“It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and, if you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you might be swept off to.”
— J.R.R. Tolkien
Hello and welcome! I'm so glad that you're here.
“Here” is A Dangerous Business, a travel blog that aims to inspire people to fit more travel and adventure into the lifestyle they already have. You'll find detailed travel itineraries and weekend trip guides, as well as tips, packing lists, and travel observations from more than a decade of personal travel experience, all written by a professional travel blogger.
I don't believe in the traveler vs. tourist debate, only write about places that I've personally been, and travel in a way that (I hope) feels realistic for the average person.
My goal is to make getting “swept off” in your next travel adventure as easy and stress-free as possible.
Who is Amanda Williams?
I'm Amanda! That's me!
I grew up on a Christmas tree farm in northeast Ohio, and was a fan of horses, boy bands, the Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller, and the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. At the age of about 15, I vowed that I would save my money so that I could go to New Zealand (where LOTR was filmed) after I graduated high school – and I got my first passport stamp from there in 2005.
Since that first big adventure abroad in 2005, I have been to more than 60 countries on 6 continents, and my bucket list only grows instead of getting shorter.
I'm a full-time travel blogger, but I'm NOT a full-time traveler or “digital nomad.” I travel and work from a home base in Ohio, and firmly believe that you don't have to quit your job or leave your loved ones behind indefinitely in order to be a traveler.
(I did try to be a digital nomad once, but it didn't end well.)
You'll mostly see me around this site, but my husband Elliot pops up, too, from time to time.
Some random fun facts about me:
The important things:
- I have a bachelors in journalism and a master's degree in tourism management.
- I have a minor in German, but can't speak it very well at all.
- I like to consider myself to be pretty adventurous and open to new things (though not always when it comes to food).
- I live near Cleveland, Ohio, and love the city; I love it so much that I started a second blog about it: Cleveland Traveler
The less important (but probably more interesting) things:
- Before I was a blogger, I worked full-time at a small newspaper as a copy and layout editor; I started out editing obituaries.
- I love the scent of freshly-cut grass.
- I have been bungee jumping five times, and am always up for doing it again.
- I took Irish Step Dancing lessons in high school.
- I really hate all things “Twilight.” (See here if you do, too.)
- To contradict the previous statement, I like chick flicks, no matter how corny or predictable they are.
- I can write my name upside down.
- I am awful at video games.
- I have a ginger cat named Weasley.
How I travel
My travel philosophy is that travel is impactful and transformative, but it doesn't HAVE to be anything you don't want it to be. It doesn't have to be uber-luxurious and expensive, but it also doesn't have to be backpacks and hostels. Travel doesn't have to be going to exotic, hard-to-reach places, but it also doesn't have to always be all-inclusive resorts.
There's no right or wrong way to travel – only a way that's right for YOU.
I started out as a budget traveler, backpacking my way solo across Europe and Southeast Asia over the course of a couple years. As I've gotten older, though, my travel style has changed (yes, it's allowed to do that!), and now I travel probably like a lot of you do: on a moderate budget, willing to pay a little extra for comfort, convenience, and really special experiences.
Two things have remained consistent for me over the years: I only go places I want to go, and I always write about my personal experiences in a way that (I hope) is easy to follow so that you can plan to exact same trip for yourself.
A few more things about my travel style:
- I believe in climate change, and do what I can to minimize my negative impact on the planet by traveling as sustainably as I can, avoiding flying when it isn't necessary, and offsetting my carbon footprint. (Learn more in my environmental disclosure.)
- I do my best to research and follow cultural norms of whatever place I'm visiting, and acknowledge ALL parts of a destination's history, even when the past is uncomfortable.
- After studying tourism development (I have that master's degree in tourism management!), I make an effort to spend my money in ways that support local economies in the places I travel.
- I don't believe in gatekeeping information about destinations, and believe that public lands and the outdoors are for everyone. If I visit a place that I truly feel is too fragile for tourism, I simply don't share about it at all.
- I don't believe in only visiting “new” places and don't really care too much about counting countries – which means I return to my favorite places a lot!
- I sometimes am a “pack it all in” type of traveler, and know that not everyone else is. And that's fine! You do you. If my content isn't right for you, no hard feelings.
