Bob Payne
@bobpayne.bsky.social
Travel writer.
Author of 142-country memoir, Escape Clauses — Getting Away With a Travel Writing Life.
Co-creator of Without the Crowds - A world guide to popular destinations & their uncrowded alternatives
#travel #travelwriting #humor #tourism
Author of 142-country memoir, Escape Clauses — Getting Away With a Travel Writing Life.
Co-creator of Without the Crowds - A world guide to popular destinations & their uncrowded alternatives
#travel #travelwriting #humor #tourism
You mean like when to visit between islands you had to know how to bail out a canoe? The
December 27, 2025 at 7:52 PM
You mean like when to visit between islands you had to know how to bail out a canoe? The
in Travel. Dec 27, 1831. Only after Charles Darwin departs Plymouth, England, aboard HMS Beagle does he discover it is not the naturist cruise he had signed up for.
December 27, 2025 at 3:48 PM
in Travel. Dec 27, 1831. Only after Charles Darwin departs Plymouth, England, aboard HMS Beagle does he discover it is not the naturist cruise he had signed up for.
Today in Travel. Dec 26, 1846. Donner Party gives Christmas leftovers a bad name.
(Image: Wikipedia)
Bobcarrieson.com
(Image: Wikipedia)
Bobcarrieson.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Today in Travel. Dec 26, 1846. Donner Party gives Christmas leftovers a bad name.
(Image: Wikipedia)
Bobcarrieson.com
(Image: Wikipedia)
Bobcarrieson.com
Christmas Day is always difficult for me. My reindeer underwear, or the ones with Santa on them? (Image not available.)
December 25, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Christmas Day is always difficult for me. My reindeer underwear, or the ones with Santa on them? (Image not available.)
Today in Travel. Dec 25, 1776. Knowing Christmas is cheapest day to travel, Washington crosses Delaware, surprises Hessians.
(Painting: Emanuel Leutze)
Bobcarrieson.com
(Painting: Emanuel Leutze)
Bobcarrieson.com
December 25, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Today in Travel. Dec 25, 1776. Knowing Christmas is cheapest day to travel, Washington crosses Delaware, surprises Hessians.
(Painting: Emanuel Leutze)
Bobcarrieson.com
(Painting: Emanuel Leutze)
Bobcarrieson.com
To all my friends, and, especially, to all who are not. Peace on earth, and the moon, and mars, and, especially, all the worlds at the edge of the Milky Way. Goodwill toward all.
December 24, 2025 at 11:47 PM
To all my friends, and, especially, to all who are not. Peace on earth, and the moon, and mars, and, especially, all the worlds at the edge of the Milky Way. Goodwill toward all.
Live Christmas tree. Arizona style. Happy Holidays.
December 24, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Live Christmas tree. Arizona style. Happy Holidays.
Looks like those extraterrestrials are at it again.
This Asian temple looks a lot like the Mayan step pyramids of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Coincidence or cosmic convergence? #travelsky #overtourism #kohker #pyramids #ancientcivlizations #adventuretravel
Koh Ker: The Smart Traveler's Alternative
Koh Ker, a mysterious temple complex in Cambodia, is much less crowded than its neighbor, Angkor Wat, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
withoutthecrowds.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Looks like those extraterrestrials are at it again.
Today in Travel. Dec 24, 1893. Henry Ford builds his first gasoline-powered engine, can't decide what to do with it.
Bobcarrieson.com
Bobcarrieson.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Today in Travel. Dec 24, 1893. Henry Ford builds his first gasoline-powered engine, can't decide what to do with it.
Bobcarrieson.com
Bobcarrieson.com
So serene that the only sound was the splash of me falling off our bamboo raft.
A peaceful Jamaican getaway that's worth going the extra mile. withoutthecrowds.com/port-antonio... #portantonio #overtourism #jamaica #quietjamaica #travelsky
Port Antonio: The Smart Traveler's Alternative
A funky beach town surrounded by jungle, Port Antonio is one of Jamaica's most serene resort areas, much less crowded than Negril.
withoutthecrowds.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:26 PM
So serene that the only sound was the splash of me falling off our bamboo raft.
Today in Travel. Dec 23, 1986. First non-stop round-the-world flight without refueling
completed, crew runs for airport restroom.
Bobcarrieson.com
completed, crew runs for airport restroom.
Bobcarrieson.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Today in Travel. Dec 23, 1986. First non-stop round-the-world flight without refueling
completed, crew runs for airport restroom.
Bobcarrieson.com
completed, crew runs for airport restroom.
Bobcarrieson.com
Today in Travel. Dec 22, 2001. Would-be airline shoe bomber Richard Reid complains about poor quality of fuses in Europe. Urges all terrorists to buy American.
Bobcarrieson.com
Bobcarrieson.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Today in Travel. Dec 22, 2001. Would-be airline shoe bomber Richard Reid complains about poor quality of fuses in Europe. Urges all terrorists to buy American.
Bobcarrieson.com
Bobcarrieson.com
I bet that's one noisy maternity ward.
Here's a place that's not too crowded. Unless you count the 8,000 wildebeest born every day. #travelsky #adventuretravel #africatravel #serengeti #tanzania
THE WILDEBEEST CALVING GROUNDS: THE SMART TRAVELER'S ALTERNATIVE
One of the highlights of the great wildebeest migration is calving season in the Serengeti. Here's how to plan a visit.
withoutthecrowds.com
December 21, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I bet that's one noisy maternity ward.
