The 6 Greatest Life Lessons I Learned in 6 Years of Standby Travel
The Marta train screeched to a halt, I pulled out my headphones, telescoped the handle of my expertly packed luggage, and mechanically proceeded to collect my boarding pass at the carry-on-only kiosk...
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How to Survive the 70th Anniversary of La Tomatina Festival
The sound of gunfire rang through thick air that was previously occupied only by the buzz of anticipation. The crowd began to swarm as the lorries inched closer. I looked down to watch as a massive...
View Article5 Day Spain Itinerary: La Tomatina Edition
La Tomatina Festival is a great excuse to plan a trip to Spain in August. If you have a few days to spare, take advantage of the opportunity to visit Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona during the week of...
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Walk Cape Town: A Self-Guided Tour of the City Bowl
With the uncertainty of standby travel we never set a firm itinerary for the first day we plan to arrive somewhere, but when non-rev luck is in our favor and our arrival goes as hoped we tend to spend...
View ArticleTop 9 Things to Do Off the Beaten Path in Singapore
Research things to do in Singapore, and you’ll find the same tourist attractions listed over and over again. Shop the luxury brands on Orchard Road, get a bird’s eye view of Marina Bay on the Singapore...
View ArticleBoozy Cape Town: Wine Tours and Pub Crawls
Initially we planned to take off from Cape Town for a few days to explore the Garden Route, with the idea to stay overnight at one of the many vineyard bed and breakfasts dotting the Cape Winelands...
View ArticleExplore the Land of Stone Money: A Guide to the Best Things To Do in Yap
Yap island, though largely unknown, is one of the most unique and interesting islands in Micronesia. The traditional Micronesian culture and customs are better preserved on Yap than anywhere else in...
View ArticleWild West: Top 5 Nature & Outdoor Spots in the Western Cape, South Africa
South Africa is known for its huge swaths of untamed wilderness, but most of the attention on big game and outdoor adventure sports focuses on Kruger National Park in the north or Drakensberg in the...
View ArticleLessons in the Snow: How Failing at Snowboarding was an Unexpected Birthday Gift
As a Florida native I grew up water skiing, wakeboarding and surfing. I never took lessons, perhaps with the exception of a friend or family member shouting backseat-driver directives at me from the...
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Reflections in the Snow: A Decade of Life, Love and Travel
The sun peaked over the snowcapped Andes as the last day of my roaring 20s dawned. My ego had just suffered a blow from our snowboarding debacle, but I wasn’t going to let this amazing decade culminate...
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How to Travel Cuba Independently in 2017
On August 31, 2016, history was made as the first commercial passenger flight from the U.S. mainland to Cuba in over 50 years embarked from Ft. Lauderdale to Santa Clara. That flight was the one of a...
View ArticleThe Best of Santiago and Central Chile in 4 Days
I began contemplating where to spend my 30th birthday right about the time I blew out the candles on my 29th birthday. I LOVE my birthday, and there was no way I was letting one so monumental slip by...
View ArticleVine to Barrel: Port Tasting from Alto Douro to Porto
Rufio's interest in Port wine began many years ago, a love affair actually spurred by lucky standby upgrades. It took some gentle coaxing to get me to enjoy these high sugar- and alcohol-content...
View ArticleTracking Africa’s Big 5 in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve
If I'm being completely honest, I wasn't as excited about our honeymoon safari as I was about some of the other wild adventures we had planned in South Africa. Sure, I was looking forward to seeing all...
View ArticleAsheville is for (Dog) Lovers
As our one year wedding anniversary approached, Rufio and I decided we would make a tradition of celebrating each year of wedded bliss in one nearby domestic location and one international location. As...
View ArticleErin go Bragh: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin
Standby (or non-rev) travel is an amazing privilege any time of the year, to any destination. But, it becomes an even more advantageous perk for special events or celebrations around the world - times...
View ArticleRomantic Weekend in the Walled City of Cartagena
To celebrate our first wedding anniversary (the international counterpart to our domestic anniversary trip), Rufio and I traveled back in time in the steamy and romantic cobblestoned and walled city of...
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Micronesia – The Forgotten Jewel of the Pacific
Many travelers dream of one day exploring the tropical paradise of Polynesia – visions of fire twirling, overwater bungalows, and drinking from coconuts dancing in their heads. Far fewer ever think...
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Top 10 Tips to Take the Stress out of Non-Rev Travel
Non-rev travel truly is a privilege, but it does come with a price. Last-minute changes (sometimes in your favor, often not), tight connections, and the otherwise sheer uncertainty of the game can...
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Best Experiences from a Decade of Non-Rev Travel
Since 2009, we’ve visited at least 33 international destinations and dozens of U.S. cities via non-rev travel (plus a handful more international destinations via revenue and award travel). I’ve...
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