I love big cities, and always enjoy returning to Hong Kong, New York, and Sydney—among many others. But what about those unknown gems that are off the beaten tourist path… those obscure places that are just waiting to be explored by real travelers? Our new “Mini City Guides” are here to uncover those gems, and…
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I’ve mentioned a few times that going to every country in the world wasn’t as expensive as most people initially think. But how much did it really cost?
The short answer is that I’m not 100% sure of the precise figure. I didn’t tally up every expense associated with ten-and-a-half years of travel, and I didn't save all the receipts. Much of the travel (perhaps one-third) was done in cooperation with other work and commitments. The whole time I was living in West Africa, for example, I was visiting a bunch of new countries, but usually in my capacity as an aid worker for a charity.
Even during the time when I was focused mainly on going to countries for no good reason, it wasn't a business project. It wasn't something I needed to account for or get reimbursed. It was a personal challenge that I would have pursued regardless of the cost.
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Link: Chase Ink Plus **** Update: The 70,000 point offer has now ended. The card still offers 50,000 points and has gone back to having no annual fee in the first year. **** The short answer is yes, probably—and there’s nothing deceitful about it. In the wake of the huge new bonus for the Chase…
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This is a traveler case study. (Read others or nominate yourself.) When I first began galavanting around to every country in the world, there was one guy who quickly became my go-to expert on the South Pacific. Gary Arndt knew every island, even the tiny ones that weren’t technically countries. He and I have both…
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This incredible 4-minute timelapse video of California was filmed over 4 years. From Santa Cruz to San Francisco, then down to Orange County, Pasadena, and San Diego, I enjoyed the rays in the Golden State all last week during this portion of my latest tour. Thanks, Cali! I’m now on to Toronto… another great place,…
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This is a travel hacking case study. (Read others or nominate yourself.) When I discovered the happy accident that was Andres Zuleta’s company, Boutique Japan Travel Company, which allows him to travel and work on the road (without a smartphone!) I had to hear more. Introduce yourself! My name is Andres and I am a…
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I love big cities, and always enjoy returning to Hong Kong, New York, and Sydney—among many others. But what about those unknown gems that are off the beaten tourist path… those obscure places that are just waiting to be explored by real travelers? Our new “Mini City Guides” are here to uncover those gems, and…
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This is a traveler case study. (Read others or nominate yourself.) As a stated “recovering conformist,” Christy is now convinced that living a comparison-free, mindful life is as non-conformist as it gets in today’s world. Here’s her story. Tell us about yourself. I’m a story-teller at heart. I love telling mine, as well as other…
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I love big cities, and always enjoy returning to Hong Kong, New York, and Sydney—among many others. But what about those unknown gems that are off the beaten tourist path… those obscure places just waiting to be explored by real travelers? Our “Mini City Guides” are here to uncover those gems, and we’re looking to…
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This series poses questions from readers. You’re invited to answer! You can also send in a question for a future post. Today’s question comes from Jenny, who’s wondering about planning a trip to Japan: My son Lorenzo wants to go to Japan for his 14th Birthday. I have exactly two years to save and was…
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Hong Kong has been one of my favorite global cities for nearly a decade now. This short film focuses mostly on the city’s architecture, which has always been impressive and continues to develop as more people settle from mainland China and elsewhere. The last time I was there, I’d recently seen a series of…
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I love big cities, and always enjoy returning to Hong Kong, New York, and Sydney—among many others. But what about those unknown gems that are off the beaten tourist path… those obscure places that are just waiting to be explored by real travelers? Our new “Mini City Guides” are here to uncover those gems, and…
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"Since 2008, I’ve been working seasonal jobs, then exploring the world during the off season, using travel-hacking to get the most bang for my buck. "
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Every Friday is giveaway day. Comment to win! I recently flew Etihad from Los Angeles to Abu Dhabi—their longest route! Thankfully, I had a nice comfy seat suite courtesy of American Airlines miles. As part of the trip, I received a nice amenity kit, and this time I asked for the women’s version. I have…
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Regular readers know that there’s nothing I enjoy more than spending hours in a nice airline lounge. Whenever I travel I always plan for an extended connection, especially if there’s a great lounge. I don’t pass through Helsinki, Finland very often, but now I want to: there’s a new lounge that includes a sauna! I’ve…
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