By Larissa and Michael Milne

Last Christmas morning, we heard a knock on the door at the studio apartment we had rented in Bali. We opened it to find Agus, the building’s property manager, who held a spiky hunk of alien fruit the size of a football in one hand and a glistening machete in the other.

Smiling, he announced: “Special gift for Christmas. I bring you fresh durian from the tree in my garden.”

The apartment was tucked away in a residential neighborhood on a quiet dirt road in Kuta – just a half mile from the famous beach there, but worlds away from the ubiquitous all-inclusive resorts with their tiki torches and limbo contests.

During our yearlong round-the-world journey, we rented flats and cottages on six continents to save money (rentals are often cheaper because there is no housekeeping staff and guests can cook their own meals). But we soon discovered an unexpected benefit: cultural immersion.

A flat we rented in Paris. (Photograph by Michael Milne)

Unlike hotels and hostels, rentals aren’t typically located in major tourist areas. While they may be a bit further afield, they’re near food markets, shops, and services residents use as they go about their daily lives.

After just a few days of patronizing the local butcher, baker, and candlestick maker, we’d be able to recognize a few faces and initiate simple conversations. The universal language of a friendly smile and a nod made us feel like we lived wherever we happened to be at the time.

Recently it has become easier to find vacation rentals online, a boon to travelers and property owners alike. Sites like VRBO, HomeAway, and Airbnb have done for the vacation-rental business what eBay did for just about everything else.

Owners list their properties on one of these sites, which usually provide some sort of booking protocol and payment system. (This varies from site to site; be sure to check the fine print.) Property listings provide detailed descriptions, photographs, and pricing, so searches can be made based on criteria such as neighborhood, amenities, and number of bedrooms.

And you can find a match just about everywhere. In addition to booking rentals in more established hubs like Paris and London, we’ve leased flats in Shanghai, Dubai, and Buenos Aires, cottages in New Zealand and Scotland, even a house on a 3,000-acre cattle ranch in Australia.

To begin your search online, simply enter the term “vacation rental” and your destination. Develop a list of favorites from the many sites that will pop up, then follow up with your top picks through the online form to begin a dialogue with the property owner (most of the time, you’ll finalize arrangements directly with them).

Developing a relationship with the rental’s owner provides an immediate link to the neighborhood before you even arrive. Think of them as your unofficial tickets to cultural immersion.

The 800-year-old church where we watched our lay-preacher host conduct Evensong services near Devon. (Photograph by Michael Milne)

When we rented that cattle ranch in Australia, the owner, Rob, took us for an impromptu kangaroo-viewing safari at dusk in his battered pickup. And when we visited Porto, we shared a Sunday dinner of freshly grilled sardines in a remote fishing village with our Portuguese host family, including their set of nine-year-old boy triplets.

Since the owner of our vacation cottage in Devon was a lay minister, we discovered that the 900-year-old stone chapel perched atop a windswept cliff nearby held simple prayer services on Saturday evenings. While the wind roared outside, we sang hymns by candlelight with a handful of other worshippers; as our shadows danced across the stained glass windows it was easy to imagine we had been transported back into medieval times.

And then there was the durian back in Bali. The “stinky fruit” our host brought us is banned from most hotels throughout Southeast Asia because the smell lingers in rooms for weeks. But we weren’t staying at a hotel. Agus proudly sliced open the giant spiky fruit, revealing pale white flesh with the consistency of an avocado. As it turns out, they don’t emit a foul aroma if they’re freshly cut. The flavor was sweet with a slightly pungent aftertaste.

We stuffed about two pounds of leftover durian into our fridge, then headed out for a Christmas walk on the beach. When we returned a few hours later, we found cultural immersion of a different sort: a stench that permeated every corner of our flat.

We eventually got rid of the smell, but like the best travel experiences, the memory lingers on.

Larissa and Michael Milne sold everything to travel around the world for a year, then forgot to stop. Follow their adventures at changesinlongitude.com and on Twitter @Changes_Long.

“Covered and chunked, or diced and peppered?” This Southern argot for hash browns dished out by the waitress at a roadside diner near Charleston left me perplexed.

My girlfriend, Jenny, and I decided to escape the creeping New England cold by heading south on a road trip that would combine the travel ingredients we like best: a sprinkling of history, a heaping portion of outdoor adventure, and plenty of food.

Charleston seemed a good pick. Until, that is, our (fortunately patient) waitress started to frown at the puzzled look on my face. “Not from around here?” she quipped, then added with a quick smile, “It isn’t all that hard to decide: everyone in the South prefers their hash browns covered and chunked.”

With that, she took my order, or rather ordered for me – the start of many new experiences on our first sojourn below the Mason Dixon line.

