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Ten Hostel Situations Backpackers Know All Too Well
On my gap year around the world I always stayed in hostels. There’s just no other choice. Hostels are the best place to meet other travelers and they usually offer everything a backpacker needs: beds, babes, and booze. There really is no other option for the backpacker. Staying in so many hostels around the world, […]
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Why I want to plan our entire ’round the world trip
Zach and I are planning a ’round the world trip. He doesn’t think we need a plan. He thinks we just buy a ticket and go and, “See where the wind takes us.” Whatevs. No. I want to have a plan. I’m not leaving America if I don’t know where we’re going, where we’re staying […]
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Bob Marley Songs: A Soundtrack to Travel
Reggae music (especially the music of Bob Marley) is synonymous with the backpacker lifestyle. Find a beach town, find a backpacker haven, find a popular tourist spot, and you’re sure to find a reggae bar. Find a hostel, find a popular street, find a beach, and you’re sure to hear the familiar strains of a […]
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Why I Didn’t Study Abroad in College
A lot of people rave about studying abroad saying it’s the greatest thing they’ve ever done and a great way to travel while in college. A lot of people who never studied abroad say they wish they had and regret not doing it. Everyone thinks studying abroad is like the best thing ever. Well, I […]
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Angkor Wat? No – Angkor What Bar!
Siem Reap in Cambodia boasts one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions: Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is some giant complex of temples. Pretty boring if you ask me. Southeast Asia is crawling with temples. And once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. It’s one of those things you should do if you’re in […]
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What Shoes You Should Pack for Your ‘Round the World Trip
Packing for my ’round the world trip is going to be a NIGHTMARE. I know everyone says I need to get a smaller backpack and don’t need to pack a lot. But I just don’t know how I’m going to travel without EVERYTHING I own! Take shoes. There are so many different types of shoes […]
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You’re Traveling Wrong: Long-Term Travel is the Right Way to Travel
Some tourists will tell you that there is no “right way to travel.” They say things like, “you can travel on a two-week-per-year vacation.” Or, “you don’t need to leave the country to be a traveler.” Or, “guided tours are OK.” Those people are wrong. They just say that to make you feel better that […]
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Five Phrases that Mean Nothing When Traveling the World
There are many differences between a “normal” life and a “travel” life. Some of those differences become obvious in every day speech. Sometimes I hear someone at school use a phrase and all I can think is, “that wouldn’t matter if I was on the road.” And sometimes when I’m abroad I hear someone use […]
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Why I am NOT a Solo Female Traveler
Solo female travel. It’s like this big buzz phrase going around right now. Other women are so proud of the fact that they are seeing the world on their own. They boast the benefits, saying it makes a girl more independent, that you can just go wherever you please, and that you don’t have to […]
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Khao San Road is a Backpacker’s Mecca
There’s currently a coup in Thailand which means there’s an increased military presence, protests, and an enforced curfew between 10pm and 5am. Plus, they’ve made visa runs practically obsolete. It’s a bummer for backpackers everywhere. Thailand is the quintessential stop for anyone’s ’round the world trip. When I did the country back on my gap […]