Journeys Near and Far

Postcrossing Brings Back the Art of Postcard Exchange

Postcard Nuts -- Take Heed!  You'll want to check this out...

I'm one of those people who have always loved to write letters.  I enjoy stuffing them in colorful envelopes which I affix with fancy postage  stamps. 

As a teenager, writing letters to a group of international penpals I found through IPF was a great way to learn about the world, a hobby encouraged by my parents who were kind enough to foot the postage bill.   

And until recently, it's been impossible for me to go on a trip without sending a slew of postcards home to my friends.  

But things have changed.  During a recent trip to Scotland, I bought dozens of postcards and airmail stamps, yet when the morning came to fly home I'd realized I hadn't sent them. 

"Finlay," I told my boyfriend as we put my bags in the taxi.  "I've got to write these when we get to the airport." 

That didn't work out so well. 

As the minutes ticked by I grew desperate.  "Finlay," I said as I was about to the board the plane, "Could I write these at home and mail them to you so you can send them for me from Scotland?" 

That was when I knew I'd lost something.  Somehow,  for me, in the midst of email, Twitter and Facebook, the art of  letter (and postcard) writing had gone the way of the fountain pen.  

Which is why Sean McLachlan's Gadling post, Postcards from Strangers, peaked my interest.  It's all about Postcrossing, a project that allows anyone to receive postcards from random places throughout the globe. 

The idea is that if you send a postcard, you will receive one back from a Postcrosser somewhere else in the world.  Imagine opening your mailbox and finding a surprise postcard from someone far away in a country you've never heard of.   Suddenly, you'll look forward to getting the mail again. 

The project was started in 2005 by Paulo Magalhães, who was inspired by his love of receiving mail.  Postcrossing reached it's first million exchanged postcards in April of 2008 and has reached the milestone of two million postcards received earlier this year. 

How does it work?  It's easy.  You just sign up (it's free), fill out a short profile and then request an address.  You send a postcard, and when it's received, the person on the other end will register the card.  You can have up to five cards "traveling" at a time.  And the bonus:  you could make some great friends from around the world.

If you're time strapped, writing a postcard is a little bit quicker than writing a letter.  And who doesn't love to receive "real" mail?

I've signed up.  I'm hoping that writing a few postcards now and then will get me back in the letter-writing habit.  If you love postcards and receiving mail I implore you to sign up as well. 

Let's bring back a lost art!

Sites for Solo Travelers

Avoid the Dreaded Single Supplement

It's not fair, right? 

You've finally saved up enough money to take that dream trip to New Zealand, but, because you're traveling alone, the tour company tacks on an $895 single supplement.  Ouch!

True, tour companies and cruise lines need to make a profit, and having one person stay in a double room only earns the company half as much as two people. 

But why pay extra when you don't have to?

Some tour companies offer to match you with a roommate, which can be a big money saver.  This can work out well or not, depending on who you end up with and how your personalities mesh.   But maybe you don't want to take that risk.

Good News for Solo Travelers

Recently, to entice travelers who are feeling the pinch from the economic slowdown,  some companies have not only lowered their tour prices but completely waived the single supplement fee.   For example:

• Overseas Adventure Travel is offering a lot of trips with no single supplements at all.  You can save as much as $1,795 on their Australia & New Zealand:  Adventure Down Under trip .
• Tauck Tours has carried over their Single Traveler program into 2009, waiving or reducing single supplements on 22 itineraries. 

Take a Self-Guided Walk Around London

Two books show you how

I've written about London guided walking tours before; they provide a fun and educational opportunity to explore London's quirky, historical or just plain fascinating neighborhoods with a group and a knowledgeable guide. 

But what if you want to explore these neighborhoods at your own pace?  Maybe stop in a pub for a drink along the way, or visit an intriguing shop? 

Well, no worries -- I've just found two books written to help you explore London's neighborhoods on your own.  Each provides enough entertaining information about the areas you'll walk through that you won't feel like you're missing out by not having a guide.

The following two books highlight a variety of self-guided walking tours in the city and surrounding areas that you can do on your own.

The first book, On Foot Guides' London Walks written by Celia Woolfrey, claims to be the only London walking guide with aerial view mapping.  The mapping, created from specially commissioned photographs taken from a helicopter flying at 1,500 feet, really helps show you the way as you read the directions.

