Articles - General Advice

How To Shop Like A Local

Buying locally helps you blend in and promotes compassionate capitalism. - With the exception of Frisbees, feminine products and antibiotic ointments for ferociously itchy insect bites, jock itch and stinging bugs, you can often buy basic items cheaper en route. (Japan and Scandinavia are exceptions.) - Unless you’re scheming to ice climb or practice naked yoga above the tree line, hold off on buying boot crampons. - Honor your gift-purchase impulse on the road. An $8 Balinese woodcarving... [Read the full story]

How To Travel Like A Local

Not all who bargain are poor. Thrifty travel savvy extends your allowance and adds a memoir to your souvenir. Transactions should be win-win, not win-lose. Enjoy the sale. Bargaining is embarrassing only for fat cats who can’t do cheap tricks. So, spread your wealth. Disperse valuables wisely while mobile. That way, if you lose something—or if someone loses it for you—you didn’t part with your essentials in one swoop. Have a secret pocket sewn into your travel trousers and shirts to... [Read the full story]

Eurail Wisdom

One bonafide American rite-of-passage is taking off for a summer -or longer – to explore Europe via Eurail. There is no better way to adventure through the continent’s wondrous countries. The nuts-and-bolts of planning rail travel throughout Europe can be mastered by sourcing either a student travel agency or Rail Europe directly (details below) But there is no schedule providing European rail riding prudence, so here goes… While you ride the rails CONCOCT A MISSION. The best way... [Read the full story]

Tips For Choosing Your Souveniers

One of the Joys of travel is shopping. Why not take your on-the-road shopping up a notch to hunt for heirloom quality finds from around the world? Here are some suggestions for acquiring once in a lifetime souvenirs in the countries that creates them. Irish Crystal – Wexford and Waterford are not the final names in Irish Crystal. Consider visiting an independent house and moving beyond centerpiece bowls and candlesticks. A commissioned visual art interpretation of your family crest or a sculpture... [Read the full story]

Safety In Foreign Lands

Be prudent. Monitor your partying. Many misadventures occur when we’re under the influence. A buddy of mine and I were hitching across Australia when the two drunk creeps who picked us up suddenly veered off the main road onto a remote dirt byway. They got out of the car and pulled knives on us, demanding our money and packs, which were in the trunk. We were a flash away from being stabbed, and shock gave way to rage. We eluded puncture by clarifying that we were trained in martial arts and that... [Read the full story]

10 Ways to Find a Good Restaurant While Traveling

Restaurants in touristy areas have no need to be good. They don’t rely on repeat business and they know that weary, hungry tourists won’t bother to look around too much before resigning themselves to the restaurants inflated prices. Fortunately, with some advance research and extra effort, there are ways to find a great meal, wherever you are: Ask around. Keep in mind that certain people may stand to benefit if you eat at a particular place. Your concierge, for example, might encourage... [Read the full story]

Planning a Long Layover in Europe

When flying to Africa, Eastern Europe, India and some parts of the Middle East from the US, it’s often much cheaper to have a connecting flight in Western Europe. Get the most from your money by turning a short layover into a longer one and you can see a bit more on the same trip. You can also apply this trick when flights to a certain city in Europe are cheaper than the city you wanted to spend most of your time in. For example, if you planned on taking a trip to Prague, but found that buying... [Read the full story]

How to Budget for a Low-Cost Trip

Estimating how much you will spend on a trip is one of the hardest parts of travel planning. With a limited amount of travel funds, it’s an important step for most people though. Here is a step-by-step guide to planning your travel budget. 1) Price out airfare to your destination. Flight costs can vary drastically depending on where you are flying to and from, how many connections you will have, and what time of year you are going. If you are planning very far in advance, start tracking the... [Read the full story]

International Carrier Luggage Fees

Extra baggage fees can add significant cost to your international flight. Before you overload your luggage, check out these baggage limits and fees on international carriers. American Airlines allows only one checked bag and carry-on and charges $50 for the second checked bag. The  3rd, 4th and 5th checked bags are $100 each and it’s $200 per piece for the 6th checked bag and any additional pieces US Airways allows two bags on flights to most international destinations, but charges $15 for... [Read the full story]

Book Your Car Rental with Hertz and Get a Day Free

This fall, book your European car rental with Hertz and you’ll get one free day. May your reservation now through September 30th and pick up your rental car by December 15th to save the rate for one day off a rental of seven days or longer. Offer is only good for full-size or larger cars. You must present this coupon when picking up your rental car.  Read More →

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