Touting Time: GoBackpacking

You can sense the fierce passion before you visit the site: Its domain name immediately commands you, beseeches you. The most irreversibly devoted know no other response to what they've experienced in independent travel than to preach what they've learned in earnest hope that they'll convert someone otherwise unfamiliar with the art.

But Dave, the head priest of GoBackpacking.com, doesn't have a lick of condescension in his voice, assured that if he can give someone a small push, they can ably make their own treasured discoveries. "I traveled around the world, visiting 22 countries over 20 months," Dave says. "I was robbed. I got sick. I met amazing people. I felt lonely. I felt inspired. I felt frustrated. I felt free. It was perfect. This blog is dedicated to inspiring and motivating others to make their travel dreams come true."

Dave documents his past backpacking experiences with skilled insight, but his contributions don't end with slice-of-life journal-style entries. GoBackpacking carries helpful articles and interviews with experienced backpackers and commentary on important news from the travel realm. The GoBackpacking Twitter account is also one of the more active of the travelsphere, a hyperactive and helpful extension of the excellent GoBackpacking main landing site.

Though it has existed for more than a decade, GoBackpacking got a shiny revitalization in September, and the site's aesthetic often operates like the most astute backpacker should. Its front page is packed lightly with just the essentials, and his self-described editorial style is as follows: "Write about whatever gets you excited, and don’t forget to use spell check." It's this freewheeling, friendly attitude that makes GoBackpacking an excellent read for both the veteran and the uninitiated. Check it out here.

The fringes of total destruction

That guy yelling into the megaphone on the street corner – he can’t wait to prove he was right about 2012 all along. But most of us? We’re not gonna be ready. Existence itself -- whatever your beliefs -- doesn't necessarily have to CC us on a memo when it decides the party has ended. Sometimes, whether by forces natural or human, things just happen. Can't seem to find the time to map out that family road trip? Second honeymoon? As far as we can see, the impending doom of all we know and hold dear is as good of a reason as any to take that getaway you always feel you've deserved. It's an easy sell on your loved ones: "Honey, can you hop on Orbitz and check airfares to London? The world's supposed to end in a few years, and I would hate to watch Big Ben collapse on television not having been." Compare notes with us as we mark off Earth's essential visits before they all come a-crashing down.

Place: Ancient Mayan Ruins at Uxmal / Chichen Itza
Where: Yucatan Peninsula
Why: One stone, two birds?

Its often tough to avoid mixing business with pleasure. Nicolas Cage in National Treasure knows what we're talking about: Sometimes you're just sightseeing in colonial America and on the way realize that you need to steal the Declaration of Independence so you can extract a clue from the back to continue your pursuit of obscene wealth as a career treasure hunter. Your Mayan mission will be a slight variation on this: You get to explore one of the most awe-inspiring ancient civilizations, its gorgeous stone step pyramids still retaining their majesty and painstaking attention to detail. At the same time, it will be your task to further decipher the Mayans' knowledge of astronomy to prevent the upcoming destruction of our planet so as to preserve humanity and all lifeforms that call this place home. Give us a call if you've got any issues with booking. Good luck!

Place: Great Barrier Reef
Where: Queensland, Australia
Why: With or without the apocalypse, it still might disappear in 20 years.

The Great Barrier Reef is, in short, a gem of our natural world -- an interconnected web of thousands of reefs that stretches over 100,000 square feet and brims with countless species and colors. It's so massive that it's visible from space; perhaps that's the feat that will deter our alien overlords from destroying us when pressed to make a decision. Unfortunately, it's not much of a laughing matter: Scientists fear the worst for the Reef regardless of armageddon, saying that in as soon as 20 years, warming waters may kill off every coral lifeform and thus most of the biodiversity and greatness. It's a morbid, depressing situation, but the least we can do is pay our respects before it disappears.

Place: Ancient Rome
Where: Rome, Italy
Why: Western civilization did a pretty decent job.

