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Investing in the Right Tech RTW Gear

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

We talked recently about when it’s important to buy high quality RTW gear for your trip instead of solely hunting for whatever’s on sale, and this time we’re going to talk about another gear-related topic that might involve forking over more cash than you would otherwise like. But even if you’re not what others might call a “flashpacker,” you might still want to bring along a little tech gadget or two – and those don’t typically come cheap.

Bringing an iPod on a trip has been de rigeur for years now (although some of us are old enough to remember toting a Walkman overseas many moons ago), but these days more RTW travelers are utilizing the multi-tool aspect of the iPhone on their trips, turning it into a phone that also navigates, translates, organizes, blogs, and – who knows – maybe by the time you read this it makes coffee and packs your bags for you, too. There are more travel iPhone apps than it’s possible to keep track of, and as the iPhone continues to evolve into a more and more useful travel tool it won’t be surprising to see it on every must-have RTW gear list.

If your RTW plans involve lots of blogging or at least computer work that you’d prefer not to do on a little touchscreen, then you essentially have three alternatives. Either you plan to bring an iPad, you plan to bring a netbook, or you plan to spend a lot of time in internet cafes. Assuming you’re not in the latter category (because that’s not really gear-related, after all), then the main decision will be whether to go iPad or netbook.

With the iPad, you have one decision to make, so if that’s your choice then get thee to an Apple store and hope they’re in stock. With netbooks, there’s so much variety nowadays that you’ll need to do a bit more research on the best netbooks for traveling before you make a purchase. There are different factors to take into consideration, so read about the benefits and drawbacks of the various models to see which one suits your needs best.

And after you’re done with that research, go on to some other aspect of trip planning that’s a little more fun for a break. Look up the best beaches in Spain, figure out when it’s shoulder season around the world, hunt for flights to Nepal, plan road trips through France, learn where to surf in Bali, or what those Italian gelato flavors mean.

Just remember that if you’re properly equipped with tech gadgetry when you leave home, you can look up all that stuff while you’re on the road, too.

photo by scriptingnews

Tags: technology, travel gear
Posted in Featured | No Comments »

Investing in High Quality RTW Trip Gear

Saturday, August 14th, 2010

After questions about what RTW itinerary is best, the next most frequently-asked questions on most message boards about long-term travel have to do with gear. If you’re on a round-the-world trip, chances are good that you’re trying to travel as minimally as possible, so bringing lots of cool gadgets isn’t practical. As great as they might be, they’ll just add to the amount of stuff you’re carrying. It makes sense, then, to be concerned about whether you’ve got the right round the world trip gear.

Perhaps the most important gear decision you can make – whether you’re on a RTW trip or any length of backpacking adventure – involves the pack you get. It’s not uncommon to feel a little bit of sticker shock when you start looking at the best travel packs out there – they’re definitely an investment. You know that saying about how you get what you pay for? In some cases it’s not true, and a bargain find can be an excellent option. But when it comes to what you’re going to carry all your belongings around in for a long period of time, the investment is worth it. Absolutely hunt down deals on the best packs if you can find a sale or have an REI dividend burning a hole in your pocket, but don’t skimp on a lesser-quality pack.

Even if you don’t consider yourself a “flashpacker” or plan on bringing lots of tech gadgets with you, you’re probably going to bring along a camera of some kind to record your trip, right? Camera gear isn’t completely at the opposite end of the spectrum from backpacks, in that you do still need to invest a little bit of money to get something that’s good quality, but you don’t have to buy huge professional-grade DSLRs to take amazing travel photos. So many of the compact point-and-shoot digital cameras are of high enough quality that they’ll take exceptional shots – so long as the photographer has a good eye!

What do you think is the most important piece of RTW travel gear you can invest in before a trip?

photo by obscure allusion

Tags: travel gear
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Best iPhone Apps for RTW Travel

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

Once upon a time, long-term travelers were the people who abandoned the trappings of everyday life to see the world. These days, you’ll just as often find round-the-world travelers who prefer to bring some conveniences of everyday life with them on the road. They’re not opposed to letting technology assist them in their travels, which is why the iPhone has become so popular with travelers.

