Links

A good traveler has no fixed plan is not intent on arriving.
Lao Tzu

I (Paul Heller, the founder of the Big Blue Marble) have searched the internet to find the best websites to help make your travel-like-a-local experiences safer, and more affordable, comfortable, joyful, and purposeful.

Please let me know if you agree or disagree with my comments about the links listed on this site or if you know of any links that should be listed on this website but aren't.  I promise to post your comments on the blog.

• Transportation Tips
  Airplane Tips, Finding Bargain Air Fares, and Cruising Tips
• Tips for a More Successful Journey
  Tips for Traveling to Another Country; Shopping, Dining, and Packing Tips; Tips for Seniors, Families, and Single Travelers
• Budget Travel Tips
  Luxury Travel on a Beer Budget, Hitchhiking and Sofa Surfing (Definition)
• Safety Travel Tips

Travel Options that Allow You to Travel Like a Local Rather than a Tourist

• Exchanges
  Home Exchanges, Hospitality Exchange, Homestays, Exchange Student Programs, and Meet the People ) Programs.
• Educational Travel
  Study Abroad and Learning Vacations (Language Study, Cooking Schools, Sports and New Age classes), Independent Travel, Reality and Educational Tours and Seminars 
• Cool Educational Travel Experiences
• Volunteer Travel Experiences

Living, Working, and Retiring Abroad

• Retiring and Living Abroad
• Working Abroad
  Travel Writing, Journalism, Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Working on Cruises and other Hospitality Jobs, Career Assignments Abroad, and Setting up a Business Abroad

Coming soon: A complete list of the following links:

Life Changing Travels, Careers, and Attitudes

• Changing Your Life Through Travel, Integrating Your Dreams Into Your Life and Work, Fitting Into Another Culture

Extended Travel Options

• Round-the-World Travel, Creating a Sabbatical or Gap Year (the year after college), Vagabonding, Extended Family Travel

Guidebook Series

• Let?s Go, Lonely Planet, Rick Steves, Knopf Guides, Discovery Guides, Cadogan Guides, Bradt Guides, Rough Guides, Frommer?s Guides, Fodor?s Guides, Fielding Guides, Moon Handbooks, Culture Shock, Footprint Guides and Adventure Guides

Travel Tips for:

• Latin America
• Asia and Australia
• Middle East and Africa
• Europe
• Africa
• North America