We live in a new world where travel is not only inexpensive, but free in many instances . A little bit of research, negotiation, and patience can go a long way to attaining what was once thought impossible. I came up with 11 overlooked ways that allow one to travel free….ALL for the bargain basement price of $0!

1. WIFI

The explosion of the internet is the #1 reason why travel prices continue to drop. In most big cities you don’t need to wander too far to find a free WIFI connection. Even the smaller cities tend to house a few local hotspots. Coffee shops, parks, hotel/hostels/any place where people lodge, and restaurants are good places to start looking. If you can’t find any locations, ask. Internet and WIFI are commonly understood words in almost all languages.

2. Walking Tours

Want to go on a mind-numbing free walking tour guided by knowledgeable, well-spoken locals that give first-hand experiences, stories, and information of the city your visiting? These tours exist! Of course many free tours work on tips or up-sell paid tours, but that’s your choice to give them money. The Berlin Free Walking Tour and the tour guided by the owner of Hostel Che in Belgrade, Serbia were two of the more memorable experiences on my travels through Europe.

3. Public Libraries

Free public libraries? Whoda thunk? This is one of the more overlooked aspects of travel. In the age of the internet and Google, we tend to forget that public libraries still exist around the world. Hard working university students know the importance of a place that provides a tremendous wealth of organized knowledge and a good quiet place to focus. Travelers should too!

4. Lodging

Don’t under estimate the value of your existing relationships. Many times you can score free room and by board just by advertising your travel itinerary to friends and family. Couchsurfing, however, is my preferred method. I’ve blogged about the concept many times in previous posts. A free couch is just the beginning. In addition to the stay, many hosts go out of their way to ensure travelers receive a favorable impression of their city by providing home cooked meals, local hot spots, and good company during the stay. If you want a more adventurous free lodging experience, try camping. I remember two backpackers I met in Croatia who carried full sized tents with them, camping yards away from hostels.

5. Museums

Depending on the day and time, you can visit some of the most world-renowned museums for free. I remember specifically visiting The Louvre in Paris, France, The Museo de Prado in Madrid, Spain and The Acropolis in Athens, Greece for free. All three were a bit crowded during these times, but not unmanageable during the offseason. I highly recommend looking up times and dates online before visiting.

6. Phone Calls and Txt Messaging

How to make free calls

1. Find free WIFI hotspot
2. Dial out through Skype
3. Talk!

I have oversimplified the process, but a Skype account is a must for the world traveler. Add all of your close friends and family to stay in touch for free while on the road. Other free phone and txt messaging favorites include Google Voice, Apple’s FaceTime and iMessage, and oh yeah, that big social networking site Facebook. Download these applications to your smartphone or computer and never pay for a phone call again while traveling.

7. Apps

The mobile app industry has exploded the last few years. Mobile applications are taking over the world, and you can benefit! I thought about making a sepearate blog post of my favorite free applications to use while traveling. However, after a bit of internal debating, I decided to list here. The below applications represent my Top 10 must-own free smartphone applications.

Dropbox (Cloud Harddrive) – Love dropbox. You get 2GB of free storage which is plenty to store important travel documents like passports, bank statements, and still enough room to store a few movies or small music collections. I use everyday.
Evernote (Cloud Notebook) – Similar to dropbox, but used for note taking vs. storing data. Any notes or reminders go here. Also use this app everyday.
Waze (GPS) – Great free turn by turn navigation app for your smartphone. Works great locally in the states, but be careful for roaming charges if you plan on using abroad.
Instagram (Photos) – The premier photo application for smartphones. The camera’s on some of the newer smartphones are closing the gap on picture quality with some of the better point and shoot cameras on the market. Instagram allows you to do on the fly photo editing and sharing. Store travel photos on dropbox or share with friends and family realtime.
Trip-it (Travel Planner) – I use Trip-It a lot while traveling to organize my travel itineraries. In addition, I can log total travel miles and share my trips with friends and family.
Google Maps (Navigation) – Google Maps comes pre-installed on most new smartphones. The high-resolution aerial and satellitle images ensure you won’t ever get lost in most urban areas.
Skype (Phone Calls) – As mentioned above, Skype is a must download for the world traveler. Almost all newer smartphones (post 2010) come pre-installed with an internal camera and microphone.
Pandora (Music) – Pandora is my favorite music app. I happily use the service everyday. A forewarning: You will love this application so much you will be forced to pay for the yearly service upgrade fee, as I did. In addition, due to music licensing issues, Pandora might not work while traveling abroad. Do some research before traveling or use a solid proxy.
Flipboard (News Aggregator) – Aggregates all of the news feeds I subscribe to (websites,blogs,twitter,facebook) beautifully. Helps keep me connected, if I choose to be, with everything going on in the states. A must download, especially on the iPad.
Mint (Banking) – Mint is the best banking app and it’s not even close. All of my bank accounts, investments, and credit cards go here. This truly free app does a great job of reminding you of upcoming payments, low balances, and ways to save money. I use Mint everyday.

8. Volunteer

The world is limitless with volunteer opportunities. I heard a quote recently that has stuck with me. “Volunteers are not paid because they are worthless, but because they are priceless”. While many organizations will not pay you, they will in most instances, cover expenses relating to food, lodging, travel, and supplies. The knowledge and experience gained from volunteering is truly priceless. I’ve volunteered with The Boys and Girls Club, and currently volunteer with Explore Austin. Working with children is an exceptionally rewarding experience. Volunteer organizations looking for selfless individuals abroad include: Global Volunteer Network (work with children), Caretaker’s Gazette (house sitting), WWOOF (organic farms), and Go Eco (ecological projects).

9. Maps and Guidebooks

Yes maps and guidebooks are usually free, and often overlooked. Whenever I arrive in a new location via flight, I make a habit of seeking out a map of the city. Almost all tourist agencies will have them. Your job is to ignore their offers and take the free map or guidebook! In addition, any hostel or hotel will have plenty of these useful pieces of paper to giveaway for free.