There are 15 walks in this guide.  An introduction explains why London's a great place to explore on foot, and offers information on shopping, transportation, sightseeing tours, etc.  

There are also sections on how to link some of the walks together, and lists of which walks are best taken at various times of the week or year.  Take Covent Garden, for example.  "The atmosphere is more relaxed on the weekend," Woolfrey says, "when there's almost continuous street theater and people come here just to have fun."  

The book also suggests which walks are best for kids.

Each walk in London Walks has:

• A description of the area
• Aerial maps
• Where the walk starts and ends
• Photos
• Directions and a description of what you're looking at
• Boxed text with tips on where to eat and drink in the neighborhood

The series also offers New York Walks and Paris Walks.

Traveling to the Yucatán? Here's Help for Planning Your Trip

Planning a Trip can be Almost as Fun as Going There

As a heavy March snow falls outside my window, I'm writing an article for an AAA magazine about Playa del Carmen, Mexico. 

And all the while I'm imagining Playa's warm, balmy breezes, the aqua hues of the ocean and the warmth of the sun falling on my shoulders as I walk around in capris and tank tops. 

Planning a trip (or writing about one) can be almost as fun as going there.  But sometimes it's a little hard to know where to find the best information.

To help you plan a trip to the Yucatán, I'd like to share some of the great resources I found while organizing my trip to the Riviera Maya.   Have fun with your research!

Books & Maps

I've always found Lonely Planet's guidebooks to be useful and their Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán is no exception.  In addition to the usual sections on history, maps, culture, food and drink and environment, there are some beautiful full-color pages in the front loaded with photographs and tips from the author, Greg Benchwick, on such topics as snorkeling and diving the reefs and cenotes, exploring the area's natural wonders, tips for foodies, active adventures on land and sea, and how the past and present intermingle.  Definitely pick up a copy of this book.

I had no idea National Geographic made adventure maps until recently when I was given a copy of their Northern Yucatán Peninsula Adventure Map.  I didn't have it with me on my trip but I wish I had.  One side has a map of the Northern Yucatán Peninsula with detailed city insets of Cancún and Mérida; the other side has information -- plus maps -- of the Yucatán's most important archaeological sites.   And it's made of waterproof-tear-resistant material so you won't have to worry about ripping it or getting it wet.  Great map!

Elizabeth Harper of SealedWithLove.com, who winters in Playa del Carmen says, "Check CancunMap.com for fabulous maps with tons of useful information, updated as regularly as possible."   

I followed Harper's advice and was impressed...  these travel map/guides to Cancún, Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya and more look excellent.  They've also got a Mayan Adventure map that looks awesome -- I'm going to have to get one!  The maps were created by Perry and Laura McFarlin who have been traveling the Yucatan for over 20 years. 

Cruising During Difficult Times

There Has Never Been A Cheaper Time to Cruise...

Earlier this month at the New York Times Travel Show, I attended a talk given by Arthur and Pauline Frommer about the best bargains for the year ahead.   

While it might be difficult for many of us to come up with travel funds right now, the overall message this father and daughter team gave in their talk was positive. 

"The travel industry's loss is your gain," Pauline Frommer said.  "There has never been a cheaper time to travel.  There's also never been a cheaper time to cruise." 

Pauline explained that there will be thirty new ships by 2012, a response to the steady growth the industry has been experiencing. 

What does this mean for the cruise-goer?  Well, many more cabins to fill could translate to great discounts for the traveler.  It's also good for solo travelers, as a variety of cruise lines are waiving single supplements.  If you're a solo cruiser, take a look at this Cruise Critic article, Bad Economy Good for Solo Travelers? 

So how do you get these cruise deals?  Pauline suggests you use cruise specialists who can pass on the special deals cruise lines give them.  Some of her favorites:

• Cruise Compete
• Vacations to Go
• White Travel
• Leisure Link
• Ahoy Cruises and Tours 

Another cruise tip:  Pauline suggests you use your willpower.  "It's common to spend 25% of the cost of the cruise onboard," she says.  "Avoid buying drinks and special meals."

She also advises that you skip the cruise line's expensive shore excursions in favor of either doing it yourself, or using one of the many new shore excursion companies that have cropped up recently such as Shore Trips  and Port Compass.

"And use Theme Cruise Finder if you'd like to take an intelligent, stimulating cruise with like-minded people," she adds.

Photo courtesy of Freefoto.com, photographer Ian Britton.

