Jun 22nd, 2012 at 9:00AM: Having nobody to travel with shouldn't stop you from visiting the destinations you dream of going to. In fact, meeting others on the road is a lot easier than people think. To help you make friends while traveling solo, use the tips below.
Eat Alone At The Bar
It may sound strange, but eating alone at a bar is actually a great way to meet others. While eating alone at a table may not help ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
backpacking posts
How To Make Friends When Traveling Solo
Jun 22nd, 2012 at 9:00AM: Having nobody to travel with shouldn't stop you from visiting the destinations you dream of going to. In fact, meeting others on the road is a lot easier than people think. To help you make friends while traveling solo, use the tips below.
Eat Alone At The Bar
It may sound strange, but eating alone at a bar is actually a great way to meet others. While eating alone at a table may not help ...How To Choose The Perfect Backpack For Traveling
Jun 21st, 2012 at 9:00AM: As someone who has backpacked numerous countries, I often have people ask me what to look for in a backpack. The pack you choose will have a big impact on the comfort and success of your trip. To help you make the right choice, use this guide on how to choose the perfect backpack for traveling.
Size Matters
For those who think they can just walk into the nearest sporting goods store and ...New Half Dome Permit System In Place For Yosemite
May 28th, 2012 at 8:00AM: This past Friday, just in time for the busy Memorial Day Weekend, the climbing cables were put in place on Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, opening the door for hikers and backpackers to hit the iconic trail. The 16-mile round-trip trek includes a challenging scramble up the side of Yosemite's famous rock formation and eventually winds its way to the summit, some 8800 feet above sea level. ...Relaxing In Peru's Best Beach Town: Mancora
May 21st, 2012 at 5:00PM: After hiking the Inca Trail outside Cuzco and exploring the museums in the bustling city of Lima, many travelers agree they crave nothing more than a relaxing setting and a beautiful beach. If you're making your way north, a worthwhile stop is Mancora, thought by many locals and tourists to feature Peru's best beaches.
Getting There
If you'd like to make the journey in style and comfort, my ...How To Stay Sane While Backpacking
May 17th, 2012 at 3:00PM: While travel is often thought of as being a luxurious and fun break from reality, there are times when you'll probably feel like you're losing your mind. Moving around can be exhausting, and being away from home can make you feel scattered. To help you stay sane on the road, here are some helpful tips.
Have Someone To Talk To
Having someone to talk to that is not a complete stranger when ...World's Oldest Backpacker To Travel Europe This Summer
May 16th, 2012 at 2:00PM:
When most people think of backpacking, they picture a bunch of youths in their mid-20s eating street food, hiking to city sites and sleeping in dorms of 10 or more travelers. Australian nomad Keith Wright is breaking the stereotype, and at 95 years old, has planned a two-month backpacking tour of Europe for this summer.
Nicknamed the "world's oldest backpacker," Wright began backpacking ...
Travel Partners From Hell
May 15th, 2012 at 2:00PM: For those debating whether to travel in a group or go solo, you'll want to read this. Just because you get along with someone at happy hour or Sunday morning spin class, doesn't mean it'll be smooth sailing on the road. After backpacking around the world for five years, both solo and with others, I've had my fair share of unpleasant travel partners. Think about these situations, and decide if your ...How To Travel Plastic-Free
May 14th, 2012 at 12:00PM: While we've written about how to have a more eco-friendly vacation, there is a growing travel trend of vacationing plastic-free. For example, backpackers Polythene Pam and Village Boy, who write for the site Plastic is Rubbish, focus on eliminating plastic from their lives completely.
"Plastic lasts forever and we are using it to make one use, throwaway items," the duo say on their site. "We ...Is Long-Term Traveling Selfish?
May 8th, 2012 at 10:00AM: "Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living," - Miriam Beard
Is long-term travel selfish? It's a dilemma many backpackers and full-time nomads struggle with. You miss birthdays and weddings, you get to skip sitting behind an office desk eight hours a day, you make your family and friends worry and spend each day fulfilling ...Visiting The Devil's Tooth In La Paz, Bolivia
May 2nd, 2012 at 2:00PM: When loud, traffic-heavy, protest-passionate La Paz gets to be too much, one way to escape while not even leaving the city is to visit the Devil's Tooth, or Muela del Diablo. While this may sound scarier than ingesting smog and crazy drivers, seeing the site on horseback is actually quite serene.
