The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel offers affordable boutique luxury with amazing San Francisco views and location. Renovated in 2020, the historic Clift Hotel rates as a top hotel in San Francisco for comfort, ambiance, and service.
HI Travel Tales
Award-Winning Travel Photography & Writing
Happy traveling the world
Ask us where our favorite place in the world is and we can’t really say. Because we find joy and wonder everywhere. So can you.
We’re Michael and Therese and after two lifetimes of exploring the world, we want to inspire you to travel better, discover authentic adventures, and immerse yourself in transformative experiences.
Join our Subscriber Club and get ready to realize your own travel dreams.
Recent Adventures
Down the road or around the globe, join us on our latest adventures to inspire your travels.
Christmas Garden Berlin at the Botanical Garden: 2021 photo tour
The beloved Christmas Garden Berlin, closed due to the pandemic in 2020, returned in 2021, for its magical, illuminated journey through the Botanical Garden Berlin. Enjoy a photo and video tour of the 2021 trail of lights and music.
A photo guide to biking the Golden Gate Bridge
Biking across the Golden Gate Bridge is a thrill any traveler to the California city by the bay can enjoy. A mostly bike flat ride along the water takes you across the iconic Golden Gate into Sausalito. Hop the Blue & Gold Ferry back into San Francisco after your bike tour.
Our Latest Travel Tips
Packing advice, safety and security tips, health tips, photography advice … all from travel experts
Perfect gifts for any photographer
Photographers can be a difficult bunch to buy for but we’re here to make choosing the perfect gift for any photographer a lot easier. This list contains perfect photography gifts, big or small, from photo gear we use and love.
I tested positive for COVID while traveling … now what?
Testing positive for COVID while traveling is a fear many new and veteran travelers share. Who wants to get stuck for an extended period far from home, let alone while sick with COVID? Know your options before you travel so you stay as comfortable as possible and get home quickly, too.
Travel gifts for him or her: Perfect gifts for the traveler in your life
Any time of year is the time of year for travel gifts for him or her. We can help you find the perfect gifts for the traveler in your life – or perhaps a few super practical or fun items for you, too.
Where will your dreams take you?
Planning is half the fun, right? Start here and come back with great stories to tell and memories to last a lifetime.
Our 5 Most Popular Stories
>>The best railbike adventures: Find railbikes near me
>>What Chernobyl looks like today: The Chernobyl disaster in photos
>>Visit Camano Island Washington through the eyes of locals
>>Why I love Kenya: For 43 years I dreamed of returning
>>Visit Winters: California wines, cuisine, and, a side of adventure
5 stories you’ll find useful
>>Top hotel safety tips: Your hotel room safety is important
>>Five tips for staying warm in Antarctica
>>8 ways to communicate when traveling in a foreign country
>>Road trip safety essentials for travel during COVID-19
>>Cajun cooking class with Spuddy: Real Cajun gumbo recipe
Our 5 Most Popular Stories
>>The best railbike adventures: Find railbikes near me
>>What Chernobyl looks like today: The Chernobyl disaster in photos
>>Visit Camano Island Washington through the eyes of locals
>>Why I love Kenya: For 43 years I dreamed of returning
>>Visit Winters: California wines, cuisine, and, a side of adventure
5 stories you’ll find useful
>>Top hotel safety tips: Your hotel room safety is important
>>Five tips for staying warm in Antarctica
>>8 ways to communicate when traveling in a foreign country
>>Road trip safety essentials for travel during COVID-19
>>Cajun cooking class with Spuddy: Real Cajun gumbo recipe