Water. It’s one of those things that seems so basic at home but feels like a luxury when you’re traveling. Instead of spending major $$$ on bottled water, bring your own reusable water bottle with you. I’m partial to the vacuum insulated S’well Bottle because it keeps water cold (or hot!) for a full day, but really…
Shop. Paris. Step Inside This Women’s Shoe Boutique.
What:Â Zoe Lee Where:Â Paris, France What makes it special Zoe Lee is one of a kind shoe store. If you’re looking for something special but don’t care to have one of *those* designers or name brand shoes, you’ve found the right place. Each Zoe Lee shoe is designed in Paris but carefully crafted in Italy with…
Stay. Upstate New York. Escape to a Cottage in the Finger Lakes.
What: Single Island Shores Where: Finger Lakes, NY What makes it special While concrete jungles have their own beauty, they typically lack the color green. If you’re looking for a little nature time away without the buzz of the city, the Finger Lakes are a perfect quick drive upstate. Single Island Shores offers well-appointed cabin rentals right on Seneca…
Do. Slovenia. Follow a Dirt Path in Vintgar Gorge to Lake Bled.
What: Vintgar Gorge to Lake Bled Where: Soteska Vintgar, Slovenia What makes it special Around the river and through the woods (and two Slovenian ski towns), to Lake Bled you should go. Vintgar Gorge (also known as Bled Gorge) is a 1.6 kilometer gorge in northwestern Slovenia. Up for a little adventure? This journey is right up your alley. Begin on…
Quick tip: Low airfare awaits on Twitter…
Looking for low airfare? You may want to stay glued to Twitter. Sites like Airfare Watchdog (@airfarewatchdog) and Scott’s Cheap Flights (@scottsflights) regularly post massive fare sales for routes around the globe. If you followed @JetBlue, you would have known about their crazy Halloween sale where they offered all one-way flights on Halloween for just…
Stay. Ireland. Live Your Own Game of Thrones in One of Ireland’s Many, Many Castles.
What:Â Dromoland Castle Where:Â Dromoland, County Clare, Ireland What makes it special It’s not often you get to stay in a 15th Century castle built on ancestral lands that have been overseen for over a thousand years, but Dromoland Castle gives you that chance. Don’t worry about that medieval stank, because the whole place was renovated to…
Do. Los Angeles. Take a Virtual Tour of Walt Disney Concert Hall.
What: Thought Experiments in F# Minor Where: Los Angeles, California What makes it special Many know the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA to be the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, offering stimulating orchestral performances, innovative music education, and engaging community programs. What many do not know is that the Walt Disney Concert Hall…
Eat. Japan. Taste the Best Tuna in Nara.
What:Â Maguro Koya Where:Â Nara, Japan What makes it special Japanese restaurants are usually known for one specific thing, be it udon noodles or tempura or sushi. Some, though, go even further and specialize in a single ingredient. That’s the case with Maguro Koya in the Japanese city of Nara where the name of the game is…
The Real Story Behind the Man Who Had (and Lost) Unlimited First Class Flights on American Airlines
If you’re an airline enthusiast, you probably know about the American Airlines AAirpass that was first sold in the ’80s. For $250,000, you could buy a pass that entitled you to unlimited first class flights for life. FOR LIFE. One of the people who bought the pass was Steven Rothstein, a stockbroker from Chicago. In…
How to Save Your Expiring Miles for $1
Airline miles don’t last forever. If you’re a big player in the points and miles game, you know full well that airline miles expire after a period of inactivity, so what do you do if you’re about to lose your miles and have no flights booked? The airlines will try to convince you to use…
Your Oyster, Volume 4
The Beauty of Turning Four Do you remember turning four? I don’t. I do, however, know that I had a birthday party at Pizza Hut and the photos my mom has are proof that I was *so excited*. I’m equally excited that Your Oyster has now turned four. Not four years old, mind you, but four…
Your Oyster, Volume 3
Three’s a charm! The third edition of Your Oyster is here and we love hearing how much you love our travel pearls. This is actually the very first edition of Your Oyster where all three pearls come directly from readers. Lauren and I are grateful for your submissions! On that note, the really special thing…
Your Oyster, Volume 2
We’re off and running! It’s official: we’re not a one-hit wonder! We’re thrilled to be sending you Your Oyster, Volume 2. We had a tremendous response to our first newsletter and we’re so grateful to everyone for reading and sending in their own pearls. We can’t wait to share the incredible recommendations from others readers just…
Introducing “Your Oyster,” The Best Source for Undiscovered Travel Gems
Welcome. We’re trying something. It’s called Your Oyster (as in “The world is…”) and we want it to be your source for pearls of travel wisdom, as recommended by people just like you. This is a newsletter with the things you’ll never find through a travel agent. Amazing places to visit, unbelievable food and drink experiences, places…