Taking off Travel blog

When we’re not giving travel advice here on the blog, we also get around elsewhere on the web. Here are some of the places where you can find our travel tips:

• Business Travel Etiquette on Squidoo (we also have lenses on off airport parking and handling a layover in LAX)
• 8 Online Lists to Help You Get Packing Under Control
• How To Move Abroad
• How To Plan A Green Vacation
• How to Travel Cheaper This Summer
• 5 Ways to Get the Best Deals on Airport Parking
• Tips for Healthy Airline Travel
• 5 Ways to Make Your Airport Experience Better
• Top Five Ways to Lower Your Hotel Bill
• Solo Travel: Staying Safe on Your Leisure or Business Trip
• Haunted Destinations for Halloween Travel

In the next month, we’ve got guest posts coming up on Successful Blogging and Hospitality Writers.

I’d  be happy to write a quality travel guest post for your blog – contact me to discuss topics and deadlines.

And remember, watch this space on Monday for details of how you can get a free $25 Restaurant.com voucher by booking 4 days or more of off airport parking via Park Ride Fly USA. We’ll also update you via Twitter and Facebook.

Today’s featured travel blogger is Brian, a fellow British expat who lives in and blogs about the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. His site, Discovering Puerto Rico, gives you an in-depth look at the island and its attractions, with some great pictures too. Follow Brian on Twitter at @coqui2008.

Brian, what’s your travel background?

I am an expat Brit now living in Puerto Rico and so my site naturally focuses on the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico. Prior to Puerto Rico I lived in the USA (Florida and North Carolina) for a few years and before that the majority of my life in the UK. I visited several European countries and traveled extensively around England. Most exotic destination to date: Kenya for an amazing Safari. Longest trip to date: 3.5 week road-trip exploring the beauty of British Columbia, Canada.

What’s different about your blog or site?

I started Discovering Puerto Rico (it was actually named something different at first) to help with the adjustment of moving to Puerto Rico and I used it as a way to research and get to know the island and people.

One of the things I noticed immediately was the lack of up to date information on things to see and do in Puerto Rico on the web, so I believe my site helps to fill in some of those gaps plus gives visitors to the site a local perspective on things rather than the big corporate feel of some of the more well known tour guide sites. My in-laws are always telling me that I know more about places to see here in Puerto Rico than they do, so I guess my site is doing something right

What’s the most unexpected thing that has ever happened to you when you travelled and how did you handle it?

To celebrate my wedding anniversary I arranged to stay at a hotel on the west coast of Scotland overlooking a loch. I naturally made a reservation for a loch view which I confirmed several times before arriving. On arrival the room was very nice but to my complete surprise we had a view of a huge road bridge (and slight water view). The next morning we left the hotel and found an even better one close by where we celebrated our wedding anniversary in style.

Complete the sentence: I never travel without … because …

I never travel without an open mind, because you can miss so much if you visit a place with a preconceived mind set.

When it comes to travel and travel blogging, who is your mentor/hero and why?

I really like the work of Julie Schwietert Collazo from the Matador Network. I like how she captures a destination and integrates a lot of local perspectives into her writing.

What place is on your travel bucket list? Why?

It’s a place that I have already visited (so hopefully it will still count as a bucket list item). Kenya (or Botswana) for a safari. I had such an amazing time the first time I went to Kenya back in the 90s that it is #1 on my list of places that I have to visit. It’s probably not going to happen any time soon; but it will happen.

What is your favourite travel planning tool?

A cop out, I know, but I’d have to say the internet. I know there are a lot of online and phone apps for planning trips, but I do not have one single tool that I use. I’d rather just use a search engine and plan my trip that way.

Anything to add?

For anyone that has recently moved to a new country/city, I strongly urge them to start a website or at the very least start collecting information about the place. It’s a great focused way of finding out about a new place and will get you out of the house exploring and meeting locals.

Thanks, Brian. Want to be featured in this slot? Leave a comment on this post to be considered. (Image: james.rintamaki)

I think you’ll enjoy today’s interview with Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Cultural Travel, who has always loved travel. Her travel philosophy is particularly inspirational and I was moved by her account of her stay in Nepal.

Barbara Weibel in Puma, Nepal Cultural Home Stay

Barbara, what’s your travel background?