 

 

Explore 3 New Social Networking Sites

Make Friends While You Plan Your Trips

No one knows if they'll become the next MySpace, but these three social networking sites I read about in the February, 2009 issue of  Budget Travel magazine sound interesting. 

So even though my little black book is overflowing with email addresses of all the friends I've met on my journeys, I couldn't stop myself from checking out something new.  Here's the scoop on some lesser known places where you can make friends while planning your trips:

GeckoGo

GeckoGo is a collaborative travel planning resource for independent travelers.  Begun by a group of friends who quit their cushy day jobs, moved to a new country and worked full time without pay for 12 plus months straight, Geckogo has grown into quite a large travel community.    On this site you can:

• Get travel tips
• Get answers to your questions
• Contribute to the community
• Get recognition by earning points for sharing what you know

The site has a nice forum and I like their destination pages, where you'll find detailed maps and information on the area you are interested in and its attractions.  Just remember, though,  that, like Wikipedia, anybody can update this information so you might want to check another source or two to make sure the information is correct.

I like the site's blog, GeckoGoneBlogging, and even if you do nothing else, I recommend you pay it a visit.  It has some nice interviews, such as with Christina Heyniger of Off the Radar and Polar Explorer Børge Ousland.

GoPhilanthropic - Meaningful Intelligent Travel

Changing the Way We See the World

One of the beauties of travel is that it affects us, has us coming home with a broader richer view of the world we live in.

  -- GoPhilanthropic

A couple of weeks ago while at the New York Times Travel Show, I wandered by the booth of an innovative company:   GoPhilanthropic. 

Unsure exactly what type of travel they offer, I asked if this was a type of voluntourism. Lydia Dean of GoPhilanthropic kindly took a few minutes to explain the concept of Meaningful Intelligent Travel.

An Alternative to Voluntourism

This is an alternative to Voluntourism because it meets the needs of a larger market of people.  Most folks don't want to volunteer for their entire vacation.  Instead, GoPhilanthropic weaves elements of philanthropy into their trip.

The company embraces the concept of travel philanthropy combined with sustainable travel, coupling luxury vacations with support for social and conservation projects around the world.  The idea is to give travelers an authentic and meaningful exchange with local communities and a chance to contribute their efforts.

This type of travel typically appeals to the over-40 crowd who prefer some comfort but would like to give back somehow.

What You'll Do

Visitors might spend an afternoon donating school supplies and books or a local well; or they might spend time meeting candidates for micro-loans.  They'll explore each country with a private, local guide, stay in exceptional accommodations such as locally run B&Bs, Eco-Conscious Inns or luxury hotels, and indulge in activities of their choice such as taking cooking classes, going for walks, enjoying cultural experiences or participating in adventure activities.

The goal of GoPhilanthropic is to connect you with well-run, worthy projects during your travel.  They'll provide you with background information on each project so that you can consider how you can contribute.  Whether you're traveling alone or with a group, the tours are custom tailored to meet your interests, time and budget. 

For example

Take Cambodia.   I looked on GoPhilanthropic's website under "Suggested Itineraries," and saw five different possibilities that range from 4 to 16 nights long.  Elements "Unique to You" can be added.  For instance, would you like to see an Apsara dance performance?  Go for an elephant ride?  Have a massage? 

Then you'll choose your mode of transport.  Car?  Tuk-tuk?  Bike?

The projects for Cambodia include orphanage visits, helping to install wells or supporting a company that offers micro-loans.  And Cambodia is only one of the many countries you can visit.

This sounds like a great idea to me for a future trip; I'll definitely be looking into it further.

For more information visit GoPhilanthropic at www.gophilanthropic.com.

 

 

 

10 Great Destinations for a Kiss

Remembering the Magic

On Valentine's Day, what could be more fitting than recalling the magic of the most romantic places you've ever been?  We all have a different list, but here are my top ten:

The Taj Mahal -- Agra, India

"A story of eternal love and friendship such as the world has never known before, lies shrouded in the mists of history.  Much of that story has been forgotten and become blurred in the memory of men, but it has left behind a symbol of such rare beauty and unwavering devotion that it can never be forgotten.  That symbol is the Taj Mahal."                  --Mantoshe Singh Devji

The Taj Mahal, the breathtakingly beautiful monument to the love of Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz is a wondrous site to behold.  Yes, it may be crowded, and yes -- at certain times of the year, such as in August when I went, it will be scorchingly hot, but seeing it with your own eyes is an experience of a lifetime.   

