhere new. We often plan our own port days instead of booking through the cruise line. It gives us more choice over what we see and how we spend our time. That doesn’t mean we head out without a plan. A little research helps us find experiences we’ll enjoy and get back to the ship on time. How We Find Shore Excursions We often look for tours through Viator, Klook, GetYourGuide, and Shore Excursions Group....
22 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Some hotels make a trip easier. Others make us want to return. We’ve stayed at each of these hotels more than once, and they’ve earned a place on our repeat-visit list for their location, comfort, service or the memories we’ve made there. Here are five hotels we’ve happily returned to. Park Hyatt Doha The Park Hyatt Doha made a lasting impression with its thoughtful service, comfortable suite, and convenient location in Msheireb Downtown. We were greeted by name, enjoyed a...
29 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, One of our favorite activities is going whale watching whenever it’s available. Over the last 18 months, we’ve taken tours in Maui, Alaska, Dominica, and San Diego. We’ve been fortunate to see whales on every trip, and each outing has given us a different view of these remarkable animals. The destination and season shape what you might see. Maui is known for humpback whales during the winter months, while Alaska’s summer waters attract humpbacks and other species. Dominica is known...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, One of my favorite parts of a big vacation is finding a way to explore somewhere new along the way. On our trip to Kazakhstan, we spent two days in Frankfurt before continuing to Almaty. On the way home, we spent two days in Doha. Both stopovers gave us time to see a new country and break up a long journey. Frankfurt also gave us a chance to adjust to the time difference before heading east. In Doha, we had another welcome opportunity to explore before flying home. Two Days in...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, This week, we’re sharing our experience flying Qatar Airways Qsuites and how we used points to make this incredible business-class experience possible. Flying Qatar Airways Qsuites Our recent trip to Kazakhstan included several memorable flights, but the highlight was flying Qatar Airways Qsuites from Doha to Chicago. The nearly 15-hour flight gave us plenty of time to enjoy the experience. We watched movies, read, ate well, and slept intermittently. The seat converted into a fully...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, When we planned our first trip to Kazakhstan, we expected beautiful mountains, interesting history, and a different travel experience. What we didn’t expect was one of our favorite surprises of the entire trip. Our Unexpected Favorite in Almaty Almaty Zoo wasn’t high on our original list. In fact, we hadn’t seen it mentioned often while researching things to do. But we decided to visit, and we’re so glad we did. The zoo was clean, well-maintained, and home to a large variety of...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Sometimes you don’t have to travel far to enjoy a great adventure. This summer, Gary and I attended two concerts, one in Charlotte and another close to home in Greensboro. Traveling to Charlotte for a Summer Concert We traveled to Charlotte for an outdoor concert featuring Foreigner and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Both bands put on a great show, and we were lucky to have temperatures in the 70s that evening. We did have a rain shower right at the end of Foreigner’s set, but we had checked the...
2 months ago • 2 min read