BootsnAll's Travel Typepad

Forget the "staycation" this year--big discounts are making for super cheap travel

There aren’t many reasons to celebrate the bad economy. People are losing their homes, their jobs, their 401Ks, and budgets for everything from groceries to gas to travel have been drastically cut. For those of us who love to travel, however, there is reason to celebrate the economy going down the tubes. With the travel industry suffering (along with seemingly almost everyone else), there are a plethora of great deals to be found on travel to just about everywhere. Airlines have drastically cut fares, hotels are slashing room rates and even booking site like Orbitz and Travelocity are forgoing booking rates and even offering cash back incentives and coupons to encourage people to still travel in spite of the economic situation.

So, what does this all mean for you? It means that instead of making excuses about why you just shouldn’t be spending money this year on a vacation, you should start shopping around for the best travel deal, get yourself out of your house and stop trying to plan your lame “staycation” (I am currently working on having that word banned from the English language).

With so many phenomenal deals out there to be had, you could actually be making a poor financial decision by NOT traveling this year. With fares to some places (like Hawaii, Australia and Europe) down as much as 25%-55% from last year, now may be the perfect time to pack your bags and take that vacation you’ve long dreamed about, but never quit been able to justify. Now, with sales and special offers on all kinds of travel, you won’t have a hard time at all justifying a fabulous fall trip to Hawaii or even a end of summer hop over to Europe.

If you are wondering how exactly to go about finding some of these almost-to-good-to-be-true deals, there are a few tips you can employ to help you scour the internet and find the best price on everything from your hotel room to your rental car. Using flight search engines like SideStep or Kayak can also be a great way to compares airfares and manipulate factors that may help you get an even lower price on your flight. Another tip is to keep your eye out for promotional codes and coupons that offer cash back, discounts or other incentives to get you to hit that “book now” button.

There are a few tips out there for finding and getting the benefits from these coupons and promotional codes. If you are in search of a Travelocity coupon, remember to keep your eye out for seasonal promotions. You can also sign up for newsletters that will let you know when promotions and specials are happening on their site.

Contemplating a Trip to Dallas

As I write this, I'm sitting in a hotel room in Naples. WiFi is free here, although I have to keep going up to the front desk to ask for another password - they come in two-hour blocks. Which is how I know there's a couple from Dallas, Texas staying in this hotel, too. They were coming back from dinner the last time I went up to get a WiFi password. I didn't notice the Texas ID until they'd left the lobby, but it made me think.

It's not that I'm surprised to see Americans here (although there are far fewer Americans traveling in Italy than in years past, and infinitely fewer in Naples), it's the Texas thing that got me thinking. Texas is an enormous state - much larger than some entire countries - and yet it's a place I've basically never visited. Sure, I've been through random airports on layovers from place to place, but I've never made a trip to Texas in order to see Texas. Which, given how much I travel outside the U.S., struck me as odd.

There's a huge state in my own country that I've never seen.

(No, I've never been to Alaska, either, and it's huge, too - I know. But getting to Texas is much easier than getting to Alaska, so that's less surprising to me. Moving on.)

Two of my colleagues have recently spent time in Austin, which (from their accounts) sounds essentially nothing like the Texas I imagine. For something a bit more like the Texas of my imagination, I think I may have to see if I can find that Dallas couple during the rest of my stay here and ask them about their city. Because what's more Texas than Dallas, right?

What I do know about Dallas is that it's easy to get there. An enormous state deserves several enormous airports, and Dallas has one of Texas' primary airports. Well, technically it shares the airport with Fort Worth, but who's counting? Flights to Dallas can, therfore, be quite cheap - as long as there isn't some convention or something going on that means everyone's flying into town at the same time you are. What's more (again, as long as there's no convention going on), there are plenty of cheap hotels in Dallas, too. And we're talking about some nice places, too - hotels that cater to business travelers and offer serious bargains when the business travelers leave. In other words, weekend visitors may be able to score a room in a much higher class hotel then they're used to just because the convention has just skipped town and the hotels just want to make sure there aren't any empty beds.

