Crime Tours for the Voyeur in All of Us

What better way to learn about a city than take a tour of its sordid past? Get up close and personal with local architecture, rock, politics, social commentary, and oh yeah... crime. Los Angeles' Esotouric skips Hollywood's usual celebrity fanfare and mansions and opts for the dark, gritty side of its history. Esotouric also delves into the social and political commentary of the time and explores the city from a victim's, and hysterical locals', point of view.

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Best known for its focus on the famous The Black Dahlia case, it also exposes guests to stories of a husband who lets a rattlesnake bite his wife in hopes of collecting the insurance money, only to hire an outside source to drown her and finish the job. Also on the 2007 roster? James Elroy Digs LA, a tour that allows guests to accompany the author to parks where he stalked classmates, houses he broke into, and the history of 1950's murder cases that captivated him as a youth and feeds his passion for writing today.

Since its inception in 2005, the tours have become increasingly popular. And why not? With a current cultural climate of reality TV, slanted news, and media voyeurism, this idea can't fail. But more interesting to me than the tour itself or its statement about society today, is how it all came into fruition. Founder Kim Cooper started blogging in 2005 about crime scenes of each day from 1946. As her readership and contributors grew, she began offering tours of the chilling crimes and mysteries she blogged about. The site has an old-school newspaper type kind of feel that entices readers, making them feel like they're reading the latest scoop. Here's a clip from their site:

We're not your ordinary tour bus company.

Our routes veer off into fascinating, neglected neighborhoods. Our expert guides are passionate, brainy and hilarious. Our tour themes are provocative and complex, but never dry, mixing crime and social history, rock and roll and architecture, literature and film, fine art and urban studies into a simmering stew of original research and startling observations.

Even our snack stops are unique: a Chinese dumpling picnic in a garden of concrete sea monsters, homemade mint lemonade and cookies at the site of the first UFO sighting in the Southland, or Black Dahlia and Nicotine flavored gelato at Scoops in East Hollywood.

When you climb aboard for an Esotouric bus adventure, you're guaranteed an intelligent, unpredictable ride into the secret heart of the city we love. These tours are recommended for natives, tourists and anyone who likes to dig a little deeper and discover the world beyond the everyday. Come ride and see for yourself.

Tours run approximately $70 on up and gift certificates are even available for your twisted loved ones. For those who want to make crime tours part of their life, season passes can also be arranged. And who knows, maybe you'll even stumble upon a fresh crime scene that needs solving.

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Hit the Open Road With a Free Car and Tank of Gas

Cookie-cutter vacations are a thing of the past and true innovation allows for bragging rights at your next cocktail party or office banter. I challenge everyone to pick a destination and give themselves a year to achieve it. Right it down, post it up on your fridge, and focus on it. But don't just focus on forking over several hundred bucks, figure out how to do it with inspiration and save yourself some money along the way.

But what if you let someone else decide where you're going? Imagine the adventure of waking up one day and get a call that you're going to drive to San Francisco or Lake Tahoe or Wyoming... and that it will essentially cost you nothing? AutoDriveway.com is one of the leading industries for transporting vehicles. And that means they need drivers to transport them safely and quickly. The company acts as an innovative matchmaking service between car owners and those looking for transportation. You can opt for just about any route or let them contact you with new opportunities. And what will it cost you? Just about nothing. There is a $350 deposit which is refundable at the nearest AutoDriveway office or by mail if the car is delivered in satisfactory condition. And the first tank of gas is free. Drivers must be at least 23 with a valid licence and sign an agreement so they know you're not going to drive 18 hours a day to get a car delivered and agree to delivering it safely. Here's a list of requirements from their website:

- If you are at least 23 years of age or older with a valid driver's license (foreign travelers also need a passport with valid exit visa), you can travel the United States with Auto Driveway Company.

- A refundable security deposit of approximately $350.00, check with the office that you are driving for to get the exact amount and method of payment on deposit.

- You will receive the first full tank of gasoline, a certain number of days and an appropriate amount of miles to complete your trip!

