Everything Posted On This Website Ever
Hale Koa Hotel – Recreation For America’s Military
Hale Koa is Hawaiian for “House of the Warrior.” And the Hale Koa Hotel is precisely that: a place for our nation’s warriors and their families to escape the rigors of military life. Every hotel should have a pool and water park! The Hale Koa has recently completed...
How To Avoid The Most Common Travel Scams
Learn all you can about the travel scams that are out there Many people enjoy traveling because it can offer us so many different things: adventure, the taste of another culture, a learning experience, or a chance to relax and forget about the worries of home....
Walking The Vasari Corridor – In The Footsteps Of The Medici
The Vasari Corridor of Florence: An Architecturally-Gifted Historic Passageway The Vasari Corridor of Florence, Italy is an overhead or enclosed passageway having a length of about a kilometer. It has been named after Giorgio Vasari, who constructed it within a...
King Henry VIII – Hampton Court Palace
Highlights of Hampton Court Palace One of the finest Tudor palaces in England, Hampton Court is one of the best ways of spending a day in London. It was originally occupied as a manor by the Knights Hospitalier in the mid-thirteenth century. Royalty began using the...
The Corinth Canal in Greece
The Corinth Canal has a very long and interesting history, going all the way back to the time of Roman Emperor Nero. Emperor Nero actually began digging in the very spot where the canal is today. There is even a memorial to the Roman workers who tried to establish a...
Jungfraujoch – At The Top Of Europe
On a trip to Italy a few years ago, my wife and I took a side trip to Interlaken, Switzerland. We had been there before but weren't able to visit the Jungfraujoch. We had heard a lot about the train ride up into the rocky peaks and wanted to experience a trip to the...
Thailand – A Food Lover’s Delight
One thing that becomes instantly apparent in Bangkok, Thailand is the presence of food shops, stalls, restaurants, night markets, and food courts. They're everywhere! When arriving in Thailand, the airport is so large that I was anxious to get out of it and head to...
Ostia Antica – A Great Side Trip From Rome
When in Rome, and you have an afternoon free, take an exciting day trip to the Roman port of Ostia Antica. The ancient town was an important and thriving center of trade. There were baths, warehouses, a theater, apartments, and shopping arcades. A stone road...
A Guide To Public Transport In Paris!
It is very easy to get around the city during the day, as the means of transport abound. The public transport system in Paris and its surrounding area is generally very reliable. The public means of transport include the metro, taxis, and buses. Paris Metro: The Paris...
A Money Belt Is Essential When Traveling
When traveling to busy tourist destinations, one thing seems to be a universal problem: pickpockets. They wait for tourists in busy squares, train stations, buses, subways, and almost any place that you find a lot of people preoccupied with their cameras and whatever...
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Last Minute Travel
Traveling has never been more affordable thanks to last-minute travel. Many airlines, hotels, and travel agents offer major discounts on last-minute reservations because it is better for them to earn at least something instead of nothing. Last-minute travel deals are...
A Rail Pass Can Save You Money
Rail Passes Around Europe In Europe and other parts of the world, the best way to get around cities and to other countries is by train. Looking at direct fares it may seem incredibly expensive and more economical to fly. However, you can purchase a multiple-day rail...
5 Tips For Planning A Safari
Plan your Safari right! Are you considering going on a safari to Africa? If so, it can be the trip of a lifetime or a nightmare come to life. 1. In order to make it the trip of the lifetime, the first thing you should do is read various independent reviews. Make sure...
3 Things To Check Before Going On A Trip
Forgetting things when going on a trip is very stressful but fortunately, most things are not indispensable. For example, you can buy a new toothbrush, swimsuit, sunshade, a hat, etc. They can easily add additional costs to your trip but as mentioned earlier, they are...
Pont Du Gard at Nimes, France
The Pont du Gard Brought Water To Nimes, France The ancient Roman aqueduct is a site you can walk across, and admire from a distance! One of the most interesting and impressive places to go is the Pont du Gard in France. The old aqueduct provided a plentiful supply of...
