I just found a post for a $7,500 travel grant at www.dodo.com.
Writers = Underfed. Slightly tattered. Looking for the next big idea.
So until you find it, check out some free stuff. I found it on a feed and thought it might be fun for fledgling writers everywhere. Sometimes when you can't go out and buy stuff, you need the psychological lift of a tangible item in some way, shape, or form.
I added the feed over to the bottom right, check it out. And let me know if anyone tries it!
A lot of people ask me how to break into travel writing, and quite honestly I'm never quite sure what to say. It felt like I stumbled into it, as if it were a streak of luck. But in fact luck is a combination of persistence and timing that you have to hit upon over and over again until it works. I always recommend new writers tackle subjects and destinations they know well and work on a kick-ass pitch.
Start with smaller markets in your area and work your way into national publications. But don't be afraid to pitch a few national magazines as well. You don't want to cut yourself out of a large magazine or newspaper due to a lack of persistence or the belief you can't break in. It's also a good idea to develop a niche for yourself whether a family market, elite travel, adventure, or whatever tickles your fancy. I don't have children but somehow fell into a family market. It's something I enjoy and can offer an adult-perspective to parents who want more than just a kid-friendly destination involving Disney World or Six Flags Over (fill in the state here).
However, I discovered an online publication I hadn't heard of called TravelLady.com. Though they don't pay, they do sometimes offer a letter of assignment to writers who have published with them at least 5-times. A letter assignment is crucial and means you can potentially land on a free press trip domestically and abroad. They also accept work from new writers. It's actually a publication I'd like to consider, they have interesting content and a solid page rank.
Check it out!
I use to do some animated Pokemon scripts for their online content and came across a release about their annual Video Game Showdown. Sweet!
"Fans across the planet" can win a seat at this first annual contest in Orlando. But you have to show-up on July 12th in Los Angeles, CA or July 19th in New York, NY to qualify. This regional qualifying event, free to the public, will feature the best players in America battling it out on Nintendo’s Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl video games for the opportunity to compete against the best players from Japan. Two first place finishers at the Video Game Showdown will be awarded a 6 day / 5 night vacation package for four to your choice of NY, Honolulu, or Tokyo, Japan as well as a custom Nintendo DS Game System. Prizes are also awarded to the top finishers in each of the two age divisions at the qualifier tournaments including a Nintendo Wii package worth over $500! Pokémon is a Kid-tested / Parent-approved brand that unlike many of the current video games on the market, has always promoted non–-violence and encourages interaction and socialization with other users. We’re happy to send over artwork for the Video Game Showdown as well. We’d love it if you could tell all our local kids about this exciting event that allows them to showcase their talents and win the experience of a lifetime!
So tonight I'm going to peruse the Brooklyn Bridge via watertaxi for work to get a close-up view of this hideous waterfall. Do they really think it's going to rake in the dough from tourism? Right now it looks like a metal erecta-set circa 1982 and any minute Jimmy Hoffa's body is going to get sucked up into it and go over the edge. My hubster's comment this morning on the subway ride while we gawked at it over the Manhattan bridge with all the other commuters? "At least it'll help circulate the East River a little bit."
Frank Sinatra didn't sing about this in his Brooklyn Bridge song... "All the folks in Manhattan are sad... 'cause they all wish they had, a waterfall monstrosity under the Brooklyn Bridge!"
Apparently it's the handiwork of "brainchild of Danish artist Olafur Eliasson." He's the same brainchild of The Weather Project at the Tate Modern, London from 2003.
I do think it's interesting, but horrifically out of place and oddly offensive against such a beauty as The Brooklyn Bridge. It seems tainted somehow. I'll have a better close-up view tonight. Don't call me a hack, it's a free event, can you really pass up the opportunity?
Found this press release in my email this morning....
Entertainment Cruises is excited to announce that in addition to breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline, Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty and more, this summer the cruise line will offer spectacular views of New York’s most awe-inspiring new attraction – The New York City Waterfalls, debuting today!
Famous for reinventing nature in artwork, Olafur Eliasson will replicate the beauty and splendor of waterfalls in four, 90 to 120 foot-tall art projects located at Pier 35 in Manhattan, Governors Island, Brooklyn Bridge and Pier 5 in Brooklyn. There will be no better view of the brilliant sites than aboard Spirit Cruises, where passengers will sail up close to the city's most unique art attraction while enjoying dinner, dancing and entertainment.