10. Transportation

In most U.S states, hitchhiking is illegal. Elsewhere around the world, hitchhiking is not only legal but a highly encouraged safe, free method of transportation. Digihitch is the premier website for everything hitchhiking. In addition to hitchhiking, websites like eRideshare offer you the ability to share rides with others traveling to your destination. Biking, walking and working on crew ships also allow one to travel at no cost. Flights, however, are a bit tricky. I’ll get to them next.

11. Free Flights

Want to know how to get a free flight instantly? Easy, signup for a well-branded travel credit card and receive 20,000 – 25,000 travel miles! (Assuming you have excellent credit. If you don’t I still recommend reading on!). There is a whole sub-community dedicated to “travel hacking” through credit card rewards programs. Flyertalk is the best site for finding out how the experts do it. I recommend scouring the Flyer Talk forums as well as checking out this list of Travel and Airline Credit Cards. Lastly, sign up for all the major airlines mailing lists and frequent flier programs. You could snag the travel deal of a lifetime!

Niche Free Travel

I hope you enjoyed this 100% free blog post. As a special bonus for reading this far, I included 5 additional niche travel opportunities for the low cost of $0.00! The following represent free hobbies that you can do while traveling. I built this list based on my personal interests and experiences. The opportunities here are limitless. Readers, post in the comment section if you have additional ideas!

Coding

Want to know how to become a high-end web developer without investing in expensive college courses or training? Code Cademy is your one-stop shop for everything coding. It’s no secret many successful location-independent world travelers have a technology background. The community at Code Cademy includes user submitted tutorials that help the experts develop reputation. I highly recommend checking out this site if your interested in becoming a web developer.

Acting Classes

I’ve been taking improv acting classes for about a year in Austin. Many theaters cannot afford to pay additional staff to run the numerous shows and classes that take place during a week. Thus, teacher’s assistants, stage crews, and tech all are afforded the opportunity to take free classes in exchange for their work. This is one hobby where you need time to hone your skill.

Language Courses

The best way to learn a language is full immersion. Conversations with locals in foreign countries are free! However, many questions will arise in your journey of learning a new language. Websites like Livemocha and Learn a Language provide users with free step by step language learning techniques.

Education

I have one website to recommend for free education, Khan Academy. Khan Academy’s goal is to provide a free world-class education to anyone anywhere. All you need is a decent WIFI connection to browse an immense collection of courses and video tutorials. I love the statistics tracking that scores you as lessons are completed. There are other free education sites out there, but Khan Academy is by far the best I’ve seen.

Skiing

I learned this trick from a walking tour guide in Granada, Spain. People buy timecards that represent how long they can ski on the mountain. Many times, skiers leave early, with hours of additional time available. During the offseason, locals scoop up these cards and ski for free on someone else’s dollar! I’m not sure of the legalities of this or the security measures in place to prevent the practice. All I know is the locals have mastered this trick in Spain, skiing in the late afternoon when many of the day’s visitors are gone.

South by Southwest 2012 (SXSW2012) has officially ended. Well….it ended last week. Suffice to say, events like these take some time to recover from and reflect. I spent my time during these 10 days (March 9 – 18th) volunteering, watching movies and concerts, attending panels, and scoping the city for free food and drinks. The experience did not disappoint!

Volunteering

Last year I received a free Gold badge (Interative + Film) for speaking at SXSWi and volunteered an additional 20 hours to receive a music badge. The experience was epic as my presentation had a standing room only and I met with so many diverse and unique backpackers. This year I decided to spend more time volunteering to receive a different local perspective. I loved every bit of volunteering for High Beam Special Events.

In order to receive the coveted Platinum Badge, the most expensive badge SXSW offers, I worked 7 shifts ranging from 5 – 7 hours per shift. Some of my shifts included helping out at a Foodspotting event where I was encouraged to eat Texas’s finest barbecue, doorman at a Film Awards party, and handing out flyers and gear on 6th street for a British rock festival.

I found that the volunteering kept me engaged with the entire conference and did not get in the way of shows or panels I really wanted to attend. In addition, I remember last year becoming a bit unmotivated in the middle of the conference. “How can I possibly see everything in as little time as possible?” I asked. Instead of that question, I came up with this one,“How can I truly enjoy the SXSW 2012 experience this year?” The answer for me was to not plan anything and “go with the flow”.

Through conversations with other volunteers I found events I never would have attended and secret shows and after parties. In addition, I was able to hang out with some of the volunteers afterwards to see shows and events. Trust me, even though I live here, most of my friends cannot take time off work during this time of year. It’s nice to have a companion once in a while to experience SXSW with.

Here’s a super secret tid-bit about SXSW volunteering…Just because you are scheduled to work 7 hours does NOT mean you will work 7 hours! In many instances the groups hosting the events bring in their own people and do not need volunteers. I was supposed to work 40+ hours, I worked around 20! Thus, more time was spent attending SXSW than working it.

Attending Panels during South by Southwest Interactive

I did not see as many panels as I would of liked this year. Last year I worked Conference Tech and saw a lot of different presentations, but found my self bored and unmotivated during volunteer work. The two that I really enjoyed this year was the Post Secrets Live keynote and The Code for America keynote

I had never heard of Post Secrets until I walked into the presentation. The concept is fascinating. People are truly remarkable and will post some of the craziest things you’ve ever heard of anonymously. I found the presentation funny, sad, inspirational, and heart warming. The idea is ingenious and am now a lifelong fan.

Code for America was equally inspiring to watch. Government technology is extremely inefficient and needs updating. The example that was given was a look behind the screen of how employees enter data at the DMV. It looked completely like something out of the 80′s. I congratulate cities like Boston and Philadelphia for adopting Code for America’s promise and can only hope other cities follow their lead.

SXSW Music

I am a huge music fan. The big acts at SXSW never officially announce their schedule until days before they perform. This is what’s great about SXSW music. You can watch an artist like Bruce Springsteen or Mumford and Sons in an exclusive venue that seats a couple thousand. The fan experience is off the charts!

Last year I planned all of my music. I spent a lot of time researching bands and bouncing between downtown Austin venues to see the acts. This year I had two bands who I wanted to see, Temper Trap and Justin Townes Earle. The rest of my schedule was left open. I did see these two amazing musicians perform and many others!

