Discount Travel Guide to the Balkans, Turkey, and the Caucasus

Hi. This is Ernie's ex-roommate, Joe, and I know you like to travel. You may have even already picked up a Lonely Planet or Rick Steve's book about the same areas Ernie described and I bet there's a ton of useful, amazing information in those books. You might even have downloaded a translation app or a currency calculator or figured out how to avoid (or, if you are anything like us, say) all the Serbian profanities. Woo. That's great. Keep going. You are well on your way to having the same travel experience as everyone else. Oh don't forget to book your hotels and rental cars and charge your DSLR batteries. I know that sounds condescending and I am sorry (probably heartily biased). I'm here to tell you that this book is nothing like any of the others. It can even live in a harmonious relationship with them and actually make them better.

When you are done reading Discount Travel Guide, you are done. Unlike Lonely Planet or Rick Steve, leave it at home. Cast it into the pits of your desktop recycle bin. I don't care because I know that once you have finished reading this, you're mind will be ablaze with the thought of going to these places and molding the experience of a lifetime.

It's true that this is a travel guide and it is full of tons of stories, anecdotes, and suggestions. But more importantly, I think this is a book about how to experience a place wholeheartedly. This is a book about adventuring and breaking down the fear of people that permeates so tacitly. On top of all that, this book is about how to reconstruct travel for stupid cheap.

I have first hand experience of traveling with Ernie in the Balkans, Turkey, and the Caucasus and can say with complete honesty that I had no idea what I was in for. I am actually sitting on Ernie's couch in Turkey at this very moment raving about his book. I'm also unemployed and desperately poor. Money just works better over here.

Here's the bottom line. If you want to stand in line for hours to see the Mona Lisa through a horde of froth-mouthed oglers and snap pictures of it with your iPad, please don't read this book because after you've read it, your Mona Lisa dreams will be just like wisps in the wind. You'll be laughing at them as you clamber over ancient castles alone and explore ancient abandoned towns sans red tape. But if you want to rock at traveling, if you are poor, and if you want to experience crazy parts of the world that get so easily overlooked, read this book. It's written for you.

Oh yeah, I made the cover. Isn't that cool? I'm cool, everyone. woooooo o o........