Grand Travel

The 8 Best Airbnb Experiences in Tokyo

Tokyo is one of those cities that feels endlessly deep. You can visit a dozen times and still discover new food stalls, hidden shrines, late-night bars, quirky subcultures, and neighborhoods that feel like completely different worlds. (I know because I’ve visited about 10 times already!) One of my favorite ways to explore Tokyo is by […]

How to Find a Cheap Car Rental in 2025

I love road trips. You get in car and can just head off anywhere you want. There’s a freedom to a road trip that you can’t get with trains (and, don’t get me wrong, I love train travel too). Small towns, beautiful parks, historic buildings….whatever you see, you can stop for and can stay as […]

Why You Can’t Appreciate One Without the Other

I used to think “home” was a dirty word. Out there — on the road — was where life happened, full of exciting adventures, fascinating people, and endless possibilities. No dreary commutes, 30-minute lunch breaks, mind-numbing meetings, or endless lists of to-dos squeezed into a rushed weekend. Why would anyone want to be home, the […]

Hilton Honors American Express Card Review

Advertiser Disclosure Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. When I first started traveling, I lived out of hostels. They were cheap and my budget was tight. Plus, as an introvert, they were perfect for meeting fellow backpackers […]

The Best eSIMs for Travelers

Having reliable mobile data when you travel is a must these days. It’s helpful not only for finding things to do or the right bus route, but communicating in an emergency and locating your accommodation if you get lost. While I think a lot of travelers spend too much time on their phone, the fact […]

The 5 Best Hotels in Quebec City (Updated 2024)

Quebec City is beautiful. While it’s regularly overlooked in favor of bigger destinations like Toronto and Montreal, this is where European explorers first arrived in the 16th and 17th centuries. A cultural hub in the province of Quebec (as well as the province’s capital), the city’s Old Town is one of the best preserved in […]

The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Straddling both Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a bustling, sprawling metropolis of over 15 million people. Formerly known as Constantinople, the ancient center of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires was one of the most important in the world for centuries. As such, there’s an eye-watering amount of history here, with tons to see and do. […]

The 6 Best Hotels in Copenhagen

Posted: 4/26/24 | April 26th, 2024 A compact capital with more bikes than cars, Copenhagen is a lively, modern city perfect for weekend getaways. Copenhagen is also considered one of the world’s happiest cities, boasting plenty of green space, cool museums, and a rambunctious nightlife. Famed for its cyclist-friendly streets, there’s not only more bikes […]

The 8 Best Hotels in Paris (Updated 2024)

Posted: 3/7/24 | March 7th, 2024 Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world. It’s a city I’ve visited countless times, I lived there, I’ve run tours there. I’m one of those people who thinks it lives up to all the hype. But, it’s also a huge, sprawling city with 20 different neighborhoods […]

27 Best Holiday Gifts for Travelers in 2023

Last Updated: 10/30/23 | October 30th, 2023 Travelers can be a fickle group of people to buy gifts for. We’re constantly coming and going, we usually don’t carry a lot of stuff with us, and no two travelers are alike. Finding the perfect gift for the traveler in your life can be tricky. While a […]

How to Travel on a Budget in 2023

Last Updated: 9/4/23 | September 4th, 2023 Travel has become really expensive. Post-COVID, the entire world seems to be traveling again and prices just keep rising. I am astonished at how high they have gotten. But it’s a product of rising costs and out of control demand. Everyone just wants to travel. We’re all looking […]

6 Cheap (and Best) Ways to Travel Europe in 2023

Last Updated: 5/13/2023 | May 13th, 2023 Traveling around Europe can be expensive. Airfare, high-speed and overnight trains, ferries — they all eat into your limited (and precious) travel budget. Fortunately, there are alot of ways to get around Europe on a budget. The sharing economy, new bus options, discounted train passes, and lots of […]

10 Travel Hacking Mistakes to Avoid

Posted: 2/23/23 | February 23rd, 2023 I’m a huge fan of travel hacking. It’s transformed my travels and saved me thousands of dollars over the years. Travel hacking is the art of signing up for travel credit cards and collecting points and miles that you can cash in for free flights, flight upgrades, hotel stays, […]

The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Posted: 2/24/2023 | February 24th, 2023 Located on a high Andean plateau at 2,640 meters (8,660 feet) above sea level, Bogotá is the third-highest capital city in the world (after Quito and La Paz). Most travelers usually bypass it in favor of the popular digital nomad hot spot of Medellín or the coastal city of […]

Where to Stay in Auckland When You Visit (Updated 2023)

Posted: 3/5/2023 | March 5th, 2023 Boasting harbors galore and multiple boat-packed marinas, Auckland, the largest and most sophisticated urban area in New Zealand (though it’s not the capital), is nicknamed the “City of Sails.” In addition to its scenic seaside views and ample water activities, Auckland has an incredible food scene, insightful museums, verdant […]

The Best Walking Tours in Sydney (Updated 2023)

Posted: 3/10/2023 | March 10th, 2023 Sydney is the most popular and largest city in Ausrtralia. If you visit the country, you’re going to visit here. Home to five million inhabitants (about 20% of the entire population), it has a ton of things to see and do, from the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge […]

The 5 Best Hostels in Cape Town (Updated 2023)

Posted: 3/10/2023 | March 10th, 2023 Known for its beautiful backdrops and stunning beaches, Cape Town has been a popular backpacker hub for years. It’s also fast becoming a favorite for digital nomads too, thanks to the city’s vibrant nightlife and rich, diverse culture. Once a super-cheap destination, as Cape Town’s popularity has increased, so […]