Don't let the cold weather keep you indoors!
Winter is a great time to travel. Not only are there usually great travel deals to take advantage of but winter travel, depending upon your destination, can mean fewer crowds and shorter waits.
When it comes to packing, especially clothing items, winter can present the opportunity to practice simplicity. Just because the weather is cold, doesn't mean you have to pack more. Winter travel is all about the use of layers and finding staple pieces that can be worn multiple ways.
Over packing opens the door to clutter. When your suitcase is cluttered:
a) It's heavy and unpleasant to tote around
b) It's disorganized and causes you stress and frustration whenever you have to open it to find clothes
c) You have no room for all the beautiful new seuveniers you'd like to bring home with you
NO BUENO!
When it comes to travel, keep it simple and keep it light! Here are some of my favorite accessories, toiletries and clothing ideas:
Winter Travel Clothing Essentials:
Simplicity is key here. A pair of leggings are essential because you can get multiple uses out of them. Leggings can be worn as pants, stockings, to that surprise yoga class or as long underwear. One pair of weather appropriate yet fashionable boots will be versatile enough for day and night, casual and dressy. A simple scarf can be worn around the neck, over the head (if the weather gets blustery) or can be used on the plane as a blanket. You don't need a giant shoulder bag when you travel, keep it simple and light with a sleek and all-purposed cross body satchel. An attractive statement tunic sweater can serve multiple uses as a dress and as a sweater for heavy layering. Keep jewelry simple, a pair of easy to coordinate earrings you can rock every day both day and night will ensure that jewelry doesn't get lost or tangled up in your travel pouch.
Travel Gadgets and Accessories:
The fewer gadgets the better. The smaller the better. A dual purposed passport holder/wallet will take you far as will a sleek compression sleeve to protect your computer. Portable travel chargers are tiny, can slip inside your computer compression sleeve and are life savers. A small, single unit speaker dock for your smartphone can make a good trip great.
Travel Carry On Toiletries:
When it comes to hotel toiletries, you never know what you're going to get. To keep things familiar, yet light, I look for travel sized packs of brands I know and love. Since everything is travel sized, you can zip through check-in with a simple overhead bag and the smug knowledge that you've packed everything you need.
In terms of make-up, I keep it simple! Mascara, plus lip tint (that can double as cheek tint), plus a SPF concealer equals, easy, breezy and beautiful.
So go! Take that weekend trip, mini-break or full blown vacation. For your cold weather trip pack smart, not excessively.
Recently, I had the smoothest, most serene travel experience of my post- 9/11 life.
No, I didn't walk, ride my bike or take the train- I flew.
No, I didn't cram all of my belongings into a carry on bag so I wouldn't have to wait on line to check luggage.
No, I didn't leave my laptop or kids at home, so that my hands would be free and I wouldn't have to fumble and bumble at the security checkpoint.
Here's what happened.
After navigating our way out of the JFK long term parking lot (an adventure in an of itself), my husband and I, along with a really large rolling suitcase, three carry on bags, a three year old on the verge of either breaking down or breaking for it (depending on the moment) and a crying infant, strapped in a carrier, stumbled onto the Delta check-in line. Our arrival was neither pretty or graceful, but that is neither here nor there, because we arrived with two golden tickets- our lovely children.
Immediately, the Delta employees swooped in. Since we didn't have a free hand to actually use the self check-in kiosk designed for convenience, an employee quickly took care of it for us, double checking to make sure or lap child seat was also secure (this can be a pain). My husband was led to an agent, so that our bag could be checked quickly and here are some of the other perks we enjoyed that fateful morning:
We were ushered through to the front of the security line. If you're traveling with kids, you get to go through the line designated for the handicapped and people traveling with special needs. It's usually located to the left of the really long and winding regular person's security line. When you've got kids, you're VIP baby!
