Blog: The Hopeful Traveler
The New Voluntourism

Dear Santa Claus,   According to universally recognized standards, I have been a very good boy this year and, as per our agreement of 8/20/2001, I feel I am now due certain items: (list does not imply order of preference)  1. Trek Fat Possum LX Bicycle (valued at $2400)  2. X-Box 360 with accompanying software to be decided at later date (valued in excess of $1200)  3. Cash (valued at no less than $1500)  4. NO CLOTHES  5. Summer 2008 Vacation of no less than 2 (two) weeks in Orlando Florida or Hollywood, California, but NOT- under any circumstances- Branson, Missouri.  6. An ironclad guarantee of NO additional siblings added to my family.   I think you will agree that these requests are in no way unreasonable and I therefore look forward to hearing from at your earliest convenience.   Sincerely, Timothy Fairchild   Dear Timothy,    Thank you for your recent letter. In accordance with article VIII, paragraph 6 of our agreement: "Santa Claus will use his own discretion in ascertaining the appropriate compensation package for each individual." Therefore, it has been decided that the holiday endowment for your family this year will be the following:   A 2008 vacation of no less than 2 (two) weeks, at a destination of your choice, from the enclosed list, where you, along with your family, will also perform services to the good of mankind, which is what this whole thing is about anyway.   Please see enclosed information:   Sincerely, Santa Claus, Inc.   American Hiking Society...

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posted on: 12/7/2007 1:00:00 PM  by Steven Berrier
category: Travel

Blog: Traveling With Kids
Packing

We're on our vacation and staying at our third place in a week.  When you're living out of suitcases, especially with a family, it takes a little effort to keep things sorted out.  Little children's clothing is so small and so easy to get into a muddle. There are a few tricks you can use to help to keep you from descending into chaos.

A rule of thumb is to categorize at various levels and keep each category separate.  At the top level, if you can, keep each person's clothing in their own suitcase or bag.  If you have to share suitcases, try to keep each person's clothing in designated areas.   
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posted on: 12/6/2007 1:00:00 PM  by Katherine Macey
category: Travel

Blog: Traveling Light -- Packing A Little Freedom In Your Suitcase
Should You Drive Or Fly?

We actually didn't go anywhere this holiday weekend -- but we have plenty of friends who did. And I've heard all kinds of horror stories about the airport delays, traffic jams, and frayed nerves. But holiday frustrations aside, it seems that some people are unshakably devoted to one mode of travel or another.
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posted on: 12/1/2007 1:00:00 PM  by Ramona Creel
category: Travel

Blog: The Hopeful Traveler
A Mark, a Yen, a Buck or a Pound

Oh, you lucky devil. After scrimping and saving all year long, you now have enough in your travel account to abandon your in-laws and co-workers for the holidays and take a wonderful trip for Christmas. I couldn't agree with you more. Experiencing Christmas in another culture is one of the most Christmas-y things you and your family can ever do.   Dollars aren't going very far these days for American travelers overseas so do some advance preparation for your destination. Otherwise you'll be paying fees and taxes you don't need to pay. As it is, after one trip to Harrod's you're going to feel like you bought a Ranger Rover instead of all that tourist junk you came out with. Here's some tips on...

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posted on: 11/30/2007 1:00:00 PM  by Steven Berrier
category: Travel

Blog: Traveling Light -- Packing A Little Freedom In Your Suitcase
You Don't Actually Have To Travel During The Holidays

So this Thanksgiving, my husband and I stayed home for the very first time. We have always traveled somewhere -- either to see family or to take a trip on our own (the year we spent Thanksgiving in Gatlinburg was one of our most memorable, between the beautiful leaves in the Smoky Mountains, people-watching the piles of tourists along the strip, and the quaint little homestyle restaurant we found for dinner -- oh, and the X-Files Viewer's Choice Marathon that ran all day in our motel room on the day after Thanksgiving -- that was even better than hitting the Black Friday sales!)
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posted on: 11/24/2007 1:00:00 PM  by Ramona Creel
category: Travel

Blog: The Hopeful Traveler
Happy Thanksgiving Travels

Wishing you all safe Thanksgiving travels this year. See you next week.   --Steven and...

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posted on: 11/23/2007 1:00:00 PM  by Steven Berrier
category: Travel

Blog: Traveling With Kids
Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope your travels for today were safe.  By now, you have hopefully reached your destination.  It never fails to amaze me what a zoo the city can turn into during a major holiday.  There are so many people on the road at once either driving to their destinations or trying to get to the airport to fly to their destination.  USA Today estimated that nearly 39 million people will be traveling more than 50 miles this Thanksgiving.  That's nearly 13% of the population all traveling at once!
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posted on: 11/22/2007 1:00:00 PM  by Katherine Macey
category: Travel

Blog: Traveling with Clarity
De-Clutter your Carry-Ons – The TSA will Thank You!

Who knew that the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) was getting in on the De-Cluttering bandwagon? On the news broadcast last night, I was stunned to hear the words "de-clutter" and "TSA" in the same sentence!  Typically, the TSA is saddled with adjectives like "disorganized", "slow" and "governmental agency".    In a report on the NBC Nightly News, Brian Williams reported that the TSA was assisting travelers this Holiday season by providing tips on how to de-clutter your carry-on luggage.  The interesting part to me, was how the TSA wove this request into the many other requests it makes to passengers each travel season in an effort to decrease wait-times and increase passenger safety.  This week, the...

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posted on: 11/21/2007 1:00:00 PM  by Alison Caputo
category: Travel

Blog: Traveling Light -- Packing A Little Freedom In Your Suitcase
Keeping Your Sanity During Holiday Travel

This coming week, many of us will be hitting the road to visit family and celebrate the season. I say many of us, but I really mean many of you (we're actually staying home for the first time ever for Thanksgiving -- and we are so looking forward to it). I love the holiday season and the automatic upward shift in attitude most people experience come the end of November -- but I readily admit that trying to get to where you're going in the midst of all the chaos can be enough to turn anyone into a Scrooge.
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posted on: 11/19/2007 8:17:48 AM  by Ramona Creel
category: Travel

Blog: The Hopeful Traveler
Only 36 Days Until Departure!

It's now mid-November and since Thanksgiving serves as the official starter pistol for the lunatic race known as the Christmas season, let's take a moment to go over your wish list for this holiday:   1.  Don't want to cook anything. 2.  Don't want to go to a mall. 3.  Don't want to have to turn on the heat. 4.  Don't want to un-decorate a tree. 5.  Want to spend Christmas Day on a Caribbean Beach.   Oh, sorry, that's my Christmas wish list. No doubt your list is more selfless, more traditional, more… Christmas-y. But just in case it bears any similarity to mine, I have just 5 words for you: Five Days in Puerto Rico. Why, you say?   1....

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posted on: 11/16/2007 1:00:00 PM  by Steven Berrier
category: Travel