I cannot tell you their names if I tried but I was greeted with a great soul band at the Google Village, amazing French artists at one of the tents, and various other rock bands I staggered into as I was walking downtown. Again the best way to see music at SXSW is to bounce around venues until you settle on something you like.

Film

Film is the area where SXSW is really growing. Interactive and Music are already huge, but Film is getting bigger every year.

I love the atmosphere at a world film premier. The director and main actor usually attend and there is a great buzz in the theater before the film begins. I also enjoy the unique opportunity to ask questions at the end of the movie.

The two films I really enjoyed were “The Hunter” and “Big Easy Express”

“The Hunter” was great. William Dafoe is one of my favorite actors and he plays great investigative characters. This was the first movie I saw at SXSW Film and it set the bar high. I’ll leave the details for you to find out but the imagery in the film was fantastic. Dafoe, the director, and producer did an awesome job answering the audience’s questions.

“Big Easy Express” was the last movie I saw and was incredible. The atmosphere was unbelievable. I’ve never been to a movie where about 200 friends and family of the film were in attendance. Especially during the opening and credits there was a lot of hooting and hollering.

The Mumford and Sons, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, and Old Crow Medicine Show all attended the premier. The ending was absolutely heart warming as the 3 bands played a 30 minute live acoustic performance for the audience. A great movie and performance to close out SXSW Film.

The Free Shit!

All in all, my favorite experience about SXSW is finding all the free drinks and food. I’ve never been to an event where corporate sponsors and start-ups shell out so much money on free stuff for the public. In addition, I can’t walk by the exhibit hall without receiving some kind of offer for free gear.

Twitter is the best place to find the locations of all the free SXSW events, food, beverages and gear. I don’t post much on twitter these days but during SXSW I spent hours checking my live feeds for updates. Must twitter follows for next year include:

@SXSW
@SouthByFreeNoms
@SXSWPartyList
@WaterlooRecords
@SXSWFreeDrinks

I went through a string of 4 straight days where I did not pay for any food or drinks. The only downfall is the food isn’t exactly the healthiest. I ended up getting sick the last two days presumably because of the unhealthy eating habits. Major shout out to the SquareSpace Food truck. I ate your hot dogs and barbecue on a daily basis!

In addition, I love racking up free clothing for the spring and summer months. Tip: During SXSW Interactive, spend a lot of time on the streets near The Convention Center and inside the Exhibit Hall. Companies have loads of free t-shirts and gear they need to give away.

Lastly

South by Southwest is the one time of year where I feel like a traveler in my own city. The people, the sights, the venues, and the performances all add up to one incredible event.

If your a local you have no reason not to go to SXSW. There is so much free stuff going on you don’t even need a badge to have a good time, just a place to stay! Travelers, I warn you, book early! SXSW lodging fills up quickly. I’m sad to see SXSW come and go but I know the next one will be just as good as last year.

I’ve settled back into the great city of Austin, Texas. Austin provides me the opportunity to work in my environment of choice, startups. Im at a point in my life where I am taking some time to hone some of my skills-sets. What skills you might ask? Here’s a few

Web Design
Passive Income Earning
Email Marketing
Wakeboarding
Video Editing
Improv
Living with Passion!

The last skill-set I attempt to master on a daily basis.

I’ve thought about travel a lot of late. How can I maintain the lifestyle I want while still being able to travel around the world? The answer is to take small trips until the next big adventure. When can will the next big adventure be?

2 years or less!

Since I moved to Austin I’ve experienced quite a few changes. I left the solo self-employed entrepreneur scene and now work for a small startup. I still have the freedom and flexability as before but still face many of the challenges that “9 – 5-ers” experience. Most notably deadlines and reports. I am blessed to have the freedom to work remote on days that I choose, while showing up to the office when the rest of my team needs me there.

Most importantly, I latched onto a nonprofit group called Explore Austin that excites and challenges me. It has been an amazing experience working with under-privelaged kids to help shape their lives for the better. This group is unlike any group I am a member of. I am challenged every activity to use my leadership, communication, team-building, and to a lesser extent athletic skills to overcome problems and to complete tasks. I absolutely LOVE every moment of it!

Rock climbing, hiking, biking, and canoeing are just a few of the activities we do on a bi-monthly basis with these amazing kids. Unlike my job, which I can do from anywhere in the world, I NEED to be there for the young children.

Here is an example of one of the many activities we do at Explore Austin.

Which is why I am committed for at least the next 2 years living in Austin.

During the time I am here I will continue to learn, grow and save for the next big travel adventure. I’ve already began the process! I hope to stay a bit longer than 7 months, and learn a few languages along the way. An epic adventure through South America or Malaysia awaits! I have yet to decide on the schedule.

Lastly I have began putting together photo and video footage from my last 7 months in Europe and Africa. My skill sets have improved in the area of video editing and hope to have an 8 – 10 video montage of the experience. Here is a trailer.

I am still working on my first E-Book “70 Vacations in 7 Months”. I am about halfway done. As promised those of you who attended my SXSW presentation “How to Make Money Traveling Around the World” will receive the first prints.

Do you remember in history class the first time the teacher explained Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species? I do. Remember the pictures of the different species of Finch’s beaks, the groundbreaking idea of evolution itself, and the mesmerizing abundance of plant and animal species in the Galapagos Islands? I’m sure YOU do!

Visiting the Galapagos Islands was truly a trip of a lifetime. I’m picking up where I left off on a previous post. How to Book Last Minute Vacations explains how I reached the Galapagos Islands. This one will talk about the experience.

I flew in from Quito, Ecuador to the tiny island of Baltra. Landing on the one lane runaway I knew I was in a special place. I could not see a single house or evidence of human population except the airport itself. I took a small boat from Baltra to the island of Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is where the infamous Darwin Research Center is located, home of the giant turtle restoration project, and Lonesome George.

Turtles at the Darwin Research Center

Day 1 was incredible, I dreamed about seeing those turtles up close and in person ever since I first learned of their existence. Lonesome George couldn’t be coaxed out of his hiding spot, but the park features various species of Giant Tortoises and other reptiles indigenous to Galapagos.

The Darwin Research Center was a great educational experience before I started my cruise. I was pleased to find out that almost all invasive species on the island have been wiped out!

