Inspiring Your Journey

with travel tips, stories + resources
Get Inspired

I’m Ashley, your solo travel expert.

I’ll help you plan the trip of a lifetime—with more “wow!” moments and considerably fewer “whoopsies” and “uh-ohs.”

I’ve been traveling since way before Booking.com, Instagram, travel forums, Google Maps, and the internet made it possible to research every last detail from your couch. Back then, you actually had to figure things out as you went—and believe me, I’ve figured out a lot of things the hard way.
Over the years, I’ve learned what’s worth packing, what’s definitely not worth packing, which travel “must-dos” actually live up to the hype, and how a little advance planning can save you time, money, and the occasional meltdown.

Think of me as your well-traveled friend who has already made the mistakes, tested the gear, gotten lost, overpacked, underplanned, and lived to tell the tale.

Start with my Travel Products and Resources page, where I’ve rounded up the gear, gadgets, products, and little travel helpers that make life on the road oh-so-much easier.

Then, stick around the blog for destination inspiration, travel tips, itineraries, lessons learned, and plenty of stories from my adventures.

Have a question? Ask away. If I don’t know the answer, I probably know someone who does—or I’ll figure it out!

84 Countries

6 Continents

Latest Posts

Exploring Naples

Exploring Naples

Though Naples is gritty and crowded, the city’s chaos is beautiful and mesmeric. Scraping below the surface revealed a look into an often forgotten city.

Impressions of Rome

Impressions of Rome

They say “all roads lead to Rome." Well, this idiom certainly held true for my mother and me last April. Our roads from Skopje, Macedonia, and Onarga, Illinois, USA, led us to rendezvous in Rome one cloudless Spring day. Eleven cities, nine train rides, eight...

A Warm Welcome to Prizren, Kosovo

A Warm Welcome to Prizren, Kosovo

  I was welcomed to Kosovo in the warmest possible way. First, after arriving via furgon from Albania, I was dropped off on a street corner in a dusty, nondescript town. At a loss of how to begin the last leg of my journey toward Prizren and badly in need of...

Night buses in China

Night buses in China

Night buses in China are an adventurous—and affordable—mode of transportation. Just be aware that the beds are a bit smaller than typical Westerners are use to!

Adjusting to Chinese Culture

Adjusting to Chinese Culture

Heading south from Beijing, China, to Xian was an adventure. Along the way, we taste-tested local cuisine, experienced the local toilets and gave our best efforts at adjusting to fascinating Chinese culture.

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