the traveler's notebook » Top 10 tips

4 Worst Things I’ve Ever Worn or Brought on a Trip

David Miller — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:06:55 +0000

What kind of gear is really best for the way you travel? Photo: Garrulus

Over the years I’ve learned to pack better for travel through some painful but sometimes hilarious–at least in hindsight–mistakes.

Everyone has their own style when it comes to what they wear and pack on a trip. For example, Tim Patterson wears a blazer on plane rides. My dad likes to sport those vented “safari shirts.” I usually bring at least one good sheath knife whenever I travel. And the year I hiked the Appalachian Trail there was this one dude who carried a pair of nunchucks.

Over the years a definite pattern has emerged: Nearly every time I’ve packed clothing or gear purchased out of some kind of preconception about where and how I would be traveling, or worse–out of feeling that a particular piece of gear somehow reflected my ’self-image’–I’ve found that it was that exact piece gear that inevitably turned around and bit me in the ass.

The following examples illustrate how my way of packing for travel has changed over the years.

Raichle Eiger Boots

When I decided to hike the Appalachian Trail (AT) I knew that the time had come for me to get the baddest boots around.

I went to REI and bought the Raichle Eigers–the heaviest boots sold in the store except for hard-shelled mountaineering boots. I think the final selling point was when the salesman told me they were still “crampon-compatible” (as if I’d be ice-climbing).

I wore them all summer long (pre-hike) to break them in but they still tore my feet apart in the first 100 miles in Maine. I bandaged my feet, hiked in Tevas throughout the Mahoosucs, and determined to “earn” those damn boots I kept at it. 200 miles. 500 miles. 1,000 miles.

Of course I never “broke them in.”

Replacement: Skate shoes. Running shoes. Sandals. Lightweight boots, whatever the lightest footwear is that you can get away with. Mountaineering boots are for glacial travel or places where you need to use crampons or snowshoes.

Saw-vivor

I eventually caught some well-deserved shit for this from my friend Corey who I ended up hiking with on the AT. He told me later: “I saw your pack and thought ‘is that guy really carrying a saw?’”

When you’re on a long distance hike, there’s just not enough time or energy (or in many places, resources) for spending long hours around a fire. Certainly not the kind that requires sawing big chunks. I think the point here was that I ’saw myself’ needing this. It was one of the first things I sent home.

Replacement: Experience. You can cut wood into lengths with a strong knife if you know the proper technique. People in Central America do it with a machete.

“Marlboro” Mini-Fishing Kit

This also fed into my ’survivalist’ self image. It fairly screamed: I don’t fish. But it was small (about the size of hardcover book) and I figured I might use it sometime, even though I’d learned from an earlier trip to Central America that all you really need to catch fish is a baited hook and sinker tied to length of line wrapped around a plastic bottle.

I took it out once in Sayulita. It opened and assembled easily enough, but then it took about an hour to get every piece snapped back into the case. As I was putting it back I thought of how each time I’d ‘fished’ it was more or less me checking to see whether I really ‘liked’ fishing or not.

Replacement: None. You either fish or you don’t. If you don’t, then don’t bring any gimmicky mini-fishing kits.

Freestanding Mountaineering Tent

This wasn’t so much an ego thing as it was just realizing that 99% of tent designs didn’t work with the kind of traveling I liked to do, which was setting up camp for weeks at a time and living out of my tent.

Most of the tents I’d used over the years were designed for mountaineering. But for living out of for any length of time, they were totally uncomfortable. You couldn’t cook in them; you couldn’t stand up in them. You were forced to crawl around in them like a little bug.

If you’re living for weeks at a time out of a tent: get one of these.

On my first long trip to Central America I took one of these (the “walrus”) that became my home for weeks.

Only it turned into an oven in the daytime (I’d end up in my hammock) and even though it had a lot of mesh and supposedly “industry leading” ventilation, it was still too hot on a lot of nights. As far as bugs–I still ended up using an additional mosquito net (purchased at a local hardware store for a few pesos).

Replacement: The Megamid. I had this realization one day that it was all because the tent was sealed up.

In other words, it had a permanent floor. I remembered hearing about a shelter made for setting up over snow pits during winter camping and wondered how this might work over sand.

I ended up buying a megamid before my next trip back down to Mexico and realized immediately that it was a game changing move. I could set up chairs in there, stand up in there, and cook in there. It became the lounge, love nest, my own little house. Most importantly, I could roll up the walls and use it as a sun shelter.

Community Connection

How have you changed the way you’ve packed for travel? What are some of the best (or worst) things you’ve brought on a trip. Share your thoughts in the comments below!

9 Questions to Answer Before Traveling With a Friend

Dominic DeGrazier — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:05:21 +0000

Photo by Giorgio Montersino. Feature photo by procsilas

Travel is a test for any relationship. Even during a one month adventure, new personalities seem to emerge in people you’ve known your whole life. Here are nine questions you might want to ask–and answer–before traveling with a friend.

1. What’s the purpose?

Does one of you travel to meet people while the other is focused on museums and architecture? Are you traveling to relax and lounge, while your friend is anxious to hop on the nearest tuk tuk to discover the surroundings? Find out why your partner is traveling and what they hope to experience.

2. How much are you comfortable spending?

This might seem like an obvious question, but it’s crucial. Make sure your travel partner has a similar budget. If one of you is looking for street food and the other looking to sip Dom Pérignon in an upscale hotel bar, then problems are bound to arise.

3. What are your comfort zones?

Everyone has knee-jerk reactions to being surprised, in new situations, or not in complete control. How will your friend behave? Will she shut down? Become defensive? Will he open up and enjoy the difference? Have you seen your potential travel partner uncomfortable before? How did they act?

Photo by

4. What’s your concept of time?

If you say you’ll meet at 8:00 AM, does that really mean 8:00 AM or more like 8:30? How about your friend’s clock–is it in sync with yours?

At home, these differences can be overlooked, but when traveling you might not want to be waiting around while the line to the Eiffel Tower, hoping your travel buddy is on the way. Even if the goal is just to beat the crowds at breakfast and start the day early, will your friend leave you hanging?

5. Can your friend become immersed in the moment?

Will your friend be able to let go of home for a while and focus on what is in front of their eyes in a foreign land? Some people can’t do this, and a conversation in Belize could be about a trade-gone-bad in New York City. It can take the wind out of the trip.

6. Does your friend have the potential to drive you crazy?

Does your friend smack while eating? Does she talk with empanadas falling out of her mouth? Bottom-line, is there anything that slightly annoys you now about a future travel partner? If so, this annoyance level will intensify on the road. Be ready.

Photo by Hamed Sabert

7. What are your patience levels?

Some have patience; others don’t. When you are waiting for a meal and it doesn’t come out for 45 minutes, will your friend be upset? Will you? A train is 10 minutes behind schedule. Are you complaining together, or is only one of you piercingly perturbed by the delay?

8. Will you be flexible?

The trip is a month long; the route is planned. But in week two a particular beach is absolutely amazing and beckons you to stay longer. Will both of you decide to change the schedule a bit and stay an extra day? Or perhaps both of you decide to stick to the planned itinerary? Does one of you recognize the present opportunity, while the other is a stickler for the game plan?

9. Will you be co-dependent, independent, or a mix?

Do both of you plan on spending a majority of the time together on the trip? If one person wants to see an art exhibit and the other decides on a beach to check out the scene, will it be OK to split up? Some people do not like to be left alone when in an unfamiliar land. Others relish this single exploration time, and then enjoy coming back to a friend later in the day to tell of the expedition.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Having conversations about travel plans can be challenging…whether you want to hit the road with a friend or go it alone. If you’re eager to try solo travel, but aren’t sure how to tell your partner, be sure to read this article from our archives.

Five Tips for Visually Impaired Travelers

Stephanie Green — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:19:37 +0000

Green, exploring the Gorge of the Dead at Kato Zakro, an ancient Minoan site on Crete.

Since the age of five, I’ve been an avid traveler. My decision to become an archaeologist like my hero Indiana Jones led me to drag my parents on far-flung adventures, clambering over ruins and hunting for dinosaurs.

And although I discovered in later years that archeology and blindness do not a make for an easy career, my love of travel never abated.

I was born with achromatopsia – a rare genetic condition where my retina contains no cone cells. I’m completely colour blind, severely short-sighted (considered legally blind), and have no depth perception. Still, I’ve traveled solo, with tour groups, and with my husband throughout New Zealand and all over the world.

From my experiences, I’ve compiled following five tips for visually impaired travelers:

1. Rent a Campervan

You can even go old school. Photo by Helena.

If you’re travelling with someone who can drive, consider hiring a campervan. You can arrange the space to suit your needs, so you’ll easily be able to find your things. Your companion drives while you chill out. Or (in my case) your companion – in a brief moment of insanity – allows you to take the wheel and you promptly glide the vehicle towards a tree.

Frequent stops at interesting places along the way alleviate the boredom of long-distance driving. You don’t worry about the minefield of problems with public transport, and you’re not sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings every night. Make sure to pack good music.

2. Travel Connected

Internet cafés don’t provide adequate zoom or speech technology for vision impaired users, so if you can’t travel without the internet, you’ll need to bring your own laptop, cables, wireless unit, and software. I’m never without my laptop when I travel. It’s imperative to check out useful sites like Matador before I hit my next destination.

Photo by Alex Steffler.

I use Zoomtext software, which gives me customisable magnification and font/colour programs. I can change the look of the screen and the font and icon size to whatever I want.

Zoomtext has audio features, but they’re not as good as programs like JAWS, which is designed especially for fully-blind computer users.

Since decent large print city maps are nearly impossible to come by, I simply enlarge Google maps on my screen, although JAWS sometimes has difficulty with map programs.

3. Consider a Tour Group

Blind travelers have to take additional care when planning travel: sourcing routes through cities and across countries, locating adequate facilities, and booking special guided tours. With a tour group, you don’t worry about most of this.

Transport, accommodation, sightseeing – it’s all taken care of. Many tour group leaders have some disability awareness training and will assist you with specific needs. There are tour companies who specialise in blind tours (look on Disabled Travelers or ask your local blindness institute for advice).

I’m a social person, so mixing coach tours with solo travel helps me meet new and interesting people, and takes the hassle out of planning certain legs of my trip. I prefer good old fashioned budget backpacking tours, and I’ve found companies like Tucan Travel, Topdeck Tours and Kumuka friendly, helpful, and encouraging.

4. Plan Ahead to Touch

Greco-Roman busts at the British Museum. Photo by Nic.

Rob Gardner, a retired engineer, was travelling to Greece and wanted – more than anything – to see the Parthenon. The only problem was that Rob’s completely blind, and the Parthenon sits behind a scaffold and fence where no tourist is allowed to enter.

So he wrote to his local Greek consulate, and they liaised with the Greek government and granted Rob special permission to cross the fence and stand inside the Parthenon, touch the stones, and walk where no tourist has walked for a hundred years.

Many museums and art galleries develop special tours for the blind, where objects from the collection can be touched. These have to be booked in advance, especially for famous museums like the Louvre and the British Museum.

If you want a unique experience over and above the average traveller, try one of these tours.

5. Inform and Educate About Blindness

I know that many people who are blind prefer to keep their disability private, and I totally respect and understand their reasons for this. Ignorant people treat us like we’re crippled, deaf, and / or stupid even though the only thing wrong with us is that our eyes don’t work properly.

I’ve heard horror stories of airlines forcing blind passengers to sit in wheelchairs while staff members push them between connecting flights. There are numerous cases of airlines rejecting blind passengers after they’re assumed to be a safety risk.

Green, at the ancient city of Eleuthera.

Despite the limitations placed on blind travellers – not by themselves, but by society – I always inform others about my disability. I tick the box at the airline saying ‘blind passenger‘ and the staff make extra certain I’m in the right place. When using public transport, someone will help me onto the correct train, and will often give me a discount.

In many areas of the world, a blind person walking the street is a rare sight. Be prepared for curious questions, and use your travels to educate others about disabilities.

Many people from poor areas do not understand how a westerner can still be blind – their neighbours wear glasses or have cataracts removed and their eyesight is cured. I’m always encouraged by friendly locals to try on their glasses. I smile and say thank you and try to explain that my condition is incurable.

Above all, being a blind traveller is all about seeing the world in your own way. Without sight, I’ll never have the same experiences as a normal traveller. But my experiences so far have been awesome, and any blind person can find their way in the world and create their own memorable travel stories.

GOODS

For a fantastic and inspiring historical travel read, check out Jason Roberts’ A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became History’s Greatest Traveler.

10 Reasons to Travel with Your Parents as an Adult

Hal Amen — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:22:45 +0000

Photo courtesy editor b

1. Payback for those family vacations…

…the good kind of payback, of course. You have a lot to thank your parents for, even if they didn’t take you on that proverbial road trip to Disney World in the family minivan.

If you have the means, footing the bill for a vacation with your folks is a great way to show your gratitude. If not, try shouldering the responsibility of crafting and executing the itinerary, while letting your parents kick back and enjoy themselves.

2. Share yourself.

Are you a serial traveler? Then you probably don’t see your parents too frequently. This is your opportunity to help them understand your passion for travel and why you’re often so far from home. Allow them to share more fully in the person you’ve grown up to become.

3. Rediscover the ‘rents.

Likewise, it may have been decades since you lived under the same roof as your parents. Much has changed since then, and what better way to be forced into finding out what makes your folks tick these days than to travel with them?

Photo courtesy roblisameehan

4. Show off.

Admit it—it’s good to get affirmation from your two original authority figures. Jetting off to far-flung lands with your parents sets the stage for you to demonstrate mastery of another language, kung-fu packing techniques, and any other skills you’ve acquired through your travels. Prepare to bask in Mom’s and Dad’s oohs and aahs.

5. Strength in numbers.

Exploration on the road is easier with a little support. You’ll be more likely to pop into that intimidating cantina or take a spontaneous dance lesson when you’re with people you trust and feel comfortable around.

Alternatively, if your parents are experiencing anxiety about a certain travel activity, you may find strength in providing a steady hand and convincing them to take the leap.

6. Expand the story base.

Shift the parent-child relationship from the past into the present and future. No longer will family conversations lean on the crutch of rehashed childhood experiences; a shared excursion will give you new stories to draw from.

Regardless of what happens on the trip, the banter at the next holiday gathering will likely be a lot livelier.

7. Maturity by osmosis.

Maybe you’re the kind of traveler who spends nights boozing it up with the hostel crowd and days sleeping it off. Well, here’s your chance to partake in other facets of travel.

Accompany the folks to that history museum they’re set on, or research a one-of-a-kind attraction that appeals to their particular interests. Who knows what you’ve been missing?

8. Escape the stress.

The settings of family get-togethers are rarely described as stress-free. They’re usually at a relative’s home, where host-guest relations can create tension. On the road, no one’s responsible for entertaining, catering, cleaning up, or any of the other sticking points that can ruin time with family.

9. A different perspective.

Your parents probably aren’t your normal travel companions. What revelations might they be able to prompt regarding your traveling style—where you go, what you like to do, how deep you delve—that you wouldn’t have come to on your own? Shake it up!

Photo courtesy hithro

10. The perfect Christmas card shot.

Are your folks constantly searching for the ideal spot for a family Christmas card photo, one that will make the aunts and uncles green with envy? What could be more picturesque than the white-sand Hawaiian beach a stone’s throw from the hotel suite you scored? Engineer the perfect shot and they’ll be thanking you for years.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

For more on the ups and downs of travel and family, check out What Every Parent Should Know About Traveling With Their Kids, or Why I Disobeyed My Family and Traveled the World.

11 Outdoor Adventures to Try in 2009

David Miller — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:49:12 +0000

Feature photo by Guy Incognito. Photo above by <<<...Buddhamountain ...

You don’t have to pay $80 an hour for counseling. As we wind towards 2009, think about a new weekly therapy: a walk in the woods, or paddling down a river.

Whether you’re hucking off a cliff into chest-deep snow, or just taking quiet walk through your local woods, outdoor adventure can be lifelong pathway to health and well-being, and a great way to connect with friends, explore new places, and gain new perspectives on your home terrain.

Thought about trying a new outdoor activity? Here are 11 ideas for 2009. We’ve broken them down into three categories: lifelong skills, high adventures, and adventure-based travels.

Lifelong skills

Photo by <<<...Buddhamountain...

Telemark Skiing

In her recent article, a First Timer’s Guide to Telemark Skiing, Chrysser explained:

Telemark or free heel skiing refers to a turn developed in the Telemark regionof Norway by Sondre Norheim in the mid 1800’s. Like Nordic or cross country skiing, the back heel remains unattached to the ski’s base. This allows for cross country stride and glide on the flats or hiking uphill with sticky skins attached to reach peaks for descents.

Telemark skis are also designed for high-performance downhill skiing. The bottom line: telemarking gives you unparalleled access to backcountry terrain. Or even if you’re just making smooth free-heel turns on the groomers: you’ll find yourself part of a proud community.

Click here for our complete Gear Guide for Telemarking.

Photo by Spencer Cooke

Whitewater Paddling

In his recent guide on How to Get Started Whitewater Paddling, David Miller wrote:

Most people who don’t paddle associate kayaking with adrenaline sports.

And while there is undoubtedly that thrill-seeking element, once you really get into paddling, you’ll find that it’s more about gaining access to places you couldn’t get to otherwise.

This might be an isolated gorge like the one pictured here, a campsite on the bend of a high-desert river 50 miles from any trail, or even on the green face of a wave pumping right through the middle of your town.

And you’ll also learn how friendships and communities are built up around certain rivers and whitewater centers, and that extended families have created entire lifestyles around time spent on the water.

Like winter camping, tele-skiing or winter-camping, paddling is something you can begin this year, and progress with over a lifetime.

Parkour

Photo: Josa Jr.

Stuck in an urban center but still want easy access to a daily outdoor adventure? Check out Parkour. Developed in France and based on soldier’s training exercises during the Vietnam war, parkour is like skateboarding without a skateboard. You traverse the city by athletically springing / climbing / jumping over obstacles.

Surf

Most people who try surfing a few times give up because the hard part (learning to catching waves) comes at you in much greater proportion than the fun part (actually riding waves).

Photo: MillZero.com

That said, if you can put in the weeks and months it takes to truly begin catching and riding waves, you’ll learn more about yourself (there’s a lot of thinking time just sitting out in the lineup, waiting between sets) than almost any other activity.

Winter Camping

Photo by papalar

Most people curtail their outdoor activities in wintertime, especially camping. They’re missing one of the great pleasures. Because winter camping centers all around staying warm, it often leads to “best dinner you ever had” scenarios and truly memorable views of stars or endless moonlit snowfields.

With the proper gear and especially the right group of friends, winter just might become your favorite season to be outdoors.

High Adventures

Snow wall on Matterhorn. Photo by: Ezzzk.

Climb the biggest mountain you can find.

There are hundreds of massive peaks still reachable by mere mortals , as well as truly dangerous summits.

No matter what you plan on doing, however, a day spent climbing a mountain is never wasted.

Go backcountry.

Photo by Andre Charland

Have you put in several seasons on your local ski hill? Feeling confident in your skiing or riding abilities?

To experience the true freedom of the mountains you have to venture into the backcountry. Consider getting your safety (avalanche) training and beginning a new fitness regiment to prepare for hitting the backcountry in 2009. Learn more at our First Timer’s Guide to Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding.

Adventure-based travels

Already a hardcore ski-mountaineer, paddler . . . one of those guys that works as a dishwasher in Jackson, WY and summits the Grand before working a double shift? Here are a few travel-related adventures to mix things up if you’re looking for something new in 2009.

Note: Craig Martin contributed the following selections.

Run with the bulls.

Photo by wili_hybrid

Most festivals don’t involve a brush with death, but the yearly running of the bulls in Pamplona gives you the chance to test your sprinting and turning skills to the utmost as ton upon ton of heaving, bristling beast charges up the steep slope and along the city streets.

Hump along with a camel safari.

Photo by shawnbot

These amazing beasts are reputed to be none too friendly, but don’t let that put you off. Camping under the stars after a hard day camel-back riding gives you a chance to kick back, relax and ponder the grand things in life: the wildlife you saw, people you met, the stars, and the pain.

The Australian outback, North Africa, and India are all popular places to give it a go.

Go on an African safari.

Photo: lemoncat1

Prefer big cats to beasts of burden? An African safari will amaze you and might even convince you to join a conservation group.

Reduce your carbon footprint by walking the parks: Kruger National Park (South Africa) has guided walks with gun-toting rangers circling back to the safety of camp each night.

SCUBA Dive the Great Barrier Reef

Photo: dirkyhorn

Snorkeling clear reefs is one thing, but getting past the fear of full submersion and trusting the SCUBA equipment is another.

2009 is the year to get down deep and explore bright coral and alien sea creatures.. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia is many people’s first choice, but try getting your feet wet in Palau, one of the world’s newest countries. It’s a seldom-mentioned gem.

Got something better you’d like to have a go at? Tell us all about it in the comments.

8 Tips for Camping with Your Dog

Sascha Matuszak — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:35:37 +0000

Feature photo by Shek Graham. Photo above by bugeaters.

Man’s best friend can be a valuable asset while out camping.

A dog is an indispensable companion on a camping trip. It will smell and hear things before you do, can help guide you through sticky underbrush, and, if well trained, find lost members of your camping crew.

A dog can warm you up, devour scraps around the fire, and just be there when the full moon rises.

I’ve slept next to dogs on several trips. Here is a short list of things I’ve learned about camping with a dog:

1. Pack extra stuff for your dog.

Bring a chew toy and some doggie snacks to keep your hound happy during the trip. There should be more than enough stuff to chew on in the woods, but just to make sure the dog doesn’t grab your hiking shoes or some other valuable piece of gear, bring a bone. If you have a bigger dog, it might be useful to strap a bag around his torso.

Photo by D G Brown.

2. Bring a whistle or leash or whatever it is you use to keep your dog under control.

I always like to let hounds run loose through the woods and chase some voodoo, but most dogs I have had will return when I call or whistle.