- A current MVR (motor vehicle driver�s record) for ALL drivers will be needed when you arrive at the office to pick up the vehicle. If you do not have a MVR, one will be generated at a cost to the driver(s). Foreign travelers must bring a current Motor Vehicle Record from your home country.

Although it's true that the rising cost of gas is keeping travelers grounded, there are always ways around this issue. If you buddy up with a few friends wanting to hit the open road, you're looking at a cheap vacation and a cool story to tell when it's all over. But be sure to utilize the road trip to your advantage. Use a credit card that gives you frequent flyer miles when paying for your gas and lodging so you can earn for future trips. Try Couchsurfing.com for a free couch to crash on for the night or log onto priceline to find a cheap hotel along the way. But to really put dollars in your pocket, check Craigslist or post your own ad and see if anyone needs their own delivery. Someone may be looking for a way to transport a computer or audio equipment without paying costly shipping and insurance fees. Ask for a competitive but comfortable fee to make it worth their while. They don't have to know you paid $0 for the car.

There's plenty of ways you can make a few bucks on the road and keep your expenses in check. Come up with at least 10 ways you could make some extra change in transit and put them in motion. What else can you try? How about hitting up your local newspapers, blogs, and magazines and pitch your innovative road trip story -- for a fee, of course. Make your vacation work for you.

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Assasination Vacation

While nursing a turkey hangover after Thanksgiving, I found The Incredibles on TV and decided to settle in for the night. I use to be an assistant film editor and love going to imdb.com to see who did what on a film or TV show I like. I found it curious that the part of angst-ridden Violet was played by Sarah Vowell, a 30-something year old who is best known for appearing on NPR. But I also discovered that while she was doing the voice over for The Incredibles, Vowell wrote a book called The Assassination Vacation which chronicles vacations in areas where Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley were assassinated.

Always wanted to know where fragments of Lincoln's skull lay? Try the National Museum of Health and Medicine. Aside from the grit and gore, Vowell also gives the skinny on the social and political circumstances surrounding the assassinations in that dry wit her fans are accustomed to. Readers will even find conspiracy theories and bizarre events.

While it can be daunting to consider starting up a travel search engine, service, or even a blog without feeling like it's been done to death -- there are always unique concepts out there to explore. Imagine running a business revolving around conspiracy theories, assassinations, and politics. I'd love to see someone design a travel itinerary based around when Lincoln kicked it. Or John Lenon. Though every itinerary would probably take tourists to see leftover beatniks playing their guitars at Strawberry Fields in Central Park.

It would be even cooler if Violet Parr was the one designing the itinerary. That would be sweet.


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Measure Up the Competition

I often feel like technology is taking over the world and soon our brains will be uploaded onto an iPod or personal computer. That way if we want to call in sick or go on vacation, everything our brain knows will be available for our bosses and employers to access. Of course then it will turn into one of the many film versions of the story I Am Journey -- I vote for Omega Man. I love it when that zombie dude is calling out "Lisa!" at the end of the movie. And of course when Heston calls himself a narcissist.


But, I digress. Despite all the overwhelming uses of technology, I am a sucker for travel technology. I faithfully log onto Tripadvisor every time I need to find out if a hotel or bed & breakfast is decent or what kind of activities I can do off the beaten path. But I often wonder how to find a good car rental, boutique or restaurant beyond if just the product is any good. I like to know if the waiters are pretentious little freaks or if a certain diner or boutique's customer service is worth spending money on alone.

It seems I found my answer in Measuredup.com where you can look up businesses, restaurants, coffee shops, travel services, boutiques, bars, -- just about any business establishment and read reviews from 'normal' people. So you can avoid traps where businesses treat tourists like locus and hit up the ones with a local appeal. And it's also a pretty fun way to get involved in the local scene while you're traveling. Or you can pretend like you are a local, which is a whole other kind of fun in and of itself.

