One of the things we love best at BootsnAll is talking to other travelers about their travel experiences. That was the driving force behind the formation of the company back in 1998 – Sean and Chris wanted to replicate the engaging atmosphere they found in hostel pubs and common rooms in an online setting to tide them over until the next chance they had to get on the road again.

It’s this fascination we all … Read more »

Have you ever returned from a trip and wished there were an easier way to show your friends and family the exact route you took on your journey? Check out Wikiloc, one of three winners of the 2009 Geotourism Challenge, sponsored by Ashoka’s Changemakers and the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations.

Wikiloc allows communities to create their own maps of … Read more »

In many ways, Jason Bourne is the ultimate vagabond: he has multiple passports, speaks multiple languages and has no permanent address.

Some PTs, or permanent travelers, are almost like real-life Jason Bournes. Minus the kung-fu skills and the CIA assassins. One  case study to read is the Sovereign Man blog, written by Simon Black (not his real name).

The tone of Black’s writing style makes him seem like a darker version of Timothy Ferriss … Read more »

Hanoi, Vietnam

If you have ever seen an artistic rendering of a prehistoric caveman sitting around the campfire with his buddies, you may have thought, boy, we’ve come a long way! Or then again, if you’re like me, maybe you didn’t think this at all.

It’s easy to forget the … Read more »

Even as vagabonders, we pick our travel destinations more often than not. We say that we want to go to Southeast Asia, or Peru, or Morocco, and to varying degrees we research those destinations and we go.

Tonight, I found myself in a new part of San Francisco. As I got off at the Civic Center subway station and walked north along Leavenworth Street, I couldn’t help but notice that the density of beggars, liquor … Read more »

Some of the travel world’s harshest criticism is reserved for those who impose the norms and expectations of one place onto another. It can be as simple as dressing a certain way, demanding speedy service, or expecting a certain language. It can be as heavy as trying to impose a style of government, farming or birth control.

However, a place can also be transformed for the better when … Read more »

The number one question I’ve ever been asked by anyone when I’m preparing to go anywhere is: Why on earth are you going alone? There is a pervasive fear that solo travelers, particularly women, will probably be raped, maimed, or at the very least, incredibly lonely within seconds of setting foot outside your apartment.  Instead, I have the best times going it alone — although the hospital in Jomtien would have been nicer with someone … Read more »

Wherever you are, pausing for a time with a cup of tea has the power of bringing you a sweet calming moment – even if you are squashed between backpackers in a crowded medina. A daily tea ritual can become an exercise in combating stress. No matter where you are, you can enjoy the sensual pleasure it brings to your palette and the resulting calm it brings to your senses.

No matter the nature of … Read more »

“Pilgrimage seems to be a means of reinforcing certainties of faith. Independent travel can be about challenging one’s idea of living.” –Rory MacLean, Magic Bus: On the Hippie Trail From Istanbul to India (2006)

The idea of packing light is nothing new. Henry David Thoreau famously explored simple living. Rick Steves advocates one 20-pound bag. Many airlines now penalize travelers with even one checked bag by imposing a baggage fee. And in this BootsnAll interview, Rolf suggests that a small pack keeps the traveler from being tempted to cram unnecessary stuff in … Read more »