The Olsen twins were on our flight from New York to Nashville this afternoon. We texted 10 of our friends before the cabin door closed to tell them and when we landed my cell phone was busting up with comments. The responses ranged from:
"Give Mary Kate a cheeseburger for me!"
"Amazing."
"Who are the Olsen twins?"
"Tell them Bob Boyett says hi."
"Have them sign your boobs for me."
"Do they look like bugged aliens in real life?"
...and my personal guilty favorite...
"Tell them Heath was one of their faults."
BURN! That was a bit harsh. But we have mean friends...
So today we're going to Nashville... will keep you posted. I'm curious to see if it really is the land of honky tonks and cowboy hats or if there's hidden art gems, punk rock, and fine dining abounding..
This is an unusual marketing ploy. The Windjammer Landing Resort in St. Lucia is actually offering one free airline ticket (minus taxes) with the price of a 7-day rental.
The rentals start at about $310, so that's still rather steep, especially for a family of 4. You're looking at over $2,000 in rental fee, plus the cost of other airfare. Though if you're looking to get away on your own, it's a pretty sweet deal.
Right now Orbitz is showing a fare of $558 ($664 with taxes) for a directly flight to St. Lucia on September 2nd. So if you're traveling with a family of 4, one gets a free ticket and 3 get a combined bill of $1,992.
It also looks like the villa rates are for 1-2 people and you can purchase an all-inclusive package for an additional charge. So this deal may only be a bargain for a couple. I'd say it's worth it if you're specifically looking for a villa in St. Lucia. But for an overall bargain Caribbean discount, I'm not so sure this is it.
Check it out, might be perfect for honeymooners looking for a splurge...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FLY FREE THIS FALL TO ST. LUCIA
Book Seven-Nights at Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort
by June 30th and Enjoy Complimentary Airline Tickets
CASTRIES, ST. LUCIA (JUNE 11, 2008) -- Award-winning Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort, known for its glorious beach and stunning Mediterranean style villas, announces a free airfare promotion featuring complimentary tickets from all major East Coast gateways that serve St. Lucia via American Airlines for bookings by June 30, 2008.
The luxury resort is extending the promotion to vacationers booking a seven-night stay between September 2 and December 15, 2008.* Travelers booking a two-bedroom villa or larger will receive two tickets; those booking a one-bedroom villa will receive one free ticket (airline taxes are not included). Airfare supplements of $100 apply for travel from the Midwest; $200 from the West Coast.
Nightly rates start at $310 for one or two guests staying in a one-bedroom villa; $510 for a two-bedroom villa, plus tax and service charges. Nightly all-inclusive rates start at $646 for two guests in a one bedroom villa; $882 in a two-bedroom villa. All-inclusive rates include all meals, top-shelf liquor, motorized and non-motorized water sports, entertainment, tax and service charges.
“Fall is a fabulous time to enjoy St. Lucia’s natural beauty and hospitality, as well as special events such as the St. Lucia Bill Fishing Tournament in September, Creole Heritage Month in October and the famed Food and Rum Festival from October 30 to November 2. We hope our promotion will encourage vacationers to plan ahead and enjoy our upscale resort and its spacious, private villas,” said Anthony Bowen, Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort’s managing director.
Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort, which was awarded green certification, is a premier property set on a crescent-shaped, white-sand beach with stunningly-designed and appointed suites and villas, many with private pools, spread among 60 exotic and flowering acres on the verdant Caribbean island of St. Lucia. With the full-service Serenity Spa, the Jacquot Fun Club, and a choice of romantic restaurants, Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort is the perfect retreat for families, couples and anyone seeking top-level service and amenities.
For reservations, contact (800) 345-0356; (800) 958-7376 or visit www.windjammer-landing.com or www.eliteislands.com.
*Packages are subject to availability.
# # #
Here's some new headlines about 'Pain at the Pump' I'd like to see thrown in the mix. How many hourly horror stories about $5 gas can we read before driving all our cars straight into the Hudson?
