One great part of travel is the thrill you get from the random and deliciously quirky places you find yourself. Just a few weeks ago I was thrilled to find myself sleeping on an 8x10 square foot floor with 2 other people on a tiny fishing island in the Yellow Sea. Why? Because it’s an...

Vagabonding for an extended time through Europe isn’t the same shoestring travel it was 20 years ago, but the continent still remains as alluring as ever to travelers. It can be rather expensive to travel abroad in Europe long enough to really immerse yourself in the culture and feel like you intimately know the place....

Want to spend a week in Madrid with all accommodation, meals, and wine provided free for 7 days? That’s what they are promising over at Pueblo Inglés . All they ask in exchange is that you be a native English speaker, and that you come prepared to help animate a crash course in English immersion....

The people of the north of France are said to be the friendliest and most welcoming in the country. The area also boasts a distinctly different culinary tradition, characterized largely by a sort of hearty “comfort food”. Here are a few budget-friendly dishes one should be sure to try when visiting this region. Tartiflette :...

If you're attracted to travel writing of a more personal nature, you might be interested in Steven McCurdy's film A Year in Italy . McCurdy' film is a 2 disk, 4 hour piece that spans the breadth of his experience in Italy. Rather than meticulously ticking off must-see destinations and facts about Italy, McCurdy's film...

Recently here in Vagablogging we talked about train travel in Europe , and the pros and cons of certain money saving options. Every year it seems like it gets harder and harder to travel Europe on the cheap. For those travelers looking for a way around those heavy train ticket prices, you might want to...

Part of the fun of being on the road is the experiences to be found with the great new people you meet while traveling. The road can bring us some hilarious, wise, and challenging characters. However, like many vagabonders, I relish my solitary travels. There’s nothing quite like striking out on your own, literally all...

Whether you're an historian, literary enthusiast, or beach-seeking vacationer, Greece seems to seduce many people. The country is a long sought after destination for many travelers, including the traveling epicurean. Here are some sensations from the Mediterranean palate that are not to be missed if you find yourself traveling in the area. Ouzo : This...

Travelers with a preference for environmentally sustainable practices don’t have a wealth of resources when on the road. As with travel in general, it’s often necessary to carve together information from a variety of sources—from books and magazines to online resources to word of mouth. Sometimes it’s like a treasure hunt to find the ideal...

After two months of living in Asia, I’m finally starting to feel settled. My mind is no longer preoccupied with the endless details of moving to another country, and I can finally get down to business and start asking the important questions. Is there a doctor’s office close to where I live or work? What...

A few months ago, we talked about the usefulness of vacation rentals as lodging alternatives , offering many of the same amenities as hotels at closer-to-hostel prices. While the two biggest names in homestays are VRBO and HomeAway (the former now owned by the latter), a small grass-roots community has sprung up across the pond....

Most travelers are familiar with the slew of European rail passes offered through Eurail or through your local STA agent. Travelers can purchase country specific passes, lump a few countries together on one pass, or even purchase a “global pass”. Country specific passes are available for 17 European countries, allowing travelers to really get around...

For travelers who save up their vagabonding days to follow festivals like Burning Man and Coachella , Love Parade might just be for you. The festival started in the late 1980s and has since grown to epic proportions. This massive party takes place every summer in a new location in Germany. The parade originated as...

I’ve had my eye on the Faroe Island chain for what seems like years now. You know, those weather beaten isles in the Norwegian Sea? This small chain of 18 islands with its rolling hills, fluffy placid sheep, and thatched roofs seems like the perfect place to linger for a few contemplative months. To perhaps...

Spring festivals are getting underway , bringing the promise of prime walking weather. Although it'll be a little while before Norway warms up, St. Olav's Way is a trek (and bonafide pilgrimage) to check out. The route stretches about 400 miles (643 km) northwest from Oslo to St. Olav's grave in Trondheim. It traces lakes,...

It's one of the great train journeys: the Trans-Siberian Railway. The train makes tracks from Europe on one end to Asia on the other. If you can't make it out to Russia anytime soon, you can get a sample of the trip from the comfort of your computer. Here's the NY Times article: Trans-Siberian Railway...

If you find yourself more intrigued by a place’s cemeteries than by its museums, here are a few ghastly destinations around Europe that you might want to check out: Paris Catacombs – Deep below the city of Paris visitors can wander the old cramped city quarries lined from floor to ceiling with human bones. The...

What do you get when combine CouchSurfing with sailboats? Vagabond Sailing , of course. Vagabond Sailing (a name inspired by Rolf's Vagabonding ) aims to be a way for vagabonds and travelers of all stripes to connect for a group travel experience on the high seas. Sailing might not be the first thing that pops...

The legendary Venice Carnival started last Saturday, and will rage for 10 days before culminating in Fat Tuesday, on February 16th. The streets and public squares of the city will be packed with seemingly endless live entertainment. Grab your masks and sit back and enjoy music and dancing, trapeze and tightrope walkers, acrobats, theater performances,...