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Practical Tips from Four Years of Worldwide Travel

Practical Tips from Four Years of Worldwide Travel
As promised in my last post about homesickness and long-term travel, I wanted to publish a follow up about the more practical side of my time on the road. I started out having no idea if I had packed the right things in my bag, worried about losing my passport (I tend to be slightly scatterbrained on the best of days) and curious if I’d last the full year around the world. 4 years later, I’m still moving – though I’m doing so quite a bit differently than when I first started out. I’m travelling much more slowly, opting to spend more time learning and eating. For those who are just starting out or reading from home or mulling over what they too have picked up along the way, some practical tips from 4 years of travelling around the world: 1. One of the most frequent questions I receive is “are you lonely travelling alone?” 2. No, this does not mean mooching off friends or family. 3. Additional notes (Apr 6): 4. I didn’t believe it at first – “what if I forget to pack something!” 5. 6. 7.

The 20 Best Travel Websites on the Internet - Golden Book Traveler Update: Visit the 2012 version of The 20 Best Travel Websites on the Internet I hope that everyone who attended my SXSW Core Conversation panel on How to Make Money Traveling Around the World enjoyed the presentation. As promised, I have a listing of my top 20 favorite travel websites (in no particular order). I’m still working on my eBook “70 Vacations in 7 Months“. The Top 20! Couch Surfing Hands down my favorite travel website on the internet. Travellers Point Travellerspoint is a small travel community that features expert travel advice. Momondo How can a Danish aggregator feature cheaper flights within the U.S, than any American flight aggregator? Escape The City Escape the City is a new website that continues to grow like wildfire. Hostel World My go to site for anything related to hostels. Trip-it I build almost all of my travel itineraries through Trip-it. AirBnB Airbnb is great for people who enjoy a finer lodging experience. Flyer Talk Sleeping in Airports Seat Guru Travel Finances Flickr

Audio slideshow: World view 5 May 2011Last updated at 14:37 From bright red parrots in Guatamala - to Greenland's snowy landscape - the photographers who impressed the judges at the Travel Photographer of the Year trekked across the globe to capture stunning images of people and places. The best entries from 2010 are now being showcased at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in London - alongside some of the best of the society's own archive images. Join awards' creator, Chris Coe, on a unique journey from the blue waters of the Pacific to Africa's wildlife-filled grasslands. Continue reading the main story Please allow several seconds for the slideshow to load. The Travel Photographer of the Year exhibition runs at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) until 10 June 2011. Images subject to copyright. Related: Travel Photographer of the Year 2011 Royal Geographical Society More audio slideshows: Human Planet Sea nomads Mapping Africa The English at play Royal wedding dresses

Pssst: The 5 Best Secret Bars in New York For many out-of-towners, speakeasies are the things of history books and old-time movies, but for in-the-know New Yorkers, they’re where some of the best cocktails in the city are hiding. If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path hang out or want to impress your out-of-town friends with your secret bar savvy, check out some of these New York speakeasies….but shh…please don’t tell!! By Kristen Hetland, Associate Web Producer, CBS Local. MORE: NYC’s 6 Best Spots For Affordable Happy Hour Deals Milk and Honey How to Find It: Go to Eldridge Street on the Lower East Side and find a store front with a suit hanging in the window and a sign that says, “M&H, Tailors, Alterations.” Address: 134 Eldridge Street (between Delancey and Broome Streets) – Map See Also: The 5 Best Wine Bars On LES Little Branch How to Find It: Go to the corner of Seventh Avenue and Leroy Street. Address: 22 Seventh Avenue S. MORE: NYC’s Top 5 Luxury Cocktail Bars The Raines Law Room PDT (Please Don’t Tell) Address: 113 St.

22 Incredible Photos of Faraway Places Thailand Chances are you already know Steve McCurry as the man who took one of the most iconic photos of our time. It was of a 12-year-old Afghan refugee girl who's piercing green eyes told us her harrowing story. Beyond just that one photo, McCurry has shot over a million images spanning 35 years. Looking through his large body of work, we get to experience fantastic faraway places we can only dream about visiting. Afghanistan Sri Lanka Yemen Tibet Cambodia India Burma Eastman Kodak let McCurry shoot the last ever produced roll of Kodachrome transparency film. Steve McCurry More Incredible Photos:Capturing a Country's CultureBreathtaking Visions of EarthTragic Portraits of America's Endangered SpeciesIncredible Wildlife Shots by Rob Kroenert