After checking our tickets and passports, the security officer, suggested that we may want to enjoy the specialty checkpoint for TSA prechecked individuals. There should have been a red carpet. That's what it felt like. We didn't have to remove a single item from our carry on bags. No shoes had to come off of our feet. Even the apple juice my little guy was sipping on, that I forgot to throw away, before going through security (because I figured he'd have plenty of time to finish it on that crazy line) went right on through without a pause. The entire security line, plus check-point took maybe five minutes total. We're actually signing up for the TSA precheck service since we tend to fly a lot and not always with the kids.
When we arrived at our departure gate (literally fifteen minutes after stepping into the airport), we were informed by the agent that we'd be bumped up from regular Economy to Economy Comfort since you know, we had the kids and all. Suddenly, it didn't matter that the man sitting in front of me decided to recline his seat all the way back as I held my sleeping two month old on my lap. We had plenty of room, and we were among the first people to depart the plane (I hate being stuck in the back while people toggle their luggage out of the overhead bins).
Upon departing the plane, since we were one of the first five people to exit, we bumped right into the pilot, who saw our three year old point at the cockpit and he invited us in for a cockpit tour. He got to press buttons and touch levers. The experience was priceless!
As for the actual flight, after the excitement of the adventure subsided, both little ones passed right out. Not a peep was heard and mommy got to read a novel!
Thanks JFK and Delta for a quick and painless flight. There are definitely perks to flying with kiddos!
The luxury bus, slowly winds its way up the narrow forested hills of Cascais, Portugal. Cascading around us in shimmering golden bands, the afternoon sunlight is radiant. Pockets of azure water shimmer in the wake of elegantly fluffed evergreens. Pressing our cameras against the window, we attempt to capture the scene. Speaking in rapid Portuguese and then in English that also sounded like rapid Portuguese, our tour guide was impossible to decipher, we had no idea when we would be stopping or even, what, aside from the beautiful flora and seascape, we were looking at. At last, we arrive at a rocky clearing. The bus pulls to the side, the doors open, for how long, we don't know, but we're thrilled to be able to experience and capture the view.
Sound familiar?
You're in a new city and you're excited about a particular site. You book a tour because you want behind the scene information only to be herded into a bus or van or boat where you have a hard time seeing whatever it is you came to see. You have a hard time hearing whatever it is you came to hear because of the couple speaking German behind you or the teenagers giggling in front of you. You can't take the pictures you want to take, you can't ask the questions you want to ask and by the end of the tour, you're tired and confused and simply want to retreat to your hotel room.
Tours by Locals, a Vancouver based company does precisely what the name implies, they connect travelers with local guides across the world for private, customizable tours.
If you ask me, the idea is ingenious. You log onto the site and browse a list of guide profiles organized by country and city. Once you identify a guide (and all of them come pre-screened and trained), you contact them, let them know what you would like to get out of your experience and you arrange a time and place to meet. Suddenly, you are connected with a knowledgeable and passionate local who can not only provide you with the individualized attention you need, but will work at your pace to ensure that your needs are met. It's like an instant cultural connection wherever you're traveling.
Boasting 1700 guides in over 130 countries, Tours by Locals is a unique way to travel like and with a local.
The next time you take a trip, whether it be out of state or out of the country, visit www.ToursByLocals.com to see if there is a tour guide available for your destination city. There's nothing like a personal connection when you're on the road.
Tours By Locals
inquiries@ToursByLocals.com
1.866.844.6783
Tours By Locals has in no way endorsed this post. I am writing solely based upon my own enthusiasm. Too many of my organized group tour experiences mirror the one I had in Cascais. The next time I travel, I'm going to search the data base to see if a local guide is available for a more intimate and personalized experience.
Travel, exposes you to so many new and wondrous things- landscapes, people, food, but this post is not dedicated to any of those things. Instead, I've opted to pay homage to the animals that touch, scare, ground and endear us while we roam.
Sometimes the most memorable encounters and interactions on a trip are not human to human, but involve our furry, scaly, or winged friends.
I love animals. Throughout many of my long term travels, the animals that I adopted and invited into my life created stability and comfort while I navigated my way through foreign languages, customs, landscapes and cultures.
Here are some of animals I have loved, run from, or been freaked out by, on my travels:
These koi fish (a type of carp), are everywhere in Japan. Koi ponds dotted the frenetic cities of Tokyo and Osaka and provided a much needed dose of calm. I loved watching the koi swim around in silent loops and flutters of colors.
