Live better. - The Keith King Report

The Writings That Anthony Bourdain Left Behind for the World to Read

6/10/2018

CNN

NOTE: If you are depressed and are having thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

On June 8th, the world-renowned travel writer, chef, and television host Anthony Bourdain committed suicide at the age of 61.

There’s no doubt, Bourdain was a lot of things. Before I started travel writing, I thought of him more as a chef and television host. But shortly after I began my little trek into the world of travel writing, I found out that Bourdain was a fantastic writer. Much like his career as a chef, as a writer, he seemed to know what ingredients (words) belonged and he knew where to sprinkle them in.

Below are just a few of his quotes that may inspire you to travel, cook, or live life to the fullest every single day:

On travel

13 of the Best Podcasts to Binge During Your Next Trip

6/6/2018

Podcasts. They’re a fantastic way to kill time. Whether it’s on your next long drive or long layover/flight, there’s a binge-able podcast for everyone.

The choices are seemingly endless. That’s because basically anyone with a smartphone can make a podcast. Many say we’re in the golden age of podcasting. And it’s hard to argue with that. But while having so many choices at your fingertips is a good thing, there’s at least one unintended consequence: you have to sift through a lot of crap in order to find the good stuff! Now, if you had all week, you could theoretically do a deep dive into that list and find your favorites. But who has that kind of time?

I do.

Eight of Best Beach Honeymoon Destinations Out There

5/23/2018

Trying to figure out where you’re going on that much-deserved post wedding trip? Whether you’re looking for someplace romantic, exotic, budget friendly, or someplace where breathtaking beaches are plentiful, there are nearly an endless amount of options when figuring out where to go on your honeymoon.

A Tasting and Brief History of Tequila

5/9/2018

Tequila is a drink with a rich history. Yes, contrary to popular belief, it has more of a history than making your clothes fall off.

A Brief History of Tequila

Tequila is a type of mezcal (which, if you haven’t tried you should). Tequila, however, has to be made with at least 51% blue agave, unlike mezcal (yes, there are several different varieties of agave).

And just like Champagne, tequila can only be made (legally, for it to be called “tequila”) in a few specific regions of Mexico. Within one of those regions is where the drink we now call tequila was born: in the town of Tequila. Not too long after the city’s founding, the drink was commercialized with the help of a man that went by a name that’s still known today: Jose Cuervo.

Traditionally, there are five different kinds of tequila:

Blanco: aged for less than two months (also called “silver” tequila)
Joven: blanco tequila that is flavored with caramel coloring
Reposado: aged in oak barrels for two months to 12 months
Añjeo: aged in oak barrels for one to three years
Extra añjeo: aged in oak barrels for at least three years

Having said that, you should know this: there is now a new category added to that list. The Tequila Regulatory Council has added a category called cristalino. Cristalino is aged (like añejo) tequila that is filtered to strip the caramel color out of it.

The New Kid On The Block

Picture This: Berlin

4/28/2018

Berlin is quite the place to visit. What stood out to me is its unique mix of old and new. From its modern skyscrapers to the relics of generations past, the old vs. new mix certainly made the city stand out to me. This week, in Picture This, a semi-regular series on The Keith King Report, is a picture blog of Berlin. If you're interested in more on this series, you can find the others in the series here.

Are Airport Lounges Worth the Price of Admission?

4/12/2018

They’re mysterious to those who’ve never been in one, yet unforgettable to anyone who has. Before I was lucky enough to visit an airport lounge, I’d walk by those doors that say “Admirals Club” or “Sky Club” slowly, just so I could maybe get a peak inside, wondering what it was like.

Still, they’re unheralded, often forgotten parts of every airport (certainly by the majority of people who travel). If you fly on a regular basis, a lounge can potentially save you, not only your sanity, but a ton of cash. If you don’t fly a lot, buying a day pass may turn your trip to the airport into something you look forward to, rather than a chore.

Where's the Best Place to go on Your Honeymoon?

3/28/2018

It’s the question that many couples enjoy figuring out between the engagement and the wedding.

As of late, I’ve been trying to figure out the answer too. You see, I’m in the middle of finalizing where Crystal and I will go for our honeymoon. And while I was narrowing down the list of contenders for us, I figured out the answer to the question, "where’s the best place to go on your honeymoon?"

The short answer: it depends.

An Extremely Cheap Alternative to Buying a Eurail Pass

3/15/2018

It’s true. Taking trains around Europe is almost like a right of passage. ‘Everyone’ does it, it’s fun, unique, and can get you pretty much anywhere. A Eurail Pass also allows you to play loose and fast with your plans. Want to stay an extra day in a particular city? Not a problem. The pass will still be good the next day. There is a lot of good to say about a rail pass when touring Europe.

But (and this is a big one) they can be very expensive. A three country Eurail Pass that’s good for five travel days over the span of two months will set you back at least $406. If you break that down by travel days, it comes out to just over $81 per day. Not bad, but you could do better.

Picture This: New York City

3/1/2018

New York is an amazing city. I lived there for three months while interning at MSNBC in college. If you've never been, I'd highly recommend visiting. This week, in Picture This, a semi-regular series on The Keith King Report, is a picture blog of New York - specifically, Manhattan. If you're interested in more on this series, you can find the others in the series here.

How to Find the Best Airfare Deals

2/14/2018

It’s true: I’ve been talking about how you can save a ton on travel with credit cards as of late. I mean, I did write a book on it. So sue me. Oh! And you can buy it here if you’d like. You’re welcome :)

Anyways, where was I? Right: saving on travel.

There are plenty of other ways to go about saving money while traveling. I wrote about a couple of them here. Unfortunately, when it comes to flights - the "deals" are harder to come by. It’s just the way it is. So what can you do to fly on the cheap?

Don’t believe everything you hear