by Stephen Henson | Tips and Advice |
No matter what country you travel to, it is helpful to learn a few key phrases. For China this is important, because most people don’t speak English, and Mandarin is very different. Fear not. Try to learn a few words, and locals may point you in the right direction!...
by Stephen Henson | Asia-Pacific |
Mention the city of Chengde to Westerners and they reply, “Oh, the place with the pandas, right?” No, that’s Chengdu. Say “Chengde Mountain Resort,” and people assume it is a new hotel complex. No, it was built in the 1700s as a summer palace for the Qing emperors....
by Stephen Henson | Europe |
Acke didn’t want to be one of the 145 seamen aboard Sweden’s Vasa warship for its maiden voyage in 1628. The work was hard, wages were low, and living conditions were atrocious. And this voyage was to last just 1,300 meters before he would have to swim for his life....
by Stephen Henson | Tips and Advice |
I have never been in love with cruises. I like to figure out itineraries, ride trains, explore on my own. Besides, aren’t cruises just for old people and honeymooners? I finally take the plunge on a Baltic cruise and provide 8 reasons to cruise upscale on a budget. I...
by Stephen Henson | North America |
Like everyone else, you’ve maneuvered the twisting road to Hana, braved the cold for sunrise at Haleakala, taken a sunset catamaran cruise, enjoyed the more authentic Old Lahaina luau, snorkeled off a famous beach. Are you ready for something a little more offbeat? We...
by Stephen Henson | North America |
The line formed more than a half-hour before the 11:00am opening and eventually stretched for a block. It was mostly young people, even on a weekday, chatting, checking their phones. And it was a patient crowd, those of us who arrived without a timed reservation,...
by Stephen Henson | Tips and Advice |
I know Chicago can be an expensive city, but the rental car quotes seemed really high, even though I had used Costco’s Low Price Finder to compare four brands. Then I decided to add an extra day to my rental period. Voila! The total price actually went down by $100....
by Stephen Henson | Europe |
More and more people now want to visit Eastern Europe, and that puts Budapest and Prague near the top of their travel list. Given enough time, Vienna is the perfect third stop. But what if you are limited to only a week? I will show you how to see the highlights of...
by Stephen Henson | North America |
Do you want balmy, soft sand beaches and plenty of ocean activities? Do you want mountainous interiors with jungles and waterfalls? Do you want good food and drink to go with a genuine Hawaiian spirit? Guess what? You haven’t narrowed your choice of islands. It’s...
by Stephen Henson | Asia-Pacific |
Those L.V. and Michael Kors handbags going home with Chinese tourists every year represent more than half the exports the U.S. sends to China. Yes, 57% of U.S. exports to China are the money spent by the 2.5 million Chinese visitors. And nearly as many Americans are...
