Taking off Travel blog

I’m heading off on another trip. A couple of months ago I read Sheila Scarborough’s post on the Vacation Departure Maniac and it got me to thinking about the different types of packers there are.

How do you pack when you travel?

Last Minute Larry

Last minute Larry is so laid back that he knows he can pack whatever he needs in five to ten minutes. He doesn’t even bother to get out cases or bags until the actual day of travel and is unlikely to do any pre-trip planning - isn’t buying the ticket enough? Of course Larry is most likely to forget something essential, but is so laid back he doesn’t care.

Most likely to say:”Of course I’ve got time for another drink before I head to the airport.”

Lightweight Letty

Lightweight Letty makes a virtue of packing light - in fact, it’s almost ridiculous how little she travels with. She can go anywhere with only a carryon. Her carryon bag will hold essential toiletries (these can always be supplemented by what the hotel provides), a change of clothes and some travel wash. Letty’s the least likely to have any excess baggage charges.

Most likely to say: “I’m pretty sure this wrap will work for the beach AND the restaurant - and I can always wash it out.” Read more »

I always find time lapse photography interesting because it gives you such a different view of the things you normally take for granted. Here are a few time lapse travel videos that grabbed me recently.

First up, here’s a unique view of the Northern Lights from National Geographic:

Next, there’s a video taken by a guy crossing the country:

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GoPlanit offers instant trip planning. Just type in your destination and you get a selection of activities, dining, lodging and flight options that you  can choose from and add to your itinerary. It’s a great way to get a snapshot of what’s available in a particular area, though some areas are better represented than others. For example, I plugged in Hollywood, Florida as a destination and got a handful of activity suggestions, a couple of dining options and not much else.

Creating An Itinerary

Create an itinerary for a major city (San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, Seattle, Boston, Atlanta or San Diego) and GoPlanit really comes into its own. Start by putting in the start and end dates for your trip, hit the Plan It button and you get an instant itinerary with a range of well spaced activities for each day. You can fill in the gaps if you wish with other activities you want to do. Read more »

You can never be sure where your next business trip will take you. Some of the nicest destinations (such as Florida or the Caribbean) are also the ones prone to be affected by tropical storms and hurricanes during the June to November period. And there are also other places where storms can strike unexpectedly. So how can you do your best to stay safe if you’re going to one of those areas?

Tips for traveling into a hurricane zone

Watch Or Warning?

One of the key things is to pay attention to the news and know the terminology. A key resource is the National Hurricane Center. If a hurricane watch is issued, then there may be a hurricane within the next 24 to 36 hours. If it’s a hurricane warning, then a hurricane is expected within 24 hours. Accuweather’s advice is ‘run from water, hide from wind’. In other words, stay away from areas likely to flood if a storm surge is coming, and if the wind is rising, then the most interior room of your accommodation is the best place to be. Read more »

It’s been a couple of months since I last did a roundup of interesting travel blog posts. There have been some great posts around since then. To kick off this month’s roundup, a post on Vagabondish reminds us that traveling is not just about leaving places but about returning to your old home. How to Embrace Reverse Culture Shock (Sunny Side Up) says:

“many travelers return home to find themselves at odds with their native culture — that their view of normal has shifted. Although sometimes frustrating, these unique first moments after arrival — the moments of culture shock — can be incredibly valuable.”

Traveling The Blogosphere - August 2009

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