Travel

I spent $847 on Big Island black sand tours over three Hawaiian vacations before a geology professor mentioned Reynisfjara during a Reykjavik layover. “Iceland’s version costs nothing,” she said, sketching basalt columns on a napkin. “And the formations Hawaii’s erosion destroyed? Still standing there after 24 million years.” Two weeks later, I stood on Iceland’s … Lire plus

After two decades navigating 900 Pacific islands, I’ve witnessed countless villages claim cyclone resilience. But when Category 5 Winston unleashed 185mph winds across Fiji in 2016, only one island proved its natural fortress wasn’t folklore — Tuvuca’s 180 residents watched neighboring communities evacuate while their multi-level terraced village at 240 meters elevation deflected the storm’s … Lire plus

Twenty years ago, we started documenting mountain towns across North America with one question: which communities truly invest in the trails that define them? After exploring 900 destinations from Whistler’s commercialized peaks to Vermont’s quiet hills, we found something unprecedented in British Columbia’s Monashee Mountains—a 3,600-resident village that pays a full-time crew to maintain what … Lire plus

I spent two decades exploring Southeast Asia’s limestone labyrinths, and Robinson Lifestyle Thalang delivers something conventional malls never could—authentic Thai shopping at prices that make tourist-trap boutiques look criminally expensive. This two-story sanctuary in northern Phuket costs 70% less than Patong’s resort shops while serving the kind of regional cuisine and local brands that disappeared … Lire plus

I spent three days trapped in my $180-per-night Cancún resort, fighting for beach chairs at 6am and dodging spring breakers in crowded pools. At 52, I’d imagined something different from Mexican paradise. Then my taxi driver mentioned a place called Cenote Ik Kil—a sacred Maya water temple 90 minutes inland. I ditched my prepaid resort … Lire plus

I spent $320 on a Woodstock hotel room last October, then waited 40 minutes for parking near a covered bridge already crowded with selfie-stick tours. The next morning, I took a wrong turn off Route 12A in New Hampshire and discovered something that made me cancel my remaining Woodstock reservations: a village of 1,616 people … Lire plus

At 54, sitting in Teterboro Airport’s private terminal during a delayed connection, I watched a charter broker tap his phone and casually mention something that would save me $28,805 annually: “Ever heard of empty-leg flights?” I’d spent 25 years photographing remote destinations, accepting $8,000 business class tickets as the ceiling for comfortable long-haul travel. That … Lire plus

I discovered empty-leg private jets at 54, and it transformed how I fly. After 25 years photographing remote destinations, I’d accepted that business class was my ceiling—$8,000 roundtrips felt justified for my work. Then a delayed connection in Teterboro changed everything. A charter broker mentioned empty-leg flights—private jets repositioning between client bookings at 75% discounts. … Lire plus

I spent $5,200 on my first Business Class ticket to Dubai at 52, expecting marginal improvements over Economy. What I discovered changed how I view luxury travel forever. Flight attendants revealed that Business Class delivers 90% of First Class comfort at half the price—but only if you know the insider secrets that transform a premium … Lire plus

After comparing 50+ business class products across two decades of aviation reporting, I’ve watched Qatar Airways’ Qsuite redefine what $5,200 can deliver at 35,000 feet. While Emirates charges $8,000+ for Dubai-routed flights with similar privacy features, Qatar’s revolutionary double-suite system costs 35% less on New York-Bangkok routes through Doha. The 2025 Skytrax awards just confirmed … Lire plus