Rocking Js (Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica)

Rocking Js is sort of an institution in Central America. It’s been there for ages, there’s a beautiful white sand beach in front of it, they serve decent food and have nightly BBQs, and there’s lots of partying. Moreover, they have a wide variety of cheap accommodation (from hammocks to private rooms). There’s a huge common space area and they offer a lot of travel services. It’s a bit out of town but it’s by far one of the funkiest places I’ve ever stayed and I met a lot of great people here.

Franceso’s (Ios, Greece)

Francesco’s is one of two main places to stay on Ios (the other being Far Out Beach Resort). I personally like Francesco’s better because it is closer to town (no late night walks home) and the staff gets everyone together at night to interact. It’s a much more social place than Far Out. It’s impossible not to meet people here. Plus, there’s a pool. Francesco’s is also next to the most wonderful milkshake making place on the entire planet. The rooms are quite nice and the beds comfy, but what really makes this place so wonderful is its central location and the fact you make tons of new friends every night.

Kabul (Barcelona, Spain)

Arguably one of the best hostels in the world, Kabul is just a all out fun filled place, but only if you are looking to spend your nights partying. You don’t come to Kabul to sleep. It is so well known for its atmosphere and parties that it’s always fully booked and, during the summer, books out months in advance. Everyone socializes in the halls and dorms getting to know other travelers, playing card games, drinking, listening to music, or heads downstairs to the giant common room to enjoy dirt-cheap beer and pool. Kabul also offer a small free dinner each night. I haven’t been there in a long time (I like sleeping more partying these days) but if you are young and like to drink, or just like to drink, or just young at heart (whatever!), stay here.

Nomads (Queenstown, New Zealand)

This was a new hostel when I was there in 2009 and I got to stay there as a guest of Nomads. I was traveling with a group of people who were already staying there and this place blew my mind. The hoste hass a huge kitchen (restaurant sized), top notch showers and toilets, a large lounge, and most rooms have balconies. The showers have great water pressure, and the pillows are thick — the manager told me they change them every few months to keep them fluffy. How about that for service? Moreover, unlike most hostels in New Zealand, this hostel doesn’t have a bar which means you can drink in the hostel. This meant that a lot of people stay around socializing at night instead of spending money at the bars. Moreover, the hostel host activities every night (including a 10 dollar pub crawl) and have a free dinner and quiz night on Sunday.

The Flying Pig (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

What I love about this place is the people. The facilities here are standard (except the pillows, which are like sleeping on air) and the prices are on the expensive side but I love the atmosphere here. While this hostel is popular with travelers looking to chill and smoke weed, the bar area gets very busy at night with those who don’t. It’s not all about smoking here. The staff (a mix of locals and travelers) is what sets this place apart from the rest. They hang out with guests, are experts on the city, and will always help you. They want to have fun as much as you do. In Amsterdam, I never stay anywhere else.

Base St. Kilda (Melbourne, Australia)

I’ve said in the past that Base is like the McDonald’s of hostels. You leave full but you’re not really satisfied. Yet McDonald’s (Base) outdid themselves with their Melbourne hostel. It is my favorite hostel in Australia. The bar is lively every night and there are BBQs and events during the week. Moreover, the rooms and bathrooms are clean and very well maintained. Most people stay here for the atmosphere and location. Within moments of my arrival in the dorm, I met a group of friends to spend time with. I stayed there during my first trip to Australia and went back this year to see if it was still as good as I remembered. It was.

Hostel Mostel (Bulgaria)

This hostel has locations in three cities in Bulgaria (Sofia, Plovdiv, and Veliko Tarnovo), and they all follow the same principles: comfy beds, free breakfast, free dinner, free beer, fee shots, a pool table, and free fast wi-fi. And, you know, it’s hard not to like a place that gives you a delicious breakfast, free beer and pasta each night. The beds are super comfortable but the best part of staying here is just the friendly, social atmosphere. I especially loved their location in Veliko Tarnovo as it had great views of the old castle and the surrounding mountains. This hostel was my favorite during my recent 6 month trip through Europe.

Suk 11 Guest House (Bangkok, Thailand)

Right in the center of Bangkok, this guest house is far away from the backpacker scene of Khao San Road and close to the action downtown (and also next to my favorite bar in the world, Cheap Charlies). Suk 11 is decorated in teak wood and there are also plants and flowers throughout the place. It’s like an oasis of calm in a city of craziness. In front is a traditional Thai restaurant that is filled with locals every night. The breakfast kind of sucks, and though some of the staff can be a bit sour sometimes, the location and décor more than make up for it.

Mondu Taitu (Bocas Del Toro, Panama)

This funky hostel in a great tropical setting is owned by three American surfers who have the right idea about life – spend it at the beach. This hostel has a themed party every night, serves a pancake breakfast, and is located next to the best sandwich shake shop in the world – Bocas Blended. Most of the dorms are located in the house next to the main “hostel”, which is great because you get a peaceful night’s sleep instead of being woken up by the loud music. This is one of those places you go to relax for a few days and end up spending two weeks.

