Bangkok for First Time Visitors

This is a guest post by Helen Wang, a Senior Travel Advisor for China and Asia and founder of the blog HeleninAsia.com.

Visiting Bangkok is one of those trips that sticks with you forever.

You know, that buzzing energy just hits you right away when you’re there. You’ve got these stunning temples such as Wat Phra Kaew on one hand, and then the shiny modern skyline with all those cool rooftop bars on the other.

The mix of it all keeps things so interesting. Also, it’s like a total sensory adventure, imagine crowded street markets, mouthwatering food stalls everywhere, and a nightlife that fits whatever mood you’re in.
As someone who’s been traveling and exploring for years, I’ve roamed those lively streets in
Bangkok more times than I can count, stumbling on secret spots and soaking up the amazing
culture.

Whether I’m catching a quiet temple at dawn or digging into a hot bowl of Tom Yum at a
bustling night market, the place always fires me up and leaves me itching for the next trip.

I hope this guide helps you plan your itinerary in Bangkok so you can have the best trip that suits your travel style.

[Read more…]

Insurance for Nomads and Full-time Travelers: Genki Native vs. Genki Traveler (2025)

Stevo and I have been traveling the world as Digital Nomads since 2018. We feel that having travel insurance or more comprehensive medical insurance is essential and we never travel without it.

Over the past six years, we’ve shared about different insurance options for travelers and what we’ve personally done for insurance on this blog and our YouTube channel.

This year, we decided to switch from SafetyWing insurance to Genki Traveler insurance. The main reason we switched was because we had planned a one month trip to the US to visit family, and Genki’s Explorer plan covers US passport holders in the US for 42 days, so that made more sense for us.

We also started looking more into Genki’s comprehensive medical insurance options called Genki Native both the Basic and Premium plans.

Since we’re doing all this research for ourselves, we thought we’d write this article to share the information with you too. We also made a video with this information if you’d prefer to watch rather than read: Travel Insurance vs. Health Insurance: Comparing Genki Traveler and Genki Native

[Read more…]

The Ultimate Guide to House Sitting in 2026 (Updated!)

A dog sitting in a house ready to teach you about house sitting — Hello there!

Updated for 2026: House sitting has evolved rapidly in the past year with new platforms, rising competition, and shifting travel trends. This guide has been fully updated for 2026 to reflect the best and most reliable house sitting websites right now. Whether you’re a first-time sitter, a seasoned nomad, or a pet parent looking for trustworthy care, we’ve refreshed everything: pricing, features, pros and cons, and insider tips to help you make the most of your membership.

Are you an animal lover looking to explore the world, live in fabulous homes, take care of adorable furry (or feathered, or scaly) companions, and pay zero rent? If that sounds great to you, house sitting is the perfect way to do all of that and more.

In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about house sitting: how to start house sitting, go over your house sitting responsibilities, how to find the best house sits, and teach you how to become a house sitter, and a great one at that.

We’ll also share what you need to know as a pet parent looking for house sitters to ensure everyone is on the same page to ensure a smooth transition between you and the house sitters so you can go on your vacation with peace of mind.

[Read more…]

(2025) Europe’s New Schengen Visa Rules: ETIAS

In this article, we’re going to tell you about the Schengen visa and the new rules that are starting in 2025. We’ll go over what the Schengen visa is, what it means for you, how you can get one, and how things are about to change.

Europe! Where your friends go to learn how to say croissant weird. If you’re embarking on a trip to the Old World, you need to know your visa situation.

[Read more…]

The Devasting Impact of Microplastics and How Travelers Can Help

This article is a guest post by Katie Pierce.

As responsible travelers, we have a natural affinity for nature and the environment. We understand our climate basics, and we want to lend a helping hand in every way possible. Ideally, we want to preserve it so that the generations after us can experience what we’ve experienced. So that they can see the beauty we are now able to capture with our eyes and our cameras.

However, this isn’t our reality. Sadly, not every tourist or traveler feels compelled to protect the planet on which we live, especially our oceans. Over the years, more and more organizations have been raising awareness about protecting our oceans. This is because our bodies of water—and everything living in them—are in grave danger.