Fuel Surcharges Grounds Mile High Club
Passengers Request Emergency Landing in Cleveland Instead of Columbus to Save on Surcharges
Pump Like a Prude
Gas Hikes Usher in the Apocalypse
Eat Your Young to Save on Gas
Gas Crisis? Live in Your Office Instead of Commuting
BP Boasts Excessive Fuel Spill to Alleviate Consumer's Fear of a Shortage
The most innovative, non-complaining, non-apocalyptic tool I've seen for gas calculations is AAA's Fuel Cost Calculator. Plot in your make and model of your car, miles per gallon, starting point and destination to find out how much gas is going to set you back. You can also compare cities to figure out which makes the most sense and where you can save. For a real treat, see what gas costs in your area, then torture yourself by seeing where gas is considered 'cheap'. Of course cheap is a matter of pennies, but hey, we're all feeling pain at the pump.
A Horror Film for Today's Economy
Do you ever wonder what would happen if Stephen King re-released Maximum Overdrive? No one would be frightened, of course, not even young children. I mean come on, it's a Stephen King film after all. But what would really throw us for a violent, blood-curdling loop is how much gas those alien semi trucks were sucking down without even giving thought to Emilio Estevez's pain at the pump. Now that's a modern horror story.
Hi. I'm a travel writer by trade and that's how I earn a living. But should you trust me? Maybe not.
Here's why. Travel writers make a lousy paycheck, but get incredibly addictive perks ranging from free airfare to the best suites to free drinks. Most smaller travel publications or websites, often rely on PR firms and the hospitality industry for freebies to generate content and establish contacts in the industry. And hotel markets, resorts, and tourism boards truly need those small publications. It's more likely someone writing about Columbus, OH for a small paper in Indiana will get more of a reaction than the LA Times. Those readers from Indy can drive over to check out the newest in Columbus museums whereas someone in LA will probably only file it away in their mind as a matter of interest. It's really not that hard to get on a press trip if you write for a publication with a circulation as few as 4,000.
But bigger rags like Travel and Leisure or Conde Nast strictly forbid any freebies of any kind. If the hotel concierge so much as opens a door for you, the editors are quick to panic that your review will be skewed. However, that doesn't mean you should assume established writers aren't ever sneaking perks, or trading perks. Is it so out of the question they would take a free room from a Marriott in Tahoe, with the agreement they'd check out a Marriott in Seattle and review it on their own? Though popular travel magazines tend to have a solid reputation journalistic integrity, you just never know what goes on behind closed doors.
Hee! We're all travel writers drinking free champagne....I just got back from a free trip and met a couple who runs a successful but small regional newspaper. They came right out and told me they never review the negative aspects of a trip, lest not get invited back again. They in fact specifically write about places, cruises, and hotels that they want to visit for their own personal pleasure. I found this shocking. While I do take on a certain amount of responsibility by taking a free trip, offering a decent review, and agreeing to play by the rules, I would never leave out negative elements I would find important to my readers. Nor can a property, resort, or PR firm obligate a writer or publication to do so.
However, I also expect my readers to be smart. I'll offer up all the positive aspects of a property or attraction, but also mention who wouldn't enjoy it. Toddlers, seniors, people who hate walking up steps, etc. etc. This is my way of pointing out the negative, but also keeping in mind that too much walking or lots of kids wouldn't be a negative to everyone. My approach is to mix in some of my own thoughts and perspective along with the facts and let the reader decide. No fence around the property? A parent will immediately zero in on that comment and cringe at the thought of their toddler running amok. But newlyweds would probably care less. But regardless of how great all the perks on a trip were, I would never say 'This was the best place ever!"
I think travel writing should be a way to open new doors, entertain, educate, and inspire. But to just take a writer's word that a property is fabulous is short-sighted. Do at least one more level of digging before handing over your credit card. I love Trip Advisor for unbiased reviews, but I read all the negative reviews too. If the negative comments are about the room being small, the hotel staff being rude, or a whole ten minute walk into town, I'm still game. I'm from New York, everything is small, everyone is rude, and you walk everywhere. Another reason to compare negative vs. positive? They're often the same comments. We stayed at the Hix House in Vieques and all the reviews were the same on both sides of the coin. People were either bitching or celebrating the rustic setting, camp-style lofts, wildlife, and lack of televisions. The reviews were the same, but the people giving them had opposite perspectives.
So you may not want to trust a travel writer on whether a hotel really is the best place on the face of the earth, but you might get some new ideas and fresh perspective for your next vacation.
Seriously. Does anyone else watch Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern? I use to think food shows were terribly boring, a waste of airtime, and something you only watch at your grandma's who doesn't have real cable. It's not like you can actually eat the food or really get into the excitement of watching Rachael Ray throw EVOO (extra virgin olive oil for you Rachael haters) on the skillet.
