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65+ Airbnb stays and growing fast!

by AirBnb recommendations

I spend 90% of my stays at Airbnb properties and about 10% at hostels. I have been having some great luck with renting studio rooms within a hostel so that is one of the first things I check in a new city.

For the purpose of this post, let’s look at the Airbnb’s keeping in mind, I only had to leave one bad review. I had travelled all night, and I was promised my room would be ready in Puerto Vallarta. I asked him why it was not ready, and he told me to go hang out at the pool as things change.  I would be mortified if that happened with my Airbnb guests! 

Running your own Airbnb is basically like running a business.  You need to ensure your guests are happy and if there is an issue, it needs to be addressed ASAP.  I had an issue with maid service once. I refunded the cleaning fee and bought them a gift certificate for lunch. I ended up getting a good review which is always my goal.

Below are some of the properties that I have stayed at over the years:

(I had a hell of a time trying to make these screen shots look better so gave up for now).

travel planner

Dropping pins, one adventure at a time!

by Travel bucket list

Determining my next adventure is 75% based on cost, 20% dropping a new pin and 5% alcohol to pull the trigger. I know, you don’t need to drink to have a good time but it sure the helps me get off the fence!  

I hope some of you get inspired by my blogs and get off that fence too!

I have a world map on my condo wall in AZ that has pins dropped for all of the places in the world that I have visited. 

Some I have visited for work, pleasure or even layovers like in the case of Moscow, Russia. My Moscow visit was on the way back from the Ukraine and it was not comfortable to say the least. Although, I did dig the woman in their fuzzy hats was my distinct memory, LOL.  Like Ukraine, I was fortunate to visit before the war.  What a terrible situation!

 

Since there are 248 countries in the world, I will do my best to list them:

North American: Canada, United States, Mexico.

Central America: Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Costa Rica, St. Croix USVI, Jamaica and Bermuda. 

South America: Peru, Chile, Argentia, Uruguay and Brazil.

Europe+: France, Hungary, Austria (7-10 more Countries soon)

Ireland/UK (Scotland coming soon) 

Asia: Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan. (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos soon)

Middle east: United Emirates.

Africa and Antarctica: Nada

* I will add to this list on my next trip: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and 7-10 European countries.

Buy me a beer or don’t! Cheers!! 🍻

by Buy me a beer

Snuffy really never bought me a beer and you don’t have too either.

I set up this feature for folks who choose to support my adventures by purchasing me a $5 beer. I will accept one donation or recurring monthly beers but no higher amount than USD 5.

If you choose to buy me a beer, your name can be added or a fake name if we can get in trouble, how we met, and a fun story of our choosing will be added “Your name here” under the buy me a beer menu. Drinking alone can be a problem, but they don’t know that snuffaluffagus is always there, LOL.

I just think it is a fun way to generate a little beer money and reminisce once or even every month if you’re a baller, LOL. I might even send you some fancy “Follow my travels” stickers that I am going to stick during my travels. It keeps me in your thoughts, beer for me! 🙌

If you’re interested, click on the homepage to take the Magic carpet ride. The Gmail icon will send me an email with the story, the PayPal, Venmo or Patreon icons will send the donation and click reoccurring will send it every month, baller.

Please also send me a WhatsApp by clicking that icon to give me a heads up, I do not want to miss your email and story. Even if you don’t donate, I would love to chat travel with you via WhatsApp icon!

Cheers!

Darrell

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Why create a website, they have social media!

by Introduction

The simple answer is that people spend too much money on travel IMO, and I want to try to help through experience. I put my boots (flip flops) on the ground and tell you what I saw, and you can take it from there if you choose. I have my Gmail and WhatsApp contact icons on the home page if you have a question and the best part is that it is free unless you decide to buy me a beer. What a deal, right!?

As a boomer, trying to relearn or in most case learn new technology, I ask myself this question every single update WTF but, at the end of some travel days, I really enjoy posting. I took several banking classes over the last seven years but nothing technical. I didn’t need to understand how things worked like my 18-year career in Telecommunications.