You can also write your own reviews at Measuredup.com about businesses in your hometown or about the places you hit up while you're traveling. It's a nice way to give free advertising to your favorite haunts, but it can also be dangerous. So be selective if you're going to write a bad review, make sure it warrants the negativity or face putting out bad vibes into the universe that will just come back to bite you in the ass.

I checked out their travel section and found a lot of interesting information about everything from a crappy Days Inn in new Mexico to a lazy car rental company right in my own neighborhood. It seems most of the reviews are unflattering complete with those little frowny faces. I found one 'smiley' face in 2 pages of reviews. But to be fair, I wouldn't necessarily refuse to patronize those businesses based on one or two bad blurbs. For example, someone was complaining about bad customer service at the new Sky Bus airline. This airline is designed to be a basic commuter service with no frills, not a customer based airline. Regardless of if I think the bad reviews are warranted or not, I would make sure I was prepared for whatever complaints seem to pop up at Measuredup.com.

So before you go hunting for that posh restaurant, check out what others have to say first. You might save yourself acute annoyance and an overpriced martini.

Post-Thanksgiving Gluttony

I just spent 10 days with my family and then my in-laws (all while researching travel in the respective areas, of course). That's a lot of food and wine flowing freely. It was well worth it, despite the fact that the expense of getting there is steeper than just about any other time of year. But you can take advantage of in-between holiday travel to find those great deals that don't seem to exist elsewhere. Airlines, cruises, rental cars... they're practically dumping their inventory in hopes of staying afloat until the late December holidays hit.

Travel Deal

Right now Travelocity is offering $199+ Caribbean Cruises with up to $100 on board credit. The dates are great if you're looking for an early January getaway. And if you have the kind of company that tries to wrangle employees to work between Christmas and New Year's, consider volunteering to take those days if you can arrange for early January comp time. There's also some steals on airfare before and after Christmas. To take a look at other last-minute and cutting-edge deals, try Sherman's Travel.

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Make Captain Stubing Proud

Have you always wanted to live at sea? At least for a week at a time once or twice a year? Today msn.com featured an article on 'How to Take a Free Cruise'. This drew me in, as most 'free' vacations require checking-out time shares. I even had a friend who won an all-expense paid trip to Arizona through a cigarette company. Though she didn't smoke, she pretended like she did to keep her cover -- and walked away with several cartons of cigarettes. They made for the perfect souvenirs to her chain-smoking friends.



So short of giving yourself a nicotine habit, being a lounge lizard, or becoming a stow-away, how exactly do you go on a free cruise? Many people are finding that cruise ships are in need of 'experts' in a variety of fields from General History, Art History, Geography, Geology, Oceanography, Social Economics and Culture. The cruise line's love speakers who can bring an 'educationment' slant to the destination. So if you're an expert on Mayan ruins, look for a Mexican cruise.

Religious leaders are also in need to conduct services as well as people who can teach classes on Watercolors, Pastels, Drawing and Sketching that would be fun both for beginner's and advanced artists. But I think my favorite is the Gentlemen Host Program at Compass Speakers. Check it out: "must be single gentlemen, 40-70 yrs, who are refined social dancers, cultivated and distinguishing gentlemen who enjoy enriching the lives of others. Our volunteer dance hosts are great human beings possessing the highest moral ethics, make friends easily and love to dance." Sounds very risque!

These 55 minute lectures or lessons (and escorts) are offered about once a day on the ship and the rest of the time its intructors enjoy free room and board and most of the ship's amenities. Most of these programs do require a fee of approximately $65 a day to cover gratuities and application process. So depending on where and for how long you're going, you may find a better deal on a travel site like Sherman's Travel or CruiseDeals.com.

But all in all, it sounds like a pretty sweet deal with an innovative spin. Why not look past the open sea take your expert services to all-inclusive resorts? Or to a mountaintop lodge, beach, or international? If you don't think you're an expert in anything, think again. You could be an expert in how to take a free vacation, the perfect travel itinerary, or something as off-beat as fantasy football. Whatever it is, start positioning yourself to be that one guy/girl who gets free vacations just by talking about stuff. Go on, make your friends jealous.

