You've seen the Instagram posts - hotels promising "eco-friendly" stays, tour operators using "sustainable" in every caption. But most aren't walking the talk. Welcome to greenwashing in tourism, where buzzwords are cheap but real ethical practices are anything but. Learn the two questions that reveal whether a travel company is actually ethical or just good at marketing.

Cuba has a special way of reminding me what actually matters—perspective, resilience, and the strength of human connection. Despite political uncertainty and challenges facing the island, I'm considering one final New Year's trip in late 2026 to support the local communities we've come to love. If Cuba is on your heart, join the waitlist for December 27, 2026 - January 3, 2027.

I woke up at 3 AM with an overwhelming urge to buy concert tickets to see Adele in Barcelona. Never mind that she was playing an hour from my house the following week. I just knew I had to go. That trip changed everything. Somewhere between Gaudí's architecture and Adele's voice, I made the decision to leave my marriage. A year later, floating in a hot air balloon over Turkey, I quit my corporate job. For years, I brushed these off as coincidence. Then I discovered astro-cartography, and suddenly everything clicked.

Three years ago, Teresa was newly divorced and terrified to travel alone. Today, she's visited five countries, taken up painting and singing, and is eight states away from her goal of visiting all 50 before turning 50. Her secret? She stopped waiting for perfect timing. Here's why her parents' unused RV taught her the most important lesson about travel—and life.

Stop making vague travel promises. Elementary school teacher Rachel Trapani went from taking one unaffordable trip in 2019 to five international adventures per year by 2023. Here are the 10 resolutions that actually work—from automating your travel savings to packing light, mastering long-haul flights, and saying yes to trips that scare you. Download our free guide with all the tips, product links, and travel credit card recommendations.

Dating abroad sounds romantic until you're resolving conflict in your second language. Digital nomad Lindsey Tague spent 5 years dating locals across Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and beyond—here are 10 truths nobody warns you about.

A solo traveler confronts her fears, discovers marigold everything, and floats over ancient pyramids at sunrise during Mexico City's Día de los Muertos. This is the story of how one picky eater found transformation through lucha libre, hot air balloons, and the power of group travel to make intimidating destinations feel effortless.

When Erik joined his first group trip to Georgia, he wasn't sure what to expect. As a self-described introvert traveling with strangers, he quickly discovered that Georgian hospitality and good wine have a way of turning a group of unknowns into lifelong friends. From wine-soaked karaoke sessions to intimate dinners in locals' homes, Erik found that group travel offered something solo adventures never could: people to share the unforgettable moments with. His biggest surprise? How naturally a mixed-gender group can bond when everyone checks their ego at the door and embraces the experience. Now back home, Erik is already planning his next group adventure—proof that sometimes stepping outside your comfort zone leads to the best journeys of all.

We've all said it: "I'd love to travel, but I just don't have time right now." But here's what I've learned after taking hundreds of people on transformational trips: the people who think they can't afford to step away are usually the ones who need it most. Your brain needs space to work its magic—and that space doesn't happen at your desk at 10 PM grinding through emails.

Let's talk about the food situation on my Greece trips for a second. Because holy shit, this year our sailing crew doubled as chefs and spoiled us with some Greek staples. On my May Greece trip, Happy made us fresh tzatziki that was so good I considered licking the bowl (I didn't, but it was a close call). On our September trip, Philip decided to bless us with homemade ceviche—which he prepared shirtless, by the way, because apparently that's just how things go when you're sailing the Greek islands with a crew of absolute characters.

At 62, newly divorced Kerry Breckle had a choice: stay bitter or get better. She chose better—and ended up in a hot air balloon over Mexican pyramids, getting her first tattoo in Cuba, and discovering that age is just a number. Her message? 'No one is going to knock on your door with a new life plan. So do it.' Read how Kerry went from afraid to fly to living her best adventure.

When Carrie booked her first international trip to Cuba, she was terrified. She'd never considered leaving the country and worried it wouldn't be safe. Now, after journeys to Cuba and Morocco—with Kenya on the horizon—she's discovered a passion for travel she never knew existed. Read how group travel with Laura Ericson transformed not just her itinerary, but her entire worldview.

