The Friendly Planet Blog

Friday's Friendly Funny: Lesser-known travel destinations

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:18:49 PDT

Friday's Friendly Funny by Dave Blazek is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

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Friday's Friendly Funny: A dangerous photo opp

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:23:01 PDT

Friday's Friendly Funny by Dave Blazek is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Based on a work at blog.friendlyplanet.com.

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Famous Philadelphia places and faces

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:25:29 PDT

Friendly Planet Travel blogger Caitlin previously quizzed Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show attendees on their Philadelphia knowledge. I thought everyone did a really good job, but we decided to take it one step further.

It's one thing to ask a question, but can travelers recognize the people and places that make Philadelphia famous just based on a photo? Could you tell the difference between Benjamin Franklin and William Penn? How about Harry Kalas and Bradley Cooper? We put attendees to the test, with the help of a trusty iPad, of course.

I even got in on the action and took the quiz myself. Check it out for yourself to see what picture everyone had the hardest time identifying!

Did you pass the test?

Friday's Friendly Funny: A sign that it's time to book another trip

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Wed, 09 May 2012 06:36:08 PDT

Friday's Friendly Funny by Dave Blazek is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Based on a work at blog.friendlyplanet.com.

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Aung San Suu Kyi makes change in Myanmar a reality

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Wed, 02 May 2012 07:32:29 PDT

AUNG SAN SUU KYI: Making change
in Myanmar

I wrote about Aung San Suu Kyi and the progressive changes she's making in Myanmar (also known as Burma) a little over two and a half months ago. During this time, considerable strides have been made towards democracy after decades of military rule.

This includes the election of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy opposition party in Myanmar, to parliament on April 1. While her party's swearing in was delayed because of a dispute over the wording of the oath of office, a compromise was agreed to yesterday, and Aung San Suu Kyi was sworn in to Myanmar's parliament today!

Aung San Suu Kyi has already been invited to Europe to attend meetings with high-ranking officials. She also plans to visit Norway to show her gratitude for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her peaceful struggle while on house arrest as a political prisoner for almost two decades.

It seems very fitting that this woman, who has been a symbol of freedom for so many people, will now have a chance to accept the Peace Prize in person! This will be the first time in 24 years that Suu Kyi will travel outside Myanmar, as she had previously feared that the military junta would refuse her entry back into the country.

I have been personally fascinated by this woman, who has been revered as a worldwide symbol of peace, along with such figures as Nelson Mandela and even Mahatma Gandhi. When Suu Kyi announced that tourism to Myanmar only supported the military junta -- not the people -- and therefore should not be encouraged, I listened. This was in spite of many requests from our clients who wanted to go there.

So you can imagine our excitement when Suu Kyi, in clear recognition of the loosening of the generals' iron grip on the country, announced that the time was right to come and visit. We went right to work on our long-anticipated program.

I am personally very excited that our Myanmar program is so rich and affordable. We hope that means many people will visit now, before the modern world swoops in. Evidently our timing for introducing tours to Myanmar coincided well with the public's interest to travel to this country in Southeast Asia, as the reception of our Mystical Myanmar tour has been fantastic. All but one of our six departure dates are sold out. Our first group has already returned from their trip and our second group is traveling in Myanmar now. Friendly Planet plans to have many more departures to Myanmar in 2013.

Here is some early feedback and pictures from our first group, which demonstrates more poignantly than words what a wonderful and moving experience it is to visit this country:

Jim and Toni climbing a pagoda

"We've taken several tours to Asia and this was one of the best. We've traveled to many different places and the people in Myanmar are some of the nicest people we've ever encountered. It just doesn't get any better than this. Our tour was at an ideal pace -- very busy, but not exhausting. We had the best accommodations, great food and a wonderful guide.

The first Friendly Planet Travel group in Myanmar

If there is anyone who might be hesitant about this trip, I'd say they need not be as safety was never in question! English is widely spoken, making interaction with local people even more enjoyable. We were fortunate to visit a village on the last day of school where the kids were putting on a program for the parents. There were so many interesting experiences that it's impossible to name them all! They've just started to seek more tourists and I think it will get crowded when word gets out about this wonderful place. Our photos can show what we saw, but they don't capture the feeling you get from the wonderful people there."

-- James & Toni Kull - Hillsboro, Ill.

The lounging Buddha

A little girl sells a craft item

A wedding procession in Myanmar

Like Friendly Planet Travel on Facebook to enter to win a free trip to Turkey!

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Tue, 01 May 2012 09:49:51 PDT

LIKE US AND WIN: Enter our Facebook sweepstakes for
a chance to win three amazing trips!