And just a thought: I personally find my 'vacations' more enjoyable when I'm there to research the city, review an event, or know I'll be getting paid to write an article afterwards. The idea of traveling with a purpose and productivity in mind is somehow enriching to the whole experience.

For more information on scoring your own free cruise (or becoming a gentlemen host) check out these websites for more information: Compass Speakers and Sixth Star Entertainment and Marketing.

Check out these cruise traveling tips...

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From the Travel Bag

Q: I don't think I have enough money to travel. I'm not sure how to go about making it happen.

How to afford a vacation?

Everything in life takes sacrifice whether you're making time to going to the gym or watching TV at night instead of working your latest brainchild. Travel is really no different. First, sit down and make a budget to figure out where disposable income awaits. $10 for lunch? Cut it down to $5 by brown bagging it or buying cheaper options. Than in itself can save $100 a month. You might have to shave off one social outing a week, or skip the latest CD or novel. Another easy way to save is to only use bills when you spend. At the end of the day, put all your change in a jar and cash in before your trip. I've saved upwards of $75 a month this way with ease. Open a special savings account like ING just for travel. They often contribute upwards of $25 to your account at sign-up. If all else fails, get a part-time job or do odd-jobs on weekends. Squeeze, and repeat. Cash will loosen up.

But I've found those standard, generic rules of thumb to saving do little without innovation. The holidays are right around the corner and chances are you'll be with family at Thanksgiving who will want to know that age old question -- what you'd like for Christmas, Hanukkah, or your holiday of choice. Just about every airline allows you to give frequent flyer miles as gifts. So pick one out and sign up before you start telling your family and friends to pony up. And remember just about every airline will also offer several thousand miles as a bonus at sign-up, putting even more in your pocket. Just keep in mind you need to be clear about which frequent flyer club you've joined and stick with one airline only so you'll receive maximum return. If you fragment yourself with several frequent flyer plans, you'll end up with a lot of points spread out without much return. However, some airlines like Continental and Delta have partnerships with the other. I belong to Delta frequent flyer club but get points every time I fly Continental.

And don't forget the gift certificates. American Airlines and Jet Blue offer gift cards redeemable for airfare. But if it's not airfare you need but hotel accommodations in a neighboring city or a much needed cruise, try Travelocity where you can pick and choose your means of travel and accommodations.

If you ask, they will come.

The Cookie Phenomenon and Cheaper Airfare

I recently stumbled across something interesting in my quest for cheaper airfares, hotel rooms, and even just updated travel information. And it all comes back to the conspiracy theory that is cookies...

When you log onto just about any site, that company stores a cookie in your computer. This can be a good thing so it remembers who you are, what you're doing there, gives you faster access, information, allows you to track customers if you have a web store of your own -- the list goes on. But did you know it can also hinder your ability to find those last minute deals on hotels and killer airfare?

If you're planning a trip to Jamaica and have already been lurking on Orbitz, Expedia, and Sherman's Travel, chances are those sites stored a cookie on your computer. So it already knows what airfare you've looked at. What happens if you go back a few days later? Chances are it's going to show you the same kind of deal or airfare you looked at days ago and not show you the latest fare that just came in. This can work to their advantage by dumping some of their 'inventory' so to speak. Other times it might actually help you by showing you some amazing deal you already saw and want to jump on. Either way, it's worth the gamble to see the latest and greatest wherever your browser lands. And there's an easy way to do this. Simply go to your preferences in your browser and delete your cookies, or just the ones that are nesting there via a travel search engine.

And this same rule of thought can also go with discounts on all kinds of web retail, too. Cookies can be our friends, but they can also cause us to pay too much for a trip to Jamaica. And that kind of blows.


Just a heads up, I'm in Hotlanta for the rest of the week visiting with family before I take off for Cleveland. A day in the life of an innovative traveler just never dies. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the blog and what you'd like to hear about. Or write about, I welcome posts as long as they're innovative and give back to the traveling community.

