This weeks trip giveaway started with a photo poll showing three photos of modes of transportation and this question:

“Here at home we walk, bike or drive. But across the ocean they get from A to B in a variety of peculiar vehicles. Which one have you always wanted to take for a spin?“

By “Liking” and and commenting on the photos on their Facebook page you can essentially decide which trip they will give away next. The Citroën 2CV car might be a trip to Paris, the Double Decker bus a trip to London and the Gondolas of course a trip to Venice, Italy.

I myself have ridden many a Double Decker bus in London and have toured around the canals of Venice in a Gondola but have yet to take a spin in one of those cars, and Paris is one of my favorite cities so I probably would chose the car to win a trip to Paris. That would be awesome!

Head over to the AirTransat Facebook page now and see which destination was chosen for you to win this week and then make sure you enter to win!

Last week’s winner, Stephan Gagné from Quebec, won an all-inclusive trip for two to the Riviera Maya, Mexico. Valued at a maximum of $4,700, this prize includes roundtrip airfare aboard Air Transat from Montreal, a one-week (7-night) stay for two at the 4-star Ocean Turquesa and roundtrip bus transfers between the airport and the hotel.

Stay tuned for next weeks chance to win another great trip!

Photo of Citroën 2CV by Cletus Awreetus, Photo of Gondolas by ragingwire, Photo of Double Decker by budgetplaces.com

Photo by: Jordan Hollander

Who: Kelley Ferro

What: www.Tripfilms.com Twitter: @KelleyFerro

Facebook: Facebook.com/Tripfilms

TripFilms: www.tripfilms.com/users/Kelley

You should watch: NYC Trip Tips: The Apple Store One of Kelley’s first Tripfilms videos from 2008!

1.       Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your job at Tripfilms. 

I am the manager at Tripfilms, so the core of my work is in facilitating all our Tripfilms original productions, marketing, distribution and new promotional campaigns. My focus  really changes from week to week as one week I’ll be working with designers to prep for our annual Trippy Awards, another I’ll be licensing videos to television networks and another ill be coordinating a full scale travel show production with a tourism board. I’m often on the phone giving feedback and encouragement to new vloggers just getting in the field, and today I strategized how Tripfilms would help a long time vlogger team to publicize their feature length travel documentary. I’m basically a champion for travel video from all angles!

The other side to my job is hosting and filming several shows on Tripfilms, the most recent being Get Lost & Go Local, Top Boutique Hotels & A New York Minute. This is what I find to really excite me and I’ve learned so much from working in the field for the last four years.

As for me– I love biking, tennis, languages, sarcasm and being within a mile of the ocean. Though I spent 18 years in Vermont- many, many miles from the ocean. I’m equally comfortable in a hostel bunk bed and 1500 thread count luxe king. I think each day is a chance to learn, explore, love and seize the day.

2. Was it your job that got you motivated to start traveling? 

The first trip I can remember was to the Bahamas, when I was three. Images from that trip have never left me and ever since then, travel has been just a part of me. I loved learning about the world first hand and once you feel that spark light up, nothing else can stop it from burning. I never questioned that my job would involve travel and I’m so lucky to have found an ideal fit for me at Tripfilms.

3. Did you have any previous video experience before Tripfilms?

I had minimal video experience–I started a travel website as my senior project at Tufts University where I filmed and edited short videos on top things to do for college kids in the Boston area. I acted in student films and I played around with taking video on trips, but it was sparse.

4. Aside from yourself, do you have any favourite people that make travel videos? Anyone that has inspired you or whom you just enjoy good content from?

I would never say that I’m my favorite! I actually find it tough to watch myself so I much prefer watching others. I’m truly inspired every day when I watch the latest uploads on Tripfilms and the quality is skyrocketing! I’m constantly amazed by the stories that our filmmakers share–most recently, I’m loving the work from Duzer, AdventureSauce, DimeTraveler, TravelingJules, Gone with the Wynns… there’s just too many to name! It’s like picking children- I love the whole brood equally for different reasons.

