Taking off Travel blog

As Sharon stated last time, the latest and greatest social networking platform, Pinterest, can be quite addictive. For example, I probably spent half my time browsing on Pinterest and the other half doing actual research. Nonetheless, once you harness your distractions, Pinterest can be used for a myriad of things for travelers. You can drive additional traffic to your blog, come up with useful ideas for your old travel items, and even participate in travel-themed contests.

But if you need help using Pinterest productively, here are 20 different ways a traveler can use Pinterest for their own benefit. Just be sure to set a goal to put whatever you like into action, or else it will never get done!

Pinterest Tips for Travelers

So, how can a traveler use Pinterest?

1. Collect travel snack recipes like cookies for the car or protein-packed trail mix while backpacking.

2. Collect easy DIY projects you can do in the car or use for travel, like this do-it-yourself travel journal

3. Research some of the beautiful pictures and places in the city you’re about to visit. Then, see if you can find the places and views yourself!

4. Follow a favorite online travel brand.

5. Find and print a travel checklist by searching ‘travel checklist’

6. Get inspired to travel by searching ‘travel quotes’

7. Upload a map with your route on it and tag all the places in the description. Then ask people to comment on their experiences and pin pictures to the route’s board. You’ll be more excited about your trip!

8. Find and make your own travel games by searching ‘travel games’.

9. Search ‘post card’ to see different ways to use post cards. Then when you travel, you can take pictures to make your own similar post cards. You might also see creative ways to display post cards, like post card walls, framed post cards, post card collages…

10. Find more products from your favorite travel brand by searching their website. To do this, type in [http://pinterest.com/source/yourdomain.com] without brackets. Then, whatever your domain is (let’s say ParkRideFlyUSA.com is my favorite domain!) I’d type http://pinterest.com/source/parkrideflyusa.com into the URL bar. The result is everything that’s been pinned from ParkRideFlyUSA! Pretty nifty, huh? Read more »

When we head outdoors for that long-awaited vacation, we bring cameras to capture those picture-perfect moments. Our trips to great outdoors like nature parks, sandy beaches and breathtaking mountain view are best remembered through these pictures. We smile and try to go back to these wonderful times and relive memories.

It is important to create a meaningful presentation out of the pictures we take during the trip. While most of us get busy with strolling, hunting, cooking or trailblazing outdoors, we want all of these documented. To make these memories alive, we just don’t settle for ordinary snapshots.  Here are some of the best photography tips for the great outdoors.

Get the big picture. The panoramic view of the great outdoor locations makes a huge statement on the place you visited. This is best captured through camera lens from 15mm to 24 mm. Capturing the whole picture includes the sky, mountain peaks and the lands. Panoramic snapshots give the viewers the stunning beauty of nature’s grandeur. It also give you more reason to relive the moment when you were there. Read more »

10 Places American Tourists Should Visit in 2012

by Anna Dewinter

Travelers might think of visiting Great Britain for the Olympic Games 2012, or to experience the sights and sounds of London – one of America’s favorite destinations. However, there are other destinations that are sometimes overlooked and that definitely deserve a visit in 2012.

Whilst there, consider using hire cars to drive south to the second city and explore Cork – enjoy shopping in the English Market and ringing the Bells of Shandon. Throw in a short trip to nearby Blarney Castle where the famous Blarney Stone awaits.

From Cork, fly to the third destination: Hamburg. Packed with popular things to do and see, including the Miniature Wonderland with model railways and tiny countries, there are also fantastic parks and gardens, examples of superb architecture and wonderful museums.

A high-speed train runs between Hamburg and Amsterdam in The Netherlands, which has a laid-back ambiance and offers the wonderful Van Gogh Museum and the Royal Palace. For a countryside trip, seek out the tulip fields and windmills.

For these four European destinations tourists should always carry ID: a valid passport is needed but a visa is not required for stays of less than three months.