Posts to read about Amanda
Posts about me and my travel philosophy you should read:
- Why I'm Not Afraid to Travel Alone
- Why I Won't Get Mad if You Call Me Lucky
- Where It All Began — It's Carmen Sandiego's Fault
- 26 Things Travel Has Taught Me
- 5 Ways Travel Has Made Me More Adventurous
- Why I DIDN'T Quit My Job to Travel
- How I Make Money as a Travel Blogger
- How I Failed at Being a Digital Nomad
And go check out my travel timeline if you're curious about where I've been!
News coverage of Amanda
Along with being a guest a few times on local morning show New Day Cleveland, I've also been featured in the following online articles:
- Everything You Need to Know About Traveling Solo as a Woman at HuffPost Travel
- Here's How You Can Actually Travel the World Without Quitting Your Job at Buzzfeed
- How One Travel Blogger Funds Her Adventures at US News & World Report
- Maintaining relationships on the road at USA Today Travel
- Alumna Travels the World and Blogs About It at Kent State University
What is A Dangerous Business?
A Dangerous Business is a travel blog that was begun in 2010 when I was working full-time as a copy editor at a newspaper. The blog started as a hobby; a creative outlet to document some of my past travels. But I fell in love with travel blogging, and began growing a following.
I went back to school in 2011 to get a master's degree (thinking I'd change careers and work for a tourism board), but when I finished in 2013 I decided to work part-time and focus more on the site. I went full-time as a blogger in late 2015, and it's been my full-time job ever since.
Today, A Dangerous Business is one of the top travel blogs on the internet, getting more than 150,000 visitors per month and being promoted to an audience of more than 100,000 followers on social media. I've partnered with brands and destinations all around the world (learn more on my Work With Me page), have spoken at conferences and events like the New York Times Travel Show and TravelCon, and have been featured on sites like Travelzoo, The Huffington Post, and USA Today Travel.
The main goal of A Dangerous Business is to show people how to fit more travel into the lifestyle they already have. I cover global destinations and bucket list-style trips, and always focus on how people can realistically replicate these adventures themselves.
And, in a day and age of writers-for-hire and AI technology, I think it's important to state that I write everything on this site myself, and I have personally traveled to every place featured here. All of my tips and suggestions on A Dangerous Business come from personal travel experience.
Awards for A Dangerous Business
In 2013, I won the Ottawa Tourism Travel Writing Award for a piece I wrote about staying at the Ottawa Jail Hostel.
In 2018, A Dangerous Business was awarded a Silver Award for Best Travel Blog in the 2017-18 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition, which is hosted annually by the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).
In 2019, I won two Silver awards and one Honorable Mention in the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) Awards.
In 2021, A Dangerous Business was awarded a Gold Award for Best Travel Blog in the 2020-21 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition, which is hosted annually by the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).
In 2023, I won the Gold Award for Instagram Storytelling in the 2022-23 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition, which is hosted annually by the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). (Check out my Instagram here.)
Speaking appearances
I'm regularly asked to speak at conferences and on webinars about travel and running a blog as a business. A few notable past speaking experiences include:
- I was featured on an episode of HuffPost Live about Why More Women Are Traveling Solo.
- I've participated on panels at the New York Times Travel Show in 2018, 2019, and 2020 about being a blogger/influencer.
- I spoke at the 2017 Women in Travel Summit on a panel about social media strategy.
- I was a mentor/speaker at Bloghouse from 2017-2020.
- I spoke at the Social Travel Summit in 2019 in Ravenna, Italy about affiliate marketing.
- I spoke at TravelCon in 2018 and 2022 about affiliate marketing.
- I spoke at the SATW annual conference in 2023 about being a digital publisher.
Press mentions for A Dangerous Business
- Publisher Interview: A Dangerous Business at Mediavine
- 11 Ways Millennials Can Travel for Cheap at Parade
- 31 Romantic Weekend Getaways to Book on a Budget at Oprah Daily
Contact me
Want to get in touch with me? Here's how:
You can email me at adangerousbusiness [at] gmail [dot] com, or fill out my contact form.
You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Other fun stuff
Want to know where all in the world I've been? Check out my Destinations page, or my Travel Timeline.
Want to know what goes in my backpack or suitcase? Check out my Packing List page! It lists all my favorite gear, and is also where you'll find my trip- and destination-specific packing lists.
Curious about where I turn to search for flights or book a hotel? Head over to my Travel Resources page for lots of great tips and secrets.
And, lastly, if you'd like to work with me in some way, check out my Work With Me page.
