Is it more nuts to travel alone or not to travel at all?
How to plan a trip, from making your own bookings, to packing, to health advice.
Do you still remember how to travel? It’s been almost 16 months since the world was told to avoid “non-essential” travel, and probably longer since you booked your last flight and accommodation, bought travel insurance, made a list of what to see and do at your destination, packed your bags, and took off. And travelling post-COVID will likely introduce a few new challenges. Are you ready?
Continue reading “Travelling post-COVID: a 10-step checklist”
I bought my very first smartphone in May 2016! Nope, I’m not a millennial. Up until then, I was still travelling around the world with paper maps and phrasebooks! Now however, I find it hard to imagine not using my phone when I travel.
I decided to write this post for the older folks among us who are not always sure how to use their mobile phone − or “cell phone” for us North Americans − abroad, or even if they should bring it along. (If this makes you laugh or roll your eyes, then you probably are a millennial and may enjoy reading about how people kept in touch while travelling in the 90s!)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock these past couple of years, you’ve probably heard of overtourism and seen angry locals protesting against tourists in their city. What is that all about?
Overtourism is a relatively new travel buzzword. While it hasn’t yet made its way into the Merriam-Webster, its meaning is easy to guess. Overtourism occurs in places where there are “too many” tourists. How many is too many?
Continue reading “Overtourism: what, why, and 11 alternate destination ideas”
I’m a big fan of independent travel, but there are times when group travel makes sense. The main benefits of group tours are:
If you decide to go with a tour, the next step is to find the best group tour for what you want to do.
TourRadar is to group tours what Kayak or SkyScanner is to flights. In their own words, they’re the world’s most trusted online marketplace for multi-day tours, offering more than 1 million departures in over 200 countries.
What do you do when you’re looking to book group travel? Do you scour the websites of several of your favourite tour operators, scanning through long lists of offerings, switching back and forth between different browser windows or tabs while you try to figure out the best deal, itinerary, and dates? That’s pretty much what I used to do. But now you don’t need to; you can do everything in one place.
Continue reading “How to find the best group tour with TourRadar”
(Updated April 2020)
Not all solo travellers travel alone by choice. I’ve talked to enough people and received enough emails by now to realize that although a lot of people make the decision to travel solo at some point, most would still like company, at least some of the time.
Previously, I wrote about what to look for when trying to pick the right travel companion. Today I’ll talk about “where” you can go look for possible travel buddies. Don’t worry, you won’t even have to get up as all these places are accessible from your computer or smartphone.
Have you ever wished you could find a travel companion?
One of the reasons solo travellers enjoy going on their own is the freedom to do whatever they want, when they want, without having to worry about another person. However, there are times when even die-hard solos may want to travel with a friend.
Continue reading “5 things to look for in a travel companion”
I just got back from Los Angeles on a red-eye flight yesterday morning. Despite the fact that I was very tired when I arrived, it was a relatively short and painless flight (only 4 hours and 40 minutes gate to gate) and I had a free seat next to me to spread out a bit.
Long trans-oceanic flights are a different matter of course. Since the topic is currently fresh to my mind, I thought I’d give you a few of my air travel tips, followed by a colourful infographic at the end!
Unless I absolutely want to see the view upon take-off or landing (rarely that special), I try to get an aisle seat, preferably in the middle section. Flights over four hours are normally on wider planes with a middle section of seats. On a long flight, you’ll need to get out of your seat several times to go to the bathroom and an aisle seat in the middle section means that you won’t have to disturb anyone or get disturbed by your neighbour.
You also have more chances to have an empty seat next to you that way. Check the airplane seat map before picking your seat.
Be careful picking exit row seats, as they may not recline (in order not to block the emergency exit window). The bulkhead seats have more legroom but they appeal to people with babies. Enough said.
I don’t need to comment on the quality of airplane food (especially on North American carriers). What’s worse is that you’re often served food when you’re not hungry (and trying to sleep) and then starving at other times. For this reason, I always carry some snacks with me. Don’t take fruits or veggies as these will be confiscated at customs. Wrapped up treats like cereal bars are safer.
