After 15 years of connecting with RTW travelers, we have cultivated, edited, and researched thousands of pages on the topic, add in the hundreds of RTW travel bloggers out there, all the travel planning tools, resources, and apps, and you still might find yourself on a Tuesday evening thinking “Where do I even begin?” or “How will I get this all done?” or maybe even “Could an RTW be for me?“. To connect the dots for aspiring (and already planning RTW travelers), we are organizing a “Plan your RTW Trip in 30 Days” event. We’ve drilled down the planning to 30 short lessons, delivered to your inbox daily for 30 days. Little bite size chunks that will keep you moving, and inspired to make the choice, and change your life — whatever your “Why?” is for this trip (ie. career break, have the time of your life, experience true freedom, feel alive, see the [whatever your wonders of the world are], meet that “is this it?” feeling head-on etc). With this in mind, I’m gonna share five reasons why it might be a good idea for your to join Plan Your RTW Trip in 30 Days: 1) You are already planning an RTW! – DUH – this is a no brainer. If you are already going, this 30 day event, [...]
Just over 1 year ago, we ran the #indie30 blogging and sharing month on BootsnAll. We all had so much fun, that we decided to try a weekly Indie Travel Challenge for 2012. When we started the ITC in January, we intended to do it for the whole year. But with 2012 coming to a close soon, and the year anniversary of #indie30, I decided to end it with this blog post. We had a lot of fun with the folks that participated and we are impressed with the folks that stuck with it. It was a challenge for us to run it as well for the whole year! Coming up with ideas, getting them out there, and managing the real entries as well as inevitable spam that can with the mini-site that we built for the ITC. I think that the month long version was more fun, and easier to mentally handle than the year-long idea. It was an ambitious idea and we gave it a good shot. We will probably do a shorter version again in 2013. To wrap it up, I’m going to link to an assortment of participants. Thank-you for playing and sharing! Our Oyster Eat Drink Travel Repeat Erin R. Caughey Destination Unknown Hannah and the World NithinCoca.com AntSaint.com YQ Travelling I’m a Wanderer Going [...]
Maybe you have never heard of RTW trips or, you know what they are, but never even dreamed to plan one. The first thing we think about when planning a vacation is : the budget. And for long term travel, the budget scares us. But, suffice to say, it might be cheaper – in some cases – to travel rather than to stay at home. You are not getting any younger and , fast forward 30 years, you’d want to say: “I loved traveling the world” rather than “I wish I have traveled the world”. On a RTW trip, you can do what you want to do every single day. Not to mention that you get a chance to do what you truly love, meat new people, learn new skills and polish the skills you already have. Unfortunately, you cannot go everywhere ,so you will have to prioritize. Start with the cities/sites/experiences you’ve always dreamed of visiting or doing. Write those down. Then decide whether you want to spend more time in the cities or in the outdoors. Maybe you want to visit the iconic sites on the globe or you’d be happy checking out every single popular beach. Once you choose those, it’s time to decide what type of accommodation you prefer, which segments to fly and which to [...]
Being a polyglot goes beyond improving your career or getting a nice job. Even the cultural extend of it doesn’t even scratch the surface when it comes to benefits. And while it may be impressive to be in a polyglot in the Anglophone world, this is quite a normal thing in many cultures. Being a polyglot is a mental exercise, allowing you to be more aware and comfortable in using your own language , helping you express easily. Speaking multiple languages opens the possibility to exercise and use your brain capacity even further. When you learn the new words, the brain makes connections, growing further as you create phrases and learn the syntax. Each step means a lot of intellectual growth. Learning a new language also boosts your thinking and conversational skills. You’ll soon realize that you can browse your vocabulary easier. And let’s not forget the cultural part. Speaking a new language allows you to experience a culture independently not as it is “supposed” to be experienced. It’s a totally different experience to spend time in a new country and speaking the language than to go only on the beaten path with a guided tour and speak only English (or French, or German). Do you speak two languages or more? What are those? This week we challenge you to [...]
Ask any traveler what their must-pack list includes and an mp3 player or Ipod is always on the list. That’s because music is an excellent way to boost the mood, to find comfort in the familiar and to keep us relaxed while traveling. Road trips and long flights, bus or train rides are incredibly boring without music. And although we often prefer to read while traveling, we don’t always have the brain power to do that. What is on your travel play list? Which song is your favorite? Ever since my cell supported music – and later when I got an mp3 player – I’ve always had a playlist ready to save the day. Between 14 to 18 hours train rides and often reading an entire book along the way, good music has always kept me company. I tend to listen to rock music most of the time – Guns’n’Roses, Meat Loaf, Tina Turner, Whitesnake – but often I find myself listening to empowering songs, too, such as “I’m a Woman” (sang by the cast of Sex and the City) and “I Will Survive”. My favorite song is also from the Sex and the City 2 soundtrack: Alicia Keys , “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down”. » This week on BootsnAll: Articles you’ll read this week include: a [...]
