tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39113152025642718912011-04-21T20:42:41.171-04:00Travel trends, advice and musings to help you on your journey.BBnoreply@blogger.comBlogger291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-9868153549638603652008-04-04T13:33:00.003-04:002008-04-04T14:00:46.343-04:00

I've been taking a break this week but that's no excuse to not keep up with the reading! Here are this week's picks:Needs no explanation: 5 Tips Every Traveler Should Know About Internet Security on Brave New Traveler. I once caught someone else posting comments using my information (forgot to clear the cache, I think). I've been very careful ever since!How to be a gracious guest: 7 Ways To Thank

BBnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-36127869552728041442008-03-28T09:34:00.007-04:002008-03-31T10:34:25.772-04:00

Another short week, but a good one. Here are my picks:Can you live without electronics? Try MacKenzie Berg's the Joy of Traveling Unplugged on BNT. Perhaps it's the nature of my job, but I think it would be very difficult to be completely unplugged for a while. (And therefore worth doing!)I wasn't sure how to react to this one at first: Angola to host landmine pageant. It's not what you

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-71651523349567019862008-03-27T13:45:00.006-04:002008-03-27T14:27:59.240-04:00

A pretty flight attendant with Angelina Jolie lips? An animated cartoon?Airlines are getting more creative when it comes to getting people to pay attention to those pre-flight safety demonstrations. Thanks to YouTube, the latest safety videos have been making the rounds in the media and travel blogs.What's all the fuss about? See for yourself. Here's Delta's new video featuring the

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-41269244053101217842008-03-20T09:37:00.008-04:002008-03-20T10:35:19.340-04:00

It's been a short week but a good one for travel reading. Here are my picks for the week:Should we be demanding more services and amenities for all those extra fees we're paying? Chris Elliott has the answer in What to expect during the Year of the Fee. I especially love the point about airlines tracking luggage.Go Green Go Travel's Ultimate Guide to Thrift Store Shopping: 34 Tips and Tricks for

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-47898676018928076972008-03-19T14:30:00.010-04:002008-03-19T15:18:23.712-04:00

Further proof that it doesn't hurt to compare government travel advice: Guatemala travel warnings.The story:On March 14, four Belgian tourists and two others were kidnapped in Livingstone in the Izabal Department. The attack is part of the ongoing dispute between local indigenous people and Guatemalan authorities. Previously, nearly 30 police officers were kidnapped.How it plays out in the advice

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-73589866389198960312008-03-18T10:12:00.000-04:002008-03-19T14:30:00.307-04:00

In a previous post I mentioned my reasons for abandoning a weekly round-up of news events in favour of interesting travel articles. One of the reasons for this switch is that I tend to see the same issues over and over again in the news. The people and places may change, but in any given week certain things are likely to occur.While the inquest into Diana's death and the latest celebrity hi-jinks

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-62506278063193889242008-03-17T09:47:00.005-04:002008-03-17T16:22:32.906-04:00

Is it getting more dangerous to travel?Media coverage in the past few weeks would certainly have us believing it is. Just this past weekend:A group of Belgian tourists were taken hostage in Guatemala on Friday, prompting a travel warning from the Canadian government. A Swedish tourist was murdered in broad daylight on the Thai island of Phuket on Saturday. On Sunday, a German tourist came forward

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-44674344245788771252008-03-14T13:41:00.010-04:002008-03-16T18:12:15.356-04:00

Do different governments offer different advice in response to a crisis? Yes, and here's a good example. In response to the protests in Tibet turning violent, the following governments have issued the following advice:Australia says:"Several days of protest activity by Tibetan monks in Lhasa turned violent on 14 March, with reports of rioting and property damage. The situation on the streets of

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-88149271792348560572008-03-14T10:19:00.009-04:002008-03-16T18:21:26.806-04:00

What a week it's been! All that snow that was so generously heaped upon us last weekend is now melting away. Doesn't seem right somehow.Without further ado, I bring you this week's picks:Who really benefits from new green policies? Chris Elliott's How to spot the travel industry’s eco-spin makes you wonder if the travel industry is making any progress at all.Not related to travel, but worth a

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-8138794150340916582008-03-12T12:28:00.004-04:002008-03-12T12:49:46.454-04:00

