So I was procrastinating a bit on work and looking at one of my favorite travel sites, travelandleisure.com. They always have fun Top 10 lists and most times with great photos also! This one was Best Secret Dining Places.
My favorite was this place in Austin, Texas. These two business partners hold a dinner for 30 people once a month in different locations, from flower-filler nurseries to private residences. The fun part is that they chose 30 random people from a mailing list of over 1,500 people! Most times strangers, the group gathers in the secret location to enjoy a four-course dinner with cocktails.
“We get a huge amount of satisfaction out of welcoming a table full of often strangers and watching them mingle, become more comfortable with each other, and enjoy a great meal,” says Calvert.- travel and leisure
That sounds like so much fun! I would love to do something like that! Travel across the country to eat a great meal with a bunch of strangers.
But check out some of the other great secret dinner clubs!!
http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/worlds-best-secret-dining-clubs/1
12.07.2008
12.03.2008
St. Maarten
St. Maarten is a small island in the Caribbean. I went once when I was very young, maybe 7 or 8. My grandparents have timeshare there. They would go every year for weeks, sometimes twice a year. They haven't been able to go for the past few years because my grandfather got sick and couldn't travel.
But it is a place I have always wanted to go back too. In my memory it is a picture perfect paradise. Sunny days playing on the beaches and swimming in the clear blue water. So I was doing some research today.
So I started looking into it and I only want to go more! My grandmother has been talking about going soon with my whole family. I hope we go soon! As a kid I remeber walking out of our apartment at the Sea Palace and walking out the back door of the lobby right onto the sandy beach! I remember walking up and down the boardwalk and shopping. Now that i'm older I was looking into the nightlife and adventure stuff!!
One website was saying the best way to find what your looking for is to talk to the locals- they know how to have fun and where to go! It also said the island is made of over 100 different nationalities! That must be such an interesting dynamic of people!
I gotta go!
But it is a place I have always wanted to go back too. In my memory it is a picture perfect paradise. Sunny days playing on the beaches and swimming in the clear blue water. So I was doing some research today.
So I started looking into it and I only want to go more! My grandmother has been talking about going soon with my whole family. I hope we go soon! As a kid I remeber walking out of our apartment at the Sea Palace and walking out the back door of the lobby right onto the sandy beach! I remember walking up and down the boardwalk and shopping. Now that i'm older I was looking into the nightlife and adventure stuff!!
One website was saying the best way to find what your looking for is to talk to the locals- they know how to have fun and where to go! It also said the island is made of over 100 different nationalities! That must be such an interesting dynamic of people!
I gotta go!
Lifestyles
So this post may seem a little different, its just a quick anecdote to show you how different people and cultures can be.
While working for Contiki last year I talked to a lot of people about traveling! One person who contacted me through facebook with some questions sent me a quick hello today. Thanks to the new facebook chat feature we were able to talk a bit about whats going on in our lives. He is from Australia, a place I'm just dying to go to!
Well we started talking and he told me about how he has just packed up one day and moved to England to get a job. He's working in a bar in Birmingham. He's saving up to travel more around Europe. He said he has no definite plans though but a long list of places to visit! He was even thinking about taking a tour for part of it. What an exciting way to go!
It was just really nice to talk and get excited with someone about the world. I wish him the best of luck!!
While working for Contiki last year I talked to a lot of people about traveling! One person who contacted me through facebook with some questions sent me a quick hello today. Thanks to the new facebook chat feature we were able to talk a bit about whats going on in our lives. He is from Australia, a place I'm just dying to go to!
Well we started talking and he told me about how he has just packed up one day and moved to England to get a job. He's working in a bar in Birmingham. He's saving up to travel more around Europe. He said he has no definite plans though but a long list of places to visit! He was even thinking about taking a tour for part of it. What an exciting way to go!
It was just really nice to talk and get excited with someone about the world. I wish him the best of luck!!
Cruises
Now when I think traveling I typically don't think of cruises. They aren't the first thing that comes to mind for me because I think about destination. For me it is about a place and its landscapes and the people and traditions and culture. All of those things make traveling more exciting for me!
I find that there is a difference between traveling to explore and experience the world and vacationing to get away from your world for a little while.
Both I think are fabulous, but very different. I think a great way to get away and go on a vacation is a cruise. I myself have never gone on a cruise, but while working for Collette this summer I did some research on cruise lines and the packages they offer. It was the first time I really looked into them and I have to say they looked like a lot of fun!
