I have mostly used the book while living in Cambodia and not only did I go to places recommended by Lonely Planet, but I often found myself at recommended places incidentally, just because they happened to be a hot-spot in town.

They also do a great job of giving admission prices and information about the big tourist sites, and their Angkor Wat, Siem Reap guide is perfect for people who want a quick but thorough guide rather than an entire book on the subject. Lonely Planet is never intended to be used as a sole guide, but as a starting point, and in that it is excellent.

The hotels and hostels recommended in Lonely Planet South East Asia on a Shoestring are good, but due to the nature of publishing, sometimes doesn’t have the most up-to-date information. For example, sometimes the most popular guesthouses in town have sprung up recently and haven’t been listed yet. And others are so small, they probably will never make the guide. However, the recommended houses are inexpensive, good quality, and in the best parts of town for a traveler. If it’s in Lonely Planet it’s probably going to be clean, busy, and good value.

The South East Asia restaurants that they recommend are often on the same street as plenty of other good spots to eat, so they’re really guiding the reader to good parts of town rather than just to specific eateries. With a 900+ page guide to 11 South East Asian countries this is probably the most economical way to go about it and it works. They also list places where a lonely traveler is likely to meet like-minded people to make friends with for the night, the rest of the journey, or even for life.

One of the best things about the Lonely Planet South East Asia on a Shoestring guide is that each country’s guide is written by someone who has spent many, many years living and traveling in that particular nation. They know the areas and this is reflected in their diverse recommendations and spot-on descriptions.

Another fanastic feature of the Lonely Planet South East Asia on a Shoestring guide is their lists of places to dine or shop for a cause. The book is sprinkled with lists of charity-run shops, restaurants, and cafes where you can enjoy a local experience while giving back. Their historical and cultural introductions are also invaluable. The guide manages to present a thorough and educational background without boring the reader with a 300-page thesis. They tell the reader what they need to know and often refer back to the information when it becomes relevant throughout the guide. LP really tries to emphasize holistic experience, not just seeing the sights and visiting the bars, but understanding- or at least attempting to understand- the cultural and historical context of the people and places.

I love my Lonely Planet Asia on a Shoestring guide, and judging from the amount of them I see running around town, other travelers love them too. The guide is a little big to be traveling with though, so if you can, get it on a Kindle. However, big or small, it is definitely the best $25 you’ll spend before heading on your big Southeast Asia adventure.

Buy Lonely Planet Southeast Asia: On a Shoestring

Review: Lonely Planet’s Southeast Asia on a Shoestring by Kat Calvin was originally published on Indie Travel Podcast (find in iTunes). They also have travel books and guides to Asia, Europe, Oceania, South America, and more.

Angkor Wat. It’s a must-see.

The temples are in Siem Reap, the good-time tourist town that centers around the foreigners who come to visit. Solo tourists are often worried about meeting people when they travel, but travel in Siem Reap is definitely not a problem. Angkor Wat and Siem Reap is pretty safe if you’re not silly about things. There are tons of great guesthouses starting at around $6 a night that include clean rooms, free wifi, and a good place to meet people. Some Siem Reap hostels and guesthouses even feature pools or gardens and most serve pretty inexpensive food.

How to get there

If you only have a short time to spend at Angkor Wat, it’s best to get out to the temples as early as possible. Tuk-tuks generally cost about $10-15 for the day to travel Angkor, Siem Reap — which isn’t so bad if you’re sharing but can be a little pricey for a solo traveler. However, it’s more comfortable to than a moto and much less expensive than a private car. Walking isn’t really an option. Lots of people do rent bikes but you should be in really good shape if you’re going to do this. Admission to Angkor Wat temples is also expensive at $20 per person for one day, $40 for a three-day pass, and $60 for a week. Crazy. Also, don’t eat the food in the compounds unless you’re really desperate. It’s overpriced and pretty bad: typical for tourist places.