We already know that a career break can change your life but it wasn’t until recently that they have become popular in countries such as the United States. Ten years ago, a career break would have been considered a career suicide. And nowadays with the still uncertain economy, many assume that people should be happy with the job they have and not risk losing it. Even if you fancy such an experience there are a lot of logical reasons not to do so. It’s scary to think that you leave a somewhat stable situation behind and choose the unknown. And what about when you get back home? How would you get another job? That’s why people are looking for inspiration and examples of those who have already chosen to take a career break. They haven’t just left everything behind, many went on self-discovery journeys , whether they planned it or not. In many cases, the feeling that something was “missing” sparked the idea of traveling the world and taking a career break. Did you take a gap year or have you taken a career break? At one point in my life I was not happy with where my professional life would take me and decide to go back to a hobby: writing. I was un-employed and searching for freelancing gigs, [...]
Shoulder season refers to those wedges between the high and low season , when the weather is good, the crowds have left or haven’t arrived yet and the potential for deals is high. Spring and autumn are both considered shoulder season and both having pretty much the same advantages. Shoulder season means the tourist demand is low and you get a lot more for your money. If you want to experience good weather, travel closer to the high season. Since both spring and autumn are rainy, always have a back-up plan just in case you’ll have to make friends with the umbrella or have to stick to indoor activities. When traveling during shoulder season, make sure to pack layers. Do you like to travel during the shoulder season? Which is your favorite destination for this time of the year? While I’ve done my fair share of traveling during festivals and summer, I certainly prefer to pack my bags and head out during spring or fall. In March 2011 I managed to find excellent prices for accommodation in London, while this year, I was able to score €65 euro RT flights per person from Rome to Athens. Having also traveled in mid to late October, I can certainly say that from the photo opportunities I prefer autumn. Any destination which offers [...]
There’s one thing about traveling which most of us hate (or at least dislike): packing! From those who just toss two t-shirts and some lingerie in their backpacks , to those who would rather carry their entire wardrobe around, there are many types of travel packers out there. Sometime it’s a bright idea to bring cool gadgets and they can make your life easier, but other times it’s perfectly ok to be just you and a good old printed map. As much as possible, try to travel very lightly and remember that objects are always replaceable and your valuables are better left at home. What kind of travel packer are you? Minimalist? Bring it all? Somewhere in between? Are you happy with your packing skills? I never liked to drag a lot of luggage around, so I’ve always been a somewhat light packer. My biggest achievement so far has been carrying 8 kg worth of luggage (yes, it included my netbook with charger and other electronics) for two weeks in Italy and Greece , during winter (March). I thought I’ve done a pretty good job…that was until I had to walk quite a lot with the luggage in hand (sans wheels, of course, courtesy of flying a certain low-cost carrier). As a result, ever since that trip I’ve been back [...]
Adrenaline junkie refers to a person who favors dangerous activities for the adrenaline rush which comes with them. There are many reasons to travel and one of them includes trying extreme sports or activities. From sky diving to bungee jumping, rock climbing , white water rafting and smashing tomatoes into fellow travelers, these activities give anyone a rush. But you don’t always need to do extreme things to feel the adrenaline rush during your travel. Hiking a longer or more challenging trail, as well as finding your way in a new city where you cannot speak the language or read the street signs can be just as scary. When was the last time you did something traveling that scared you? Any plans for challenging yourself in the future? Before I turned 20 I got the chance to try paragliding (with a coach) on the hills close to my city. I absolutely loved it. Since then I’m hoping to try bungee jumping (I almost got the chance in 2008 but the platform in Vienna was closed due to the wind). And although I like such extreme activities, sometimes hiking a longer or more challenging trail gives me enough adrenaline rush to last for a while. And just some weeks ago, climbing to the viewing platform from the Town Hall’s Tower in [...]
Hiking is an outdoor exercise and consists of walking – for fitness or pleasure-in a natural environment. We choose to hike on hiking trails, especially when we don’t know the terrain or the area we are walking in. Most hiking trails go through scenic landscape. Aside from seeing superb landscapes and visiting sights along the hiking trails, we also benefit from the effects it has on our health: keeps the weight under control, lowers the blood pressure, and improves mental health. The word hiking is understood in all English-speaking countries, but there are some differences in usage. For example, in the UK and US, multi-day hikes with camping are referred to as backpacking. Multi-day hiking in the mountains is referred to as trekking in most areas of the globe (except Europe). The equipment needed depends on the length of the hike. For a day-hike , all you need is a backpack with water, food, and map. Remember to wear good walking shoes and protect your skin from the sun. Is there a hike or trek on your “life list” that you’ve yet to cross off? I’ve been hiking for fitness and pleasure for the past 10 years. And although I’ve done 22 km day-hikes, I have yet to hike on famous hiking routes such as the Inca Trail. While that’s [...]
