Blog – Lose the Map

‘Flight Shaming’: What Is It and How Is It Changing Travel?

Joanna KalafatisNovember 20, 2019

If you've been following the news about young Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. or the terrifying environmental news in general, you may have heard of "flight shaming". Broadly speaking, it is the practice of pressuring people to fly less, or not at a... Discover More..

Responsible TravelTips

Riverhouse on the Deschutes: Retreat to Nature in Bend, Oregon

Joanna KalafatisNovember 6, 2019

Though I am a city girl at heart, I need frequent trips into the wild outdoors to avoid going crazy. To breathe in the fresh air, hike up wooded hills, and take a long mental pause from the constant noise and lights of the city. So I ventured up t... Discover More..

AdventureHotelsNatureNorth America

Dia de Los Muertos Festival: A Celebration of the Dead

Joanna KalafatisNovember 4, 2019

I recently realized that in nine years of living in LA, a city where 32% of the population identifies as Mexican-American, I have never attended a Dia de Los Muertos Festival. This year I set about changing that enormous oversight. One of the r... Discover More..

CultureNorth AmericaOffbeat

Get Internet On The Road: TEP Travel Wifi Review

Joanna KalafatisSeptember 17, 2019

As someone who travels a lot and frequently works on my computer, bad or non-existent Internet on the road is a constant source of annoyance. Sometimes I like to disconnect on my travels as much as the next person. However, there are times where w... Discover More..

TipsTravel Gear

The TWA Hotel: A Night in the Golden Age of Travel

Joanna KalafatisAugust 14, 2019

When I first moved to New York, I spent most of the winter eagerly awaiting the day I would pull up with my parents to the front of the TWA Terminal at JFK Airport. Being a ten year old at the time, it wasn't because I was looking forward to admir... Discover More..

ArchitectureHotelsNorth America

6 Kickass Greek Women Travelers You Need to Follow on Instagram

Joanna KalafatisAugust 8, 2019

It's summer, and one of the most popular destinations this year (and any year, really), is Greece. I wanted to give a shoutout to both the gorgeous landscapes, towns, and beaches of my home country, and some incredible Greek female travelers I follow... Discover More..

EuropeInspiration

end of summer blues in Venice California

10 Instagram Accounts Everyone Who Loves LA Should Follow

Joanna KalafatisJune 1, 2019

Living in Los Angeles is sometimes an idyllic, sun-soaked dream. Other times, it's an unnavigable sprawling mass of endless neighborhoods featuring a constant barrage of events and activities that leave you stuck at home, absolutely paralyzed with in... Discover More..

InspirationNorth AmericaPhotography

25 Kanji You Should Know Before Visiting Japan

Joanna KalafatisApril 21, 2019

I probably don't have to convince you that visiting Japan is a great trip idea. Wandering through Japan on my own remains one of the most beautiful, awe-inspiring, exciting, yet at times, challenging trips I have taken in my life.There is a lot to lo... Discover More..

AsiaCultureTips

Eco hotels lining the beach of Isla Baru

Cartagena Beaches: Isla Baru vs. Isla Grande

Joanna KalafatisApril 14, 2019

Cartagena may be right on the Caribbean coast, but its function as a major port city and oil extraction site make the city-adjacent beaches...somewhat less than alluring. If you truly want to spend time on beautiful Cartagena beaches, you're going to... Discover More..

CaribbeanNatureSouth AmericaTips

Janice Lintz: Surviving Abuse and Cancer to Start a Journey to Every Country in the World

Joanna KalafatisMarch 13, 2019

I recently had the pleasure to interview Janice Lintz, an incredible woman on a mission to visit every country in the world. This is a feat that has only been accomplished by 15 women to date, and Janice wants to get her name on that list! Lintz o... Discover More..

AdventureInspirationInterviewTips