Reviews

Check out some of the reviews I’ve written, on everything from travel books and travel movies, to concerts and other adventures.

 

Accommodation

The Solo Girl and the Hostel — Reviews of New Zealand Hostels

I am not actually much of a fan of hotels, to be honest. I like the idea of hostels, but I don’t actually love having to share my sleeping space with so many other people. But, on a recent trip to New Zealand, I compromised — I stayed in private rooms in a variety of hostels all over the South Island. Check out some of my New Zealand digs here and find out what I thought about them.

 

Living Like a Local in Reykjavik with @Roomorama

When I was in Iceland earlier this year, I tried out renting an apartment for the first time, as opposed to staying in a hotel or hostel. The verdict? I LOVED staying in an apartment! It was truly a home away from home, and this particular one was also in a fantastic location in downtown Reykjavik.

 

Hilton Garden Inn Anchorage

When I went to Anchorage, Alaska for the first time in August 2012, I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn — an affordable hotel option within the Hilton chain. I was impressed by the Alaskan touches in the hotel’s lobby, the delicious breakfast, and a large, comfortable rooms. Read the whole review here!

 

Living With a Local in Budapest with @Roomorama

After my great stay in a Roomorama apartment in Reykjavik, Iceland, I decided to try it out again in Budapest, Hungary. Only, this time, I opted for renting a single room in an apartment as opposed to an entire place to myself. It was a great option — not only was the place great (and cheap), but I immediately had a local friend in the city.

 

Hotel Luxe in Split, Croatia

Sometimes, even a backpacker needs to be pampered. After nearly a month of hostels and guesthouses all around Europe, I needed a break in Split. While there were plenty of accommodation options in the city, I opted for a boutique hotel. And I wasn’t disappointed.

 

Booking a B&B in Bled with @Roomorama

Roomorama doesn’t just offer apartment listings. The accommodation site also lists B&Bs around the world, so I decided to go that route in Bled, Slovenia. The result was a relaxing (and affordable!) stay in a quiet part of the city, complete with breakfast!

 

 

Tours

Intrepid Travel’s “Explore Eastern Europe” Trip

Even wondered what it’s like to travel with small-group tour company Intrepid? I took an 18-day tour with them through Eastern Europe, and tell you all about it in this post. Read on to learn about how you’ll travel, who you’ll travel with, where you’ll stay, and what you’ll do on this specific tour.

 

Busabout’s “Classic Balkan Trek” Trip

I gave Busabout a try in summer 2012, joining one of their Eastern Trekker trips through the Balkans. The trip covered 5 countries in 9 days. Read on to learn about my experience — the good and bad.

 

 

Haggis Adventures’ “Highland Fling” Tour

Last summer in Scotland, I signed on to a 5-day tour around the Scottish Highlands. The tour, operated by sexy, adventurous Haggis Adventures, took me to places like Loch Ness and the Isle of Skye on a tour that is seriously one of the best I have ever been on. Read all about it here.

 

 

Travel Books

The Sex Lives of Cannibals — A Funny Romp

J. Maarten Troost writes about the two years he and his fiancee spent “adrift in the equatorial Pacific” in this humorous travel novel. The title is a bit misleading, as the book isn’t really about cannibals or their sex lives. What the book is, however, is funny, irreverent, and unbelieveable at times. But, in the end, it’s also a smart, wickedly entertaining read.

 

Eat Pray Love in 3 Paragraphs

After being fairly unimpressed by “Eat, Pray, Love” the movie (see review below), I decided to give the book a try. Many people told me it was better than the film — and I’m inclined to agree. But did I fall in love with the Liz Gilbert in the book? Read this short review to find out.

 

“Getting Out of Auto” Combats Travel Photo Envy

Wishing you could take amazing photos when you travel? It’s actually easier than you probably think. In this fantastic photography e-book, Bethany Salvon explains in simple, understandable terms how you, too, can take awe-inspiring travel photos. I’ve never really understood concepts like aperture and HDR before browsing through this book. But Bethany breaks it all down in simple terms and makes it all seem very accessible. This book is definitely worth $10.

 

Travel Clothing

Clever Travel Companion Pickpocket-Proof Underwear

Sure, you’ve probably heard of pickpocket-proof pants and shorts — the kind with all sorts of extra buttons and hidden pockets to make it difficult for would-be thieves to get at your shiny things. They may indeed be a good alternative to money belts and ’round-the-neck passport holders for those worried about keeping their money and passports out of the reach of sticky fingers.But I’ve never seen a pair that would actually look flattering on women. Enter this new alternative, in the form of comfy underwear!

Propet Travel Walker as a Shoe for Female Travelers

I’m a big fan of shoes (you should see my closet!), and am currently on a quest to find the perfect summer travel shoe. My dream shoe would be comfy, cute, lightweight, and not take up a lot of space in my bag. Could these be the ones? Find out how these attractive shoes stack up, and find out if I’d recommend them to my fellow female travelers!

