A Plan Sidetracked
…the reservations I had made crumbled one by one. Country borders that had shyly opened slammed shut, making a multi-country train voyage impossible.
Independent Travel
Look Over My Shoulder Stage 6
Now for the fun part! I love researching potential places to go, things to do, people to meet, food to eat. I even like to research and solidify transportation options and lodging.
Look Over My Shoulder Stage 5
Since I am visiting so many different countries, it would be useful to know (and keep track of) basic information about each one.
Look Over My Shoulder Stage 4
It is time to do some preliminary research to get a ballpark idea of how much this will cost. If it is beyond my financial means, now is a good time to cut out some venues, before I get my heart set on all of them.
Look Over My Shoulder Stage 3
In Stages 1 and 2, I brainstormed my next journey and began solidifying my goals—where I want to travel and why. Now I can begin building a draft itinerary.
Look Over My Shoulder Stage 2
Today’s post is quite rambling, following my disparate thoughts from one idea to another. But travel planning—especially a lengthy journey—is rarely straightforward. And in my case, it is usually a pretty messy and disorganized process.
Look Over My Shoulder Stage 1
Sometimes people ask me if they can look over my shoulder as I make my travel plans, so now I am inviting you to do so. I will document the “steps” (including personal introspections) here in a series of articles.
My Favorite Peruvian Places & Experiences: Arequipa and Lake Titicaca
This post accompanies my LIVE YouTube broadcast on 28 March 2021 about my explorations of Arequipa and the Lake Titicaca area of Peru.
Hostels: They’re Not Just for 20-Somethings
Hostels have moved along with the times and the baby boomers. Many have dropped the word “Youth” from their name. Most have private rooms available for couples and families. I frequently meet other people over 50—especially in the rural and small-town hostels.
The Pros and Cons of Escorted Tours
I will give you the main reasons I don’t use escorted tours, as well as a few reasons why someone would consider them.
Do-It-Yourself Travel
Most independent travelers like to choose their destinations and itineraries based on their own interests, and they like to do all or most of their own travel research.
Islas! Islas!*
I decided to take a little tourist jaunt to the island of Amantani in Lake Titicaca. You can purchase a tour from one of many agencies in Puno, but if you go to the pier in Puno and pay the captain directly for the trip and then pay your host family directly, the families receive more of the proceeds and don’t have to wait for the agency to send the money.