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Chinese New Year in Beijing: Tips From Americans Who Did It Poorly

Beijing, China | I wish I was here writing an actual guide for celebrating Chinese New Year in Beijing, but I’m not. When we rang in the Year of the Dog in Beijing, we made a lot of mistakes, but they were mistakes that we think you could make, too. Today we’re here to share …

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Europe for the First Time: 10 Things Americans Should Know

Europe is a great destination for Americans looking to travel internationally for the first time. English is commonly spoken, it’s easy to travel to and between cities and countries, and it offers a beautiful and diverse collection of things to see and do. The cultural differences between Europe and the US aren’t that drastic, but …

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Angkor Wat Tips: 10 Things Everyone Tells You (And 10 Things You Actually Need to Know)

Angkor Wat calls to backpackers like Paris calls to lovers. I understand that it’s not only backpackers who go to Angkor Wat (in fact, they’re probably the minority, especially given the price tag lately), but it feels like a rite of passage. You have not completed the “Banana Pancake” Southeast Asia circuit if you haven’t …

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26 Ways to Save Money on your Next Trip Without Trying (That Hard)

Our interest in saving money for and on this trip runs deep. We were intense budgeters before we even had the idea to travel the world (making the decision that much easier with some money already in the bank), and that carried over into our trip planning and everyday life abroad. We’re always looking for …

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10 Tips for Celebrating Christmas Away From Home

During our year-long backpack trip around the world, we spent Christmas in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I recall that Christmas morning quite vividly. I was drinking a peppermint mocha and watching “A Christmas Story” on my laptop in a cafe. I knew that somewhere on the other side of the world, it was still Christmas Eve …

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Onward Ticket Guide: How to Get an Onward Ticket for Free

Since you’re here, you’ve probably heard of an onward ticket and wondered when you need one and how to get one. Well, as I write this, I’m sitting on a plane to Bangkok from Hong Kong. The next flight I have booked is from Bangkok to Tokyo in two weeks. But I’m not going to …

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10 Ways To Feel At Home When You’re Far From Home

I haven’t had an actual home for seven months, and it’s been four months since I have stayed in the same place for more than three weeks. In the next nine days, we will have slept in eight different beds, flown on five different flights, and been in five different cities across four countries. Consistency …

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