Taking off Travel blog

Ah - the glory days of travel: excitement, romance and luxury. The first time I stepped onto a plane, the experience was alluring. Seating felt roomy (I was young), there was food on little trays, and the cabin crew visibly loved their jobs - or put on a good show of doing so. Not any more. Here are three (plus one) things that take the shine off air travel.

Mealtime Woes

On most flights these days, you don’t get a meal unless you are flying long haul. Perhaps that’s good for our waistlines in a more health conscious era, but there are some flights where you could do with a bit of sustenance. I’ve spent a lot of time on AA flights this year. Sure there are food choices available, but the range of sandwiches, cheese and crackers, chips and cookies available is not exactly inspiring. As a semi-vegetarian, I’d love to have more choice on board. Since it’s not there, I have to prowl the airport looking for something decent or starve. Let’s not talk about the prices - this is a money spinner, pure and simple, and it increases the feeling that you’ve been had. Read more »

I spent almost a month in New Jersey and at the start of the month, I shared some of the photos I had taken. Here are a few more.

I visited Hoboken while I was there and made a discovery in the shape of the Karma Kafe, an Indian bistro with a great Zagat’s rating. They serve an all you can eat lunchtime buffet for a very reasonable price and the food is excellent. Here’s a photo of my meal (I admit, it’s not arranged artistically) and of the intricate table top.

On my way back to the station, I passed a beautiful building and couldn’t resist taking a photo of it. Read more »

The countdown to Halloween has begun so it’s also time to check out Halloween vacation options. There are some great shows, attractions and deals at this time of year. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Photo credit: serpico from morguefile.com

Disneyworld got Halloween off to an early start with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Running on selected dates until November 1, the event is suitable for those who want to participate in Halloween without the scare factor. Kids will love seeing their favorite Disney characters in special costumes for the season. There is Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade, which starts with the Headless Horseman and the Magic Kingdom will be transformed, with haunted hollows at intervals around the park. Read more »

The area where I’m staying in New Jersey is really beautiful, with views of the Hudson, the New York skyline and the Statue of Liberty. Here are some of the photos from my first ten days.

Most business trips are short and sweet, but occasionally there’s the chance to spend a couple of extra days seeing the new city. If you want to see the sights without blowing a hole in your budget, then couchsurfing might be a great option. Since we first covered the topic at the start of 2008, the numbers of couchsurfers have grown and grown, with an estimated 1.2 million couchsurfers around the world, according to Couchsurfing.org, the site founded by the originator of the movement, Casey Fenton.

Couchsurfing is a great way to see places from the inside.

How Couchsurfing Works

The premise is simple - sign up for the site, set up a Facebook style profile, say where you want to go and find someone in the city prepared to offer you a couch for a few days. That’s not all you might get, either. Many hosts are willing to show you around, give you tips on where to eat and places to visit and generally make sure that you have a great time without spending a lot. It’s a wonderful way to see a place from the inside - the way the locals see it. You can avoid tourist traps and have experiences that you might otherwise have missed.

Rating The Experience

Is it safe? Statistics suggest that most people have a fantastic time with no negative reports. On the Couchsurfing site you can rate each experience. Even if you don’t want to stay with a complete stranger, you can use the site to meet people in your destination who will meet you for coffee or a drink and point you in the right direction. You can also have just as much fun playing host to new friends visiting your town - and when the holiday’s over, there might even be business opportunities.

Other resources

• The Hospitality Club
• Global Freeloaders
• Video Introduction To Couchsurfing
• Couchsurfing on Twitter
• HostATourist
• Stay4Free
• Warmshowers - for bike tourists