But then I discovered Top Chef and realized that watching people eat and cook could be not only interesting, but utterly suspenseful. Nail biting, in fact. Who could believe it when Sam and the bald chick got booted from the show in favor of the guy who only made Spanish food and the mouse dude with the bouffant? Top Chef makes me nervous.
So after becoming a TV foodie, the hubster and I were bored or sick or procrastinating and started watching Bizarre Foods on the Travel Channel. Here's the breakdown of a day in the life of Andrew Z: Andrew Zimmern traverses the world, searching high and low for the most bizarre foods on earth. And he delivers. If you're looking for a good edge of your seat drama, just watch Zimmern shove down intestines, fertilized duck embryo, cricket stir-fry, purple yam ice cream and cheese ice cream, worms, penis, and lots and lots of balls.
Lots of balls.
I haven't gotten to see the show that often, and it seems he's always downing some variation of testicles wherever he goes. And with great relish and satisfaction, I might add.
Snip, snip...Before Ball Biting Zimmern, I wondered why the Travel Channel was chock full of food shows. But then I realized consumption and imbibing really is completely ingrained in what travel is all about. And it's not just about eating in the finest or weirdest restaurants complete with snapshots of you putting your head inside a stuffed boar's head. No.
I feel transported and alive when I'm traveling. And unfortunately I find that when I'm on vacation I want to eat with abandon and feel free to do so because I'm on vacation. It's an excuse to indulge and make up for all the crap you left behind. I'm away from my real life and my real problems and convince myself my real waistline was also left behind at home. Then I go to the gym and see how much weight I gained.
Andrew Zimmern also eats a lot of brains.
Watch the Zimmern in action...
I've been on back to back press trips the last few weeks with no WiFi. That's right, cut off from the outside world! First I was in the woods of Ohio where I zip lined all while trying not to have a freak out over my fear of heights, ate twice at the Spotted Owl Cafe, and hiked around. Who knew the Midwest had caves and waterfalls?
Next, I was in the Caribbean at Beaches all inclusive resort. My favorite part was falling asleep with a plastic cup of (free) champagne with my husband on a ginormous round lounge chair. The other writers were really nice and the trip overall was a blast. But it was A LOT of hearing "We have a very special guest for you today!" and seeing an Elmo dressed in Hawaiian gear run out while the kids went bat shit. I have to say, though, the entertainment team was amazing. How they have that much energy and moves, all while sweating in Caribbean 90 degree weather is beyond me.
I swear the paparazi there is relentless. The photoshack staff follows you around on outings with cameras and takes 'candid' shots, all to entice you to drop a million bucks at the shack to get your prints. I'm content with the pict of Elmo in between my husband and I that I'll be sure to turn into this year's Christmas card.
Speaking of this Christmas, we may not be going to sabbatical in Nashville, at least not yet. We might do it in Europe instead. Yeah, I know, the most expensive place on earth. We have a wedding to go to that way, a lead on an affordable short-term apartment, and an offer for a free tour with a PR company out there that would put us up for 10 days. We're figuring it out, but we'll keep you posted.
More later, I have about 2 tons of laundry to take care of...
I've blogged about underwater hotels, Italian convents, igloos, and more, but recently I discovered the growing phenom of prison stays. Unlike the brick and mortar setting of most prisons, the hotels offer first class service to earn their 4 stars.
In Boston, get booked at the famed Liberty Hotel, formerly the Charles Street Jail. The slammer was originally home to the most notorious of Boston's criminals for nearly 120 years. In 1973, prisoners revolted over poor living conditions and the jail was officially declared unfit and in violation of the inmate's constitutional rights. In 1990, the last of the prisoners were moved and the hotel soon began intensive renovations to a luxury hotel with a team of designers, architects, historians, and conservationists.
A crime of luxury...Despite additions and renovations, the jail's original granite exterior and light-filled interior rooms remained in tact. Today, the prison turned hotel boats 90 foot ceilings and central atrium. Jail cells were preserved along with wrought-iron windows, and the former exercise yard a carefully landscaped courtyard.
My first question was whether or not the hotel was haunted. I was convinced enough suffering and mayhem had probably occurred over its 120 year tenure to warrant a few hauntings. According to Massachussetes Suite 101, the hotel was cleansed by monks prior to its opening.
