Sweaty bodies, women flapping fans, it was standing room only on the train to Pompeii, temps hovering around 100 degrees. I’m wishing I brought my daypack with a water bottle, the small fan my Japanese Air B&B host gave me as a gift, and my umbrella for shade, instead of my small purse, but it’s too late now. On the good advice from my hostel host, I already had a tour ticket so I didn’t have to wait in line. If you go to...

Positano and the Amalfi coast are gorgeous, no question about that. But they have price tags to match. So what is a budget traveler to do? After a little research, I discovered that you can stay in tiny Piano de Sorrento and take buses and trains that link the pricier towns together at a fraction of the cost. And even better, I got to stay in a super affordable hostel in an old Monastery, with bells chiming, lovely staff and some of the nuns...

*Note: This is a guest blog post I wrote for Trusted Housesitters, the site I use to find house sitting jobs around the world. You can house sit too, or find free pet care for while you travel, at their site, www.trustedhousesitters.com. I do not get any commission for mentioning them, but I do highly recommend their company! What is a most interesting way to see the world, for a fraction of the cost most people spend? How would you like to try...

“Aren’t you lonely?!” people ask me over and over, when they find out I’m traveling solo. Most of the time the answer is a resounding no. I’m usually only alone when I want to be, and sometimes I want to be, but can’t – hostels are busy, tourist destinations are packed, and restaurants are crowded. When I am alone, I’m not usually lonely – I’m too busy shooting and editing photos,...

When mentioning Barcelona, many are familiar with Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, with it’s soaring sandcastle-like facade, and interior reminiscent of an enchanted forest. It’s been a work in progress since 1882, and is scheduled to be completed in 2026, 100 years after Gaudi’s death. And Parc Guell, Gaudi’s failed residential project, equally enchanting, with its colorful mosaic work, fanciful architecture and panoramic...