Letterboxing

With letterboxing small boxes are hidden various locations. They contain a unique stamp (which is often handmade) and a logbook. Those are the basics but they may include other things as well. The idea is that when you find a letterbox you use the stamp inside it to stamp your own personal logbook whilst using your own signature stamp to mark the logbook contained in the letterbox. In order to find the letterboxes all you need to do is follow the clues which are left on letterboxing community sites.

Hitchhikers

A twist on letterboxing is that sometimes a letterbox contains another letterbox which the finder must remove and take to another location, placing it inside a third letterbox.

Geocaching

Geocaching is similar to a letterboxing but brings the treasure hunt into the 21st century with the use of GPS receivers. Here’s the Wikipedia definition:

Geocaching is an outdoor activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called “geocaches” or “caches”) anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container (usually a Tupperware or ammo box) containing a logbook. Larger containers can also contain items for trading, usually toys or trinkets of little value.

If you think that it takes the fun out of the hunt, think again. The GPS coordinates will only put you within about 20 feet of where the cache is hidden so there is still some hunting to be done. In addition, depending on the type of cache, there may be other tasks to do to make the hunt more interesting.

Waymarking

Waymarking allows travelers to find and document interesting locations using their GPS receivers but without the need to locate an actual cache. It’s a great way to get to know an area better and history and geography buffs will love it.

One of the reasons that pastimes such as letterboxing and geo-caching are so much fun because of the opportunities they give to see new places. Many people also share photos and videos of what they have found through travel sites and forums and connect with other travelers doing the same thing.

Resources

If you are interested in undertaking a treasure hunt of this type then here are some resources to get you started:

• The AtlasQuest Letterboxing page
• Geocaching.com
• Waymarking.com

Happy hunting!

(Photo: bogenfreund)

First, search the blog to check that we haven’t already covered the topic that you want to write about. If you’re taking a different angle on something we’ve already covered then that’s fine. Get in touch with me to discuss your idea.

If I like the idea, I’ll ask you to write and submit a guest post of at least 400 words, with a link to an appropriate public domain or creative Commons image to illustrate it. At the end of the post include a two sentence bio with a link to your blog.

Send the post to sharon at parkrideflyusa dot com. If I don’t acknowledge it within a couple of days, send me a tweet (@parkrideflyusa) to check that I’ve received it.

If I am happy with the final post, I will schedule it and let you know when it will appear. Please reply to any comments left on the post and feel free to add your social media promotion efforts to mine.

(Photo: Caveman 92223)

Our latest offer: Park for 3 or more days, and save 10%. Use the coupon code winter10 during the online reservation process. Valid through April 1, 2010.

5. Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Nymph submarine

Sir Richard Branson is always travelling in cool vehicles — and I’m not talking about Virgin planes. The Necker Nymph aero submarine is like an underwater plane and can glide on the surface of the water.

4. K.I.T.T.

I’m not the only one to think that KITT was the best thing about the Knight Rider series. A sleek, black, sporty vehicle that talked — and talked back to David Hasselhoff. I’ve always liked the idea of vehicles that could communicate, which is why this makes my list.

3. James Bond’s Lotus Esprit

James Bond drove several Lotus Esprits in his movies but the coolest one for me was the one that transformed into a submarine in the spy who loved me. While he has since driven flashier cars, none of those tops this one for me.

2. The TARDIS

the preferred mode of transport of Doctor Who, the TARDIS is bigger on the inside than on the outside, can go anywhere and has a few other useful tricks such as helping with regeneration and seemingly inexhaustible power supply. I’ve been fascinated with space travel since I first watched TV, which brings me to the top selection …

1. The USS Enterprise

Travel doesn’t get much cooler than this. Warp speed, dilithium crystals and the transporter makes this the best mode of travel I’ve ever seen. I only wish it really existed.

What’s on your list of cool ways to travel?

Flexibility Is Key

Being wedded to the idea of traveling on certain dates can be a problem, as the best fares might not be available then. Instead, be flexible about the dates for your trip. If you’re attending a business conference, you might have to be in a particular place on a particular date, but consider tying that in with other meetings so you can travel at a reduced rate. Taking your trip mid week is often cheaper and including a weekend night hotel stay can also help you save. Find out more in How To Cut The Cost Of Your Next Business Trip.

Reap The Rewards

Do you use a particular airline, hotel chain or offsite airport parking firm regularly? If you do then sign up for their rewards program. Not only will you get preferential rates and bookings, but you may also get a few additional perks thrown in. Seat upgrades and VIP suites can improve your travel experience, so why not see what’s available? Read more in The Skinny On Frequent Flyer Programs (part 2 is here).

Choose Destinations Wisely

You don’t always have to fly into the major airport in the city you are visiting. It may be more cost effective to pick a smaller airport nearby and grab a cab or hire a car to complete the journey. You’d be amazed at the savings you could make and you will also have less hassle at a smaller airport. Find out more in Five Tips To Cut The Cost Of Holiday Travel.

