Independent traveler : Santiago, Lake Atitlan, beauty with a sharp edge.

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.

Santiago, Lake Atitlan, beauty with a sharp edge.

Posted by indietraveler

Posted: February 11, 2010 - 8:10 am

Notice on the inside front door of the hotel.

Today is my down day after two busy days of travel. I'm pooped, but totally enjoying a nice cool breeze here a top a mirador (outlook located in a little tower) glimpsing the serene blue, turquoise waters of Lake Atitlan.

We arrived yesterday in the lakeside village of Santiago at the Posada de Santiago where we will spend a few nights. Unfortunately, the place is so popular we have to move down the street for tonight and back again tomorrow. However, it is nice to get our smelly laundry processed and have a little time to contemplate and gather my thoughts. My husband is off exploring other villages along the lake.

I'm trying not to get too physiced out by the notice on the front door of the restaurant (see photo above). Guatemala is still a dangerous place. Early this morning a couple was advised not to drive their rent-a-car to the national park without following a police car.

Bandits set up road blocks on the less traveled roads around the lake and relieve tourist of all their worldly goods. “You're okay in the towns and villages,” the fellow said, “but don't hike alone.”

The bandits are brutal and strike randomly. There are several foreign nationals living here (expats). One family packed up and left after they were accosted by machete, gun toting bandits on a Sunday hike down to the lake from a popular roadside overlook. Another head of a NGO researching tropical medicine moved out of the country after being held at gun point while hiking.

These are only two recent stories that were told with amazing calm by a local American resident. He added, “It's probably much worse in some places in the states.”