People asked me, why don’t you get back into Telecom. The answer is simple, I am a 3G guy living in a 5G world of internet. All I needed to do confirm my career was coming to an end was to study for my CCNA certification. To this day, I still do not properly understand IP addresses which is the absolute basics of understanding the internet. Damn kids, get off my lawn!

Secondly, people judging my social media posts had become extremely old:

  • Why do you need to post everything?
  • I shake my head every time I read one of your posts!
  • Why does everything need to be political?
  • I don’t post everything that happens in my life.
  • People have responsibilities and cannot travel like you.
  • People will never travel like you is my absolute favorite!

As you will start to understand or may already know me, I love to travel, find and share good deals. Now you need to visit NorthAmericanDarrell.com if you’re interested instead of Social Media posts. I plan to still use social media to direct people to posts but the choice will be theirs to click the link.

Another reason for creating NorthAmericanDarrell.com is a lot of my work and personal travels have been solo. I have things that I have always wanted to share with people, and it does not matter if you’re friends, family or complete strangers. Some posts my save you money and others are posts that I think may give you an edge in your travels if you choose. Again, you get to decide to visit so quit your bitching on grammar and spellcheck as well.

In closing, one of the last things my mom said to me was, “Live Life to the fullest” and she would often add “If they don’t like it, they can kiss my ass”. It would drive me and my sisters crazy, but little did we know, she was absolutely right, and we all say it now.

I even got a tattoo “Live life to the fullest” on my leg and I can promise you that a “you can kiss my ass” tattoo will happen someday too. I miss you everyday Mom, I will do the best I can to show people on this website to “Live life to the fullest” and if they don’t like it, they can kiss my ass!

Welcome to NorthAmericanDarrell.com

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Airline compensation – know the laws!

by Internet travel search tips

PRO TIP! There are third-party companies that will try to help and take a cut, make sure you are on the official websites listed below for each Country!!

If your flight within Canada is delayed or canceled, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline12. Here are some rules to keep in mind: Here is the official verbiage from Transport Canada! (<–Click the link for official website)

Within the United States, Delta, United, American, JetBlue, Southwest, and All U.S. Airlines Now Offer Automatic Refunds for Travelers Under DOT’s New Policy. Similar policies are on European airlines as well.

The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) latest refund rule is officially here, bringing air travelers across the U.S.—on airlines like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Allegiant Air, and Sun Country Airlines—some much-needed protections. This new rule ensures you’ll get your money back if your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, and extends to mishandled baggage and service failures on board.

Here’s what travelers flying with these airlines need to know about how the new rule works—and how it’s set to improve your travel experience.

Automatic Refunds for Cancellations and Major Delays

If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, you’re now automatically entitled to a refund. For domestic flights, a delay of more than three hours qualifies, while international flights need a delay of over six hours. No extra steps are required, whether you’re flying American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska, Spirit, Frontier, Hawaiian, Allegiant, or Sun Country—the refund is processed automatically.

Under the DOT’s rule, airlines are obligated to issue refunds directly to your original form of payment. They must follow a strict timeline: seven days for credit card transactions and 20 days for other payment methods. This new approach eliminates the wait and the need to chase down refunds.

Canceled Flights: Clear-Cut Refunds

If Southwest, Delta, JetBlue, United, Alaska, Spirit, Frontier, Hawaiian, Allegiant, Sun Country, or any other U.S. airline cancels your flight and you choose not to take the airline’s alternative flight options, you’re entitled to a full refund for the unused portion of your ticket. The DOT’s rules guarantee that airlines honor this commitment, so passengers aren’t stuck paying for a trip they didn’t complete. Keep in mind that the refund only applies to the remaining portion of your journey, not any segments you may have completed before the cancellation.

Refunds Now Cover Major Delays and “Significant Changes”

In the past, it was unclear what counted as a “significant delay” for refund eligibility. Now, the DOT has removed the guesswork. With American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, Spirit, Frontier, Hawaiian, Allegiant, Sun Country, or any other U.S. carrier, if a domestic flight is delayed by more than three hours or an international flight by more than six, you qualify for a refund.

The DOT also recognizes situations where flights change in ways that disrupt your travel. This could include changes like switching departure or arrival airports, adding extra connections, or even downgrading a passenger’s seat class. These “significantly changed” flights are now covered under the refund policy, ensuring that airlines are responsible for major adjustments to your itinerary.