Compare And Contrast

Fare comparison engines are a great boon to travelers. With a couple of clicks you can find the cheapest fares to particular destinations or the best dates to take your trip and save. And don’t think this means scrimping on the luxuries. You can also get first class travel at coach prices on several sites.

What are your tips for saving money on your vacation?

I met the following people through my involvement with the location independent/digital nomad community.

• ManVsDebt
• codymckibb
• BrooklynNomad
• gotpassport
• ozlemercan
• PluginID
• BizBackpacker
• Technomadia
• almostfearless

I can’t remember now why I first started following this group, but they always have something interesting to say:

• earthXplorer
• JulieGibbons
• vagabondish
• TravelOTC
• WildJunket
• tripology
• traveldudes
• nomadicmatt
• theplanetd

The following Twitter travelers appeared on my list of Six Travel Bloggers You Should Follow on Twitter. I’ve listed the reasons why I follow them there, as I have with the group below.

• @coqui2008
• @travelrants
• @soultravelers3
• @wendyperrin
• @elliottng
• @EverywhereTrip

The following seven formed my list of Seven More Travel Bloggers You Should Follow on Twitter.

• @goplanit
• @matadornetwork
• @andrewghayes
• @jetsetcitizen
• @NuNomad
• @leawoodward
• @NomadRip

So that’s my Travel Tuesday Twitter list for now (you can follow it by clicking on the link). Who’s on yours?

Travel Oscars - Are You In?

Are you ready to go to the Oscars? There are no films involved, but if you’re in the travel business, then the World Travel Awards are where you want to be. You can nominate yourself in one of 998 categories covering a wide range of regions. It’s a good way to strut your travel stuff and stand out from the herd or, as President and Founder Graham Cooke, says: “winning a World Travel Award is an excellent way to stand up and be counted at time when marketing budgets are tight”. Nomination forms are available here. You’ll need to get yours in by January 31.

Baggage Costs Increase

I might have to add this to my list of travel rants, but the news that American has joined the ranks of those increasing checked baggage fees really gets my goat. There’s a $5 hike per bag, which means that if you make a round trip with two bags, you’ll pay $120. If you’re flying first or business class then you’re exempt (for now, at least). Delta and Continental did the same earlier in the month, making it a costly start to the year for travelers.

First Class Travel Falls

Despite that lucky exemption, IATA reports that first and business class travel for November fell 20 per cent over the start of the year. We’re not surprised as last year saw many business travel budgets slashed. Premium travel fell 6.7 per cent over the previous year and while it was an improvement on the October figures, passenger numbers were lower. Airlines will be thanking their lucky stars that things look better this year, with premium travel on the rise and a 3.5 per cent increase in economy travel in November compared with the previous year.

International Tourism On The Rise

The UNWTO World Tourism Barometer shows the weather looking good, with international tourism set to make a comeback after tough times in 2009. While arrivals fell by 4 per cent in 2009, they are expected to grow by a similar percentage this year.

“The global economic crisis aggravated by the uncertainty around the A(H1N1) pandemic turned 2009 into one of the toughest years for the tourism sector”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “However, the results of recent months suggest that recovery is underway, and even somewhat earlier and at a stronger pace than initially expected,” he added.

The organization sees 2010 as a ‘year of transformation’ with lots of opportunities to balance the risks of unemployment and fragile economic recovery. Find out more here.

Stuck In A Rut

My two friends had been visiting the same Caribbean island for more than 10 years. They had found a hotel they liked and had explored the island on their early visits and it pretty much got into a routine. Then they discovered that their usual all-inclusive hotel was closed for renovations and would not reopen in time for their annual visit. They were offered an alternative but because it had a different atmosphere from the homey ambience of their usual hotel, they decided to forego that and book their own accommodation.

Now For Something Completely Different

Surprisingly, they went for something completely different. They chose a self-catering apartment in a different part of the island. Because it was off the tourist track, they shopped in local supermarkets rather than overpriced convenience stores and made a conscious decision to buy local where ever possible, doing their bit both for the environment and for the local economy. They loved it. And what they loved most was the restored sense of adventure. Instead of having every meal on tap and feeling that they should take advantage of what they had already paid for, they roamed the island looking for great places to eat and found some new eateries that they might never otherwise have discovered.

Lessons Learned

The lesson? Sometimes it pays to step out of your comfort zone and do something a bit different. Getting out of the rut that you are in will improve your travel experience. Next year, my friends have decided that they will not return to their favorite all-inclusive hotel. Instead, they will book another apartment — or possibly the same one — and enjoy the freedom that brings.

Of course, there was another lesson in it — this one for the hotel. The renovation was originally planned to be finished in time for the winter high season but it wasn’t finished in time. The hotel gave its formerly loyal customers the chance to try something else. Many of them decided that they had found a better option and won’t be returning to the hotel. The lesson for the hotel is not to throw away repeat business. What have you learned while travelling? What keeps the sense of adventure for you?

(Photo credit: Atli Harðarson)

Will I see the Great Wall this year? I certainly hope so.