I'm surprised luggage restrictions don't cover this: Airport stops women with human remains in suitcase.Long story short: Two Italian women were caught on a stopover in Munich with the remains of one of the women's late brother in their suitcases. The man, who died eleven years ago of natural causes, wished to be buried in Italy. Naturally, airport security got a little suspicious when a skull

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-6225267719783984792008-03-07T13:04:00.004-05:002008-03-07T11:04:06.439-05:00

This week's round-up features a lot of tips and advice:Why travel shouldn't scare you: Travel guru Chris Elliot's 5 tips for avoiding a near-miss offers some great advice. I particularly like the point about not letting near-misses stop you from traveling. (And yes, technically a "near-miss" means a collision, but that's not the point).Eating right on the road: More budget travel advice from Nora

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-79669816520097537282008-03-05T09:21:00.009-05:002008-03-07T12:55:43.569-05:00

Who is responsible for the safety of tourists -- the government or the tourists themselves?Many people are asking this question following the death of 15 year-old Scarlett Keeling at a tourist resort in Goa, India. For those of you not familiar with the case, here's a brief overview of what happened:A British family is on vacation at a resort in Goa. The mother leaves daughter with a 25-year old

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-64721369340651797042008-03-04T13:38:00.012-05:002008-03-04T15:15:14.937-05:00

Wondering where the most popular art museums are in the world? TripAdvisor has just compiled its top ten list:Musee du Louvre, Paris, FranceVatican Museums, Vatican City, Rome, Italy Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New YorkJ. Paul Getty Center, Los Angeles, CaliforniaMusee d'Orsay, Paris, France Uffizi Gallery, Florence, ItalyArt Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IllinoisTate Modern,

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-6569098337980105122008-02-29T11:44:00.006-05:002008-03-04T13:24:06.856-05:00

Who said it could be the end of February already? The fact that we get an extra day this year isn't much of a consolation.As I say good-bye to this stormy month, here's my list of "recommended reading" for the week:Something new to try: 5 Steps to Solid Travel: How to Beat Airport Security Every Time on Vagabondish. I'm a fan of bar soap, but I've never tried solid shampoo, moisturizers or any

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-63651369510643472522008-02-28T16:00:00.006-05:002008-02-29T12:40:00.750-05:00

Would you pay more to stay in a hotel that was environmentally-friendly? According to a survey conducted by the Canadian Hotels Association, "62 per cent of business travellers and 50 per cent of leisure travellers would pay $20 more to stay at an environmentally friendly hotel" (if everything else about the room was the same). In other words, travellers will pay more for rooms with low-flow

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-45973962835570683192008-02-27T11:56:00.006-05:002008-02-28T10:15:28.141-05:00

I still remember the "how-to-avoid-date-rape-drugs" lecture from my university frosh week orientation. It went something like this: Buy your own drinks. Never let your drinks out of your sight (or never put them down). Drink with people you trust. If you don't feel "right" (e.g. intoxicated after only one or two drinks), get help ASAP.It's a standard lecture for first year college and university

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-43838608835497059782008-02-26T08:47:00.006-05:002008-02-27T15:28:26.668-05:00

It's been a bad week for tourists, at least according to media reports. Consider:A woman died on an American Airlines flight -- prompting an investigation and widespread debate as to who was to blame (the flight attendants?)An American tourist dies abseiling (rappelling) in Sydney's Blue Mountains -- cause of death still pending.An 82 year old British tourist drowns while snorkeling at the Great

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-41416413955991923742008-02-25T16:03:00.003-05:002008-02-27T15:29:19.452-05:00

How reliable is your travel company? And how can you tell?I've been revisiting the issue of travel scams again after being contacted by a traveller who has concerns about a trip she booked with a company over the phone. Everything seemed legit when when the trip was booked, but later research online revealed problems with the company. The issue becomes who can you trust for advice, and what can

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-21093404103677435082008-02-24T19:37:00.002-05:002008-02-24T19:56:31.883-05:00

For the past two weeks I have attempted a weekly round up of news/events/current issues --- and failed miserably. It's not for a lack of trying as there is certainly no shortage of things going on in the world. Too much, in fact, to choose only ten or twelve items to focus on in a blog entry. How do you selection items? How can you prioritize them? It's tricky.For instance, this past week there

