Hello, lovely!
I’m Wendy, and I travel the world a little scared.
From landing at the airport to renting the car, booking the hotel and choosing the tour, here’s everything I learned so your trip goes smoother than mine did.
Latest Travel Stories
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Bali Villa or Resort? How I Choose Where to Stay in Bali
Read More: Bali Villa or Resort? How I Choose Where to Stay in BaliThe first time I searched for accommodation in Bali, I lost an entire evening scrolling through photos of private pool villas with floating breakfasts, jungle views and outdoor bathtubs filled with frangipani flowers. Then I looked at the resorts, with their infinity pools, kids’ clubs and spa menus, and I got even more confused. Both looked incredible, and both seemed surprisingly affordable compared with anything back home. I have now stayed in Bali four times, in two villas, two resorts and one very memorable bamboo treehouse. So if you are stuck on the Bali villa vs resort question, here is how…
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Solo Female Travel in Portugal: My Lisbon and Porto Safety Tips
Read More: Solo Female Travel in Portugal: My Lisbon and Porto Safety TipsPortugal was my first big solo trip in Europe. I chose it because everyone I knew described it as friendly, affordable and safe, and after two weeks wandering Lisbon and Porto on my own, I can happily say they were right. I walked home after dinner, sat alone at wine bars without feeling awkward, and made friends on a tram, on a walking tour and in a tiny bakery in Porto that I still dream about. That said, feeling safe does not mean switching your brain off. Here are my honest, practical tips for solo female travel in Portugal, from where…
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Renting a Car in California: Insurance, Tolls and Hidden Fees I Wish I Knew About
Read More: Renting a Car in California: Insurance, Tolls and Hidden Fees I Wish I Knew AboutDriving California’s Pacific Coast Highway had been on my bucket list since I was a teenager watching American movies in Manila. When I finally did it, I booked a convertible (of course), picked it up at LAX and headed north with the roof down and my hair absolutely everywhere. It was every bit as dreamy as I had imagined. What I had not imagined was the rental counter experience. By the time the agent had finished listing the insurance options, toll packages, fuel plans and upgrade offers, my “great deal” had nearly doubled. So here is everything I have learned about…
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Island Hopping in Thailand: How to Book Ferries and Tour Packages Without Getting Ripped Off
Read More: Island Hopping in Thailand: How to Book Ferries and Tour Packages Without Getting Ripped OffMy first island-hopping trip in Thailand started with a mistake. I bought a “VIP ferry and minivan package” from a friendly man with a clipboard near my hostel in Phuket. The VIP minivan turned out to be a pickup truck with a bench in the back, and the ferry left an hour later than promised. I paid almost double what my new friends on the boat had paid online. Lesson learned. I have been back to Thailand’s islands three times since, on both the Andaman Sea side (Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi, Koh Lanta) and the Gulf of Thailand side (Koh Samui,…
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A 48-Hour Dubai Stopover: How I Turned a Layover Into a Mini Holiday
Read More: A 48-Hour Dubai Stopover: How I Turned a Layover Into a Mini HolidayFor years, Dubai was just a glittering airport I shuffled through half asleep on the way to Europe. I would buy a coffee, stare at the duty-free gold shop and get back on another plane. Then, on a trip to Portugal, I noticed that adding a two-night stopover cost almost nothing extra. So I took the plunge, and it turned a long, painful journey into one of my favorite mini holidays. If you are flying between Asia and Europe, there is a good chance you will pass through Dubai International Airport (DXB). Here is exactly how I spent 48 hours in…
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Where to Stay in Rome: The Best Neighborhoods for Your First Visit
Read More: Where to Stay in Rome: The Best Neighborhoods for Your First VisitOn my first trip to Rome, I booked the cheapest hotel I could find with decent reviews. It was near Termini Station, which looked “central” on the map. What the map did not tell me was that I would spend a good hour every day walking back and forth past the same busy street, and that the romantic little piazza I had imagined for my morning cappuccino did not exist anywhere near my hotel. I have been back to Rome three times since, and I have stayed in five different neighborhoods. Where you stay in Rome really does change your trip.…
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El Nido Island Hopping Tours A, B, C and D: Which One Should You Book?
Read More: El Nido Island Hopping Tours A, B, C and D: Which One Should You Book?People always ask me, “Wendy, you’ve been everywhere, so where is your favorite beach?” And every time, I embarrass myself a little by answering with the place closest to home. El Nido, in northern Palawan, is where I go when I need to remember why I fell in love with travel in the first place. Limestone cliffs rising straight out of turquoise water, hidden lagoons you paddle into by kayak, and fresh grilled fish eaten on a boat with your feet in the sea. I have been to El Nido four times now, once with my family, twice with friends and…
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Renting a Car in Iceland: What I Learned Driving the Ring Road
Read More: Renting a Car in Iceland: What I Learned Driving the Ring RoadI nearly talked myself out of driving in Iceland. I had read too many forum horror stories about sandstorms stripping paint off cars, wind ripping doors off their hinges and tourists getting stuck in rivers. I am not a confident driver on a good day, so the idea of a 1,300-kilometer loop around a country famous for sideways rain made my stomach flip. But everyone I trusted said the same thing: the only way to really see Iceland is with your own wheels. So I booked a small SUV, bought more insurance than I probably needed, and spent ten days driving…
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Narita or Haneda to Tokyo: My First-Timer’s Guide From the Airport to Your Hotel
Read More: Narita or Haneda to Tokyo: My First-Timer’s Guide From the Airport to Your HotelThe first time I landed in Tokyo, I stood in the arrivals hall at Narita for a full twenty minutes, staring at signs for the Skyliner, the Narita Express, the Access Express and about four different bus companies. I was jet-lagged, hungry and convinced I was going to pick the wrong one and end up somewhere near Mount Fuji. Spoiler: I picked the most expensive option, got off at the wrong exit of Tokyo Station, and dragged my suitcase for fifteen minutes in the rain. I have flown into Tokyo six times since then, through both Narita and Haneda, and I…