Two Complementary Destinations in China

Hong Kong displays a fusion of east and west influences with major Chinese temples and palaces, accessible via the iconic tram system, plus skyscrapers and Hong Kong Disneyland!

A three-hour flight from Hong Kong to Beijing takes visitors to a different, exquisite historical era; explore the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Ming Tombs and the Temple of Heaven.

Singular India

Delhi in India is a city in two parts: Old Delhi features historic mosques, forts and shrines, whilst New Delhi is contemporary, bustling and cosmopolitan. Be sure to view the stunning Taj Mahal in nearby Agra, the world’s finest monument to Mughal architecture and one of the seven top tourist attractions globally.

For both China and India a visa is required and a passport must have at least six months’ validity.

Three Different Choices – Abu Dhabi, St Vincent and Wellington

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates might be relatively unknown but it offers a relaxed break and a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of the city. Explore dramatic sand dunes and mountains, and cruise along the Gulf Coast. A valid passport is sufficient if staying for up to 30 days; visas are free of charge at the port of entry.

Caribbean island destination St Vincent and the Grenadines is a great alternative to Barbados or Martinique. An English-speaking location, there are lots of tourist facilities among the tropical eco-rainforests. Snorkeling, yachting and scuba diving are on offer.

The city of Wellington provides easy access to the lovely North and South Islands of New Zealand. Besides the outstanding natural habitat, Wellington offers fabulous views from its cable cars and the Mount Victoria Lookout, and great shopping in the bohemian quarter of town. Pack a passport – visa requirements are waived for US citizens.

Whether preferred vacation choices are educational, unusual or exotic, there is a place to visit in 2012 that suits perfectly.

Image: slleong

Traveling on business to Tokyo? Read guest poster Andrew Black’s tips on unmissable Tokyo experiences.

Tokyo is an amazing destination. A fusion of the old and the new, this high-tech city with its incredible history has something to offer to everyone. Whether it’s the incredible Japanese cuisine or the breathtaking sights, Tokyo is the ultimate Asian experience. A brief list of some of the attractions of Tokyo is listed below.

Tsukiji Fish Market

A trip to Tokyo is incomplete without a visit to the world’s largest fish market. Get ready for some live action at Tsukiji market with auctions of some of the most exotic seafood in the world. There are many stalls selling an incredible variety of delicacies here. If you are in the mood for sushi for breakfast, Tsukiji market is just the place for you.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden Read more »

We’re all accustomed to getting around our home country using menial methods of transportation that have defined the act of transporting oneself between point A and Point B as exceedingly boring. However, locations around the world have become iconic for their alternative take on transport, and this can make our travels more eventful and exciting simply taking a trip between two locations. Although in many cases this involves a hideous violation of any concerns for one’s health and safety, we will not focus purely on these (sorry South East Asia) but will also incorporate flash, stylish and romantic ways of arriving at our destination. It is up to you though on whether you deem it flash or foolish.

The Family Scooter

Scooters are common forms of transport the world over. In most countries the scooter is a 1-2 seater form of transport, but lax rules of health and safety in developing nations means that families of 3, 4 or even 5 can be seen whizzing around. With simple engines that are cheap and reliable, the scooter covers terrain from the congested urban metropolis to the unpaved, muddy and step mountain trail.

Tuk Tuk

Due to its loyal serving of Bangkok, Thailand, this is often the first weird method of transport that travelers to the popular South East Asia experience. The cheerful name serves as an ideal sales call from the many Tuk Tuk drivers and their daring and exciting driving practices make riding a Tuk Tuk an experience never to forget. Cheap prices abound, travelers must be wary of a deal too good to be true. Often, Tuk Tuk drivers will deposit you outside an entertainment venue with the offer of a return trip for a mere 20 Baht. However, the venue is always more expensive to get into than originally promised and when you leave, your Tuk Tuk driver is never there. This results in having to pay an incredibly higher price to one of the few present drivers to get back to your original location. Read more »