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.
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.
Read MoreWhen I was 19, my friends and I hopped off a train in Pisa, snapped a photo of the Leaning Tower, and then hopped back on another train out of there. What a wasted opportunity! Pisa has Bologna's activist energy (without all the graffiti and snobbery of the punkabestia and well-to-do); Florence’s beauty (without all the tourists); and Naple’s timeless wildness (but a little less wild and less petty crime). This town has so much more to offer than just a photo of at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Spend at least a full day here, if not a few days.
Read MoreEnough with Florence and Siena already. You should be walking the medieval walls of Lucca; eating aperitivo in Pisa; sipping Chianti at Castello di Brolio; or lounging by the sea in San Vicenzo. We cover all this on the Postcard Academy podcast episode: “Lucca, Pisa, and Other Towns in Tuscany You Must Visit.” To make things simple, here I’ll focus on the best things to eat and see in Lucca, Italy.
Read MoreDid you grow up learning the Pilgrims came to the New World to flee religious persecution? That’s actually not true. On the Postcard Academy podcast, Melanie Kirkpatrick, author of Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience, helps decipher historical fact from fiction.
Read MoreFor decades, Glasgow, Scotland had a reputation for being a down-on-its-luck former industrial hub. But the Glaswegians worked hard to turn their city into a world-class tourist destination with museums, opera, ballet, and more. In 1990, Glasgow was named the European City of Culture and since then travelers from around the world have visited to enjoy its cozy pubs, great restaurants — which include a lot of veg-friendly options, delicious food markets, designer shops, and, of course, cultural offerings.
Read MoreMy friends Daniel and Alinne fell in love when Daniel, an American, lived in Brazil for work as a stunt coordinator. They knew they wanted to stay together, but the U.S. denied Alinne, who’s Brazilian, a visa. To avoid the bureaucracy that plagues multi-national relationships, they decided to travel the world together instead of sticking to one place — and this journey has continued for nearly two years. Volunteering through Workaway has financially enabled them to keep traveling as long as they have. In the latest episode of the Postcard Academy podcast, they share their story and advice on how you can travel more by working your way around the world.
Read MoreNew Orleans celebrates its 300th anniversary this year, and since it’s almost Halloween, I thought this was the perfect time to talk about this haunted Southern city. On the Postcard Academy podcast, Hope Kodman, a tour guide with French Quarter Phantoms, joined me to talk about the history of the Big Easy; the origins of Mardi Gras; the difference between cajun and creole; and other fun stories. Of course, we tell you where to find the best: food and drinks, quirky shops and museums, burlesque, jazz, ‘female-owned romantic boutique,’ and more.
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