Foreign tourists rarely visit Serra da Capivara National Park. But its two museums, beautiful vistas and, most of all, archaeological sites that changed what scientists believed about the populating of the Americas, makes it worth the trek. (Plus, cave drawings!) From the New York Times Travel section’s 52 Places for a Changed World.
Inside the dramatic turnaround that made Colombia’s second city a model for water management. Read here: https://t.co/jPtsh0wAen
Sure, you know to tip at a sit-down restaurant, but what do you do when the barista flips around that iPad screen and you need to decide how much to tip on a latte she hasn’t even made for you yet? Counter-service tipping via tablet is now mainstream, but do you really need to give? I found data on how many people really tip. [Click headline to read article.]
Airplanes are responsible for a significant greenhouse gas emissions. Overtourism is threatening our cultural heritage. Airbnb and other vacation rentals are destroying neighborhoods. Should you really be traveling? [Click headline to read story.]
Colombian empanadas, Tibetan momos, Greek gyros, Chinese hot pots, Korean noodles — Queens is the most diverse, and cheapest, place to eat in New York City.
Though I’m partial to budget travel, spending some money in the Amazon goes a long way. With a guide and a good boat, you can experience wildlife, local culture and stunning waterscapes that solo travelers could never reach. [Click headline to read full piece.]
In a temporary return to the Frugal Traveler column, I visit Prague on a budget the equivalent to an average local worker’s salary, and find it’s plenty to eat Czech food, stay in a decent guesthouse, and visit one cultural attraction a day…but not quite enough for beer. [Click headline to read full piece.]
Carnaval is right around the corner in this energetic city, where traditions — culinary, musical, literary and more — reflect a deep Afro-Brazilian heritage. Here’s my suggested weekend itinerary. [Click headline to read full piece.]
I’ll do pretty much anything to promote my new book on travel. Like, for example, link to it in this very sentence. But I draw the line when a TV or podcast interviewer asks me on to discuss, say, “the hottest new destinations for 2019.” Even considering such a list is travel writer malpractice. Why would you recommend a place bound to be overpriced and packed with tourists? Instead, I’d rather be invited to recommend places that are not hot this year, or next year…and may never be. [Click headline to read full piece.]
Together with the photographer Rose Marie Cromwell, I attended Permangolinha, a retreat run by capoeira master Cobra Mansa at his fascinating property in rural Bahia state, in northeast Brazil. There he raises cacau, coffee, cupuaçu, and some crops that don’t start with “c” following the guidelines of permaculture. Read more about it and see some incredible photos and videos not by me here.
