Seeking a deliciously deep dive into Argentina’s empanada culture, I took a hands-on empanada cooking class with Chef Maria at Finca Valentina in Salta, Argentina.
Travel Tips
Insider advice from decades of travel experienceWe’ve been traveling to one place or another on the globe, together and separately, for over 50 years. That’s a combined 100+ years of travel experience behind every travel tip we write. Planning a trip can seem daunting at first, but it doesn’t have to be. We aim to make planning your next vacation, adventure, or quick getaway as simple and easy as possible.
Whether you’re planning a bike trip along the Danube, booking flights for a dream African safari, or wondering how to manage your money and safety for two weeks in Europe, we have the information you need, broken down into sections, to help you quickly find the tips you want. Browse all our articles below or use the “Quick Navigation” icons to jump into a travel tips category you seek.
Quick Navigation
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
We’ve been traveling to one place or another on the globe, together and separately, for over 50 years. That’s a combined 100+ years of travel experience behind every travel tip we write. Planning a trip can seem daunting at first, but it doesn’t have to be. We aim to make planning your next vacation, adventure, or quick getaway as simple and easy as possible.
Whether you’re planning a bike trip along the Danube, booking flights for a dream African safari, or wondering how to manage your money and safety for two weeks in Europe, we have the information you need, broken down into sections, to help you quickly find the tips you want. Browse all our articles below or use the “Quick Navigation” icons to jump into a travel tips category you seek.
Quick Navigation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Browse all our stories
Paying to pee: bathroom tips for every traveler
Traveling can be a bladder test, especially in Europe, but free public toilets and programs like Germany’s “Nette Toilette” offer relief. Learn tips for finding bathrooms without paying or compromising cleanliness.
Modica chocolate festival in Sicily: Indulge in all things chocolate
Sicily may be renown for baroque architecture, beaches, and the Mount Etna volcano, but if you venture there in December you’ll discover it is famous for chocolate too. Chocomodica, a chocolate festival for chocolate lovers. Plus, get a bonus recipe here.
Stollen 1930: gin tasting inside a 600-year-old Austrian cave
Stollen 1930 in Kufstein, Austria, boasts one of the largest collections of gins in the world, deep inside an historic cave carved into the rocks beneath the fortress walls. It’s a remarkable place to visit, even for those who don’t love or even like gin.
Foodies rejoice on a Maine Windjammer cruise with J. & E. Riggin
An historic schooner, secret coves, a lobster bake and sweeping ocean views make a Maine windjammer cruise special. Oh, but the food! Thrill your tastebuds on the J. & E. Riggin, with its focus on local, homemade fare – and get an exclusive J. & E. Riggin recipe.
Hartstone Inn’s Electric Daisy restaurant in Camden a delight + bonus recipe
Hartstone Inn’s new Electric Daisy restaurant in Camden, Maine, offers creative, sustainable food that showcases local farms and foods. Plus, many of Chef Dustin Shockley’s dishes include the Szechuan pepper flower called “electric daisy” for an extra tongue-tingling delight. Subscriber Club members get an insider bonus recipe.
Hotel room hacks for those annoying lights and gaping curtains
Bright lights and curtains that don’t close in hotel rooms are irritating. My bag full of tricks to help me sleep includes hangers, pillows, and duct tape to solve the issue annoying light issue to ensure a good night’s sleep.
Packing light for travel is easy with our 10 packing tips for traveling light
Packing light is essential for today’s travel – and it’s not that hard with modern fabrics. Here are 10 easy packing tips to help you pack lighter, which will make your travel adventures that much better.
Airline travel tips: delays, cancellations, & lost flight attendants
Flight delays and cancelations are no fun. But the travel pain can be minimized if you are properly prepared. Our practical airline travel tips will help you successfully manage flight cancelations, delays — and even airlines that manage to lose flight attendants.
A traveler’s guide to tea culture around the world
In many countries, tea is far more than just another hot drink. It has become a cultural expression of hospitality, spirituality, peace, or harmony. It is often a reason to gather socially. Discover the different tea cultures around the world.
What do you do with lots of lemons? Make super zesty French Lemon Cake!
If you are swimming in lemons during harvest, the question arises: What to do with so many lemons? What I call my “French Lemon Cake” comes to the rescue. I enjoyed this cake in France, but had to develop the recipe myself, of course using lots of juice and lemon zest.
Switching seats on a plane? Why I often say ‘no’ to swapping seats
I often say “no” to swapping seats on a plane. I do get asked to switch seats on a plane often enough, and sometimes, though infrequently, I am the one doing the asking. There is an etiquette to seat swapping to keep the skies friendly.
Lost your smartphone when traveling? What to do if your phone is stolen
Losing your smartphone while traveling is no fun. Be sure you have prepared your phone and protected your data well before a thief strikes so your stolen phone becomes an inconvenience, not a disaster.
How to be a good traveler in Europe – 11 tips to travel better
The caricature of that loud, garishly dressed American traveler in a different country may be funny, but you do not want to be that traveler. Here are a few easy tips on how to be a good traveler in most European countries.