We headed off with stomachs packed full of these great tasting hash browns (think crisp, shredded potatoes covered diced ham and tangy melted cheese), and in desperate need to burn off the carb-induced energy boost.

When we saw the wooden sign for the Middleton Equestrian Center, a stable located in the Low Country some fourteen miles from downtown Charleston, we decided to make a stop. We mounted up for a trail ride that brought us alongside the historic Middleton Place. Jenny, who grew up with horses in the small town we both hail from in Maine, took the lead.

As we rambled past what looked like ancient oak trees that dot the plantation, it felt like we had somehow time-warped back to the 19th century. We rode past ancient rice fields and historical outbuildings, and clopped through marshland along the Ashley River, where we spied a healthy population of alligators sunbathing at the water’s edge.

With midday temperatures climbing into the 70s (the equivalent of a hot summer’s day back home in Maine), we decided that the beach ought to be the next stop on our impromptu itinerary.

Sullivan’s Island delivered the perfect afternoon. Located across the harbor from downtown Charleston (near Fort Sumter), the beach proved a quiet escape, with working shrimp boats dotting the water and the fresh salt air filling our lungs as we walked barefoot along the sand.

As the sun sank into clouds of crimson and auburn, our stomachs began to growl. For our next culinary outing, we decided to survey the locals, and we were told again and again of a little spot called the Glass Onion. When someone told us it was where “the local chefs eat,” we knew we had our place. It was clear when we got there it was our kind of restaurant – forget all that fussy fine dining stuff, just give me good food and ambiance.

The Glass Onion’s menu includes Southern classics like fresh, wild-caught Carolina shrimp served atop a bed of smoky bacon, beet greens, and creamy grits, but we opted for their flagship fried chicken. We were lucky they had an extra serving on hand (the dish is so popular that the restaurant normally requires patrons to order 24 hours in advance), and discovered a culinary contradiction of the best kind: a delightfully crunchy outside paired with spoon-slicing tenderness within.

With most of our college friends already talking about traveling to spring break parties in a few months, returning to sample more of Charleston’s charm sounds a lot nicer to us. And this time, I’ll know exactly what to say the next time a waitress asks, “Covered and chunked, or diced and peppered?”

Lincoln fans, or should I say, Lincoln fans, will be especially charmed. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, and guess what? Visitors can check out the final signed version, and even the very first draft Honest Abe penned at his summer home.

Headed to Washington, D.C. for this historic event? Make your visit count with these ten must-do activities around town:

Jackie and John F. Kennedy at Madame Tussaud's. (Photograph by Cliff1066, Flickr)

1. Address the nation from the White House press podium. So presidential, but so very unlikely, right? Well, yeah, so get to Madame Tussauds to make your remarks from a look-alike podium instead. Meet and greet all 43 U.S. Presidents (made of wax, of course), conduct official business from the replica Oval Office, dress up like Abe Lincoln, and test your knowledge of presidential history at touch-screen quiz kiosks.

2. Review Lincoln’s first take on the Emancipation Proclamation. Through February 18, the Library of Congress will have on display the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation, handwritten by President Lincoln himself (the final version can be seen at the National Archives). Take a free, one-hour walking tour and ask about family-focused itineraries, which are offered during peak times.

3. Get to know America’s “First Dogs.” The popular Newseum has the scoop on presidential pooches, including Bo, President Obama’s Portuguese Water Dog. Get to know the nation’s leaders through the eyes of their beloved best friends, then check out artifacts from the campaign trail at the “Every Four Years: Presidential Campaigns and the Press” exhibit (now through January 27).

4. Stand where Lincoln was assassinated. No trip to D.C. is complete without a visit to Ford’s Theatre, particularly now that the fateful event has been dramatized anew in Lincoln. If you rent an Acoustiguide (they have versions for both kids and adults) for your self-guided tour, you’ll get the added benefit of character voices and sound effects.

5. Read the Charters of Freedom. The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights — collectively known as the Charters of Freedom – are on display year-round at the National Archives. Kids can even go online, choose a pen, and add their names to the Declaration of Independence alongside those of the Founding Fathers.

6. Visit Lincoln’s summer home. Head north from the White House to President Lincoln’s Cottage to see where Lincoln was living when he wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. Take a basic guided tour, or sign up for specialty tours, like the Emancipation Tour and the Running for Re-election Tour, for an even deeper look at the man who ended slavery in the United States.

Mount Vernon is just a half-hour's drive from D.C. (Photograph by Damian Entwistle, Flickr)

7. Learn which indian chiefs attended Roosevelt’s inauguration. The National Museum of the American Indian will feature a photo exhibition (now through February 25) focusing on President Theodore Roosevelt’s 1905 inaugural parade, including the six indian chiefs who rode in the parade to represent the needs of their people.

