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Browse posts…
10 Reasons You Should Never Go Abroad (Unless You Like Joy)
(10 minute read)
Consider this your warning label. Abroad may cause sudden joy: street aperitivo, accidental friendships, languages you butcher proudly, and a suspicious addiction to trains and pastries. In ten “reasons,” this playful rant argues travel is inconvenient, transformative, and absolutely worth it.
Travel Isn’t Neutral—And It Never Was
(10 minute read)
Travel is never just a vacation. Your passport, your spending, your photos, and your routes all carry weight. This essay reframes ethical tourism as curiosity and respect, offering practical questions to travel with eyes open, without killing the joy.
10 Rookie Travel Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them Like a Pro)
(6 minute read)
Even seasoned travelers make rookie mistakes. This list catches the common ones before they cost you time, money, or sanity, from overpacking and tight connections to bad SIM plans, restaurant traps, and ignoring local rules. Steal these simple fixes and travel like you have done it forever.
Slow Travel Is a Privilege—But It Might Be the Most Responsible Way to Explore
(10 minute read)
Slow travel is not just an aesthetic, it is a privilege. This essay unpacks who gets to travel slowly, why it can reduce harm, and how to adopt its principles even on limited time or budgets, from fewer bases to trains and local spending.
An Honest Ranking of European Airports, Based on Vibes and Chaos
(4 minute read)
Forget efficiency rankings. This unapologetically subjective list grades Europe’s biggest airports by vibes and emotional damage, from Zurich’s spa-like calm to CDG’s existential maze and Heathrow’s corporate purgatory. See where your usual hub lands, and plan your next connection accordingly.
Travel Without Trespass: How to Visit Communities Without Turning Them Into Attractions
(9 minute read)
Off-the-beaten-path can become off-limits fast. Learn how to explore with curiosity without turning locals into props or neighborhoods into photo ops. From asking before snapping photos to choosing community-led stays, this guide shows how to travel as a guest, not a consumer.
Cruise Ships Suck.
(6 minute read)
Cruise ships sell effortless luxury, but the real bill lands on oceans and port cities. This blunt breakdown covers dirty fuel, wastewater, overtourism, exploitative labor, and greenwashed promises, then offers better ways to travel: slower routes, nights onshore, and local-first spending.
What It’s Like to Be American Abroad (And How to Tone It Down)
(3 minute read)
Americans abroad stand out, sometimes for all the wrong reasons. This quick, affectionate guide shows how to lower the volume, read the room, navigate European service, dress with intention, and embrace different rhythms, without losing your personality.
Why We No Longer Trust TripAdvisor or Yelp for Travel Reviews
(6 minute read)
TripAdvisor and Yelp once felt indispensable. Now they are flooded with fake reviews, opaque algorithms, and pay-to-play incentives that punish small businesses and mislead travelers. Learn why we stopped trusting them, how to vet recommendations, and which sources we use instead.
An Incomplete and Biased Guide to European Toilets
(4 minute read)
Nobody warns you about Europe’s bathroom culture until it’s a full-blown emergency. Pay-to-pee turnstiles, missing seats, secret flush buttons, and bidets that inspire existential dread. This cheeky field guide preps you for the awkward moments, and the stories you will laugh about later.
How You Can Help Rescue Ireland's Tourism Industry
(4 minute read)
Ireland’s tourism engine took a brutal pandemic hit, and a fresh 2025 slump is raising alarms. This piece explains what’s driving the downturn, then shows how you can help: travel beyond Dublin, book local, go greener, and fuel the craic.
What We Stand For: Thoughtful Travel in a World That Needs It
(3 minute read)
Travel can expand empathy, or strip places into content. Tripologiste lays out a clear ethos for doing better, respect for place, cultural awareness, local-first partnerships, lighter-footprint routing, and honesty about harmful platforms. If you want itineraries that feel good, start here.
Beautiful Chaos in Corsica: The Prototype
(12 minute read)
Two friends, one island, and barely a plan. An overnight ferry, mountain festivals, livestock-clogged roads, a heat-struck hike, and a scraped car that ends in Texas small talk. This Corsica misadventure became the Tripologiste prototype for travel that leaves room for surprise.
Love at First Site: Alternatives to Airbnb
(5 minute read)
Airbnb fatigue is real. This guide rounds up smarter places to stay, from Fairbnb and home exchanges to housesitting, boutique hotels, B&Bs, and modern hostels. Learn which option fits your values and budget, plus why booking direct can save money and headaches.
Why We Broke Up With Airbnb
(7 minute read)
Airbnb once felt like the antidote to hotels. Now it often means surprise fees, cleaning chores, inconsistent quality, and an impact on housing and neighborhoods. This piece breaks down the hidden costs, trust issues, and ethical tradeoffs, and why we stopped recommending it.
Becoming Tripologiste
(9 minute read)
Born between Burgundy and Texas, Paul Browning grew up making Europe feel like home. A spontaneous Corsica detour with friend Jonas sparked a travel philosophy, purposeful plans with room for magic, and the leap from lifelong wanderlust to Tripologiste, a European trip-planning studio.