Top 5 blog posts of 2019

According to the number of views on my posts, you care most about frugality, comfort and technology. You rock.

2019 featured some of the things I've struggled with, and I was surprised that you've struggled with them as well. I hope this "Top Five" eases some of those issues for you.

1 - The deal with data

Your beloved smartphone. How would you survive without it? Although there's value in disconnecting from social media, your smartphone becomes an even more useful tool when you travel. The big question is how you keep that tool without paying horrific access fees.

2 - Hostels

Hostels have come a long way since you first heard about them in high school (I won't even discuss "the movie," which is nothing like any hostel I've ever visited). From en-suite accommodations to private rooms, you have options like never before, including scrumptious food, helpful staff and other friendly hostelers.

3 - Seven ways to run over budget

We've all made mistakes, and travel offers an opportunity to make a lot of them. Here are my "favorite" ways to go over budget, along with - of course - how you can avoid doing it.

4 - Unscheduled days

The go-go-go mentality might work for the under-20 crowd, and it temporarily works for the over-20 crowd, too. But an occasional unscheduled day lets you rest up if you need it, and it lets you see (even) more if you don't need it. There's no way you can lose.

5 - Socks

I'm not weird; I'm detail-oriented. Footwear - including shoes/boots as well as socks - is foremost in my mind, maybe because as a horse person I live that saying, "No foot, no horse."