If the world effectively ends and humans aren't necessarily to blame -- asteroid, rapture, alien war, that kind of thing -- Western civilization can praise these Ancient Romans for holding the line pretty well. They didn't last forever and they weren't perfect, but they gave us some principles to build upon (thank the Greeks too), some mistakes to learn from and some pretty sweet buildings. It's the relative preservation of these buildings that make Rome a glorious visit; structures like the Pantheon, with its all-seeing eye on the ceiling (the Oculus), or the open-air Colosseum could be fine sites to watch the sky fall, if only for the nostalgic pride you'd like to share with ancestors.

Place: Tokyo
Where: Japan
Why: Get your dose of modernity before it's obliterated for eternity.

It'll be tough to see Tokyo ushered into oblivion, as it has exemplified the exponential possibilities of commerce and technology. The billions of flickering lights, the unerring hustle, and the remains of traditions past render the old fishing town a beacon of human prosperity in the 21st century and beyond. It's a testament to our tolerance that millions of people willingly jam themselves into skyscrapers and subways and still operate with some peace. But will anyone be upset to see Hello Kitty merchandise leave?

Place: Freedom Worship Baptist Church
Where: Blanchester, Ohio
Why: The world's largest horseshoe crab!

Let me just write that again: Yes, the world's largest horseshoe crab! Now exhale. It's 68 feet long, sits in a church parking lot and accommodates up to 65 people inside its shell. Some faithless fool once told Pastor Jim Rankin it was neither feasible nor advisable to build the world's largest horseshoe crab inside a church parking lot. But Rankin, bootstraps firmly in hand, channeled the passion and will of the pioneers to prove that structures of giant sea creatures are what the people of Blanchester, Ohio, want, residing some 600 miles from the closest body of salt water. And he celebrated the anniversary of the massive structure the only way we know how: Hiring Evel Knievel's brother to jump the crab on a motorcycle. A country that truly knows no bounds.
(Honorable mention: New York City)

Weird Eats: Bizarre Concept Restaurants Around the World

You know how T.V. dinners got their name? You have to be completely distracted by the television to actually eat the microwaved meal without a gag. When we eat just to survive, it goes with the territory that your meals won't stray far from the norm too often. But you and I both know that the norm can become mind-numbingly boring. To many menu maniacs, food is not just a means to an end but a means for bizarre worship. These obsessive culinary artists make the plate their canvas and go absurd lengths to create the proper sanctuary and ambiance, where their concepts and vision can find the proper space to attach an experience to the mundane act of eating. Such artists have attracted the eyes of curious consumers worldwide, who will often go to lengths as great as the artists themselves to try something exotic. So strap in and have a taste -- the Cowboy Burger at Applebee's will still be there when you get back.

7. Felony Franks
Chicago, IL
(Get served by ex-cons!)

Hot dogs sell themselves, especially in a city that reveres them as much as Chicago. But only the boldest wiener entrepreneurs take risks to stick out in the crowd. A classic example is the Wiener Circle, where traditional service by day becomes raucous and insulting at night -- their greasy dishes are served with a side of nasty from the person handling your food. A sunnier version of this risk-taking spirit is embodied in Felony Franks, where nearly all of the cooks and prep staff are former criminals who have cleaned up their acts and become master chefs of the famous Red Hot. The owners' goal is to promote second chances and humanize individuals who have made mistakes and paid their dues. Its concept has caused controversy, but the food hasn't: Instant classics like the Misdemeanor Wiener and Freedom Fries have already created return customers.

6. Absolut Ice Bar
Stockholm, Sweden
(Everything is made out of ice.)

Some things sound really spectacular and brilliant on paper but become less spectacular upon their execution. Draw me up some blueprints for a building made completely out of ice, and in turn I'll probably try to think of some way to make a pun about that idea being "cool" (thanks, Arnold). Which is exactly what Absolut Vodka has accomplished: furnishings, walls, bars all looking like they were hit with an ice sceptre. Ask me to hang here every weekend -- even in VIP -- and I still might balk at the chance to be freezing cold while indoors. Regardless, tourists have come decked in thick coats and ordered vodkas on the rocks with enough frequency that the owners have seized the opportunity to open another location in London.

