Lori Barbely
Hi, I’m Lori. But you can call me Lors. I’m a middle-aged New Jersey-born gal, currently based in Orlando, Florida. My background is in editorial travel photography and writing and I've been to more than 30 countries. I’m obsessed with tropical locales and my favorite city is Tokyo. Have camera, will travel! I’m a Disney adult, Lord of the Rings fan, certified crazy cat lady, and sushi addict! I hope this blog inspires your wanderlust. Feel free to follow me on Instagram for snippets of daily life on and off the road.
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Hawaii Quiz
Thinking about taking a trip to Hawaii, but don’t know which island or islands are right for you? Take this quick quiz to find out which Hawaiian islands you should visit on your next vacation!
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12 Travel Books to Read in 2025 | Virtual Book Club
Since I can’t always be traveling (boo, right?) I’ve made it my goal to add more travel books to my reading lineup in 2025. I’m a big fan of travel fiction and travel memoirs and thought it would be fun to start a little virtual travel book club to bring you all along on this journey with me! I’ve chosen the books for the first three months so that you can reserve them from your local library (or snag them from Amazon using the links below) but if you’ve got suggestions for future months, hop over to Instagram and DM me! Fun Fact: My first job ever was working in…
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Nungwi Dreams by Mantis Hotel in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Located on the northern tip of Nungwi Beach on the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania, Nungwi Dreams by Mantis Hotel is a beach lover’s paradise that’s a world apart from the hustle and bustle of Stone Town and worlds away from the mainland safari circuit. How to Get to Nungwi Dreams by Mantis Hotel Or take a two-hour ferry from Dar Es Salaam to Stone Town, Zanzibar. Note that the ferry crossing can be rough depending on the season. Nungwi Dreams is approximately a one-hour drive from the airport and port in Stone Town. Fly to Zanzibar Stone Town Airport (ZNZ) from a variety of airports including Dar Es Salaam’s…
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Comparing Overwater Bungalows Around the World
The South Pacific and the Maldives are often touted as having the best overwater bungalows in the world, but how do they compare to each other? And how do they compare to luxury overwater bungalows in the Caribbean? I’ve stayed in overwater bungalows in each of these tropical destinations and I’m breaking down travel time, cost, amenities, and more to help you decide which overwater bungalow is right for your next luxury vacation! Research Approach I based my research approach for comparing overwater bungalows on both personal experience and hard data. This multi-faceted approach includes personal perspective and factual insight. Travel Dates: Since the resorts are in regions with varying…
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Driving on the Left: Tips and Tricks for Surviving Your First Time!
I’ve been driving for 30 years (pauses in old person) and all of those years I’ve driven on the right side of the road. So as we planned our trip to Ireland, I was understandably nervous about driving on the left side of the road. Many countries drive on the left side of the road due to historical influence from the British Empire. Now that I’ve successfully navigated that nine-day trip, I’m sharing some of my best tips for driving on the left side of the road. Understanding Left-Hand Traffic Driving on the left side of the road, also known as left-hand traffic (LHT), is a system used in many…