All of the “there’s an app for that” commercials might drive you bonkers, but the premise of those ads is kind of true – and getting more true every day. There are apps for just about every purpose you could imagine (along with thousands you couldn’t and wouldn’t want to), including plenty that are really handy for travelers. Some of them are location-dependent, but there are also loads of great iPhone apps for round-the-world travel – apps that are flexible enough to grow with your itinerary.

This list of iPhone apps for RTW travel isn’t exhaustive, so if your favorite travel app that’s ideal for long-term travelers isn’t listed please let me know in the comments!

Best iPhone Apps for RTW Travel

Frommers Travel Tools
FREE
One app to rule them all… Okay, not quite, but it does combine several different handy travel apps into one, which saves memory space on your iPhone and helps keep your screen uncluttered. You’ll get a currency/measurement/distance/etc. converter, time translator, tip calculator, customizable packing list, fun travel trivia, links to Frommer’s city guide apps you can buy, and even a flashlight – all in one app.

Trip Journal
on sale for $0.99 (normally $2.99)
This app includes all kinds of tools to easily record and share elements of your trip with whoever you like – geo-tagging photos, video, and trip notes and then allowing you to share things via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and more. Plus, the app looks all old-school journal-y, too.

City Maps 2 Go
$1.99
There are a zillion map apps (say that without thinking “grape ape” and you’re a stronger – or younger – person than I am), but rather than downloading a new one every time you move on to a different city, this app lets you constantly download new cities within one app – and the additional map downloads are free. Plus, while you can the GPS capability of the iPhone for these maps, you’re not incurring roaming charges because the maps are downloaded onto your phone.

Babelingo
$1.99
Translation apps are great, but if you’re going to lots of different countries it might be better to get one app that has a few common phrases in lots of languages instead of downloading an app for every single language you’ll encounter. Babelingo has 11 languages with 300 words and phrases. If you’ll be immersed in one language for awhile, then you can augment your app library with a translator or dictionary for that language specifically.

ICOON Global Picture Dictionary
$0.99
Is the language you need not included in Babelingo? Maybe the words you’re looking for aren’t common enough phrases? Then be sure you’ve got this picture dictionary on hand as well. There are several categories covered in this app, and the most useful ones might be “health,” “hygiene,” and “authorities.” You don’t want to count on your command of the local language in an emergency.

World Customs & Cultures
FREE
Don’t get caught nodding for yes when nodding actually means no. Don’t reach out to shake someone’s hand when touching is considered rude. This app covers all kinds of cultural tips and social norms for 165 countries around the world. It’s a must-have app for anyone who wants to leave a good impression in their wake (which is a good plan).

The World Factbook
$0.99
This app includes some basic information about 250+ countries, including major industries, type of government, geography, religion, languages, etc. The database is updated regularly for free, so you’ll always have the most recent information at your fingertips.

HearPlanet: Audio Guide to the World
$4.99
This does require a cell data or network connection to work, but if you’re in a place where you’re connected then it’s handy. Using the phone’s GPS locator, this app knows what attractions you’re close to and pulls up the Wikipedia entry for that place. Even better? It then reads the entry to you.

IAmHere
$0.99
For anyone who set up a round the world blog for the sole purpose of letting your mother know where you are and that you got there safely, there’s IAmHere. Push one button and it’ll send an email to someone with your exact location (accurate to within 150 meters) on a Google map.

Super Twiddler
$4.99
Spin the wheels on this app to tell it much time you have to spend and what mood you’re in, and it’ll come up with activities near you that fit your parameters. Unfortunately it’s only available for 27 US cities, although they’re apparently working on more.

Whizzer
$0.99
Restroom locator with almost a million restrooms around the world in its database; it includes information on bathroom amenities, too, like whether they’re free to the public, open 24 hours, have baby changing stations, or have a place to buy feminine products.