In addition to breeding Giant Tortoises, the Darwin Research Center hosts iguanas, cactus, finches, and various other local animals. I really enjoyed the National History Museum, describing the history of Galapagos as well as the great conservation effort of eradicating invasive species.

I could go on and on about what I did each day. Everyday of Galapagos deserves its own blog post. In no particular order, I’ve included a breakdown of my favorite highlights.

Swimming and Playing with the Sea Lions

If I had to choose one favorite experience from Galapagos it would be hands down my adventures with Sea Lions. I’ve never seen such friendly, playful, care-free marine animals. On land, the sea lions are sleepy, sun hoarding, clumsy walking mammals. In the ocean, they are graceful, playful, happy-go-lucky fish.

Galapagos Sea Lions have no fear of people! I was able to get within inches of resting Sea Lions on the beach. I imagine at times they must think of tourists as annoying. When someone did get too close for comfort, the Sea Lions would give out a confident warning growl.

Here’s a few of my favorite Sea Lion photos. Most were taken on the beaches of Santa Fe Island.

My only regret was not having an underwater camera. Underwater the Sea lions twirl, whirl, and play like there is no tomorrow. A favorite Sea Lion pastime is playing hide and seek with snorkeling tourists. Much of my snorkeling adventures were spent fruitlessly attempting to swim with the Sea Lions as they dashed and darted around me like a flashes of lightning.

I loved the Galapagos Sea Lions. They will forever be etched in my mind as my favorite highlight from visiting the Galapagos Islands.

The Food and People

As a solo traveler on a 16 person luxury yacht, I fully expected to be the only solo traveler. I was pleasantly surprised to travel with three other people like myself.

One of my favorite things to do on the cruise was relax with the other young travelers over cold beverages and play card games deep into the night. I was so happy to have others to share experiences with from our long eventful days.

Our games at night attracted attention! The crew on board the G6 yacht joined us in our card games on the last night for fun and laughter. I’ll never forget the captain of our ship dancing around the boat like a flamingo while his crew members video recorded something they’ve never seen before from their leader. That’s what happens when ya draw the wrong card!

The food on board the cruise was also a pleasant surprise. Every meal we ate was a great one, and we ate three meals a day. The staff and cook did a wonderful job of preparing mouth water sensations for each event. In addition, they take the time to remember people’s birthdays. On one special occasion we had our cake and ate it too! I felt like a spoiled king!

Snorkeling

My favorite activity in Galapagos was our snorkeling excursions. The Galapagos Islands feature many land animals unique to the area. However, the uniqueness of Galapagos really shines below the surface. I had never seen such abundance and diversity in any of my snorkeling/scuba diving adventures. By far the best underwater sightseeing I’ve ever done.

Highlights include:

Spotting Whitetip Reef Sharks swim underneath me – They are incredibly stealthy. If you blink you miss them.

A Galapagos Sea Turtle circling me for a solid two minutes while snorkeling alone – I shouldn’t have been in the water at the time. The guide mentioned Bull Sharks were spotted in the area. The turtle was just as curious about me as I was him. Truly a magical moment for me.

Swimming with Giant Eagle Rays – These things were huge! They looked like small airplanes gliding through the water.

Playing hide and seek with Sea Lions - My favorite snorkeling event! The Sea Lions always won but I still enjoyed trying to keep up.

Watching Galapagos Penguins dash and dart through the water – The penguins are all business and no play when they are in the water. The Galapagos Penguins look like small missiles in their pursuit for fresh fish.

Watching a group of Sea Turtles getting cleaned by shrimp – I watched for a good 15 minutes three Green Sea Turtles sit on the bottom of the ocean while little shrimp cleaned their bodies of parasites.

Swimming through huge groups of fish – Galapagos is loaded with huge schools of large and smaller fish. I loved diving in between these groups only to be encircled by a living wall of marine life.

Almost got bit by a Sea Lion – I did not see the actual event, but apparently when I dove through one of these large schools of fish, a Sea Lion went chasing after me with his mouth open. At the last second he veered off and decided not to take a chunk out of my flipper. Thanks?

If I could go back in time I would make sure to purchase an underwater camera before visiting Galapagos. The marine life trumps everything going on above the surface. The memories will however be etched in my mind.

The Land Animals

The main reason tourists flock to the Galapagos Islands is to witness the animal life found nowhere else in the world. I was mesmerized at the size and colors of Galapagos’s indigenous species of reptiles and birds. Below are some of the photos I snapped of some of Galapagos’s most famous residents.

The Giant Galapagos Turtle

Galapagos Crab

Penguins

The Great Frigate Bird

Land Iguana

Blue Footed Boobie

Marine Iguanas

Flamingos

Lava Lizard

Sea Lions

The end of my 5 day cruise of the Galapagos Islands came all too fast. Each and everyday of the trip was a unique adventure of a lifetime. Exploring the people-less islands was truly a special experience that I will never forget.

Our guide was the best of the best and provided us with a unique learning opportunity from someone who has lived the area the past 25+ years. I could not be happier from the treatment we received from cabin and crew aboard the Queen Beatriz.

Charles Darwin himself stayed ashore the Galapagos Islands for a total of 19 days. He never came back. We credit his expedition as the beginning of modern day theories of evolution. My trip lasted a total of 5 days and the experience left a profound impact on me as well.

People say that Galapagos is a once in a lifetime trip, and they are right. The place is magical for representing what can be when humans DON’T destroy the natural environment. No where on Earth will you find a more protected, natural environment than Galapagos. (97% of the islands are a National Park). I can happily say that the Galapagos Islands are my new favorite place in the world!

But wait, there’s more!!!

The Galapagos Islands are a photographer’s paradise. To view my full collection of photographs from Galapagos click on the Play button below.

I’m writing this post on my iPad in Quito, Ecuador. Tomorrow I head to The Galapagos Islands.

I arrived two days ago on a trip that took me less than 5 minutes to plan.

One of good friends recently returned from a week long trip to Nicaragua. He explained to me the wonderful people and beautiful scenery of this Central American country. We talked for solid hour about travel, life, and relationships. I explained to him a new job I’m looking forward to taking next week.