5. Mars 2112
New York City, NY, USA

Your neighborhood cosmic mini-golf and cosmic bowling make their best effort in pouring on the spacey kitsch, but is that enough? Owners of Mars 2112 sure don't think so. They're going to infinity and quite possibly beyond in their devotion to their concept, having built their futuristic station on 35,000 square feet on two different levels. Its big budget gives it the authentic appearance of a film set (as authentic as a Mars station could be), with servers in flashy garb and alien costumes. Unfortunately, the restaurant's menu has been criticized for being just above space food in terms of quality. But it's a nifty visit for a restless touring family or sci-fi nerd.

4. Vampire Cafe
Tokyo, Japan
(Bloodsucking never goes out of style, apparently.)

From Dracula to Buffy and now Twilight and True Blood, vampires have oddly captivated one generation to the next in an almost exponential way. What will be the final nail in the coffin? Vampire Cafe has remained undead since 2001 and could see a spike in tourism with the recent craze. The place is decked in red velvet and black and illuminated by candles and certainly looks like a joint where a respectable bloodsucker might entertain a few victims (or tease them endlessly with will-they-or-won't-they vampire/human lust). There is a fixed menu of food in miniature coffins and decked out with blood-red whenever possible. Just don't expect too much garlic.

3. Ogori Cafe
Kashiwa, Japan
(Hope that the person in front of you in line is kind.)

Many goofy concepts revolve around a gaudy decor that fits some themed vision. But Ogori Cafe is almost cafeteria-boring in its design; it's their philosophy that makes them unique. Unsuspecting eaters walk in, order what looks good and then receive something entirely different -- the meal that the person in front of them ordered. Each person is at the mercy of another, and if someone tries to cheat the system they will be promptly accosted by the staff. So would you be polite or a pest? It's a brilliant social experiment that forces you to trust (or not trust) complete strangers.

2. Opaque Restaurant
Los Angeles, CA
(Make sure you trust your reflexes.)

Remember how we talked about the necessity of a T.V. distracting you from nasty microwaveable dinners, forcing you to trust that every bite is something savory and healthy? Luxury restaurants in California, Europe and China are taking that a step further by forcing diners to eat in pitch black. After you order drinks in the dimly-lit waiting area, you're escorted to the depths below and served by a legally blind wait staff, while undefined "security and safety measures" are taken to ensure an enjoyable experience. The belief is that shutting down one sense heightens the others, creating an aromatic and intense dining experience. Just make sure you don't wear white.

1. Lucky's Graveyard Restaurant
Ahmadabad, India
(Yeah, that's literal.)

Lucky's Graveyard Restaurant (hope that's the real name) sits directly among a real-life Indian burial ground. It's kind of like Weekend at Bernie's -- except that it's every day of the week! The owner believes the corpses to be good luck, and that the patrons aren't as scared by graveyards -- in Hinduism, he reminds, death is seen as "an opportunity for rebirth." Yeah, I'd still be a little terrified.

New feature: Multiple photo uploads

Greetings, Where I've Been faithful. Feel like it's been far too long since we updated you on exciting new endeavors that our programmers have ventured out on. Pour a warm beverage, adorn yourself in your favorite Snuggie, and follow me on a fantastical tour into the wide world of WIB.

You may have noticed that it was a bit difficult to upload photos of your trips in the past -- while you could upload one at a time for a specific destination, there was little wiggle room in the way of personal albums and multiple uploads. We firmly believe that wiggling should be given the proper time and ample space. With that in mind, we're happy to unveil an updated, streamlined version of our photo section, where you can ably create albums, upload multiple photos at a time, and import photo albums from Facebook.

Let's take a quick gander at my updated profile page (which has quite the potpourri of stunning portraiture and photography). If you're following along at home, head to the "Photos" section of your Where I've Been profile.


As you can see, you now have full functionality to upload travel albums where they're most appreciated -- right here at Where I've Been. (Pardon -- I just shed a tear.) It's a natural progression for us, as our users now can more accurately document their trips and scrapbook where they've been while also sharing with users who are interested in learning more. You will only import and share from Facebook what you choose to share. You can also create a new album within Where I've Been. Just hit "Add photos," choose which ones you want (hold "control" to select multiple photos at a time) and hit "Save." Try it out for yourself and tell us what you think.

