Hey, Reader! ๐
Sky high fuel prices.
Crazy long security lines at the airports.
Wars.
This may not be the best time to travel.
And if you're not feeling, own that decision and be ok with it.
You need to trust your gut and decide what's right for you.
But if you still want to travel when things feel a bit uncertain I've got a one word mantra to consider...
Refundable
As in, book every aspect of your trip in a way that you can recoup almost all of it if you decide not to go.
If using points and miles, check the program to see which will refund your points if you cancel.
If you're booking accommodations, check the cancellation policy and make sure you can cancel in time if need be.
For flights, it could be worth the premium you might pay to have that absolute, 100% full flexibility to call off your trip.
I know it can be annoying to pay more money for that flexibility.
But in times like these, I do believe it's a strategy worth considering.
Now, let's dive into this week's newsletter!
Inside you'll find:
- Going beyond counting countries
- A peek inside a new, overnight sleeper train
- Funny signs around the world
- The power of the road trips
Let's go!
๐๏ธ The Journey Beyond Country Counting and Unexpected Kenya
Sarika Bansal is a travel writer, editor, and former editorial director of Afar magazine.
Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Vice, and she focuses on ethical storytelling, global perspectives, and the deeper impact of travel. She currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya, with her family.
In this episode, Co-host Paige McClanahan talks with Sarika Bansal about how travel shapes us, from living in Kenya to trekking in the Everest region, and how those experiences influence the way we think about travel itself.
Sarika also reflects on how stepping outside your comfort zone can reshape your worldview in unexpected ways.
We also get into the idea of country counting, the value of returning to places, and how different stages of life influence not just where we go, but how we show up when we get there.
Tune In To Learn:
- Why Sarikaโs move to Nairobi reshaped her daily life, pace, and perspective
- What drove her to travel writing and how growing up between the U.S. and India influenced her approach to storytelling and travel
- What a โquestionableโ volunteer trip taught her about ethics in travel early on
- How trekking in the Everest region while pregnant forced her to slow down
- What itโs like exploring quieter trails, monasteries, and local life beyond the Everest โhighwayโ
- How climate change is visibly impacting fragile destinations like Everest Base Camp
- Why the idea of โcountry countingโ breaks down when you question what it means to visit a place
- And loads more!
Or search "Zero To Travel" wherever you listen to podcasts.โ
โ
๐ Travel Round-Up
๐ Night Train Instead Over A Short Flight? (An Inside Look At The Paris - Berlin Route)
If you're curious about the experience of traveling overnight on a train in Europe, Euronews covered a new sleeper train route from Paris to Berlin.
"On 26 March, the inaugural journey of its second permanent service โ from Paris to Berlin took place, and Euronews Travel was among the first passengers on board."
โRead the rest of the article and see pics of the sleeper bunks here.โ
๐ Why Road Trips Still Matter
I'm a fan of Key & Peele, so when I saw that Keegan-Michael Key was featured in a piece on the BBC about "Why Road Trips Still Matter" I was hooked in.
Here is a snippet...
"Once the dominant form of leisure travel in the United States, whose massive highway system sprawls through endless prairies, deserts and national parks, road trips have played a crucial part in shaping national identity. Here are Key's thoughts on why this iconic American pastime will never go out of style."
โCheck out the rest of the article here.โ
๐บ๏ธ Funny Signs Around The World
I love a good witty sign that gives me a chuckle.
About a month ago, the band I played in did a gig in Southern Norway and I saw this sign at a cafe where I got coffee.
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Translation: Thin people are the easiest to kidnap, think about safety and eat cake!
Want more?
Here is a fun blog post roundup off funny signs from around the world curated by Upeksha from Diary of a Tourist.โ
๐๐ผ Community Shout Out
Got a story to share? Drop me a line and we'll share it with the community or click here to send me an audio message.โ
Do you feel a friend or family member would get value out of this newsletter?
Feel free to forward it or have them sign up here.โ
๐ Travel Tech Tools (Including Great Discounts!)
๐ฆ Surfshark VPN: Stay Protected Online
Surfshark VPNโVirtual Private Networkโencrypts everything you do online safeguarding your data and privacy.
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Surfshark VPN can even SAVE you money on everything from flight tickets and hotel bookings to online shopping purchases by connecting to a location where prices are more affordable.
Go to https://surfshark.com/zerototravel or use code ZEROTOTRAVEL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! (Comes with a money-back guarantee).
A quote before you go...
"If you aren't in the moment, you are either looking forward to uncertainty, or back to pain and regret."โ
โ
-Jim Carrey
โFollow us on instagram here.โ
โConnect with me on LinkedIn here.โ
Thanks for being a part of this community, and we'll see you next week!
Much love โค๏ธ,
Jason
โ๐ Subscribe To The Zero To Travel Podcast Here (It's FREE)
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