Many people head to southern Thailand for beaches, islands, and the relaxed vibe of coastal life. Ao Nang is a bit more relaxed than larger cities like Phuket but still has a vibrant tourist draw and is an easy jumping-off point for many activities like rock climbing, island tours, beach lounging, hiking, and diving. Cost...

Considering costs is a vital part of planning your entry into expat life. Neglecting budgeting can abruptly cut short a stay. On the other hand, a little financial planning can pay off in a longer and more enriching lifestyle than you dreamed possible. A great web-based tool for this is Numbeo . Just type in...

Seems like the ideal setup: you're about to visit a country that one of your friends has already been to. Naturally, you ask your pal for advice on where to go and what to do. What could go wrong? Plenty, as it turns out. The Tnooz tech travel blog had an article called Why the...

Slow and steady wins the race, but sometimes it's the hare that gets the best travel deals. The great productivity website Lifehacker had this article on the virtues of being late: How to plan an awesome, last-minute vacation on the cheap . The article covers everything from choosing the destination to booking a flight to...

Pop quiz, hotshot: what are the best travel tips you can share? I'm more comfortable writing stories about other travelers. This time, I was on the other side. Jessica Spiegel, a fellow vagablogger, put me in the hot seat in Budget Traveler Interview: Marcus Sortijas . The piece was displayed on the website CheapTicketLinks ,...

One of the most common pieces of advice for would-be independent travelers is to save all of your disposable income for the journey. Spend only on experiences! So what to do when, mid-trip, you fall in love with an object ? Just like spontaneous experiences, the act of travel is peppered with spontaneous items we...

Becca and Nate in Surin, Thailand. Photo: Becca Becca and Nate are the writers of the hi & thank you blog , for which they were recognized as a 2010 Lonely Planet Featured Blogger. In the post Reflecting: The Cost of Travel , Becca paints a vivid financial and spiritual portrait of their trip through...

Southeast Asia is one of the most popular regions in the world for vagabonds. The low cost of living, exotic cultures and fantastic food make it a permanent fixture on most itineraries. But how much money do you need? On the New York Times travel blog In Transit , a writer attempts to map out...