I encountered this elk in Alaska. Thinking an elk was as innocent as a dear, I galloped in to take a picture. He was not happy to see me. After I took his picture, he charged at me, emitting an absolutely terrifying growl. I made it to the car without incident, but never again will I stop to photograph an elk.
I loved my time feeding and petting baby elephants on a reserve in Phuket,Thailand. I've always had a fascination with elephants and being able to stroke their soft velvety trunks and look into their enormous and soulful ebony eyes was truly amazing. I also felt really bad for these little guys because they spent the majority of their day chained to a stake only able to walk in circles. I wanted to liberate them, but my fear of a life sentence in a Thai prison was stronger.
Do you know what this is? I have no idea what this scaly little lizard/dinosaur is called, but I do know that I almost walked right into it during a vacation in the Bahamas a few years ago. What you can't see are his sharp teeth, which he revealed as I came in contact, his little head cocked back, ready I assumed to lunge. Imagine throwing your beach towel on top of that guy! Eek!
These dogs were the fuzzy little loves of my life in Ghana. They lived between the banana trees behind the house I was staying in and provided much needed activity and companionship when the power went out and during rainy season downpours. A large crocodile was rumored to live just beyond the gates of the house where I was staying. Now, I'm not sure if the locals made that up to scare me, since I never saw him, or any sign of him, but walking around with my little fuzzy friends in tow at night made me feel safe. Dogs are so wonderfully perceptive, and I, unfortunately, am not.
This guy, also one of the lovely dogs of Ghana, would keep me company every time I visited the Cape Coast Cafe (almost daily). We shared many chicken and rice platters. This little guy was a skilled hunter and would eat the flies that buzzed around me mid-air so that I could eat in peace. We were kindred spirits this one and I.
Have you ever heard a peacock? The sound that comes from these luxuriously adorned gentlemen is far from dignified. A cross between a honk and a blood curdling scream, this is the sound we heard non-stop while vacationing last year in Jamaica. We stayed on a nature reserve where the peacocks had free rein. I'll never forget the heavy thud of their bodies and the sound of their nails on our roof as they jumped from our roof to the nearby mango trees every night to sleep and then every morning in reverse to hop down. These lovely gentlemen are absolutely beautiful to watch and observe though. They add instant ambiance wherever they roam.
When I was in Arenal, Costa Rica a few years back, I had the opportunity to spend the day with some horses. Combing and petting these beautiful animals in this rich setting was so grounding. Not at all grounding, was my wild horseback ride up a volcanic mountain on a horse who refused to take directions from our tour leader. I ended up off course and ducking vines as my horse decided to take an alternate route to the top of the mountain. Luckily, I made it back to my hostel at the end of the day, unscathed and feeling like a cowgirl.
This kitten, this beautiful little purring kitten, lived beneath the hammock, that was right outside our bungalow door in Cahuita, Costa Rica. Every morning, she greeted us. Many a afternoon, we spent quality time swaying together beneath palm trees in the hammocks that lined the Caribbean Sea. It was so tempting to put her in my suitcase and take her home with me.
I was on my way to a shared guest house kitchen during a stay in the Berkshire mountains in Massachusetts, when I encountered this curious little guy. Luckily he was just a baby, but where there is a baby bear, the mama is never far. Needless to say, I let him have the kitchen and decided I would take his picture, from a distance instead. From that day forward, I made a point of humming and singing out loud any time I walked around to avoid any surprise encounters- boo!
This lovely lady lived in the courtyard behind my guesthouse in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Every morning and early evening, she'd sing and howl outside of our door. In the afternoons, I'd find her grooming meticulously in the sunlight. Some days she would follow us to the main road where we would hail our taxi, other days, she'd pretend we didn't exist. She was a steady and calming presence.