Traverter
$2.99
Traveling shoppers may want to download this app in addition to the Frommer’s app, even though the latter has a good all-purpose converter in it. What Frommer’s doesn’t have is a clothing size converter – but Traverter does (along with a few other conversions). This app also includes a directory of international area codes.

Skype
FREE
Skype is the international traveler’s best friend, and you can take it with you on your iPhone. Call anyone on Skype via a WiFi connection on your phone without incurring huge roaming fees. You can also call non-Skype numbers (land lines and cell phones) for pennies per minute if you’ve got money in your Skype account.

Kayak
FREE
It’s everything you love about Kayak’s site – in an iPhone app. Search for airfare, hotels, and other travel necessities right from your iPhone. There’s a paid version ($1.99) that includes First Class & Business Class fares in its searches (the free app doesn’t).

TripIt
FREE
Forward all your trip emails to TripIt, and it tracks everything – flights, hotels, car rentals, everything. It’s one way to keep from going insane when your travel plans alone start to take on novel-length proportions.

Weather Channel
FREE
If you’re on a long trip and you only brought what you can carry, you might not care as much what the weather will be like where you’re headed – you packed what you packed, and your clothing has to suffice in whatever weather you encounter. But having this app will at least let you know how many layers you’ll need to pull out of your pack that day, or whether you might be springing for an umbrella in your next destination.

And since the iPhone’s camera isn’t exactly the best in the world, this list of great iPhone apps for travel photography on World Hum is worth perusing before you set off.

photos, top to bottom: CarbonNYC, cloneofsnake

Tags: iphone, technology, travel gear
Posted in Featured | 7 Comments »

Cheap Multi-Stop Flights

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Planning an [almost] around the world trip?  Sometimes when you’re not going all the way around the world a multi-city flight (often called a multi-stop or open jaw if you’re traveling overland too) can be a cheaper option. For example, if you’re flying from Los Angeles to Hawaii to Australia and back to Los Angeles, a multi-stop flight could be your best bet.

How to find the cheapest multi-stop flights:

1. Plan your RTW itinerary to get a baseline price quote. Check out the latest round the world travel deals for sample itineraries and prices.
2. Know your regions – a multi-stop flight from LA to a few major cities in South America could be comparable to an RTW ticket.
3. Limit your flights – most multi-stop flight searches only give you 5-6 stops on one booking.
4. Fly through major transportation hubs: LAX, NYC, LON, LIM etc
5. Plan everything out. The great thing about RTW tickets is that you usually have a fair amount of flexibility to make date and itinerary changes. Don’t expect to be allowed any changes to a standard multi-stop flight.
6. Plan a shorter trip. Another reason RTW tickets are so popular is that you can travel for up to one year (the best choice for round the world travelers who don’t know exactly where they’ll be in six months). So if you book a multi-stop flight, try to keep it under 3 months.
7. Don’t forget to compare one-way flights on low-cost carriers like Jet Blue and AirTran.

Build your own multi-stop flight:

Expedia multi-stop flights (5 stops maximum)
Kayak multi-city search (6 stops maximum)
britishairways.com (6 stops maximum)

Bottomline:

Multi-city flights can be a deal for shorter, across (instead of around) the world trips with only one to two extra stops added in. Warning: the multi-city flight search can get very time-intensive with so many options available.

(photo: melloveschallah)

Tags: deals, flights, rtw, rtw tickets
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Best Around the World Tickets: A Comparison

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

What is the best RTW ticket? While our most popular RTW ticket, via the Round the World Trip Planner, is the most flexible and budget-friendly ticket out there, it’s not the best option for every trip. Depending on your location, budget, and destination, for some RTW trips, it makes sense to use different RTW tickets, only one airline, a regional provider, or even some combination of overland travel and one-way flights. Here’s a comparison of all your RTW flight options.

Recommended Provider: BootsnAll airtreks

Best for: RTW trips beginning in the US or Canada
Booking: online with the RTW Trip Planner or call 1-866-549-7614
Maximum stops: unlimited
Airlines included: any
Valid for: 12 months from issue date
Maximum flight mileage: unlimited
Required stops: no
Fine print/exclusions: This is our recommended RTW ticket for a reason — low on fine print. Travel starting in US or Canada.
Bonus: You can backtrack (most providers require you to continue moving east or west). You can skip cities in most routings. Business class airfare also available.