5. What has been your favourite travel video that you have made to date?
Gosh, each one has a story. I loved the video about coffee that I made while on assignment in Puerto Rico (with you Cailin!). That video required a lot of blood, sweat and tears–getting lost solo in a post-hurricane countryside with no way to contact anyone and minimal Spanish:

My assignment for the Austrian Tourism Board was also a blast and I think my favorite video from that 9 day whirlwind was this one:

I want to go everywhere but I’m really dying for a 3 month stint traveling around Southeast Asia.

7. Do you have any tips for other people who are wanting to start making travel videos?

Just go and do it. Don’t be intimidated by all the professional stuff out there. Your story is just as valuable and the quality will come with practice.  I can’t tell you how many people tell me they are going to make videos, or are even commissioned by us that don’t end up making anything. Sometimes the first hurdle is just pressing start.

8. What equipment do you use? Camera? Editing program? Type of computer?
I use a Sony HandyCam (upgrading), Sennhauser Wireless mics, GoPro HD Hero 2, Final Cut Express (upgrading) and am plotting to purchase an HDSLR very soon. Computer? Mac all the way baby.

9. Vimeo or Youtube? (aside from Tripfilms of course haha)
Vimeo just has stunning picture quality and I just don’t love all the extraneous clutter of YouTube. They both serve purposes though. For community, sharing, assignments opportunities and support, no where else but Tripfilms.

(Ps. We are using Vimeo as a model for our new Tripfilms player! Debut T-1 month!)

10. Do you have any suggestions for other people to best promote their videos?

You have to be your own biggest fan. Videos get watched if you share them with your friends, family, followers–so don’t be shy about sharing. There’s certainly a limit to that but sharing via Facebook, Twitter, emails, blogs and more are all important.
The quickest way to exposure is creating something from the heart, that you believe in and that teaches or inspires or amazes. These are the facets that make videos go viral and the sharing takes a life of it’s own.

11.  How long do you suggest a video should be 2min? 10min? A good length to keep people watching but not bore them?

For the online viewer, even one minute videos are valuable. But to develop more of a story, 2-4 minutes might be necessary. If you have a 10+ minute video, perhaps break it up into segments. Online viewers want to seek out exactly what they want and they are used to getting that information quickly.

11.  How much advanced planning do you put into your videos?

As much as I possibly can. I try to have a really good idea of what the video will look like before I even start shooting. I also try to be as versed as I can on the subject, place, person so I can talk freely as I think scripted videos sound…scripted.

12. Music is often a difficult thing to find for videos, do you have any sites that you recommend for people to get free music from?

The best situation is if you have a musician friend or a small band/group/composer looking for some publicity. Otherwise, you can sample under 30 seconds on non-licensed websites. Ping me and I’ll send you a list!

13. Do you edit from the road often? Do you find it easy to edit on the road?

I want to get better at this but as of now, I rarely edit from the road. My film trips are anywhere from 4 to 10 days, and usually there is not even sufficient time to film as much as we need too, let alone edit.

14. Do you see a future past tripfilms? Do you think travel videos will always be something you do?

Travel video is my passion and I hope to be able to continue to produce and host video on an even bigger scale. I plan on traveling until my body doesn’t let me, and even then I’ll find a way, so the videos will continue!

15. Do you have any horror stories from the road where an interview or something you wanted to film didn’t work as planned?

I think the “horror” stories usually end up being opportunities to create something even better. I’ve been told not to film, had people clam up on camera, lost/forgot chargers, had to purchase new camera (and then return it! shhh…) for a story–things always go wrong. You just have to do as much advance planning, triple checking and in the end, be ready to improvise on the fly. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Or to throw away all your plans

I am in love with this weeks video. I don’t know if its the narration, the gorgeous breath taking footage, the great experiences this couple seems to have or what it is, but I love it.

Filmed by gnarly bay productions, Inc. during a 5 week trip through Chile and Patagonia, I have never seen a travel video put together with such a professional and story like narration. You really have to watch it know what I am talking about but I am happy to have this video on here for Favorite Film Friday #038.