It’s been said that A picture is worth a thousand words, and we often get itchy travel feet after looking at photos from various parts of the world . We remember the feelings and smells of the places we visit , but the photographs are palpable reminders of our journeys. The photos you take when you first arrive in a place are typically the best and capture the reality as it is, not as seen through the photographer’s eyes. So, make a priority of taking a walk after arriving in a new place just to get a feeling of the area . We are all amazed by travel photographs in various online and printed magazines, but the truth is , the average traveler lacks technical skills, financial resources, and often talent to take those stunning photos. Don’t despair, though, as there are ways to take better travel photographs, and practice helps a lot. Also, lately the technology has advanced so much that point and shoot cameras do an excellent job of taking photos. Plus, even if you don’t snap a perfect shot, most likely the photo will have some story behind it. This week we ask you to share 5 photos you took during your travels . I’ve been taking photos since I was a child and learned how to on [...]
Whether you are a foodie or not, eating will always be part of your travels. After all, you don’t plan to stock your luggage with canned and dried foods, do you? Every continent has some interesting dishes which appeal to our taste buds, but Asian cuisine seems to be the most well-known. It’s not hard to find Asian restaurants in any part of the world, but the food tastes much better in Asia, cooked with the locally grown ingredients and using the local techniques. You have to pick one country in Asia to eat from for a month. What country do you pick? Why? Considering that I’m a Pescatarian (vegetarian who eats fish), I’m happy anywhere I can find good vegetable dishes and amazing seafood, which means I can find something to please my taste buds anywhere in Asia. But the best place to get good tasting vegetarian food is, without a doubt, India. I’ve recently discovered chickpeas, so I started looking for recipes and found a lot of them in the Indian cuisine (needless to say, I actually cooked them, after asking an Indian friend for tips). However, I am very sure they’d taste quite difference if I ever get a chance to eat them in India. » This week on BootsnAll: Articles you’ll read this week include: a [...]
What inspires you to travel? Is it a book you’ve recently read, a movie that you saw, or maybe a photo that caught your eye on social media? In an uncertain economy, movies are the perfect escape and allow us to day dream of destinations. Sometimes , you walk into the movie theatre and expect one thing, but leave with the sudden urge to pack your bags and leave to see those incredibly sceneries in person. Two of the most popular movies that inspire travel are Seven Years in Tibet, based on a book written by Austrian Heinrich Harrer, which describes mountain climbing in extreme conditions at the time when Tibet was taken over by China; and Amelie, a movie set in Paris, featuring a young waitress who tries to spread joy to the people who surround her. What’s a movie that has inspired you to travel? I must admit that The Sound of Music was one of the first movies that inspired me to travel. I saw it when I was little, and it wasn’t until I turned 27 that I actually made it to Austria, but every time I think of Salzburg I cannot help but hear Do,Re,Mi in my head. More recently, Mamma Mia practically made me e-mail someone in Greece and start making arrangements for a holiday [...]
By definition, Dual Citizenship means a person is a citizen of two countries at the same time. Some countries don’t allow dual citizenship at all, while others have restrictions. Some of the reasons to bestow citizenship include: at least one of your parents is a citizen, you’ve been born on the country’s territory , you marry a person holding the citizenship, you are naturalized or you’ve been adopted as a minor and at least one of your adoptive parents is a citizen. Citizens of European Union (EU) member states have a special EU citizenship – although not as dual citizenship – which allows them to work , live and travel in any of the EU members for an unlimited period of time. Some restrictions are in place for a limited period of time and apply to the newly admitted countries. For a moment, let’s assume the restrictions aren’t in place and you can pick any country to have dual citizenship for. Which country would you pick? Why? I must admit , this is a pretty hard question for me. I am a EU citizen , which allows me to travel and live in any EU country for an unlimited period of time. Because I come from a newly admitted country, the work restrictions are in place until 2014. But , [...]
Everything is so “eco” today that it gets hard to distinguish the real green travel experiences from the “bogus” ones. In theory, green travel means that it does minimal ecological damage and offers maximum cultural exchange. Green travel seeks to add to the knowledge of the traveler and improve the skills. You cannot plan a green travel experience on the run. That’s why slow travel and green travel are two concepts which go hand in hand, and why this week BootsnAll is partnering with Global Basecamps to bring you Green Week, a week of stories about promoting the idea of eco-friendly, sustainable travel. Slow travel took the inspiration from 19th century European travel writers , who reacted against speed and simply asked : if we have slow food, why not slow travel? Just like green travel, slow food’s main characteristic is to make a connection with the community while you travel. Slow travel allows travelers to engage with the communities along their route, visiting spots favored by the locals and which are most often skipped by travel guides. Green travel and slow travel doesn’t require you to give up flying, for example. It just means you have to bring your brain along when you travel and assess the impact of your trip. This kind of traveling can be done close to [...]
Ever since humans learned to walk , they also aimed for something greater, and the dream of flight was born. Probably the most well-known story is that of Icarus, who attempted to escape from Crete, Greece by flying with the use of wings made of feathers and wax. But he flew too close to the Sun, and the wax melted, causing him to fall into the sea and drown. Long gone are the days of early aviation when flying was expensive, there were limited routes available, and smoking on the planes was a no-brainer. Not to mention that passing through security check and getting on the plane was fast, easy, and almost resembled preparing to board a train. Today, we go to airports three hours before the flight, carefully pack our carry-ons so that they don’t exceed the weight limit or contain “prohibited” items, and if we are lucky, we don’t get patted down, too. On the other hand, the no-frill airlines made flying available to the masses – with the good and the bad parts resulting from this – and there are so many routes available that circling the globe in a plane can be easily done by anyone with some money saved. But there are also the canceled and delayed flights, missing luggage, airlines going bankrupt, and security [...]