Tallinn Backpackers (Tallinn, Estonia)

Tallinn had a lot of good hostels. I had to switch a lot and out of the four I stayed at, I enjoyed this place the most. It was the most social of the hostels I stayed at and they host a nightly pub crawl that usually begins with a little sing-along. (Yes, of course, they sing Oasis’s “Wonderwall”.) The beds here are soft and I probably got the best night’s sleep here that I’d had in a while. And it’s not loud at night because everyone is out, and they shut down the common area at midnight so people can sleep. Downside? It’s sometimes filled with large groups of drunk Brits and Aussies and I’d probably avoid this place on the weekend for that reason.

Aboriginal (Budapest, Hungary)

This place had me at breakfast (waffles) as well as the free goulash for dinner. Centrally located in Budapest, Aboriginal offers free wi-fi, free laundry, and T.V., and organizes their own nights out so everyone can meet each other. The place is small so everyone gets to know each other very well. It creates a very homey and comfortable atmosphere. You end up feeling like you are traveling with friends, not strangers. It’s not a party factory meant to churn and burn drunk travelers like other hostels (Carpe Noctum) in Budapest are.

Runners Up: Green Turtle (Seattle, Washington), Calypso (Cairns, Australia), #9 Guesthouse (Phnom Phen, Cambodia)

So there you have it. These are my favorite hostels in the world and the ones I would highly recommend staying at. Of course, there are many, many, many other great hostels in the world but for me, these are the cream of the crop.

Melbourne

In general, Australia doesn’t have a lot of good sushi. It is mostly standard, average supermarket quality sushi that you can find in just about every grocery store in America. Everything restaurant is a quick fix or a sushi train. Decent enough to satisfy a craving, but nothing to write home about. You simply walk away full. But in Melbourne, I found quite a few very authentic Japanese restaurants with mouth-watering sushi, exotic fish, extensive menus, and healthy portions. Having had sushi around the region, I was wonderfully surprised. So surprised I went for the majority of my meals while I was there. If you are in Australia, save all your sushi money for here.

Favorite restaurants: Kenzen and Nobu

New York City

New York is second in the world for the best sushi after Japan. There is a sushi restaurant every block here, and most of them are actually really delicious. You can find everything from sushi chains to basic restaurants to world-class, high-end, blow-your-budget eateries. Most have a wide variety of sake, too – not just that hot crap that tastes like gasoline. And the best thing about New York sushi is that you can find something worth eating at every price point. Heck, I’m a sushi snob and I still love the stuff from Whole Foods. Simply put, even the basic places here are world class. I’d take them over some of the “best” places in other parts of the world.

Favorites: Mizu, Matsuri, and Morimoto

Japan

The birthplace of sushi and the place where all fish is usually routed through via the big Tokyo fish market, it’s pretty obvious that Japan has some of the best sushi in the world. I only had sushi here once on a layover between Thailand and America (we actually organized our flight so we could have enough time to get sushi), but I remember the portions being huge, the fish being excellent quality, and the variety second only to what I find in America. When I return here in November, I plan to gorge myself on fish.

London

You’ll find great sushi in London if you are willing to pay for it. London offers a lot of quick-eat sushi places, which you can find dotted around the city. I like these places because I can get my sushi fix in but they aren’t exactly great. I only ever eat sushi in London when I know I can spend some money, or if I have a craving that I absolutely have to give in to. The really quality fish won’t come cheap in London. And sometimes frankly, I’d rather not eat sushi at all than eat poor quality sushi.

Paris

Like London, there is some fabulous sushi in Paris but, unfortunately, you pay a lot for it. It isn’t cheap. Not by a long shot. Paris does decent mid-range sushi (though I think it is overpriced for the quality) and first-rate high-end sushi. While I love sushi, it would be nice to see some more budget, “I-just-need-a-quick-sushi-fix” places in Paris. I didn’t see many while I was there – at least not any worth eating at. So if you want sushi in Paris, you will have to shell out lots of money for it. But the quality and variety of what you get will be worth what you spend.

Bulgaria

You wouldn’t think you’d find mouth-watering sushi in Bulgaria, but they have a chain called Happy Sushi, which blew my mind. I am always skeptical of chain restaurants, even more so when they are in places never mentioned on “good sushi” lists. But this one produced surprisingly delicious sushi, especially at the flagship restaurant in Sofia. Moreover, the portions were big, the menu fairly large, and it left me wanting more. I ate there so often the waitresses in Sofia knew my friend and I.

Favorite: Happy Sushi

Bangkok

Bangkok has a huge array of sushi restaurants. There is a large Japanese community here — add that to the large number of Western expats who call this city home, and you can expect to find some quality sushi in Bangkok. Plus the Thais love it, and it’s sort of a status thing to be able to go out for sushi. You’ll find everything from very traditional to more fusion-Western sushi here. The local Thai chains aren’t very good. I enjoy some of the traditional restaurants in the Japanese district but they also tend to be overpriced. Delicious but overpriced.

Favorite: Isao

Rome

Italy doesn’t offer much in the way of sushi, but if you are looking to satisfy a craving, Rome has a few restaurants worth checking out. But, like in the rest of Europe, if you want it, you have to pay for it. I’d say there are fewer than a handful of places here worth visiting. But while the selection is usually very limited, the quality is good. I like places with a lot of variety. But in the land of pasta, I’m happy there is such great sushi to be found if you know where to look. And, in true Italian fashion, all the restaurants are very sleek and trendy.

