Panama is not one of the world’s cheapest places to travel. It’s right in the middle in terms of tourism costs in Central America. It is noticeably cheaper than Costa Rica, but far more than Guatemala or Nicaragua. With its economy booming more each year, it’s a better spot for mid-range travelers than backpackers. Where …

When I went on my most recent Nepal trek, there was a lot of travel gear carnage on the trail. Someone’s backpack strap broke. My hiking boots literally fell apart and had to be super-glued to make it through until the end. Many of us had supposedly waterproof jackets that didn’t turn out to be …

Back when Obama first took over from George W. Bush, we were all crying the blues about a weak dollar and a crappy economy. It wasn’t a very good time to travel abroad with American currency. Steadily things got better though and then by 2016 and 2017, it was a terrific time to be traveling …

What do you think about traveling to the Middle East and North Africa? Before you jump to the immediate reaction of, “It’s not safe to travel there,” consider this. The U.S. city of Chicago had 650 murders on its streets in 2017, after an even worse year in 2016. Surely that scared away vacationers and …

When I’ve raved about my favorite travel gear brands on here before, it’s been about clothing, shoes, and luggage. When it comes to SteriPEN though, I’m not just raving about a product that’s fashionable or rugged. I’m a big fan because this is a product that has a quantifiable positive impact on our planet. In …