Cheers!

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Bonjour to Belinis...

I went to a Quebec press luncheon today to learn all about their tourism industry. Since I was officially there to represent a family travel site I write for, I stayed clear of the casino press table and made nice with the Jazz festival and Just for Laughs table. While parents are getting down listening to jazz or the comedy show, there's apparently plenty of stuff to keep kids busy. I like the sort of events that keep in min that most of the population has off-spring and doesn't want to just stop traveling until their tykes turn 18.

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I'm always surprised (and at the same time embarrassed) when the French speaking Quebecians speak to me in flawless, Midwestern style English. I'm always tempted to ask if they're American, but somehow I know better -- and that they would surely be mortified to think that I thought they were American. It's also hard not to accept the endless amount of Bellini's, puff pastries, food, chocolate covered strawberries, wine, etc, etc, that are put into your hand at these sort of events. It's my opinion press trips and press events are designed to put its attendees in the best mood (and preferably intoxicated) mood as possible.

I'm also surprised more of my colleagues and friends don't utilize the proximity of New York to Canada as a viable vacation destination. True, those Canucks just recently passed our measly dollar (gone are the days when you could delight in a $.40 dollar over there), but the currency rate is close. Certainly a lot closer than the annoyingly all-mighty Pound. But when you live in New York, prices in most other cities like San Francisco, LA, Chicago, Atlanta and Montreal seem the same if not somewhat of a bargain. I can usually judge a destination on if it has "Manhattan" prices or "Brooklyn" prices. As a guide, Manhattan prices are $2 for a bottle of water and Brooklyn is $1.50 or under.

But this innovative post isn't so much about all the glory that is Canada and Montreal (which I absolutely adore and will not be able to stop posting about anytime soon), but about being part of the press. I'm not going to lie and say throw up a blog and insist that you're press and get invited to stuff and free trips. You need to be a part of some kind of publication that people read regularly and has some kind of reputation and stats. But the site I freelance for isn't exactly Parents Magazine or The New York Times. We're sizable, sure, but even small publications get noticed.

I knew a kid in college who worked for our student paper (the Yale Daily News we certainly were not) and got into all sorts of sold-out concerts and sporting events. And he didn't lie about it, he told them exactly where he was from. But the thing about entertainment, media, tourism and the likes is that they need small publications to cover their bases and earn unique street cred. While it's worthwhile for Columbus, OH to get written up in the LA Times as a family destination, at the end of the day a small press from Indiana that writes a feature on it is going to get read by people who will actually get in their cars and check it out.

So the trick is to develop some kind of angle. Start with your local newspaper. Instead of demanding that they send you to New York, Montreal and beyond, tell them where you're already going. Got a trip planned to London? Write your paper and pitch them an angle. Pay attention to what they like to publish. Art, family, community, education, avant-garde? Then pitch all the surrounding publications, websites, etc within your reach. Google "travel pitch letters" to get an idea of what they should say and work hard to perfect it. Once they agree to give you a shot, casually ask if they're able to provide any press passes in the area you'll be visiting. Some people may look at you blankly, roll their eyes, or tell you that you're on your own. That's okay. But others might get on the horn and call up the tourism board of where you're going and negotiate a city pass or discounted hotel room. You have to start thinking like a journalist to feel like one. And once you start feeling like one, then you're more apt to seek out more than just the cookie-cutter fare listed on (insert airline carrier here).

Surf the Polyester Cushion Wave

Anyone who's an innovative traveler probably knows all about the new (at least in the mainstream) phenomenon called couch surfing. It all boils down to this: Need a free place to crash coast to coast or sea to sea? How about a stranger's couch?

It's just about that simple, though CouchSurfing.com boasts a delicate philosophy: "CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance, and facilitate cultural understanding." And there is some truth that when you open your door to a stranger who shares the same love of travel, cultural understanding, and trust as you do -- well, you're sure to get all zen-like at the thought of creating a warm, fuzzy world.