I can't remember which part of Zanzibar this took place, but we were staying with a friend of a friend who had a beautiful house right on a private beach. In the back, attached to a tree, lived his pet monkey. I remember being so amazed. I'd never encountered a tame monkey up close. I spent a lot of time hanging out with the little guy who let me pet and carry him as if he were a cat. I remember that he'd curl his little hands around my finger like an extremely buff newborn. He had quite a grip!
On a hike through the forest in Zanzibar, we noticed a lot of racket in the trees and vines above us. Looking up, we discovered we weren't alone, we were surrounded by monkeys. They swooped above us and put on a very entertaining show. We stopped and admired the lush and active canopy above.
Chameleon crossing! On the same hike in Zanzibar, we encountered this vibrant chameleon. He was crossing the busy road at the entrance of the forest when a local man decided to help him along safely by offering him a lift on a stick. Before setting him free, we had the chance to pet and hang out with him a little bit. He was quite the quirky little fellow.
Behold the mighty Tanzanian Jungle Rat! When I was living in Mozambique, I encountered these helpful and intelligent banana loving creatures. These rats, are more than mere rats, they save lives. Cuddly and friendly, with the oddest mole-like snouts, these beady eyed and intelligent creatures are trained to sniff out land mines (a horrible reminder of the twenty year civil war). They are light enough, that they don't set the mines off and are able to clear fields, so that they can be restored and returned to the people for farming and living. Go rats go! As my friend Tamika said- "It's ironic how we need to train rats to save people from other people!"
This wily rascal of a kitten lived in our backyard, beneath the shade of the well in Mozambique. I must admit, she had us trained. I mean, look at that face. I remember walking an hour to the central market to buy tuna and sardines to feed her. She came inside and ate dinner with us every evening and provided hours of lively entertainment, even ripping our curtains down one evening during a thunder and lightning storm.
I saved the best for last. This dog, literally wandered in through our open front door in Mozambique. It was an ordinary afternoon. I stepped outside to draw some water from the well and when I returned with my full bucket, there he was, the dog, we eventually named Nutella, curled up on our couch. I was startled at first and screamed for my roommate Tracy, but within seconds, his little tail began wagging and we were petting and cooing to him. We tried to find his owners for days, to no avail and before we knew it, we were the proud owners of a beautiful dog named Nutella. He followed us everywhere and turned what used to be somewhat uneventful hour long walks into town into fun adventures.
What animals have you encountered on your travels?
World travel can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be. With these simple tips, you'll be ready to travel the world with ease!
Book a hotel with a local flair! When it comes to accommodation, look for something with a local flair. Chain hotels (unless you’re on a rewards kick) are not your only option. Explore smaller boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses and apartments for a more personalized experience.
Venere is a great site for finding unique accommodations both around your home and all the way to the far east!
Roll your clothes, forget folding! Not only do you get fewer wrinkles when you roll your pieces together, but they take up much less space in your suitcase. I typically roll pants together in one pile, shirts in another, dresses in another, sweaters in yet another. It works beautifully. Small items like underwear, bras and socks, I simply place in any open space.
Avoid traveling with toiletries! Traveling with shampoo, conditioner and body wash can be a huge pain. Bottles can break due to temperature changes and pressure, with the potential of wreaking havoc on the items in your suitcase. If you’re going to a hotel, chances are you’ll have access to toiletries. If you’re staying in a populated town in the developed world, chances are, if you don’t have access to toiletries in your hotel, you can obtain them easily, in travel sized portions. A bonus to ditching the toiletries is that as long as your bag is compact, you now qualify to carry your items on board since you’ve ditched the liquid. This makes getting out of the airport so much easier.
Always tag your luggage! I use a simple tag that clearly shows my name and phone number. You just never know. I’ve had to deal with numerous luggage mishaps and it is so much easier to re-connect with bags when they’re clearly labeled with specific identifying information.
Be the person who volunteers to give up your seat in exchange for travel vouchers! If possible, volunteer to give up your seat in exchange for a travel voucher. Flying for free is GREAT! I rarely pass up an opportunity to volunteer my seat. Not only do you end up with free flight vouchers, but you’re given hotel accommodations for the evening, food vouchers and other perks (including first class upgrades when available). There was a stretch of time last year, where I flew to Alaska from New York for free on vouchers, then volunteered my seat to collect more vouchers that allow me to fly to Washington state where I had the opportunity to volunteer my seat again, which allowed me to then purchased a round trip ticket to Tokyo for less than $200- all because I volunteered my seats!
