About Marybeth, National Geographic Author, Writer

Curious Explorer. Award-winning author.

Gutsy Traveler: A woman, like travel expert Marybeth Bond, stands among purple flowers, raising her arms and smiling in front of a wooden building in bright sunlight.
Polar bear tracking and snorkeling with beluga whales in the northern Canadian Arctic.

Marybeth knows travel. She has hiked, biked, dived, danced and trekked across all seven continents – from the depths of the Flores Sea near Komodo Island to the summit of Kilimanjaro.

More recently, she tracked polar bears and snorkeled with beluga whales in the Canadian Arctic, then kayaked among icebergs in Antarctica.

Somewhere in between, four years of studying in Paris earned her two degrees – and a taste for good wine and strong cheeses.

Twelve books (three with National Geographic), countless travel articles, and numerous TV and radio appearances have built her devoted fanbase. She won the esteemed Lowell Thomas, Gold Award for the Best Travel Book of the Year from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation.

Woman on cliff in front of a monastery in Bhutan
Yesterday’s Video below. A decade or more later. Is Marybeth still GUTSY? Here in Bhutan.
Marybeth in Antarctica with penguins, snowy mountains, and water—just the kind of moment travel expert Marybeth Bond would capture in a travel video.
Kayaking and camping near penguins in Antarctica.

Yesterday….

Lousy winter weather and a pent up demand for a vacation in the sun are my reasons for heading south to Mexico.

The top international destination for Spring Break is Cancun, along the gulf of Mexico and that’s where I’m going next week. Actually I’m going to an area an hour south of Cancun called Playa del Carmen.

Luckily I used airline coupons to pay for the airfare months ago. United Airlines bumped us from a flight last May and the coupons had to be used within a year, so after tedious phone calls to United, I finally turned the coupons into plane tickets to Cancun.

TRAVEL TIP: Check the expiration dates on free travel coupons. Travel must be booked and begun before the expiration date which is usually 12 months from the time the coupons are issued.

Despite a continuing string of negative headlines from Mexico, including recent decisions by three cruise lines to cancel port calls in Mazatlan, the country remains popular with vacationers: Cancun, San Jose del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta were among the top five international destinations in Orbitz’ recent spring break survey.

According to USAToday’s Laura Bly.

How to get a deal? Consider an all-inclusive resort. You’ll know what you’re going to spend before you go because all food, and often all drinks and evening entertainment are included.

I like to pack in advance to make sure I pack lightly and efficiently. Using old lists, I’ve filled and emptied my suitcase mixing and matching outfits. Roll clothing or fold? How many pairs of shoes?A sarong for a beach cover-up? Ah so many decisions and so little space.  Any suggestions?

Packing can be such a pain!

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Marybeth Bond