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Marcus Bell

Field writer, US: family trips and big events, based in Chicago

Covers USA, Mexico

Last field trip Jul 202653 guides published
  • Family
  • Events
  • City breaks

Languages: English

About

Marcus travels with two kids under ten and writes down what actually happened: the hotel with the pool that closed at 8, the stadium gate that took 40 minutes. He covers family lodging in US cities and the events worth planning a trip around. Warm tone, hard numbers, and a soft spot for a good hotel breakfast.

Field trips

Months, not dates, for privacy.

  • Jul 2026New OrleansFamily lodging in the Quarter and Garden District, 5 nights
  • Feb 2026Las VegasSuper Bowl week logistics, 4 nights

Guides by Marcus Bell

white and blue castleWhere to stayWhere to stay in Orlando: five bases for theme park tripsUpdated Oct 2, 2026pathway between high rise buildingsWhere to stayWhere to stay in New York City: five bases for a first tripUpdated Oct 2, 2026pathway between high rise buildingsItineraryNew York City in 3 days: harbor, Midtown and the VillageUpdated Oct 2, 2026city near body of water during nighttimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in San Diego: downtown, Coronado, La Jolla or the beachUpdated Oct 2, 2026aerial photo of buildingsItineraryPhiladelphia in 2 days: a walkable plan around the closed daysUpdated Oct 2, 2026white and blue castleWhen to goBest time to visit Orlando: heat, storms and crowds by monthUpdated Oct 2, 2026city near body of water during nighttimeItinerarySan Diego in 3 days: Balboa Park, the harbor and the coastUpdated Oct 2, 2026aerial photo of buildingsWhere to stayWhere to stay in Philadelphia: Old City, Rittenhouse or the ParkwayUpdated Oct 2, 2026white concrete building under cloudy sky during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Washington, DC: Penn Quarter, Capitol Hill or DupontUpdated Oct 2, 2026The Space Needle and Seattle skyline with Mount Rainier in the distanceWhere to stayWhere to stay in Seattle: four bases, from Pike Place to BallardUpdated Oct 2, 2026white concrete building under cloudy sky during daytimeItineraryWashington, DC in 3 days: Capitol, Mall, museums and a rain planUpdated Oct 2, 2026The Space Needle and Seattle skyline with Mount Rainier in the distanceItinerarySeattle in 3 days: market, Space Needle, ferry and a Rainier optionUpdated Oct 2, 2026The Space Needle and Seattle skyline with Mount Rainier in the distanceWhen to goBest time to visit Seattle: dry summers, shoulder months and rainUpdated Oct 2, 2026brown rock formation under blue sky during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Sedona: Uptown, West Sedona, Oak Creek and the canyonUpdated Oct 2, 2026brown rock formation on sea under blue sky during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Cabo San Lucas: four bases comparedUpdated Oct 1, 2026tropical beach at sunset in mauiWhere to stayWhere to stay in Maui: five bases, from Kaanapali to HanaUpdated Oct 1, 2026brown and black tower clockWhere to stayWhere to stay in Puerto Vallarta: four bases, from Zona Romantica to the south shoreUpdated Oct 1, 2026a street lined with colorful buildings and flagsThings to doThings to do in Valladolid: cenotes, the convent and a two-day planUpdated Oct 1, 2026brown and green mountain ridge near body of waterWhen to goBest time to visit Kauaʻi: surf, rain, whales and quiet monthsUpdated Oct 1, 2026brown rock formation on sea under blue sky during daytimeHow toEl Arco boat tour and Lover's Beach: how to book and what to expectUpdated Oct 1, 2026An aerial view of the coastline and high-rise buildings in Miami Beach, FloridaWhen to goBest time to visit Miami: dry season, hurricanes and crowds by monthUpdated Oct 1, 2026gray templeHow toChichén Itzá tickets and hours: fees, timing and crowdsUpdated Oct 1, 2026gray templeHead to headChichén Itzá, Cobá or Tulum: which Maya site should you pick?Updated Oct 1, 2026people on body of water across white yachtThings to doThings to do in Cozumel: reefs, the east coast and San MiguelUpdated Oct 1, 2026a street lined with colorful buildings and flagsHow toChichén Itzá from Valladolid: how to get there earlyUpdated Oct 1, 2026gray templeItineraryChichén Itzá day trip from Cancún or Mérida: route and timingUpdated Oct 1, 2026tropical beach at sunset in mauiHead to headMaui or Kauai? Beaches and resorts versus wild coast and hikingUpdated Oct 1, 2026white and brown concrete building near body of water during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Playa del Carmen: four bases, from the strip to PlayacarUpdated