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| Tuesday, April 29, 2008 |
Today is my website's one month anniversary. It's been a good first month. I've changed the design of the site about three times but I'm enjoying where it is at now. There are still more things to do and to add but for the post part the site is done. I've developed a good reader base for one month and I think with increased exposure, I'll continue to grow my readers.
One thing that will certainly help is all the travel writing I've been doing. I should have looked into this years ago! I'm now writing for about 3 online travel magazines, I have a potential deal with Lonely Planet, and I'm looking into writing for a few more travel magazines. Things are looking up!
These travel communities have proven an invaluable resource and help to me. Not only have they helped me improved my writing but they've exposed me to other travelers and travel bloggers. Additionally, these websites are an invaluable source of travel information and stories.
Sites
Matador Trips- A new website dedicated to stories on travel, travel advice, travel tips, travel dos and travel donts. This website is by long term travelers for long term travellers. I highly recommend it and you can find my articles posted on this site. I have one coming up about the Top 10 parties in the world!
Vagabondish- Another travelzine. Originally built as one man's blog, the site has expanded into an online travelzine where travelers share their stories and tips. Unlike Matador, this is geared more to personal stories from the road.
Expatriates Blog- A new website about expatriates and their experience overseas. I'll be writing for this site too!
The Freshman Traveler- A website dedicated to connecting young college aged travelers. It's a good community website and has a good forum function
Additionally, there's a lot of awesome blogs out there by other travelers. I've putted some in my links section. I'll be putting more soon. I enjoy reading them and I'm sure you will too!
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posted by Nomadic Matt @ 10:10 AM  |
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| Saturday, April 26, 2008 |
 In honor of me being overseas, today' s Saturday city will be about the one I'm in-Chester, England. It's is an old city, dating back to Roman times. Chester was founded in 79 A.D. as a fortress for northern expansion. The city itself is still surrounded by ancient walls and has one of the most complete wall systems in England. The city grew in importance during the early industrial revolution but is now no longer a center of industry but a modern suburb of the larger city of Manchester. Chester is the typical embodiment of a "typical English town" with its Victorian buildings and cottage homes.
In the two days I have been here, I've really enjoyed my time. The train ride up led me through country, the English country side and surrounding estates. All the rain makes England a very green country! Chester itself a quite town. I was amazed by the quietness that always seemed to envelope me- as if though there were no inhabitants of the city. You rarely hear the sounds of cars or people or even birds except in the downtown center. It was like out of the movie The Langoliers- civilization was all around me but I couldn't find it.
The Chester center looks like something out of an old novel. The pictures here are pretty representative of all the buildings. Charles Dickens would be proud. The old taverns, the hotels, and little shops all have retained their charm and original paint. I'm not sure if that was on purpose as a way to preserve their past or they were too lazy to modernize. I'm guessing it was the latter.
 The homes in Chester are typical Victorian. I keep waiting for Mrs. Havisham to come out in a wedding dress sometime. Small cottages with bricks and criss-cross wood fronts and glass window. It's all very Dickens. Chester is a big tourist destinations for day trippers and those who like horses. Beginning in May, they have horse racing and everyone comes out in the their Sunday best.
While most of Chester's allure and charm comes from its Dickens feel, there are a few things to do in town. The highlight is the wall. The old city is surrounded by an ancient roman wall that's a 45 minute walk and allows you to see a variety of the old city, the racecourse, the river, the new city, and a few historic land marks. It's a good starting point. The most famous part of the the wall is the East gate. On top sits the 2nd most photographed clock in all of England.
Besides the wall is a historic Cathedral, which since it was 4 pounds to enter, I didn't go in. But it was really nice outside. There are a few ancient roman ruins on southeast part of the city. There's also an old castle that is now a museum. If you also fancy it, there's some river boat cruises. Overall, the highlight for me was walking around and just "being" in my vision of England.
I like Chester. It's a nice city and gives you a typical English experience, if there is such a thing. Chester is the type of city you see in brochures advertising England- country homes, fiends, old Victorian buildings, and lots of "quaint" shops. The city is definitely worth an overnight stay or at least a day trip from Manchester or Liverpool.
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 11:58 AM |
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| Friday, April 25, 2008 |
 I am here in merry ole England, a big jet lagged and relieved. I almost didn't make it to my friends house. The cost of the train ticket online had jumped to 140 pounds (300 dollars). That was a little bit more than I could afford but with some last minute Skyping and luck, I got a return ticket for 60 pounds. More than the twenty pounds it originally was but still manageable. Now, I'm chilling in Chester for the weekend before I go proclaim my love for all things orange in Holland.
I didn't really enjoy my Air Canada flight over here and I'll wait until I fly back to make final judgment over them. (I mean no private screen!!!) I'll give a full report about them when I return but, it's not looking good. I did get some good sleep in though- Ambien is a wonderful thing!
Immigration was a hassle. The woman in Montreal gave me a hard time even though I was just connecting through. In fact, I found all my interactions with the Quebecians to be a little bad. They all gave me attitude when I didn't speak French!!! Immigration in England asked me a million questions about my trip. Lately, it seems wherever I go, I get harassed by the authorities. Is my name on some list that I don't know about? or do I just look like a roughian?
Though I spent most of my train ride writing, I did happen to notice the lovely English countryside. Utterly stunning. I noticed it too while flying in. England is very green and has a lot of country for such a populated little island. It doesn't seem as dense as I thought it would be. I also happened to notice the really fit waitress serving us drinks. I wasn't the only one either. The other waitress caught me glancing and gave me a little wink and a laugh. Quite amusing. Next time, I'll be more discreet.
On the train, there also happened to be a big group of guys getting pissed on the worst Australia has to offer- Fosters. That also seems very English. Getting drunk in the morning. Reminds me of all those days in Asia. Those British tourists love to drink!
I'm off to go explore Chester now and start taking those copious amounts of pictures. I am having problems with my camera batteries. They don't seem to hold a charge that long anymore. I think after two years, they're useless and when I go back home, I'm going to have to invest in new ones. Maybe I'll just buy a new camera so I can take better pictures for you all. Now wouldn't that be something worth donating too! :) *wink* *wink*
Tomorrow, expect a full report on Chester!!
Cheers! It's tea time!!
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 8:41 AM |
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| Thursday, April 24, 2008 |
The time has finally arrived for me to go on vacation. In a few hours, I'll be boarding an Air Canada jet to take me to London. I'm going to spend three days visiting a friend in Chester before I fly to Amsterdam to celebrate the Dutch holiday of Queen's Day. All in all, I will be gone for 10 days. It's going to be a good tease for when I go back to Europe for 2 months this summer!
