I’ve been toying with the idea of running tours for a couple of years now but have never been able to really sit down and organize one. There’s a lot that goes into a tour and I wanted to really make the first one great. Over the last few months as I’ve been settling down in NYC, I’ve had time to plan and I’m happy to announce my first tour (with many more to come) will take place this September [...]

Travel insurance is one of the most complex and confusing aspects of trip planning. With the myriad of plans and companies, people can easily get confused about what they should get and why. Given its importance and the amount of time it’s been since I last discussed it, I want to start the year by discussing it. Travel insurance is something you will need on the road. You never know what could happen, and most health plans won’t cover you [...]

One month from now, my book, How to Travel the World On $50 A Day, will be released in paperback. For those who don’t know the story, I originally offered this as an e-book before it was picked up by Penguin Publishing. I worked for a year to turn it into an amazing 272-page, 60,000+ word guide to all things budget and long-term travel-related (hence the title)! The book contains never before discussed tips, tricks, and travel stories. There’s a [...]

Over the years, what I carry in my bag has changed a lot. Most of that change has to do with the fact that I now carry a lot of gear related to blogging, but it also reflects the fact that I’ve learned a lot about packing since I first hit the road in 2006. And while many websites have packing lists, I want to combine all my previous posts on the subject (there are about three) into one updated [...]

It’s “Cyber Monday” – that annual time of the year when every online retailer has a sale to kick off the holiday shopping season. Never one to miss a good sale, I decided you might enjoy them as much as I do so I’m having my own Cyber Monday sale with massive discounts off my books, courses, and planning services. If you’ve been on the fence about buying one of these items, now is the time to make the leap. [...]

I’m going to take a break from travel tips for a second to do a little but very important housekeeping: In a world where things can change quickly, it’s important to always stay updated on the latest information. This is especially true when running an online business and providing help to others who want to do the same. Or helping people travel better. Or helping others find a teaching job overseas. Things just change so rapidly in this day and [...]

Today, I am excited to announce a new aspect to this website – trip planning services. It’s going to be really awesome and a great way to help you further reach your travel dreams! When I started traveling, there were no big travel blogs, online guides, and few forums. Online travel wasn’t like it is today. I remember doing a lot of planning by myself, reading guidebooks, looking for any information I could find on the Internet, and visiting the [...]

For years, I’ve been hearing about the tour company Busabout. They offer hop-on, hop–off-again bus tours throughout Europe, similar to the Kiwi and Oz Experience. Basically, they have set routes through Europe and along that route, you can leave the bus and rejoin when you want. I’ve never used them before as I’ve always just taken trains around Europe. (Though I have nothing against that way of travel – I loved my time on the Kiwi Experience!) In addition to [...]

I’ve been in the giving mood lately. Last month, I gave away all my frequent flier miles. This month I am going to give away a free twelve-day trip to Europe with two of the companies I partner with – Hostelworld (my preferred accommodation booking site) and Vayama (my preferred flight booking site). As you all know, I love Europe – it’s one of my favorite regions of the world and I visit every year. A year without spending time somewhere in [...]

Remember last year when I gave away all 400,000 of my American Airlines frequent flier miles? Well, I’m doing it again. Every year on the anniversary of when I left on my trip back in 2006, I decided I will give away my current balance of frequent flier miles so that other people can go out and explore the world too. I rarely use my miles. I care more about elite flier status so I can get upgrades and lounge [...]