Rental cars remain hard to get and very expensive – and this will persist well into 2022.
Continue readingMonth: November 2021

Should I stay in a hostel?
What is a hostel?
Who do they cater to?
What is an Upscale hostel?
Is a hostel for you or me?
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Big, really big: How big is international travel?
The percent of people who have traveled, from the U.S., and those who travel from other countries, is staggering.
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What Is Trip Stacking?
Experienced, savvy travelers are booking two trips at the same time, the second one as a backup to the first in case it gets canceled due to Covid restrictions.
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Covid Travel Restrictions By Country
Many countries have travel restrictions – both inbound and outbound. These may include PCR testing, proof of ability to quarantine for up to 14 days, mandatory health and quarantine insurance and more.
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Volunteer opportunities and travel
Volunteer options may be available in conjunction with travel options. Plus non-travel virtual volunteer options enable you to assist remote organizations in other countries – think Zoom and email! For students, such programs can offer internships and college course credits.
But keep your eyes wide open – some of the “volunteer travel” groups seem sketchy, and may use volunteers, regardless of skills, as little more than unskilled workers. Except you are not paid – in fact, you pay them for the opportunity to volunteer!
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U.S. Department of State’s Per Country Guidance
The U.S. Department of State maintains a helpful web site that can answer questions such as what vaccinations are required, is a visa required, and how long can you stay?
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Social contact while traveling
When traveling for an extended period, and particularly if moving to another country for a period of time, how do you make social contact? Some travelers develop feelings of isolation and loneliness. How can you address this?
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Language Learning Resources
Studying languages on our own, without the guidance of a teacher, is hard!
For best results, you will want to use multiple learning resources – do not rely on just one.
In this section, I describe tools I have found useful.
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“Catching up” on travel
For various reasons, I missed out on travel in my life and now aim to catch up. Whereas most travelers start young – with support from family, friends or study abroad programs, I am doing this as an older adult with no experience or travel support.
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