If you have an awesome video that you would like to see featured here on TravelYourself please send it my way. Also follow along with me on twitter for lots of great new travel videos every Friday by searching the hashtag #FriTravelVids.

Have a great weekend!

Now starting this week and for the next 4 weeks they are giving away even more trips!

Every Monday AirTransat will post a different poll to their Facebook page for their fans to answer and vote on their favorite destination, with a different theme each week. Each poll will have 3 different destinations listed and the destination that wins the poll will be the prize the winner gets to win a trip too. After that destination has been announced you can then enter to win a one week trip for two to that location.

There are four trips for two to be won with this weeks theme being:

Follow your taste buds for your chance to win!
Many of us are tempted by food, travelling here and there to sample this and that.

Which of these popular dishes would you rather eat for an entire week? Let us know

by liking or commenting. You never know where your taste buds might take you!

The photo choices are: A) Tacos B) Cubanos C) Dominican rice

I don’t know about you but I am choosing tacos all the way! I could eat them for days!

The winner for each week will be posted the following week, when they announce the next poll to vote for your favorite destination with a new prize trip up for grabs.

If you are having your own bout of the winter blues like I am then I would suggest you head on over to AirTransats Facebook page, give em a Like, answer the poll and then wait for your chance to win a week long trip to either Mexico, Cuba or the Dominican Republic. Good luck!

Which would you rather? Have you been to any of these destinations yet?

This post was sponsored by AirTransat however as always all views expressed are my own and are my honest opinions.

Photos by: Rice crd!, Cubanos Jeffreyw, and Tacos d:space

The first time I visited Melbourne I wasn’t in love with it as much as I was with Sydney but after watching this video I know I definitely need to give it a second chance.

What do you think of this video? Have you ever been to Melbourne or other parts of Australia?

I’m not sure if you are a fan of the Canadian Tour Operator / Air Transportation / Destination Services Company known as Air Transat yet but I’m here to tell you, especially if you are Canadian, you probably should be.

They were the ones that had the “Vacationer Wanted” position that Kate McKenna won last year and was then paid to travel the world for them for a whole year. You might remember them from the various interviews I did with Kate and even from my own submission video.

They are now up to another very exciting thing. Not only are they celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2012 but they also just recently hit 100,000 fans on their Facebook Page and well, I’m here to bring you some exciting news.

“It took a lot of “likes” to get to 100,000 fans and we are extremely grateful for every single one,” says Joseph Adamo, Vice-President Marketing, Transat Tours Canada. “To show our Air Transat fans just how much we “like” them back, we are thrilled to launch a series of fun and exciting holiday giveaways.”

Who doesn’t like a great giveaway and notice he said giveawayS with an “S”!

Now I’m sure you are thinking, whats new? Companies are always trying to get more likes and running campaigns like this to become more popular. Why are they different?

They are different for a very awesome reason I think. Leading up to having 100,000 likes they paid attention to their Facebook Page closely, monitoring it and searched for their number 1 fan. The person who was most active on their Facebook page. The cool bit is they did this without telling anyone. Typically you see a company say “Hey! We are almost at 100,000 Likes, come like us and you could win!” Which gives them lots of new “likes” yes, but not necessarily true fans, but instead people who want to just win a free trip.

Dan Schlachter from Burlington, Ontario, was that official “Super Fan”. To thank him for his ongoing loyalty and support for AirTransat they not only surprised him and awarded him a trip to London that includes a seven-night stay at the Hotel Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, a seven-day London Travelcard, an Energy London Eye Champagne “flight”, roundtrip flights and more provided by Transat Holidays, but they also asked if they could surprise his wife with the win and they filmed it! Watch the video below.

And that my friend is just the tip of the Iceberg. Watch the video above, share it with your friends and then head on over to AirTransats Facebook page www.Facebook.com/AirTransat LIKE the page, become a fan and then maybe you too will be celebrating a win just like Dan and his family.

