I know you probably don't want to read about this topic. But the thing of it is, no one talks about it. But that doesn't do much good for the soon-to-be-travelers who are worried about getting sick on the road. So, for all of those fine folk, I'm going to step right into it. This topic, I mean.

You can practice traveling before your first international trip. Of course, it's difficult to create conditions at home similar to what it's like when you're traveling long-term abroad. But we were able to do a few things before our round-the-world trip that helped prepare us quite a bit.

At first the idea of a tour might seem appealing. But what your tour company won't tell you is that you can get yourself to Teotihuacán for mere dollars instead of upwards of US$100. And they probably won't mention that you won't just be going to Teotihuacán - there'll be a few required stops at tourist traps and chotsky stands along the way too, of course.

Remember, not everyone in Mexico City visits Teotihuacan each day. Not everyone in Ecuador has sailed to the Galapagos Islands in their lifetime. Just like not everyone in the US saw the Grand Canyon during their last summer vacation. So once you've exhausted the tourists sites, what other things can you do to experience life in another country?

When a travel book is reviewed on Amazon.com as being "a great choice for a traveling grandpa" or renamed "1,000 Places To See For Boring Millionaires" than you'd probably skip over it. Right? Think again.