I’ve had the wanderlust my entire life. The moment I turned 18 I threw a tent and backpack in my car and headed out on a cross-country exploration of the U.S. During my corporate years, I continued to travel whenever possible, though two week vacations left me wanting more. Eventually I began traveling a month at a time, which led me to the realization that I wanted to make a career out of travel.

What’s different about your blog or site?

The stories on my blog, Hole In The Donut Cultural Travel, are intensely personal first-person narrative articles about the places I visit, the people I meet and the fascinating (and sometimes crazy) things that happen to me. Over the past five years I’ve stayed with a Maasai family in Tanzania, Africa; held the hand of the Dalai Lama; ridden dilapidated buses in Mexico to the deepest canyon in North America, and cruised down the Mekong River in Laos. I’ve been robbed in Hawaii, attacked by a mob in India, and healed by a Tibetan Shaman. I share these and more escapades on my blog as I immerse in cultures around the world, confirming my fervent belief that people everywhere are more alike than we are different. Read about my journey at http://holeinthedonut.com.

What’s the most unexpected thing that has ever happened to you when you traveled and how did you handle it?

For years. people have asked me which country is my favorite. I could never narrow down my answer to one country, as I liked different places for different reasons. Then, about a year and a half ago, I went to Nepal, intending to stay for three weeks or so. Three months later, I was still there.

A Nepali family invited me to participate in the Brother/Sister Tika Ceremony on the final day of the Hindu holiday known as Tihar (Diwali in India). In this lovely ceremony, brothers place a tika (mark made with colored powder) on the forehead of their sisters and the sisters do the same to their brothers. I received a tika from the father, my Bhai (little brother) for the day. At the end of the day I thanked the family for allowing me to be a part of their family for the day. They responded, “On no, you don’t understand. You are now Didi (older sister) to us forever.”

Since then, I have truly become a part of their family, spending most days with them when I am in Nepal, and have even adopted the country as my home base for a good part of the year. I never expected to want to settle down in one place for any length of time again but Nepal, and my Nepali family, have changed all that for me.

Complete the sentence: I never travel without … because …

I never travel without my Yoga mat because practicing Yoga keeps me flexible and healthy.

When it comes to travel and travel blogging, who is your mentor/hero and why?

My heroes in travel blogging all have one thing in common; they are quality writers who don’t crank out top ten lists and trite “how to”articles in order to rank well on Google. There are many that I follow, but I have two favorites. Jodi Ettenberg from Legal Nomads left a legal career to travel and write, focusing on food. Her articles are a sensual wonderland and Mike Sowden from Fevered Mutterings is a traveler whose ability to attract misadventure is nothing less than astounding. Both are always entertaining reads.

What place is on your travel bucket list? Why?

In a week I am off to South America, where I will strike off two places that have long been on my travel wish list: Machu Picchu in Peru and the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. However, seeing the Northern Lights is still at the top of my bucket list, and I hope to combine that with a trip to Iceland sometime soon.

What is your favourite travel planning tool?

I don’t do a lot of pre-planning on purpose, as I don’t want to go to a country with pre-conceived ideas. I usually buy a one-way ticket and have one night’s reservation at a guest house or hostel, then wander around the country based on information and tips gleaned from locals and other long-term travelers. Once I know where I’m going, I usually rely on the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forum for destination information and TripAdvisor for reviews of various accommodation choices prior to heading to a new location.

Anything to add?

I am constantly amazed by the lack of Americans I meet on the road. When I am in the States, the question I am asked most often is, “Aren’t you afraid?”  My answer is always the same, “There is nothing to be afraid of.” Americans, more than any other people, seem to have a fear of traveling, which I find sad. I believe that getting to know other cultures is our best hope for world peace and travel is the best vehicle for achieving this kind of knowledge and understanding. I hope that my blog will encourage people to travel without fear.

Want to be featured in this slot? Leave a comment on this post to be considered.

