We recently received the below email from Carol Schmidt, who recently returned from this 11-day tour. We wanted to share her email with you (verbatim).

“We just returned from the Wildlife Kenya Safari and one would have to say, “Hakuna Matata” about any concern I had after reading travel reviews that the Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi was less than satisfactory! It is disconcerting that one could complain about the accommodations. While it is an older hotel, it is clean and in a great location, particularly given the short amount of free-time we had.

This location gave us a chance to go to the International Market and to see the Parliament and governmental buildings. I would rate our breakfasts at the Intercontinental as scrumptious and the presentation was incredible! Who could possibly complain about fresh squeezed orange juice, Kenyan coffee with hot milk, and a variety of over 50 feet of food choices? It was absolutely awesome and the service was superb.

Thanks to Vintage Africa we had an incredible driver, Dominic, who has an A+ personality, and is probably a mixture of human/animal/bird! Dominic could sense animals before they were visible and he knew their patterns along with having a vast knowledge of their behaviors and instincts. He astonished us with his mastery of the bird species. We learned so much from him and it was so obvious he loves his job!

This was the most spectacular Safari we could imagine and we cannot thank all the Friendly Planet staff and Vintage Africa for making it one we will never forget. Our accommodations, the food, everything was simply marvelous! Friendly Planet was recommended to us by an unfamiliar traveler we met in California; now we will recommend Friendly Planet to our friends and acquaintances and we will be back for another adventure with Friendly Planet in the future! Asante Sana and feel free to share the good words. While the leopard is often difficult to spot, thanks to Dominic, we were fortunate to see him up close and personal! We hope you will enjoy the photo.”

Thanks for sharing such kind words, Carol! We’re glad you enjoyed your safari vacation with us!

Life is too short to do anything that you don’t love. At least, that’s how Scott Calafiore and Christy Woodrow see it. The couple met in 2006, and began traveling the world together to pursue their love of photography and surfing. They started their travel and photography blog, Ordinary Traveler, in 2010 to chronicle their adventures for their friends and family. The blog has since taken off and become one of the top blogs in its genre.

We wanted to hear more about why Scott and Christy got started traveling, how they balance travel with their home life in San Diego, and what tips they have for other travel dreamers looking to get started. Read below for their answers, written by Christy.

1) What sparked your decision to begin chronicling your travels in the form of a blog?

We wanted to have not only a record of our travels, but also an online portfolio for our photography. The two-month trip we took in early 2010 gave us the motivation to actually build the blog and start writing stories. I realized how much I love writing and sharing travel tips with others, so it has been a large focus of our lives ever since that trip.

2) You mention on your blog that you love your home in San Diego too much to be permanent nomads. How have you learned to juggle living a “normal” life at home, traveling the world, and running several online businesses?

It’s been a learning process for sure. I originally thought I wanted to be a permanent nomad, but after our two-month trip, I realized how much I value our community of friends in San Diego and neither of us want to give that up. Sometimes I feel like I’m traveling too much and sometimes I get the itch to travel more, but for the most part, we are pretty content. We use all of our vacation time wisely and it’s surprising how many trips Scott can fit in even while working a full-time job. I relish the days when we are home because it gives us time to reflect on our travels, hang out with friends, and get some work done.

3) What has been the most difficult adjustment to traveling the world, and also keeping your roots in San Diego?

Sometimes it’s tough to find a good balance between the two, especially if we have a lot of trips planned in a short amount of time. We will come home from a trip and immediately play catch-up on work. It can feel a bit like burning the candle at both ends. My suitcase is always out, still packed from a previous trip (much to Scott’s dismay). I figure I’ll just be packing it again soon, so I never really unpack, besides doing laundry.

4) You describe yourselves as avid surfers. Where was the most unique place you’ve surfed, and why?

Scott took a surf trip to Peru (I’m dying to go) and surfed some of the best waves of his life. It’s rare to find uncrowded, world class waves — although, I’m not sure how uncrowded it is anymore.

5) Can you pinpoint some of the most interesting destination(s) you’ve explored? Why do they stand out?

Vietnam, Laos and Nepal because there is so much culture — and at the time we visited, they were still relatively off the beaten path for many travelers.

6) Do you have a favorite place you’ve captured on film? Do you have an all-time favorite image you’d like to share with us?

We spent five days in Yellowstone a few years ago and captured some of its breathtaking beauty with timelapse, in addition to photos.
Another one of our favorite picture-perfect destinations is Havasu Falls in Arizona.

7) Have you ever been surprised, either good or bad, about a destination you’ve visited?

Yes, many times, actually. We recently booked a weekend trip to Oxnard, California — merely because we wanted to visit the Channel Islands. Oxnard itself is never a place we would have thought to visit if it wasn’t for the close proximity to the islands, but we ended up enjoying our time in the town even more than the time we spent on Anacapa Island. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that we experienced a once-in-a-lifetime event on our boat back from Anacapa.

8) Where is still on your bucket list of places to visit?

