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94 essays

1. The View from Prcanj, Montenegro

   I think a lot about distant places, but to be honest, I’ve never really given much thought to the small country called Montenegro. I’m not sure why– after all, it is the world’

2. New Travel Hacking Offers: Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Points & More

   Greetings from paradise, also known as Australia . I started writing this post from one of my favorite places in the world: the balcony of my room at Park Hyatt Sydney ( check out this photo of the su

3. Would You Pay $60 to Sit in a Hot Tub? First Look at the First Class Al Safwa Lounge in Doha, Qatar

   Yesterday I had the opportunity to be one of the very first passengers in an exclusive airport lounge that finally opened after a year’s worth of delays. This was the Al Safwa lounge in Doha, Qatar, o

4. Inspired by Strangers: How to Talk with People While Traveling

   This is a traveler case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . ) We all meet people on the road—it’s part of the fun of traveling. But for Marc Smith, his meetings on the road are especiall

5. How One Family of Four Created Enough Passive Income to Travel Forever

   This is a traveler case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . ) Sharon Gourlay didn’t want to stop traveling as her family grew—so she gathered up her two kids and husband, then figured ou

6. Former Stockbroker Travels through Europe on $10 a Day

   This is a traveler case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . ) Former stockbroker Tomislav Perko says he’s nothing special: just an everyday guy who lost his job, and decided to take a di

7. Travel Hacker and Ethical Fashionista: On the Road with Lauren K. Lancy

   This is a travel hacking case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . ) Not only is Lauren Lancy a travel hacker, using miles & points to see the world and return home to New York, but she&#8

8. “If We Never Booked the Tickets, We’d Never Go”: On the Road with Serena Star Leonard

   This is a traveler case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . ) Well into her third year of continuous travel, Serena Star Leonard and her husband John spend their days exploring the world and d

9. Exploring Global Subcultures from New Orleans to Tokyo: On the Road with La Carmina

   This is a traveler case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . ) A law student turned global storyteller, La Carmina has put her love of seeing the world through a subculture lens into books, art

10. A Traveler Who Loves Coming Home: On the Road with Megan Cain

    This is a traveler case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . ) I love finding people who are able to incorporate travel into their lives without making it their whole life. Here’s how Meg

11. Around the World on a Yellow Motorcycle: Leon Logothetis’ Quest

    This is a quest case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . ) Some people like a challenge. Some like a really big challenge. Leon Logothetis went for big when he decided to travel around the wor

12. “We Don’t Know What it’s Like Not to Travel”: On the Road with Sarah Glashegal and Scott Haywood

    This is a traveler case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . ) Sarah and Scott are at an exciting time in their lives: after incorporating regular travel into their routine, they’re now t

13. How to Join “The Amazing Race” for Regular People

    Have you ever wanted to be on The Amazing Race ? I’ve never actually seen the show—I preferred to focus on my own race for ten years—but one time J.D. Roth and I got up early to stand in line for audi

14. Where Is Home for the Transitory?

    I stumbled upon an essay by an anthropologist who had a diverse background before settling in Michigan. But where is she actually from?

15. Walking in Hong Kong

    Hong Kong has been one of my favorite global cities for nearly a decade now. This short film focuses mostly on the city’s architecture, which has always been

16. Taking a Travel Break Mid-Career: On the Road with John Fiddler and Kathleen Egan

    This is a traveler case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . ) John and Kathleen opted to take a mid-career break and travel the world under three tenets: sightseeing, athletics (trail running,

17. Building a Global Community One Beach at a Time: On the Road with Mirva Lempiäinen

    This is a traveler case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . ) Mirva Lempiäinen fell in love with beaches of all kinds during college. Her passion caused her to build a career and friend base t

18. The New World of Passport Tattoo Art: Possibly Illegal, Definitely Awesome

    I’m proud of my stamps and visas, and I often get a double-take from immigration officers around the world when presenting my passport—but this guy has gone much further. French illustrator Léon

19. Homeward: Notes from TG 910, Bangkok-London

    Originally posted on May 21, 2015 — Greetings from the skies over Helsinki, on-board a well-aged Thai Airways 747 that has two hours remaining in its

20. How to Visit Cuba as an American (While It’s Still “Illegal”)

    Like many of you, I was excited to hear the big news that the U.S. embargo against Cuba is ending. Wow! There’s probably a good life lesson in this news: if your government has tried something f

21. New: No Annual Fee on 50,000 British Airways Avios Offer

    Link: 50,000 Points for British Airways Card – Now With No First-Year Annual Fee As of this weekend, Chase has begun waiving the annual fee during the first year for its British Airways Signatur

