Welcome to My Blog!
I retired in 2013 after 23 years as an international flight attendant while living and raising two children in Singapore. I became an empty nester in 2018 when my son graduated college, and my daughter started college. I moved back to Singapore in 2018 and once again lived the ex-pat lifestyle, but as it is with ex-pats, most of my ex-pat friends had transitioned. As an empty nester, I didn’t have much in common with the new ex-pat mothers I met. However, whenever I met new people, just as always, conversations evolved around travel once they realized I was a former flight attendant. People often ask me questions and opinions about travel, so in 2020, I decided to blog about it.
I knew my behind-the-scenes view of travel and travel experiences as a woman of color would make my blog different from many other travel blogs. Being a Black woman, my experience as a flight attendant, extensive travel experience, and ex-pat life give me a different perspective. I hope you can learn from these amazing moments in my life and gain insights on how to best prepare for your next domestic and, or international travels.
Please, remember to like and share my blogs with your friends and family!
Your Expert Traveling Coach,
Dr. Donna
How to thrive with group travel.
I wrote an earlier blog post about choosing your travel partners wisely. Travelers may not always be able to select their travel partners with group travel. However, there are ways to ensure your journey is pleasant and that you thrive with group travel. Recognize...
Travel and the ex-pat experience.
I’ve lived as an ex-pat in London, Germany, and Singapore. The experience of living in different places temporarily taught me valuable lessons in how to make the travel experience a great one. Here are a few ways my ex-pat experience has enhanced my travel...
Travel preparation
You can never be too prepared for travel. There are plenty of things to consider before you travel to make your travel experience a much more pleasant one. I discussed a few ways of travel preparation in a prior blog post. Here are a few more ideas to think about...
How I packed for a weekend trip in a carry-on.
Packing well for travel is a skill that comes from practice. Recently I traveled on a weekend trip that included a wedding and was able to do this with only a carry-on. Travelers can consider a few things that will make their packing easier and improve their ability...
Travel takes you out of your comfort zone.
One of the most significant and most understated values in travel is that it takes you out of your comfort zone. Since Covid, I have tried a few things and recently realized that trying new things has been my way of getting the experiences that travel once provided. ...
Travel and organization
For the savvy traveler, planning and organizing a trip is an absolute must for a great travel experience. Numerous things can go wrong and are not in your control when you’re traveling. However, there are ways to make your travel experience less stressful, and...
Why do people love travel?
There is no right or wrong answer to why people love to travel. Everyone has reasons for travel and preferences that are unique and individual to them. If you've never thought of why you love or want to travel, here are a few ideas that you might find fit your desire...
Five travel must-haves post Covid-19.
With many people choosing to vaccinate against Covid-19, the possibility of safer and healthier travel is closer to reality. However, being vaccinated does not ensure that you will not be affected by the virus, and there are certain health precautions, such as...
Realities of hotel stays.
Anticipating your destination is never the same as finally reaching it. The first stop of your travel is your accommodations, and whether Airbnb or hotel, here are a few ideas to keep in mind when you finally reach your vacation stop. There’s always that “ahh”...
Passport safety tips
Our passports are a rite of passage, figuratively and literally. It is a must-have to travel to an international destination, but also having it means you have taken the first step to international travel. A passport is an important document, and we should treat it...
Travel snack ideas
In a few weeks, my colleagues from the airline industry indicate that some limited food and beverage services will soon return for airplane travelers. It’s always a good idea to travel with your snacks as airport food is expensive, delays are unexpected but a regular...
Traveling while vaccinated
As a travel blogger, I often see and hear that the reason for being vaccinated is to be able to travel. The reality is that being vaccinated will not only lessen your anxiety about social situations but puts others at ease as well. However, being vaccinated is not a...