They haven’t said just yet what those prizes will be, but I bet they will be pretty awesome, stay tuned to Travel Yourself and I’ll share them when I can, but remember they don’t know you want to win unless you “like” them first.

~Cailin

This post was sponsored by AirTransat however as always all views expressed are my own and are my honest opinions.

A photo that…takes my breath away

Located in southern Iceland the Strokkur Geyser pictured here goes off approximately every 6-8minutes and is quite the site. Lets just say it took a couple tries to get this shot. To see it in action check out my Iceland video HERE.

A photo that…makes me laugh or smile

Is it wrong that I put up a photo of myself for this one? It is funny though right? haha Pretending to be as Parisian as possible in front of the Eiffle Tower. To see me in action check out my Paris in a Minute Video.

A photo that…makes me dream

Taken in 2010 at the end of a full day of trekking through a rainforest in Fiji. This photo not only makes me dream but dream about going back to Fiji. Such an awesome place.

A photo that…makes me think

In November 2011 I visited Berlin and toured around the Jewish Holocaust Memorial. Not only could you walk around in this labyrinth of cement blocks varying in sizes but underground in what use to be a bunker you can tour an exhibit all about the victims who lost their lives, their stories and stories of the few who survived as well. Definitely something to check out if you ever visit Berlin.

A photo that…makes my mouth water

Papas arrugadas also known as Canary Island wrinkly potatoes. These tiny potatoes are boiled until dry in sea salt and are honestly the best potatoes I have ever eaten.A beef medallion from the Icon Grill in Seattle, Washington #MEGANOMS I enjoyed this beauty while on a Gourmet Food Tour with Savor Seattle Food Tours.

It’s a toss up for this one especially since I just started my new food and travel blog www.TheTasteOfTravel.com. I have taken a lot of delicious photos in my life but these two are a couple of the most recent and trust me the photos don’t do them justice.

A photo that…tells a story

There are multiple stories going on in this photograph from Fiji of a bus full of people making the long trek home at the end of the day. I think I like this photo the most because it reminds me of one of my favorite photographers Robert Frank and his similar photo from his “The Americans” series.

A photo that…I am most proud of (aka my worthy of National Geographic shot)

This was a hard one to choose a photo, I have so many that I love! If only these poor Polar Bears were actually out in the wild and not in the Copenhagen Zoo. Poor guys, but they are still beautiful none the less.

Thanks again to Alex for tagging me in this series.

I now need to choose 5 people to contribute.

1. Candice Walsh

2. Amanda Williams

3. Chris Richardson

4. Tawny Clark

5. Samuel Jeffery

Join the Game

1. Choose 7 of your own photos, one for each of the following categories:

• A photo that…takes my breath away
• A photo that…makes me laugh or smile
• A photo that…makes me dream
• A photo that…makes me think
• A photo that…makes my mouth water
• A photo that…tells a story
• A photo that…I am most proud of (aka my worthy of National Geographic shot)

2. Write a short description for each image.
3. Write somewhere in your blog post: ‘I am taking part in HostelBookers 7 Super Shots‘.
4. Tell us you have participated and tweet the hashtag #7SuperShots
5. Nominate 5 other bloggers by including a link to their blog in your post.
We will be retweeting and sharing the best posts from participating bloggers.

Head on over and see the 7 Super Shots guidelines post which features a number of fantastic photos.

Happy Favourite Film Friday! Todays video is a fun one about Juno and Stephen’s day spent in Bangkok, I think you will enjoy it.

If you haven’t heard yet, I launched a brand new website more than 2 weeks ago called “The Taste Of Travel”. A food and travel blog where I share the best and worst food stories from myself and other people from all over the world. Not only in blog posts and through amazing drool inducing photographs but also through videos.

I just finished my first food & travel video about the fantastic VooDoo Doughnuts in Portland, Oregon. Read more about VooDoo Doughnuts on the Taste of Travel HERE and click play below to watch the video!

Stay tuned for more.