Not your mom's travel guide.

 

I haven't just travelled abroad—I've lived there. I'm also not afraid to tell you the things you really want to know, in addition to some of the basics. My brutally honest tips don't just tell you how to travel somewhere, but tell you how to do it like a local.

 

For anything from phone apps to visa apps, I am here with a tip. 

 

Travelling can be a real party, but I want to help you wake up in the morning without regrets. I want your travel hangover to be mild—some money spent, maybe some things lost along the way—but in the end, an amazing experience that made it all worth it.

 

So who am I?

 

My name is Tess. I'm from the Washington DC area of the U.S. I didn't leave the country until I was 18, but I've been lucky enough to keep my passport handy ever since.

 

I hate when people travel like a-holes, so I write about culture and responsible travel & tourism.

 

I've always loved writing, and I'm keenly interested in language and culture. In college,

I studied English & Anthropology, which I think is the closest thing to travel writing that you can study at a large state university (go Terps!). With this foundation in mind,

I hope to encourage readers to think about travel in terms of culture and communication.

 

I also want to make sure you have a great time, and don't miss out on all the must-sees.

 

Places I've lived:

• Hawai'i (Maui), 2011

• Spain (Seville), 2012

• England (London, Bath), 2014-2015

• Italy (Naples and Southern region), Summers 2014-2015

 

I hope to talk about culture and travel with you while we both share a laugh. Ideally, we'll also share a pizza.

 

BlondVoyage is the story of the lessons I've learned in some special places I've been. I'm here to help anyone with an interest in travel, including your awesome mom.