The first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to 776BC and they were dedicated to the Olympian Gods in Ancient Greece. The games took place on the plains of Olympia and were strongly linked to the religious festival dedicated to Zeus. Aside from showing the physical capabilities of the young people, the Olympic Games also encouraged good relations between the cities of Greece. In fact, all hostilities stopped during the games. A lot has changed since the ancient Olympic Games. They started as a one–day event, but in the 5th century BC they were extended to cover five days. In those times, women were not allowed to participate (not even to watch the games) and if they were caught in the audience the punishment was to throw them off the cliff. After the Greek War of Independence, there was increased interest in reviving the Olympic Games. And it happened in 1896 when the first Games held under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee were hosted in the Panathenaic stadium in Athens. Changes marked the Games over the years and nowadays it’s an event which attracts a lot of visitors. This year, the Summer Olympic Games take place in London. Have you ever been to the Olympics? Is traveling to watch the Olympics on your wishlist? Why? Why not? [...]
As a rule, I am a budget traveler. In some cases, you could easily call me a cheap traveler — although when I hostel I usually get a private room. And yes, there’s a difference between cheap travel and budget travel. However, when it comes to finding something to eat, you won’t usually catch me in restaurants. I’m in the markets, at the store or somewhere else where there’s good, cheap food. My travel plans are always filled with a list of free things to do in every city I visit. And then come the rare splurges. They don’t need to be huge to put a smile on my face. In London, I felt like going on the London Eye was a major splurge, but it was one of the highlights of the trip. In Bucharest, after 10 hours on the train, I paid €35 for a hotel room with TV, ensuite bathroom and internet in the lobby, despite the fact that I was already contemplating a night in a hostel. Whether we’re on a short vacation or traveling for months, it feels nice to break up the routine and splurge on something. For some, it may be a private room in a hostel, for others, it might as well be a 5-star hotel room with a view, while others [...]
There comes a time while traveling, that spending a week or two here and there just doesn’t cut it anymore. You want to connect with the locals and the culture, but being so temporary doesn’t always allow for that. And then comes the idea to move to the city you’ve just fallen in love with and become an expat. Until you want to move on… or live forever in the city you love. Becoming an expat in a new country is the best way to get to know the country from a local’s perspective. Choosing a country and city to move to is all about your own personal likes and dislikes. Maybe you’ve studied French in high school and want to sample how it feels to live in Paris for a while. Or maybe Italian has always been your love and Milan might just do the trick. Or maybe you had no plans of staying, but something about the city just felt like home. Have you ever been an expat? Where and what made you choose that city? If not, what city would you want to be an expat in? After my latest two week trip to Southern Europe, I’m considering living in Athens for a while. I don’t speak much Greek (I probably know about 25 words) but when I [...]
Visiting a country during a festival or holiday season is always a fun way to get a different look into a new culture. Visiting during a new to you holiday however, can really throw you into a new culture. From Independence days like the US’ 4th of July and France’s Bastille Day, to ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand, to Ramadan, and Chinese New Year, every region celebrates a little differently. As a child, I used to watch the Bastille Day (July 14) military parade on TV, but as I’ve grown older, I would much rather see a live event. And after watching the changing of the guards in front of Buckingham Palace in London and a small military parade in Heros’ Square in Budapest, I am checking local holidays more often when planning a trip. Being a part of a different culture and being one in a crowd, is a fun way to experience a country’s traditions. And then there’s the partying… » This week on BootsnAll: Articles you’ll read this week include an article about how volunteering in Africa has changed a person, ideas where to watch the best Independence Day fireworks, information about 8 great American towns for foodies and a first timer’s guide to hot air balloon festivals in the US. Week 27 of the [...]
During the first week of the Indie Travel Challenge we asked you to share your indie travel list for 2012 . Now that we’re about half way through 2012, it’s time to take a look back at what we wrote on those lists! What did you achieve so far? What is something you are proud of? I’ve been keeping a travel resolutions (bucket) list for more than a year now and every January I add more things to it. For 2012 I entered two new countries: Italy and Greece (and hoping to make it back to London too). In March, I spent two weeks visiting Italy (Rome, Vieste and Foggia) and Greece (Athens). They were two of the best weeks of my life. Some of my indie travel experiences included a walking tour of Anafiotika (in Athens) with an amazing artist (and a Greek friend); and walking along the deserted beach in Vieste (Italy) with nothing but the wind and the sound of the waves hitting the shores to keep us company. What travel goals have you met this year? » This week on BootsnAll: Articles you’ll read this week include information on how to have an indie travel experience in Guatemala, a detailed guide on recipes and tips for making cooking on the road fun, cheap and easy, as [...]