Discover great BBQ, whiskey & hot dogs off I-95 in Johnston County NC
Racing along Interstate 95 in North Carolina, you cut right through Johnston County, southeast of Raleigh. This is not just a gas and bathroom stop: Get ready for award-winning BBQ, one awesome local distillery and, yes, the home of North Carolina’s famous red hot dogs.
Clean your luggage after every trip to protect against bed bugs and germs
Don’t bring germs and bugs into your home after you travel. Know how to properly clean and sanitize your carry-on and checked luggage to keep your suitcases looking good as well as bug and germ free.
Air travel is getting harder: Here’s how to make flying more enjoyable
Air travel is getting harder. Long delays, canceled flights, lost or delayed luggage, and horror stories of packed planes, plus stressed-out passengers, and flight crews. Here are a few tips to make flying more enjoyable or at least tolerable.
Modesto food & drink: California foodie haven hidden in plain view
Foodies on a California road trip don’t have to hunger for great eats along Highway 99. Stop into Modesto to discover a growing, creative, global scene for delicious food and drink in the Central Valley.
Choosing the best travel insurance for your trip
You’ve booked your trip for a dream vacation, but you’re just not sure about buying travel insurance. After all, it seems like an added expense and how do you know which is the best travel insurance for your trip anyway? Let’s stop right there. You need travel insurance when you travel, unless you are so wealthy you can afford your own medical expenses and possibly the expense of medical transport back home. Find out why we like Global Rescue and why travel insurance is so important to you.
Packing for a road trip: Road trip accessories, organization, and meals
During the pandemic, I discovered a passion for road trips – and discovered that packing for a road trip meant adding accessories for my travels that keep me organized, fed, safe and very happy on the road.
Yolo County wines: casual California wine country secret
Yolo County wines are an insider secret, hidden in plain view just west of Sacramento in the California wine country. Discover a rural atmosphere and tasty, award-winning wines with a howdy kind of welcome.
Stargazing tips: dark skies, stargazing apps, and proper gear
From the best stargazing apps to unforgettable stargazing locations and Dark Sky preserves, we share stargazing tips that will make your next stargazing adventure memorable.
Important tips for traveling internationally even when vaccinated
Traveling internationally when vaccinated requires forms, tests, research about countries’ requirements and a lot of flexibility. Here are our tips for traveling during Covid from our personal experience.
Best vacation travel tips: Stay healthy, stress-free and safe
Traveling by airplane, train, car, or bus can be stressful, especially if plans must shift or change due to cancellations, delays, or illness. Our vacation travel tips will help you minimize the stress!
Packing for a safari: What not to forget on a safari packing list
Putting together a packing list for a safari in Africa starts months in advance. Here are a few expert tips to help you begin packing for a safari in Africa.
Packing tips for sustainable travel – be an eco-conscious traveler
For the sustainable traveler, being eco-conscious is a lifestyle that drives all day-to-day choices. And packing for a vacation is no exception. Here are some suggestions for what to pack, and what not to pack, to ensure that you’re traveling with environmental and cultural sensitivity top of mind.
Travel safe: 10 things you should NEVER do while traveling!
Travel is fun … until it’s not. Like when someone breaks into your home because they knew you were away or robs you at your hotel because they knew you were coming. Know the 10 things you should never do while traveling to ensure your safety and protect your valuables.
The best railbike adventure – Find railbikes near me
Railbikes have been used on railroad tracks since the 1800s. It wasn’t until recently that individuals and companies began designing railbikes and offering railbike trips for the public. Railbiking companies are numerous. Our guide will help you to find the best railbike adventure near you and to understand what railbiking is.
Choosing Bug Repellents: Which is the best insect repellent for travel
Biting insects all over the world are searching for their next blood meal. You need to know what the best insect repellent is for travel to help prevent a mosquito or tick bite that could carry a nasty disease.
Why I hate ticks and how to prevent tick bites
It’s not all that hard to realize why I hate ticks. The very thought of walking through woods and fields infested with ticks makes my skin crawl. Perhaps it is because of a tick’s predilection to attaching itself firmly to its host, in this case me, and then draining a seemingly prodigious quantity of blood from those dark and moist places where I would rather not have something alien nibbling. Even with my skin dipped in insect repellent and clothes soaked in permethrin, I am on edge.
Travel medical kit: packing a first aid kit for travel
When you are packing for your next international trip, there are a few items that are essential – passport, ID, money, smartphone and a compact travel medical kit. No matter what destination you are heading to in the world, a first aid kit for travel should go with you everywhere.
Preparing for travel and traveling safely again – 14 top tips
With air travel slowly returning, preparing for, getting to the airport, and then flying safely again is a concern for many, even savvy travelers. Here are some tips on how to travel safely again and reminders on preparing for travel basics.
Immunizations you need: Important vaccinations for travel
Proof of a COVID vaccination is just one of the immunizations travelers need. Before you hop on a plane, you need to know what diseases you may come into contact with, and the important vaccinations for travel you should receive to protect you and your family.
