About Sand In My Suitcase
Welcome to Sand In My Suitcase!
This blog is about luxury travel (splurgey and affordable). Exploring exotic and close-to-home places. The wonder of discovering different cultures. Tasting the world via food and wine. Dreaming where to go next. All weaved with a twist of adventure!
Who we are
We’re Janice and George Mucalov, lawyers by profession, now travel writers – much more fun, don’t you think?
Our travel articles and photos are published in leading U.S. and Canadian magazines and newspapers – and here on our blog.
BEST TRAVEL BLOG
We began our luxury travel blog in 2012.
It won 1st Place for “Best Travel Blog” in the 2017 Society of American Travel Writers (Can. chapter) annual awards.
And we’re tickled that we’ve won many more travel writing and blogging awards too!
Go to our blog now
This will take you straight to how we can help you (e.g., information on Mexico), destination and other guides, our most popular posts and more...
Our travel style
We confess – we’re luxury lovers. Yes, that includes swank villa resorts with private pool suites. But also more affordable boutique inns oozing charm and character.
We love venturing off the beaten path. (Africa and Sri Lanka, say hello!) We’ve visited Mexico (especially Los Cabos) so many times, it’s almost our second home, and we know Hawaii intimately too. Discovering all the things to do in Victoria, Canada (where we live) – and within driving distance in beautiful British Columbia (our home province) – is always a joy as well.
We also have a crush on cruising (especially small ship and river cruises).
When we travel, you’ll find us hiking, snorkeling and bicycling. Sussing out cool museums. Gaping at UNESCO sites. Strolling city streets from end to end (poking our heads into this and that). And taking lots of photos!
Oh, we should mention that Janice never says “no” to a spa treatment.
Ethnic cuisine and good wine? Losing ourselves in long conversations with local guides and people? Also a big part of the enjoyment of our travels – which we like to share with you, our readers.
And if there’s an English book store or coffee shop around, George will find it.
Meaningful and responsible travel
We’re not totally hedonistic though :-).
If we can, we prefer to write about hotels, cruises, tours and experiences that help in some way to make this world a better place. We donate 10% of what we make each year from our travel writing and blogging to Doctors Without Borders.
Travel writing memberships
We’re both members of the Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC).
Janice is also a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA).
We write what we honestly think
All thoughts, views and words expressed in our travel stories and posts are our own. And we dish on the good and tell you about the not-so-good.
We adhere to the codes of ethics for professional travel writers set by SATW, TMAC and NATJA.
Dive into our travel blog!
Okay, that’s enough about us. Go now and take a peek at some of our travel posts.
Rock these 9+ things to do in Lanai (get off the grid too!)
For such a small Hawaiian island, there are lots of things to do on Lanai – like hikes, 4-wheel drives and secluded beaches. So get off the grid, maybe rent a cottage and experience Lanai!
17 Delightful things to do in Bonn, Germany
Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany. You can visit his old house (see his pianos). But there are more things to do in Bonn too, like taking a river cruise to Drachenberg Castle.
17 Spellbinding things to do in Stone Town, Zanzibar
Some of the fascinating things to do in exotic Stone Town, Zanzibar? Weep at a haunting old slave market. Learn about sultans at the Palace Museum. And go on a sunset dhow cruise.
15 Hidden gems and unique places to visit in Greece
You’ll love these unique and special places in Greece! Hidden gems like Kefalonia, romantic islands like Skiathos, and Meteora, with its monasteries atop soaring rock pillars.