I'm very excited. I've never been to England before so I'm looking forward to getting a taste of English life. I'll be back in England in August to spend a month visiting friends and seeing more than just Chester. It will be interesting to see just how expensive England really is and if everyone really has bad teeth. I think though what I'm most excited about is the accent. I love British accents and to be surrounded by them for three days will be utterly amazing.
Then it's off to Amsterdam. I'm overjoyed to get back there. In 2006, I was there for over 6 weeks and made a lot of Dutch friends. I'm excited to see them again, visit new places, and celebrate the Dutch holiday of Queen's Day. I'll be decked out in my orange! I've even got my friend Kristen to come join the. This will be her first time in the city and we will be showing her a good time.
Expect lots of dispatches from the road as well as copious amounts of new pictures.
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 8:05 AM |
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| Wednesday, April 23, 2008 |
 A few weeks ago, it was reported that Thomas Khonstamm made up stories he wrote for Lonely Planet saying he never went to the country he was supposed to review. The story received wide press coverage about the credibility of guidebooks and travel writers. In reality, he was assigned to write about the culture and history of Columbia not review places he went. He didn't need to go to Columbia. All the reviews and local information were done by people who actually live in the country. So really it's a non-story. I can review Columbia's history and not go there. Just give me some time on Google!
There was also a lot of talk around the web that it might bring down the industry. I don't buy that. People will still buy guidebooks and listen to other people for advice. You learn a lot from other travelers and people will still keep reading about adventures from far away. It keeps them dreaming and keeps them motivated. Lonely planet's sales might fall in the short term but overall, they'll be ok. For your average person, a guidebook is still the easiest way to get information.
But what about guidebooks? Are they actually worth using? The answer is maybe.
I rarely ever use guidebooks for accommodation or restaurant information. I mostly use recommendations from other travellers or just try my luck and hope it works out. I always try new places and the best ones are rarely in guidebooks. That's not to say I don't even use them. (I have) but more often than not I don't. The places in guidebooks tend to draw a lot of tourists and I always found better food and accommodation away from the crowd.
I buy guidebooks because they make good guides. They provided useful information about a country's history and environment as well as major attractions, practical transport information, and maps. When I get into new areas, I flip open my guidebook to read up about it and take a look at the maps or look up the train schedule. Guidebooks are good to have as a back up but that's it. They shouldn't be used as bibles.
Because guidebooks have two main faults:
The information can be dated. By the time the author gets the reviews together, the publisher edits them, they get printed, and end up on the shelf, the information can be at least a year old. That's not very helpful as a lot can happen in a year, especially in rapidly developing areas of the world like Asia and Central America. As a traveler, you need up to the minute information and no matter how fast they turn out those guidebooks, you just can't keep up that quickly.
They can be vague. There are guidebooks that cover all of America, Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, East Asia, the pacific islands, etc, etc. With such a vast area of coverage, its hard to get the depth of information you need. Not all the cities and towns will be on it, not all the attractions, modes of transport, and the selection for food and stay will be very limited. You just won't be able to get the depth of information you need if you pick up an area guidebook. The alternative is one guidebook for each country but do you really want to carry around a guidebook for every country in Europe? I don't! That shit is heavy!
A good alternative to guidebooks are online websites. Websites like MatadorTrips, Brave New Traveler, Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree,The Freshman Traveler all have online communities where you get up to the minute travel info from people who have just been there. Read around traveler's blogs and ask them for information. They are just as good sometimes.
Overall, if you haven't been to a country before and are looking to get some practical information, then a guidebook is worth buying but, if you know your way around, I don't see a need. I don't plan on getting one for my vacation this week or when I go back to southeast asia. But when I go to China? Yeah, I'll pick one up. It will be good to get an overview and see the layout of the cities and get basic information.
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 8:49 AM |
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| Tuesday, April 22, 2008 |
I've been getting a lot of question submissions asking me how I afford to do all this travel. Am I rich? Do I travel for work? Am I a male gigolo? Sell drugs to little kids? Sadly, it is none of those. As I said in a previous post, desire is what motivates and keeps me going. I want to travel so I do! But there is the practical question of money. No matter how cheap you travel, you do need some money to do it.
SO how do I afford to travel? I work a lot. I save. I'm frugal. A lot of people have this misconception that travel is expensive, that whenever and wherever you go, you are going to spending a lot of money. In some places, that may be true. In some people's cases, that is always true. But for most of us that isn't true. Travel can be cheap and cheap doesn't mean bad.
I tell my co-workers all the time that I just travel cheap and images of awful service and rundown hotels pop into their mind. Backpacking isn't for them and they want their comfort. I want my comfort too. I eat out and do nice things while I'm away. It's not all 12 person dorms and home cooked meals. So maybe frugal is a better word to use. I don't travel cheap. I travel frugally.
As I said, I work and I save. I don't go out on big nights and am careful about what I spend. I make travel my monetary priority. That's the most important part of the puzzle. Don't waste your money. If you are always spending on something else, travel will always seem out of your reach. You need to make travel a priority too. Once it becomes important, you begin to find ways to save.
Once you do that, you have to make sure you spend your money wisely. People, especially Americans, have this image of travel and hotels, of fancy things and shopping, and luxury. All they see is dollar signs but you can have a comfortable vacation without comfortably spending your life savings. A good alternative to hotels are local guest houses and bed and breakfasts. House swap or couch share. They offer comfort, breakfast and laundry but with a more local feel and less impact on the wallet. The owners aren't big corporations but locals who are thrilled to be sharing their part of the world with you.
TRAVEL IS NOT EXPENSIVE!!
Flying might be more expensive than it was in the past but there are certainly good deals out there and those flight tickets don't have to cost a fortune. ( Check my article on how to find a cheap flight for suggestions.) I always seem to manage to find prices that don't kill my wallet and that's because I look hard and just don't jump on the first flight I find on Expedia! Find an alternative to flying if you can. Most people don't take a trip because flight costs scare them but, if you do your homework, you'll find a cheap deal. TRAVEL IS NOT EXPENSIVE!! Step out of your guidebook and find those little tiny local restaurants with great food and little tiny price tags. Eat where the locals eat not where Frommer's tells you. The locals aren't spending a fortune living in their neighborhood and you shouldn't either. You travel to see new places not new hotels. So see the place and you'll find that living locally and traveling differently will save you money and give you a richer travel experience.
This site is dedicated to keeping you motivated, telling tales, and showing you how to travel frugally. The point I'm trying to make here is that you don't need a lot of money to travel you just need to think differently. Forget packaged tours and expensive hotels and overpriced restaurants and souvenirs. You can still have a luxury vacation without a luxury price. You just need to think different and do a little work to get the deals. Booking that package on Orbitz isn't going to save you money!
