But if you prefer to spend your online time on other sites there are a few new places where you can also connect with us. (By the way, I’m not using the ‘royal we’ — other people from the company may make an input from time to time.) On most sites you can find us as either Sharon at PRF (that’s me), parkrideflyusa or parkridefly.

One new place where we are happy to be is on Facebook where we have a brand new page. On our Park Ride Fly USA Facebook page we are sharing a few of the articles, posts and resources we find useful. I am happy to say that it’s not just going to be a rehash of our Twitter stream — our Facebook page will include items that we don’t share anywhere else. And once we’ve built up a community we hope to use that page to have more in-depth discussions about travel related issues.

We’ve also got a spanking-new Google profile so that we can take part in conversations on Buzz and we’re also enjoying taking part in Friendfeed. These four places are where you’re most likely to find us online but if you want to connect with us on other sites, I will be maintaining a list of all our online hangouts through our Retaggr profile. See you in cyberspace!

1. Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends. - Maya Angelou
2. We must travel in the direction of our fear. - John Berryman
3. It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the end. - Ursula Le Guin
4. The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.  – St. Augustine
5. The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. - Marcel Proust
6. To fly as fast as thought, you must begin by knowing that you have already arrived. - Richard Bach
7. The only journey is the one within. - Rainer Maria Rilke
8. You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water. - Rabindranath Tagore
9. Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars. - Les Brown
10. Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia. - Peanuts
11. We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lost sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way. - Gloria Gaither
12. A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles - Tim Cahill
13. Voyage upon life’s sea, To yourself be true, And, whatever your lot may be, Paddle your own canoe. - Sarah Boulton
14. Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. - Greg Anderson
15. You are not the child of the people you call mother and father, but their fellow-adventurer on a bright journey to understand the things that are.” - Richard Bach
16. Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference. - Robert Frost
17. Make sure you take with you on your journey all the human emotions! Don’t leave them on the road, for you will not pick them up afterwards! — Nikolai Gogol
18. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.- Mark Twain
19. A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving. - Lao Tzu
20. In America, there are two classes of travel — first class, and with children. - Robert Benchley

(Photo: magro_kr)

Planning A Trip

For me, while there is some anticipation in the planning stage  of a trip (mainly because I’ll be thinking about a really great place) this part of the process can also be stressful. That could be because I’m a control freak — or to be a little kinder to myself, like to get every detail right. When making decisions about how to travel and where to stay, I have no idea how it will turn out. Depending on how good my research is, that might be a cause of stress.

Where’s The Fun?

I agree with Christine Garvin that some parts of travel aren’t as much fun as they could be. As I said before, when ranting about the things that annoyed me about travel, spending hours in queues even when you are using the fast bag drop, the interminable security process, cramped seats and poor airplane food (when you get any) make the journey to your destination not that much fun. Some people relax the minute they decide to go on holiday; I only relax when I’ve reached to where I’m staying. (I’m not saying that’s the way to do it; that’s just the way I am.)

Vacation Travel — Still A Thrill

Where I disagree, however, is in finding that the actual vacation experience is less thrilling than I anticipated. Generally speaking I really enjoy vacations. They represent a good chance to see, do and eat something different. They are a change of scene. It doesn’t much matter whether I am traveling for a short while longer period — I still enjoy the experience of being in a new place. Keeping some perspective also helps make vacation travel an enjoyable experience. If you don’t expect everything to be the same as it is at home then you will find difference exciting rather than exasperating.

For me, this was the best point Christine made in her post:

The point of travel is not only to achieve a high return on happiness – it’s also to learn about ourselves, other cultures, and even to be challenged to grow via those pesky annoyances.

I definitely agree with that.

Choosing Off Airport Parking

When I travel I always arrange airport parking in advance. It’s usually offsite and I usually get an excellent deal. There’s no big secret to this — it just involves looking around to see who has an off airport parking lot close to the airport I will be flying from. That usually narrows it down to just a couple of options. My next step is to see how else I can save. For example, if I’m collecting air miles or have loyalty cards from hotels or car rental firms, then I see if they have a deal with the off airport parking lot I plan to use. Depending on the length of my stay, this can save me quite a bit.

And let’s not forget the airport parking provider itself. They often have specials that will allow me to get a reduction on parking charges. Where possible I try to use the same provider at a variety of airports. That’s because they often give discounts for using their service more than once. So even if I don’t save that much the first time, the discount I get on subsequent visits is well worth it.

Keeping It Simple

What I always find interesting is the way different airport parking firms have different approaches to getting your car booked in. In the UK the process often involves queuing up to show your documentation relating to the space you have booked. In other cases it is as easy as swiping a card, ditching your car and boarding a shuttle bus. That really works for me — the more the process is automated, the easier it is for the traveler. And with other parts of your journey becoming more difficult thanks to more onerous security measures, saving time with off airport parking is a bonus.