The logistics of it may seem little different and less fuzzy though. Once you create a profile at CouchSurfing.com, you can then join some discussion groups and start searching for couches to crash on. So if you're going to Europe for a few weeks, you can search for couches in the cities you're visiting and wait for offers. Supposedly you'll get many offers and you can then match up your interest and general personality with that of your potential hosts. From there it's up to you. Maybe you'll end up touring the latest museum exhibits, hand in hand, or maybe you'll flee in the middle of the night.

But CouchSurfing.com has an innovative system for what they call vouching. "Every user is linked to the other users he or she knows in the system through a network of references and friend links. In addition to the solid network with friend link-strength indicators and testimonials, we have our vouching and verification systems. Some of these are new technologies invented by the CouchSurfing founders. Not just anyone is a vouched for member. Members can only become vouched for by an already vouched for CouchSurfing.com member. Essentially, it's a trust circle."

But don't worry -- anyone can join and surf the community of couches. They love it when people get involved and become part of the couch community phenomenon. But what do couch surfing hosts get out of it? They're generally not paid (though it's expected their visitors will contribute whether in ways of cleaning up or pitching in for groceries or treating them for dinner). But if they're hosting, then they're getting vouched and have a wider network to couch surf themselves. It's full circle!

So CouchSurfing.com does have safety in mind and considering this whole business on vouching through an internationally based community website is surely not an easy feat, it's impressive they have a system at all. There's even vouching going on in Antarctica, so pack your parka and head North. Unless you're reading this from Antarctica, then in that case head South. Just not to my couch.

Naturist Travel and Recreation?

I've done more than my fair share of travel in life, but I've never ventured into the freedom of what one might call naturist travel. I have to admit, I don't quite understand the appeal of lounging around sans swimsuit or cute sundress, but who I am to judge? I would imagine that intoxicating feeling one gets while on vacation is only amplified by wearing proverbial birthday suit to do something as mundane as ordering a foreign coffee.

And plenty of travel companies are catering to those who are clothes free at heart. NFN Travel started what I like to consider an ambitious project to compile a dizzying directory of naturist clubs, resorts, lifestyles travel clubs, clothing optional destinations, and naturist lifestyle vacations. Just imagine, sipping a margarita, with your backside exposed to all. It actually sounds kinda nice. And you can even make money with NFL by becoming a "travel associate". You can earn fees and travel discounts by referring travel prospects. So in otherwords, start scoping out your neighbors, they might be little incognito naturists themselves.

But don't worry, NFN gets it and lets naturist virgin vacationers rest easy. Read this statement from their site: "If you are venturing into a nude, clothing optional or lifestyles vacation for the first time, call us. We will discreetly answer any questions you may have and provide suggestions to help you plan your vacation."

Discreet indeed. So don't be shy about assking how exactly one is suppose to sit down in a public place and the norms for naturist socializing. And don't be surprised about their endless options. They list 7 locations alone in Jamaica where you can run and frolick -- clothes free. Just remember that jiggling is welcomed.

Anyone remember that David Sedaris short story Naked? Read it before you go on your own nekkid vacation... tit for tat so to speak.

Travel Alone... And Love It

It seems like there's a website for every travel niche these days. Travel with kids, dogs, cats, single, gay, straight, weight-loss, career-seekers, nudists, volunteers, sports enthusiasts, seniors, baby boomers, Gen X-ers and more. While combing through all the information out there can be exhausting, it's also an exciting time in the travel industry. You can find an itinerary, like-minded travel agents, and a specialized niche just for you.

One of my favorite niche sites is called Backpacking Women on the Road found at www.women-on-the-road.com. I traveled alone several times in my early twenties and I found nothing to be as satisfying or exhilarating. The rush of independence and adventure was addictive and I came home with a newfound respect for myself and ability. But the experience is different than when traveling with a partner. What areas are safe at night? What bars are solo-gal friendly and free from being harassed by pick-up artists and drunken ex-frat boys? How do you deal with the lull of loneliness that sweeps in when the excitement wanes at night?

