Author: Bryan

This author has written 531 articles
white wooden bridge on top of green mountain near body of water during daytime

Two campervan road trips: north from Sydney, and out of Los Angeles into the desert

I've spent years chasing the quiet version of places everyone else rushes through, and nothing gets you there faster than swapping a hotel booking for a set of van keys. A room ties you to one town and a check-in time. A campervan lets you follow the coast until you find a beach with nobody on it, then simply stay the night. This year I mapped out two trips that work the same way on opposite sides of the world: one heading north from Sydney up the New South Wales coast, the other looping out of Los Angeles through the California desert and back along the Pacific. They suit very different landscapes, but the freedom is identical. Here's how I'd do each.

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a car parked on the side of a street

Renting a Car in Europe: How to Avoid Hidden Fees and Get True Transparency in 2026

Planning transportation is an important part of managing the overall cost of a European trip. Although a rental car may initially appear reasonably priced, insurance, deposits, fuel policies, and optional extras can significantly increase the final bill. Understanding where these additional costs come from helps travelers avoid car rental hidden fees in Europe, compare providers more accurately, make informed booking decisions, and identify companies that prioritize transparent pricing from the outset.

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Titlis Rotair gondola, Switzerland

Mount Titlis from Lucerne: How to Plan the Perfect Day Trip

Mount Titlis is one of the easiest and most rewarding high-mountain day trips from Lucerne. In a single day, you can leave the lakeside city, ride a scenic train into the mountains, take a series of cable cars above Engelberg, and arrive at a snowy alpine world more than 3,000 meters above sea level. The trip is popular for good reason: it combines dramatic Swiss scenery with glacier experiences, panoramic viewpoints, family-friendly activities, and straightforward transportation.

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family travel in Europe

How to Explore European Cities Without Paying for a Guided Tour

Guided walking tours are one of the biggest hidden costs of a European city break. A typical two-hour walking tour in Bruges, Prague, or Strasbourg runs €25 to €35 per person. For a family of four, that's €100 to €140, before you've bought a single museum ticket or a coffee. Do that in three cities and you've spent more on tours than on your flights. The good news is that you don't need a guide to understand a city. Over the last few years, a whole category of alternatives has matured, some free, some costing less than a beer, and most travellers still don't know they exist.

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scuba diving

The Best Time To Do Scuba Diving In Koh Tao

Koh Tao is one of those islands where the water almost always looks inviting. But if you are planning a diving trip, timing still matters more than most people expect. The best time to do scuba diving in Koh Tao depends on what you want to see, how experienced you are, and how much you care about crowds. Understanding the Koh Tao dive season can help you plan a trip that actually matches your expectations.

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white building near trees, Loire Valley

France with Teens: Cultural Experiences Beyond Paris and the Big Attractions

A family trip to France can easily become a checklist of famous sights. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles, Mont Saint-Michel, the French Riviera, and the grand boulevards of Paris are all iconic for a reason. They are beautiful, historic, and memorable. But for families traveling with teens, France becomes even more rewarding when the trip goes beyond the biggest attractions and begins to feel more connected to real French life.

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Read more about the article When Is It Worth Spending More on Travel?

When Is It Worth Spending More on Travel?

The problem with travel is that the cheapest option isn’t always the best option, and anyone who’s ever booked something just because it was the lowest price has probably discovered that at some point. Of course, we’re not saying that spending more automatically makes the trip better, because there are plenty of expensive things that aren’t worth the money. So, the question really has to be whether spending more improves the experience enough to justify the cost. Sometimes the answer is yes. 

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people in airplane during daytime

The Practical Packing List for Long Travel Days Without the Misery

In my years of traveling, not only have a done multiple long-haul flights, but also overnight bus rides, overnight trains without a sleeper car, and the much dreaded overnight sleep on the floor of the airport waiting for an early morning flight. So, here are my tips and advice for things you need to make yourself comfortable and survive those annoying super-long trips.

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