Volunteering and Seeing the World on the Sharing Travel Experiences blog. Lillie talks about an extended trip around the world featuring learning, laughter, liberty and love. She says:

Travel is about love of humanity, love of one’s inner self, and (for a solo gal like me) an underlying quest for what future long-term love could and should look like.

The rest of the interview is well worth reading.

It’s OK To Hate Some Places on the Fox Nomad blog explodes the myth that you have to love everywhere you travel to. As Anil points out:

You’ll end up finding that the things you don’t like say more about you than anything else. Whether its the cleanliness, people, or food you can’t stand it’s all about you.

This post really struck a chord with many people as there are around 30 comments.

The Travel section of MainStreet.com has an informational post on The Most Expensive Airports in the U.S. Alabama boasts the most expensive airport, while New Jersey has the cheapest. The original post includes average flight prices and other useful contextual information.

Not a post, but a list, something else that caught my eye this month was a list of the wonders of the world - ancient, medieval, modern, natural, underwater and more. Each link takes you to more information on the sight (or site). One of the most interesting parts of the list is the section on the forgotten wonders - see how many you remember.

The Solo Traveler Blog has a guest post from one of my favorite travel people, Andy Hayes on Why I Travel Solo. There are some great reasons for traveling alone, including:

when I travel I like to soak up the experience. Notice the details. Feel something – the sounds, the taste, the smell. As a solo traveler, you can give your undivided attention to the experience.

Read the other reasons in the original post.

On Roaming Tales, Caitlin posts an open letter to the airlines: Dear Airlines: Humans come in all shapes and sizes. She says:

If you … want to be in the passenger airline business, then you need to quit treating humans as if they were standard-size freight. All paying customers have an equal right to fly, not just thin ones.

Caitlin makes some great points in this letter.

Finally, there’s an inspiring post from Corbett Barr on Free Pursuits, titled At What Age is it Hardest to Radically Change Your Life? Corbett says:

Are most of the people pursuing lifestyle design really that young? It could be that the people talking about lifestyle design are younger, but in fact plenty of “older people” are also trying to radically change their lives too.

Lots of food for thought in this one. We’ll be back with a new edition next month. Happy reading!

Safety At Home

First of all, give yourself less to think about taking care of safety and security at home. Get someone you trust to look after your house keys and emergency information and to swing by your home every so often to make sure that everything is okay. Put delivery of mail and publications on hold and use timers to program your lights, TV and radio to give the illusion that your home is occupied. Let your neighbors know that you will be gone so that if they see someone in your home who shouldn’t be there they will alert the police.

En Route

Security is also paramount when on your way to your destination. Make sure that you don’t have identifying information showing on your luggage and avoid telling strangers exactly where you’re coming from and where you’re going and for how long. If you happen to reveal these details to the wrong person, you give them a window of opportunity to burgle your home and be long gone before anyone notices.

At Your Destination

One of the key things when you arrive is to avoid looking like a stranger. That means avoiding asking for directions and making it obvious that you’re out of your depth. Unscrupulous people can take advantage of this. Do your own research to find out where you should go and where you should avoid. Keep maps and guidebooks out of sight and only consult them in public areas.

If you are travelling with other members of your family, divide up cash and credit cards among you, so if something happens to one person you don’t lose everything. When staying in a hotel, get a safe so that you can take with you only what you need.

General Travel Safety Tips

When on vacation people are generally more relaxed and let their guard down. It’s great to have a good time but this is a time to be more aware of who and what is around you. Avoid flashing costly electronic items, jewelry and cash as these attract attention from thieves. Keep wallets out of sight and purses close to the body.

One of my most useful items when travelling in many countries was a coat with several interior pockets. I was able to keep my passport and cash with me without drawing attention to them while keeping a small float in an outside pocket.

Following these tips doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time when on vacation. In fact, if you make these part of your travel routine you will have an even better time as it will reduce any worry.

(Photo: Jarosław Pocztarski)

Sea Turtle vs Land by dibytes

Red Sea Octopus by prilfish

Large rocks inside the crystal clear waters of the sea -by Horia Varlan

Three boats on a calm sea by Horia Varlan

And to finish off, this soothing video of the second largest aquarium tank in the world:

Key Phrases

When I’m traveling to a new country, there are a few key phrases that I try always to learn. By far the most important is being able to say “I don’t speak (insert name of language). Do you speak English?” By the way, I am not a linguaphobe. I speak French and Spanish and now a bit of German but there are some countries where even those languages won’t get me very far.

Basic Needs

The next most important thing is to make sure that I won’t starve or die of thirst. Although it’s useful to be able to ask for water, there are some places where you may not want to drink the water. I have found that Coca-Cola and Pepsi are universally recognized. When it comes to food the most important phrase for me is “I don’t eat meat”. Although I meet with incredulity in some countries, knowing that phrase (as well as “does this contain meat?”) is very helpful.