3. Bring a first aid kit for your dog.

He might end up finding a porcupine or, even worse, a badger or bobcat. If you’re camping, say, along the Appalachian Trail, beware of boar; in Alaska, watch out for bears.

4. Learn to recognize potentials dangers.

In addition to wild animals that might hurt your dog, remember all the weird and wonderful flora and fauna that your dog might ingest in his quest for knowledge.

A dog’s mouth and stomach are pretty tough and they can vomit up all sorts of things, but it’s good practice for you and your dog to get acquainted with the poisonous fungus and/or toads lurking in your neck of the woods and what the various treatments are. You might need antidotes; you might need to induce vomiting.

Photo by bugeaters.

5. Keep the human stuff locked down or tied to a tree.

This is good practice regardless of what kind of camping you are doing, but be sure to keep your dog away from the food supply. It doesn’t do to have your supplies torn into in the middle of a trek.

This goes for important gear as well: waterproof shoes and bags, flashlights and your compass, good woolen shirts, and the like. Dogs will tear into stuff when they’re excited and nothing is more exciting for a dog than a camping trip with Master.

6. Tie up your dog at night.

A lot of critters are about at night and your dog might be tempted to chase them; this could be fatal. Not only are you protecting your dog when you tie him up, but he is protecting you: nothing can come near your camp without your dog knowing.

Photo by Northern Xander.

7. Utilize your dog as a scout.

It is wise to sometimes send your dog first into caves, groves, gulleys, and other areas that you cannot see into. You might think this is cruel, but this is what dogs have been doing for millennia and they are good at it. In fact, they love it.

8. Form an ideal team with your canine.

A dog that listens to you, can anticipate your movements and is smart enough to balance out your blundering is a best friend indeed. Dogs operate in packs and you are the pack leader.

You might notice that in time you can just look at your hound, or make a small noise, and he will know exactly what it is you want. They like to circle around your path and come back to check in on you; they like to lead the way, and sometimes they like to have you lead the way.

Ten thousand years ago, men and dogs hunted together and were successful enough to build great civilizations. Put yourself in the shoes of prehistoric man and you will have a blast with your dog.

Community Connection

Going on a flight with your dog? Check out our article, Ten Tips for Traveling with Pets.

Goods: Need more advice? Check out Camping & RVing with Dogs

The World’s 10 Most Technologically Advanced Airport Terminals

Matt Scott — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:06:14 +0000

Feature photo by Micah Sittig. Above photo by Leduardo.

Airports are doing more than ever to cope with an ever-increasing number of passengers. Dealing with thousands of passengers on a daily basis has pushed architecture, engineering, and design to new limits. Here are a few notable examples:

Dallas Fort Worth (Terminal D)

Completed in 2005, DFW is capable of handling up to 37,000 passengers per day with the aid of Skylink- the world’s largest airport train. The first major American airport terminal to be built post 9/11, the terminal features the most advanced security features available with state of the art systems.

Photo by James Cridland.

London Heathrow (Terminal 5)

The world’s newest airport terminal cost £4.3 billion ($8.5 billion USD) and is going to revolutionize air travel with totally redesigned check in and departure procedures.

A state of the art baggage system works in partnership with computers at security, check in and departures, making sure your luggage only boards the plane if you do. So no more delays due to a late passenger’s bag being offloaded.

[Editor's Note: In spite of the airport's promise to revolutionize air travel, the opening of the new terminal was riddled with problems. Before passing through Terminal 5, you might want to check out some of the documented complaints.]

Denver International Airport

The white, peaked, fabric roof of the Jeppesen Terminal minimised the building’s impact on this stunning region with its backdrop of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. With six de-icing pads- each capable of holding five planes – and with all de-icing fluids collected and recycled – the terminal operates in even the worst conditions.

Beijing Capital International (Terminal 3)

Built to meet the increased demand of the 2008 Olympics, passengers can expect to have their luggage just 4.5 minutes after the plane in unloaded, thanks to a $240 million luggage transfer system. With the dedicated Olympics Hall, passengers can expect a seamless journey.

Photo by Emrank.

Kansai International, Japan

Built on a man-made island in the middle of Osaka Bay, airport engineers had to deal with the high risk of earthquakes, typhoons, storm surges, sinking of the reclaimed land and the construction of a 3km long bridge to link the airport to the mainland.

The airport has sunk 8 meters already, so architects have placed adjustable columns under the terminal to compensate for the shifting land. Despite that sinking feeling, the airport has emerged unscathed from several severe earthquakes that have hit the region in recent years.

Singapore Changi

Stuck in the airport for a while? Why not take advantage of the free Singapore tour that will whisk you into the city to see the sights before your connection departs. Or you can relax in the spa, fitness area or pool, book into the in terminal hotel for a quick sleep or perhaps just wander around one of the nature trails.

If you have the energy, check out the 24 hour shopping, free Internet, and free movie theatre, or perhaps just grab a sunlounger for a nap before your flight.

Photo by Zionorbi.

Incheon International, Seoul

The only airport in Asia to have ILS Cat-IIIb– an instrumental-landing device that allows airline operation when visibility is as low as 50 meters–as well as a host of other incomprehensible software and hardware, Incheon suffers few diversions or cancellations due to extreme weather conditions and is regarded as one of the safest in the world.

East Midlands Airport, England

Named most eco friendly airport in the world, East Midlands has focused its technology on decreasing its carbon footprint. The airport is working towards carbon neutrality by 2012 and has installed ground-heating pumps, wind catchers, water recycling facilities.

Airport planners also hope to include wind turbines to fill up to 10% of its energy needs.

Madrid Barajas International (Terminal 4)

Photo by Philip C..

The world’s largest airport in terms of terminal area– 1 million square meters (11 million sq feet) — its new terminal was designed with a range of environmentally friendly techniques that allow natural light, and the associated heat, to reduce energy needs.

The 1km long wing shaped building is an open plan, allowing light and travellers to move freely from check in to departure.

Hong Kong International

In a city where space is at a premium, an entire mountain was flattened to create the 13km sq island on which this airport stands- increasing the size of the city by 1%.

With an integrated transport centre, the airport is linked not only to central Hong Kong but also to mainland China. The airport is also notable for its partly automated customs and immigration system on site (rather than at the border), to allow smooth passage onto the mainland.

Click here for more information and here for everything you could possibly want (and not want) to know.

10 Travel Risks Worth Taking

Tim Patterson — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:24:51 +0000

Feature photo by Tim Patterson. Photo above by Ben.

“Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.”

–Mark Jenkins

Here are ten risks travelers can’t afford not to take:

Pick a destination on a whim.

There are no uninteresting destinations, only incurious travelers. Sure, New Jersey might not be as enthralling as Baja, but there’s nothing wrong about exploring a place that will never be a hot new destination.

For every Cancun and Las Vegas there are 10,000 places that might not be famous, but are fascinating and enjoyable. For some unique ideas, check out 5 Places To Visit Now For Authentic Experiences.

Trust in your ability to earn money on the road.

Wondering if you have enough money in the bank to travel? Relax.

With a little effort, faith and know-how, world travel can be cheap, easy and fun. If you cut up your credit cards and hit the road with no money and no debts, (but maybe a little travel insurance) you’re already financially better off than a lot of Americans.

For practical strategies on how to sustain your travels, check out the articles How To Travel For Free and 25 Ways To Earn Money When You’re Broke On The Road.

Photo by Dane.

Decline anti-malaria medication.

I travel a lot in Southeast Asia, where most travelers take drugs every day to protect themselves from malaria.

Now, I’m no doctor (and nobody at Matador assumes any responsibility if you catch malaria), but let me say this: hundreds of millions of people live in Southeast Asia. The vast majority of them never contract malaria. The only people taking anti-malaria drugs every morning are cautious travelers from rich countries.

Most anti-malaria drugs are expensive and their side effects are potentially nasty. Unless you’re going to travel rough in a part of the world where a deadly strain of malaria is common, like rural areas of West Africa, I don’t think you need to bother with anti-malaria meds.

Trust in the kindness of strangers.

Almost all people I encounter in my travels are good-hearted, hospitable and sincere. I find it tragic when travelers let paranoia get in the way of authentic experience and profound connection with the locals.

Ironically, the travelers who shrink away from strangers the most tend to stay in tourist zones, which is where the highest proportion of scam artists, petty thieves and dodgy characters prey on naïve foreigners.

Get out of the tourist zone, stay in tune with your instincts and trust people who seem sincere.

Photo by Dane.

Challenge your preconceptions.

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard

The biggest and potentially most rewarding travel risk you can take is to use the new experience as a lens to reexamine your basic beliefs and assumptions. Travel is an opportunity to gain perspective, not only about the world at large, but also about your life back home.

Ask yourself questions. Reevaluate your lifestyle in light of new experience. Be honest with yourself, and stay open to the possibility that your travels will change you in profound ways.

Try new food.

In this day and age it’s possible to travel around the world and order familiar food from English menus the whole time. Heck, you could travel around the world and eat only at American fast food chains.

Pico Iyer, one of the great contemporary travel writers, is a timid eater who likes to eat at McDonalds when he travels. Mr. Iyer gets a free pass. The rest of us get a great deal of pleasure out of good food, and should never pass up local delicacies while traveling.

Eating local is a good way to keep travel expenses low. Moreover, popular regional dishes usually feature fresh ingredients and are prepared by a cook who knows how to make the food taste great.

Sure, you might get a diarrhea from gobbling up street food, but a few runny poops are a small price to pay for the experience of sampling a global cornucopia of flavors.

Photo by Ross.

Communicate without a common language.

Many travelers are too shy and hesitant to launch into conversation without a common language. In truth, communication is more a matter of smiles than words, and locals will be thrilled by the friendliness of foreigners who attempt to say hello.

Better yet, make the effort to learn a bit of the local language. Check out 7 Steps To Learn A Foreign Language On The Road.

Brush your teeth with the tap water.

Photo by Ben.

Again, I’m no doctor. But if you’re going to stay in one place for a while, your body will have to get used to the local bacteria at some point.

Drinking bottled or treated water is important, but a little tap water when you brush your teeth won’t kill you. In fact, it probably contains a tiny dose of bacteria that will help your insides adjust to their germy new friends.

Maybe my theory about teeth-brushing is preposterous. But I use the tap water wherever I go.

Pursue a travel romance.

Ah, the travel romance…there’s nothing quite like getting swept off your feet in a foreign country. Although it’s important to respect local customs regarding gender roles, dating and intimacy, there’s always the possibility of romance with a fellow traveler.

WorldHum recently ran a great feature on travel romance: 7 Reasons to Have A Foreign Fling.

For advice on where to go to get it on, check out Hostel Sex: A Practical Guide For Backpackers.

Ignore your e-mail for weeks.

You won’t miss it.

Community Connection

For more blogs from the author and other members of the Matador Community, check out our blogs here.

The World’s Worst Airports

Matt Scott — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:33:16 +0000

Charles de Gaulle Airport / Photo by kulp. Feature photo by xiaming.

Traveling can be fun, but not when you’re passing through these airports.

Passing through an area of sleep deprived, jet lagged and irate people is never pleasant, especially if you feel the same way yourself. While some airports are spending millions to improve the passenger experience, it’s clear that some airports are falling well behind.

The competition for the worst airport is plentiful, but here– in no particular order– are just a few of the front-runners:

Delhi, India

Overcrowded, dirty and literally falling apart at the seams, Delhi’s terminals are full of flies and mosquitoes with an overwhelming odor of bleach and raw sewage. Add in endless lines and disorganization and you’re guaranteed a long and unpleasant experience.

Delhi International Airport
Photo by saturnism.

Baghdad International

With a high chance of planes being hit by handheld ordinance, pilots land on a ‘corkscrew’ approach. This rapid, twisting loss of altitude is stomach churning at best, but still less nerve wracking than driving the ‘highway of death’ that leads into the city.

Charles de Gaulle (Terminal 1), Paris

As a gateway to one of the world’s most romantic cities you’d probably expect more than endless queues so disorganized that there is no start and the finish is often at the wrong check-in desk/customs point/boarding gate. This chaos is maintained in the drab interior of a terminal that hasn’t been modernized since the 70s.

JFK, New York

Despite the millions spent on rebuilding and modernization in recent years, the charm school graduates are few and far between in Kennedy. While immigration staff are notorious for their grim demeanor and rude comments even the staff at ‘Information’ has a hard time even looking in your direction without a scowl on their faces.

Lukla, Nepal

With the dubious title of one of the world’s most dangerous airports, Lukla is a domestic airport close to Mount Everest base camp. Carved out of the side of a mountain, the 527-meter runway has an incline of 20% and ends with a 700 meter drop to the valley floor. No space for error here!

Lukla Airport / Photo by chris1h1.

Simon Boliviar, Caracas

An aging terminal situated practically in the middle of the favelas of Caracas. Simply stepping outside has seen hundreds of travelers robbed or mugged and these are just the lucky ones. Kidnapping, stabbings and shootings have all occurred before passengers have even reached the taxi line. For this pleasure, a whopping $53 airport tax is charged.

Léopold Sédar Senghor International, Dakar

After battling through a three hour immigration procedure travelers are faced with an ancient terminal that is full of hawkers, touts, drifters and thieves. So many it seems that there is no space for any seating, or toilets, apart from a few select areas. With the departures area opening only two hours before flights, people leaving the city have little escape from the chaos.

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Voted world’s worst airport to sleep in by a popular website due to huge crime rates, terrible facilities and several travelers witnessing a gang shoot out that killed 7 people.

Security Officer in Ninoy Aquiano Airport / Photo by glenmcbethlaw.

Manila, Philippines

Watch your bags here, as even the airport employees are out to scam, steal or otherwise take your possessions from you. Many travelers talk of security and other airport staff asking for ‘donations’ (read: bribes) to allow you to pass through the airport ‘without incident’. The only positive side to the airport staff is that they are more desirable than many of the other characters who hang around the terminal.

Lagos, Nigeria

The odor of feces and urine abound in this airport, which no doubt attract the hoards of rats, cockroaches and other bugs that scurry around the departures and arrivals area. The stifling heat of an African summer only adds to the problems of a desperately crowded arrivals area with overflowing toilets. Several travelers have escaped the chaos only to be mugged or beaten on the tarmac.

21 Trains That Are Cheaper Than Flying

Christine Gilbert — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:13:04 +0000

Jim Frazier. Photo above by jpmueller99. Mile by mile, trains use 28% less fuel than planes or cars.

Tired of the hassle of air travel? Trains are usually more comfortable and less expensive

If your next flight is short, you might want to consider taking a train instead. Besides cutting out the long lines at security, you can also relax in more spacious cabins, use your cell phone and laptop (many even have power outlets) and avoid ear popping cabin air pressurization.

Help spread the word!

The US Amtrak system isn’t perfect. There isn’t service to every city in the US, and cross-country trains still remain slow and expensive when compared to flying. However, if you’re hopping across a few states, it can be less expensive and sometimes faster than taking a flight.

Consider a 5 hour train ride from Boston to Philadelphia. The equivalent flight takes over two hours; however, after adding in time spent arriving early plus waiting in baggage claim, you can easily spend close to 5 hours in transit. If you take the train instead, you’ll spend $157. The cheapest flight available is $265. That’s a 43% savings over flying, and you can get an additional 10-15% if you are a student, AAA member, or military.

So why are we spending more for flights that continue to raise prices, add fees for luggage, and remove basic services when there is a cheap and comfortable alternative?

We’ve pulled the prices of 21 low cost train routes that beat their lowest-priced airline competitor. To do this, we’ve used a standard set of dates for a Saturday to Saturday roundtrip ticket (to make it fair) and the prices below are accurate at the time of writing. Your results may vary depending on the date, lead time, and the mood of the airline on any given day.

Trains That Are Cheaper and Faster Than Flying

1. Boston, MA to Portland, ME
Amtrak: $48.
Cheapest Flight: $353.
Total Savings: 86%

2. Montreal, QB to Albany NY
Amtrak: $90.
Cheapest Flight: $447.
Total Savings: 80%

3. New York, NY to Philadelphia, PA
Amtrak: $86.
Cheapest Flight: $362
Total Savings: 76%

4. Seattle, WA to Vancouver, BC
Amtrak: $60.
Cheapest Flight: $248
Total Savings: 76%

Amtrak could get a big boost this year, if Congress passes a bill that will give Amtrak $15 billion to improve and expand train service. Photo above by MR38.

5. New York, NY to Albany, NY
Amtrak: $74.
Cheapest Flight: $268
Total Savings: 72%

6. Los Angeles, CA to San Diego, CA
Amtrak: $68.
Cheapest Flight: $245
Total Savings: 72%

7. Vancouver, BC to Portland, OR
Amtrak: $88.
Cheapest Flight: $298
Total Savings: 70%

8. Seattle, WA to Portland, OR
Amtrak: $56.
Cheapest Flight: $165
Total Savings: 66%

9. Philadelphia, PA to Washington, D.C.
Amtrak: $84.
Cheapest Flight: $182
Total Savings: 54%

10. Chicago, IL to Memphis, TN
Amtrak: $182.
Cheapest Flight: $328
Total Savings: 45%

11. Boston, MA to Philadelphia, PA
Amtrak: $152.
Cheapest Flight: $265
Total Savings: 43%

Amtrak concession stand. Photo: Kafka4Prez

12. Baltimore, MD to New York, NY
Amtrak: $122.
Cheapest Flight: $193
Total Savings: 37%

13. New York, NY to Boston, MA
Amtrak: $118.
Cheapest Flight: $155
Total Savings: 24%

14. Washington, D.C. to New York, NY
Amtrak: $138.
Cheapest Flight: $155
Total Savings: 11%

Cheap Trains, Long Rides

(These fares are cheaper, but will take longer than flying)

1. New Orleans, LA to Memphis, TN
Amtrak: $100.
Cheapest Flight: $411
Total Savings: 76%

2. New York, NY to Montreal, QB
Amtrak: $122
Cheapest Flight: $427
Total Savings: 71%

3. Toronto, ON to New York, NY
Amtrak: $184.
Cheapest Flight: $398
Total Savings: 54%

4. Cinnicinati, OH to New York, NY
Amtrak: $283.
Cheapest Flight: $554
Total Savings: 49%

5. San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Amtrak: $96.
Cheapest Flight: $165
Total Savings: 42%

6. Charlotte, NC to New York, NY
Amtrak: $188.
Cheapest Flight: $274
Total Savings: 31%

7. Washington, D.C. to Chicago, IL
Amtrak: $174.
Cheapest Flight: $229
Total Savings: 24%

Other Ways to Save

If you’re booking a flight in under 14 days, you might want to compare the corresponding Amtrak fare, as airlines prices tend to increase sharply as you approach the departure day, while train tickets stay stable.

You can book online with Amtrak.

Be sure to check out the Amtrak Weekly Hot Deals

For 10 – 15% off the standard fare, see if you qualify for a Student and AAA Member Discounts.

Everything You Need to Know About Traveling with a Eurail Pass

Craig Martin — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:44:44 +0000

All Photos by Trey Ratcliff

Over the last two years Craig Martin has spent countless hours on European trains: he knows his way around. If you’re exploring a sizable chunk of Europe, then a Eurail pass can help ease your organisational hassles and save you a bit of cash.

In this podcast Craig outlines ten tips for Eurail journeys encompassing choosing and buying a pass (visit: railpass.com), plus utilizing it and being aware of discounts and extra charges.

Click below to play.

As you listen, read up on Craig’s companion guide to the 10 European Cities to Stretch Your Dollar this Summer.

Enjoy more travel photography episodes and other podcasts by checking out the traveler’s notebook on iTunes.

10 Trips and Toys for Your $600 Stimulus Package

Ross Borden — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:15:47 +0000

Photo by Rob Paetz

Whether or not it’s going to help the American economy, most of us are getting $600 in the mail from the US government. It’s time for a splurge!

But wait; let’s make that $600 count with trips and/or purchases that we’ll have for years or remember forever.

Below are the coolest things we could possibly think of with a $600 price tag.

1. Fly to NYC for the weekend in July!

Flight into JFK: $319 (From SFO, on Virgin America via Kayak.com as of 7/1/08). Don’t waste $80/night on a hotel– couchsurf or stay with friends.

Spending Cash: $245

2. Get a D-SLR Camera

Canon EOS Digital Rebel:

The EOS Digital Rebel XT camera takes its place alongside the original 6.3-megapixel EOS Digital Rebel camera that first placed an affordable, high-resolution digital SLR into the hands of Canon consumers.

The EOS Digital Rebel XT model is offered in two kit configurations: with Canon’s high-quality EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-f5.6 zoom lens (in matte black and in brushed silver) and as a body only.

$449.95 BUY

The Zoom pack includes a case for your new D-SLR, two extra batteries and all the cleaning accessories you need to take care of your baby.

Cannon Zoom Pack: $45

3. Weekend in Playa del Carmen (Couples)

Flight to Cancun: $319 per person (from JFK, on JetBlue as of 7/1/08)

Hotel: Shangri-la al Caribe (3 nights for about $600 for a private palapa on the beach, including dinner and breakfast) Check www.shangrilacaribe.net/.

4. Party People Start Planning: You’re Going to Burning Man 2008!

Photo by Lucia Stewart

The dates are from Monday, August 25th – Monday, September 1.Tickets are $295. That leaves you $305 for gas to get to Black Rock City, UT and supplies.

To survive, participate, and generally have a blast at Burning Man 2008, check out our guide, here.

5. Guided Fly Fishing Trip in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Epic snowpack has kept rivers juiced all spring and summer. Now water levels are settling into optimal conditions for fishing. If you haven’t been to Jackson yet, now is a great time to go.

Check: http://reeldealanglers.com/

6. Marin Alpine 29er Hardtail Trail Bike

This is a pretty badass mountain bike for under $600. Rock Shox Dart 3 suspension fork, with preload, rebound and turnkey lockout gives you 100mm of travel to meet the demands of your ride. 6061 aluminum frame features organically shaped, custom butted E3 tubesets to provide maximum rigidity while maintaining lightweight responsiveness.

