Cheap Africa Travel

I published this interview with a tout in Morocco a long time ago in a print-only publication. Recently a Twitter follower saw an old interview I did and asked if this piece could be accessed somewhere. It can’t, so I’m reprinting an abbreviated version of it here.  We occasionally like dealing with touts, but most …

I’ve always felt kind of bad that Africa is so under-represented in every edition of The World’s Cheapest Destinations, but despite the prevalent poverty, it’s not much of a deal unless you want to live like a local. Or not do anything. I had a lovely time once on a press trip to South Africa …

For those who typically skip intros in books or take prices in travel articles as gospel, here’s some news: prices for hotels, restaurants, taxis, buses, visas, and admissions will change. They are probably more liable to go up than down, just as they have for centuries. No book author likes to get negative reviews, so …

Maybe it’s not fair, but some some places have to be budget-busters for shoestring travelers. A new article of mine is up on Transitions Abroad – Man vs. Man: Saving the Galapagos. It’s about all the behind-the-scenes efforts that a lot of dedicated people have been taking for years to roll back some of the …

It’s important to remember one key point when you are traveling: your hotel rate is negotiable. This is especially true with non-chain international hotels. Whether you are booking a hotel, a hostel, a guesthouse, or a bed and breakfast, the price you will pay for your room is probably open to bargaining.  Most backpackers figure …