That's how I do it. That's how you can do it!
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 9:47 AM |
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| Monday, April 21, 2008 |
"Let's go hiking." I said in the early morning.
"Ok, we'll go after lunch." my companions, Yolanda and Maria, replied.
Hours past and I grew anxious, "let's go! let's go!" I said repeatedly, "the day is being wasted!" We were all on a tour of Costa Rica, leaving Arenal national park tomorrow and I wanted to get a good day of hiking around the volcano. Finally, they acquiesced, we hailed down a cab, and were off to Arenal.
It was mid afternoon by the time we arrived and I was bitter we had wasted so much of the day but, the sun set over Arenal lake, and we would get to watch from up high on the old lava fields. That made up for their tardiness. Arenal is Costa Rica's active volcano. During the day, smoke rises into the sky creating a haze like dust cloud around it. At night, flashes of red can be seen oozing down the sides as nature displays her glory. Watching itis a sight to be seen and, on occasion, big eruptions take place allowing the tourists to "oo and ahh" over nature's own fireworks display. The entire area is surrounded by old lava fields and thick rainforest making it a wonderful hiking destination.
We told our cab driver we would be back at the entrance at 6 and started off on our adventure. We wandered off trail down old lava fields, wandered on trail through giant lava rocks, and followed weird local animals around. Soon it was getting dark and we wanted to get back to the lake to see the sunset. Looking at our map, we realized we had no idea what trail we were on. Asking a passerby where we were, we thought we found our location. According to where we thought we were, the trail ended soon and there was a turn around.
Instead of doubling back, we decided to finish the trail and take the another trail back to the lake in order to see as much as we could. Alas, it was not meant to be. Our passerby guide had misinformed and soon we deeper into the forest. As the sun continued to set, we got more and more lost. We continued down trails until they ended, doubled back, went on new trails but soon we were totally lost. As day turned to night, the mosquitoes came out to hunt on their confused prey. As the forest grew absent of man, animals came out to frolic. Then there was us, three lost and confused tourists. Our stomachs were hungry and our flashlights were out of batteries. All we had to guide us was a pen torch and the light from our cameras.
Our situation grew worse by the minute as soon the sun was gone and darkness enveloped us. Though we were seeing nature as it was, with hidden animals appearing, no longer scared by the quaking steps of a thousand tourists, our joy was tempered by the thought of spending a night in the jungle. Our tour group was back in town soon to feast on a great dinner while we fought for our freedom.
After what seemed an eternity, we found a dirt road. We weren't sure where it went or which way town was . The road was on the map and luckily, a science station was marked on it. But which way was the science station? If we went the wrong way, we could be walking pointlessly even longer. So we took a chance and began walking. Luckily, it was the right way. Soon we came to the gate and the guard, informing us we couldn't call a cab from there, pointed us back the other way and said the main road back into town was a 20 minute walk.
We hit the main road. It was empty. No cars, no lights. The security guard told us where the town was and we began our long walk home. Tired, haggard, and hungry we marched silently, everyone contemplating our experience in their own way. Soon a car pulled by and picked us up. Suddenly, we were animated again, talking and laughing about the whole experience. The mountain, as if welcoming us home, exploded with joy and we stopped, "ooo and ahhed" and took photos.
We joined our tour group, over an hour late and still dirty from the forest. Everyone looking at us and asking "Where were you?"
If only they knew....
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 7:28 AM |
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| Sunday, April 20, 2008 |
Taking a break from the normal travel related articles, I'd thought I'd share some of the developments going on in my world.
This Thursday I am going on vacation. I'll be spending three days visiting a friend in England before spending a week in Holland. I'm going to see some old friends and celebrate Queen's Day. I'm excited to get back on the road, even if it's just for a little while. Look for dispatches from the road, along with new photos and video.
I'm going to be doing a major revamp of the website. As it has gotten up and running, I've noticed some organizational and visual changes that are needed. I'm going to be better organizing content on the pages as well as adding new photos, photo tags, and video. Look for it to come over the next few weeks. I've been meaning to do it for a while now but I've been working too much!
I've gotten a lot of interest in my writing (yay!) and starting in May, you'll see some of my work on Matador Travel, Brave New Traveler, and Vagabondish. I'm working the editors now to get some writing up. Starting on Tuesday, I will be posting again on Lonely Planet's MySpace pages. If you have MySpace, check them out. If not, don't worry, I'll be posting them up here. My articles will be running for the next 8 weeks and (fingers crossed) they might actually go up on the main Lonely Planet page.
I've found a number of good travel blogs and sites and urge you to check them out in my links section. If you want your blog linked to me, drop me a line. I'd be happy to exchange some links!
I'd love to have you all RSS too. If you are into RSS feeds, feed mine here: Feed HERE!!
Finally, I'm not a web designer and I know there are probably little things wrong with the site, so if you happen to notice links that don't work, html that screws up the layout, or have any thoughts, please drop me a line!
