THE GROUP CHAT
All of it. Right here.
This is where every story, guide, and hard-earned travel lesson lives — the wins, the faceplants, and the things I wish someone had told me first. Scroll the whole conversation, or jump in by mood:
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The Halloween Travel Lists Forgot 7 Places (I Checked)
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Every October, the same travel lists make the rounds: the best spooky Halloween destinations, ranked and rounded up. One of them named six — Salem, New Orleans, the Hudson Valley, Savannah, St. Augustine, and Edinburgh — and honestly, it’s a solid list. I know, because I just got back from one of them. I was…
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The Flight Search Tools I Actually Use: How I Stop Overpaying for Airfare (Cash, Points, and Everything in Between)
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Short version: I don’t find cheap flights by refreshing a search page. I run a system of flight search tools: Google Flights to search and track, Going to bring me deals I wasn’t looking for, Hopper to tell me whether to buy now or wait, Skyscanner to cross-check the whole market, Point.me to price the…
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Route 66 at 100: A Century on the Mother Road
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2,448 miles, 8 states, 100 years — the history, the highlights, and the stops worth your time on America’s most famous highway.
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When AI Hallucinates & Sends You to a Place That Doesn’t Exist (Literally)
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AI is inventing canyons, ropeways, and entire itineraries — and travelers are following the directions. How to spot the fiction before you go, and why a human still beats the robots.
- become a travel advisorindependent travel advisortravel advisor benefitstravel advisor businesstravel advisor commissionstravel advisor costsTravel Smarter
So You Want to Become a Travel Advisor? Here’s What You Need to Know
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So You Want to Become a Travel Advisor? Okay, But Give Me the Details. What becoming an independent travel advisor actually costs, how commissions work, what you get—and the questions I wanted answered before I started. Once you get past the idea of becoming a travel advisor, the practical questions start. What does it cost?…
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Become a Travel Advisor | How to Get Started
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Ready To Get Started? You Love Travel. Why Not Get Paid For It? Become an Independent Travel Advisor and learn how to turn the travel you’re already researching, planning and booking into something that can actually pay you back. Show Me How To Get Started No sales quota. No need to quit your day job.…
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Sekumpul Waterfall & Fiji Waterfall: The Hike From Hell — Somehow Worth It?
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A DontBeThatTourist Story They Said Flip-Flops Were Fine… They Were Wrong. The “Easy” Bali waterfall hike that had me questioning every life decision. By Chelsea | DontBeThatTourist Travel Truth Never trust someone else’s definition of an “easy hike.” I learned that lesson the hard way in Bali, hiking to Fiji & Sekumpul Waterfalls. Expectation vs.…
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The Ultimate Travel Hack Nobody Talks About
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I Didn’t Know This Was Even an Option For years, I did what most travelers do—searching for the ultimate travel hack without realizing I was already doing half the work myself. I spent hours researching hotels, comparing tours, reading reviews, watching videos, and planning every detail of a trip. Friends started asking where they should…
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The Saint Paul Hotel: Historic, Iconic — and Surprisingly Effortless
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The Saint Paul Hotel in St. Paul, Minnesota is one of those rare properties that blends historic charm with a genuinely memorable guest experience. Opened in 1910, it’s known for its grand ballroom, classic architecture, and standout service — but what surprised me most was how approachable it still feels. From waltzing in the ballroom…
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Why Are There Camels in Cabo? The Story No One Talks About
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Destination Deep Dive • Don’t Be That Tourist Why Are There Camels in Cabo? The Story No One Talks About Because if you came to Cabo for tacos and tequila and ended up making eye contact with a camel on the beach… you probably have questions. Seeing camels in Cabo might feel unexpected — especially…
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Tourist vs Traveler: Why This Debate Absolutely Misses the Point
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Travel Hot Take from DontBeThatTourist If you’re offended by being called a tourist… this post is for you. By Chelsea | DontBeThatTourist Tourist vs Traveler: If you travel for any kind of pleasure, congratulations — you’re a TOURIST. Yes. Even if you backpack. Or “immerse yourself in the culture.” Your suitcase is made of recycled…
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Haleakalā Sunrise to Sunset: Your Guide to a Magical Morning
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(Because I Tested Every Version So You Don’t Have To) By Chelsea | DontBeThatTourist | Travel Rx + Culture-First Travel Let’s Get One Thing Straight: Haleakalā Is Magical… But She Makes You Earn It Haleakalā sunrise is one of those “core memory” moments people whisper about. What they don’t whisper about? The 2:30 AM wake-up,…