8. Visit the only presidential library in D.C. Head to the Woodrow Wilson House in the heart of Embassy Row for a video presentation followed by a walk through our 28th president’s office, kitchen, and chef’s pantry. Few rooms are roped off, so feel free to play the piano or even billiards on your way to see the paintings, tapestries, and statues given as gifts by dignitaries worldwide.

9. Take the Oath of Office. Presidential hopefuls can visit George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, just a half-hour drive outside the city to place their hand on a replica of the bible America’s first president used to take his oath of office (once you lift your hand, the crowd cheers). Kids, enjoy the George Washington Presidential Scavenger Hunt as you poke around the estate looking for clues.

10. Get a good look at every U.S. president. Only at the National Portrait Gallery (and the White House) can you see a portrait of very single U.S. president. Be prepared to do more than walk from painting to painting, too. There are loads of engaging family programs, including Portrait Story Days, designed to educate visitors about the presidents in a fun, kid-friendly way.

If you’re planning to be in town on Monday, January 21, the day of the public swearing-in ceremony and parades, remember that only the National Museums of American History and Natural History will be open.

Erin Gifford is a mother of four who shares family travel advice on her award-winning blog, Kidventurous. Follow her story on Twitter @Kidventurous.

Related:

• 48-Hours in Washington, D.C.
• Free Things to Do in Washington, D.C.
• City Guide: Washington, D.C.
• Know Before You Go: Washington, D.C.

Ginger, cumin, sweet paprika, turmeric, and ras el hanout (a special Moroccan blend of dozens of spices) fill my kitchen, fragrant souvenirs from a very savory adventure to the northwest corner of Africa. The aromas call to mind tales with native Berber, and multiple European and African accents — just like the cultural olio that is Morocco.

Spices are on offer everywhere in the medina. (Photograph by Lisa T.E. Sonne)

But every time I tell old friends about my culinary exploits, I only get so far before someone says something like: “Hold your horses, camels, snake charmers, and flying carpets! You cooked?”

I just smile (me, the epic eater who prefers campfires and fireplaces to ovens and stoves) and explain that I wanted to travel to an exotic place where I could learn something I might use the rest of my life. And the opportunity to discover my inner chef in Morocco seemed like a wish come true.

It’s only been a couple of months since I was eating Berber crepes and fresh pomegranate sitting in the rooftop restaurant  of the Riad Mimouna with a view of the Atlantic splashing against the rocks, and the ancient walled medina outside below. Perched above the seaside city of Essaouira on the northwest coast of Morocco, our turbaned guide with Access Trips, Yosef, was briefing me and my five new charming travel mates (ages 24 to 74) about our first cooking lesson.

In 12 hours we would be back in this restaurant eating a fish tajine with chermoula sauce and a traditional Moroccan chopped salad that we had prepared ourselves (follow in our footsteps with the recipes below), with four live musicians performing Gnaoua – a kind of sub-Saharan Islamic rhythmic spiritual music — with tassels aswirl as they played and sang.

Fresh is the name of the game in Morocco. (Photograph by Lisa T.E. Sonne)

But first we would work up an appetite, and delight in a sensory overload, walking the narrow passages of the medina below us jammed with fabrics, spices, ceramics, woodcrafts, and gorgeously carved doorways that hinted at great mysteries inside.

We would also visit the busy port to peruse the beautifully displayed fish and crustaceans of the day. Those of us who weren’t off photographing minarets and fishing boats (that would be me) learned to pick out the white fish we would take back to our riad to cook for our supper.

My fellow cooking comrades. (Photograph by Lisa T.E. Sonne)

The kitchen was on the highest floor, and I must admit that for this first cooking lesson, despite the enticing raw ingredients laid out for us and the lovely instruction we were given, I was quite distracted by the “magic hour” sunset calling to me from the windows.

After some good chopping, I even left my more talented cooking partner so I could take photos of the irresistible panoramic scenery. While she layered our fish and vegetables in the ceramic tajine, I was outside clicking and musing about the ships that had come for centuries before bearing goods and new ideas.

The cooking lessons did end up hooking me over the next few days despite the allure of equally sensuous locales. Instead of clicking photos, I spent my time mixing up marinades, fluffing couscous that was lighter than angel’s wings, and kneading sugary almond pastilla dough fit for angels.

I seem to remember that the trick of the tales of Arabian Nights was to leave the story unfinished, so I will leave you to unleash your own inner chef with these tasty recipes…

Fish Tajine with Chermoula (Serves 2)

Chermoula Marinade

Ingredients:

1 large tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons sweet paprika
1 teaspoon hot paprika
1 or 2 tablespoons cumin
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
6 tablespoons water
Salt and pepper to taste 

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, and add the fish steaks to marinate.