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 8:43 AM |
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| Saturday, April 19, 2008 |
 (The Saturday City is going to be a weekly series on this blog. Every Saturday, I'll write about a city I have visited. I'll talk about its history, the sights, the people, things to do, and my impressions of it. So sit back, drink your coffee, and enjoy!)Boston was founded in in the 1620s by Puritan settlers from England seeking religious self rule. Over time. the city expanded and became a major port and economic center in the American Colonies. It also became an important city during the American revolution. In 1763, we threw tea into the ocean, signifying our rebellion against the British. The first battles of the war, Lexington and Concord, were fought here. Many famous politicians such as John Adams and John Hancock were from Boston. The city has been an important and famous city throughout this country history being on the forefront of a lot of changes and his home to the political dynasty of the Kennedys. One of the most amazing things about Boston is its European feel. A small city lacking few high rises and still filled with old brick buildings, the city feels like more of a large town than a modern metropolis. Its neighborhoods are easily separated yet at the same time flow seamlessly into each other.  The city is small and easily walkable, its neighborhoods not far apart, unlike larger cities like New York or Tokyo or Miami. The city of my birth, Boston has a special place in my heart. I've traveled far and wide and it still ranks as one of my favorite cities in the world for its charm, its people, and its beauty. Boston is steeped in history and it is that history that gives it its charm. No visit here is complete without walking the freedom trail, taking you through all the historic landmarks of the city and giving you a chance to see the historic building and locations where the birth of a nation took place. You'll walk past the old state house and Faneuil Hall where the revolution began, see the graves of our founders, and get a feel for colonial Boston Visit Beacon Hill, with its small streets and colonial homes, where all gentry used to and, in many cases, still do live. Ben Franklin will even give you a guided tour! Boston is beautiful place, especially in the summer time. Winter makes us all hibernate and, as the weather warms, we trickle out of our caves and onto the streets to enjoy Boston at its best. Restaurants bring out the tables for out dining, the sounds of Fenway and baseball fill the streets, concerts creep outdoors and onto the half shell to be listened as the boats sail up and down the Charles River. Yes, summer in Boston is the place to be.  Each neighborhood holds its own flavor. Head to the north end for a taste of Italy. Here you will find some of the best Italian food the city has to offer while you wander through old brick alleys and tenement homes now redone as expensive restaurants and upscale (but still tiny) apartments. Go to the back bay to spend the day walking and shopping down Newbury Street and get a taste of how the well to do live. Sit in Copley Plaza, in front of the famous Trinity Church, and soak up some sun. Visit all the hip and lovely eateries in the South End. Spend a nice day on Boston Common and wander the public gardens to see the swans. There you can lay down with the rest of the city as we rest and relax, while playing frisbee and watching the kids play in frog pond.  At night, walk over to the Theater District and take in a show or eat at some of Boston amazing restaurants like Fugyaku, Stehpanie's on Newbury, Abe and Louis, #9 Park, Vinalia, Haru, Legal Seafoods, or Teatro. There are just too many great places to name all over the city. No matter where you find yourself, you will find top rated food. If you're young at heart, head down to the Brighton area to hang out with the college kids and eat some very unhealthy after bar food at Rednecks.
Boston often gets a bad rap as a cold city. Not because of its winter but because of its people. We are fast paced and don't have time to be slowed down. Often that gives people the perception that we're unfriendly and rude, which is totally untree. Be tourist standing around lost and just watch how many people come over to help you. Bostonians are really friendly and very welcoming but we do have a hard exterior. With the neighborhood setup of the city, everyone belongs to a a certain area. We have our friends, we have our family. It may come off as cold and callous but its not. All it takes is 5 minutes of conversation. Once the ice is broken, the glacier melts. Bostonians will instantly come alive and treat you as their own, being fiercely loyal to their new friend. We just won't be fake nice to you for the sake of being nice.
Boston has something for everyone. I often describe it as New York without the chaos. Here you can do everything you can do in New York but without the deafening craziness that the metropolis brings and with a lot nicer looking scenery's. When I was in Amsterdam, I was reminded a lot of Boston with its brick buildings, low skyline, fast pace, and causal feel. Boston has a lot to offer and if you are vacationing this year, I'd give Boston some serious thought. You won't be disappointed!
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 8:16 AM |
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| Friday, April 18, 2008 |
(I'd thought I'd be different and go poetic this post!)
I love Thailand.
From its beaches, to its jungles
from its animals, to its people.
Amazing sunset,
Amazing sunrise,
everyday there,
is like a prize.
Bangkok, its capital, is a mess,
but you'll find getting lost,
usually works out for the best.
Hidden temples and little alleys,
theres just way too many to tally.
Malls and shops are all over
from MBK to Siam to Paragon,
whoops! now all my baht is gone!
Late night clubs will have you dancing,
while all those Thai girls are a prancing.
You'll go to Patong to see all the hype,
and see a ping pong show if your that type.
Khao San Road is the place ,
for any one under 25 to show their face.
Looking for ex-pats, you don't have to go far,
Cheap Charlies is their favorite bar.
Up north you find jungles and ruins,
or maybe spy a hilltribe beetlenut a chewin.
Jungle tours here and jungle tours there,
will make you wonder "why not stay here?"
Cities like Pai, Chang Mai, and Chang Rai,
make you want to give country living a try.
Ride an elephant, see a bird!
Just watch out for that giant turd!
Ex-pats here and ex-pats there
but whoa! Just don't let that old sex-pat get near!
Ko Lanta, Ko Lipe, or Phuket,
there beach paradise is what you get.
With crystal clear water and long sandy beaches,
slow living is what Thailand preaches.
Get a coconut, get a massage,
or spend your day at that kickin' bar!
Scuba dive, snorkel, or swim
there something for Julie to Jim.
At night, party your day away
all this will just make you want to stay.
Full moon Rave on Hat rin
their buckets will certainly make you swing.
That night, despite being hungover
you'll be doing it again all over.
Thai food is spicy but yummy
and sits good in my tummy.
Too many chili's make me cringe
so on Pad Thai I will binge!
Eat on the street, eat in a shop,
the food is so good no one can top!
Thailand has so much,
I didn't know where to start.
I hope you liked my poem
and makes you want to roam.
so now you can tell ME-
what's your favorite country?
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 8:00 AM |
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| Thursday, April 17, 2008 |
 A little piece of me dies everyday. Or I should say a little piece of my wallet dies everyday. As an American, I live on the world's worst currency- the US dollar. Over the past few years, the value of the American dollar has steadily declined. The dollar now only get .50 to the pound, 60 euro cents, and, for the first time in 12 years, less than 100 yen. The Australia dollar has gone from being worth .50 cents to par now. The Canadian dollar is worth more than the greenback. Needless to say, it's hard being an American tourist right now.
As a constant traveler, I worry about the way currency moves like only a Wall Street trader would. Small changes in the dollar or other currencies can really effect me. My budget for Australia was 1000 dollars short because of the strong Australian dollar. I got extra when I went to Thailand because the Baht had happened to weaken just a bit. I watch it to know when to withdraw money and when to hold off on the ATM run. Sometimes you can't help it- you need money but I try to be careful. Why all the work? On a short holiday, it's not that big of a deal. You're not gone a while nor are you changing over lots of money. Yet when you are gone for months or years at a time make frequent ATM withdrawals, little changes in a currency can make a big difference.
As a holder of dollars, I cringe when I see the latest currency exchange rates. I planned to travel far and wide in Europe this summer, visiting friends I meet during my last round the world trip only to have to cut some of the trip short due to the weak currency. I worked hard to save only to find it didn't matter that much. Europe is simply too expensive right now.
However, there are a few ways to protect against a weak dollar.
First, use a card like Capital One. This is a little thing we can all do. Capital One credit cards have the best bank rate and don't charge you an foreign transaction fee. It's a great card to travel with as you know you'll get the best rate without any fees. I recommend everyone getting one. It is the BEST card to travel with. Use no other!