Hire a car service in advance from the airport! Planning to take a taxi to your destination from the airport? It is usually cheaper to hire a car service than it is to take a taxi from the taxi queue. A little research can save you a lot of money.
Resort Hoppa is a great site for finding transportation from the airport!
Store your bags at the airport! Making use of an extended layover to explore a new city? Many of the major international airports will store your luggage for you. This service is also great if you’ve got a really long layover and a lot of bags you don’t feel like dragging around. Alternatively, if you want to avoid the hassle of baggage claim altogether, you can hire a company like Bags Vipto retrieve your luggage for you and deliver it to your hotel or place of accommodation, leaving you free to clear customs or go on your way with ease.
Never exchange money at the airport! The best way to get ripped off is by exchanging money at an airport- the rates are ridiculous! Use your card until you get where you’re going and go to a bank, or exchange some money at home before you leave.
There is no right or wrong way to travel. The important thing is getting out there. If you find the prospect of planning a trip a bit daunting, or if the thought of being left to your own devices in a foreign country does not sound like an adventure, or if you have specific niche interests when you travel, seeking the services of a tour company may be the right move for you.
Tour companies come in all varieties, from luxury to budget, from adventure travel tours to food and wine tours. There are family friendly tour groups as well as tour groups for gay men and solo female travelers. Whatever your desire, whatever your pleasure, chances are there is a tour company that suits your needs.
Here are 10 excellent travel tour companies to book your next trip with:
Focusing mainly on SouthEast Asia, Wander Tours offers unique cultural travel itineraries. There are specific female only tours, while others are co-ed. Wander Tours also sponsors culinary tours in the United States in Washington and Santa Fe.
Have you always wanted to visit Africa, but the thought of roughing it in the Serengeti makes you nervous? One of the top luxury travel companies, Micato specializes in extravagant African Safari vacations.
If luxury international travel is more your speed, Abercrombie and Kent has the right package for you. Abercrombie and Kent offers luxury tours to every corner of the globe. From New Zealand, to Antarctica, to Egypt, to Botswana, Abercrombie and Kent will ensure a first-class travel experience in comfort and classic style.
Henderson Travel Service specializes in quality, down to earth tours, the majority of which are to destinations in Africa and Asia. Singles, large groups, and families are welcome. Custom tours are available.
Cinnamon Traveler Tour Adventures focuses on key locations enriched by the African diaspora such as Brasil and Cuba. Other national destinations include Martha's Vineyard, Atlanta and New York (woot woot!). Whether you're interested in learning the Samba in Brasil or relaxing by the beach in Martha's Vineyard, Cinnamon is a unique company with an artsy edge.
If you dream of experiencing the world through your sense of taste then Creative Culinary Tours is the company for you. Emphasizing the great culinary traditions of New England, these tours offer decadent meals and samplings and are open to families and travelers of all ages.
Classic Journeys captures the romance of travel. From tours through the colorful bazaars of Morocco, to wine tasting in picturesque Tuscany, Classic Journeys create itineraries sure to satisfy your wanderlust. Over 70 tours are offered throughout South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
If adventure travel is more your speed, Gadventures may have the perfect tour for you. Whether you're ideal vacation includes climbing the Canadian Rockies, surfing in Portugal or Hawaii, or trekking Australia's Outback, Gadventures boasts adventure iteneraries to every corner of the globe that will be sure to please.
Journeys for Families offers engaging tours for families with children of all ages. If you're interested in exposing your child to the world in a safe and fun environment, or are planning a multi-generational family trip, this tour company is a great resource.
I-to-I is a great company for college students and those on gap-year. Though you are welcome at any age, I-to-I's niche is the student travel industry. With offerings all over the globe, you can choose to combine volunteer work with sightseeing adventures. From working with baby lions in South Africa to elephant trekking in Thailand, I-to-I has a wonderful selection of tours, adventures, and volunteer projects that can be used independently or put together to create a custom travel experience.