Fish Tajine

Ingredients:

2 fish steaks (mild white fish, such as sea bass)
1 or 2 medium carrots, cut into thin slices
1 or 2 celery stalks, cut into thin sticks
1 or 2 large potatoes, cut into thin slices
1 tomato, seeded and cut into thin slices
1 bell pepper cut into thin slices, any color
A handful of red olives

Preparation: 

Distribute the carrot slices across the bottom of the tagine. Criss-cross the celery sticks on top of the carrot slices. Arrange the potato slices on top of the celery sticks, forming a bed for the fish.
Remove fish from marinade and place on top of potato. Reserve the extra marinade for later use.
Arrange bell pepper strips and tomato slices on top of fish. Top with rest of marinade and garnish with olives.
Cover the tajine, and cook over low to medium-low heat for about 1 1/2 hours, or until the fish and potatoes test done. Reduce the sauce if necessary until it is quite thick and mostly oils.
(Note: If you feel there is an excessive amount of liquid in the tajine, it’s easiest to ladle the sauce into a pan to reduce it, and then pour the sauce back over the fish before serving.)

Traditional Moroccan Chopped Salad (Serves 2-3)

Ingredients:

1 tomato, chopped
1 large cucumber, seeded
1⁄4 cup red onion, chopped
1⁄2 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon of Argan oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon chopped parsley (optional)
Small handful of red olives (optional)

Preparation:

Chop tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion into small pieces.
Add cumin and the rest of the ingredients to taste.
Mix well.

Recipes courtesy of www.AccessTrips.com.

Related:

• National Geographic Guide to Morocco

A young man steadies a piñata shaped like the devil on the ground before him. The smug-faced demon is about three feet tall, with spiky red horns, a black tissue-paper goatee, and a small pitchfork in his hand.

He scatters branches and newspaper around the devil’s black boots and snakes a long chain of firecrackers around his chubby waist as the countdown begins. Diez, nueve, ocho….

He dashes inside, returning seconds later with his wife and children, then bends to light a match as the neighborhood chorus reaches uno. The firecrackers pop wildly, making the hollow piñata convulse. The family cheers as the devil keels over and continues to burn. 

Vendors selling pinatas shaped like devils. (Photograph by Javier Aroche, Flickr)

Every December 7 at 6:00 p.m. sharp, Guatemalans “burn the devil,” building bonfires outside their homes to mark the occasion. The tradition has special significance in Guatemala City because of its association with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception which honors the city’s patron saint.

But where did the tradition come from, and how is it changing?

Guate is Burning

According to Celso Lara, an expert on Guatemalan popular culture, the origins of la quema del diablo can be traced to colonial times when it was commonplace for people to light lanterns or, for those with lesser means, bonfires outside their homes to celebrate special occasions.

At the Santo Domingo monastery in Antigua, it became an annual tradition to burn a figure of the devil and light firecrackers on the Day of the Rosary in late October. As local priests began to put more emphasis on the Virgin’s triumph over evil, the celebration was pushed back to December to coincide with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Many believed that the devil lurked in the home, crouching behind furniture, tucked under the bed, or concealed in piles of rubbish. To cleanse their homes of evil on the night before the feast, Guatemalans would burn their trash on the eve of the feast.

The addition of devil piñatas has been more recent.

In Zone 1, the historic city center, vendors walk the streets selling devil horns and firecrackers as revelers (many of whom are dressed as devils themselves) make their way along Sexta Avenida, stopping on side streets to add scraps of paper to bonfires as they pass. Many continue on to Central Park, with its baroque cathedral and imposing National Palace, to watch fireworks explode against the smoky night sky.

The Devil’s in the Details

A man looks on as the blaze continues. (Photograph by Byron Mármol)

While the celebration may sound fun, it has come under attack from environmental groups. In the past, mostly paper products were burned in the cleansing ritual, but now, garbage is more likely to consist of plastic and rubber. According to Yuri Melini, who heads up an environmental law group in Guatemala, that shift has made all the difference.

“It’s one thing to burn materials like branches, straw, leaves, even a little cardboard devil,” Melini says. “It’s something else entirely to burn plastics, mattresses, styrofoam, things that produce dioxins, which are highly toxic and can lead to cancer.”

With an estimated 500,000 bonfires blazing over the course of an hour in the capital city alone, the effects on the environment are troubling.

The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources released a widely publicized statement in 2008 warning that one hour of bonfires containing rubber and plastic is equivalent to the carbon dioxide produced by a million and a half cars in circulation at the same time.

While some argue that there is no sense in preserving la quema in light of its harmful effects, the tradition is unlikely to disappear any time soon. Attempts by government to limit — or even ban – the practice have been roundly ignored.