One World Explorer

Best for:First-class RTW travel
Book: online at oneworld.com
Maximum stops: 5-15
Airlines included: American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malev Hungarian, Mexicana, Qantas, Royal Jordinian.
Valid for: 12 months from first flight
Maximum flight mileage: tiered (based on continents visited)
Required stops: no
Fine print/exclusions: Pricing is based on number of continents visited and class of travel.
Bonus: Business and first class RTW tickets available.

Star Alliance

Best for: flight-heavy RTW trips
Book: online at staralliance.com
Maximum stops: 15
Airlines included: Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, Brussels Airlines, Continental Airlines, EGYPTAIR, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS, TAP Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, United, US Airways, Adria Airways, Blue 1 and Croatia Airlines.
Valid for: 12 months from first flight
Maximum flight mileage: 26,000 – 39,000
Required stops: no
Fine print/exclusions: Trip has to start and end in the same country. Travel must follow east or west direction (no backtracking). Atlantic and Pacific oceans must each be crossed exactly once. Routing changes $125 fee.
Bonus: Business and first class RTW tickets available.

Air New Zealand RTW

Best for: limited-stop UK/USA/Australia/New Zealand itineraries
Book: online at Air New Zealand
Maximum stops: 7
Airlines included: Air New Zealand (partner airlines: Lufthansa, United Airlines, Swiss International, Austrian Airlines, Air Pacific or Air Tahiti Nu)
Valid for: 12 months from first flight
Maximum flight mileage: unlimited
Required stops: Australia or New Zealand
Fine print/exclusions: limited stopover points, including 3 in Asia, 3 USA, 5 Pacific Islands.
Bonus: Business and first class RTW tickets available.

The Great Escapade

Best for: only RTWs leaving from London or Manchester
Book: online at Great Escapade
Maximum stops: unlimited
Airlines included: Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic
Valid for: 12 months from first flight
Maximum flight mileage: 29,000
Required stops: Australia or New Zealand (and required to cross the Atlantic or Pacific)
Fine print/exclusions: you can only stop in each city once and limited stopover points.

Build your own Multi-stop flight:

Expedia multi-stop flights (5 stops maximum)
Kayak multi-city search (6 stops maximum)
britishairways.com (6 stops maximum)

Other RTW transportation options:

Train: Eurail in Europe
Overland travel: most adventure tours include overland travel (like the Trans-Siberian Railway from St Petersburg, Russia to Beijing, China) and most regional flights.
Low-cost airlines: in Europe Skyscanner.net

(photo: alex-s)

Tags: deals, rtw, rtw tickets
Posted in Featured | 3 Comments »

Cheapest airports in Asia

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

When planning a round the world trip, putting your itinerary together usually seems quite easy, at least as far as the longer flights are concerned. You’ll fly from New York to London or from Los Angeles to Sydney or from Cape Town to Rio, as these options are generally known to be the cheapest to connect one big region to another. But things can be more difficult to plan your entry to Asia because the scene there can be confusing and can change regularly.

So with that in mind I’ve done the research for you. Of course the lists below could potentially change a bit over time, but at least this will give you a place to start your research. I spent a long time going over databases and using various tools that I could find on the internet, and some of the results were a bit surprising, though others were exactly what I expected beforehand.

Cheapest airports in Asia for long distance flights

The list below represents the six cheapest airports in EAST Asia, since everyone will go through this region at least once. I didn’t include India on this list since it’s not too easy to get around overland from India. Most people fly into India and then fly out of India. And besides, the prices for flights coming from Europe into East Asia should correspond with flights coming from India, so you can use that list as a place to begin.
(more…)

Tags: Airports, asia, flights
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RTW in the USA: West Coast edition

Monday, September 21st, 2009

This is the 4^th and final installment in my series concentrating on places in the continental United States that RTW travelers should consider. Even though I violated some naming rules in the process, I divided the country into 4 vertical slices, so you can catch up with my East Coast, Midwest, and Great Plains editions if you like.

