BootsnAll's Blog
Traveling on a budget and getting the most bang for your travel expenditures are extremely common themes here at BootsnAll. It’s not that we’re cheapskates, we just know that the kinds of indie travel experiences we love most often come when you’re traveling “close to the ground” – which means not insulating yourself from local culture in a 5-star hotel. Being conscious of your travel budget can mean making sure your money is going into the local economy whenever possible, rather than to big chains. Spending less usually means being able to travel longer, too, which is definitely something we support.
Okay, and sometimes we’re just cheapskates.
This week on Bootsnall, we’re talking about different aspects of budget travel – including different ways you can use Couchsurfing as more than just a free place to stay, and how you can travel around the world for as little as $14 per day! We’ll even explore the idea that budget travel isn’t always the best kind of travel.
Week 8 of the Indie Travel Challenge 2012 is all about budget travel.
This should be a topic that everyone can talk about from some angle – because no matter what kind of trip you take or where you go, there’s a budget involved. Either you struggle with saving money for travel, or you’ve mastered the art of budgeting and have tips to share. Either you let your bank account determine where you go and therefore have great suggestions for budget-friendly destinations, or you decide where you really want to go and then figure out the best ways to save money while there (even if it’s normally a costly spot to visit).
Rather than just making this a simple topic for a blog post, then, this week we’re issuing a challenge:
Find one major expense to cut from your daily life. How much can you save for travel by cutting it? How many other expenses (large or small) could you reduce in order to put that money toward travel?
Share what changes you’re going to make, and we may use your ideas (with a link back to your blog) in an upcoming feature article on BootsnAll!
The Indie Travel Challenge is a year-long blogging project. Every Monday, we’ll post a new prompt, question, or challenge that bloggers can respond to via text, photos, or video. Respond on your own blog, and link back to BootsnAll so we can find and highlight the best submissions.
Check out the Indie Travel Challenge landing page for all information related to the event. You can see the week’s daily prompt, follow the hashtag on twitter, share your posts, and check out submissions from around the world.
Read more about budget travel:
photo by Images_of_Money
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When we think of islands, very often we think of the quintessential picture-perfect tropical island: white sand beach, swaying palm trees, and crystal-clear water gently lapping at the shore. But there are a staggering number of islands on this planet. They come in sizes large and small, busy and modern or nearly undiscovered, in varying climates and topographies.
This week on BootsnAll, we’re exploring some of the diversity of islands around the world, including the islands of Finland and the coastal towns and islands of Croatia.
Week 7 of the Indie Travel Challenge 2012 is all about island traveling, too.
In the past, we’ve featured plenty of island-related articles here on BootsnAll – there’s no shortage of island lovers out there, or (it seems) island topics to discuss. We’ve learned about islands that are slowly on their way to disappearing, American islands you’ve probably never heard of, hopping around the world island-style, how to pick which Italian island or Virgin island is right for your vacation, and we’ve even asked why the word “paradise” seems synonymous with beaches for so many people.
What do you think makes islands so appealing from an indie traveler’s standpoint? Do you have a favorite island to which you escape – physically or mentally – when you need a break from the real world? When you think of “island,” do you automatically think of “beaches,” or is there another kind of island that appeals to you?
And – you know we have to ask – what would be three things you would absolutely have to have with you if you were stuck on a deserted island?
We want to hear what you love about islands, what your favorite indie travel island destination is, which island you’re most longing to see, or why you think islands evoke such strong emotions in travelers.
The Indie Travel Challenge is a year-long blogging project. Every Monday, we’ll post a new prompt, question, or challenge that bloggers can respond to via text, photos, or video. Respond on your own blog, and link back to BootsnAll so we can find and highlight the best submissions.
Remember, we now have a new landing page for all information related to the event. You can see the week’s daily prompt, follow the hashtag on twitter, share your posts, and check out submissions from around the world.
Read more about island travel:
photo by Tom BKK
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We’ve been talking a lot about indie travel the last few weeks. Earlier this month we asked “are you an indie traveler?” and we’ve been sharing what we think are some great ideas for indie travel.
