Posted: 11/12/19 | November 12th, 2019

From unexpectedly cosmopolitan Tel Aviv — including a rapidly expanding foodie scene with delicious organic offerings — and the holy city of Jerusalem to the natural wonders of the Negev Desert and the historic Masada National Park and other ancient archaeological sites, Israel has a lot to see.

Israel is home to thousands upon thousands of years of history, as well as key historical sites for the three major monotheistic religions, making this a destination for millions of tourists and pilgrims every year.

The country is pretty small and you can get around it very easily, especially if you rent a car. It’s just 290 miles from Haifa on the northern tip of Israel to Eliat in the south (about five hours of driving).

That said, some people don’t want to drive, and some places out in the desert are hard to get to. For those people, there are tours! There are lots of options, from walking tours in Tel Aviv to multiday tours across the country (and neighboring countries).

I’ve put together a list of my favorite tour companies in Israel. They focus on different kinds of travel, but all offer good value for the money:

1. Abraham Tours

Abraham Tours aim to suit independent travelers, and give you lots of information about the culture, history, and politics of the region so you can be better informed while you travel around Israel.

Generally aimed at budget travelers, the tours range between two and 12 days in length and cater to those keen to go hiking, experience Israeli food, or head into the desert. The company has short half- or one-day tours, like a Jerusalem graffiti tour for $28, or a kibbutz experience from Tel Aviv for $63. A three-day tour of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea starts at $146; a five-day trip through northern and coastal Israel costs $375.

They also run “dual narrative” tours of Gaza, Jerusalem, and Hebron, which include activities like driving along the Gaza border, exploring Jericho, seminars on the Gaza-Israel conflict, and video calls with Gaza residents, designed to help you understand both sides. These one-day trips cost around $100.

2. Delicious Israel

Delicious Israel offers small-group walking tours covering places like the Carmel and Levinsky Markets in Tel Aviv and the Machane Yehuda market in Jerusalem, where you’ll be able to taste authentic hummus, shakshuka, and much more. There’s also a tour that includes a cooking class after the shopping part. Tours range from $90 to $120, depending on the length.

3. Bein Harim Tours

These days, Bein Harim, founded in 1993, has over 70 tour options, so it’s easy to choose exactly what you want to see and do. It offers small group tours — both one-day visits to all the major tourist destinations and multiday tours up to 12 days in length, some including nearby Jordan. The one-day trips range from $73 to explore Jerusalem up to $125 to visit Bethlehem and Jericho. Multiday trips range from $300 for two days up to $2,000 for 12 days, for which you can choose options like the history and archaeology of Israel, or a Christian-oriented package.

4. Intrepid

Intrepid offers really high-quality, authentic tours in small groups, and focuses on staying in locally run accommodations like small guesthouses and homestays, and visiting locally-owned restaurants and shops.

Intrepid offers a dozen trips covering Israel and the Palestinian Territories, from a five-day highlight tour (around $770) up to 26-day journeys that also visit Egypt and Jordan (up to $8,000). It also has specialized tours, including a nine-day Christmas trip and a couple of lower-priced ones especially for those under 30.

5. Bike Israel

A unique and really enjoyable way to explore Israel is on a bike tour — it’s a country with reasonably short distances, and the routes these tours cover varied landscapes: desert areas, dirt roads, and seaside routes. (If you’re worried your fitness level might not be up to it, Bike Israel now also offers e-bikes.)

Tours range from a half-day seaside ride near Tel Aviv to multiday trips in the desert to cycling between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Prices range from $100 for a half-day; the longer trips, depending on the number of participants, can be as little as $400.

6. World Expeditions

World Expeditions focuses on thoughtful travel and wants you to experience cultural immersion on its tours. It has a focus on hiring well-trained, enthusiastic local guides and also includes some degree of adventure.

In Israel, World Expeditions offers trips between six and 14 days in length. Some are self-guided hikes with transfers between trails and accommodation each day, hiking through the Galilee and other beautiful areas (starting at $1,300). The longest tour takes in Jordan and the Palestinian Territories as well as the key sites of Israel, and spends one night in a Bedouin camp, for around $7,000.

7. Mejdi Tours

Mejdi Tours has a strong focus on cultural immersion, social responsibility, and giving back, and its tours focus on travelers who want to do more than just basic sightseeing. The word “mejdi” translates as “honor and respect,” which are values the company definitely works hard on.

