10 ways to feel better

When I began this crazy ride of traveling as much as physically and financially possible at 15, I was impressionable, excited and more than a little clueless. Over the last seven years I have had my share of small tragedies on the road: a pick-pocketing incident when I was stranded with no cash for three weeks, LICE (bleh), several cases of serious illness on holiday (and heartbreak) stand out as the most memorable. … [Read more...] about 10 Ways that Travel Permanently Changed Me

Adjust your habits before you leave. For example, if you’re traveling from the East to the West Coast of the U.S., you’re facing a three-hour time change and you should try to adjust your internal clock. A few days before you leave, try to stay up a little later than usual, and sleep in a little longer. If you become accustomed to falling asleep at 12:00 a.m. and waking up at 8:00 a.m. on the East Coast, it will be the same as falling asleep at 9:00 p.m. and waking up at 5:00 a.m. on the West Coast, getting you one step closer to the time zone you’ll be in. Traveling west to east, do the opposite: Get up and go to bed earlier. … [Read more...] about The Best Ways to Prevent and Treat Jet Lag

I am conversational in French because while I know about 7 tenses, I sometimes use them incorrectly. I make very basic mistakes and don’t always understand other people, and there are certain sounds in French that I have so much trouble pronouncing that sometimes other people misunderstand me. (The difference between tous and partout is the bane of my existence.) Nonetheless, I have no problem getting around and speak well enough to argue with the concierge at a hotel or make small-talk at a house party. … [Read more...] about 10 Tips for Becoming Fluent in a Second (or Third!) Language

Want to find your favorite hotel’s beds at a more affordable price? It’s fairly easy to find what mattress the property uses with a quick online search. For example, Westin touts its world-famous Heavenly Bed, but it’s a widely known secret that the Heavenly Bed is just a Simmons Beautyrest mattress, which you can find for much cheaper at places like Wayfair.com. Added bonus: Wayfair allows you to return mattresses for free for up to 100-days after you buy it, so you can really sleep on your decision. … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Make Your Bedroom Feel like a Hotel Room

Rooms at The Andaman can be dated and small and there are reports of bits and pieces needing fixing (and them not being fixed immediately). Reception staff can apparently be slow and clueless on occasion. All that said, this is a great hotel for families looking for a cheaper hotel with a fantastic pool area and a good beach. The monkeys in and around the property are fun although the kids club has rather unmotivated staff. While this hotel is not comparable to the true luxury options, it is around half and sometimes as little as a third of the price so offers a cheap bargain on Langkawi. … [Read more...] about Top 10 Best Luxury Hotels In Langkawi, Malaysia