Have you ever boarded a plane and thought, “Hm, I’ve done zero research for this trip.” Fear not! The Postcard Academy travel podcast and blog is here to help you avoid the tourist traps. Subscribe for weekly travel stories and advice from adventurous souls who packed up everything to start a new adventure in another part of the world.
Lily Girma is a lawyer turned travel writer who’s spent a significant amount of time in some of the most beautiful destinations in the world, including Belize and Jamaica. In the Santo Domingo episode of the Postcard Academy travel podcast, Lily explains why she now calls the Dominican Republic home.
Read MoreAmanda Kingsmith and Ryan Ferguson are a Canadian couple who travel full time, but they do it slowly, often staying in one place for weeks or months at a time. Over the last year, they fell in love with Mexico City and its incredible food and culture scene. Did you know that Mexico City has more than 40,000 restaurants and the second-highest number of museums after Paris?
British-born Mark Ellwood is a fellow expat and travel podcaster who I’ve been listening to for a few years, first on Conde Nast Traveler’s Travelogue and now on Travel Genius. Whenever I hear him, I think, “This guy sounds like so much fun.” I knew he’d be the perfect guest to talk about the local experiences we should have in New York City.
“Zagreb is where you’ll feel the life of Croatia,” says Ashley Colburn, an American expat living in Istria. She’s a TV producer who won an Emmy for her in-depth travel coverage of Croatia. On the Postcard Academy, Ashley shares her favorite things to see, do, and eat in Zagreb, the capital city.
Croatia is more than Dubrovnik, which Game of Thrones fans and cruise ships have been flocking to for years. On the Croatia’s Coast episode of the Postcard Academy, Ashley Colburn, an American now living in Istria, helps us explore more of Croatia’s coastline (plus also Dubrovnik because it is stunning).
Kathy McCabe, host of the travel TV series Dream of Italy, has been sharing her insider Italian tips for more than 16 years. She joined me on the Postcard Academy to share some of her all-time favorite experiences you should have across Italy.
A lot of the news stories about Brexit are wonky and confusing, so I invited my British friend, Mark Robson, to come on the Postcard Academy podcast to explain what Brexit means in language everyone can understand. In part one, Mark and I dive into some European history to explain how Brexit came to be. In part 2, we talk about how it feels to be living in England during this crazy time, which has been described as serious as WWII, and we share our predictions and dreams for the U.K.
Little Estonia, with less than 1.5 million people, has been running itself like a tech company for about two decades now, giving everyone a digital ID and letting them access almost all government services online. Now they’re letting foreigners become e-Residents of their digital nation. Here’s how.
Read MoreWired magazine has called Estonia “the most advanced digital society in the world.” The President of Estonia (a woman — yay!) just published an article about how “Estonia is running its country like a tech company” and that “governments must learn to provide public services as efficiently as Amazon sells books: no physical presence, no cost of application, no opening hours.” Despite all the tech, Estonians still cherish nature and traditions like jam making and baking black bread.
Read MoreMost travel stories bore people — including the storytellers themselves. Why do we struggle to convey the magic we experienced on our trip? According to Matthew Dicks, author of Storyworthy, TED speaker, and five-time Moth GrandSLAM champion, travel stories usually fail because they’re just a chronological recitation of your itinerary. Here’s the right way to tell a story.
Read MoreProfessional photographer Anna Mazurek travels the world for clients such as Travel + Leisure, Rolling Stone, and National Geographic. But don’t think they’re throwing money at her. These days, successful travel photographers earn around $30,000 a year. Despite this, Anna has figured out how to maximize this income to travel the world full time and still save for retirement. She writes about this in her new book Good With Money.
Read MoreEver dream of being a travel writer? Who hasn’t?! My guest Nardia Plumridge actually made it happen. In addition to writing for global publications, including Lonely Planet, Nardia also penned a book — Lost in Florence — that is due out this spring. On the Postcard Academy podcast, Nardia shares how she broke into the travel writing biz and offers tips on how to get your own work published.
Read MoreTravel writer Nardia Plumridge says Bangkok is “a blend of east meets west. Street food next to rooftop bars, modern galleries across the street from old temples.” So you can enjoy a great meal for less than $1, or live it up in one of the fanciest hotels. Or, better, do both!
Read MoreBangkok can feel frenetic and overwhelming (and also underwhelming) to newcomers who imagined Thailand to be all gorgeous temples and beaches. But don’t give up on it just yet — once you get off the main streets, chances are you’ll enjoy this Land of Smiles.
Read MoreIf you like to add a splash of culture to your boozing, you’ll find plenty of options in London, from theatre to live music to late-night museums. Here’s a list of some of my favorite places to go out at night in the Big Smoke.
Read MoreAs a history lover, I’ve spent my fair share of time in cities like Paris, Rome, Berlin, and London. But I’m in the phase of my life where I like visiting the not-so-popular but still incredible destinations. If you’ve ever flipped through the magazine, Eat This, Not That!, my travel recommendations for 2019 are a little like that. ‘Visit this charming village, not that over-crowded metropolis!’ Here’s the list.
Read MoreSomeday might never come, which is why this year on the Postcard Academy podcast, in addition to talking about travel and food and culture, I’ll also be interviewing lifestyle experts, authors, and others who can help us live our best lives. To start us off, I’m incredibly happy to share my conversation with Natalie Sisson, author of the bestselling book The Suitcase Entrepreneur and The Freedom Plan.
Read MoreLondon is a fantastic city for vegetarians. Not only will you find veg versions of British classics like fish and chips and the full English breakfast, you’ll also enjoy foods from around the world since the Big Smoke is packed with expat and immigrant entrepreneurs. Here’s a list of my favorite veg-friendly restaurants in London.
Read MoreKaelene Spence, an American expat who now calls Iceland home, came on the Postcard Academy podcast to share her insider tips on where to find the best food and drink in Iceland. Kaelene blogs about her Icelandic adventures at Unlocking Kiki.
Read MoreThinking of moving or traveling to Iceland? American expat Kaelene Spence did just that and shares her tips on how to land the job you want in a new country; the best and worst things about living in Iceland; and all her favorite off-the-beaten path travel recommendations in Reykjavik and beyond. Kaelene writes the blog Unlocking Kiki, a very useful resource for anyone planning a long or short trip to Iceland.
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