Samanta Brown
Global Travel Expert
Latest from Samanta Brown
20 Articles
13 Things Cruise Ship Nurses Quietly Notice About Passengers in the First Day at Sea
You'd think the ship's medical center is the quietest room on board, a tidy little clinic waiting around for a dramatic emergency. In reality, the people who st
The 6 Taxi Scams Travelers Report in Southeast Asia
Landing in Bangkok, Hanoi, or Bali usually means the same thing: a long flight, a heavy bag, and a curb full of people offering a ride. Most drivers are simply
9. 5 U.S. Towns Where Travelers Can Still Find a Surprisingly Slow Pace
Most trips come with a to-do list and a ticking clock. Yet some American towns still run on a gentler schedule, whether because cars are banned, the ferry only
7. 6 U.S. Cities Travelers Say Feel Completely Different After Tourist Season
Some places seem to have two personalities. One shows up when the crowds do, with packed sidewalks, long waits for dinner and hotel rates that make you wince. T
7 Things Frequent Flyers Do Differently at the Airport
Watch the security line on a busy morning and you can usually pick out the regulars. They aren't rushing, and they aren't digging through a bag for a boarding p
I Spent a Month in Albania for Under $1,500 – Here's How the Costs Broke Down
Albania has a reputation as Europe's bargain, and older blog posts still repeat it loudly. The reality in 2026 is more nuanced, because rents in Tirana have cli
8 Hotel Room Items Guests Are Often Charged for Without Realizing
Most people check the nightly rate, the taxes and the cancellation terms before they book a room. Few of us read the small print on the desk, the tag on the rob
6 Hotel Amenities Guests Often Forget to Ask About
Most of us skim the amenities list on a booking page, confirm the pool and the breakfast, and move on. Whatever isn't printed there tends to get treated as if i
The Pilot’s Jet Lag Rule: 9 Things Flight Crews Do to Reset Faster
A long haul airliner can land, turn around and head out again within a couple of hours. The aircraft doesn't care what time zone it's in, but the people flying
Looking Beyond Croatia: Why Montenegro Became My Summer Pick
On paper, the two countries look like near twins. They share a border, a sea, and a stretch of limestone coast that photographs well from almost any angle. Dubr
The 45-Minute Trap: 6 Airport Mistakes That Can Cost You Your Connection
Most missed connections don't start with a dramatic delay. They start weeks earlier, at the booking screen, or in the small choices people make once they've lan
7 Habits Hotel Staff Notice in Frequent Business Travelers
Ask anyone who has worked a hotel front desk for a few years, and they'll tell you the regulars have a look. It isn't the suit or the roller bag. It's the way t
14 Things Cabin Stewards Recognize Instantly in a Seasoned Passenger
Forget the elite status, the lounge pass, and the monogrammed carry-on. Cabin crew spot a truly seasoned passenger a different way, and they usually do it withi
6 Credit Card Fees to Check Before an International Trip
Most of the money you'll lose to card fees abroad won't show up on a receipt. It appears later, as small line items on a statement, usually after you're home an
6 Countries Rated Highly for Safety by Solo Female Travelers
Safety is hard to reduce to one number. Some rankings look at crime, conflict and military spending, while others focus on how women actually fare in daily life
9 Customs Visitors Should Know Before Entering a Home in South Korea
A doorway in South Korea marks a real boundary between outside and inside. Guests who understand that tend to feel at ease within the first few minutes of a vis
The 7 Cheapest European Capitals for Americans
Two nights in a hotel, a proper dinner, a travel pass and a museum ticket can add up fast, and the total often depends more on the city than on the flight. The
9 U.S. Towns Tourists Visit Once but Rarely Put on Their Return List
Every road trip has a few stops that get checked off and left behind. They're the places with one famous hook, a great photo, and a souvenir for the dashboard.
6 Airline Fees Older Travelers Often Forget to Factor Into the Fare
A ticket price rarely tells the whole story anymore. That's true for every traveler, but it hits differently for older adults who may book by phone, travel with
13 Things Experienced Travelers Never Put in a Checked Bag
Most people think checked-bag mistakes involve oversized shampoo or a forgotten pocketknife. The ones that really sting happen later, at baggage claim, when the