When it comes to travelling away from home, you not only have to afford all of the costs for transportation to get to your destination, whether its fuel for your road trip or the plane ticket to the other side of the world, but you also have to take into consideration your accommodations, food expenses, tours & activities and of course all of the unplanned expenses that are bound to surprise your wallet throughout your adventure.    ...

The morning of my second day in the Kalalau Valley, Isaac hands me a collapsible handsaw, shows me three dead trees, and tells me to split them. “These are guava,” he explains. “Java plum trees don’t burn well.” When I finish my work, I rinse my bandana in the stream. That afternoon we return to the beach via a path Isaac calls the “hippie highway.” It’s how those camping up valley get quickly to the ocean. About a quarter of a mile from the wate...

I’m headed with friends to the Kalalau Valley on Kauai’s Nā Pali Coast. My friend Isaac has boated in with most of our group’s gear. Jenny and I, carrying granola bars and sleeping bags and sarongs and books like “State of Wonder” by Ann Patchett and “Waking up in Eden” by Lucinda Fleeson and emergency supplies like Band-Aids and alcohol, hike the eleven miles of tropical trail that lead to the valley. I’ll stay six days. Jenny and Isaac wil...

Cambodia sits on the eastern shores of the Gulf of Thailand, squished between southern Vietnam and the south-central border of Thailand. For many people, Cambodia is nothing more than a quick pit-stop between the two countries, summed up by the day-time adventures through the ancient temple complex of Angkor in sweltering heat and the night-time dance clubs of Pub Street in Siam Reap. Although close to two million visitors flood the temples ...

The world has at least 6,000 different languages spoken across its many countries. Europe boasts about 230 languages spoken across the continent, while Asia’s diverse population speaks a whopping variety of 2,197 languages. When it comes to traveling abroad, you are likely to encounter some degree of language differentiation from what you’re used to, even if you’re a native English speaker, Australia, Canada and the UK speak English, but wit...

Halloween is approaching and it’s time to break out that costume and a suitcase! Halloween is also known as All Hallows’ Eve and is the time of year when pranks are the norm, fear is the emotion, and folk embrace their sweet tooth. Carve a pumpkin and decorate your house with bats and spider webs and ghouls that will haunt all who pass by. Rent a scary movie or two and don’t worry too much when you scatter the popcorn everywhere as you quake...

“I held on to my straw hat as I bounced around madly inside the roaring machine known as a bus. The full moon beamed down on the waves that trailed alongside our path along the not so smooth sand. I had been advised to grab a seat on the left side and I was rewarded with the constant kiss of the wind, smell the sea and the chance to witness the beauty that is the Brazilian coast. As every limb and muscle jolted and jumbled around, I reminisced ab...

Leaves are crunchy and full of fiery oranges and reds. The air is crisp and fresh and smells of apple cider and hot cocoa. Fall is here and it is time to start planning your next trip. Prices have dropped during this transition from the high season of summer to the next high season of winter break. Take the plunge and avoid the crowds and high costs as you explore all that this time of year has to offer.  Autumn is a lovely time of year for ...

There are those of us who prefer to stay in one place, and there are those of us who can’t sit still. Itchy feet, wanderlust, curiosity- no matter what you call the need to adventure further out into the world, there are experiences that we all face at one time or another when it comes to heading overseas. The privilege of air travel allows us to go from one side of the world to the other in only a few days, compared to the ships that used to tak...

India: Sprawling metropolises, streets jammed with people, and vast slums are usually some of the first images that come to mind. With a population of over 1 billion, India is not known to be a place of isolation. In the lowlands, it is nearly impossible to get away from the crowds and even the smallest towns have a high population density. But as you venture north of Delhi, up into the foothills of the Himalayas, you’ll find yourself in a very d...