The only element of a cheap visit to Dallas that I don't think I'll be taking advantage of anytime soon is the DFW airport parking... I mean, it's a great service, and there are great prices on it, but that would mean that I'd have to be living in Dallas and have driven my own car to the airport. It would also mean that I was leaving Dallas, not visiting it. And I quite like living in the Pacific Northwest for now. Still, good to know what's available, right?

Learn how to save when planning your vacation in Europe: cheap hotel and cheap flight

Have you ever dreamed of visiting Europe but never knew where to start from? It’s as simple as 1 – book hotel, 2 – book flight and 3 – pack and leave!

So it’s time to look for a cheap hotel in one of the beautiful European capitals. For example, you can start your European tour in Lisbon and with a little research you can find affordable rooms at under $50 a night. You’ll be able to explore one of Europe’s finest cities without doing too much damage to your bank balance. Although you might not find a cheap hotel right by the city center, using the public transport will give you a change to learn more about the city and explore its sights.

If the idea of paying quite a lot for a hotel located far from all the excitement, then you need to check out the hostel blog and find great places to stay in any European capital. Start your vacation in Lisbon, and then plan a tour and visit Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam and Vienna. And by the way: you can find affordable hostels close to the tourist attractions in pretty much any European capital.

Once the hotel or hostel booked, you’ll need to book the flights so it’ time to look for cheap tickets . Luckily, plenty low-cost carriers serve Europe, so you might want fly into a major hub like London or Paris and then catch a cheap flight to Portugal’s capital.

When you get to Lisbon, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that most people either walk around it or use public transportation. If you want to make the most of your visit it’s worth investing in a Lisboa card which not only provides unlimited rides on the buses and metro trains, but also guarantees free admission into the city’s museums. You'll also receive a discount on admission to tourist attractions and various activities. It’s a great tool for someone who prefers to visit only the most important attractions. Such cards are available in other European countries as well.

In fact, most European capitals – Amsterdam and Vienna included – are best visited on foot or by using the public transport. Also, many of them are cyclist-friendly so you can get your exercise in and explore the sites. Just remember to hydrate properly when you spend hours in the heat.

So with the plane tickets in hand, hotels or hostels booked, research done, it’s time to pack. Don’t forget your camera and plenty of spare memory cards. You’ll surely need them in Europe!

Need to see the sun and it's raining at home

It is getting crazy here in the Pacific Northwest. The weather has been causing some minor insanity due to the fact that it is now June and we still have yet to see the sun for more than two days in a row. I am not sure global warming is all it is cracked up to be. Although the inclement weather in June may be a sign that other places are getting other types of extreme weather. That is not the point I was going for though so I will get back on track. I am getting edgy with not seeing the sun so I am about to check into flights to California to get some sun. I am also checking into cheap flights to Hawaii to see what my options are. I was noticing on a weather website that it is supposed to be cold and rainy all weekend in Portland. It is getting to be too much. How can it be cold here in June? The LosAngeleslogue is pointing me in the right direction for going down there for the weekend. With some good deals and cheap travel options I may have to just up and leave for an extended weekend.

Amsterdam, there are many reasons to go, not just sex and drugs

Amsterdam, the city of weed and women right? Well yes and no. It is easy to see why Amsterdam is such a highly sought destination. The Prostitution is legal but the marijuana on the other hand is tolerated. Travel to Amsterdam is something that has interested me for a long time because I am curious about seeing such a liberal place. I come from a very liberal part of the US and I feel pretty luck to be able to say that. There is just something kind of interesting about seeing a place with such liberal points of view regarding a broad range of ideas. It is not just sex and drugs but also assisted suicide, art freedom of speech, and many other things. It seems the idea with Dutch lawmakers is to let the people decide what is right or wrong for them and allow the individual to make the decision. This is not something that I have personally witnessed either in the states or anywhere else for that matter so I am very interested to see how it works.

