Planning your first big trip? Advice and humor to get you through the process.
How To
Squat Toilets
Squat toilets range from gleaming porcelain models in international airports to holes in the floor that empty into a pig sty on the ground below. Some have toilet paper, others an old magazine, and others no visible means of wiping. more
Travel Writing
Mystery Itching
On a recent visit to Athens, one reader suffered a case of the invisible creepy crawlies. What causes such a thing? Our tropical disease expert, Dr. Kvit Kvetchin, responds. more
Food Phobia
I approach a booth offering Chinese food and look through a smeary, Plexiglas window. Today's special is a vegetable and meat dish drowning in a dark goo that resembles brake fluid. more
Too Much Info
We visit a local store specializing in outdoor gear and receive a little too much information from the salesman -- namely his favorite activity on a recent trip to Thailand. more
- How to Avoid the Top International Travel Scams. more - New scam in Thailand: Jet ski rentals. more - Get Best Seats on the Plane. more
- Eat Dried Cherries to Fight Jet Lag. more
More News: - Tips for using a cell phone abroad. more - Top international nude events, beaches. more - How to have a rotten time in Athens. more
How To
Solo Travel Tips
A
friend was recently planning a trip to Southeast Asia and his travel
partner bailed. Then a second partner started to waffle. I suggested he
skip the nonsense and take the trip himself. But traveling solo can be
a scary proposition. Here's a look at the pros and how to deal with the
cons. more
On a recent trip, a woman joked that she could wear her G-string underwear six days in a row. Each day, she could rotate the underwear so as to be covered by a different of one the garment's three corners. more
How To
Extreme Fear and Fun
I wake at 8:00 a.m. and my stomach is churning like a blender filled with
margaritas. I am in Storms River, South Africa, and about to go bungee jumping
for the first time. The jump site will be the Bloukrans Bridge, which
is about 710 feet high. more
How To
Pick Great Destinations
Finding great vacation spots is not as easy as it sounds. You've got a big world to chose from and limited time and money. Whether you're looking for extreme sports, breath-taking views, or wild festivals we can help find your way. more
If you're planning a long trip in today's economy, chances are you've got less room for error than you used to. Returning home with big surprises on your credit card isn't an option anymore. more
Friends and Affiliates
Bradley Owen Smith has written a book on how to retire in Costa Rica for less than $1000 a month. Considering the state of things in the U.S. right now, the concept of moving to an inexpensive tropical paradise sounds intriguing. Check out his book, Cost Rica: Banking and Real Estate.
Bill Snyder, who recently returned from an extended trip to Vietnam, is a contributing writer and columnist for a variety of national publications. His work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, BusinessWeek, and PC World.
Steve Bass, a former contributing editor for PC World magazine, is now publishing his own newsletter called Techbite. Each Wednesday he sends out all the stuff he's know for--technology, tips and insider tricks, industry insights, product reviews, Bass rants, and of course, time wasters.
James A. Martin is a syndicated columnist and author of Traveler 2.0, a Web site that offers technology news, views, and reviews. He also writes the Mobile Computing newsletter for PCWorld.com.
Marc SonginiAuthor of The Lost Fleet: A Yankee Whaler's Struggle Against the Confederate Navy and Arctic Disaster.
Travel Writing for Sale: "The Loneliest Planet"
After taking a four-month trip around the world, I can now say in three languages: "Do you speak English?" "How much is the Pepto-Bismol?" and "Excuse me, is this the evacuation helicopter?" Here's my story (sort of).
Free Stuff
Digital Tools
- International tipping guide. more - Currency calculator. more - Photos of currencies. more - U.S. travel clinics. more - Trip expense estimator. more - International Wi-Fi finder. more - Password-protect a USB drive. more - Dialing, currency database. more - Convert metric to U.S. more - Common overseas scams. more - Best Technology for travelers. more
Airfare Estimators
Use these sites to develop a ballpark figure for your multi-stop international flight. Then contact your travel agent and negotiate with confidence. - airtreks - oneworld
Around the World Blog
Four Months, Eight Countries
On a recent solo trip around the world, the author visited at least one country on every continent. The plane tickets alone cost $5600. Was it worth it? more
Bungy Jumping
These videos show our beloved editor jumping in New Zealand. In the first video, he plummets from a cable car that is suspended 478 feet over a gorge. In the second video, he tests the latest fad -- the 360-foot Canyon Swing. The companies claim you fall at speeds of up to 90 mph.