In Israel, you can join various multiday tours, each with a different focus. For example, in 2020 it is running a ten-day multinarrative tour of Israel and Palestine in conjunction with Hands of Peace (from $3,900). As well as visiting Jerusalem’s holy sites and the Dead Sea, this tour includes meeting politicians and visiting a refugee camp.

If food is more your thing, then Mejdi also has a one-week culinary and wellness tour (starting at $4,900) that includes an incredible range of eating experiences along with yoga classes and personal development.

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Joining a tour in Israel is a sure way to make sure you don’t miss out on learning all the cultural and historical nuances of this amazing country. From short walking tours of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, through one- or two-week trips covering most of Israel (and neighboring lands), and even specialized trips focusing on religion or politics or food or nature, there are many fantastic ways to see Israel on a group tour.

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The Camino de Santiago is known as one of the world’s great hikes, and it earns a spot on many bucket lists with good reason. After hiking the Camino last year, I’ve compiled this list of essential tips for hiking the Camino de Santiago across Spain, including everything I wish I knew before setting out …

Read more10 Essential Tips for Hiking the Camino de Santiago

The post 10 Essential Tips for Hiking the Camino de Santiago appeared first on Everything Everywhere Travel Blog.

Here’s a great salad recipe that my sister and I have made many times. I forgot about it until recently and got it out to take to a party. It was a big hit and the bowl was empty when I returned home! It’s easy to put together, looks a little fancy and tastes delicious.

Just multiply ingredients depending on how many you want to serve. I used 2 cans of mandarin oranges and more salad greens and I didn’t use spinach leaves this time, but curly leaf green lettuce. It was very good! The candied almonds really give it a good flavor too, as well as the homemade salad dressing. I also quadrupled the salad dressing to make more, since as it it’s not that much. You can add more or less of each item depending on your taste. 

The post Mandarin Orange Tossed Salad appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

It’s the start of a new week and we are diving into November full speed ahead. Thanksgiving is later this year and we don’t have that extra week at the end of November this year so it seems like Christmas will be here before we can blink.

I’m joining on of my longtime blog buddies, Melissa at 320 Sycamore today for a Favorite Things party. She’s been doing this party for 10 years! I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty nosy when it comes to what everyone likes and I love to see what everyone is using and what they love around the house, from makeup, to home gadgets, to home decor and more.

The post My Favorite Things Party! appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Experience Asheville in all new ways this weekend by checking out some highly anticipated grand openings including the revamped Asheville Art Museum and a new National Craft Innovation Hub in downtown. Learn about these and other breweries, restaurants and lodging that have recently opened in our roundup of November openings.

Holiday festivities are under way in Asheville this weekend. Get into the spirit of the season with a trip Christmas at Biltmore to see all of the holiday grandeur on display. Here's a sneak peek of the gorgeous décor.

Hi friends, we are looking at master bath tile today and can’t wait to share all that with you. 

Today, enjoy this inspiration from my friends on Home Style Saturday! We’re all getting ready for Thanksgiving and then Christmas, so enjoy! 

The post Home Style Saturday 164 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Travel Inspiration

If you’ve ever researched a travel destination online, you’ve probably come across Matt Kepnes. He’s been blogging & writing about travel for many years.

Today, I wanted to chat with Matt about his newest book, saving money on travel, plus some of his most memorable misadventures. Here’s Matt:

Tell Us About Yourself!

My name is Matt Kepnes, but these days most people know me as Nomadic Matt. The short version of my story is that I grew up in the Boston area and went to school to be a high school history teacher. I ended up taking a job at a hospital doing administrative work while I tried to find a teaching job and ended up there for three years. I hated the job and found it really mundane and boring. I mean my co-workers were nice but the job itself was awful.

In 2006, after meeting some backpackers and falling in love with the idea of long-term travel, I quit my job to travel the world. My plan was to travel for about a year.

I came home eighteen months later, decided the “real world” was right for me, and left again. I ended up spending a decade on the road.

And here we are now.

In addition to my blog, I also I co-own a hostel in Austin, Texas called HK Austin, I teach a few online courses, I organize an annual travel conference for bloggers, writers, photographers, and other creators in the travel industry called TravelCon, and I run a charity called FLYTE that helps students in underserved communities around the US experience transformative trips abroad.

What Have Been Some Highlights Over The Years?