The history and culture of Holland is also a draw for me. There are amazing Museums like the Van Gogh Museum. The Canals that you can get around the city on and being able to bike safely around the city are all great reasons to go as well. There are many resources to find out the best places to check out in Amsterdam. One that is filling the niche about Sex, Drugs, and city life is the Amsterdamlogue from BootsnAll. It is a travel guide but also a running commentary about Amsterdam and what is going on there both behind the scenes and in the scene.

Cheap travel to expensive destinations, it can be done

When going to places like England on a trip from the States you pretty much have to factor in the cost of everything to make the trip work. England is expensive and the US dollar is plummeting horribly. So as soon as you get there you lose a dollar for every pound that you exchange. Getting there can be very expensive as well but it doesn't have to be. There are cheap flights to England specials all the time on the internet. It is not always obvious how to find them, but once you do it will be worth the research. Now there is also the Cheap Travel Scout from BootsnAll. Just recently launched, the experts on the CTS can help you find deals on air tickets, discount hotels, and vacation packages.

So all is not lost when trying to find good deals and travel to expensive places like England. Once you are there it will be worth the money to be traveling. It is always nice when you don't have to pay a lot to travel, but if you want to see other things than third world countries you will have to lay down the cash to do so.

The deals aren't that hard to find, they might be hard to use though

There are always deals going on for travel. It seems that no matter how expensive gas is or how bad the economy is doing there are always deals waiting for a savvy traveler. How does someone find such deals and take advantage of them? I think it comes down to the ability to be flexible with your work schedule and the newer invention of telecommuting. Finding cheap plane tickets can be challenging, even downright frustrating when the cheap travel services being used are not cooperating to find you the deal of the century. When you have an adjustable schedule though it is almost easy to be able to find that cheap ticket that no one else can take advantage of. It is totally understandable why this would work out but it is hard to take advantage of. So while you are sitting there in your cubicle, you will have to figure out a way to work from home or the Caribbean to get to travel on the cheap the way you want to.

Traveling in Europe for the professional eater

I am planning a trip to go see a friend of mine who is staying in Amsterdam. I will probably stay with them part of the time and stay in some different Amsterdam Hostels to check them out as well. I know that I want to see the sites and take a canal tour while I am there. I will probably use Amsterdam as a starting point to go check out other parts of Europe. I am thinking about going to Italy since I can get cheap Venice airfare from Amsterdam. The airfare isn't the only reason of course since more importantly I want to eat myself stupid in Italy. How could I pass up the opportunity to go to European countries for the summer and eat my way through them. If I have time I want to make my way to France as well and try to do some professional eating there.

What a great way to see Europe really. Going to a few countries that take their culinary delights very seriously and eating my way through them. It is something that I have been thinking about for a long time but haven't really considered it a reality. That is until a friend told me that they were going to be living in Amsterdam and I could come visit if I wanted to. I am pretty sure that I can find some reasonable hotels in Paris, to make the French part of the trip possible. Of course there are so many other parts of France that have amazing food I could even leave Paris off the list if I can't find good deals to accommodate my budget. I suppose like the hostels in Amsterdam I could find something in Paris as well.

Where I stay isn't as important to me as where I get to eat. I will be willing to give up my own comfort to be able to eat in a part of the world that has shaped the gourmet food industry world wide. Although I am not expecting to be blown away by the food in the Netherlands I am sure I will find other things to enjoy while I am there, but that will be for a future post.

New York for a week

Traveling outside of the US might be hard for a lot of people this year. The reasons are simple, money and time are on short supply right now in this country. I hate feeling like the glass is half empty and in fact it is kind of a good challenge to see where your budget can take you. So how about New York. It is in the US so it will be cheaper to get there than say getting Venice airfare would cost. With cheap hotels in New York it is totally possible to spend a week there and enjoy the place with the money you do have. New York can be a great place to suck in some culture and travel experience without leaving our borders. If I can find some cheap tickets to get me there I think this is a week long trip that I can look forward to this summer.