“It’s a very special day because it marks the official start of the Christmas season,” says Miguel Alfredo Álvarez, a historian specializing in Guatemala City. “Families come together after the burning to eat buñuelos, traditional donuts, and drink warm fruit punch.”

Even dedicated environmentalists like Melini oppose outright prohibition. “It’s worth preserving this tradition, fostering it, and improving upon it, because it’s part of the social imaginary,” he says. “But we can do so in a sustainable way, by burning the piñatas instead of other trash.” There’s no sense, he argues, in “stigmatizing, criminalizing, or satanizing la quema del diablo.”

Whether to honor the Virgin, celebrate the triumph of good over evil, or for the sheer fun that comes with piñatas and bonfires, Guatemalans will no doubt be burning the devil for many years to come.

Kate Newman won top honors in the “Feature” category in the Next Great Storyteller contest, sponsored by National Geographic Traveler and Matador Network.

To kick off our year-long trek through Southeast Asia, my husband and I spent two months exploring the Indonesian island of Bali with no set itinerary. While in the town of Ubud, home of the Balinese royal family, we saw that the Puri Agung Ubud were building a bade (cremation tower) and an enormous twenty-foot papier-mâché bull for a cremation ceremony for Prince Tjokorda Putra Dharma Yudha, so we decided to attend.

Locals line the street to catch a glimpse of the procession. (Photograph by Lisa Niver Rajna)

Johnny, a dive master and member of the local band, T-WRECK, told us we were lucky (b-ungtung in Balinese) to see such a large ceremony — or to see one at all. The last royal cremation occurred two years ago. Many of the locals we befriended in the diving meccas of Amed and Tulamben explained that they could not afford to attend but would have loved to join us on the big day.

Wayan, the owner of the Puri Madha Beach Bungalows in Tulamben, who had organized a cremation ceremony for a family member the year before, said that a ceremony on the lower end might cost 200 million Rupia ($20,000 USD) and estimated that the cost for the king’s cremation would be more than ten times that amount.

To our surprise, the ceremony was a happy event. In Hindu culture, the burning of the dead is a sacred ritual that frees the soul inside so that it can be reincarnated.

During the ceremony, the authorities turned off the electricity in the city so that when the hulking bade moved down Raya Ubud no one would get shocked if it happened to brush against the power wires. As it was explained to me by Wayan, the prince “was very well liked.”

The body is placed inside 20-foot papier-mache the bull before being cremated. (Photograph by Lisa Niver Rajna)

Greg Roach of Spirit Quest Tours told me that much of modern day Balinese society has roots in the ancient Royal Court of Java, cremation rituals included. The ceremonies always utilize the same elements—the bull, the tower, and the burning.

“When someone dies, they are buried,” Roach explained. “Later, the body is disinterred, the bones are burned and the ashes are taken to Sanur to be scattered. After a period of purification, the spirit moves into the family temple.”

We gathered at the Ubud Palace while the crowds lined Raya Ubud, waiting and watching as the bull and tower were marched along the street and then moved to the other end of town where officiates were preparing for the cremation itself. When the coffin arrived, the body, shrouded in white, was removed and placed into the bull.

Officials honored royal ancestors, which are supposed to guide future generations, and living members of the royal family from their place in the temple.

We were moved to be able to attend the ceremony and grateful to the Balinese people for allowing us to participate in different aspects of their spiritual practices.

Check out the short video we took while we were there: The closest thing to being there yourself.

Travel writer Lisa Niver Rajna is spending the year in Southeast Asia with her husband (both of whom are members of the Traveler’s Century Club). Follow her adventures on their blog, wesaidgotravel.com, and on Twitter @wesaidgotravel.

Growing up in Athens, I suppose it was inevitable that I’d take the city’s natural beauty and historic significance for granted. But now — years after moving to the U.S. for college and starting my own business — my biannual trips back to Greece to visit friends and family have allowed me to see the country for what it is: a veritable wonderland for the senses. But, being an expert in personal finance, I can also see the costs and logistical challenges travelers face when they’re thinking about visiting.

A beach bar on a small island off of Zakynthos. (Photograph by Dragan Arsovski, My Shot)

So, let me save you some time and frustration by providing some insider tips on what to see in Greece, what to skip — and how to save a ton of money while you’re at it. And don’t worry, I’m not on Greek Tourism’s payroll (I don’t think they could afford me these days), so I’ll give it to you straight.

Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room: anxiety about Greece’s economic struggles. It’s easy to assume from snippets on the news that Greece is awash in protests and debilitating strikes. The truth is that the demonstrations are really only limited to ten square blocks in Athens’ center (around Syntagma Square), and if you’re anywhere else, you’ll have no idea that anything is going on. Even with the recent turmoil, there is far less violent crime in Greece than in Canada or the U.S. — at least that’s what the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime tells us.