So no known spirit sightings, but I wonder how long it'll take before TAPS to show up and debunk or capture ghostly details on film. Real life details of the Liberty Hotel include 'Do Not Disturb' signs reading 'Solitary', plasma TV's, and mini bar. There's also a small gym, but no spa. Overall, reviews are positive, making each customer feel like a treasured inmate guest.
The Liberty Hotel
215 Charles Street, Beacon Hill
Boston, MA 02114
617-224-4000
Take a tour of Boston's Liberty Hotel...
I was hanging out over at Escape Brooklyn's blog and her post on Seattle hipsters flocking to Portland for better home prices made me wonder where the hell the cheapest place to live really is. Findlay, IL? Santa Claus, GA? No idea.
Turns out, Asuncion, Paraguay recently won the non-coveted title, five different times. That made me wonder what it cost to travel there. According to everyone from Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel to Frommers, South America is one of the few places that hasn't ripped us a new one in regards to cost of travel. And with all this talk of the gas, housing, and travel crisis, is South America our answer to overseas travel?
According to Lonely Planet, Ausuncion is dirt cheap, and a little bit dirty to boot. Author Rob Crossan quietly brags about shelling out the smallest note he had for some wine and getting the royal treatment accustomed to a celebrity.
But Paraguay doesn't necessarily conjure images of a relaxing or even traditionally adventurous vacation. Instead it has a reputation for squalor, corruption, and overt poverty. The only thing I know about the country is from Rosie, a cantankerous personal assistant in New York who fled Paraguay for a better life and recently had to denounce her citizenship there to get her Green Card over here. She currently spends her time insulting the staff, using cream in lattes for those on a diet, and asking female staff members if they're pregnant with a dismal look a their bellies, swollen from a hangover.
But to visit? Lonely Planet pegs it as a fantastic driving country with "winding asphalt that snakes through the empty savannahs and lonely ranches..."
On your adventure to do list: Itaipu Dam, religious artifacts, an a dry seabed called Chaco ideal for rare bird watching. As far as wallet logistics - a full Burger King meal (love that even Asuncion has been touched by the graces of the fast food industry) runs you upwards of $2, and beer under $1. While I'm stunned a room at a nice hotel runs a partly $5.60, Escape Brooklyn will faint when she reads a large downtown apartment rents for $190. Wonder what a mansion would set you back?
I'm thinking there aren't any press trips to Asuncion... that they're tourist office isn't necessarily handing out free rooms to writers and showing the sites. But my policy is I'll go anywhere once, so why not Asuncion?
Speaking of press trips, I'll be in Ohio next week, then off to the Caribbean. My hubster gets to tag along on both. He's got a hard life.
See more on Asuncion, Paraguay...
Found an interesting new travel bit... I'm all for environmental sustainability, but I'm amazed that in the last year, if you're not environmentally friendly, then you're basically going to hell in a handbasket. The message for 2008? If it's not green, it sucks.
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre a New Icon for Sustainability
The Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre, a three-story complex of natural stone, wood and glass buildings, is designed to respect the landscape and act as a doorway to the forest. The cultural centre is a “green” development, reflecting the philosophy of responsible land stewardship, a value held by both the Squamish Nation and the Lil’wat Nation and by the Community of Whistler. Through environmental planning and design practices, this project significantly contributes to Whistler’s reputation as an innovative community, emphasizing its efforts to prevent and reduce negative environmental impacts.
Designed by architect Alfred Waugh to evoke a traditional Squamish longhouse and a Lil'wat Istken (pit house), with pictograph-adorned boulders gracing the walkways along the approach to the carved cedar entry doors. Anchored by massive Douglas Fir beams and columns, shingled glass ushers in the dramatic mountain scenery to become a backdrop for art and artifacts on display. The entrance and the axis of the building align with the celestial points of the compass, with the entrance door facing east, as is traditional in First Nations cultures.
The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified in its design and construction. At the outset, measures were taken to ensure the Centre had the smallest possible carbon footprint by building it in close proximity to Whistler’s core, adjacent to public transportation. The architect worked with the topography of the land, facing the building north to minimize the impact of UV light on precious art and artifacts. Rock blasting was minimized, instead resting the building on the bedrock plinth, and all the stone and wood used in the building was sourced from the surrounding territory. The concrete floors act as a heat sink, absorbing heat in the day and releasing it at night to efficiently cool the building. Natural ventilation through operable windows and thermal stack ventilators reduce cooling loads during spring and fall. Other sustainable strategies include minimal irrigation controlled by sensors and a planted roof over the Iskten Hall to mitigate storm water run off.