As we move into the last quarter of the year, it’s a good time to look back on what’s happened on the blog during the last three months. Here are some of the highlights:

Popular recent posts this quarter:

• The Best iPhone Apps For Travelers
• 2011 Luggage Trends – Suitcase.com Interview
• Layover In Miami International Airport (MIA)
• Five Travel Blog Titles That Grabbed Me
• Luggage Trends – Interview With John Ebb Of Suitcase.com
• A Whistle Stop Tour Of Chicago
• Visiting Nottingham Castle
• Pack It Up! – Online Packing List Tools
• AirTran Top in 2011 AQR Review
• Layover In Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)

Posts that you talked about:

• How I’m Using Google+ as a Travel Blogger
• Guest Post: Travelling for business in the tropics
• I Can’t Travel Without …
• Guest Post: Improving the Ergonomics of Your Seat
• Guest Post: Travel Insurance: Essential or Extraneous?
• Inside Newark Airport (EWR)
• Travel Blogger Profiles – Want To Be Featured?
• In Praise of the Rucksack – Favorite Travel Accessories
• Natural Beauty – Photos
• 11 Ways Pan Am Travel Was Different

Travel gadgets featured:

• Favorite Travel Accessories: Digital Luggage Scale
• Favorite Travel Accessories: My Nokia Smartphone
• Favorite Travel Accessories: Kindle
• Favorite Travel Accessories: Samsung Netbook
• In Praise of the Rucksack – Favorite Travel Accessories
• Are You Good Tugo?
• I Can’t Travel Without …

Coming up this month, a few more travel blogger profiles, some trip reports from my visit to Jamaica and a guide for business travelers to India.

Today, I’m pleased to feature Andy Hayes, aka That Travel Guy, in our series of travel blogger profiles. I’m a big fan of Andy’s approach to the travel business. As well as Sharing Travel Experiences, his Travel Online Partners site is a great resource for travel industry professionals. Over to you, Andy.

Andy Hayes waterfall hiking on the border between Asheville, North Carolina and Greenville, South Carolina.

Andy, what’s your travel background?

Well, my travel days (daze?) started out when I was in the software industry.  As a niche consultant for a large software company, I traveled on average about 250k miles a year.  (In case you weren’t sure, yes, that is a LOT.  Two flights a week on average.)  Can’t say I’d ever be in a hurry to repeat those years, but I learned an awful lot about the sorry state of the traveling public, how to pack a carryon like a ninja, every frequent flyer mile and seating trick in the book, and what airports have decent food options (answer: none).

My later years in that industry I slowed down the travel quite a bit – by intention – and about 4 years ago I left that world to start my own business, focused exclusively on the travel/tourism industry.

What’s different about your blog or site?

From the beginning, I’ve always been focused on the experiences.  Travel itself is an experience and some of the most amazing travels experiences I’ve had are just the simple things – a sunset here, wine and dessert there, a hike with a view.  That’s how the site got its name, Sharing Travel Experiences.

These days we’re also talking about value luxury – about how to upgrade your travels and make yourself feel a little more special while still sticking to a budget.

What’s the most unexpected thing that has ever happened to you when you travelled and how did you handle it?

Hmm.  How about that time I got hit by a car in Amsterdam?  No worries – I was fine – the bike took much of the blunt, and thankfully I had a friend who was waiting on me and came to my rescue when I texted her!  It was a reminder that bad stuff can really happy on a trip so you need to be able to compose yourself and always have a line to a friend who can help.

Complete the sentence: I never travel without … because …

I never travel without my running shoes, because fitness is so important to me.  (Plus it’s a great way to fight fatigue and jet lag.)

When it comes to travel and travel blogging, who is your mentor/hero and why?

Without question, Chris Guillebeau.  He understands business, he understands travel, and he not only is trying to change the world but also help others do the same too.

What place is on your travel bucket list? Why?

Victoria Falls.  I love waterfalls but this one is the largest – like a huge chasm in the earth’s crust, with a huge river running right into it.

What is your favourite travel planning tool?

Google.  You can get to almost everything you need from blog post trip reports, restaurant recs, photos, video.  (Mr. Google is not always right, but it’s certainly a good start.)

Anything to add?

You know it’s funny but now that I have my smartphone (an iPhone, of course), I cannot imagine traveling without it.  Whether it’s the phone, the notepad, or useful maps and apps, it’s just such a useful tool.  Once you get used to it, you can’t go without!

Want to be featured in this slot? Leave a comment on this post to be considered.