After 15 years of connecting with RTW travelers, we have cultivated, edited, and researched thousands of pages on the topic, add in the hundreds of RTW travel bloggers out there, all the travel planning tools, resources, and apps, and you still might find yourself on a Tuesday evening thinking “Where do I even begin?” or “How will I get this all done?” or maybe even “Could an RTW be for me?“. To connect the dots for aspiring (and already planning RTW travelers), we are organizing a “Plan your RTW Trip in 30 Days” event. We’ve drilled down the planning to 30 short lessons, delivered to your inbox daily for 30 days. Little bite size chunks that will keep you moving, and inspired to make the choice, and change your life — whatever your “Why?” is for this trip (ie. career break, have the time of your life, experience true freedom, feel alive, see the [whatever your wonders of the world are], meet that “is this it?” feeling head-on etc). With this in mind, I’m gonna share five reasons why it might be a good idea for your to join Plan Your RTW Trip in 30 Days: 1) You are already planning an RTW! – DUH – this is a no brainer. If you are already going, this 30 day event, [...] 
Just over 1 year ago, we ran the #indie30 blogging and sharing month on BootsnAll. We all had so much fun, that we decided to try a weekly Indie Travel Challenge for 2012. When we started the ITC in January, we intended to do it for the whole year. But with 2012 coming to a close soon, and the year anniversary of #indie30, I decided to end it with this blog post. We had a lot of fun with the folks that participated and we are impressed with the folks that stuck with it. It was a challenge for us to run it as well for the whole year! Coming up with ideas, getting them out there, and managing the real entries as well as inevitable spam that can with the mini-site that we built for the ITC. I think that the month long version was more fun, and easier to mentally handle than the year-long idea. It was an ambitious idea and we gave it a good shot. We will probably do a shorter version again in 2013. To wrap it up, I’m going to link to an assortment of participants. Thank-you for playing and sharing! Our Oyster Eat Drink Travel Repeat Erin R. Caughey Destination Unknown Hannah and the World NithinCoca.com AntSaint.com YQ Travelling I’m a Wanderer Going [...] 
Maybe you have never heard of RTW trips or, you know what they are, but never even dreamed to plan one. The first thing we think about when planning a vacation is : the budget. And for long term travel, the budget scares us. But, suffice to say, it might be cheaper – in some cases – to travel rather than to stay at home. You are not getting any younger and , fast forward 30 years, you’d want to say: “I loved traveling the world” rather than “I wish I have traveled the world”. On a RTW trip, you can do what you want to do every single day. Not to mention that you get a chance to do what you truly love, meat new people, learn new skills and polish the skills you already have. Unfortunately, you cannot go everywhere ,so you will have to prioritize. Start with the cities/sites/experiences you’ve always dreamed of visiting or doing. Write those down. Then decide whether you want to spend more time in the cities or in the outdoors. Maybe you want to visit the iconic sites on the globe or you’d be happy checking out every single popular beach. Once you choose those, it’s time to decide what type of accommodation you prefer, which segments to fly and which to [...] 
Being a polyglot goes beyond improving your career or getting a nice job. Even the cultural extend of it doesn’t even scratch the surface when it comes to benefits. And while it may be impressive to be in a polyglot in the Anglophone world, this is quite a normal thing in many cultures. Being a polyglot is a mental exercise, allowing you to be more aware and comfortable in using your own language , helping you express easily. Speaking multiple languages opens the possibility to exercise and use your brain capacity even further. When you learn the new words, the brain makes connections, growing further as you create phrases and learn the syntax. Each step means a lot of intellectual growth. Learning a new language also boosts your thinking and conversational skills. You’ll soon realize that you can browse your vocabulary easier. And let’s not forget the cultural part. Speaking a new language allows you to experience a culture independently not as it is “supposed” to be experienced. It’s a totally different experience to spend time in a new country and speaking the language than to go only on the beaten path with a guided tour and speak only English (or French, or German). Do you speak two languages or more? What are those? This week we challenge you to [...] 
Ask any traveler what their must-pack list includes and an mp3 player or Ipod is always on the list. That’s because music is an excellent way to boost the mood, to find comfort in the familiar and to keep us relaxed while traveling. Road trips and long flights, bus or train rides are incredibly boring without music. And although we often prefer to read while traveling, we don’t always have the brain power to do that. What is on your travel play list? Which song is your favorite? Ever since my cell supported music – and later when I got an mp3 player – I’ve always had a playlist ready to save the day. Between 14 to 18 hours train rides and often reading an entire book along the way, good music has always kept me company. I tend to listen to rock music most of the time – Guns’n’Roses, Meat Loaf, Tina Turner, Whitesnake – but often I find myself listening to empowering songs, too, such as “I’m a Woman” (sang by the cast of Sex and the City) and “I Will Survive”. My favorite song is also from the Sex and the City 2 soundtrack: Alicia Keys , “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down”. » This week on BootsnAll: Articles you’ll read this week include: a [...] 
