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For the past three days, I’ve been in Bangkok as a guest of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, taking part in their 50th anniversary celebrations. The weather has been warm, the food amazing, and the people friendly and welcoming. My introduction to the city has only wet my appetite for exploring more of this beautiful country.
It was only a few months ago that Bangkok was in the world spotlight due to the Read more »
It’s a question based on the “walk a mile in someone else’s moccasins” premise: To fully understand and experience travel, do you have to spend time on the hospitality side as well?
Some might argue that not all travelers are customers of the hospitality industry. True, not too many vagabonds will be booking Club Med vacations this winter. But any traveler who has paid to ride a vehicle, … Read more »
Before we get into the review, let’s be honest, no, you don’t need the GoLite TraveLite bag. In fact, the old backpack gathering dust in your closet will do just fine. Buy less stuff, travel more.
Now that that’s out of way, GoLite’s TraveLite convertible bag is actually a pretty nice pack for those that want to, well, travel light.
The secret to traveling … Read more »
I tend to be pretty suspicious of places that offer you the opportunity to live in a “tribal community” and change your life, the lives of the “tribe members”, and the world in one week or less, provided you pay them some money. I tend to think one week isn’t long enough to make a difference in anyone’s life, unless it’s the week that bridges the gap between being pregnant and having a baby. I’m … Read more »
As any health conscious person may know, it’s actually pretty hard to get all of the essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs from food alone. Even for the most health conscious person, it is still a difficult task. So how do you maintain a proper intake of vitamins while traveling?
While I’ve moved countries several times, or lived between 2 countries for an … Read more »
“One plausible distinction between travel and tourism is that the traveler makes his or her own way, whereas tourists’ paths have been beaten into submission long before they go, whether singly or as a group. The elision between the two types has often been a consequence of pocket guides. In the nineteenth century the Thorough Guides and Baedeker’s made it easy for the less intrepid to plan in advance, to know where they might stay, … Read more »
Looking for a surf safari on your travels but need to learn the sport first? It can be fun to take a class while you’re on vacation—but how do you find professional operators?
Prices for surf classes can be affordable for vagabonders, depending on the location. Popular tourist destinations may be more expensive, but once you learn, the cost is minimal to rent a board and … Read more »
As China and America’s relationship draws them ever closer together, it was inevitable that some influences would cross borders. UPI had a great photo essay dedicated to this topic: American brands in China.
How do you feel when you encounter American brands abroad? My reactions have varied. In Europe, I shunned Starbucks like the plague in favor of independent cafes. In contrast, I readily ate at Pizza Huts in China instead of Chinese pizza … Read more »
As part of the research for an upcoming trip across Southeast Asia, I’ve been reading Rough Guide’s First-Time Around the World. 
One of the most useful roundups in the first 50 pages is in an offset box that simply has a list of activities, such as bike touring, caving, horseback-riding, kayaking, scuba diving, and wine tasting. Those are just the ones that appeal to me personally, and … Read more »
I’d like to build on my post from last week about tour groups. This week, travel agents — do you ever work with travel agents, and if so, how?
Here’s why I think domestic travel agents and vagabonding don’t mix:
1) The travel agent doesn’t understand the appeal of long-term, independent travel. Especially when the traveler has enough money to do … Read more »