Discover the best Hanoi attractions: street food tours, water puppets, Train Street & more. Local guide with insider tips from a month in th

📋 Table of Contents Why Even Be Skeptical of Reviews? How to Spot a Fake Review (The Telltale Signs) My Step-by-Step Method: Finding Your Authentic Home Base The Best Tools for Vetting Hotels What to Do When You're Still in Doubt The Most Common Mistakes Everyone Makes FAQ Final Thoughts + Your Next Challenge Melbourne, Australia | I used to work at the hotel's bar and occasionally stayed here; that's how I got to experiance to behind the scenes of hotels industry and I know

A week after a perfect day on Cham Island, I discovered an entire day had vanished from my memory. The photos were there, but the feelings? The details? Gone. That's when I understood: if you don't capture the moment as it happens, it disappears. My simple real-time documentation system (just 30 minutes a day) ensures you won't lose the amazing places you've found - the hidden bar, the bakery open only one hour daily, the cafe with perfect Wi-Fi. Not 300 confusing locations -

(And How Not to Feel Like an Idiot When You Try) When I arrived in Mexico, I had a Spanish foundation from the telenovelas I watched as a kid—like most Israeli girls my age. I picked up the language quickly, but it had been years since I'd actively used it. Turns out, when Mexicans speak fast, there's no chance of understanding them. Somehow I managed, and I found myself speaking confidently and learning so much about people through their language. But the further you get fro

My exact method for uncovering hidden gems, avoiding tourist traps, and forging a real connection—even if you only have three days. We all know the feeling. You land in a new city, and your itinerary is perfect. It’s efficient, organized, and covers all the "must-see" spots. Back in the day, we got these routes from decade-old blogs. Today, we just ask ChatGPT: "Build me an optimal 48-hour itinerary for Rome." And it delivers. A logical route that covers the Colosseum, the Va

Let's lay our cards on the table. If you've landed here after Googling things like "Is it safe for a woman to travel alone?", "Solo travel anxiety," or "First-time solo travel preparation"— you are not alone . That initial feeling—those heart palpitations right before you click 'Book Flight,' that gut-wrenching squeeze of doubt? That fear is human, it’s real, and there are about a million generic posts online that will try to soothe you with lists of 'personal safety tips.' B

I'm finally back in Southeast Asia, and after a half-around-the-world flight, my head is still spinning a little. But it got me thinking: 3 years of full-time travel is also 3 years of perfecting how to travel not just cheaply, but comfortably . Let’s be honest: the whole "digital nomad" thing looks glamorous, but when you're on a real budget, you have to fight for every inch of comfort and every dollar saved. You deserve a little bit of luxury on a backpacker's budget, right

So you’ve decided to go to Tulum. You’ve seen the Instagram photos—the swings over the water, the eco-chic boutique hotels, the magical cenotes—and you're sold. But then you opened a hotel map and realized the reality is a bit more complicated. Tulum is a town with a split personality, and choosing between its two distinct worlds is the most important decision you'll make when planning your trip. To help you figure out exactly what’s right for you, let's talk about each area,

Before you book a trip to Mexico, read this. As someone who lived in Playa del Carmen for 4 months, I'm revealing how to ditch the tourist traps and find the real authentic Mexico travel experiences that no guidebook will tell you about.

A 7-step guide to avoiding the crowds, finding the best food, and discovering the island's authentic magic. After living in Playa del Carmen for four months, Isla Mujeres became my favorite escape. It’s a tiny, perfect slice of the Caribbean, but it has one major problem: it’s incredibly easy to fall into the same tourist traps as everyone else and miss what makes it truly special. While everyone else is rushing to book the latest trending spots like the new Almare Isla Mujer

So, you're dreaming of those white-sand beaches and turquoise waters of Playa del Carmen. You can already feel the sun on your skin and the taste of tacos and margaritas. Maybe you are even planning your trip specifically for the upcoming Carnaval Playa del Carmen 2025  and wondering where the best spot is to catch the parade or escape the noise. But then comes the big question: with all the hotels, Airbnbs, and resorts, where should you actually stay? Playa is a much more di

The fantasy of Playa del Carmen is pretty clear: an all-inclusive bracelet, frozen cocktails, and an infinity pool. It’s a great vacation, but it’s not really Playa. It’s an air-conditioned bubble that observes the city from the outside. The truth is, the real magic of Playa is found in the small, unplanned, and far less Instagrammable moments that happen when you leave the resort and just… live. In the four months I lived here, I learned the hard way the difference between v

Let's get one thing straight. The question, "Is it safe for a woman to travel solo in Playa del Carmen?" isn't the right one. The right question is: "How do I make Playa del Carmen my home court, where I set the rules?" After four months of calling this city home, I discovered that feeling safe isn't about luck—it's about strategy. It's not about being afraid; it's about being prepared. In this post, I'm sharing the ground rules and insights I developed to move through this c

I remember the smell of boiling coconut milk and lemongrass at a small cooking class in Hoi An, Vietnam. The local instructor showed us how to make rice milk traditionally—a long, laborious process that takes hours of work. I imagined what it meant to feed an entire family that way, and I understood the immense value in the small, everyday things. In that moment, I realized that real travel isn't about the sights you see, but the connections you make. The journey is not just