My friend asked me what I was doing until the job. “What am I doing?” I thought. The only thing I had planned was a 10k local race the next morning. I’m sitting here doing nothing for the next, week, why not go travel?

The first thought that popped into my mind was The Galapagos Islands. As a kid I had been fascinated by the giant creatures inhabiting the secluded islands. Giant turtles, iguanas, and colorful birds peeked my interest.

I decided that I would do whatever it takes to get to Galapagos. I’ve never been to South America and know very little Spanish, yet that night I booked my round-trip flight to Quito, Ecuador. My plane leaves the next day.

Booking last minute flights

Usually I can find great deals booking one way flights. However, the round-trip prices were the same as one way tickets to just about anywhere in South America. In addition, prices can fluctuate the closer you get to fly day.

I found an awesome deal to Quito for about $600 round-trip through PriceLine. The only problem is I’d need to be at the airport by noon. My 10K race begins at 9am.

Travel Tip: If possible book round-trip airfare when flying to South America to save money. I’m sure deals exist, but in my research one ways are about the same price as round-trip.

The Amazing Race

The next morning my 10k race started at 9AM. My flight to Quito leaves at 1:15PM. I had 4 hours to run 6.1 miles, shower, pack, eat, and book a cab to the airport.

I finished the race in about about 1hr 6min. (Duly note my official time of 54:01.) I was completely exhausted and still needed to walk another mile from the race to my house, the true finish line.

(Updated 4/16)

I complete 4 out of 5 tasks, waiting to get to the airport before enjoying my first real meal of the day. I’m on my way to Quito!

Book Lodging Upon Arrival

Wandering Quito, Ecuador at night is dangerous. I arrived in the city center around 10:30PM. I notice armed guards hovering around the casinos and uniformed police watching other local establishments. I need to find a place to stay soon!

My strategy is to find a low cost hostel or hotel where I can find more information about getting to the Galapagos Islands the next morning. In my 5 minutes of research, I did check the prices at HostelWorld for hostels. I know I should not be paying for than $20 in Quito for lodging.

After an hour of wandering around Quito, I finally find a hostel that offers me my own private room, TV, and WIFI for $8/night. Sold! It took me four tries, but the guy at the front desk spoke well enough English to help me with my questions.

Travel Tip: Do some research on lodging prices before leaving. Formulate the absolute max price per night your willing to pay and visit multiple locations if necessary to find the best fit.

Book a Last Minute Cruise

I fully expected to be on my way to the Galapagos Islands the next day. Little did I know, Galapagos is one of the few places in the world where planning needs to be done weeks in advance.

The best way to view the Galapagos Islands is by cruise ship. The islands are extremely protected and tourism is limited. You cannot explore Galapagos without a certified tour guide. I did not know this useful information until I arrived in Quito.

Most people book cruises to the islands months in advance, I had two days!

That morning, I visited 5 different travel agencies. My options included 4 or 5 day cruises leaving Tuesday (the next day) or Wednesday. (Some Galapagos tours offer longer adventures, but my schedule limited me the 4 or 5 day cruises).

Each travel agency has their own relations with tour operators. A trip to one agency can lend different prices and tours than another. After about four stops, I noticed a trend. Almost all of the tours were booked up. The receptionists began calling every known tour operator (even the ones in which they have no relations with) to help me find a cruise.

A few 4 day cruises emerge, but I really wanted a 5 day cruise leaving either Tuesday or Wednesday. There was only one option. Gap Adventures had a spot open for about $1,600 on the most luxurious boat they offer, the 1st class G6 Queen Beatriz. The price included round-trip airfare from Quito. (A $400 value).

I was extremely frustrated that I could not find a cheaper option. Some options were going as low as $1200 including the price of flight. The tour agencies kept telling me what a great deal the luxury yacht option was. Little did I know how right they were!

Gap Adventures G6 list price (Everyone on cruise paid): $2999
Price I paid: $1200+ a free underwater camera holder!

Final Travel Trip: To really embrace the shoestring lifestyle, book your cruise last minute and as close to port as possible. Luxury cruise ships MUST sell all their cabins and in some instances will cut 50% or more off the price!

I’m still working on my eBook “70 Vacations in 7 Months“. The project has consumed most of my time of late. If you attended the presentation with myself and Tynan, shoot me over an email (if you haven’t already) and I’ll make sure you receive a free copy upon completion

The Top 20!

Couch Surfing

Hands down my favorite travel website on the internet. The community is huge, over a million couch surfers worldwide. I couch surfed once in Budapest, and was rewarded a point of view only a local could show. Since I moved back to Austin, I’ve hosted a number of couch surfers. I give travelers a place to stay, they show me their way of life. In addition, couchsurfing.org has local meetup groups. I’ve met and hung out with some extraordinary travelers through the couchsurfing community. I highly recommend you start building your CouchSurfing profile now!

Travellers Point

Travellerspoint is a small travel community that features expert travel advice. The members on the message board are extraordinary helpful and knowledgeable. Travellerspoint is my top choice for travel advice, legalities, and transportation issues. Before traveling, I recommend running your itinerary through the boards.

Momondo

How can a Danish aggregator feature cheaper flights within the U.S, than any American flight aggregator? By eliminating all third party fees! I use Momondo to research every flight I book. I’ve seen Momondo rates as much as $150 cheaper than SkyScanner. Momondo eliminates all booking fees by forwarding you directly to the airline’s main website.

Escape The City

Escape the City is a new website that continues to grow like wildfire. The idea: Turn the corporate world upside down by offering jobs that make a difference. I’m especially impressed with the quality of volunteer opportunities posted on Escape the City. Examples include, partaking in a gold mining expedition in Ecuador and leading a volunteer group in Malawi. If you’re tired of your boring day to day job, definitely give Escape the City a look.

Hostel World

My go to site for anything related to hostels. I read the reviews on hostelworld before booking any hostel. I’ve found some great places to stay during peak seasons by exploring page 2 and page 3 of this website.

Trip-it

I build almost all of my travel itineraries through Trip-it. Trip-it allows you to forward all of your lodging and transportation information to store in one location. In addition you receive statistics on miles traveled, locations visited, cities visited.

