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Film + Travel Guides
How many of us were inspired to go somewhere after seeing a movie? For example, I was lucky to catch a screening of the comedy L’Auburge Espagnole before visiting Barcelona on a trip through Europe. Part of the fun was retracing the steps of my favorite characters.
Museyon Guides is ready to help out movie buffs with its new series of “Film + Travel” books. They’re full of fascinating background trivia, often straight from the people who worked on the films. For an excellent write-up, check out this In Transit blog post.
Got any stories to share about visiting places you saw in movies? How did the reality compare to the fantasy?
This article from the New York Times caught my eye last week. The article, “Carrying Several Passports? It’s Not Just for Spies”, discussed the benefits of carrying multiple passports from different countries.
The topic of multiple nationalities and passports tends to be filled with hype and mystery, but it’s really simple. Your ethnicity, birthplace, and religion can be the basis of dual citizenship. If your spouse has dual citizenship, you may be eligible for it too. From the article:
“The fact is people don’t think about it until it is pointed out to them,” said Jan Dvorak, president of Travisa, a passport services company in Washington. Some Americans, he said, “don’t realize that they actually have dual nationality.”
While there are no hard numbers, more Americans seem to be trying to qualify for additional passports. “Savvy travelers and business travelers want to make sure they have two passports based on nationality because there are certain advantages,” Mr. Dvorak said.
Source: “Carrying Several Passports? It’s Not Just for Spies” by Michael T. Luongo, NyTimes.com
These advantages include fewer travel and work restrictions, and, at times, cheaper visa application fees.
There are also other ways to acquire dual citizenship if you’re not qualified for the above reasons. If you have hundreds of thousands of dollars lying around somewhere, you can look for a country with economic citizenship or citizenship-by-investment programs. Dominica and Saint Kitts and Nevis are examples of countries that have this option, but approval is not guaranteed. Because of this many people view these fast-track options as scams.
Other countries have a less direct route. Instead of granting you citizenship after your investment, you are given a permanent residency visa which will allow you to apply for citizenship in a few years.
When thinking about getting a second passport, remember that each country has its own laws on dual nationalities. Some require you to relinquish one nationality for the other. Also, the internet is filled with scams and misinformation on this subject. Be sure to consult an immigration lawyer and other official sources before you take any action.
Do you have multiple nationalities? How do you deal with this when you travel?
Image by bjearwicke from sxc.hu
I just returned from a month long trip around California and I’ll admit that, for now anyway, I’m grad to be home and the last thing I want to think about is traveling.
But even if you’re not in the travel mood, travel guru Rick Steves and comedian David Sedaris joining forces to talk about travel is not an opportunity to be missed. The show originally aired last fall, but Steves recently replayed it on his radio broadcast and you can listen online (you’ll need Windows Media) in case you missed it.
Sedaris isn’t necessarily hilarious for most of this interview, but he does have a few funny moments talking about Japan, tourists in Paris (Sedaris’ adopted hometown), staying in hotels, and, as the teaser puts it, “a dirty little secret about some flight attendants.”
Hat tip to Eva Holland at World Hum.
A few more contests in the travel world have popped up, with prizes ranging from cash to a RTW ticket to a writer-in-residence contract. Maybe you’ll apply?
Trazzler’s #NYCGO Writing Contest
Win: $10,000 contract to be a two-week writer-in-residence in New York City, writing 30 Trazzler trips covering NYC; hotel accommodations; round-trip airfare on JetBlue (Grand Prize). Also runner-up and Editor’s Choice awards.
To apply: Sign up for Trazzler and submit your trip information (clicking the “Trazzler #NYCGO Contest Entry” box, as you do).
Deadline: Monday, August 17, 2009
Planet Magazine Global Travel Photo Contest
Win: A round-the-world ticket, open for one year, with an 8-page portfolio covering your trip to be published upon your return (Grand Prize). Also runner-up and finalist prizes.
To apply: Submit your favorite photos that epitomize the theme ‘Many Worlds, One Planet.’ Entry fee.
Deadline: Monday, August 31, 2009
American Way Road Warrior Contest
Win: 2 million Hilton HHonors points, 1 million AAdvantage miles, a Verizon BlackBerry Storm smartphone, and a $100 Verizon GC (Grand Prize). Also second- and third-place prizes.
To apply: Answer the prompts on the application that include ‘Top 8 reasons why you’re a Road Warrior,’ and an essay in which you use the songs of your favorite CD to craft your ultimate trip. Entries will be judged on creativity, clarity, relevance, travel description, and frequency of travels in 2008.
Deadline: Monday, August 31, 2009
Planet Earth Travel Writing Awards
Win: $200 Gold, $100 Silver, and $50 Bronze in each category.
To apply: Submit your travel book or article/essay “that helps to sustain or enhance the unique and valuable character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and/or the well-being of its residents.” Submissions must have been published between 7/1/07-7/1/09. Entry fee.
Deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Good luck!
Looking for a roommate (or, as they say in France, a coloc)? If you’re in France, specifically Paris, and can, you know, speak French, consider using Appartager, a wonderful website designed to help roommates find other roommates in some of the most desirale locations in Europe. Ever wanted to live in the 19th arondissement, or get a little bedsit in Cannes? This website’s your key.