$533 BUY

7. Amazon Kindle

The new Amazon Kindle is the iPod of books. Thanks to electronic paper, a revolutionary new display technology, reading Kindle’s screen is as sharp and natural as reading ink on paper—and nothing like the strain and glare of a computer screen. Kindle is also easy on the fingertips.

It never becomes hot and is designed for ambidextrous use so both “lefties” and “righties” can read comfortably at any angle for long periods of time.

Kindle’s paperback size and expandable memory let you travel light with your library. With the freedom to download what you want, when you want, this is a pretty powerful travel companion.

$399 BUY

8. Arc’teryx Beta AR Jacket – Men’s

Arc’teryx created the Men’s Beta AR Jacket for mountaineers, skiers, and adventurers who want the performance of Gore-Tex Pro and top-notch durability without a laundry list of unneeded features. I own this jacket and I can tell you it’s the single best piece of outdoor clothing I have. From islands to rivers to alpine environments, it will keep you and anything attached to you bone dry, yet it’s super lightweight and durable.

$399 BUY

9. Canon Vixia HF100 Digital Camcorder

With the super-lightweight and compact Canon VIXIA HF100, you can have AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) format recording with the ease and numerous benefits of Flash Memory.

The VIXIA HF100 Canon has exclusive features such as a 3.3 Megapixel Full HD CMOS sensor and advanced DIGIC DV II Image Processor, SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, Instant Auto Focus, our 2.7-inch Widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD and the Genuine Canon 12x HD video zoom lens plus you have a Flash Memory camcorder that’s hard to beat.

$689 BUY

10. Volunteer Abroad!

Finally, consider using your stimulus package to help you get to another country where you can volunteer at one of the dozens of programs you’ll find here at Matador.

Many of these programs will help you travel for free (i.e. pay for food, lodging, and local transport) once you arrive. Check our guide to traveling for free through several outstanding volunteer programs.

Ten Travels (and their Tales) that Made History

Theodore Scott — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:06:40 +0000

Photo by guldfisken

Even though I complain about flight delays and outdated guidebooks, I feel that travel is too easy in our time. It used to be much harder, and I am fascinated by old stories of travelers and explorers.

Every book here was written over one hundred years ago. For travelers looking for inspiration, the following stories are a glimpse into experiences that changed history.

10. Incidents of Travel in Egypt, Arabia Petraea, and the Holy Land by John Lloyd Stephens (1837)

Stephens recounts a journey through the Middle East – including Petra, the pyramids, and Jerusalem. This is the first of many well-received travel books written by Stephens. It provides everything armchair travel should – humor, candor, and adventure. His writing paints a brilliant portrait of the lives of the Arabs he encountered.

9. Travels in the Interior of Africa by Mungo Park (1799)

When he was 24 years old, Park decided to trace the Niger river. He spent 18 months in the interior – losing nearly all his supplies along the way (but keeping his notes in his hat). Emerging after believed to be dead, his story created huge headlines and fanfare.

This book is a fantastic account of one of the early African explorations.

8. Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum (1900)

In his 50s, Slocum spent three years sailing around the world – encountering storms, pirates, and incredible loneliness along the way. He was the first person to do it alone. The book he later published has become a sailing classic.

7. The Travels of Ibn Battuta (around 1355)

A Moroccan Berber, often summarized as the Arabic Marco Polo, Battuta’s account covers 30 years of travels through Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He was on the move for half his life, with all the ups and downs that accompany that kind of existence. This book also reminds us that not all explorers were European.

Photo by linnybinnypix

6. Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons by John Wesley Powell (1874)

With raw dedication, Powell led the first descent of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. It was a dangerous journey into a sublime landscape.

His expedition encountered numerous difficulties that led some of his men to abandon the party.

Those that left were killed by Native Americans. Those that stayed continued through and survived. Read it here.

5. Farthest North by Dr. Fridtjof Nansen (1897)

In 1893, Nansen set sail with the goal of getting his ship frozen in ice.

He planned to drift with the ice and allow it to carry him to the North Pole. After being trapped in the ice for a year, he set out on foot and went far enough north to set a new record.

Continuing on foot, he returned to civilization in 1896. The ship’s crew, having freed themselves from the ice, returned shortly after Nansen.

4. Two Years Before The Mast – Richard Henry Dana, Jr. (1840)

Leaving Harvard in his junior year, Dana signed up as a common seaman on a merchant ship – setting the standard for the young person throwing off society’s expectations and seeking adventure. He learned the ways of the sea as the ship left Boston, rounded Cape Horn, and sailed to California.

After returning, Dana wrote this book – the best account of life at sea in this time period.

3. The Travels of Marco Polo(1299)

One of the earliest travel narratives available to modern readers, this is the story of a Venetian merchant who traveled through Asia.

With a curious magical realism, Polo describes India, China, Tibet, Persia, and other lands that he traveled through. His travels would later guide and inspire other explorers, including Christopher Columbus. Polo is the great grandfather of modern adventure literature.

2. The Journals of Lewis & Clark (1814)

Lewis and Clark are the most famous American explorers.

When they traveled the breadth of America, they wrote it all down for us. The mountains, the rivers, the wildlife, the Native Americans, and everything else they saw.

This is the kind of story that makes modern travelers think they were born in the wrong time.

1. Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al Madinah and Mecca by Sir Richard F Burton(1855)

Legendary in his own time, this British secret agent was the first European to travel into the forbidden cities of Mecca and Medina. He was also the first European to lead an expedition seeking the source of the Nile, and the man who brought the Kama Sutra and the Arabian Nights to the West.

Burton spoke 29 languages and dialects and often passed himself off as an Afghan or a wandering Arab holy man. He wrote around 50 books about his travels and experiences. Read as many of them as you can.

Top 10 Gear Choices for Travel Writers

Julie Schwietert — Tue, 13 May 2008 06:18:15 +0000

Matador’s most frequent contributors are a diverse lot, especially when it comes to their favorite on-the-road travel writing gear. Here’s our list of ten must-have pieces for travel writers.

Photo by Jay-Lo Cover photo: Miren Berasategi

To make the list, each item had to meet at least four of the following criteria: (1) lightweight; (2) compact; (3) affordable (preferably $100 or under); (4) durable; (5) easy to use; and (6) require a minimum of add-on accessories to be usable.

10. A loaded laptop

Several of Matador’s frequent contributors only recently began carrying laptops on the road, but most report that their laptops are the essential piece of gear. It’s not only the laptop itself that’s important, though; it’s the software loaded onto it that’s also essential. One must-have program is Wavepad, which is audio editing software for Windows. It’s available online for free and is fairly straightforward to understand and use once it’s downloaded.

9. Skype and a headset

Most of Matador’s writers stay connected to their editors, colleagues, and one another via e-mail, and others, like Tim Patterson and myself, keep running tallies of how much money they’ve lost in pay phones around the world. As Jacob Bielanski noted, “cell phones are inconsistent, unreliable, and easily broken or stolen.” Phone cards can be cryptic and frustrating. For travel writers who still want phone contact but don’t want to use a cell phone or pay phone, Skype or another voice over internet service provider is a viable and affordable option. Software can be downloaded for free and a $20 headset available at any electronics store can get you talking to anyone in the world in a matter of minutes. Calls are free to other users of the same service, and rates for calls to landlines are competitive.

Photo by akolmetz

8. A small digital camera

While a larger and more expensive camera may capture the best images, it can be a burden to carry and the size can be intrusive, especially for capturing candid shots. As freelance travel photographer and writer Lola Akinmade shared, “Even though I carry around a larger SLR for better travel photography, it is the small one that always lays the foundation for the stories.” Lola uses her smaller digital camera as a way to take what she calls “visual notes.” These photos help “capture your story sequentially (and visually) so you can piece it together later in writing if you can’t type on location or scribble something down fast enough.” Lola recommends the Panasonic Lumix for a camera that fits our criteria: small, reliable, and affordable (around $179).

7. A handheld digital audio recorder

Just as Lola uses a camera for “visual notes,” a digital audio recorder can capture “auditory notes.” At a recent bull fight in Mexico, I recorded the sounds of the event that I would not have been able to put down quite the same way in writing: the set the orchestra played before the show, the vendors selling soup, coffee, and Corona, and the crowd’s collective gasp when a torero was toppled and trampled by a bull, followed by their sigh and cheer when he gallantly rose to his feet and dusted himself off as blood coursed down his face.

I’ll definitely use these “audio notes” to write an article, but I may also transfer the files to my laptop and create an audio clip to accompany the written piece. I use an Olympus handheld digital audio recorder that can capture up to 120 hours and which transfers files with a standard USB cable to a Mac or PC. It’s smaller than a cell phone and costs between $40 and $60.

6. An MP3 player.

Travel writers often trade new music when they’re on the road, which serves as inspiration for writing and reconnecting to one’s memories of a place. A low cost option is the Creative MuVo2TX. For about $50 you can store up to 1 GB of documents in addition to audio files. It comes with a standard USB cable, allowing for near universal connection. But if you’re really serious about having music and even video to power you through long bus rides, there’s the 80 GB iPod Gen 6, a piece so useful it earns a rank of “Ultimate Travel Companion.”

5. A standard USB cable

Once you’ve assembled your gear, see if it’s possible to winnow down the collection of cables you’ve amassed to a single standard cable that will fit all of your gear. If not, REI sells a universal cable for $12.00

4. Solio solar charger

With all this digital gear, you’re bound to need a recharge at some point. This tiny but powerful solar charger may be one of the pricier items on our list at just under $100, but it saves money over the long run. Plus, it’s more sustainable.

3. Flip camcorder

The Flip meets every single one of the criteria on our list. In addition to being light and compact, the Flip comes with its own soft carrying bag to protect the screen and lens. It’s affordable, ranging from $100 to $160, depending on the model (there are currently 30 and 60 minute models). The Flip requires no add-on accessories; it plugs right into your USB port for smooth transfer of files. Finally, it’s so easy to use that you probably don’t even really need to read the directions.

Photo by Chris Campbell

2. A good pen and notebook

While some of Matador’s contributors are self-confessed gearheads, others do a lot of writing with minimal tech support. Eva Holland writes, “My only essentials are a little notebook and a pen. I never ever go anywhere without them.” I agree with Eva. If your personal preferences or your budget simply don’t allow for gear, just be sure to never leave home without a notebook and a pen.

1. A good gear bag

All of the gear on our list (minus the laptop) can fit in a small bag that’s just 10″ by 8.5″. But if you really want to go all out, the National Geographic Earth Explorer backpack is a bag that could store not just your writing gear, but everything you need to pack. The pack, which comes in two sizes, has a spacious padded compartment for lenses and other loose equipment, and it’s got plenty of pockets for organized storage of other gear, too. It’s simple and rugged, and though it falls pretty far outside the affordability criterion on our list, it’s a must-have…at least on our wish list.

For more on gear, electronics, and all the best stuff for travel, check out Matador Goods, our new blog highlighting the good stuff for every traveler.

Top 10 Useful Travel Gadgets & Accessories

Stephen Orchard — Sat, 10 May 2008 05:38:22 +0000

Photo by flavouz. Cover image by Magalai Veldhuis

While many travel gadgets simply take up precious space in your backpack, there are some invaluable items no self-respecting traveller should leave home without.

Bad gadgets are universally bad, however, the “most useful” plaudit is a contentious one: everyone has their favourite. A penknife you can use to remove stones from horses’ hooves or an MP3 player with a back catalogue of eighties disco classics; I can’t say they won’t find a use by somebody somewhere. The following are my humble suggestions.

1. Sarong

A sarong is not just for girl travellers. Trust me. If the idea of a large, extremely lightweight towel that dries in minutes costing next to nothing sounds like a mythical travel accessory, you’ve yet to discover the benefits of a sarong. And no, it needn’t be brightly coloured and flowery; mine is rainforest green with turtles on it. How manly can you get?

2. Combination Lock

photo by fattytuna

If you keep valuables in the pocket of a small rucksack, you can discourage the wandering hands of a pickpocket by locking the zips together. A lock and key will do the job, but it’s far too easy to lose the key (the logical conclusion being a date between the redundant lock and a hacksaw). A combination lock set with a memorable code is the answer. Just remember to change the code before you travel, I can assure you thieves will guess “0000” pretty quickly.

3. Earplugs

There are some sounds you really don’t want to hear while travelling: the rasping snores of a fellow passenger on a long haul flight; an all-night sex marathon in a hostel with paper-thin walls; cockerels at 4 am; Bollywood films at full volume on an overnight bus journey. Take a few pairs of earplugs and your auditory equipment will be saved from abuse and corruption.

4. Money Belt

At times you will be carrying more cash than you wish to. The only place to keep this is somewhere inaccessible to pickpockets. This usually means touching bare flesh and below the waist. If a thief is scrabbling around your nether regions, you’ll know. Rather than stuff everything into your underwear, a money belt is the practical approach to storing valuables on your person. Don’t ever be tempted to wear the belt outside your clothes (looking stupid would be the least of your worries).

5. Duvet Cover

This may seem an odd thing to take travelling and is not a suggestion to remake the bed linen upon checking into your room. This is invaluable if you need to sleep in a public place – Indian sleeper trains in particular – and want to have a cocoon where you can snooze, hide valuables and use as a physical barrier to the outside world. Whereas a sleeping bag would be impractical in a hot country, a thin duvet cover is perfect.

6. World Band Radio

No matter how much fun you are having on an extended trip away from home, you will inevitably feel homesick at least once. One way of keeping this in check is with a world band radio. The friendly voice of a world service announcer telling you how things are back home will help you through your melancholy until your next bungee jump or white water rafting trip.

7. Binoculars

photo by doeth

“Oh how I wish I’d brought binoculars” wasn’t what I thought I’d be saying on my last trip, until I was in a national park using the maximum zoom on my compact camera trying to see the vague shape of a tiger. Modern binoculars take up little space and you’ll be able to say “Oh, how glad I am to have brought my lovely binoculars. Is that rhino charging straight towards us?”

8. Multi-Tool

A good multi-tool will make life on the road a great deal easier. Aside from the equine-related stone-remover (which I can’t say I’ve ever used), the possibilities are endless. Not all beer bottles come with twist-off caps – the bottle opener attachment will save the heartache of sitting down to an al-fresco brew at sunset only to be thwarted by the cap. Sawing the top off a coconut to drink the milk inside will always appeal to your inner hunter-gatherer.

9. Flashlight

A little obvious, perhaps, but highly recommended. If you ever need to find your way to an outdoor toilet in the pitch dark, this is very difficult without a flashlight. Hazardous even. When your primary urge is to urinate, stumbling through the undergrowth of a rural village without seeing what you are stepping on is a recipe for disaster. As is doing all of the above while inebriated, but I’d rather not expand on that.

10. Photos From Home

It’s surprising the number of times local people ask to see photos of your family. There is an innate curiosity in everyone and people you meet want to know about a different way of life as much as you do. It doesn’t matter if you have a picture of your wedding day, your three year old nephew or Uncle Frank’s 60th birthday party, have some to hand just in case. A cultural exchange goes both ways.

I would never presume to call this list “the top ten greatest travel items of all time” as everyone will have their preferred can’t-leave-home-without something. I have also knowingly omitted life-saving items such as insect repellent, mosquito nets and water purifiers as these are essential rather than simply useful. These ten represent the things I find enhance my travels – whether I am drunkenly peeing in the dark or blocking out the coital cacophony of my fellow backpackers.

Check out Stephen’s round-up of: The 5 Worst Travel Gadgets.

10 Steps to Surviving Your First Press Trip

Laura Kammermeier — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:44:21 +0000

Photo by Rambling Rovers

Organizing your first press trip before you go makes all the difference.

After trying to break into travel writing for so long, you finally get the call. A PR agent is arranging a press trip to St. Lucia and you were recommended by so-and-so. Can you leave in two weeks?

Two hours later you wave your e-ticket in the air and do the happy dance. Then you stop. Umm, so what’s a press trip? What do I DO on a press trip? Can I bring my dog?

Full panic ensues. What do these people want from me? OMG, what did I get myself into?

If your first press trip invitation catches you off guard, these tips will help you sort through the chaos:

1. Define Your Mission

After coming off the über-high of being invited on an all-expenses paid trip to paradise, it’s a good idea to clarify a few things with the press trip coordinator: What are his / her publicity goals for this trip? Then discuss ways you can help meet them. Keep revisiting their goals until you’ve successfully published your work.

2. Do Your Research

Consult travel bureaus, chambers of commerce, books, magazines, travel blogs, and local newspapers for tourist information. Learn enough about your destination in advance so that you can start working story angles and request on-site interviews or side trips to nearby attractions.

Press trip coordinators know that each writer has a professional agenda and will try to accommodate your needs. While it’s their pleasure to help you meet your story objectives, don’t be difficult and keep your change requests to a minimum.

Surf online travel writer forums to learn what to expect on press trips.

3. Craft your story angle

Sometimes the story you’ll end up writing won’t reveal itself until you’re back at home, flipping through all your notes.

Your job will be to “inform the reader by way of facts and enlighten him by way of impressions” (”Writer’s Encyclopedia”, Writer’s Digest). A few story angles should bubble to the surface while researching your destination, but don’t worry if they don’t. Sometimes the story you’ll end up writing won’t reveal itself until you’re back at home, flipping through all your notes.

4. Be Honest

Whether or not you have published travel stories, just be honest about who you are and what you’ve done. Never oversell yourself. The PR agent wants confidence that you can write well and can sell your story.

If you don’t have published clips to back that up, offer to share stories or blogs you’ve written and discuss where you plan to pitch your story. Novel ideas and a willingness to write and pitch hard just may suffice.

Honesty also applies to your writing. If service at the sponsoring hotel restaurant was rotten, are you obligated to publish this? The answer depends on the angle of your story.

Your readers may be future travelers to this destination. You have an obligation to be honest about what they should expect. But whether the restaurant service is relevant to your story is for you to decide.

5. Target A Publication

Most press trips are given to writers who already have a “letter of assignment” from an editor, but not always. Perhaps you have a demonstrated background in a special activity (e.g., fly fishing, scuba diving) that your destination wants to market. If so, work up some connections to a niche publication.

You will likely be asked where you intend to publish, so even if you have no connections yet, it is wise to identify a few possible outlets that accept new writers. Big Hint: National Geographic should not be on your list.

Check out 50+ Travel Magazines That Want to Publish Your Writing or join Travelwriters.com , where all members receive a list of 700 travel publications to pitch. Finally, check out online postings for assignments that may coincide with the place you’re visiting.

6. Be nice

Also, be friendly to the other travel writers. You never know when one might help you get invited on their next press trip to Bali!

Personality counts. Your hosts will put a lot of work into showing you a good time.

Being professional and courteous is a given, but you’re leagues above the rest if you’re also inquisitive, enthusiastic, and flexible—especially when things go awry.

If you have legitimate issues that affect your stay, particularly ones that future travelers should know about, then bring it up with your host and give them a chance to set it right. Also, be friendly to the other travel writers. You never know when one might help you get invited on their next press trip to Bali!

7. Be Prepared

Be sure to take business cards, digital camera with a large SD card, digital voice recorder (if you have one), extra batteries, phone, travel alarm clock, pens and paper and any activity-specific gear.

A computer is optional for short trips. There’s frequently so little down time during press trips that you might not have much time to write…a favorite notepad sure beats lugging around a six-pound laptop.

Editor’s Tip: A mini-stapler can save you headaches later on. As you travel around visiting restaurants, hotels, etc., you’ll end up with dozens of business cards and slips of paper. Instead of collecting them in a box, envelope, etc. staple them into a spiral notebook as you go.

8. Urge To Purge

After your trip, your brain will swirl with inspired phrases, imagery, and conversations that you experienced. Cater to your muse by carrying a notebook everywhere you go and set aside chunks of time to write.

Don’t resist the urge to purge your personal adventure story before getting to the business of writing for publication. Later, these inspired expressions might find a place inside your practical-info pieces.

9. Publish Your Destination

The faster you publish your travel story, the better you’ll feel and the happier your hosts will be. Publishing to your own travel blog is a great way to get material up quickly, but it is no substitute for outlets with high readership.

Target a list of several publications. Study them. Pitch them. Don’t stop until you’re published. And keep your hosts informed of your progress.

10. Breathe Easy and Enjoy Yourself

Don’t let the stress of writing and publishing burn you out. People are jealous of travel writers for a reason. You’re living the dream!

So live it up and really give your friends reason to hate their cubicles!

The 10 Best Places to Stay in Buenos Aires

Eve Hyman — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:49:46 +0000

The Clan House B & B.

From temporary apartments to hostels, here are the best places to stay in a city where you shouldn’t be sleeping anyway.

Temporary Apartments

1. ByT Argentina

Before you choose a hotel, well. . . opt not to stay in one at all. If you’re staying for more than a week, the best place to stay in BA is in a temporary apartment. Prices and accommodations will be better and you’ll get to feel like a local.

Residents rent out plush studios, one bedrooms, or penthouses with balconies, WIFI, kitchen, etc. Some spots even have a doorman or a swimming pool.

Studios start at $180 a week for double occupancy. If you plan to stay for a month or longer, you can also rent a room from a local and practice your Spanish over meals.

Boutique Hotels

If you are staying in Buenos Aires for a few nights, enjoy them by pampering yourself at a small, stylish hotel in one of the city’s best neighborhoods.

2. Home Hotel

Palermo is where you’ll find nightlife, great restaurants, cool boutiques, and Home. The bar at Home Hotel caters to your high-end cocktail desires and the Friday night pool party satisfies Ibiza cravings.

Located in Palermo Hollywood, walking distance from spots like Unico and Niceto, Home is where your heart is if you “heart” poshy décor.

3. Art Hotel

Elegant and cutting edge, Art Hotel is a popular boutique hotel in the upscale neighborhood of Recoleta that offers tasteful rooms starting $85. Wrought iron bed frames and fixtures, arched doorways, and a spiral staircase complement Argentine artwork hanging in each of the rooms.