Ferrari Museum at Maranello, Italy
The Ferrari Museum is a wonder to see and a must-do experience when in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The museum is a Ferrari lover’s dream. All of the cars on display allow for a close look. Walk right up to them and admire their beauty! As you walk through the...
EasyHotel Was An Interesting Place To Stay.
easyHotel.com offers a few simple and cheap hotels where you can get a bed and a bathroom for a very inviting price. We arrived in Basel, Switzerland and took a taxi to the hotel. Tired from a long flight from the U.S. and a day riding the train from Germany, we...
Don’t Miss Osteria All’Antico Mercato In Florence!
On our third trip to Italy, we still hadn’t ordered pizza. I decided to order one and see if it was much different than the pizza we have in California. I was really surprised to get a hand-tossed pizza that was huge for 7 Euros. It had artichoke, olives and sausage...
Hotel Nasco In Milan Gets My Vote!
When searching for a hotel for our arrival in Milan, I came across the Hotel Nasco. The location was very good (away from the city center) and the price reflected that. I'm always looking for a lower cost hotel when visiting high-cost cities like Milan. We arrived in...
Dog Sledding In Italy!
Sled Dog in La Thuile: a Dream for Mountain Lovers If you want to escape the crowds on your ski holidays then where better to venture than La Thuile in Italy’s beautiful Aosta Valley? Part of the international resort Espace Saint Bernardo, it nestles in the North...
How To Get A LOT Of Frequent Flyer Miles Into Your Mileage Account!
Earn and fly starting now! How mileage accounts can get you there! If you’re not a “frequent traveler,” it can be a slow, painful process to accumulate airline miles. Many of us travel only a short distance a few times a year. How can you get free travel that way? It...
La Francesca Resort – Liguria, Italy
La Francesca Resort La Francesca is in the small Liguria region of Italy nestled on the edge of the azure sea between Riomaggiore and the Punta Mesco headland close to Cinque Terre National Park. La Francesca is within a protected area designated for preserving the...
Hotel David In Florence, Italy
When we were planning our trip to Italy and to Florence, I spent a lot of time trying to decide where we would stay. I searched the TripAdvisor website and came across the Hotel David. So many people gave glowing reviews of the place that I decided to book the hotel...
Trip Planning Can Be An Enjoyable Project
Trip planning can be the most enjoyable part of the trip - other than the trip itself, of course! You just have to spend some time thinking about where you want to go, what you will see and how long to stay in a given location. Planning a trip is much like a project...
The Waiting For A Query Letter Reply Continues…
No reply on the latest query letter yet. And still no reply from Sunset magazine on the query letter I sent them. So I must admit that I am a little discouraged. However, I know that this process is all about numbers, so I’ll keep at it until I sell the idea to an...
A Shift In Travel Writing Strategy
I haven’t spent a lot of time posting to this blog lately. I have a big project going on and it has taken up much of my time. I’ve decided to shift my travel writing strategy and move towards a self-publishing model. I enjoy writing and posting new articles on 10...
Travel Desires Overcome By Too Many Possessions?
Do your possessions get in the way of your travel desires? Do you have to cancel or change your travel plans because there is no one to watch your “stuff” while you will be gone? Is it because of a pet (a dog, cat or other living creature)? Or is a business keeping...
Watching The Currency Fluctuations Before Traveling
“Travel Alert! Be aware of what is already happening and you’ll find that your buying power is better each day! Don’t miss out on this opportunity!” For the longest time, the Dollar has had a lousy exchange rate with the Euro. One time, we were getting ready to leave...
The Pros and Cons of Group Travel
Have you ever traveled with another couple? Or maybe with a group of family members? If you have, you’ve most likely been frustrated with waiting for others to get ready or for small children to be dressed and packed up for the day ahead. It’s just harder to move from...