The Angkor Wat temples are beautiful and anyone visiting can buy guides describing them in all the detail a traveler could desire. Going alone is wonderful because there is no pressure to move at someone else’s pace. Unlike a museum, the temples are totally open. Visitors can walk around them, inside them, even climb on top of them. Without outside pressure, a solo traveler can spend as much time playing Indiana Jones (which was actually filmed at Angkor Wat) as he wants and then skip through the less interesting parts. There is also less room for embarrassment when you’re sweating up a storm and you get templed-out and just can’t do it anymore! The temples really are remarkable but Cambodia is hot and walking around the vast structures can be exhausting to say the least. Eventually, you’re going to want to go back to town.

Back in town

Evenings in Siem Reap are a blast. Everyone has rested after a long day of temple hunting and is ready to go out and enjoy themselves, which makes it easy to meet people. During a waxing/mani/pedi session that came to $11 I met two American girls my age who were visiting Cambodia in-between overseas teaching gigs. They were a blast and we went to Viva for dinner and margaritas.

The food was delicious, the margaritas cheap and a bit weak, and we had a great time. After dinner we headed to the Blue Pumpkin’s sleek air-conditioned lounge for dessert.

The next day, while stopping for a drink at The Warehouse (as a DMB fan, I felt obligated), I met two more American chicks who were thrilled to have someone else to talk to. We had a great time and after drinks we headed to the Red Piano for dinner. The food at the Red Piano is good and the ambiance and view from the balcony makes it definitely worth a visit. After the Red Piano we headed to Angkor What?, a pretty well-known backpacker bar. We met some English guys (but no Indiana Jones) and had a great time talking and drinking before we finally turned in.

Siem Reap is one of those towns where it’s easy to be a solo traveler. Full of tourists, there are hundreds of guesthouses, bars, and restaurants to meet people. At the same time, the majesty and solemnity of Angkor Wat is perhaps best enjoyed alone. A solo traveler can have all of the time she needs to reflect on the beauty of an empire and still socialize the night away. Sometimes, towns centered around backpackers are just what the travel doctor ordered.

Tours in Siem Reap

Here’s some cheap day tours in Siem Reap

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, and the solo traveler by Kat Calvin was originally published on Indie Travel Podcast (find in iTunes). They also have travel books and guides to Asia, Europe, Oceania, South America, and more.

*Disclaimer: A few notes about my trip will help explain my actions and will help you better tailor things to fit your own particular needs. I am traveling abroad for nine months, in Southeast Asia and South Africa. I’ll live in Cambodia for two months, travel around SE Asia during August, live in South Africa for five months, and spend the last month traveling around Africa. I will also be working as a legal intern for the entire time, and am required to bring my notebook computer to my job in South Africa. Lip gloss is not optional.

Getting your plane tickets

There are plenty of options for purchasing international airfares, but you should go with who you feel comfortable with. I booked my ticket through Vayama because I love their format, the fact that they always had the lowest (reliable) prices, and their positive online reviews. I also love their travel and etiquette guides. Other people swear by Kayak.

To find who you’re most comfortable with, it’s best to start early, visit as many sites as you can, Farecast your options, and see how you feel. If one site is offering fares that are significantly less expensive than all the others, be wary. Check out their online reviews before you buy. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck in a remote location with an unresponsive travel agent. Oh yeah, and buy the travel insurance.

Chris Guillebeau and the Traveller’s Lounge both have good guides to buying tickets, and Dave Prine summed it up well here on the Indie Travel Podcast.

Vaccinations and medications

Make sure you prepare in advance for vaccinations, as many need to be given at least four weeks before you leave. Find your vaccination records and head to the hospital or medical center early — preferably six to eight weeks before you’re due to depart. Vaccinations can be pricey, even with insurance, but really, the disease would cost more.

