Iceland is a great place for three days.

The newest move in travel is the long layover, and I mean like, 3 days. From the United States or Canada, flying Iceland air or Wow airlines, you can have a second mini-trip on the beginning or end of your actual trip to Europe. We paid less than 1/3 the airfare on Icelandair from North America to England, and got to spend three days in Iceland. Which by the way is about all you need to get a lot done in this fun little country.

Reykjavik is the capitol and about the only city you really need to see unless you are doing a documentary. It's got a small town, but urban feel if you stay downtown. We rented an airbnb one block from the heart of the main strip which runs from the hallgrímskirkja church to downtown to the port. There are two main streets that are just a block from one another and meet right before you reach downtown, all full of shopping restaurants and neat little spots for a coffee. Plus, within easy walking distance, museums, the university, and some great parks. There's even a zoo and botanical garden. You can see it all in two full days and not feel like you missed a bunch. We ate in great places, did a Segway tour, saw the top tourist attractions, (information available on any site, pick you favorite) and shopped. Matter of fact, we were pretty much ready to leave the city after 48 hours because anything we did next felt like a repeat. We rented a car, there is free parking by the church, and on day three we drove the Golden Circle. If you are like us and like nature in small doses and not go into great depth, driving the Golden Circle, which takes about six hours, which included seeing the sites, is just enough. The Golden Circle is a popular tourist route starting with the national park where tectonic plates are visibly showing you how the crust of the earth decides to not play nice, next a quick stop by the geysers, and it is a nice chance to see hot water shoot up into the air, and finally the Guffloss, Waterfall, is really a majestic site. Watching the water run and climbing on the rocks is soul soothing and our souls were soothed in about a half an hour. The best part, it's a nice little drive both ways, and the drive is kinda fun and short, but with the feeling of a road trip through the highlands.

On day four you drive right back to the airport, which has been named one of the best in the world. It is very small, but with Iceland air you can print your luggage tags, boarding passes, and drop your bags off without talking to anyone. It's automatic and quick. Then you are off to your real vacation in Whatever European country you planned on going in the first place, and you have a new stamp in the passport and some neat stories about your layover.

Note: Iceland is expensive. Everything. This blog post is not about saving money, but we saved more than $2000 on getting cheaper airfare by flying through Iceland, so the layover was pretty much paid for and then some.

Crime in Nassau

I'm in Nassau and there is a warning to visitors about crime. It is to stay in tourist areas and keep your eye out for any bad situations. I will say, "Duh!" This is also good advice in Louisville. Come on down!
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Location:Nassau

A quick good idea.

I'm not there yet! But here is a good tip for when you are headed to a new country or place. I've done this for Venice! For Paris! And now Iceland. I get pictures of the front of the Airbnb where we will be staying. I also have door and street photos. We have a much easier time finding our destination when I've seen the street before I go! Less searching! Many places are very dense, like Venice, and already knowing why the place you are staying looks like is a huge time saver and anxiety reliever. Google street view is useful, or ask the owner of the Airbnb.
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Location:Reykjavik Iceland

Purple Rain Tribute Show Vegas

A quick tip, ask locals for advice! And tip your usher when you are in Vegas. I always go see smaller shows when in Vegas. The Purple Rain Tribute show at the Westgate is one of the best things in town and tickets are cheap. Plus, it's general seating. Meaning, the usher decides where you sit. Ten dollars slid into an ushers hand and a kind 'thank you for seating us' can be the difference between VIP seats and the back of the balcony. And in this show you want to be up front. Oh, and I had permission to take this video.