The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, “where rivers, mountains and people meet,” is the result of an unprecedented partnership between two distinctly different First Nations, the Coast Salish Squamish people and the Interior Salish Lil’wat people, to preserve, celebrate, and share their history and arts – thus ensuring cultural sustainability.
The cultural program options and authentic arts add a new dimension to the already remarkable Whistler experience. In addition to a Class A museum, an 80 seat theatre, and a gift gallery with authentic Squamish and Lil’wat art, the Centre features guided and self-guided tours, performances, and artisan demonstrations.
The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre is opening June 2008 in Whistler, a major event site for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. For more information on the Cultural Centre, go to www.slcc.ca or for event booking, contact the sales department by email at sales@slcc.ca or by phone at (604) 898-1822.
Tired of rising gas prices? I'd like to see a story where someone is gushing over paying nearly $4 at the pump. I want to see Mom's on CNN talking about how they can't find enough ways to spend their money. I want to see Careerists talking about how they need to cut back their schedule so they can go out and spend their hoard of money on expensive clothes and food. I want to see them buy a lobster and steak dinner with a lobster martini and then throw it away when it's not buttered enough.
Sorry. I just love how every story across the news wires now starts with "Tired of rising gas prices? Are you suffering at the pump? The gas and mortgage and food inflation crisis got you down in the mouth?"
So if you're feeling it at the pump, this travel alert won't help too much. Unless you already live around Europe and Britain. Reading this does make me wonder if train travel in the US has a shot at coming back. Not that it was ever thriving. But we use to take the train from NYC to Philly all the time before the prices rose to nearly $40 each way, per person. Then we tried the Chinatown to Chinatown bus. Then we decided we weren't sadists, so we just stuck to driving the old-fashioned, expensive, jaw-droppingly expensive way. Recessions are fun!
We're all escaping the pump... (cue scary horror movie music)LONDON, ENGLAND-- Planning to spend time traveling around Europe and Britain? The Eurail Pass is the time-honored way for young people to traipse the length and breadth of Europe, but it is not valid in Great Britain. ACP Rail and BritRail are offering Youths (aged 16-25) who purchase any Eurail Pass, a 50% discount off the adult price of a standard class BritRail Consecutive Pass, BritRail FlexiPass, BritRail England Consecutive Pass or BritRail England FlexiPass.
The discount offer is valid throughout 2008. Once you have purchased your Eurail pass from an authorized agent, log onto www.BritRail.com and choose the "Eurail Pass" tab under "select BritRail Passes." The Eurail and BritRail Passes must both be in your possession at the time you travel in Britain and they must both be valid for travel, but you need not use a day of travel on your Eurail Pass to complete your journey in Britain.
BritRail Passes are available for as few as 4 days of travel through to a month, so the time you spend touring Britain is entirely up to you. 19,000 daily train departures to more than 2500 destinations make the BritRail Pass your passport to Britain's heritage cities, historic towns and quaint villages.
In addition to being comfortable and efficient, train travel is 'green': Trains emit 50% less Green House gases per passenger kilometer than cars; 25% of the gases compared to a plane traveling the same distance. The energy replaced by Regenerative Braking is enough to provide power to 11,825 homes for a year or to brew 2.6 billion cups of tea.
So traveling by train is definitely the best way to see Europe and Britain. It's quick, comfortable and environmentally friendly. With the Eurail Pass holder 50% discount for Youths, the 'all-access' standard class 4 Day BritRail Consecutive Pass costs EUR 92 / $145AU / Y15000 / $130US; the FlexiPass version is EUR 116 / $184AU / Y19000 / $165US. The discounted cost for a 4 Day BritRail England Consecutive Pass is just EUR 74 / $116AU / Y12000 / $105US; the FlexiPass version is EUR 93 / $147AU / Y15200 / $133US. This offer is not valid for residents of Britain or Europe. For more information or to purchase, please visit www.BritRail.com.
This morning I logged onto CNN for my morning news and was startled to realize headlines about families, single parents, and the country at large are all competing with headlines about war, celebutrash, and breaking news. Usually about the latest in sport scandals.
