WORLDROMPER

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." Helen Keller


by Leave a comment

Ten Sneaky Ways to Save for Travel

IMG_1302[Himalayas Here I Come]

Having enough money to travel is a matter of priorities. Do you want a late-model car, or a trip to Brazil? Would you rather hit the mall twice a month or walk on the Great Wall of China? Live in a trendy neighborhood or explore the markets of Indonesia? No matter how poor you think you are, you can save up and take an amazing adventure to the destination of your choice. The trick is to make saving money painless and easy. Establish a system for saving, and you won’t have to agonize over simple money decisions.

Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Least Bragworthy Travel Experiences

full-6

[Sprinkling on your shoes]

“Experiential travel” and “conspicuous leisure” are the new buzzwords in the tourism industry. Travelers don’t just want to go somewhere; they want to have unique experiences that truly connect them with the soul of a destination (and that can be shared on social media to make all their friends jealous). Rare and amazing experiences are a form of social currency used by those who believe that are actions create our identities.

Swimming with great white sharks, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, surfing on the moon – these types of experiences are highly valuable currency: bragworthy (aka well-suited for a Facebook profile pic). But travel isn’t just high-flying adventures and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Check out the LEAST bragworthy travel experiences that I have witnessed or participated in during my tenure as a worldromper. How many have you checked off your shit-bucket list? Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Travel Skills: How to Ooze Confidence (even when you’re lost as sh*t in a foreign country)

DSC04306[Pretend like you’re in a boy band with the Wild Man of the Dance Floor, Johann, Geoff and Big Man]

The best travel experiences push you outside of your comfort zone, to an unknown place where you are a weird-looking stranger with odd habits who seems a bit lost. And you might actually be lost. But whether you’re navigating your way through an unfamiliar airport or trying in vain to find a street with no name, you don’t need to walk around like you haven’t a clue what the hell is going on. Don’t make yourself a target. Learn how to project confidence even when you are riddled with anxiety inside. Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

“Is It Just You? Just One?” Eat Alone and Love It

full-41

Dining alone presents a challenge for many. Eating is usually a social event full of shared laughter – except when it’s not. Whether you travel alone often, or just find yourself at a table for one, the usual advice is to bring a book to read, chat up your server or eat at the bar for company. You could do that. OR you could… Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Top Twelve Daypack Essentials

DSC04148[Monkey = Optional]

Whether you’re a hard-core backpacker, a duffle queen or a bag-rolling traveler, you’ll need to slim down your stash of personal items when you head out for a day of sightseeing and adventures. Bring too much, and you’ll be worn out by lunchtime with all the excess poundage; bring too little and you risk getting cold, hungry or sunburned – while your jacket, snacks and sunblock sit unused back in the room. Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Sleep with the Fishes in an Underwater Hotel Room

51ba288dd9127e0c21000353._w.540_s.fit_

I never thought I’d WANT to sleep with the fishes, but the Conrad Resort on Rangali Island in the Maldives makes it appealing… or maybe they’re just getting ready for global warming?Is this for real? Click through for a couple of pics of the underwater restaurant.

Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

BYOB: Bring Your Own Bucket (List) – How to Create Your Personal List of Things to Do Before You Die

AF017501_4[Bucket List Favorite: Pyramids at Giza]

What do you want to do before you kick the bucket? Where do you want to go? What do you want to learn? Who do you want to be?

You’ve got one life to make it happen, and only you can decide what “it” is. Create your own bucket list, and design a map of life intentions that will leave you happy and satisfied when you finally reach the end of your journey.

Here’s how:

Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Happy New Year! 2014: Year of the Wooden Horse

The upcoming year will bring you unexpected adventures. Travel will be your priority, and you will discover new journeys both outward and inward.  Your life will be like this dragon boat: colorful and beautiful, with water fountains shooting everywhere and quite possibly a skyscraper in the background.

IMG_1229_2

The Chinese Lantern Festival in Dallas runs through February 17, and you can find great ticket deals on LivingSocial.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

IMG_1226


by Leave a comment

ADD Travel Survival Guide

DSC04409

Smells, sights, sounds, tastes OH MY! Stimulation overload is heaven for the ADD brain.

Healthy stimulation is the key to managing ADD, and travel is full of it. Bustling markets, wild boat rides, exciting new friends and unexpected experiences all stimulate the production of dopamine and reduce the symptoms of ADD. Yet traveling also includes numerous situations that will test the patience and organizational skills of those with ADD. Waiting in train stations, keeping up with documents and sitting still on airplanes are not ideal experiences for the ADD brain.

Knowing your weaknesses can be your greatest strength. Use these tips to create a better trip experience, and discover why travel is one of the best medications that exists for ADD. Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Adventures in Los Angeles: Atwater Village

villa-corona-exterior

Bourdain blew up my taco spot!

But who can blame him? Tacos Villa Corona is just one of the phenomenal eating places in Atwater Village, a trendy, walkable neighborhood in central Los Angeles that’s relatively unknown outside of the city. Located right across the 5 freeway from Silver Lake (named #1 in “America’s Best Hipster Neighborhoods” by Forbes), this easygoing area has none of the pretense of the “Hipster Headquarters of the World” – but with numerous independent retailers and oddball businesses, it’s just as interesting. Continue reading →