Oct 1, 2026brown and black tower clockItineraryPuerto Vallarta in 4 days: old town, a boat day, Sayulita and whalesUpdated Oct 1, 2026people walking on green grass field near brown concrete building during daytimeHow toTeotihuacán day trip from Mexico City: bus, tour or driverUpdated Oct 1, 2026An aerial view of the coastline and high-rise buildings in Miami Beach, FloridaItineraryMiami in 3 days: beach, murals, Little Havana and a day outUpdated Oct 1, 2026people on body of water across white yachtHead to headCozumel or Isla Mujeres? Which Caribbean island to pickUpdated Oct 1, 2026brown and green mountain ridge near body of waterWhere to stayWhere to stay in Kauaʻi: Poipu, Kapaa, Princeville or LihueUpdated Oct 1, 2026brown and green mountain ridge near body of waterItineraryKauaʻi in 5 days: North Shore, Waimea Canyon and PoipuUpdated Oct 1, 2026the sun is setting over a large cityWhere to stayWhere to stay in Denver: LoDo, RiNo, LoHi or Capitol HillUpdated Oct 1, 2026tropical beach at sunset in mauiHow toRoad to Hana: day trip or overnight? Reservations, timing and stopsUpdated Oct 1, 2026An aerial view of the coastline and high-rise buildings in Miami Beach, FloridaWhere to stayWhere to stay in Miami: five bases, from South Beach to BrickellUpdated Oct 1, 2026the sun is setting over a large cityHead to headDenver or Colorado Springs: which base for a Colorado trip?Updated Oct 1, 2026body of water near cityscape at daytimeItineraryBoston in 3 days: Freedom Trail, Back Bay, Cambridge and a day tripUpdated Oct 1, 2026people walking on green grass field near brown concrete building during daytimeHead to headTeotihuacán by tour, guide or on your ownUpdated Oct 1, 2026people on body of water across white yachtHow toPlaya del Carmen to Cozumel ferry: how it works and what to bookUpdated Oct 1, 2026white and brown concrete building near body of water during daytimeHead to headPlaya del Carmen, Tulum or Cancún: which Riviera Maya base to chooseUpdated Oct 1, 2026brown and black tower clockHead to headPuerto Vallarta or Sayulita: which Pacific base to chooseUpdated Oct 1, 2026the sun is setting over a large cityItineraryDenver in 3 days: downtown, Rocky Mountain and Red RocksUpdated Oct 1, 2026white and brown concrete building near body of water during daytimeHow toCancún airport to Playa del Carmen: bus, shuttle, taxi or rental carUpdated Oct 1, 2026body of water near cityscape at daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Boston: four bases for first-time visitorsUpdated Oct 1, 2026a street lined with colorful buildings and flagsHead to headValladolid or Mérida: which base for the Yucatán?Updated Oct 1, 2026a stone building with a grass fieldItineraryMérida in 3 days: plaza, markets, mansions and a ruins dayUpdated Oct 1, 2026a stone building with a grass fieldWhere to stayWhere to stay in Mérida: Centro, Santiago, Montejo and moreUpdated Oct 1, 2026people walking on green grass field near brown concrete building during daytimeHow toTeotihuacán tickets, hours and rules: what to know before you goUpdated Oct 1, 2026a stone building with a grass fieldHow toDay trips from Mérida: Uxmal, Chichén Itzá, Celestún, cenotesUpdated Oct 1, 2026body of water near cityscape at daytimeWhen to goBest time to visit Boston: seasons, foliage, snow and crowdsUpdated Oct 1, 2026brown rock formation on sea under blue sky during daytimeHead to headCabo San Lucas or San José del Cabo: which should you stay in?Updated Oct 1, 2026
DestinationsWhere to go, when to go and how to get around in 221 countries. Every practical fact shows the date we checked it and who checked it.Where to stayNeighborhoods walked end to end: who each area suits, how far it is from the airport train, and the hotels we would book ourselves.PlanVisas and entry rules, travel insurance, eSIMs and rail passes, explained in plain words and rechecked when the rules change.EventsFestivals, concerts and tours with confirmed dates, rooms near the venue and the fastest way on to the next city.StoriesField reports and data stories from the road. We time the queues, count the costs and say what changed since last year.

Asia

KansaiTokyoBangkokOsakaSiem ReapMt FujiOkinawaKōbeManilaKyotoAll Asia

Caribbean

Fort-de-FranceNassauPort of SpainNegrilSan JuanOcho RiosHavanaEleutheraEl Yunque National ForestSosúaAll Caribbean

Africa

MarrakechRabatToubkal National ParkMaasai MaraCape WinelandsDiani BeachMombasaNairobiAswanSharm El SheikhAll Africa

Events

Sapporo Snow FestivalCherry blossomGion MatsuriDía de MuertosOktoberfestKandy Esala PeraheraEvents calendar

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