International travelers allowed 72-hour visa-free transit through Beijing, Shanghai & Guangzhou One year ago China began allowing passengers from 45 countries transiting through Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou (Guangzhou was added August 1st 2013) to a third country can enjoy a 72-hour visa-free transit…
As I prepared to arrive in Sydney I recalled that the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry program had been expanded through a partnership with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service’s SmartGate e-Passport program. What is Global…
By VGP Blogger, Rachel B I can’t wait to cuddle up with a bowl of popcorn and a glass of red wine for the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony at 7:30 eastern time on Friday night. The ceremony from Fisht Olympic…
By VGP Blogger: Rachel B Green on the go: eco-friendly travel tips It is tough to travel and stay eco-friendly, but there are a number of ways you can reduce your carbon-footprint when you are on the road. Buying some…
Two explosions during today’s anti-government protest in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, wounded 28 individuals. Violent outbursts continued to grow during the week leading up to these explosions. A bus was burned, two police officers were injured, and several people were injured…
Over the past few weeks tensions have been rising in the Thai political scene and over the weekend, and this week, have continued to escalate. Several people have asked me if I would go to Bangkok right now. I…
Are there destinations you dream about? Places or things that you long to see? I have been extremely lucky that I’ve been able to cross a lot of those places off of my list, but there are still plenty of…
I came back from three weeks in Hawaii with hundreds and hundreds of photos. The views are spectacular and some of the marine wildlife was great to photograph. Here are a few snapshots from the trip:
If you only have two full days to spend on Oahu, here are some sights you won’t want to miss. On a recent trip to Hawaii I rented a car and had some great adventures. Day 1: Drive to the…
By VGP Guest Blogger – Rachel As I began to think about my new year’s resolutions… I realized almost all of them happen to be things that could make me healthier and happier while on the road and hopefully save…
I’ve spent ample time in Thailand exploring all the islands and mainland cities, and by ample I mean almost 12 months now. I’ve spent the last month exploring the Hawaiian Islands in addition to spending time on two previous trips….
December always makes me think about the year past and what’s ahead. It’s hard to believe that I launched First2Board 9 months ago! What an adventure it’s been and I’m looking forward to many more great years ahead. I have…
Today, social media sites make it more and more easy to voice your opinions, both good and bad. Unhappy with your meal? Bash the restaurant on Yelp. Unhappy with the flight attendant? Tweet about it. Unhappy with the suite upgrade…
Who doesn’t love a good deal? Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer great travel deals for those who are looking for a little adventure or a quick getaway. Here are some of my favorites: Hotels: The Benjamin, a newly renovated…
by Rachel – VGP guest blogger I have been practicing Vinyasa flow yoga for about a year now and love the yoga community I have met in my hometown as well as the health benefits and intense workout. Many yogis…
After a cancelled business trip and some rearranged November travel, I had a gaping hole in my calendar and a lot of vacation time to schedule. While I was in Dallas this past weekend, I stopped by the Dallas Travel…