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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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…