The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the world’s largest organization of professional travel journalists and photographers, recently polled their members to come up with the top 10 tips on how to reduce the weight of your luggage when traveling.
“It’s always been desirable to travel light, but never more so than today when many airlines are imposing surcharges on bags and on luggage that weighs more than 50 pounds,” states SATW president Bea Broda. As a first step, she suggests travelers lay out everything they want to pack. “People tend to take too much. Before you pack anything in a bag, look at everything you are thinking of taking and ask yourself, ‘Do I really need to bring this?’”
If the item passes the first test, here are 10 more recommendations travel writers – people who travel for a living – suggest to cut down on weight, along with some comments from SATW members:
1. Pick one basic color that doesn’t show dirt (such as black) then brighten with lightweight accessories like scarves. Make sure each item of clothing can be worn with any other item and will match with all your shoes.
- “I always stick to a single color scheme when I pack: black and white, khaki and navy, denim and red. It not only eliminates the need to pack multiple pairs of shoes and a variety of accessories, it ensures that I can mix and match as needed based on the weather, the day’s activities, or the formality of the establishments I’m visiting.” Kim Knox Beckius, freelance travel writer
- “If you select one base color, everything will go with everything else and you can bring less pieces overall,” Robin Robinson, travel editor, Toronto Sun
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Could Atlantic Canada be the new Caribbean?
Cruise aficionados are always looking for new destinations. With its picturesque fishing villages, scenic coastlines and centuries-old marine heritage, Atlantic Canada offers charming and uncrowded ports of call.
This year more than 20 cruise lines – from large to small, luxurious to adventurous, appealing to all tastes and travel budgets – are featuring more than 160 sailings from the East Coast to ports in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island (PEI.) The season for Atlantic Canada is expanding with more ships sailing earlier in May and later in October.
In 2008, cruise passenger arrivals to Atlantic Canada were up an impressive 42 percent and this year, cruise officials are forecasting another increase, with up to 608,000 arrivals. Carnival, Crystal, Cunard, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Silversea and many other lines are offering sailings out of New York, Boston, Baltimore, Cape Liberty (Bayonne, N.J.), Philadelphia and Ft. Lauderdale, starting at as little as $269, per person, double occupancy. From June to October, Canadian Sailing Expeditions will offer 4, 7, 10 and 14-day voyages aboard the Tall Ship Caledonia. Pearl Seas Cruises will sail in Atlantic Canada waters calling at small ports like Nova Scotia’s Lunenberg, a UNESCO World Heritage site and will offer a circumnavigation of Newfoundland.
More expedition ships are plying the waters of Newfoundland and Labrador, often enroute to the Arctic or Greenland. This year, officials expect 54,000 arrivals, a staggering 64 percent increase over 2008. Adventure Canada, Cruise North, Fred Olsen, Polar Star Expeditions and Wanderbird Cruises, to name a few, will visit ports like St. John’s, Corner Brook, Battle Harbour and Red Bay.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
travel tip |
|
|
Source: PacSafe.com
|
|
You are on vacation and shooting up a frenzy of photographs. The only problem is, where do you store all those pictures? If you leave your laptop at home, make sure you bring a few extra memory cards, as sometimes one may not be enough.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Revisit Jet Set Costa Smeralda and Saint-Tropez; Discover Portugal’s World Heritage Wine Region; or Sail Intimate Islands of the Mediterranean
Europe is the eternal summer destination. Travelers can savor Sardinia’s renowned wine and cuisine; hobnob with the social elite in Saint-Tropez; explore the untouched Douro Valley in Portugal; or sail the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. Check out these classic European summer locales highlighting tried and true hotspots and under-the radar scenes, destined to become the new classics.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
I rarely leave for a trip without consulting Lonely Planet first and I love little more than heading off on a roadtrip, so I’m thrilled to learn that Lonely Planet is launching a new series of guidebooks in March called “Trips.”
The first six titles in the series are “California,” “Pacific Northwest,” “Arizona, New Mexico & the Grand Canyon,” “New York, Washington DC & the Mid-Atlantic,” “The Carolinas, Georgia & the South,” and “New England.”
Each $20 paperback offers 50 to 68 itineraries and more than 1,000 places to see, organized by themes like “Food & Drink,” “Outdoors,” “History & Culture,” “Offbeat” and “City.”
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the world’s largest association of professional travel journalists and photographers, recently polled its members to discover the top 10 universal tips on how to save money traveling.
“There’s never been a better time to travel,” states SATW president Bea Broda. “With the economy the way it is, there are deals everywhere – and the Internet has made them easy to discover,” Broda says.
She suggests travelers should register online with airlines, hotels and car rental companies to receive updates and information on their special offers and packages. Comparison search engines such as www.kayak.com and www.bookingbuddy.com are helpful to find the best Internet prices.
Here, from people who travel for a living, are 10 practical ways to save money on vacation travel, with selected comments from SATW members:
1. Travel in the off-season or on the edges of popular seasons.
- “Traveling in the off-season saves big bucks on hotels and transportation, but there are other pluses too, such as fewer crowds and hence shorter lines at museums, churches, restaurants and so on.” Susan Farlow, freelance travel writer
- “Traveling off-season means cab drivers, hoteliers, merchants and locals are more accommodating and welcoming; you’ll have a better experience at a lower cost,” Judy Wells, freelance travel writer, TravelontheLevel.com
2. Get to know local bus/metro transportation for city stays. Ask about multi-day specials and special one-day tourist cards. Some international rail and travel cards must be purchased before you arrive in that country. Look at transportation Web sites for the cities and countries you will visit. For instance, the Visitor Oyster Card, good on all public transport in London, must be purchased before you arrive in London.
- “Public transport allows you to get to know the flavors and nuances of the people in a foreign country, and you have the serendipity of encountering kind gestures and helpful questions,” Roger Toll, freelance travel writer
- “Using public transportation is not only less expensive than car rentals or cabs, but can also be ‘green,’ helping a community keep open streets and clean air,” Martin Hintz, freelance travel writer
3. Picnic instead of eating every meal in restaurants. Visit markets, bakeries, local shops and delis…but avoid uncooked street food and wash fruit with bottled water.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".