Sarah Chen

Sarah Chen

Asia travel specialist with over a decade of experience exploring Southeast Asia, Japan, and the Indian subcontinent. Sarah brings deep cultural knowledge and insider tips to every piece.

Articles by Sarah Chen

A street food vendor in a Chinese market stall prepares skewered food items and grilled meats, with various meat and vegetable skewers arranged on metal trays and sauce bowls visible. - Photo by Vernon Raineil Cenzon on Unsplashquick guide

Southeast Asia Quick Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Winter transforms Southeast Asia into peak season with cool weather, dry skies, and reliable adventures. Here's what you need to know to go—and when to book.

Sarah Chen
A close-up of a traditional Ashanti kente loom showing colorful striped thread being woven, with thatched-roof structures and sandy ground visible in the background. - Photo by Silvanus Solomon on Pexelsbest of list

Threads of the Ashanti Kingdom: A Craft Trail Through Kumasi and Bonwire

A ranked craft trail through Kumasi's royal Manhyia Palace and the weaving, stamping and carving villages of Bonwire, Adanwomase and Ntonso, built for buying and commissioning directly from Ashanti artisans.

Sarah Chen
A leopard walking through dry golden grassland with scattered acacia trees and rocky hills in the background, typical of South African savanna habitat. - Photo by Lucie Burlet on Pexelsdestination guide

Beyond the Big Five: Inside South Africa's Most Exclusive Private Safari Lodges

Inside Sabi Sands' private lodges, where off-road tracking rights and capped vehicle numbers turn winter's dry season into the Big Five sighting of a lifetime — Singita, Londolozi and beyond.

Sarah Chen
A canyon carved through red and golden sandstone with traditional Berber-style dwellings built into the rock faces, showing a winding path through a dramatic arid landscape with distant mountains. - Photo by Matt Jones on Unsplashtrip report

My Winter in Middle East: A Travel Story

A five-day winter route through Jordan and Oman, from Petra's cool-season trails to Wadi Rum's fires and Muscat's lantern-lit souq, with real prices and logistics.

Sarah Chen
An alpine lake surrounded by coniferous forest with golden larch trees in autumn, rocky mountains in the background, and clear blue sky reflecting the classic off-season beauty of the Swiss Alps. - Photo by Carmen Bucher on Unsplashseasonal inspiration

Why The Swiss Alps Rewards an Off-Season Visit

The Swiss Alps in September and October stand nearly empty. Trails quiet, prices halve, and snow dusts the highest peaks while larch forests turn gold—creating an entirely different alpine experience.

Sarah Chen
A sweeping aerial view of a deep Norwegian fjord with steep forested mountainsides, a visible waterfall, and a small cruise ship navigating the turquoise waters, with snow-patched peaks visible in the distance. - Photo by Sven on Unsplashtravel tips

Essential Tips for Traveling in Norway

Norway rewards planners: book fjord trains early, pack for four seasons in a day, and pick your season for midnight sun or northern lights. Here's the essential prep guide.

Sarah Chen
Ancient Nabataean ruins at Petra, Jordan, showing carved stone structures and facades built into and carved from the rose-red sandstone cliffs under clear desert skies. - Photo by Yousef salah on Pexelsbest of list

The Best Things to Do in Middle East

Winter turns the Middle East's harshest deserts pleasant. Here's how Petra, Wadi Rum, Dubai, Jerusalem's Old City, Muscat, AlUla and the Dead Sea stack up this season.

Sarah Chen
A stunning turquoise Alpine reservoir surrounded by steep forested mountainsides, limestone cliffs, and a visible dam structure, photographed on a clear day with cumulus clouds. - Photo by Christian Lendl on Unsplashbest of list

The Best Things to Do in The Dolomites

From a sunrise cable car ride out of Ortisei to a two-Michelin-star table in Alta Badia, here are the seven Dolomites experiences worth building an itinerary around.

Sarah Chen
A wave crashes against the shore near weathered wooden structures with old tire bumpers, with forested islands visible across calm blue water under overcast sky. - Photo by Chris Linnett on Unsplashseasonal inspiration

Why The Greek Islands Rewards an Off-Season Visit

Winter transforms the Greek islands into quiet, authentic destinations where fishermen repair nets, cheese-makers work openly, and villages revert to local life. Off-season travel costs half the summer rate.

Sarah Chen
A crowded Japanese railway station concourse with passengers moving through green IC card-compatible ticket gates, with yellow accent lighting and bilingual (Japanese) signage visible. - Photo by Imani Williams on Pexelstravel tips

Essential Tips for Traveling in Japan

From IC cards to onsen etiquette, here's what first-time visitors to Japan actually need to know before they land — plus the small missteps that trip up even seasoned travelers.

