Ten years ago in the summer of 2011, I set out on my first international solo trip. I was young, naive, and unprepared. It sounds cliche but this trip ended up changing my life. This article outlines my journey over the past decade. I’ll talk about my past trips, how travel has changed, and how …
Travel
There is quite a bit of controversy surrounding dark tourism. Some find it to be disrespectful, voyeuristic, or even unethical. This guide discusses dark tourism ethics and criticisms. We’ll outline a few of the main arguments for and against dark tourism as well as provide some examples. The question ‘is dark tourism ethical?’ is really …
Mexico’s entry requirements can be a bit confusing. The system has slightly different sets of rules depending on your nationality as well as where and how you plan to enter the country. This guide will help you determine whether or not you need a visa to go to Mexico. It also outlines the different types …
While visiting the Omo Valley, I ended up getting stuck in the small town of Dimeka, Ethiopia where I spent an interesting afternoon drinking with a woman from the Hamar tribe. I also wandered around the tribal market. This story outlines my experience in Dimeka. I’ll also talk about a couple of things to see …
Have you ever stayed in a hostel that was so perfect that you wished you could just live there? The kind of hostel with an unforgettable atmosphere, excellent location, and beds as comfortable as your own? This guide is designed to help you have that kind of experience more often. I’ll break hostels down into …
After an unexpected delay in London, I arrived at Amsterdam central train station around midnight. Being the cheap traveler that I am, I figured I’d just spend the remainder of the night wandering around rather than looking for a place to sleep. I didn’t have much of a choice anyway. After all, it was peak …
In the Summer of 2011 at 18 years old, I set out on my first solo trip. For three months I backpacked around Europe through 20 countries. I traveled by train, bus, and boat. In this article, I review my first solo trip. I’ll talk about planning, packing, budgeting, my route, experiences, and more. I’ll …
This is an easy and inexpensive trip to make. One bus takes you all the way from Oaxaca to Mitla. No transfers are required. This guide walks you through where to catch the bus, prices, safety, things to do, and more. You may wish to make this trip to visit the Tule Tree, the Mitla …
Robbery or mugging is a common form of violent crime all over the world. Unfortunately, any traveler can fall victim. This guide explains, in a rational and honest way, how to avoid getting robbed while traveling. We can’t reduce the risk to zero but we can lower it substantially by taking some simple precautions and …
When applying for a new passport or a visa, you may have to provide a current passport photo. Passport photos have specific requirements for the dimensions and background color. You might be wondering, “can I take my own passport photo?” The answer is yes. You don’t need any special type of camera. Your phone will …