After a decade on the road, there’s been a lot of great moments. But some highlights includes the month I spent on Ko Lipe in Thailand (barefoot mind you). We had a great group of people there and I would have stayed longer if my visa hadn’t expired.

Something similar happened in Greece on the island of Ios. I ended up meeting some amazing people and staying for a couple of months just hanging out and working on my tan (and blog).

Then there was learning to scuba dive in Fiji, living in Bangkok for a couple of years, playing poker in Amsterdam for a few months, hiking Patagonia, visiting Madagascar, and having a job that lets me travel.

What Do Most Budget Travelers Do Wrong On Their First Trip?

As a backpacker or budget traveler, money management is key to your success — especially when you’re traveling long term. You have an infinite amount of time but not an infinite amount of money so backpackers who fail to keep track of their spending are going to find themselves going home early.

When you aren’t working, it’s easy to spend money — you have a lot of free time after all! Meals, tours, and night’s out — they all add up pretty quickly. So, if you’re not keeping track of where that money is going, you aren’t going to know how to pace your spending. I still keep a budget journal so I know what I’m spending. It allows me to go, “Ok, I’ve been spending too much on X (alcohol/Starbucks/tours/taxis/whatever) so it’s time to cut down so I can get back to what my daily spending needs to be.”

If you’re on a budget or need to keep an eye on your spending, keep a journal to track your expenses. There are apps you can use too, like Trail Wallet or Mint. Whatever method you prefer, track your expenses. It’s the only way to make sure you don’t go home early broke!

How Can Travelers Save Money On Their Next Trip?

Travel has never been more accessible or affordable thanks to a large number of deal websites online, the sharing economy (which lets you avoid traditional travel gatekeepers), and just all the information out there that lets you find out cheap and affordable things to do in a place. Here are a few money-saving tips worth considering for your next trip:

1. Visit the tourism offices. Every city has one, and they are a great way to learn about discounts, coupons, free activities, events, and money-saving tourism passes. In short, they’re a great resource that is often overlooked. Don’t make that mistake!
2. Start travel hacking. Collecting points and miles is a great way to earn free flights and free hotel stays. I’ve saved thousands and thousands of dollars over the years — and you can too!
3. Go on free walking tours. Most major cities have them, and they are a great way to learn about the history and culture of a new destination. You’ll get access to a local guide too, which means you can get any and all of your questions answered as well. Just be sure to tip your guides!

You Usually Travel Solo. Why?

Well, I learned a long time ago that if I wanted for people, I’d never go anywhere. If I wanted to travel, I just had to be willing to go alone. But, what’s kept me traveling solo, is the freedom. As a solo traveler, you’re free to do whatever you want! Want to change your travel plans on a whim? You can. Want to stay in and watch Netflix all day? You can. Hate museums? Skip them!

When you travel solo, the world is your oyster. You’re free to do whatever you want, whenever you want.

But more than that, solo travel teaches you a lot about yourself. Without anyone around you, you have to solve problems. You have to figure out how to get from point A to B, deal with people who speak a different language, get comfortable eating alone, find things to do, and work out problems that arise. It’s you and your wits. That teaches you a lot about yourself and forces you to grow in ways you won’t in the comfort of your home or with a group.

I encourage everyone to try solo travel at least once. Even if you don’t love it, you’ll still learn a ton about yourself in the process. Travel is an amazing personal development tool after all, and solo travel is one of the best ways to learn and grow and challenge yourself.

What Tips Do You Have For Planning A First Solo Trip?

Planning a trip can seem daunting — especially if it’s a longer trip. Buying the right bag, researching cheap flights, comparing travel insurance plans – there seems to be never-ending list when you are planning a trip. Three things I would recommend that would make the planning process easier are:

1. Try to always break your trip planning down into steps so you have a roadmap to follow. This checklist will ensure you cover all your bases, which will also give you some added confidence and eliminate any anxiety about missing things.
2. Book your first few days of accommodation before you arrive. This will give you time to settle in and adjust to a new environment without worrying about where to go and where to stay. From here, you can plan your next steps if you haven’t done so already.
3. Be flexible. On shorter trips, this is challenging because you want to maximize your experiences. But for longer trips, don’t plan out every minute of every day. Give yourself time to relax, to stumble into something unplanned. No matter how much research you do, you’ll always discover new things to see and do. And you’ll meet people, as well. Give yourself time to accommodate these things. A little serendipity goes a long way!

Any Travel Misadventures You Want To Share?

