This month, I want to share a real shift in how I’m approaching travel, newsletters and my blog articles. I’m still telling the stories you’ve come to expect—places I’ve visited, people I’ve met, connections I’d make again in a heartbeat. But I’m also thinking more about intentional travel: not just where we go, but how we prepare, how we experience a place and what we put in place before the trip even begins.
I’ve been thinking about what it really means to prepare for a trip: working with a travel architect and understanding what’s important to have in place before you even pack a bag. Things like travel insurance, registering with local agencies for emergency alerts, and knowing exactly what those pages in the back of your passport are for. Travel insurance, in particular, is something I don’t think you should wait until something goes wrong to understand. If you’re looking at coverage for an upcoming trip, Faye Travel Insurance is one option worth exploring. These aren’t the sexy parts of travel, but if something goes wrong, I’d be remiss not to share what I’ve learned along the way.
How and The Where
But somewhere along the way, I started noticing something else: I had just as much to say about the how as the where.
This year, alongside the destination stories, I started sharing the practical stuff too-the things I wish someone had handed me before I figured them out myself. That means things like how to work with a travel advisor, why signing up for emergency notices from countries can matter, and even why the back of your passport matters more than you think. It might not always be the glamorous side of travel, but it’s the foundational information you need when things don’t go as planned. I’ve also put together a travel safety registration guide, so you’re never caught without a plan if something goes wrong abroad. There’s a full breakdown of my recent Central Coast road trip: Los Olivos, DAOU, a solo night in Ojai down to the reservations I’d book again and the ones I wouldn’t. And most recently, a piece on the actual questions I ask before I bring in a travel architect. A good one is worth their weight in gold, and a wrong fit costs you more than money.
That’s really the shape of this year: story on one side, substance on the other. Both matter to me. I don’t think you have to choose between falling in love with a place and knowing exactly how to plan for it.
Traveling Different, Too
I’ve realized that the way I travel is changing, too. I’m less interested in checking off a list of places and more interested in slowing down enough to really experience where I am. Maybe that’s what intentional travel has come to mean for me—being present enough to notice the neighborhood café, have a conversation with someone I might never have met otherwise, discover the small family-run hotel or linger in a place that wasn’t necessarily on the itinerary.
Maybe that’s part of becoming a more experienced traveler. You learn what matters to you—and, just as importantly, what doesn’t. I want FreedomAlwaysBlog to reflect more of that: not just where to go, but how to create a trip that actually feels like your own.
In fact, next May I’m heading to Italy for a retreat that feels like the epitome of this kind of travel. I’ll be spending a week in the countryside of Tuscany and Umbria, immersed in the place and, more importantly, the people who make the place—the food, the flowers, the wine, the artisans and the traditions that have been passed down through generations. There will be truffle hunting, a visit to a family-run olive oil farm, time among the flowers, cooking together and long meals around the table. And there will be time to simply be—to embrace dolce far niente, the Italian expression for “the sweetness of doing nothing.” That’s the kind of travel I’m craving more of these days.
Maybe that’s part of becoming a more experienced traveler. You learn what matters to you—and, just as importantly, what doesn’t. I want FreedomAlwaysBlog to reflect more of that: not just where to go, but how to create a trip that actually feels like your own. Or, what you are dreaming of lately.
Which Brings Me to What’s Next
I’ll keep destination stories and travel inspiration coming your way so stay tuned for new places, fresh connections and honest takes from my own experiences. Whether it’s Morocco, a return to an old favorite, or somewhere entirely unexpected, I’ll keep sharing, and I hope you’ll find a bit of yourself in these stories, too.
One more thing: I want to hear from you. What topics or questions do you actually want covered in newsletters, blog articles or another topic I haven’t thought about yet? Do you want more stories, how-tos, or a mix? Hit reply and let me know. Your feedback shapes where I go next.
About Freedom Always
Freedom Always Blog celebrates slow travel, artisan culture, and the hidden gems that make a journey unforgettable. If this post resonated with you, share it with someone who’s planning their next trip.
About the Author
Marie Leiter is the voice behind Freedom Always Blog — a slow traveler with a passion for hidden gems, authentic experiences, and life well-lived between two coasts.