Favorite: Roma Hamasei

Denver

I was pretty surprised to find delicious sushi in the middle of the United States. After all, it’s not like there is any ocean around. But given that Denver has a huge international airport, I guess it sort of makes sense. I drove through here while traveling across America, and my friend took me to three sushi restaurants. At one, I had never tasted salmon so good as I was served that day and to this day, I’ve yet to find salmon as good.

Vancouver

Vancouver is home to a large Asian population, so you find a lot of different Asian restaurants here – as well as lots of good sushi. I didn’t find a lot of variety in the fish here, though. In many parts of the world, you can get a long list of fish to choose from at sushi restaurants, and, given Vancouver’s proximity to the ocean, I expected the same here. But I didn’t find it. However, while I never found world-class NYC sushi here, I found that Vancouver does have the best value sushi restaurants. For the most part, the sushi here is average but the value for money here is some of the best in the world, and sometimes that’s really important.

Places where I had the worst sushi: New Zealand, Germany, Scandinavia, Romania, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Panama

Everywhere I go, I always get sushi. I’ve found that, with the popularization of sushi around the world, most destinations have at least one place that is satisfying and will give you your sushi fix. But if you want more than satisfying, if you want delicious, try sushi in any of the above cities.

Dorm Rooms

Hostel dorms rooms are cheap and are a great way to meet people, because you are shoved into the same room with them. You don’t have a choice but to get to know each other. (Well, you don’t have to talk but it’s a bit awkward then.) But sometimes you don’t want to meet new people, get the top bunk, or have to deal with three snorers in a 6 bed room. That’s when you really begin to hate hostels. I still use dorm rooms because they keep costs down, but I really dislike how often they get in the way of a good night’s sleep.

The Same Conversation

Whenever you arrive somewhere new, travelers ask the same five questions: Where are you from? Where are you going? Where have you been? How long are you traveling for? How long are you here? After 5 years…heck after 5 days, it’s pretty boring having the same conversation over and over again. They are the default, basic questions everyone (including me sometimes) asks. It becomes second nature. However, I mix it up now. When I get asked one of the five questions, I reply by asking their name and then something like what’s your favorite color or favorite book or least favorite place you have ever seen. It is far more interesting than “what do you do back home?”

The 5 Minute Friend

You meet great people, and then tomorrow they are gone. Maybe you will see each other again, maybe not. It’s great meeting so many amazing people on the road, but I hate how everyone is always leaving, especially just as you get to know someone. It’s a snowball of sadness. I’ve met countless amazing people on the road and sure, in that moment, and in that time, we had a blast. Maybe that it was all that was meant to be. But it’s nice to have some consistency and have a friend for more than 5 minutes.

The Excessive Partying

In the backpacking world, it’s always someone’s first or last night and therefore a reason to go out – which means there’s a lot of drinking going on. (A LOT!) I’ve done my fair share of partying, and I’ll admit that it’s great when you are just starting out. You are excited about the road, everything is new, and it’s a good way to meet people. But after a few months, it gets boring and repetitive. You get weary of just drinking all the time as though that is the only activity in the world. Can’t we just go do something else? Does alcohol always have to be involved? Let’s go play mini golf, see a movie, go bowling, or see a concert. There are more to countries than their bars.

The Cheapness

I understand that long-term travelers have a fixed budget. When I first went overseas, I only had a limited amount of money and it had to last a long, long time. That being said, though, did you really come all the way to Spain to not have the paella? You flew to Japan and never once had sushi or anything more than cheap ramen noodles? Skipped skiing in the Alps because of the price of a lift ticket? Come on. You only live once. Do something more than a free guided tour, cook your own meals, complain about your lack of sleep though you slept in a hammock, and drink beer from 7-11. It’s great to be frugal, but it’s lame to be cheap.

Know-it-all Backpackers

There is always someone who has traveled more than you. Even after 5 years of backpacking the world, I know people who have spent 6, 7, 8 years with nothing but a backpack. However, what I hate is when people interject into other people’s conversations or plans and start to give their opinion about where they should or shouldn’t go. Or they will begin to tell you the history of a place (and most likely get it wrong) to try to “educate” you on how things really are. Don’t be a know it all. No one likes a show off. I often refrain from correcting people simply because I don’t want to be “that guy.”

The “Who’s a Better Traveler?” Game

Too many travelers like to talk themselves up by talking about how long they have traveled for or how many counties they have been it as though traveling is a competition. “You’ve been to 20 countries?” “Ohh, well I’ve been to 37!” Or you might hear “You don’t really experience country X because you skipped activity Y.” Comments like that make the younger traveler feel bad about their own experience, which makes me come in and tell the one upper about my life or other travels I know to deflate some of their smugness because it doesn’t matter what activities you have done or if you have been to 4, 19, or 150 countries – everyone’s journey is their own and all are equal.

The Herd Mentality

I wanted to be a backpacker because they embodied a spirit of adventure and discovery. They were out to see the world, discover its hidden secrets, and meet new locals. Turns out, that’s often not the case. More often than not,  backpackers today follow the same well-laid travel route that thousands have tread before them. They simply follow the pack. Yes, popular places are popular for a reason and I would never, for example, suggest skipping Thailand, Paris, or Costa Rica just because there are other tourists there. But good lord, be a bit more curious and wander off somewhere random. Just once.

