Why international award flights often cost more than you expect, and how to know when using miles is really worth it. By Dirk Ebener - January 2, 2026 When “Free” Isn’t Free: Rethinking Airline Miles for International Travel “Loyalty teaches you how to earn miles quickly, but experience teaches you when to spend them slowly. International travel is where that lesson becomes expensive. I’ve learned that the best redemptions aren’t the ones that feel exciting; they’re the ones

By Dirk Ebener – December 30, 2025 International airports and lobby are a safe-haven for passengers Travel reminds us how unpredictable life can be. No matter how carefully we plan, surprises await—a missed train turns into finding a hidden café, or a detour becomes the highlight of the trip. Over time, I've realized the difference between a stressful and an unforgettable journey often depends on preparation, mindset, and awareness. Savvy travelers aren’t defined by expensive

By Dirk Ebener - December 20, 2025    The food selection at London market, like Borough Market, is amazing! “London taught me that eating well isn’t about spending more, but about paying attention. Coffee shops, markets, and pubs guided my experience rather than serving as indulgences. By adjusting to the city’s pace, £60 a day proved sufficient." - Dirk Ebener Finding London’s Daily Rhythm London rewards patience and exploration. Over ten days, I learned to move at the city’

By Dirk Ebener - December 19, 2025 Local Japanese street food at night market in Tokyo, Japan. Woman grilling yakitori pork and chicken at a street food vendor market during the Japanese Winter Festival. “Every journey begins with a question, and every answer can be found at a shared table. Food connects us where words fall short, reminding us that the world’s greatest stories are told one meal at a time. To travel is to taste — and to taste is to understand.”   Whenever I tr

By Dirk Ebener - December 9, 2025 London Heathrow LHR Terminal 2 There was a particular quiet that filled the air just before a long-awaited trip. The initial flight DL 30 was delayed five times, and finally cancelled right before midnight. Months of research, notes, and late-night plans now reduced to one feeling—anticipation. My long-imagined journey, Eating London for £60 a Day , was finally about to begin with a 24 hour delay. This trip had been on my mind for months—par

By Dirk Ebener - December 5, 2025 The Happy Travel or Cancelled Journey Monitor! There’s a moment every traveler knows—the soft chime of a notification, the slight tightening in your chest, and the quiet hope that the delay won’t turn into something bigger. I felt that familiar mix of anticipation and frustration as I moved around in the international terminal at the Atlanta airport to fly to London, watching the departure board flicker from delayed… to delayed again… and fin

By Dirk Ebener - December 4, 2025 There’s something almost poetic about the first meal of a journey—the one you eat at 35,000 feet while the world drifts quietly below. It’s rarely glamorous, never perfect, and yet it carries a sense of anticipation that no chef on the ground could replicate.   As the flight lifts into the sky, I find myself settling into that familiar rhythm of travel: the hum of the engines, the soft glow of the reading lights, and the quiet reminder that I

By Dirk Ebener - December 4, 2025 Food vendor at a street food stand in Borough Market, one of the largest and oldest food markets in London, serving Green Thai Curry in a bowl. Travel has a way of testing your imagination long before you ever board a plane. Over the past few weeks, I’ve talked about my upcoming “Eating London for £60 a Day” experience with friends, travelers, and people who love London as much as I do. Their reactions say everything—surprise, curiosity, envy

By Dirk Ebener - December 3, 2025 Steaming pots and sizzling pans in kitchens around the world tell stories of culture, comfort, and...

By Dirk Ebener - December 2, 2025 As a seasoned traveler, I have come to understand that the essence of travel lies not in its perfection, but in its imperfections. It is in the interruptions, the small flaws, and the fleeting details that we often overlook. Food, it is more than just taste—it's a vessel that carries the culture of a place in every bite. Travel propels us forward, but it's memory that anchors us. Writing is the bridge that connects them, keeping the essence o

By Dirk Ebener - November 18, 2025 I felt my heart skip a beat when the midday sun glinted off the cobblestones of Rome's Piazza Navona, and my phone slipped for a second in the click of my camera shutter. Just a moment of distraction—and suddenly, the lens didn't feel secure anymore. Walking through unfamiliar streets, there's a certain thrill in pulling out your phone for that perfect shot… but also a vulnerability you don't always see until it's too late. Enjoy reading " T

By Dirk Ebener - October 31, 2025 London, Oxford Street, with Christmas lights and beautiful decorations. “As the film “Tracks” reminds us, every journey is less about what we take and more about what we leave behind.” ( written by Marion Nelson, based on Robyn Davidson’s memoir) There’s a particular kind of excitement that settles in when the countdown begins — not months away, but just five short weeks before a long-awaited journey. London has been calling me for months no

By Dirk Ebener - October 26, 2025 Torii Gates are traditional Japanese gates at the entrance of Shinto shrines that mark the transition from the mundane to the sacred. “Japan calls to me like a memory I’ve never lived — a place where every flavor tells a story, every street whispers history, and every tradition feels sacred. Traveling there isn’t just about food; it’s about tasting centuries of culture in a single bite. I hope to lose myself in its markets, temples, and kitch

Cities have always been magnets for travelers. They are where history is etched into stone cathedrals, where skyscrapers scrape the sky, and where street food mingles with haute cuisine. For centuries, travelers have visited cities seeking inspiration, adventure, and flavors that carry the weight of generations. However, over the past two decades, the way we travel through these urban spaces has undergone a profound shift.

Weinlese, the grape harvest, is one of Germany’s most cherished seasonal rituals, beginning in late September and often stretching into October. Here, tradition reigns: much of the harvest is still done by hand, especially on the vertiginous slopes of the Mosel and Rhine. This is not just a practical necessity but a celebration of heritage. The harvest is a tapestry of community, where families, friends, and neighbors gather to pluck grapes, share hearty meals among the vines

By Dirk Ebener - October 18, 2025 Travel is about discovery, like finding a back-street café, a street food vendor, or a hidden ramen bar. Now, our most useful travel companions are the apps on our phones, ready to guide and inspire us. I’ve learned that a few good tools can turn confusion into confidence and help reveal the stories behind every meal. Here are my favorite travel and food apps, making each journey more flavorful and smooth, one bite and step at a time.   1. Ci

By Dirk Ebener - October 14, 2025 The waterfront in Shanghai is called The Bund (Waitan) , the famous promenade along the west bank of the Huangpu River Traveling across China for work has given me the opportunity to explore its diverse regional cuisines, each offering unique flavors and cultural insights. By balancing business responsibilities with intentional culinary exploration, I’ve discovered that food is one of the most powerful ways to connect with people and places

By Dirk Ebener - October 13, 2025 Local Japanese street food at a night market in Tokyo, Japan. A woman is grilling yakitori pork and chicken at a street food vendor market at a Japanese Winter Festival. Traveling, for me, is a feast for the senses — a journey where every aroma, sound, and taste tells a story. The heartbeat of a destination often lies in its kitchens and street stalls, where history and hospitality meet over simmering pots and sizzling pans. From the first si

By Dirk Ebener - October 5, 2025 Travel books have always been more than stories—they are guides for the unknown. Travel books have...

For years, airports meant crowded terminals, long lines, and overpriced food courts. On my first international trip as a young professional, I endured hours in an uncomfortable chair, juggling my carry-on and laptop, wishing for peace before a transatlantic flight to Singapore. Over four years later, airports mean something else entirely.