Secondly, get cash when the rate is high. This requires a little work and for you to be OK with carrying cash. You'll need to know what the rates are so that you know what a "bounce" looks like. When I was in Thailand, the Australian dollar dipped and I took advantage of it and saved myself 200 dollars when the rate jumped again. No one has a crystal ball and sometimes the rate might get higher but this is a way of protecting yourself in case it doesn't!
Third, get a foreign bank account. OK, this isn't for everyone and getting one isn't always easy but, if you are so inclined, having a foreign bank account can help cushion the dollars fall. If you can't get out of the country or are worried about tax issues, Everbank allows you to open a foreign currency bank account all on the up and up.
But for those without the currency watching desires or skills of a Gordon Gekko, there's another option. Find places where the dollar is good. There are still places left in the world where the dollar goes far. Many of them are off the beaten path or a newly developing tourist destinations. This means you not only get to go somewhere unique and different but you get to go there first!
Here are some places where the dollar is still worth something:
Vietnam- Vietnam is opening up more to tourism and is becoming a more popular destination each year. It's not very developed yet and still a great bargain. When I was there, I spent about 8 dollars a day. Many of the people I traveled with spent more but it is quite easy to get buy on an "upscale" budget of 30 dollars a day.
Eastern Europe- Though the falling dollar and economic growth has made Eastern Europe more expensive than it was in the past, it is a still a bargain when compared to its western neighbors. The further East you go, the cheaper it is too. Cities like Prague, Budapest, Sofia are steeped in old world charm. It's a way to get to Europe without going broke in Europe.
Costa Rica- One of the few countries to have its currency lose ground to the dollar. A dollar now gets 500 Colons, up from 360 a few years ago. Though the country is one of the most expensive in Central America, your dollar goes a lot further than it used to there making it a good bargain. Costa Rica is a beautiful place and my favorite Central American country. Everything you want is there and the people are amazing.
Central America- Most countries in Central America are very cheap and incredible pristine by most standards. Countries like Nicaragua and Honduras are just opening themselves up to tourism and are great deals to experience undeveloped countries. Guatemala holds ancient wonders like Tikal and beautiful beaches in Antigua while Honduras has great diving and surfing. Additionally, efforts to appeal to tourists have led in the building of infrastructure and reduction in crime making them safe to visit.
Argentina- Another country whose currency has lost ground to the dollar. Argentina is an amazing place filled with history, football, and nature.
Cambodia- An incredibly cheap country where rooms can cost as little as $2 dollars a night. The currency of choice here is dollars too. ATMs give them out, things are priced in dollars, you get change in dollars, everything is 1 dollar- it makes converting pretty easy. A dollar everywhere can add up but, on the whole, I found the country to be cheap, friendly, and safe. Out of all the countries I visited, I expected the least from it and got the most.
All of these countries can provide a different and cheap alternative to Europe, Australia, or Japan. There is still hope out there, it just requires a different route and some alternative destinations. But do you really want to be where the crowds are? Europe's churches will be there 10 years from now but the jungles of Central America? the rice fields of Asia? The old world of Eastern Europe? Probably not. Now is a good time to think different!
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 8:25 AM |
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| Wednesday, April 16, 2008 |
 American airline carriers have certainly been in the news lately. Over the last few weeks, numerous airlines, most notably American Airlines, have cancelled thousands of flights due to safety issues. Aloha, ATA, and Frontier airlines have all gone bankrupt while Delta and Northwest just recently announced that they were going to merge.
All this turmoil makes you wonder: What's going on with flying in America? It seems pretty grim lately and I'm not at all surprised. After having flown in many different parts of the world, flying in America is by far the worst experience I can think of. It makes those long dusty bus rides in Cambodia seem like a luxury tour. Flights here are expensive and inconvenient. Service is practically non existent (Can't a brother get some peanuts!!!) And trying to navigate the airport is even worst- long lines, delays, inane security checks, and rude guards. When I came back to America from Australia, I had to go through THREE security screenings just because the flight went to America. What was wrong with the first two!?
American passengers here put up with a lot of crap. I may not get many perks on flights around the world but when I'm paying $60 dollars, I don't expect any. When I'm $200 dollars, I expect something (When can a brother get some peanuts!?!). All the turmoil in the industry highlights just how bad things are, and sadly, I think things are only going to get worse before they get better for a number of reasons.
For starters, America lacks real competition. There aren't that many choices when flying the friendly skies. Foreign carriers aren't allow to fly "within" the states and, as the recent bankruptcies show, very few low cost carriers actually make it. With all the mergers, consumers in the US face little choice. When you are the only game in town, why charge less?
Secondly, the US uses a spoke and hub system that routes flights through a major hub from the smaller spokes (minor airports) and back out again. So unless you are flying between major cities, it's hard to go direct. Hubs are also in silly places too like Cincinnati or Memphis or Dallas. To get from point A to point B, you need to fly through point C. In a different age, this made sense but, with higher costs today, I think direct flights would reduce costs and make flying more convenient.
Additionally, American workers are pretty expensive by comparison for two reasons: health care and pensions. Pretty much every other country in the world has universal health care so companies don't have to pay for them. Government's also pay retirement benefits and American carriers are still paying out pensions for employees 20 years ago. This adds a lot of cost onto the airlines and doesn't allow them to be as price competitive as they could. This also why new airlines such as Jetblue could undercut older carriers. No pension obligations! I'm not advocating any one system here, I'm just saying these are costs foreign carriers don't deal with.
So as airlines have faced higher costs and little competition, as well as an inefficient airline model, they have raised ticket prices while lashing services. I think eventually this Delta/Northwest merger will result in cheaper flights and better options but, I think that dream is years away. For the immediate future, I see more headaches and higher prices.
With all the problems in the industry, I suspect that more consolidation is ahead. Additionally, not until airlines shed their high labor costs as well as get rid of the hub and spoke system in favor of more direct flight will consumers see a sort of reduction in airfare. Hopefully, then we will also see a return in service. However, for the distant future, flying in America will remain unpleasant, a hassle, and expensive.
(If you have any flight horror stories, please share with us!!)
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 6:52 AM |
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| Monday, April 14, 2008 |
 Furthering the discussion about making calls, lets discuss Skype. Skype is a Internet based phone service that lets you call users around the world for free. It was invented in 2003 by two Swedish guys. In 2005, it was bought by eBay.
At first it allowed users to create a profile and talk to other users using VOIP (essentially it was an Internet phone). Additionally, if you had a web cam you could see the person you were talking to. It was hailed as a new way to communicate- a way that would make old phones obsolete. The only problem was that you needed a computer and a fairly good computer connection. Overtime, they expanded the service to let you call land phones or mobiles for a small fee.
