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 digs here.

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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.

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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.

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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!

Travel Websites

HotelCalculator.com a Useful Booking Tool

HotelCalculator.com does exactly what its name would suggest — it uses search engine technology to compare prices from 28 different hotel reservation sites, and then calculates the best prices. The site can sift through over 100,000 hotels, apartments, hostels and guest houses in 13,000 cities worldwide, and return results in roughly 30 seconds (or less, as was my experience).

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!

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.

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!