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-70434955266852610612008-02-21T10:24:00.005-05:002008-02-22T11:53:08.088-05:00

"The next attacks will be on trains."One month after the 9/11 attacks, I was travelling by train to Toronto and sitting next to someone who worked in the security industry. It was a weekend when there was a warning for more attacks to hit, and Toronto's CN Tower was on the list. The person I was sitting next to was telling me his theories about how what the next target would be... Trains.Why

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-954487925867243772008-02-20T15:12:00.005-05:002008-02-22T11:45:01.463-05:00

The UK gets my vote for "most proactive government" when it comes to responding to Kosovo's new independence in their travel advice. While all of the major governments have been updating their travel advice, the UK was the first to issue separate travel advice for Kosovo.Other governments may follow suit in the coming weeks -- depending on their position and whether or not they recognize

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-81055555416500331802008-02-20T10:40:00.003-05:002008-02-27T15:28:54.238-05:00

"The Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document"I probably recite these words in my sleep. I've lost count of the number of times I have seen this warning in the updates to the Travel Reports published by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT). This week, DFAIT has been updating the wording to this note of caution in dozens of the travel reports. Here's what the

BBnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-86711183724759436512008-02-17T16:54:00.009-05:002008-02-18T19:02:35.418-05:00

Delays, inconsiderate passengers and equipment breakdowns are unavoidable nuisances that main people face. So why do some travellers fair better than others? Preparation and attitude are the key. Back from my latest train trip, I'd like to offer this advice to make everyone's trip a little less of a hassle:1. Wear appropriate footwear. Think maneuvering steep stairs (which are icy-slushy-snowy

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-4460229409606399142008-02-05T11:08:00.000-05:002008-02-05T11:39:18.014-05:00

Curious about crime and safety for your destination? New information is becoming available. The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) has started releasing its annual Crime and Safety Reports. (OSAC is part of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security for the U.S. Government). The reports typically cover such topics as:Overall Crime and Safety SituationPolitical ViolencePost-specific Concerns (i.e.

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-66983370136679848832008-02-01T11:48:00.000-05:002008-02-01T15:55:46.407-05:00

Why did British nationals need help from their embassy in 2007? The FCO wants you to know.The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice typically contains a point in the summary about how many British nationals travel to a country and why they need consular assistance. Here are the top 5 most reasons I see the most often:1. Lost or stolen passports - the most common reason Brits needed

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-76182072983056368742008-02-01T10:28:00.000-05:002008-02-02T08:52:15.510-05:00

This entry is a new feature I'm trying out to provide a summary of what happened in the world this week. Of course, it would be impossible to cover EVERYTHING that went on, so consider this the "highlights". My goal is to stick to the top 10, but as you see I went a little over that this week!Looking at the past week's headlines, weather is the dominating theme. In the Northern Hemisphere,

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-44423470070445935812008-01-31T16:29:00.001-05:002008-02-18T11:27:04.385-05:00

Text, text and more text... That pretty much sums up my day. Email, RSS, webpages, advice, news... you name it! Consequently, I like sites that make me look at the world differently, or provide me with a new understanding of a particular situation.Lately one of my favourite indulgences is NASA's Earth Observatory. I watch the Natural Hazards page in particular. Where else can you see what a

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-57924260623553516062008-01-30T13:30:00.000-05:002008-01-31T13:40:29.726-05:00

Tomorrow is January 31 -- the day the new entry requirements to the U.S. come into effect. I have had this date imprinted in my brain for the last several months because I look at so much travel advice. I keep track of breaking news. I've posted the updates. I've seen the ads. I've even written an article about the issue.And then in today's mail: an "adcard" from the Canadian government

BBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911315202564271891.post-36923201612039598902008-01-25T10:38:00.002-05:002008-03-04T15:28:29.145-05:00

If you've been watching the Canadian news at all today, you might get the impression that Australia has issued a new warning against travel to Canada. Check out today's headlines:"Australia issues travel warning against Canada" (CTV News)"Australia issues travel warning against Canada; says not as safe as SKorea" (The Canadian Press)"Australia Posts Travel Warning About Canada on Website" (

BBnoreply@blogger.com0