Some of the more economy friendly companies are Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise lines. If you go to their websites you can look at their itineraries and all of the fun excursions possible too. I would like to do a Caribbean cruise myself but they have ones that go all around Europe, South America, Australia, Mexico, the Panama canal and many others as well. But I think so of the Tropical destinations look great!
The websites are really helpful and interactive too. You can look at everything from pricing and room location on the ship to the land and shore excursions to the actual layout of the different ships. Some cool excursions in the Caribbean cruises are things like beaches, walking tours, snorkeling, and dolphin swims.
And I love checking out the different rooms and entertainment they have right on the boat. Nightclubs, pools, bars, casinos and ice rinks?! It's incredible!
Something to definitely look into. I think cruises had a reputation for being something old people do but with ships like that there is something for everyone!
I find that there is a difference between traveling to explore and experience the world and vacationing to get away from your world for a little while.
Both I think are fabulous, but very different. I think a great way to get away and go on a vacation is a cruise. I myself have never gone on a cruise, but while working for Collette this summer I did some research on cruise lines and the packages they offer. It was the first time I really looked into them and I have to say they looked like a lot of fun!
Some of the more economy friendly companies are Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise lines. If you go to their websites you can look at their itineraries and all of the fun excursions possible too. I would like to do a Caribbean cruise myself but they have ones that go all around Europe, South America, Australia, Mexico, the Panama canal and many others as well. But I think so of the Tropical destinations look great!
The websites are really helpful and interactive too. You can look at everything from pricing and room location on the ship to the land and shore excursions to the actual layout of the different ships. Some cool excursions in the Caribbean cruises are things like beaches, walking tours, snorkeling, and dolphin swims.
And I love checking out the different rooms and entertainment they have right on the boat. Nightclubs, pools, bars, casinos and ice rinks?! It's incredible!
Something to definitely look into. I think cruises had a reputation for being something old people do but with ships like that there is something for everyone!
An Asian Adventure
I was checking out what is new with Contiki these days and they are adding new tours. They have a whole new territory for them which is Asia. I was looking at some itineraries through Thailand and it looks beautiful!
Reading through the trip details it seems like they would be a lot different from their ever popular European trips. It looks like you really get a great sense of the culture with the destination and city stops. I love being able to soak up the culture of a foreign place. People do things so differently around he world, it is something I am always very curious about. I thought it was cool to see hat their excursions were things like Thai cooking classes and river cruises. I think that those are a little different than the norm, which is always exciting!
Hmmm elephant rides through the jungles of Thailand. I think I'll add it to my list of things to do before I die...
Reading through the trip details it seems like they would be a lot different from their ever popular European trips. It looks like you really get a great sense of the culture with the destination and city stops. I love being able to soak up the culture of a foreign place. People do things so differently around he world, it is something I am always very curious about. I thought it was cool to see hat their excursions were things like Thai cooking classes and river cruises. I think that those are a little different than the norm, which is always exciting!
Hmmm elephant rides through the jungles of Thailand. I think I'll add it to my list of things to do before I die...
STA Traveler
STA Travel is another great company to know as a student traveler. I worked with them while i was a marketing intern for Contiki. STA is more of a travel agency, so they sell everything from flights to hotels to full tour packages like Contiki trips. They usually have great deals on them too. I get the eNewsletters to keep me posted on what they're doing.
They also have this great internship program in the summer. They send one intern around the world! The winner this past summer was Pat Blute. You can check out where he went and his experience on the website. The runner up, Kristen, was actually a friend of mine who just graduated from URI. She is an amazing girl and had a great entry video. You should watch that too!
But check them out and if you are into writing nd marketing as well you should start making your video because thousands apply!
They also have this great internship program in the summer. They send one intern around the world! The winner this past summer was Pat Blute. You can check out where he went and his experience on the website. The runner up, Kristen, was actually a friend of mine who just graduated from URI. She is an amazing girl and had a great entry video. You should watch that too!
But check them out and if you are into writing nd marketing as well you should start making your video because thousands apply!
12.02.2008
Oberammergau
"Oberamma-what?!??!"
Thats what I first said when I heard the word. It was as work this past summer while working for Collette Vacations. My boss asked me to reorganize the oberammergau file folders and thats where my learning began.