We already know that a career break can change your life but it wasn’t until recently that they have become popular in countries such as the United States. Ten years ago, a career break would have been considered a career suicide. And nowadays with the still uncertain economy, many assume that people should be happy with the job they have and not risk losing it. Even if you fancy such an experience there are a lot of logical reasons not to do so. It’s scary to think that you leave a somewhat stable situation behind and choose the unknown. And what about when you get back home? How would you get another job? That’s why people are looking for inspiration and examples of those who have already chosen to take a career break. They haven’t just left everything behind, many went on self-discovery journeys , whether they planned it or not. In many cases, the feeling that something was “missing” sparked the idea of traveling the world and taking a career break. Did you take a gap year or have you taken a career break? At one point in my life I was not happy with where my professional life would take me and decide to go back to a hobby: writing. I was un-employed and searching for freelancing gigs, [...] 
Shoulder season refers to those wedges between the high and low season , when the weather is good, the crowds have left or haven’t arrived yet and the potential for deals is high. Spring and autumn are both considered shoulder season and both having pretty much the same advantages. Shoulder season means the tourist demand is low and you get a lot more for your money. If you want to experience good weather, travel closer to the high season. Since both spring and autumn are rainy, always have a back-up plan just in case you’ll have to make friends with the umbrella or have to stick to indoor activities. When traveling during shoulder season, make sure to pack layers. Do you like to travel during the shoulder season? Which is your favorite destination for this time of the year? While I’ve done my fair share of traveling during festivals and summer, I certainly prefer to pack my bags and head out during spring or fall. In March 2011 I managed to find excellent prices for accommodation in London, while this year, I was able to score €65 euro RT flights per person from Rome to Athens. Having also traveled in mid to late October, I can certainly say that from the photo opportunities I prefer autumn. Any destination which offers [...] 
There’s one thing about traveling which most of us hate (or at least dislike): packing! From those who just toss two t-shirts and some lingerie in their backpacks , to those who would rather carry their entire wardrobe around, there are many types of travel packers out there. Sometime it’s a bright idea to bring cool gadgets and they can make your life easier, but other times it’s perfectly ok to be just you and a good old printed map. As much as possible, try to travel very lightly and remember that objects are always replaceable and your valuables are better left at home. What kind of travel packer are you? Minimalist? Bring it all? Somewhere in between? Are you happy with your packing skills? I never liked to drag a lot of luggage around, so I’ve always been a somewhat light packer. My biggest achievement so far has been carrying 8 kg worth of luggage (yes, it included my netbook with charger and other electronics) for two weeks in Italy and Greece , during winter (March). I thought I’ve done a pretty good job…that was until I had to walk quite a lot with the luggage in hand (sans wheels, of course, courtesy of flying a certain low-cost carrier). As a result, ever since that trip I’ve been back [...] 
Adrenaline junkie refers to a person who favors dangerous activities for the adrenaline rush which comes with them. There are many reasons to travel and one of them includes trying extreme sports or activities. From sky diving to bungee jumping, rock climbing , white water rafting and smashing tomatoes into fellow travelers, these activities give anyone a rush. But you don’t always need to do extreme things to feel the adrenaline rush during your travel. Hiking a longer or more challenging trail, as well as finding your way in a new city where you cannot speak the language or read the street signs can be just as scary. When was the last time you did something traveling that scared you? Any plans for challenging yourself in the future? Before I turned 20 I got the chance to try paragliding (with a coach) on the hills close to my city. I absolutely loved it. Since then I’m hoping to try bungee jumping (I almost got the chance in 2008 but the platform in Vienna was closed due to the wind). And although I like such extreme activities, sometimes hiking a longer or more challenging trail gives me enough adrenaline rush to last for a while. And just some weeks ago, climbing to the viewing platform from the Town Hall’s Tower in [...] 
Hiking is an outdoor exercise and consists of walking – for fitness or pleasure-in a natural environment. We choose to hike on hiking trails, especially when we don’t know the terrain or the area we are walking in. Most hiking trails go through scenic landscape. Aside from seeing superb landscapes and visiting sights along the hiking trails, we also benefit from the effects it has on our health: keeps the weight under control, lowers the blood pressure, and improves mental health. The word hiking is understood in all English-speaking countries, but there are some differences in usage. For example, in the UK and US, multi-day hikes with camping are referred to as backpacking. Multi-day hiking in the mountains is referred to as trekking in most areas of the globe (except Europe). The equipment needed depends on the length of the hike. For a day-hike , all you need is a backpack with water, food, and map. Remember to wear good walking shoes and protect your skin from the sun. Is there a hike or trek on your “life list” that you’ve yet to cross off? I’ve been hiking for fitness and pleasure for the past 10 years. And although I’ve done 22 km day-hikes, I have yet to hike on famous hiking routes such as the Inca Trail. While that’s [...] 
