Worth the Flight
Honest, first-person writing on everything worth knowing before you go — resorts, transfers, layovers, and the details that make or break a trip.
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The Best Thing We Did in Asia Was a Backup Plan
We got turned away at the Vietnam–China land border — eventfully — and lost the bamboo boat ride we'd been looking forward to in Guilin. Back in Hanoi with unexpected time, we booked a day cruise in Ha Long Bay almost as a consolation. It became one of the two best days of a fifteen-day trip.
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The Margaritaville at Sea Islander (No Flight Required)
I boarded expecting the Spirit Airlines of cruising and left feeling very differently. A last-minute Grand Terrace Suite out of Tampa — no flight, no Miami drive — that turned into the perfect low-effort palate cleanser between bigger trips.
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The Transfer Service I Use Every Time I Fly Into Cancún
The Riviera Maya resort corridor sits roughly 90 minutes south of Cancún International Airport, and how you handle that drive sets the tone for the whole trip. We use USA Transfers every time.
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I Slept at Miami Airport and I'd Do It Again
If you've ever faced a brutal layover or an early-morning departure out of Miami International, you already know the airport couch struggle. Wait 'n Rest is the answer you didn't know existed — and it's become one of my go-to MIA tips.
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Platinum Yucatán Princess: A Last-Minute Booking That Mostly Worked Out
I ended up at the Platinum Yucatán Princess for an honest reason: my first choice, Barceló Maya Riviera Adults Only, was sold out. I needed a Riviera Maya trip, I needed it adults-only, and I wanted a swim-up suite. Platinum Yucatán Princess checked all three boxes and had a room available at the last minute.
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I Used to Fly Spirit to Cancun. Now Breeze Is Picking Up the Slack.
I've flown to Cancun more times than I can count, and for years the booking ritual was the same: pull up Spirit, pull up JetBlue, pick whichever one was cheaper that week. That option is gone now — and Breeze just announced two new nonstops out of Tampa that change the math.
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What Nobody Tells You About Overwater Bungalows
The photos don't lie — an overwater bungalow in the Maldives is exactly as beautiful as it looks. But there are a few things worth knowing before you go that most travel writing glosses over.
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Why I Keep Going Back to Barceló Maya Riviera
Some resorts you visit once and check off the list. Barceló Maya Riviera is not that resort. I've lost count of how many times I've been, and I'm already thinking about the next trip before the current one ends.