Is it possible to travel cheap when going to Australia?

Going to Australia is kind of a daunting feat. The flights to Australia alone usually are about $1500 or more. That can be a hard sum to come up with to go travel, but to pay that for just the flight can make a trip for just a few weeks downright expensive. I guess part of the solution is to find some discount hotels that are in cities that I want to check out and try to find places where I can cook my own meals. I suppose that would be hostels or try to hook up with friends that I have there.

Pacific Northwest in the Summer time

It is true that it rains quite a bit here in the Pacific Northwest. In fact it rains so much that a good friend of mine just decided to pick up and go to Arizona for an undisclosed amount of time. I think it had something to do with the weather but don't quote me on that. So for all of you that can't stand the rain, don't come to the PNW. At least not until June. When it is 105 degrees and you are literally sitting in front of your A/C wishing it was just a few degrees cooler so you could go outside and enjoy the sun or move without sweating. Think again about the PNW and how all that rain and wet cool weather has made places like Seattle temperate in June and July to be around 80 degrees.

Seattle can be an awesome place in the summer. It is still an urban jungle with many types of green trees and tons of water all around the city. The downtown area is hot due to the concrete and cars but otherwise it is a great place that you can walk around and enjoy without having to go inside to get cooled off before you actually start to melt. I suggest checking out the hostels in Seattle and enjoying the sites during the months that it isn't going to rain on you for endless hours or days at time. You can see a Mariners game and walk down in the waterfront area, have some fish thrown at you, and get some beer at the Pike Place Market.

So next time you start thinking about how great it is to live in place where it never rains consider checking out some of the places that have the most beautiful summers anyone could ever ask for, the Pacific Northwest. It only rains here 8 months out of the year.

Business travel for the small business

So you are a small business owner and you have to send an employee or yourself on a trip for the BIZ. The hard part about that is it costs money. Trade shows and trade events happen all the time and they are a networking extravaganza that can help push along your business. So you have to decide is it worth it to send an employee, pay them, pay for the travel and expenses and maybe not see much come from it in the short term. If the answer is yes then think about how you can save some money to make it work.

BootsnAll Travel Network is there to help travelers. Everyone knows that but what about business travelers? The Business Travel Logue is where it's at for business travel. There are options to make the pain of spending the cash a little better. Think about staying in cheap hotels or getting discount airfare. Both of these options can be great for saving some cash when duty calls and you have to travel for the business.

Traveling to Europe this summer with BootsnAll

It is that time again to start thinking about the summer and what you are gonna do with yourself. Maybe you have two weeks off or maybe you have three months. Either way you probably want to do something exciting. BootsnAll wants to help you plan a great summer trip. There are a couple of things that stand in your way but they are easily overcome if you are creative.

The Dollar being the weakest it has been since most of you were born is probably the biggest hurdle to getting out of the country and having a good time in the process. The other is that the euro and the British Pound seem to be on an upswing. So what are we Americans going to do? Well we can stay at home, but that seems kind of lame. So instead BootsnAll has given out some needed advice on how to travel abroad but not break the bank. If you want to fly to Europe there are cheap ways to do it. Plan ahead and order your tickets now. Look into hostels instead of staying in a hotel. Or take a tour through the many public markets that have amazing local food to get the best deals on sustinence.

However you decide to travel this summer keep in mind that the experience you are getting is worth it, even if you are paying more than you ever thought possible.

BnA Hostel Re-Launched - On Steriods

We are super happy to have relaunched the BootsnAll Hostel Section. As of 2008, we have 2 new killer features that really distinguish our hostel guide.

1) Digg/thumbs up and thumbs down Hostel rating system. A super easy way both to participate and visually to see if other hosteliers like that particular property.