Take Care Of Your Money While Traveling
“I’ve made my share of mistakes when getting money ready for the trip. Luckily, my mistakes weren’t too costly.” You know the feeling – excitement about the impending flight to the place of your dreams. I love the feeling, and hate it at the same time. Mostly because...
10 Easy Ways To Save Money For A Grand Vacation Overseas
“Let’s face it. Vacations are expensive, since you have to run a parallel household for the time you’re gone. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a permanent home or apartment to pay for while they’re traveling. And there are the never ending bills that fill...
How To Save Money On Your Way To Great Destinations
“I am by no means a hardcore travel hacker. I’m just a guy who wants to take advantage of everything I can to travel better and cheaper. I’ll leave the esoteric stuff to others!” There are a lot of interesting ways to save money when you travel. I really enjoy trying...
The Travel Clock Waits For No One
In the last post, I talked a little about the importance of consistent travel throughout your life (and regrettably, how I failed to follow my own advice). Don’t make the same mistakes. As the years go by, your opportunities to build travel friendships, travel...
So I Waited Longer To Travel Than I Should Have…
“OK, I admit it. I goofed.” Where has the time gone? There are a lot of reasons (and excuses) for why it has taken me so long to do the one thing that makes me feel happy and right (besides being with friends and family, of course). I don’t honestly know why I ignored...
Review Of IRS Rules For Deducting Travel
I’ve been doing some more research on what the IRS says you can and cannot deduct when you travel. This is important to know so that you don’t run into trouble when tax time comes. I have a trip coming up in June and I want to find out if any of the business work I...
Planning For The (not too distant) Future
It’s Halloween tonight, and children are starting to appear at the door with parents, friends and brothers and sisters to chaperone them. I’m working on my website and thinking about a time in the not-too-distant future when all I will need to do is write. Right now...
My Query Letter For Your Consideration
I’ve been hesitant to post this query letter. It’s my first one, so naturally I’m concerned that it’s not as good as it should be. But, since I’ve sent it out a few times now (without getting a response, I might add), I figured I might as well share it. I’ve given...
(Writing) Plans For The Future
I’ve been thinking about my upcoming trip to Italy. This is the perfect opportunity to query editors about some of the places and things I plan to see. I’ve been there before a few times, so I am familiar with many of the tourist attractions I want to visit. In...
Time-Wasters and Distractions For Writers
It’s all-consuming at times. It’s a little intimidating as well. The time you spend on the activities you think will help you build a business is often wasted. But the key is to keep going. Don’t let up and keep learning so that one day, doors will open for you. ...
Make Money The Old Fashioned Way – Earn It!
In a previous post, I mentioned the idea of creating a product of your own and putting it up for sale. Ebooks are a good way to earn extra income. I’ve bought quite a few of them and I feel like they all (except for one) have been good value. The best thing about...
Travel Article Query Letter – No Reply
I’ve been waiting for 2 months – it really looks as though I can forget about a reply from Sunset Magazine. I had a feeling when I sent it that they wouldn’t reply. In my reading, I’ve learned that getting a reply from large publications most likely will require...
On Spam and Comments
I’ve seen a recent increase in the amount of SPAM coming in via the Comments. I am happy to receive comments on any of my posts. However, “Comments” that say absolutely nothing aren’t useful to anyone but the SPAMMERs (apparently). I can’t see the value of leaving...
More Ways To Earn Income (and why you should diversify)
Now that I’ve gone over the various ways to deduct expenses (again, do your homework and get this part right!), it’s time to look at the many ways to earn an income as a travel writer. I’m very focused on writing travel articles, but you can apply much of this...
Travel Query Letter #2 (No rest for the weary)
It might be a while before I receive the verdict on my first query letter (sent 20 days ago). There was no indication in the Writer’s Market (online version) as to how long I could expect to wait for a reply. It could be another month. So I want to start on letter...