Although frugality and gas spikes and mortgage crisis all go hand in hand, it really just hit me this morning that the entire country is nervously waiting for their own private economy to implode on itself. While I understand frugality and worries are all very real, it's interesting how the news depicts it all. Ladies are skipping their monthly salon appointments, families are clipping coupons, and people are switching to cloth napkins!!! The news somehow wants to make it into a stunning and compelling news piece. Instead, I'm finding delight in learning new ways to be frugal.
I've always been frugal at heart, though some people confuse that with being cheap. I'm frugal and will find a way to save even $5 from my bills, but I'll also find a way to fund a European vacation. I make travel a priority (not above paying bills and eating), and I find ways to scrimp on both my travel bills and daily life to make that a reality. Frugality is also an outlet for creativity, in my opinion. I love figuring out what's free and cheap and take pride in knowing what a great value I've gotten in my chosen activity or purchase.
So with all this in mind, I was dreading lugging myself up to my favorite Brooklyn bodega and buying a $15 bottle of economy sized Tide just to lug back to the apartment along with our groceries. Perhaps it was out of sheer laziness, but I decided to find out how to make my own detergent. Surely it would be cheaper, and less heavy, than name brands like Tide.
Seems like everyone else on the Internet has the same idea, especially those with children and loads upon loads of weekly laundry. Here's the homemade laundry detergent recipe I selected:
I wasn't sure what the hell Fels Naptha Soap was, but I got the idea I needed laundry bar soap. I settled instead on a body soap called Pure and Natural, hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested, and $1.00 for three bars. Score. Worried I'd end up with a crazy suds-out batch of laundry, I again asked google if regular bath soap was okay. Google said it depended on who was writing about the laundry recipe. Some insisted on laundry bar soap, but I found plenty of novice laundry detergent makers out there that suggest the likes of Lever 2000. I figured I was safe.
Borax was surprisingly easy to find, as well as Arm and Hammer Washing Soda. Not much is easy to find in Brooklyn including the Kraft pasta kit my Mom always used, normal salad dressing, or brand names other than Utz. So I was wildly impressed I wouldn't have to hit up 3 or 4 stores to find what I needed. In any case, make sure you select the washing soda from the detergent aisle at your store and not regular baking soda. Otherwise you'll have a mess on your hands.
Next, I cleaned out an old bottle of Tide (with memories of lugging it down the street just a few months prior), ready to make my detergent with the suggested 2 to 5 gallons of hot water. But then I saw how goopy the online recipes looked, half-gel, half-powder, and completely like being slimed circa Ghostbusters. (But not Ghostbusters III, I really didn't care much for that one).
I then realized I could just opt for homemade powdered detergent instead, which seemed much less of a hassle and mess to me. So I got out my blender and threw in the bar of soap, which grated with ease. I then mixed in the Washing Soap and Borax, but by then the blender was so gooped up with shredded soap, it did nothing but buzzed angrily at me. Most recipes call for use of a real food processor, but I live in Brooklyn with limited counter space and I'm not up for spending money on a food processor to make my own laundry detergent.
I poured the mixture into a large zip lock bag and sort of jiggled it around so everything would mix together after my blender went dumb. I then had the foresight to write Laundry Detergent on it and 1 TBSP per Load. I know by the time I do laundry again, I'll have no idea what I'm doing. Either that or my hubster will dump in the whole bag and go to town on just one load, saving us nothing.
The verdict? Came out great. I really didn't notice much of a difference from the Tide I was using before. It didn't smell like anything at all, so next time I might drop in a touch of lavendar or lemon to the load to give it that Tide fresh scent we know and love. Next, I want to make my own fabric softener. That furry bear Snuggles is really getting on my nerves and a drain on my wallet.
Will doing $.03 loads of laundry enable me to pay for my Scotland trip this fall? No, but it'll save me lugging economy sized Tide around for a 1/3 of the cost, all while saving the environment. I say that's a day well spent.
Growing up as the daughter of an airline pilot, I grew accustomed to living out of exactly one suitcase while traveling. As a result of flying stand-by and never knowing if we would get on a flight, we were never allowed to check baggage. Nor did I ever want to. The thought of being separated from my Strawberry Shortcake suitcase, lost to the lords of baggage mishaps, was really just too much to bear.
