I retired in 2000, after 35 years with the Federal government as Human Resource manager with US OPM, FAA, and Census. I have traveled to 59 countries by using mileage points in 73 round trips. I churn credit cards for more points. I rely on the Lonely Planet (LP) guides for my travels. LP identifies tourist highlights, but newer LP guides no longer have sections on how to get in and out of cities, but have general summaries--too bad. I use map.me and Google Maps to navigate. I stay at inexpensive hotels and hostels, and post the costs of my travels. I use hostelworld, agoda, and booking websites to find accommodations. I use local transportation to get around whether it is bus, ferryboat, moto-taxi, tuk-tuk, or metro/subway. I also enjoy walking and hiking. During my trips, I go on specific short tours usually booked through the hotels and hostels. I incorporate responsible tour companies' offerings too, such as Crooked Trails Travels and Intrepid Tours during my 2 to 3-month stays.
