Fresh on The Travel Pad

How to Celebrate Birthday in the Best Ways

Firstly, today is October. And guess what? It is my birth month! 5 days to wait before my birthday! whoooo. Sounds like a celebration, right? However, the big question here is, how am I going to celebrate my birthday this year? I am making this...

Have you heard of Hue | VIETNAM | ?

Hue at glance One of the highlighted places to visit when traveling in Vietnam is definitely Hue. The nightlife isn’t as vibrant as Saigon, the culture is not prolong as Hanoi, Hue have no ancient walking streets like Hoi An, etc. but Hue is an...

Hoi An is a must when visiting Vietnam

Where is Hoi An? Hoi An is a small ancient town situated in the central part of Vietnam and facing Thu Bon River. Hoi An is about 25km in the south of Da Nang International Airport and 170km in the south of Hue, the old...

Cuba’s 11 Most Beautiful National Parks

When travelers think of Cuba, they envision the colorful facades of Old Havana, sandy beaches, tobacco, Cuban rum and music. Around 22% of Cuba’s land and water is protected through a system of National and Marine Protected Areas. There are some 211 protected areas of...

8 things to do if you’ re visiting Geneva for the first time…

Geneva is a cosmopolitan city whose small size contradicts its wealth and importance on the world stage. It is the center of the French-speaking part of Switzerland and a dynamic center of business and commerce. It is also home to more than 250 international organizations,...

Covid19 Packing Checklist Before Travelling

Worry no more because here is now your covid19 packing checklist before travelling, travellers. As the borders of most of the nations are opening, many travellers and tourists are planning to start exploring the world again. However, we should be precautious for all our actions...

Tips for Traveling with a Young Child During COVID

Baby Eli waiting on the plane to arrive. Our first trip with Elijah has been great; he has surprised us and made us proud to be his parents. He just turned six months old, and this trip to San Francisco, California, was a test to...

Greek Island Hopping: Naxos

During the summer of 2019 I was fortunate to be selected by the National Hellenic Society to attend the 10th annual Heritage Greece (HG) program. HG is an immersion for Greek-Americans to spend their summer in Greece improving language skills and reconnecting with fellow Greeks...

Fearful Flyers: Tips & Resources For Anxious Travelers

Callie’s dad is a pilot for United, and flew us home from Beijing in 2018. He even let me visit the cockpit and try on his hat! A dream come true for an anxious flyer like me! I’ve been on over one hundred flights in...

We Are All People: An American’s Reflection of a Day in Tianjin

I am in a unique position where I had the privilege to return to Beijing almost exactly one year after my first trip there. The experience was something completely different. There is a lot I want to talk to you about, but I feel that...

L.A. Area: Short Day Trips

Those dreamy beach Malibu vibes we all hear about in songs couldn’t be more true. We drove just north of Point Dume and found the empty beach pictured above. Can you believe this photo was taken in January? We had the most amazing day away...

Amsterdam: Sleep & Smoke

When in Amsterdam, have a good time. Hotel Not Hotel Hotel Not Hotel is likely the most interesting and fun place I have ever stayed in. It is a hotel, a museum, a hostel, and a bar all at once. I know, I know. That...

Chicago: Wicker Park Cocktail Spots

Queen Mary Good for: Date, Friends, Casual Highlight: Navy Strength Old Fashion Queen Mary is my absolute favorite bar in Chicago. The drinks are amazing, the staff is brilliant creators, and the vibe is perfect. The interior of this intimate lounge is reminiscent of, you...

Favorite Travel Homes: Santorini, Reykjavik, and Rome

Santorini This cave home in Santorini remains my favorite home-share experience of all time. Tucked away from the crowds near Thira, this private nest is the perfect dreamy, yet affordable, romantic Grecian-island stay. The cave features a “cool-cuzzi” private jet pool on the front porch,...

6 Reasons To Never Check Your Bag

“But what if I NEED it?” Listen. I’ve been there. I promise: you will be fine. Ditch the checked bag and up your travel-game by joining the carry-on only crew. 1. Never Lose Luggage Again Almost nothing ruins a trip more than being the last...

5 Money-Saving Travel Hacks

A lot of people wonder how I afford to travel so much, on a small nonprofit salary. Travel is becoming more and more accessible, and there are ways to work the system to make your holiday as rewarding and inexpensive as possible. 1. Book flights...

4 Tips For Traveling With Friends

“Let’s take a girls trip!” — every group of friends ever. Traveling with a group of friends is absolutely one of the most rewarding experiences. How often do you get to coordinate your PTO, book affordable flights, and actually make it happen? Once you’ve got...