Blog
Friday, 17 February 2012 05:24
5 Great Travel Television Shows
Most of us love to travel, but in order to save up for that next big trip we have to work for it, which means having to put off our travels for months at a time. While stuck at home I often try to find ways to help appease my travel cravings, one of which is watching a variety of travel shows on TV. This helps me discover new destinations, and keeps me entertained with humorous travel tales that I can often relate to. Below are descriptions of 5 shows I particularly enjoy.
Monday, 16 January 2012 03:09
12 Places in Africa to Visit in 2012
Africa is the 2nd largest continent with the 2nd largest population. The vast and diverse continent is made up of a wide array of people, religions and sites. Having already spent some time in Morocco and Egypt, I am looking forward to a more extensive trip later this year that will take me all over the continent. This post contains a list of 12 'must see' sites. You may not be able to visit all of them in one trip, but I'd suggest putting all of them on your 'bucket list'.
Thursday, 29 December 2011 18:51
Top 11 Travel Photos of 2011
2011 has seen many great photo galleries posted on WorldWildTravel.com. Below are some of our favorite pictures of the year. This year's list includes pictures from Indonesia, France, India, Canada, the United States and Belgium. Enjoy!
Thursday, 22 September 2011 21:54
Managing Your Loyalty Program Points With Points.com
According to Colloquy, a company devoted to collecting information on the loyalty marketing industry, the average household participates in 11 different loyalty programs. My assumption is that this number is much higher for frequent travellers. With so many point rewards systems out there today, and so many companies participating in them, it can be overwhelming and difficult to keep track of what you have accumulated over the years. In addition, redeeming points is often a frustrating task because of limitations put forth by the very companies who gave you the points. Points.com offers users the ability to trade, exchange and redeem their point balances for multiple programs through one central location. Over the past few weeks I have used the site extensively and below is some information on my experience along with recommendations on what I think could make this an even better experience.
Tuesday, 30 August 2011 18:50
Not All Miles Are Created Equal With SkyTeam
When you fly with a SkyTeam affiliated airline, you have the option of claiming points for the carrier you are flying with or you can claim points with any other member of the SkyTeam alliance, of which there are 14. Since you are given this option, you would assume that the number of miles earned would be the same across the board, or at least similar, no matter which frequent flyer card you present. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The number of miles earned can vary significantly and the rules you must understand to determine how many miles you qualify for are not at all intuitive.
Tuesday, 23 August 2011 16:20
Making the Most of a 7 Hour Layover at Incheon Airport in South Korea
I recently survived a 38 hour trip halfway around the world that included a 7-hour layover at the Incheon airport in South Korea. As someone who has never visited Korea, I wondered if this would be enough time to head into Seoul for a quick visit. After doing some research, I decided to give it a go, despite the fact that the Incheon airport has plenty to keep any traveler occupied.
Read more: Making the Most of a 7 Hour Layover at Incheon Airport in South Korea
Tuesday, 05 July 2011 17:14
10 Must See Temples & Monuments in South East Asia
1. Burma (Myanmar) - Rangoon (Yangon) - Shwedagon Pagoda
At nearly 100 metres high, the Shwedagon Pagoda is visible from all over Rangoon. Though the site dates from the 16th century, the main stupa is painted with over three tonnes of gold and was built in the 18th century. Surrounding the main pagoda are eighty-two other buildings. The best time to visit the site is in the early morning or before the sun goes down because of the heat. This is important to note because you have to remove your shoes before entering the site, so arriving during the peak of the afternoon will make it seem like you're walking on hot stones.
Read more: 10 Must See Temples & Monuments in South East Asia
Thursday, 30 June 2011 22:21
The Good Far Outweighs The Bad at Hostels
In parts of the world where accommodation is relatively expensive, hostels are a great way to save money while still getting the opportunity to see the world. The rule 'you get what you pay for' definitely applies here though. If you're paying a fraction of the price of an average hotel room rate, you shouldn't expect the same quality and service. That said, there are many intangible benefits that you will never get at more upscale hotels. The more research you do prior to selecting a hostel, the better off you'll be. Below are some valuable tips on what criteria to look for when picking a hostel.