In the first three months of 2012, we gave away three amazing trips through our Win the World Facebook Sweepstakes -- one to South Africa, one to Peru, and one to China. After the excitement of Phase I, and a one-month hiatus to catch our breath, we're ready to launch Phase II of this amazing program!

Yes, that means the Friendly Planet Travel Win the World Facebook Sweepstakes is back on with three more trips for a winner and the guest of his or her choice over the next three months. The first trip up for grabs? A getaway for two to the crossroads of Europe and Asia -- Turkey -- on our Best of Turkey program, valued at more than $5,000.

So how can you win? Since it's the start of Phase II, we're wiping the slate clean. If you entered your information between the months of January and March, you must enter your information again to be entered in Phase II. The good news is that once you've submitted your name, you're in the running for all three giveaways!

As in Phase I, you can earn extra entries into our sweepstakes by inviting your family, friends, coworkers, Facebook friends, and anyone else who would love to win a free trip to enter. For every entry into our sweepstakes from your referrals, you'll get an extra entry for yourself.

Our Win the World Sweepstakes will give travel aficionados a chance to escape to an exotic destination with included flights, great hotels, some meals, and plenty of escorted touring, all the great features travelers expect from Friendly Planet. The winner will experience visits to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Pamukkale, and Ephesus. Check out the detailed itinerary for our amazing Best of Turkey tour on our website to learn more about all that the winner will see.

I've written in detail about what travelers should expect while visiting Turkey, so if you want to further explore the facets of this destination, check that out. After the Best of Turkey tour, we'll be giving away our A Taste of Ireland tour on July 1, and our Taj Mahal Express tour on August 1.

But if you don't enter, you won't win. And if you don't help us spread the word by referring your friends, you won't get extra chances to win. What are you waiting for? Visit our Facebook page, like us, and fill out the form to win one of three marvelous trips.

Oh, and here's an important tip. If you already like our page, just be sure to fill out the form again to enter Phase II. Refer your friends for more chances to win, and then be ready on June 1 when the next drawing will take place. Maybe I'll be calling you to tell you that you've won!

Friday's Friendly Funny: Lost in translation

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:52:20 PDT

Friday's Friendly Funny by Dave Blazek is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Based on a work at blog.friendlyplanet.com.

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The Friendly Planet Travel Winner's Circle: A Taste of China

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:16:52 PDT

GREAT WALL WINNER: Shari Ashley liked Friendly Planet,
and now she's going on a free trip to China

If you're anything like me, you couldn't help but smile at Shari Ashley's excitement when I told her she was the third winner of our Win the World Facebook Sweepstakes. What a rush!

Once everything cooled down, I asked Friendly Planet Travel blogger Caitlin to talk to Shari a little bit more about herself, what she's most looking forward to seeing on our Taste of China tour, and other places in the world she hopes to travel to.

What we learned from the conversation is that Shari is quite the traveler -- she's been to Costa Rica, Italy, Egypt, and more! I'm so glad that someone who finds so much passion in travel will have the opportunity to visit another wonderful destination with us.

In the podcast, Shari describes her lifelong goal to visit every continent. Her next trip will probably be to South America, though she can't decide between Machu Picchu or Iguazu Falls as her destination. If she chooses our new Sensational South America tour, she won't have to. It includes both destinations in one great program, and new dates and prices will be posted shortly. So, take a look Shari.

Stay tuned, because we're kicking off the second phase of the Win the World Facebook Sweepstakes on May 1. That means that EVERYONE will have the chance to enter again for three free trips -- Best of Turkey, A Taste of Ireland, and Taj Mahal Express. So starting May 1, visit the Friendly Planet Travel Facebook page, enter your information (even if you already have before!), and your name will be in the pot to win! Hopefully I'll be calling you on June 1 to let you know that you're going on a free trip to Turkey!

Friday's Friendly Funny: The shower limbo

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:05:26 PDT

Friday's Friendly Funny by Dave Blazek is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Based on a work at blog.friendlyplanet.com.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://blog.friendlyplanet.com.

Cuba is the cover story at the Friendly Planet Travel Book Club!

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:38:25 PDT

As the cliché goes, tomorrow is only a day away. For us, that means the next meeting of the Friendly Planet Travel Book club is almost upon us. "Last Dance in Havana," a novel by Eugene Robinson, was chosen for our second book club meeting scheduled for tomorrow night, April 17. We'll be meeting at 7 p.m. at the Jenkintown Library in Jenkintown, Pa. to chat about all things Cuba.