Each month the hotel hosts an opening to celebrate a new artist and each morning starts with a fine continental breakfast. Art Hotel has all the charm of a stylish home with excellent service and a private art gallery.

4. Che Lulu

If small and stylish boutiques suit you, Che Lulu could be just right. This hotel seems to have been designed around the “Paris of South America” image with floral-print, upholstered chairs in the lobby and charming, tiny, private rooms.

The staff is helpful and the location can be ideal for your nocturnal meanderings, as Che Lulu is situated at the edge of Palermo Soho with Palermo Hollywood a block away.

Bed & Breakfasts

B&B’s with a penchant for design? Only in Buenos Aires where your continental breakfast is served in a visually stimulating space.

5. Bed and Baires B&B

If you’re no longer in the backpacking game but don’t plan to stay more than a few days in BA, Bed and Baires could be the perfect choice for you.

Private rooms with bathroom are $60 a night and spacious. The shared rooms are lovely and the location is convenient for shopping, restaurants, and tango in Palermo.

6. The Clan House B&B

If you like being downtown where all the action is by day, Clan House puts you on the border of Microcentro and San Telmo and offers cozy accommodations and warm, personal service.

A stylish, private room in this bed and breakfast runs about $35. The staff is gracious and helpful and the price makes this the perfect compromise between budget and boutique.

Hostels

Your choice of an inexpensive private room or shared dorm for $10 leave room in your budget for what you really came here for; steak, wine and other hedonisms.

7. Palermo House

Take one part faded elegance, one part modern design, mix it with a great, friendly staff and you have Palermo House.

This hostel is located in the heart of Palermo Soho and caters to budget travelers. There’s a spacious kitchen and common room with a wall of windows looking out on rooftops.

WIFI, two shared computers and DVDs and games are the campfire guests gather around in the evenings. Breakfasts are served mornings.

If you tire of the dorm, at $13 a night, there’s the option of a private room for $30 USD.

8. Art Factory Hostel

Individual rooms at Art Factory go for $20 a pop. Bright colors meet pipe sculpture decor to put you in a creative frame of mind.

Located in San Telmo, close to Plaza Dorrego and the antiques markets, Art Factory is a new hostel that offers a real bargain in the heart of historic Buenos Aires.

9. Carlos Gardel Hostel

If Evita Peron is the queen bee in Argentine legend, Gardel is the prince who invites you to tango. His image adorns ice cream shops and music store windows alike; he is the father of tango. He is also the focus of this theme hostel located in the heart of San Telmo. Disney though it may sound, Carlos Gardel Hostel manages to skip out on the campy vibe its name would suggest and is simply an excellent hostel in a convenient location. Housed in an old multi-story manse with great décor and an attentive staff, Gardel Hostel puts you minutes from some hot spots for tango, thereby inviting you to dance.

10. International Hostel on Brasil

If you’re on a real budget and haunted-looking, run down mansions are your speed, The Albergue Ester de Nadenhein, aka, International Hostel, in San Telmo, is just perfect.

The epitome of boho, this hostel has high ceilings, a garden terrace, and a lot of space.
Ester de Nadenhein was the first hostel in San Telmo and it’s still one of the biggest.

Staying there is relaxing, affordable, and no frills. The large kitchen and common rooms connect to a garden terrace all steeped in the personal history of the house.

There’s a “roughing-it” feel to this place so if you’re looking for shiny and new accommodations, this isn’t your hostel.

If you embrace BA’s faded elegance on a budget, this is the epicenter.

Six Things To Know Before Traveling to The Rainforest

Stephen Orchard — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:14:23 +0000

Photo by Earthwise Valley

Connect with local orgs and follow these tips for your best experience in the rainforest.

Visiting a rainforest can be one of the purest and most intense travel experiences possible. Stripped away are the comforts of air-conditioning, mosquito nets and antiperspirants that actually work. Enter the rainforest environment and you will face exhausting heat, extreme humidity and creatures that will consistently bite you in places least expected.

That said it is worth any discomfort when you’re experiencing the greatest nature show on earth.

Rainforests exist on the world’s equatorial continents – think of the Amazon jungle, tropical northern Australia or the wilds of Madagascar. It is believed that half the world’s species live in the rainforests.

These areas are dwindling at an alarming rate however. Eco-tourism, where the rainforest is a tourist attraction rather than a finite resource, is a key factor in their survival.

1. Mosquitoes – There’s Nowhere To Hide

The mosquitoes can be particularly persistent – ensure that you are protected by using effective repellents that contain DEET. It is also worth considering dabbing the stuff on your clothes as well as any exposed skin as I have even been bitten through my shirt on occasions.

Appropriate malaria medication is also a must and, as a course of tablets normally starts before your trip begins, you should consult a doctor at least three weeks before you leave.

2. Watch Out For Leeches

Another pest to look out for is the tenacious leech. On a night walk in Taman Negara (the rainforest national park of peninsular Malaysia), our guide made us spray our boots with an insecticide of some kind. Whatever it was, it certainly worked: my boots started to look like a leechy graveyard come the end of the walk.

The most advisable method of removing them once attached is to use your fingernail to break the seal from the sucker.

If your defences are breached and you fall foul of a bloodsucking attack, don’t be concerned if you find a shocking amount of blood covering your sock. The most advisable method of removing them once attached is to use your fingernail to break the seal from the sucker. Squeezing the leech or burning it with a cigarette or lighter will cause the leech to disgorge the contents of its stomach into the wound. Definitely not advised.

3. Hire A Local Guide – Being Lost In The Jungle Is No Fun

For all but the easiest of jungle walks I would recommend the hiring of a guide. In doing so you will be supporting the local economy and you will also receive a much greater insight into life in the rainforest. Your guide will often make sure you have sturdy boots for walking in the rainforest, but will themselves wear only flip-flops.

You would be advised to listen to them – their feet are used to the jungle, yours are not. Don’t ever be tempted to wander through the undergrowth wearing a pair of sandals, as this would probably curtail any further expeditions you may be planning (painful blisters and twisted ankles don’t mix with forest floors covered in snaking tree roots and slippery wet leaves).

Capuchin Monkey. Photo by Flor de la Amazonía

4. Maximize your experience by searching for specific flora and fauna

Travel to Borneo to see the dwindling numbers of orangutans, uncannily human-like in behaviour. Venture to South America to see vivid tree frogs, poisonous yet beautiful.

I haven’t yet been fortunate enough to spot a hornbill, a large tropical bird native to both Africa and Asia, but the almost deafening noise of one taking off directly above us from the thick canopy was incredible in itself.

Searching for lemurs at night in Madagascar was great fun, especially the way their orange eyes would just appear in the torch beam of our guide, who seemed to instinctively know where to look.

It is incredible what you can learn from someone whose job it is to search for wildlife and the knowledgeable Julien was no exception (he was able to name around 50 possible types of lemur we could potentially see on our quest).

5. Staying Calm Is Often The Best Policy

On one trip we stayed with a friendly Dutchman named Rob who lived on the edge of the Australian rainforest in Queensland. He regaled us with tales of having to share his home with a large number of insects and animals and the time that he came face-to-face with a very large cassowary bird (upwards of 6ft in height) in his back garden.

He courageously did what he had been told to do in such a situation – stare directly at the very colourful but menacing-looking bird. After a nerve-wracking few moments where he tried desperately hard not to blink, the bird turned away and stamped off into the bush, Rob having successfully protected his territory.

6. The Rainforests Are Endangered – Appreciate Them While You Still Can

There isn’t a place in the world so far removed from the hustle and bustle of modern life as the rainforest. Taking a boat ride, walking across rope-bridge or stopping by a cascade – these are all things that are good for the spirit. After a day walking in the jungle, when you are sipping a cold beer listening to the cacophony of noise from the wildlife around you, there isn’t a better place to be.

The rainforests of the world are rewarding and enchanting places to visit but they are under threat from the onward march of the human race. The deforestation and subsequent loss of habitat for many species is occurring at a devastating rate.

Eco-tourism and volunteering are the key their preservation and continued survival and I urge you to consider making the journey to see one for yourself. Get there while you can!

Community Connection

Various members of the matador community have lived in the rainforest for extended periods of time. Check out Mei-Ling McNamara’s feature on one group doing incredible conservation work in Madagascar.

Ross Borden has recently returned from Colombia: check out his blog for a sweet account of hiking through coastal rainforest.

Most importantly, connect with these organizations doing conservation work in the rainforest:

Earthwise Valley

Amazon Conservation Association

Flor de la Amazonía Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

Iracambi Atlantic Rainforest Research & Conservation Center

The 5 Worst Travel Gadgets & Accessories

Stephen Orchard — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:14:48 +0000

When planning a trip for a number of weeks there is often the temptation to spend your hard-earned cash on gadgets and accessories that will supposedly enhance your travel experience.

There are some that undoubtedly have their benefits where you realise you can’t live without them and others that will languish unused at the bottom of your rucksack for the entire trip.

The following, however, will be about as useful as a chocolate teapot and should be avoided at all costs.

1. The Travel Clothesline

This is essentially a piece of twisted elastic rope with two small rubber suckers at each end. The typical experience with one of these is as follows:

You wash your clothes. You hang the line up from one end of your room to the other. Your clothes are wet and heavy. You quickly discover that the weight limit of two small rubber suckers is one very small handkerchief. Your freshly washed clothes inevitably end up on the dirty floor. After the first attempt of using the line, it usually ends up being thrown in the bin in a fit of rage.

The one I bought completely disappeared, possibly catapulted out the window in a bizarre case of clothesline suicide. I can’t say I blame it.

2. The Underwater Money Belt

Money belts are meant to be discrete. Once you’ve managed to cram all your valuables inside the belt and put it under your swimming costume, there seem to be bulges in all the wrong places.

Whether you are male or female, this is probably not the look you wish to go for on the beach of a faraway island. Added to this is the fact that they are uncomfortable, rub in inappropriate places and may even leak if not zipped up correctly.

My advice would be to leave your essentials locked away back at your accommodation – many places will have a safe you can use. You can then enjoy the water without fear of all your money getting soggy or your passport becoming illegible.

3. The Disposable Underwater Camera

If you try to capture anything of the experience with a disposable underwater camera, you will almost certainly be disappointed.

Snorkelling can be hours of fun. However, if you try to capture anything of the experience with a disposable underwater camera, you will almost certainly be disappointed.

Unless you are very lucky, have the sunlight illuminating just the right spot and the subject manages to swim into the frame at exactly the right moment, the photographs you take will be grainy, dark blue, blurry shots that will not win any awards.

They will probably contain the fin of a fish in one corner of the picture and you will have to convince your friends and relatives that it really was a shark/barracuda/marlin that you saw on your trip.

Your memories of a place can be tarnished by these poor photographic souvenirs – leave them intact by using your eyes rather than a cheap camera lens, which is best employed on the beach or when splashing around above (rather than below) the water.

4. The Toiletry Organiser

You might think the idea of having your shaving foam, toothpaste and all the other things that will make you smell nice neatly arranged in one bag is the smart way to travel.

In reality, it will take up far too much of your valuable luggage space. You’ll also be itching to get out and see all the sights at your chosen destination rather than fastidiously unpacking every single item from your bag and inevitably you will end up living out of your rucksack.

This is not a bad thing; unpacking and repacking when you are moving from place to place every few days is rather tedious. Leave the toiletry organiser at home but do remember to wrap your shampoo and shower gel in several layers of plastic to ensure that you don’t end up with dodgy-looking stains on your clothes.

5. The Hessian Sack

I admit that this is not strictly a gadget or an accessory, however it was a terrible idea and one worth noting for its stupidity.

Before my round the world trip, I was rather paranoid and thought that camouflaging my rucksack with a tailor-made Hessian sack would stop it being stolen when I was in India. What I didn’t count on was the fact that Hessian is an incredibly itchy fabric, so much so that I wasn’t even able to go near it without feeling the need to scratch.

I then discovered that the in-built waterproof cowl was just as good for concealment of my baggage. Suffice to say, the sack never made it on my world trip.

This is by no means an exhaustive list and there are probably thousands of companies all over the world dreaming up ideas for new travel gadgets for the gullible consumer to purchase during their pre-trip excitement.

I am sure that in the not-too-distant future we’ll have jetpacks fitted to our rucksacks and use satellites and GPS to find our way through the jungle. Until then, remember there are some good gadgets and some truly awful ones.

Regardless of what you end up taking with you, it is important that you don’t let your possessions overshadow your travelling adventures.

10 Tips for Safe and Comfortable Winter Hiking

Haley January Eckels — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:27:37 +0000

Winter hike up Mt. Moosilauke. Photo by Steven Erat

Many outdoor enthusiasts spend summer, spring, and fall weekends on their favorite trails, but tend to hibernate during the winter months. If you fall into this category, you are missing out on something special. These following 10 tips will get you geared up for a safe, comfortable winter hike.

1. Dress like an onion.

The Quebecois have a saying, s’habiller comme un oignon, which literally means to dress like an onion, in layers. This is especially important when hiking in colder weather, as temperatures can vary at the bottom of the trail and on the summit of the mountain. Having a variety of insulating clothing will help you regulate your body temperature and stay comfortable. I like to wear a layer of long underwear, a light fleece or soft shell jacket, and waterproof pants. I keep an insulated jacket (either down or synthetic loft), fleece pants, and a waterproof shell jacket in my pack in case of foul weather. Always wear thick, winter-weight socks, since your toes are the first place you’ll feel cold. It’s also a good idea to have two layers of gloves or mittens, one for insulation and one for waterproofing. An outfit like this will keep you dry in case of precipitation and warm when you reach an exposed area or summit.

2. Start small and start early.

When planning your first winter hike, be reasonable about the distance and difficulty of the trail. While it might be a cinch to do a twelve-mile loop in summertime conditions, you may run into ice or deep snow on the same trail during the winter. Also, many access roads to your favorite trailheads are closed and unplowed over the winter, which could add significant mileage to your trip. There is nothing quite as frustrating as wading through waist deep snow for miles on end, so choose a trail you know you can handle without difficulty.

Also, be prepared for some early mornings. Don’t forget that the sun sets much earlier in the winter months. Plan to be off the trail before dark to avoid getting lost or having an accident.

3. Bring safety gear.

There are a few basic items that every winter hiker should carry in case of emergency. Aside from basic hiking gear, you should always have a trail map, a first aid kit, a compass, a pocket knife or multi-tool, hand warming packets, and a headlamp. For a day hike, it’s a good idea to split up some of the heavier safety items among the members of your group. Avid outdoorsman Frank Gibbons, who hikes and backpacks year-round in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, warns that even day hikers should be prepared to spend the night in an emergency. “Every member of the group usually carries some emergency gear like a bivy sack or sleeping bag, down parka, cell phone, sleeping pad (for laying someone down if he is hurt), etc.” While it may mean that your backpack is a bit heavier, it may also mean that you avoid frostbite if you have to stay on the mountain overnight.

4. Check the weather.

While this might seem like an obvious step, it’s important to get a complete picture of the conditions for your trip, not just the temperature. Look at the precipitation, wind speed, avalanche reports, and daylight hours. I spoke with Peter Crane, the Director of Programs at the Mount Washington Observatory. He advises winter hikers to become knowledgeable about winter weather: “Do your research, learn about winter conditions and how they vary from summer conditions. It’s really a different world in the winter. A dozen people have died on Mount Washington due to avalanches. When you get above tree line, you have the added challenge of finding your way in limited visibility, or even whiteout conditions.” Be sure your hike is planned for a day when conditions are manageable. The good news is it is very easy to find this kind of weather information, and if the conditions are scary, postpone your hike.

5. Learn to use crampons.

When the trail is icy, crampons can make the difference between summiting and turning around, but if you use them improperly it’s easy to injure yourself. If you’re new to crampons, read up on techniques and try them out on an easy trail. Practice putting them on and taking them off. Have a more experienced friend show you how to use them going uphill and downhill. I’ll never forget seeing an obvious beginner jog nonchalantly down an icy rock face in his crampons. One misstep, one stumble, and he could have cut open his leg or sprained an ankle. Take it slow when you’re starting out to avoid accidents. Never forget that crampons are in fact metal spikes attached to your feet!

6. Take an experienced friend.

Hiking with friends is always the way to go, especially in the winter. Not only is it more fun to share the adventure with others, but it’s also safer to be with a group. An experienced friend can help you with choosing gear, using crampons or snowshoes, and identifying dangerous conditions. Also, avid winter hikers usually have extra gloves, hiking poles, and goggles laying around that you could borrow to fill out your packing list. Be sure to leave at least one friend at home who knows where you’re going.

7. Make tea or cocoa.

It is essential to bring plenty of water when hiking in the winter, as dehydration is a common problem. Add some comfort to your trip by making tea, coffee, or cocoa in a lightweight portable stove, or carrying it with you in a thermos. A hot beverage can warm you up and provide a nice break from the hike. If your water is room temperature, it’s less likely to freeze and it will boil faster. There’s nothing like a hot cocoa break to motivate you for the summit push.

8. Invest in good gear.

While no two packing lists are exactly the same, there are some basic items that every winter hiker should be prepared to buy. Most avid winter hikers invest in the following items: crampons or snowshoes, waterproof pants and jacket, knee-high gaiters, waterproof boots, an insulated jacket, a lightweight backpack, hiking poles, a camp stove, hats/gloves, and goggles or wrap-around sunglasses. While it’s tempting to take the cheap route and get sub-par gear, I recommend looking for end-of-season sales and coupons instead. Look at www.rei.com/outlet or www.backcountryoutlet.com for closeout items. It can be expensive when you’re getting started, but most of the gear you pick up can be useful in the summer season as well.

9. Be prepared to turn around.

Legendary mountaineer Ed Viesturs (who has climbed every 8,000 meter peak in the world) once said, “Getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory.” Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Crane told me, “The mountains have been here for a long time, and they’ll be here for a long time still.” Don’t hesitate to turn around if you run into conditions that look dangerous. Reaching the summit of a peak is just half the journey, and you must have time and energy left over for the descent. Focus on the entire trip, not just the ascent.

10. Treat yourself to a great meal.

Lastly, be sure to reward yourself for a job well-done. When I come off a mountain, I like to find the nearest source of comfort food. Sometimes it’s a cozy bar with great burgers, sometimes it’s a lively pizza place. No worries about your appearance and aroma; restaurants at the base of any big peak are used to hikers stopping off for a meal.

While there are many considerations when transitioning from casual fair-weather hiking to winter expeditions, these tips should get you started on year-round adventures.

4 Easy Tips for Shooting Better Travel Videos

Stephanie Bryant — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:31:57 +0000

Photo by Malthe Sigurdsson

Creating a great shot, interview, or montage takes more than walking around with a video camera glued to your eye. These four tips are the cornerstones of making great travel videos.

The Light Side of the Force

The most important factor in video is lighting. Insufficient light makes videos grainy and dim, and affects blurriness and capture rate. Video cameras don’t “see” as well as humans do in the dark or indoors, so low-light videos are often very disappointing compared to “the real thing.”

You don’t always have a choice about lighting, though. Inside museums and cultural sites, the lighting is carefully selected to reduce light damage to cultural artifacts, and flash photography and videography are prohibited. For these situations, use a tripod or monopod or other stabilizer, and avoid walking shots. Stop, take your video from a stabilized position, then turn off the film and move to your next position.

Outdoors, you have the best source of light: the sun. The problem with sunlight is that harsh sun results in harsh shadows, often under the eyes and chin for human subjects. Overcast (but not rainy) days are best for shooting video, or you can put your subject underneath a shading tree. Just be sure they’re not standing with bright sunlight directly behind them, to prevent silhouettes.

Most night videos are a blur of moving shadows and lights, and fail to adequately portray that night carnival, street musician, or midnight walk on the beach. Show up an hour before sunset to start filming, stabilize your camera, try to find locations with more light than you think you should need, and be patient with the outcome.

Can you see the colors?

Color is a great way to highlight a story. Cities tend to be gray and brown. Woods are green and brown. The sky is blue or gray. As a result, colors that are not green, brown, gray, or light blue stand out in video.

Stained glass windows in red and blue and gold, a bright red parrot, a field of orange pumpkins– these colors grab our attention and keep it. When you set up a shot, use contrasting color to your advantage. Wear a red shirt if you plan to be on camera. Pick a bright yellow harness for your rock climb– it’ll be easier to see from a hundred feet below.

Color can also set a mood. Blues and greens are calming, red is exciting, and yellow makes people happy. If you want to emphasize a relaxing time at the beach, frame your shot to show more sky and sea. To emphasize your exhilarating salsa dance lessons, focus on dancers in red clothes and rely on ambient lighting to help tell the story and set the mood.

Ready Set Action!

The big advantage video has over still photography is the action. Pay attention to what’s moving in your video, because that’s where the viewer will look. If you have a lot of motion in the background (such as a crowded market), the foreground must be well lit, colorful, and audible in order to keep the viewer’s focus from drifting around to the background noise.

Focus your video on the thing that’s moving fastest or with the widest range of motion. Again, stabilize your camera with a tripod or monopod, and keep the subject in the center of the frame, following it as it moves.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Sound is tricky, and it’s the part that’s hardest to fix or fake in the editing room. If you stand in a crowded street fair talking to a friend, your ears automatically try to filter out everything except your friend’s voice. Your video camera, however, does not do this important noise-canceling, and your friend’s voice is overwhelmed by the background noise.

Similarly, when you try to record the speech of someone on the other side of a crowd of people, you record more sound from the people around you than you will from the amplified speaker.

The best way to fix this problem is to avoid it in the first place: record your friend’s voice using a separate microphone. A unidirectional or shotgun microphone, aimed directly at your friend’s mouth and recording directly to your camera, is best for picking up his words.

In the case of a large crowded speech or event, if you can tap into the soundboard or P.A. system, that’s ideal. But in most cases, you don’t have that choice. Try to get as close as you can, use a microphone if you have it available, and position the microphone above the heads of the people around you, to move it away from their voices.

