Europe’s borders are closed to foreign travelers, including Americans. This post covers when travel will reopen to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the European Schengen Area (including Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Austria, etc.) based on EU Commission criteria, plus the likelihood of vaccine passports to lift the travel ban. (Updated April 14, 2021.) Back when all […]
Japan Reopening for Guided Tours
/30 Comments/in Things to Do Japan /by Tom BrickerFor over the past year, we’ve been chronicling every little update to Japan’s border closure in When Will Japan Reopen for Travel? Well, that’ll happen in June 2022…but with the colossal asterisk that Japan will only accept guided tour groups. It’s not quite time to retire that post, but this is technically a reopening to some degree. […]
1-Day “Best of” Los Angeles Itinerary
/28 Comments/in Itineraries California, L.A., SoCal /by Tom BrickerHave one day in Los Angeles and want to see the city’s highlights? This step-by-step guide is a jam-packed plan with the top 5 things to do in L.A., including free museums, beaches, and great food. It’s an ambitious Los Angeles 1-day itinerary, optimized to avoid driving & time stuck in Southern California traffic. (Updated […]
1-Day Eze, France Itinerary
/1 Comment/in Itineraries France, French Riviera /by Tom BrickerOur Èze, France 1-day plan offers a step-by-step itinerary for visiting this idyllic hilltop medieval village in the French Riviera. We cover how to have the perfect day trip to Eze, including what to do, where to eat, and getting there from Monaco or Nice via the train or bus. This charming Côte d’Azur commune […]
Christmas Gift Guide for Travelers
/4 Comments/in Tips & Tricks /by Tom BrickerWondering what to get the travel enthusiast in your life, or what to add to your own Christmas list? Our holiday gift guide features the coolest travel gadgets, inspirational travel books, and other must-have travel accessories. From luggage to comfy “tourist pants,” we’ve got something for everyone here. On this list, we have a mix of […]
10 Hidden Gem Kyoto Photography Spots
/9 Comments/in Photo, Top 10 Japan, Kyoto /by Tom BrickerOne of the dirty secrets of Kyoto photography is that the reality of what you’ll end up shooting is rarely the serene, uncrowded temples and peaceful landscapes you see in marketing photos. To the contrary, most images of Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kiyomizudera, Yasaka, and other locations are taken incredibly early in the morning […]
%ARABICA – Kyoto, Japan’s Most Popular Coffee Shop
/6 Comments/in Dining Japan, Kyoto /by Tom Bricker%ARABICA is the most popular coffee shop in Kyoto, which is the heart of Japan’s third wave coffee scene. The iconic % coffee cups are now ubiquitous in Arashiyama and Higashiyama, where %ΔRΔBICΔ was founded–and is now incredibly busy and beloved. This post reviews %ARABICA, shares photos from the cafes, and discusses worth your time, […]
Sidecar Doughnuts Review: The World’s Best!
/0 Comments/in Dining California, SoCal /by Tom BrickerSidecar Doughnuts & Coffee is a small-batch, made from scratch daily donut shop with locations in California’s Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange Counties. In this review, we’ll cover why they’re the world’s best doughnuts, share food photos, and offer recommendations of what to order (and skip). The story of Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee starts […]
Devious Deer of Nara, Japan
/11 Comments/in Things to Do Japan /by Tom BrickerNara, Japan is an excellent place to visit, and a big part of this is the wild deer that roam the city. If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “gee, I really want to go to a park where I can interact with and feed over one thousand deer” then it’s time to book your trip […]
The Getty Villa Info, Tips & Review
/6 Comments/in Things to Do California, SoCal /by Tom BrickerThe Getty Villa is an art museum in Malibu, California with antiquities from ancient Greeks, Romans, and Etruscans. Located a few miles from the Getty Center in Los Angeles, it’s a perfect counterpart to the main museum. This post reviews the Getty Villa, and offers my tips for visiting. (Updated April 23, 2021.) After being […]
When Will Europe Reopen?
/20 Comments/in Things to Do France, Germany /by Tom BrickerEurope’s borders are closed to foreign travelers, including Americans. This post covers when travel will reopen to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the European Schengen Area (including Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Austria, etc.) based on EU Commission criteria, plus the likelihood of vaccine passports to lift the travel ban. (Updated April 14, 2021.) Back when all […]