2) An insane Google Hostel Map Mash-up. See our Big European Cities like Amsterdam, London, Paris, and Berlin. Click on the Map link in the upper right of the content window and see all the hostels mapped. No more booking a hostel near the airport unless that is what you want. Yer baby!

We think that these functions compare favorably with our competitors like Hostelworld, HostelBookers and EuropeHostels.

Please have a look at these European Hostel Maps and register so you can give your favorite hostels a thumbs up or down. Cheers and Happy New Year!

End of Summer Travel

We are getting oh so close to Labor Day and that always signals the end of summer for me. Even though I am not in school anymore, I kinda have the end of summer blues.

So many things are coming up for this fall and 2008. Gridiron Football, Fantasy Football, and traveling to these events around the globe. I am seriously thinking of going on our Nepal Trekking trip this October...but I am nervous that the Cubs will make the playoffs and then have to miss a possible historic run towards a World Series.

Otherwise, I am thinking of also getting another around the world ticket for early 2008 to visit India, Bali, and hopefully New Zealand. If I don't do the RTW thing, I'll just look for a cheap flight on BnA's consolidator engine.

A beautiful part of North America to visit is Bannf and Jasper Parks in Canada. I just returned last week from being up there and did not realize that Hostels in Jasper and Banff were available. Loads of hostels up there, even inside the park. Super easy to make reservations as well.

So here's to summer and what's left of it! Happy independent travels.

Airport Limos

Every time I take a limo, which is not that often, I love the luxury and space. Taking an limo to the airport is the ultimate in style for enjoying a ride to your airfield. Often times, it is not much more expensive than a taxi and it provide more space and amenities.

I can't say we take too many limos to the airport here at BootsnAll. But we do know people who do. That is why we created this limo section linked above. There are a tonne of cities that our search box helps you find the best limo company wheather it is for you, your family, or a client that you want to treat well. See the city list below:

Best of the Boards for the week of March 5, 2007

Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• Joey is in the midst of his RTW trip, and has paused long enough to post some good advice for all of us - "Don't rent motorbikes if you aren't experienced." He lived through the ordeal, but will have scars to show off for years to come!


• Is wanderlust something we're born with, or does it come from the people we grow up with? It's a nature vs. nurture debate of another kind...


• If you're on a long trip, how do you handle your incoming mail and paying your bills? Dante is planning to forward mail to his sister's house, but isn't sure if there's something more he should be doing.


• Most travelers can agree on the basics that need to go with you on every trip, but every traveler is going to have a few items that others might think are funny to bring along. Nath_160 wants to know what the top three "unnecessary" items are in your pack.


• Have you had any jobs while traveling that helped enhance your experience? Even if they didn't pay you anything? Come share!


• BootsnAll is full of animal lovers, it appears - we've got threads going on cats seen around the world, and one for dogs, too!


• Every traveler is unique, and yet most travelers can be lumped into two general categories, which GingerSpesh has called "Fast and Furious" and "Slow and Steady." It's a pretty old debate, and everyone's going to have their own travel method that makes them comfortable, but what's your preference?

Please contribute your thoughts and comments to these threads! And if you're not already a member, sign-up here - it's free!

Best of the Boards for the week of February 19, 2007

Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• Most people, even the most seasoned travelers among us, still probably experience feelings of trepidation when going to a new place. Fear is a natural part of life, as long as it's not crippling! This thread proves that fear can be something to learn from, not something to keep you at home.


• We all run into kids when we travel, and they can be a great source of amusement. Share your photos of children from your travels here!


• Are you a history buff when you travel, or do you prefer to interact with the people when you visit? Does the historical significance of a place leave you with a sense of awe or boredom?


• Most of us have a list of "must-see" places in our heads, and also a list of places we'd rather not go. Are there places you wouldn't visit for ethical reasons?

Please contribute your thoughts and comments to these threads! And if you're not already a member, sign-up here - it's free!