By the way, if the site feels buggy (we know it has been), it's because we're testing out a bunch of new features like this to make Where I've Been more relevant and interesting to you guys. The fact is that in the past few months we've doubled our programming team, who will significantly increase our ability to attack problems when they occur and help us roll out cool new features like this one. If something isn't working, be sure to leave us feedback on the Where I've Been community page, and don't be shy.

Thanks for hanging with us and stay tuned for some more developments in the pipeline!

Exploring The World's Most Haunted Resorts

People forget all kinds of things on vacation: phone chargers, wallets, pillows. But if there's one thing the cleaning lady doesn't like to find, it's the hovering, shrieking, undead soul of a former human being. It's entirely inconvenient; for one, you never know when they're going to make a mess of themselves. They're just so temperamental! Plus, they usually only whisper one or two phrases over and over again, acting like nagging, needy children. Despite our best wishes, these unwelcome guests have been making residency in some of the otherwise-finest vacation escapes for many years, and it's probably best to survey the worst ones before you book your next trip. Like a picturesque, Victorian getaway in California, where possibly suicidal former guest Kate Morgan likes to flick on lights and open drawers in room 3312. Or the ultimate haunt in Cimarron, New Mexico, at a former outlaw cowboy hotel where restless spirits avenge fatal poker games by pushing over room intruders and smoking cigars in non-smoking halls. Whether you want to avoid spirits that don't involve alcohol or you simply like the surprise of unexpected company, check out Where I've Been's listing of the five most ghastly resorts.

5. Rosarios Resort
Orcas Island, WA

Sometimes swagger can't be contained by the bounds of human life alone. Fans of Tupac Shakur might agree. So might those who have experienced the hard-drinkin', Harley-ridin', high-heel-stompin' ghost of Alice Rheem, wife of Donald, who owned the famed Rosarios Resort in San Juan Islands, Washington.

In the roaring, Prohibition-era 20's, high-strung locals often chafed at the flamboyance of Alice Rheem. While living in San Francisco, she'd frequent every speakeasy and have her fill until she got absolutely schnockered. It is believed her husband tried to rein in her flamboyant lifestyle upon purchasing property in the quiet Orcas Island. But Alice, ever the juggernaut, would sport her fiery red dress before hopping on her motorcycle, drinking and playing cards with younger men at the area general store, and returning home a sloppy mess. She died in 1930 due to complications from her alcoholism, but her spirit never left. Patrons of Rosarios Resort have repeatedly heard clunking high-heels in the night. Visitors who sleep in Alice's old room -- where she was believed to have brought back some of the aforementioned young men for questionable dalliances -- have been known to hear soft groans and felt fingers run across their heads. The afterlife -- too boring for Alice Rheem.

4. Hotel del Coronado
San Diego, CA

At the end of the 19th century, the newly wealthy masses of the West had plenty of money to burn but little spark to do so. Thus, the construction of the fantastical Victorian beachside Hotel del Coronado in San Diego was met with much fanfare, and 24-year-old Kate Morgan hoped that at some point her husband, Thomas, would meet her there. The wealthy couple frequently checked into hotels under fake names in the early 1890s. Kate would lure ogling male guests into high-stakes poker games with her husband, who was able to defeat them consistently enough to make a living for the couple. However, prior to her arrival at the Coronado, Kate had learned she was pregnant, and Thomas quarreled with her before leaving her alone at the hotel and resuming his lifestyle as a traveling gambler, promising his return to her in San Diego on Thanksgiving.