It’s been said that A picture is worth a thousand words, and we often get itchy travel feet after looking at photos from various parts of the world . We remember the feelings and smells of the places we visit , but the photographs are palpable reminders of our journeys. The photos you take when you first arrive in a place are typically the best and capture the reality as it is, not as seen through the photographer’s eyes. So, make a priority of taking a walk after arriving in a new place just to get a feeling of the area . We are all amazed by travel photographs in various online and printed magazines, but the truth is , the average traveler lacks technical skills, financial resources, and often talent to take those stunning photos. Don’t despair, though, as there are ways to take better travel photographs, and practice helps a lot. Also, lately the technology has advanced so much that point and shoot cameras do an excellent job of taking photos. Plus, even if you don’t snap a perfect shot, most likely the photo will have some story behind it. This week we ask you to share 5 photos you took during your travels . I’ve been taking photos since I was a child and learned how to on [...] 
Whether you are a foodie or not, eating will always be part of your travels. After all, you don’t plan to stock your luggage with canned and dried foods, do you? Every continent has some interesting dishes which appeal to our taste buds, but Asian cuisine seems to be the most well-known. It’s not hard to find Asian restaurants in any part of the world, but the food tastes much better in Asia, cooked with the locally grown ingredients and using the local techniques. You have to pick one country in Asia to eat from for a month. What country do you pick? Why? Considering that I’m a Pescatarian (vegetarian who eats fish), I’m happy anywhere I can find good vegetable dishes and amazing seafood, which means I can find something to please my taste buds anywhere in Asia. But the best place to get good tasting vegetarian food is, without a doubt, India. I’ve recently discovered chickpeas, so I started looking for recipes and found a lot of them in the Indian cuisine (needless to say, I actually cooked them, after asking an Indian friend for tips). However, I am very sure they’d taste quite difference if I ever get a chance to eat them in India. » This week on BootsnAll: Articles you’ll read this week include: a [...] 
What inspires you to travel? Is it a book you’ve recently read, a movie that you saw, or maybe a photo that caught your eye on social media? In an uncertain economy, movies are the perfect escape and allow us to day dream of destinations. Sometimes , you walk into the movie theatre and expect one thing, but leave with the sudden urge to pack your bags and leave to see those incredibly sceneries in person. Two of the most popular movies that inspire travel are Seven Years in Tibet, based on a book written by Austrian Heinrich Harrer, which describes mountain climbing in extreme conditions at the time when Tibet was taken over by China; and Amelie, a movie set in Paris, featuring a young waitress who tries to spread joy to the people who surround her. What’s a movie that has inspired you to travel? I must admit that The Sound of Music was one of the first movies that inspired me to travel. I saw it when I was little, and it wasn’t until I turned 27 that I actually made it to Austria, but every time I think of Salzburg I cannot help but hear Do,Re,Mi in my head. More recently, Mamma Mia practically made me e-mail someone in Greece and start making arrangements for a holiday [...] 
By definition, Dual Citizenship means a person is a citizen of two countries at the same time. Some countries don’t allow dual citizenship at all, while others have restrictions. Some of the reasons to bestow citizenship include: at least one of your parents is a citizen, you’ve been born on the country’s territory , you marry a person holding the citizenship, you are naturalized or you’ve been adopted as a minor and at least one of your adoptive parents is a citizen. Citizens of European Union (EU) member states have a special EU citizenship – although not as dual citizenship – which allows them to work , live and travel in any of the EU members for an unlimited period of time. Some restrictions are in place for a limited period of time and apply to the newly admitted countries. For a moment, let’s assume the restrictions aren’t in place and you can pick any country to have dual citizenship for. Which country would you pick? Why? I must admit , this is a pretty hard question for me. I am a EU citizen , which allows me to travel and live in any EU country for an unlimited period of time. Because I come from a newly admitted country, the work restrictions are in place until 2014. But , [...] 
Everything is so “eco” today that it gets hard to distinguish the real green travel experiences from the “bogus” ones. In theory, green travel means that it does minimal ecological damage and offers maximum cultural exchange. Green travel seeks to add to the knowledge of the traveler and improve the skills. You cannot plan a green travel experience on the run. That’s why slow travel and green travel are two concepts which go hand in hand, and why this week BootsnAll is partnering with Global Basecamps to bring you Green Week, a week of stories about promoting the idea of eco-friendly, sustainable travel. Slow travel took the inspiration from 19th century European travel writers , who reacted against speed and simply asked : if we have slow food, why not slow travel? Just like green travel, slow food’s main characteristic is to make a connection with the community while you travel. Slow travel allows travelers to engage with the communities along their route, visiting spots favored by the locals and which are most often skipped by travel guides. Green travel and slow travel doesn’t require you to give up flying, for example. It just means you have to bring your brain along when you travel and assess the impact of your trip. This kind of traveling can be done close to [...] 
Ever since humans learned to walk , they also aimed for something greater, and the dream of flight was born. Probably the most well-known story is that of Icarus, who attempted to escape from Crete, Greece by flying with the use of wings made of feathers and wax. But he flew too close to the Sun, and the wax melted, causing him to fall into the sea and drown. Long gone are the days of early aviation when flying was expensive, there were limited routes available, and smoking on the planes was a no-brainer. Not to mention that passing through security check and getting on the plane was fast, easy, and almost resembled preparing to board a train. Today, we go to airports three hours before the flight, carefully pack our carry-ons so that they don’t exceed the weight limit or contain “prohibited” items, and if we are lucky, we don’t get patted down, too. On the other hand, the no-frill airlines made flying available to the masses – with the good and the bad parts resulting from this – and there are so many routes available that circling the globe in a plane can be easily done by anyone with some money saved. But there are also the canceled and delayed flights, missing luggage, airlines going bankrupt, and security [...] 
