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How to Avoid Tourist Scams in Istanbul: Insider Tips and Advice Traveling to Istanbul can be a fantastic experience, but like many popular tourist destinations, it has its fair share of scammers looking to take advantage of unsuspecting visitors. From inflated prices at restaurants to dishonest taxi drivers, here are some recent examples and tips […]
Sometimes People Just Don’t Like You Traveling is full of surprises, and sometimes, those surprises aren’t pleasant. It’s a fact of life that sometimes people don’t like you for reasons unknown. This can be particularly common when you travel a lot. It happened to friends, it’s happened to me before, and twice during my first
How to Handle Unfriendly Locals and Discover Hidden Treasures Read More »
If you’ve ever traveled to Europe, you’re probably aware that they use a different type of electricity and plug. Some of your electronics may work, while others might not. Here are a few hints to help you navigate this. Having worked for forty years installing and servicing commercial and industrial fire alarm systems in the
Why You Might Not Need a Power Converter for Your Electronics Abroad Read More »
Before deciding to visit a new country or city, I always start with a background check on safety. My first stop is the United States Department of State website, where they provide their perspective on the safety of various destinations. However, it’s important to remember that this is just one viewpoint. Safety opinions vary widely
Tailoring Travel Safety Research to Your Unique Needs Read More »
8-2-23 Istanbul, Turkey Traveling as a tourist and traveling to live cheap, are two different things. If I signed up for “tourist” activities I would go broke quickly. So just last week, when the months of planning and booking hotels came to an end, I realized I have to create a new life. I would
7-31-23 Chicago, IL. Creating A New Life I think we all heard the story of people who retired and died shortly afterward because of boredom. I’m pretty sure this is an urban legend at best. Mainly because it would be impossible to prove. And I’m sure no one keeps these types of statistics. Besides, we
7-28-23 Volo, IL. These should be considered a starting point, not a definitive guide. Visa and entry requirements change constantly and, as of this writing, are changing. And because I have no idea when and where you’re traveling, you will have to do your own research. Visas Of the ten counties I will visit in
Discover How To Enter, Stay And Enjoy Your Vacation. Read More »
Transforming Travel: From Short Stays to Long-Term Adventures When I first started inviting people to join me on my week-long trips, I told them they could buy a flight and a room for a week to ten days in Europe for about $1,500. Additionally, budgeting around $100 a day for admission tickets, dinners, and souvenirs
7-24-23 Batavia, IL In a small, bustling café on a quiet street corner, I overheard a conversation that made me pause. It was a group of friends, discussing their bucket lists with an air of wistful longing. They spoke of grand adventures and far-off places, all neatly tucked away for “someday.” As I sipped my
Bucket List Breakthrough. Discover How People Murder Dreams Read More »
(Published Monday, Wednesday &Fridays from my current city). 7-17-23 Chicago, IL. U.S.A. It’s here. In 14 days, I get on a plane and fly from Chicago, Illinois to Istanbul Turkey. After 28 Days in Turkey, I will spend the next five months visiting nine more countries in Europe and Asia. They are, in order… Why