Sarah Chen
A straight asphalt road with white center line markings stretches toward distant snow-capped volcanic mountains across a barren, golden-brown Icelandic landscape flanked by yellow reflective posts. - Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Pexelstrip report

A Week in Iceland's Ring Road

Seven days, 1,300 kilometers, and a rental car around Iceland's Ring Road, from Reynisfjara's black sand to the geothermal fields of Mývatn and back.

Sarah Chen
Colorful colonial-era buildings in pastel pink, lavender, and mint green with black shutters, flanked by palmetto trees, depicting the distinctive architectural character of Charleston's historic district. - Photo by Alyssa Rose on Pexelsdestination guide

The Complete Guide to Charleston

A warm, practical guide to Charleston, South Carolina, from Rainbow Row and Fort Sumter to Lowcountry plantations, Gullah culture, and a three-day itinerary that covers all of it.

Sarah Chen
A turquoise glacial lake nestled in a dramatic mountain valley with coniferous forests and steep rocky peaks in the Canadian Rockies. - Photo by Ali Kazal on Pexelstrip report

A Week in Banff

Seven days chasing turquoise lakes, gondola rides, and bison ribeye through Banff National Park, from Moraine Lake's dawn shuttle to Tunnel Mountain's sunset summit.

Sarah Chen
A narrow medieval stone street in Santiago de Compostela's old town descending toward the city center, with tourists walking along the wet cobblestones, flanked by granite buildings and traditional architecture, with the surrounding Galician landscape visible in the distance. - Photo by Jose Rodriguez Ortega on Pexelstrip report

A Week in The Camino de Santiago

Five days, 115 kilometers, and one Compostela certificate: a first-person week on the Camino de Santiago from Sarria to the cathedral steps in Santiago de Compostela.

Sarah Chen
Three Atlantic puffins standing on grassy ground during rain, displaying their distinctive black and white plumage and colorful beaks. - Photo by Tomáš Malík on Pexelstrip report

A Week in The Faroe Islands

A first-person week across the Faroe Islands, from Tinganes and Vestmanna's bird cliffs to puffins on Mykines and dinner at Michelin-starred KOKS.

Sarah Chen
A panoramic view of the Torres del Paine landscape showing snow-capped granite peaks rising above a glacial valley with tundra vegetation, meltwater streams, and distant lakes under a cloudy Patagonian sky. - Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Pexelstrip report

A Week in Torres del Paine

A week hiking, boating, and eating cordero al palo across Torres del Paine — from the Base of the Towers to Grey Glacier's blue ice, day by day.

Sarah Chen
A viewpoint overlooking Lisbon's cityscape with red-tiled roofs, São Jorge Castle on the hilltop, the Tagus River in the distance, and a modern viewing platform with benches in the foreground. - Photo by Bob Jenkin on Pexelsbest of list

The Best Things to Do in Lisbon

From São Jorge Castle's ramparts to a fado singer's first note in a candlelit Alfama tasca, here is Lisbon ranked — with real prices, tram routes, and timing tips.

Sarah Chen
A rotating cable car ascending Table Mountain in Cape Town, with dramatic rocky cliffs and green vegetation visible in the background. - Photo by Tim Gouw on Pexelsbest of list

The Best Things to Do in Cape Town

From the cableway to Table Mountain's summit to the penguins at Boulders Beach, here is a ranked guide to Cape Town's best experiences, with real prices and drive times.

Sarah Chen
A tunnel of hundreds of vermillion torii gates inscribed with Japanese characters and dates, lit by natural daylight, at what appears to be Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine in Kyoto. - Photo by David Emrich on Unsplashbest of list

The Best Things to Do in Kyoto

From the torii tunnels of Fushimi Inari to a nail-free wooden stage at Kiyomizu-dera, here's a ranked, practical guide to the best of Kyoto — with fees, hours, and how to beat the crowds.

Sarah Chen
Golden hour photograph of the iconic clifftop village of Positano cascading down to the Tyrrhenian Sea, with colorful pastel buildings stacked vertically on the hillside, a church dome, and numerous small boats anchored in the calm bay below. - Photo by Dimitry B on Unsplashbest of list

The Best Things to Do in The Amalfi Coast

From Positano's cliffside streets to a hidden lunch spot in Nerano, here's the ranked, no-filler guide to what's actually worth your time on the Amalfi Coast.