Make sure you pack a good supply of any medication that is essential to your health, and it may also be a good idea to pack some Cipro or Z-packs in case of diarrhea and some Pepto Bismol. Most countries will have a full range of medications for any ailment you can imagine, but your favourite med might not be available. Some countries don’t have a great reputation for supplying quality medication — so do some research before you go, you may have to plan ahead. I always keep Motrin and Ny/Dayquil with me but I’m looking forward to learning about local remedies and adding to my medicine cabinet!

Insurance

Travel
This is something you want to have. If anything happens to you in a remote location chances are you’ll need to be airlifted somewhere and this is not free. I was lucky to get a good deal on travel insurance through my university — if you have any affiliations you can use, there’s probably a discount available for you. I recommend worldnomads.com or hthstudents.com.

Contents
Some travel insurance policies cover property and some don’t. Those that do usually have a value limit, and objects over that value are either not covered, or need to be itemized individually — and there’s usually an extra charge for that. My travel insurance doesn’t cover property, so I made sure that my renter’s insurance covers everything. If you are bringing anything you will want to have replaced if it’s lost or stolen, check your policies and make sure you’re covered. Keep a Google Docs list of all of your property and serial numbers/etc. so you can retrieve it anywhere if you need to, and it’s also a good idea to take a photo of the item with its receipt.

Documents and records

You’re going to need copies of your birth certificate, driver’s license, and passport, at the very least. Be sure to make copies of these things and keep multiple copies with you (in different places) and to leave copies with someone you trust at home. Also, scan the copies and email them to yourself so you always have them available.

Packing

There are many quality resources to help you decide what to pack, but the overall message is to pack light. For nine months I have one 50lb suitcase, a laptop case, and a messenger bag. If you’re not packing business clothes and don’t need a laptop your load will be significantly lighter. Two things that seriously lightened my load? Travel towel and travel sheets. For good packing tips, visit OneBag, or there are several articles to choose from here.

Guidebooks and websites

Again, there is a wealth of information out there, and you need to find something that works for you. Some people swear on guidebooks, others operate completely online. As for me, I’m traveling with the Lonely Planet Southeast Asia On a Shoestring but I also frequently check Travelfish.org and create my own mini-guide of all of the advice and recommendations that I’ve been given from friends. I made a point to interview everyone I knew who had been to SE Asia and I got incredible advice about places that aren’t in any travel guide. Nomadic Matt has a lot of useful advice too.

Short-term living is definitely my favorite way to travel. I love spending a few months in each new place rather than skipping through for a couple of days. The rewards produced by this method of travel by far outweigh the challenges and I highly recommend, at least once, living somewhere completely different for a while. Hopefully, these tips will help you get started!

Preparing for long-term travel (or short-term living) by Kat Calvin was originally published on Indie Travel Podcast (find in iTunes). They also have travel books and guides to Asia, Europe, Oceania, South America, and more.

Not so this time. This time, I went Miami with play, not work, on my mind: ten days on the beach a few weeks before peak spring-break season. I thought I was just there to party and relax. It turns out that Miami has more to it than I expected.

South Beach is of course known for its party scene, and for good reason. Home to the hottest clubs, the warmest weather, and the fakest bodies, South Beach is everything it’s famous for and more.

However, there is another, more cultural, family-friendly side to South Beach as well. Leave the trendy area near the boutique hotels and restaurants behind and head north. The higher streets, towards North Beach, are home to fewer tanned supermodels and more little old men and young families. This part of the beach is home to apartments, not hotels, and the somewhat grittier side of South Beach is just a few blocks off the beach. This translates to a less crowded, more local feel on the ocean. The northern end is also home to some of the prettiest water and most interesting shells. The walk is definitely worth it if the children are with you or if your plastic surgery appointment isn’t until next month.