Best of the Boards for the week of February 12, 2007

Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• People who are seasoned travelers tend to be methodical about packing - even if they're last-minute packers, there are things that go in their bags that they'd never think of leaving home without. But what about the carry-on? What goes in your carry-on bag?


• Totleigh-in-the-Wold wants to know - what are the most overrated and underrated pieces of gear you've used or seen? She thinks a pashmina is overrated, and a comfortable pillow is drastically underrated. See if anyone thinks the gear you can't live without is overrated!


• Bigmaude is planning to take her three teenage children backpacking through Europe - and it sounds like they don't want to go! Can you offer her advice about how to convince them it'll be wonderful?

Please contribute your thoughts and comments to these threads! And if you're not already a member, sign-up here - it's free!

Best of the Boards for the week of February 5, 2007

Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• Some travelers never pick a guidebook up, others never put them down. Most of us fall somewhere in between. VickyNewell wants to know why some backpackers are so reliant on their guidebooks? Are they all first-time travelers who need the safety net? Are they afraid to step too far off the beaten path? What do you think?


• Bargaining is central to some cultures, and is therefore a key part of many travel experiences. But not everyone is comfortable haggling. Do you bargain when you travel?


• There are often questions on the boards about whether people going on long trips should bring their laptops along, and there is rarely a shortage of opinion on both sides of the issue. If you don't want to bring your own computer with you, you might still want to visit internet cafes every couple of days. On the other hand, you might take your travels as the perfect excuse to get away from email and cell phones. So, when you travel, how connected do you like to stay?


• Often, people who go on RTW trips have been working like dogs and saving money in order to quit one day and fund their trip. Lucky me wants to know how much you're willing to give up money-wise to fulfill the dream of long-term travel.

Please contribute your thoughts and comments to these threads! And if you're not already a member, sign-up here - it's free!

Best of the Boards for the week of January 29, 2007

Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• Complete this sentence: "If I never went RTW, I..." Quimby has posed the question, and provided a few answers already. They're great, including, "If I never went RTW, I wouldn't check for creepy crawlies in my boots every time I put them on." So, how would you complete that sentence?


• Mono loco is back from 2.5 years of traveling the world, and is offering his assistance to anyone who's interested. He was traveling for 2.5 years without working, too, so the main question so far is, "How did you save all that money before you left?"


• Most people - and certainly most frequent travelers - have an opinion on this: Where do you like to sit on an airplane? And further, what does said preference say about you?


• So, you tell your friend you'd really like to go to Pisa. He tells you it's not worth it. Where does that leave you? Rawjer asks, "Can you skip an attraction just because some say it's overrated?"


• Those of you who are lucky enough to have traveled for long periods of time may find it a bit depressing to come home, get a job, and then only take two-three week trips. Cherie's feeling this way, and wonders if anyone else has gone through something similar. If so, how did you cope?


• Are you one of those people who takes pictures of the toilets you encounter around the world? If so, don't be shy - you're not alone. Post your bathroom pictures here!

Please contribute your thoughts and comments to these threads! And if you're not already a member, sign-up here - it's free!

Best of the Boards for the week of January 22, 2007

Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• We'd all like to find the perfect job that earns us money while allowing us to be permanent vagabonds, if we so choose. KPG thinks she may have found it - hairdresser. What do you think? Could it work?


• Some might say traveling is a gamble. So why not try your hand at the local games while you're out and about? Willis wants to know what foreign casino experience you've got. He's interested in checking out casinos in Central and Eastern Europe.


• It's time to help settle a domestic dispute... Katerina Urda and her boyfriend can't agree on how much they'll need to save for their year-long trip. He thinks she's overestimating with her $20,000 number. What do you think?


• Smells can evoke powerful memories - and not always good ones. Quimby wants to know - what's the stinkiest place you've been? She's voting for the open sewer in Sukhumvit (Bangkok). What about you?


• Jaydeschizo is trying to decide - now that he's nearing the end of his undergraduate career, should he get straight to work to collect some "travel money," or go to grad school (which he'd like to do eventually anyway) in order to be better qualified to make more money down the road?