Some alternatives to a microphone are recording a voice-over during editing, or putting your friend somewhere easier to hear, like next to a wall or away from the noisy street. Unfortunately, moving your subject might not be feasible or plausible, and the voice-over is only practical if you aren’t trying to record a person while they speak.

Follow these tips and tricks and you’ll have more exciting videos of your travels and adventures to share with friends or just relive your experiences!

7 Steps for Creating an In-Town Vacation

Laurie Pickard — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:23:42 +0000

Photo by J Aaron Farr

What do you do when you’re dying to take a vacation, but you’re so broke your couch holds more cash than your bank account? You could put your travel itch on hold, save up your money and your wanderlust, and resign yourself to your travel-free reality. Or you could take an in-town vacation. I discovered the in-town vacation during my first years in Philadelphia, when my three part time jobs barely covered the $250 per month I was paying in rent. A local vacation has plenty of advantages: since it doesn’t involve air travel or paying for accommodations, it’s low impact both on your wallet and the planet. And you might be surprised by how much fun you can have without going very far from home. Here are a few tips on how to make the most of your in-town:

1. Plan as if you were leaving town.

Clear your schedule of work and other commitments so that you can be as free as possible to live like a vacationer. Part of what makes vacation time so nice is the freedom you have not to follow any set routine. That way, you can experience the joy of being able to ask, what do I really want to do today? If you’re planning on vacationing with a friend or a partner, make sure that person also has a clear schedule.

2. Buy a guidebook and a map.

Whether you’ve lived in the same place for years or have just moved somewhere new, a guidebook can be an excellent source for good restaurants, interesting neighborhoods, and fascinating bits of local trivia. I recommend the Off the Beaten Path series, but any guidebook will do – the more specific to your area, the better. Depending on your style as a traveler, you may want to read your guidebook in advance, or you may simply walk out your front door, guidebook and/or map in hand, and start exploring.

3. Ditch your car.

The best way to really see a new place, or to see an old place with new eyes, is to walk through it. If you live outside a city, you could drive or take public transportation to the city center or a neighborhood you want to get to know and walk from there. When you travel on foot you are moving slowly enough to be able to observe things that would go completely unnoticed if they were flashing by out the window at 60 miles an hour. You can talk to people; you can pause on a city bench, relaxing while the working world shuffles past. And by the time you stop to eat lunch at that cute little restaurant you never noticed before, you will have spent enough energy to really have worked up an appetite.

4. Look for day trips in your area.

Wherever you live, there are bound to be plenty of interesting cultural and natural wonders within an easy day’s journey of your home. If you like outdoor sports, you can find guidebooks specific to hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, etc. Small towns are often home to craft stores, flea markets and strange but wondrous local museums, like the Museum of Beverage Containers in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. When driving to your destination, avoid interstates and travel on smaller back roads. That way you can catch even the most obscure tourist attractions. I’ve enjoyed traveling with one friend who stops to take a picture every time he sees a quirky mailbox along a country road. If you want to get away for more than a day, small towns are often home to unique, sometimes historic, bed and breakfasts that can still be less expensive than a night in a big-city hotel.

5. Treat your home like a hotel room.

Don’t go home until you’re ready to call it a day. Or, if you and your sweetie are local vacationing together, stop home in the middle of the day to spend some quality time. Whatever you do, though, don’t just hang around the house. You wouldn’t go to Paris and sit around in a hotel all day. Your local vacation will be better if you treat your hometown and its environs like a place to investigate.

6. Splurge on good food.

Hey, with all the money you’ve saved on airfare and accommodations, you can afford it. And since you’re a local, you already know which restaurants have the best reputations and aren’t likely to be found by out-of-towners.

7. Give yourself permission to be a tourist in your own town.

One of the reasons that travel is so great is that when you travel you open yourself up to new experiences. On your in-town vacation, allow yourself to be as inquisitive as if you had never been to your town before. Ask for directions. Smile at people. Take pictures.

Have a good trip.

10 Tips For Safe Travel as a Single Woman

Mei-Ling McNamara — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:06:51 +0000

Tips to dispel anxiety and help women travel smarter and safer.

Traveling solo can be a liberating experience, especially for a woman. Going where you want to go, on your own timetable. Experiencing sublime moments without the din of companions complaining about their bouts of traveler’s diarrhoea. Making one’s own itinerary and stumbling upon a serendipitous experience you would not ordinarily have found in the straitjacket of a plotted holiday.

We are often taught that a woman traveling alone can be a dangerous thing, where a girl can fall prey to all sorts of scams, unwanted attention, and unnecessary risks were she not traveling with a man. Yet the benefits going solo are immeasurable. Women are seen as more approachable than men when traveling, and countless people have helped me when I have stumbled over the language or have lost my way. I have been invited to weddings by Berber women in the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco, played with women’s children in the Annapurnas of Nepal, woven baskets with village matrons in Madagascar. I have traveled alone as a woman on five continents, and for me, the experience has always been more heartfelt than harrowing. Yet, the fear and anxiety some women feel about traveling alone can be abated quite easily if one follows some basic tips:

1. Stay aware – This doesn’t mean actively practicing paranoia. It only means when you are walking from your hotel into town, register landmarks and remember street names. Notice your surroundings, but don’t forget to notice the people around you too. If you keep seeing the same guy turning up at the market or near your hotel, take note. If a guy gets it in his head that he wants to follow or harass you, ignore him or be firm and ask him politely to leave you alone. Always be ahead of the game.

2. Trust your female instincts – Traveling to foreign lands does not mean that a woman puts her instincts on holiday too. You may not know the language or even the lie of the land, but a woman has great awareness when it comes to knowing if someone means well or ill. If a person is making you uncomfortable, or a situation is suddenly going from friendly to aggressive, turn on the charm and get out of there – fast.

3. A guidebook can be better than a boyfriend – I love guidebooks, and not because I look at them every ten minutes. They often have great maps which can orientate you, give you choices about all ranges of accommodation, and are a great reference when that restaurant no longer exists or that shopping district is not where you thought it was. Boyfriends get me lost more often than guidebooks.

4. Busy places are best – Remember your dad warned you about walking down dark alleys? Think about things you wouldn’t do in your home country, like walking down isolated roads or taking hikes without telling someone where you are going. Finding places where a lot of people go can actually make a woman less of a target, and helps her to blend in more with the surroundings.

5. Take calculated risks – Traveling is about risk, after all. Jumping on a bus to an unknown destination, talking to strangers in a bar, getting off the map. As a woman, you can minimize problems by basic planning. Try to avoid arriving in places at night, have enough money with you to check into a hotel without going to an ATM when you arrive somewhere new, and don’t go off with your new friends if you have no idea how to get home.

6. Book your first night hotel – If you are showing up in a country for the first time, it is wise to get a room booked ahead of time. It saves you time driving aimlessly in a taxi after two hours sleep in two days. After the first night, you can always find another hotel that suits you better.

7. Dress according to the culture – Sure, Western women sometimes think that a woman should be free to dress however she wants. However, most countries outside of the Western hemisphere did not get the memo. Understanding a country’s culture and dress code will save a woman from unwanted attention, but will also allow her to interact more comfortably with the local population.

8. Have fun, but watch your drinks – Nightlife is one of the great perks of travel. If you are traveling alone, enjoy yourself, but bear in mind that being tipsy in your own neighborhood is a lot different than being tipsy in a bar in Africa. For one, your instincts are shot and any potential dangers go unnoticed. Secondly, getting home can be dicey, especially in foreign cabs on unknown streets.

9. Leave valuables in the hotel – If you must, bring copies of your passport with you when you go out and explore, but lock all your valuables away. Flashy jewellery and handbags make great fodder for thieves. Check if your hotel has a safe or bring your own lock with you for your valuables, and leave them in the room.

10. Make friends with other travelers – Traveling as a woman alone can be brilliant, but in the off-chance you want to go somewhere remote and would like company, having the GPS on other travelers is a great way to do it. Travelers often watch each other’s backs, and sometimes, this is the best insurance of all.

10 Steps to Packing Better for Your Next Trip

Anna Brones — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:26:26 +0000

3 AM in Stockholm. Photo by Johnny Vulkan

When I was younger my father often liked to tell me “pack what you would be comfortable carrying on foot for a few miles.” As we traveled I was always frustrated that I was only allowed the space of one carry-on bag and what went in it were only the essentials. Nowadays I am thankful my father taught me the basics of efficient packing; I secretly smile when people ask “you’re only bringing one bag?” Packing light while still managing to bring all the right things along is often easier said than done, but with a little common sense and a willingness to downsize, you too could be traveling lighter and more efficiently.

1. Pick the right bag. First off, think about where you are going. If you are going to be trekking the Australian outback, you probably don’t want a suitcase on wheels and if you are going on a classy fashion trip to Singapore, you may not want a grimy, overused backpack. That being said, choose a suitcase, bag or backpack that you are comfortable transporting. For the truly packing conscious traveler, pick one that fits carry-on standards, that way you are limited in your packing space but you can be assured that your bag will be with you upon arrival. For one traveler’s pick as the ultimate carry on, check here.

2. Utilize stuff-sacks. There is no bigger hassle than having to pull every single item that you have meticulously packed in order to get to that one pair of pants that you put at the bottom of your backpack. How to stay away from this problem? Invest in (or sew) some stuff sacks, found at any outdoor or sporting goods store. They are a great way to organize your clothes (t-shirts in one, pants in the second, socks and underwear in the third) and when you do need to do a full unload of your pack or suitcase, you won’t have to do any unnecessary folding to get everything back in. For a more inexpensive version, try Ziploc bags, which thanks to their see-thru quality also allow you to see exactly what is packed in each bag.

3. Mix and match. Without sounding like a J. Peterman catalog, one of the best pieces of advice for packing is to pick several items that all work together. Two pairs of pants, three shirts, a belt and a scarf can go a long way. Remember to not pack specific outfits, but focus on simple, easy-to-wear pieces that you can mix and match. If you do get bored with your clothing options during your travels, remember that you can always buy a local item in whatever country you find yourself in to spice up your limited wardrobe.

4. Choose quick dry items. At some point in your travels you may be caught needing to do some much needed laundry in your hotel bathroom sink. When this arrives you will happy that you spent your pre-travel bucks on micro-fiber underwear and nylon pants. These types of clothes are easy to wash and dry much faster than your average cotton versions.

5. Bring one nice outfit. Even when you are taking off on a dirty backpacking adventure, you never know what can happen. Packing an item of clothing that can be worn in a nicer situation is always worth your while. Think of your traveling clothes as combination pieces; putting two clean, semi-nice pieces together can in fact make a good looking outfit worthy of a fancy dinner out on the town.

6. Low maintenance clothing. Unless you are jetting off on a 3 day business trip and need to be clad in the finest of the fine, leave starchy shirts and blouses at home. Any item that normally needs to be ironed should be crossed off your packing list immediately. Go for items that you can pull directly out of your suitcase and throw on without a second thought.

7. The right primary footwear. I cringe at writing this because I know it is a boring piece of packing advice, but traveling entails walking, and your voyage will be much more enjoyable if you are comfortable on your feet. Fortunately you don’t always have to sacrifice style for comfort. There is an array of functional yet stylish options that won’t leave your dogs screaming after a day on the pavement or trail. Remember to pack shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty or wet and, above all, are durable.

8. Flip flops. Even when going to cold weather destinations, a pair of flip flops can be indispensable, especially if you are planning on spending time in hostels. Throwing on a pair before venturing into the shower in a shared bathroom will protect your feet from a variety of microbes that cover the floor. On warmer trips, flip flops are a much appreciated break for your feet at the end of a walking-intense afternoon.

9. The necessary extra: a first aid kit. Accidents do happen. You want to be prepared. You don’t need to pack a heavy duty save-your-life-in-the-outback kind of kit (unless you are spending several days in mountainous backcountry) but you want something to take care of smaller problems: blisters, cuts, headaches, etc. Along with your regular stash of toiletries, add a good antibiotic cream, like Neosporin, which can go a long way. Various sized band-aids, athletic tape and a good dose of ibuprofen can also come in handy, as well as benadryl for mild allergic reactions. For feisty blisters caused by hours of aimless wandering, consider carrying 2nd Skin, which can be applied to a busted blister and taped over with athletic tape, and make your feet feel good as new.

10. For the trip home. These are only the beginnings packing efficiently, but it should put you in the right direction. As a final note, don’t be surprised when at the end of your travels you have just a little bit extra than when you started. Buy (or bring) an inexpensive duffel bag, check it, and hope it meets you at your home airport.

Anna Brones is a freelance writer with a love for travel. She has a BA in International Relations and French Studies and has lived in Sweden, France, Guadeloupe and the Pacific Northwest. Her work has been featured in Transitions Abroad, Pology, Green Mama, Matador Travel, and Traveler’s Tales A Woman’s World Again.

8 Steps for Successful Self-Supported Bicycle Tours

Hal Amen — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 03:25:28 +0000

Photo by Hal Amen

Cycle touring = freedom. Forget letting bus and train routes dictate your schedule. Forget settling for tour operators’ carbon-copy itineraries. On a bicycle, you’re in control. Life slows enough for you to digest every sight, every smiling face, every facet of “place.”

This unique form of travel involves unique demands, however. A successful tour is the result of thoughtful preparation, and these 8 steps will help you get there.

1. Know what you’re getting into.

It’s essential to realize how cycle touring differs from conventional travel. The cliché proclaiming the journey to be more important than the destination really applies. You’ll need to enjoy the long stretches of empty prairie as much as the temple ruins you’re headed to. And yes, at some point you’re going to get tired, sore, wet, and discouraged.

That caveat notwithstanding, don’t psych yourself out by dwelling on any perceived hardships. Cycle touring is a very feasible and rewarding travel option; you simply need to be mentally prepared for what it takes.

2. Tailor your gear.

What kind of self-supported tour are you interested in? Two basic categories are credit-card touring (eat at restaurants and sleep in hotels) and fully loaded tours (camping equipment required). Which you choose will shape your gear needs.

Where are you going? Do you have your sights set on a multi-state trail ride along the Great Divide ? Or perhaps you want to trace the length of Vietnam’s National Highway 1. The bicycle you opt for depends on the surface you ride on. Mountain bikes with front or full suspension are preferable for off-road treks, while a touring-specific model is best for pavement. Visit www.adventure-cycling-guide.co.uk for more thoughts on this.

3. Understand your limits.

When mapping your route, set realistic distance and time expectations. Can you honestly pedal 120 miles in one day? Will you really enjoy cycling for a week straight? After all, this is supposed to be fun! Scheduling low-mileage and off-the-bike days will give both body and mind a rest. Plus, you’ll be able to more thoroughly explore your surroundings.

4. Seek out firsthand advice.

How much information specific to cycle touring does your typical destination guide include? A couple paragraphs? You need more. It’s good to know that Cambodia’s Highway 6 turns into a lake in the wet season, or that riding west on Australia’s Great Ocean Road puts you at odds with prevailing headwinds.

No matter where you’re going, chances are someone’s already been and has written about it on www.crazyguyonabike.com Another good resource is www.bikeforums.net, which also has a helpful maintenance forum. Do as much research as you can, and fine-tune your route plan and equipment list accordingly.

5. As in all travel, put safety first!

Staying safe and healthy is the best way to ensure a good tour. Beyond the commonsense measures any traveler should take, it’s recommended that you have a contingency plan in case you need to end the tour early. How will you get you and your bike home safely if this happens? Also, since cycling can place you in situations of increased vulnerability, stay abreast of information concerning crime or unrest in your travel area.

6. Get fit…if you want.

Each cyclist has his or her view on training for a tour. For an idea of how complex it can be, check out this .pdf document. Personally, I’ve found that nothing prepares you for sitting in the saddle all day like…well, sitting in the saddle all day. While you shouldn’t expect a magical transformation from full-time couch potato to super-tourer, the importance of a pre-tour training regimen is often overstated.

7. Test it out.

You have your bike. You have your racks, your panniers, and a respectable stash of travel-friendly tools. But do you know how everything works? How do you change a flat tire? What should you do if a shift cable breaks? And what the heck is a Hypercracker? The more familiar you become with issues like these, the less likely you’ll encounter a serious problem on the road.

Finally, throw everything together and go for a ride, even if only a short one. Learn how your bike handles under load, how best to pack everything, and whether or not it’s all going to fit!

8. Keep a record.

When completed, your tour will represent a point of pride, perhaps even a once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment. So before you start, consider documenting your journey. Many travelers keep a daily journal, but why not do more? Internet access is easy to come by in much of the world, and blogging from the road is an excellent way to record your experiences. Your family and friends will enjoy following your progress, and all of us out here in cyberspace will share in your adventure as well!

Top 10 Places for Teaching English Abroad

Kelly LaLonde — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:07:06 +0000

Seoul, South Korea. Photo by Trey Ratcliff, licensed by Creative Commons.

So you’ve made the decision to Teach English Abroad. Welcome! The following 10 places are among the best in the world for finding work, making a living, and having a great time doing it!

10. Brazil

Brazil’s effort to internationalize yields many opportunities to teach English, in both business and traditional school settings. However, you must have a lot of patience to legally obtain a work visa. CEL LEP and Alumni School are good places to start looking.

9. Saudi Arabia

The Middle East is where you will find some of the highest paying jobs offered for native English speaking teachers. This is not for the faint of heart; you must be interested in life in the Middle East and well versed in cultural differences to appreciate the experience. Bayt Recruiting is a good job reference.

8. Italy

Cheap travel and fantastically inexpensive gourmet food are just some of the benefits of living in Italy. There is, however, an annoying amount of red tape. It is recommended to go through a TESOL online certification program in which the school you are paying guarantees you job placement.

For a list of recommended programs, visit Transitions Abroad .

7. Thailand

Thailand is as close as you get to paradise. The American University Alumni (AUA) Language Center, the oldest and largest language school in Thailand with almost 400,000 graduates, is a nonprofit school with an excellent reputation in the country. The AUA is always looking for TESOL teachers.

6. Japan

Asian nations are practically begging for English teachers and you can find work via the Internet quickly. Most recruit year round, and provide successful applicants with visa sponsorship, apartment, partially-paid national insurance, etc.

The largest schools in Japan are with AEON. You can also find work with JET or The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program.

5. Russia

Old stereotypes of an economic system fueled by vodka and general lawlessness have made native English teachers scarce in Russia. The demand for teachers far exceeds the supply, making it easy to gain employment with the benefits of visa support, accommodations and often airfare reimbursement.

The largest schools in the area are BKC International and English First are by far the best places to find employment.

4. China

With great compensation packages including salary, apartment, visa sponsorship and sometimes airfare, China is becoming a popular choice for English teachers. Journey East offers links to internships, paid positions and other information.

3. Mexico

If you’re looking for sun and comfort, Mexico is the place to be. In general, the minimum academic requirement for English teaching positions in Mexico is a university degree and a TESOL certificate.

Jobs are difficult to find pre-entry, but are plentiful upon arrival. One option is to look for work in a University. If you have any teaching experience, this is the way to go. Visit ESL Employment for more details.

2. South Korea

Offering many perks such as airfare, housing, insurance benefits, decent salaries and a low cost of living, South Korea offers the ability to travel and make good money. A good place to start is the job board at Dave’s ESL Cafe. Contracts are usually for 1 year and a bachelor’s degree is required.

1. Czech Republic

Chosen for its idyllic location, amazing scenery, high demand and relative ease of entry, the Czech Republic—specifically Prague—is the traveler’s dream come true. The Prague Post, a weekly English language newspaper, is the best place to look for possibilities from home.

One final note: if you don’t get the salary, housing options and benefits that you are seeking, politely negotiate, or decline.

Editor’s Note: Since the original publication of this post (9 Jan 2008) we’ve created a new blog Matador Study, dedicated to study and teaching abroad programs and opportunities. Please check it out for more in-depth profiles and resources.

Want to learn the craft of travel writing?

The Top 10 South Shore Spots for Surfer Chicks

Brenda Yun — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:00:29 +0000

Photo by Brenda Yun

Female surfers do not have to look far to find the source of their inspiration. Stephanie Gilmore and Carissa Moore appear to be paving a new path, reminding us that girls can be amazing surfers too.

Nevertheless, it was only fifty years ago that women began to break into the surf scene with figures like Gidget and the “Queen of the Makaha,” Rell Sun. Those women, as well as the upcoming female surfers today, demonstrate a clearly feminine approach to surfing. Gidget and Sun did just what Gilmore and Moore are doing now: showing off a kind of gracefulness that male surfers only wish they possessed.

Even if we aren’t the up-and-coming Coco Ho’s of today’s surfing world, more and more of us are taking up this sport which has so far been dominated by men. One look at any line-up illustrates how girls want to have fun in the water just as much as men do.

Just this summer during a south swell at Bowls, I observed local girls taking the biggest sets of the day from the boys, who just looked back and watched with envy. Girls are no longer intimidated by the guys; they are now the ones doing the intimidating.

Surfing is no longer an activity just for adventurous go-getters. It is something that can get you in touch with an amazing natural wonder and force. As women are finding this sport more appealing, they might not be the minority in the water for much longer.

The Criteria

The south shore of Oahu is really the ideal surfing playground for girls. Nowhere in the world will you find upwards of fifty different breaks on one side of a small Pacific island. Indonesia may be cheaper or Mexico less crowded, but paddling up to any lineup on the south shore you will find a combination of five things that make up the criteria for my top ten south shore spots for surfer chicks:

People — While the north and west sides of Oahu are a bit more notorious for localism, it still exists on the south shore. Girls rarely get into trouble because we tend to be eye candy for the guys and are therefore treated as such: sweetly. Regardless, it’s always nice to be around people who are friendly and can even strike up conversation with you as complete strangers.

Wave Quality — The quality of the wave depends heavily on the wind and general conditions. Girls are less competitive in the water because we’re mostly out there to have fun, but we want to have a mellow, relaxed time with very little possibility of drowning.