Your basic needs are not limited to food and drink, of course, so it’s helpful to be able to ask the way to the bathroom. Believe it or not, not everywhere has helpful little pictorial icons, so to avoid the embarrassment that would ensue if you misread a sign, this is one to add to your list.

Polite Phrases

It is also helpful to learn some basic verbs to help you to string together the phrases you do know. The verbs to be, to have and to go can really help you, combined with whichever nouns you have managed to learn. I also agree with Gadling that knowing how to say hello and goodbye, yes and no and please and thank you will be appreciated.

Extra Lessons

While it is unrealistic to expect to pick up enough of a foreign language to able to converse while on your trip, there are a few resources that will help you get beyond the basics. These include:

• Fodor’s Language For Travelers, which includes more than 150 keywords and phrases in several languages
• The BBC’s quick fix language learning section where you can download essential phrases in 36 languages to your MP3 player
• The Omniglot site which has commonly used phrases in more than 80 languages

These will help you start your own list of essential foreign language phrases.

(Photo: Adam UXB Smith)

57.4% are now packing lighter and using smaller travel bags, and 56.5% check fewer bags, due to increasing airline fees and restrictions.

72.3% most commonly use carry-on bags during air travel.

79.1% consider luggage size and dimensions the greatest influence on their decision to purchase, with luggage weight (69.3%) the second-most deciding factor.

44.2% prefer lightweight materials the most when purchasing luggage.

88.9% consider wheels the most important luggage feature, with retractable handles (71.4%) the second-most important feature.

The Taking Off Travel Blog talked to John Ebb, CEO of Suitcase.com, about the findings, especially related to business travel.

1. John, what can we learn about business travel behavior from your Luggage Trends survey?

Based on the survey results from those travelers who stated they fly for business more than 50% of the time (with the majority taking more than 10 trips a year) now use lighter, smaller suitcases (61.5%), and check fewer bags (53.8%) than in previous years. In addition, these business travelers use carry‐ons 79.4% of the time.

What are the latest luggage trends?

When purchasing luggage, these business travelers consider luggage size and weight (89.7%) the greatest influence on their luggage purchases, with specialized luggage features and functionality (73%) the second‐most important factor and luggage weight (71.7%) the third factor.

Many of these business travelers included in their responses that they seek the added features and functionality of durable wheels (91%) and retractable handles (71.7%), when purchasing luggage. Several responses also mentioned preferring to switch their airlines to one without baggage fees, such as Southwest Airlines, rather than bringing different luggage.

2. Apart from lightweight materials and luggage, and extended warranties, what other luggage trends do you expect in 2010?

In addition to travel bags made from lightweight materials remaining popular this year, we expect to see new styles, colors and patterns in 2010. As far as style is concerned, we do foresee consumers sticking to the more neutral colors with the goal of keeping their luggage for a longer period of time, instead of fashionable and trendy luggage, as they had in the past.

Travelers still, however, will purchase brightly colored luggage and distinguishable bag tags to stand out from other luggage at the baggage claim.

I also predict that the checkpoint‐friendly briefcases and laptop cases will be a hot item in response to last year’s change in TSA regulations allowing passengers to keep laptops in bags during security checkpoints. Particularly for business travelers, this type of luggage will help alleviate any stress and delays during trips or leaving the computer behind, as well as protect the laptop. Some brands we recommend consumers to look for include Victorinox Swiss Army’s Security Fast Pass and Briggs and Riley’s SpeedThru Sleeve.

3. Are there any new materials that are popular in luggage now?

Many hard‐side luggage pieces are now made with a blend of polycarbonate and ABS plastic material (PC‐ABS), which is as strong as polycarbonate, while remaining flexible with the ABS material. This allows the luggage to be durable, but still flexible enough to fit in carry‐on spaces and remain lightweight. Polycarbonate is the same material used in bullet‐proof glass!

4. What’s going to be the next big thing in suitcases and luggage, and when will we see it?

I predict motorized luggage will become a popular “futuristic” piece because manufacturers are now releasing lightweight options with many technical, but user‐friendly features. An example is the Live Luggage electrically powered suitcase, Hybrid PA Bag, available this April. This type of luggage has a rechargeable battery similar to the size of a laptop’s battery, to allow easy mobility and flexibility for the traveler. I can see some frequent travelers using this type of luggage because it’s lighter weight than other motorized luggage and has enough space and features to pack many items, such as a laptop case and an overnight travel bag.

5. How quickly do travelers change their luggage behavior based on airline and security restrictions?

We did not specifically gather this information from the report, but I know based on our experience that it typically takes a traveler one to two trips to change their luggage purchasing behavior.

6. Describe your perfect piece of luggage.

My perfect piece of luggage must be lightweight, durable and have an “everything goes” warranty, similar to the manufacturer, Titan, which has a lifetime warranty on all its products, and will repair or replace your luggage for free!

Get your copy of the Suitcase.com Consumer Luggage Report 2010.

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)