Devil's Tooth is an inactive volcano that is approximately 492 feet high. According to our guide, ...Exploring The Most Colorful Mountains In The World In Purmamarca, Argentina
Apr 27th, 2012 at 3:00PM: For backpackers traveling through Argentina, a unique day trip is from Salta and San Salvador de Jujuy. Located in the province of Jujuy, the small pueblo of Purmamarca not only offers the chance to browse an expansive handicraft market and sample the local delicacy of llama meat, but also surround yourself with seven colors of mountains.
While many landscapes feature various greens, browns and ...Do You Need A Backpack To Be A Backpacker?
Apr 26th, 2012 at 10:00AM: Backpacking. We call traveling from city to city for a long period of time "backpacking" because we usually carry very few possessions with us in – wait for it – a backpack. But, what about the travelers who are doing the same exact thing, staying in hostels, eating street food, wearing the same clothes everyday and trying desperately to get off the beaten path, but with a suitcase? ...Experiencing The Beauty Of The World's Second Highest Peak: Cerro Aconcagua
Apr 22nd, 2012 at 10:00AM: Cerro Aconcagua, located in Mendoza, Argentina, is a mountain in Aconcagua Provincial Park. At 22,841 feet, the mountain is the highest in the southern and western hemispheres. In fact, aside for the Himalayas, it is the world's highest peak.
To get to the park from Mendoza city center, take the Puente del Inca bus, which is 26.50 Argentine Pesos (about $6) each way. The excursion continues to ...Tips For Backpacking South America
Apr 17th, 2012 at 12:00PM: Backpacking South America is a worthwhile adventure I recommend everyone to have at least once in their lives. Before I arrived on the continent, I was unsure of what to expect. To help prepare you before you go, here are some things I wish I had known before I left for my trip.
Know the Exchange Rate
The exchange rates vary considerably from country to country in South America. For example, ...10 Free Things To Do In Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Apr 16th, 2012 at 1:00PM: For travelers heading to South America, Brazil is one of the more expensive countries on the continent. The popular Rio de Janeiro can be especially difficult to navigate on a budget. To help you plan a worthwhile trip to this beautiful area, here are 10 free things to do.
Hiking
Although Rio de Janeiro is a city there are also a lot of natural experiences to be had. When I visited, one of ...A Rainy Day Option For Exploring Torres Del Paine In Patagonia, Chile
Apr 14th, 2012 at 10:00AM: No trip to the Patagonia region of South America is complete without a trip to Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. The park is regarded by many as the "trekking capital of the world." After visiting for myself, it was easy to see why.
While many travelers choose to spend three or four days hiking the "W" circuit, this is not feasible for everyone. Some people may not have the time, while ...Lawmakers Plot To Limit Travel Abroad And At Home
Apr 10th, 2012 at 5:00PM:
As we make plans for summer travel abroad and at home, concerns turn to the cost of fuel and how it might affect our projected budget. When studying global destination information, we focus on security matters, currency exchange rates and tips from trusted sources. Getting a good handle on all these topics is part of the travel process.
Now, a new concern may affect some travelers. A ...Exploring The Diverse Landscapes Of Bariloche In Patagonia, Argentina
Apr 10th, 2012 at 7:00AM:
San Carlos de Bariloche, more commonly known as Bariloche, is located in Patagonia in Argentina. It is one of the most diverse and picturesque regions in the world, and a hotspot for hiking enthusiasts and nature lovers. In fact, it is the most popular tourist destination in Patagonia, and the third in Argentina.
Some of the photos below were taken during a drive through Bariloche, while ...When Hostels Are Terrible
Apr 9th, 2012 at 4:00PM: Don't get me wrong. I love hostels. Even if someone offered me the choice between a free luxurious hotel room or a basic hostel dorm, I would choose the hostel simply based on the social factor. That being said, it's not always easy sharing a room with 10 other people. Here are some of the most annoying experiences I've encountered in hostels.
Sex in the Dorms
Now, I completely understand ...Gadling Gear Reveiw: Osprey Atmos 50 Backpack
Apr 9th, 2012 at 8:00AM: I'm one of those people who almost exclusively uses a backpack when traveling. I simply prefer carrying my gear on my back rather than dragging it behind me in a piece of luggage, particularly when navigating through a busy airport. Over the years I've managed to collect a number of packs in a variety of sizes, which makes each of them useful depending on the length of the trip. Whether it's a ...