Always Being “On”

Sometimes I just don’t want to talk to everyone. Sometimes, I just want to read my book and stay in catching up on True Blood. But then I am the anti-social guy in the hostel and people look at me differently. I hate how you ALWAYS have to seem to be friendly and upbeat. People are social creatures but it is also good have some alone time to decompress and relax. Always being on is simply too mentality exhausting for me, especially when you are asked the same questions everyday. (see above!)

Goodbyes

I have said more goodbyes in the last 5 years than any human should ever have to. And despite the changes in technology and social media, you know the emails will slowly fade away despite the best of intentions. Life moves on and people go their separate ways. Sure, you will have that great moment in time together, but the more you travel, the more you realize the hard truth that you might never see that person again. And the more you hate having to say good bye.

The Quick Romantic Relationships

You meet people, you leave people. It’s a sad cycle that means that just when you really start to like someone, you split up. It’s makes having a long term committed relationship on the road really hard. You are together while you are on the road, but then people go left while you go right. And then, as quickly as it began, it is over. It’s hard to always have to start and stop feelings and often since you never really “break up,” you never get any real closure on. The road becomes a serious of short relationships and that can get very tiring.

Backpack Flags

You can say it is a way to remember where you have gone, but what it really does is let people know how awesome you are for having been to so many places. It’s all part of the “who’s the more experienced traveler” one-upmanship that happens in hostels. And it annoys me. A lot. You have photos, memories, and passport stamps to remember where you have been. I doubt your bag really cares. Let’s call a spade a spade: sewing flags from every country you have been too is just a way to show the world that you are well traveled.

Dirty Kitchens

Despite all the signs that tell people to clean up their mess, they never do. Why? It’s not their kitchen and they are leaving soon. Someone else will do it. I really hate hostel kitchens for this reason, and it’s why I never cook in them. I didn’t travel around the world to clean up your mess. Do it yourself! What are you, 9? Your mother is not here to clean up after you and it’s inconsiderate leaving a dirty kitchen for the next person.

Missing the Gym

I like to work out. Traveling makes me unhealthy and fat and I don’t like it. It’s hard to keep a healthy lifestyle on the road and I wish I had the chance to go to the gym and work out more often.

Sex in Dorm Rooms

I do not want to hear you having sex. Ever. Go get a private room. We don’t believe her moans of pleasure, and we don’t want to see your white ass. For the price of two dorm beds, you can get a private room in most any place in the world. And if it does cost more, it isn’t that much. Get some privacy, have better sex, and let everyone else sleep.

Don’t take this to mean that I really do hate backpacking. Most days, I love this style of travel and I love backpacking. It’s fun, social, and you get to meet amazing people. But sometimes, the little things just grind your gears, which is most often when people are rude and inconsiderate. Backpacking is great lifestyle and like any lifestyle it has its ups and downs. I’m just lucky it has more ups than downs.

Thailand

Despite being a hugely popular tourist destination, Thailand as a whole has remained relatively cheap. Outside of a few of the popular tourist islands, it’s easy to live on less than $30 USD (900 Baht) per day. Budget rooms cost between $6-10 USD per night, you can eat on less than $5 USD per day, drinks are about $2 USD, and sightseeing activities cost around $10 USD. To live on $30 USD dollars a day, stay in guesthouses, eat the delicious local food, avoid lots of expensive drinks, and take local transportation. But even when I splurge, I still barely break $30 USD per day. Most of the time I spend around $20 USD per day. This is a country where drinks cost more than food so as long as you go light on drinks, you’ll find Thailand quite inexpensive.

Bali

Even cheaper than Thailand, Bali is a great destination for those looking to avoid spending a lot. In the south, especially around Kuta, you’ll find more $1,000 USD per night rooms than any other place in the world. However, right next to them are rooms for less than $10 USD a night. Though flights are long and expensive, the island itself is amazingly cheap. Most local meals cost between $2 USD while “western” dishes are about $4 USD. Activities such as snorkeling tend to cost no more than $10 USD. Moreover, once you leave the touristy southern part of the island and go inland, everything gets even cheaper.

Greece

Even before Greece almost went bankrupt, the country was a bargain. Now, it’s even cheaper. I was shocked at how cheap it was. Gyros cost around $3 USD, you can get a huge lamb dinner for $10 USD, drinks go for around $3 USD, and single rooms can be found for under $15 USD. An expensive night for me in Greece was $55 USD and that included an evening of drinks. In cities like Paris or Amsterdam, a dorm room is at least $30 USD. That’s more than I spent most days in Greece! You wouldn’t think a Euro zone country would be so cheap but that’s all the more reason to visit. If you want to enjoy Europe on a budget, visit Greece.

Central America

Most of Central America is pretty cheap and you can travel on less than 30 dollars a day. Of course, you’ll need to exclude Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama as they are more expensive. (At about $35-40 USD per day!) But throughout the other countries in Central America (El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Guatemala), you will find most budget hotels for around $10 USD per night, meals for $3 USD, most bus journeys for the same price, and beer less than a dollar. In the central part of Central America, if you are spending more than $30 USD per day, you’re living large!

Budapest

I went to Budapest last year loved it. It was a beautiful, historic city. And Budapest was cheap. It was a warm welcome coming from expensive Italy. Hostels in Budapest start at 6 Euros ($8 USD) per night and private rooms double that. Meals at the markets or at the plethora of Kebab and sandwich shops are around $2 USD. Trains and buses were just a few dollars. Unless you are going out for a big night of drinking, $30 USD will give you plenty of room to enjoy the sites and sounds of Budapest. Budapest is a great alternative to cities to more popular destinations like Prague or Vienna.