The culture strip

Further up on the north side is another destination frequently ignored by tourists: the Miami City Ballet. South Beach, in fact, is home to a few museums and cultural destinations often ignored by the beach-seeking crowd. The Lincoln Theatre is a gorgeous Art Deco building that features a symphony and plenty of exciting musical and artistic events. The Wolfsonian Museum is home to remarkable exhibits, including a current exhibit of all of the artwork featured on the Chateau Mouton Rothschild wine labels. South Beach, like Miami itself, is home to a variety of artwork – not only architecture, but also visual and performing arts that are worth a second look.

South Beach is also home to a fantastic international scene. The Miami International Travelers Hostel is home to an international crowd that does everything from tours of the South Beach architecture to VIP trips to the hottest clubs. They also serve free breakfast, lunch, and dinner and are the perfect place to stay if you’re alone, with friends, or looking for a young, international group to get to know South Beach.

If you’re French, speak French, love France, or just like French food, A La Folie on Espanola Way is the perfect place to enjoy a crepe, quiche, or cafe au lait. This gorgeous little cafe is home to good-looking French employees and a customer base of practically every Parisian in Miami (or so it seems). The atmosphere is that of a cafe on the Seine and if you’re homesick or want to practice your language skills, this is the place to go.

Miami is known for being the playground of the stars. Rich, sexy, exciting and expensive, it certainly fits this description. However, given a little research and an accidental step into the right corner, and South Beach turns out to be family-friendly, culturally wealthy, and a great international destination. Give South Beach a try, you may be surprised at what you find!

The many faces of Miami by Kat Calvin was originally published on Indie Travel Podcast (find in iTunes). They also have travel books and guides to Asia, Europe, Oceania, South America, and more.

Golden tickets

Unlike most of the millions of people in D.C. that week, I was in possession of not just one, but four golden tickets. Thanks to my incredible friend, who shall henceforth be called K.W., a staff member on the Obama campaign, I had tickets to the We Are One concert (yes, it was free, but there was a VIP section close to the stage), the swearing in of the president, the Western States Ball on the evening of the inauguration, and even the Staff Ball on Wednesday night. Talk about lucky.

By the end of the week I had seen almost every artist I have ever wanted to see live, from U2 and Stevie Wonder at the concert, to Aretha Franklin at the inauguration, from performances by J. Lo and Marc Anthony at the Western Ball, to a Jay-Z concert at the Staff Ball. I also heard President Obama speak four times, and each time was more inspirational and challenging than the next.

History in action

I have spent a lot of time in Washington D.C. in my life but even during the height of tourist season I have never seen anything like the chaos and joy of two million people crowding a city to celebrate history. I have always wondered what it would have felt like to stand on the Mall to watch Marian Anderson sing or hear Martin Luther King Jr. speak and finally I was able to experience something just as incredible. Standing with one million people listening to the President two days before his inauguration was remarkable. Fifty years from now, when the photographs and videos are playing on the History Channel, I will finally be able to say, “I was there”.

Sightseeing

Along with the inauguration activities, K.W. had never been to D.C. so we did a little sightseeing. Our first day was absolutely freezing so we took the Hop-On Hop-Off bus ride around the city. We didn’t actually hop on or off but we did pay $32 each to ride around the city and see it from cloudy bus windows. The tickets are good for 48 hours and if we had taken advantage of the on-and-off feature of the tour it would not be the worst way to see the city if you’re unable to walk a lot. However, the D.C. metro system is much better and for about $7 a day or $39 for a week-long pass, you can take unlimited metro rides all over the city and see it at your leisure.

All but a few of the Smithsonian museums (all free) line the National Mall so you can easily walk from one to the next without having to bother with transportation. My personal favourite museums are the Natural History Museum, the Air and Space Museum, which is amazing, and the new National Museum of the American Indian, which is absolutely beautiful. The American Indian cafe is incredible, they have delicious food all based on traditional Native American dishes. I have never seen such a delicious and freshly cooked spread at a museum cafe before, it is definitely worth a lunch stop.

