If I ask you to describe a sommelier, you’ll almost inevitably picture a man. White and middle aged, perhaps a little portly, and with a slightly intimidating air. The exact opposite of Karla Abarca, who gives a huge grin as she swirls some wine around in her glass, raises it…

International travel becomes a bit more complicated when navigating with a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) conviction in your rearview mirror. DUIs, seemingly straightforward in their nature, can actually vary significantly in their impact on travel opportunities, depending on the destination and the severity of the offense. While some nations…

The U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that can be a lifeline in case of emergencies or unexpected situations when traveling abroad. Overall, the STEP program provides the traveler with a direct connection to U.S. government support resources while abroad, helping them stay…

The minute I step onto the red soil of Prince Edward Island, I relax. I can’t help it – the environment demands it. It must be the sea water. No matter where you are on the island, the ebb and flow of tide creates a meditative Zen-like atmosphere that slows…

The Dutch say ‘April doet wat hij wil’ (‘April does what it wants’) to describe the weather in the Netherlands during the early spring. It’s true, the weather in April can be unpredictable, but for flower enthusiasts, photographers, and anyone with an appreciation for nature, Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands…

Bangkok’s Wat Traimit is an unassuming temple housing a treasure of great cultural significance to the Buddhist world– the Golden Buddha. Officially titled Phra Phuttha Maha Suwanna Patimakon, the statue isn’t simply beautiful; it harbors a captivating story of disguise, war, and a serendipitous rediscovery. Historians believe that the Golden…

National journalist Charles Kuralt once said, ” Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything. ” While US highways provide an undeniably efficient method of travel, it’s true that unless you journey off the beaten path,…

Liverpool is by far one of the most original, cosmopolitan and vibrant cities in England. The edgy downtown cobbled area around Seel Street is undergoing massive regeneration and is bursting with people having fun at the hipster bars and trendy restaurants. Towards the end of Seel Street, in a row…

Baja California’s raw beauty and stunning contrasts draw visitors year-round. Most common is the entry point at Tijuana, just south of San Diego. While convenient to accessing the area’s coastal towns of Puerto Nuevo, Roasarito and Ensenada, the border crossing is large and somewhat confusing, and drivers need to be…

Just 95 miles north of L.A., but a world away from the home of hype, understated but cosmopolitan Santa Barbara is home to its own eclectic community of surfers, socialites, Hollywood escapees and transplants from around the globe. Somehow, it all coexists well in this city strung along a gorgeous…

The best way to see the National Parks during the busy summer tourist season is simply not to do it. Stay home. Come back in the fall, when there are fewer visitors and lower temperatures. But if summer travel is your only option, as it was for my husband and…

Thirteen minutes—that’s all it took to arrive in Barcelona and encounter one of its greatest claims to fame—the slickest pickpockets in Europe. If you’re going to hit, best get hit by a professional, I always say. And they’re at their slickest and quickest on the underground trains at Barcelona Sants…