Oberammergau's Passion Play is an event held in a small town in Bavaria every 10 years from the month of May until October. It is play telling the story of Jesus and it is actually put on by the native townsmen as tradition every 10 years starting in the 1630's. The play started during the time of the Blutonic plague. The towns people of Oberamergau vowed to God that they would put on this play every 10 years if they were kept safe from the plague. Not a single person in the villiage fell victum to the play and so the tradition lives on. The play itself has a running time of seven hours! It is the story of the life and death of Jesus. They serve a meal during the intermission though and usually include accomdations in ticket prices.
Then next time this is going on will be in 2010. But people are already booking their trips!! Collette offers 7 different tours that stop through the town for the play. If your interested I would definitly recamend checking out their itineraries.
Thats what I first said when I heard the word. It was as work this past summer while working for Collette Vacations. My boss asked me to reorganize the oberammergau file folders and thats where my learning began.
Oberammergau's Passion Play is an event held in a small town in Bavaria every 10 years from the month of May until October. It is play telling the story of Jesus and it is actually put on by the native townsmen as tradition every 10 years starting in the 1630's. The play started during the time of the Blutonic plague. The towns people of Oberamergau vowed to God that they would put on this play every 10 years if they were kept safe from the plague. Not a single person in the villiage fell victum to the play and so the tradition lives on. The play itself has a running time of seven hours! It is the story of the life and death of Jesus. They serve a meal during the intermission though and usually include accomdations in ticket prices.
Then next time this is going on will be in 2010. But people are already booking their trips!! Collette offers 7 different tours that stop through the town for the play. If your interested I would definitly recamend checking out their itineraries.
Traveling home for the Holidays?
With Thanksgiving just this past weekend it is officially the holiday season. One of the busiest time for traveling as well. Whether it is traveling home for the holidays or uprooting the whole family for a holiday getaway this is a busy time for traveling!!
It can also be very stressful. I read in an article today that on Christmas day your chance of having a heart attack goes up 5%!! The holiday season is usually about tradition, about family time, giving and peace. But nothing comes without cost and during the holidays energy and stress is just one of the prices we pay.
So I found a great article that might help alleviate at least a little stress when it comes to travel and making arrangements. It is a GREAT article with 21 tips to having a successful trip. After reading the first page the author makes you afraid to ever fly again but by the end you feel ready for anything! That just goes to show you how credible he really is.
So don't stress about your travel plans this season! Check this out:
http://www.bestlifeonline.com/cms/publish/travel/21_Rules_of_Stress-Free_Travel.php
It can also be very stressful. I read in an article today that on Christmas day your chance of having a heart attack goes up 5%!! The holiday season is usually about tradition, about family time, giving and peace. But nothing comes without cost and during the holidays energy and stress is just one of the prices we pay.
So I found a great article that might help alleviate at least a little stress when it comes to travel and making arrangements. It is a GREAT article with 21 tips to having a successful trip. After reading the first page the author makes you afraid to ever fly again but by the end you feel ready for anything! That just goes to show you how credible he really is.
So don't stress about your travel plans this season! Check this out:
http://www.bestlifeonline.com/cms/publish/travel/21_Rules_of_Stress-Free_Travel.php
11.18.2008
As the sun sets
Tucson, Arizona.One of my best friends just moved out to Arizona this past summer. I haven't been very far west unfortunately so I am always excited to hear about whats happening in her life out there. She recently uploaded some photos that I loved of the Arizona sunset. They are gorgeous!! ( I stole this one right from her album.) I'm hoping to get out there to visit her soon! After looking through her pictures and hearing her stories I really want to check it out!! She is an adventurer also! Loves the great out doors and hiking and camping and all of that fun stuff. So I love to hear about her desert and mountain trips! It was actually really funny to hear about her first tarantula sighting also. I don't think I would like that part very much though. But I got to say it'd probably be worth it to see that sunset from my bedroom window every evening.
So I've done some research of course and I found a great list of the 101 things to do in Tucson! It's an excellent list with all kinds of great things- from artsy museums, photography spots and shops to exciting nightlife with mystery dinner theater to adventurous hiking, white water rafting, hot air ballooning and skydiving!! It sounds like an exciting place to live! I'm hoping to make it out there in February! Can't wait!
10.16.2008
Importance of traveling
So I actually stumbled across this article for research I was doing for a class. Some how I find a way to bring my passion for travel into most of my class assignments. I read this article and found it really interesting. The author made a lot of points that agree a lot with.
