More Than Just Traveling – A Small Vietnamese Corner in Hof, Germany Travel is not only about moving from one country to another. Sometimes, the most meaningful experiences are found in a simple activity, an iconic building… or even in a small family restaurant hidden inside a shopping gallery. And this is exactly where I want to stop for a moment. Because discovering other cultures does not only happen when we board a plane. Cultural exchange also happens when we meet people from different backgrounds, listen to their stories and open ourselves to new experiences. Today, I would like to recommend a small family business in Hof, Bavaria called “Zur Ecke”. Located inside a small shopping gallery near the cinema and the city center, Zur Ecke specializes in sushi. But behind this lovely place is a Vietnamese family that makes every visit feel special. It is always a pleasure to eat there — not only because the food is delicious, but because of the warmth and kindness of the fa...

  ¿Qué tanto conoces la ciudad donde vives? He pasado por varias mudanzas a lo largo de mi vida. He vivido en diferentes países, ciudades grandes y lugares mucho más pequeños. Y hay algo que suelo hacer cada vez que llego a un sitio nuevo: buscar la oficina de información turística. Pido mapas, información sobre museos, lugares para visitar, eventos, actividades y cualquier cosa que pueda ayudarme a entender mejor dónde estoy. Casi siempre ocurre lo mismo. Me preguntan cuánto tiempo voy a quedarme. Y cuando respondo: —Me acabo de mudar aquí. La reacción suele ser de sorpresa. ¿Por qué alguien que ahora va a vivir en la ciudad necesita información turística? Para mí, la respuesta es bastante simple. Cuando vivimos en un lugar, comenzamos a darlo por sentado Cuando uno ha crecido en una ciudad, o lleva mucho tiempo viviendo allí, muchas cosas simplemente forman parte del paisaje. Ese museo por el que pasamos todos los días. La iglesia del centro. El edificio antiguo en la plaza. Una ...

  Why a Great Travel Advisor Is Built Over Years, Not in a Day "Want to become a travel advisor? Contact me, and I'll teach you everything you need to know in just one day." I've seen advertisements like this more times than I can count. Every time I do, I can't help but feel concerned. Because the truth is simple: A great travel advisor is not built in a day. Selling a trip is the easy part. Understanding destinations, anticipating potential challenges, guiding clients through unexpected situations, and knowing which tour operators can truly be trusted—those are skills that take years to develop. Travel is about much more than making a booking. Experience Makes All the Difference Over the years, I've also seen agencies proudly advertise certifications such as IATA accreditation, as if that alone guarantees quality. Technical certifications certainly have their place, but they don't automatically make a company trustworthy. Clients don't reme...

Picture : Sernatur, Chile  Cape Horn: Where the Map Begins to Run Out of Land There is a point, travelling south through Patagonia, when the map begins to look different. Cities become smaller. Roads become fewer. Mountains, glaciers and water take over. Keep going and eventually there is almost no land left at all. Somewhere beyond Tierra del Fuego, surrounded by the cold waters at the southern edge of South America, lies a name that has fascinated sailors and travellers for centuries: Cape Horn . For a long time, reaching this part of the world meant adventure almost by definition. Today it's considerably easier — thankfully — but the feeling of travelling towards the very end of South America hasn't disappeared. And there isn't only one way to experience it. First Things First: Where Exactly Is Cape Horn? Cape Horn — Cabo de Hornos in Spanish — lies on Hornos Island, part of Chile's Wollaston Archipelago. Look at a map and you'll understand its reputation immedia...

  Italy, the Destination That Never Disappoints I’ve just returned from a short trip to Italy. Just a couple of days... When I travel to Italy, I don’t usually stay in expensive hotels. I prefer to look for B&Bs, guesthouses, or something a little more rustic, perhaps an agriturismo. Italy has an incredibly wide and varied range of accommodation to choose from. Since this trip was a last-minute idea, we were under a bit of time pressure and many hotels were already fully booked. Still, we decided to try our luck with a B&B near Treviso . We booked accommodation for our family of four. As is often the case in Italian homes, the rooms were spacious: the children slept in one bedroom, while we had another just across a small hallway. We even had a balcony in our room. It wasn’t really a hotel, but rather a house run by its owner. She was an excellent host and personally took care of breakfast and the cleaning. The rooms were always spotless, and every morning breakfast surpris...

  Northern Lights: More Than a Spectacle in the Sky One of the questions we hear most often is: "What exactly do you do?" Many people assume we are just another travel agency, offering the same destinations and packages available everywhere else. The reality is quite different. At 5XPLR Handmade Travel , our goal is not simply to sell a trip. Our mission is to design meaningful travel experiences that remain with our travelers long after they return home. That is why every partner we work with has been carefully selected. We choose companies that share our vision of tourism: authentic experiences, respect for local communities, and a genuine commitment to protecting the environment. Today, more than ever, we believe that traveling responsibly matters. I could spend hours talking about the incredible work many of our partners do to preserve nature, reduce their environmental impact, and promote sustainable tourism. But today, I would like to focus on something equally ...

  Why Do Your Eyes and Lips Get Dry on an Airplane? Have you ever noticed that after about three hours on a flight, your eyes start to feel dry, your lips become chapped, or your skin feels tight? You're not imagining it. The air inside an aircraft cabin has very low humidity—much lower than what we're used to at home or in the office. As a result, our bodies lose moisture more quickly, especially during long-haul flights. Aircraft manufacturers have made significant improvements over the years to enhance passenger comfort, and newer aircraft generally maintain better cabin humidity than older models. Even so, it's still common to experience dry skin, dry lips, irritated eyes, and even a dry nose. After all, there's a reason why Business and First Class amenity kits often include hand cream, lip balm, and other skincare essentials. Airlines know that these small comforts help counter the effects of dry cabin air. But let's be honest—most of us travel in Economy Clas...