Journal

The Journal is a collection of travel guides by Zoe, a HowTo Travel contributor. They mix practical planning with first-person destination writing. Most are written from a solo traveler's point of view, with the idea of traveling as though you belong in a place rather than just passing through it.

The planning guides start before the trip. "How to Decide Where to Go When You Have No Idea" uses four questions to narrow down a destination. "How to Plan a Two Week Trip From Scratch" explains why two weeks should not be planned like a long weekend. "How to Book Accommodation That Isn't a Tourist Trap" puts the neighborhood ahead of the hotel, and its companion, "How to Book Tours That Aren't Tourist Traps", shows how to read a tour listing before committing a day to it. "How to Spend Less and Eat Better While Traveling" is about finding a city's real food culture away from the tourist district. "Pack Once, Travel Eight Weeks" describes a carry-on-only system.

The destination pieces include a long weekend in New York, three days in Seoul (what to reserve before landing and what to leave to chance), and why Madrid keeps drawing Zoe back. "The Neighborhood Walk" describes the arrival ritual she uses in the first hours in a new city. "Traveling With Others" offers a solo traveler's advice for sharing a trip without falling out.