Faceted Travel

Denver, Colorado · 21 countries · 60+ destinations

Travel guides from people who actually went.

We’re Todd and Kimberly. We write the guide we wish we’d had: what is worth your time and money, and what quietly isn’t.

Browse all guidesAbout us
Where we go

Our sweet spots

Six places we know well enough to have opinions about.

HawaiiKauai and Maui in particular. We’ve been to Kauai seven times. We know where to eat breakfast. EuropeRome, Paris, Lisbon, Iceland, Greece, Turkey. First-timer guides with the stuff that actually matters. US travel from DenverDay trips, road trips, and city guides for travelers in the Mountain West. Mexico & the CaribbeanWe’re working through this list one trip at a time. Travel tipsFlights, credit cards, insurance, packing — the practical infrastructure of travel done well. Farther afieldJapan, Thailand, Bali, South Africa and Morocco. The trips worth the longer flight.
Before you book

Planning a trip

When to go, what it really costs, and how to build the itinerary.

Terracotta rooftops of the Alfama district and the Tagus River seen from a Lisbon viewpointBest Time to Visit PortugalColorful buildings lining the Douro riverfront in Porto, PortugalHow to Plan a Trip to Portugal: A Step-by-Step Guide from People Who Overplanned It FirstRed fishing cabins and peaks at Reine in the Lofoten Islands NorwayBest Time to Visit Scandinavia: A Month-by-Month Guide to Midnight Sun, Northern Lights, and Everything BetweenHistoric skyline of Toledo Spain above the Tagus riverHow to Plan a Trip to Spain: A Step-by-Step Guide From Two People Who Kept Going BackThe grand curved facade and canal of Plaza de Espana in Seville SpainHow Much Does a Trip to Spain Cost? Real Numbers From Our TripsColorful wooden Bryggen waterfront in Bergen, Norway, a classic stop on a Scandinavia itineraryHow to Plan a Trip to ScandinaviaThe Plaza de Espana in Seville under spring sunshine one of the best times to visit SpainBest Time to Visit Spain: A Month-by-Month Guide to Getting It RightColorful townhouses and boats along Nyhavn harbor in Copenhagen DenmarkHow Much Does a Trip to Scandinavia Cost? (Real Numbers From Our Trips)

All planning guides ›

The boring, important part

Money & insurance

Travel insurance, credit cards and points, explained without the sales pitch.

Travelers walking through a busy airport departure terminalAnnual vs Single-Trip Travel Insurance: Which Saves You More?Older couple enjoying a beach vacation, travel insurance for seniorsTravel Insurance for Seniors and Pre-Existing Conditions: A Practical GuideA family traveling together on vacationBest Travel Credit Cards for Families (Our Honest Picks and Strategy)View of an airplane wing above the clouds during a flightHow to Use Points and Miles for (Nearly) Free FlightsThe Eiffel Tower rising over Paris, a classic European trip worth insuringBest Travel Insurance for Europe: What to Look For Before You GoTravelers waiting in an airport departure terminal before an international flightIs Travel Insurance Worth It? Honest Answer From Frequent Travelerstravel insurance documents and passportBest Travel Insurance for International Trips: What You Need to Knowtravel credit cards and rewards pointsBest Travel Credit Cards for Beginners: Our Top Picks
What to bring

Gear & luggage

Carry-on strategy, packing lists, and the kit that has survived our trips.

Traveler pulling a red rolling suitcase through an airport terminalCarry-On vs Checked Bag: Which Should You Choose?Suitcase packed with organized travel gear ready for an international tripBest Travel Gear We Actually Use (Tested Across 30+ Countries)An open suitcase neatly packed with folded clothes and travel itemsThe Ultimate Carry-On Packing List: How We Travel for Weeks With Just a Bagcarry-on luggage airport terminal travel bagBest Carry-On Luggage for Frequent Flyers (Our Tested Picks)packing suitcase travel europe luggagePacking List for Europe: What to Bring (and What to Leave Home)
Getting there

Flights & logistics

Finding cheap flights, timing your booking, and the moving parts nobody enjoys.

Traveler pulling a red rolling suitcase through an airport terminalCarry-On vs Checked Bag: Which Should You Choose?View of an airplane wing above the clouds from a window seatThe Best Time to Book Flights: What Actually Works (From Frequent Flyers)View of an airplane wing above the clouds during a flightHow to Use Points and Miles for (Nearly) Free Flightsairplane in sky searching for cheap flightsHow to Find Cheap Flights: The Strategies We Actually UseWhy Travel Agencies Are Still Relevent In This AgeWhy Booking Through A Travel Agency Make Sense
Just published

Latest guides

The most recent additions to the site.

Terracotta rooftops of the Alfama district and the Tagus River seen from a Lisbon viewpointBest Time to Visit PortugalA working quinta wine estate surrounded by terraced vineyards in the Douro Valley, PortugalDouro Valley, Portugal Travel GuideJagged volcanic peaks rising above a sea of clouds at Pico do Arieiro in Madeira, PortugalMadeira, Portugal Travel GuideColorful buildings lining the Douro riverfront in Porto, PortugalHow to Plan a Trip to Portugal: A Step-by-Step Guide from People Who Overplanned It FirstGolden limestone cliffs above a sandy cove on the Algarve coast in PortugalThe Algarve, Portugal Travel Guide: Golden Cliffs, Hidden Coves, and the Best Coast in EuropeColorful Pena Palace perched on its hilltop above Sintra, PortugalSintra, Portugal Travel Guide: Fairytale Palaces, Misty Hills, and How to Actually Enjoy It
Todd and Kimberly at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Who writes this

We work remotely, and we worldschool

We’ve owned online businesses for 15+ years, which means we work from wherever we happen to be. Our kids learn on the road with us too: unschooling, worldschooling, homeschooling, depending on the week and the country.

That’s why these guides read the way they do. We are not passing through on a press trip. We are figuring out wifi, laundry, school days and where to eat breakfast, in 21 countries and 60+ destinations so far.

More about us Places we’ve been