Last year on a scouting trip to Kenya, a teacher asked me for one thing: pads. Girls at her school were missing 3-7 days every month because they didn't have period products. Some were dropping out entirely. Their futures were shrinking because of something as basic as a period.

That conversation changed everything. In March 2026, both of my Kenya groups will distribute period care kits to 260 girls at a local school. Each $10 kit includes four reusable pads that last up to 10 years, underwear, soap, and a carrying pouch.

This isn't about showing up with disposable pads and leaving. It's about providing a decade of reliable period care, keeping girls in school, and investing in their futures. Here's how we're doing it—and how you can help.

If someone who literally gets set on fire for a living can book a trip to Morocco right after a divorce, what's actually stopping you? I sat down with two Hollywood stunt doubles to talk about fear, risk, and why the people who do the most "dangerous" things are often the calmest travelers. Here's what they taught me about overcoming travel fear.

If you've ever eaten ramen for the third night in a row while scrolling travel Instagram because you're "saving for a trip," this one's for you. Money coach Rachel Covert (who retired at 36 with $500k saved) just dropped a truth bomb: saving for travel doesn't have to suck. The problem? You've been conditioned to believe saving means extreme deprivation. No restaurants. No fun. No life. And then you crack and book a trip on a credit card. Here's what actually works: automation, clear priorities, and zero lentils required.

I'll never forget the moment I decided to quit my job and start my travel business. I was floating in a hot air balloon over Cappadocia, Turkey, when my entire body just... knew. Within a week, I'd submitted my resignation from a 14-year career. My brain was screaming at me the entire time. But my body? My body was calm. Quiet. Certain. That's the thing about intuition that nobody tells you: it doesn't scream. It whispers. And it lives in your gut, not your head.

Join Darcy Luoma on her humanitarian journey through Cuba with Laura Ericson Group Trips. Traveling under a special visa, Darcy's group brought essential donations for communities affected by the US embargo while experiencing authentic Cuban culture. From classic cars in Havana to horseback riding in Viñales, this travel diary showcases how meaningful travel can create positive impact while fostering genuine cultural connections.

"I didn't have to be brave. Everything just feels so safe and taken care of." That's how Danielle describes her 10-day Morocco adventure—and she's not alone. Three women who traveled Morocco as complete strangers share what it's really like to ride camels through the Sahara, survive 108-degree heat, bond in traditional hammams, and make lifelong friends along the way. Turns out, you don't need to be adventurous by nature to have the trip of a lifetime. You just need someone who's already done the hard work for you.

Let me set the scene: I'm coming home from Greece, jet-lagged, with an eight-hour layover at O'Hare. I set an alarm, put my head down at my gate, and pass out.

I wake up in a fog. Everyone around me is gone. Never a good sign.

My gate has changed to an entirely different concourse. So there I am, sprinting through O'Hare with a backpack full of Greek pottery weighing 40 pounds, literally dying, having a full-on asthma attack.

That was the hardest run I've done in a very long time.

Which is why when I sat down to talk with Joe Baur - a travel writer who runs ultra marathons through countries for a living - I had to laugh. Because while I'm over here proud of my 10-minute pottery sprint, this guy is out here running 60+ miles a day through Nepal, getting pneumonia on day two of an eight-day stage race, and still finishing.

I will never be a runner. But here's the thing: After talking with Joe, I realized his approach to travel resonates with me on a level that has nothing to do with running...

Remember when summer camp was the highlight of your year? When you'd count down the days until you could escape your regular life, make questionable friendship bracects, and stay up way too late eating contraband snacks?

Here's the thing: who decided that magic had to end just because we got jobs and mortgages?

Adult summer camp is everything you loved about being a kid, minus the homesickness and bad cafeteria food. We're talking outdoor adventures, creative activities, new friends, and the kind of unstructured fun that makes you remember why life is actually pretty great.

At Camp Lola Whiskey in northern Wisconsin, you'll kayak, hike, make s'mores around bonfires, try ridiculous arts and crafts, and laugh more than you have in months. It's for people who are exhausted from adulting and ready to remember what fun actually feels like.

Your to-do list will still be there when you get back. But you'll also have this weird little pocket of joy to carry with you. And honestly? That's worth way more than another "productive" weekend.