So many islands!! Fiji, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Cuba, to name a few.

9) What’s the best travel tip you’d like to offer our readers?

There will almost always be unexpected events while traveling and it will make your trip much more enjoyable if you just expect things not to go as planned.

10) What’s the best photography tip you’d like to offer our readers?

Don’t just take the first shot. Look for different angles or an interesting foreground to create a more unique photo of a destination.

11) Where in the world are you headed next?

I just got back from a two-week trip to France and Scotland. In June, we are headed to Toronto and New Jersey. In August we will spend one week in Alaska! This year is packed full of new travel adventures.

Thanks for taking the time to speak with us, Christy! Keep up with Christy’s and Scott’s adventures on Ordinary Traveler.

As more Americans learn about the opportunity to travel to Cuba legally, we’ve begun fielding questions about what the island is like, what travelers need to do to prepare for a trip there, what is and isn’t allowed in Cuba, and how Americans are perceived after so many years of embargo-fueled shortages of just about everything.

I have written my latest contribution to Huffington Post with those questions in mind. Titled “What to know before you go to Cuba,” the article covers what the people of Cuba are like, what Americans need to do to comply with the People-to-People license, and why, if you truly love to travel, you really should visit Cuba. Visit the site to read my thoughts in full.

Do you have more questions about travel to Cuba? Leave them in a comment and I’ll be happy to answer.

Today, we’re continuing to share travel experiences that some Friendly Planet Travel staff members have had while abroad. Terence talked about traveling to Tokyo, and Liz let us in on her lovely trip to Vietnam.

In our next post, we’re speaking with Kristin Wagner, a member of our Reservations team. Kristin had never left the country before, so we’ve been looking forward to hearing how her trip on our Discover Ireland tour went. We sat down for a Q-and-A with Kristin to talk about her experience in Ireland, and what it meant to her as a first-time international traveler.

FP: How was your overall experience in Ireland?

Kristin: It was just amazing. I had never traveled before, so it was my first trip out of the country.

FP: What was the experience of traveling alone like?

Kristin: Once I got there and met everybody, it was great. The people in the group were amazing and really welcoming. Once I met my fellow group members, it was like I wasn’t there alone.

FP: What would you say to other travelers who are considering traveling alone?

Kristin: Traveling on a group tour was definitely a plus for me. There were five other people that were also traveling alone in our group, and they each invited me to go to dinner with them or sit with them on the bus. Everybody was really inviting, and once I got to the destination, I didn’t feel like I was by myself. This is especially true in destinations like Ireland, where the locals speak English and it’s a safer destination. It’s a great place to go because you don’t have to be nervous about traveling by yourself.

FP: Did you like that everybody spoke English? Were the people friendly?

Kristin: Everybody was so nice there. It was a culture shock compared to how people act here in the U.S. You could go to a restaurant, sit down, and the people at the next table would start a conversation with you.

FP: What was your flight like?

Kristin: I was lucky enough to have a direct flight from Newark, and it took about seven hours. It was an overnight flight on the way there, so I slept on the way over, and then on the way back, my flight was at 7 a.m. With the time difference (it’s five hours ahead in Ireland), it was early afternoon back home so the jet lag coming back wasn’t bad at all.

FP: What were some of the notable things that you saw and did while in Ireland?

Kristin: The part of the trip that sticks out the most is the horse and buggy ride through Killarney National Park. They call it a jaunty carriage, and the carriage driver tells you about the different trees and plants you see. You also see old castles and ruins out in the middle of the lake. That was really neat.

Then there was Blarney Castle. I didn’t kiss the Blarney Stone though — I didn’t have the guts left over after climbing up the tower. To climb the tower, it’s over 100 steps on a spiral staircase that’s less than three-feet wide. So once you start going up, you can’t turn around and come back down. It was definitely worth it once I got to the top though. I would recommend it to anybody who is physically capable to just suck it up and do it. But once I got up to the top, I said I wasn’t going to kiss the stone. They hang you over the ledge, and push you out over the side of the castle — you’re holding onto a metal rail to kiss it.

FP: What were your thoughts about the landscape and weather?

Kristin: I took about 1,000 pictures on the trip, and probably 700 of them are landscapes. It was gorgeous — lush green land, wildflowers, and cows and sheep everywhere. We had clear skies, and not a lot of rain, so the lighting was really good for everything. As far as landscapes go, the Cliffs of Moher has everything else beat. You look out and it’s the ocean and cliffs — it was awesome. It was chilly, definitely sweater weather, but you didn’t need a coat or anything that heavy. In fact, when the sun came out, it was really nice.

FP: What was your favorite memory?

Kristin: The whole thing was really amazing, especially since it was my first trip abroad, but if I had to pick just one, I would probably say going to the Cliffs of Moher. If I could pick a second, it would be the cruise on the Corrib River. That was a great experience on a little riverboat where we saw a demonstration on how to properly make Irish coffee. Also, professional Irish dancers performed for us and even taught us how to do the Irish jig.

