October 15, 2019 / By Shyla Esko Bare I have been teaching how-to pack classes for five years. In it I share hundreds of tips. Some travelers take some of my advice and others do not. I get it. There are lots of different ways to pack and no one should take the exact same […]

September 03, 2019 / By Shyla Esko Bare While traveling around the world, Dan and I were approached by beggars in numerous countries. Even where we currently live, on Main Street U.S.A., there are plenty of people asking for spare change. So when and what should a traveler give? The problem with giving someone a […]

August 21, 2019 / By Shyla Esko Bare Dan and I have been wine tasting around the world. It is something we really enjoy. One of our favorite places to taste is New Zealand. We loved it because many of the wineries also had “smelling” areas. It lets you smell the flavor that is in […]

August 06, 2019 / By Shyla Esko Bare When Dan first traveled to Europe in the 1980s, the Eurail pass was the way to go. However, it is no longer the bargain it once was. If you are wondering if you should get a railpass when wandering around Eruope, read “Eurail or InterRail” on The […]

July 16, 2019 / By Shyla Esko Bare Chatting to a fellow attendee at an aerobics class this past week, the topic went to her upcoming trip to Ireland, and her plan to rent a car there. I causally told her it took me months before I felt comfortable driving in Scotland, so I thought […]

June 12, 2019 / By Shyla Esko Bare Before you pack for a flight, make sure you check the luggage size and weight allowance for EVERY AIRLINE you are going to use on that trip. This is important for both checked and carry-on baggage. My Sister recently flew on Alaska Airline. A carry-on bag that […]

April 09, 2019 / By Shyla Esko Bare Have you ever stood in the wrong line when traveling? I recently arrived at a bus station in Canada. I was early for my bus so took a seat. But as the time approached to leave, a line started to form in front of the only two […]

March 30, 2019 / By Shyla Esko Bare Where have you traveled by long-distance bus? I have taken bus trips lasting a few hours to over a day in countries around the world. But it has been around 30 years since I have done so in my own country. Recently, I traveled from Vancouver Canada […]

January 28, 2019 / By Shyla Esko & Daniel Bare Every year, there are trends that impact travelers going abroad. Some makes things easier, while others cause challenges. On our recent seven-week trip through Asia we took notes on what was going on in travel, what affected us, as well as what other travelers told […]

December 04, 2018 / By Shyla Esko Bare As I prepare to leave on my next international trip next week, my mind is on packing. One of my secrets to packing smart is to use packing cubes. They really make a huge difference in keeping your stuff organized when traveling. Early in my traveling life, […]