New Zealand is home to the most breathtaking nature I've seen.
25.10.2024 - 16:17 / insider.com
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sara van Geloven, freelance editor and project manager. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I remember getting the travel bug when I went on two six-month trips in my 20s. In 2014, I got a job in the Netherlands as a full-time travel editor and was consistently going on short-term press trips all over the world.
My partner, whom I have been with since I was 23, has also always loved travel. He is a freelance photographer , which has given him a lot of freedom to travel.
A few years ago, we started seriously considering having children. Slowly, we came to the conclusion that neither of us wanted children . Instead, what we really wanted was freedom to travel.
Although there are definitely families who travel with their kids , we thought it would be easier and cheaper to travel without children.
In 2022, after being employed for eight years, I made the decision to go freelance so that my partner and I could work full-time while traveling. Here is how we made it work.
The prospect of traveling and working full-time can be daunting if you've never done it before. You don't have to give up your job like I did right off the bat.
Some companies allow employees to work from abroad for periods of time. This might be a gentle way to test whether this type of lifestyle is appealing.
Don't feel like you have to go far — even just traveling to another state or bordering country might be the perfect distance when starting out.
I knew I could work while traveling, as I had done as a travel editor. But if you aren't sure, it might be smart to make sure you do like the lifestyle, because full-time travel is not for everyone.
Since we knew we'd be working from our camper van, we set up a Starlink on our roof so we would have access to high-speed internet no matter where we were. Even if we were on a beach in the middle of nowhere, we could still work.
We designed ergonomic workspaces for each of us in the camper van. While some young people who travel full-time while working may just be able to lounge in the sand with their laptop while working, in my 30s, that doesn't work. My back will ache if I don't have a comfortable space.
I have a laptop stand, separate keyboard and mouse, and a comfortable work chair. We've made it compact.
Sometimes, when people start a work and travel lifestyle, they view it as a vacation, but it's not. No matter where you are in the world traveling, you will still be working. There is no way you can see every site or tourist spot. If you try, you'll burn out.
Even after two years, I'm still struggling to make sure I find the right work-life balance.
I've found a routine that works for me. From
New Zealand is home to the most breathtaking nature I've seen.
Shoulder season is officially here, marking one of the best (and often overlooked) opportunities to plan a trip to a new destination.
Whenever you're dreaming of cosmopolitan cities, glistening lakes, and verdant mountain vales—that's the best time to visit Switzerland. If the mood strikes you to dip into Lake Geneva in the summertime, or cozy up in the winter for a dinner of raclette-covered everything, you need to go to Switzerland as soon as you can. As for the actual logistics of how to time your visit to this landlocked European country of centuries-old culture and commerce, it all depends on what you want to get out of your trip.
Rail company Eurostar is making it easier to travel around Europe spontaneously by offering up to 50 percent off last-minute and flexible tickets.
DJs play thumping sets inside tiny taco joints as the fruity smell of shisha drifts past Turkish barbers and trendy crowds gather outside arthouse cinemas.
Oct 18, 2024 • 8 min read
Royal Caribbean Group is opening a new port in Juneau, Alaska, a move it claims will help disperse foot traffic in the city’s downtown as residents continue to debate the cost and benefits of cruise ships.
Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland will roll out a brand new system that will allow guests to join a Lightning Lane queue without a reservation — but it'll cost you.The Lightning Lane Premier Pass will use dynamic pricing based on demand and date of visit. Prices will also vary by theme park and are expected to range from $129 to $449 per person, per day — with the highest prices will occur during peak travel periods, like Christmas and New Year’s. Those eligible can purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass up to seven days before their date of check-in at 7:00 AM ET and for their entire length of stay, up to 14 days. The pass can be purchased in the My Disney Experience app.
“As far back as I can remember, I knew I was different,” says Alexander Smalls. Growing up in a Gullah Geechee household in Spartanburg, North Carolina, the chef says he recognized the implication of those differences—in appearance, history, and cuisine. “I discovered early that my friends did not eat any of the foods that I ate. My foods were more akin to West Africa, you know, and very much pronounced in that way,” he says. It wan't until he moved to New York as an adult, that he assimilated the value of that diasporic connective tissue. “Food was a big part of cultural expression and identity of the African diaspora,” he says.
This article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK.
Oct 16, 2024 • 6 min read
A last-minute trip to Europe is as romantic as it sounds. Not only is the spontaneity thrilling, but European countries lend themselves very well to travelers who appreciate local customs and enjoy exploring new places without a rigid itinerary. Often, impulsively turning down a cobblestoned street will lead you to an exceptional hole-in-the-wall wine bar, a short-notice boutique hotel booking will be the best place you’ve ever stayed, or a chance encounter with a local will lead to a life-long friendship. But come 2025, you will need to do a little planning before you cross the pond. Next year, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will come into effect. This rule will require visitors from visa-exempt countries to obtain a travel authorization before entering 30 European countries and this includes US travelers.