The first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to 776BC and they were dedicated to the Olympian Gods in Ancient Greece. The games took place on the plains of Olympia and were strongly linked to the religious festival dedicated to Zeus. Aside from showing the physical capabilities of the young people, the Olympic Games also encouraged good relations between the cities of Greece. In fact, all hostilities stopped during the games. A lot has changed since the ancient Olympic Games. They started as a one–day event, but in the 5th century BC they were extended to cover five days. In those times, women were not allowed to participate (not even to watch the games) and if they were caught in the audience the punishment was to throw them off the cliff. After the Greek War of Independence, there was increased interest in reviving the Olympic Games. And it happened in 1896 when the first Games held under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee were hosted in the Panathenaic stadium in Athens. Changes marked the Games over the years and nowadays it’s an event which attracts a lot of visitors. This year, the Summer Olympic Games take place in London. Have you ever been to the Olympics? Is traveling to watch the Olympics on your wishlist? Why? Why not? [...] 
As a rule, I am a budget traveler. In some cases, you could easily call me a cheap traveler — although when I hostel I usually get a private room. And yes, there’s a difference between cheap travel and budget travel. However, when it comes to finding something to eat, you won’t usually catch me in restaurants. I’m in the markets, at the store or somewhere else where there’s good, cheap food. My travel plans are always filled with a list of free things to do in every city I visit. And then come the rare splurges. They don’t need to be huge to put a smile on my face. In London, I felt like going on the London Eye was a major splurge, but it was one of the highlights of the trip. In Bucharest, after 10 hours on the train, I paid €35 for a hotel room with TV, ensuite bathroom and internet in the lobby, despite the fact that I was already contemplating a night in a hostel. Whether we’re on a short vacation or traveling for months, it feels nice to break up the routine and splurge on something. For some, it may be a private room in a hostel, for others, it might as well be a 5-star hotel room with a view, while others [...] 
There comes a time while traveling, that spending a week or two here and there just doesn’t cut it anymore. You want to connect with the locals and the culture, but being so temporary doesn’t always allow for that. And then comes the idea to move to the city you’ve just fallen in love with and become an expat. Until you want to move on… or live forever in the city you love. Becoming an expat in a new country is the best way to get to know the country from a local’s perspective. Choosing a country and city to move to is all about your own personal likes and dislikes. Maybe you’ve studied French in high school and want to sample how it feels to live in Paris for a while. Or maybe Italian has always been your love and Milan might just do the trick. Or maybe you had no plans of staying, but something about the city just felt like home. Have you ever been an expat? Where and what made you choose that city? If not, what city would you want to be an expat in? After my latest two week trip to Southern Europe, I’m considering living in Athens for a while. I don’t speak much Greek (I probably know about 25 words) but when I [...] 
Visiting a country during a festival or holiday season is always a fun way to get a different look into a new culture. Visiting during a new to you holiday however, can really throw you into a new culture. From Independence days like the US’ 4th of July and France’s Bastille Day, to ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand, to Ramadan, and Chinese New Year, every region celebrates a little differently. As a child, I used to watch the Bastille Day (July 14) military parade on TV, but as I’ve grown older, I would much rather see a live event. And after watching the changing of the guards in front of Buckingham Palace in London and a small military parade in Heros’ Square in Budapest, I am checking local holidays more often when planning a trip. Being a part of a different culture and being one in a crowd, is a fun way to experience a country’s traditions. And then there’s the partying… » This week on BootsnAll: Articles you’ll read this week include an article about how volunteering in Africa has changed a person, ideas where to watch the best Independence Day fireworks, information about 8 great American towns for foodies and a first timer’s guide to hot air balloon festivals in the US. Week 27 of the [...] 
During the first week of the Indie Travel Challenge we asked you to share your indie travel list for 2012 . Now that we’re about half way through 2012, it’s time to take a look back at what we wrote on those lists! What did you achieve so far? What is something you are proud of? I’ve been keeping a travel resolutions (bucket) list for more than a year now and every January I add more things to it. For 2012 I entered two new countries: Italy and Greece (and hoping to make it back to London too). In March, I spent two weeks visiting Italy (Rome, Vieste and Foggia) and Greece (Athens). They were two of the best weeks of my life. Some of my indie travel experiences included a walking tour of Anafiotika (in Athens) with an amazing artist (and a Greek friend); and walking along the deserted beach in Vieste (Italy) with nothing but the wind and the sound of the waves hitting the shores to keep us company. What travel goals have you met this year? » This week on BootsnAll: Articles you’ll read this week include information on how to have an indie travel experience in Guatemala, a detailed guide on recipes and tips for making cooking on the road fun, cheap and easy, as [...] 