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.
An ancient land studded with thousands of temples and pagodas, Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)...
- 2/13/2012 12:07 am
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
full archive »
Should you take out trip insurance?
Posted by indietraveler
Posted: March 18, 2010 - 5:15 pm
Check out medical and trip cancellation insurance to avoid out of pocket costs.
On my recent trip I encounter a bout with amoebic dysentery. I recovered after getting medication, but was very ill for five days during which I couldn’t keep much liquid down. I later ran into an American doctor who was traveling in Guatemala as well and she told me I was lucky that I didn’t get dehydrated and hospitalized. She told me about a young woman who did and ended up having to be flown back to the States for treatment at her own expense.
Scary! I don’t carry additional medical health insurance incase something traumatic happens. The doctor recommended that I check out squaremouth.com for affordable coverage. I did and found that the site compares rates from 250 different companies for health insurance coverage to covering student travel.
The Wall Street Journal has advice on how to shop for insurance coverage.
When I got home from my trip, I learned that a friend who was supposed to be on a cruise missed her flight and as a result missed her cruise. She had trip cancellation insurance and is glad that she spent the extra money to get it. Check out the highly recommended squaremouth.com to cover the unexpected on your next trip. I sure will.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.