Sarah Chen
Alpine moorland landscape with distinctive flat-topped mountains, a small lochan (mountain pool), and golden-hour lighting illuminating the characteristic Scottish Highlands terrain. - Photo by Jonas on Unsplashbest of list

The Best Things to Do in The Scottish Highlands

From the Old Man of Storr to the Bealach na Ba's hairpin bends, here's a ranked, honest guide to the Scottish Highlands' best drives, hikes, castles and pubs worth the single-track roads.

Sarah Chen
Aerial view of two illuminated Buddhist pagodas on forested mountain peaks at sunset or sunrise, with a sprawling mountain landscape and valley visible in the background. - Photo by Bharath Mohan on Unsplashdestination guide

The Complete Guide to Chiang Mai

From the naga steps of Doi Suthep to Sunday market lanterns and a bowl of khao soi, here's how to plan a Chiang Mai trip that goes beyond the checklist.

Sarah Chen
A street corner in Hoi An's Ancient Town featuring yellow French colonial buildings decorated with traditional pink silk lanterns, dark wooden shutters, and vine-covered facades. - Photo by Tuan Vy on Pexelsdestination guide

The Complete Guide to Hoi An

Lantern-lit streets, tailor shops and cao lau noodles: this complete guide covers Hoi An's Ancient Town, best time to visit, top hotels, food and a 3-day itinerary.

Sarah Chen
A panoramic view of Tallinn's Old Town rooftops at sunset, showing traditional red-tiled and white-walled medieval buildings with the city's modern skyline and church spires visible in the background. - Photo by Sergei  Gussev on Pexelsdestination guide

The Complete Guide to Tallinn

Tallinn's medieval Old Town, Baltic seafood, and design-district energy make it one of Northern Europe's most rewarding short breaks. Here's how to plan three days done right.

Sarah Chen
A restored colonial-era structure with terracotta roof tiles and red-painted wooden supports overlooks modern Cartagena's skyline from what appears to be the city's historic fortified walls. - Photo by Woody Willis on Pexelsdestination guide

The Complete Guide to Cartagena

Colonial walls, turquoise islands, and a soundtrack of champeta after dark — here's how to plan a Cartagena trip that goes well beyond the postcard shots.

Sarah Chen
Aerial view of Oaxaca's historic city center featuring the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de Guzmán with its distinctive Baroque twin towers, surrounded by colonial architecture, manicured plaza grounds, and mountains in the background. - Photo by ryan doyle on Unsplashdestination guide

The Complete Guide to Oaxaca

A complete guide to Oaxaca's colonial center, Zapotec ruins, weaving villages, and mezcal country — with real prices, timing, and a three-day itinerary to plan from.

Sarah Chen
Bryggen waterfront in Bergen with its iconic row of colorful Hanseatic merchant houses reflected in the harbor, backed by snow-covered forested mountains under overcast skies. - Photo by MAO YUQING on Unsplashdestination guide

The Complete Guide to Bergen

Bergen pairs a UNESCO wharf, mountain funiculars, and Norway's best fjord access into a city you can walk end to end. Here's when to go, where to stay, and how to plan it.

Sarah Chen
A peaceful riverside scene along Ljubljana's Ljubljanica River showing classical European architecture with distinctive arched windows, bare deciduous trees, and period bridges reflecting in calm water. - Photo by Fajar Al Hadi on Unsplashdestination guide

The Complete Guide to Ljubljana

Slovenia's riverside capital pairs a walkable, car-free Old Town with easy day trips to Lake Bled and Postojna Cave — here's how to spend two or three unhurried days there.

Sarah Chen
A grand courtyard of a colonial-era palace or mansion in Seville, featuring yellow ochre walls with red trim, Romanesque arches, manicured hedges, and a palm tree beneath clear blue sky. - Photo by Lianhao Qu on Unsplashdestination guide

The Complete Guide to Seville

From Moorish palace courtyards to riverside flamenco bars, Seville packs centuries of Andalusian history into a city you can cross on foot in 25 minutes.

Sarah Chen
A panoramic view of Porto's historic Ribeira district rising steeply from the Douro River, with densely packed multicolored buildings, traditional Portuguese architecture, and the Dom Luís Bridge visible on the right. - Photo by Dorin Seremet on Unsplashdestination guide

The Complete Guide to Porto

Porto pairs granite hillsides and azulejo-tiled train stations with Port wine cellars carved into a riverbank. Here's how to see it right in three or four days.

Sarah Chen
A nighttime urban street scene with modern buildings, illuminated blue decorative trees lining both sides of a pedestrian crossing, traffic, and characteristic Japanese city infrastructure. - Photo by Yuika Takamura on Unsplashdestination guide

The Complete Guide to Tokyo: What to See, Do & Eat

Tokyo's driest, clearest season brings illumination displays, thinner crowds at Senso-ji, and Mount Fuji views from Shibuya Sky. Here's how to plan a winter trip that works.

