One of the few places out of state we visited this year was Stehekin, Washington which is part of the North Cascades National Park complex. This is a remote town nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains and a lake, and the only ways to get there are either by foot or boat making it … Continue reading North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin Review
Why I’m skipping the iPhone 12 this year
I typically wait 2 to 3 years before upgrading my cell phone, with my main motivation being meaningful camera updates. The last standalone camera I bought was back in 2014 (a gently used Ricoh GR which is still going strong), and I haven't felt the need to buy another because most of the pictures I … Continue reading Why I’m skipping the iPhone 12 this year
Snapshots from North Cascades National Park
It was so good to get away for a while after all the craziness of 2020 (so far). The flight to Seattle wasn't bad, though it did get uncomfortable wearing an N95 mask for over 4 hours. Everyone on the plane cooperated with the rules, and we didn't have any dumb jackasses on our flight … Continue reading Snapshots from North Cascades National Park
Planning for the North Cascades
Had my original travel plans for this year panned out, I would be presently crossing the Atlantic ocean on the way to Great Britain for the next 2 weeks. Alas, COVID. Mrs. Lite & I still wanted to do something away from our home geographic region this summer and felt it was worth the small … Continue reading Planning for the North Cascades
Off to the Midwest!
Since I walked out the doors of graduate school 15+ years ago, year-to-date 2020 has been the longest stretch of time that I've gone without taking a vacation. I figured since my original travel plans all got cancelled, I might as well work and pad the ol' emergency fund in case disaster strikes this winter … Continue reading Off to the Midwest!
How I (eventually) got my money back from a tour operator
Nearly 2 months after requesting a refund from Trafalgar, I finally got my money back. Recent posts here and here detail how I got to this point. Now that this experience has concluded, I wanted to share some advice for other travelers having problems getting refunds from this or any other similar tour company. First … Continue reading How I (eventually) got my money back from a tour operator
My ongoing refund saga with Trafalgar
The travel and leisure industry has been walloped the last several months with no clear end in sight. People are understandably reluctant to travel. I personally have no plans to fly internationally until I feel safe, and since my standard for that is pretty high, it may be a while. For many of us who … Continue reading My ongoing refund saga with Trafalgar
Refunds refunds refunds
I just officially cancelled my last planned tour of 2020. It's not the outcome I was hoping for, but my family, friends, cat, and I are all alive and healthy, so life is still great. I was planning to go on a 2 week tour of Great Britain in the fall with Mrs Lite and … Continue reading Refunds refunds refunds
Cash vs travel credit
Hopefully this is obvious to any seasoned traveler facing a cancellation, but given the choice between a cash refund versus a voucher for future travel, you always want to take the cash. A travel voucher, essentially an IOU for future travel, is typically the quickest, easiest option for both passenger and the company. But there … Continue reading Cash vs travel credit
Random thoughts on life while Sheltering in Place
I'm very fortunate. Despite the world being on pause for who knows how long, we're doing well given the circumstances. Most importantly, the household is in good health. Mrs. Lite has a job that can be done remotely from home, and though my work is temporarily on hold, when things start opening up again my … Continue reading Random thoughts on life while Sheltering in Place
Lite Adventurer 