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".
Most of us with a taste for wanderlust already know we want to travel far, travel thoughtfully and travel often. We know we should be more open minded and spontaneous, more courageous, playful and appreciative. It’s just that we sometimes need reminding. Or, I do anyway. Here’s a shortlist of ways to help make your adventures more meaningful.
1. Open yourself to possibility
When someone suggests something that at first feels outrageous, or outside your comfort zone, open your heart and mind to the possibility that it might contribute to better understanding or experiences.
2. Embrace wildness
Give yourself opportunities to experience the restorative power of wilderness and wild places. It’s impossible to feel disconnected or alone in the natural world.
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".
It seems every adventure travel company promises the best guides, the best food, the best service, but do they provide a safety net for the unexpected? Here are a few suggested questions from Jim Sano, president of Geographic Expeditions, to ask to help make sure your backside is covered.
1. Do you provide around-the-clock logistical and air support services? (this is especially important in the event of cancelled, delayed or changed flights?)
2. Do you include medical evacuation, expense, and assistance coverage, with access to a board certified emergency physician?
3. What assurances do you provide to protect my travel investment?
4. Do you accept major credit cards?
5. Are my deposits and payments placed in a U.S.-based financial institution or an offshore entity?
6. How will you protect me from currency rate fluctuations? (Some international currencies have fluctuated by as much as 40% over the past 12 months) How to do mitigate the fuel surcharge risk?
7. What are your payment/cancellation terms and conditions? What are your cancellation policies in the event of a U.S. State Department, Centers for Disease Control, or World Health Organization travel warning?
8. Do you offer optional trip cancellation/interruption insurance, including cancel for work reasons?
9. Does your company participate in a U.S.-based seller of travel/consumer protection program?
10. Does your company possess current liability insurance with an A-rated company?
Source: Choosing the Right Adventure Travel Company; Canadian Mountain Holidays, The Adventure Blog.
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".
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.
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".
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
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".
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the most adventurous of us all?
photo by Alena_Chris via photobucket image sharingDoes the unknown freak you out? Do you see commonality where others see differences? How do you feel about taking risks? Do you leave the BlackBerry at home? What about travel planning. How much is too much?
Take this fun Adventure Travel IQ test I created for Canadian Mountain Holidays and find out.
Tell me your score and I’ll tell you mine. :)
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".