*Note: My headshots (which you'll see throughout the site, including on this page) were taken by the super-talented Jessie of Jadie Foto. The watercolor illustration you'll find behind my new newsletter sign-up box was done by the lovely Candace Rose Rardon.
I really enjoyed your style of writing, and the Tolkien quote got me too. I wanted you to know how much I love your travel writing. Another thing I really appreciate is how easy it is to read and not be interrupted by heaps of pop up ads. I have been to blogs where there so many pop ups I simply move on and find information elsewhere. Thanks so much for that and sharing your wonderful adventures. THNAK YOU!
Hello! I found your blog while researching an upcoming trip to Spain and Portugal. I wanted you to know how much I love your travel writing. Another thing I really appreciate is how easy it is to read and not be interrupted by heaps of pop up ads. I have been to blogs where there so many pop ups I simply move on and find information elsewhere. Thanks so much for that and sharing your wonderful adventures. I have bookmarked your blog and I’m sure I’ll be using it again and again.
Yours in travel,
Diane Sanderbeck
Hi Amanda, I noticed that you have been to Sintra Portugal. A few questions:
We (two senior couples) are going to be in Lisbon in mid October. We want to spend a day in Sintra and see the sights including the Pena Palace. We have a rent-a-car but we’re told that parking in Sintra is very difficult. One of our group can walk but doesn’t do well with hills and too much walking. We talked to a tour guide with a mini bus but he told us that he can’t go to the doors of the sites, just the main entrance (quite a walk from there). We also contacted a Tuk Tuk, but they had the same issues.
What do you recommend?
Hi Jeff! Hopefully you’ll see this response! I assume you already read my post about Sintra (https://www.dangerous-business.com/sintra-day-trip/). In that, I definitely agree that you probably don’t want to drive to Sintra, as it’s very hard to find parking and would still require lots of walking. For Pena Palace, it’s true that any tours or private drivers would only be able to drop you off at the entrance, which is at the bottom of a big hill. Pena Palace does offer a shuttle from the park entrance up to the palace entrance, though, which sounds like it would be what you need. I believe it runs every 15 minutes, and costs an additional 2 or 3 Euro per person to ride.
I’d like to do your 10-day Southwest US itinerary, can it be done in Winter (Dec 25-Jan 2, specifically)?
It can be, yes, but note that there’s a chance you may run into snow/ice in places like the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce (it will definitely be cold at Bryce!). Generally all the parks are open, though, unless a really big snow storm comes through. I would book hotels in advance, though, as that’s actually a popular week to travel in the Southwest!
Dear Amanda,
I found your -3 Days in Lisbon -itinerary very informative and helpful.
Planning to visit Madeira (through the Lis) in October and hope your advises will help me to have my short stay in Lisbon very productive.Thank you very much.Best,Valeria Los Angeles
Enjoyed your blog on Florida Keys 7 day trip immensely. Long ways from ALBERTA but now on bucket list. Thank you.
Hi Ananda
I too gave done a solo travelling a lot I’ve visited places like
London
Manchester
Wales
Spain
Portugal
France
Malaysia
Thailand
Cambodia
Dubai
I happened upon your blog when I did a quick search about Scottsdale. I really enjoyed your style of writing, and the Tolkien quote got me too! I miss You have a new subscriber!
Thinking about retrireing in Belize. Could use your help.
I’m just a travel writer. I’m afraid I cannot give any advice on moving to/living in Belize, because that’s not an area of expertise for me.
How long does it take for the download info to come to my email? I’ve done it twice and so far nothing.
thank you, in advance, for your help.
It’s the 12 itinerary for the great plains, Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas
SarahLynn Lunderman
Hi Sarah! It’s usually automatic, but sometimes the confirmation email can get caught up in spam filters. If you can’t find it there, shoot me an email ([email protected]) and I can send the PDF to you.
Amanda,
You are so very helpful and give great practical information. Thank you! are planning driving tour of the southwest. About two weeks of driving and seeing mostly national parks in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. We have an itinerary but would like to map it out for timing. Do you know if there is a free place to actually do this and get the mapped itinerary, not just a listed itinerary?
Thanks.
I would probably just start with Google Maps, to be honest! It’s the easiest way to get an idea on timing. As for mapping something out that you can take with you, look into AAA’s TripTik. These used to be printed things you could get from AAA, but now they have a site and even a phone app. I’m not sure if they’re free to use, but you could try it out!
I love the way you write – very genuine, and I’m definitely going to follow your advice for Zion!