About Shannon
Shanon Osztonits is a gypsy soul at heart. Her penchant for delicious words is just as strong as her desire for uncovering hidden gems across the globe. A true creative at heart, new cultures, landscapes and people inspires her daily being.
Shanon loves translating the beauty and magnificence of our world onto paper just as much as she loves painting a new canvas. Cities like Renaissance-rich Florence, or parts of the world where living in a sarong and bikini all day sets her heart ablaze.
Shanon called Southeast Asia home for six years, and the region's spirituality is something she carries close to her heart. She is also a qualified reiki practitioner; so you best believe her casa is lined in crystals. Apart from traveling, Shanon is a true foodie through and through — some say the two go hand-in-hand!
When not gallivanting around the world, you’ll find Shannon in her kitchen cooking up recipes inspired by the places she's been to, or from the latest episode of Top Chef.
How did you get into travel
With an educational background in Journalism, writing has always been my first love. It’s a career path I, undoubtedly, knew I would follow. Back then when magazines were all the rage, I had my heart set on entering the realms of Conde Nast and the likes. But that was 2011, and although #magazinesarenotdead, the digital era took over.
I've had a desire to travel and explore the world as much as I love to write, and my travel writing career began when living abroad in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2018 — which I called home for six years. I had the opportunity to write for a major publication in the Southeast Asian scene (TripCanvas), which jolted my travel writing career. I’ve been crafting travel love stories ever since.
Shannon's unique travel experience
Sri Lanka remains one of the most magical destinations I've been lucky enough to explore. Spending one month in this tropical piece of paradise, every part of a new day led to something spectacular… Exploring exotic spice gardens; the train journey between Colombo and Ella; eating meals as gorgeous elephants roamed the streets (I’m a HUGE animal advocate); watching shooting stars and cooking home meals in treehouses; hopping from one beach town to the next to snorkel; motorbiking along the open roads; catching crazy tuktuks (which should have been a bus to get from A to B); and of course, moving and grooving under the sunshine in my dear Arugum Bay. One of my best memories was when a local fisherman invited us back to his home in the jungle for dinner with his family. It’s etched in my heart as as one of the most special places in the world.
Latest travel articles and insights by Shannon Osztonits
Five days isn’t enough to explore all of the Mediterranean that spans Europe, Asia and Africa. However, you could take a short cruise to explore a bunch of coastal towns and islands such as Ibiza, Malaga, Palermo, Marseille, Genoa etc. Beach lovers will be enthralled with visits to Malta, Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and Mallorca to name a few. Meanwhile, city slickers will enjoy the destinations like Barcelona, Istanbul, Marseille or Monte Carlo. Whatever your interests, the Mediterranean has something for everyone. We recommend not cramming too much in those five days. Keep it slow, take it easy, and stick to just one region or two countries at max to enjoy 5 days in the Mediterranean.
Did you know you can traverse Albania north to south in just five hours? Yet, despite its small size, you can easily spend two weeks in Albania, uncovering all that this Balkan gem has to offer. There is the Albanian Alps to hike, wine regions like Berat to savor wine in, relax on Adriatic beaches, explore cities and villages, museums to visit, and indulge in mouthwatering cuisine. Uncover ancient Greek ruins in Butrint, find spiritual solace in Sarajevo, marvel at the Blue Eye Lake, or soak in Përmet's thermal springs after invigorating hikes. A 2-week Albania tour lets you explore nearly 20 new destinations, even venturing into a neighboring country.
Experience all that France has to offer in three weeks and still have some more time to hop into neighboring countries like Monaco or England. Check off major highlights like Paris, Nice, Marseilles and Lyon and travel to villages nestled between vineyards like Cassis and Riquewihr as well as towns at the foothills of the Alps such as Chambéry. Relax on the beaches of the French Riviera. Taste France’s revered wines, haute gastronomy in Michelin-star restaurants, stay in centuries-old châteaux, take snaps in bright purple Lavendula fields and against some of the world’s most iconic landmarks and buildings like the Eiffel Tower, Palace of Versailles and Mont Saint-Michel.
The well-established transportation infrastructure in Japan makes traveling between places easy, convenient and fast. You can cover its best parts on an 11-day Japan trip. Whether you’re a foodie, an outdoor enthusiast, a history buff or a culture vulture, Japan has everything to indulge your fixes. With 11 days in Japan, you could choose to spend a couple of days in few cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, before venturing off to nearby towns and villages for sightseeing and cultural tours. Go temple hopping, waterfall chasing or even skiing (in Niseko).
Whether it’s the castles in Germany, the Viking culture of Scandinavia or scenic river cruises in Rhine and Danube pulling on your curiosity strings, just 10 days in Europe can show you all! Traveling between these continental countries is made super convenient thanks to Europe’s excellent transport systems—adventuring to multiple destinations in a day if that’s your heart's desire. Set your soul ablaze on a 10-day trip to Europe by hitting its most romantic destinations like Italy and France, or explore the road less traveled around the Baltics.