Travel

Since 2010 I have been on 14 different trips with G Adventures. The fact that I’ve been on so many trips should give you an indication of what I think of the company. Not only have I been on 14 different trips with G, but I’ve traveled with them to all seven continents and to 40 countries and territories around the world. I’ve had dinner with the founder, attended their annual corporate meeting, and have served as an ambassador for the company.

I guess I know the company about as well as anyone who isn’t an employee can.

This article isn’t a review in the same way that a movie review is. This isn’t intended to criticize, praise, or compare so much as it is intended to give you an overall idea of what you can expect when you are on a G Adventures trip. Each tour is a difference experience, so it is impossible to provide a review which covers every possible trip. Also, even though I’ve been on 14 different tours with G, they run hundreds of tours around the world, so your mileage may vary.

Read moreReview: Traveling With G Adventures

I recently celebrated my 11 year anniversary of turning over the keys to my house to travel around the world. Since I started traveling full-time I’ve done and seen more than most people ever will in their lives. I’ve been to over 120 countries, 340 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and all 7 continents.

After so much travel, I get asked by many people “what’s left?”

The simple answer is that there is a whole lot left. The world is huge and in some respects, I feel like I have barely scratched the surface. The more your travel, the more places you learn about which you want to visit. The potential universe of places I want to visit is much larger now than it was back in 2007 just because I’ve become more aware.

I’ve compiled a list of places I want to visit and trips I want to take. These are all places I’ve never been to or things I’ve never done before.

I don’t consider this a “bucket list”. I’ve already gone through the equivalent of several bucket lists already. This is more of a “to do” list.

This list is going to be updated over time. I’ll be indicating when I visit places and will be adding more places when I learn about them.

Read moreAfter 11 Years of Traveling Around the World, What’s Left? (Answer: A Lot)

Many a young nomad dreams of a backpacking journey around the U.S.A., Asia, Europe, or even around the world. However, many a young (or not so young) nomad lacks the zeros and commas in their bank account to do it in style. Fortunately, there are many ways to see the world without dipping into your college fund (or cashing in your 401k). We put together 6 backpacking travel tips for the budget traveler so no matter the size of your bank account, you can go forth and explore.

Pack Light

The less luggage you carry, the less cash you’ll have to shell out for checked baggage fees or even large carry-ons. Some airlines charge as much as $35 for anything bigger than a daypack in the cabin. Nearly all of them charge for a checked bag. If you can fit everything you need for your 2-, 6- or 12-month jaunt in one large backpack, great! If you can fit it in one small daypack and an oversized jacket full of pockets, even better!

Read more6 Backpacking Travel Tips For the Budget Traveler

9 years ago, still early in my travels, I wrote an article about the Paradox of Travel Blogging. Basically, you can be out exploring or you can be in front of your computer working, but you can’t do both. I dubbed it Gary’s Paradox, because who doesn’t like naming stuff after themselves, amirite??

While smartphones and social media apps have lessened this somewhat, the fundamental truth of what I wrote 9 years ago still applies today. Travel and work are fundamentally incompatible. You can work away from home, but you can’t work while being out and about doing the things.

Tangential to the subject of working and traveling is being able to have a daily routine.

One of the great parts of traveling is that every day is a new adventure.

One of the downsides of traveling is that the daily new adventure makes it almost impossible to develop a daily routine, which in turn makes it very difficult to be productive.

Read moreTravel and Developing A Daily Routine

There is no sense in burying the lead: There are no good low carbohydrate options available on any major airline.

I try to eat a low-carb diet when I’m at home and I can do so quite successfully. However, it is extremely difficult to do when you are traveling. It is especially hard to do when flying as no airline that I know of offers a low carbohydrate option for meals.

The reason, as far as I can tell, has to do with cost. Proteins cost more than carbohydrates. Both meat and green vegetables are more expensive than grains and potatoes. Even meals which you might think would be low-carb usually aren’t.

I’ll be going through many of the meal options available on flights and explain why they don’t cut it as a low carbohydrate option. I’ll also be giving my tips and suggestings for keeping to a low carb diet when you have to fly.

Read moreLow-Carb Options When Flying

Back in 2012, I wrote a post about how when you strip everything down, you only need three things to travel around the world: a passport, a credit card, and a smartphone.

This still holds true today, but those three things are quickly all being condensed down into one single thing: a smartphone.

I’m going to go through just how technology has changed to allow this to happen and what the implications are for international travel, and how close we are to taking an international trip with nothing but your phone.

Read moreThe Three Things You Need To Travel Around The World Is Quickly Becoming One Thing