AirBnB

Airbnb is great for people who enjoy a finer lodging experience. Connect with other travelers to rent out house, apartments, villas, or condos. Like CouchSurfing the community is safe, secure, and builds trust through user reviews. AirBnB doesn’t charge until after a traveler books your home. They even offer free professional photography in many instances.

Flyer Talk

Flyertalk features some of the best travel hackers on the planet. Airfare remains the most expensive travel cost. The users of this forum exchange ideas on generating airline miles through various credit card reward programs. If you really want to dwell deep into the art of discount travel, FlyerTalk is a must read.

Sleeping in Airports

Ever wonder where to find the best nooks and crannies for overnight airport sleeping? Sleepinginairports displays the best locations to sleep. I used to dread the days of overnight uncomfortable, noisy airports. Now, I have an advantage over about 90% of other overnighters through knowledge of this great website.

Seat Guru

Think sleepinginairports, but with airplane seats. Seatguru maps out the exact location of the most comfortable seats inside the airplane. Not everyone can afford 1st class long distance traveling. Thus, before booking a coach ticket, take a gander at seatguru to find the best available seats.

Travel Finances

Conversion fees can add up during overseas traveling. Travelfinances outlines the conversion percentages of the major credit cards. I’ll save you the research. Capital One is the best travel card available. No foreign transaction fees and favorable airline miles rewards. In addition, Travelfinances is a great resource for information on financial news, legalities, taxes, and travel insurance.

Road Sharing

I haven’t used roadshare yet, but added based on responses from people who have. Roadshare is a social community that helps travelers save on transportation fees. A great way to travel with a companion for a few days while splitting the costs.

Cruise Compete

A travel aggregator for cruises. You can find some superb deals by searching thoroughly on this website. Check this site frequently during the offseason. Great deals await!

Weather2travel

Weather2travel is your global resource for worldwide weather information. Avoid the pitfalls of travel by planning ahead. If your flleixble with your dates, view Weather2travel to ensure that mother nature doesn’t affect your travel plans

Global Volunteers

A great resource for volunteering abroad. Global Volunteers helps you find volunteer opportunities in areas your passionate about. For example, if you enjoy helping young children, Global Volunteers can help place you in exotic locations like the Cook Islands.

Hotels Combined

If you prefer the comforts of a hotel, HotelsCombined is the cheapest aggregator I’ve seen. I only use hotels these days for business travel. However, there are times where you need to unwind and relax from travel stresses. View HotelsCombined to receive a great overview of the hotels in your area.

Darn Good Digs

Darn Good Digs is a unique travel site I stumbled upon that finds great places off the grid. The users rate the most enjoyable small hostels, hotels, and B&B locations around the world. In most instances the price is kept under $150 a night. If you find a great location during your travels, you can nominate your “dig” to be added to the directory. The reviews are much more in depth than most websites. Thus, the people who contribute often experience an extraordinary stay.

Flickr

Connect and share your photos with friends and family. Flickr is my headquarters for storage of all my travel photos. The account is free. (A small yearly fee for additional storage). Flickr has the largest collection of travel photos on the net. If you don’t have a Flickr account, get one! The benefits including, free online storage, geo-tagging, and mobile viewing are too numerous to name.

Trip Films

Trip films organizes user uploaded travel videos. The community uploads, organizes, and rates the videos. I especially enjoy the many How-to type videos on this website. Visit Trip films for inspiration, information, or relaxation of the mind.

Trav Buddy

Trav Buddy is a great site that helps connect people with similar interest on travel excursions. In addition, Trav Buddy allows travelers to share advice on experiences, locations, and places stayed. The community is huge! Rivaling Coach Surfing with over 1.6 million members! You can find just about anything related to travel here!

But wait! There’s more!

In addition to my top 20 websites, I want to include my favorite travel blogs. These travel blogs consistently produce amazing content on a weekly basis. I highly recommend you follow the blogs that resonate with you. For me that’s all of them!

Blogs I follow

Tynan

I’ve followed Tynan’s blog for quite some time now. He originally wrote about dating and pickup back in his “betterthanyourboyfriend” days. Through his success in the dating industry and his other endeavors, the blog slowly morphed into a life mastery site. These days Tynan lives out of an RV traveling around the world. (I helped him reach this nomadic lifestyle by purchasing his car years ago). The gear Tynan travels with can be considered the best of the best. He thoroughly researches each item and explains in great detail the value of the travel gear.

Everything Everywhere

Gary runs a powerhouse of a blog. He’s visited an absurd amount of countries since 2007, and does a great job connecting with his audience. Consistently, Everything Everywhere ranks as one of the top 10 travel blogs on the internet. Gary posts a daily travel photo, fresh content 4 -5x a week, and frequent podcasts. I personally enjoy his writings about visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Gadling

Gadling is a must read for anything related to travel. With about 30 writers pouring out fresh content on a daily basis, you will always have articles to read throughout the day. I really enjoy Gadling’s travel news articles. They provide in-depth detail of current travel trends, noteworthy events, and changes effecting the industry.

Fluent in 3 months

The title says it all, a great blog on the art of language hacking. Benny has developed a formula he uses to learn a new language in 3 months. He’s traveled the world since 2003, studying, learning, and applying new languages. In addition to learning techniques, Benny provides great resources on travel experiences. A must read for anyone learning how to master a language quickly.

Nerd Fitness

Steve posts about fitness and world travel. His nerd fitness guide is incredibly detailed and provides a great resource for his “Rebel Army”. The Nerd Fitness challenges are superb. Steve creates personal challenges for himself and user based fitness challenges.

Nomadic Matt

Matt’s blog is full of personal stories and great travel experiences. He truly lives the nomadic lifestyle, documenting the experiences along the way. I enjoy reading his hostel adventures and watching his fascinating travel videos.

Technomadia

I’ve recently started following the Technomadia blog after learning of their presentation at SXSW. I love learning new words. Chris and Cherie created a new one based on their lifestyles as techie nomads. Expect to find great travel resources and hacks on this technology/travel blog.

Man vs. Debt

I’m a big fan of anything that helps me save money while traveling. Adam travels around with his wife and young daughter blogging about his experiences traveling the world and paying off accumulated debt. I find Man vs. Debt inspiring on multiple levels. 1. The man travels the world and is successfully lowering his debt. 2. The man travels with a wife and small child!

