Hey, it’s Maria here. 👋
I’ve planned 200+ trips across 25+ countries, solo, with friends, and with family, for leisure and for work. I grew up in Greece and have lived in four countries: Greece, the Czech Republic, the UK, and Japan. That mix has shaped how I think about travel: less about ticking off sights, more about understanding the rhythm of a place.
I care about the details. Great food, interesting neighbourhoods, local culture and history, quiet corners, good coffee, the right sunset spot, and enough structure that the trip actually works without feeling overplanned.
I research everything, but I’d rather spend a morning getting lost in a neighbourhood than tick off five landmarks before lunch. I’m not trying to see everything. I’m trying to find the things worth actually seeing. I’m the person who spends hours and hours on Google Maps going through local spots, reading reviews, menus and opening hours, saving places, then starting over because I’ve already forgotten the details after reading too much.
Food is non-negotiable
Street food, bakeries, local institutions, the place with no English menu that turns out to be the best meal of the trip. Local, mouthwatering food is essential, and it’s one of the fastest ways into a place’s culture, its rhythms, and the people who actually live there.
Travel should feel personal rather than copy-paste, whatever the trip. I love both the adventurous and the unhurried. Volcano hikes, canyoning, whitewater rafting, but also slow beach afternoons where nothing much happens. It depends on the trip, the people, and the mood.
Why I built Roambu
I’ve also been that person: hundreds of pins on Google Maps, endless browser tabs researching where to go and what to do and where to stay, and the long, long group WhatsApp chats with more links to social media posts than anyone can count. That frustration is exactly why I’m building Roambu: a group travel planning app for people who love travel, but hate the planning chaos. Read more about Roambu
Friends and family have been asking me for recommendations for years. This blog is where I put them all. I write about the places I’ve been, the food I keep thinking about, and the corners of the world that don’t always make it onto a viral post. Because the whole point is to actually connect with the place, not just pass through it.
If you’re planning something and want thoughtful recommendations, browse the blog or drop me a message!