One point he makes right int he second paragraph about the connotation of the word "tourist" is huge! When I worked for Contiki that is a fact they have based their branding and marketing efforts on. Their slogan..."be a traveler, not a tourist" appeals to our negative connotation of the word. I think it was smart of them being a tour operator company. Selling tours but not to "tourist".
Another great point is regarding youth travelers (something that hits home): "In large measure, they’re traveling to learn, to grow, to bring back badges of their new found knowledge." I love it!
The name of the article is: Travel, Travel Writing and the Literature of Travel
Check it out!
http://www.vagablogging.net/michael-mewshaw-on-the-importance-of-travel-to-literature.html
ENJOY!
One point he makes right int he second paragraph about the connotation of the word "tourist" is huge! When I worked for Contiki that is a fact they have based their branding and marketing efforts on. Their slogan..."be a traveler, not a tourist" appeals to our negative connotation of the word. I think it was smart of them being a tour operator company. Selling tours but not to "tourist".
Another great point is regarding youth travelers (something that hits home): "In large measure, they’re traveling to learn, to grow, to bring back badges of their new found knowledge." I love it!
The name of the article is: Travel, Travel Writing and the Literature of Travel
Check it out!
http://www.vagablogging.net/michael-mewshaw-on-the-importance-of-travel-to-literature.html
ENJOY!
10.14.2008
Where to go...
So I was looking through a friends facebook pictures today. He is currently studying abroad for a year in Germany as part of the international engineering major. He recently put up some pictures from Berlin and it looked like a really great place. I was thinking about the History and how great it would be to see the Berlin wall. Now a days there is a ton of art work decorating the wall. I would love to see that. I will have to add that to my long list of things to see before I die. I find it so fascinating to visit place with such unique history. It sounds like a beginning to a story.
A once divided city...
A once divided city...
10.13.2008
Studying Abroad
As a student there are so many opportunities to travel and in many different ways. Studying abroad is definitely another great way to really experience a culture! I've been thinking about doing a semester abroad myself. Luckily the University of Rhode Island has tons of programs with foreign schools that there are hundreds of options. I have friends who have studied abroad in lots of different countries and cities.
Currently my friend Libby is studying in Rome, my friend Lauren is in Ireland and my friend Shawn is in Germany. They are all in different majors as well, they found programs that were right for them.
My friend Callie is studying marine biology and she spent the last spring semester in Australia!! She said her trip was incredible and there were pictures to prove it! I have another friend who spent a semester in Australia and did amazing things like sky diving, snorkeling and para sailing.
Side note: One of my life goals is to climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge.***
I've have friends who have also studied in London, Salamanca and Florence.
So if you are thinking about studying abroad where do you start? You should look into the programs that are offered at your school. At URI I would start at the homepage for study abroad which can be found here: http://www.uri.edu/international/study_abroad/index.htm
Also keep and eye and ear open for travel abroad information fairs and sessions.
Then the best way to learn about it is to talk to students who have studied abroad. Every experience is different and unique and you will want to find the perfect one for you! So chat it up and ask a lot of questions!!!
Currently my friend Libby is studying in Rome, my friend Lauren is in Ireland and my friend Shawn is in Germany. They are all in different majors as well, they found programs that were right for them.
My friend Callie is studying marine biology and she spent the last spring semester in Australia!! She said her trip was incredible and there were pictures to prove it! I have another friend who spent a semester in Australia and did amazing things like sky diving, snorkeling and para sailing.
Side note: One of my life goals is to climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge.***
I've have friends who have also studied in London, Salamanca and Florence.
So if you are thinking about studying abroad where do you start? You should look into the programs that are offered at your school. At URI I would start at the homepage for study abroad which can be found here: http://www.uri.edu/international/study_abroad/index.htm
Also keep and eye and ear open for travel abroad information fairs and sessions.
Then the best way to learn about it is to talk to students who have studied abroad. Every experience is different and unique and you will want to find the perfect one for you! So chat it up and ask a lot of questions!!!
10.07.2008
Where to start?
When planning a trip there are a lot of details that go into it. I think the best place to start with is the itinerary. You have to know where you want to go exactly before you can fine tune the details. I also think this can be the funnest part, especially if you really want to explore. Let's say you want to go to Italy but aren't sure what parts you want to see.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
It's fun and will get you pumped for your trip. Go on to travel website and forums and see what places other people have gone and find out what interests you the most.
Some good sites to check out are:
tripadvisor.com
lonelyplanet.com
travelmb.com
but even using wikitravel and google will help you out!