I really enjoyed walking the streets of Konya observing the people. The Bizarre District is fantastic and littered with shops and food stands. The prices are cheap and food is plentiful. A kebab costs 1 Turkish Lira (.50 cents) and a small cup of Turkish coffee runs for .75 TL (35 cents).

In addition, Konya is famous for their world class carpets. Everywhere I looked carpet stores pitched their latest and greatest Turkish rugs. The rural areas surrounding Konya feature some of the finest wool around. I remember, in one instance, asking for directions in the city. The next thing I know, I’m in a Turkish man’s shop looking at carpets.

The People

The people of Konya are friendly but speak very little English. The guy at the front desk of my hotel was to practice his English on me when I arrived. He was one of about three people I met who understood my language.

Konya features more devout followers of Islam than most cities in Turkey. The city is equivalent to the “bible belt” in America.

Things to do

If your looking for a city bustling with things to do for tourists, Konya will disappoint. I recommend spending a day or two max.

The one sight worth visiting in Konya is the Mevlana Museum. The museum attracts close to 500,000 tourists a year. The tomb of Mevlana Muhammad, a 13th century saint, is one of the main attractions. In addition, the Meylana Museum is a great place to view historical Persian artifacts and documents. The place is very clean, wearing booties is a requirement, and costs about $2.50. A great way to spend an hour of your afternoon.

I recommend visiting Konya for the city’s historical significance. Take a break from sightseeing and late night parties to explore one of Turkey’s most important cities. Enjoy the lifestyle of the locals,and take in the sights and sounds of the Bizarre. As a travel, spend a day two days max visiting Konya, Turkey.

The Christian Hostel

I arrived in Amsterdam via train from Brussels. Snow covered the streets on an overcast, cold Holland Saturday afternoon. The hostel I wanted to stay in was all booked up. The weekends draw vacationers from all over the world. If you don’t book early, the best options are usually unavailable.

I settled on a hostel called Shelter City, also known as the “Christian Hostel”. The plan was to stay one night at Shelter City Hostel, and spend the additional 4 nights at my first choice, Flying Pig Uptown.

Shelter City features a superb location. Located on Amsterdam’s infamous Red Light District, the hostel is sandwiched between a Sex Shop and a brothel. I really enjoyed returning from the streets of Amsterdam. I always looked forward to the lady in the window smiling and waving at me. I couldn’t help but smile back! The “nice girls” did a better job of welcoming me than Walmart greeters! I never did get the opportunity to meet them from behind the window.

Shelter City Hostel completely eliminates all vices of Amsterdam. No drugs, alcohol, parties, or late nights on the town at the hostel. On a bustling Saturday night I opened up a book about Jesus and read about 50 pages. I felt like I was part of a Bible study. Travelers gathered in small groups to eat and discuss Christian ideas. The experience was unforgettable. I mean who builds a Christian hostel in the middle of Vice Capital of the World??

A Determined Asian

One of the more humorous sightings on the Red Light District was the “determined Asian”. The whole event lasted less than 5 seconds. An asian man in his late 30′s, early 40′s staggered out of a brothel with a voluptuous woman chasing and cursing profanities profusely at him. Who knows what triggered the mad lady’s reaction.

Did the man successfully get away from the woman? Of course not! Instead of leaving the scene, the asian man decided to stumble into another brothel located next to the one he just left! I can only imagine what the angry lady did to that determined asian man. I hope he got what he wanted.

Pigs do Fly

I followed my plan and spent the next four nights at the Flying Pig Hostel. This hostel features a smoke room dedicated to ganja induced relaxation and a black cat that won’t move off the front desk. A true hippies paradise.

I’m not much of a smoker. In fact, I do not believe I’ve ever been “high”. I did stop by a coffee shop to try some of Holland’s finest grass. I smoked my first full joint that day.

Here’s a picture of my experience.

I returned to my hostel and proceeded to do nothing the next 3 hours. I was about as unmovable and useless as the black cat on the front desk. Was I high and didn’t even know it??

I had the fortune of having a 6 bedroom hostel to myself the first night. The night wasn’t without a bit of late night entertainment. The keys to the room are all electronic. Slip the key into the port and a green light flashes allowing access into your room. A very easy process to figure out.

A college kid, high as a kite, spent a solid hour trying to unlock his or someone’s door with a key at 2 am in the morning. I could hear the key going in and out of the slip consistently. The young man refused help after about 45 minutes and kept patiently trying. Finally, an employee guided the man to front desk to get a new key. Problem solved!

The next few nights I shared a room with 4 Brazilians. They were about as loud as can be in the mornings. The group includes three girls and a guy. One of the girls and the guy were a couple.

The couple decided to take a shower together, thinking the streaming water would block out the noise. I heard those two loud and clear. I did not take a shower that day.

The remote fishing village of Plakias, Crete features some of the most secluded, pristine beaches in all of Europe. I was mesmerized by everything the quiet little village has to offer. Mountains, fresh water rivers, private white-sand beaches, and carefree people combine to make Plakias a fantastic vacation hot spot.

I took my first trip to a nude beach during my short stay in this Greek paradise. I will forever remember my experience. In this post, I will show you how to have an enjoyable time at a nude beach.

How I ended up at a nude beach.

Plakias Youth Hostel is one of the best hostels around. The small resort consistently receives strong reviews from Hostel World and Hostel Bookers. I rated Youth Hostel Plakias in my top 5 of best hostels in Europe.

This hostel represents the main reason why I visited a nude beach. The people at the hostel welcome travelers as part of their family. However, I would never go to a nude beach with any of my own family members!

The people at the resort range from young college kids to adults in their mid to late 50′s. Many of the vacationers stay for weeks or months at a time at Plakias Hostel. A typical summer day in Plakias includes, waking up late, trekking through the infamous river walk or soaking in rays at one of the beautiful Crete beaches, and enjoying drinks and music at Joe’s bar until well past 2 am.

On my 2nd day in Plakias, one of the guests offered me a ride in his rental car to One Rock Beach. I happily agreed as I was headed to the beach anyway. The car ride was a god send.

