All backpacking Content

• Suitcase Malfunctions: A Brief History of Broken Luggage
  March 5, 2013 5:10 pm
  Can you guess which parts of your suitcase are most likely to fail? read more
• Inexpensive Hotels: What You Can Expect Abroad
  June 26, 2012 9:01 am
  Ed Perkins on the new class of budget accommodations, and how to identify the best ones for your money. read more
• The Essential Beach Packing List
  May 24, 2012 2:12 pm
  A beach vacation is all about relaxation, but there's nothing relaxing about forgetting items at home. Pack right with our handy beach vacation packing list. read more
• Top 10 Health and Beauty Tips for Travelers
  September 17, 2010 9:16 am
  Want to know the secret to looking fresh and vibrant when you step off the plane? Use these tips and tricks to avoid some of the most common beauty pitfalls while traveling. read more
• Pack Right: Carry-On Bag Packing List
  September 10, 2010 12:11 pm
  Need help packing light and avoiding baggage fees? Download our carry-on bag packing list. read more
• Great Alternatives to National Parks
  May 7, 2010 10:49 am
  While national parks get all the fanfare (and throngs of tourists), state parks and national monuments provide similar opportunities for travelers looking for outdoor activities, history, and relaxation. read more
• Hit the Road With These Travel Holidays
  April 30, 2010 12:00 am
  Celebrate your wanderlust by taking advantage of one of these travel holidays. From destinations and trains to fanny packs, there's a day for just about everything related to tourism. read more
• Olympics Bound? Beware of Carry-On Restrictions
  February 12, 2010 1:47 pm
  Canada's current carry-on baggage restrictions on flights to the U.S. mean that Olympic visitors need to pack light and smart to not run into problems on the way home. read more
• Putting Non-Liquid Toiletries to the Test
  January 27, 2010 12:00 am
  Looking to travel light without going without? Our intrepid testers put four alternatives to liquid toiletries to the test. Find out which delivered, and which fell short. read more
• Traveling for Thanksgiving? Read This First!
  November 23, 2009 9:31 am
  Everything you need to know to travel smarter around Thanksgiving, so you can spend more time focusing on the good stuff: the food, the family, and the friends. read more
• Truly Budget Travel for Summer: Hostels
  May 29, 2009 2:50 pm
  Hotel and airfare discounts are great, but what if your budget is even more limited? In this series, we'll cover ideas for fun travel on the cheap. read more
• The Hottest Travel Trends for Summer 2009
  April 9, 2009 5:08 pm
  High supply and decreased demand is truly making this summer a buyers' (i.e., travelers') market. If you can swing it, you'll be able to get a lot more for your money this year. read more
• Two Travel Styles, But Only One Vacation
  August 6, 2008 10:44 am
  One reader wants to backpack in Belize. Her friend wants to stay at an all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic. Can the Deal Detective help them find a middle ground? read more
• Classic Treks Around the World
  March 10, 2008 12:00 am
  Learn about 10 great treks featured in Classic Hikes of the World, a new book by outdoor adventure writer Peter Potterfield. read more
• Europe too expensive? Consider Central America
  June 26, 2008 5:09 pm
  Does the prospect of the strong euro and increasingly expensive Europe airfare have you thinking about other destinations? Maybe it's time to consider Central America. read more
• Making Your Machu Picchu Dream a Reality
  August 6, 2008 10:44 am
  Our expert deal finder helps two readers learn when to go and how to see the Lost City of the Incas on short money. Plus: The perfect Machu Picchu trip for non-hikers. read more
• Leave your expensive luggage and bags at home
  June 26, 2008 5:09 pm
  While you might think your spiffy designer luggage simply announces you've got style and taste, it also says: "My owner has a lot of money and I contain expensive things." read more
• Where can I go for $1,200?
  June 26, 2008 5:09 pm
  With two weeks' vacation time and just a $1,200 budget, SmarterTravel reader Natalie S. needed help finding a good deal. Our Deal Detective uncovered bargain trips for her from Paris to Prague to Portugal—and many places in between. read more
• An Epic Walk on the Wild Side of England
  October 24, 2008 11:38 am
  For those who believe the best way to see the world is on their own two feet, there's no more rewarding long-distance ramble in all of Europe than England's Pennine Way. read more
• Hadrian's Wall, England's Top Ancient Monument
  October 24, 2008 11:43 am
  Walking in the footsteps of history, Josh Roberts declares lesser-known Hadrian's Wall the best ancient monument in Britain. read more
• Seven ways to see Europe on a student's budget
  June 26, 2008 5:09 pm
  Five weeks to do 10 countries, and on a student's budget? If you head to Europe with an open mind and a penchant for train travel, it's more than possible. In fact, it should be a graduation requirement. read more
• World's best hostels
  June 26, 2008 5:09 pm
  Hostelworld.com has just announced its picks for the world's top hostels, based on the votes of a half-million hostelers. read more
• A real 'amazing race' for adventurous travelers
  June 26, 2008 5:09 pm
  <em>The Amazing Race</em>'s Phil Keoghan is nowhere to be found, but that won't stop 50 adventurous travelers from racing around the world next spring in a global scavenger hunt that puts the reality-TV hit to shame. read more
• Hiking the High Peaks of New Hampshire's White Mountains
  August 6, 2008 10:00 am
  The White Mountains are like a comfortable old friend to our adventure columnist. This month, he shares his favorite hike in the mountains he considers his second home. read more
• Iceland: Tolkien-esque Adventure in the 'Land of Fire and Ice'
  October 24, 2008 11:41 am
  Iceland has a magical quality to it, as if it has been plucked from the imagination and placed between Europe and North America to be a playground for the adventurous traveler. read more
• Trekking Mont Blanc, Europe's Ultimate Summer Adventure
  August 6, 2008 9:55 am
  There's no better way to experience the Alps than hiking the Mont Blanc circuit. Josh Roberts covers the ins and outs of the trek, and explains the options for planning your own trip. read more
• Yosemite's best (and worst) in every season
  June 26, 2008 5:09 pm
  Yosemite National Park is open to visitors 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but the experience can differ dramatically from season to season. Figuring out what you want from a visit can help you choose the best time to go. read more
• Big Sur Delivers Dramatic Views on a Small Budget
  August 6, 2008 9:48 am
  It stretches across 90 miles of cliffs and vistas, and it reveals more twists and turns than a Dan Brown bestseller. "It" is Big Sur, and the famous white-knuckle drive is only part of the story. read more