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 …
Before we even left the US last summer, we had our first six months of travel fully planned: flights booked and accommodations reserved. As we enter the second half of our trip, we’re back on the travel-planning train as we try to figure out where we’re going, when and how much it’s going to cost. …
One of our favorite travel “hacks” is taking overnight transportation whenever possible. Overnight travel options are almost always a great way to save on accommodations (because you’re paying for the transportation anyway, might as well have it double as your overnight accommodation at the same time) and maximize your daytime hours for sightseeing. We’ve taken overnight trips …
When you’re in Luang Prabang, Laos, you might hear the dusty streets and river tubing of Vang Vieng calling your name. And when you do, finding a way there isn’t difficult, but there a few options you should consider. In this post we’ll share our experience on one of the options: taking the Minivan from Luang …
If you’re in Hanoi, Vietnam, you should absolutely, 100%, without a doubt make your way to Ha Long Bay. In fact, if you’re not in Hanoi, you should probably book a trip to Hanoi so you can go to Ha Long Bay (and also because Hanoi is a fascinating city in its own right). The …
White bulb lights are strung between bars built out of the likes of recycled shipping containers. People eat high-end food-truck style meals on wooden tables and pull bottles of Beer Lao from ice buckets. Piles of hay bales mark the entrance behind face-in-the-hole photo spots of a cowboy and cowgirl. There’s a guitar player in …
One of the most fun parts of the Southeast Asia backpacker trail is the slow boat from the border town of Huay Xai, Laos to the tourist hotspot Luang Prabang, Laos. The two-day trip totals about 14 hours with an overnight stop on Pakbeng, Laos. Note: Some sources refer to this same ride as the …
If you’re heading from Thailand to Laos, there’s a good chance you’ll be following a rough route of Bangkok to Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong. Chiang Khong is where you’ll find the Chiang Khong / Huay Xais border between Thailand and Laos, which is in turn the jumping off point for the Two-Day Slow …
Travel days aren’t always the most enjoyable. Even the best planned trip usually involves some last minute packing, the hassle of getting to the airport and then making your way through security (although TSA Pre-Check helps). After all that, there’s no downplaying how enjoyable an airport lounge can be. Here is how you can get …
Wat Rong Khun, better known to travelers as the “White Temple” is a temple structure (Wikipedia refers to it as an art exhibit) a few miles outside of central Chiang Rai, Thailand. (If you’re looking for a “real” temple experience in the region, check out the hike to Wat Pha Lat and Wat Phra That …