by Jaclyn Brandt | Jan 16, 2020 | News, Top Stories This Week, Travel Tips
Anthony Bourdain was working on a book when he died, and it was just announced it will be published this year. 2-week China itinerary: Day-by-day plans for your trip to China The book, World Travel: An Irreverent Guide, is “a guide to some of the world’s...
![Hiking Smith Rock State Park in Oregon [Video]](https://www.yourtravelspark.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/smith-rock-state-park-oregon-48.jpg)
by Jaclyn Brandt | Jan 10, 2020 | Destinations, News, North America, Top Stories This Week, United States
Smith Rock State Park is unlike anything you have ever seen. Created out of thousands of years of volcanic eruptions, Smith Rock has numerous rock structures, which make it perfect for climbing, hiking, or horseback riding. Here are the things you need to know to...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Jan 6, 2020 | Destinations, News, North America, Top Stories This Week, United States
Green Bay, Wisconsin is known mostly for the Green Bay Packers, but the city holds so much more. The history of the team resonates throughout the town, but there is also nature, food, and plenty of activities. It makes a great day trip from Milwaukee, Chicago, or even...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Dec 12, 2019 | Airlines & Hotels, Destinations, Europe, Hotels, Italy, Locanda Leon Bianco, News
Whether you use a travel agent, booking website, or airbnb, you will soon find that there are so many hotels and apartments available in Venice, and it can soon become overwhelming. Because of this, we wanted to share with you the one we experienced ourselves, because...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Dec 9, 2019 | Airlines & Hotels, Destinations, Hilton, Hotels, Marriott, News, North America, United States
Boise, Idaho may be an overlooked destination, but it is quickly becoming a sought-after vacation destination. Whether it’s skiing, craft beer, floating the river, or catching a football game — you could easily spend weeks in the city and have plenty to do....
by Jaclyn Brandt | Nov 24, 2019 | News, Top Stories This Week, Travel Tips
I have been a travel writer and marketer for years, but recently took the leap and joined a travel agency. The learning process has been interesting, and intense, but I have learned so much more about the travel industry than I ever expected. Here are some things I...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Nov 17, 2019 | Destinations, News, North America, Top Stories This Week, United States
If you are looking for a great hike in the Western United States, a Tamolitch Blue Pool hike is an easy in-and-out trip with a beautiful destination. The Tamolitch Blue Pool is located on the McKenzie River Trail in Central Oregon, only about an hour outside of Bend....
by Jaclyn Brandt | Oct 12, 2019 | Destinations, News, North America, Top Stories This Week, United States
Visiting Bend, Oregon is any nature lover’s dream. With hundreds of hiking trails only miles from town (and some actually in town), it might be easy to overlook some of the other great things the town has to offer. However, in recent years, Bend’s beer...
![Your current state ID may not allow you to fly as of 2020 [2020 update]](https://www.yourtravelspark.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/passport-real-id-act.jpg)
by Jaclyn Brandt | Oct 2, 2019 | Airlines & Hotels, News, Top Stories This Week, Travel Tips
Starting Oct. 1, 2019, residents of the United States will either need a passport to board a plane, or they will have to update their state ID (driver’s license or ID) to a REAL ID. You may have been hearing about the REAL ID a lot lately because it is now less...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Sep 15, 2019 | Destinations, Europe, Italy, News, Top Stories This Week
Castel Sant’Angelo is a must-see destination when visiting Rome, Italy — but it’s not just about the history or beautiful architecture. The castle showcases one of the most amazing views in Rome. Here are the reasons you should include the Castel St....
by Jaclyn Brandt | Sep 13, 2019 | Airlines, Airlines & Hotels, Destinations, Europe, Italy, News, Top Stories This Week, United
United Airlines has announced 31 new international routes for summer, including brand a new flight between New York and Naples, Italy. 1 week in Italy itinerary: Planning your trip [maps and photos] United’s new flight is the only direct flight between the...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Sep 10, 2019 | Asia, China, Destinations, News, Top Stories This Week
If you are planning on visiting China, Beijing is a must-see city, for so many reasons. Beijing, China is full of history, culture, and of course, the Great Wall of China. But even if you only have a few days to visit Beijing, you can still see a lot of it. Here is...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Aug 29, 2019 | Airlines & Hotels, Hotels, Marriott
Marriott International is planning to eliminate single-use toiletry bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and bath gel in all hotel rooms. The hotel brand will be replacing the toiletries with larger, pump-topped bottles. Marriott began testing the change in the last few...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Aug 29, 2019 | Airlines & Hotels, Hotel Pendini, Hotels
Florence is a beautiful and vibrant city in the Tuscan region of Italy, and because of its tourism industry, there are hundreds of hotels and other places to stay while in the city. So where should you stay in Florence, Italy? Here is our review of Hotel Pendini in...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Aug 28, 2019 | News, Top Stories This Week, Travel Tips
Pickpocketing can be a real issue when traveling anywhere (even within your own country), and no one is immune. Even experienced travelers like Rick Steves, who have been traveling to Europe for decades, has been the target of a pickpocket scheme. Below are Rick...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Aug 20, 2019 | Destinations, News, North America, Top Stories This Week, United States
Green Bay can be a fun city for both Packers fans and non-Packers fans alike. The history of the city, as well as the history of the team in a town of barely 100,000, can make a fun weekend to visit. However, in the last few years, the Green Bay Packers have gone...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Jul 30, 2019 | Destinations, News, North America, Top Stories This Week, United States
Seattle, Washington is an eclectic city, with plenty to see — both historically and culturally. The best way to travel around Seattle is by foot — so if you find yourself in downtown Seattle and don’t want to have to drive anywhere, there are plenty of things to...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Jul 20, 2019 | Asia, China, Destinations, News, Top Stories This Week
Hong Kong is an amazing destination to visit, and there are so many things to do in such a small area. I had never considered visiting, but we decided to end our China trip in Hong Kong and then my family joined us for that section. We only had three days in the city,...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Jun 13, 2019 | Destinations, Europe, Italy, News, Top Stories This Week
Italy is a large country full of thousands of years of history. If you are planning a visit, it would be hard to see everything in less than a week, but I would recommend a few weeks at least. On my first trip, we spent 8 days in Italy, and while it was a whirlwind,...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Jun 3, 2019 | Airlines & Hotels, News, Top Stories This Week, Travel Tips
If you are taking a flight and not planning to check a bag, packing makeup in carry-on luggage (as well as toiletries) can seem like a complicated task. But if you follow the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) 3-1-1 rule (or the 2020 TSA makeup...
