Lessons from an Expert International Traveler: Sharing the Early Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Make Them Too)

Five years ago, I jetted off to Europe on a one-way ticket. A few weeks ago, I did the same again. But this trip looks A LOT different. I made a lot of mistakes back then — with transportation, bookings, planning, and spending — and now, I'm a bonafide expert traveler. Here's my stories and advice, and what I'm doing better this time around.

My 3 Rules For Finding Balance while Traveling, From a Full-Time Nomad

"Uh oh, I better maximize my vacation and have all the fun because the clock is ticking!" "Uh oh, my free time on vacation is finite so I better choose all the best activities and nothing better go wrong!" "Uh oh, sleeping in or just taking it easy while on vacation means I'm wasting my precious time!" See how the scarcity mindset sets you up to fail? I have since learned to think of time in abundance to find balance while traveling, and you should too.

How to Avoid Travel Burnout, From a Frequent Flier

The cities, the sights, the experiences. Frequent travel may look glamorous on Instagram, but in reality, it means time zone hopping, insufficient sleep, disrupted exercise and eating routines, and of course, airport annoyances. If you've ever felt like you needed a vacation from your vacation (I have), try my tips on beating travel fatigue.

Ecuador Recap: 8-Day Ecuador Itinerary (Mostly) on a Shoestring

Ecuador as a travel destination: Enough have come before to pave the way, but not enough that the people and the country are jaded, advantageous of or overrun by foreigners. Check out my Ecuador itinerary from Quito to Quilotoa to Cotopaxi to Cuenca to Guayaquil.