On a two-week trip my husband and I took to Scotland in August 2010, the last five days were spent in Orkney.

We flew to Kirkwall from Glasgow on the budget airline Flybe (Exeter International Airport, Devon, UK; phone +44 [0] 1392 268529) at $200 per person, round trip.

A short taxi ride took us to the very comfortable, centrally located Orkney Hotel (40 Victoria St., Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1DN, U.K.; phone +44 [0] 1856 873477), where we paid $150 per night for a double room...

Here are a few tips for backpackers who like adventure travel and the unknown.

If you can’t peel it, don’t eat it.

If you don’t see it boiling with your own two eyes, don’t eat it and you’ll never get sick.

Always travel with iodine pills for your canteen. You’ll be able to drink water from the Nile or the Amazon.

Travel like a bum, and look poor. NO jewelry!

When people knew I was going on a backpacking trip, they would say, “Have fun.” I’d answer back, “...

Kimberly Edwards’ letter “Tips for Communicating in Japan” (Nov. ’10, pg. 12) contains a lot of good advice, much of which is applicable throughout Asia. From my own experience, I would add an additional suggestion: never ask a question that can be answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no.’

The person behind the desk often will have no clue about what you are asking, but his or her response will almost invariably be ‘Yes,’ because a ‘no’ or a request for clarification would be insulting to the...