The Coronado, today

When Thanksgiving passed without his return, Kate was infused with worry and paranoia. She often appeared in front of hotel employees pale and sickly, apparently affected by ingesting large amounts of quinine, a substance used to perform abortion. One day, she traveled into San Diego and purchased a gun. The following morning, at the front steps of the beach, she was found dead with a bullet wound to the head. It was immediately ruled suicide and quickly covered up; however, it was later discovered that the bullet caliber did not match the gun she had purchased, leading many to believe she was murdered. Whatever the case, shortly after her death, many employees reported odd activity in and around her room, 3312. Apparitions of a lovely female figure appeared next to windows. Lights continued to flicker despite constant replacement. Murmurs were frequently audible. Objects have been found in different places. Could the disturbed soul of Kate Morgan be urging guests to re-investigate her untimely death? Whatever the case, the spooked may want to steer clear of room 3312.

3. Omni Netherland
Cincinnati, OH

Turns out "Till death do us part" bit is for the chumps -- true love maniacs stand by their spouse past the grave. Just ask the spirit of the "Lady in Green." In 1929, developer John Emery sought to build a towering hotel in downtown Cincinnati. The ambitious project was destined for failure, but as the Depression hit, Emery was fortunate in his ability to find a large pool of construction workers for the project. The height of the building and machinery involved made the site extremely vulnerable to accidents, and in 1930 the worst happened -- a man fell to his death, but his body was never found. As construction continued, a woman in a green dress showed up frequently in hopes of finding her lost husband. The hotel was finished the following year and soon played host to luminaries like Elvis Presley and John F. Kennedy, with a charming art-deco style and splendid Hall of Mirrors.

Still beautiful but slowly falling apart, renovation began on the Omni in 1983, and soon notoriety for the building would build in a way developers hadn't expected. Entering the "Hall of Mirrors" to initiate development plans, a construction worker in the empty hotel noticed a woman in a green dress standing above some equipment at the far end of the room. He called at her, and she nervously fled. Later, workers reported seeing a similar figure, who gazed at them as they worked; they thought her to be an employee of the hotel, but her dress appeared quaint. Then she would vanish. Was she ill-fatedly hoping to find her worker husband? Was she protecting the men from her husband's fate? Or was she simply hurting from a lack of hard-hat lovin'? I recommend starting your own construction project at the Omni to find out for yourself.

2. St. James Hotel
Cimarron, NM

The evil twin of the Hotel del Coronado. Rather than focus on the fat of the land, the St. James Hotel gave refuge to lawless cowboys; it was a place where wild young bucks filed in and brought over more ruckus from the nearby saloons. Outlaws like Wyatt Earp, Jesse James and Buffalo Bill were all said to have visited there. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't a place where these outlaws simply traded stories and kicked back some moonshine before peacefully heading to bed. At least 26 people were killed at the St. James, and their souls still haven't gone quietly, despite the place's newly cleaned-up, historical image.

Most restless among the dead has to be the former Thomas James Wright, the benefactor of a hotel poker game who was shot in the back before he could enjoy his winnings. He's taken out his revenge on Room 18, where visitors have been physically pushed or subject to a maniacal ball of orange light. There are even rumors that mysterious deaths had occurred in the room when rented out, which has led the place to close off 18 to visitors. Nearby Room 17 is said to be occupied by the former wife of the owner, whose rose perfume scents the hallways and whose figure is sometimes seen floating. A dwarfish ghost, nicknamed "The Little Imp" by staffers, is known to play tricks by moving objects. Aside from these three resident haunters, the St. James has an assortment of sporadic visitors that bring cold air, flickering lights and mischievous poltergeist activity throughout the years, perhaps looking to re-live their old hootin' and hollerin' thrills of the cowboy days. Such variety makes St. James one of the best (or worst, depending on your view) sites to encounter the undead.

1. Pluckley, Kent, North Wales

Sure, so the quaint country village of Pluckley, Kent, is far from the definition of "resort" in the traditional sense of the word. But having read the previous tales of the undead, aren't you compelled to confront the moaning buggers on your own? Someone has to be willing to clean up their unfinished business. In fact, if you're really into this business, Pluckley is easily the world's most heavily-haunted ghost resort, a pleasant village where it's hip to be a hovering grey vapour.