Sarah Chen
A young mountain gorilla in dense tropical forest vegetation, photographed at close range with attentive facial expression and lush green foliage surrounding it. - Photo by Max Christian on Unsplashdestination guide

Eye to Eye with Giants: A First-Timer's Guide to Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

A first-timer's guide to trekking through Bwindi's misty rainforest for a face-to-face encounter with mountain gorillas, plus how to pick your sector and plan permits, packing, and pairing with Lake Bunyonyi.

Sarah Chen
A dramatic alpine valley with steep limestone peaks, coniferous forest, a winding path or road, and a mountain stream, photographed under partly cloudy skies. - Photo by Mat Scott on Unsplashdestination guide

Beyond the Swiss Postcard: Hiking Slovenia's Julian Alps

Slovenia's Julian Alps deliver Matterhorn-grade drama — glacial lakes, via ferrata summits, and hut-to-hut trails — at a fraction of the Swiss Alps' price and crowds.

Sarah Chen
a city with many buildings - Photo by Ollie Tulett on Unsplashquick guide

Prague Quick Guide: Beer, Bridges & Bohemian Charm

Prague enchants with fairy-tale architecture, world-class beer culture, and remarkable affordability. Discover Gothic spires, baroque palaces, and the iconic Charles Bridge.

Sarah Chen
a pool in a backyard - Photo by Kody Goodson on Unsplashdeals promotions

Exclusive: 40% Off Santorini Luxury Villas This Summer

Score 40% off luxury Santorini villas with infinity pools and caldera views. Seven exclusive properties in Oia and Imerovigli from €3,200/week through August.

Sarah Chen
a road with mountains and a body of water - Photo by Reuben Boiser on Unsplashbest of list

Best Hiking Trails in New Zealand: A Ranked Guide

From the iconic Milford Track through pristine Fiordland to the volcanic landscapes of Tongariro, discover New Zealand's most spectacular hiking trails ranked by scenic beauty and unforgettable experiences.

Sarah Chen
White-washed buildings cascading down steep limestone cliffs above turquoise Mediterranean waters, with a fishing boat anchored in the foreground. - Photo by Ryan James Christopher on Unsplashtrip report

A Week in the Amalfi Coast: Sun, Lemons & Coastal Magic

Seven perfect days exploring Italy's most beautiful coastline, from hiking the Path of the Gods to savoring fresh pasta in clifftop villages.

Sarah Chen
A bright yellow 'LISBOA' sign in the foreground with a panoramic view of Lisbon's cityscape, including a prominent church on a hillside, the Tagus River, buildings, and green landscaping in the background. - Photo by Felicia Varzari on Unsplashdestination guide

Lisbon Quick Guide: Everything You Need for a Long Weekend

Discover Lisbon's perfect blend of old-world charm and contemporary energy. From historic Tram 28 rides to authentic fado performances, this hillside capital offers unforgettable culture.

Sarah Chen
A TransNusa Airbus A320 aircraft with registration PK-TLB on a wet runway, with a distinctive orange-roofed building visible in the background. - Photo by Jeffry Surianto on Pexelsbreaking news

Bali Implements New Tourist Tax Starting April 2026

Bali introduces $10 tourist tax starting April 2026 for all international visitors. New fee funds sustainability and infrastructure improvements.

Sarah Chen
Terraced rice paddies with palm trees and tropical vegetation under a partly cloudy sky, showing traditional agricultural landscape typical of Southeast Asian rice-growing regions. - Photo by Stefan Meier on Unsplashtravel tips

Bali on a Budget: How to Spend Two Weeks for Under $1,000

Bali doesn't have to be expensive. Here's how to experience the island's temples, rice terraces, and beaches without breaking the bank.

Sarah Chen
A street food vendor stall with two workers in red uniforms behind an orange counter displaying food items, with Japanese katakana signage and menu boards visible above. - Photo by Polina Kuzovkova on Unsplashbest of list

Bangkok Street Food: 15 Dishes You Must Try

From fiery som tum to silky boat noodles, Bangkok's street food scene is the best in the world. Here are the essential dishes and where to find them.

Sarah Chen
A vibrant nighttime street scene in a densely packed urban entertainment district filled with neon signs in Japanese characters, crowded with pedestrians, featuring magenta and cyan neon lighting dominating storefronts and signage. - Photo by ALEXANDRE LALLEMAND on Unsplashdestination guide

The Ultimate Guide to Tokyo: Beyond the Neon Lights

Discover the hidden side of Tokyo — from serene temple gardens to underground jazz bars and neighborhood sushi counters that locals swear by.

Sarah Chen