Of course, there’s always a fly in the ointment. All three trips between April and June, but I prefer to focus on the positive. That is, but I’m going to 3 great destinations, two of which have never seen before. Last year I had typical business trips were all I saw was the hotel. This year I will try to change that, by taking some of the guesswork out of trip planning and by doing lots of research to find out what’s close to where I’m going to be.

This year I vow to get packing down to a fine art, using online packing list tools and trying to be a lightweight Letty. One thing that will help me is my new, lightweight netbook which way is much less than the laptop I lugged last year. Last year I also discovered melatonin which helps me get straight into my target time zone, minimizing jetlag.

So, what will I do in all those fabulous cities? I’ve got friends in Chicago, so I hope I’ll be able to get another whistle-stop tour. That’s all I will have time for going straight from there to Beijing. While I’m there, I’d love to see a bit of the Great Wall, one of the palaces and perhaps a temple, though I’m not so sure about the sidecar motorcycle tours. In Las Vegas, I used Duffel to get some initial recommendations and have also done some research to see what’s around Las Vegas airport.

You’ll be hearing more about my trips as the year progresses. Feel free to stop by and share your recommendations and tips if you have visited any of these cities.

(Photo: Andre Deak)

• Cruises
• Round the world trips
• International travel
• Exotic holidays
• Special events

An Online Booking Nightmare

He cites the case of a honeymoon couple’s online booking nightmare as a reason and suggests the use of travel agents instead.

I disagree, because I don’t think it’s an all or nothing scenario. I’ve been booking online for years to destinations including Europe, the Caribbean and of course, the US.

When Should You Book Online?

Here are the times when I would book online without reference to a travel agent:

• if I’m already familiar with my destination and know exactly where I want to go
• for flights, accommodation, car hire and airport parking where I know what to expect

Destination Research

In other cases, I would do some research on travel forums and other resources before making a final decision, but I would still probably book online. These include:

• visits to places I might not know but which are on the beaten track
• trips with complicated requirements

Since I haven’t taken a round the world trip or a cruise (though they are both on my list), I’d probably look for specialist help on this. I’d visit or talk to a travel agent to get informed, do my usual research on the web and then decide whether I really need to book through a specialist.

If you are not a technophobe or too busy to do your own research (two scenarios in which I agree with Chris that professional help is best), I think you can almost always book online.

Should you book a honeymoon online? I’m not sure. There were no specialist agents who knew the area where I honeymooned (Carriacou, in the Caribbean), so my husband organised it himself via email - and it was great!

Photo by Jason Pratt - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonpratt/

Finding Accommodation

We sorted out our own accommodation in a district in Caracas which was the right price for students. When we arrived the area looked lively and the hotel looked somewhat below par. We soon discovered why. When we talked to Venezuelan friends, it turned out that we had inadvertently booked into a hotel in the red light district. They were horrified. In fairness, during the day the streets were busy with vendors selling empanadas and other local pastries as well as the widest range of tropical juices I have ever seen. At night it was a little more menacing and we soon decided to move to Sabana Grande for the remainder of our stay.

No Classes For Us

The second thing that went wrong was with our immersion course. All the arrangements were made and we were told when to turn up at the school. However when we arrived, it was obvious that they weren’t ready. Maybe it was the sight of the director running around like a headless chicken trying to find someone to give the classes that gave it away. They told our little band of 8 to Galway and come back in a couple of days by which time they would be ready.

Sampling The Food

But when we did turn up the classes had a cobbled together feel and by the end of the first week we decided to discontinue the classes by mutual agreement. Instead we wandered the streets, visited the markets and talked to people. It was a wonderful experience. Even though I’m now a vegetarian, I still have fond memories of Venezuelan hotdogs with everything on (a truly delectable experience), hamburgers made from real beef and being able to order half a barbecued chicken for lunch or dinner. I discovered spicy eastern iced tea, and a range of pastries which would have piled on the pounds had I not been spending every day walking.

Venezuelan Culture

The best cultural experience was an evening at the home of one of our Venezuelan contacts. He was part of a band — or more properly a singing group — and invited everyone round with guitars and tambourines for an evening singing Venezuelan and South American folk songs. It was fun.

A Scary Night

By far the scariest experience of the month in Venezuela came on the night bus trip to Merida. We were going to take the famous cable car and that was the best way to get there. However on the way the bus was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint so they could check our passports. We were the only foreigners on the bus so we got special attention and I, as a Brit travelling from the Caribbean, was singled out even more. While a 16 year old — at least that’s how he looked — held his gun loosely, I got off the bus and went to the checkpoint so they could question me about my papers (which were in order). However, I couldn’t help feeling a sense of menace and it was a true test of my Spanish because no one at the checkpoint spoke English. Eventually, I was allowed to board the bus again and we proceeded to Merida, only to find that the cable car was down for repairs indefinitely.

A Great Experience

That did not prejudice my opinion of Venezuela. It was an eye-opener in many ways. Venezuela was the first place where I saw people rooting in bins for food. But it was also the first place where I experienced the joy of discovering a new place with a group of friends — and you can’t put a price on that.

(Photo 1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samout3/2660174039/
Photo 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eduardox/2361905550/)