While you still need a computer for a majority of its services, Skype now offers a variety of other services. You can get:
- Voicemail
- You're own Skype Phone number. (This service is called SkypeIn)
- Use Skype on a wireless phone.
- Conference calling. (A great business feature.)
- Text messaging
- File Transfers
The service has expanded since it first started and you can now use it like a cellphone, while still calling other Skype users for free. It has a lot of great features and is like a super sized version of MSN. The problem with Skype is that not many people know about. In my travels, I encountered a lot of people who had it but, compared to the amount of people who had a cellphone, or even a chat service like MSN, the amount was minuscule. I'd say about 95% of the people I knew back in the states had not even heard of the service. There were a few travelers who used the site to call back home like I did. While I think Skype is a good option to have, especially as a way to communicate with people back home, I would not rely on it as my main form of communication on the road.
Bottom Line: Get Skype. Skype has million users and is growing in popularity as more people talk about it. It will come in handy whether you are on the road or off. I use it call some people I know overseas. Just don't make it your main form of communication, especially communication with other travelers.
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 7:25 AM |
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| Sunday, April 13, 2008 |
 Right now, all across the land of smiles, people are soaking themselves with water and tossing flour on each other. The country is in the midst of the world's biggest water fight as tourists and locals engage in the time honored tradition of seeing who can walk away wetter without passing out from the beer first. Yes, it's Songkran again. Time for the Thai's to celebrate their new year.
Songkran is the time of cleaning and rebirth. Originally, the date shifted depending on the astrological calender but, in the 1800s, the date became fixed. This day is celebrated by attending temple and cleansing the body and mind. Water is meant as a way to pay respect to the elders as well as symbolized cleansing. In ancient times, elders and priests were even given baths by the youth. Many Thais make sure to honor the traditional Songkran before they partake in the modern tradition- the world's most giant water fight!!
All over the country, people stock up on supersoakers, fill water balloons, set up "refill" stations (Thai's are very entrepreneurial) and get ready for three crazy days of partying. All over tourists, ex-pats, and locals engage in a gigantic water war fueled by happiness and a little beer. Bangkok and the northern city of Chang Mai usually hold the two biggest festivals but in every town in every part of the country, something is going on. It also helps that this time of the year is the hottest in Thailand and this is an opportunity for Thais to cool down for a few days.
 As I type this, my friends are enjoying themselves in the City of Angels, getting unprepared tourists soaking wet and having a great time, while I sit here and remember my last Songkran. Last year, I was with a group of friends on Khoa San road. I lived in the tourist area of Bangkok, which also happens to be the major area for Songkran. During this 3 day festival, streets were shut down, sidewalk vendors told to move and 100,000 people flood in to take part in the most insane spectacle I have ever witnessed. Everyone, young and old, is on the streets spraying you with water and occasionally wiping your face full of flour.
The all day water fight carries on into the night as people have dance parties in the street and major roads are shut down to accommodate them.What is truly amazing about this holiday is how friendly everyone is about it. Everyone is so polite about covering you in water and smearing flour all over yourself. Many will say "sorry" while they do it. As you get involved in big water fights, everyone is still all smiles. Walk down the street, spray a stranger, and they just laugh and spray you back and go on. You could never have this type of festival in the West- people would get drunk and start fights or riots would break out. "Hey man, don't get me wet!" they would say. But here it is all smiles. Everyone expects it.
 But, like everywhere else, there are cops around. I remember walking down the street firing people and I hit a cop. After speaking some Thai to his fellow officers, three of them started moving towards me with looks on their faces. Now we all know what happens when cops get involved so I was not happy to seem them as they began walking closer to me and drawing their weapons. They started yelling at me in Thai as they came closer and fired. So I did what I one would do in a situation like this- I fired back. They got me good but I managed to soak one of them pretty bad before one snuck behind me and cover me with cold water. Three against one in a water fight is tough. But we all had a good laugh. A holiday where the cops get involved is sure be fun.
This year I dream of Songkran but, next year, I'll go back to Songkran.
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 5:24 AM |
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| Friday, April 11, 2008 |
 Recently, someone submitted a question about cell phones and calling cards to the Ask Me! page. I thought the question deserved a little bit more attention than just a short blurb and was a good topic to blog about. When I first traveled overseas, I used calling cards. I figured it was more convenient than scouting out a cell phone, especially since I was in each country for a only few weeks at a time. I only ever really needed to call my parents and wanted to remain unconnected from the greater world. Having a cellphone just didn't seem like I was getting off the grid. It was bad enough I was at an Internet cafe all the time! Wasn't the point of travel to get away from the trappings of modern life? So I used calling cards but, in the end, I ended up spending a lot to call home and, since the cards were only good in one country, usually ended up with a few extra. I had to give some Italian and Spanish cards away in Amsterdam. Eventually, I just got Skype to call home. It was simple, free, and easy to use. Calling cards were out.  When I settled in Thailand, I bought a cellphone. You just need one when you live somewhere. I bought a cheap phone, got a SIM card, and I was off. When I ran out of money, I'd reload. Pay as you go. When I eventually moved on to Australia, I took my phone with me and just decided to get a SIM card there too. I had a lot of Aussie friends I was meeting up with and it would just work out easier. Well, it turns out, most backpackers are now carrying phones since those SIMs are so cheap and it makes arranging meetings with other travelers convenient. So lets take a look at the benefits of each: Cell Phones Can change numbers easily. Always have access to your friends and family. Phones can work all over the world. Numbers in can work in a variety of countries (sometimes). Can sometimes be a cheaper option. Calling Cards Can buy as needed. No need to buy a number all the time. Don't make you a target for theft like phones do. Weighing the benefits of each, I think cell phones win out. I don't see the point in calling cards. Between Skype and cellphones, calling anywhere in the world is relatively cheap and more convenient, especially since phones can help arrange meetings with other travelers. For Americans, the problem is that we run on a different cellphone network and generally don't have unlocked phones (i.e. ones where you can change SIM cards). This makes it harder to take your phone overseas. You have to buy a new phone when you go abroad. For others, its much easier. Foreign phones can have their sim card removed, phones in Europe can connect to any country and, in Asia, SIMs are so cheap you can constantly switch them. In the calling card vs. cell phone debate, cell phones win. They are more versatile and way more convenient. If you are going to travel, I say bring or buy a cheap phone. It'll come in very handy. (Make sure you bring or buy a cheap phone though. Fancy phones make you a target for thieves and you really don't want to damage or lose your nice phone)If you enjoy the blog, please join the RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/MattsTravelSite
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 7:47 AM |
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| Thursday, April 10, 2008 |
 Accommodation can eat into any budget. I'm sure many backpackers would sleep in a barn if it was the cheapest accommodation around. Some people will stay anywhere as long as its a roof. I always had some standards when it came to accommodation but I've definitely stayed in some dumps while I was away.
