OK, so even now I think I'm becoming obsessed with my travel addiction...does that even make sense?
I have been compulsively trolling the Fodors website message boards. Well, technically only the Europe message board recently, but hey, doesn't that make sense because in just a mere 5 months time I will be traversing the nooks and crannies of Central Europe? Anyway, any chance I get to log onto Fodors I do and some of the trip reports on that board have me in stitches! They are so funny, and some truly (as expressed by other posters there) have the potential to become terrific comedy movies! :)
But in my defense I have picked up some really great tips/advice from fellow travel junkies. Such as a huge list of recommendations for restaurants/activities/sites to not miss while in Krakow, or at lest definitely try to fit them in. And not just these recommendations, but also links to some fantastic websites for the cities or countries I'll be in to get a feel for the location and find out if there are any events that might be of interest to check out while there.
I can't say enough good things about the friendliness of the other "Fodorites" on that board for sharing information.
So, enough about Fodors...my other "issue" if you can call it that, is my ever constant thoughts of travel and the places I want to visit next. Maybe the trouble is that I have subscriptions to Budget Travel and National Geographic Traveler magazines, which just add fuel to my fire while exposing me to places I hadn't ever really thought about going to but after reading a great article about someplace immediately want to either (1) jump on a plane there or (2) put it on my Places to See List. Ohhhhh...such things to have "dilemma" over. And by the way, I think I'm doing pretty good with just 2 travel magazine subscriptions, it could be worse...much worse! :)
Some days I truly think I need to get my butt in gear and do work in a travel related field...but traveling for pleasure won't pay the bills that traveling usually seems to create...
So, for now I will just suffer from wanderlust and continue my monthly armchair travels with as many real journeys as I can fit in!
Happy Travels!
Friday, March 31, 2006
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Another entry to my "Places to See List"!
How could I forget South Africa!
Ok, so maybe since my friends Sandy and Alan just sent me a link to their pictures from their recent trip to South Africa it spurred my memory that this was yet another destination I had read about and thought I needed to add to my list. So, here it is!
Sandy and Alan's pictures were AMAZING! They truly have a great eye for catching some wonderful shots. The scenery of South Africa was breathtaking and that's just my opinion from looking at the pictures. But also the shots from where Nelson Mandela was a prisoner were thought provoking.
I had read an article in one of my travel magazines several months ago, can't remember which magazine it was, I'm thinking most likely my National Geographic Traveler, about South Africa and the article really brought the country to life and at the time I was reading it I kept thinking this would be a wonderful destination to visit. Then lo and behold I get the email from S&A with their pictures...they always seem to be on the "cutting edge" of travel...lucky ducks that they are! :)
Geez, my list keeps growing and growing, maybe I should cut down on my travel magazine subscriptions (yeah...right!) and I have become a fodor's message board junkie! Especially the Europe board...what funny trip reports and some really really helpful advice. I've posted several questions regarding my upcoming trip to Central/Eastern Europe in September and have gotten a wealth of knowledge from the other "fodorites" on the site. I highly recommend that site to anyone planning a trip!
Ok, so maybe since my friends Sandy and Alan just sent me a link to their pictures from their recent trip to South Africa it spurred my memory that this was yet another destination I had read about and thought I needed to add to my list. So, here it is!
Sandy and Alan's pictures were AMAZING! They truly have a great eye for catching some wonderful shots. The scenery of South Africa was breathtaking and that's just my opinion from looking at the pictures. But also the shots from where Nelson Mandela was a prisoner were thought provoking.
I had read an article in one of my travel magazines several months ago, can't remember which magazine it was, I'm thinking most likely my National Geographic Traveler, about South Africa and the article really brought the country to life and at the time I was reading it I kept thinking this would be a wonderful destination to visit. Then lo and behold I get the email from S&A with their pictures...they always seem to be on the "cutting edge" of travel...lucky ducks that they are! :)
Geez, my list keeps growing and growing, maybe I should cut down on my travel magazine subscriptions (yeah...right!) and I have become a fodor's message board junkie! Especially the Europe board...what funny trip reports and some really really helpful advice. I've posted several questions regarding my upcoming trip to Central/Eastern Europe in September and have gotten a wealth of knowledge from the other "fodorites" on the site. I highly recommend that site to anyone planning a trip!
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Did I find the perfect luggage?
So my new luggage arrived on Tuesday! I got the 21 inch roll-aboard suitcase and a day pack. Actually I think I like the day bag better then the suitcase, but I like the suitcase too! :) Both are expandable and the day bag looks like it will fit alot of stuff!
Check them out here...
And now for the day bag....
OK, so when I first opened the roll-aboard I thought...hmmmm...maybe this won't due, it looked kind of small. But after I pulled out my old "tried and true" roll-aboard (that will be replaced with the one above) I saw that they are basically the same size. But since my old one has a "hard" top and this one doesn't it makes the new one appear less "substantial". So, the final opinion is that I think I got a good deal.
