Chris Guillebeau's Blog, page 56
March 31, 2015
Packing Essentials
Photo by Ed Bierman. Not my bag, unfortunately.
It doesn’t take me long to pack for most trips. I typically bring the same clothes and “stuff” with me no matter my destination or purpose of travel. Sure, there’s some variance—a warmer scarf depending on season, or a nicer jacket depending on what kind of meetings I have on the other side.
On average, it takes me twenty minutes. No more, no less. If I’m doing laundry and sorting through the mail while packing, the whole process might take up t...
March 30, 2015
What If You Had to Work Only One Hour a Day?
I caught bronchitis last winter, and it lasted for more than a week. I spent much of the day sleeping or complaining.
Of course, I still had to work sometime. My energy level was constantly low, but every so often I’d muster enough strength to work through a few tasks or half-heartedly reply to emails before crashing on the couch.
The rest of the time, when I wasn’t sleeping or complaining, I was on the couch reading or watching bad TV shows on my iPad. Once in a while I’d be inspired to b...
March 28, 2015
6 Discoveries from Near and Far: Volume XXXIX
I. Around the World
Things I found on long walks in foreign cities, or perhaps when someone posted them on Twitter.
The Most Advantageous Places to Visit with American Dollars — An updated report highlighting Mexico, Argentina, and some of Europe The Economics of Busking — Notes on best practices and how much money you can expect to make How to Tell the Difference Between Planes — Do you know that there are only two double-decker aircraft? This infographic will teach you how to spot all the...6 Discoveries from Near and Far: Volume XXXIV
I. Around the World
Things I found on long walks in foreign cities, or perhaps when someone posted them on Twitter.
The Most Advantageous Places to Visit with American Dollars — An updated report highlighting Mexico, Argentina, and some of Europe The Economics of Busking — Notes on best practices and how much money you can expect to make How to Tell the Difference Between Planes — Do you know that there are only two double-decker aircraft? This infographic will teach you how to spot all the...Ending Soon: Last Chance for 70,000 IHG Hotel Points
InterContinental Ruijin hotel in Shanghai, China.
Link: 70,000 IHG Hotel Points
A while back I mentioned a limited-time offer for 70,000 IHG hotel points (normally 60,000 or fewer). The deadline for the big bonus is coming up, and this is one that’s definitely worth looking at if you’re eligible.
70,000 points in the IHG network can be used for at least two nights at nicer properties, or up to a week or longer at budget properties. Personally, I’m in the “life is short” department—I have plen...
March 26, 2015
40 Years Later, I Set Out to Walk the Camino de Santiago: Nancy Liddle’s Quest
This is a quest case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . )
Nancy wasn’t sure she could completean 850-kilometer walk on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. But she did, and discovered something about age in the process. Here’s how it happened.
Introduce yourself and your quest.
My name is Nancy and last year I fulfilled my 40-year-old dream to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Being 56, relatively unfit, single, and never having walked more than 10 kilometers in my life was intimidating...
March 25, 2015
Non-Conformity and Adventure in Europe: The “Alive in Berlin” Conference
Last year I spoke at a number of worldwide events, but only one was in Europe. The organizers are bringing it back for another round, and a limited number of tickets are now available.
I like events of this size: not too small, and not too big. If you’re in the neighborhood, broadly speaking, or if you’re up for an overseas adventure, Alive in Berlin is a great opportunity to connect with like-minded people and learn more personal development.
Oh, also: Berlin is an awesome city! I don’t...
“If you have to ‘give back,’ maybe you took too much in the first place.”
I heard someone say that recently. I don’t remember the context but I really liked the sentiment.
This whole concept of “giving back”—it kind of implies a certain arrogance. It suggests that everything we’ve received comes from our own hard work, and that we are deserving of whatever wealth or status we hold.
I don’t wish to overstate this critique or go on some sort of campaign against people who use those words. I’ve used them before too, and I think they’re in the biographical section f...
March 24, 2015
Taking a Travel Break Mid-Career: On the Road with John Fiddler and Kathleen Egan
This is a traveler case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . )
John and Kathleen opted to take a mid-career break and travel the world under three tenets: sightseeing, athletics (trail running, climbing, and long distance hiking), and volunteering.
Introduce yourselves.
We’re two 40-somethings on a multi-year career break traveling the planet. Along with adventuring through the wild landscapes of the world to see the sights and cultures of the planet, we’re trying to give back to communit...
March 23, 2015
Fuel Dumping: A Little-Understood Trick to Save Hundreds of Dollars on Airfare
There’s a fun trick that can help you save hundreds of dollars on your next long flight—but it’s a little complicated and requires a bit of work.
Bloggers get hate mail over sharing this tip (I’m not kidding), presumably because some people feel entitled to keep secrets to themselves. In my opinion, the only reason this loophole hasn’t been closed has nothing to do with its public knowledge but rather that it takes effort and attention to benefit from it.
Basically, “fuel dumping” is a tick...