Backing Women on the Road offers it subscribers a list of innovative ideas with help on everything from taking great photos to combating motion sickness to staying safe. While some of their information is common sense, it greatly aids in getting yourself organized and inspired for an upcoming journey. But there's lots of great content and ideas including how to stay free via couch surfing. They also offer a free 60-page copy of Writing About Travel for Fun and Money -- giving you ideas on how to actually profit on the road.

Whether you're an adventurer at heart or a timid spirit, a solo trip is a must-have on everyone's travel itinerary. It truly opens your mind and gives you an edge of self-sufficiency and self-awareness you can't gain anywhere else. Opt for something accessible to your needs. Backpacking through Morocco? Hitting the slopes in Colorado? A spa day in Sedona? Just plan ahead and be prepared and leave the rest up to the wind.

The Perfect Travel Hangover Cure

It's easy to get carried away while on vacation. With every delicious beer (hopefully a Scottish Bellhaven), cocktail, aperitif, and shot put in front of you, you smile and say, "Why not? I am on vacation!" and throw caution to the wind. That's all well and good, until you wake up on your well-earned vacation with a hangover reminiscent of your first misguided fraternity party.

If you know you're probably going to over-indulge, stick with lighter and clear colored alcoholic drinks. Part of what makes you feel like hell the next morning is what's called congeners. They're the toxic chemicals formed during fermentation and is more commonly found in darker drinks -- so your liver has to work hard to remove the toxins.

Or, if you really had your wits about you, you could just drink one glass of water after every drink and wake up rosey. But let's face it, if you're reading this then you're already a goner, so here's a hangover cure to help.


The Innovative Traveler Hangover Cure:

1 can of seltzer (preferably club soda or Perrier)

1 slice of cheese pizza (de-blot with a napkin to get off excess grease)

1 bottle of Gatorade mixed with a lime packet of Emergen-Z

6-8 glasses of water through the day

45 minute walk (exercise is known to kick start your system, even on a hangover)

Chicken, fish, nuts or other protein throughout the day (protein helps give you a healthy charge)


Avoid walking in the hot sun, boating or flying -- you'll just end up grazing the air-sickness bag the whole time, praying it will be over and making bargains of how you'll never drink again. Not until your next vacation anyway.

Should You Buy or Wait?

Ever get the feeling travel search engines are all the same? I've often noticed Expedia and Orbitz have the same fares on the same airlines at the same time of day. Or if one engine shows a fare for $5 cheaper, it'll actually end up being the same as its competing search engine after fees and taxes are calculated. I get the feeling those companies are really just competing on the number of tickets on desirable times of day as opposed to a "good deal".

But today I stumbled upon a breakthrough in the travel industry - www.farecast.com. Instead of debating on whether the price of those airline tickets are going to go up or down, just log onto Farecast and find out. They can show you, down to the very penny, how much a fare will change 74.5% of the time with an average savings of $55. Wondering if shaving off a day or adding on two will change your fare? They can also chart fares based on your length of stay.

Farecast also has a handy rate key tool when choosing a hotel. Sure, all those priceline commercials with William Shatner has you all hot and ready to jump to Priceline. But do you ever wonder if you're really getting a good deal based on their previous rates? What if its cheaper a month away? Farecast simply alerts you on if it's "Not a Deal" "Average" or "Deal" based on the hotel's previous rates. And you don't even need Shatner in your face to get the point across.

It's a Shat-attack, y'all!

From the Travel Bag

Q: I'm an inventory specialist for an online company and wish I could travel for work. I'm tired of sitting behind the desk all day. How can I convince my boss to let me go somewhere, anywhere, and have them foot the bill?

How to Make the Boss Foot the Bill?

