Travel adventures

When you think about summer travel in the USA, what do you picture? Huge crowds, theme parks, and packed beaches? Or a mountain trail, a lake, and forests? There are ways to find space and nature if you plan carefully. When I first put up this post, most everyone in the world had been sheltering …

Want to find hiking clothing, shoe deals, or discount outdoor gear where you’ll pay far less than the retail price? Want to pick up new travel gadgets, luggage, or a good waterproof jacket at a deep discount? It’s easy if you don’t have your heart set on one specific brand and model that came out …

After eight days on the slopes of Idaho Ski Resorts, I’ve found the state where a value-hunter like me can rejoice at the prices. I didn’t think there were still ski hills around where the local ski bums outnumbered lawyers and hedge fund managers anymore. But if you ski Idaho, you’ll find mellow mountains with …

Costa Rica is just a little dot on the map in Central America, smaller than many U.S. states, but it’s one of the most popular international destinations for Americans, getting close to two million of them each year. If you’re a budget traveler though, that’s not a good thing: Costa Rica travel prices are the …

If you are finding that the idea of planning your travels is stressing you out more than your budget is, it may be time to look for affordable tours on your next vacation. It might be worth letting someone else take care of all the nagging details. When I wrote the first edition of The …