If you need more convincing, consider the fact that Greece’s main draws – history and natural beauty – haven’t been affected by the unrest, and that the downturn has made hotels, restaurants, and inter-country travel much, much cheaper. In other words, it’s actually a great time to visit. You just have to keep a few things in mind as you plan your itinerary. Like:

1. Look for a package deal. Often, you’ll be able to get a better deal by booking flights, hotels, and certain activities in a bundle rather than individually. Just make sure to check online reviews before you sign on the dotted line.

2. Don’t cruise. While the Greek islands are popular cruise destinations, cruise line operators are much less affected by the struggles of the Greek economy than hotels and restaurants, which means you won’t be likely to score the best deal. Besides, in my opinion, docking at a bunch of different islands for a few hours won’t give you enough time to get a real taste for each one’s unique flavor.

3. Don’t be afraid to negotiate. The trick is to shop around for the lowest possible rates and then call the respective hotel or package-deal provider and tell them that you’ll make a reservation then and there if they give you a 10-15% markdown. I’ll tell you from past experience that this works more than you might think. But keep in mind that the odds of success decrease in July and August.

Check out Paros instead of the uber-popular Mykonos. (Photograph by Natalia Romay, Flickr)

4. Skip cosmopolitan islands. Like cruises, notoriously popular islands such as Mykonos and Santorini have a worldwide appeal that insulates them from the financial troubles that have befallen the Greek mainland. But don’t worry, there are still plenty of beautiful, fun, and most importantly, reasonably priced island destinations to visit — including Paros, Skopelos, Tinos, and Zakynthos.

5. Forget the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Don’t plan your whole trip around visiting these historic attractions because any protests or strikes will make them inaccessible. If you are dead-set on seeing some archeological sights, check out Delphi, Phaistos, Olympia, and Vergina instead. If you really want to hit the main attractions, schedule a couple of days in Athens at the bookends of your trip because odds are that you’ll be able to get there at some point.

6. Avoid flying within Greece. Airline personnel have a history of going on strike, so try to rent a car and drive if you can, or at least take a mode of transportation that offers back-up options (e.g. travel by boat to an island that gets served by more than one port in Athens). In that vein, traveling to the Peloponnese could be an excellent alternative to the islands because you can rent a car and visit a number of beautiful seaside towns as well as important archeological sites.

7. Save money. Use a no-foreign-transaction credit card to save on purchases made through foreign merchants. Just make sure to notify your credit-card company of your travel plans and only sign receipts in terms of Euros. If you have excellent credit, apply for a card that offers a lucrative initial rewards bonus. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card currently gives you up to $500 toward travel expenses if you spend $3,000 during the first three months.

There you have it, a Greek personal finance professional’s guide to experiencing all that Greece has to offer while saving money in the process.

All that’s left to say is Kalo Taxidi (have a good trip)!

Odysseas Papadimitriou is a native of Greece who founded the credit card comparison website Card Hub in 2008 after serving as a senior director at Capital One for eight years.

Since the number 8 is a symbol of luck in China, here are eight tips to help you be a good traveler — whether you’re there on business or pleasure:

The correct way to "rest" your chopsticks between bites. (Photograph by Credit_00, Flickr)

1. Use those chopsticks! But never cross them on your plate (it’s bad luck), never separate them on either side of the plate (it’s really bad luck), and never, ever leave them standing straight up in your rice bowl (it’s super bad luck, as this is a symbol for death).

2. When shaking hands, use a “soft” handshake: the western “grip and pump” is not appreciated.

3. When giving and receiving anything (a cup of tea, a gift, business cards, even your hotel bill), always use two hands, never just one.

4. Speaking of giving, never open a gift in front of the person who gave it to you. When someone offers you a wrapped gift, simply take it and put it aside. Opening the gift in front of the giver raises the possibility of disappointment being revealed on your face.

Never fill your own cup -- unless you're alone! (Photograph by Carlee St Denis, My Shot)

5. Pay attention to numbers. The Chinese consider the number 4 to be bad luck (when spoken, the word for four sounds eerily similar to the word for death), so try to avoid it if at all possible. On the flip side, the number 8 is very lucky, so you will do well to make plans to meet for coffee at 8:00 a.m. or bring your host eight flowers.

6. When dining out with Chinese friends, make sure their glasses are full, but never fill your own glass. That goes for tea, wine, water, you name it.

7. If you’re full, make sure to leave a little food on your plate. If you finish everything, your host will feel obligated to serve you another helping.

8. Talk about your family to break the ice with new acquaintances in China. But never ask how many children a person has — the nation’s official one-child policy makes this an embarrassing question.

