austin's blog
Year In Review: Our Favorites
Image: T-FIZ.
Now that we've shown you your favorite posts this year, we're going to share ours. Of course, we love all our posts, just the same, we have our favorites. So as 2009 begins in earnest, enjoy our favorite picks from 2008.
New Year's Resolutions: Take An Unplanned Trip
Image: ~FreeBirD®~.
Forget the itineraries, the packing lists, and the endless maps. This year, even if only once, just pick up and go.
New Year's Resolutions: Get Out Of My Comfort Zone
Image: *spo0ky*.
On my next trip, do something I haven't done before that takes me out of my comfort zone.
From The Newstand: National Geographic Traveler - Seek Out Grocery Stores
Image: Dustin Diaz.
When you think of culture and travel, the first thing that comes to mind might be art museums, architecture, or music. But what about something more mundane, like the grocery store? National Geographic Traveler introduces the idea of a grocery store as a cultural resource, in an article titled "So What's For Dinner?"
Year In Review: Travel Like A Human Being
Image: Zach_ManchesterUK.
People travel, but often forget to do it like the humans we are. This year, we've touched on a few of the aspects of travel that are close to our heart, so enjoy a look back at Travel Like A Human Being for 2008.
Quick Tip: Rick Steves' Rail Map
Image: Rick Steves.
Looking for an easy way to calculate the time and cost of rail travel across Europe? Rick Steves has a great map that can help you decipher the web of trains in Europe. His handy map lets you know general fares in US dollars, as well as the average time it takes between cities.
Round Table: Off-Season or On?
Join our round table discussion and let us know your thoughts, strategies, and ideas.
Image: austin.
Budget travel gurus often promote off-season travel as the ultimate bargain. After all, a three star hotel in Rome costs only 70 euros in February, a steep discount from their 120 euro summer price tag.
However, off-season travel can come at a price, leaving you with limited options and bad weather to contend with. The money you save on hotels in the height of Hawaii's rainy season won't make the sun shine. And a trip to the beach in the dead of winter may let you avoid the crowds, but you may discover your favorite summer haunts boarded up like a ghost town.
Inspiration: Brazilian Gauchos
Do you have a travel photo you want to show off? Join our Flickr Group and we'll post our favorites here.
Image: Eduardo Amorim.
If bucking broncos and cowboys are what you're searching for, skip Texas and search out the famous gauchos of southern Brazil. With adventure like this, how can you resist?
Getting Ready: Get Immersed
Image: crazscout.
Preparing for an impending trip isn't all budgeting, list-making, and packing. In the middle of it all, you've got to tend to your mental preparation, as well. If you're going to a country that doesn't speak your language, giving your brain a chance to get used to the new language can go a long way towards having a smoother trip. We've got some tips to help you immerse yourself, before your trip even begins.
Getting Ready: The Great Test Pack
Image: looking4poetry.
Ok. It's set. You're going on a trip. Sure, it's a few months down the road, but you can do something to prepare, right now.
What I'm proposing is simple: months ahead of time, pack your backpack like you're leaving in a few days. Clothes, toiletries, electronics, put it all in there. Then, throw it on your back and head out the door. Why, you may ask? To see if your packing (and back) is up to the challenge.