We're excited for another book club meeting that is sure to have lively discussion about the fantastic setting and culture that offers itself to the story. We'll talk about how Cuba has changed since Robinson wrote the book, as well as what to expect if you travel to Cuba.

Expect to meet new, like-minded people; have more than a few laughs; and enjoy the company of fellow travelers and readers. Also, a few attendees have just returned from our People-To-People Cuba programs and are eager to share their experiences!

If you plan on attending, please RVSP to the event on Facebook, or email Liz Hutchins, our book club coordinator, at EHutchins@FriendlyPlanet.com. It's bound to be a fun-filled evening, and we're looking forward to seeing you there!

Friday's Friendly Funny: The language of traveling

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:27:21 PDT

Friday's Friendly Funny by Dave Blazek is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Based on a work at blog.friendlyplanet.com.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://blog.friendlyplanet.com.

The best place to visit with your tax refund? Cuba!

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:17:17 PDT

With the deadline for tax filing just around the corner, a majority of Americans have already submitted their paperwork and are awaiting their refund check. If you are one of these people, then you're probably already thinking about how to spend this year's refund. What would I recommend you do with it? Travel, of course!

The choices of destinations are endless, so it might seem difficult to narrow them down. Luckily, ABC News compiled the "5 Places to Spend Your 2012 Tax Refund" which offers some guidance.

One of the five choices listed is our Colors of Cuba tour. I couldn't agree more that now is the time to explore Cuba's beauty and vibrancy, as it's the first time travelers have been able to visit in over 50 years.

It's definitely worth the trip!

COLORS OF CUBA: Now's the time to make your visit!

Thanks for including us in your story, ABC News!

If I could give one piece of advice to a first-time international traveler, it would be ...

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 06:23:44 PDT

I'm often asked what advice I have for travelers who are leaving the country for the first time. While I have lots of advice of my own, like purchasing travel insurance, we also have a network of travelers who have some great knowledge to share.

What better way to tap into our travelers' expertise than on our Facebook page? So, in an installment of our Mad-Lib Monday series I posed the question: "If I could give one piece of advice to a first-time international traveler, I would tell them _____."

We got over 40 responses, and I thought there was great practical and thoughtful advice! Here are some of my favorites:

"Be friendly to the locals and be respectful ... you are a guest after all!"
"Pack light!"
"Be flexible and don't sweat the small stuff."
"Keep your passport with you."
"Eat local and try everything."
"Bring an extra charged battery for your camera so that u can take pictures of all the memorable places and things u see along the way :)"
"Keep an open mind."
"Take public transportation and find your way off the beaten path."
"Be patient. Pack only what you can carry. Learn 'thank you' in every language!"

I can't resist mentioning a few thoughts of my own for a first-time international traveler: smile, smile, smile. There was absolutely no one, in any culture I've ever encountered, that didn't respond positively to a sincere, friendly smile. And by the way, that smile will keep you in the right frame of mind to relax, ignore small inconveniences, and simply enjoy the adventure of being in a brand new place!

What would you add? Start the conversation here in a comment below, or join the conversation on our Facebook page to add your tips for first-time international travelers.

Friday's Friendly Funny: The Holy Escalator of Ephesa

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:52:42 PDT

Friday's Friendly Funny by Dave Blazek is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Based on a work at blog.friendlyplanet.com.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://blog.friendlyplanet.com.

Philadelphia travel trivia: What do you know about the City of Brotherly Love?

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:31:55 PDT

Quiz time -- How much do you know about the city of Philadelphia? Our offices are located just a stone's throw away from there, in Jenkintown, Penn., so we spend a lot of time in the City of Brotherly Love.

We like to consider ourselves local experts, and wanted to know if the attendees of The Philadelphia Inquirer Travel show were just as savvy. Friendly Planet Travel blogger, Caitlin, quizzed passersby on famous Philadelphia landmarks, noteworthy Philadelphians, and how many people visit Philadelphia every year.

Think you know the answers? Hit play to find out!

Can you name five famous Philadelphians? Let me know in a comment!

The Friendly Planet Travel Winner's Circle: Amazing Peru

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:20:07 PDT

THEY LIKE FRIENDLY PLANET: Liking our Facebok
page won Lillian and her husband a free trip to Peru

We just announced the third winner of our Win the World Facebook Sweepstakes, where Shari Ashley and a guest will go on an all-expenses-paid dream vacation to China. All the excitement made me want to check in with Lillian Mayes, the winner of our Amazing Peru trip.

