Of course you’re going to Italy to eat endless al’dente pasta and fall in love with an Italian man singing ‘Oh Sole Mio' from under your window.. And of course, you’re making a stop to Venice- most likely over paying for your Aperol Spritz. Is it all worth it? Well of course it is. You're in Italy. But you’ve probably never heard of Treviso– the neighboring city of Venice – just 30 minutes from VCE (Marco Polo Airport). Well, it’s a gem. Therefore, if you find yourself with a

If you live under a rock – you’ve probably missed – Noami Osaka- 20 yr Japanese tennis player who beat Serena Williams in the Grand Slam The Iconic Seattle green mermaid made its way into the hands of the Milanese (People of Milan) Apology to all my tennis fans but today there is only one topic- Coffee. Starbucks. Italy. popsugar.com Why the fuss? Well think about it. This American coffee has locations in roughly ~55 countries, yet just until last Friday – was ‘banned’ ‘shu

** Insert a classic conversation at your classic hostel common room ** Backpacker X :“What’s your name?” Me : ‘Veronica,’ I smile “Nice to meet you, Veronica! Who are you traveling with?” -‘Oh, it’s just me!’ “Just You? As in alone?” -‘Yep!’ *Silence* “Well, aren’t you a bit scared traveling alone?! ” .... …. .. Oh shoot you’re right! Let me call my mom, book a flight back home, grab 10 of my girlfriends and plan a 7-day all-inclusive organized tour to SE Asia (tour-guide inc

What is St. Moritz? Answer: A land of luxury nestled in the Swiss Alps. Or, more easily put- a city where I’d take my mother on vacation, only to watch her eat- as I wouldn’t be able to afford a plate for two at the restaurant.. It’s the Monte Carlo of ski, la crème de la crème, where white truffle pizza costs a humble sum of 100 CHF. (approx. $103) Well, is it worth it? As the Swiss would say, Ja. (Pronounced YAH) I was lucky enough to be joined by my father who had his fai

The Original Uber Pool X.. A car filled with strangers, unpredictable routes, casually dropping and picking up passengers. While you sit- crossing your fingers in hopes you'll eventually reach your destination. One thing you’ll definitely experience in Cuba, are the Taxi Colectivo’s - a shared local taxi service that can take you across the country (literally). Is it reliable? No Is it safe? Still not sure Is it comfortable? Not at all Are in for one hellaofa ride? Oh yeah I

Dear Cuba, I love you, but I won’t be back. Before I go on, please note on how much I adore you. You're electric. The sound- The heat- The smell, you're an unfamiliar energy, an organized chaos. Though I was sweating 100 miles per hour- you brought a smile to my face. I felt safe, I felt welcomed, as a solo female traveler. I was enchanted by street corners - found stories in every crack. Your hidden valleys, hollow caves, and unpredictable weather satisfied my adventurous so

Let's rewind back to June 2015... It all started when I thought I knew everything and anything. A newly graduate from the University of California, Irvine, confident I had my life on track. Well damn, was I wrong.. To commemorate this achievement – I decided to take on something big- The Camino de Santiago aka The Way of St. James. It’s a hike through Spain’s countryside, starting in the French Pyrenees and finishing in the city of Santiago de Compostela. In short- Approx. 50

Let me fill you in on one of my little travel secrets, you ready? I never buy travel guides/books... ever! You may think that's absurd, but if you're trying to save that extra cash and space/weight in your backpack, It's a total travel hack 101 ! Here's the deal. I carry a mini notebook and write little notes that I've learned either through websites, friends, articles, apps, etc. -creating my very own unique itinerary! But of course, there's always basic information needed !

They say some of the best destinations can be found in your backyard. And I couldn’t agree more. The other day - I had the most magnificent time rediscovering parts of the beautiful west coast of the US. But first, a a little synopsis : It’s been 15+ years since my Italian family has set foot in the United States. This year, for my Grandmother’s 90th Birthday, a trip to our golden coast was way over due. Now imagine this - a house filled with full blooded Italians- eating &

Welcome to Nazareth, also known as the "Arab capital of Israel." Quite contrary to the typical Christmas card, Nazareth today is a fast past city filled with cultural mixes of both Christians and Muslims. Although a sensitive city, this lieu is surrounded by smiling locals and holds the definition of Middle Eastern charm. But what really caught my eye was the humble and peaceful setting of the Fauzi Azar Inn. Situated minutes away from the Basilica of the Annunciation, this

How is it like? I am a US citizen currently living in the heart of Jerusalem. And I will never truly know, how it’s like to live in a land where there is constant terror & tension. Yesterday- there was a terror attack just walking distance from where I’m situated. A drive by shooting, killing 2 injuring 6. How is it like to live around violence? How is it like to consider this as ‘no surprise’ ? How is it like to grow up already having an enemy? The Freedom Theatre located in

Regardless of the numerous times i’ve traveled- I will forever suffer from Pre-travel anxiety. Yes its a thing and I have self diagnosed myself with the most extreme case. It’s a mixture of overthinking, procrastination, and excitement. or perhaps a bad experience of missing a few flights as a child. But do not mistaken this with of fear of traveling. Because I am easily your most crazed frequent flier who still gets butterflies every time the train whistles, car starts, or p

I’ve recently discovered the beauty of the lone wolf life I love people and people love me. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been known as the ‘crowd pleaser.’ Creating conversations at the table, inviting others to the party, and initiating activities in the group text. I never run out of energy. I often get the “she’s just high on life!” which I am – always, constantly, 24/7 doing something, with someone. From swim clubs and high school cliques, to college sorority, there is

If I could describe this city in two words, I’d pick “Everything Goes…” and I mean everything. It’s complete chaos, but organized chaos. It seems as if the mayhem found in every corner is necessary to keep the city going. As crazy as that sounds, it worked and I loved it. As I was exploring one of the streets around my hostel, I decided to grab a bite to eat from a street vendor. ( A must!) Sitting down on what seemed like a Toys-R-Us kids table, I pointed to the menu my desi

Ok, I usually complain about inflight “meals” more like dread them. But to my surprise, I was blown away with Eastern China Airlines! Man, it was better than our whitewashed Panda Express mix. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still airplane “food” (emphasis on the quotation marks)… But woah! China, way to make a first impression on your cuisine! Man, I enjoyed it so much I told the fight attendant to “give compliments to the chef!” she looked at me like I was crazy… I just blamed it

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