Exploring Loei: Thailand’s Gem in the North

Bunny Temple

Loei province, the gateway between the north and northeast, has so much to offer a traveler.  One of our family’s favorite provinces in Thailand (we’ve been to over 50!), it has multiple points of interest to visit.  In this post,…

5 Off the Beaten Path Provinces in Central Thailand

Wat Phra That Pha Som Kaew Temple in Petchabun

Central Thailand is an area of Thailand easily overlooked by visitors due to its distance from the capital city of Bangkok in the south and the popular tourist destination of Chiang Mai in the north.  But it’s in these plains…

2 Days in Olympia, Greece

Day 1 After enjoying a scenic bus ride through the breathtaking Peloponnesian countryside, you arrive at the little town of Olympia.  The town swells with tourists during working hours as they come in groups from the cruise ships. But after…

Metro Manila

Mero Manila, Jeepney

The city of Manila holds a dear place in my heart as I spent my 90’s childhood living in downtown Manila and watched the growth of the city over a long period of time.  Returning to visit with my own…

Camping on the Transfagarasan

Transfagarasan

Our Personal Experience In June of 2023, our family experienced the Transfagarasan Highway through the Fagaras Mountains in Romania.  This highway is only open for part of the year due to the treacherousness of the road when it is winter. …

Our Trip to Bohol

Bohol

Fly into Panglao We chose to fly directly from Manila to Bohol for our vacation to Bohol. The Bohol Airport is actually on the island of Panglao, which is on the southern tip of Bohol Island and has a bridge…

Tarsier Conservation Center

Bohol Tarsier

The island of Bohol has two icons that it is known for – the chocolate hills and the tarsiers.  Visiting tarsiers is not an easy task as they are tiny, hidden, and nocturnal.  But thankfully, there is a place on…

Bangkok Airport Rail Link

Bangkok Airport Rail Link

You made it to Thailand and are planning a trip to Bangkok. Or you are going somewhere within Thailand. Chances are you will be flying into Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). There is another major airport in Bangkok, Don Mueang (DMK)…

Sukhothai Historical Park

Sukhothai Historical Park

Background Found in the central heartland of Thailand, Sukhothai was the first capital city of a united Thailand. The Sukhothai era lasted between the 1200’s-1400’s before the Ayutthayan powers took over and the capital city moved to Ayutthaya.  The Sukhothai…

Manila Airport – Moving from International to Domestic Flights

How to transfer

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is on the southern side of greater Manila and is spread across three different terminals.  They are loosely broken up by international, domestic, and by airline.  Philippines Airlines has the majority of flights coming in…

Visiting the Bohol Chocolate Hills

Bohol Chocolate Hills

Bohol is a beautiful island in the Philippines next to the more populated island of Cebu.  It is accessible by air arriving at the Panglao International Airport and by ferry from Cebu.  Bohol is best known for its tiny primate…

Crossing the Greece-Albania Border by Land

For our trip between Greece and Albania, we chose to go over the land crossing instead of via Corfu as most of the internet recommended. However, finding information about a land crossing using public transportation was missing in all my…

Red Lotus Lake – Taley Bua Daeng

Location Known as Talay Bua Daeng in Thai, Red Lotus Lake is known throughout Thailand as the landmark of Udon Thani province. Found an hour south of Udon Thani airport, the lake is large with several launching points around the…

Bua Tong Sticky Waterfalls Chiang Mai

About If you are traveling in Thailand, and are in the Chiang Mai area, a visit to Bua Tong Waterfall is a must, if you are up for an adventure.  Bua Tong Waterfall, or known widely as Sticky Waterfalls, is…

Visiting the Transfăgărășan Highway

Transfagarasan Highway

Location The Transfagarasan Highway (also named 7c) is one of the world’s most breathtaking mountain passes.  Found in the Transylvania region of Romania, the highway cuts across the Fagaras Mountains.  The Fagaras Mountains are on the south side of the Carpathian Mountain…

Phu Kradueng

Phu Kradueng Peak

Location Phu Kradueng National Park is found in the province of Loei in Northeast Thailand. Loei is the province that joins the northeast region called Isaan with the northern region of Thailand. The Isaan region is mostly flat farmland but…

7 Tips for Camping in National Parks in Thailand

Camping Spot at a National Park in Thailand

1. Arrive early Arrive early to get the best spot for camping. Be mindful about where the bathrooms are and find a fire source if it’s allowed. Look for a firepit; building fires anywhere you want is not allowed. Expect…

Explore Bangkok with Kids- 3 Different Budget Options

Are you looking for a fancy vacation with your family in Bangkok?  Or one where you made it to Bangkok but don’t have a baht left for attractions?  We’ve put together a list for ANY budget type!  While this list…

Guide to Phu Ruea National Park

Location Phu Ruea is a district in Loei province in the northeast region of Thailand, known as Isaan. Phu Ruea is found on the northwestern edge of the province amidst the mountains straddling the border of Thailand and Laos. Attractions…

Quick Guides – Olympia – Family Edition

Olympia Greece

Location Olympia is a small town on the west side of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece.  It is a small village surrounded by farming hills and its closest city is Pyrgos.  Known the world over for its archeological site…

E-San Banhao Farm

Visit E-San Banhao Farm to learn about and experience traditional farm life in Thailand.

Quick Guides – Nong Khai – Family Edition

Location Nong Khai is a border town between Thailand and Laos.  It is right on the Mekong River (the border between Thailand and Laos) and is the entry point to the capital city of Laos via the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge.…

6 Places to Explore in Vientiane with Kids

Vientiane is the quickly developing, small, capital city of Laos.  With just over 700,000 people, it is one of the smallest capital cities in all of Southeast Asia.  If you are wanting to travel with your kids to an off…

How To Do the Giza Pyramids Without a Tour

When we were planning our month-long backpacking trip for our family of six, I spent a lot of time researching how to do the pyramids on our own.  The internet was full of horror stories.  And everyone’s message was the…

Quick Guides – Chiang Mai – Family Edition

Location Chiang Mai is the largest city in northern Thailand, a country in southeast Asia.  It is the gateway to seeing the different hill tribe people groups found in that area. It is one of the most popular places to…

Quick Guides – Luang Prabang – Family Edition

Location Luang Prabang is a city in Laos, a land-locked country in Southeast Asia.  There is an airport outside of town, as well as the newly created high-speed train that will get you from Vientiane in the south to Luang…

Quick Guides – Cairo – Family Edition

Location Cairo is the capital of Egypt, a country found on the northeast corner of Africa with Europe to the north and the Middle East to the east. It is a large bustling city of around 10 million people.   Kid-Friendliness?…

Quick Guides – Vientiane – Family Edition

Location Vientiane is the capital city of Laos, a land-locked country in Southeast Asia.  There is an airport outside of town, as well as the newly created high-speed train that will get you from Luang Prabang in the north to…

Quick Guides – Bangkok – Family Edition

Location Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, a city at the mouth of Chao Phraya river where it flows out to the Gulf of Thailand.  Although it feels hot all year, there are three distinct seasons: hot season, rainy season,…

Top 5 Towns to Visit in Isaan with Kids

There is a whole area of Thailand that is easily left out of any visitors’ itinerary.  It is the region of northeast Thailand called the Isaan region.  If you and your family want an off the beaten path adventure, I…