The fact that you want your boss to foot the bill leads me to believe that you think she might. If that's the case, you need to come up with a plan and not just a "I deserve to go somewhere" tactic. It's not your boss' problem that you want to go somewhere, keep that in mind. That is not your angle, your angle should be how to convince her that you should go somewhere and that it will benefit the company. Start researching inventory trends, businesses, seminars, your own clients, and anything that remotely relates to your job. Maybe a new computer program has come out and you could go to San Diego for a one week workshop? Maybe you have a dissatisfied client that might need a little face time to smooth things over? Then add in a day or two before and after your business matter to enjoy your own downtime -- if at all possible. But remember that having your boss foot the bill means she'll expect you to work, and that equals up to not having a 'real' vacation. You may get more satisfaction that the trip is free and not care about having to work. But make sure you really think about what you want out of this trip and plan accordingly.

If your boss doesn't bite, let her know you're open to the idea when she feels it's a better fit. That way you're leaving the door open. Then look at taking a 1 day work related class, meeting up with a client, or meeting with a consultant about your career in your vacation area. Beforehand, talk to your accountant about how and how much you can write off. You may end up being able to write off 100% of the vacation. And it's a great way to give something back to yourself.

Montreal or Bust

We just got back from Montreal and took in the Cinemania Film Festival, Romeo and Juliet

Opera, and most of the big museums. Everyone kept telling us to check out the Underground, which actually took us awhile to find, despite the fact that it is incredibley accessible. The fact that it is so accessible actually threw me for a loop and was part of the reason I kept missing it -- and that it resembled an upscale mall was impressive. Growing up in Atlanta, my only real exposure to the Underground was Underground Atlanta which resembles a row of tacky souvenier stands, a few shops, and depressing eateries. And then of course when I moved to New York, dirty subways and rumors of C.H.U.D.s were about the only experience I had sub-zero.

Taking Amtrak from New York, we delicately avoided acknowledging that the trip would take nearly eleven hours. But we were pleasantly surprised to find the trip relaxing and a beautiful ride up the Hudson. The first 6 hours really flew by with the opportunity to sit in Amtrak's new sight-seeing Dome car and stretch our legs. Plus it's much more comfortable to stretch out in train seats than on a plane -- unless you're lucky enough to get first class. Our train tickets were only $114 each way total with the 50% discount we used by entering the promotional code V707. Despite my high of getting such a good deal, there were some problems. I contacted Amtrak and was told we could pick up our tickets in the automated machines at Penn Station, yet when we got there we were denied and had to run around looking for someone to help us. We made our train with about 3 minutes to spare. Coming back was a similar experience, though we allowed for more time and were told our return fare had never been charged to our credit card. The best I could understand was that certain discounts require tickets to be physically mailed, so unlike plane tickets, this might be your best bet whenever using Amtrak discounts. If you do opt to pick them up in person, allow for plenty of time.

I found Montrealans to be incredibley polite. We would usually shy away under an awning or a corner to take a lok at the map -- not only stay out of people's way, but to avoid an obvious sign that screamed "WE'RE TOURISTS WHO DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF US". Yet every single time we had a map out, people stopped and asked if we needed directions. I also loved the fact that everyone spoke French first, then English. It was very fun that the people our age spoke English with perfect midwestern accents, but would often forget an English word like "lobster" or "sign". The mix of European flair, Canadian sensibilities, and North American flavor really makes this city accessible to travelers looking for anything from exotic to comfortable.

The city is well laid-out with the city center easily walkable and convenient to Canada's Via Rail/Amtrak station. Though a bit far, we frequently walked from McGill University all the way to the Old Port, about 45 minutes. I recommend staying near the universitywhere the prices are a bit more reasonable, the streets are tree lined and quieter, and plenty of fine dining to coffee shops and boutiques abound. Though we got press passes to the Opera and Cinemania as a "work" incentive, I recommend all tourists to take advantage of local festivals. You really get to soak up the culture and meet new people as well as contribute to the community of the city. And of course don't forget the local brews while you're visiting anywhere from Pittsburgh to Montreal -- I recommend the Borealis Rousse!

Hopefully we'll get to the Jazz Festival in the summer, check out this clip I found from Travelistic.com.