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Occasionally my husband and I will have an entirely indulgent getaway. We’ll eat decadently, drink finely, and stay somewhere with fancy sheets and bathrobes. This can only last the length of a weekend or we will end up washing dishes to pay for our room.

 Most of the time we travel “backpacker style”. When you love to travel as much as we do, you can’t really do it any other way…unless you are Larry Page or Bill Gates. We prefer to hit the road for a month or longer, to really wrap ourselves in a unique place and foreign culture.

We like to think we are bold adventurers, trekking a path that has never seen footprints. But, in truth, we perfectly fit the mold of the “Lonely Planet Traveler”. First rule of a LPT is to carry the Bible Lonely Planet Guide for the country in question. You will stay at the recommended hostels and splurge on the encouraged activities. The locals and scam artists can pick you out, straight off the train, with your over-sized pack strapped to your back and your disoriented expression as you thumb through the Lonely Planet pages, looking for where to stay that night, searching for the page that will direct you back onto the (now) well-trammeled path.

 These days, we are trying out a few wobbly test steps, off of the Lonely Planet path. We will eat at a restaurant that hasn’t (gasp) come recommended and stay at the new hostel that isn’t listed in the Guide. We have even tried camping in far away destinations a time or two. Nothing too bravc, mind you. But, enough to give us a little thrill!

I suppose we will continue to remain faithful LPT for some time to come……….

Thanks to KevinDooley for the backpack picture!