Pirate's Life Vacations

05/21/2026

As of May 21, 2026, all U.S.-bound American citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who have been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of arrival in the United States must only enter through Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) for enhanced screening. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will apply enhanced public health screening at IAD in response to the Ebola outbreak. The Dulles requirement applies to all passengers, including U.S. citizens and LPRs, who were present in those countries. Please be prepared for flight changes or cancellations. More at https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/global-events/worldwide-caution.html

04/28/2026

If you apply for a passport this summer, you’ll get one with DJT’s face and signature on it.

Do with that information as you need.

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day!

I wanted to take a moment to celebrate the story of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica experienced rapid deforestation in the mid-20th century, driven primarily by the expansion of cattle ranching for export markets, alongside the growth of agricultural industries. By the 1980’s, Costa Rica had lost over HALF of its forests. In their absence, biodiversity declined at an alarming rate, and the ecological balance once maintained by these forests began to unravel. Since forests also play a vital role in regulating water cycles, water systems became less stable and flooding, along with its effects, became more severe during the rainy season. This made agriculture less predictable causing economic instability.

Deforestation undermined the economy it was supposed to support.

Costa Rica took measures to change this trajectory.

Over the course of 30 years, they began to create an intricate National Park System, paid land owners to conserve forest areas, created incentives to support the natural regeneration of forests, and initiated policy restrictions on forest clearing. Eventually, they made nature-based tourism the central economic industry.

The Slogan “Pura Vida” was born.

In celebration of Costa Rica’s successful shift towards a more sustainable economy through Eco-Tourism, I announce my first mother-daughter small group adventure to Costa Rica! Join Anya and me in Costa Rica in May of 2027! I’m still hashing out some of the details.

I can tell you that space is limited, so fill out the form to be the first to learn about the trip (this is not a commitment).

https://forms.gle/hmYxy7TeAt2PoPCA8

03/27/2026

My youngest is a senior in High School, and my college kid’s spring break aligned, and with the opening of the new EPIC Universe at Universal Studios (since I’m continuing to send clients), we decided that a whirlwind visit was in order. (The family enjoys being part of my needed research.)

Here are my general thoughts:

The immersive design and aesthetic detail of the park are great.

The lands: Celestial Park, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, and the 3rd Wizarding World land at USO set in 1920’s Paris from the Fantastic Beasts movies, although the headliner attraction here takes place in the Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series.

You enter each land through a portal off of the central Celestial Park.

The attractions were ok…. We were lucky that we managed to grab a couple of rides on Stardust Racers just after its several weeks pause. It is a great roller coaster. Aside from that, most of the attractions were… ok… None really stood out compared to the other two parks. The two main shows at the park were great and definitely a must do. All of the food that we tried was good. (I only sample the the foods that have already proven to be fan favorites.)

In my opinion, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure keeps its spot as best ride at Universal Orlando, located in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure.

03/22/2026

Worldwide Caution: The Department of State advises Americans worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution. Americans abroad should follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Periodic airspace closures may cause travel disruptions. U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. Groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world.

Enroll at step.state.gov to receive the latest security alerts and follow the “U.S. Department of State - Security Updates for U.S. Citizens” channel on WhatsApp or on X. When planning travel, carefully read the Travel Advisory and detailed information for your destination, and any recent alerts at travel.state.gov/destination. Read more: https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/global-events/worldwide-caution.html

03/18/2026

:( These folks need to get paid!!!!!!

"I have to work through the government shutdown — even though I'm not getting paid much. I'm struggling financially, so I had to visit food pantries."

(Credit: Getty Images)

03/17/2026

"By solo travel, I don’t mean hiking the Camino de Santiago by yourself," writes Afar digital copy editor Pat Tompkins, who began traveling alone in college and, at 70 years old, still hasn't stopped.

Solo travel doesn't have to be "all or nothing": it can mean many different things, from strolling alone to joining a group trip without your partner. Here are her five best tips for new solo travelers of all ages—including the best ways to ease into it.

03/16/2026

😞

The blackout is the latest in a series of widespread outages that last for hours ​or days and that this weekend sparked a rare violent protest in ⁠the communist-run country.

03/13/2026

I flew Breeze Airlines for the first time this past week.
I lucked out with a $150 nonstop roundtrip ticket.

Since I was traveling solo, I decided to give it a try and challenge myself to not buy any add-ons. As a low cost air carrier, everything is a charge. You are charged extra for seat selection, carry-on luggage, checked luggage, snacks and beverages.

Included is your ticket, 1 personal item that fits under the seat in front of you, and random seat selection.

First flight, I landed a window seat. Return flight, I was stuck with a middle seat. I had no issue fitting my backpack under the seat in front of me. The flight attendants were lovely and very easy going. App check-in was super easy. The seating itself was as uncomfortable as every other economy flight that you pay much more for, and I’d venture to say that it was more comfortable than comparable low-cost air carriers. For the price and experience on a short flight, 10/10. If I were to travel greater distances, I’d definitely add seat selection.

https://www.flybreeze.com/home

03/03/2026

The State Department urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries listed using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks. Americans who need State Department assistance arranging to depart via commercial means, CALL US 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) and +1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. and Canada). ENROLL in step.state.gov to get the latest security updates from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.