Travel Blissful

Music That Makes Me Happy: Do Bee Doo

Erica Johansson — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:21:09 +0000

Wherever in the world you are, listen to music that lifts you up.

Freshlyground – Doo Bee Doo

Doo Bee Doo

Did you hear the news on the radio today?
People have agreed to give their love away
I can’t wait to be there in line!
Politicians have agreed to honour and obey
They’ll come down and listen to what the people say
I can’t wait to be there in line, no no!
Children will play in the streets
Loving everyone they meet
Open hearts will be the rhythm of the day
Neighbours will greet each other
Sisters and the brothers
Even enemies will come to be friends
I can’t wait to be there in line
If you are ready
Feel free to come around
If you are ready
Vem ca amigo, irei levar-te la
If you are ready…
Say you want to live and grow in kindness every day
Say you know the meaning of love
See every person that you meet
As every you and every me
And then I’ll know you feel the rhythm of love!
I can’t wait to be there in line, no no!

Photo of the Week: Beach Friends

Erica Johansson — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:34:34 +0000

Silhouette of two friends on the beach.

Beach Friends

11 Budget Travel Tips for Disabled Travelers

Erica Johansson — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:03:27 +0000

This post was originally published at Go Frugal Blog.

Written by: Candy Harrington

Is it really possible to travel on a budget when you use a wheelchair, cane or walker? Can disabled travelers find those same great travel bargains that are available to their able-bodied counterparts?

The answer is a qualified yes. The deals are out there, if you know where to look. The good news is, it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to hit the road if you need accessible services. With that in mind, here are a few money-saving tips to help you stretch your travel dollars.

Many budget properties offer excellent access, so seek them out whenever possible. For example, Microtel gets consistently high marks for access, as all of their properties are constructed from the ground up with access in mind.

Consider staying in a hostel to trim your lodging costs. Although previously only an option for young travelers and backpackers, today hostels welcome everyone. Many hostels are wheelchair-accessible, and some even have private rooms. Visit the Hostelling International website to find an accessible hostel near you.

For a zero cost lodging bill, consider a home exchange. Although most home exchange services don’t specifically list accessible homes, the Institute on Independent Living in Stockholm has a great message board filled with accessible home exchange options. Best of all, it’s free!

The YMCA is another budget lodging option that’s often overlooked by disabled travelers. Most Ys have swimming pools and some even have weight rooms; and many offer excellent access.

When flying in the US, save your taxi fare and choose a hotel that offers free airport transportation. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, if a hotel has a free shuttle service, they must also provide accessible transfers at no charge, even if they have to contract out the service.

Most major museums have good wheelchair-access, while many offer special free days every week or month. Check the museum website for information about their free days, and then adjust your schedule accordingly.

Many college campuses also boast top notch museums, which offer free admission. Most of these are wheelchair-accessible because they are on campus. Contact the college visitors center to see what they have to offer.

Enjoy the great outdoors, with the America the Beautiful Access Pass, from the National Park Service. This free lifetime pass is available to anyone with a disability. It provides free admission to all national parks and national monuments, and offers a 50% discount at all national park campgrounds. It’s available at any national park entrance.

Be on the lookout for free cell phone and MP3 tours. You can take these tours at your own pace, and most cover downtown areas that are largely accessible. Many Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) have them available as a free download on their websites.

Many factories offer free or low cost tours with lots of samples and other fun freebies. A good resource for searching out accessible factory tours is Watch It Made In The USA, by Karen Axelrod and Bruce Brumberg. This detailed volume contains information on over 300 factory tours across the US.

Last but not least, don’t forget about cruising, as it’s a very accessible vacation choice. To save a little money, get a group of friends together and book as a group. In most cases, you’ll get one free berth for the first eight cabins you book, and a full cabin for the next eight. You can take the free cabin yourself as the group leader, or sell it and pass along the savings to the entire group.

Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of several best-selling guide books for disabled travelers. Her newest title, the third edition of Barrier Free Travel; A Nuts and Bolts Guide for Wheelers and Slow Walkers features detailed information about the logistics of planning accessible travel by plane, train, bus and ship. Candy also blogs regularly about accessible travel issues at www.BarrierFreeTravels.com and about travel discounts, deals and freebies for slow walkers to wheelchair-users at www.bftonthecheap.com.

Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo

Erica Johansson — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:03:07 +0000

Beth Whitman, Founder and Editor of Wanderlust and Lipstick, was kind enough to send me a PDF of the 2^nd edition of her book Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo.

If you feel a strong desire to travel, you’re not alone. In the intro, Beth reveals how much feedback she’s gotten from women that they need to travel now – whether it’s for a lifestyle change, an escape, or a mental health break. Divided into 19 chapters, the book gives you everything you need to complete a successful trip — regardless of your previous travel experience. Beth mixes terrific advice drawn from her twenty years of experience as an adventure and business traveler, tips and stories from more than 45 solo female travelers, and illustrations by Elizabeth Haidle.

The first chapter gives you four great reasons to travel solo, the Travel Idea Generator helps you find your purpose for your trip, and the third chapter teaches you how to overcome common excuses as the misconception that traveling alone equals loneliness. You’ll also learn about planning for a trip, the booking stage (including a priceless tip to ensure it’s safe to pay with your credit card online), and different types of accommodation in This Bed is Juuuust Right.

The following chapters take in ways to get around, formalities (such as passport, visas, and things you must photo copy before leaving), staying healthy on the road, the importance of having insurance, packing properly, traveling with gadgets, budgeting, record keeping, tipping, currency conversion, safety, and responsible travel.

The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo is filled with invaluable tips to make sure you’ll get the most out of your trip – before, during and after. I especially enjoyed the chapters Reach out and touch someone, Hurdling language barriers, and Getting acquainted, where Beth shares a quote worth repeating: “Everyone you come into contact with on the road is a potential new friend.” I also liked her suggestions on how to ease yourself back into life at home after a trip, and the alphabetically listed website resources at the end.

In the last chapter, Beth says “…whatever your dreams are, start planning that adventure today.” I couldn’t agree more and highly recommend you get hold of your own copy of Wanderlust and Lipstick. The book is available for purchase at Solo – Wanderlust and Lipstick.

America’s largest Chinatown: San Francisco

Erica Johansson — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:41:07 +0000

I first heard of Visual Travel Tours last year, but didn’t test one of their personally guided tours until recently. I was offered a free trial version of America’s largest Chinatown: San Francisco by Barbara Rockwell and since San Francisco is a city on my list of places to visit, I just had to watch the video. I watched it on my laptop, but the files can also be viewed on your mobile or iPod. No web connection needed to play.

The tour includes an introduction, Grant Avenue, Historic Portsmouth Square, Eating Throughout Chinatown, Chinatown Alleyways and Places of Worship. I learned about the perfect place to start exploring Chinatown, where to find tea houses and the most fascinating music store, why to like quiet, shaded alleyways, that San Francisco is the widely accepted home of the fortune cookie, and much more.

From the description:

The 24 square blocks of San Francisco’s dynamic Chinatown teem with activity 365 days a year. Beloved Grant Avenue, with its red lanterns and bright facades, brims with woks, kites, and kitschy souvenirs galore. Locals shop at Stockton Street’s bargain-priced open-air markets, or relax and gossip at monument-filled Portsmouth Square. Enticing smells waft through the air: dim sum dumplings, mooncakes from traditional bakeries, and fortune cookies from a back-alley “factory.” Vying for space on the packed thoroughfares and quiet alleyways are old-fashioned apothecaries, incense-filled temples, historic churches, one-seat barbershops, family benevolent associations, serene teahouses, fresh fruit stalls, and worlds more.

The photo + audio concept works surprisingly well and I look forward to seeing more tours by Visual Travel Tours — preferably on location!

Italian for Tourists: Pocket Edition

Erica Johansson — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:05:49 +0000

This is a sponsored review.

Positano

I wonder how come I haven’t made it to Italy yet. Ever since I knew the country existed (many, many years ago!), I’ve wanted to travel there. After watching The Talented Mr Ripley, shot in Rome, Naples and Positano, my desire to see Italy grew even stronger. I dream of admiring art in Florence, appreciate fashion in Milan, ride a gondola in Venice, discover Rome, relax on beaches in Sicily, visit Positano, eat home-cooked pasta and pizza, and, of course, speak Italian.