22. “I have always sought to have autonomy”: On the Road with Evan Dufour

    This is a traveler case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . ) When I learned of Evan’s tale of medical woes in India, I wanted to hear more about his decision to travel the world before

23. How Much Does It Cost to Visit Every Country in the World?

    I’ve mentioned a few times that going to every country in the world wasn’t as expensive as most people initially think. But how much did it really cost? The short answer is that I’m not 100% sure of t

24. Mini City Guide: Aachen, Germany

    I love big cities, and always enjoy returning to Hong Kong, New York, and Sydney—among many others. But what about those unknown gems that are off the beaten tourist path… those obscure places t

25. Mini City Guide: Paestum, Capaccio, Italy

    I love big cities, and always enjoy returning to Hong Kong, New York, and Sydney—among many others. But what about those unknown gems that are off the beaten tourist path… those obscure places t

26. Mini City Guide: Toubacouta, Fatick Region, Senegal, West Africa

    I love big cities, and always enjoy returning to Hong Kong, New York, and Sydney—among many others. But what about those unknown gems that are off the beaten tourist path… those obscure places j

27. Internal Adventures: On the Road with Betsy and Warren Talbot

    This is a traveler case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself .) I met Betsy and Warren in Seattle—and then I promptly saw them again in Barcelona, Portland, and probably some other places. Like m

28. Mini City Guide: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    I love big cities, and always enjoy returning to Hong Kong, New York, and Sydney—among many others. But what about those unknown gems that are off the beaten tourist path… those obscure places t

29. Finding Yourself in Thailand: On the Road with Alana Morgan

    This is a traveler case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself .) I stumbled across Paper Planes and was intrigued by Alana Morgan’s story of leaving the U.S. to live abroad. I asked her to tell us

30. Goodbye, Comfort Zone: On the Road with Marvin and Josephine Abisia

    This is a travel hacking case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . ) From Portland to Singapore—and probably a few other places—I’ve hung out with Marv and Jo on multiple continents. They

31. The Year-Long Honeymoon: On the Road with Jes Albro

    This is a travel hacking case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself .) I first met Jes way back in Minneapolis. She was one of the first readers of AONC! A couple years later, I saw her in New Yor

32. How Has Travel Affected Your Life?

    Tom asked me what lasting impact travel has had on my life. I thought it was an interesting question. After I came home from Norway (country 193/193), I did a number of radio interviews where the host

33. Why You Should Quit Your Job and Travel around the World

    It happens to me every time I travel overseas. I talk with people who hear about where I’m going, and they always say the same thing: “That sounds amazing!

34. Your Own Amazing Race

    My travel goal takes me to a lot of places, and the trips don’t always play out the way I expect. Things go wrong.

35. Beware of Life

    From January to September 2009, 21,833 people died in my home state of Oregon. Just like that, each one of them left the world—here one day and gone the

36. What You Don’t Do Doesn’t Matter

    Coming home from a recent trip, I thought about bringing flowers. Wouldn’t that be nice, I thought.

37. Rest and Recovery

    Back home in Portland, I went to my first yoga class in several weeks and immediately noticed that something was different. This class is kicking my ass!

38. Enjoying the Moment

    Alix from the Netherlands writes in with a great question: While goals are good to work towards, do you not feel like constantly pursuing things makes you

39. Calm Before the Storm

    In the time leading up to a big day, you do everything you can. You make plans. You consider contingencies. You supply, you restock.

40. Running in St. Louis

    I stepped outside my hotel room and put my headphones in. Taking the elevator down to the lobby, I looked out at blue sky and sunshine—much nicer than the

41. Forward Motion

    I had an early-early flight, so I booked a hotel near the airport and took the train out the night before.

42. Lessons Learned from 11 Years of Travel

    Last weekend I had the honor of speaking to 600 people at Frequent Traveler University , a conference devoted to the world of points and miles. A longtime friend, Gary Leff , asked me to share a few l

43. Searching for Guinea Bissau in Midtown Manhattan

    I. The Pancake On a crisp morning in November, you find yourself waking up in the center of the universe.

44. The Worst Thing That Can Happen Rarely Does

    Somewhere in my journey I learned an important lesson: whatever your location, you can choose to be at peace or you can choose to be anxious.

45. You Should Do What Makes You happy

    I liked Seth Miller’s post about flying JetBlue on his birthday for no particular reason other than the fact that it made him happy.

46. Interesting Facts on Visiting Angola

    Chances are, you probably won’t be visiting Angola anytime soon … but it’s always good to be prepared. Here’s a starting point. *** 1. The capital city of Luanda is now the mos

47. Not Sure of Your Next Career Move? Take a Trip.

    When I haven’t been recording 30 half-hour lessons on travel hacking, I’ve been reading a lot of survey notes and conducting interviews for my next book.

