TRAVEL GUIDES

I’m a meticulous and obsessive-compulsive travel planner. I write comprehensive travel guides that will help first-time travelers plan trips to different destinations around the world like Tokyo, Bangkok, Bali, Athens, and more.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Prague, Czech Republic (2020)

CZECH REPUBLIC / DESTINATIONS / TRAVEL GUIDES Jun 30, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Prague's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its 14th century medieval architecture. It was left largely undamaged by World War II, leaving a well-preserved labyrinth of cathedrals, bridges, and cobblestone streets that attract millions of visitors annually.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Granada, Spain (2020)

DESTINATIONS / SPAIN / TRAVEL GUIDES Jun 27, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Granada was the final stronghold of the Spanish Moors. Evidence of Islamic influence is still prevalent throughout the city, from its Arab baths to the Alcaiceria to the Albayzin and the mighty Alhambra.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain (2020)

DESTINATIONS / SPAIN / TRAVEL GUIDES Last Updated: Jul 5, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Donostia-San Sebastian is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain. It's got beautiful churches and buildings and a wide sandy beach described as one of the best in-city beaches in Europe. But what San Sebastian is most famous for, is its food.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Osaka, Japan (2020)

DESTINATIONS / JAPAN / TRAVEL GUIDES Jun 22, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Osaka is Japan's third largest city by population and the central metropolis of the Kansai region. Nicknamed tenka no daidokoro or "the nation's kitchen", it's a food lover's paradise that remains one of our favorite cities to visit in Japan.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Santiago de Compostela, Spain (2020)

DESTINATIONS / SPAIN / TRAVEL GUIDES Last Updated: Jun 24, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

When you think of Santiago de Compostela, the first thing that comes to mind is the camino. It's the final destination in the Camino de Santiago or the Way of St. James, a network of routes that all lead to the city's massive cathedral.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Budapest, Hungary (2020)

DESTINATIONS / HUNGARY / TRAVEL GUIDES Last Updated: Jun 30, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Within minutes of arriving in Budapest, you'll notice its flamboyant architecture. You can't help but appreciate what a beautiful city it is, built on either side of the Danube River with grand buildings and centuries-old thermal baths.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2020)

DESTINATIONS / TRAVEL GUIDES / VIETNAM Last Updated: May 19, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Saigon is an exciting city with the best street food in the country. It’s westernized and cosmopolitan city with glitzy shopping malls, fancy rooftop bars, and a pulsating nightlife.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Hue, Vietnam (2020)

DESTINATIONS / TRAVEL GUIDES / VIETNAM Last Updated: Jun 20, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Hue is a former Vietnamese capital that served as the Nguyen Dynasty's seat of power for well over a century. It's home to the magnificent Imperial City and a series of royal tombs housing the remains of nine Nguyen Dynasty emperors.

The First-Timer’s Trekking Guide to Sapa, Vietnam (2020)

DESTINATIONS / TRAVEL GUIDES / VIETNAM Last Updated: Jun 20, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

When you think of pristine rice terraces and trekking in Vietnam, you think of Sapa. It's home to the Hoang Lien Son mountain range and some of the most popular trekking trails in Vietnam.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Hoi An, Vietnam (2020)

DESTINATIONS / TRAVEL GUIDES / VIETNAM Last Updated: May 19, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Hoi An is a city in Quang Nam Province in Central Vietnam. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was one of the most heavily-frequented trading ports in Southeast Asia from the 17th to the 18th centuries.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Tokyo, Japan (2020)

DESTINATIONS / JAPAN / TRAVEL GUIDES Last Updated: Jun 20, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Tokyo is one of the most exciting cities not just in Japan, but in the world. It is an absolutely massive metropolis with a never-ending list of fun and interesting things to do.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Porto, Portugal (2020)

DESTINATIONS / PORTUGAL / TRAVEL GUIDES Last Updated: Jun 20, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Located along the Douro River, Porto's historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is characterized by hilly cobblestone streets, centuries-old churches, and beautiful azulejo tiles.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Chiang Mai, Thailand (2020)

DESTINATIONS / THAILAND / TRAVEL GUIDES Last Updated: Jun 20, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Chiang Mai is one of the most popular destinations in Thailand, perhaps second only to Bangkok in its appeal. It's a cool mountain town known for its hill tribes, lush rainforests, elephant sanctuaries, and interesting cuisine.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Bangkok, Thailand (2020)

DESTINATIONS / THAILAND / TRAVEL GUIDES Last Updated: Jul 11, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Bangkok is one of those cities that never gets old. No matter how many times you've been, you'll always discover something new and exciting to see, do, and eat. It's got a near perfect mix of food, culture, nightlife, shopping, affordability, and grittiness that's unmatched anywhere in Southeast Asia.

The Shirakawago Winter Travel Guide

DESTINATIONS / JAPAN / TRAVEL GUIDES Last Updated: Jun 9, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Shirakawago is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses. It’s located in the remote Shogawa River Valley in Gifu prefecture, close to the border with Toyama.

The First-Timer’s Winter Travel Guide to Sapporo in Hokkaido, Japan (2020)

DESTINATIONS / JAPAN / TRAVEL GUIDES Last Updated: Jun 20, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Sapporo is one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations – famous for its miso ramen, Sapporo beer, and playing host to the Sapporo Snow Festival which draws in over 2 million tourists annually.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Bagan, Myanmar (Burma, 2020)

DESTINATIONS / MYANMAR / TRAVEL GUIDES Last Updated: Jun 20, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas, and monasteries were constructed in Bagan, of which an estimated 3,822 still stand today in varying states of preservation. This cluster of religious monuments built in an area of about 104 square kilometres (40 square miles) is what makes Bagan one of Myanmar's most popular and intriguing tourist destinations.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar (Burma, 2020)

DESTINATIONS / MYANMAR / TRAVEL GUIDES Last Updated: May 19, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is Myanmar's former capital and its center of commerce. It's one of the most visited destinations in Myanmar and where you'll find the country's most sacred Buddhist temple – Shwedagon Pagoda.