Italian for Tourists: Pocket Edition by Jo Linsdell offers everything you need for getting by in Italy for a couple of days or weeks. Apart from basic phrases and words tourists will need the most, the book includes a pronunciation guide and a small map of Italy.

Divided into 17 distinct chapters including Emergency, Common expressions, Greetings and introducing yourself, Transport, Hotel, Sightseeing, Asking and giving directions, Food and drink, Health, and Shopping, you can easily find what you’re looking for.

Having worked in hostels and as a tour guide plus lived in Italy for 7 years, Jo Linsdell had the right experience to create a guide to the Italian language. If you’re going to Italy, read this book before arriving.

Italian for Tourists: Pocket Edition is available for purchase through Lulu and Amazon.

Jo Linsdell is also the creator and manager of the award winning site http://writersandauthors.blogspot.com and founder and organiser of PROMO DAY (http://jolinsdell.tripod.com/promoday), an online event for people in the writing industry. She is available for comment at jo_bins@yahoo.com.

Photo of the Week: The Sea

Erica Johansson — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:56:44 +0000

Change of plans. I could live in my grandmother’s summer cottage after all. Moved in yesterday evening and will probably stay for at least a week.

Picture taken around 9.30 a.m. today just after I went for a morning swim.

By the way, Mr & Mrs Smith is running an awesome giveaway this week. For a chance to win, head over to Competition: win £250 for your next hotel stay. Good luck!

A Quick Update

Erica Johansson — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:31:03 +0000

I had somewhat of a setback a couple of days ago and am currently living at my grandmother’s place (pictured below) to save money. I arrived in Halmstad on July 1st after a 4-hour bus journey and two nights in Linköping. Before that I lived in my old room at my parent’s house for various reasons.

At first I was meant to live in my grandmother’s summer cottage in Frösakull, but her daughter and her family wanted to live there now since they have vacation. I’ll probably live there when they’ve left instead. Anyway, feels good to be back in Halmstad and as soon as I can I’ll find my own place again.

The summer cottage is pretty small, but only a 10 minutes walk to Frösakull Beach so the location is nothing to complain about.

Halmstad Library

Right now I’m sitting at the library, using their free wireless Internet access. Before I go, I just wanted to let you know about Travel Blissful’s Facebook Fan Page. Feel free to join. You can also follow me on Twitter. If you found my Twitter profile via this site, it would be great if you can @ or send me a DM so I know who you are.

By the way, Iwannagothere is running a great contest until September 15th: Iwanngothere’s Weirdest Summer’09 contest. For a chance to win a Lomo Diana F+ camera, tell them about the weirdest place you’ve been this summer. They will choose the 10 best entries and users will vote for the winner.

Have a great weekend!

How to Travel Safe and Enjoy Your Trip

Erica Johansson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:33:48 +0000

Security expert Chris Grniet, vice president with Kroll Security Group, shares his experience working with some of the major hotels, airports and train stations in the country. Chris Grniet bases his advice on more than 24 years spent advising his corporate clients on how best to protect their sites and constituents from security risks.

Here are some simple steps that travelers can take to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip, from basic travel preparations to hotel and airport security measures.

Written by: Chris Grniet

The Basics

1. Research your destination of choice. The risk level associated with any given destination changes daily. Just think about Mexico following the swine flu outbreak or Mumbai following the hotel bombing in 2008, both of which drastically changed the health and safety risks associated with those locations in days alone. Eliminate the guesswork by consulting the U.S. Department of State’s Web site at http://travel.state.gov/ to keep apprised of the current conditions and warnings associated with your desired destination.

2. Consider registering with a travel assistance service, such as Kroll partner iJet Travel Intelligence, which offers a variety of features that help travelers feel at ease while on the road and ensure that assistance is only a phone call away no matter where you are traveling. Offerings include itinerary tracking, which enables the immediate location of travelers and comprehensive pre-trip briefs, which cover the safety and security levels associated with any given location.

3. Keep the emergency contact number for your local embassy handy at all times. You never know when you might need assistance. For example, if you lose any of your vital paperwork, including your visa or passport, your local embassy will be able to help you get replacements in short order.

4. Make copies of valuable documents, including passport, driver’s license and credit cards, in case your originals are lost or stolen. Store these copies in the safe at your hotel and/or consider leaving copies with someone you trust at home so that they can be easily accessed in case of emergency.

