Finding your voice as a travel writer

voice thumb“There is nothing more meaningful than being true to yourself and finding your own voice. Follow your heart and don’t let anyone discourage you.” – Jane Fulton Alt

Did you ever think about your own voice? What do you sound like when you speak? Have you ever listened to yourself? What would you sound like if … Read more »

Posted by | Comments Off on Finding your voice as a travel writer  | June 29, 2016
Category: Travel Writing

7 Best baby products for travel

Let’s dispel one myth right away: that you can’t travel with your baby.

When I announced my pregnancy, the second thing people said after “congratulations” was, “better get all your traveling out of the way now. Once your baby comes, you won’t be able to go on so many trips.”

That’s a viewpoint based entirely on your mindset and attitude.

Sure, traveling with a baby will be a challenge. But traveling already presents a challenge … Read more »

Posted by | Comments Off on 7 Best baby products for travel  | May 11, 2016
Category: Family Travel, Travel Gear

10 Reasons to work on the road instead of behind a desk

Working online delivers privileges and freedoms that seem almost too good to believe. In fact, many days I pinch myself at how lucky I am to be able to make a living sharing my stories and advice from the road to fellow travelers and backpackers on my travel blog. Here are ten reasons why I would never trade working online to working in an office.

I can go where I want

Read more »

Posted by | Comments Off on 10 Reasons to work on the road instead of behind a desk  | April 13, 2016
Category: On The Road

Biking Tasmania with 6 kids: Meet the Rickards

“It was time for something different,” says Jacqui Rickard. “Our kids are getting older so it was a good time.”

Thus began their adventure. Jacqui and her husband, James Rickard, hit the road with their six children (ranging in age from two to 12 years old) to spend four weeks biking Tasmania and Australia.

That was in September 2015.

They haven’t stopped yet. They spent a week in New Zealand, two weeks in Vancouver, and … Read more »

Posted by | Comments Off on Biking Tasmania with 6 kids: Meet the Rickards  | April 6, 2016
Category: Family Travel, On The Road

10 small strategies that will improve your journey

About five years ago, San Francisco Chronicle travel editor John Flinn published a column called “A few things I’ve learned in a quarter-century-plus of travel.” I enjoyed his insights so much I saved the article as a text file — and I recently stumbled across it again on my laptop. Here are my ten favorite bits of advice from Flinn’s column:

1. When you’re on a lean budget, one step up from rock-bottom … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (4)  | February 26, 2016
Category: Food and Drink, Hostels/Hotels, Vagabonding Advice

How to respond to beggars on the road

beggar thumbLast week, my Yahoo! News “Traveling Light” column dealt with the very complicated issue of dealing with beggars on the road. From my article, here are five principles to help navigate this sadly common and difficult travel situation:

1) Spend some time in the community before you give to beggars

Not only will a few days … Read more »

Posted by | Comments Off on How to respond to beggars on the road  | February 19, 2016
Category: Travel News, Vagabonding Advice

Icebreaker vs. EMU merino wool for travel – 2 months into traveling

434943498_e8e3b10e78_zMerino wool has been touted as an ideal travel clothing material thanks especially to its breathability, odor resistance and fast-drying abilities. I stocked up on a few lightweight merino wool items before leaving for my trip two months ago, and I quickly gained a favorite among the brands and also learned some other benefits of the material.

Read more »

Posted by | Comments Off on Icebreaker vs. EMU merino wool for travel – 2 months into traveling  | January 27, 2016
Category: General, Travel Gear

The worst tourists in the world

14849732_740027f47a_zI read with interest a recent study by the Trans-Global Association for Travel and Tourism Commerce, which rated the behavior of tourists from all the world’s industrialized countries. Consistently ranking last in the study — bottoming out in categories ranging from airline etiquette to podiatric hygiene — were travelers from Great Britain. “This settles it,” a TATTC … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (2)  | January 20, 2016
Category: Hospitality, Hostels/Hotels, Travel Writing, Vagabonding Advice

180 South and the quest for adventure

JOKTON6CY9“The word adventure has gotten overused. For me, when everything goes wrong, that’s when adventure starts.” -Yvon Chouinard

Quick, think of your most memorable travel experience.

Judging by the stories I hear from other travelers and the ones I tell, what sticks out for most are the moments when things went wrong, when for a little … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (1)  | January 15, 2016
Category: Adventure Travel, South America, Travel Video