There are many great destinations in the world that don’t cost a fortune. While some of these destinations might be expensive to fly to, once you get there, they are cheap as hell. If you want to go somewhere else, here’s how to pick a cheap place: Avoid the major tourist destinations, think outside the box, use an economic crisis to your advantage, or get off the beaten path and you’ll find value throughout the world.

Preemptive Editor’s Note: Before you ask me why I left out places like China, India, Cambodia, or a million other places, remember that the places above are destinations that I have been to. I haven’t been to India, China, or South America so while they are cheap, they can’t be on the list.

If you are looking to save even more money, check out my guide to traveling the world. There is over $1,000 USD of travel coupons and discounts in the book that can further help you save money.

(Note: I picked blogs that weren’t already popular and well known as I wanted to give some of the smaller blogs credit. Don’t be offended if you aren’t on the list. I read a lot more than just these but I can’t list 1000 blogs. However, feel free to add yours in the comment section)

Adventurous Kate – Kate is a fellow Bostonian with a sharp wit and great sense of humor. Her blog is quite funny. She’s currently exploring all that Southeast Asia has to offer and offers good insight on what it’s like being a solo female traveling the area.

Uncornered Market – Honestly, I think this is the best travel blog out there. I only wish I could write and take photos like Dan and Audrey do.  If you only read one site on the net (besides mine!), read theirs.

Candice Does the World – Candice has a great blog about life in Canada. She is gearing up to escape the cold weather and go teach English in Asia. Or, so she keeps saying!

Travel Yourself – Cailin O’Neil’s site contains inspiring travel videos I only wish I had the video skills to produce.

Two Backpackers- Jason and Aracely are back in the States after a year-long trip through Central and South America. They recently got married and now their site has great reflections on travel, blogging, and doing both at the same time.

Backpacking Matt- Matt gives good backpacking tips and writes some great off beat stories of his journeys around the world. He’s as nomadic as I am.

Twenty Something Travel – Stephanie is a twenty something traveler who embarked on her round the world trip a few months ago. She’s currently in Australia.

Foxnomad- Anil is a fellow Massachusettsite and his site has good tips for those who want to “travel hack” and for those who will go to any length to get good travel deals.

The Brooklyn Nomad – Andrew is a local New Yorker and his blog focuses on travel tips for New York. He also includes information on other travel destinations.

Art of Backpacking – This website is about…you guessed it…backpacking and it is an excellent resource for things to do and how to live cheaply.

The Jungle Princess – Recently back from Costa Rica, Abby is the Queen of Las Vegas. She got me into Kim Kardashian’s birthday party. She’s as awesome in real life as she is on her blog.

Johnny Vagabond- Wes’ writing is funny, witty, and clever.  One thing I love about his blog is that he lists his expenses. Knowing how much places cost is an important part of travel and Wes lays it all out.

The Road Forks – This blog combines two of my favorite things: food and travel. The site offers a great look at the culinary cuisine of places around the world.  This site is vegetarian heavy and offers great food tips if you are a non-meat eater.

Fluent in 3 Months – Benny, the Irish Polyglot, is a master at learning languages. He knows 7 languages fluently and travels every three months. He is proof that anyone can learn a language. He’s currently back in Europe before preparing to go to The Philippines.

Bacon is Magic – First, I love bacon, so any other person who loves it enough to have it in her domain name is cool in my book. But the blog is also a great resource for getting by on shoestring budget in South America and learning how to make great local food.

A Wandering Sole – Laura is my resident female travel expert. She spent time going around the world by herself visiting the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

As We Travel – Sofia and Nathan offer great travel tips, good advice, and funny stories for the road for young travelers. They are currently traveling Southeast Asia again.

Nerdy Nomad – Kristy has been a digital nomad for a few years. Her site talks a lot about the trials and tribulations of that lifestyle. Moreover, she goes to all the off beat and off the road destinations like Rwanda, Haiti, and Sumatra instead of the normal Europe or Asia destinations.

The Cranky Flier – Brett is the guru on airlines. He knows everything about them and is an industry expert. If you ever want to keep with the airline industry, read this blog.

My Several Worlds – Carrie Kellenberger writes primarily about Asian travel destinations. We met when I moved to Taiwan. She’s a former English teacher who is an expert on travel in Taiwan and has some great images on her site. (She is also the woman editing most of  my articles now, which is why since the summer you’ve seen less grammar mistakes!)

Legal Nomads – Jodi’s site may not be that small but I love that she is proving even lawyers can have fun and the political/cultural aspect of her site. She skips the normal topics and instead focuses more on the culture of a place.

Canvas of Light – Dan’s website is a photo site disguised as a travel blog. I met Dan when we were both in Thailand during the riots in April. His photography is stunning and looking at his site is a good way to spend a few hours.

On Our Own Path – Kyle and Bessie are a traveling couple who are currently in Thailand. I like couple blogs because I’m always intrigued by the dynamic of being together 24/7/365. They say if you can travel together, you can be together and after two years of traveling together, these two have proved that saying to be true.

You have your passport number memorized by heart.

You refer to cities by their airport code.

The flight attendants know you by name.

You have elite status on every airline alliance.

You think airplane food isn’t that bad.

Airplane wine? Yes please!

