I guess you want to know who Erica Ho is.

Erica Ho is a former reporter for TIME in Hong Kong and former geek at Gizmodo and Lifehacker. Her work has appeared in CNN, Yahoo!, MSN, Mashable, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler and Quartz to name a few places.

The Process of Renewing Global Entry

April 19, 2018 Erica Ho 2 minute read

I’m not sure what makes me feel older, the fact that I found a grey hair in the bathroom this morning, or the fact that my Global Entry clearance is about to expire.

Bus Ground Technology Tools Transit

Busbud Searches all the Buses, Everywhere

April 18, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Because no one enjoyed searching ten different bus companies, said anyone ever.

Countries Features South America

The Quick Lowdown to Peru

April 17, 2018 Erica Ho 6 minute read

First of all, there is more to Peru than Machu Picchu. There are exactly 32 climates represented in the world; Peru has no less than 30 of them.

Connectivity Technology Tools Trip Planning

How To Enable Wi-Fi Calling in Google Voice

April 12, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

In terms of connectivity, Wi-Fi calling is the holy grail when it comes to staying connected abroad. It’s also part of the reason that make WhatsApp so great.

Budget Leisure Money Trip Planning

The Main Money-Saving Principle for Booking Tours in a Small Town

April 11, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

It generally doesn’t matter what travel agency that gets booked for a tour. Outside specialty services like super-lux operators, the service will more or less be the same.

Customs Documentation Flights Food Security Transit

How To Carry On All the Duty-Free Liquids You Want On the Plane

April 10, 2018 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Because I’m starting to figure out middle age (especially without children) is learning about how to pass the time until death comes, alcohol has taken a more prominent cornerstone in my life. So when local liquors are particularly cheap, someone’s wallet takes more notice at the airport.

Ladies Safety Technology

How To Stop Blowing Out a Hair Dryer Abroad

April 3, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Okay, it’s not rocket science, but unless you’re one of those people that like to pack voltage converters, read up.

Culture & Science Misc. News

Google Maps Launches “Where’s Waldo?” Game

April 2, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Oh, Waldo. There’s definitely a soft spot for him, and if you don’t have one, you don’t have a heart.

Flights Food Leisure Transit

More Cocktail Recipes for Getting Smashed on the Next Flight

March 27, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

It’s not St. Paddy’s day anymore. I know that.

Budget Money Technology Tools Trip Planning

Feeling Stuck? Google Flights Lists the Cheapest Destinations for Locked Dates

March 22, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

There’s a lot of things going on with Google Flights. But more specifically, the only thing I care about is fitting in a vacation when I can finally jet from work.

Airbnb Guides Lodging Vacation Rentals

How To Live In Two Different Places at Once

March 20, 2018 Erica Ho 3 minute read

First-world problem, right? Perhaps, but there are many reasons why it would make sense to establish two different residencies at the same time. Because, maybe, you’re sick of living out of a hotel?

Itinerary Leisure Technology Tools Trip Planning

How To Update Personal Recommendations for the Modern Era

March 14, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

It’s time to stop emailing people long text descriptions on where to eat. (Or upgrade those old recommendations, which hopefully still pass muster.)

Airlines Flights Money Reference Charts Transit

A Quick Guide to International Basic Economy Flights

March 13, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

British Airways is in pretty much in the midst of turning itself into a ~~low-cost~~ American airline.

Airlines emergency Flights Transit

SkyTeam Now Lets Its Airlines Rebook Customers Across the Alliance

March 7, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Isn’t it odd airlines can’t rebook passengers on different airlines in the same alliance? They can do codeshares, but they can’t do that?

Itinerary Leisure Technology Tools Trip Planning

The Best Tools for Group Travel Planning

March 6, 2018 Erica Ho 3 minute read

So, how to organize a big destination trip with more than one person? Hmmm.

Gear Packing Photography Technology Trip Planning

The Pros and Cons of Traveling With Different Cameras

March 5, 2018 Erica Ho 3 minute read

Pics or it didn’t happen?

Business Hotels Lodging Loyalty Luxury

Mandarin Oriental Launches a Loyalty Program (Get an Extra Night)

February 27, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

How about a free upgrade without having to jump through hoops?

Culture & Science Features Flights Food Transit

Behind the Mystery (and Science) of Airline Food

February 21, 2018 Erica Ho 5 minute read

For better or for worse, airline food is a mystery. How does the food get there? How is it prepared? Do they just stick in a microwave oven? Is that real white meat, like McDonalds’ claims?

