Coming to China? Read This First!

While most travel guides do a great job answer the "what" questions of China travel (what should I see? what will it cost? what hotel is best?), they often do a very poor job with the "how".

That's where this travel guide by long-time China writer Josh Summers comes in. It skillfully helps travelers properly set their expectations of China while teaching them how to navigate transportation, how to get cash and pay for things, how to travel without speaking Chinese and how to stay connected to the internet while traveling.

It's the perfect companion to many of these other travel guides, particularly for those travelers who have never been to China before or who are hesitant about what to expect.

Get more info by clicking here.

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Guest Blog: Neal Taylor - Skiing in Spain and Dancing with the Stars (Baqueira)

Skiing in Spain - the journey to Baqueira/Beret 

We picked up Aussie Pete from the bus station and threw his snowboarding gear into the back of the van.

As soon as the van door slammed shut, the banter began. For four hours the banter didn’t stop as the three of us were swapping stories, jeering and joking as we edged closer to the mountains.

The wives, girlfriends and children remained in the safety of Pamplona (i.e. out of earshot) whilst we headed closer towards Baqueira/Beret - a ski resort noted for her excellent snow, elaborate trails and substantial infrastructure. Baqueira was also known as being the preferred choice for celebrities, nobility and the upper echelons of society.

The banter van contained none of those finer gentry and the obscenities emanating from the van could only be matched by the miasmic smell of our room the following morning.

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Guest Blog: Discover the Magic of Provence

By Nicole Noel, You can find her on Twitter and FB


Van Gogh and Paul Cézanne were just a couple of amazing artists that were inspired by the glorious Provence. The Mediterranean Sea, Cote D’Azur and the Alpes are all the amazing gems of this amazing place. However, gorgeous nature is not the only thing that makes Provence remarkable. This entire region is peppered by the beautiful and charming towns, which are swarming with the vibrant Provençal spirit. Here are some of the places that are worth looking into if you want to feel the Provençal magic.

Verdon Gorge

The Verdon river cuts through limestone, with its beautifully blue waters and end up in the lake Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon. This 25km long gorge promises fun times in the nature. You can go kayaking, hiking and even climbing those amazing limestone cliffs. It is possible to have a boat ride along the river, observing the remarkable cliffs and ending up in a gorgeous artificial lake.

Valensole Plateau

If there is one thing that needs to be said about this lovely plateau, then it is that all that lavender will leave you breathless. The gentle purple haze of Lavender flowers above the green fields and the heavy and soothing scent in the air will follow you everywhere in the Valensole Plateau. This region carries the name “the breadbasket of France”, so make sure you try the pastry and see if it justifies the name.

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Guest Blog: Realizations of an Expat in Europe

By Stephanie Condon

She is married, with one son, living in Europe (Germany and Belgium) for the last 13 1/2 years. Works at NATO. Loves to travel and experience other cultures, especially the cuisine. Speaks English well, and can get by in French, German, and Dutch.

After living in Europe for 13.5 years, I've made some observations. Here are a few.  Have you noticed the same things?

Life as an expat realization #1 
There is no such thing as personal space. Get used to it. If you need it, move back to America. Maybe Ohio.

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