Independent traveler : Bingo, Copan, Honduras, cha ching, cha ching!

Independent traveler

Love to travel, but hate tours? This blog offers insight on how to go it alone, from safe accommodations to seeing the best, and maybe the worst. After all, independent travel is an adventure. Flexibility and traveling on a budget are critical. No five-stars or all-inclusives. So hop aboard. Learn to enjoy travel at your own pace and price. Meet other adventurers like yourself and mingle with the locals. Remember: You may travel alone, but you wonʼt be lonely. gloria.independenttraveler@gmail.com

Gloria Maschmeyer

I've been a traveler since I can remember. I spread my wings as a flight attendant at age 20, then married a traveling man and we've never stopped. While based in Anchorage, we've ventured to India, Peru, Bali, Morocco, Burma, Tunisia Singapore and Ecuador. I love ferreting out places off the beaten path. And when things don't go quite as planned, that's just part of the adventure.

Gloria's photos

PHOTOS

Gloria's photo gallery

See Gloria's photos from her world travels.

READER-SUBMITTED

Vacation shots

That's a tiny Machu Pichu at left. View more travel shots in our vacation gallery.

Submit a vacation photo

Gloria's videos

Floating England's Llangollen Canal

See a little snippet of floating the Llangollen Canal in Western England in a narrow boat.

Fun with Divot

Divot snorkeling at the confluence of Brook's River.

Fun with Ted and Divot

Divot at the Falls and Ted cavorting at the mouth flowing out to Naknek Lake.

Plan your trip

AIRFARES

www.travelocity.com

www.expedia.com

BEST TIME OF YEAR

www.myforecast.com

Click on "almanac," then on "historical climate" and plug in the city you wish to check.

ELECTRICAL CONVERSIONS

www.travel-images.com/electric-plugs.html

For electrical appliances, it's great to know the voltage used in a country and the types of plugs.

CURRENCY RATES

www.oanda.com

For more information on currency exchanges and helpful hints, read my blogs, "Should I change" and "I've decided to change."

TRAVEL WARNINGS

www.travel.state.gov/travel

This site can help you determine the type of crime that goes on in foreign countries against visitors. It also will tell you areas of the country you should avoid.

WORLD TIMES

www.worldtimeserver.com/

Features the current time anywhere and weather. Helpful when you need to call for reservations or want to call back home while away.

WHAT TRAVELERS SAY

www.tripadvisor.com

A favorite sites to see what other travelers have to say about places to stay and visit worldwide

CAR RENTAL

www.hotwire.com

A good site for finding the best deals on renting cars anywhere in the world

TRAVEL INSURANCE

www.squaremouth.com

Web site that compares costs of travel insurance between companies.

Bingo, Copan, Honduras, cha ching, cha ching!

Posted by indietraveler

Posted: January 31, 2010 - 11:09 am

The central square in Copan, Honduras.

I'm one happy little camper right now. I'm in Copan, Honduras, a four hour bus ride from Guatemala City. It's what I've been looking for, a quaint village with lovely people.

I'm here for several days to visit the nearby Copan Mayan Ruins, visit a bird reserve with Macaw parrots and stay overnight in the nearby highlands on a coffee plantation. I'm feeling like I won't have enough time here, but I'm going to make the best of it.

Copan has a central square where locals gather and tourists gather to watch the locals. We aren't the only tourists in this village/town. It is popular with tourists from all over, Holland, Russia, and Australia to name a few. Restaurants abound as do good places to stay from bare bones hostels to a few all inclusives.

Copan is a quaint, cobble stoned town.

The town is small. It only takes 20 minutes at most to walk the cobble stone streets from one end to the other. People are friendly and proud. They know they have it good away from the maddening crowds. I'm anxious to explore.