The Guinness Book record-holder for the most haunted village in the U.K., Pluckley features a grab-bag of your favorite troubled characters. Collect all 14! There's your classic church ghost, a woman in a white dress that hangs out in Dering Chapel and Dering Manor whose image once frightened a big game hunter into shooting at her, and her companion, a woman in a red dress, who repeatedly searches for the unmarked grave of her deceased infant child. If you're going to the bar looking for a fun-loving ghost like Alice Rheem above, then you'll be disappointed -- the ghost of the local pub Dering Arms sits and peers longingly out the window, never bothering to order a beverage. There's a monk, a gypsy woman, two hanging bodies, a screamer, a miller, a phantom horse-driven carriage, and a woman who died from eating poisonous berries. If you're bored with this functioning village of troubled spirits, the town has even more lore for the taking -- modern visitors will never venture into the Screaming Woods at night, where less friendly ghouls shriek and holler every evening. You don't earn a Guinness Book record for nothing, and Pluckley's charming cast of characters makes it the most authentic haunted getaway around.

(Photos: Orcas Island by Stu Seeger, St. James by Kati Gordon)

Interview: Travel Expert David LaHuta

David LaHuta (courtesy of his web site)

“I’ve always considered myself an explorer," says travel maven David LaHuta in his online biography, "but what I enjoy most is finding the beat of the local culture. A destination is only as colorful as the people you meet along the way." Since starting his career as a travel writer a decade ago, LaHuta hasn't stopped moving, his passion earning him gigs at Travel + Leisure, Budget Travel and Newsweek and on-air stints as correspondents for "Everyday with Rachael Ray," CNN's "America Morning" and FUSE's "The Sauce." Keeping in spirit with his thesis statement, LaHuta's wanderlust led him to set up residence in the tiny island of Bermuda in the spring of this year, where he's been faithfully documenting his interactions with the area in his blog.

David was kind enough to take the time to talk travel writing, island living vs. the big city, why Bermuda isn't as remote as we might think, and even how to save a few bucks on travel in Bermuda.

1. Travel journalism seems like it can be both incredibly enriching and ridiculously exhausting. What possessed you to become a travel writer?

My passion for traveling began at a young age, when my parents took my brother and I on a two-month road trip across the United States. We visited about forty states and most of the major National Parks in one summer. I was only ten, but I knew right then and there that traveling was something I wanted to do for living. At the time I didn’t exactly know how I’d go about accomplishing that goal, but those realizations would come with age. I eventually earned a bachelors degree from the College of Journalism at the University of Maryland at College Park and took an unusual path to where I am today. Instead of getting “a real job” I traveled around the world with money I’d saved up from various odd jobs. I backpacked across Europe, lived in London, Sweden, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, freelancing at every step. After hopping around for a few years I moved back to the Caribbean and took a job as the government and politics reporter for the St. Croix Avis, the island’s daily newspaper. It was a great experience and one that really opened my eyes to the world of journalism. After a few years in the Virgin Islands I moved to New York City and took a job at Budget Travel magazine, where I was an editor for five years. The magazine opened lots of doors for me, most notably a stint as the travel and adventure correspondent on Rachael Ray’s syndicated talk show and my current position as a freelancer for Travel+Leisure, Caribbean Travel+Life and others. Being a travel writer is indeed enriching and exhausting but as I like to say, if you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life.

2. This past spring, you packed up and decided you wanted to make Bermuda your home base -- a pretty exotic choice. When did you first visit there, and how did you decide it was the place for you?

I was just a kid the first time I visited Bermuda—one of those great family vacations that you remember for years to come. We visited the Crystal Caves, built castles on pink sand beaches, drank virgin daiquiris at the swim up bar of the Grotto Bay Hotel. It was all so perfect, so Bermudaful as people like to say here. For a kid from New York City it was the ultimate getaway: Sunny and exotic but just a 90-minute flight from JFK. Regarding my most recent move, I have my wonderful wife to thank for that. She was offered a job by a local insurance firm and considering I was already freelancing from home, the move to warmer climes was a no-brainer for us. Five months in life couldn’t be better: I started Bermuda Shorts, a lighthearted blog about island life and have seen my most recent story published in the New York Times—titled 36 Hours in Bermuda, it’s a great resource for anyone wanting to plan a quick weekend getaway to the island.