Although not a part of the Smithsonians, the Newseum on Pennsylvania Ave is brand new and wonderful. It is well curated, beautifully built, and is full of the history of the news (which is of course, the history of the world), stories about journalists, and the best use of technology that I have seen in a museum. Other museums worth visiting in D.C., if you don’t have time to see all of them, are the Holocaust Museum (bring tissues), the National Portrait Gallery and the National Zoo, which is sort of a museum of animals.

There are few cities in the world as beautiful as Washington D.C. From the Supreme Court, which has always sent chills down my lawyerly spine, to the Library of Congress, my favourite building in the world, to the breath-taking Capitol Building and beautiful presidential monuments, there is enough to see to spend months and years exploring and still not see it all. Whether a new president is being inaugurated or not, Washington is an incredible city to visit. And now that we have a new President and a new feeling of hope and purpose in America, the city is alive and providing inspiration for us all.

Washington and Obama’s America by Kat Calvin was originally published on Indie Travel Podcast (find in iTunes). They also have travel books and guides to Asia, Europe, Oceania, South America, and more.

Resources

Schedule

The 18th is when the events begin. President-elect Obama will host a free event at the Lincoln Memorial in the afternoon. Show up as early as possible, as one of the only free public events of the week, expect millions to attend.

Monday the 19th is Martin Luther King Day and is a day of community service. The Obama and Biden families will perform community service all day and attend the Inaugural Eve Concert for America’s Children in the evening. The concert is free but requires tickets.

The 20th is the day everyone has been waiting for, some since November 4th, some for over 100 years. The full length of the National Mall will be open to spectators. The inauguration will be a star-studded ceremony; Aretha Franklin is singing, Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma are performing, and of course, the new President Barack Obama will give his inaugural address.

The events begin at 10am, ticketed visitors are allowed to arrive starting at 8am. The ceremony itself begins at 11.30am. Be prepared to stand outside in the freezing cold and rain and possibly snow for six hours or more, especially if you get trapped by the parade.

At approximately 2.30pm, the Inaugural Parade will begin. Visitors are allowed to line up along the route starting at 7am so this is another time when you have to show up early. The parade route will follow Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.

The evening of the 20th is packed with balls. The Committee itself is hosting ten official balls, the only balls that the President and First Lady are guaranteed to attend, but there are literally dozens of unofficial ones. If you want to find out the scoop on what the women are wearing to your ball, check out Dress Registry, where women are registering photos and information about their gowns to be sure that none are duplicated!

If you do not have tickets to a ball yet, there are plenty of organizations selling tickets. To find them, check out local websites such as Washington City Paper and ask your social and professional organizations, such as the National Bar Association or the Green Party and see if they are having a ball.

Where to stay

If you haven’t booked a hotel room in the DC/Virginia/Maryland area by now, you probably are not going to get one. If you have friends or family in the area, this is the time to get reacquainted. Other options include:

• Find hotels that are an hour or more away. These hotels will be close to their normal prices and you can always park in the city and take the Metro through town.
• Look at Craigslist. There are dozens of new ads for house and room rentals every day and they are not going as fast as you would think.
• Search through local classifieds, such as the Washington City Papers classifieds section.

Getting around

The best way to get around DC is always the Metro and this will especially be true during the inauguration. The Metro is the best way to get from point A to point B without getting stuck waiting for limos and motorcades. Best to leave the roads to the celebrities. Plan to leave very early, there is no way to avoid the lines. The Metro is selling special inauguration passes online for $10, you can load them up as needed. It’s best to order these cards before you arrive. You can also purchase one of their many one- or seven-day passes.

The inauguration of President Obama is, most likely, the biggest thing that will happen for Americans in our lifetimes, and it is happening in our nation’s gorgeous capital. With a little planning and a healthy appreciation of crowds, you can celebrate with the rest of the globe in what will be, at least for a week, the center of the world.

How to prepare for the inauguration by Kat Calvin was originally published on Indie Travel Podcast (find in iTunes). They also have travel books and guides to Asia, Europe, Oceania, South America, and more.