PACKING SMARTER

No one ever said, “I wish I would have packed heavier.” But we often think, “I could have packed better.” Here are some tips, tricks, and insights that might help you pack smarter for our avventura in Italia!

Talk to Me, Goose: Learning Languages and Bridging Cultures in Your Travels

Parlez-vous français? ¿Habla español? Ξερεις να μιλας ελληνικα? Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Parla italiano?An bhfuil Gaeilge agat? Знаеш ли български език? Fince konuşuyor musun? Sen Türkçe konuşmayı biliyor musun?If that paragraph leaves you wanting to say, “That’s all Greek to me,” don’t worry—you’re not alone. The European Union is (currently) comprised of 27 countries: all ofContinueContinue reading “Talk to Me, Goose: Learning Languages and Bridging Cultures in Your Travels”

Santorini: Between the Sea and the Cosmos

Traditionally known in Greek as Thira (or Thera in Classic Greek), this island, which is part of a caldera born from a massive volcanic eruption 3600 years ago, didn’t get its more commonly known of Santorini until about eight centuries ago. Born from a volcanic eruption, Santorini sits atop a Mediterranean caldera, between sky andContinueContinue reading “Santorini: Between the Sea and the Cosmos”

Worth the Wait: A COVID-19 Love Story

In trying to start this post, I went back through my website archives to figure out when I first launched The Travelphile, and it surprised me to discover that it’s been 8 years since I shared my first article on this website. So much has happened in my life since then: remarkable travel experiences, theContinueContinue reading “Worth the Wait: A COVID-19 Love Story”

Happy 65th Birthday, Rick Steves!

Happy 65th Birthday, to this guy right here! Please add your own captions and birthday wishes! And if you have any photos with the big guy, we’d love to see those too! For even more candid photos of Rick Steves, check out the original post on The Travelphile Facebook Page.  

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day! I want to take this opportunity to thank my mom, Virginia, for filling my life with love and learning. Among countless valuable lessons I’ve learned from her, I’m exceptionally grateful to her for teaching me about the value of travel from such an early age. My parents weren’t wealthy, but they prioritizedContinueContinue reading “Happy Mother’s Day”

A New Normal

Hey Travelphilers! What an incredible change in life and society we’ve gone through in the past few weeks! We are all coping with different and continually-evolving levels of this coronavirus pandemic, and my heart goes out to all of you. Whether you’re self-isolating, mandated to shelter in place, working from home, suffering from loss ofContinueContinue reading “A New Normal”

My Travels in Vietnam and Cambodia Amid the Coronavirus Scare

  Having just spent 3 weeks in Southeast Asia, enjoying jaw-dropping sights, mouth-watering cuisine, eye-opening historical and cultural lessons, and connecting with intriguing, kind, generous, and delightful people all over Vietnam and Cambodia, I am feeling really torn about the need to be vigilant about public health safety and the incessant focus on the fearContinueContinue reading “My Travels in Vietnam and Cambodia Amid the Coronavirus Scare”

Happy Moon Day: Celebrating Humankind’s Greatest Journey

As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of one of humankind’s greatest accomplishment, I hope you seek out your own journeys of adventure, discovery, connection, and wonderment.

Becoming a Stark: Archery at Winterfell

Tourism based on TV and pop culture is an odd bird, but I have to admit that Game of Thrones is making me a believer. While its story and settings are brilliantly fictitious, many of the filming locations have their own historic, cultural, and eye-catching charms that can be worth a visit for even non-GOTContinueContinue reading “Becoming a Stark: Archery at Winterfell”