Author: Rebecca

I’m one of the founders and authors of Traveling with Sunscreen. I’ve traveled to 43 countries and 32 US states, and I’m always trying to get to more. I love exploring new places and learning new languages. I speak French and some Spanish, and I’ve Duolingo-ed my way through a zillion others that I don’t actually speak. I always feel so motivated to learn a new language when I’m in a new country, but that motivation doesn’t seem to last forever! I started this blog in 2019 with my then-boyfriend, now-husband, to share some of the things we learned while traveling the world. Since then, our family has grown, but we haven’t stopped exploring the world!

Vessi review: are they the perfect travel shoe?

May 18, 2019 Rebecca Travel Gear, Travel General

I don’t usually buy things from Instagram ads (actually, I’ve never before bought something from an Instagram ad), but this time the product seemed actually really useful. I kept seeing ads for Vessi 100% waterproof shoes, and eventually, I ordered a pair. And they did not disappoint! Here’s my review of Vessi shoes. (Caveat: I haven’t bought every Vessi shoe in the catalog. Really, this is a Vessi CityScape review!) Why I wanted them: TRAVEL[…]

cusco is beautiful - but watch out for altitude sickness!

Altitude sickness in Cusco!

May 13, 2019 Rebecca Latin America, Peru, Safety

If you’re heading to Cusco, you probably know that it’s at high altitude – 11,200 feet, or 3,400 m. Not Mt. Everest-type high, but enough that perhaps 50% of people will feel some altitude sickness symptoms if they arrive in Cusco without spending a few days (or more) at intermediate altitudes to let their bodies acclimatize! So what is altitude sickness? In Cusco, for most people, it’s just a headache — maybe a nasty one[…]

How to get to Machu Picchu?

May 12, 2019 Rebecca Latin America, Peru

Once you’ve decided to go to Machu Picchu and bought your permit (do this at least several months in advance, as they sell out!), you just need to figure out how to get there! First, you need to get to Cusco, as all of the transportation options to Machu Picchu start from there. Fortunately, getting to Cusco is easy and cheap – if you are starting from Lima, you can fly in about an hour[…]

What to Bring to Machu Picchu (and what to leave behind)

May 5, 2019 Rebecca Latin America, Peru, Travel Gear

So you’re off to Machu Picchu. You’ve got your train (or your Inca Trail trek) booked, you’ve bought your entry ticket, and now you just need to prepare for the day trip. What should be on your Machu Picchu packing list, and what should you leave behind in Aguas Calientes? We’ve got you covered! What to bring to Machu Picchu: Shuttle ticket Okay, so you can walk to Machu Picchu. But we wouldn’t recommend it.[…]

How to Get Cell Data Abroad

May 2, 2019 Rebecca How We Travel, Travel Gear, Travel General, Travel Tips

We’ve all been there: you land in a new country, walk out of the airport, and are immediately bombarded by dozens of taxi offers. Taxi drivers yelling at you, waving their ID’s, etc. You know most of them are trying to scam you – why else would they be so excited to see a discombobulated foreigner? You also know that you don’t know the right price. And you have no cell data, so you have[…]