I also try to refill my water bottle at a water fountain after passing through Security so I’ll have water whenever I need it during the flight. It’s important to stay hydrated.
I stick to plain water or juice on the plane. The air gets very dry in the cabin and alcohol will dehydrate you even more. I’m no saint though, and have been known to grab one of those mini wine bottles with my meal when they’re complimentary! 🙂
Most people, me included, have trouble sleeping on planes. If I’m flying during my normal sleeping hours, I will manage to get several hours of interrupted sleep, which I guess is better than nothing.
Melatonin is a natural substance that will help you fall asleep, although its effects wear off the more you take it. You may also want to get some earplugs, or noise-cancelling headphones. The headphones also have the advantage of making movies a lot more pleasant to listen to, without having to crank up the volume to dangerous levels.
Wear comfortable clothes and keep a sweater or jacket around in case you get cold (which happens to me every time). Air Transat flights are notorious for cranking up the AC right after take-off in the hope that you’ll purchase one of their blankets. I just bring a scarf to wrap around my neck and face until I can complain.
I tried using a neck pillow a few times, but it never did much for me. It seems to keep my head propped forward when all I want is to recline as much as possible.
The two worse strains on your body in an airplane cabin are the cramped space and ultra-dry air.
Besides getting up every few hours to use the bathroom and stretch out a bit, I also do leg stretches and ankle rotations in my seat to avoid deep-vein thrombosis (blood clot in a deep vein due to long periods of immobility).
On a long flight, I also keep skin moisturizer handy. I think I’m going to start using eye drops as well because my eyes now get dry and itchy very quickly.
On a big plane full of people you can pretty much guarantee that somebody has a cold (or worse). Given the dubious quality of the air, I make sure to boost my immune system before take-off by getting plenty of rest and eating well. I also take Cold-FX, an immunity-booster which is popular here in Canada. Echinacea is a natural substance that also helps enhance the immune system. And of course I make sure I get plenty of sleep once at my destination.
Don’t forget to bring some reading material and/or puzzles (I love sudoku) if you know that the plane’s entertainment system won’t be enough to keep you, well, entertained. They’ll also come in handy during possible long waits at the gate.
You may also want to have a case, or at least a pouch, to put your glasses in while you nap. I always forget that one!
Fly well and fly far. 🙂
(Note: If you have other air travel tips, please add them in the comments.)
(You can also find more infographics at Visualistan)
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(Updated: July 2018)
If you were thinking of going to Latin America for a fall or winter vacation, and are now reconsidering because of the Zika virus, you’re not alone.
This map from the CDC shows Zika is present in almost every country of Central and South America, the whole Caribbean, and Mexico.
If you’ve read about Zika, you probably know that it’s transmitted by a mosquito that bites during both day and night, that many contaminated people don’t show symptoms and the rest display symptoms such as fever, a rash, and joint pain for up to a week, and that there is no treatment. You just wait for it to run its course.
Unless you’re a pregnant woman, it doesn’t sound too bad. Except it’s a virus and even the CDC admits that there is still a lot they don’t know about it. So, personally, I’d feel better not putting myself at risk of getting it. The good news/bad news is that now that’s it’s present in the US, the research to develop a vaccine will probably accelerate.
The other good news is that the Zika-carrying mosquitos are not typically found in locations at an altitude higher than 2000 meters (6,500 feet). And as luck would have it, many parts of Latin America are over this elevation.
If you’re still keen to travel in the region and are willing to trade your beach vacation for a mountain holiday (which I find more interesting personally), take a look at these five itineraries in Latin America without Zika.
Mexico City (also called the Distrito Federal or DF) is located at a cool 2240 metres above sea level. It used to be the city you flew into and then immediately left for somewhere less hectic, but Mexico’s capital is now enjoying a cultural renaissance with a great food scene and revamped public spaces. You could start your trip here, then take one of Mexico’s excellent inter-city bus to Puebla (2162 m), a colonial city with Spanish flair, known for its delicious chiles en nogada dish. The nearby towns of Cholula (2170 m) and Tlaxcala (2252 m), 10 and 30 kilometres away respectively, would make good day trips.
