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conversation starter

Travel without a smart phone #ConvoStarter

Recently, I was having a juicy conversation with a friend about the use of smart phones while traveling. We agreed. They certainly make life easier. But they also take a lot of flavor out of travel, too. I asked him to write about his thoughts on the topic for this month’s installment of my Conversation Starter series. This is what Kyle had to say. “I don’t use my smart phone very often while traveling and here’s why. First off, I grew up camping with my family, and that’s like belonging to a traveling circus. Canvas tents and gear spilling out of every compartment in our car as we make home in another new park or forest. Then it was running…

Ways of making local friends #ConvoStarter

Welcome to our second post of conversation starters! I say “our” because we are really doing this together, you and me, and other travelers or dormant travelers who join our conversation. In the first “Conversation Starter” post, we talked about whether or not making friends while traveling can transform and enhance the way we experience a destination. Many of the commenters raved about the enriching nature of these connections and even shared a few of their own travel stories. But one of the commenters, Ben, raised an issue that I often hear and wanted to highlight. He wrote: “OK, unlike the rest of the bunch, I actually do think it’s quite difficult to meet people in foreign countries in a…

Traveling for connection #ConvoStarter

I created Travel with Kate a couple years ago to provide a place where people could go for positive perspectives on cultures around the world. I want to inspire others to travel (and live their daily lives) in a way that allows them to connect with individuals from different perspectives, walks of life, and countries. I want to demonstrate the depth of personal growth that can arise from these connections. This idea came to me because when I travel I find that the world is a much more welcoming place than often perceived. And I’ve formed profound friendships with individuals along my travels that have enriched my life and helped me define my own path. But often when I come…

Local travel tools

5 Local Travel Tools Make Local Travel Easy

In a recent Conversation Starter post, we were discussing the feasibility of getting a real immersive experience and making local friends even when on a short trip. Undoubtedly, this can be a dilemma, especially as the number of vacation days can be small and our expectations great. I think the solution can be found with the many companies and apps out there that are superb local travel tools. Here are five such local travel tools to catapult you toward local life in your destination. 1.Tours by Locals (PAID) I love this company. If you read my site or have seen my videos (or signed up for my newsletter lately), you’ll know it. Their platform provides a worldwide database of trusted…

How a Night in Paris Changed My Life

Back during my final semester of college, I was studying abroad, living in Paris with a host family. Within the first month of being there, one of their daughters, Mathilde, asked me if I’d join her and her friends for dinner. Elated that I’d be included in a real French gathering, I accepted. She said everyone would be coming from work, so I shouldn’t dress up too much. But there would be about 15 people at dinner. I thought, “where would we go with 15 people for dinner in a city famous for tiny tables?” In any case, I figured it would be fun and I’d make a bunch of new friends. Little did I know, that dinner would initiate…