Do you have a favorite tour company?
*This is a true story. Names have been changed to protect the innocent.
It’s early. My eyes, despite the weary signals from my brain refuse to close. A dull ache wraps itself around my head- “gotcha!” it hisses, spreading out around my temples. I move to sit up and the room begins to spin. Easing my way back down to my elbows, I am overcome with confusion.
There’s a sudden weight on my head. I turn to the right and spot the silhouette of my one year old, sitting bolt straight on the pillow and on my ponytail. He’s tugging at my hair and giggling maniacally. “Go to sleep,” I croak, reaching towards him. He dodges my grip.
The glowing red digits of the bedside clock reveal that it’s three-thirty. It’s three thirty am in Tokyo, but in New York, my home, it was two thirty in the afternoon.
My little one and I had just ploughed through a sixteen-hour journey, West to East. My mommy badge of courage was shiny and on full display as I had survived flying solo with a one year old. I had endured a sixteen-hour journey without a single nap while catering to my son’s every need to ensure peace for those around me during the flight. He was an angel (of course) and I still had my sanity, but now we were stuck, the ruthless bully known as jet lag was giving us a beat down.
As a result I found myself that first night, baby on hip, strolling the streets of Tokyo at three thirty in the morning, feeling and looking like a zombie. We strolled for two hours. We watched the sun come up. By noon, we had passed out in a heap. This was not the start I had envisioned for my trip.
I promised myself that this would be the last time I would be caught off-guard by jet lag. I was going to educate myself and I was going to fight back!
Jet lag refers to the discrepancy between your internal clock and the external time zone. The bully jet lag manifests itself both physically and mentally.
Some Common Jet Lag Symptoms:
Nausea
Fatigue
Weakness
Poor Concentration
Constipation
Frequent Urination
Dizziness
Swelling
Simply put, jet lag sucks! It can take a solid three to four days to recover. The worst jolts occurring when you travel West to East, as it is typically easier to stay up later than it is to go to sleep earlier.
But there is good news on the horizon. There are simple things that everyone can do to combat jet lag. You can shorten the duration and severity of jet lag or even in some cases wipe it out all together and you don’t need to use drugs.
Five Ways to Fight Jet Lag:
1) Hydrate! Drink plenty of water before, during and after your flight. A good rule of thumb is two 8 oz. glasses before your flight and a liter of water for every hour you spend in the air. Avoid consuming alcohol and caffeine, as they tend to dehydrate. This will help combat the dizziness and nausea and for the sake of vanity, the dry skin, lips and hair you can sometimes experience in flight.
2) Consume light meals before and during your trip. Try to avoid heavy food that settles in the stomach. You aren’t as active when you are in flight and your body has to work twice as hard to digest your meals, which can leave you feeling sluggish and lethargic.
3) When you arrive at your destination, take a quick hot shower, followed by a quick cold rinse. This will stimulate your circulation and get your blood flowing. You’ll feel awake and invigorated.
4) Take a quick 30-minute to 1-hour nap to re-set and then get up and get out there. If you sleep for more than an hour, you run the risk of disturbing your night’s sleep.
5) Be as active as possible before the flight. Move your body, stretch, take a yoga class. When you’re on the flight, get up and walk the aisles, stretch your legs and take standing breaks. Do your best to go through as many motions as possible. Pack a toothbrush and brush your teeth before you attempt to sleep, wash your face, comb your hair, fight for normalcy even though there is nothing normal about soaring above the clouds in an airtight vessel for ten, fifteen, twenty or more hours. When you move about the cabin, try to be cognizant of the time zone of your destination and schedule your activities (naps, tooth brushing, snacks) to fit into your new time zone.
With so much to do and see when you travel, it’s no fun to be debilitated by jet lag.