Getting Your Money Back for Mishandled Baggage

Lost or delayed baggage is a frustration no one wants to deal with, and the DOT’s rules now add more protection. If your checked bag doesn’t reach its destination within 12 hours on American Airlines, Delta, United, JetBlue, Alaska, Spirit, Frontier, Hawaiian, Allegiant, or Sun Country domestic flights (or 15-30 hours for international trips depending on flight length), you’re entitled to a refund of any checked bag fees you paid. This change holds airlines accountable for timely baggage delivery, so you’re not left paying for a service you didn’t fully receive.

Refunds for Unavailable In-Flight Services

In-flight services like Wi-Fi, seat selection, or entertainment can make flights on carriers like Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska, Spirit, Frontier, Hawaiian, Allegiant, and Sun Country more enjoyable. Now, if you paid for these services but they didn’t work, you’re entitled to a refund. This requirement means airlines must refund fees for any in-flight service that was unavailable or non-functional, ensuring you get value for what you pay for.

Future Protection for Medical and Government Restrictions

Starting in May, passengers flying with U.S. airlines who are restricted from travel due to government mandates or a medical diagnosis of a serious communicable disease will also receive a credit. This airline credit will remain valid for five years, though airlines may ask for documentation. This rule offers future protection for those unable to travel due to health or regulatory reasons, adding an extra layer of peace of mind.

Within the European Union Here are the laws (<–click official link) and bagged a few hundred dollars on my last trip knowing the laws!

EU air passenger rights apply:

  • If your flight is within the EU and is operated either by an EU or a non-EU airline
  • If your flight arrives in the EU from outside the EU and is operated by an EU airline
  • If your flight departs from the EU to a non-EU country operated by an EU or a non-EU airline
  • If you have not already received benefits (compensation, re-routing, assistance from the airline) for flight-related problems for this journey under the relevant law of a non-EU country.

EU means the 27 EU countries, including Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint Barthélemy, Saint-Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands, but not the Faeroe Islands. EU rules also apply to flights to and from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

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Saving money booking one-way tickets!

by Internet travel search tips

Maybe fly home from a different city and save money?

I use this strategy to check if it is cheaper to book two one-way trips instead of a round trip every time I book a flight. It works!!

Example:

You’re flying from Phoenix to Dallas.

(Keep in mind Dallas has two airports to save even more money).

Check the one-way flights each way instead of round trip. Maybe you want to visit Austin or San Antonio and fly home from there?

This theory also allows you to take advantage of using different airlines each way too as round-trip travel booking normally uses the same airline.

Keep in mind some airlines have better baggage rules too which may also change the overall cost of your flight. Greedy bastards!

The below article from Clark Howard clearly explains a few other reasons too! 🙌

Booking air travel can be tricky these days. The airline industry continues to push fares higher and higher while passengers look for ways to keep them grounded.

Money expert Clark Howard says if you’re flying domestic (this doesn’t necessarily apply for international flights), a new strategy for airline customers to save big for 2025 is to avoid the traditional practice of shopping for round-trip itineraries.

One-way flights often offer a cheaper opportunity to fly to where you need to go, Clark says.

And it all starts with the click of a button: When you visit a search site like Google Flights or Kayak and you choose one airline in the search results, it will automatically show you the return flights for that airline as well.

“But often the fare may be cheapest one way on American or cheapest the other way on Southwest. Or maybe cheapest on United one way and JetBlue the other, and on and on and on,” 

Here are two reasons why shopping for one-way flights is now the way to go:

Reason #1: Airlines Are Hiding Their Best Domestic Fares on One-Way Itineraries

“When you buy a fare one way or shop one way, you’re going to see lower prices than if you look roundtrip,” Clark says. Of course, this might not always be the case every single time due to seasonal sales and whatnot, but the point is that you should be checking one-way fares just as you would normally check round trips.

You don’t have to be a tech whiz to research the latest fares online, but it pays, especially in this current airline environment, to have a basic understanding of how to search for cheap fares on the web.

