Let's be honest - nobody gets excited about buying travel insurance. It's not Instagram-worthy, it's not fun to research, and most of us would rather spend that money on literally anything else. But after witnessing countless travel disasters and talking with travel insurance expert Erin Fish, I'm here to set the record straight on the myths that could ruin your trip. From why your credit card "coverage" probably isn't enough to the real cost of medical care abroad, these are the 7 travel insurance myths every traveler needs to stop believing.

So there I was in Antalya, Turkey, on what was supposed to be a romantic double date, except the guy was a total asshole and there was only one of him. My travel buddy Kari and I were stuck at dinner with this insufferable man who kept interrogating us like we were applying for citizenship instead of just trying to have a drink. That's when Kari started swirling her wine glass and accidentally created an international incident involving fake American traditions and armpit fart noises. Nobody talks about this stuff in travel guides, but these ridiculous disasters? They're the moments that stick with you long after you've forgotten what you ate for breakfast in that beautiful café overlooking the Mediterranean.

When leadership coach Andrea Andree felt overwhelmed and bored by working mom life, a solo trip to Cuba changed everything. Despite leaving her husband and two kids at home, she returned as a better mother—more present, energized, and authentic. Learn how she overcame the three major fears that hold parents back from solo travel: fear of death, mom guilt, and control issues. Discover practical strategies for planning your own solo adventure, handling critics, and why modeling self-care teaches your children that the world is big, exciting, and accessible. Sometimes the most generous thing we can do for our families is to remain fully ourselves—adventures and all.

Listen, I've had my share of questionable travel decisions—like that time I quit my job to start a travel business. But my friend Tamara? She's collected international dating disasters like I collect passport stamps, and somehow turned it into an art form. From getting abandoned on an Italian cliff by a manipulative boyfriend to explaining her mother's ashes to confused airport security, Tamara's 20 years of travel dating stories are equal parts cringe-worthy and enlightening. Here's what she learned about romance, safety, and finding love while exploring the world—plus the plot twist ending that proves sometimes the best relationships come from the most unexpected places.

What happens when a travel photographer prioritizes authenticity over Instagram perfection?

Allie Jorde, the 28-year-old "desert rat with a camera" behind Allie Jorde Creative, joined the Type 2 Travel podcast to share her refreshingly honest approach to travel photography. From her early days shooting weddings in Arizona to documenting retreats across the globe, Allie's philosophy is simple: capture people as they really are.

"The best camera is the one that you already have," she insists, debunking the myth that you need expensive equipment for great travel photos. Whether it's a smartphone or an old Canon Rebel, authentic storytelling matters more than gear.

Her approach to balancing presence with documentation? "Take a photo of whatever I'm seeing and then put it down. It really doesn't matter if I got that shot... I'm still gonna have this amazing memory in my head."

What happens when a travel journalist refuses to stay silent about the industry's biggest problems?

Yulia Denisyuk—storyteller, photographer, and founder of Going Places media—joined the Type 2 Travel podcast for a conversation that went far beyond typical travel content. Born in Kazakhstan and raised in Estonia, Yulia brings an immigrant's perspective to American travel culture, and her observations are eye-opening.

"I don't want to be here anymore," she said about living in the United States, describing how the promise of a better life through hard work no longer feels attainable. But her critique extends beyond borders to the entire travel industry.

From "tourism leakage" (where money doesn't actually stay in local communities) to the "frictionless" nature of modern travel that removes authentic human connection, Yulia challenges travelers to think deeper about their impact. Her message isn't anti-travel—it's pro-consciousness.

Ready to travel with more awareness? Start by questioning who really benefits from your travel choices.