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.
Amsterdam is more than hookers and weed. In fact, only 10 percent of Dutch people say they smoke marijuana. Want a more authentic Netherlands experience? Follow the advice of Audrey Sykes, author of the Amsterdam edition of the Moon Travel Guides (Don’t worry, we’ll still tell you the best places to smoke weed).
Read MoreBorn in Bermuda, Lené Hypolite has lived in Venezuela, Canada, the U.S., Amsterdam, and is soon headed to Singapore and Tokyo. She loves the excitement of expat life, and also how its benefiting her career. On the Postcard Academy podcast, we talk about six countries where it’s a little bit easier visa-wise to live abroad, and how to find work there.
Read MoreIf you’re anything like me, you enjoy wine but are fairly uneducated about it and usually forget everything you learn at wine tastings. That’s OK. With this list of the best Tuscan wines, you’ll know what to order in Italy, or at your local wine shop.
Read More“That olive oil costs how MUCH? Why would I spend $15 when I can spend $4?” You’ve likely said this to yourself at some point. So what’s the difference between expensive olive oil versus the cheap stuff? Does it really matter? Yes. Toni Mazzaglia, founder of the food tour company Taste Florence came on the Postcard Academy podcast to explain how to find the best olive oil, when you should use it, and when you definitely should not.
Read MoreItalians usually rush at breakfast, dowing espresso at the counter and eating cornetti, which “looks like a croissant but delivers disappointment...It’s like a croissant and a brioche had a bad one-night-stand.” Here’s how to make sure the pastry you buy in Italy is fresh and delicious.
Read MoreAll summer, the streets of Florence swell with tourists, tired and hungry from museum binges and promenades under the Tuscan sun. Desperate for something to eat, they settle for stale panini in the city’s worst tourist traps. More than 10 years ago, American expat Toni Mazzaglia said, “Basta!” and started the food tour company Taste Florence to help visitors discover the best food in her adopted city. Here are her top recs.
Macedonia, home of about 2 million people, has been in the news lately because it might actually change it’s name. Why? Greece has been pushing them to do this for 27 years and will continue to block Macedonia's applications to NATO and the European Union until they do.
Read MoreWalk around Macedonia’s capital city, Skopje, and you’ll find yourself in three primary areas: the bohemian district, the old town, and the redeveloped downtown, which has been compared to Vegas kitsch on steroids. After snapping your photos of the 72-foot-tall (and unofficially named) Alexander the Great statue and those of his parents, you’ll want to focus your time on the first two areas.
Read MoreIf you need a break from Europe’s overcrowded hotspots (how many tourists can squeeze into Dubrovnik's city walls before they burst?), head to Bosnia’s capital Sarajevo. 🇧🇦
Read MoreA few years ago the Colombian government signed a historic peace deal with the FARC rebels to end decades of violence, though Andrew Dier, author of the Moon Colombia travel guide, says the country has been a safe place for tourists for years. Here’s your insider list on where to eat and what to do in Colombia’s capital city, where Andrew, an American expat, has lived with his husband for 20 years.
Read MoreAmericans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, and citizens of several other countries can generally travel to any European country for 90 days out of 180 continuous days without needing a visa. But what if you want to travel to a bunch of European countries and you want to stay for longer than 90 days without having to get a visa? You can jump in and out of the Schengen Zone.
Read MoreOut of Europe’s 50 countries, 28 are part of the European Union, but not all of them have signed on to the euro, the common currency. Here’s a list of the 19 countries that use the euro, and the ones that don’t.
Read MoreThe no. 1 question American listeners of the Postcard Academy travel podcast ask: How can I live abroad? If you’re not from the EU or a Commonwealth country, this can feel impossible. BUT Americans in search of a better life do have options to live abroad that don’t involve marrying a random.
Read MoreBelize Zoo (really an animal sanctuary) offers a hands-on internship program that lasts from two to four weeks. Just want to visit? The money from your ticket will go to taking care of beautiful creatures like Junior Buddy, the zoo’s 11-year-old jaguar.
Read MoreThere are several ways you can score cheap or free accommodation while traveling. We previously talked about how to live rent-free by house-sitting around the world. You can also use your credit card travel points, go camping, take an overnight train or bus, or simply sleep at the airport. Here are some more fantastic ideas to help you travel more and spend less on housing.
Read MoreWorld War I and II tore Europe apart and killed millions, 11 million at the hands of the nazis alone. For decades, Germany has attempted to atone for its sins, which is why historical tourism here is very important. Here is a quick and dirty primer to help you get your historical bearings before your trip to Berlin.
Read MoreBerlin, Europe’s ‘poor but sexy’ city, is still recovering from World War II and the Cold War. The postcard? Think street art, low buildings, and people chilling in parks everywhere. There’s something for everyone, whether you like clubbing all night or hitting museums in the morning.
Read MoreBritish expat and Berlin tour guide Chloe Dalrymple shares some of her favorite places to eat and drink around Germany’s capital city.
Read MoreNational Geographic Traveler of the Year Shannon O’Donnell literally wrote The Volunteer Traveler’s Handbook. However, she says that, for most of us, volunteering abroad is not the best way to help the communities we visit. Here's what is.
Read MoreWant to travel the world while living rent-free? Try house sitting! Here’s all you need to know on the best and worst house-sitting sites; how to write a profile that will get homeowners to choose you; and other important information you need to get into house-sitting.
Read More