I’ve had some minor hiccups, like when I fell in the water when I was in Italy and ruined my brand-new camera. I popped an eardrum scuba diving, got food poisoning in Costa Rica, and I’ve had some less than stellar hostel experiences, like when I woke up and someone had shit themselves in the dorm and got shit everywhere.

And I’ve had some terrifying experiences, like when I was stabbed in Colombia.

Fortunately, I was able to learn something from each experience. As a traveler, things will go wrong. It’s inevitable. From minor hiccups to major incidents, you always need to be willing to roll with the punches. Just like life at home, life on the road will take some unexpected turns. But with the right mindset, you can always find a silver lining and learn from your experiences.

You’ve Just Written A New Book. What’s It About?

My new book is called Ten Years a Nomad. Unlike my previous book, How to Travel the World on $50 a Day, this book is a memoir and not a “how to” kind of book. It’s about my ten years traveling around the world, the lessons I learned from the experience, my advice on being a better traveler, and how people can apply it to their own travels.

It features stories I’ve never told on the blog and goes deeper and into more detail with some I have shared.

In short, this book follows the emotional journey of a trip around the world: getting the bug, the planning, setting off, the highs, the lows, the friends, what happens when you come back — and the lessons and advice that come hand in hand with all that.

I spent years writing it (literally) and I’m really proud of how it turned out so I’m looking forward to hearing what people think!

Why Write A Memoir, Instead Of Another “How To” Book?

While “how to” content is certainly helpful, travel is about more than just how to get from A to B. Travel is about learning. It’s about growing and connecting with people. It’s about opening yourself up to the world and seeing things with your own eyes.

I wanted to share my thoughts and experiences and stories in a way that could do them justice. A simple blog post can never really capture every little detail. How do you condense 10 years of experiences into a few thousand-word blog post? You just can’t do it.

So that’s why I wanted to write this book. I want to share my story, my philosophy, and my reflections on the art of travel in the most honest way possible.

I’m really proud of how it turned out and I’m looking forward to traveling around the US and Canada (and eventually Europe) to see what people think! ★

BIO

Matt Kepnes is a budget travel expert and the creator of Nomadic Matt. He’s the author of the New York Times bestselling How to Travel the World on $50 a Day and his latest book, 10 Years A Nomad. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Posted: 8/17/19 | October 17th, 2019

Ireland. It’s a scenic country full of rolling green hills, photogenic cliffs, impressive castles, cozy Irish pub, friendly locals, and a lot of Irish charm.

I’ve loved every part of my experiences in Ireland.

My first trip was a quick 24-hour visit to Dublin, but, I loved it so much I’ve gone back about four times since. Ireland has a special magic to it that makes every visitor fall in love. (Ok, not everyone, but most people love it here!)

While the cities are incredible and have a lot to offer, Ireland is best seen by car so you can get off-road and visit the small little villages, castles, and parks that dot the country.

However, if you’re like me, and not a fan of driving (especially driving on the left!), the next best thing to driving or just city hopping on buses is going on a tour in Ireland. Given the country’s small size, you can see a lot of it in a little time and a tour can be a good way to pack it all in without the hassle of organizing all the details yourself.

There are lots of tour options here — from walking tours in Dublin to multi-day tours around all of Ireland. Here is a list of my favorite tour companies in Ireland, each of which have something unique to offer:

1. Historical Walking Tours of Dublin

The city of Dublin is such a fascinating place to explore, and it’s full of historical spots that you might just wander past if you’re not with a guide from Historical Walking Tours of Dublin. They’ve been operating tours since 1986 and one of the reasons they’re so good is their guides all have postgrad history qualifications – but also know how to lead a tour with a good Irish sense of humor.

Each walking tour is just over two hours long and they start from the front gate of Trinity College at 11am every day, with an extra tour at 3pm from May to September. They’ll take you to many of the highlights of Dublin like the House of Lords, Temple Bar, Christ Church Cathedral, and Dublin Castle and you’ll end up with a great overview of Irish history. Tickets are 14 EUR.

2. Paddywagon Tours

An Irish born-and-bred tour company that started in 1998, Paddywagon Tours offers both day tours for lots of popular tourist attractions in Ireland as well as multi-day tours ranging from two to nine days long, with accommodation choices ranging between B&Bs and hostels.