48. How to Use Frequent Flyer Miles to Go Anywhere

    I recently received a notice from American Airlines , letting me know I had achieved million-miler status. I’ve been working on this for about two years, but the real goal is two million miles—t

49. Jet Lag Is My Favorite Drug: And Other Notes from Hong Kong

    On my first day in Asia last month, I took a long walk to reorient myself to a place I knew well through countless jet-lagged visits over the past five years. In Hong Kong, you can wander freely. You

50. Adventure Is Worthwhile In Itself

    “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do.

51. A Night at the Airport

    After being home for three whole weeks, I’d almost forgotten how to travel. Fortunately, unlocking travel master status is a lot like riding a bicycle.

52. Beginner’s Guide to Travel Hacking

    Greetings from Ouagoudougou , winner of the “most awesome city name” contest and also my current stop on the week-long West Africa tour. I came in via Lufthansa, Royal Air Maroc, and Ethiopian Airline

53. Sleeping in Hong Kong on My 100th Visit

    I’m not actually sure I’ve been to Hong Kong 100 times, but that’s probably a close guess.

54. Travel Disasters and Misadventures Are Good for Us

    Earlier this year, as I was wrapping up the writing for The Happiness of Pursuit, I commissioned an illustration from Mike Rohde to commemorate a few of my

55. Why I Keep Returning to My Least Favorite Hotel in London

    Many years back, I checked into the Sheraton Heathrow after winning a bid on Priceline.

56. Travel and Social Privilege

    Pat from the UK writes in on the growing discussion about “Why You Should Quit Your Job and Travel Around the World”. To say the least, the concept of investing in expanding your worldview as opposed

57. Amex Centurion Lounge: The Airport Oasis That Makes Domestic Flying Comfortable

    Personal Link: The Platinum Card from American Express Business Link: The Business Platinum Card from American Express A couple of years ago, American

58. Fuel Dumping: A Little-Understood Trick To Save Hundreds Of Dollars On Airfare

    There’s a fun trick that can help you save hundreds of dollars on your next long flight—but it’s a little complicated and requires a bit of work.

59. When Next In Australia, Don’t Pay For Those Expensive Domestic Flights

    This post was written while I was in Australia for a few days, writing and enjoying paradise: *** Here’s a tip: my favorite country can be a little

60. The Journey to Ithaca

    Many of us are on quests, either real or representative. Since my quest is real, I like the metaphor of journeying . Going on a journey involves unexpected surprises, challenges, setbacks, and rewards

61. Awesome In-Flight Videos From The KLM Cockpit

    Ever wonder how dozens of flights can safely cross the Atlantic at the same time, despite the fact that much of the journey includes no radar coverage?

62. “Adventure Is Anything That Puts Us Outside Our Comfort Zone”: Notes From The Himalayas

    Adventure photographer Cory Richards almost died in an avalanche while descending from a mountain in Pakistan, but he lived and the experience changed his

63. For Another Side of North Korea, Watch This Ultimate Time-Lapse Video

    Apparently Pyongyang isn’t just rationed electricity and a lack of lunch options: North Korea was the last country seemingly immune to change—but no longer.

64. A Tale Of Two Rivers: New Film Documents Journeys In Iran and Patagonia

    Link: A Tale of Two Rivers: Journeys on the Karun & Santa Cruz I wrote about Tom Allen in The Happiness of Pursuit after learning of his bicycle journey

65. Packing Essentials

    It doesn’t take me long to pack for most trips. I typically bring the same clothes and “stuff” with me no matter my destination or purpose of travel.

66. Midnight Sky Notes from Jakarta to Tokyo

    Sometimes it’s good to live for the moment. Case in point: you’re flying JAL from Jakarta to Tokyo. It’s an overnight flight, but a short one.

67. Tips for Stress-Free Travel

    Greetings from an edgy and interesting Bangkok, Thailand . I’ve set up camp in the Silom area and have been having fun working, writing, wandering, and talking with people. Last week I took my i

68. “Everything Is Figureoutable:” Notes from Paris to Doha

    On a recent trip, I had to get back to Doha from Paris, a 5 1/2 hour flight. I was transferring via an initial connection from Zurich, and I booked the

69. Contentment in Five Short Stories

    I. Dairy Queen in Udon Thani In Northern Thailand I sit in the Udon Thani airport eating a custard pastry. It costs 20 baht (60 cents). Along with a cup of coffee ($1.10), it is my joy. I sit across f

70. How to Request an Airline Status Match

    In 2008 I earned Executive Platinum status with American Airlines the hard way– through lots of flight hours logged all over the world. In 2009 I also earned the same, highest-level status with

71. Under the Unseen Blue Sky in Sydney, Australia

    If you’re going through a dark night of the soul, you might as well pass the time in a beautiful place.

