I didn't go to Ecuador. My friend Krista did — on 11 days' notice, completely alone, because the travel industry had other plans. She went in with zero expectations and came back a self-proclaimed birdwatcher who ate octopus in the Amazon, got a cacao facial in the cloud forest, and nearly became a snake snack on a river bridge. Here's everything she came back saying about why Ecuador needs to be on your list.

I have a t-shirt that says "Sorry, I Saw a Cat." It exists because it is, without exaggeration, the most accurate description of what happens to me on every trip I take. Turns out, my chaotic cat-chasing habit might actually be the best thing I do for my travel experience — and travel writer Jeff Bogle has the proof.

I built a travel business to have more freedom. By year five, I was working 80-hour weeks, leading a dozen trips a year, and dreading the thing I loved most. Here's what I'm changing — and why.

Learn how to pack like a pro with expert tips from frequent traveler Rachel Trapani! Discover the game-changing gear that will transform your packing routine, including two-compartment suitcases, suitcase backpacks, and hanging compression organizers. From the 5,4,3,2,1 packing method to planning outfits in advance, these strategies will help you travel lighter, avoid checked bag fees, and never feel unprepared again. Perfect for group trips, multi-city adventures, or any traveler tired of lugging heavy luggage!

I just wrapped up a connect call with the women who joined me in Cuba this January, and I'm still processing everything they shared. We talked about the emotional weight of witnessing Cuba's reality, the unexpected friendships formed, and how nobody regretted going—even when it was hard. Here's what they really think about traveling to Cuba.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

You have three tabs open comparing flights. You've read 47 blog posts about what to pack. You've calculated the budget six different ways. But you still haven't clicked "Book Now."

It's probably not about the money. And it's definitely not about finding the "perfect time."

I sat down with life coach Bonnie Surie to talk about why smart, capable people create elaborate barriers between themselves and the things they actually want. What we discovered: the limiting beliefs that stop you from booking a trip are the same ones keeping you stuck everywhere else in life.

Let's dig into what's really stopping you—and how to finally take action.

Let's talk about the stuff nobody posts on Instagram. Like the moment you're desperately tapping your tour guide's shoulder on a Moroccan highway: "I really need to go. Like, now."

This is Mel Ripp's story—from Door County encyclopedia reader to someone who handles roadside emergencies with remarkable grace. If you've ever worried that travel isn't for you because you have food sensitivities, get lost in airports, or aren't "adventurous enough"—this one's for you.

The unglamorous moments? They're the ones that transform you.

There's literally a handbook for military wives—and it's time to throw it out the window. As a travel professional, I meet military spouses constantly who feel trapped by expectations. My recent conversation with travel writer Kim Kephart, who's lived across Europe and Asia as a military spouse, opened my eyes to just how restrictive military wife culture can be—and how some women are breaking free through solo travel and independent living.

In the inaugural episode of Type 2 Travel, host Laura Erickson shares how she transformed from a resort-vacationing married woman to the founder of a unique group travel business built around "Type 2 Fun"—those experiences that might be miserable in the moment but become your favorite memories later.

Fresh off getting "absolutely demolished by mosquitoes" in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands, Laura reveals how her post-divorce desire to visit "sketchy" places led to an accidental discovery: other people desperately wanted these authentic, challenging travel experiences too, they just needed someone else to plan them.

This episode dives into the philosophy behind transformational travel, why Laura scouts every destination first, and her belief that "if you can afford to travel, you can afford to give back."