I was one of three traveling men featured in this article on the best traveling clothes for guys and it’s a good rundown of different options, showing that there’s no one-brand solution for long-term travelers. (Though some brands are definitely more reliable than others.) Also, while packing quality items that will last is a good strategy, comprising most of what’s always in my bag, sometimes it’s best to just buy upon arrival as needed, like for t-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops. Three common threads though: wrinkle-free is essential, merino wool keeps you from getting stinky, and double-duty clothing helps you pack lighter.

Yes You Will Check a Bag in Asia

I’m leaving soon for a three-month jaunt through Asia with just a carry-on (see above for packing tips) but funny enough, our carry-ons will be checked on most flights as we move between the Stans, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. After booking four flights on four airlines, I have discovered that they definitely don’t want you to carry on your own bag these days—likely because it slows down the boarding and deplaning times. Most Asian budget airlines seem to be capping the carry-on weight at 7 kilos (15 pounds), which is kind of a joke, and only one of the four we’re on even offered the option to pay more for a higher weight carry-on. The rest only let us pay to check a bag instead or bundled it in a package. So we’re packing carry-ons to be sure our bags get to Kazakhstan okay, but after that they will only come into the plane cabin with us once. More on this trend from other continents here.

Most Liveable Cities in the World

I see a lot of “most liveable cities” reports regularly and the outcome can vary depending on what they are measuring and how those factors are weighted. Oddly, very few seem to consider the weather or days of sunshine, for instance. This year’s batch is surprisingly consistent though. Use your own judgement and check out these entries from the Economist Intelligence Unit, Monocle, and Global Citizen Solutions. In the first rundown you’d better have plenty of money because cities like Copenhagen, Vienna, Sydney, Zurich, Tokyo, and Vancouver make up the top 10. Monocle cares whether you can get a drink after 10 p.m., so Lisbon and Barcelona make the list, but there’s still a lot of overlap with the first report. The last one includes those two and adds Seoul. Then they make this interesting aside: “San José in Costa Rica records the highest ease-of-settling-in score in the ranking, followed closely by Mexico City, Bali, Rio de Janeiro, and Bangkok.” In the top spots though, your money may be more welcome than you are…

Where to Watch out for Bedbugs

Fortunately, I haven’t gotten bit by bedbugs since I was a young backpacker, but I know plenty of people who have, sometimes in a very nice hotel even. This Orkin report for 2026 lays out the U.S. cities with the most bedbug reports and Chicago tops the list for the sixth year in a row. Ohio is a bad state overall and other cities ranking highly were L.A, Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis. The report links to helpful advice on how to check your hotel room. Some paranoid/careful frequent travelers I know leave their suitcase in the tub or shower, never on carpet, and carry some kind of bedbug spray. I can’t vouch for those personally, but this is the highest-rated travel-sized one on Amazon.

A weekly newsletter with four quick bites, edited by Tim Leffel, author of A Better Life for Half the Price and The World’s Cheapest Destinations. See past editions here, where your like-minded friends can subscribe and join you.