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Parting ways can be hard, but every “hello” inevitably brings a “goodbye.” To avoid…

My solo trip to the Philippines was probably one of the best trips of my life, even though it wasn’t without its bumps and challenges. I chose to stay in a hostel for all ten days of my trip and each stay was in a shared room. I’ve stayed in somewhere close to 30 hostels during the last decade, so I wasn’t a stranger to the shared room situation.

I remember sipping my piña colada at the hostel bar in Boracay in the Philippines, relishing the taste of fresh coconut. There’s just something about drinking that cocktail when you’re steps away from crystal clear water with the sun lazily warming your shoulders that truly encapsulates the feeling of vacation. A group of girls joined me at the bar and I leaned over to recommend they also order the piña colada. They needed to know how life changing this drink was. We naturally started chatting and the topic of age came up, a theme I was starting to notice was common in hostels.

Before you get out there and start mingling merrily, it pays to know a little cultural etiquette. Our international guide to party protocol will help you raise a glass in the most common languages and understand how to rub elbows without committing a faux pas.

What better time to get a jolt of motivation than now, when resolutions seem…

When it comes to welcoming in the new year, the possibilities are endless.