3. You're a native of New York City. What's the biggest thing you miss about the big-city lifestyle compared to the island one? Or do you miss a thing?

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss watching the Mets play baseball in their fancy new park this summer. And New York City pizza just can’t be beat. But there’s something to be said for removing oneself from what’s comfortable and familiar and relocating somewhere that’s exotic and new. It’s part of the reason why I’ve moved around so much throughout my life. New York will always be there, but the opportunity to live somewhere far-flung and exciting might not. Naturally my wife and I jumped at the chance to move to Bermuda, but living on an island does have its idiosyncrasies—what I consider trading big city headaches for tropical hiccups. Instead of listening to garbage trucks rumble down 14th street for example, I now go to sleep to a cacophony of tree frogs. Instead of the subway, I ride a scooter. Instead of delivery, I cook. Simple tradeoffs really, but island life has always agreed with me. I like living in a place where I can wear flip-flops year-round.

4. Maybe it's just me, but it feels like Bermuda is one of the more overlooked spots when it comes to getaway-type tourism. Is it the remoteness? The Bermuda Triangle thing? Do the locals like it that way?

I wouldn’t call Bermuda remote. After all, it takes less than two hours to fly here from most east coast cities. Once you get here however, it does feel pretty far removed from the rest of the world, mostly due to the idiosyncrasies I was talking about earlier. Bermuda’s not like other islands to the south. It's in the Atlantic, not the “no shirt, no shoes, no problem” Caribbean. First of all, it's an incredibly wealthy island, so you can expect colonial buildings with fresh coats of candy-colored paint and roads lined with lush vegetation. And then of course there are the British influences that come with being a colony—the cars on the left with steering wheels on the right, the afternoon tea, the shorts and knee-high socks. That said Bermuda may be quirky, but overlooked it is not. Cruise ships pull into its western port at the Royal Naval Dockyard almost daily and the airport has seen tons of visitors pass through each week. Even in a tough economy people are still coming, however much of that is due to the hefty discounts brought on by the country’s 400th anniversary celebration, including hotel deals and special events throughout the year.

5. Let's say I happened upon a fat wad of cash and decided Bermuda was next on my to-do travel list. When is the best time / season to travel there? What do you recommend in the way of shoestring-budget travel?

Bermuda sees most of its tourists from late May through early September, but that’s not necessarily the best time to visit. Peak season brings crowds and crowds bring higher prices, certainly on airfare and in hotels. If you’re on a tight budget then the best time of year to travel to Bermuda is during shoulder season, just before and just after the busiest peak season months. In Bermuda that means April and October. It’s still plenty warm, which means you’ll have the island’s pristine pink sand beaches largely to yourself. Best of all, hotels drastically reduce their rates. So instead of paying $300 a night for a fancy hotel, you can often score a room for around $150 a night, which if you’re planning a five-night stay amounts to a pretty significant savings. For hotel and airfare deals be sure to read my blog, Bermuda Shorts, also, don’t miss the Bermuda tourism website which often has special web-only offers. Finally for cheap flights, don’t miss the updates from Airfarewatchdog.com, which tracks airfare to and from your favorite destinations worldwide. And as for me, well, I’ll be on the beach.

This Fall's Stress-Free Escapes

Gellert Bath & Spa - Budapest

The past few weeks, a good portion of the Northern Hemisphere has been greeted by a fat sucker-punch of wind before their morning commute. This 'economy' character is like that nagging in-law who was supposed to pack up and leave your house a week ago and has just kinda stayed there, sitting in your favorite chair and eating the last of your mint Milanos. School started, books start to surround students and teachers like paper fortresses. Heck, we're stressed out just having written those last few sentences. Can we all just stop and breathe for a second? Actually, a full week or so of easy breathing might do a whole lot of good. Let's just put this out there: Stress is a demon. Get an exorcism. There's no reason to hold yourself back. Let Where I've Been run through some of the world's most relaxing destinations, where stress is an afterthought and the truly important questions are asked: "Red or white?" "Medium or well-done?" "Shaken or stirred?"

