The Blog

Travel Philosophy Why I Always Skip the Tourist Areas (And What I Do Instead)

This isn't a contrarian stance — it's a practical one. The tourist areas are usually the worst version of a place, and once you understand why, you can't unsee it.

Budget Travel How I Actually Travel on a Budget (Not the Advice You've Already Read)

Real numbers. Real strategies. Not 'bring a reusable water bottle' — actual frameworks for traveling more, spending less, and not making yourself miserable in the process.

City Guides The Best-Kept Secret Neighborhoods I've Found (So Far)

Every city has a version of itself that tourists don't see. Here are the neighborhoods I've stumbled into across multiple countries that felt like finding a door most people walk right past.

Travel Philosophy 22 Countries In — 10 Things Every Trip Has Taught Me

Not a highlights reel. Not a list of Instagram spots. The actual things I've learned from 22 countries — including the lessons that came from the trips that didn't go as planned.

Career How to Travel the World as a Barber (And Why the Job Is Actually Perfect for It)

Everyone assumes a trade keeps you tied down. I found the opposite. A pair of scissors is one of the most portable skills on earth — and the barbershop is one of the best places to actually understand a city.

Albania What Vlore Is Really Like (And Why You're Probably Going to Skip It By Mistake)

Everyone goes to Saranda. Almost nobody makes it to Vlore. Here's what's waiting for you when you get off the main tourist trail in southern Albania — and why it's worth the detour.

Mexico What Living in Mexico Taught Me About Growing Up in California

I grew up speaking Spanish at home and English at school, with one foot in each world. Then I actually moved to Mexico and discovered that knowing the language doesn't mean you know the place.

USA Nobody Goes to Fargo. That's Exactly Why I Did.

Most people's entire knowledge of Fargo, North Dakota comes from a Coen Brothers movie. Mine too, until I actually went. What I found was nothing like the movie and better than I expected.

Colombia My First Group Trip Was to Colombia. I Showed Up With New Braces and Zero Shame.

The story of my first big group trip — Colombia, new braces, total chaos, and the moment I realized travel doesn't require perfect timing, perfect teeth, or a perfect plan.

Albania The Pizza Place in Vlore That Changed How I Think About Travel

I almost didn't go to Albania. Then I got lost on a Tuesday afternoon in Vlore, followed my nose, and ate the best pizza of my life in a place with no English menu and zero TripAdvisor reviews.