“This doesn’t necessarily apply outside the United States, because a lot of fares outside the U.S. are set where round-trip tickets are cheaper than two one ways,” Clark says. “In Europe, sometimes it is cheaper, but I digress on that.”

So, searching for one-way plane tickets is how you help your wallet. Our guide on how to save money on Google Flights is a great place to start.

Reason #2: Flight Modifications Could Now Cost You Big

Another reason why you might want to check out one-way fares is that there’s a new refund rule that airlines have interpreted to the disadvantage of passengers, Clark says.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s recently enacted law that forces airlines to refund passengers pronto for significantly changed or canceled flights has resulted in an unforeseen consequence for deal-savvy customers.

“If an airline has a big schedule change on one of your flights, the airline will refund your whole ticket and say, ‘We’re sorry, we had this big schedule change.’ You’ve got to start over,” Clark says. “So what happens when they do that and you had a great fare? You’ve now lost it,” 

Looking for the Best Deal? Search Different Airlines

Not only do you want to shop for one-way tickets arriving to and departing from your destination but you want to look at several different airlines.

“When you shop, it’s going to take you a little bit longer, but the savings can be enormous if you’re a free agent,” Clark says. “If you’re not captive to one particular airline [and] you’re looking for the best deals, you’ll want to do your fares one way.”

Although budget airlines typically showed the cheapest flights, I saw fares from other airlines as well, along with the type of aircraft, which is another Google Flights feature that can help determine your choice.

 

 

 

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Europass! Amtrak’s and CNs big Brother!!

by Europe

Until I visited Europe in the middle of 2024, I had no clue how amazing and popular train travel is within Europe. I probably still do not have a grasp on it as I have only been to two train stations in Vienna, Austria. The central train station in Vienna, Austria Wien Hauptbahnhof (click blue link) was as big or even bigger than a lot of the Airports in Canada and the United States. There were several levels, entrances, and train companies (local/international) and I got lost more than once.

I purchased a Europass for 25% off to use for a trip scheduled for March 2024. The pass that I chose was $380 USD for ten days that can be used over a two-month period. This was perfect as that is less than $40 for a full day of train travel depending on which routes I choose.

I created a dream trip at the top of the post which shows the routes I would take if possible. It will be impossible to take all of those routes but if I can even reach half of them, it would be spectacular.

Below is some of the research I did to create this dream train router:

Train rides to consider:
https://www.eurail.com/en/plan-your-trip/trip-ideas/suggested-itineraries/one-month-europe-alternative-tour

The best of Italy
stop location Milan, Rome, Florence, Naples and

Discover the Mediterranean
stop location Barcelona, Nice, Genoa, Rome

Portugal and Spain
stop location Porto, Faro, Cadiz, Granada

France north to south
stop location Versailles, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon

Journey to the Adriatic
Villa Opicina – Rijeka
a direct, regional train has been operating from Villa Opicina in Italy to Rijeka in Croatia, cutting through the southwestern corner of Slovenia along the way.

Chase the sun in Cornwall
Exeter – Penzance
England might not seem like the most obvious place to catch some offseason warmth – but Cornwall is one of the sunniest regions in the United Kingdom, enjoying a mild climate well into the autumn.

The quiet side of Italy’s coastline
Bari – Lecce
The stretch of Italian coastline from Bari to Lecce may not be as famous as Cinque Terre or Amalfi, but if you look closely, you’ll find plenty of pristine beaches, dramatic cliffsides and ancient towns to explore

Explore Portugal’s southern coast
Lagos – Vila Real de Santo António
Portugal’s southern coastline is a summer hotspot for travelers across the world. But our favorite time to visit is after August, when crowds disperse but temperatures stay comfortable enough to swim.

Slow down in seaside towns
Perpignan – Girona
Many travelers opt for high-speed rail when crossing from France into Spain. But, in doing so, they miss a spectacularly scenic railway line that stretches along the dramatic Mediterranean coast and winds through the foothills of the Pyrenees.

Discover a wild Baltic island
Greifswald – Świnoujście
Embark on an island adventure when you travel from Greifswald, in northern Germany, to Świnoujście, in Poland’s far northwestern corner.