• Would you rather save for retirement so you can play when you're done with work, or work until you're unable to do it anymore, playing all along the way? Or is there another option?


• Does your pantry look like a travel guide? Can you whip up foreign dishes with the right spices at a moment's notice? Do you bring home food-related souvenirs when you travel?

Please contribute your thoughts and comments to these threads! And if you're not already a member, sign-up here - it's free!

Best of the Boards for the week of January 15, 2007

Check out these topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• Struggling with what to get for that vagabonding friend before their next round-the-world adventure? How about the Globetrotter's Logbook? Seriously, this thing looks pretty cool. And it's not prohibitively expensive, either!


• Most of us like to travel on the cheap, and that usually means staying with friends on occasion. Maybe we've even played the host role as well. The thoughts in this thread will help make sure that you're always invited back after a stay on your friend's couch. You could also pass it along subtly to the last person who shaved her legs in your living room when she stayed with you. (And no, I'm not kidding. Read the thread.)


• Now that airlines don't always offer the "freebies" they used to (full meals, in-flight movies), are you one of the people who springs for the "extras" when you fly?


• Unless you're very, very lucky (or perhaps you've made a deal with the devil), you'll experience jetlag after a long flight. Are there any tricks to avoiding jetlag that actually work?


• What are the best ways to get around that nasty currency conversion fee bank and credit cards charge? What cards have the lowest conversion fees?


• Returning "home" can be a serious adjustment after a trip, especially if you've been away for a long time. What are the best ways to cope with the returning-home blues?


• Smells can remind us of places we've been, and so can food. What's the best food you've ever eaten, and where were you? Come share, and make all our mouths water.

Please contribute your thoughts and comments to these threads! And if you're not already a member, sign-up here - it's free!

Best of the Boards for the week of January 8, 2007

Check out these topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• There are a few things that everyone has to deal with the world over, regardless of nationality, income, race, education... And one of them is using the toilet. Poochythedog has had some trouble with squat toilets in the past, and is looking for pointers. (Warning: Don't read this thread if you've got a weak stomach.)
• It's that time of year again... When people are planning their summer European backpacking adventures! Get educated on your Eurail options, and read one person's Eurail tips. You could save yourself money and headaches if you're well-informed!
• What is your travel personality? Find out and post the results!
• Bigmaude wants to take her three teenagers backpacking through Europe this summer and wants to know if she's nuts to even try it! She thinks she's going to have to drag them kicking and screaming because they want to go to Disneyland instead... There are already plenty of volunteers ready to stand in for her kids if they don't want to go! Can you offer any advice for her to get her kids interested in the trip?
• Time to reminisce - what was the first stamp in your passport?
• Madhu met a young American filmmaker while traveling who's making a film about aid, volunteerism and the passion that makes NGOs work - and also fail. This gal thinks that "2 week volunteer programs where you pay to go teach, or similar ones where you volunteer for a very short period fail...they harm more than they do good." What do you think?
• An oldie but a goodie - if you need inspiration to pack your bags and get outta dodge, this video should do it.

Please contribute your thoughts and comments to these threads! And if you're not already a member, sign-up here - it's free!

Best of the Boards for the week of January 1, 2007

Check out these topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• Sean posted a great list of the cities he visited in 2006, which inspired me to create my own. What does your year in cities look like?
• I've got a serious sweet tooth, so it's no wonder my favorite part of the grocery store is the candy section. What are your favorite foreign sweets?
• This is a timeless thread... When we're not able to travel, most of us like to dream about our next trip. What books help transport you when you're stuck at home?
• Do your experiences of "deja vu" increase when you're traveling? Houseblend says it's not necessarily the been there, done that kind of deja vu, but more of the "I've dreamt of this place before" kind of feeling. Is she the only one?
• Finally, scubamama's New Years resolution is to not date anyone who doesn't have a valid passport... Her date the other night asked if she'd ever be content with a life where she wasn't planning another trip. Yeah, I'd say that's a pretty red flag, too.

