Sarah Chen · Outbound Lynx

Sarah spent three years living and working across Southeast Asia before relocating to Europe. Her writing draws on deep local knowledge and a genuine curiosity for how people live, eat, and celebrate around the world.

Areas of Expertise

Southeast Asia, Japan, and East Asia travel
European city guides and cultural travel
Food tourism and local culinary experiences
Budget and mid-range travel planning

Writing Approach

Sarah goes beyond surface-level travel tips. Her destination guides include cultural context, local etiquette, and the kind of neighborhood-level recommendations you only get from someone who has spent real time in a place.

Articles by Sarah Chen (95)

Editorial panorama of Bali at golden hour showing rice terraces, distant volcano, and coastline

2026-06-02

Best Time to Visit Bali: Months, Costs, Crowds

May, June, and September hit the sweet spot for the best time to visit Bali: dry skies, 15-25% off peak rates, and breathable crowds.

Editorial cover image: Bali's adventure playground at dawn with Mount Batur glowing caldera and hikers on a ridge

2026-06-02

Bali Adventure Activities: Treks, Rafting, Surf, Costs

Most Bali adventure activities get stacked too tight: here's how to pace Batur, Ayung rafting, surf lessons and waterfalls across one week.

Editorial panorama showing a street-level collage of Japan’s rental types—from ryokan to capsule hotels—at golden hour.

2026-06-01

Where to Stay in Japan by Neighborhood, Budget, and Trip Type

Sleep within 10 minutes of a JR station, book sakura ryokan 9 months out, and know where to stay in Japan by base city before you book.

Editorial Bali landscape at golden hour with rice terraces, a hillside temple, and distant ocean horizon

2026-06-01

Bali Itinerary: 1 Week, 2 Weeks, Costs, Routes

Seven days hits the highlights, fourteen unlocks Nusa Penida and Sidemen: a route-tested Bali itinerary with real 2025 costs in IDR and USD.

Montage of Japan's unique stays: a Koyasan temple lodging, a Kyoto machiya, a capsule hotel corridor and an Okinawa bungalow.

2026-05-31

Unique Places to Stay in Japan: Temples, Machiya, Capsules

Skip the generic hotel chains: real unique places to stay in Japan run $23 capsule pods to $665 ryokan nights, with prices and booking windows for 2025.

Amed, Bali at golden hour: divers entering the water near Jemeluk Bay with Mount Agung on the horizon.

2026-05-31

Diving in Amed Bali: dive sites, Liberty day trip, costs

Most Amed reefs sit 5-18 m - perfect for new divers. Use this diving in amed bali guide for Liberty sunrise timing and costs.

Editorial hero shot of Canggu's beaches, rice paddies, and sunset vibes

2026-05-31

Things to Do in Canggu, Bali, From Surf to Rice Fields

Skip the generic top-10 lists: real things to do in Canggu Bali start at 5:30am with Batu Bolong surf and end at a Pererenan warung sunset.

Editorial feature image: travelers with backpacks overlook Mount Fuji across a rural Japanese valley at golden hour

2026-05-30

Are japan guided tours worth it? Costs and best picks 2025

2025 Japan tour packages run $1,500-$6,000+ for 10-12 days; use japan guided tours for rural trails and skip city hand-holding.

Golden-hour Seminyak coast with surfer silhouettes, luxury villa and tranquil spa garden in the foreground

2026-05-30

Seminyak Bali Travel Guide: Surf, Spa, Stays, Eats

Dark grey sand, beginner-friendly breaks, and IDR 150K massages: this Seminyak Bali travel guide maps the pins worth saving for 2026.

Golden-hour aerial view of Paros: white marble villages, windmills, and the blue Aegean Sea

2026-05-29

Paros Greece travel guide: beaches, Naoussa, Lefkes

Most first-timers fight the meltemi at 2 pm - this paros greece travel guide picks beaches by wind, plus Naoussa nights and Lefkes etiquette.

Sanur Beach at sunrise: calm water, a resort-fronted shoreline, distant mangroves and debris along the high-tide line.

2026-05-29

Sanur Plastic Threat: Bali's East Coast Reality Check

Resort crews rake Sanur's sand by 6am, hiding the sanur plastic threat bali wet season exposes 500m north. What to pack, eat, and skip in 2025.

Editorial panoramic view of Crete at golden hour, combining mountains, coastline, and villages

2026-05-28

First-timers Crete travel guide: Chania, beaches, Knossos

Most first-timers waste 6+ hours driving across Crete - this Crete travel guide picks the right base, beaches, Samaria, and Knossos. Updated for 2026.