When to Travel
When is the best time to travel? Now! How long should your trip be? Is "forever" a realistic answer? Actually, reality almost always creates constraints, and the act of mapping out the...
independent travel
Check and Recheck Your Dates!
What Holidays Do You Celebrate? Do you live in a country that celebrates Boxing Day? If not, you might be surprised by the fact that many businesses are closed the day after...
Research–How to Get There
Figuring out how to get somewhere is one of the most frustrating parts of trip planning. Because so much of what we consider adventure or exotic travel involves flying to another country,...
Research–How to Get Around
Transportation, both to your destination and around your destination, is second in expense and importance only to your choice of lodging. Not planning thoughtfully can lead to added expense, wasted time, and...
Why Do We Travel?
Let's take a break from planning, shall we? Let's talk about why we travel because it is the why that makes all of the effort of planning worthwhile. My Travel Background From...
A Word of Warning About Reviews
Reviews of tourist locations and activities, restaurants, and lodging are all extremely useful when planning a trip, but it is important to know how to read reviews in a helpful manner. Negativity...
Research — Places to Stay
For me, figuring out where to stay is equally fun and overwhelming. The options seem endless! This is where I usually get practical and serious with the budget, if for no other...
Research — What to See and Do
Researching the places you want to visit can be overwhelming, so it is important to pay attention to what you've identified as your priorities. It is also useful to think about why...
Research — How to Stay Safe When Traveling
Safety is a concern that prevents many people from ever venturing into independent travel, but it's often the illusion of what is or isn't safe rather than the reality that we focus...
The ROI of Travel Research
If you've picked a location and your travel companions, it's time to start your research. Wait! Please don't leave yet! I promise this isn't going to be as painful as you think...