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Best of the Boards for the week of December 25, 2006

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Best of the Boards for the week of December 18, 2006

Check out these topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• At this time of year, it's fun not only to make "to-do" lists for next year, but to review the things you've accomplished this year. KPG did the latter, and it's a great list. What things are you excited to have checked off your list this past year?
• With the sad loss of life recently on our very own Mt. Hood, the question came up about how the sometimes extensive (and expensive) searches are paid for. And please, folks, remember to over-prepare for potentially dangerous excursions.
• Would a handbook help the proverbial "Ugly American" be less, well, ugly overseas?
• If anyone's going to South America - or is interested in going - and would like to film an independend travel show, check out Ptown Travel Hound's post... He's had the idea, just needs someone now with a little expertise in the whole filming department.
• Philip Blazdell asks another perfect year-end/year-beginning question: Where do you think will be "hot" in 2007?

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Best of the Boards for the week of December 11, 2006

• Joey might think he's being cheesy, but I think his "thank you" message on the eve of his RTW trip is really, really cool. I can't wait to check in on his trip as he makes his way through Africa & Asia. Bon voyage, Joey!!
• So, what are your packing habits? Are you a hyper-planner, getting stuff in the bag months before you leave? Or do you randomly grab a few items as you rush out the door? Landire's put up a poll, let's see where you fit in.
• In the US we've gotten used to being able to find vegetarian options at most restaurants these days. But we know that's not true the world over. Will xxhughesxx have trouble avoiding meat in Europe (Western & Eastern)?
• Though watching television might not be at the top of many to-do lists when traveling, there are inevitably times we're drawn in by something on the boob tube, only to find out it can be a real cultural experience! KateL57 asks, "What are your favorite ads from abroad and at home?" She's shared a few of hers, and others have joined in. What are your favorite commercials? And can you find links to them so we can all have a giggle?
• I read an article talking about how an unexpected one-night "stopover" in Bulgaria turned into a three-day "stop" because the town turned out to be so charming. So, have you had any experiences where a place you thought you'd just be passing through was so wonderful as to make you change your plans and stay awhile?

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Best of the Boards for the week of December 4, 2006

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• As sz points out, "there must be as many different reasons to travel as there are readers here" - if not more! So, what's your motivation for traveling? Do you have a list of things you want to see in the world and you're checking them off as you go? Do you dream of finding the perfect spot in which to one day retire? Do you keep track of your whacky experiences in order to write them all down in your memoirs? What's your reason for traveling?
• Gerrit is wondering if politics have ever had an influence on your travel itinerary. Would you, for instance, not visit a country because of the actions of that country's government? Or have you ever been ashamed of your own country's politics?
• An oldie but a goodie, skobb is the man with all the information on the U.S. Foreign Service. Check out this thread if you're interested in applying, and to read what others have to say about the process. It's an information goldmine!
• Obviously the name for every country isn't in English... So what are some names for countries in other languages that threw you for a loop or were, in general, interesting in some way?

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Best of the Boards for the week of November 27, 2006

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• There are occasionally threads on the boards about the "best of" some activity or sight around the world. Stemming from that, elAdi has started his list of "Personal Must-Do's" - those things he simply must see and do in his lifetime. What are your must-do's?
• Stoo's curious what your favorite holidays are the world over - he's being picky, as he only wants the obscure ones (what the hell is wrong with Thanksgiving?!?), but still, it's a fun list. Be sure to add your favorites as well.
• Stoo is also wondering what interesting factoids you might know about the country in which you're living and working. He's in Switzerland, where they have a "religion tax." What's your country's odd little trivia?
• So, if you're on your dream trip - your year-or-more-long RTW trip - are you going to go nuts if you don't give yourself a day off every once in awhile? Is traveling like work? Orangelad wants to know.

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