New York City tourist uses Facebook to mark himself safe after fight for taxi at Broadway and East 12th.
December 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
New York City tourist uses Facebook to mark himself safe after fight for taxi at Broadway and East 12th.
Today in Travel. Dec 21, 1872. Fictitious traveler Phileas Fogg arrives in London after a journey around world in 80 days. The trip costs him half his fortune, or in today’s dollars, about the price of a week in the Maldives.
(Image: Wikipedia)
Bobcarrieson.com
(Image: Wikipedia)
Bobcarrieson.com
December 21, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Today in Travel. Dec 21, 1872. Fictitious traveler Phileas Fogg arrives in London after a journey around world in 80 days. The trip costs him half his fortune, or in today’s dollars, about the price of a week in the Maldives.
(Image: Wikipedia)
Bobcarrieson.com
(Image: Wikipedia)
Bobcarrieson.com
Today in Travel. Dec 20, 1803. Louisiana Purchase is completed, saving generations of people living in what would become the American Midwest from having to make snails a part of their daily diet.
(Image: Wikipedia)
Bobcarrieson.com
(Image: Wikipedia)
Bobcarrieson.com
December 20, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Today in Travel. Dec 20, 1803. Louisiana Purchase is completed, saving generations of people living in what would become the American Midwest from having to make snails a part of their daily diet.
(Image: Wikipedia)
Bobcarrieson.com
(Image: Wikipedia)
Bobcarrieson.com
The more gentle the whale sharks, the better. As far as I'm concerned.
Australia’s other great reef. And with a fraction of the crowds.
#travelsky #overtourism #adventuretravel #ningalooreef #westernaustralia
#travelsky #overtourism #adventuretravel #ningalooreef #westernaustralia
Ningaloo Reef: The Smart Traveler's Alternative
Ningaloo Reef, Australia's other great underwater attraction, is known for its population of gentle whale sharks. Here's how to visit.
withoutthecrowds.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The more gentle the whale sharks, the better. As far as I'm concerned.
With tariffs making Santa's job all but impossible this year, here's an alternative career he might want to consider.
www.amazon.com/s?k=escape+c...
www.amazon.com/s?k=escape+c...
Amazon.com: Escape Clauses
Amazon.com: escape clauses
www.amazon.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
With tariffs making Santa's job all but impossible this year, here's an alternative career he might want to consider.
www.amazon.com/s?k=escape+c...
www.amazon.com/s?k=escape+c...
Unfulfilled scientist scans universe for signs of extramarital life.
December 18, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Unfulfilled scientist scans universe for signs of extramarital life.
Today in Travel. Dec 18, 1620. After finding property on rest of Cape Cod is out of their price range, Pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock.
(Painting: Henry A. Bacon)
Bobcarrieson.com
(Painting: Henry A. Bacon)
Bobcarrieson.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Today in Travel. Dec 18, 1620. After finding property on rest of Cape Cod is out of their price range, Pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock.
(Painting: Henry A. Bacon)
Bobcarrieson.com
(Painting: Henry A. Bacon)
Bobcarrieson.com
@withoutthecrowds.bsky.social
Investigation reveals increasing frequency of emergency landings for bathroom breaks due to aging pilot population.
Investigation reveals increasing frequency of emergency landings for bathroom breaks due to aging pilot population.
December 17, 2025 at 8:17 PM
@withoutthecrowds.bsky.social
Investigation reveals increasing frequency of emergency landings for bathroom breaks due to aging pilot population.
Investigation reveals increasing frequency of emergency landings for bathroom breaks due to aging pilot population.
Dec. 17, 1790: Authenticity of Aztec calendar stone discovered in Mexico City is brought into question when it is noticed that December 25 is circled in red.
(Image: Wikipedia)
bobcarrieson.com
(Image: Wikipedia)
bobcarrieson.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Dec. 17, 1790: Authenticity of Aztec calendar stone discovered in Mexico City is brought into question when it is noticed that December 25 is circled in red.
(Image: Wikipedia)
bobcarrieson.com
(Image: Wikipedia)
bobcarrieson.com
Today in Travel. Dec 16, 1773. Boston tourism officials fear that tea-dumping hooligans will negatively impact visitor numbers.
Bobcarrieson.com
Bobcarrieson.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Today in Travel. Dec 16, 1773. Boston tourism officials fear that tea-dumping hooligans will negatively impact visitor numbers.
Bobcarrieson.com
Bobcarrieson.com
Reposted by Bob Payne
What gets half the number of visitors as the British Museum and has a collection that's twice as weird? #travelsky #overtourism #victoriaandalbertmuseum #londonmuseums #visitbritain
The V&A Museum
The V&A, formerly the Victoria and Albert museum, is often called Britain's attic and the world's most exciting scavenger hunt.
withoutthecrowds.com
December 14, 2025 at 4:55 PM
What gets half the number of visitors as the British Museum and has a collection that's twice as weird? #travelsky #overtourism #victoriaandalbertmuseum #londonmuseums #visitbritain
Today in Travel. Dec 15, 2001. Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after 11 years of repairs, is still leaning.
bobcarrieson.com
bobcarrieson.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Today in Travel. Dec 15, 2001. Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after 11 years of repairs, is still leaning.
bobcarrieson.com
bobcarrieson.com