Shower — Who wants to be salty after a long surf session? Showers — albeit cold, particularly the ones in Waikiki — make life much easier. They also make your shirts feel less itchy when you’ve changed out of your wet bikini.

Water Quality — Let’s face it, girls prefer clean conditions, which includes the quality of the water. Unlike guys who surf in seaweed and brown water, girls want to be able to get their heads wet without stinking — or worse, being able to taste the stink in their mouths.

Sand & Beach — While it might look cool jumping off a cliff to get to your favorite break, it’s much easier having a sandy beach to paddle out from and in to.

The Spots

Leave it to Hawaiians to add an ‘s’ on the names of their surf breaks. One of the first things you will learn about Hawaii is the influence of pidgin, a kind of slang that you will find on most Polynesian islands. Pidgin effects everyday talk and life as we know it, making communication and interactions casual and relaxed. In most cases, the ‘s’ at the end doesn’t mean there are multiple surf breaks. It just means they’re “cool like that.”

These spots are listed by location from east to west.

1. Toes/Secrets — This spot is perfect for more experienced surfers who are not afraid of shallow reef. The lack of major crowds and decent waves make it worth a try when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Honolulu. This part of the island tends to have strong sideshore winds, so it’s best to go on a rare Kona wind day. Longboarders prefer to surf here.

There is free parking in the Kawaihui Beach Park, located at Kalanianaole Highway and Pu’u’ikena Drive. Looking out, Toes is the break to the left of the channel; Secrets is straight out or to the right of the channel.

paddle out from here to Tonggs

2. Cliffs — You’re never alone out at Cliffs, and someone will always be watching you from atop the lookouts along Diamond Head Road. Cliffs is a combination of three breaks that are a bit difficult to differentiate. Sometimes it breaks all over the place and other days are clean with sets rolling in all the way out from the horizon. The inside is a bit shallow at low tide. Cliffs always tends to be the biggest break on the south shore due to wind swell. It’s also very popular with windsurfers, and therefore should be avoided on windy days.

Park along Diamond Head Road by the three lookouts. There is a paved path along the cliffside down to the beach. You can paddle straight out through the channel by the shower or, a bit easier method would be to lug your board down the east end of the beach and paddle out from the exposed reef.

3. Tonggs — This is the ideal surf spot for beginners. It is also the most female-friendly spot on this list. It’s so friendly that girls are almost guaranteed to get smiled at, hit on, or asked on a date. The break itself is a very gentle left. It has a Waikiki feel without the extreme crowds at spots like Queens or Canoes. There is no shower, so you’ll have to deal with being salty.

There is free parking within the small residential neighborhood. If you don’t have any luck, pay a few quarters in the easier-to-find metered parking by the east end of Kapiolani Park. Paddle out from the tiny beach access off of Kalakaua by Coconut Avenue.

4. Publics — This is a great wave for longboarders and, although in Waikiki, tends to be less crowded. Beware: at low tide this spot is so patchy that the coral sticks out of the water and is therefore dangerous. It is ONLY a left-hand break. If you go right, you will surf right into a rock.

Park in metered spots near the tennis courts in Kapiolani Park and paddle out in front of the concession stand by lifeguard stand 2F, to the left of the jetty.

5. Pops — This is the far less-crowded alternative to Queens and Canoes in the middle of Waikiki. Although a very far paddle to the break, and therefore a longboarding wave, it’s a really pleasant spot with a sandy bottom and a great view of Waikiki.

Paddle out from the beach by the Duke Kahanamoku statue. Keep paddling; it takes about ten minutes to get to the break. The showers in Waikiki are the coldest on the island — almost as if the water’s been refrigerated, but after all that paddling the water will feel refreshing.

6. Threes — Threes is a great right-hander and it has the Waikiki feel with blue water and a sandy bottom without having the enormously crowded line-up. It does get reefy on the inside. The surfers here are less territorial than their Kaiser Bowls neighbors. This spot only breaks on bigger days.

There are two options to get here. From Waikiki, paddle out from the beach by the Halekulani Hotel; this is the shorter paddling option, but you have to pay to park in the hotel’s garage. From the Ala Wai Boat Harbor, jump off the wall towards Kaiser Bowls and paddle to its left; this paddle is much longer, but parking is currently free by the boat harbor in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Hotel.

7. In-Betweens — This is the only case where the ‘s’ signifies plurality. There are actually two different “In-Between” breaks located by the Ala Wai Boat Harbor. One is between Kaisers and Rockpiles and the other is between Rockpiles and Ala Moana Bowls. This is a great option because the people are spread out between five breaks. Most prefer the real thing (Kaisers, Rockpiles, Bowls), so In-Betweens is never crowded. The water here gets downright dirty during sewage overflows because of its proximity to the harbor mouth.

Currently there is free parking by the harbor, but it will likely change to metered spaces due to tourist development in the area. Paddle out from the small beach by the boat jetty.

8. Courts — The spots out from Ala Moana Beach Park require a bit of a paddle and a short walk along the sandy path in the reef at low tide. Courts is the most gentle wave in this area and draws more of a longboarding crowd. The wave breaks in deep water, so it slopes and bowls up nicely.

There is free parking in Ala Moana Beach Park. This is a very popular weekend picnic spot, so if you want less of a crowd go during the week. There are plenty of showers and opportunities for people watching. Paddle out from the tennis courts.

9. Concessions/Big Rights — Just a little farther west along Ala Moana Beach Park, you will find these two breaks right next to each other but separated by a small channel. To get to the break, it’s best to paddle quickly through the channel. Concessions is on your left and breaks left into the channel; Big Rights is on your right and breaks right into the channel. Concessions as a wave is a bit more forgiving than Big Rights, which is steeper, faster, and has a more of a shortboarder population.

Parking, atmosphere, and crowd are just like Courts. Paddle out from the concession stand by lifeguard stand 1B. There is a sandy trail if you have to walk over the reef; just follow the other surfers who look like they’re walking on water.

10. Kewalos— There’s no beach here, but you can paddle out from the wall pretty easily. More of a left than a right, this wave almost always breaks. It’s less crowded than the Ala Moana breaks and the surfers here are a bit friendlier too. Since Kewalos is close to the mouth of Kewalo Basin, the water can sometimes smell downright fishy.

There is plenty of free parking at Kewalo Basin Park. Walk to the east side of the covered picnic benches, climb down the lava rock wall, tiptoe along the sandy path in the reef and paddle straight out.

South Shore Surf Tips

*Don’t be afraid to talk to the locals. They are usually very friendly!

*When you get out to the break, find a landmark on shore to keep you from drifting.

*Always follow surf etiquette, especially the right-of-way rule when catching a wave.

Top 10 Travel Writer Resolutions for 2008

Julie Schwietert — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 15:14:37 +0000

Photo by Laura Bernhein

Happy 2008 everyone! This top ten list of travel writer resolutions is dedicated to each of you who has been pouring your energy and dedication into the craft of travel writing. Let’s take it up another notch in 2008.

10. Come up with an idea a day. This doesn’t mean you have to write everyday—though that would be nice, too— but it does mean that if you come up with a single idea every day in 2008, you’ll have a storehouse of 365 ideas that you can draw from when you’re low on inspiration.

9. Read and respond to others’ work. One of the best pieces of advice for any writer is to read. But take your reading a step further and be sure to respond once in awhile to other writers whose work interests you, challenges you, or confuses you. Read beyond your favorite sites, magazines, and books. Use others’ writing to stimulate dialog.

8. Develop at least one new skill to complement your writing. Want to become the go-to person for your editors in 2008? Learn how to provide photographs, video clips, and extra audio content. If you don’t already have the equipment to develop one or more of these skills, you can purchase affordable and relatively simple cameras and digital recorders and begin experimenting with their various applications.

7. Make contacts. Whether you’re just getting started or you’re a seasoned travel writer, building your contacts and your network won’t just help your travel writing; it will help your travel, too. Cultivate contacts as much as your writing and offer more than you ask for.

6. Read like a travel writer. You probably already read voraciously, but do you read everything from the perspective of a travel writer? Changing your lens as a reader may help you to acquire some narrative skills you might attribute solely to other genres. My recommendations? Poetry by Mary Oliver, Natasha Trethewey, and William Stafford, and non-fiction by Annie Dillard for starters.

5. Collaborate and create opportunities. Many travel writers are solo travelers and solo writers, but collaboration may yield some interesting new ideas and finished pieces worthy of publication. Also, keep your eye out for opportunities, not just for yourself, but for other writers and photographers in your network. When they appear, share them along generously.

4. Begin developing a niche. This year, get clear about what kind of travel writing you’d like to be known for. Your niche may be defined by a specific geographical area, it may be defined by a particular type of travel interest (fishing, for example), or it may be characterized by a specific genre within travel writing—first person travelogues, how-tos, and destination guides.

3. But don’t limit yourself. Although it’s helpful for you and your readers when you define a niche for yourself, don’t limit yourself to your preferred areas. Once in awhile, challenge yourself and your readers by doing something totally different. Me? I’m not a sports and recreation person, but I plan to challenge myself to take a three hour kayaking trip on the Hudson River later this year and, of course, write about it.

2. Be spontaneous, but plan ahead. Think about the signal events of 2008 and see how you might be able to craft a story. Look at each month and identify an opportunity for a story and an angle from which you can approach it. For example, you may not go to the Beijing Olympics, but maybe a local athlete is training and would make a great story. Don’t overlook annual events that occur in your regions of particular interest: bull runs in Pamplona, Carnaval in Brazil, or the country fair in your own back yard. Mark these on your calendar and begin pitching to your potential contacts well in advance for great leads.

1. Collect your clips. As you begin building up a collection of published pieces, be sure to create an archive that can be accessed quickly and easily, both for yourself and for prospective editors, interviewees, and other important contacts. Create a digital version and a print version, and make sure you’re able to access both when you’re on the road… you never know when opportunity may present itself.

Top 10 Last-Minute Gifts for Your Favorite Traveler

Julie Schwietert — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:41:50 +0000

Photo by Nicole Lee

Looking for a last minute-gift for your favorite traveler? Consider one of these:

10. Airline Gift Certificates:

Travel is increasingly expensive, and most of us who live a nomadic lifestyle appreciate all the help we can get with chipping away at our travel costs.

Many airlines now offer travel gift certificates, ranging as low as $10 to as much as $1,000. For travel on lower-cost carriers, even small gifts can make an appreciable difference, especially for a traveler on a shoestring budget. Bonus: Most of the cards never expire.

Here are a few gift cards available online: Jet Blue; Southwest; American.

9. Airline Lounge Membership or Guest Pass

This is a great and often overlooked gift for the long-haul traveler. Airline lounges aren’t frequented by budget travelers, who might be particularly apt to appreciate the luxurious amenity of this gift.

Lounges vary in their services, but typically offer drinks, internet use, a relatively calm place to relax between flights; some even showers.

One-day passes are offered for as low as $25, while memberships typically run in the range of several hundred dollars. American, Continental, and Delta all offer one-day passes.

8. Gift Cards for Airport Shops:

The world’s airports tend to offer the same host of shops, and a traveler in transit might sigh in relief as he or she pulls your thoughtful gift card out to pay for a purchase. In the US, typical airport shops and services include The Body Shop, Brookstone, InMotion Pictures, and maps.com, National Geographic, and Wildernet.

6. Books

What’s your friend’s dream destination or big trip for 2008? Skip the guidebooks and dig a bit deeper to find some books that will tell the reader a bit more about the place.

Here are some great reads for a couple of places I’ve visited in the past year that really enhanced my experience once I was there:

Cuba: Lynnette Chiang’s The Handsomest Man in Cuba, a travelogue about an Australian woman’s adventures cycling around Cuba (a bonus in this book is an awesome reference and resource section in the back), Chiang not only captures the spirit of Cuban people—for better and for worse—but she also conveyed astute observations about politics and culture that were spot on.

Mexico: The Mexico Reader, edited by Gilbert Joseph, is a crash course in Mexican history, politics, and society—and it manages to remain fascinating (there’s also a whole series of Readers from Duke University Press, including Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Peru).

New York: The Not For Tourists’ (NFT) Guide. Enough said.

5. A “Stir the Senses” Gift Pack

No matter where your favorite traveler is headed, the food awaiting him or her at the destination will have their unique flavor. Get your friend psyched for the journey by putting together a basket or box full of small goodies that are emblematic of the trip.

Ethiopia? Berbere spice mix (you can find a recipe online and make it yourself or you can order it—and any other variety of spices–online).

China? Tea buds (tightly woven buds that morph into flowers when immersed in hot water).

Japan? Sake! Be creative!

4. Journals

Many travelers enjoy journaling or having a book in which they can slip ticket stubs, restaurant coasters, phone numbers or e-mails of friends met on the road, airline tickets, and other memorabilia. Journals range from the functional to the fancy, but a good and reliable brand is Moleskine, which makes functional, sturdy journals in a variety of styles and sizes.

3. The Ultimate Carry-On Bag

Finding the best carry-on bag is tough, but I finally did it! Baggallini makes a wide variety of bags that are perfect for travel (my personal favorite is what I consider the perfect carry-on—the Hamptons Bagg). This bag constantly amazes me with how spacious it is, but a bonus is that it is tear and water-resistant… it can take a beating.

2. Electronics Storage Kit

Help your favorite traveler get organized… find the perfect kit for cables, cords, chargers, and battery packs for phones, cameras, and laptops… and while you’re at it, throw in a universal adapter kit.

1. A Welcome Home Basket

Those of us who spend lots of time on the road, in the air, or on the sea may still have a physical address we call home, and when we get there, we often find we’re missing some basic staples and supplies that keep life organized.

Postage stamps (for all those bills that piled up!), an IOU for a dinner, or a bottle of wine helps ease the transition back to life in a fixed location.

If you’re particularly crafty or technically inclined, you may offer your skills to create memories from your friends’ photos—a CD or DVD of their trip, a photo album or scrapbook, or customized postage stamps that capture a particularly great image of the place they’ve left behind.

10 Ways to Pass Time on Long Flights

Lola Akinmade — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 02:43:20 +0000

Photo by Michael Renner

The journey towards our ultimate destinations can be very tedious especially when it spans multiple continents. Traversing the world means having to travel much longer distances to get to those off-beaten paths and less touristy locations. As much as I love to travel, I am dreading my upcoming 17 hour flight from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York to Bangkok, Thailand, so here are ten tips I will be using to survive my long haul flight.

Catch up on movies

Long flights are a perfect opportunity to catch up on the movies on your “must-see” list. Chances are your must-see list is at least six months old, and the probability of the airline playing the movies on your list is pretty high. Whether it’s watching the movie 300 for the 300th time or finally watching that foreign movie you had always wanted to see, you can easily pass four to five hours perusing movies on board. Headsets are always handed out on long haul flights, but do bring a backup set if you’d prefer.

Learn a couple phrases in a foreign language

The fact that you’re flying hours over two or three continents to your destination probably means that a different language will be spoken on arrival. Your long flight is an opportunity to read your phrasebook, learn a few words in the local language, or brush up on your language skills if you’re more than a beginner. If you bring along your own audio device like an iPod, MP3, or CD player, you can bring along an audio phrasebook as well. Before my flight, I invested in a $50 MP3 player on to which I transferred Swedish and German audio lessons so I could catch up on my studies. Ideally, audio lessons in the language spoken at your destination may be more beneficial.

Sleep like a baby

A 17 hour flight is a great opportunity to catch up on much needed sleep. If you cannot force yourself to sleep, taking a sleep aid or pill can help relax your body, make you drowsy, and get you into pure sleep mode. You can always ask for a pillow, sleeping mask, and earplugs if you need them.

Stretch your legs

Every two hours or so, do get up and move around the cabin. Make multiple laps down the length of your cabin to get the blood flowing again. This will help avoid blood clots that come with immobility. The back of the plane provides an ideal spot for stretching as well. Strolling around the cabin is also a great way to people watch, and observe the various ways others are surviving a long flight.

Strike up conversation

Of course, this depends on who you find yourself sitting next to. I recently shared a row with an Olympic sailor who represents the Netherlands. Many lasting friendships are forged through random conversations started on airplanes. You could start by commiserating on why you’re both on a 17 hour flight, what you both plan to do once you arrive at your destination, how long you’ll both be staying, and much more. You just might meet your next travel buddy or next career opportunity. On a trip back from Pamplona two years ago, I ended up sitting next to and sharing bull running footage with a Belgian businessman who ran his own consulting firm. By the end of the flight, I had received a job offer to be an international IT consultant.

Read a book

Grab a book at one of the airport stores before you board if you didn’t pack any. There are tons of excellent books and travel stories from writers such as Pico Iyer, Ted Conover, and Bill Bryson just to name a few you can read to wile away time. Travel stories are a great way to keep your excitement up and help your escape once the restriction of the airplane starts to bear down on you. For the trip, I purchased the award winning “Sand in my bra” collection of travel stories, edited by Jennifer L. Leo.

Write in your journal

Long flights back provide the perfect opportunity to reflect on your travels and jot down your feelings, observations, and experiences. You can catch up on missed journal entries, finish your sketches, jot down ideas, or begin the draft of an article. I usually carry a few pastels and sketch out ideas that become paintings later on.

Listen to music

Airlines play a decent eclectic collection of music on many channels and you’re bound to find one you like. To be safe, you can bring along your own audio device and groove to your own beats.

Play games

Crossword puzzles and Sudoku are great distraction from a long tedious flight. A deck of cards might come in handy if your seatmate is a great sport and knows a few card games. Based on your personal packing restrictions, you could bring along handheld electronic gaming devices such as portable Sony Playstations or Nintendo.

Track your flight progress

Once the “Are we there yet?” feeling hits, switch over to the GPS tracking system on your seatback monitor to track your plane’s progress and see if you need to start using your long haul flight tips all over again.

Ten Lessons Learned on the Safari From Hell

Steve Holt — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:11:17 +0000

After five drivers, four vehicles, and two days, we could finally say we had been on an African safari in Tanzania. It was supposed to be a “three-hour tour” of sorts – basically a half-day excursion from our friends’ home in Moshi to Lake Manyara National Park, home to the usual safari wildlife, including the rare and elusive tree-climbing lion. But there would be no lions that day (not anyone’s fault in particular) and a string of mishaps as long as the Nile (basically our fault).

There was Mr. No-Show driver at 5 a.m. the first day, and Mr. Rip-Off-The-Tourists about a half-hour later. On day 2, we had Mr. Don’t-Listen-So-Good driving the Toyota Wobbly Wheel (Stall-Out Edition), Mr. Replacement Driver who couldn’t take us all the way home, and Mr. Replacement Driver No. 2 in the Toyota Blowout (Rubber Inner-Tube Edition).

It’s a really funny story, and if we had a couple hours and some Kilimanjaro Lager, I’d give you the full version.

Five cars. Four drivers. Two days. One safari.

I say this was basically our fault because we didn’t do sufficient homework before setting out. During and after the safari debacle, the most common phrases coming out of our mouths were, “Next time, we’ll…” So, here’s my Top 10 “Next time, we’ll…” List (Safari From Hell Edition):

1. You get what you pay for. Go with a major tour operator, and check references. (resist the urge to do business with a friend or acquaintance who is giving you a really good price. It’s better to pay a little more and have a good experience.)

2. Try to meet your driver the day before so that you can assess his English skills and capability. If you meet several drivers and find a driver you like, make sure you get the one about whom you’re confident. Clearly state your expectations to the driver and your guide before you leave for the safari. Avoid scenarios involving several drivers if possible by planning ahead.

3. Inspect the car when you meet your driver. Major tour operators should ensure an operable vehicle. There should be some contractual obligation on the part of the tour operator to provide a vehicle that is not only comfortable, but safe. Take a swing around the block if necessary, and if you’re unsure about anything, demand another car. Simply put, a bad vehicle will ruin your safari.

4. Make sure someone in the car (if not the driver) speaks both English and the predominate trade language in the country. If it’s Kenya or Tanzania, Swahili. If it’s Burkina Faso, French. And make sure your translator understands the expectations you communicated to the driver and is ready to back you up if a problem arises.

5. Arrange to pay after the Safari, and negotiate a contingency payment should anything go wrong. If the tour operator guarantees quality, then this shouldn’t be a problem. If they demand money in advance to pay for gas, then you’re probably not dealing with a major tour operator. (see No. 1)

6. Have a flexible schedule so that you can say “no” and go a different day if things don’t look right. Don’t get pigeon-holed into taking an expensive or low-quality safari. For most westerners, safaris are a rarity, if not once-in-a-lifetime. Make sure it’s special by giving yourself enough time and having a couple possible days to go.

7. Don’t let the driver rush you. The less driving he does, the less fuel he burns, yielding the greatest profit. And he’ll want to get home early, if possible. You paid for a whole day, so make sure you get it if you want it. Your chances of seeing rare and beautiful wildlife are also greater if you can occasionally kill the engine and wait it out for a few minutes. Keep in mind the driver is working for you.

8. Get advice about which park is best from sources outside the tour business. Tour operators will try to convince you that the best park is the one that will make them the most profit (because it is smaller, closer, etc.), while other tourists or people with no connection to the safari industry are more likely to tell you the truth.

9. Remember that animals in parks are still wild, so no tour operator can guarantee that you’ll see the specific rare beast you’ve been dreaming about.

10. Relax. You’re in Africa. If everything goes like it is supposed to, it’ll be surprising, so don’t get bent out of shape when it doesn’t.

______________________________

One of Matador’s newest contributors, Steve Holt is a freelance writer living in Boston, eager to explore the world and tell its story.

Top 10 Websites for Finding a Cheap Place to Stay

Craig Martin — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:53:49 +0000

Photo by Jon Hadley

Online research is quickly taking the place of guidebooks and travel agents, especially amongst independent travelers. In this article, Craig Martin looks at his top 10 websites for finding budget accommodation.

