US Travel
” All that raw land that rolls in one unbelievable huge bulge over to the West Coast, and all that road going…” -Jack Kerouac
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An independent voice pursuing destinations by land, air, and sea. Focused on narrative clarity and quality of experience.
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Asia
“Saigon traffic is Vietnamese life, a continuous charade of posturing, bluffing, fast moves, tenacity and surrenders.” -Andrew X. Pham
Hotel Reviews
“I knew it. I knew it. Born in a hotel room – and God damn it – died in a hotel room.” -Eugene O’Neill
Recent Posts
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Downtown Vegas Oasis: El Cortez Cabana Suites
Choosing a hotel room in Las Vegas can be overwhelming. There are hundreds of thousands of rooms around the city ranging from palatial suites with butler service to a plain old Motel 6. Even after you’ve decided which hotel you want to visit it can be confusing deciding exactly which room to book. The differences…
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Where to Stay in Chile: Santiago’s Best Hotels
The first thing you’ll notice when searching for a hotel in Santiago is that most of them are arranged along a line from the center of the city to the east, parallel with the river. This is actually quite convenient because the #1 subway line runs along roughly the same path. Often visitors want to…
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Is This the Worst Country for Solo Travel?
Costa Rica has always enjoyed a sterling reputation in the US travel market. Long known as the safest and most stable country in Central America, many travelers value the ability to see all or most of it on a trip of just 1-2 weeks. The possibilities of where you could go in that time and…
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Is The Holiday Inn San Jose’s Best Hotel?
If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica you might be considering getting a hotel in San Jose to act as a base for exploring the rest of the country, or as a place to stay before or after flying. Holiday Inn is a name that’s familiar to most travelers and the Holiday Inn San…
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Is Hotel Los Ranchos a Slice of Paradise in Jaco Beach?
For travelers looking to stay in Jaco Beach finding a large chain hotel is not really possible. Aside from an all inclusive Best Western resort, there are just vacation rentals, hostels, and small local hotels. The Hotel Los Ranchos is one such property. Coming in at around $75 a night on Expedia, does this hotel…
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First Trip to Bogota: Everything You Need to Know
Bogota is not the world’s largest city. It’s not even close to the largest cities in the world, being barely within the top 30 in population size for its metro. But when you arrive in Bogota it will feel like the biggest city on Earth. Indeed, it’s larger than some of the world’s most visited…
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Gear Guide: Travel Items You Need on Every Trip
Packing light is packing right. Whether I’m flying for a weekend or preparing for a six month stay on a cargo ship I’m not carrying much more than the bare minimum. Like many travelers I’m hesitant to check a bag. I’d rather have the convenience and peace of mind that comes with keeping all my…
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Reykjavik For Visitors- A Primer for the First Timer
Paris. Madrid. Berlin. The capitals of Europe are among the great cities of the world. Reykjavik… is not that. It’s a different sort of place entirely. For many visitors Iceland’s capital is something of an afterthought. It can be a box to tick on the way to see volcanoes, geothermal pools and the elusive Northern…
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The Best Sportsbooks in Las Vegas
For all the thousands of pages of content online covering Las Vegas, discussions of the city’s sportsbooks are quite thin. Only a few comparisons exist, and often contain ten or more sportsbooks. The 10th best sportsbook in town is not the “best’ and definitely not worth going out of your way for. For some visitors…
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Traveling to Phuket: Stay in Patong or Move Along?
If you’re planning a trip to Thailand you’ll probably want to start by seeing Bangkok. Especially if you’re coming straight to the country from the US or Europe it’s much easier and less expensive to arrive in the capital. But after several days of the noise and traffic there you might be more than ready…
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Sha Tin Racecourse: A Great Day Out in Hong Kong
If you’re thinking of visiting the World’s Coolest City, congratulations. It’s an amazing place that’s constantly buzzing with activity and excitement. You can reach Hong Kong from several Asian countries for under $100 USD. You could spend your whole trip exploring along Lockhart and Nathan Road shopping and dining. Nobody would blame you. But you’d…
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Macau… The Biloxi of the East
For many visitors to Hong Kong, a day trip or a night or two spent in Macau is an interesting diversion. It’s nearly impossible to hear someone mention Macau and not use the phrase “The Las Vegas of the East.” Who wouldn’t be tempted by that? We’re only an hour away from Vegas? Of course…
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