Hello fellow travelers!

We’re going back to Sri Lanka!

Okay, not for a while yet. But the flights are booked, the hotels are reserved — and we’re already getting excited.

We’ve been before. We explored the ancient treasures in Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle — like climbing between Sigiriya’s enormous stone lion paws to reach its spectacular summit and Sky Palace.

And we rode the Kandy-to-Ella train, truly one of the world’s most beautiful train journeys.

This time, we’re doing Sri Lanka a little differently.

Our trip will be more about wildlife and nature – heading off the beaten path to less-touristy national parks, going on safari and (hopefully!) seeing plenty of elephants and maybe a leopard or two.

Then we’ll trade the tropical heat for the cool green hills of tea country, where we’ll hike through tea estates and stay in a former tea planter’s bungalow.

If you’ve been to Sri Lanka recently, hit us up with your tips! Just click Reply to this newsletter – we’d love to hear them.

💳 Don’t Make This Credit Card Mistake Abroad

A recent Inc. article highlights an easy-to-avoid travel money trap.

When paying by credit card abroad (e.g., Europe), you’re typically asked if you want to pay in your home currency (say, U.S. or Canadian dollars) or the local currency (e.g., Euros).

• Choose your home currency — The payment processor typically does the conversion, often adding a 3% to 5% markup.
• Choose the local currency — Your credit card’s bank handles the exchange, usually at a much better rate.

👉 Easy rule: When abroad, pay like a local, in the local currency.

👀 What Caught our Eye Lately

​Two Aussies rode electric surfboards down Venice’s Grand Canal — Not exactly the best way to win over the locals! Venice’s mayor called them “overbearing idiots,” and the pair were fined, booted out of the city and had their $25,000 boards confiscated.

​Start planning for the 2027 “eclipse of the century” — This epic eclipse on August 2, 2027 will sweep across southern Spain, Morocco, North Africa and the Middle East, with Luxor (Egypt) getting a whopping 6+ minutes of total darkness. Eclipse-chasing trips are already booking up.

​How to handle flight delays and cancellations — Flight delayed? Don’t wait for it to be officially canceled before scrambling for Plan B – check the airline app for other flights (and even nearby airports) while seats are still available. Another tip: Book morning flights when you can, before the day’s (inevitable?) delays start snowballing.