Now all I'd like to do is take the luggage on a "test run" before my one month trip to Central Europe in September. I'm feeling a short trip to Tucson to see Ken and Lisa or Boise to see Katrina in the near future! It wouldn't be too far and not for too long, but would have to fly there and would need a suitcase. Now all I have to do is find a decent airfare to my preferred destination.
I really am considering checking out Boise, ok, so my friend Katrina lives there so it would be great to see her! But I recently read an article in National Geographic Traveler magazine about Boise and before I finished the article I wanted to book the next flight there! :)
And remember, as Rick Steves would say..."travel is intensified living..."
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
In search of the perfect luggage...
I am on a quest to find the perfect roll-aboard/carry-on suitcase. This odyssey has been going on for several months now. OK, so maybe that's because I'm a bit picky when it comes to my luggage requirements. But I think I have found the perfect match!
After wading through numerous internet websites that sell luggage not to mention stopping in all the local luggage shops and department stores I am satisfied with what I have found.
But first let me mention what my luggage requirements are. First the suitcase must be of the roll-aboard variety so that I can carry it on the plane with me, and it must fit into the overhead bin of most airplanes, although on the smaller planes it can be checked plane-side, so ideally it should be either 21 or 22 inches. It should have good manueverability, I prefer the "in-line skate" type wheels. I like to have the expansion option and prefer to have at least a 2 inch expandable option. And lastly and most importantly, in my opinion anyway, is that it should be no more then 10 pounds empty, actually I prefer even lighter then that, but 10 pounds is the maximum limit I will consider. The reason I am so "anal" about the weight of the bag is that since the airlines are becoming more strict with the luggage weight limitations I want to get the most stuff I can inside the suitcase without worrying about going over the weight limit and a lighter suitcase can help accomplish this! And yes, I know when it's expanded the carry-on option is out the window, but I typically don't use the expansion option until my return home and quite honestly at that point I don't care if my luggage arrives home when I do. I'm more concerned with arriving at the start of a trip without my essentials.
So, now for the verdict. After much research I found the Rick Steves website/travel store to have a bag that really seemed to meet all my requirements. It's a roll-aboard, it's 21 inches, it's expandable (2 inches) and most importantly it's 7.25 pounds! YIPEE!
Now I could have ordered it from the Rick Steves website but I went digging even further and found the name of the manufacturer (Kiva luggage) and did an internet search and found a website called selectbags.com and lo and behold...the don't charge for shipping (Rick Steves does).
So I placed the order with selectbags and here I anxiously await the arrival of my new roll-aboard carry-on. Hopefully it will arrive this week and I will post my opinion and comments about the bag. It will certainly get a good break-in on my month long trip in September to Central Europe!
And remember...traveling light makes life less stressful! :)
After wading through numerous internet websites that sell luggage not to mention stopping in all the local luggage shops and department stores I am satisfied with what I have found.
But first let me mention what my luggage requirements are. First the suitcase must be of the roll-aboard variety so that I can carry it on the plane with me, and it must fit into the overhead bin of most airplanes, although on the smaller planes it can be checked plane-side, so ideally it should be either 21 or 22 inches. It should have good manueverability, I prefer the "in-line skate" type wheels. I like to have the expansion option and prefer to have at least a 2 inch expandable option. And lastly and most importantly, in my opinion anyway, is that it should be no more then 10 pounds empty, actually I prefer even lighter then that, but 10 pounds is the maximum limit I will consider. The reason I am so "anal" about the weight of the bag is that since the airlines are becoming more strict with the luggage weight limitations I want to get the most stuff I can inside the suitcase without worrying about going over the weight limit and a lighter suitcase can help accomplish this! And yes, I know when it's expanded the carry-on option is out the window, but I typically don't use the expansion option until my return home and quite honestly at that point I don't care if my luggage arrives home when I do. I'm more concerned with arriving at the start of a trip without my essentials.
So, now for the verdict. After much research I found the Rick Steves website/travel store to have a bag that really seemed to meet all my requirements. It's a roll-aboard, it's 21 inches, it's expandable (2 inches) and most importantly it's 7.25 pounds! YIPEE!
Now I could have ordered it from the Rick Steves website but I went digging even further and found the name of the manufacturer (Kiva luggage) and did an internet search and found a website called selectbags.com and lo and behold...the don't charge for shipping (Rick Steves does).
So I placed the order with selectbags and here I anxiously await the arrival of my new roll-aboard carry-on. Hopefully it will arrive this week and I will post my opinion and comments about the bag. It will certainly get a good break-in on my month long trip in September to Central Europe!
And remember...traveling light makes life less stressful! :)
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