Ten hot backpacker destinations

by Catherine Bodry on
Though the backpacker scene feels more hipster than hippie these days, the same formula remains: young travelers plus a small budget plus a long trip. While individuals certainly differ, the stereotype of a budget traveler toting a bedraggled pack to cheap destinations is there for a reason.

So where are the kids congregating these days? Here are our top ten backpacker locations (in no particular order):

Thailand A long-time favorite, Thailand’s low costs, relative ease of travel, and scenic beaches are obvious draws. Add to those hill tribes, jungle and elephant trekking, and some awesome grub, and you have a nearly perfect combination – which is probably why the country also hosts a number of expats.

Amsterdam Need we say anything more? Laws are loose, and for those American kids who never had the chance to experiment, the freedom is heavenly. Oh, and there are sex shows.

Guatemala Travelers learning Spanish flock to Antigua, where language schools and home stays are offered in the picturesque colonial town. Jungles, volcanoes, lakes and Mayan ruins round out the offerings.

Goa “Buddha Lounge” music drifts across Palolem Beach, an impossibly cheap swoop of sand on India’s west coast. It’s easy to drop out for a while here, renting out some small, rickety beach hut and bobbing around in the warm sea.
Nepal “Backpacking” takes on a literal meaning (as does “getting high”) when you’re trekking across the Himalayas. Long on the backpacker circuit, Nepal’s appeal is in cheap prices and natural wonders.

Bali An Indonesian island of volcanoes, jungle, beaches and, thanks to Elizabeth Gilbert, 30-something divorcees…. The backpacker hotspot here is Ubud, a smallish town in the center of the island that is a center for dance, music, and arts.

Australia Though Australia seems to churn out backpackers like Orcs from Mordor, the country itself is a sweet spot for extended travels. Big enough to explore for years, wild enough to satiate nature lovers, and warm enough for beach and surf fanatics, Australia has a broad-range appeal. Plus, the language and the culture are familiar, making it a nice introduction to travel for newbies.

Argentina Good wine, and Italian influence, a vibrant capital city, and budget prices: what’s not to appeal to a backpacker? Whether it’s club-hopping in Buenos Aires or working on an organic farm in the countryside, this South American country appeals to a spectrum of budget travelers.

New Zealand Another country that nails it all: great surfing and countless other outdoor activities, friendly folks, and the Flight of the Conchords.

Greek Islands A haven of sun, sand, and souvlaki, the Greek Islands have always been a favorite. There’s ritzy Santorini, mountainous Crete, party-time Ios, and dozens more. Take an overnight ferry, make some new friends, and party your holiday away.

[Photo Credit: Flickr user Rene Ehrhartdt]

Women adventurers heed the Call of the Wild

by Kraig Becker on

With the adventure travel market continuing to grow at an astonishing rate, women only adventures have become an increasingly popular option as well.These trips generally offer all the same wild and challenging options that any other adventure vacation would, with perhaps a few creature comforts added in for good measure.

One of the top travel companies that specializes in women’s only travel is Call of the Wild, based out of Mountain View, California. The company first began organizing adventure vacations back in 1978 when founder Carole Laitmer was unceremoniously fired from her secretarial job. In order to make ends meet, she soon began organizing guided trips for women into the High Sierra Mountains of California, and the rest is, as they say, history.

Now in its 32nd year of business, Call of the Wild continues to organize some of the best adventurous getaways both domestically and abroad. For instance, some of their upcoming trips include hiking around Lake Tahoe to enjoy the Indian Summer, trekking in the the shadow of Mt. Everest in Nepal, and a weekend of snowshoeing in Sequoia National Park. Other trips will take clients to Peru, New Zealand, Guatemala, and beyond.

But just because you’re traveling to remote corners of the globe doesn’t mean you can’t pamper yourself at the same time. One of the hallmarks of any Call of the Wild trip is the gourmet cuisine and the company puts a great deal of thought, and effort, into planning a wide variety of healthy and delicious meals on all of their trips. Even their backpacking excursions offer fantastic meals on the trail thanks to fresh ingredients that are dehydrated prior to departure, and combined to make surprisingly tasty backwoods offerings. The ladies on these trips all agree, an amazing meal after a long and challenging day of trekking, can make everything feel better.

Many of Call of the Wild’s clients return for multiple trips, and often report making good, life-long friends on their journeys. These vacations allow them to get closer to nature and escape the daily grind, while putting some much needed adventure into their lives. For a complete list of Call of the Wild adventures and to choose one that best fits your style of travel, click here.

[Photo credit: Call of the Wild]

Photo of the Day (7.31.2010)

by Catherine Bodry on
Ruh-roh. Luks like sombodeez in twubble! Seriously, though? How nice is it to see a happy dog, rather than the usual developing-country stray, take off with one of those plastic stools I always eat my lunch on? True, this picture was taken in Guatemala, where I’ve never been, so maybe there are fewer stray dogs there than in Asia. Regardless, well-fed dogs make me happy. Thanks, Flickr user BaboMike, for sharing this photo with Gadling.

Have any photos from your travels that make you feel better about the state of dogs in developing countries? Or just any cool pics from your trip? Upload them to Gadling’s Flickr pool and we just might choose one for our Photo of the Day feature.

Photo of the Day (04.17.10)

by Mike Barish on

I have an unusually small head. It makes buying hats quite difficult. Hats, you see, rarely look good on me. I always look like a child wearing daddy’s cap. It’s embarrassing. From fedoras to Stetsons, I almost always struggle to find my size in head wear. So I can sympathize with the young man in the background of this photo taken by Flickr user ³²¹. Taken in Guatemala, his problem is not unique to Central America. No, sir. Right here in New York City, I find myself surrounded by people with larger heads than mine. It’s infuriating. I can see the consternation on this poor man’s face and I understand. I, too, am all-to-often left to wonder, “why?” Why must I suffer from such a tiny head? Be brave, my Guatemalan compatriot. Be brave.

Have a picture of an unusually small (or large) body part? Or, even better, just some great travel photos? Submit your images to Gadling’s Flickr group right now and we might use it for a future Photo of the Day

Join a trek study, travel for free!

by Kraig Becker on

Have you ever wanted to travel to an exotic, tropical locale, while taking part in an important study that could end a scourge that has plagued travelers for centuries? If you answered yes to that run-on question, then we have a travel tip for you.

TrekStudy.com is currently seeking travelers to take part in a clinical research study to test an experimental new patch designed to prevent Travelers’ Diarrhea. In fact, they’re even willing to pay for all travel expenses for the men and women who join the study, provided they are willing to go to one of nine different destinations in Mexico or Guatemala and stay for at least seven days. The destination cities in Mexico include Guadalajara, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende, and Mexico City. Those interested in visiting Guatemala instead, are asked to visit Antigua, Quetzaltenango, Panajachel, or Guatemala City instead.

Eligible travelers must be between the ages of 18-64, in good overall health, and be willing to maintain a diary of their usage of the new patch for up to 17 days. To remain eligible, you must also meet some other criteria, such as not having received a diarrhea or cholera vaccine before you travel. To view the complete list of requirements, click here. You can also find answers to many other questions on the research studies’ FAQ which is found here.

Unfortunately, this study, and therefore the travel deal, are not open to just everyone. There are also a list of departure cities with clinics which will be conducting the research, and all participants will have to travel through those cities. That list includes Belfast, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Reading in the U.K., and Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and Potsdam in Germany.

Interested travelers who meet the requirements and would like to join the study are encouraged to apply online.
%Gallery-73517%

%Gallery-65766%