Just three weeks before I’d planned to leave for Guatemala, the first country on my itinerary for my first long-term trip, a friend forwarded an email from her Guatemalan friend regarding my upcoming travels: “My advice is that if she has her heart set on going to Guate, do the volunteering thing and keep travel...

For every travel destination, there is always someone with an opinion about why you shouldn't go there. One person will say "I would travel pretty much anywhere, but never India." while another person says, "I could go pretty much anywhere but never Mexico." For a long time Colombia was the place I figured I'd never...

Aren’t you afraid? In a word: No. It’s a question people ask us in lots of quiet ways. Aren’t you afraid of the political climates in less than first world places? No, but we’re aware of them. Of course they colour our travels. We make choices to go some places, and not others, based on...

About a week and a half ago my train pulled up to the platform in Tundla, India where a sea of Indian military men were waiting for it. There was a rush of commotion as we all pushed towards the doors- a commotion which only grew when we discovered all the doors were locked. The...

This week a friend of mine had her iPhone stolen in Antigua. It’s ignited another round of discussions in our traveling circles about theft on the road, how to avoid it and the various gear and gadgets marketed to minimize the likelihood of being burgled on the road. I would like to say two things...

“I was driving down the road the other day and saw some cyclists ahead. I braked and waited until I could get by safely, but I’m concerned about them – the other motorists who won’t do that.” “I saw a cyclist riding through my town last week, so I invited him over to my house...

Hitching a ride was, is and always will be evoking images of young, reckless, crazy travel. It is for adventurers, because you do not know who will pick you up and when you will arrive at your destination. And it is indeed for adventurous drivers too: our imagination is so full of hideous stories based...

As independent travelers we discuss the best light weight gear or how to save pennies. But what about something that weights nothing and can’t be bought: common sense. Like, pavement is more slippery when wet. Rolling down the highway earlier today, I recalled a lesson my Grandfather taught my mother. “Drive five miles slower when...

There was an interesting discussion on a cycling forum I visit from time to time. A man responded to a blog post I had written about cycling to the ends of the world with my children. “ I just don't see how subjecting kids to this odyssey of self-discovery or whatever it was could possibly...

When we're away from home, it's tempting to cut loose and forget our inhibitions. A recent piece in The Guardian UK points out the dangers in partying: Vang Vieng, Laos: the world's most unlikely party town . The article explores how the small Lao town has blown up into a hotspot on the Southeast Asia...

As someone living a mere ferry ride from the coast of Japan, I've been hearing a lot of debate among ESL teachers as to whether they should leave the area or not. Italy has offered a free flight home to their citizens living in the area, and other countries have issued warnings to leave at...

I regularly fly through Houston’s IAH airport when I’m returning from travel to Central and South America, and lately, I’ve been running into brochures for the Global Entry Trusted Traveler Program . Enrolling allows members to speed past those horribly long immigration lines, and check in at a kiosk instead, currently available at 20 airports...

As you may have noticed, Rolf is currently in the midst of traveling around the world with only what he can carry in his pockets. He's got a toothbrush, a change of underpants, and an iPod Touch to do his blog posting from, as well as some presumably bulging cargo pants pockets. I did see...

I got stopped by the police last night because my flashlight was at half-power. Specifically, my car had a headlight out. I couldn't see the whole road, and the road couldn't see much of me. The officer wanted to make sure I knew, because people often overlook their lack of illumination. It's easy to do....

After a year of collecting suggestions from over 32,000 people , the U.S Dept of State has unveiled a completely revamped source for travel information, travel.state.gov . While most Americans may only interact with the Bureau of Consular Affairs when they obtain or renew their passports, their charter also includes assisting citizens who fall victim...

With the current war on Mexico’s drug traffickers erupting into violence in certain border towns, some folks with travel plans to Mexico are confused about whether to keep them. Here are some tips on how to study up on the current situation and the likelihood of events affecting you on your travels. Check travel warnings...

After the 8.8-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck central Chile on the morning of February 27, the country is focusing on cleaning up, getting aid to affected regions and attempting to return to functionality. What do you do if you’re traveling or scheduled to travel in the country? Citizens of the United States are...

The recent Machu Picchu rescues succeeded admirably, but in most emergencies there won't be a helicopter ready to whisk you to safety. Whether at home or abroad, you have to be prepared to rely on your feet. Be prepared to walk to the nearest gas station, through a pitch-black subway tunnel, or down the fire...

Apart from time, some money, and an open mind, the act of traveling doesn't really require much from the traveler. Still, there's always an incident where I find myself saying "I wish I knew how to do that". Here are some skills I wish I learned before I started traveling: Tying knots. I used to...

While many intrepid backpackers talk up the joys of traveling to "dangerous" countries, it still pays to be exercise some good sense. New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristoff assembled an excellent list of safety tips . Some of the humor is very tongue-in-cheek, such as his advice on dealing with terrorists. One tip I...