We arrive and slowly climb down the cliff to reach the beach. The rocks were sharp and hot. I found descending down the cliff very difficult in sandals.

My jaw dropped when I reached sea level. Travelers who earlier looked completely normal sporting their summer gear, now fashioned their birthday suits (nakedness), proudly. I felt a bit awkward when the guy who gave me a ride started undressing himself like he was getting ready for a shower.

Be Free!

I spent the first 30 minutes with a towel over my face blocking the scorching hot sun rays and nudity sights out of my memory. The towel raised from my face only to sneak quick peaks at the beautiful young college-aged girl laying next to me. I, however, remained in my swim trunks, fearful from what others might see.

After a while, I slowly peeled that towel from my face. As I propped up and opened my eyes, everything seemed normal. I mean ya people were walking around naked, but they didn’t care, and neither did I. I decided to become free…of all clothes!

5 Tips to Enjoy your First Experience at a Nude Beach.

1. Bring the highest SPF suntan lotion you can find!

You will need to protect yourself from the places where “the sun don’t shine”. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment of your first experience. Remember to protect the privates with lotion containing a high SPF. I would not recommend asking a buddy to put the lotion on for you.

2. Leave the camera at home

As tempting as it is to document your experience, I highly recommend leaving the camera at home. People enjoy the seclusion and freedoms of nude beaches. Filming or taking photos of nude people violates trust!

3. Relax your mind and Body

A first time at a nude beach can overwhelm the senses. Prepare your mind for what your about to see. Realize that not everyone at the beach belongs in a Victoria’s Secret catalog. In fact most people who frequent nude beaches tend to be older and out of shape.

4. Bring snacks and refreshments

Many nude beaches do not allow the purchase of food and beverages on sight. The hot sun can sap the energy and fluids out of your naked body. Bring plenty of food and beverages to ensure you stay hydrated and well fed.

5. Embrace yourself!

Most importantly, enjoy yourself! You may never step foot on a nude beach again, but while you are there have fun frolicking in the open air. Be comfortable in your own skin.

A trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia stimulated my imagination and warmed my heart. I’ve never seen such a well preserved, harmonious natural park. The tranquility and beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage Site enhanced my travel experience by providing me the opportunity to bear witness to a stunning Mother Nature creation.

I spent most of my time traveling staring at incredible man-made creations. The world’s finest museums, cathedrals, and castles reside in Europe. However, no human creation compares to the incredible craftsmanship of millions of years of development.

Travelers flock to this waterfall paradise for full immersion of body and soul. Plitvice features numerous waterfalls that help form 16 surrounding lakes. Dense, green forests enclose the turquoise trout-happy lakes creating miles of trails and hiking paths. Truly a spectacular sight to see.

I arrived in Plitvice, Croatia from an hour and a half bus ride from Zagreb. Myself and one other lady were the only two people on the tour. In most instances I’m against guided tours. I enjoy the freedom of exploring on my own without time constraints. In addition, most tours tend to be expensive and robitic.

However, the Plitvice Lakes are incredibly vast and feature numerous trails. In this instance, I highly recommend finding a knowledgeable guide to lead you through the experience. My guide did not disappoint!

Inside Plitvice Lakes

The tour starts in the upper lakes. I’m immediately blown away by the sights and sounds of waterfalls crashing down below. The walk down is slow and methodical. The mid-May spring day highlights the lush vegetation in full bloom.

As the trails descend further we come across small pools of pristine lake water. The lakes of Plitvice feature the freshest, cleanest water I’ve ever seen. Virtually zero pollution and human trash exist at the park. I can hear the sounds of Croatian frogs filling the air with their mating/playing calls all around me.

A Pool at Plitvice Lakes

After about 30 minutes of walking, we reach water level. I can see and hear the majestic water falls splashing furiously into the lakes below. However, I begin to feel more fascinated with the animals living in the water than the water falls themselves. The most playful trout I’ve ever seen appear everywhere. They have absolutely no fear!

My guide informs me that the fish too are protected. Absolutely no fishing of any kind is permitted at Plitvice Lakes. I’m sure they would be fantastic on a dinner plate, but here the fat trout live without human predators.

In addition to trout and frogs, Plitvice is home to bears, deer, otters, wolves, boars and over a hundred species of birds. Luckily the land mammals stay away from the hiking paths during the day.

Plitvice Trout

And the waterfalls….so many of them throughout the park. I can feel the mist as I walk by the various paths through the falls. The bright sun and sparkled water create beautiful rainbows bridging waterfall to waterfall. I’m mesmerized by the sights of this fantasy world.

Plitvice features waterfalls of all sizes, small falls you can reach out and touch, and gargantuan water falls throwing rushing water hundreds of feet off the side of a cliff. I can still see those rainbows forming as the sun blasts its rays at the incredible scene.

Here’s a few of my favorite waterfall pictures:

The tour leads us through narrow passages and exotic trails. We reach a cave. The caves are a completely different realm. Large caverns hide behind the underbrush of the dense forest. Formed from limestone in the mountains, over 50 known caves exist at Plitvice Lakes Park.

This particular cave is full of narrow passages. I’m sure at least one bear claims residency here. I did not proceed farther to find out.

Inside a cave

After such an incredible experience, our 3 person team decides to stop and eat lunch. For the first time I’m able to process everything I’ve witnessed. The lakes, caves, waterfalls, wildlife, and trails add up to one amazing experience. However at this point, we’ve only viewed about 1/10th of the park!

Lunch is finished quickly. We board a ferry to view an area a little bit off the beaten path. The seclusion enables the vegetation to grow a bit over some of the dirt paths. We experience more mesmerizing waterfalls and secluded pools of fresh water. Beauty at Plitvice lakes is the norm, not the exception.

Waterfall and pool of water

Exploration continues for another two hours of bliss. Plitvice is the best national park I’ve visited. I’m blessed to break away from major city sightseeing to visit a natural place full of peace and calm.

I leave with a new feeling of appreciation for what natural world beauty is. Here is a place in the middle of recently war torn Croatia, untouched from human chaos and destruction. The Crown Jewel of Croatia is a fantasy world I’m truly proud to have visited.