Post-pandemic planning checklist for vaccinated travelers
When the CDC gave the green light to fully vaccinated travelers to begin hitting the road and flying again, the announcement generated numerous questions about travel preparation, planning and COVID protection. This checklist for vaccinated travelers is how to start planning your next trip.
Getting and managing money when traveling
Getting and managing money when traveling is not all that complicated or difficult, but a few universal money and safety tips do make the task easier wherever you may travel in the world.
Anderson Valley wineries you need to visit on a California road trip
No road trip to Mendocino County is complete without sipping a few of the best Anderson Valley wines. From casual newcomers to expansive long timers, here are a few down-to-earth Anderson Valley wineries you must visit on your next California road trip.
Hiking checklist: 11 essentials for hikers anywhere in the world
From road trippers to adventure travelers, everyone who heads out on a hike needs to pack along emergency gear to keep them safe if things go wrong. The 11 essentials for hikers are items that are easy to carry and pack, and might just save a life – yours.
Cajun cooking class with Spuddy: real Cajun gumbo recipe
Cooking up the best authentic Cajun gumbo is not hard, but it does require a few pointers. Spuddy Faucheux at Cajun Cooking Experience near New Orleans shared his world of cooking with us in a personal Cajun cooking class. Now, we’re sharing the cooking experience and his authentic chicken and sausage gumbo recipe with you.
Road trip safety essentials for travel during COVID-19
Since COVID-19 is likely going to be around for a while, even after vaccinations, safe road trips may be the best answer to see new places. With our road trip safety essentials list, you can avoid relying on restaurants and make less frequent trips to stores so you can focus on having fun and traveling well.
Best German mulled wine or “Glühwein” recipe for cold winter nights
Nothing is cozier or more warming than a mug of hot German mulled wine, known in Germany as Glühwein. Popular at traditional German Christmas markets you can buy it premixed outside of Germany, but if you want true depth of flavor and fresh spices, follow my Glühwein recipe to make the best mulled wine you’ve ever had.
On-demand accident insurance for adventures near or far
All it takes is one accident to cost you thousands of dollars in medical bills before health insurance kicks in, if it ever does. On-demand accident insurance provides a financial safety net for adventurers anywhere in the world or even at home.
Best limoncello recipe: limoncello with Everclear for real Italian flavor
Making the best limoncello isn’t that hard. Our delicious limoncello recipe has easy to follow insider tips to create a drink that is not too sweet and has the taste of Italy. WAY better than store bought!
What is a shrub? Old English shrub recipe to relive travel memories
A shrub is a flexible, creative infusion of fruit, herbs, or vegetables mixed with sugar and vinegar to be added to alcohol or soda water. Our cranberry shrub recipe is delicious. This is a perfect drink recipe for history and travel buffs.
How to travel in a post-pandemic world – respect, safety, patience
The COVID-19 global pandemic has had a huge impact on travel. When you do however start to travel in a post-pandemic world, be sure to travel with respect and patience, and always travel safely, paying attention to local regulations.
7 tips for staycation travel: Finding travel adventures close to home
Traveling enthusiasts often look many miles from their own home and regions to find travel adventures. But great travel opportunities exist right around the corner, too, close to home. It is time to expand our definition of travel and embrace staycation travel to explore your own city, county and state.
Start to learn languages – Top language learning apps and websites
A look at some of the best language learning apps and language learning websites available today. The best ways to learn languages, aside from immersive experiences, are with language tools you can use at home, online and offline, that you can take with you when you travel.
Delicious Ukrainian-style ginger tea recipe with lemon, mint and cloves
Whether served hot in the winter or cold in summer, this Ukrainian-style ginger tea recipe with lemon, mint and cloves is sure to make you smile. Subscriber Club members can download the ginger tea recipe for free.
Virtual travel experiences to tour the world when you can’t leave home
Virtual travel experiences are available all around the globe. It is possible to travel virtually from home for planning or pure enjoyment. We’ve assembled a comprehensive guide to the best virtual tours around the world, including museums, art exhibits, live concerts and theaters, national park tours, street art tours and virtual tours of various cultural destinations and sights.
Top 3 tips to protect yourself from mosquito bites and Zika virus
Planning on traveling to Central and South America or to the Caribbean? Then you would be wise to know how to protect yourself from Zika. The Zika virus is spread by mosquito bite and sexual contact. What are the best ways to protect yourself from getting infected with Zika? We show you how.
How good is evacuation coverage or travel insurance for coronavirus?
Will travel insurance cover your travels if you need to cancel or change travel plans because of COVID. We spoke with experts at Global Rescue and World Nomads to find out how good evacuation coverage or travel insurance for coronavirus really is.
Don't Get Left Behind!
Activate a HI Travel Tales Subscriber Club newsletter subscription and start receiving premium stories, photography and travel tips that do not appear on our website. And you'll become part of a fun travel community. It's FREE! By subscribing to our regular HI Travel Tales Subscriber Club newsletter you'll also have an opportunity to gain access to select e-books and recipes plus special discount offers - no spam, ever, promise.