Before leaving Japan for New York, I did my research and was ready. I drank water, I walked the airport before my flight, and I spent more time walking my little one up and down the aisles of the plane. I channeled my inner ballerina and did a series of plies to keep my limbs lively. When I got home, I hopped in the shower, took a one hour nap and what do you know… I was groggy, I had a bit of a headache, but I fell back in step much easier. There were no three am strolls up and down the streets of Brooklyn. I had made peace with the enemy, a looming 13-hour time-gap, and am ready to plan my next trip.
Dreaming of a feature in National Geographic, or a coveted job with a leading travel guide? Work your way to top by submitting to the following publications. If you are fledgling travel writer and are looking for a home for your best pieces, here are ten publications that you should consider.
1. TravMonkey is an online forum for world travelers. The articles on this site feature top ten lists and tips to make your next adventure one to remember. The site is designed for travelers who want to be in the know. Send queries to Editor Paul Dow at editor@TravMonkey.com and check out the website at www.travmonkey.com. Approx $20 per article.
2. Pilot Guides Online publishes travel narratives pertaining to a specific activity or region. The site is inspiring and provides readers with a personal story to go along with a specific country, town, or landmark. The Pilot Guides Online site belongs to the same company that publishes the paperback travel guides as well as the television show Globe Trekker. To submit, send your article (300-600 words), complete with pictures to editor@pilotguides.com. Enter “travel story” in the subject field. You can check out the website at www.pilotguides.com (click community). There is no payment.
3. AFAR Magazine publishes articles relating to culture, eco-travel and off the beaten path travel itineraries. The publication is new and targets travelers who prefer to travel off of the main roads for the purpose of experiencing another culture as opposed to those interested in resort stays. There are several departments to submit articles to. It is best to read the magazine and get a sense of each section. The editors accept queries only and can be reached at features@afar.com. The website can be found at www.afar.com. Payment is arranged when the query is accepted.
4. Earthwalkers Magazine is a youthful, hip magazine with the aim of getting people out into the world to travel. Articles cover food, tips and advice and festivals. To write for the magazine you must become a member. Once you join the community, you have the option of requesting the writing assignment mailing list to be sent to you. Assignments are paid. Articles on average are direct and to the point, under 700 words. Take a look at the website www.earthwalkersmag.com. You can expect to make between $10-$150 per article.
5. Transitions Abroad is a magazine that focuses on cultural exchange through working and volunteering abroad and language study. Articles are designed for people in the process of transitioning to life abroad. The editors are in search of inspiring, detailed and practical information. Submissions can be emailed to webeditorial@transitionsabroad.com and you can look at the site at www.transitionsabroad.com. Payment ranges from $50-$150.
6. In The Know Traveler is an online site dedicated to cultural exchange. The editors are interested in travel photography, pieces relating to international music and unique adventures. A story can be sent to the editor Devin Gelaudet at devin@intheknowtraveler.com.com and should be between 450 and 600 words. The pay is ten dollars a story. See www.intheknowtraveler.com for details. Approx. $10 for a story and $3 for a blogpost.
7. Verge Magazine is an online publication dedicated to promoting information about international volunteerism and work/study travel. Contact contributing@vergemagazine.ca to submit a query if you have an article idea. The site can be found at www.vergemagazine.com. Payment negotiated after query.
8. Go Nomad is a site packed with information to help travelers plan for trips. Articles focus on topics such as creative lodging and restaurant picks by region, to tour information and itinerary planning. The articles are narratives and destination pieces and range from 800-2,000 words. Query the editorial staff at editorial@gonomad.com. You can review the site at www.gonomad.com. The running rate for features is $25.
9. Get Lost is an Australian magazine that highlights extraordinary travel destinations. The magazine seeks to inspire and present obscure locations and viable travel options. Luke Wright is the editor and Kelley Irving is the assistant editor. Write to submissions@getlostmag.com and include a brief biography, a brief outline of you proposed article, a sample paragraph, and photography samples. You can look at the site at www.getlostmag.com. Payment negotiated after query.
10. Perceptive Traveler is a well established travel site in search of excellent writing. In order to be considered for publication, you have to have a published article already elsewhere. Query the editor at editor@perceptivetravel.com and look at the site at www.perceptivetravel.com. Approx. $100 per story.