Want more cultural dos and don’ts for your next trip to China?

• Download the “How To Get Along When You Get There” app for your iPhone or Android from DFA Intercultural Global Solutions
• Check out National Geographic’s Guide to China

Dean Foster is the president of dfa, New York, a group that specializes in global cross-cultural training and consulting. Follow his story on Twitter @dfaintercultura.

By Caroline Gerdes

When strolling through the French Quarter, you’ll notice several obvious connections to its namesake motherland. Many of the street names are French — Rue Bourbon, par exemple — and corner bistros send aromas of pralines, beignets, and bread pudding wafting across the neighborhood.

Yes, New Orleans is a French place. Some locals may call it Creole, but you won’t hear them call it Cajun.

Acadians were expelled from Canada, including Prince Edward Island (pictured here), in the 1700s. (Photograph by Nicolette WainLowe, My Shot)

While there are some Cajun influences in New Orleans, the bulk of Louisiana’s Cajun culture is found in the southwest corner of the state.

Yet Cajuns are French, too.

But, they are French by way of Acadia, the area colonized by France in North America (what is now the Canadian Maritimes) in the 16th-18th centuries.

When the Acadians were expelled from Canada during the French and Indian War, many made their way south to Louisiana, eventually settling in an area that became known as Acadiana.

Cajun people pride themselves in their unique food, dialect, celebrations, and culture — all of which are separate from what many French New Orleanians identify as Creole.

Here’s a primer on the difference between the two terms from a New Orleans native:

Creole can mean French mixed with Spanish and/or African and/or American Indian. But as many purely French New Orleanians call themselves Creole, defining the term can be complicated.

Amanda LaFleur, an instructor in Cajun Studies at Louisiana State University, explained that Creole is derived from a Portuguese term meaning “born on the continent.”

According to LaFleur, the term Creole originally applied to the children of the first colonists to indicate that they had been born in the New World. Marriages between French and Spanish colonists (and extra-marital contact with black residents — both slave and free) did occur, which caused the word to become almost synonymous with mixed descent. 

This is no surprise to Richard Campanella, geographer and professor at the Tulane University School of Architecture, who emphasized that the word’s definition has evolved over a period of 500 years.

“The Creole identity is very fluid…there is no one right answer. The multitude of answers is the answer,” he said.

The Creole tradition of throwing beads symbolizes sharing wealth. (Photograph by Tulane Public Relations, Flickr)

But one thing’s for sure: the accent you hear in movies and TV shows that are based in New Orleans — a syrupy Southern accent with a slightly French inflection – is pure fiction. But something similar can be heard in Acadiana.

During the first and second World Wars, French was stigmatized as un-American and banned from Louisiana schools. The prohibition against French had a profound and long-lasting effect, but it didn’t stop Cajuns and Creoles alike from continuing their French customs. There has even been a Cajun French revival movement in recent years.

It’s my party

The difference between the two cultures can be observed in their respective Mardi Gras celebrations. Parades with large, colorful floats and flashy, avant-garde presentation are typical of New Orleans Carnival, while in Acadiana, the festivities are more pastoral.

An old sugar plantation on the Bayou Teche in the heart of Cajun country. (Photograph by Jonathan Nutt, My Shot)

The famous Fat Tuesday custom in Cajun Country is the Courir de Mardi Gras, or Mardi Gras run. Groups travel from house to house, begging for food that will be used to make a communal gumbo at the end of the route. Ingredients collected may include anything from flour to a live chicken. 

LaFleur said Cajun Carnival is steeped in old European tradition. Society, she said, is turned upside down. Historically, the wealthy are mocked and the poor become royalty for a day.  

Costumes reflect this hierarchal satire, as three traditional guises mark society’s most powerful groups: cone-shaped hats mock nobility, bishop’s miters represent the clergy, and four-corner hats represent academics. 

Mardi Gras in New Orleans engages in similar role-play with costumes and faux royalty. But unlike Cajuns, who come together to share a meal, New Orleanians represent sharing wealth by throwing beads and coins.

The proof is in the gumbo

A traditional Creole gumbo -- notice the okra and clear broth. (Photograph by Robert Giglio)

Gumbo variations also demonstrate the difference between Creole and Cajun culture. LaFleur said Creole gumbo is prepared with okra, tomato, and a mix of meats and seafood.

In Cajun gumbo, game and seafood are never mixed, the okra is usually left out, and the roux — a mix of flour and butter (or vegetable oil) – is the real focus. The farther north one ventures in Louisiana, the darker the base becomes. 

But while there is pride in individual traditions, there are not always stark contrasts. The groups have been living together and learning from one another for centuries, while blending with other influences — Spanish, African, Caribbean, German, Irish, and Italian, to name a few — in Louisiana’s melting pot.