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Location:West gate Hotel, Las Vegas

Egypt the danger is not what they told you

This quick video is from inside the Cairo Museum. A must visit when you go to Egypt. Also, I am breaking the rules by shooting this video. We walked from Zamelek to the Museum. Prior to the trip we had well meaning, but misinformed people tell us walking around Cairo might be sketchy. Well, the only part of that that is true is crazy traffic and odd sidewalks and sometimes no sidewalks. Not people or security. We found walking a joy! I like dodging traffic and the people are extremely helpful. I love city life and downtown Cairo and Zamelek is a wonderful place to wonder. You'd better be good at dodging traffic though.
Talk soon, travel well. Brad

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Location:Cairo Museum

Egypt airport

Here's a very short video as we arrived in Egypt. Officials are nice. Stop at bank first before immigration and get a VISA. It's $25.00 and looks really cool in your passport. Talk soon, travel well

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Location:Cairo

Public Transport or car rental

Let me tell you I love the freedom of having a car, and let me tell you more than half the time while traveling having a car would be a nightmare. How do I chose? Rent a car? Stick with the train, bus, uber?
1. Where am I? We went to Egypt and renting a car is as close to deciding to kill yourself as anything else plus, parking is crazy and cabs and über and even hiring a driver is cheaper and safer. So, don't rent in Egypt. But if you are spending a week seeing as much of Ireland as you can, as car is a must. (buy full insurance right from rental desk, always, in Ireland).
Another example where not to rent a car, Paris. Car bad idea no where to park! Avoid cars in towns very well served by public transport.

2. For the most part renting a car should be based on need and convenience and if you are comfortable driving in foreign situations. I am. I love a good manual stick on the left side on small city streets. Biggest problem with a car is what you do with it when you are not driving. Don't rent a car until you know you can park it and access it easily.

3. Price is a huge factor. I will pay a bit extra to have a car if it will make life much easier. We are headed to Iceland in a couple weeks. Public transport isn't too difficult, bus from airport 45 minutes, uber to flat 10, we could walk, but it's about 1/2 mile. Problem is we are coming in at Midnight. Navigating is more difficult and we might want to wander out of the city. Plus, bus and other travel is about $100. Full price of car $131, (petrol extra). And easy parking. It's a no brainer.

Now ask questions, I know I left stuff out. Plus, I will do later post about how to get best deal on rental. It's cheap in UK right now.

Talk soon travel well and often Brad



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I went to Egypt, and over the next week of so, I will post how amazing it was, and what to do and not to do when heading there. Hint: GO TO EGYPT! IT'S FINE. But first a quick travel tip that can save you a bunch of money and add even more fun to a vacation because you get to see more places.

Another last tip here. We usually book a layover in a country for 15-20 hours so we can see a  new city too. The flights with a long layover is usually much cheaper then direct, and if you have the time, it's bonus sights. On the Egypt trip we spend stopped in Vienna.

Did you know that Alaska is in the top 5 of the highest crime states in the U.S. You wouldn't believe it to visit because almost never does a tourist get targeted. This is true in a lot of places in the world, but in those places we are scared off by media and others using click bait and a fake hysteria in the name of news. Here is a quick video from my recent trip to the Glacier in Tracy's Fjord. I think it is the Dawas Glacier.

Hello, I am Brad Tassell. I am a comedian/author/and do a good bit of traveling outside of the U.S. I post most of my travels on my Facebook page, and I am often amazed by how Americans often comment about their fear of cities and countries outside of the United States. I created this blog to talk about amazing places and how dangerous they really are vs what the media and many times bigotry and ignorance put out there.

To be fair there are concerns when you travel and being aware of your surroundings and safety is always best practice, but I have found much of the world to be safer and as safe as most places in the U.S.  The major difference is getting past the cultural differences and the discombobulation factor you are confronted by when in a place that just seems so foreign. Which we have created as a buzz word for dangerous.

Also, because there might be a hot spot in some countries that has had security or other safety concerns doesn't mean it is wide spread. Think about visiting Texas and you are going to Dallas. You hear there is flooding in Houston. Well, you know they are very far apart and crime or weather have no affect on them both. Now, think about someone from Slovenia coming to Texas, they may think the entire state is one thing. That's how many American's see the rest of the world when for the most part it is the same as the Dallas/Houston situation.

Hence, this blog will be about great places and not so great places I have been and gone. What to look out for and what to really not worry so much about.

Please, post your stories and travels or questions, and come follow me on Facebook  at Brad Tassell if you like. More to come!