You have multiple airline credit cards.

You went through special TSA security process so you can get into the fast security line.

Immigration greets you by name.

You don’t spend money if it doesn’t give you airline miles.

You sign up for new credit cards if they offer mile deals.

They named a plane after you.

You know the type of food each airline serves.

Even pilots don’t fly as much as you.

You are in airplanes more than you are in cars.

You know how exactly how long it takes from your house to the gate…to the second.

You do all your shopping from SkyMall.

You actually know the names of the in-flight magazine authors.

You the interior layout for every plane type.

You have airport layouts memorized.

You can identify planes just by looking at them.

You know airlines just by looking at the logo on the tail.

You’re on your second passport…..this year.

Carnival (February)

Carnival is a giant party held right before the christian holiday of lent. Brazilian Carnival is the most famous and attracts the most numbers of people to it, with their dancing, parades, and floats, music, and drinking. Vegas may be sin city but this the sin holiday. Alternatively, if you can’t get down to Brazil, you can always head to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Holi (March)

Holi is a Hindu holiday celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March and glorifies good harvest and fertility of the land. Moreover, Holi is also celebrates the triumph of good over evil, at least according to a legend involving the god Krishna. It can last up to 16 days, depending on where in the world you celebrate it. There is music, food, and, of course, throw paint on each other.

Songkran (Mid-April)

Thai new year is one of the most fun event’s I’ve even been to. For three days the country basically shuts down to party. Songkran is three day water fight that engulfs the whole country, you can’t walk two seconds out of your house without getting wet. No one is safe. The young and the old participate equally and there is nothing like having a little old lady say sorry and then dump a bucket of cold water on you. The most fun I ever had was riding in a Tuk Tuk and having a mobile water fight with the people in the lane over.

Bay to Breakers (May)

The Bay to Breakers is an annual footrace which takes place in San Francisco, California on the third Sunday of May. The complete course is 7.46 miles long. The footrace is more of an excuse to drink and dress in weird costumes along the way. It’s a very large event and is more like a moving party than a footrace. Also expect to see a lot of people running in the nude.

Glastonbury (June)

Every summer in June, Pilton, England becomes the stage for one of the largest music festivals in the world. Glastonbury is best known for its contemporary music, but also features dance, comedy, theater, circus, cabaret and many other arts. About 175,000 people come to this area for a few days of music, mud, and mayhem. The fields turn into giant tent cities as everyone camps out looking to have some fun!

Swedish Midsummer (June)

During the summer solstice, Swedes come out and celebrate the start of the summer. It doesn’t get warm often this far north so when it does, people like to celebrate it. Local Swedes head out into nature, dance around a pole, eat lots of fish, drinks lots of beer, and stay up to enjoy the longest day of the year. After all, the sun doesn’t set until about midnight. (The Swedes also have a good festival to celebrate spring too.)

Running of the Bulls (July)

During July, Pamplona is filled with white clothed and red scarf wearing people who quench their thirst with sangria and the daring few try to out run some angry bulls. It’s usually a recipe for one or two people getting hurt and not something I’d ever consider doing but the atmosphere and celebrations are not to be missed. By the end of the day, your white shirt will soon be sangria red.

La Tomatina (August)

For one hour, 20,000 people engage in a tomato fight in Bunol, Spain during the last Wednesday of august. The whistle blows and the tomatoes of La Tomatina fly. It’s fun, it’s dirty, it’s the food fight we all dreamed about as a child. After you have your fill of tomatoes, you go wash off in the river and then join the dance party in town where the sangria and food flow.

Burning Man (August)

At the end of August, tens of thousands of people head out in the Nevada desert for 6 days of alternative living. Burning Man brings out the arty, the alternative, and the eccentric. It’s 6 days of camping (bring lots of water!), art, and music. At the end, a giant wooden man being set on fire (hence the name).

Oktoberfest (September)

Though really in September this two week beer festival in Munich attracts people form all over the world with its beer halls, lederhosen, giant steins of beer, and huge pretzels. No one I know ever lasted the whole two weeks but 3 or 4 days you are there will be the haziest of your life. It’s the best place in the world to celebrate one of God’s greatest gifts- beer.

Day of the Dead (November)

With paper mache skeletons and candy skulls, Mexico’s carnavelesque day of the dead is one of the world’s most familiar festivals. Participants devote a day to cleaning their family graves, decorating them with candles and flowers, having picnics and dancing to mariachi bands. It’s an odd combination of remembrance and festivity.

All around the world and no matter what month of the year, you’ll find people celebrating. I’ve been to a large number of these festivals and my goal is to see them all. Not only are festivals fun they are also a great way to do something different than the normal sightseeing we do when we visit places. The next time you are looking for something wild, crazy, and festive, plan your trip around these celebrations of life.

I got lost in the jungle. While taking a trip to Costa Rica, my friends and I ended up reading the map wrong and wandered lost around Arenal national park without a flashlight, food or water. What was supposed to be a quick trip to see the sunset turned out to be a 5 hour ordeal. As night came, we used our cameras as flashlights and tried to follow our tracks back. We eventually found a road, flagged down a car, and bribed him to take us back to the town.

Also, my bus broke down in the outback. While traveling in Western Australia, our tour bus broke down in the middle of the outback right after we had lost cell phone reception. We waited 3 hours for a car to take our driver to the nearest town and 2 more for the tow truck. It was a great time though- we drank our beer, played trivia games, and worked on our tan. It was a bonding experience.

