Cartagena is a perfectly preserved colonial town on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. During the narco heydays, Cartagena was considered the only “safe” spot in Colombia for tourists. It was where foreigners vacationed, cruise ships docked, and wealthy Colombians built their vacation homes. Today, this colorful colonial city remains one of the most popular destinations for tourists […]
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Finland Travel Guide
Finland is a beautiful country. Home to epic mountains, scenic waterfalls, stunning fjords, plentiful saunas, and the chance to see the northern lights, it’s an incredible destination perfect for outdoorsy travelers and adventure lovers. Due to its out-of-the-way location and the fact that Finland is expensive, many travelers skip visiting the country when they explore […]
Is This Really Travel?
Updated: 03/19/19 | Posted: 03/08/2010 (Updated links and info) For the last three months, I’ve been traveling around Australasia, visiting New Zealand, traveling in Fiji, and roadtriping around Australia (for the second time). During my travels here, I’ve noticed something interesting — a lot of the travelers I see are young (18-24) gap year kids […]
HostelPass Review: Is This Discount Pass Worth It?
Last Updated: 12/4/2023 | December 4th, 2023 Backpacking Europe is a rite of passage. With a well-worn travel trail, a huge variety of amazing destinations, and tons of hostels, Europe is a fun, safe, and easy place to travel. It’s where I first started backpacking over 15 years ago, and I still make sure to […]
Bulgaria Travel Guide
Often overlooked by travelers, Bulgaria is actually one of my favorite countries in Europe. Because it’s under the radar, here you’ll find few crowds and plenty of affordable activities. I arrived with few expectations and was blown away by the country’s affordability, incredible history, mountainous landscapes, Black Sea beaches, and wild nightlife. Bulgaria’s long history […]
Naxos Travel Guide
Naxos is arguably the best island in the Cyclades. It’s just as gorgeous and picturesque as Santorini and Mykonos but without the crowds or exorbitant prices. Home to around 20,000 people, the island is the largest in the chain and is dotted with the iconic, white-washed cube-shaped homes that have made this corner of the […]
Albania Travel Guide
Albania is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. Though it increases in popularity each year, the country is largely ignored by tourists; many still think of it as a post-communist backwater (as if the world hasn’t changed in the last 30 years). Yet this is a land of untouched natural beauty, with a rich history dating […]
Brasov Travel Guide
Brasov is hands down my favorite city in Romania. Visiting and backpacking through Brasov was one of the best experiences I had in the country. (I loved it so much that I ended up extending my stay!) Brasov is in the historical region of Transylvania, surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. Due to its location in […]
Finding a Map for Saturday: 10 Years Later
In 2005, Brook quit his job as a TV producer to travel around the world. With a camera in hand, he filmed his epic adventure. That footage eventually transformed into the backpacking masterpiece A Map for Saturday. Now, ten years later, I sit down with Brook to talk travel, life, and why the movie resonated so much with people.
Armenia Travel Guide
Straddling the divide between Asia and Europe, Armenia might be one of the final travel frontiers left on the planet for adventurous backpackers. Visiting Armenia isn’t often on a traveler’s to-do list, despite its beautiful snowy mountain peaks and many perfectly preserved medieval monasteries. But their loss is your gain as the country is virtually […]
Santa Marta (and North Colombia) Travel Guide
Founded in 1525, Santa Marta was the first place the Spanish settled in Colombia. Today, it remains a busy port and one of the top places for Colombians to vacation. It’s also the gateway to some amazing destinations along the Caribbean coast. Most people who backpack through the city do so on their way to […]
Tamarindo Travel Guide
Tamarindo is a popular resort beach town located in the northwest of Costa Rica. The area is famous for its surfing and is filled with adventure tour operators, luxurious ocean-side resorts, and laid-back surf shops. While there are a few budget options here, the region is generally more expensive than other parts of the country […]