Technology Tools Trip Planning

LibGen.io May Be the World’s Biggest Free E-Book Resource Out There

February 20, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

In terms of travel gadgets, the Kindle may singlehandedly be the best thing out there since sliced bread.

Countries Culture & Science Features Opinion

The Most Underrepresented Countries in 2018 Winter Olympic Games

February 14, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Olympic season is here, which means its going to be nuts. But, did anyone else notice that there are some really weird and rather unlikely countries in the lineup? Personally, I love a good underdog.

Airbnb Lodging Money North America Vacation Rentals

This Is How Long You Have To Rent out on Airbnb To Break Even

February 7, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

So, exactly how many nights do you have to rent out a place on Airbnb to break even?

Adventure Health Packing Trip Planning

A Survival Guide for Enduring F*cking Cold Weather (Under 30 Degrees)

February 6, 2018 Erica Ho 3 minute read

East coasters, get out of here. I don’t want to hear about that Syracuse weather, and how it is winter, but for most of us normal folk, it’s not a bad idea to take a crash course in cold weather survival every now and them.

Culture & Science Featured Leisure Polls

How Long Do You Have To Date Someone Before Taking a Trip Together?

February 5, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

At some point in every relationship, there’s a question every couple encounters: How long do you have to date before taking a trip with them? How serious does it have to be?

Airports Photography Security Technology Transit

How To Travel with a Film Camera (Instax Owners Should Read This!)

January 30, 2018 Erica Ho 2 minute read

It may be retro, it may be kitsch, or it may simply be a personal preference, but traveling with film does present its own challenges. Because the last thing you want is to damage that expensive film.

Business Flights Hacks Transit

Some Interesting Ways To Repurpose Old Airline Amenity Kits

January 24, 2018 Erica Ho 2 minute read

First world problem, raise your right hand. Flying business so much you don’t know what to do with those amenity kits once they’ve been used?

Culture & Science Features Luxury Travel

How in the World Did Travel Become so Fashionable?

January 23, 2018 Erica Ho 4 minute read

Gone are the days when picking up and taking off was the most carefree, blasé thing in the world. If it didn’t happen on Instagram, it didn’t happen, right?

Hotels Lodging Money Reference Charts

This Chart Outlines Every Major Hotel Chains’ Cancellation Policy

January 18, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Times’ achangin. That includes hotel cancellation policies, which before, often let guests get away with murder. (Not literally, though, scarily, seems to have been a thing of late.)

Airports Budget Money Tools Trip Planning

Calculator: Figure Out How Much Booking at the Airport Will Save

January 16, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Anything to save a dollar. But if that allows us to save for another trip, I guess you’ll do it.

Travel

How To Pack Under the 7 kg Limit for Carry-On Luggage

January 11, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

First of all, don’t even try to think about getting away with it if you’re flying out of Asia. Especially in Japan.

Airbnb emergency Lodging Vacation Rentals

How to Deal with Airbnb Cancellations Because of Craptastic Weather

January 5, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

I bet there are a lot of people that are interested in this answer.

Travel

The Tool You Already Have for Ejecting a SIM Card

January 3, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

I’m partially horrified 18% of readers still buy a SIM on the go, but it might pay to know there’s often a simple fix for not carrying an extra tool around.

Bags Gear Reviews

The côte&ciel Saar Small Might Be the Fairest Bag of Them All

January 2, 2018 Erica Ho 7 minute read

It’s certainly not every day that a man stops me in the street to compliment the backpack I’m wearing.

Airlines Flights

These Airlines Offer Free In-Flight Messaging

December 19, 2017 Erica Ho 1 minute read

“Hey, the plane is going to be delayed!” is ideally the message you’d want to send on a flight.

Budget Flights Money Transit Travel Trip Planning

Does Basic Economy Ever Make Sense?

December 13, 2017 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Actually it can. Not in every situation, but for some circumstances, if the trip is short enough and you’re a great packer, basic economy can be a chance to save some money.

Budget Flights Money Transit Trip Planning

How You Really Have Two or Three Days to Lock in the Best Plane Ticket

December 12, 2017 Erica Ho 3 minute read

There’s nothing worse than the fear of missing out. Especially fomo on the cheapest possible airline ticket.

Airlines Bags Flights Gear Technology Travel

Stop Freaking Out About Bringing a Smart Suitcase Onboard

December 6, 2017 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Despite recent news smart suitcases are being semi-banned from planes, most people will still be able to bring their smart gear onboard an aircraft. God, you and your Instagram.