Hostels

Unsurprisingly, hostels often offer the best value for money. Most hostel booking sites supply ratings and reviews from past visitors (and you can expect an email requesting a review soon after your stay). Keep an eye open for booking costs; most take a non-refundable percentage as their share, but some sites also charge a booking fee or membership fee.

1. Hostelbookers is normally my first stop for hostel accommodation. No booking fees and 24-7 online chat/customer service make the difference. Although listings include B&B’s and budget hotels, hostels make up the bulk of options available. One-click list ordering by customer rating or by price make it easy to narrow options down.

2. Hostelworld has recently undergone a massive facelift and, as a result, gives a smooth and hassle-free browsing experience. Hostels are available all over the world and listings also include B&B’s and budget hotels. Of note? Their cityguide podcasts and most-popular hostels of the month to help out the cool crowd.

3. Hostelz has a spartan site design, but is heavy on information. It prides itself on not allowing hostel managers to censor reviews and its large database of options (but I wonder if they could allow spelling and grammar to be edited). One of the site’s major draws is the real-life contact details for the hostels themselves!

4. Gomio has joined the club recently by removing booking fees, making some of their listings cheaper than other sites. Navigation is easy enough, but not as user-friendly as I would like. This puts me off, but since they specialise in European hostels it is perfect for those heading in that direction.

5. Krumlov House is an excellent independent hostel in Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic and I trust their advice. Their links page is the gateway to other “homely” hostels around the world, so I always take the time to glance at their hand-picked suggestions.

6. HI Hostels is the last stop on the hostel route. Although Hostelling International/the Youth Hostel Association used to be the place to stay, independent options are often cleaner, friendlier and more comfortable. Saying that, some HI Hostels are unbelievably fantastic. Discounts are available for members (and memberships are cheaper in some countries. Cough. Bulgaria. Cough.).

Cheap Hotels

Many of the hostel-booking websites above list budget hotels amongst their options, but these two sites can help you to splurge!

7. Superbreak can just supply accommodation options but also offers package tours and inclusive “short breaks”. I normally just look for a place to sleep using the “Find Hotel Breaks” feature. If I want a treat or hostel sites haven’t turned any suitable options this is my first stop.

8. Last Minute fills in when Superbreak lets me down. The deals here are a bit out of my regular price range, but excellent hotels, and I mean five-star, can be found for 50% off the rack rate. You certainly couldn’t travel the world like this (without a serious income stream at least!), but it’s perfect for a week’s pampering or a weekend escape.

Community

What is travel without people? Not much. Hostels often provide lively encounters, but these last two sites provide opportunities to connect with the land and its people.

9. WWOOF is not the sound a dog makes, but “World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms”. They are one of the most popular work-for-accommodation organisations around. A small fee will gain you entry into the organisation and sign you up for a newsletter with opportunities around the world. Remember: “dot org”, not “dot com”.

10. Couchsurfing isn’t yet an Olympic sport, but they’re doing it at Bondai. This website — and the community that gives it life — offer beds for travelers in spare rooms and on couches around the world. People open up their homes and often prove to be generous and enjoyable hosts; make sure to return the favour.

That’s my pick for the top 10 websites for cheap accommodation. Think you can add to it? Drop a comment below and let us all in on the secret.

________________________________

One of Matador’s newest contributors, Craig Martin has been living on the road since leaving Auckland, New Zealand in February 2006. In fact, he hasn’t slept in the same bed for more than two weeks all year! He podcasts at the indie travel podcast and, along with his wife Linda, regularly blogs at Our Crazy Travels. He’s about to go to sleep in a bed he booked using Superbreak.

10 Ways Music Connects Travelers

Jenny Williams — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:31:47 +0000

Photo by NessieNoodle

Back before YouTube, people got their entertainment from minstrels traveling town to town with their harps and epic poem-songs, telling stories of the wider world (and hopefully getting a free bed in the process). Modern troubadours might not score free bunks, but—whether you’re a player or enthusiast—music still has the power to connect people in surprising and profound ways. Here are ten reasons to pack that harmonica and keep your ears tuned for the local stuff.

1. Local music is a direct line into the culture. Some musical traditions go back hundreds and thousands of years and are intricately tied to social or religious aspects of a community’s culture. By exposing yourself to locally brewed sounds, you’ll have the opportunity to educate yourself about other elements of that region’s people as well.

2. You can learn about music from other travelers’ countries. You never know what might happen when you pass the guitar around at a hostel. You could get Russian ballads, Cuban jazz, Celtic folk, Spanish flamenco, or Argentinean tango—all while sitting on the beach in India. Hard to find a better forum for world music than that.

3. You can share your country’s music. One night in Durban, South Africa, I was jamming with some local musicians; when I busted out the bluegrass, they were totally bowled over. By sunrise, they were playing “Over the Waterfall” like they’d been doing it all their lives. We created a link where there was none before; it was an incredible feeling (and if Bela Fleck sees a surge in overseas sales, I humbly accept full credit).

4. You can learn to play a new instrument. There are an astounding variety of musical instruments out there, from the balalaika to the berimbau, the esraj to the erhu. Why cling to the guitar when you can try your hand at the gopichand? You’ll add depth to your musical repertoire and dig beneath the surface of the local culture at the same time.

5. You can bond while waiting for your bus. Music can happen anytime, anywhere: in the courtyard of your hostel, on a train station platform surrounded by luggage, or in the back of a bouncing tuk-tuk. Think of all the times you end up sitting around waiting for something, shuffling your feet, rereading your Lonely Planet for the gazillionth time—you can fill those moments with music instead and interact with the people around you.

6. Music transcends language and culture. You don’t need to speak Kiswahili to feel the groove of Kenyan hip-hop. And the people you meet don’t need to understand English to appreciate your version of Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues.” You can communicate a lot without sharing a language, as long as you’ve got passion and a shared sense of the human cause.

7. It’s a portable party. A handful of travelers plus a few beers equals a chill night. Add a guitar or an iPod with speakers and you’ve got a party. It’s one of the best ways to invite other people into your circle (especially if they’re shy or don’t speak your language), and if they have mp3s to share or are musicians themselves, it will only amplify the fun.

8. You can spread a political message. In many developing countries and regions of conflict, music is one of the most powerful ways of communicating a cause or opposing oppressors. Help the message go viral by getting it on tape (it’s easy to outfit an iPod with a microphone for recording) and spreading it to the world.

9. You can create something new. Some of the greatest musical traditions—including reggae and rock and roll—came about by combining earlier styles together in unique and interesting ways. On the road, you’ll have no shortage of inspiration from local traditions and other travelers. Try putting a Caribbean beat behind a sitar melody line and mix in some gospel harmonies. Start a band with one member from every continent (okay, Antarctica might be tough), and relish the fusion that follows.

10. Music is free. At least, the music we create ourselves is. Think about how much money we spend entertaining ourselves on the road, with drinks, cover charges, transportation, and craft shopping at the overpriced tourist market. Why not skip the spending and get a jam session rolling at your guest-house? Recruit your dorm neighbors and the guy who works at the front desk—see what y’all can come up with.

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A regular contributor to Matador, Jenny Williams, a former national soccer player, quit a job in book publishing to travel in the Middle East, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.

Top 5 European Travels for a Falling US Dollar

Craig Martin — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 22:51:03 +0000

Paceville, Malta. Photo by Heini Samuelsen

Visit the oldest buildings in the world, eat and drink in Transylvanian towns or hike through Latvia’s national parks. Not your thing?

Then party in Paceville or Riga before chilling out on a Bohemian river bank with hot mead. No? Then get lost in Europe’s strangest city after passing by a Frank Zappa statue. You can’t tell me that doesn’t appeal!

But does it all sound too expensive, especially with the way the US dollar is going? Fear not, Malta, Romania, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Latvia will still treat you right. Listen to this podcast and we’ll prove it to you.

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Exchange Rates:

Malta
1 US$ = 29 cents. Switch to euro 2008, 1US$ = 68 cents

Czech Republic
I US$ = about 18 koruny (crowns)

Lithuania
1 US$ = 2.35 litas

Latvia
1 US$ = 0.48 lats

Romania
1 US$ = 2.37 RON (Romanian new lei)

The Top 10 Hostels in Europe

Nicholas Bowditch — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 04:45:07 +0000

Hostel Beer. Photo by Jai

“When you get to Brugge, you HAVE to go to this hostel my brother’s flatmate’s girlfriend stayed at…”

“Geez don’t stay at that hostel when you are in Budapest, the night manager was SO RUDE to me when I stayed there in 1993…”

“There’s this hostel kind of near the old town … close to that big statue … there’s no sign on it … you can’t miss it!”

All helpful advice from your friends aside, it’s not hard to find a bed in Europe. There are more than 100 “hostels” in London alone. Some European hostels are like palaces – some actually ARE palaces – and some look (and smell) like a teenage boy’s bedroom.

So here it is – the definitive list of the top 10 Hostels in Europe – well my ten favorite ones anyway.

10. Foresteria Valdese – Venice, Italy

Boasting 18th century architecture right down to the Bevilacquan frescos in the ceiling, this place is the old guest lodgings of the Waldensian and Methodist Church in Venice. Centrally situated to all of Venice’s beautiful attractions, it has some of the best value accommodation in this very expensive city with dorm beds starting at 24 Euros including breakfast.

9. Cardiff Backpacker’s Hostel – Cardiff, Wales

To say this is a fun kind of place is a massive understatement. It is the only hostel located in central Cardiff and they offer big discounts for guests to attractions like Cardiff Castle and Millennium Stadium. The whole vibe of this place makes you feel welcome and with a great bar, no curfew on weekends, and beds from 25 Euros, it is easy to see why this one makes the list.

8. Flying Pig Hostel – Amsterdam, Netherlands

There are actually three Flying Pig Hostels in Holland but our pick is The Flying Pig Downtown. Situated in the heart of the red light district and right next to Amsterdam Central Station, it is very central and close to the city’s main attractions including the Royal Palace and the Waterlooplein Markets. They have a comprehensive website complete with forums and dorm beds start at 14 Euros.

7. Kabul Hostel - Barcelona, Spain

In a city where there are maybe 100 places to stay in its heaving main street, Las Ramblas, this hostel manages to retain 100% occupancy for almost every night of the year. With no single or double rooms and dorms with up to 20 beds starting at 17 Euros, Kabul is not for the faint hearted (or those wanting a solid night’s sleep) but let’s face it, that’s not what you go to Barcelona for!

6. 3 Ducks Hostel – Paris, France

With my Mum’s words, “If you’ve got nothing nice to say, say nothing at all” ringing in my ears I am going to say nothing about the most tourist-visited city on Earth. However, if you find yourself in the city and want to find a bed that won’t cost the chemise off your back, then the 3 Ducks is the answer. Dorm beds start at just 19 Euros and its location can’t be beaten.

5. Balmer’s Herberge – Interlaken, Switzerland

This place is amazing. Set amongst the magical scenery of Interlaken, Balmer’s is like an inexpensive oasis in really expensive Switzerland. Reeking of Swiss efficiency, cleanliness and order this hostel and tent village deservedly makes my top 5. Make sure you check out their Biergarten with cheap drink deals and great food. Dorms are priced from 18 Euros.

4. Kismet Dao – Brasov, Romania

The first offering from Eastern Europe is also one of the best. The management is part-Romanian, part-American and part-Korean and all of those influences are reflected in this quirky but very friendly place. Dorms start at 11 Euros and that includes breakfast and laundry service but best of all, FREE BEER! They still would have made the list without the free beer. Really they would…

3. St. Christopher’s Inn - London, United Kingdom

With so many hostels (good and rubbish) in London, it was always going to be hard to choose just one but I believe the St. Christopher’s Inn at The Village, London Bridge is the pick of the whole city. Part of a chain that includes hostels all over the UK, France, Belgium and Germany, The Village basically gives you everything you want from a hostel: cleanliness, fun, friendly staff and cheap (for London) beds which start at 28 Euros.

2. The Pink Palace - Corfu, Greece

OK the self-proclaimed “World Famous Backpackers Paradise” might be a bit of a stretch, and there are certainly better (and quieter) places to stay in the Greek Islands but The Pink Palace is something of an institution. Maybe the only hostel in the world that guarantees to turn nobody away, regardless of whether you have a booking or not! The list of activities and free inclusions is endless and dorms start at just 20 Euros.

1. Friendly Fun Frank’s Hostel – Riga, Latvia

If I was ever going to open a hostel somewhere in the world I would want to make it just like Friendly Fun Frank’s. This place has everything: great location, cheap prices, excellent local knowledge, social tours that drag you from one great nightclub to the next every night, and all in a place that is set into the walls of Old Riga’s medieval castle. Maybe it’s the 9 Euro dorm beds or maybe it’s the fact that Frank (an Australian ex-pat) only seems to employ ex-winners of the Miss Latvia beauty pageant but Frank’s is easily the best hostel in one of the best cities of the world.

So there you have it. Hugely subjective and heavily biased towards free beer and beautiful Latvian girls but my top ten just the same. How many of these would make your top 10?

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Check out Nick’s blog on Matador: “How to go from being a traveler to a tourist in 5 easy steps.”

Top 10 Surf Spots (for Mortals) in Hawaii

Spencer Klein — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 02:46:27 +0000

Kehena, Hawaii. Photo by elrentaplats

Hawaii is the most geographically isolated landmass on the planet, and for some that means only one thing: groundswell. Everywhere, in every direction, the currents of the Pacific are churning up the winds, storms, and fetch that ultimately source these islands with their world class waves. Below is a list of the best places to get wet if you have never been to Hawaii.

. . .the island juice is no myth; ocean conditions here are worlds away from your local beach break.

To be sure, there are far better waves than those listed below, but they are unlistable for various reasons. Take Kauai, for instance; there is nothing more to hide – the world already knows what waves exist, just look at a map, but why then is any photo of Kauai’s best wave still flipped, and never named, when it’s printed in any surf mag? Because respect is a crucial element of the Hawaiian surfing experience; and with reason – the island juice is no myth; ocean conditions here are worlds away from your local beach break.

But still, come surf, it’s Hawaii, the Duke would have wanted you to. For the full rundown of breaks, grab “Frank’s Map” at any surf shop. In no particular order….

Ehukai Beach Park (North Shore, Oahu)

Straight out from the parking lot of the same name, are several shifting peaks that work on everything from a west to a windswell wrap from the east. Sandy bottom is scattered with random fingers of rock. Generally a good place to come if you are beyond a beginner, but still getting used to things. Great place to get the feel of Oahu’s North Shore. Pipeline is immediately to the left, and when it’s big enough, it essentially swallows all the peaks of the beach park. Come here to watch Pipe or sight Tom Curren; across from Sunset Beach Elementary.

Laniakea (North Shore, Oahu)

On a big north, Lani’s is a freight train right that can connect for an extremely long, fast ride, with four or five makeable sections. Deep water wave, but still barrels with the right conditions. Very consistent with any swell that has a bit of north in it; doesn’t work at all on pure west swells. Good place if you’re looking to blend in – the “town” crowd from Honolulu loves this wave, and thus there are always different faces in the water. There is a shorter, hollow left as well, that can be very fun. Seen in the big opening along Kam Hwy as you head east from Hale’iwa. Caution: parking lot thieves run amuck.

Backyards (North Shore, Oahu)

The first time I surfed ‘Yards it went from a playful head high to a widow-making triple-overhead in 40 minutes, and I had to paddle out and around the entire point in a heap of anxiety to get in, so take note. Very fast, advanced wave with a steep wall, thick lip, and shallow reef below. Good barrels. Swell magnet from all directions, but works best on a NW swell. Can get very, very big, and often has less of a crowd than other spots. Further out on the point from Sunset. Access from the shallows at the tip of the point.

Caution: reef, clean up sets.

Sunset (North Shore, Oahu)

Sunset is one of the most fabled right hand points there is, and thus attracts many a soul the world over. In that sense, you can surf it without worry (crowd-wise) if you let your hyper-paddling habits subside. Surely not a wave to be taken lightly though, even at a playful three feet Hawaiian. The wave turns very fast and hollow as it emerges and walls up quick from deep water; famous inside bowl throws way out for a good, heavy barrel.

You need some length and paddling strength in your board here; very thick wave and can be difficult to get into. Prepare yourself to get washed and bashed around on the reef when you see that rogue set swing wide from the west; you’ll certainly be caught inside.

Caution: shallow reef, heavy lip, clean-up sets.

Hookipa (Paia, Maui)

Between Haiku and Paia is Maui’s most consistent wave, or waves, and it happens to double as one of the best windsurfing spots in the world. All the various peaks can be seen from the bluff along the Hana Hwy heading east from Paia. The most hierarchical spot is Pavillions, the right that comes off the far east point; otherwise, there is much range of skill found in the lineups of the other peaks; still, keep respect. Catches everything from the big WNW’s to the easterly windswells. Very exposed to the wind, so get up early before the wind does, and then hit it again late in the afternoon; with Kona winds, you score! Park in the parking lot below the bluff, and follow someone else into the water (and out).

Honolua (North Shore, Maui)

Honolua is one of the magical waves of the world, a flawless right point that seems to peel into infinity – when you happen to catch one. The crowd here is dense, but the joy of one ride makes it all worth it, especially that crisp barrel through the cave section.

Somewhat sheltered from the islands to the north, the swell window here is smaller than most other spots, and thus it works much less often; best on a big NNW swell. The trades that plague most of the rest of Maui, work fine here, to make a consistent side-offshore breeze. Again, when you connect one, the wave is simply magical.

Park on the bluff above, follow someone out.

Velzyland (North Shore, Oahu)

Everything considered, VLand is probably the most risky inclusion on this list. Shallow, extra sharp reef, a heavily localized pack, and a barrel that seems to suck dry, make for a serious North Shore experience. Respect here (for everything) is vital.

This marks the end of the “seven mile miracle,” the opposite end being Haleiwa’s Ali’i Beach Park. Park along Kam Hwy, and walk through the gate at Sunset Beach Colony. Paddle out from directly in front of the peak. The wide open barrel is unreal, but caution: sharp reef, shallow, crowd factor, locals.

Hanalei (North Shore, Kauai)

This is maybe the only wave on Kauai that you are allowed to mention in a public arena. Lucky for us, it’s a great wave, a peeling right point that works on most winter swell directions. Good fun when it’s smaller to grab a longboard and go make friends in the lineup – then you might find out about those other waves around the way. The bay here is pristine, and so is the town by the same name. On the far north east side of the point, towards the Princeville. Can get very big, and very good.

Canoes (South Shore, Oahu)

This is the jumping off point for the Waikiki surf adventure, and the rest of the south shore as well. Every surfer must come at least once, and there are few waves as friendly to teach your new ladyfriend. While generally a friendly wave, this whole shore turns on several times a summer, firing off exceptional waves. Those roadbumps beneath your board are not coral heads – they’re either the innocently ignorant Japanese tourists, or the equally benign, pasty-white Oklahomans.

On the south shore you can surf fifteen different spots in a single session, so paddle around and explore – that’s what the Duke did. Straight out, fittingly, from the Duke Kahanamoku statue in Waikiki. For more juice on this side of the island, seek Bowls, Kaisers, or the wave in between the two, aptly named Inbetweens. Looking out towards Diamond Head, imagine the Hawaiian legend of the wave the Duke caught way out on the point and connected all the way to the sand, right where you get your favorite mai-tai – the restaurant by the name of Duke’s.

***Surf tip of the day: Apply that sunscreen twenty to thirty minutes before you hit the water to preserve the ever-fragile coral reef. Coral really is an animal, not a plant, and it literally suffocates from the sunscreen that leeches off your back! And don’t walk on the reef – you wouldn’t walk on any other animal!

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Spencer Klein’s ideal place to watch the sunset: “Seen September Sessions? From one of those hollow ones during F Stop Blues in the last section.”

Top 10 French Schools for Waves, Wilderness, and Bons Temps

Sandra Konta — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:05:54 +0000

Chamonix

Looking to learn French while you surf, dive, or spend time in the mountains? The following schools give you access to some of the world’s most revered terrain. And, yes, they provide top-level schooling and offer internationally-recognized diplomas and certificates.

1. INSTED makes it their business to combine extreme outdoor fun with high caliber language study courses. Nestled at the base of Europe’s highest mountain, Chamonix Mont Blanc, France offers premier glacier descents, ice climbing, snowshoeing and alpine skiing (primarily red and black resort trails and a range of primo backcountry couloirs). Take a break from your studies and hut ski from Chamonix to Zermatt, Switzerland on the “haute (high) route,” one of the world’s premier backcountry routes. During the summer months, Chamonix’s playground shifts gears but is equally alive — mountain biking, rock climbing, mountaineering, rafting, paragliding, canyoning and trekking, just to start. The school is partnered with the Université Stendhal in Grenoble and offers a wide array of levels, credits and certifications (TCF). Classes range from 440 euros (two weeks of study) to 2,250 euros, depending on what level of language proficiency you wish to attain. Priced separately, studio, apartment and homestay options are available.

2. Check out INSTED’s school in Biarritz if your adventure setting of choice is the water. Biarritz is considered Europe’s surfing capital. INSTED Biarritz teaches according to the levels defined by the Council of Europe. Open April through October, INSTED Biarritz is priced at 275 euros per week with a minimum commitment of two weeks. Homestays and shared or independent apartment living options are available.

Le Cours d’École

3. Le Cours d’École in Papara, Tahiti is a family-run school set on an exquisite lagoon. You’ll be able to snorkel on your lunch break! There are legendary surfing beaches in both directions. Head up into Tahiti’s mountains for a tropical hike. The school evaluates its students according to the levels defined by the Council of Europe. Students can then choose between individual or group instruction, which ranges in price from 400 euros per week for group instruction (four hours/day) to 900 euros per week for 4 hours of private instruction per day. School staff will assist in finding homestays (half board and full board options), an apartment or room for accommodations.

