I have been traveling the world as a single woman for the many years. I have been to North Africa, Turkey, the Middle East, the Caribbean, the US and nearly every European country, always on my own and accumulating a wealth of experiences and insights along the way. I made mistakes and have leaned from …
Looking for affordable hotels for solo travelers? It’s a sad but inevitable fact that a solo traveler’s budget can suffer serious dents when it comes to accommodation. Nice, comfortable, single rooms are either not available at all or cost an arm and a leg. Many hotels will rent you a double room for use as …
People often ask me: How do you find a long-term vacation rental in Europe? The short answer: Just show up. This requires risking failure, and you might want to hear my story before beginning your search. My first trip to Italy was completely unplanned, yet after a few weeks of travel, my girlfriend and I …
Often when we are young, say just out of college, European travel with a pack on our back is very desirable: an adventure, a rite of passage. Once we get involved in work and family, we often have little time, and R & R travel closer to home looks really good. But when we …
This trip planning guide is written for independent vacationers: people who want to travel on their own to a destination and then just soak it up. You may also be interested in The Budget Traveler’s Guide To Planning a Trip to Europe. In creating your dream vacation, you can certainly rely on the internet to …
Imagine the scenario. Two Americans are visiting England and have just finished their meal in a fairly down-to-earth cafe or pub. Studying their bill, they lean over toward an Englishman at the table next to theirs and ask him how much it would be customary to tip. He is mystified. “Tip?… In this place?” But …
Do you enjoy communing with nature? Does the organic food movement interest you? Are you looking for a way to learn new skills, meet people from all over the world and receive free room and board during your stay in Europe? Then WWOOFing may be a perfect fit. What is WWOOFing? World Wide Opportunities …
When I first visited Italy I didn’t understand the ins and outs of using phones while traveling. I thought that you needed to purchase an expensive plan from your cell phone provider. While traveling, I quickly discovered how hard it could be to operate Italian pay phones and to find internet call centers. Luckily, …
Most of us walk more while on vacation than we do in our, normal lives. Whether this is because you missed your bus and need to walk (or run) to the station to catch your train, because you are on a two hour walking tour, or because the night is just perfect for a stroll …
Of course you may not really care what others think about how you look and/or act when you are traveling abroad, but to a certain extent, blending in and not acting like a typical tourist can make your trip a much safer, more pleasant experience. Whether you travel independently, or with a group tour, these …