One of the best ways to get free accommodation while you travel is by staying with someone, especially someone you don't know. This is where Couchsurfing can come in. Couchsurfing is now a hugely popular phenomenon. Couchsurfing.com connects travelers with people around the globe who offer them free places to stay. Sometimes it's a bed, sometimes it's a couch, sometimes it's literally just space. Whatever they give you, it can save you a lot of money and it's a great way to meet local people.
I couchsurfed twice while I was away. Once in Athens and a second time in Australia. I loved both times. You get to make a new friend, you get a local perspective on the sites and activities, and it can provide a good respite from the hostel/hotel scene. It gives you a chance to cook a meal, sit down in front of a tele, or do some laundry. Depending on the person's schedule, you may even have a guide! My host in Athens showed me some great restaurants!
Not everyone you contact will respond back but usually they respond and are very accommodating. The people who would open their homes to strangers tend to be very open minded people and are usually former travelers too. They know what you are going through. They want to help.
There's a lot of other sites that do the same thing too. Sites such as Global Freeloaders, The Hospitality Club, and Stay4Free, as well as the granddaddy of couchsurfing, Servas, all offer similar services. There are even sites out their where people can swap houses. There are plenty of options out of there for people.
But is it safe?
A lot of times people are scared to couchsurf because they wonder if its safe. I was nervous about it at first too. There you are, in a new city with all your stuff (and you!) in a stranger's home. What if they try to murder or rob you in your sleep! All these websites are aware of this and take as many steps as they can to provide security. They all offer various levels of verification and allow users to rate and leave comments on traveler's profiles.
When I use couchsurf, I tend to use the following criteria:
- There has to be a picture. This just shows me that it's a real person and not some fake profile.
- The profile has to be filled out. It shows they are interested and involved. Most people aren't going to spend the time to fill this out if they aren't into and most people who aren't into aren't going to be comfortable with strangers in their home.
- They have to be verified. Couchsurfing offers different levels of verification. They can be verified by other travelers, with a mailing address, or credit card. Knowing that a person has been verified reduces the likelihood that they are gonna be a crazy psycho killer.
- They should have comments from other travelers. If other people have stayed with them or have at least traveled with them and found they were OK, chances are you will be OK too.
In the end, it really is up to your judgement. A person can fake all of the above but the likelihood of that happening is slim. I haven't heard of any bad couchsurfing experiences besides they person was a jerk. Usually, you end up talking with people over e-mail and get a to feel them out a bit about what they except. If it doesn't seem right, you don't do it! In the end, Couchsurfing and the other networks are all built on trust. The people who host you trust you aren't nuts and you trust they aren't. They are like minded people who want to meet other travelers. It's always good to be on alert but overall, these sites offer a wonderful way to meet local people, stay in local neighborhoods, and do local things.
And isn't that what traveling is all about? Living a local experience wherever you go!?
(There was a good article in the New York Times last year about this: Surfing the World Wide Couch).
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 7:44 AM |
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| Tuesday, April 08, 2008 |
Lately, I haven't been able to turn on the news without hearing something about Tibet, China, and the Olympics. It seems that with the Olympics fast approaching, many activist groups are using this opportunity to shine a light on China's horrible record on human rights, Tibet, and China's relationship with Sudan. This attention has only been amplified by the recent crackdown by China in Tibet that led to the death of 20 to 100 people, depending on which news agency you ask.
Yesterday, protesters in Paris disrupted the torch rely forcing officials to distinguish the torch 5 times. Similar incidents happened when they lit the Olympic torch in Greece and when the torch was run through London. There is talk in the US of boycotting the opening ceremonies, Germany is talking about boycotting the whole event, and many groups are calling for the general populace and for athletes to boycott the event altogether.
All of this is designed to "shame" China on their human rights record and thereby cause them so much embarrassment that they hopefully change their ways. I think that view shows a total lack of understanding about the Chinese government and history.
None of this is going to get them to change their ways for two reasons. For starters, China has had a long policy of staying out of people's affairs. They stay out of other people's business because they don't want anyone getting into theirs. China does not think its any one's place on how to live their life and thereby take great offense when people tell them what to do. Their sense of nationalist pride is at stake and they won't to bow to foreign pressure. Chinese history is filled with the west interfering and the Chinese still harbor a lot of resentment about their past with the West. Issues like Tibet and Taiwan are seen through the prism of historical events like the Opium Wars. Any talk of what "China must do" is only going to increase their resistance and harden their position.
Secondly, the general population of China isn't clued into any of this. Most people there don't get the news or read what's going on. They just listen to the Chinese national media and that's that. China filters out websites they don't like so most people just don't know and really don't care as they just try to live and get by.
All the boycotts and protests in the world won't change China's position. China entered the world through engagement in the 1970s and will only change through further engagement. The best thing that can be done is that people go, talk, and get the Chinese people involved because, if there is both internal and external pressure, you might get some change.
However, if the Olympics are a disaster and China views this as the west shaming them and making them lose face, they will only be more resistant to working with us on a lot of other issues. We can't let that happen. China is too important- we need them on big global issues like climate change, Darfur, and Iran. They matter and they know it. Yes, their human rights record is awful and I don't support any of their actions but looking at Chinese history will show you how they will act now. We should work with them on resolving these issues but boycotting the Olympics, an event the Chinese see as their coming out party, isn't going to get them to do that. Imagine if you boycotted your best friend's sweet 16 party? She wouldn't talk to you for a long time.
Don't boycott the Olympics. Go and spread some ideas. That's how you'll change China. From the bottom up.
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 12:53 PM |
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| Sunday, April 06, 2008 |
At the end of the month, I'm finally going on a holiday. It's been a long, long winter and I'm looking forward to getting away, even if this trip is only 10 days.
I'm off to spend a weekend in England before I go to The Netherlands for Queen's Day. It may seem odd to head to England for only a weekend but my flight was going through London and decided to spend a few days to visit somebody. I've never been to England before and I think this will be a good practice run for my trip in the summer. It will give me an idea as to just how expense England really is and how much I need to budget for my month long trip there this summer.
What I'm really excited for is Amsterdam. I first went there in 2006 and loved it so much I stayed for 6 weeks in the city. I meet great Dutch friends and had such a good time. I was sad to go. Amsterdam is a place I could settle in. It's amazing- the canals, the old buildings, the atmosphere, the friendly locals. There is a reason everyone loves the city (and it isn't just the coffeeshops!) It's been a long time since I've been there and I'm really looking forward to it, especially since it's Queen's Day.
