The lost-and-found story
Posted: May 3, 2013 Contents: Chapter 4 | Tags: budget travel, budgettravel.com, Kaeli Conforti, lost and found, southwest airlines, travel journalism, travel journalist, travel writer, travel writing Leave a comment »Chapter 4 encourages the aspiring traveling journalist to explore her hometown through a professional journalistic scope. The text gives examples of various angles for the journalist to pursue. Kaeli Conforti for BudgetTravel.com follows a unique perspective, finding a hidden story covering the lost and found in his local airport. Judging by the vast amounts of expensive and inexpensive items found on planes there could be many stories to pursue. For example, the reuniting of a new bride and her only camera taken on a honeymoon trip, or a child and his favorite Disney memory.Take a look here.
Discovering your personal Rome
Posted: May 3, 2013 Contents: Chapter 4 | Tags: budget travel, budgettravel editors, budgettravel.com, insider secrets of rome, pope, Rome, travel advice, travel journalism, travel journalist, travel writer, travel writing Leave a comment »The new Pope naturally brings with him an upsurge of new and returning tourists to Rome and the Vatican City. New tourists look for any excuse and a perfect time to travel to Rome while returning tourists are thankful for a reason to return to the city. Accompanying the tourists are travel journalists eager to report on the new excitement of the city. Isn’t this the same already heavily touristy Rome boasting millions of tourists annually?
However, as expected of the travel journalist, BudgetTravel.com’s editors collaborated to create a sure way guide to experience Rome without the long lines, expensive meals, and as the editors put it “crowds, crowds, crowds”. In other words the editors put their market in its true context. They have followed an approach to show how Rome is still truly unique. Take a look here.
Surely other guides will pop up…
A step ahead of the stomach ache
Posted: November 5, 2012 Contents: Chapter 4 | Tags: budget travel, budgettravel.com, Fran Golden, stay healthy while traveling, travel health, travel journalism, travel research, travel safety, travel sickness, travel tips, travel writer, travel writing Leave a comment »Chapter 4 offers brief advice on how to stay healthy while traveling. Budgettravel.com‘s Fran Golden offers similar advice coaching travelers on how to keep their stomach safe while traveling. Golden offers a few tips every traveler can remember to avoid being apart of the 50 percent of travelers that receive some type of stomach sickness while abroad, he advises:
- One easy rule of thumb: If your lodgings don’t allow you to flush toilet paper, don’t drink the water. It’s a sign you’re visiting a region with an unsafe water supply.
- As for food, “Boil it, peel it, or forget it” has been the standard recommendation. Make sure food is served piping hot. If it’s been left out to cool, it could be harboring a growing colony of bacteria.
- Fly from flies. Never eat food that isn’t protected from insects, which can contaminate even freshly cooked…
Lose the translator
Posted: October 20, 2012 Contents: Chapter 4 | Tags: budget travel, budgettravel.com, melody warnick, translator, travel journalism, travel language, travel technology, travel writing Leave a comment »Chapter 4 advises travelers on how to seek inexpensive but yet effective translators in foreign locations. What if the traveler gets separated or can no longer afford that translator? Not to worry Budget Travel.com’s Melody Warnick offers a few steps of advice that should be able to get the writer through the day.
A few are: Listen to Pronunciation Before you go. And learn key phrases like, “where’s the bathroom and how much does that cost.”
Trying to become fluent in a language for a week of traveling is illogical and not necessary. Learn a few key phrases, download some apps, and ask your concierge or clerk at the hotel for key phrases and pronunciations then go experience.
Avoid jetlag and changing clothes
Posted: October 3, 2012 Contents: Chapter 4, Resources | Tags: avoid common mistakes when traveling, avoid jet lag, budget travel, budgettravel.com, mistakes when traveling, save space when travling, terry ward, travel journalism, travel writing 1 Comment »Budgettravel.com’s Terry Ward offers advice on how to avoid the most common mistakes when traveling, especially when planning a quick getaway. For example, Mistake # 6 – travelers often forget to prepare for a new time zone. Ward suggests:
If it’s already nighttime in your destination when you step on the plane, pass on the in-flight meal and movie and pop in the earplugs for a snooze instead—that way you’ll be waking up with the locals, instead of feeling like it’s time to sleep when you touch down. Plan lots of outdoor activities for your first day in a different time zone, too—the sunlight and fresh air will keep you energized. If there’s no avoiding a snooze, try to limit yourself to a 20-minute power nap.
Ward also lists suggestions like dressing for more than one part of the day as a way to save time and space when traveling….
From layaway to house swapping: Options for self funding
Posted: September 30, 2012 Contents: Chapter 7 | Tags: budget travel, budgettravel.com, cheap travel, Fran Golden, house swapping, layaway, saving money on travel, travel journalism, travel journalist, travel writing Leave a comment »“How much will it cost?” Is often the first question following an idea to travel. Chapter 7 discusses the funding opportunities for the travel journalist and like Chapter 7, BudgetTravel.com’s Fran Golden investigates unique methods to saving money as a traveler.
The first method is a form of self funding:
Layaway. It’s not just for buying those expensive Christmas gifts anymore. Travelers are able to put down a deposit on a trip and pay continuously until the trip is paid for. Sites like Searsvacations.com, elayaway.com and Gate 1 Travel offer these types of services.
Golden also offers advice on obtaining lodging fairly inexpensively. Sites like homeexchange.com and digsville.com allow travelers to swap homes with a local resident of the desired destination who is also planning a trip to the journalist’s home.
Ask and you shall receive — travel savings
Posted: September 26, 2012 Contents: Resources | Tags: budget travel, budgettravel.com, deanna cioppa, frugal, frugal traveler, travel experts, travel journalism, travel savings, travel writing Leave a comment »One way to save money? Talking. BudgetTravel.com’s Deanna Cioppa advises that simple human to human interactions can lead to discounts on airfare, lodging and cruises.
The author asked several travel experts for simple questions travelers should be asking to save money. Some of the questions include:
- Is there an upgrade available?
- Are you running any local deals?
- Is there a tourism card available?
Some of these questions seem like no brainers but often times travelers forget, are too intimidated, or think its useless to ask them. According to experts, start asking these questions to ensure a more complete, inexpensive trip. Besides, it won’t hurt to ask.