5. Store emergency cash in your hotel safe, so that you are not stranded in the event that your wallet (including credit and debit cards) is lost or stolen.

Hotel Security 101

1. When researching a hotel, be on the lookout for hotels that have:

a. Safety plans. All reputable hotels should have safety policies in place, which include the regular testing of their emergency systems.

b. Sprinklers and fire detectors. Nowadays we take these basic safety features for granted, but some smaller hotels (e.g., bed and breakfasts) or those located in remote areas may not have such measures in place.

c. Closed-circuit television cameras. Once taboo, closed-circuit cameras have recently become a common security feature at major hotels. While some might balk that they are a violation of privacy, it’s important to note that these cameras are in place for your protection and have helped to prevent and/or solve many unfortunate incidents.

d. Peep holes in your hotel room door. It’s important to be able to quickly identify an unexpected individual knocking at your door.

e. Iridescent exit markers in emergency stairwells. In case of a fire, iridescent signage like this will assist you and other hotel guests find your way to safety.

f. In-room safes. Most hotels have in-room safes where you can store your valuables for extra protection. If not, consider purchasing a money belt where you can discreetly carry valuables with you.

2. Don’t book a room on the ground floor, which has doors or windows that open to the outside. These rooms are more accessible to foot traffic and more likely to be the target of a robbery or break-in.

3. Book a room on floors 4 through 6. Staying in a room between floors 4-6 ensures that you are high enough above ground level to reduce your risk of petty crime, but low enough to ensure an easy exit in case of emergency. As with the ground floor, lower levels are subject to increased foot traffic, increasing accessibility to you and your belongings. There are also several locations where fire rescue ladders can only reach as high as the 6th floor. In an emergency, the higher your location the higher your risk.

4. Familiarize yourself with the emergency exit closest to your room. Most hotel guests recall seeing an evacuation route sign in the hallway of their hotel, but few ever make the effort to actually read them. Do yourself a favor by familiarizing yourself with the emergency evacuation route, so that you don’t have to do so in the heat of the moment. Consider walking the route to find out where the exit leads you, so you can get to safety as quickly as possible.

5. Lock your door. It seems simple enough, but you’d be surprised how often people don’t take advantage of the locking mechanisms on their hotel doors. If your hotel door has a deadbolt or additional lock mechanism, use it.

Airport Security – Did You Know?

1. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is currently piloting millimeter wave passenger imagine technology at airports around the country. This technology can detect weapons, explosives and other threat items concealed under layers of clothing without physical contact. A 3-D image of the body, with facial features blurred for privacy, is displayed on a remote monitor for analysis.

2. In the wake of the swine flu outbreak, thermal-Imaging technology is currently being employed at airports in Asia to identify individuals with increased temperatures, who may carry the disease. If someone is suspected of having a fever, they are immediately triaged by a doctor or nurse. This technology is also being used to single out individuals thinking about committing, or having committed, a deceptive act. The idea behind this use is that lying or acts of deception cause excessive blood-flow to the face that can be detected by heat sensor technology.

3. London’s Stansted Airport recently began testing facial recognition technology at their security gates. The system measures points on a person’s face and compares them with the digital passport photograph in the hopes of rooting out potential terrorists. As with any new technology, there are potential weaknesses with facial recognition. For example, there are many terrorists for whom images are not readily available. These individuals are not included in the image database and, as a result, are not detectable through this security technology.

4. Bomb-sniffing dogs are a longtime security tool used at airports and other main travel thoroughfares. These animals are specially trained to identify suspicious cargo, including bombs and drugs.

Kroll, the world’s leading risk consulting company, provides a broad range of investigative, intelligence, financial, security and technology services to help clients reduce risks, solve problems and capitalize on opportunities. Headquartered in New York with offices in more than 65 cities in over 33 countries, Kroll has a multidisciplinary team of approximately 4,000 employees and serves a global clientele of law firms, financial institutions, corporations, non-profit institutions, government agencies, and individuals. Kroll is a subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE: MMC), the global professional services firm.

“Paris to Cuba” Album Giveaway!

Erica Johansson — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:52:12 +0000

This is a sponsored post.