“None of this is static. [Foreign elements] threaten a culture, but they are also what makes it relevant,” LaFleur said. She added that the various French settlers have all brought one common sentiment: “The joie de vivre, the sense of humor, that notion that having fun is part of what you deserve in life.”

Caroline Gerdes is a National Geographic Young Explorer who has been working on an oral history project on the Ninth Ward in New Orleans. Learn more about her work and follow her story on Twitter @CarolineCeleste.

When I told my pediatrician that my son isn’t in daycare, the doctor, astoundingly, said, “He’s not seeing very much of the world then is he?”

As a travel writer and a former flight attendant, I cringed. Not seeing the world? Because he doesn’t go to daycare?

I promptly booked flights to visit family and friends, then, just as promptly, began to panic. I would be that mom. You know, the one carrying armloads of overstuffed bags, the one venting noxious odors into the cabin, the one subjecting an entire plane to the ear-piercing screeches of a teething five-month old.

A few weeks later, I rolled up to the gate with my brave-face on and instantly saw that I wasn’t alone in my fear. Instead of oohing and aahing and fawning over my oh-so-adorable infant like people do at the park or the mall, these folks were staring us down.

Fortunately for all, I had a flurry of flight-attendant mothers to tap for advice. Armed with their suggestions, I was determined to be model passengers. You’d hardly know we were there.

Okay, maybe you would, but these were still great suggestions.

Buy a ticket and bring a car seat.

You know how they say firefighters respect fire? Well, flight attendants respect turbulence. They know that a bad air pocket can throw everything that isn’t belted down into the ceiling, including co-workers and three-hundred-pound beverage carts. Although many parents take advantage of free lap fares for children under two, all of my airline friends buy tickets. That’s all the convincing I needed to splurge on an extra fare. In the end, we only experienced mild turbulence, but between spit-up, a catastrophic diaper malfunction, and a 12-hour travel day, I was happy to have my hands free to read a book while my son napped in his seat.   

Ask your airline about stroller restrictions.

Most airlines will check your collapsible stroller at the gate and bring it up to you between flights, but there may be fine print. American Airlines, as I discovered, won’t gate check strollers over twenty pounds, which includes most jogging strollers. I’m thankful that, at only 17 pounds, my ultra-light City Mini made weigh-in or I would have collapsed while trying to carry my son and his car seat through three terminals.

Turn your suitcase into a stroller.

I couldn’t try this because my son is still in a rear-facing infant seat, but several moms I know swear by either the Traveling Toddler or the TOTEaTOT. Retailing for between $15 and $35, these tools allow you to strap a car seat to your rolling suitcase so you can wheel your little one from gate to gate without bringing a stroller. If you aren’t taking a carry on, you might want to try the GoGo Kidz Travelmate, a set of razor wheels attached to a telescoping handle that will keep your car seat rolling along.

Carry a backpack instead of an over-the-shoulder diaper bag.

Tested and approved. I easily sped down narrow aircraft aisles while balancing a baby, a car seat, and a Jansport packed for every imaginable contingency — from breastfeeding to blowouts to boredom.

Resort to bribery.

Before traveling, my more enterprising friends stock up on cheap toys from discount stores and dole them out periodically as rewards for good behavior. Seriously, I can’t wait until my son can be bribed!

Bring earplugs to pass out to seat mates.

At the recommendation of Sara Pinto Keagle, mom and flight-attendant blogger extraordinaire, I stuffed one of the side pockets on my backpack full of foam earplugs. Even when my son stayed quiet, the Girl Scout in me relished the peace of mind that came with being prepared. Then, on the last leg of our flight, fussing gave way to crying, which quickly turned into inconsolable wailing. When the man next to me began huffing and puffing and slapping his forehead in frustration, I whipped out my trusty earplugs. He laughed and waved them off, but it lightened the mood and he appreciated that I recognized his pain. As I learned in my flying years, that’s all most people need.

Throughout our 10-day trip, there were moments when I thought the TSA would be wise to ban infants along with liquids and weapons. Just try changing the monster of all diapers while the plane is rocking, you’re both strapped in because the seat belt sign is on, the baby is screaming, and the people around you are covering their ears and plugging their noses. (So much for being model passengers.)

But, you know what? When we landed, I walked away with the confidence that can only come from facing the worst and making it to the other side. After all, it will always be easier to stay home, but then my son won’t see much of the world, will he?

Tiffany Hawk is a writer and new mom who can’t shake her love of air travel. Love Me Anyway, her coming-of-age novel about flight attendants, will be published next spring by St. Martin’s Press. Follow her on Twitter @tiffanyhawk or on her personal blog, tiffanyhawk.com.