Thursday, 23 June 2011 16:56
Travel Agents - A Dying Profession?
With so many travel sites offering great deals on flights, many people don’t think to consider using travel agents anymore. I was one of them up until recently. I had formed my opinion after numerous attempts to get agents to provide competitive pricing or, at a minimum, match the online prices, which they never could for one reason or another.
Read more: Should You Still Consider Using a Travel Agent? Yes.
Wednesday, 15 June 2011 15:01
Spanish Man Robs Travelers by Hiding in a Suitcase
I've heard a number of stories about interesting items found in suitcases, but never a 5' 10" man! According to the Associated Press, a man was caught curled up in a suitcase in an airport bus cargo bay. He and his accomplice were both arrested after a number of passengers reported items mysteriously disappeared during previous trips along the same route.
Read more: Spanish Man Robs Travelers by Hiding in a Suitcase
Wednesday, 08 June 2011 00:00
Is A 'Round the World Ticket' the Best Option For a Trip Around the World?
Planning a trip around the world is a time consuming and complicated task with seemingly countless options. Below are some thoughts on what's available, what works best and what you should consider when planning for this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Read more: Around the World Ticket the Best Option for a Trip Around the World?
Thursday, 02 June 2011 13:58
Groupon & Expedia Team Up
Groupon, a deal-of-the-day web site, has teamed up with Expedia to offer travel deals. The partnership will be known as Groupon Getaways. The offers will be available to customers in the United States and Canada, with plans to expand to other countries. It is expected that prices will be similar to other offers on Groupon's site, with "around 50 percent off retail rates found at other online travel sites," according to a press release. Deals will also only be available for a limited time.
Sunday, 29 May 2011 12:24
10 Drinking Experiences From Around the World - Part 2 of 2
The first part of this series focused on liquors from around the world. Part 2 is all about wine and beer. Beer is the third most widely consumed beverage behind tea and water, and first among alcoholic drinks. Wine, which has been around for at least the past 8,000 years, plays an important part in cultures around the world. I discovered the importance of this living in France. With many good wines characterized by olfactory descriptions such as petrol, cat piss, and wet wool, and bottle sizes such as the Nebuchadnezzar at 15 Litres, wine experiences can certainly be fascinating and eye opening.
Read more: 10 Drinking Experiences From Around the World - Part 2 of 2
Friday, 27 May 2011 02:53
Blog - 10 Drinking Experiences From Around the World - Part 1 of 2
Inspired by the likes of the Thirsty Traveler, I have found that one great way to get to know the local people and their culture is to take part in the drinking of the regional liquors, beers and/or wines. Though there are countless drinks to choose from, I have selected 10 that I have personally enjoyed over the years. Some of these may be great additions to your beverage bucket list!
Read more: 10 Drinking Experiences From Around the World - Part 1 of 2
Thursday, 19 May 2011 02:19
Really Seeing Europe - Getting the Most from Your European Tour
When many people plan their European vacation, they only include major cities. I think that's a big mistake. If you really want to get a true sense of what Europe is like, you can't follow this approach. Though seeing big cities is fascinating, you're missing out on seeing the 'true' Europe, the lifestyle that most Europeans live, their ancestors live and the history.
Read more: Really Seeing Europe - Planning Your European Tour
Wednesday, 18 May 2011 01:20
The Art of Negotiating
Through my travels around the world, I have learned a few simple rules to help get great deals and have lots of fun. For those of us that live in a world of fixed prices, negotiating can be an uncomfortable and strange experience. It often goes against what we consider to be a logical event. For example, even if you're willing to pay the full listed price, a merchant may still attempt to negotiate with you. If you think about this in terms of prices and profit, you're definitely going to walk away scratching your head.