For something completely different, you could fly from Mexico City to San Cristobal de las Casas (2100 m) in Chiapas, a beautiful colonial town in a fertile valley surrounded by pine forests. Both traditional and cosmopolitan, San Cristobal’s population is almost entirely indigenous. Day trips to villages in the surrounding countryside, especially San Juan Chamula (2200 m) which is known for some unusual religious rituals, would round up the itinerary.
A large portion of Ecuador is located in the highlands, including some of its most popular towns and cities: Quito (2850 m), Cuenca (2560 m), and Otavalo (2560 m). You could start in Quito and take the bus north to Otavalo to check out one of the largest indigenous markets in the Andes, before going back to Quito.
To the south is Cuenca, one of the prettiest colonial cities in the Americas. Flights take less than an hour, while you’re looking at about 10 hours on the bus. Of course you can always stop in Riobamba (2750 m), or Baños, which is prettier and more interesting, but unfortunately located at only 1820 metres. Another option is to take the new luxury train, tren crucero, between Quito and Riobamba (Wednesdays only – Tuesdays in the opposite direction) then continue to Cuenca by bus.
Given Ecuador’s location right on the equator, temperatures are never freezing even at 3000 metres (although nights will be cool).
Peru is another country located in the Andes. Cuzco (3326 m), Machu Picchu (2430 m) and various towns of interest in the Sacred Valley (Pisac, Ollantaytambo) are all above 2000 metres and can easily occupy a week or more. You could then visit the town of Puno (3830 m) and Lake Titacaca (one of the highest navigable lakes in the world at 3820 m) with its interesting indigenous islands, clear air, and unique light.
Another option is the pleasant colonial town of Arequipa (much warmer at 2325 metres) and Colca Canyon which you can visit on an overnight trip to see the condors.
Keep in mind that altitude sickness is a real possibility above 2500 metres. Taking an aspirin a day starting a few days before your trip begins may help. You will also need warm clothes for the evenings. Spring and Fall are ideal seasons for the highlands of Peru.
Unless you’re coming from Bolivia, your trip will likely start in Lima which is near sea level. Be mindful of the mosquitoes while there.
Not only is Bolivia straddling the Andes, but it has the highest (de facto) capital city in the world, La Paz, at 3650 metres. The other sites on the classic Bolivia trail are also at altitude: the judicial capital Sucre (2810 m), Potosi and its silver mine (4090 m), and the famous Salar de Uyuni (3656 m), the world’s largest salt flats with its lakes of various colours, and wild reflections and perspective effects. You can organize a multi-night trip to the salar from the town of Uyuni.
Probably due to the barrier provided by the Andes, Chile is still reported free of active Zika transmission. Who knows how long this is going to last, but for now the whole country is fair game, no matter the altitude.
You could land in Santiago and travel south through the stunning Lake District and on to Patagonia. You could head north to La Serena and onward to the desert of Atacama. Or you could just chill around the capital Santiago, its seaside (Valparaiso, Viña del Mar), and the nearby wine region.
Check this CDC map again before making plans though.
If you need to travel below 2000 metres at any time during your trip (except in Chile), you should protect yourself against mosquitoes as you could still be bitten and contract Zika. Wear long sleeves and long pants and use mosquito repellent on exposed skin. (It’s gross I know.)
If you’re pregnant, I just wouldn’t risk travelling anywhere in Latin America right now. In addition, some doctors recommend that pregnant women do not spend the night at elevations above 3650 metres.
Also don’t forget that Zika can be transmitted sexually from an infected person, no matter what altitude you’re at!
(Note: The information in this post was accurate at the time of writing. You should still consult your travel doctor before travelling to Latin America.)
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The most stressful part of travel is the actual travel days. Don’t you agree? They seem to be the days with the most potential for screw-ups. Today I present seven situations you don’t want to find yourself into, and how you can avoid them. (Six of them could get you into trouble on the actual travel days). I’ve been the victim of a few of them myself, as you’ll see below.
Can you imagine showing up at the airport for your flight and realizing only then that your passport has expired?! This has happened to people (although not to me), and there is no way to recover from it other than re-booking your trip! In many cases, your passport also needs to remain valid for six months after you depart from the destination.
