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Travel Solo

Travel Solo

Spread your shiny wings and fly away

If you've never done it before, it can be daunting to take your first solo trip in your 40s, but plenty of people are doing exactly that. The stereotypical image of the solo traveller may be the pre-university gap year student, but these days the biggest solo travel growth demographic is the over-35s. We've spoken…

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Tashkent – heaven sent

Say what you will about Social Media, one thing that it's done (well) is to open our eyes and minds to places that we may not have heard of, or perhaps have heard of but have not seen. Even if you consider yourself well-travelled, you can be sure that you've probably just scratched the…

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All is well in Sanibel.

If you know Florida, USA, you'll likely know Miami Beach, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg etc.  Chances are you've been to one or more of these sunny cities. But what about the destinations that are bubbling under?  There are just as many worthy spots that aren't in the top ten. One of which is Sanibel…

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Machu who?

Certainly one of the most memorable and identifable places in the world, Peru's Machu Picchu doesn't need much introduction.  But for those who are unaware or need a refresher, Machu Picchu is the site of an ancient Inca city, high in the Andes of Peru. Located at 2,430m (8,000 ft), this UNESCO World Heritage site is often referred to…

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Why, you lousy rat gangster

When you think of old-style mobsters, you usually think of New York City, where almost all crime happens in American cinema.  But, Chicago Illinois had its run of criminals, especially in the 1930's.  People like  "Al" Capone, John Dillinger,  "Baby Face" Nelson.... the list goes on and on. There is still an element of romance with…

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Vanuatu much

Chances are good that you've not heard of Vanuatu.  A South Pacific Ocean nation made up of roughly 80 islands that stretch 1,300 kilometers, we discovered it purely out of chance and we're glad that we did.  Previously known as the New Hebrides Islands, it is an archipelago nation in the southwest Pacific Ocean, north of…

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IV drip trips

We're not sure if this is a trend, or a reaction, but we're seeing more and more wellness solutions appearing in the news and in our mailboxes. Why is this?  Are these jokes, snake-oil salespeople, misguided wellness gurus or . . . a real thing?  Something to think about when you click on a link or…

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War is over (if you want)

It will be trite to say too much about how awful war is.  You would think that after all of these decades and thousands lost, humanity would get the point that war is not a solution.  And yet, war marches on. It is useful to look back and reflect (and perhaps learn) on all that has…

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Kinda blue

Don’t worry about feeling sad: on the benefits of a blue period. In a Twitter account called So Sad Today, the American writer Melissa Broder has been sending out snippets of her daily inner life since 2012. Broder writes about mundane sadness – ‘waking up today was a disappointment’ or ‘what you call a nervous breakdown i…

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Silence is golden

Sometimes there's nothing better than being out on your own, doing what you want to do on your schedule. And if you want a little peace, what could be a better choice than some of the expansive and - in many places - crowd-free places in Asia.  Just you, your backback, your phone and .…

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Rick Steves believes

We love to travel, and we've been to (or lived in) more than thirty five countries in our lives.  We hope that you'll keep us in mind when you look for travel options.  We focus on self-travel options, but also have excellent tour companies, too.  See G Adventures, below. But, if you're looking for something else…

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Will you pack for Rúpac?

When you think of Peru, you usually think of Machu Pichu, which is logical, as it's the most well-known settlement in Peru.  But, it will also likely come as no surprise that it is not the only ancient settlement in Peru. The Archaeological Complex of Rúpac-Marca Kullpi, often known as the “Machu Picchu of Lima”,…

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Horrifyingly good food

If you're not a horror film fan (or a vegetarian) look away now.  Just when you think it's safe to crawl out from under the sofa, another theme restaurant appears out of nowhere.  And this one is nothing like Chuck E. Cheese or Taco Bell. Some enterprising folks have repurposed the Texas Chainsaw Massacre gas station…

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