My dive partner kicked out my regulator. While learning to scuba dive, my partner accidentally kicked my regulator out of my mouth 15 meters below water. Luckily, I remember to breathe out and grab my regulator. Within seconds my instructor was assisting me but it was a scary experience and it took me about 10 minutes and half the oxygen tank to calm down. I never breathed so deep in my life.

I almost got in a fight with an Amsterdam cab driver. Coming back from the Amsterdam casino, I split a cab with two Russians who were heading in the same direction. I got out first and paid my portion of the cab fare to them. The driver wanted me to pay the whole fare. No way, I replied, we are splitting it. This is what I owe and I got out. The Russians were fine with that and took my money but the cab driver was not. He got out too and decided he wanted something of this. I stood my ground, the Russians wide eyed in the car, and the driver threatening me. Seeing his scare tactics weren’t going to work, he yelled at me in Turkish, got back in the cab, and drove off.

I permanently scarred a friend. Years ago at a beach party in Thailand, my friend (whose the size of a small truck) and I (not the size of any truck) decided we should film ourselves where I beat him wrestling. Running into frame, I tackle him and we wrestle for a bit. A friend from my guesthouse runs over and breaks it up. “Dude, what are you doing? He’s huge!” “Don’t worry- we’re friends.” I replied. At that time, I noticed my friend was bleeding. Apparently, I tackled him onto a few beer bottles and sliced his arm open. Rushing him to the hospital, we got him stitched up but to this day he has 3 large scars covering most of his left arm. I guess I don’t know my own strength.

I fell into the ocean. Back in 2006 when I was in Italy, I was taking some photos of the Cinque Terra. I was trying to get a good angle and crept down this boat ramp. Well, I missed the algae growing on the ramp, slipped (flip flops don’t give you good traction), and slid down the boat ramp in the water. While I was completely soaked, the worst part was breaking the camera I had bought 2 months ago before I went on my trip. That and the Italian kids who witnessed this whole scene laughing at me.

Thai police officers got me drunk. On multiple occasions. One of my favorite streets in Thailand is Soi 11 and at the beginning of the street is a food stall where every night these cops drink. One night they called me over after I finish my soup and offered me some whiskey. You don’t say no to cops in Thailand so I drank. And drank. And drank some more. After that, every time I walked by, we would drink and eat. I would teach them English, they taught me bad words in Thai. It was a great experience.

Speaking of Thailand, I got drugged there once. For my last night in Thailand in 2007, my friend Dan and I went out for a few drinks. We started with our customary red bull and vodka. After that, I don’t know what happened. The next thing I remember is waking up on Dan’s couch the following morning. Knocking on Dan’s door, he opens it and goes “What are you doing here?” We had no memory of the previous night but I still had my ID and all my money. Whoever did drugged us did a poor job of doing so but I make it a point to watch all my drinks being made now.

Two M87 grenades blew up near me. A few months ago, Thailand had political unrest that led to a multi-day street battle in Bangkok. Much of the city center was set on fire. I got out weeks before that but before I did, while eating dinner in the Silom area, 2 M87 grenades went off right near me. It’s the closest I ever plan to get near anything like that again.

I was hospitalized for food poisoning. While in Central America, I ate some bad sushi and upon returning home to the United States, found out that I had a parasite that had inflamed my intestine so much it was effectively closed. I was in the hospital for 3 days on a morphine drip. When I got out, I was so skinny, my girlfriend at the time told me I looked like Skeletor.

Traveling is about taking the good with the bad. On the surface these stores might make you wonder why I would go back to these places, not get scared away, or continued on a journey. It’s because the unexpected makes life interesting. Nothing is risk free and each of these stories led to an opportunity or bond that wouldn’t have occurred otherwise.

Candice Does the World- Candice has a great blog about life in Canada, is an awesome person, a redhead, and helped me research my book on teaching English overseas.

Travel Yourself - Run by Cailin O’Neil, I first met her at La Tomatina in Spain last year.  Her site contains inspiring travel videos I only wish I had the video skills to produce.

Two Backpackers- Making their way through Central and South America, Jason and Aracely are settling into Quito for a bit. Their articles give great insight into life in Latin America, their photos are beautiful, and they too make great videos.

Backpacking Matt- Matt is not only awesome for sharing my name but he gives good backpacking tips and insight into life in New Zealand where he currently is with his girlfriend.

Hop and Jaunt- Aly and john have a beautifully designed website and are the folks who made my ebooks all pretty.  They are creative and outgoing people and that comes through in their blog posts.

Ottsworld- I’ve been in contact with Sherry for over two years now (I helped build her website). Her blog contains great photos and information Nepal, India, and Vietnam. She also runs another site, Briefcase to Backpack, for those looking to escape the corporate world but not sure how to do so.

Twenty Something Travel- Stephanie is a twenty something traveler who is about to embark on her round the world trip. We kept asking her what happens to the website when she turns 30 and she assured us she already owns that url too. Phew!

Foxnomad- Anil is a fellow Massachusettsite. His website is a good reference point for travelers looking for building their own website, finding good travel products, and needing good travel advice.

The Brooklyn Nomad- Unlike me, Andrew is a proper travel writing and I am jealous of the fact he’s on a cruise right now. He runs a great site for those looking to know all about NYC, Brooklyn, writing, and general travel information. I’m roping him into giving me a local tour of Brooklyn while I am living in NYC.