This means that a 5-year passport has, for all practical purposes, a validity of only 4.5 years. If your country offers them, get a 10-year passport so you don’t need to renew as often. And if you’re not sure, always check your passport’s expiry date before booking a flight.
You should purchase medical insurance for every trip you take outside of your country (or even outside of your home province if you live in Canada). If you have to be hospitalized abroad, it could cost you a small fortune. If you get injured in a remote area and have to be evacuated by helicopter or small plane, that could ruin you. Even getting shots after a dog bite could cost over $1000!
Unlike cancellation insurance, which you need to buy when you book your transportation, you can wait to buy medical insurance, but it has to be purchased while you’re still at home.
I’ve you booked a room through AirBnB or Booking.com (or similar online reservation system) you’re covered. However, if you’ve booked directly with a small hotel, hostel, or guesthouse, especially if you haven’t made a deposit, it’s a good idea to reconfirm a couple of days in advance.
On my first trip to Buenos Aires, I found a great hostel and made several separate bookings since I was using it as a base between excursions to various parts of the country. On one of these occasions, I arrived at the front desk to discover that they had given my room to somebody else because I had failed to reconfirm a few days in advance. And that was after I had stayed there and even stored a bag with them! Apparently lots of people booked their rooms and failed to show up.
Another time, I booked a room in Yangon (Myanmar) through email a couple of months in advance. When I emailed them again the day before to remind them of my arrival, they couldn’t find my reservation. Fortunately they eventually found me a room, but if I hadn’t checked, it would have been quite a scramble when I arrived around midnight.
Make sure you know what the local time is when you arrive in a new destination. Going from Delhi to Kathmandu, I had assumed the timezone was the same but half-a-day elapsed before I realized that I had to set my watch forward by half an hour. (It’s not always one hour increments.)
This is especially important if you’re changing planes somewhere, or have to meet someone (or get picked up) soon after you arrive.
Given the number of electronic devices the average traveller carries nowadays, having the right electrical adapters, and enough of them, is increasingly vital. Most people travel with at least a phone and a digital camera, and perhaps a tablet or laptop. Chargers for these are usually dual-voltage but you still need to get the right adapters to plug them into the electrical outlets at your destination.
Bringing a single adapter for each region (like I’ve been doing all these years) is not sufficient anymore. You may need to recharge several devices simultaneously. Make sure you can plug all of your gizmos into the adapters themselves. On my last trip, I carried a small hairdryer uselessly for an entire month because it had a fat pin that didn’t fit into the adapter I had brought.
Lastly, don’t forget said adapters into electrical sockets when you leave your accommodation! Finding yourself unable to recharge your phone or camera could be bad news.
One idea to get around all of these pitfalls is to carry a small power bar that lets you plug everything at once, only using one adapter to plug the bar into the wall. I intend to try this on my next trip.
Quite often, after you go through customs in a foreign country, you’ll be left with a small slip of paper in your passport. That’s your exit card. You’ll need it to exit the country so make sure you don’t lose it or misplace it, especially on a long trip. The Galapagos National Park also gives you a small piece of paper (in addition to your ticket) that you have to present upon exiting the Galapagos.
Once I crossed from Argentina into Uruguay by ferry, and the exit card was actually attached to my ferry ticket. After the trip I discarded the ticket stub, not noticing the exit card. As a result, when I tried to leave the country, I couldn’t produce the card, resulting in a fee (something like US$35 if I recall) and quite a bit of anxiety.
As a rule of thumb, I’d say keep all pieces of paper they give you at official entry points, whether countries, national parks, or others.
I think most travellers have figured this one out by now. Due to the pressure change in the cargo hold during flight, plastic bottles containing liquids are likely to leak, creating a huge mess in your suitcase. The solution of course is to place them in a plastic bag, preferably a sealed zip-lock bag. I’ll even go as far as wrapping bottles separately so I won’t get sunscreen on my shampoo and vice-versa.
Have you had one of these mishaps happen to you? What other travel screw-ups have you experienced?