72. What Is First Class Travel Really Like?

    The flight attendant escorts me to my seat in 2B. She waits as I put my things down, and offers to hang my jacket. I spread out my books, journal, and iPod over the seat next to me, because I already

73. 7 Beautiful Places in the World

    On a bus into downtown Seoul from ICN airport a couple years ago, I chatted with a French-Canadian guy who was interested in my travel experiences. He asked me a question that has always stumped me: “

74. I Flew in an Apartment in the Sky.. and it was Awesome!

    Earlier this year I identified a new travel goal: to fly in the Etihad “Apartment,” a full-on suite that’s included on their A380 aircraft on certain routes.

75. This Short Video Reminds Me Why I Travel

    I can be a pretty jaded traveler, so I watch videos like these to remind myself of the magic. This one is from a summer trip to Dubai and Indonesia.

76. How to Earn 250,000 Frequent Flyer Miles in a Year: Action Plan

    In a previous post I explained how to kickstart your experience with miles and points that can be used for free travel.

77. 4 Travel Hacking Tricks for Domestic Trips

    I received a note from a reader who wanted to know about traveling domestically. I admit that most of what I get excited about in the world of travel hacking

78. 9 Overrated Tourist Destinations (and 9 Great Alternatives)

    In my trips around the world, I’ve been to a lot of conventional places and a lot of off-the-grid places. Among other things, these experiences have led me discover that some of the best destinations

79. 17 Travel Hacking Tips for People Who Value Their Time and Sanity

    17 practical tips for getting the most from points, miles, and credit card rewards—from booking upgrades to finding cheap positioning flights and using travel hacking to see the world for less.

80. What’s In Your Carry-On? 6 Things That Keep Me Comfortable and Productive on the Road

    Nate wrote in to ask me about my travel packing strategy: “My burning question for you right now is what are your essential items that keep you comfortable

81. Do Hard Things Because They Are Hard

82. 28 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Traveling

    When you first head off to places in the world that are a lot different from where you live, a number of things change. You have to learn to adapt. I still make a lot of mistakes everywhere I go, but

83. Man Takes More than 1,000 flights Without Leaving the Airport

    For more than twenty years, he flew to a different European city — every Wednesday. He never missed a week.

84. The Best Place to Be Is Somewhere Else

    On the road is where a traveler feels most at home. Sure, you can take it slow for a while, staying in one place to save up funds or work on a project or do

85. One Free Ticket, 18 Hours on Amtrak, and Many Interesting Passengers

    Greetings from the Coast Starlight! I’ve been riding Amtrak 18 hours through Oregon and California, while traveling to San Francisco and eventually (by

86. Vampire Living in Jakarta

    It’s a new day in Jakarta, Indonesia. The sun rises at 2pm—or rather, that’s when I manage to get out of bed.

87. Watch This Haneda Airport Timelapse Video for a Glimpse of Tokyo Travel

    Several years ago I came to Haneda airport in central Tokyo for the first time. As I wrote then, it’s an interesting place that feels very different from the

88. What Time Should You Arrive at the Airport?

    I’m unusual in that I love airports. I’ll regularly arrive 2-3 hours in advance of my flight, sometimes even at a small airport without a lounge.

89. How to Buy Plane Tickets on the Same Day of Departure

    On a recent excursion I found myself in Washington, DC, and I was ready to leave. There were just two problems: I didn’t know where I wanted to go next,

90. How to Travel to Random Places and Work on a Project

    Greetings from the sky, on board Cathay Pacific’s longest flight. There are 16 hours scheduled for my “air world” time today, although it looks like we may

91. 7 Ways to Get Started Earning Points & Miles for Free Travel

    Hey everyone! Lots of new people are reading the blog lately, and I’ve been getting a bunch of questions about some travel hacking basics.

92. A Short Narration of My Travels So Far

    In September 2006 I first considered the idea of trying to visit every country in the world, and I decided to write a short essay about everywhere I’ve been so far. Over the next year I’ll be posting

93. Do This When You Visit a New Place

    Pandemic life has taught many of us to appreciate moments in life that might otherwise pass us by.

94. Life Is for Spending

    A reader wrote in to say he had earned more than 400,000 Frequent Flyer Miles from learning about travel hacking in the past few months.