Mexico on $25 a day
The first time I went to Mexico it was on a budget of $5 a day. We slept on Mismaloya beach, caught our own fish and bought fruit from a street vendor. Now, a swanky hotel has taken over the beach and $5 just gets you a cold Coca Cola. It might be tempting to think that the days of a budget Mexico vacation are gone, but it’s still possible to have a fabulous vacation for under $25 a day. Head south to Puerto Escondido and you”ll be rewarded with prices that are more 1980′s that 2011. Here’s how to do it: Sleep: Thanks to the surfing crowd, there’s...
Read MoreThe Ultimate Toolkit for Culinary Adventurers
I never knew Bob Blumer, the superstar host of the Food Network’s The Surreal Gourmet and I had much in common (except for my secret musings that he’d have made a good love match for my travel writing friend Wandering Carol ), until I found out that he often travels with a bottle of Tabasco hot sauce. It’s on my packing list too. For me, the best culinary adventures are all about discovery. Whether it’s a bottle of Waupoos apple cider from Prince Edward County, a spicy noodle dish at the night market in Kuala Lumpur or a luscious first-press olive oil in Spain...
Read MoreWinnipeg’s best view for less than $4.99
Winnipeg gets a bum rap most of the time but I defy anyone to come up with a spot in North America where you can chow down for less than five bucks and enjoy a panoramic view ( not counting picnics, anywhere in Asia or lawnchair coronas in Taos ). The Sals ( Salisbury House) home of the Mr. Big Nip ( no relation to Mr. Big of Sex and the City Fame) and wafer pie celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2006. Its flagship location is atop the Esplanade Riel, a footbridge connecting St. Boniface, the French quarter, with The Forks, the historic intersection of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. Despite...
Read MoreWhere to stay in Oaxaca City, Mexico
Whenever I’m looking for a place to study Spanish for a few weeks and need a safe, quiet and reasonably-priced place to stay, my first choice is Las Mariposas in Oaxaca City. This centrally-located hotel offers studio apartments and is a great spot to escape for a few weeks, take cooking lessons, study Spanish www.vinigulaza.com and take in some spanish films, the art or action in the zocolo. The markets (held different days of the week in various towns in the valleys) offer the opportunity to explore unexcavated Zapotec pyramids or sample local specialties such as Oaxacan cheese,...
Read MoreMadrid, Spain
I originally thought Hotel Europa was ideal for location. It is a few steps from Puerta del Sol and a block or so from the Plaza Mayor on a quiet all-pedestrian street. It is a generally safe area, with all the hustle and bustle that comes with being close to the action of galleries, tapas bars and shops. http://www.hoteleuropa.es/. Plus, rooms are only about 60 euros..which is a real bargain. But, after my wallet got grabbed and I began to notice pickpockets stalking me virtually every time I went out, I decided to go further afield to a more residential neighbourhood. My new choice is...
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Culture Tripper
Nerd's Eye View
The Planet D: Canada's Adventure Couple
Trans-Americas Journey
Traveling Light Blog by Travel Writer Colleen Friesen
Wandering CarolLatest Pins on Pinterest
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Amazing Instagram photo by @sethstafford of Oahu's Sean Moody taking on the Mexican Pipeline
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Mercado Global's innovative approach to fighting poverty and empowering indigenous women in Guatemala’s highlands connects their artisan cooperatives to sales opportunities in the U.S. on an unprecedented scale.
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Beautiful Semuc Champey in Guatemala
In 2003, I left the corporate world to try my hand at travel writing. Now, I travel the world, writing about people, places and cuisine. My writing has appeared in over 100 publications and anthologies. 
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