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Writing & the Road: 6 Tips for Budding Bloggers

So you’re thinking about starting a travel blog and you want someone other than your mother to read it, right? With so many travel blogs out there, adding a fresh one into the mix can be a bit daunting; ‘Who’s going to read it?’, ‘What kind of stuff should I be writing?’, ‘How can I make my blog get noticed?’ There’s a lot to consider! Here are a few tips to help get you started and on the road to writing your brand spanking, killer blog.

… Read it at WorldNomads.com >

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

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New iPhone App Creates Postcards while Traveling

Point. Snap. Postcard. A new iPhone app makes sending vacation postcards as easy as a push of the finger. World Nomads (http://www.worldnomads.com/) announces the WorldNomads.com Postcard App for the iPhone that’s guaranteed to secure travel memories on refrigerator doors.

Here’s how it works. Users simply download the free app from iTunes. Using the app via PayPal they purchase stamps (the cost of $2 per stamp works for delivery anywhere in the world). Users then snap a photo that is then turned into a postcard image. Type a message for the back. Add a delivery address and then submit everything electronically. The postcard is printed in the USA on real high-quality gloss paper, stamped and then sent to the address on the card anywhere in the world.

“It’s that easy,” explains Chris Noble, general manager of World Nomads. “The cost is comparable to locally purchasing a card and postage, but without the Post Office lines!”

When making stamp purchases there’s also an opportunity to donate to one of World Nomads’ Footprints Projects that help change lives by funding community development projects that fight poverty worldwide. See: http://www.footprintsnetwork.org/openprojects.aspx.

For more information visit: http://journals.worldnomads.com/travel-tips/story/58495/Worldwide/Point-Snap-Postcard-make-real-postcards-with-your-iPhone

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

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New Santa Fe Travel Blog and Trip Planning Resource

For newsy Santa Fe tidbits and unique travel ideas, I’ve been following @santafetraveler on twitter. 

Now, the husband-wife team behind the tweets, Santa Fe travel concierge and trip planning providers, Billie Frank and Steve Collins, have launched a new travel blog, SANTA FE TRAVELERS, highlighting things to see and do in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico. 

The blog will feature the inside scoop on local attractions, day trips, history, art, culture, music. local personalizes, food and news about the hospitality and tourism industries in Santa Fe and northern New Mexico. 

To learn more, visit www.santafetravelers.com. 

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

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America's Top 10 Ski Rental Home Destinations From TripAdvisor.com

Rental homes can be a great accommodation choice for groups of travelers looking to spend a week or more in their destination. According to the TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals Calculator, groups of four or more can potentially save thousands of dollars by staying in a vacation rental as opposed to a hotel in these top ski destinations. In addition, rentals offer many of the comforts of home to travelers, including full kitchens, large living rooms, multiple bedrooms and even fireplaces for those chilly winter nights.

 

Top 10 Ski Rental Home Destinations:

 

Located in the Eastern Sierra region of California, Mammoth Lakes has long been one of the West Coast’s premiere destinations for winter sports. Whether travelers enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding or simply sipping hot cocoa from the lodge, the town’s Mammoth Mountain has them covered. In addition, there is a wealth of vacation rental options for travelers looking for the perfect base camp for their winter trip.
Straddling the California and Nevada state line, Lake Tahoe is a scenic destination year round, but it really shines in the winter with its numerous downhill and cross country ski areas, as well as unique activities like dog sledding and sleigh rides. For travelers looking to warm up after a day on the trails, the area also boasts six casinos where they can try their luck.
While travelers flock to this Victorian-style town each winter for its many nearby ski resorts, Breckenridge also offers visitors a wealth of dining, shopping and spa options. Breckenridge Ski Resort itself provides more than 2,300 acres of terrain, giving skiers and snowboarders plenty of room to explore and enjoy. With many vacation rentals in the area offering ski-in/ski-out access, it’s easy to get out and hit the slopes early.
Surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest in a region just northeast of Los Angeles, Big Bear Lake is a resort community that is perfect for a winter vacation rental stay. Visitors have access to a wealth of winter fun options including skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding, downhill inner tubing and snowshoeing, ensuring that there won’t be a dull moment whether they’re out on the slopes or enjoying time together at their cabin.
Home of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Park City has cemented its place among the top winter vacation spots across the country with its premier ski resorts and its many winter activities, ranging from snow tubing to heli-skiing. Add in plentiful vacation rental options and travelers have a fantastic destination for enjoying the snow without breaking the bank.

