I’ll be the first to admit that I really don’t see what the big deal is about the solar eclipse today. I will not be leaving Los Angeles and will not even step outside during the eclipse if I’m...
My “Souvenir” from Uzbekistan: 1.2MN Worthless Soms
I left Uzbekistan today with about 1,200,000 more Soms than I intended. Two problems: hotels in Uzbekistan do not accept local currency for room payment and Soms cannot easily be exchanged outside Uzbekistan. One of my fondest memories of...
Here’s Why “Carrier Imposed Fees” are a Scam
With oil prices at a sustained low, you might wonder why do my award tickets incur so many fees? Carriers got wise to the fact that they could no longer tack on exorbitant “fuel surcharges” and avoid the scrutiny...
80 Nations (including USA) Can Now Visit Qatar Visa-Free
I’m in the midst of a trip report that included two stops in Doha. Despite over a dozen trips through Doha over the years, I have never stepped out of the airport? Why? The honest reason is I did...
Drawbacks of Slow Travel With Children
As some readers already know, my daughter and I spent six weeks this summer in Asia traveling with my sister who is living in Thailand for the time being. My husband and I had traveled slow several years ago...
The Good Samaritan: Onboard Charging Edition
My seatmate literally saved my day on an 11hr flight from Frankfurt to San Francisco last week. While my carelessness almost cost me eight hours hours of productivity and great aggravation, one kind gesture spared me that misery. I use a MagSafe to MagSafe2...
How Much Cash Do You Bring on Vacation?
Earlier this week I wrote about the potential danger of traveling to Thailand without sufficient cash. The discussion in the comments section took me by surprise: how much cash is reasonable when traveling abroad? Some mocked the $300-600 cash...
Should I Travel Home via Greenland or Ireland?
I’ve got a decision to make: how to get home from Europe. I am wavering between two choices, but there are actually at least four. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts, preferences, and suggestions. Option One – via Greenland...
United Status Matched Me to 1K!
I have previously noted that American Airlines has gutted their Advantage frequent flyer and because of that I am leaving American. Loyalty is a two-way street and American has worked hard to make it a one-way street, well I’m...
Review: Crowne Plaza Vientiane, Laos
I am not loyal to the IHG chain, but when I saw Crowne Plaza had opened a new hotel in Vientiane, Laos I had to check it out. There are many cheaper options, but this hotel is a wonderful oasis...
Must Do In Bangkok: Central Embassy Food Court
As part of a series of quick writes/reads about things to do in a given location, this post focuses on an absolute Must-Do in Bangkok, the Central Embassy Food Court. If you’re already familiar with the Thai Capital, you’ll know why...
Encountering Immigration As a Solo Parent
I have been traveling around Asia with my daughter Lucy for a few weeks now and my husband Kyle has joined us periodically on certain legs of the trip. As I was preparing for this trip before we left...
How I Saved $150 By Booking Connecting Flight Separately
Sometimes booking two flights separately ends up saving you a lot of money out of pocket. This week I am flying from London to New York via Belgrade on Air Serbia. I used Etihad Guest points (transferred from American...
Air Serbia Removing Business Class Seats on Shorthaul Fleet
Air Serbia is ripping out the business class seats on its A319 and A320 aircraft used for flights within Europe. I learned the hard way. One of the reasons I was so excited to fly Air Serbia and paid...
My Terrorist Scare in London Last Night
What would you do if you suddenly heard gunshots outside of your window? Last night I returned to London after a wonderful weekend in southern England. I stayed with family members in central London near London Bridge, where just two...
Two Bangkok Hyatts: Grand vs. Park (part two)
This post picks up from the previous comparison between the two Bangkok Hyatt hotels. Matthew and I have covered quite a bit about the launch of the new Park Hyatt Bangkok including his exhaustive and photo-filled review, my suite...
Who Are The Stewarts?
Over the last couple of weeks a new pair of contributors have made their way to Live and Let’s Fly, but introductions have been light, so it’s time we introduce ourselves: The Traveling Stewarts. If you are considering booking travel or signing...
WOW Air Inaugural: Pittsburgh to Reykjavik
The airport was dressed up and waiting for the inaugural WOW Air flight to arrive in Pittsburgh from Reykjavik, Iceland. I happened to arrive at PIT myself yesterday and snapped some quick photos of the scene though I couldn’t stay for the...
Review: Lao Airlines ATR 72 from Bangkok to Vientiane
Flying a new airline for the first time is always fun, even in economy class. With the choice of flying Air Asia or Lao Airlines for the short flight from Bangkok to Vientiane, I did not hesitate to choose Lao Airlines....
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: June 04, 2017
Although it has been a relatively quiet week, I find myself tired on this beautiful spring Sunday. I’m trying to rest up because travel picks up later this week and then again next week. I hope to see some of you...
