Samanta Brown
Global Travel Expert
Latest from Samanta Brown
20 Articles
14 Things Cabin Stewards Recognize Instantly in a Seasoned Passenger
Forget the elite status, the lounge pass, and the monogrammed carry-on. Cabin crew spot a truly seasoned passenger a different way, and they usually do it withi
6 Credit Card Fees to Check Before an International Trip
Most of the money you'll lose to card fees abroad won't show up on a receipt. It appears later, as small line items on a statement, usually after you're home an
6 Countries Rated Highly for Safety by Solo Female Travelers
Safety is hard to reduce to one number. Some rankings look at crime, conflict and military spending, while others focus on how women actually fare in daily life
9 Customs Visitors Should Know Before Entering a Home in South Korea
A doorway in South Korea marks a real boundary between outside and inside. Guests who understand that tend to feel at ease within the first few minutes of a vis
The 7 Cheapest European Capitals for Americans
Two nights in a hotel, a proper dinner, a travel pass and a museum ticket can add up fast, and the total often depends more on the city than on the flight. The
9 U.S. Towns Tourists Visit Once but Rarely Put on Their Return List
Every road trip has a few stops that get checked off and left behind. They're the places with one famous hook, a great photo, and a souvenir for the dashboard.
6 Airline Fees Older Travelers Often Forget to Factor Into the Fare
A ticket price rarely tells the whole story anymore. That's true for every traveler, but it hits differently for older adults who may book by phone, travel with
13 Things Experienced Travelers Never Put in a Checked Bag
Most people think checked-bag mistakes involve oversized shampoo or a forgotten pocketknife. The ones that really sting happen later, at baggage claim, when the
25 Habits That Instantly Mark a Passenger Who Has Sailed Before
You can spot a seasoned cruiser before the ship even clears the pier. It isn't the tan, the lanyard, or the souvenir T-shirt. It's the calm: no hunting for sign
The 7 Countries Where Trains Beat Flying Between Major Cities
A flight from one city to another might last just over an hour. Add the ride to the airport, the security queue and the trip back into town, and the picture cha
15 Reasons Experienced Flyers Refuse to Check a Bag at All
Watch the people who fly every week and you'll notice something odd. They stride off the plane with a single bag over one shoulder while everyone else heads for
24 Things Seasoned Travelers Do Differently on the Return Journey
You spent months planning the trip, and the flight home got about ten minutes of thought. That's exactly where the quiet damage happens: a surprise duty bill, a
15 Seat Requests Cabin Crew Almost Never Refuse for Travelers Over 65
Most of us treat the seat on the boarding pass like a verdict: take it or leave it. For travelers over 65, that quiet assumption can cost hours of aching backs,
16 Airport Habits That Cost Travelers Over 65 Time on Every Trip
You packed carefully, left early, and still ended up rattled at the gate with sore feet and a sinking feeling. Here's the twist: the airport usually isn't what
26 Small Rail Courtesies Staff Extend Only to Regular Passengers
You bought the same ticket as everyone else and sit on the same train. Yet after enough mornings on one line, something shifts. The crew starts handing you smal
13 Things Security Experts Warn You Should Never Leave in Your Rental Car
A rental car feels temporary, which is exactly why so many travelers treat it that way. You toss your phone charger in the console, plug in your navigation hist
13 Mistakes Retirees Say They Made on Their First Big Trip After Leaving Work
Most people picture the first big trip after quitting work as a victory lap: no alarm, no boss, no limits. Then the suitcase won't roll over the cobblestones, t
13 Things Cruise Ship Nurses Quietly Notice About Passengers in the First Day at Sea
You'd think the ship's medical center is the quietest room on board, a tidy little clinic waiting around for a dramatic emergency. In reality, the people who st
Don't Plan a Family Reunion Trip Before Seeing These 13 Rules Multi-Generation Travelers Agreed On
Ask most people why a family reunion trip goes sideways and they'll blame one difficult relative. But the trouble usually starts much earlier: in the group chat
Don't Buy an RV Before Seeing These 12 Things Longtime RVers Wish They'd Known
The brochure version of RV life is a sunset, a campfire and a rig that practically pays for itself. The version longtime RVers trade in campground parking lots