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

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TRAVEL IN THE NEW YEAR: Travel Trends for 2011 From Kensington Tours

Exciting New Destinations and New Ways to Rediscover the Classics
Nicaragua, Safari Houses, Iceland, Private Nile Cruises and Far Beyond Sightseeing…

 

With the end of 2010, private guided tour company Kensington Tours, polled its team of destination experts to see what trends they saw on the horizon for travel in 2011. Their team, which coordinates thousands of private guided tours to more than 80 countries worldwide every year, came back with a variety of insightful tips for vacation planning for the new year ranging from hot new destinations to exciting new ways of experiencing old favorites.

 

1. Safari Houses – Private African Paradises
Villas aren’t just for Italy anymore. “A growing number of luxury villa rentals and safari houses have sprung up particularly in South Africa and Botswana,” says Brad Crockett, Kensington’s Senior Africa Expert. “They are going to become very popular for families and groups of friends seeking more exclusive safari experiences.” 
http://kensingtontours.com/Tours/Africa/Southern-Africa/South-Africa/10-Day-Southern-Africa-by-Villa

 

2. Second Layer Vacations – Beyond Sightseeing
Coming on strong in well traveled Europe are “second layer” vacations that focus on experiential travel over more traditional sight-seeing. Kerstin Sowden, Kensington’s Senior Europe Expert notes “travelers are looking for affordable alternatives to group travel and set itineraries. Demand for tailored experiences like personalized adventures tracing family roots, active adventures, epicurean journeys and multi-generational family trips is spiking.”  http://www.kensingtontours.com/Tours/Europe/Western-Europe/Italy/8-Day-Italy—-Family-Style

 

3. Nicaragua – The Next Costa Rica?
”With its great mix of tropical rainforests, vibrant culture, colonial history, heavenly beaches and amazing, affordable properties, Nicaragua is working its way up the hot list,” says Brandi Merchant Kensington’s Senior Central American Expert. “Currently more like the Costa Rica of 20 years ago, Survivor Nicaragua is putting the country in the spotlight and driving a spike in enquires.” Adventurers can enjoy exotic wildlife safaris, horseback riding, volcano hikes kayaking through mangroves, surfing, fishing, zip-lining, exploring cloud forests, relaxing in hot springs, scuba diving, touring colonial towns and even tree planting!

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

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Scotland - Choose Your Adventure

I’m in Scotland this week - one of my favorite places on the planet - to attend the 2010 Adventure Travel World Summit. Before the conference, I’m spending a few dreamy days at the Hotel du Vin, Glasgow, then I’m off to the Isle of Mull for a few days exploring with Wild Scotland.  I’ll be sharing more about that soon, but in the meantime, to whet your appetite for your own Scotland escape check out these recommended adventures from my favorite travel search engine -TravelDragon.com.

Heart of the Highlands: A Unique Exploration of Scotland

Departs May-August

Scotland’s magnificent Highlands are a beautiful region of mountains, lochs, glens and stately castles. Heart of the Highlands, offered exclusively in the U.S. by Lindblad Expeditions, introduces travelers to the wonders of the Highlands from the vantage of the inland waterway that links Scotland’s famed lochs. Until recently, no ship could take passengers through this region due to its size-limiting waterways. Now you can voyage through this scenic countryside in spectacular style: aboard the 54-guest luxury yacht Lord of the Glens.

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".