Friendly Planet Travel blogger Caitlin reached out to Lillian to see if she'd be interested in letting our blog community hear what winning was like, and she agreed. So we set the call up, and jumped on the phone. Lillian filled Caitlin in on where she's traveled before, what she likes to do, and what she's most looking forward to seeing when she travels to Peru.

Listen in on their conversation below. You can also right click on this link, and select "save link as" to download it to your computer, so you can save it to your mobile device and can listen on the go.

Thanks for taking the time to speak with us Lillian. We're looking forward to hearing about your trip to Peru when you come back!

Who is the winner of Friendly Planet Travel's FREE trip to China?

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:47:29 PDT

CHINA CHAMPION: One of our 16,000 Facebook fans has won
a free trip!

Even though it's Tuesday (I personally consider it the worst day of the week -- Friday is still so far away!), it was a treat coming into the office today. You probably don't even have to ask why, since I'm sure you've also been looking forward to the announcement of the third winner in our "Win the World" Facebook sweepstakes.

You entered yourself, told your friends to enter, and now it's time. Who will be going on an all-expenses-paid dream getaway for themselves and a guest to China on our Taste of China tour?

The excitement is killing me, so I'll just go ahead and say it. The winner of our Taste of China tour is Shari Ashley. Congrats!

I called Shari to let her know that she was our winner. Listen in to her excitement! And click here to download the audio to listen on the go!

So who is Shari taking with her on her trip, what does she want to see, and what is she most looking forward to in China? We'll be posting a podcast that Friendly Planet Travel blogger Caitlin conducted with her soon, so stay tuned for those details and more.

Our "Win the World" Facebook sweepstakes will be kicking off for a second round on May 1. We're wiping the slate clean, and starting fresh. Starting in May, every Facebook fan will have the opportunity to enter again, whether they've already submitted their name yet or not. So it will be a whole new ball game -- fans will enter again, and of course, refer their friends for more chances to win.

I'm looking forward to giving away three more amazing trips to our loyal fans. Congratulations to Shari and I'll be back at the beginning of June to announce the next "Win the World" Facebook sweepstakes winner! I already can't wait!

Friday's Friendly Funny: How not to pickpocket

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:45:51 PDT

Friday's Friendly Funny by Dave Blazek is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Based on a work at blog.friendlyplanet.com.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://blog.friendlyplanet.com.

Friday's Friendly Funny: Don't lose your head over airport security

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:51:18 PDT

Friday's Friendly Funny by Dave Blazek is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Based on a work at blog.friendlyplanet.com.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://blog.friendlyplanet.com.

Christopher Elliott's favorite place to visit

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:45:45 PDT

We're finishing up our Chris Elliott video series which we shot at The Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show. In case you missed it, here are the first two from this series:

In this video, Chris and I chat about natural disasters, and who (if anyone) is at fault when a traveler experiences one far from home. We also mention our favorite destinations, and I couldn't pick just one. I love traveling too much! See which place we each picked.

But that's not all! I managed to snag two copies of Chris' book, "Scammed: How to Save Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals," and he signed them. A copy might be in your hands soon -- all you have to do is fill out this form to win! I'll stop collecting entries on March 29 and announce the winners then. One entry per person. Good luck!

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Win a free trip for 2 to China with Friendly Planet Travel!

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:59:19 PDT

Two trips to fantastic destinations given away, four more free tours to go. If you haven't won a trip yet, then this is for you.

You might have seen that we're giving away a trip for two to China on our Taste of China tour, and you might have already entered our sweepstakes. If you haven't, there's still time.

A Friendly Planet traveler and a guest will be on their way to see Beijing, China's capital and host of the 2008 Summer Olympics; Shanghai, often called the "Paris of the East;" and Xi'an, where one of the most fascinating archeological finds in the world, the Terracotta army, is found.

Don't wait to visit our Facebook page and fill out the entry form. If you entered to win the Best of South Africa tour or Amazing Peru tour, then your name is already in the pool and you don't have to enter again. But referring your friends to enter will get you more chances to win!

Who would you take with you to China? Invite that person to enter, and that's two more chances to win! I like those odds!

And if you're still not convinced, I have lots to say about the fascinating country of China. It's a beautiful place, full of fast-paced cities, ancient history, lots and lots of people, plenty of great shopping, and cultural experiences everywhere. I recently went to China, and it was one of the best trips I've ever taken. You simply have to see it to believe it. I'll be sharing my experiences on my trip in the future, so stay tuned.

The winner of our Taste of China tour and a guest will win round-trip flights from Los Angeles via Air China, including fuel surcharges, taxes, and fees; all intra-China flights and ground transportation; and deluxe and first-class hotels with a private bathroom.

