Joris, Author at ADrayInTheLife

Welcome to ADrayInTheLife! By any normal standard, I am an intensely analytical person. I need to understand and to be able to make sense of the world around me. And that’s the beauty of traveling, it’s a never-ending opportunity to explore the unknown. To me, understanding doesn’t come from the swarms of tourists at the top-rated site in each city but rather from immersing yourself in an experience, to visit a place as if you were living there, to see it through the eyes of a local. I certainly don’t have all the answers but I’m loaded with questions and my own best guesses. So this is my platform… consider it a travel blog for the inquisitive mind.

— By JorisMay 8, 20182 Comments

Best of Budapest: Five Top 5 Lists to Convince You to Go!

“Just remember You’re the one thing I can’t get enough of So I’ll tell you something This could be love Because I’ve had The time of my life No I never felt This way before Yes I swear it’s the truth” Jennifer Warnes and Bill…

— By JorisMay 4, 20183 Comments

Halfway Home (Part 2): First Half Lowlights

“I never learned to count my blessings I choose instead to dwell In my disasters. I walk on down the hill Through grass grown tall And brown and still It’s hard somehow To let go of my pain” Ray Lamontagne I’m just past halfway through…

— By JorisMay 1, 20182 Comments

Halfway Home: The Highlights (and Lowlights) of the 1st Three Months

“I’ve been sad And have walked bitter streets alone And come morning There’s a good wind to blow me home So time be a river rolling into nowhere I will live while I can I will have my ever after The finer things keep shining…

— By JorisApril 26, 20180 Comments

Cash Back or Travel Points: What’s Worth More?

I recently came across this article on AirfareWatchDog.com which made the fairly logical argument that if travel points are often valued at around 1.5 cents or less, why wouldn’t people just get one of those cash-back cards that gives you 2% on all purchases? In reality,…

— By JorisApril 22, 20180 Comments

Review: The Best Part of Vienna? Not Vienna!!

“Slow down, you crazy child And take the phone off the hook and disappear for awhile It’s all right, you can afford to lose a day or two When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?” Billy Joel Before I came to Budapest, I spent…

— By JorisApril 18, 20180 Comments

Credit Card Churning: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Earning credit card sign-up bonuses can be an incredibly efficient way to earn loads of credit card, hotel, and airline points. In the last few years, I’ve signed up for over 20 credit cards which has helped me earn around 2,000,000 points with various loyalty…

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