FP: Do you have any advice for others thinking of traveling to Ireland?

Kristin: Definitely try to find a traditional show, called a “trod.” It’s an Irish-style river dance and they’re held locally throughout the country. It’s so cool to see the dances up close in the venue. We went to Taylor’s Three Rock, which had traditional Irish songs and dances with Irish pipes. It was a great experience.

FP: Any other tips for people who are thinking about traveling solo and wondering if a group tour is the right choice for them?

Kristin: A group tour is good for people who are considering traveling alone. It’s especially true for this kind of itinerary, because you do have some free time. So if you do like to go off and do your own thing, but still want the comfort of getting to experience destinations with like-minded people, a group tour is the way to go. And for me, a major city like Dublin is a great location for that. It’s small and easy to get around once you have your bearings. If you’re a smart solo traveler, definitely try traveling as part of a group tour in Dublin!

Thanks so much for sharing your trip experience with us, Kristin! If Kristin’s experience has you dreaming of Ireland, be sure to check out all our Ireland tour packages.

Mimi is a travel enthusiast who has visited over 40 countries in her lifetime. She has traveled on escorted tours and on solo explorations, and was once a travel agent herself! Mimi and her husband went to Cuba on our Discover Havana tour in September 2012, and she wrote about her experience for the Portland Press Herald. I loved her write-up, and asked our blogging team to reach out to Mimi to hear more about her trip.

She joined us for a podcast to discuss her trip, why she chose Friendly Planet for her tour, the great people she met along the way, and the most memorable experience she had in Cuba. Listen in for these details and more.

Thanks so much for sharing your tour experience with us, Mimi! We had a great time talking with you.

So how does one become a travel and food blogger? In Rachelle’s case, quite by accident! When she felt she wasn’t living her life to the fullest, she left her marketing job in the banking industry to move to Florida and become an inn keeper. When the inn decided to start blogging, it chose Rachelle to lead the charge.

From there, Rachelle discovered her love for sharing recipes and travel stories through a blog. She is no longer an innkeeper, but continues to travel, blog, and try new food all over the world. We asked her to answer a few questions so we could learn more about the fabulous exotic cuisine she has tasted from every corner of the planet.

1) We’ve read that you quit your office job, opened an inn in Florida, and the rest is history. What sparked this decision, and was it a difficult one to make?

What sparked the decision is that I didn’t feel I was my true “authentic” self. Many of my friends were happy working downtown in an office environment, but I always looked out the window with a longing for something different. I was successful. I had a great job with a big desk and my own office. I just wasn’t happy. After staying at a bed-and-breakfast and mingling with the innkeepers all morning, I was hooked! Their 9-5 seemed more like my Saturday morning. After that, it wasn’t a hard decision to make. The most difficult part in any goal or dream is identifying what you want. Once you have that in mind, it’s just about enjoying the journey and the process.

2) Do you mostly travel domestically or internationally?

Right now, it’s mostly been international. I just got back from Hong Kong and my next trip is to Holland. Though, last time I counted how many states I’d been to I was right around 20. So there’s still lots to explore here too!

3) Where is your dream destination to visit, and why?

I always answer this as, “any place I haven’t been.” The world is huge and I’d like to see as much of it as I can. Currently, the top place on my list is Buenos Aires, Argentina. I’ve not yet traveled to South America, and the reason I picked Argentina is I love the wine and food. Plus, I’ve taken a few tango lessons and think it would be fun to dance the tango in its country of origin.

4) Out of all the places you’ve visited, where did you find the ‘best’ cuisine?

My favorite cuisine is from Southeast Asia, such as Bali and Thailand. There’s just a layering of flavors and textures that’s exciting to taste. Each bite has a balance of sweet and sour, salty and bitter, a hint of zest from citrus, a bit of heat from spices, and a creaminess from either coconut or peanut. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

5) What’s your best tip for adventurous travelers looking to try food off the beaten path?

If you’re venturing off the beaten path, you’re likely to encounter some yummy street food. Just be sure to go with a local who knows best. If it smells delicious, but looks unsanitary, don’t eat it. That one meal isn’t worth ruining your vacation by catching a case of traveler’s belly.

6) How many recipes have you collected over your years of traveling?

Well over 100. I only have a small portion online. The rest are in a decorative box in my kitchen.

7) What is the most ‘out there’ type of cuisine you’ve tried?

Good question. It was probably lunch at El Celler De Can Rocca in Girona. It’s known for its wine cellar, but also molecular cooking. The food was delicious, but each bite was also a work of art. There’s no way I could have recreated it at home.

8) What are a few ‘must-try’ foods of the world in your opinion?

There are ‘must-try’ foods in every country. In South Africa, I say biltong. In Bali, burbur ayam. In Thailand, the exotic fruits such as mangosteen and rambutan.

9) Where in the world are you headed next?

NYC next month, and then Holland!

Thanks for joining us today, Rachelle! For recipes, travel tips, and more, visit Rachelle at TheTravelBite.com.