in search of darn good digs

We are on a mission to find the world’s best independently owned hotels for budget-minded travelers, and so far we have put together a pretty solid hotel list for Mexico – from the Yucatan to the Pacific coast, Mexico City to the Lake Chapala region.  We always seek out owners with unique visions as well [...]

In his blog post earlier this year, Arthur Frommer challenged us to find and review 500 Darn Good Digs around the world, and we think we’re well on our way.  In a few months, we’ll have published over 200 reviews, and we’ve added even more colorful photos than ever before. You can help by nominating [...]

One of the reasons we originally launched Darn Good Digs back in 2008 was because we found it hard to find cool places to stay in the Caribbean on a budget. There are so many large impersonal hotels and all-inclusive resorts, but the small spots full of character are hidden away and can take some [...]

One of the first traveler nominations we received back at Darn Good Digs’ launch in 2008 was for Gecko Villa – a beautiful rural villa way out there in northeast Thailand, as far from Bangkok as you could imagine. We were excited then to learn about such a cool vacation spot, and we’re even more [...]

Every now and then we receive a hotel nomination that makes us want to drop everything and GO THERE immediately. Balam Bali Villa is one of those places. Here is why: What makes Balam Bali Villa so Darn Good? Having lived and traveled overseas for twenty years, I can say without hesitation that Balam Bali [...]

When we first launched Darn Good Digs in 2008, we pressed all of our friends to reveal their favorite secret spots around the world. La Loma Jungle Lodge, a small three-’room’ hotel in Panama’s beautiful Bocas del Toro region, was on that initial list. The jungle lodge and chocolate farm receive only rave reviews, and [...]

Since our 2008 launch of Darn Good Digs we have been receiving nominations for different kinds of “budget” accommodations in Southeast Asia. For backpackers and truly frugal travelers, we have reviews for amazing guest houses and inns that cost under US$20 a night. Many of our readers at Darn Good Digs, though, are willing to [...]

Our first Darn Good Digs in Nicaragua is a laid-back bed and breakfast on an unspoiled stretch of Pacific coast near the small town of San Juan del Sur. Here is our review of Casa del Soul: What makes the Casa del Soul so Darn Good? Surrounded by jungle and with breathtaking ocean views, Casa [...]

When we finally make it to Costa Rica, we definitely know one place we’re going to stay for sure – at Casa Bella Rita. We only hear wonderful things about this bed and breakfast just outside of San Jose, and minutes from the international airport. It certainly doesn’t hurt that they have earned 296 five [...]

We recently published a guest post entitled “4 Hotels Under $25: Cheap, Yet So Amazing You Won’t Want to Leave!” on the Budget Travelers Sandbox blog. If super cheap hotels that are still extraordinary intrigues you, then definitely go check our article out.  We write about four of our favorite under $25 hotels: Mustapha’s Place [...]