See it at dawn, when the early light transforms the marble into shades of petal pink.  At noon, the marble appears pearl white under the blazing sun.  In the evening, darkness unfolds, casting silver shadows over the walls as delicate moonbeams dance overhead.

Aït Benhaddou, Morocco

Not far from Ouarzazate, a honey-colored kasbah called Aït Benhaddou rises from the shimmering sand, resembling a palace out of the Arabian Nights. 

Here, ancient camel caravans once plied the lonely road to the desert. 

Park your car, your camel, or your donkey.  Cross the shallow, reed-strewn river as the sun rises high in the sky, painting the landscape in the muted shades of the desert -- salmon, dusty pink and tawny gold.  The kasbah's chaotic jumble of red-ochre dwellings seems to spill down the rocky bluff, coming to rest at the village's outer walls.

Climb the narrow, rutted stairs to the turreted rooftops, where you can view the sun-kissed fields that stretch for miles to the desert beyond.  High upon your turret, it's not hard to daydream of the caliphs and sultans of the past, of veiled princesses and of the deeds of conquering tribes. 

Down below in the alley, a man in a sapphirine-blue robe leeds his camel into the shadows, dismounts and embraces a slender, dark-eyed woman.  Reluctant to let go, they look around anxiously - then steal a lingering kiss in the dark.

The silence of the empty alleyway whispers of stolen kisses and secrets hidden amongst these ancient walls -- a place for romantics, most definitely.

The 50 Most Inspiring Travel Quotes Of All Time

Travel Quotes that Inspire us to Learn More about the World... and Ourselves

"Memorable travel quotes are like messages found on the beach; beautiful, timeless, and read at just the right moment."  - Lola Akinmade.

That's how Akinmade begins her post The 50 Most Inspiring Travel Quotes Of All Time on the Brave New Traveler site. This post is so popular that 191 people have left comments on it.

Editor Tim Patterson, in his introduction to the article, writes, "[These quotes] reminded me of why I travel:  to learn and grow, to challenge myself, stretch my limits and foster an appreciation of both the world at large and the chair waiting in front of the woodstove back home."

I feel the same way.  Some of my favorites?

• “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” - St. Augustine

• “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller

• “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

• “People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home.” - Dagobert D. Runes

As an added touch, Akinmade linked most of the quotes to information about its author. 

I invite you to read the article and let me know which quotes are your favorite.  Have any been left out? 

Note:  If you liked these quotes, you should read The (Next) 50 Most Inspiring Travel Quotes of All Time.

Photo courtesy of Freefoto.com, photographer Ian Britton.

 

 

Travel in Troubled Times - Tips from Rick Steves

Rick Steves Gives Tips on Getting Value for your Travel Dollar in Europe

This past weekend at the New York Times Travel Show, Rick Steves, author of 30 plus books on European travel and host/producer of Rick Steves' Europe, discussed how to make the most out of a trip to Europe in a seminar called "Europe Through the Back Door." 

Steves noted that Americans have the shortest vacations in the rich world, a fact that hits home for those of us who struggle to get every possible moment away from work that we can to travel.

His comment reminded me of the articles I read years ago, written by Arthur Frommer, who ranted about the  "scandal of American vacation time."   We need to make the best travel decisions since we have such limited time, says Steves.

Steves, a man who's thankful for finding his niche in life, celebrates "smart travel" and urges travelers to find "back doors" -- places that don't have promotional budgets, and so tend not to be overpriced.  He then offered the audience some valuable travel advice, some of which I will share with you here:

Get Away from the Main Drag

"Eat in restaurants frequented by the locals," Steves says.  The prices won't be inflated and you'll have the chance to see how the locals live. 

When visiting destinations that are on the list for bus tour side-trips, such as Toledo, Spain or Rothenburg, Germany, come in late in the day and head out the next morning before the tour groups arrive.  "The most touristy places are the most charming when you stay overnight," he says.

Don't Forget about the Big Modern Cities

Steves, who noted that he's "a sucker for cute, old, dead stuff," suggests that we always pay a visit to a big metropolis in the European countries we visit in addition to old sites like ruins and castles.  He describes these cities as the "new Manhattans" with "skyscrapers that stick up like stilettos," and says that seeing them will round out your view of the countries you are visiting.