These days, I rarely fly stand-by anymore since I got kicked out of the system of being a dependent of an employee. Now my stand-by status is the equivalent of winning the lottery when you're dead broke. Slim and stressful. And while I don't enjoy lugging my suitcase through airports and connections, I enjoy checking my bag even less. By the time I've reached my destination, the last thing I want to do is wait in line, praying my bag has arrived, hoping it's not damaged, and tacking on an extra 30 minutes to an hour on my journey.
Just looking for my boxers...The rest of the world seems to feel the same way these days. Traveling with anything except a change of underwear is hardly worth the effort of TSA screenings, pat-downs, losing expensive luggage, airport extra-luggage fees, and those dreaded quart sized bags. The travel industry has taken notice and developed luggage shipping services including Luggage Free and Luggage Forward.
Customers pack up their gear and shipping labels are mailed to them and a two to four hour window for a pick-up time is scheduled. Bags being shipped to or from a hotel are easily arranged by the concierge service. Larger luxury items including skis, bicycles, and golf clubs can also be shipped.
Of course every service has its price and Luggage Free runs about $4.15 per pound with delivery by 3:00pm for 1 day service. With a little advanced planning, 5-day service runs as little as $1.65 a pound with delivery by 7pm. Thus a 30 pound suitcase will run about $49.50 to ship for one-way, 5 day service.
But mailing luggage isn't a new idea. Back in my video editing days, my boss frequently FedExed his clothes and toiletries on business trips right to the hotel. He would write it off as a business expense and enjoy the airport without the hassle of luggage. But unlike going straight to FedEx or UPS yourself, services like Luggage Free do all the prepping of your bag, wrapping it, delivering it to the vendor, provide door to door service and are insured for up to $1,000, with unlimited additional coverage available.
So just how often do travelers lose their luggage and suffer checked-bag mishaps? In 2007, the Department of Transportation discovered that the airline industry misplaced 7 bags for every 1,000 passengers. And all those millions of bags often end up in a sea of lost items at the Unclaimed Luggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama....
Watch a fideo on frustrated travelers look for lost luggage in Wisconsin...
Just what I've always been looking for in the latest annoyances and lack of basic human privacy in air travel. Now airports in New York and Los Angeles are equipped with fancy body scanners, allowing security screeners to take a peek beneath passengers' clothing. The $120,000 machines are described to be the size of a revolving door and utilize low-energy electromagnetic waves to generate computerized image of a passenger's body. Hot.
The TSA claims stepping into the scan takes about a minute and is less intrusive than a pat-down or frisk for concealed weapons. While the scans are considered pretty benign and don't offer much detail, it can generate an image of the "intimate curves" of the human form. So what does that mean? That they're seeing the shape of our genitalia and mammary glands? Further, the images are allegedly neither recorded nor stored, and faces are blurred. I somehow don't believe it. I'm fully anticipating seeing Cameron Diaz's "intimate curves" on the next installment of Inside Edition after she innocently tried to fly to Hawaii for a weekend. Entire gossip monger celebutrash websites will do nothing but offer 'intimate scans' of innocent B-celebrity bystanders just trying to get to their next shoot.
I can't wait for everyone to see my "intimate curves" during my TSA screening!Right now, the scans are voluntary and can have the option of the scanner or pat-down. Barry Steinhardt, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's program on technology, is concerned. "The images that I've seen are quite revealing," he said. "I guarantee you that as this gets more commonly used, you'll be seeing these images on the Internet." See! Barry agrees with me.
I've generally always held the attitude that travel takes sacrifice and passengers need to be prepared to follow the rules, no matter how stupid or ineffective the system may seem. Overall, everyone wants to be safe and that's all that should matter. Whether you like it not, following the rules are part of the purchase price of your airline ticket. You really can't fight the right to reject being randomly selected for a pat-down, nor getting the business from the TSA, nor have your bags lost. That's why I always say, "Pack light, cooperate, don't buy overly expensive luggage, don't have high expectations."
But this whole scanner situation makes me weary. How much more will we have to put up with just to take a flight to see our loved ones, explore, relax, enjoy our lives? While we could jump in the car to travel domestically, how do we get overseas and long distances? When will the actual process and logistics of traveling diminish our quality of life?
I'm not a fan of this. But given the option to be felt-up by the TSA during a physical frisk or let them see your "intimate curves", what would you chose?
Watch a TSA Tester Slip Through Security...
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