[Read more…]

The Best Apps for Travel in Asia

These are the best apps for travel in Asia. Even better news, almost all of these apps are FREE.

These days there’s an app for just about everything! However, the apps you’re familiar with in your home country might not be the same as the ones you’ll need when you’re traveling in Asia.

In this article, we’ve included the most useful and popular apps that will help you navigate traveling around Asia, along with details about each app and how it can help you.

Most of these apps are available for both iOS/Android.

If you want more information about traveling within different countries around Asia, head to Asia Destinations.

[Read more…]

How You Can Become a Digital Nomad in 2025

Do you want to start traveling the world and are wondering how to become a digital nomad? It sounds and looks appealing, right? Laying in a hammock at the beach, a cocktail in hand, laptop buzzing in your lap, money rolling in.

Are you ready to become a digital nomad? Download our Digital Nomad Checklist

[Read more…]

The Best Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads in 2025

Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads:
World Nomads vs. SafetyWing

Travel insurance for digital nomads. It’s not a sexy topic, and nobody likes to pay for it. Some people even wonder, is it worth it?

We’re thankful we’ve never needed to use our travel insurance in over ten years of travel. *knocking on all the wood*

But while we’ve been living and traveling abroad we’ve known people who have had bad accidents, had expensive things stolen, or gotten very ill unexpectedly.

Some had travel insurance and some did not. All of those who didn’t wish they did.

Personally, we think if you’re going to travel, whether on a short trip or full-time like we do, having travel insurance is a necessity.

Which Travel Insurance Company Should You Choose?

In this article, we’re comparing two of the most popular travel insurance options that travelers and digital nomads use: World Nomads and SafetyWing.

We have used both companies at different times during our travels. In this article, we’ll go over what each one covers and the pros and cons of using them.

Before we start, if you’re new here, hi! We’re Jen and Stevo. We help aspiring travelers and people who want to start the digital nomad lifestyle figure out how to make it happen through our YouTube channel and this blog.

We’ve been living outside of the US since 2011 and have been digital nomads since 2018. We’ve got some helpful advice to share whether you’re just starting out on your travelers, or even if you’re an experienced traveler. There’s always more to learn!

Now let’s talk about travel insurance for digital nomads! [Read more…]

Review of the Carry-On Size Wheelie Bag by Chester Travels

Our honest review of using the Chester Travels Minima Carry-On Spinner Suitcase.

Check out the Chester Travels Minima Carry-On Spinner Suitcase here.

Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Sometimes you’ll even save money through our links. Like when you use the code 10AF to get 10% off any Chester Travels bag. We only partner with companies we have personally used and would recommend to our own friends and families.

Stevo and I have been traveling across Asia since 2011. We’ve been getting better and better at paring down to the essentials when we pack for trips. We still aren’t great at it, to be honest. We’ve always tried our best to stay true to our backpacker roots when we travel and only bring what we can strap to our backs. [Read more…]

10 Tips for Finding Cheap International Flights

There is something SO exhilarating about buying plane tickets. It’s the purchase that screams, “I am really doing this!” and puts trip planning into motion.

When you find a cheap flight deal, that amps up the excitement even more. Plus, you can spend all the money you save on your flights having even more fun once you reach your destination!

To be honest, there is no secret formula to finding a cheap flight. Scoring a great flight deal involves a combination of strategy, planning, and patience. And a little bit of luck never hurt.

We’ve taken countless flights over the last ten years. We’ve traveled all over Asia, Europe, and have gone back and forth to the US, and we’ve scored some amazing deals! But we’ve also made some mistakes (even this many years in) that ended up costing us big time (and not just our pride).

We’ll teach you the best tricks we know, and how to avoid our mistakes, so you can find the cheapest flights for your next trip. [Read more…]

Are you ready to become a digital nomad? Download our Digital Nomad Checklist

Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads: World Nomads vs. SafetyWing

Which Travel Insurance Company Should You Choose?

Our honest review of using the Chester Travels Minima Carry-On Spinner Suitcase.

Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads:
World Nomads vs. SafetyWing