Johanna Read

I spent several weeks staring up at my ceiling. “Do I have three hours before my alarm, or is it only two?” I’d wonder while waiting for sleep to come. Finally, I described my insomnia to my doctor.
“You don’t have a sleep problem, my dear,” she says. “You have a stress problem.” She diagnosed me with burnout. I was shocked. Technically, it’s a mix of exhaustion, depression, and anxiety, but the long road to recovery is the same.

The South African vacation playground called Sun City has a world-famous past. It began as a bit of a “sin city,” where affluent guests could gamble when it was illegal to do so elsewhere in the country. Sun City became world famous during the apartheid era thanks to a song. The resort, which was revamped in 2017, is now an upscale vacation destination for both families and couples.

The dress code for warm-weather resorts and cruises might be unspoken, or guests may receive specific guidance on what to pack. Resort casual tends to be the norm for most tropical vacation destinations in the daytime, with some higher-end resorts upping the formality a touch in the evenings to “resort chic.” Feel free to use a tropical vacation as an opportunity to wear a flowing maxi dress or a shirt with a bold print that might not work as well at home.
Resort Casual in the Daytime
What to...

Vacation time and budgets are rarely unlimited, and expectations can run high for everyone to have a great time when you go away on holiday. This can make planning a vacation, let alone your dream vacation, stressful.

I’ve been trying to figure out which type of person Vivo Resorts is perfect for. For sure it’s the person who wants to be healthy while they’re on holiday, since Vivo has an athlete’s dream gym plus lots of healthy food. Vivo is certainly ideal for the couple who wants to get away from it all — the resort is all alone on a vast beach and you can sleep listening to the sound of the waves. But Vivo is also great for anyone who wants to be close to the action; it’s just a 10-minute drive from th...

It’s not just pilgrims who travel to Israel in December to see the Holy Land’s important Jewish, Christian and Muslim sites. Travelers with an interest in culture and history – and those who want to take advantage of the cooler weather – will also enjoy a December trip to Israel.

Africa's biggest travel expo in the surfing city of Durban , plus Madiba's Journey sites celebrating Nelson Mandela.

The waves froth and splash against the side of the tank. Two men are vigourously stirring this hot-tub-sized square pool, trying to add as much oxygen as they can to the yellow-green water inside. The liquid slowly darkens. As they stir, the once-mustard-yellow solution turns first green, then a toothpaste aquamarine, and eventually sapphire. It’s just the first step in creating indigo—the world’s oldest dye—the traditional way, here on an organic farm in El Salvador.

Those in need of a place to sleep while traveling have a full range of hotel options. Types of hotels and hotel categories can blur a bit by location and whether the hotel is independent, part of a chain like Marriott or affiliated with a brand such as Associated Luxury Hotels International. Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, or a combination of the two, hotel classification information can help you make the best hotel choice...

After uniting seven warring kingdoms into one in 221 BCE, China’s first emperor turned to the task of living forever. Hedging his bets, Emperor Qin Shihuang engaged thousands of workers to construct his massive tomb and its 8000 terracotta warriors near the city of Xi’an. But Emperor Qin didn’t spend much time in Xi’an, instead journeying three times to China’s coast to what is now the modern city of Qingdao. He was in search of a fabled elixir of life so that he could live forever in his new...

PDF version of my online article about Shanding and Shaanxi provinces, with additional restuarant recommendations.

Are you in need of a hot weather pick-me-up that’s good for you but neither bad for your bank account nor for the environment? Don't buy sugary bottled iced tea—make your own instead. It's so easy that there's even one version you can (mostly) do while you sleep. Plus, you can reduce plastic waste, save money, and control the amount and type of sugar you’re adding to your tea. Bonus: There’s evidence that tea’s antioxidants may reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease too.

From Magdalena Bay to Puerto Escondido, Mexico is a prime spot for interactions with the sea’s gentle giants. Nomad Johanna gets up close and personal.

A country as diverse as Mexico can’t be contained in a handful of pages, so we’re not going to try. Think of this guide as a sampler plate, or a series of windows into Mexico – a selection of first-hand accounts from nomads who’ve danced at the festivals, climbed the pyramids, chased the waves, and connected with the locals.
Featuring a pull quote from me and a link to my interacting with whales and turtles article.