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Has the following ever happened to you: you finally get to one of your dream destinations only to find it swamped with other travellers? You have to jostle for space and all your photos are full of strangers obscuring the sights you’ve waited so long to see? Well, you’re not alone. It happens to the best of us.
Ten years or more can go by between the time a destination makes it to my “dream list” and the time I finally make it there. A place which was off-the-beaten-path ten years ago could easily be a “top destination” now. Angkor Wat in Cambodia is a good example.
So how do you go about finding the off-the-beaten-path spots that are known only to locals and a handful of travellers? Below are five ideas on how to start finding your own secret places. Just make sure you don’t wait too long to visit!
Bloggers are way ahead of the curve when it comes to emerging destinations. By the time the mainstream media (TV, newspapers, glossy magazines) start gushing about a “new” destination, tour buses have already invaded the place. Bloggers are usually writing about locales they have just visited or where they’ve settled down, so you get up-to-date information instead of relying on dated information from guidebooks. As well, bloggers are independent and often long-term travellers, so they tend to stray off the beaten path.
There are thousands of travel blogs online. You can use Google, or just start following a few that interest you on Twitter, and the platform will soon suggest more. Follow them on Facebook and Pinterest too, where it’s often easier to see the places they’re talking about. Once you have a few favourites, subscribe to their RSS feed or their newsletter. (Hopefully BigTravelNut will be one of those – I’ll be writing more about off-the-beaten path destinations in the months to come.)
In 2010 I travelled to Colombia after reading several posts by bloggers (including solo females) who were raving about it. It wasn’t in the mainstream media yet, and sure enough I didn’t see a single foreign tour bus. Same story with Croatia where I went in 2006, and Nicaragua in 2003 (although in the last two cases my information came from paper newsletters since blogs were not yet widespread). Even though these three countries have now gained popularity, you can certainly still find spots within them that aren’t well known. Romania got on my radar last year. Romania is all over the blogosphere at the moment!
Of course, the best source of information about “secret places” once you’ve landed in a new country are the locals themselves. Whenever you find yourself chatting to a local person, ask her for her favourite spots to visit nearby, or even her favourite restaurants and cafes. Or ask your AirBnB host.
For a more immersive experience, you can participate in volunteer programs such as Workaway, WWOOF, or the Help Exchange. You’re sure to discover many new places that are not crawling with tourists and be able to enjoy them like a local while spending very little money.
If you find volunteering too rugged, house-sitting is also a great way to find out-of-the-way places. If you like having space to spread out and pet company, this could be for you. I’ve been house-sitting for almost three years through TrustedHousesitters. Although some assignments are in popular places like New York, London, and Sydney (with the competition to match), many are in rural areas or small towns with no or little tourism.
Through house-sitting I’ve discovered places such as Wolfville, Nova Scotia (Canada), Herentals (Belgium), Bunbury and Tamborine Mountain (both in Australia), and Manfredonia (Italy). I didn’t have to fight my way through tour groups and line-ups in any of these places and they were all rather pleasant.
As a bonus, homeowners you’re house-sitting for are themselves locals and they’ll be able to give you tips about their favourite spots.
I just discovered this site recently. Atlas Obscura bills itself as the “definitive guide to the world wondrous and curious places”. It’s a collaborative project whose aim is to discover amazing hidden spots and share them with the world.
Okay, some of these curiosities are located in well-trodden cities (Rio de Janeiro anyone?) but there are still plenty of discoveries to be made browsing around the site and it may give you ideas on where to visit next. If you prefer your oddities presented in well-categorized pin boards, they also have a Pinterest site.
If you’re already in a location but are looking for new restaurants, coffee shops, fun things to do, nightlife or shopping, check out foursquare.com. I just tried it and discovered a high rated coffee shop in my neighbourhood that I had never heard of!
Besides activity categories, you can also select Top Picks or Trending to see what’s hot at the moment. Since a lot of locals use foursquare, you’ll be able to find great places that are not in the guidebooks.
(Note: this post contains an affiliate link.)
Any more ideas to find secret places? Let me know in the comments.
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Solo Travel Over 40 
