It’s almost the summer … have you forgotten about one of Europe’s overnight rail services? The European Sleeper, chugs its way from Germany’s capital to Belgium’s capital, stopping at Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Antwerp, as well as a few other cities along the route. It has three different classes: Sleepers – Deluxe, with three beds and […]
Travel Photography
Japan Rail Pass Trip Report: Hokuriku Arch Pass
After a pair of trips north to Tohoku, it was time to revisit Kanazawa, the place that first piqued my interest in Japan 24 years ago. With Kanazawa being the center of the Hokuriku region, it was the best choice as a base for using the JR (Japan Rail) Hokuriku Arch Pass. First, let’s briefly […]
JR Tokyo Wide Pass
Are you a big fan of Tokyo, but want to get away from the unabashedly urban side of things? Then the JR Tokyo Wide Pass might have your name on it. Might.* Who Can Buy the Pass? Just like the JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido, and the JR East (Tohoku Area), rail passes, this one can only […]
JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Ever since my first trip to Tohoku last year, I’ve been yearning to visit more of that northern Japanese region. For a quick refresher on what constitutes the Tohoku region, here’s a map: In addition to including Tohoku, there’s a clear bonus for this rail pass: parts of Hokkaido are included! That’s right, Japan’s big […]
Flight Review: Southern Airways Express from Chicago ORD to Quincy UIN
Roughly once a year, I visit the St. Louis, Missouri area. Lacking any real airport competition, I haven’t found prices to be particularly competitive. On the plus side, that also means I get to be creative with checking off new airlines and airports. Enter, Southern Airways Express. Southern Airways Express is one of the larger […]
New York LaGuardia Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club (LGA)
Just a few years ago, I never would have uttered the phrase “I deliberately chose to fly out of LaGuardia (LGA).” Yet, owing in part to the newish Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club LGA, you could say that I flipped that quote on its head. Having only opened on 16 January of this year, […]
Chinatown Around the World
As a child, I used to think that the Manhattan Chinatown was one of the coolest neighborhoods to wander around. Whether it was the detailed writing system, the food, or the history, I was enthralled. But how would it compare with other Chinatowns around the world? After starting to travel, I realized that New York […]
Four Street Foods in Manila
After years of meandering and eating my way through Jakarta, Bangkok, Shenzhen, and other East Asian cities, it was about time to revisit the street food in Manila. Manila isn’t particularly pedestrian-friendly, nor is it heaving with standard issue points of interest. However, if you are in to Spanish colonial history, check out Intramuros, and […]