Since 1992, Strasbourg has been officially dubbed the Capital of Christmas. Every year, the city's squares play host to 8 official Christmas markets, with over 300 market chalets. Strasbourg's Christmas markets are among the most famous in Europe, with markets spread throughout the historic centre. If you're planning a visit,...

We've all been there, right? Standing over an empty suitcase, wishing you were Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and could just magic the perfect things together for your trip. It's hard enough trying to make sure you pack lightly enough, but not so lightly that you're washing underwear in the hotel...

For someone as obsessed with travel as I am, you'd think I'd be better at getting all the "need to know" stuff down pat before I go. I've got a Notion page for every trip: I plot out my itineraries, I make my packing lists, I've researched every vegan restaurant,...

Annual leave (or PTO to our American friends) is precious and it can be hard to know exactly how you want to spend it. Do you want the chaotic energy of a big city, an itinerary packed with day trips, or downtime at the beach? We've all been there: Googling...

Note: This post was originally written for a trip I took in 2024. In 2026, I'm planning another trip to Thailand, and have updated this post with the process as it is today. The overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is pretty much a rite of passage for...

A trip to Hakone is a popular part of many Japan itineraries, and for good reason: You get to see a beautiful town, stay in a traditional ryokan, get a glimpse of Mount Fuji, and see some gorgeous nature - and all within a short distance of Tokyo. But what...

Venice is indisputably one of the most beautiful and unique places on Earth. It's a city built and living entirely on water. It's got a rich history, once home to one of the most powerful naval and commercial republics in Europe, before being conquered by Napoleon. And it's been perennially...

Everyone knows the stereotype of an Awful Tourist: the loud, boorish figure causing a pile up at the bottom of an escalator, dragging too many bags into rush hour public transport, or speaking English really loudly in the hopes that it magically translates into the local language. Having lived in...

Italy's largest lake, Lake Garda, is well known for its gorgeous scenery, pretty lakeside towns, and a refreshing, relaxing pace of life. If you've visited the lake before, you'll have seen plenty of tourists from other parts of Italy, Austria or Germany - usually with a car that's bursting with...

Verona is easily one of my favourite cities in Italy. It's sometimes overlooked by its more famous neighbour of Venice, but it still pulls in about 3 million visitors every year. If you only have one day in Verona, the goal is to navigate the crowds, skip the tourist traps,...