Also included are 12 meals, including eight buffet breakfasts, three lunches, and one dinner; comprehensive touring programs, including entrance fees; and a professional, English-speaking tour director and local guides.

What are you waiting for? Hop over to our Facebook page and enter to win this fantastic trip!

"Last Dance in Havana" voted the next Friendly Planet Travel Book Club selection

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:46:00 PDT

I asked and you answered: What book should we read for our next Friendly Planet Travel Book Club meeting that will explore the people and culture of Cuba? You voted, and it was a close one! We tallied your votes, and the book we'll be reading is "Last Dance in Havana," by Eugene Robinson.

This novel takes readers on a journey through the culture of Cuba, using music as a lens. Despite Castro's attempts to shut down nightclubs, obstruct artists, and subsidize only what he wants, the musicians and dancers of Cuba cannot stop. In this provocative work, Robinson takes readers on a lyrical tour of a country on the verge of revolution, using its musicians as a window into its present and future.

I encourage you to pick up this book to get a glimpse of what it's like in Cuba (after all, isn't that what traveling is all about?). "Last Dance in Havana" is available at your local bookstore, or available for download on your e-reader. We're gathering on April 17 at the Jenkintown Library to dive into the wonders of Cuba through "Last Dance in Havana." Get reading, and I'm looking forward to seeing you there!

Friday's Friendly Funny: Traveling with the Kents

noreply@blogger.com (Dave) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:39:04 PDT

Friday's Friendly Funny by Dave Blazek is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Based on a work at blog.friendlyplanet.com.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://blog.friendlyplanet.com.

The top 10 affordable destinations of 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:56:31 PDT

I would never offer a tour that wasn't a terrific value -- that's the core of our business at Friendly Planet Travel. But there are some tours that are so value-packed, I want to point them out specifically.

I had the opportunity to do just that at The Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show last month. I named my speech "The Top 10 Affordable Destinations of 2012," and delivered exactly what I promised. Check out my speech in it's entirety below.

If you don't have time to watch the full video, I've detailed a few of my favorites, as shared in my speech, below.

Pick #9: Ireland. Like Greece, Ireland has gone through some difficult financial times, but you would never know it from the incredibly friendly and welcoming people you'll meet when you visit. Ireland has always been a popular destination for Americans, but in the coming years, Ireland is expected to see record numbers of tourists. That's no surprise. The country is beautiful, with lush, green landscapes; picturesque towns and villages; castles galore; and plenty of pubs where you can mix with the locals, especially since they speak your language.

Pick #6: India. This wild, disorganized country of over a billion people is simply amazing. It has plenty of history and culture to experience and admire. It has an educated, entrepreneurial population that is rushing toward modernity at the speed of light. It has the most gorgeous building I've seen, the Taj Mahal, and believe me when I tell you that no picture does this palace justice. That's how all of India is.

Pick #3: China. Each year, we wait to see if interest in China will finally drop among travelers, but it never does. This is a country that continues to amaze travelers, with its ancient history, gorgeous landscapes, incredibly welcoming people, and, of course, the food. Oh, and did I mention that you can buy an entire wardrobe for pennies on the dollar? Travel to China continues to be a terrific bargain.

Pick #1: Cuba. You might be thinking Cuba is a place that Americans can't visit. But in the past year, the rules have changed, and a few tour operators are lucky to have been granted one of the new people-to-people licenses, including us. This tropical island is a 50-minute flight from Miami, but until recently, it could just have easily been on Mars. Thanks to a liberalizing of laws, Americans can visit Cuba legally. Visiting Cuba is like taking a trip back to the '50s, and not just because of the cars. When you visit Cuba, you get to see how people have created a life for themselves with very little money or resources. The music is everywhere, street parties abound, and everyone is welcome to attend. It's quite an experience.

What places are you planning to visit in 2012? One of these or somewhere different? Let me know here.

Travel consumer advocate Chris Elliott shares his best travel tips

noreply@blogger.com (Peggy Goldman) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:12:59 PDT

I've shared the first interview with Chris Elliott at The Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show, but I know you've been eagerly awaiting more. Everyone needs their Chris Elliott fix!

I'm here to give it to you. In this video, Chris and I discuss how travelers should prepare for a trip. Chris mentions the importance of using a travel agent when picking a destination (I swear I didn't ask him too!), and we both said packing lightly is travel gospel.

Hit play to see what else we recommended as our "travel dos."

Don't miss part three, coming soon! There might be a giveaway with that one, so you won't want to miss it!