4. The Center for International Cultural and Educational Exchangescalls New Caledonia home, a small French territory in the South Pacific, it boasts the world’s largest tropical lagoon and second largest barrier reef and is a diver’s paradise. The school is located in Nouméa (tons of dive shops), the island’s capital and is a two-minute walk from white sand beaches. The Center provides DELF instruction along with study options catered to your level, individually or in groups. Homestays can be arranged.

5. Media Langues Caraïbes enjoys a Caribbean landscape on Guadeloupe, which is known as “Karukera” or “island of beautiful waters” by the Caraïbe Indians. Kayaking, surfing, deep sea diving, windsurfing and sailing are all readily available. The Council of Europe also guides how the school assesses and teaches its students. TEF certification and semi-intensive (20 hours/week) and intensive (30 hours/week) individual and group (limited to seven) lessons are available starting at 290 euros per week. Another option – French lessons combined with surf camp or hiking and kayaking. Homestay, self-catering apartments, hotels and tourist residences are available.

6. Point 3 Language Center in Montreal, Canada teaches French in the morning and has its students out on the slopes skiing or snowboarding in the afternoon. During the summer, the school offers a French study and hiking combo. The school doesn’t advertise a recognized system of instruction. Individual, group and intensive French study options exist. Classes start at 525 Canadian dollars per two weeks. The school offers a homestay, apartments, and a student residence.

Tahiti

Alliance Française: The following four schools profiled are Alliances Françaises. They are part of a worldwide network of independently-run associations (in 130 countries!) that originated in France and have the joint goal of spreading French language and culture. They offer extensive, high-quality French instruction and varying diplomas and certificates. Most evaluate and teach according to the levels defined by the Council of Europe. Check with each school for details. You will need to arrange housing independently in these locations.

7. The Alliance Française in Cape Town, South Africa provides an extreme landscape nestled between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. Whether you’re kloofing Cape Town’s suicide gorge, sandboarding down South Africa’s dunes or cage diving with great white sharks, you’ll wonder why you didn’t visit earlier. Other adventure opportunities: abseiling, kite surfing, skydiving, surfing, abseiling, paragliding, mountain biking, rock climbing, sea kayaking and hiking. South Africa’s Alliance Française is the largest and oldest French language school in Africa. Looking for a quieter setting? The Alliance Française offers classes in Fish Hoek, a beach town 35 miles southeast of Cape Town on False Bay.

8. TheAlliance Française in Auckland, New Zealand, is found just south of the Bay of Islands, where you’ll find world-class sea kayaking. Interested in whitewater rafting? Check out the Christchurch Alliance Française where Zealand’s extreme (class 5) rafting on the Rangitata River is only moments away. Email allifran@xtra.co.nz for details.

9. Alliance Française (site in Spanish or French) in La Paz, Bolivia is an idyllic city setting for those of you who find your peace hanging of the face of a mountain — it sits at an altitude of 11,181 and provides a perfect opportunity to combine French lessons with world-renowned climbing trips. Favorable exchange rate currently available.

10. The Townsville Alliance Française is on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Enough said.

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One of Matador’s newest contributors, Sandra Konta is a writer turned social worker turned writer with a social conscience. She currently lives in Denver.

Responsible Tourism Day: Top 10 Resources

Jenny Williams — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:52:42 +0000

In celebration of tomorrow´s World Responsible Tourism Day we’ve put together a list of the ten best online sources for learning about and planning responsible travel. Please add your recommendation to the list in the comments section—there’s a wealth of material out there and new sources for green travel are always popping up.

Matador Travel and The Traveler’s Notebook should be the first stops for travelers passionate about making a difference on the road. And that’s not just because I write for them. The fact is, these two sites together offer an impressive collection of organizations doing great work, opportunities to get involved, and other dedicated travelers. You can exchange ideas, participate in forums, and search the network for like-minded souls.

Ethical Traveler is a “grass-roots alliance uniting adventurers, tourists, travel agencies, and outfitters—everyone who loves to travel, and sees travel as a positive force in the world.” The organization runs campaigns to raise awareness about environmental crises and human rights abuses all over the world, and offers ways to take action. They also provide a monthly news feed you can subscribe to if you want to keep up on the latest stories and campaigns. Ethical Traveler is a project of the Earth Island Institute, another good resource.

National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations presents a thorough look at the “geotourism” phenomenon. Their destination scorecards are a great place to start when planning a trip, and they even offer a booklet that “gives travel journalists and curious consumers ways to evaluate companies and destinations for sustainability.” The site also provides an excellent list of other resources, including links for “Green Hotel” organizations and eco-tour operators.

Tourism Concern, a UK-based organization, also has campaigns and action plans for green-minded go-getters. Their latest campaign takes a hard look at the effect of the Olympics on the indigenous communities that are often displaced or otherwise negatively affected by such massive events. Tourism Concern has an additional focus on the impact of free versus fair trade on local communities, and specifically aim to include UK Black and Minority Ethnic Diaspora in their educational outreach for travelers.

World Surface calls itself a resource of “sustainable tourism for backpackers and independent travelers.” lists hundreds of eco-tours and offers contributions from travelers while they’re on the road. The site also details volunteer opportunities and conservation vacations. It’s easy to navigate and search for locations and tours.

The Connected Traveler has a long list of resources for “Good Travel” and “Volontourism” on the left sidebar. The site has essays, podcasts, and videos on all aspects of sustainable travel, and is generally a good site to get a feel for what’s out there.

Earthfoot’s Ecotour Posterboard runs a bunch of “very small-scale, locally produced, low-impact” eco-tours and homestays in countries all over the world. You can search by location or interest and then look at the profiles of each person involved in a tour. Though they’re not always budget choices, they are always rooted in the local community.

The International Ecotourism Society lists worldwide conferences, symposiums, and other events related to ecotourism. The site is geared more toward people in the industry—tour operators, lodge owners, etc—but travelers might find their research and publications section interesting. They’ve also got a searchable database of “ecotourism experts” that you can contact if you’re looking to hire consultants or speakers.

Leave No Trace is great for people who are looking for a more involved approach to ethical traveling. You can sign up for training courses and educational workshops, download free teaching resources, and gain access to serious research about the effects of travelers on their environment. Their focus is on the natural environment rather than communities of people, and most of the studies pertain to the American outdoors, but the site is still a good tool for general awareness and education.

Tread Lightly! focuses on “outdoor enthusiasts that use motorized and mechanized vehicles,” but the site also includes lots of good tips for horseback riding, camping, fishing, and snow sports. There’s a free “awareness course” and a section for kids, plus a twice-yearly newsletter that you can download in pdf form.

Okay, I know this is more than ten, but I couldn’t help myself. Responsible Travel is a massive database of thousands of eco-tours run by hundreds of operators, for people with a bit more cash to spend. Even for the budget-minded, the site includes some great tips and resources, including a handy air travel calculator that tells you how much carbon dioxide your flights add to global warming, and hints on offsetting and/or reducing your output.

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A regular contributor to Matador, Jenny Williams, a former national soccer player, quit a job in book publishing to travel in the Middle East, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.

Top 10 Spanish Schools for Waves, Wilderness and Buena Onda

Julie Schwietert — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 03:26:30 +0000

Patagonia Photo: Morning theft

This top 10 scours the Spanish-speaking world to find the best language schools that also meet the following criteria: (1) access to world-class wilderness and / or adventure sports, (2) an emphasis on sustainability and supporting local communities, and (3) a wide range of geographical regions.

10. Pop Wuj
Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

In addition to offering basic Spanish instruction, Pop Wuj specializes in technical Spanish for social workers, nurses, and doctors. Professionals can get hands-on fieldwork experience volunteering in the community. The school gets points from Matador for being a cooperative and with a strong commitment to community service. The school is a non-profit that directs its earnings to community development projects including a daycare, a greenhouse, medical clinics, and a scholarship program for marginalized students. Although Quetzaltenango is the second largest city in Guatemala, it’s a stone’s throw from numerous volcanoes. Climbers and hikers will be in paradise here.

a view of Mt. Santa Maria and Quetzaltenango Photo: Fernando Reyes Palencia

9. Costa Rican Language Academy
San Jose, Costa Rica

One of the few language schools in Costa Rica owned and operated by Costa Ricans, CRLA is conscious of the local community, though it’s a bit more vague about exactly how it supports local initiatives compared to some of the other schools on our list. Still, its San Jose location is ideal; the capital city has a variety of transportation options and serves as a jumping off point for the coastal or mountain regions, where a wide variety of intense recreation can be enjoyed. Click here for a great map and description of Costa Rican surf spots.

8. El Paraiso Spanish School
Boquete, Panama

El Paraiso, owned and staffed by locals, is located on the Caldera River in the town of Boquete, much smaller and less touristy than Bocas del Toro. Boquete is surrounded by mountains, including the Baru Volcano, offering wilderness hiking and camping for seasoned trailblazers. Paddling and rafting on the river is also possible.

7. Otavalo Spanish Institute
Otavalo, Ecuador

While more expensive than many of the other schools on our list and also less clear about its commitment to sustainability and community, this school deserves a spot on the list for its geography alone. Ninety minutes from Quito, Otavalo is a world-famous artisan town surrounded by mountains and home to some of the clearest lakes in Ecuador. Opportunities abound for alpine adventures, mountain biking, climbing, and hiking. OSI also makes the list because it offers Quechua (Kichwa) courses and has a combination package in which students can study for part of their stay in Otavalo and in Baños for the other part; in Baños, hiking, biking, climbing, and rafting await.

Cajas National Park, Ecuador Photo: notafish

6. Hijos del Maiz
El Lagartillo, Nicaragua

Perhaps the most off-the-beaten path school on our list, Hijos del Maiz is a “project by the community, for the community,” whose teachers are “well-educated peasant farmers from the community.” At least 20% of the weekly fee of $130 is reinvested into community projects, and students are invited to become as engaged in local life as they’d like by participating in community building projects. According to one student, just getting to the school was an adventure sport, but once you’re there, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the area on horseback. Test your bareback gallop in this rugged terrain!

5. Instituto de Idiomas, Universidad del Norte
Barranquilla, Colombia

The Institute of Languages at Barranquilla’s University of the North offers intensive language courses and the same kinds of homestay-volunteer combination packages offered by most schools on the list. Located in Barranquilla, a Caribbean coastal city, you’ll be perfectly positioned to spend your free time kiteboarding or diving. Of course, you could also find out for yourself whether Shakira was right when she said hips don’t lie. Whet your appetite for the trip by checking out this video from the 2004 International Kiteboarding Competition, which was held in Cartagena.

4. Spanish in the Mountains
Bariloche, Argentina

Spanish in the Mountains is steps from Cerro Catedral, Argentina’s biggest ski resort. If you want backcountry, head to the untouched bowls at Refugio Frey or the nearby chutes at La Laguna. This is a school run by and for mountain lovers. On most days during the Austral winter (July-September) you can find students from Alaska, the Rockies, the Alps and flatlanders with alpine dreams practicing conjugations on chairlifts. Mountaineers can combine lessons with a summit of the local giant, Mt. Tronador. Paddlers can study after running sections of the gnarly Rio Manso. The school’s classroom is a log cabin tucked inside a cozy forest with views of the local peaks. There are also visits to rural estancias, nearby farms and museums – plus regular nighttime barbecues where you can meet other mountain lovin’ locals and find a partner for ski touring on the weekend. This is also the best way to get the inside scoop on the best powder stashes and the lesser-known crags where only the locals hang out. Flat rate for classes is US$13/hour and schedules are ongoing – whenever you want to start, a teacher is ready for you. Housing options: rent your own bungalow, stay with a local family, or spend as much time as you can in your tent. Tip: Bring your gear – and consider selling some when you leave since there’s always a hot market for mountain toys here.

[Editor's note: this school was submitted / reported on by Christie Pashby.]

Montevideo’s southern shore Photo: Vince Alongi

3. IPSA Spanish Language School
Montevideo, Uruguay

IPSA is within walking distance to the beach, providing great opportunities for surfing…check out Playa Honda! Click hereFor surfing information and conditions in Montevideo. Prices at IPSA vary significantly depending on the intensity, duration, and level of your Spanish class.

2. Guacamaya Spanish School
Copan Ruinas, Honduras

While another local school called Ixbalanque may be better known, Guacamaya is one of the most welcoming and community-focused language school in Honduras. Guacmaya offers a week’s worth of classes and homestay (with meals, internet, and an excursion) for $200, providing a stipend to host families. They also organize volunteer opportunities for students, fostering cultural exchange with the locals and helping to improve the infrastructure of the community. Copan Ruinas is a World Heritage Site that offers lots of possibilities for adventure. While many schools and tour operators will likely try to rope you into an organized excursion, exploring the Rio Dulce and the local caves on your own is likely to be a rewarding experience.

Copan Ruinas Photo: Adal-Honduras

1. Cooperative Spanish School San Pedro
San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala

Despite its boring name, the Cooperative Spanish School San Pedro earns top ranking by meeting all of our inclusion criteria and then some! The school was started by a group of local teachers who are all equal partners in the enterprise and receive a living wage. In addition to providing extraordinarily affordable instruction (rates begin at $62 per week without a homestay; $117 for a homestay), the cooperative directs profits towards two community development projects: an outreach program to families with needs caused by physical disability or severe economic hardship, and an education program for local students. The school also offers nightly activities that range from lectures and discussions on Guatemalan history and indigenous rights, to local arts, and hiking and kayaking excursions. The school is within walking distance to Lake Atitlan, providing opportunities for independent hiking, swimming, and kayaking.

Top 10 Reasons to Keep a Journal or Travel Blog

Jenny Williams — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 23:12:26 +0000

Some travelers ask why WRITE when you can DO? Putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) can feel like a drag when there are waves to ride and volcanoes to hike.

But documenting a journey through writing can be one of the most rewarding parts of your trip. Journals offer a private refuge for emotions, while travel blogs amplify your adventures for a public audience of family, friends, and travelers (armchair and otherwise). Here are the top 10 reasons why you should do one or the other—or, for the best of all worlds, both.

1. You can capture the minutia as it happens. When you’re caught up in an exhilarating moment, it seems impossible that you would ever forget the exact shade of crimson splashed across that Bolivian sunset, or the profound remark made by your Tanzanian safari guide. But these details are fleeting, especially when we’re bombarded with so many new things every day. It’s like a dream—if you don’t write it down first thing upon waking, it will gradually lose color until all that remains is a pale blur of what was once a crisp and vivid picture.

2. Your friends and family want to know. Really. But they probably don’t want to sit through a six-hour slideshow-and-story marathon when you get back home. Blogging a few times a week will keep them up-to-date on your adventures and make them feel like they’re out there with you. All your entries and photos are stored together and easily navigable for the technology-shy. Plus, blogging takes up less internet café time than sending personal emails every few days, and—let’s face it—mass emails are tacky.

3. Online travel networks offer instant feedback and real-time travel advice. When you blog on a community site, you’re linking in to hundreds, sometimes thousands of other travelers who will appreciate your writing and offer you some guidance in return. Get the skinny on festivals, the newest hot spot, and safety updates—and spread the word when you run into something extraordinary. Some writers’ blogs even land them paid writing gigs or other job opportunities. You can find travel partners—or, like one couple, partners for life.

4. You can tell the truth as you see it. International media sources often present countries in the light that best suits their corporate interests. South Africa, for example, is either the continent’s beacon of democracy or a country on the brink of violent self-destruction. But what do you see when you get there? Lend your voice to the citizen journalism movement and let people view a destination through your eyes. Your perspective is valid, too, and many times the truest stories are the ones being told from the ground up.

5. It’s an opportunity to flex your writing muscles. Even if you don’t plan on being the next Paul Theroux (which is fine, because one is enough), the ability to craft a thoughtful and entertaining story is useful in nearly every profession. And the best way to become a better writer is to write, write, and write some more. Journaling and blogging are no-pressure environments, so you can experiment with style, tone, and humor. You’ll quickly discover which blog posts garner the most attention and what types of stories people want to hear.

6. It gives you something to do on those long bus rides. Even with an iPod or a good book, all-day buses can stretch longer than Bush’s presidency. Having a notebook handy helps pass the time (I find that staring out windows puts me in a contemplative mood anyway) and results in some lovely, loopy lettering, courtesy of potholes and near collisions with mad cattle. I also keep family pictures in my journal along with sketches and postcards of the places I’d already been, which proved a wonderful icebreaker with fellow bus passengers and curious kids all over Africa.

7. Writing about a place changes your experience of it. When you force yourself to reflect on your trip a couple times a week, you’ll find that articulating your impressions on the page may help you process what you’ve been seeing. You’ll start studying your surroundings with the keen eyes of a writer, noticing those telling details that represent a greater truth. Writing teaches us how to observe a scene while still being a part of it.

8. You might learn something. You don’t want to look like an idiot writing about the Taj Mahal, right? So you read a little history, look up some other India travel blogs—and suddenly you’re approaching the iconic building with a rich sense of historical and social context. This newfound depth of understanding not only adds value to your writing, it also enhances your experience. Which in turn enhances your writing. Which in turn…you get the idea.

9. It will shed light on your inner journey. You might not recognize it while you’re in the throws of thrill seeking, but sooner or later, you’ll re-read what you’ve written and realize that you became a different person somewhere along the way. Private journals in particular are so intimate that your personal evolution will surface out of the pages as clear as invisible ink under a blacklight.

10. There’s no better souvenir than a collection of your stories in your own words. Many blog sites offer ways of printing your entries and photos into a book, and a handwritten journal is an irreplaceable keepsake. The journal itself tells countless stories in its battered covers, dirty pages, and lingering scent of campfire. And then, thirty years down the line when you wonder if the whole trip was just a dream, you can pull out your old stories and bring those blurry memories back into focus.

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A regular contributor to Matador, Jenny Williams, a former national soccer player, quit a job in book publishing to travel in the Middle East, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.

10 Conscious Choices to Make on Your Next Trip

Jenny Williams — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:51:43 +0000

Being a responsible traveler comes down to making conscious decisions. Here are ten choices you can make to improve the quality of your next trip and the quality of life for people in the places you visit.

Choose to educate yourself on your destination. And I’m not just talking about reading the history section in the Lonely Planet. What kind of government runs the country? What are the current environmental challenges for the region? While you’re there, read newspapers and engage locals in conversations. Sometimes you have to ask whether you should visit a place at all—Burma, for example, is a controversial destination since it can be difficult for travelers to avoid inadvertently supporting the oppressive military junta. You have to weigh that against the importance of spreading truthful accounts of traveling within the country’s borders and promoting the cause of the Burmese people.

Choose conscientious travel mates. If your travel buddies go heavy on the party and light on the political awareness, you’ll probably be boasting a beer gut instead of curiosity about local culture. But if you hitch your wagon to a crew that cares about the environment and sustainable living, you’ll be making conscious choices almost by default.

Choose to learn the local language. No one’s asking for fluency—especially when you’re in your seventh country on a round-the-world ticket—but mastering a few basics goes a long way in smoothing interpersonal relations. At the bare minimum, I always learn greetings, the terms for “please” and “thank you,” and numbers one through ten (plus variations for “hundred,” “thousand,” or whatever’s most useful for the local currency). Personal info vocab is also helpful (names, ages, interests), as is knowing how to pronounce the names of local dishes (and brews).

Choose alternative forms of transportation. Most trips revolve around planes, trains, and buses—choices that certainly produce less carbon emmissions than private jets and single passenger SUVs. But why not take it further? Hitchhiking, for example, produces zero additional pollution since your ride was already headed that way. Bicycling gets you closer to nature and sculpts killer calf muscles. And boats—of the sail and oar variety—carry you places no bus ever could.

Choose a new food every week. Ever tried crunchy cricket? How about stir-fried tarantula? Not only will you expand your palate with exotic munchies, you’ll also be supporting energy-efficient meals that cause less stress to the local environment than Western imports or recreations. You might even surprise yourself with the snacks you’ll want to take back home.

Choose locally owned businesses. This includes hotels, bars, tour operators, craft markets, and restaurants—and no, employing Chinese baristas at the Forbidden City Starbucks doesn’t count. It can be tough to avoid foreign-owned companies altogether, especially when some of the sweetest hostels and watering holes are run by ex-pats. But try we must if we want to inject the greatest percentage of our travel dollars directly into the local economy rather than the coffers of international interests.

Choose eco-conscious businesses. These days, when even Chevron claims to be going green, it takes extra effort to ferret out truly ethical organizations. This consideration has to go in tandem with the previous choice, since you can’t be sure that all locally owned practices take moral stances. For example, many elephant camps in Thailand use abusive training methods to break in their animals so they can be used on tourist treks and to perform tricks. Take the time to know before you go—which companies have proven track records of community spirit and progressive programs?

Choose appropriate clothing. I know Egypt’s climate has all the temperance of a sauna, but stripping down to crop tops and mini-shorts will only heat things up more. In many places, foreigners are given leeway to dress how they like. Still, it’s important to demonstrate respect for local culture—and you don’t have to don a hijab to do that. You’ll find people in nearly every country much more receptive when you’re relatively clean and moderately dressed. Buying regional clothing helps you blend in and might even give you new insight into a people’s lifestyle.

Choose to give back. Travel is a give-and-take experience, and it’s important that we as travelers don’t just lounge around on the taking end of things. Monetary donations are often welcomed by local NGOs, but there are plenty of opportunities for the fiscally lacking. Some people carve out a few months during their travels to volunteer; short-timers can spend a day with kids at an orphanage or pick up litter on the beach. Writing articles or blog posts about the places you’re visiting will help disseminate accurate information to people back home who would otherwise get their “facts” from Fox.

Choose kindness first and skepticism later. It’s easy to dismiss touts and beggars with a curt word and a view of the back of your head; much harder to recognize that they’re also fathers and husbands and daughters and wives, trying to support their families in a harsh economy. This doesn’t mean you have to fall for their wily ways or buy their crappy fake jewelry—only that compassion doesn’t cost a thing, and it will come back to you tenfold. Remember, karma doesn’t just count with the people you like. We’re all in this together.

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A regular contributor to Matador, Jenny Williams, a former national soccer player, quit a job in book publishing to travel in the Middle East, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.