Art of Backpacking- This website is about (you guess it!) backpacking and is an excellent resource for those looking to put on pack and wander the world.

The Jungle Princess- Abby is a new yorker who now resides in one of my favorite countries in the world- Costa Rica. I got to meet her this weekend and got incredibly jealous of her tan. She’s a great writer and just as fun in person as she is on her website.

Johnny Vagabond- Wes’ writing is funny, witty, and clever and its that genius that got him into the finalists for my Costa Rica giveaway. I met him a few months back in Bangkok and he is currently exploring the wonders of Southeast Asia.

The Road Forks- This blog combines two of my favorite things: food and travel. The site offers a great look at the culinary cuisine of places around the world. They are currently exploring the wonders of food in China.

So on this long weekend, when you feel bored, go check out these websites (or these other travel blogs) and give them a read. Let them inspire you like they do me. They are a good read and a great place for travel tips. (After all, there’s only so much I can experience and write about!)

Lost in Translation

Besides being a great movie in general, this movie takes you into the heart of chaotic Tokyo. Bill Murray and Scarlet Johansson play two characters adrift in their hotel…at least, until they cut loose and explore Tokyo. These characters are suffering from a self imposed confinement and that bonds them together. Together, they escape into Tokyo, with its non-stop energy. The sights, the sounds, and energy overwhelms you and will have you booking a flight to Japan. It’s one of my favorite movies of all time. [Buy this movie on Amazon.]

Whale Rider

I remember seeing this movie when it came out. It blew me away. The story follows a little girl in a Maori village and her struggle to get her grandfathers acceptance. But the real star here is Maori culture. The modern world of a Maori is spotlighted in an accurate portrayal the invokes wonder and sympathy. I met a member of the featured tribe while in New Zealand who said the film did a lot of good for his people. This movie sparked a fascination with Maori culture that is part of the reason why I came to New Zealand. [Buy this movie on Amazon.]

Lord of the Rings

Another New Zealand based movie, Peter’s Jackson award winning epic will leave you stunned with the diverse and beautiful landscape of New Zealand. From glaciers, to rivers, to mountains and forest, New Zealand’s beauty was the star of this movie. It launched the country modern tourist industry and made it one of the premier destinations to travel too for adventure seekers. Die hard fans can do Lord of the Rings tours. [Buy this movie on Amazon.]

Into the Wild

Based on a true story, this movie follows Christopher McCandless as he tries to shed his material life and get in touch with life and nature. After graduating from college, Christopher sets out on a road trip through the country before ending up in Alaska. Much of the story is based on second hand accounts, yet the movie is poignant reminder that we all could simplify our lives a little bit and just enjoy living. It reminds us that travel is not about what we carry with us but about what we carry inside. [Buy this movie on Amazon.]

In Bruges

Colin Farrell may have thought a life in Bruges was hell but the city provides a great back drop for this comedy. And I have to admit, until I saw this movie, I really didn’t know much about Bruges. Sure, I knew where it was and that it was famous but I’d never given much though to it. After this movie, I wanted to go to Bruges. It looked beautiful. (And, upon visiting there, I can confirm it is.) Bruges is a great destination for travelers who want to step back in time. This movie will have you including it in your next European adventure. [Buy this movie on Amazon.]

Under the Tuscan Sun

I don’t like Diane Lane chick flick movies and this movie is totally one of them. Girl feels lost in life, starts fresh, meets guy, everything works out. The only good chick flick is Love actually. But I digress. This movie could start any actress because the real movie star here is Tuscany. Tuscany provides the stunning backdrop for this otherwise mediocre movie. This places lives up to all the hype that surrounds it and will make you want to leave and buy a vineyard in some small Italian village. [Buy this movie on Amazon.]

Nowhere in Africa

A German movie that follows the true life story of a Jewish family who escapes the Nazis to run a farm in Kenya. The movie deals with how they adjust to their new life, cope with the life they left behind. Anyone who has ever lived and adapted to a new culture will be able to relate. It’s not always easy and as this movie shows, it’s possible once you open yourself up. The movie is in German but subtitled in English. Besides being a great travel movie, it’s one of my favorite foreign language movies. [Buy this movie on Amazon.]

Crocodile Dundee

Not only did these movies launch the short career of Paul Hogan but they made everyone want to be an Aussie. Dundee was the MacGavyer of the outback. While the movies gave a generation of people cliched notions of Australia, they also gave Americans a connection to the country. Like us, Aussies were free spirited pioneers with a love for the wilderness. While its clique and exaggerated, Australians do share a love for nature and movie inspired people to visit Oz. [Buy this movie on Amazon.]

Up in the Air

I live in airport world. Maybe not as much as Ryan Bingham, George Clooney’s character but when I went to see this movie, I found myself relating too much to Ryan’s character. Though in some ways it has a happy ending, I found the movie to be a downer. I was depressed for hours afterwards. Because I see myself in Ryan’s lifestyle. He’s a man who feels at home in airports and planes and is constantly on the move. As he says, moving is living. The movie is a much watch for long term traveler as it brings up the sometimes mixed emotion we have about living in constant movement. [Buy this movie on Amazon.]

If you want any of these movies, please purchase through the links above! It helps support this website!