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 videos
Plan your trip
BEST TIME OF YEAR
www.myforecast.com
Click on "almanac," then on "historical climate" and plug in the city you wish to check.
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.
All that glitters is gold in Rangoon, Burma, site of the world famous Shwedagon Paya (temple)...
- 2/8/2012 3:23 am
Unique waterfalls outside of Luang Prabang, Laos...
- 2/4/2012 7:41 pm
Buddhism and Laos, religion first and foremost...
- 2/3/2012 1:34 am
Luang Prabang, Laos, a respite in Southeast Asia...
- 1/28/2012 7:46 pm
Thailand is synonyms with Temples...
- 1/23/2012 5:21 am
Bangkok street food, I gave it a try!
- 1/21/2012 1:51 am
Check these travel spots for your 2012 Travel Bucket List…
- 1/1/2012 4:53 pm
Merry Christmas...
- 12/24/2011 9:28 pm
full archive »
If this is Tuesday, it must be Lake Atitlan
Posted by indietraveler
Posted: February 9, 2010 - 4:57 pm
First view of Lake Atilan on our drive in from Guatemala City.
Left at 7am this morning for our flight to Guatemala City from Flores, jungle to the lowlands. A driver met us at the airport and drove us three hours to Lake Atitlan. It has been years since we've been here and like many other places it's hard to recognize. It's no longer rural, but the lake is as beautiful as ever.
We walked around town today adjusting to our new environs in the highlands. Volcanoes surround the lake and it is majestic.
What has really taken me aback is the number of Americans on medical missions here and the number of missionaries entrenched in their call to help the locals.
It's a bit of a culture shock after spending a week in Mexico at Teotihuacan, the archeological ruins of Copan in Honduras and then to the remote Mayan ruins of Tikal.
Tonight I'm sitting in an American built hotel on the Lake. I'm surrounded by expats and have just consumed the best meal since I left home, a real close competitor to dinner at the Double Musky.
I even endured an aged hippie group playing guitars. One is the owner of this great place. All three have abandon their American lives for something they enjoy more. Freedom to be forever young. Some might call it not growing up, but who am I to judge?
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