 

 

Travel Movies

“Eat, Pray, Love” lacks… something

I hadn’t read the book before going to see Liz Gilbert’s story played out on the big screen by Julia Roberts. I had simply seen the colorful, frenetic previews that used a song by one of my favorite bands. I wanted to love this movie, but istead came away feeling rather… ambivalent about it. Something is missing, though I’m not sure if I can put my finger on what.

 

Movies to Inspire Travel

Movies — with their exotic backdrops and intriguing characters — can act as a pull to a specific destination or region of the world. Here are some movies that, over the years, have inspired me — in different ways and for different reasons — to travel. From “Amelie” to “Lord of the Rings,” these movies have given me a sense of wanderlust that makes me want to see all different parts of the world.

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Travel Gear

Travel Photo Gear I Love 

I don’t travel with a lot of fancy photography equipment, and I know plenty of others who don’t, either. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take great travel photos. This post highlights the gear that always comes with me when I’m on the road — including a pocketable camera, a versatile tripod, a waterproof video camera, and more!

 

Traveling With an iPad as My Computer

Ever wonder if it’s possible to replace your laptop or cheap netbook computer with an Apple iPad on the road? I gave it a try on a shot trip to Canada, and concluded that it can, indeed, be a viable option. While I wouldn’t travel long-term with only an iPad, it’s a good alternative to a heavy laptop on shorter jaunts.

 

 

Food

The 3 Best Sandwiches I Have Ever Eaten

I’m not a huge foodie, and certainly don’t travel very often with food on the brain. But, that being said, I do enjoy a tasty meal every now and then — and can definitely appreciate a good sandwich. Here are my picks for the best sandwiches I have ever eaten, including ones from Pittsburgh, Queenstown, and Sedona. These should be sure to make your mouth water!

 

Where to Eat and Sleep in Glasgow, Scotland

Heading to Glasgow, Scotland? Check out this post with a few recommendations on where where to eat and where to stay. You may not be expecting this Scottish city to be a foodie’s paradise, but it just might surprise you with what it has to offer!

 

Eating My Way Through New York City

The last time I was in NYC, I decided to explore a few of its most popular neighborhoods a little differently — through food. Read this review of a walking food tour through Little Italy and Chinatown with Ahoy! New York Food Tours. Just don’t do it on an empty stomach.

 

Pizza, Pizza Everywhere — An Outing With Chicago Pizza Tours

Chicago is known for its deep dish pizza. But, on a tour of the city with new company Chicago Pizza tours, I learned that that’s not the ONLY kind of delicious pizza in the Windy City.

 

 

Misc.

Seeing a living legend in concert — Paul McCartney in Pittsburgh

I was lucky enough to see Sir Paul in Pittsburgh in August 2010 — on the last leg of his 2010 North American tour, to be exact. I grew up with Paul; I’ve been a Beatles fan all my life, in fact, thanks to my mom. So when we heard he was coming to Pittsburgh, we knew we had to go. And, let me tell you, for someone who’s pushing 70, Paul McCartney can still rock out with the best of them and put on a fantastic show.

 

In Search of the Best Road Trip Car: Kia Rio 5-Door

I love road tripping. Really love it, in fact. And a big part of any road trip is the car you’re driving. This summer, I had the chance to test-drive a Kia Rio 5-door sedan on a mini road trip into Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. For a tiny car, this thing sure packs a punch! Read my review to learn how I thought the Kia Rio handled the trip up into the mountains.

 

Smackdowns

Chicago Pizza Smackdown: Gino’s East vs. Giordano’s

You can’t go to Chicago without trying some of its famous deep dish pizza. It would be like a slight to the city. Like making rude gestures at it. Like a sin. In short, it would just be really bad. So, when I first decided I was going to visit the Windy City, “eating pizza” immediately was put on my list of must-do things. I decided to try out two of the places that seemed to come up the most in recommendations: Gino’s East and Giordano’s. Read this comparison review to find out which one I liked best!

Chicago Tower Smackdown: Willis Skydeck vs. Hancock Observatory

The Willis Tower’s “Skydeck Chicago” on the 103^rd floor is easily Chicago’s most popular tourist attraction, drawing more than 1.3 million visitors per year to its 360-degree views out over the city. But, while the Skydeck is wildly popular, it actually has some competition a mile and a half away in the John Hancock Observatory. The 100-story John Hancock building boasts an Observatory similar to the Skydeck on its 94^th floor, with views out over Lake Michigan and the city of Chicago. So which is better? Find out what I thought here.

New Zealand Smackdown: North Island vs. South Island

Having trouble deciding which of New Zealand’s islands is best for you? Can’t decide between the North and the South? Then check out this “smackdown” review, which details the strengths and weaknesses of each island, from the cities to the landscapes to the wildlife and everything in between. Of course, if you ask my opinion, you should make time to visit both!

 

Grand Canyon Smackdown: North Rim vs. South Rim

The Grand Canyon is one of the top tourist attractions in the United States — and rightly so. But many people only associate a visit to this natural wonder with large tourist crowds. However, it doesn’t have to be that way! There is more to the Grand Canyon that just the popular South Rim. In this comparison post, find out how the well-known South Rim compares to the lesser-visited North Rim. It may help you decide which side of the Grand Canyon is right for you!