by Anne Betts | Mar 5, 2026 | Travel Stories
Updated March 5, 2026 Youthful misadventures abound in the Ernie Diaries motorcycle adventure 1973, a book that chronicles the travels of Ernie, an old Norton ES2 that took two ordinary people to extraordinary places in an earlier era. Ernie Diaries motorcycle...
by Anne Betts | Feb 28, 2026 | Money Matters
What is the best expense sharing app for travel? Search online forums and reviews dated before 2024, and Splitwise was the clear favourite. However, the once-reigning champion of cost-sharing apps has waned in popularity with recent monetisation changes. Intrusive...
by Anne Betts | Feb 27, 2026 | Luggage and Packing, Travel Gear Hacks
Updated February 27, 2026 Shopping for a travel adventure doesn’t have to be a purse-emptying experience. It’s surprising how many items you’ll be able to scratch off your packing list by visiting a dollar store. And if you love travel gear hacks, feed your creative...
by Anne Betts | Feb 23, 2026 | Australia
In Australia’s largest city, Sydney’s treasured icons include the Opera House, the bridge, its beautiful harbour, and over 100 beaches within easy reach. But Sydney offers much more. This article builds on a previous description of 33 sights within walking distance of...
by Anne Betts | Feb 20, 2026 | Health, Safety and Comfort, home featured
Updated February 20, 2026 One of my earliest experiences travelling with soap leaves involved a lawyer from Australia and a Jordanian washroom. Lawyer from Australia I met Michelle, the Australian, beside a minivan in a large bus station park in South Amman, Jordan....
by Anne Betts | Feb 7, 2026 | Travel Tips, Money Matters, Travel Hacking
Updated February 7, 2026 Ask the question in travel forums, “What is the best credit card for travelling abroad?” and answers invariably suggest those that don’t charge foreign transaction fees (FOREX or FX). Is a no-FOREX-fee credit card always the...
by Anne Betts | Jan 22, 2026 | Luggage and Packing
Updated January 22, 2026 What are your long flight carry-on essentials? With your checked bag in the cargo hold or your carry-on bag in the overhead locker, what do you pack in your personal item, the one that fits under the seat in front of you? Or perhaps you wear...
by Anne Betts | Jan 7, 2026 | Luggage and Packing
Updated January 7, 2026 Setbacks happen, even to the most seasoned among us. It’s part of the travel experience. Having an emergency preparedness toolkit can go a long way to lessening the impact when adversity strikes. What’s your state of readiness for dealing...
by Anne Betts | Jan 4, 2026 | Travel Hacking
Updated January 4, 2026 What’s the best use of Scene+? Is Scene+ a useful program for travelling the world on miles and points? How does Scene+ work and what are the ways to use Scene+ points to reduce travel costs? How does it compare to other fixed-point reward...
by Anne Betts | Jan 3, 2026 | Luggage and Packing, Packing Light Travel Gear
It doesn’t matter whether you plan to do laundry or not on your travels. Other than air-drying laundry, there are many worthwhile reasons to pack a travel clothesline. It’s handy for hanging a wet swimsuit, ski wear, or a damp rain jacket. A packable version is...