I’ve been getting a lot of emails lately about the cherry blossoms here in DC. As always it is one of the most popular times of the year in the city and my favorite time of the year as well. I always look forward to the cherry blossoms not only for them heralding in spring but because they really change the city. This year things have … [Read more...]
Category: Travel Advice
50 things to see and do in Istanbul
There really is no definitive list of things to do in Istanbul. Honestly Istanbul is so large and so interesting that such a list would probably be endless. But I wanted to share a few interesting experiences that a traveler might want to indulge in during their stay in the incredible world city. You’ll find millennia of history among its ruins and … [Read more...]
Indian Visa Process: BLS International
I get a lot of emails for support on getting a Indian Visa, and a lot of notes about my difficulty from before. So I figured I would try to pull together some tips and a guide for getting the Visa to help avoid some of the issues. These steps focus on a Tourist Visa applied for in USA, since that is where I have the experience. I have … [Read more...]
Getting a Indian Visa with BLS International
-- Note-- I added in a guide to getting the visa for those looking for help. It’s been several years since my last trip to India. In 2007 I made it an important goal to get to Hyderabad India to see my grandfather who was getting up in age. And I’m blessed to have had that opportunity since it was not soon afterwards that he had passed … [Read more...]
Where to Travel in 2014
With 2014 just starting up, it’s time to start planning your year of travel. I pulled together a list of great destinations to check out in the new Year with recommendations on when to go there. I pulled these from lists of places I have visited personally to make sure the recommendation is not simply just a rehash of other … [Read more...]
7 Tips for Visiting the Desert Castles – Jordan
The Desert Castles and Eastern Desert was one of my most memorable trips I had taken during my stay in Jordan. It felt very remote, very beautiful in the stark landscape of the region. When we went we had no idea what we were doing, and we had prepared as best as we could through research, instinct, and dumb luck. Hopefully these … [Read more...]
Renting a Car in Amman Jordan
There are various ways to rent a car when you are traveling in Jordan. Overall, there is a right way, a wrong way, and a Jordanian way to renting a car in Amman Jordan. There is one I was used to previously, the western car company approach. All the big car companies exist here in Jordan (Avis, Hertz, Sixt, Thrifty) and it operates generally how … [Read more...]
Best Places to view Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC
One of the most beautiful times to be here in DC is during the Cherry Blossom Festival. The thousands of cherry trees that dot the landscape came here as a gift of friendship from the nation of Japan in the year 1912 (2,000 cherry trees arrived earlier but were sadly destroyed due to insect infestation). There is over a hundred years of history … [Read more...]
12 Tips for Eating Cheap While Traveling
Travel can be expensive...and one of those large costs can be the amount of money it takes to eat on the road. Eating is sometimes one of my biggest costs and one of the things I tend to splurge on while travel, I just try to "splurge smart". I splurge on the unique activities in the places if you can. And for everything else … [Read more...]
Top Packing Tips for the New Traveler
Lets face it, we are all new to things sometimes. I get a lot of questions and comments and complaints about travel and packing and what not, so here are a few tips to help you get started. What to Buy Backpack or Suitcase? Well that is the question always on people’s minds. Do you need a backpack if you are a backpacker? Think … [Read more...]