Paris to Cuba by renowned musician and film composer Mario Grigorov takes you on a journey around the globe as soon as you press play. The sound conjures up images of unwinding on an oceanfront veranda in Havana, late-afternoon mojitos, sampling a home-cooked meal with your closest friends, the gentle lapping of the waves, and a sensual dance with a new found romance as the darkness falls over the city.

Part of “Magic Circus” (track 5, and a clear favorite) transports me to Paris, where I stroll along the Seine, admire the sunset, and observe eccentric passer-bies from a sidewalk café.

Inspired by the Parisian and Cuban feel-good spirit, the album is not your typical jazz or world record. Brass sections flirt with sexy vocals, guitar solos and sweeping strings, and hints of Buena Vista Social Club and Pink Martini unite in an interesting latin jazz style. Paris to Cuba embodies the summertime better than any other recent album release. Three of the ten tracks — “I See”, “Every Little Moment”, and “Snake Eyes” — feature vocals by singer (and Mario Grigorov’s good friend) Melissa Newman who is a seasoned live performer in both New York and Chicago. Instantly inspired by Melissa’s voice, Mario described it as “a cross between Billie Holiday and Patsy Cline”.

Best known for co-creating Billboard’s classical crossover hit Aria with composer Paul Schwartz, Mario Grigorov debuted in 1994 with Rhymes with Orange (produced by Oscar Castro-Neves and Miles Goodman). Since, he has scored both Oscar winners and festival sensations; most recently, Lee Daniels’ Sundance (’09) success, Precious.

Mario explains his inspiration behind the album:

Every time I go to Paris, I get inspired. I start thinking about ways I can embrace the city and absorb its magic…

This album takes me back to my time there, and I reflect on how I have always enjoyed traditional and classical French music –- been intrigued by the use of melody and sultry textures. I started playing with some melodies on the piano; inspired by the Parisian mood and architecture, I was trying to re-create the buildings I had seen that stood like frozen compositions. The compositions I began to write would soon lend themselves to a melding with the energy and simplicity of the music I also love from Cuba, along with all of its influences.

Paris to Cuba was released in stores and online June 23rd. For more information about the album, visit www.paristocuba.com and www.warmandgenuinerecords.com

And now, the best part. Thanks to Two Sheps That Pass, a boutique entertainment marketing and branding firm based in New York, I have 4 CDs to give away!

The first four readers to comment on this post can expect to receive Paris to Cuba in the mail some time this summer. Simple as that. (If you’re one of them, you will hear from me via email… to make sure the album ends up at the right address.) I hope you’ll enjoy the album as much as I did.

Music That Makes Me Happy: La Vida Es Un Carnaval

Erica Johansson — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:54:03 +0000

Issac Delgado – La Vida Es Un Carnaval

Founding member of the legendary timba band NG la Banda, Cuban singer Isaac Delgado is one of the leaders of the island’s timba music.

Photo of the Week: Footsteps on the Sand

Erica Johansson — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:02:24 +0000

Footsteps on the beach in Bibione, a seaside resort located in the North East of Italy.

Sleeping in Airports: Heaven or Hell?

Erica Johansson — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:00:50 +0000

Modified from a post from 2007.

A few years ago I sat in the lounge area in London Heathrow Airport and waited for my flight back to Sweden. After too little sleep the previous night and a nine hour’s flight from New York I wanted to rest for a couple of minutes. Those minutes almost turned into an hour! I woke up 45 minutes later and realized I had missed my flight. Fortunately, a flight six hours later had a few free seats left.

That’s my closest experience to having slept in an airport. Although I’ve never spent a whole night in an airport I wouldn’t hesitate if it was convenient, safe and fairly comfortable.

If you’re ever considering sleeping in an airport to save living expenses, or for any other reason, check out The Budget Traveller’s Guide to Sleeping in Airports which lists the best and worst airports in the world.

Have you ever slept in an airport? If so, where? Would you do it again?

If you prefer staying in a hotel the night before your flight, visit Airport Hotels where you can choose from more than 250 hotels at 25 UK airports.

Music That Makes Me Happy: Jah Work

Erica Johansson — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:53:08 +0000

Ben Harper – Jah Work

Ben Harper’s music never disappoints.

Photo of the Week: Sunshine Friends

Erica Johansson — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:51:02 +0000

Friends enjoying a sunset at Ala Moana Beach Park, Honolulu, Hawaii.