Once again, the idea behind this series is that the USA is a monstrous place and visiting anything approaching it “all” would take a lifetime and also be really boring. So in that spirit I’ve identified places around the country that are different enough from other things you’ll see so you can determine if they work into your trip or not. Just like any other country on the planet, the US has plenty of cities that are great to live in or even great to visit if you’ve got a reason to go, but that just aren’t different enough from one another to justify the trip for most people.

West Coast cities to consider

Seattle, Washington – It’s been a while since Kurt Cobain and a few other musicians helped put Seattle on the global culture map, and that phenomenon has faded a bit in the last few years. Still, Seattle has plenty going on and it’s somewhat unique, at least if you aren’t also visiting Vancouver, BC or Portland, Oregon. It’s also fairly cheap compared to the California cities, which is another plus. If you go between November and April then you should expect cool and drizzly weather, but it’s not really as bad as many say it is. If you are looking for something to explore between California and Canada, this has got to be on your list.

Portland, Oregon – To me this is a perfect example of a nice city with a great quality of life that is also cheap, but honestly there isn’t anything here (it’s where I live now) to really distinguish the place. There are no tourist attractions at all, unless you count the huge and awesome Powell’s City of Books. It’s like a smaller and less chaotic version of Seattle, with cheaper beer, so it’s a fine stop if you are taking a car or the train up or down the coast, but don’t get your expectations too high.

The coast of Oregon – If you have rented a car and are driving up or down the coast, this is an excellent detour. The scenery is similar to most of California, but it’s almost empty by California standards, so finding cheap camping or a cheap hotel in summer is relatively easy. The whole area feels a bit forgotten by most US standards, so it has a slightly eerie feeling to go along with the natural beauty. Driving up and down the coast of Southern California is like being in a parade, so if you have the choice this is better.

San Francisco – Everyone always says, “San Francisco is America’s most European city” so naturally Europeans would want to go there, right? Everyone should definitely try their best to work San Francisco into their itinerary, but don’t expect to be reminded of Europe. There are homeless people panhandling everywhere, for example. This is a very interesting and unique city with plenty to see and do, but unless you are staying in a tourist district you’ll find the public transportation sucks and things are still weirdly spread out. It’s also a beautiful city, mostly because of the flowing hills in each direction, so make this a stop and try to stay somewhere central if you can. You won’t regret it.

The California coast – If you are driving between Los Angeles and San Francisco, then you have a few choices, and one of those is doing much of the trip on Highway 1 along the coast. During summer you can expect terrible traffic, and every hotel or motel you’ll see will be really expensive, but it is quite scenic so it can be worthwhile for some people. There are a few interesting cities along the way, plus the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, but if your time is limited you could skip this whole thing.

Santa Barbara – This isn’t an obvious choice at all, since Santa Barbara is known as the home and playground of the idle rich, but it’s actually a very cool city to spend a day or two in. The downtown area (on State Street) is unique and old school by California standards, and everything is walking distance, including a huge selection of bars that attract university students as well as locals. There are a few cheap hotels and hostels downtown, and if you can stay in one of those for a day or two you will probably love it.

Los Angeles – This is where I grew up, and I still have a love/hate relationship with the place, but even when describing the parts of it I hate I still contend that this is one of the world’s great cities and you have to visit at least once, at least for a few days, or you have no right to criticize the place. Hollywood sucks and isn’t nearly as fun as it should be, but if you are into entertainment at all you should probably check it out anyway. Downtown is getting better but still doesn’t have much to see unless you are really interested in some extreme ethnic neighborhoods.

Santa Monica and Venice Beach are probably the best places to stay and hang out, and you might think about the South Bay (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach) if you aren’t in too much of a hurry, since those areas are really nice yet don’t have too many tourists to worry about. Orange County doesn’t offer much that is special, though a drive along the beach in Huntington and Newport is worth a few hours at least once in your life.