An Andalusian adventure
Seville – Cádiz
Wandering through Seville is an experience to be savored, especially after summer, when temperatures drop to 24 and 25 degrees Celsius. With history around every turn and mouth-watering cuisine, it’s a perfect place to begin a Eurail adventure though southern Spain.

Cities recommended to train by train:

Ghent, Belgium Rotterdam, the Netherlands Leipzig, Germany Warsaw, Poland Budapest, Hungary Belgrade, Serbia Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Zagreb, Croatia Bologna, Italy Lyon, France

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Wizz airlines all you can fly!

by Wizz - AYCF!

This is the latest pass I purchased for USD 550 and my favorite by a long shot. Wizz is a discount airline based in Budapest, Hungary that flies to 52 different countries within Europe, UK, Ireland, Iceland, and the Middle East including the Maldives. The obvious hitch here is that you need to get to one of those countries to start using the pass which can be difficult depending on the time of year. I have only used the pass a handful of times for that reason, but it has easily paid itself off with one of the five flights I have already taken. I was able to find a flight from Los Angeles to London Gatwick for $109 on Norse Airlines (click link) which within itself is amazing! I was also able to fly home using a buddy pass which was amazing too!

I am headed back to Europe to use the pass again in March 2024 for 42 days. Keep an eye out for updates as my bucket list for that trip is plentiful and will include the Euro pass train ticket (click link) I bought too.

Below is a summary and link from the Wizz website (click link):

Wizz Air offers an “all you can fly” pass for an annual fee of $55012. This pass provides unlimited one-way and round-trip flights to any of Wizz Air’s international destinations, including routes throughout Europe, parts of North Africa, the Middle East, and the Maldives1. Passengers can book flights 72 hours before departure, choosing from available routes at the time3.

Here are the places I have been on the Wizz AYCF pass including two I had to cancel due to illness:

London

Varna, Bulgaria

Budapest, Hungary

Vienna, Austria

Abu Dhabi/Dubai, UAE

Maldives – cancelled

Barcelona, Spain – cancelled

volaris

Volaris all you can fly (AYCF) annual pass

by Volaris - AYCF!

The Volaris Pass is my favorite because, well, it’s Mexico and who doesn’t love Mexico? This is the second AYCF pass (Frontier, Volaris, and Wizz) that I purchased. I am guessing that I was one of the first to buy the pass as I waited until one minute after midnight on the first day it went on sale to take advantage of the half-price promotion. I paid 3999 pesos which is approximately $200 today. The regular price is now listed in American dollars for $499. The best part is that the renewal gets me the promotional price.

TIPs from the Volaris website: Volaris Annual Pass and https://youtu.be/nPVBNEWbAoo

  • Volaris Annual Pass includes all our domestic and international routes. Seats are based on availability.
  • INVEX credit card benefits do not apply to flights booked with Annual Pass.
  • For domestic destinations you can book your flight from 24 hours before departure.
  • For international destinations you can book your flight from 3 days before departure.
  • The earlier in the day you search for your next flight, the more likely you are to find available seats.
  • Explore our wide variety of destinations! Being flexible and searching for flights for different routes will make it easier to find availability.
  • You can use the Volaris Annual Pass to book flights on any date of the year. You only have to follow the booking restrictions for domestic and international destinations.
  • Your flights do not include carry-on or checked baggage, only one personal item.
  • You can only book one way direct flights without connections.
  • You must book all your flights through www.annualpass.volaris.com
  • Your flights do not earn Spin Premia points.
  • Seats to fly with the Volaris Annual Pass are subject to availability on each route.
  • Volaris Annual Pass is personal and non-transferable.
  • The Volaris Annual Pass holder must be at least 18 years old.
  • You must cover the TUA and taxes on every flight booked with Volaris Annual Pass.
  • When booking a flight, the charge can only be paid by credit or debit card.
  • Volaris Annual Pass is automatically renewed every year. You can cancel it directly from your profile. The fees for periods already paid, even if they have not been used, are non-refundable.
  • See terms and conditions here.

Here are the places I have been on the Volaris pass:

Lima, Peru twice

Mexico City

Guadalajara

Cancun

Puerto Vallarta

San Jose, Costa Rica twice

Guatemala twice