If you’re time-pressed and looking for some day trips from Dublin to quickly see a bit more of Ireland, Paddywagon has trips to places like the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry, and even up to the Giant’s Causeway and other highlights of Northern Ireland. Costs range from 45 EUR to 65 EUR for these trips. They also run day trips out of other centers like Belfast, Limerick, and Cork.

Paddywagon’s multi-day tours range from 149 EUR for a two-day trip up to 689 EUR for their All Ireland nine-day tour, with backpacker accommodation (or 999 EUR if you want B&B stays). Even though you could easily spend a month in Ireland, given its relatively small size you can actually get a lot out of nine days. If you’re a student they also run some student special trips at even lower costs so keep an eye out for them.

3. Shamrocker Adventures

Shamrocker is a great option for budget travelers looking for multi-day tours of Ireland. Their approach is to try and combine the best of independent travel and group trips. That means they give you choices like different levels of accommodation and you can self-cater when it comes to food. They also have great guides who are passionate Irish storytellers — even their bus drivers have a great sense of humor!

Tours range between three and seven days, with the shorter trips focusing on just one part of Ireland — the south or the west — and costing around 300 EUR per person. Shamrocker’s seven-day trip covers all the main sights like the Giant’s Causeway, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, and Blarney Castle and is 609 EUR for adults and 589 EUR for students.

4. Wolfhound Adventure Tours

Wolfhound Adventure Tours is a boutique tour company run by Trinity College history-graduate Dave O’Connor. Tour groups have a maximum of 12 travelers and tours include some biking and hiking, which are optional but definitely a big part of the fun.

Tours range between five and ten days — the shorter tours give you an option of going to the north to the Giant’s Causeway or heading west to see the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands, both of which are 985 EUR. Wolfhound trips can include kayaking, horseriding, whale watching, and even surfing lessons and are a great choice for anyone looking to get active!

5. Vagabond Tours

Vagabond Tours is an Irish company and offers two kinds of small group tours, Driftwood Tours if you want to take it easy, and Vagabond Tours which include activities like hiking, sea kayaking, and cycling.

Tours range in length from six to eleven days, and in price from 1,550 EUR to 2,900 EUR per person. They have some of the common itineraries such as a Northern Ireland tour taking in the Giant’s Causeway and Belfast and the Giant Irish tour which circumnavigates the country, but they also have a few specialty trips like a foodie tour, an adventure trip which includes a visit to the Skellig Islands, and a tour for history buffs focusing on castles and kingdoms.

Rob Rankin, co-founder of Vagabond Tours, is a huge advocate of responsible and sustainable tourism and the leader of Ecotourism Ireland, and Vagabond Tours has been eco-tourism gold-certified since 2017.

6. Extreme Ireland

Extreme Ireland offer adventure tours around Ireland, with several Wild Atlantic Way trips available, ranging from six to 12 days long. They take small groups (a maximum of 16 travelers) led by skilled guides who have all the skills necessary to help you have a safe and adventurous tour.

Their 12-day trip will take you all over Ireland — it doesn’t just show you the regular sightseeing highlights!. The tour also includes several bike rides, a stint of stand up paddleboarding, hikes along sea cliffs and wild coastlines, kayaking, and surfing. This one comes in at 2,200 EUR while their shorter tours start at 1,100 EUR.

7. Intrepid

An Intrepid trip is always a good option — they’re my go-to multi-day tour company no matter where in the world I’m heading. With small groups (a maximum of 12 travelers for Ireland), carefully-hired local guides, and a relaxed pace, Intrepid tours really can’t be beaten. They offer just one trip in Ireland but it covers all the major sights and attractions, an eight-day adventure that spans from Belfast in Northern Ireland to Killarney in the south-west.

Their Ireland tour will take you through Dublin and Galway and includes sightseeing hotspots like the Cliffs of Moher and the Giant’s Causeway, as well a chance to explore the Aran Islands. Accommodation is in a mix of hotels and hostels, with breakfast included. The tour costs 2,300 EUR per person.

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From walking tours to help you understand the history and culture of the great city of Dublin to multi-day adventures circumnavigating the whole of the island, taking a tour in Ireland will make sure you get to know lots of interesting locals and learn more about what makes the Irish tick.

Whether it’s the crazy ritual of kissing the Blarney Stone, exploring the incredible landscapes in Northern Ireland Game of Thrones was filmed, or simply knowing which pub in Galway is the best spot for a Guinness, these Ireland tour companies will help make your Irish experience the best it can be!

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