Try to spend at least 3 nights here, and also think about basing yourself in more than one place during your stay. This city is so spread out that it’s impossible to deal with or understand if you try to see it in a day or two just to say you have.

San Diego – I put San Diego in the same category that I do Portland, Oregon, in that it’s a nice place to live but there aren’t many unique things to see. It’s all exactly like Los Angeles and Orange Counties, but with fewer hyper-aggressive people. If you just want to chill by a decent beach for a few days then San Diego is probably better than Los Angeles, but it’s all pretty forgettable if I’m being honest. Taking a day trip down into Tijuana is a must though, as it’s unlike anything you are likely to see anywhere else in the world, including other parts of Mexico itself.

Tags: itineraries, rtw, USA
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RTW in the USA: Great Plains edition

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

This is Part 3 in a series of 4 articles that give recommendations for places in the United States that those on a RTW trip might consider visiting. The “Great Plains” has a specific definition that I’m mostly ignoring here, by the way. I’m dividing up the US mainland in 4 parts, and this article covers the western half of the country, except for the West Coast, which will be covered in Part 4.

In case you want to follow along, you can see the RTW in the USA: East Coast one and the Midwest edition in order to catch up.

Once again, here’s the premise: Everyone knows that the US is ridiculously large and spread out, and I’ve been lucky enough to visit almost every corner of it on various road trips and other journeys over the last couple of decades. If you have 6 months to spend in this country, then you can just get here and go wherever you please, and if you only have time to stop in 2 or 3 cities on this trip, then you probably already know which ones appeal to you (and will work in your itinerary). But if you have a month or two, and especially if you will have access to a car or don’t mind taking the buses around this country, this series of articles might help you decide which cities to consider when you are planning your round the world trip.

And, as I’ve said before, this country is filled with cities that are excellent places to live for a variety of reasons, but most of them aren’t really “special” enough to go out of your way to visit unless you have many months or another specific reason to go there. So if a city you like is left off this list, it’s not because it’s boring or a bad place, it’s mostly because it’s not unique enough for visitors to consider as a special stop, at least in my opinion.

Great Plains cities to consider

Austin, Texas – If you are at all curious about “Texas” and you can only choose one city then this is the one to pick. It’s historic, and the state capital, and it’s also a fantastic college town with amazing nightlife and one of the best communities of tech people and artists in the country. But there is also barbeque and Tex-Mex restaurants, and most of the other common clichés about Texas at your fingertips as well. It’s smaller than Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, and that’s a good thing. Spending a night or two in the 6th Street entertainment district is something you won’t soon forget, and it’s pretty cheap here as well.

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota – This is where you’ll see those 4 presidents’ faces carved into that enormous rock in the side of the mountain. It’s pretty spectacular, and the national park surrounding the sculpture is more impressive than you might think, but the whole thing probably isn’t worth going too far out of your way for. If you are driving across the country along this route then it’s only a few miles out of the way and you totally should stop to see it. Otherwise, probably not.

Yellowstone Park – This claims to be the first-ever national park in the world, and it’s the largest and most famous in the United States. If you are a true nature enthusiast, and especially if you are on a long road trip, then this place could be a great stop for a few days, but be warned that outside of the warm summer months this place is almost completely shut down. If you think you’d like to see it but are wondering if it’s too far out of the way then you might consider Yosemite Park in Northern California instead. That one is only a few hours drive from San Francisco, and it’s quite similar to those of us who aren’t forestry students.

Santa Fe, New Mexico – Back down south, you have this interesting city that, like Austin, Texas, contrasts well with everything else around it in the state, while still giving you most of the charm of the region. Santa Fe is hundreds of years old, which is quite rare for this part of the world, and in the last few decades it’s gained a reputation as being one of the major art centers in North America, at least in some respects. This mountainous area is really beautiful, and the downtown area is charming and unique, though it can be a bit expensive.

