The Art of Roaming: Travel Tips for the Independent Globetrotter

Polizzi Generosa, Sicily, 2025

During a team meeting at work several months ago, a 20-something colleague asked about traveling abroad. He was interested but hesitant. Should he do it? The answer from the team was an unmistakable yes. 

A few of us lit up as we talked about the benefits of a journey abroad. There was consensus that international travel is a great way to expand your horizons, get a new perspective, keep your mind active, build confidence by navigating new places and unfamiliar languages and cultures, learn about the world, and maybe learn a few things about yourself. 

This conversation coupled with my recent trip to Sicily (Story coming soon!) got me thinking about travel advice. Here are a few practical tips for anyone wanting to explore the planet.

There are endless places to go and many, many ways to strike out on an adventure. This is my advice based on 15+ trips abroad since 2000. Your advice, which you can leave in the comments section of this post, is welcome but please be kind to novices and don't tell me "you're doing it wrong." I am well aware that there many things I've left out and not all tips works for all destinations.

Reflections on the Wild East

RIP

It all started with a trip to Prague in 2000. I was there with one of my favorite travel buddies, the vibe was vibrant yet low-key, and the dollar was strong. It was 11 years after the fall of communism and a palpable sense of discovery was felt by locals and travelers alike. It was then that I fell in love with the Wild East.