For Europe, the Americas, and India, consider VivaStreet, which is a bit more like craigslist, in that they list EVERYTHING, not just roomshares. The listings are divided by country, and then by topic, and there are news listings every day (like craigslist). If you already found a roommate and now need a place for both of you to take dance classes? VivaStreet.
(hints via the marvelous Colleen, who used both websites to find accommodations in Lille, France)(and photo via mslmorris from Photobucket)
A reader named Jon recently wrote with some questions about traveling in winter. “What advice would you give for vagabonding during the winter in the Middle East and Europe?” he wrote. “Is it even advisable to travel during the winter months? Are there advantages to vagabonding during the “off-peak” tourist/travel season compared to the more frequented spring and summer months?
Here’s what I told him:
Winter months are great for travel in Europe, since it’s “off-season,” and you won’t be surrounded by other tourists everywhere you go. In Europe it’s going to be cold, which means you’ll have to bring more clothes, but you’ll see a side of the continent most summer tourists don’t see. I.e. you’ll see a more “real” side of the continent — Europeans at work and play in the down months when not many tourists are around. This will also mean prices will be cheaper for you (though seasonal closures mean there might not be as much hostel availability, for example, as in the summer). If the cold gets to you in Europe, just head down to the warmer Mediterranean regions — Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, etc.
As for the Middle East, winter is actually a great time to visit, since the summer can get unbearably hot. When I visited the Middle East several years ago, I went in January, and it was a great time weather-wise. Just keep in mind that it does get cold, though — it snowed in Jerusalem when I was in the Sinai — so prepare accordingly. The great thing about the Middle East is that it’s a lot cheaper than Europe — and, in my opinion, more interesting and friendly.
Good luck on the road!
Ed Darack/Science Faction/Corbis
They’re some of the savviest travelers around: the foreign correspondents who cover wars, natural disasters and political upheavals. Here’s a slideshow of their travel tips. They’re particularly relevant in the wake of the recent bombings in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Most of us commonly avoid danger zones, but reporters are paid to go straight into them. They’ve developed these tips after lots of hard experience. What really comes through is how they’ve developed a wicked sense of humor to deal with risky situations.
This related article is a good introduction to war reporters at work.
Vagablogging followed Dominic Gill on his Take a Seat journey via tandem bicycle along the length of the Americas. Riding his tandem bicycle, Dominic sought to find riding companions to keep him company along the way.
The documentary about this journey is now complete and it will be airing in the UK for the first time on Friday July 24th at 8pm on ITV4.
If you want to use a travelator or moving walkway while going around the airport, make sure you’re doing so to conserve energy rather than improve your walking speed. A recent study from Princeton University showed that people move slower on a travelator, but it doesn’t save you any time.
This may save energy, but even under ideal conditions of no congestion and no baggage a walkway only makes a small difference in travel time – about 11 seconds for a 100-metre stretch.
Source: “Airport travelators actually slow passengers down” by MacGregor Campbell, NewScientist.com
Our perception of our own speed is to blame. According to the article from New Scientist, “our desires to conserve energy and to resolve the conflict between visual cues and leg muscle signals – your eyes tell you that you are going faster than your legs are taking you – slow us down so that our total speed is only slightly greater than it would have been on regular ground.”
The congestion on the travelators doesn’t help either. Travelers with heavy luggage tend to put their bags down, and those who are tired from their trip prefer to stand passively. If you want to use the travelators to speed up, the presence of these people will prevent you from doing so.
Personally, I find that the traffic on these moving walkways tends to vary from airport to airport. All it takes is one look and you can assess for yourself if going on the walkway is best for your needs – whether it’s for rest or speed.
Does your experience with airport travelators reflect the results of the study? Or is it very different?
Image by Steve Hopson Photography via Wikipedia
Apart from time, some money, and an open mind, the act of traveling doesn’t really require much from the traveler. Still, there’s always an incident where I find myself saying “I wish I knew how to do that”. Here are some skills I wish I learned before I started traveling:
Tying knots. I used to think that knots were mostly for scouts – until I was forced to deal with an uncooperative clothesline. For clear instructions on how to tie knots, visit AnimatedKnots.com. Apart from having an animated tutorial, the knots are categorized based on use – such as boating, camping, and home use.
First aid. From stomach pains after an unusual meal to a sprained ankle while hiking, there’s no shortage of situations where you’ll need a bit of first aid knowledge. The Mayo Clinic website and Health World both list emergency first aid procedures. Nothing beats a real-life demonstration so attend a first aid class or workshop, if you can. Keep in mind that first aid is only emergency care. It’s not a substitute for a licensed doctor’s help.
Map and compass reading. While many writers have said that the best part of travel is getting lost, too much of it can be an inconvenience. No matter how adventurous you are, there’s always the odd situation where you need to find your way back. This is where reading a map and a compass comes in. This PDF file from Britain’s Ordnance Survey discusses the basics of map reading. As for using a compass, the Learn Orienteering site has several illustrated lessons.
Camping. If done right, camping can prove to be a cheaper and more exciting accommodation alternative when you’re traveling. Of course, this depends on the campsite, your level of experience, and your expectations. For a beginner’s guide to camping, check out Go-Camping.org, Love the Outdoors and Smart Camping Guide. Local state parks also often have camping workshops. For me, the most intensive way to learn is to go on trips with friends or relatives who are already experienced campers.
What other skills proved to be valuable during your trips? Share them with us in the comments.