Thermal spa treatments
Budapest, Hungary

In Eastern Europe, living in a spa resort is less about the vague concept of "relaxing;" true stress, to them, must be "healed." This may seem like some scary witch-doctor type behavior, but this is a philosophy they take very seriously, and you're best served letting them work their magic and basking in the spoils. Hungary is one of the handful of countries in the region rife with natural springs that harbor various minerals that soothe the skin; Budapest alone has about 120 recreational hot springs, giving it the nickname "Spa City." Perhaps most well-known is Gellert Bath and Hotel, offering 13 different baths and pools on their premises that are included in a hotel package. It's an affordable stay compared to similar-type resorts all over the world given Eastern Europe's lesser traffic and push for tourists; fly in to a cheap landing city in Europe like Dublin and take an EasyJet flight to Budapest and let a trade professional from a lineage of trade professionals (or thermal bath faerie witch doctors?) help you relax -- er, heal -- in a way you didn't know you could.

Treebones Resort
San Francisco, CA

The view from Route 1 along the California coast is enough to make your mind drift away into blissful nirvana (yeah, you should probably pull over first). But the Treebones Resort believes there is a proper way to experience the true character of the scenic Big Sur area, and they've thus synthesized a fine compromise between appreciating nature, practicing sustainability and still living a luxurious weekend.

Each of their "yurts" -- that is, spacious, tent-like standalone cabins, are decked out with cozy beds and tasteful furnishings, all while stationed strategically for optimal views of the coast and star-gazing. Each yurt can stand to be visited by their massage expert, Linda, who specializes in a wide range of moves from Swedish to cranial to deep tissue. Upon sunrise, visitors flock to the world-class Wild Coast Restaurant, which is encased by a garden that not only plucked from and used in meals but also enriched with nutrients from kitchen scraps -- they've got the whole reduce, reuse, recycle thing down to a T. It's ideal for parents and singles who want all of the nature and beauty of a camping trip while still desiring those extra indulgences (and guilt-free, no less). And don't take it from us -- Michael Phillips, who recently won our $500 Mobile Giveaway, used his cash to become one of Treebones' newest proud patrons.

Sail The High Seas with a Bahamas Jaunt
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Miami, FL / Nassau, Bahamas

Boat trips aren't the drawn-out, never-ending excursions you map out on a sheet of papyrus months in advance before presenting to the queen. You don't even have to take more than a few days off your work schedule to be the junior Magellan you'd always dreamt. Cruise providers, such as the excellent Norwegian Cruise Lines, are making the four-day boat jaunt not only possible but affordable and simple, and their upcoming Bahamas getaways are the perfect excuse to gather your family and clear the mind. Sip a few boat drinks and watch as the hull of their Norwegian Sky liner cuts through the crystal Bahamian waters, the giant ship fresh from a $15 million renovation. Depending on your stress level, you can choose the tiers of your wildest pampering desires: Bachelors or bachelorettes can rest their bones in the penthouse, which is furnished deceptively like any of the finest luxury hotels -- until you remember you're on a BOAT. Families or big partiers will want to consider one of the many spacious and hip villas; whatever you choose, you'll be riding in style from Miami to Grand Bahama and Nassau, and NCL's commitment to quality ensures the load will be taken from your shoulders.

Summit Views
Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia

Bed and breakfast seems like an ancient art, but sometimes it takes a quaint tradition to clear the cobwebs. But Summit Views, settled in the gorgeous Mornington Peninsula of Victoria, Australia, isn't exactly your classic mom-and-pop B&B joint -- all of the charm of the art is amplified to almost absurd proportions. Each luxury apartment is 300 meters high and constructed with 180-degree views of Arthur's Seat and the Melbourne skyline at your disposal on your personal balcony. Rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art televisions and king-size beds are laid out with the richest cashmere and goose down. They're light on the breakfast aspect, serving a simple bread-and-butter type deal, but by day you'll probably want to explore the scenery up close anyway. Stop by Port Philip Bay, the Peninsula Hot Springs or Arthur's Seat State Park and you'll be effectively unwound. Victoria is best experienced between November and April, so book accordingly.