Today, we published a Manifesto on indie travel. Created with vagabonding expert Rolf Potts, the Manifesto is a statement about the type of travel we love – and that we hope you love too. You can check out the principles of the Indie Travel Manifesto, vote them up or down and comment on them, add you own, or download and share the full Manifesto. You can even sign your name as a supporter of the Manifesto and download a special badge for your blog.
This week for the Indie Travel Challenge 2012, we want to know what you think about the Indie Travel Manifesto. Does it resonate with you? Do you think, based on the tenets of the Manifesto, that you are an indie traveler?
Create your own manifesto for the way you travel, and share it with the community!
The Indie Travel Challenge is a year-long blogging project. Every Monday, we’ll post a new prompt, question, or challenge that bloggers can respond to via text, photos, or video. Respond on your own blog, and link back to BootsnAll so we can find and highlight the best submissions.
We have a new landing page for all information related to the event. You can see the week’s daily prompt, follow the hashtag on twitter, share your posts, and check out submissions from around the world.
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It’s the worlds most populous continent and covers 30% of the world’s land area. Yet fewer than 20% of American leisure travelers visit Asia each year. Surely the high cost and longer travel time keeps some people away, but a trip over the Pacific is well worth the time, and depending on where you go, you may find it significantly cheaper to visit Asia than Europe. And with the incredible diversity found on the continent, you can take your pick from modern cities, beaches, mountains, deserts, small villages, and lush jungles, or go in search of history, art, fashion, or food.
This week, we’re learning more about destinations in Asia. We’ll start with a look at why Burma may be the next big backpacker spot in Southeast Asia, and then find out the many reasons to visit Mongolia. And we’ll make the case for Asia as the best destination for backpackers, beating out Europe and South America.
Week five of the Indie Travel Challenge 2012 is also about traveling in Asia.
From the ancient cities of China to the vast open countryside of Mongolia, from the crowded streets of Bangkok to remote islands in Indonesia, and from the modern metropolis of Tokyo to the rice paddies of Laos, the countries and cities of Asia come in every variety imaginable. And just as the landscapes and climates vary, so do the cultures, religions, cuisines, lifestyles and people found throughout the continent. While it can make deciding where to visit in Asia a bit difficult, the good news is that no matter what your travel style, there’s a destination you’ll enjoy exploring.
If you’ve traveled in Asia, what’s your favorite destination? Share a story of one of your best experiences in Asia, or tell us about a place you love.
If you’ve never been to Asia, tell us about your dream trip in the region. Would you rather find your own paradise among the Thai Islands, or shop for crazy Harajuku fashion in Japan? Are the uncrowded temples of Burma calling you, or are you dreaming of a visit to China’s Great Wall?
We want to hear what you love, or would love to see, in Asia.
The Indie Travel Challenge is a year-long blogging project. Every Monday, we’ll post a new prompt, question, or challenge that bloggers can respond to via text, photos, or video. Respond on your own blog, and link back to BootsnAll so we can find and highlight the best submissions.
This week, we have a new landing page for all information related to the event. You can see the week’s daily prompt, follow the hashtag on twitter, share your posts, and check out submissions from around the world.
Read more about travel in Asia:
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In much of the northern US, winter has arrived, bringing with it rain, snow, sleet, and the ensuing thoughts of ditching the cold for warmer weather. Of course not everyone yearns for balmy temperatures and bright blue seas; some travelers prefer to embrace the season on their travels, opting to hit the ski slopes or take advantage of off-season sales to colder destinations.
This week on BootsnAll, we’re looking at both sides of the travel temperature spectrum. First up, we’ll show you a Mexican beach town that defies expectations, then we’ll explore another side of the Caribbean in Latin America. We’ll check out some very off-the-beaten-path beaches and see why you just might want to visit Japan this winter.
When the weather gets cold, do you prefer to head to sunnier locales or do you love the outdoor adventures or off-season prices of winter? Warm or cold, what’s your dream winter travel destination, and do you have any travel plans for the coming months?
The Indie Travel Challenge is a year-long blogging project. Every Monday, we’ll post a new prompt, question, or challenge that bloggers can respond to via text, photos, or video. Respond on your own blog, and link back to BootsnAll so we can find and highlight the best submissions. We also have a new landing page for all information related to the event. You can see the week’s daily prompt, follow the hashtag on twitter, share your post, and check out submissions from around the world.
Read more about winter travel:
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