Travel Destinations
“You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.”
Ernest Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises
One of the most difficult decisions to make when deciding to travel, is also probably the most important: choosing where to travel to. Below is a collection of various travel guides to different destinations spanning from Latin America to East Asia. Check back frequently, as we’re always adding more. Or better yet, sign up for the mailing list!
Keep in mind wherever you travel that we have a certain responsibility as tourists. Especially as tourists from rich countries visiting poor or developing countries. Many of these countries have suffered for decades at the hands of our governments and corporations. The least we can do is be respectful when we visit these amazing places. The people in these countries have welcomed us, we should behave as grateful guests. Be mindful of local customs, be prepared to pay a little extra sometimes and remember that most people really want you to have a good time in their country!
Central America
South America
Asia
The Latest Travel Posts from Various Destinations…
- Responsible Travel in Central America: Decolonize Your Vacation
It’s difficult to be an ethical person. So difficult, they made an entire TV show about the very subject. Even just trying to travel ethically can feel like navigating a minefield of class, history, geopolitics, and culture. That’s why I’m writing this guide to responsible travel in Central America. I won’t pretend that my guide is perfect. I won’t even pretend that this guide will somehow get you into heaven or whatever other virtuous afterlife you believe in. None of us can be perfect, but it’s still important to try our best. Unfortunately, I’ve seen far too many other tourists… Read more: Responsible Travel in Central America: Decolonize Your Vacation - Is Central America Safe for Tourists? A Numbers-Based Travel Safety GuideWhen we told our friends and family that we were planning a six-month backpacking trip through Central America, most of them thought we were crazy. They swore we were going to get murdered by the cartels, or worse. In the U.S. media, and in some people’s minds, the region has become synonymous with crime and gangs. Were we crazy? Is Central America safe for tourists? Obviously, I don’t want to undercut the very real security issues Central Americans face on a daily basis. The region’s homicide rate is three times the global average, and half of those homicides are connected… Read more: Is Central America Safe for Tourists? A Numbers-Based Travel Safety Guide
- What to Pack for Central America: The Joy of Traveling with LessSometimes you watch old movies about travel and see people getting on a train or something with a mountain of bags and suitcases. These people have obviously never had to flag down a chicken bus on the side of the road. That’s something important to consider when deciding what to pack for Central America. When I was on my recent six-month backpacking trip from Guatemala to Panama, I learned how few material possessions I actually need. It was an almost Zen-like epiphany. If you can’t fit it into a 40-liter or smaller carry-on size backpack, then it’s probably not all… Read more: What to Pack for Central America: The Joy of Traveling with Less
- Central America Travel Budget: How to Travel Cheap Without Selling Yourself ShortComing up with a Central America travel budget doesn’t require piles of spreadsheets and a certified accountant, but the subject does deserve a little consideration. Most travel blogs will just tell you backpacking Central America is dirt cheap. After traveling for six months in the region, I’ve found the reality to be much more complicated. To be sure, few travel destinations offer as much bang for your buck as Central America. The countries of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama have a wealth of natural beauty, rich culture and historical significance you can explore without having to… Read more: Central America Travel Budget: How to Travel Cheap Without Selling Yourself Short
- Backpacking Central America — The Complete Guatemala to Panama Route Guide from the Back of a BusBackpacking Central America is a potentially life changing experience. The region is beautiful, with dramatic volcanoes, gorgeous beaches and dense jungles to explore. The people are usually friendly and happy to share their culture with visitors. Of course, traveling in Central America is not always easy. The region has long been plagued by social and political issues like endemic crime, corruption, and poverty. It has a long, turbulent history overshadowed by its North American neighbor. What I found most astounding about Central America, though, is how the people have not only survived, but persevered. Central America is a lesson in… Read more: Backpacking Central America — The Complete Guatemala to Panama Route Guide from the Back of a Bus
- What Traveling in Latin America Taught Me About ImmigrationThis winter, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers invaded my home city of Minneapolis in one of the largest ever immigration raids in United States history. Two people were killed and thousands of others abducted from their homes, cars, schools and work places. Maybe you read about it. I’ve always been pro-immigration. I’m the grandchild of immigrants myself, so how could I not be? The recent immigration crackdown in my city, though, has led me to start thinking a lot more about this issue. I’ve also been thinking of how it relates to tourism, especially in the context of my recent… Read more: What Traveling in Latin America Taught Me About Immigration
