Passports And Photographs

Passports and Photographs

Welcome to Passports and Photographs, a travel blog where we show you that traveling to incredible places around the world on your own is possible.

Pink and gold background with photos from Cambodia, Morocco, Spain, Cuba, Turkey, and the Netherlands

Have you ever wanted to travel to your dream destination, but when you started to plan the trip it was so overwhelming that you gave up and just booked a trip with a tour company instead? You know those tours…stuck on a bus with 40 other people, shuttled around from one place to another on a very strict schedule with very little time to actually enjoy the place you’re visiting.

Yeah, those tours are awful!

Selfie in front of Mexico's Mayan Temple - Chichen Itza

Who Are We

We’re Audra & Ron — married for 36 years, early retired, and trying to see as much of the world as we can. We’ve traveled to more than 35 countries and have lived in 4 of them.

When we travel, we like to know everything about where we’re going — how to get around, what to skip, and where all the photo-worthy spots are.

We’re drawn to destinations with depth — places where history lingers in the streets, where ancient cities and historic sites tell their stories, and where local traditions give you a real taste of life in another culture.

Yes, we love major destinations, but what really excites us are the places most people overlook. And we do it all while sticking to a budget, because saving money on one trip means we can start planning the next one!

That’s the beauty of independent travel.

Choose a Link Below to get Started

Manhattan New York from an airplane with the words Travel Planning

With so many amazing places in the world to see, we took an early retirement in 2021 so we could explore as many of them as we possibly can. We prefer to travel on our own instead of group tours, although we will occasionally join a day tour at a location when it makes sense.

While creating an itinerary and making all the travel arrangements on your own can be challenging at times, I’m here to take the fear out of it and show you that Independent Travel is 1000% worth it!

What You’ll Find Here

You’ll find practical travel advice and destination guides to photography-worthy places — from must-see sights to hidden gems.

Tips & strategies to plan your own dream trip instead of relying on packaged tours, which in the end will save you money.
Inspiration for traveling to less-touristy and underrated destinations.
Practical information that you can really use like how to get from one town to another all on your own.

30+ countries explored
Decades of travel experience
Destination guides based on real trips

The Slightly Obsessed Traveler

Need some help planning your trip? From travel advice to custom itinerary planning, I can help you plan the trip of your dreams!

I’m Audra — photographer, travel addict, and unapologetic overplanner… which totally works in your favor. If logistics make you panic or trip planning feels like herding cats, you’re in the right place.

I love planning trips! I know — kind of weird. But the idea of leaving a place only to find out I missed something amazing? Nope. FOMO is real, and I’m here to make sure you never miss your perfect moment.

Want a trip designed just for you? I create custom travel itineraries so you can start packing instead of Googling. I handle the details you actually need — how to get around, when to go, what it costs — so you can spend less time planning and more time adventuring.