10 of the best budget hotels in New York Posted on: September 21st in Cool Hotels, Travel by Graham Padmore. Like this Post? The Big Apple may be one of the ultimate city break destinations – shopping, art, sightseeing and so much more. It’s also (like most major capital cities) unfortunately notoriously expensive. So for those wanting to maximise their spending money, you will have to seek out some good NYC budget hotels. A good tip is to book as far in advance as possible, this way you’ll get the best price. The Gershwin This Manhattan midtown hotel is just a block away from 5th Avenue and close to both Madison Square Garden and the Empire State Building. Prices from $32 a night.Check prices and availability for The Gershwin Hotel The Jane Once home to salty sailors and Titanic survivors, The Jane is a living work of art. Prices from $90 per night.Check prices and availability for The Jane The Pod Prices from $89 per night.Check prices and availability for The Pod Broadway Hotel and Hostel Holiday Inn Long Island Sohotel Condor Hotel

Design Inspiration: Ten of the Wildest Hotels from Around the Wo Tripologist: How to get a good seat on the plane Ease the squeeze ... some airlines allows you to book an emergency exit row, for a fee. Photo: Craig Abraham Finding space in cattle class I'm facing a long economy flight to Europe and I'm wondering how I can get a decent seat on the plane. I know about SeatGuru and seat selection via the internet but it seems that so does everyone else and the premium seats are always booked. Is there another way to fly economy in comfort? Advertisement - C. There is. On the kangaroo route, Qantas (qantas.com.au) and Virgin Atlantic (virgin-atlantic.com) both sell these exit row seats. For that amount, you could, for example, make the 14-hour flight from Singapore to London without your feet or knees ever coming in contact with the seat in front. Singapore Airlines calls these "preferred seats" and you can purchase one by retrieving your booking on the airline's website. Bookings made through Singapore Airlines reservations and ticket offices or travel agents must be ticketed on Singapore Airlines. - V. - D.

40 Most Useful Travel Websites That Can Save You a Fortune | Wis Welcome Stumbled Upon & Delicious Users: You may also want to check out our 180+ Best Money Saving Tools. Traveling doesn't have to break the bank (in fact, you can travel for free), and there are plenty of places that'll help you find the best vacation for your budget. Get discounts and the insider scoop with these great resources. Don't forget to ask for free travel upgrades. (See also: 5 Essential Travel Tools) Cheap Flights and Accommodations Find the best rates for airlines and places to stay, no matter what type of traveler you are. CouchSurfing - Bum a night's sleep on somebody's couch and save hundreds of dollars on hotel costs! Farecast - Farecast gathers data from all over the web so you can find out if airfare for a trip is rising or dropping over the next 7 days, if a hotel rate is the best deal based on past rates, and if there's a better travel offer on another site. Home Exchange - The most comprehensive listing of home listings. Destination Guides and Travel Communities

The cheapest places to live in the world. $500 a month Are you tired of busy cities, crowded streets, high rents and almost non-affordable mortgage? Well...there are places in the world where you can live well for less. The cheapest places to live are also the most beautiful and exotic destinations. So why not make your dreams come true, pack your bags and move to one of those paradise locations, if not for a lifetime, then at least for a year or two? Have you ever been to Thailand? Chang Mai by Dj Badly Cooking at home will cost you nothing as fruits, vegetables and meat at the local markets fall into the budget category. Thinking about Cambodian history, the bloody regime of Pol Pot and poverty, no one would dare to call the country a paradise, but in terms of living cost Cambodia rivals Thailand. Getting around by tuk tuk. Living in Phnom Penh, the town of no McDonald’s and Starbucks, may be a life changing experience for you. Such beach on a daily basis? Ricefields in the Philippines. Belize sunset by Gold44 P.S.

Cost of Living The Top 50 Resources for Getting a Cheap Flight The Top 50 Resources for Getting a Cheap Flight Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 5:47pm by admin These days, travel is expensive, and costs are rising fast enough to make your head spin. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dream vacation-you just have to get smarter. Tools Put these tools to work to stay on top of fare deals, predictions and more. Websites These booking sites, aggregators, and other resources offer a great way to spot deals for the flight you need. Articles Follow the strategies outlined in these articles to get the best deal possible. If you enjoyed this article, please bookmark it at del.icio.us »

30 Places to Find Cheap Airline Tickets 30 Places to Find Cheap Airline Tickets Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 7:06pm by admin Scoring a great deal on plane tickets is only one of the challenges air travelers face these days. Unbearably long security lines, bumped flights, lost luggage and congested air traffic are commonplace. While we may not be able to control homeland security or overbooked flights, we are able to share with you some of our secrets for finding cheap airline tickets. Read below for 30 places where you can land a great deal on your next flight. Tools and Resources Check out this list of tools and resources that are designed to help you find the best airline deals available. Farecast: This website has predicting airfare trends down to a science. Consolidators and Discount Agencies Many times the best deals can be found through consolidated airfare companies that feature wholesale prices. Helpful Websites Use these websites to find more deals on traveling by air.

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