Sedona, Arizona – This small town is dramatically set among red rocks, that can look otherworldly in the right lighting, so if that sounds at all interesting then it’s worth considering a visit. Sedona is also known as a major destination for “spiritual (but not religious) people” from around the world, and many claim there are energy vortexes that can be easily felt by those perceptive few who know what they are. Regardless of whether you are into the new age aspect of this place, the scenery is stunning, and the famous Pink Jeep tours of the nearby canyons are unforgettable.

Grand Canyon, Arizona – Chances are, you’ve already made up your mind whether you really want to visit this place or not. I’ve been there probably around 10 times, starting around the age of 5, so it doesn’t really feel special to me, but many people feel that it’s nearly a religious experience since it’s such an extreme example of topography that isn’t found anywhere else on the planet in this scale. During summer it’s packed and expensive, and during winter it’s cold and not very accommodating, so avoiding both of those extremes is good if you can pull it off. The South Rim is very commercial and easy to reach, and the North Rim is neither of those things, in case that sounds a bit better.

Las Vegas – In spite of being only a few hours by car from the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, as you might imagine, is the exact opposite of the Canyon in almost every way. And for that exact reason, it’s highly recommended that everyone check it out at least once in his or her life. Everything is so out of scale and over-the-top that you won’t believe your eyes. Through 2008 Las Vegas had become quite crowded and weirdly expensive, but that has all changed in 2009, and it’s likely to stay that way for years to come. There are a few real hostels in Las Vegas, but they aren’t in good locations, and the Vegas hotels are now fighting to stay even half full, so visitors can practically name their price.

Feel free to chime in with your thoughts, as I know this is a subjective list and mine is only one opinion. But I know that none of these places are really in the Great Plains by the traditional definition, so there’s no need to point that out.

photo by nikkorsnapper on Flickr

Tags: rtw, USA
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RTW in the USA – Midwest edition

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

This is part 2 in a series of 4 articles that will suggest places to consider in the US for those on a round the world trip. The first part covered East Coast suggestions and the final two will be the Great Plains (more or less) and the West Coast.

If you are from another country then you might find choosing which places to visit more than a little daunting. This country is huge and getting from one place to another is rarely easy, cheap, or convenient. If you are going to spend 6 months in the US then you can hit most of these suggestions plus many other places in between, but if you are limited to a month or two, you’ll want to pick carefully.

I’ve spent a couple decades criss-crossing the country myself and checking out everything I could. As I mentioned in the previous article, there are plenty of really wonderful cities that are fantastic places to live, but still aren’t really “special” enough that they are worth going out of your way for.

By the way, there are many different definitions of Midwest, but for this I’m just considering the Eastern half of the mainland that doesn’t border the Atlantic Ocean.

Midwest cities to consider

Chicago – If you aren’t skipping everything in between the coasts then this should be one of your highest priorities. I’m from Los Angeles and I’ve lived a long time in New York City, but still I will admit that everyone loves Chicago when they visit. It’s huge and busy, but still the people are noticeably friendlier than on the coasts, the food is excellent, and there are tons of worthwhile museums and attractions. There are also dozens of ethnic neighborhoods that feel authentic and are easy to reach, so there’s a good chance you can find an expat community from your home country here.
(more…)

Tags: midwest, rtw, USA
Posted in Featured | 5 Comments »

RTW in the USA – East Coast

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

If you are planning a round the world trip, and you are from either the US or Canada, then the list below will mean very little to you, and it might even make you laugh or motivate you to disagree. But we know that plenty of people from Europe and elsewhere go on RTW trips, and those who are coming through the United States would have every right to be baffled about which places to hit and which aren’t worth the time.

This series will cover the entire United States, but we’ll start with just the East Coast states here.

My criteria

I’ve lived in many different cities in the US (plus in Amsterdam), and there’s a big difference between a nice city that is pleasant to hang out in or live in, and a city that is so special that it’s worth going out of your way to see. For example, I currently live in Portland, Oregon, and it’s a fantastic place to live, but I wouldn’t even put it in my Top 20 if I were making recommendations to a foreign friend who wanted to tour the States for the first time.
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Tags: rtw, USA
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