Queen's Day is THE Dutch national holiday. They celebrate the birth of their Queen Wilhelmenia as well as "vrijmarkt." The current Queen, Beatrix, usually goes to a few towns and participates in watching traditional Dutch dancing or such. Vrijmarkt means freemarket in Dutch and its the one day of the year people can sell whatever they want in the streets and buyers don't have to pay taxes. I plan on buying lots of tax-free stuff on that day.
The real fun is the party. This holiday culminates with everyone, everywhere having one big blow out bash. Parties begin days before and some bars and clubs stay open all night. Almost everyone is in orange (the Dutch national color) and, well, it's just a good time. Amsterdam usually sees a few hundred thousand tourists.
I'm really looking forward to going. I'm staying with my friends in Amsterdam and they tell me they have parties already planned. I suspect they will show me a good time. I'm hoping to see some of the Dutch friends I meet in Australia but they are unsure if they can make it to Amsterdam. I'll see them this summer if we miss each other in April.
So now it is time to start planning! Airline tickets need to be booked, trains reserved, and my passport found. A two week trip doesn't need much planning but thinking about it will get me through these next two, 60 hour work weeks.
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 10:12 AM |
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| Friday, April 04, 2008 |
In the week I started this blog, I've been asked a plethora of times on how I do it. How do I travel so much? What's my secret? So here it, the big secret that lets me travel so much:
DESIRE
That's it. No secret trust fund. No illegal activity. No pimping myself out for Eliot Spitzer. Just simple desire to do it. After my first trip to Costa Rica in 2004, I got bit with the travel bug and have been doing it every since. I live to travel. I make the time, I budget for it, I revolve my life around it right now.
Everyone seems to suspect I have some big secret....that I must have found something out to life that they didn't. Sorry for the let down but there is no secret to travel. Anyone who tells you so is a liar. All you need is the desire and passion to go.
So often I hear from people that traveling is out of their reach, that they don't have the money or the time. There's just too much responsibility they say. I don't believe that. People do what they want. When you truly want something, you go after it. If you truly wanted travel, you would do it. You wouldn't make excuses, you would do it. Excuses are a convenient way for people to ignore their own fears. The news media paints an image of the world has dangerous and chaotic, in turmoil and trouble. Well here is the real news- it's no more dangerous than places in America.
There is a lot of unknown in long term traveling and a lot people aren't ready to deal with that. However, even if you'll never do a year around the world or dedicate your life to vagabonding, that doesn't mean travel can be out of your reach.
Travel is a wonderful thing. Life is so short and I don't think we were ever meant to spend it in cubicles droning away. Travel can show you all the beauty in the world- from chaotic markets in Asia, to majestic cities in Europe, to dense jungles and exotic wildlife in Central America. Everywhere you go, everyday you're there something new happens. New people, new places, and new experiences.
People like to think that travel costs a lot of money or that you just can't make it happen. My only hope is that by reading this blog, you realize that you can. I'm not rich but I budget well and find the travel deals. I work hard so I can play hard. A little flexibility, a little price scouting and you can get anywhere on any budget. People are always amazed when they see how cheap it can be and how little effort it really takes. I hope by reading this blog you stay inspired and informed. I'll keep posting about all the cheap ways to travel so that you finally get up, get out, and getting going.
So see you out there over a beer!
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 5:33 AM |
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| Wednesday, April 02, 2008 |
Round the world tickets (RTW) can be a convenient way to fly around the world. They can get you where you want to go without having to worry about booking flights. I am ambivalent about them. I think they can be good for some people but personally, I think it's better to pay as you go. Paying as you go gives you more flexibility and allows you to catch cheap tickets on sale.
RTW tickets tend to fly you into major airports. A typical RTW ticket is LAX-LONDON-BANGKOK-SYDNEY-FIJI-LAX. Typically you get a set number of destinations and stops on either the Star Alliance or Oneworld air carriers. Depending on how many stops you want, tickets can be between $2400-4000 USD. That's not including any other flights you might take to other cities in the area you want to go. This can be good if you want to stay on a set route and have set dates for your travels.
However, if you have any changes in your plans, then you are going to be paying changing fees which will kick costs up. Additionally, some tickets have restrictions that only allow you to change tickets to a certain dates and you can't fly for more than 12 months or more than a set number of miles without paying extra. In the end, all these fees can add up and the restrictions can be a hassle.
Anyone who has traveled knows that the best laid plans always go wrong. Travel plans are constantly changing. You may like a place and stay longer or you may hate a place and want to leave soon. RTW tickets can put wrench into those plans. Given that travel, especially long term travel, is filled with so much uncertainty and adventure, I tend to be against these types of tickets because they can restrict you and your trip.
Additionally, there's the cost factor. When I did my trip around the world, I looked into a RTW ticket but decided against it. Pricing the tickets out myself, I found I could do it cheaper. (See my article on finding cheap flights for more details.) Most people today have reward credit cards and if you use them right that can get you a free flight for part of your journey. There are also tons of low cost carriers that provide a good alternative to the major carriers and further reduce cost. (I find this especially true in Europe and Asia.)
Here is how my flights around the world broke down:
US to Oslo: FREE with reward points.
Athens to Bangkok: 500 dollars (wasn't even the cheapest but I wanted to fly direct)
Bangkok-Singapore-Perth: 200 dollars
Sydney to LAX: 700
LAX to Boston: 200
Total: $1,600 dollars
This doesn't include all the little flights I took while I was away. That would probably make the total closer to 2,600 dollars but I took those flights because I hate long train rides and I like the convenience and quickness of flying. Some of you may prefer trains or buses so I'm not including that in my faux RTW ticket. However, my "route" is typical of RTW tickets and I was able to do it much cheaper than they could have provided.
In the end, I just don't think they are worth it. RTW tickets provide you with convenience but you end up paying for it. Doing it yourself takes more work but can save you a lot of money. If you milk the deals and use your credit card points wisely, you can usually fly around the world for $2000 USD or less and you don't have the inconvenience of being tied down to any particular flight date, carrier, or route.
(If anyone has used an RTW ticket and has input, leave a comment and let us know your thoughts! Was it worth it?)
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| posted by Nomadic Matt @ 5:20 AM |
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Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Cambodia
Canada
Cayman Islands
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
England
Greece
Guatemala
Italy
Japan
Laos
Malaysia
Mexico
The Netherlands
Norway
Singapore
Spain
Thailand
United States
The Holy See
Vietnam
