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The Best Website for House Swaps? My HomeExchange Review

Accommodation will always be one of your biggest travel expenses…but what if it wasn’t? What if you could reduce the cost of your accommodation to zero while still enjoying the comforts of home? That’s what house swaps promise. House swaps have been around for decades. It was the entire premise of the movie The Holiday (starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet). They became all the rage but then were soon eclipsed by sites like Airbnb. But as travel prices skyrocketed post-COVID, more and more people have turned back to house swaps as a means of saving money while they travel while still getting a local experience (but without the hassle of an Airbnb). House swaps are exactly what they sound like. You sign up, list your home, and then swap with someone else in another city. They stay in your place and you stay in their place. The biggest and most popular platform for swaps is HomeExchange . And, in this post, I’ll go over everything you need to know to get started with a house swa...
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AI and the Future of Travel

Artificial intelligence (A.I.) is all the rage these days. Everyone is talking about how it’s going to change the world. It’s making waves in design, art, graphics, and contracts. But will it change travel? I actually don’t think it will that much. At least, not in the near term. Here’s why: The internet is littered with failed companies that tried to reinvent travel planning. They failed because people actually want to plan their travels, as it gives them ownership of their trip. People like researching restaurants, finding hotels, reading blogs and guides, and figuring out what to do. All this lends a sense of discovery to the endeavor. Planning a trip gives people an emotional connection to their experience. Companies that tried to remove that have failed or pivoted to booking corporate travel. Which is why I don’t think people will say, “Hey Google! Make me an itinerary for Hong Kong! ” any time soon. First, AI isn’t that great yet. It still scrapes (steals) content from...
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The 5 Best Hotels in Vancouver

Vancouver is my favorite city in Canada . Close to both the mountains and the ocean, it’s easy to see why this city is consistently ranked as one of the most livable destinations in the world. It’s got it all. I first visited in 2004 on a family trip and have returned a handful of times over the years, lured by the city’s amazing sushi, sprawling green space (don’t miss Stanley Park!), friends, the quality of life, and easy access to nearby hiking trails. But, while the city is amazing and has a ton to see and do, it’s also large and spread out.There are a ton of different neighborhoods and hotels to choose from. Plus, it’s one of the most expensive cities in the country, so a lot of the hotels here are overpriced. To help you get the best value (and have a great stay), here’s my list of the best hotels in Vancouver, based on my twenty years of visiting the city: 1. Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel Located in upscale Yaletown, this three-star hotel is perfect for budget-minded tr...
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Surfshark Review: The Best VPN for Travelers?

When I first started traveling the world, I didn’t have a laptop. I didn’t have a smartphone either. Nobody did. Back then, when you needed to use a computer, you went to an internet café, sent a few emails, and then went back to traveling. Obviously, things have changed since that first big trip of mine . These days, every traveler has a smartphone, laptop, or tablet (sometimes all three!). They can be super helpful for staying in touch with friends and family and making bookings for your trip as you go. Personally, I always travel with a smartphone and laptop. I couldn’t run my blog without them. They also help me be a flexible traveler. I constantly change my plans while traveling, whether that’s to spontaneously meet up with friends, check out a new place I just found out about, or linger somewhere I particularly like. Having a phone or laptop ensures I can easily book as I go and make changes to my itinerary. While these devices have drastically changed how we travel (and the...
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The 5 Best Hotels in Mexico City

Mexico City is a vibrant metropolis filled with great food, fun nightlife, amazing art, sprawling parks, and cool neighborhoods. I was late to visit (I just went for the first time a few years ago), and I can’t believe I hadn’t made the trip sooner . It’s an amazing city. Colloquially known as CDMX (Ciudad de Mexico), Mexico City is a world-class destination that’s absolutely worth a visit. But it’s also a massive, sprawling city. There are a ton of hotels here, and choosing the right one is essential for ensuring that you have a safe and enjoyable stay. Having been to the city a handful of times (and having even led tours there), I know what hotels are worth your money. Here’s my list of what I think are the best hotels in Mexico City: 1. Zócalo Central Mexico City Housed in a late-19th-century building right on the Zócalo (the city’s main square), you can’t get any more centrally located than this four-star hotel. The rooftop bar has absolutely incredible views over the square...
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My 1 Week Costa Rica Road Trip Itinerary

As the country that sparked my wanderlust, Costa Rica will always have a special place in my heart. The lush jungles, the stunning waterfalls, the incredible wildlife, and the super friendly locals who have a love for love – it’s all just great. Costa Rica a beautiful, beautiful country. It’s also a perfect destination to road trip. Since distances aren’t too long, you can easily get a good feel for some of the main areas in the country in one week. (If you’ve got more time, great! You can extend your stays in places or even add on more destinations. I’ll share a few recommendations at the end). But, even with just seven days, you can cover a lot of ground. The freedom of having your own wheels means that you won’t be beholden to bus schedules or end up forking out a lot of money for expensive tourist shuttles. That means you’ll save both time and money. To help you plan your trip, here’s my ideal one-week Costa Rica road trip itinerary: Where to Rent a Car in Costa Rica My go-...
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Kheer Bhawani Devi at Tulmul Ganderbal in Kashmir

I kept hearing of Kheer Bhawani at many seminars and conferences. Every time her mention added a force that was pulling me towards her. Given the turbulent times in Kashmir, one is never sure if one can visit the temples in Kashmir. I guess, at some point in time, the pull becomes strong enough to […] The post Kheer Bhawani Devi at Tulmul Ganderbal in Kashmir appeared first on Inditales .
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That One Time I Went Boxing on Ko Phi Phi

I spent a lot of my first trip around the world partying. I was twenty-five and ready to cut loose after a quarter century of living a fairly sheltered, middle-class life. In my mind, a lot of backpacking was about meeting fellow travelers, partying, and saying yes to anything that came your way. And that often lead to some outrageous experiences. Like getting into a boxing ring in Ko Phi Phi, Thailand . Before I began that trip in 2006, I used the website MySpace to meet travelers in advance, since, as an introvert, I was very worried that I wouldn’t make any friends on the road. MySpace had a lot of travel groups, so I reached out to people in hopes of meeting up with them on the trip. (I was early to using the web as a social tool: I had a blog in 2001, and I met my first girlfriend on Friendster back when meeting people online was taboo.) After landing in Bangkok at the end of that year, I happened to run into Lindsay in the airport, a Brit I was scheduled to meet later that w...
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