Depending on how you like to travel you can put together a more relaxed or a more action packed itinerary. Also there are tour companies that put itineraries together for you. I like the idea of checking out new places.
Some tour operators I would suggest are:
Contiki.com
Collettevacations.com
So why wait, plan you next big trip! Where do you want to go?
DO YOUR RESEARCH
It's fun and will get you pumped for your trip. Go on to travel website and forums and see what places other people have gone and find out what interests you the most.
Some good sites to check out are:
tripadvisor.com
lonelyplanet.com
travelmb.com
but even using wikitravel and google will help you out!
Depending on how you like to travel you can put together a more relaxed or a more action packed itinerary. Also there are tour companies that put itineraries together for you. I like the idea of checking out new places.
Some tour operators I would suggest are:
Contiki.com
Collettevacations.com
So why wait, plan you next big trip! Where do you want to go?
9.25.2008
Where to next...
As a student I often can over whelmed with my school work, organizations and jobs that I have. Sometimes you just want to get out of here- to see new things in new ways. It's times like these that I find a minute to look into the future and think f all the places I would still like to go to! Working for Collette this summer I learned a lot about many new destinations.
One place in particular that I have heard many great things about over the past year or so is South Africa. Its a very unique country. It has everything from large cosmopolitan cities to the tropical rain forest and the safari wildlife.
The first time I really began to think about this destination was actually on my Contiki last summer and we met some South Africans who were really awesome. Then I talked to someone at the travel abroad fair about this place and he told me it was probably the most beautiful place he's ever been.
I've still got some research to do, I've started by looking for itineraries on STATravel.com, which is a great travel agency for students. I've also looked at plenty of images that people have posted!
One place in particular that I have heard many great things about over the past year or so is South Africa. Its a very unique country. It has everything from large cosmopolitan cities to the tropical rain forest and the safari wildlife.
The first time I really began to think about this destination was actually on my Contiki last summer and we met some South Africans who were really awesome. Then I talked to someone at the travel abroad fair about this place and he told me it was probably the most beautiful place he's ever been.
I've still got some research to do, I've started by looking for itineraries on STATravel.com, which is a great travel agency for students. I've also looked at plenty of images that people have posted!
9.24.2008
I'm back!
It has been a little over a year since my European adventures and re reading my posts puts such a smile on my face. I love recalling those times. I want to continue to share my passion for travel and also to share some of the knowledge I gained from working with travel companies. Since then I have worked for two different tour operators: Contiki Vacations and Collette Vacations.
Tour Operators are different from travel agents because an agent is more of the middle man. A tour operator offers a series of products in the form of tour itineraries. A package will include a series of things, depending on the company you will mostly like get the hotels, transportation between places, airfare and some meals included in the price of the tour. A travel agent will sell a varies of tour packages from a variety of tour operators, they also sell things like airfare schedules separately or just hotel stays if you want to make your own itinerary.
If you asked me my opinion of going on a tour before my trip last summer I would have thought it might be boring or too structured. But I want to point out some great reasons to consider a tour.
Tour Operators are different from travel agents because an agent is more of the middle man. A tour operator offers a series of products in the form of tour itineraries. A package will include a series of things, depending on the company you will mostly like get the hotels, transportation between places, airfare and some meals included in the price of the tour. A travel agent will sell a varies of tour packages from a variety of tour operators, they also sell things like airfare schedules separately or just hotel stays if you want to make your own itinerary.
If you asked me my opinion of going on a tour before my trip last summer I would have thought it might be boring or too structured. But I want to point out some great reasons to consider a tour.
- When you buy a package that included things like hotel stay, meals, airfare and transportation you can save a lot of money because the price of these things can fluctuate. When I worked for Collette this summer I learned that if you pay your airfare up front the company will absorb the fuel increases. This is huge because with the economy the way it is fuel surcharges were being added to bills almost monthly! If you planned your trip a year in advance you could save hundreds of bucks! Also when going to places like Europe where the dollar isn't doing so well buying these things here saves you the constant increases.
- Another great thing about these tours is that you have a tour manager. These people, if you go with a good company, really know their stuff! My Contiki tour manager Ryno was a truly remarkable man. He is a great resource for any traveler. These people can really save time from doing all that research before you go away!
- Another thing that I loved about being on a tour way being surrounded by people as eager to explore as I was. I met some many great passionate travels on my tour, many of which I still talk to often today!
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