There are many great reasons to travel by yourself, although many of us do it primarily because we can't find companions to join us on trips that last weeks or months or years. Since 2010 I've been running travel websites for a living and I've literally spent about six of those years traveling and living in places around the world. Solo travel chose me rather than the other way around, and somehow I'm an accidental expert on the subject.

Finding the best places to go as a solo traveler can be tricky at first. Other articles I've seen simply list places the author enjoys and recommends that you go solo for that reason alone. In the article below I describe many different types of places that can be good choices for solo travelers along with why. I think and hope that people will find it useful and at least give you some strategies for what to look for and what to avoid on solo trips. Click to read more

Spending the Christmas and New Year's holiday weeks with family and friends is the longstanding tradition in most of the Western world, but those based in the colder northern climates are looking for alternatives. After a couple decades of being bundled up, many start to wonder if there is another way to spend the holidays.

Those with the resources have been heading to Hawaii for Christmas for a long time, but there are actually dozens of countries and islands with similar tropical climates around the world, and most of them are far cheaper, at least once you get there. Below is a list of nearly every major tourist destination that combines warm weather and low prices during the weeks around Christmas and New Year's.

Updated for 2018: This year's list has been updated and expanded, with current price information for 2018 holidays as of August, 2018. Click to read more

The final month of the year marks the time when people in northern climates start looking around for an escape to the sun. Fortunately, there are big parts of the world that have their best weather of the year at this time, and are very cheap as well, once you get there. The best places to visit in December are of course close to the equator or even below it.

Most of the destinations below are in Latin America and Southeast Asia, so depending on where you are starting from it might be a rather long flight to get there. Many of us can take two weeks or even more around this time of year, but that fact means that all of these places do get crowded and raise hotel prices for the weeks around Christmas and New Year's. Speaking of that, we have a separate list of cheap and warm places to go over Christmas and New Year's, only listing beach areas around the world with affordable hotels during that period.

It's best to book as far in advance as possible for both your flights and hotels, since so many people have the same idea and prices generally just keep going up as it gets closer. Click to read more

The Eurostar is the train that famously uses the Channel Tunnel (Chunnel) to connect London with Paris and Brussels. In many ways the experience is similar to riding any other train in Europe or anywhere else in the world, but there are a few key differences that are important to consider.

There's also a totally independent ticketing system, so getting the cheapest fare requires more planning. Generally speaking, the trick is to book your Eurostar ticket as soon as possible, but we'll discuss that more in the money-saving section below. Click to read more

In many ways November is the best month to visit Asia because most of the top destinations such as Bangkok and Hong Kong have excellent weather, but the big crowds don't start coming until just before Christmas. You can see on the list below that you have many excellent choices of destinations this month, and hotel prices are close to their yearly lows in many of them. In some cases it's better to visit in the second half of November because the beginning of the month can still be a bit rainy.

Those looking for beaches will be happy to see Phuket and Goa on the list, but there are many great cities that also have fine weather in November. You have so many great choices in southeast Asia that this is the perfect time to start a longer visit that spans several countries if you have the time.

Click to read more

No one will be surprised to learn that Europe is getting fairly chilly in November, but there is still plenty to see and do. There is actually one place where you can still work on your tan, but most people will be better off focusing on the larger and most famous cities, and especially those in the southern countries.

Below you'll find our 14 best picks for places to go in Europe in November. The crowds will be smaller than in summer and hotels are usually quite a bit cheaper, so you can actually see more of Europe on the same money if you come this time of year. If this is your first trip to Europe you may also be interested in our recommendations for best first-time Europe itineraries of your own. Click to read more

For most of the year we help people find destinations with “great weather” and that usually means that it's warmer there than where you live. But more of us are living in places with scorching summers that never seem to end, and the list below is for those of us looking for a place to cool off rather than warm up.

We've got recommendations for places around the world, going from west to east starting in Alaska, so there should be a few for you no matter where you are starting from. The destinations below also range from quite cheap to extremely expensive, so hopefully each of us can find something suitable for our budget and travel style. Click to read more

If you have a flexible schedule, or if you just happen to have some time off in November, you are in luck. This is honestly the best month of the year for finding cheap destinations that also have fantastic weather. Since most people don't start their winter travel until mid or late December, it means crowds are small and hotel prices are low through huge sections of the travel world. Those wondering where to go on holiday in November have many great choices at bargain prices, although airfare may cost a bit.

Of course in November you can pretty much forget about Europe if you want warm weather and little chance of rain. Fortunately you can go almost anywhere in Latin America and through many parts of Southeast Asia on a cheap flight, and you'll be in the sun with shockingly low prices, easily making the flight duration and cost worthwhile. The best holiday destinations in November are found all over the world, which you'll see on the list below. Click to read more

Originally the term safari was coined as a word to represent an overland journey. This was often referred to as a trip within Africa. Today however, the term safari has grown to represent any trip, whether overland or not, that involves the observation of wildlife in its natural environment. Safaris have also grown to vary in duration and price. Many of the original tours were only available to wealthy ‘explorers’ who wanted to scope out an area for future existence or hunting. Nowadays, prices accommodate all budget levels, allowing for easier access to the destination of your choice.

There are many different types of safaris to choose from, some take you into waters full of marine wildlife, while others take travelers along rustic hikes through sand and mountains. Of course there are still many classic safaris available that lead straight into the heart of Africa. With any safari that you take, remember to keep your eyes open and camera ready.

This article was originally published in 2014 and has been updated to reflect 2018 prices.

Click to read more

Welcome to San Diego. A melting pot of different cultures, arts and flavors, San Diego is a chosen destination for many people across the United States. However, due to it's location in southern California, many visitors plan to spend lots of money enjoying the sights and attractions of this great city.

But that doesn't have to be the case, with the Go San Diego Card, vacationers have the option to pay for all of the attractions at once rather than at each admission gate, helping to save on costs. But is the card truly a good deal? We'll find that out and more below. Click to read more