From the monthly archives:

February 2009

Why Working a Regular Job is NOT an Excuse to not Travel

February 19, 2009

Americans generally have the shortest amount of vacation time per year (2 weeks on average) and this is the reason I hear from people all the time as to why they do not travel often. Yes, this is a limitation, but is it a reason to not travel abroad?

I vehemently disagree.

Read the full article →

When Traveling with a Friend Becomes a Problem

February 17, 2009

Most of my friends do not travel often but the handful that do always share stories about the nightmares they experienced with their travel partners.

A friend told me about how they are no longer friends with the people they traveled through Europe for a few weeks with. By the end of the trip they were at each other’s throats for various reasons, but mostly because they just spent too much time together and didn’t get enough space.

Read the full article →

Maximizing Your Money While Traveling – When to splurge, and when to save

February 13, 2009

One of the first things people assume when they find out I travel frequently is that it must cost a fortune. This certainly isn’t the case and over the years I have learned many ways to stay frugal but still enjoy myself while traveling.

More importantly than little tips that can save money here and there, you should learn how to decide when to spend and when to save. This way, you aren’t constantly looking for the cheapest option, but you also aren’t spending too much money.

Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for Surfing the World, One Couch at a Time

Surfing the World, One Couch at a Time

February 11, 2009

An interesting method of traveling has been gaining popularity recently.

It’s called CouchSurfing. You know, that thing you did when you forgot to pay your rent. OK, well maybe not quite the same thing, but the concept is simple. Travel around and sleep on somebody’s couch for a night (or longer).

I first came across CouchSurfing last year before I ventured to Morocco. I wasn’t sure what to think of it at the time but soon I realized that it was an amazing project that can really change your life.

Read the full article →

How to Get Into the Independent Travel Mindset

February 8, 2009

Have you traveled independently/solo before?

If not, it probably sounds a little scary doesn’t it?

It doesn’t have to be. In fact, now that I have been traveling independently for the better part of my adult life, I’ve really come to love it. When I’m not traveling, I’m thinking about traveling. All but one of my backpacking trips have been completely solo.

So what does it take to get into the mindset?

Read the full article →

How to Easily Learn a Language and Enjoy your Trip

February 6, 2009

Would you like to know a little secret?

Language is important.

Pretty obvious, right?

Being American (technically Canadian-American but who’s counting?) I am always surprised by how few of us speak a foreign language. Sure, in California many people speak Spanish, but not nearly as many as you would expect.

One of the things I always tell people is that they should learn at least a few conversational basics when traveling to a foreign country.

Read the full article →

How to stay healthy while traveling

February 3, 2009

Whether you are traveling for a week or for a year, your health is always a concern you should have.

Traveling in a foreign country usually is an experience to remember, unless you get sick. If you’ve been under the weather while traveling you know first hand what I am talking about.

I’m going to go over a few of the ways I combat sickness and attempt to stay healthy while traveling.

Read the full article →

Off the Beaten Path Destinations – How to find the highlight of your trip

February 1, 2009

Ask anybody who has backpacked for any amount of time what the highlight of their trip was and they’ll likely tell you about a place that you’ve never even heard of.

That’s right, I’ve never met anybody who said the Eiffel Tower was their favorite part of their trip to Europe. Nothing against the Eiffel tower, it’s wonderful, but often the small, out of the way places that you never planned on visiting are what really make your trip.

Read the full article →