How To Deduct Your Expenses When You Travel
I’ve previously touched on the subject of expenses and (legal) deductions. I’d like to provide a little more guidance on the correct way to structure your writing business so that you can stay out of trouble with the tax man (or woman). If you ignore this part of...
Writing, Traveling, Living (Part Two)
Since I can’t sing, play an instrument or read palms, I need a way to earn a little extra money when I finally do get to pull up stakes and hit the road. Right now, I’m fully employed, but that won’t last forever. And it shouldn’t. So in order to make the most of...
Writing, Traveling, Living (Part One)
As I wait for a response to my first query letter, I’ve been thinking about where I want all of this to go. How do I want it to turn out? What would be the best result I could have? I really think that you get clues all the time about what you want to be doing in...
My First Query Letter!
Well, it’s out the door. My first query letter has left my computer and gone out into the world. I guess all that’s left is to wait for a response. I’m curious to see how long it will take to get a reply. My query letter went to Sunset magazine. As you saw last...
Preparing a Market List
The hardest thing I’ve had to do so far is to assemble a market list. A market list contains the magazines you want to query with your article idea. Going through the Writer’s Market, I reviewed many publications that at first glance seemed like they would work. ...
Deducting Your Expenses as a Travel Writer
In order to (legally and successfully) deduct your expenses when you travel, you must demonstrate that you are actively engaged in efforts to sell your writing. The IRS will believe you if you do the right things to prove your intentions. The query letter is your...
A List of Magazines to Query
It’s Halloween tonight, and children are starting to appear at the door with parents, friends and brothers and sisters to chaperone them. I’m working on my website and thinking about a time in the not-too-distant future when all I will need to do is write. Right now...
Query Letter Revision and Review
By now, I fully understand the importance of writing a good query letter. If the letter doesn’t speak loudly and clearly to the editor you send it to, it will most likely be rejected. So getting the first few lines right is critical. I went over my first query with...
The All-Important Query Letter
Writing my first query letter has been a real experience! Besides enjoying the process, I’ve learned a lot about the approach needed to capture an editor’s attention and get enough interest to get the go-ahead. After all, if the editor says no, there is zero chance...
Actually Proposing Travel Articles To An Editor
So here I am – armed with all the knowledge I need to get started. It has been a long road just to get to this point. But I discovered a long time ago that the way to accomplish something is to stick with it and work through the difficult parts until you are in...
At Last – The Travel Writing Class – It Was Great!
If you’ve read the previous posts, you know that I had reserved a seat in a 4-hour class on how to write and sell travel articles. Unfortunately, that class was canceled last year. The good news is that the class was held again yesterday at Santa Rosa Junior...
Waiting For My Travel Writer’s Course
Reviewing “The Travel Writer’s Guide” by Gordon Burgett has jogged my memory about how I will proceed in my quest to settle into a life of writing travel articles. On Saturday, I’ll be spending the afternoon listening and learning how to make a go at the travel...
Choosing a Subject to Write About
As I wrote last time, I’ve signed up for Gordon Burgett’s 4-hour class, called “Creating Travel Articles and Video Tours That Sell”. I’ve read his book and bought his audio CD titled “How to Sell 75% of Your Travel Writing”. In preparation for the class, I’ve been...
Making a Living by Writing Travel Articles
I wondered for many years how I could write about my world travels and get paid for it. I’ve always known that other people do it. But, being a person who runs a store, I know that you have income, and you have expenses. I know where a travel writer’s income comes...
An Honor And A Privilege
It has been an honor and a privilege to raise four children. I’ve worked very hard over the years just to get by, sometimes having one or two part time jobs to have enough to pay our bills and send the kids to college. But, somehow, we did it. Now our children are...
10 Minute Travel – Information For Travel
The Official Launch of the 10 Minute Travel Blog! First thing, let me introduce myself. I’m Steve and I have the travel bug. Bad! Since 2006’s trip to Europe, I’ve done nothing but think up ways to travel to various places and drink in the experience. But, I am...