I’ve always liked what Doug Lansky writes because he comes across as a sensible, well-rounded traveler who sees things with the proper amount of humorous perspective. So I often recommend his First Time Around the World book to those setting off for an extended bout of travel. The Signspotting book he compiled for Lonely Planet …

Right now, Americans are freaking out over gasoline that costs $2.60 per gallon. The inevitable resulting rise in the price of meat, milk, fruit, and vegetables is starting to give us sticker shock at the grocery store. But really, as any visiting European will tell you, the US is quite a bargain compared to most …

Here’s a real winner of a story that would be fit for The Onion, but is real. In an AP story printed in USA Today, it’s “Tijuana to Vendors: Dress Up or Leave.” In short, street vendors in Tijuana are being told if they won’t dress up in “traditional” Mexican outfits, they won’t be able …

I just got back from a few weeks of being an active travel writer, which is in contrast to being an active traveler. For one thing, I stayed in some very swanky hotels in the line of work, while staying at some not-so-swanky ones at other times. In contrast, I have to admit that the …

What do Chinatown buses, independent hotels, and back street restaurants have in common? Well, once upon a time, I was fortunate enough to see a speaker/author named Roger Von Oech talk about creativity. He has published some neat books and even a pack of cards that help you break your brain out of its complacency …