18 posts tagged “bootsnall boards”

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• Joey is in the midst of his RTW trip, and has paused long enough to post some good advice for all of us - "Don't rent motorbikes if you aren't experienced." He lived through the ordeal, but will have scars to show off for years to come!




• Is wanderlust something we're born with, or does it come from the people we grow up with? It's a nature vs. nurture debate of another kind...




• If you're on a long trip, how do you handle your incoming mail and paying your bills? Dante is planning to forward mail to his sister's house, but isn't sure if there's something more he should be doing.




• Most travelers can agree on the basics that need to go with you on every trip, but every traveler is going to have a few items that others might think are funny to bring along. Nath_160 wants to know what the top three "unnecessary" items are in your pack.




• Have you had any jobs while traveling that helped enhance your experience? Even if they didn't pay you anything? Come share!




• BootsnAll is full of animal lovers, it appears - we've got threads going on cats seen around the world, and one for dogs, too!




• Every traveler is unique, and yet most travelers can be lumped into two general categories, which GingerSpesh has called "Fast and Furious" and "Slow and Steady." It's a pretty old debate, and everyone's going to have their own travel method that makes them comfortable, but what's your preference?

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Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• Most people, even the most seasoned travelers among us, still probably experience feelings of trepidation when going to a new place. Fear is a natural part of life, as long as it's not crippling! This thread proves that fear can be something to learn from, not something to keep you at home.




• We all run into kids when we travel, and they can be a great source of amusement. Share your photos of children from your travels here!




• Are you a history buff when you travel, or do you prefer to interact with the people when you visit? Does the historical significance of a place leave you with a sense of awe or boredom?




• Most of us have a list of "must-see" places in our heads, and also a list of places we'd rather not go. Are there places you wouldn't visit for ethical reasons?

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Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• People who are seasoned travelers tend to be methodical about packing - even if they're last-minute packers, there are things that go in their bags that they'd never think of leaving home without. But what about the carry-on? What goes in your carry-on bag?




• Totleigh-in-the-Wold wants to know - what are the most overrated and underrated pieces of gear you've used or seen? She thinks a pashmina is overrated, and a comfortable pillow is drastically underrated. See if anyone thinks the gear you can't live without is overrated!




• Bigmaude is planning to take her three teenage children backpacking through Europe - and it sounds like they don't want to go! Can you offer her advice about how to convince them it'll be wonderful?

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Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• We'd all like to find the perfect job that earns us money while allowing us to be permanent vagabonds, if we so choose. KPG thinks she may have found it - hairdresser. What do you think? Could it work?




• Some might say traveling is a gamble. So why not try your hand at the local games while you're out and about? Willis wants to know what foreign casino experience you've got. He's interested in checking out casinos in Central and Eastern Europe.




• It's time to help settle a domestic dispute... Katerina Urda and her boyfriend can't agree on how much they'll need to save for their year-long trip. He thinks she's overestimating with her $20,000 number. What do you think?




• Smells can evoke powerful memories - and not always good ones. Quimby wants to know - what's the stinkiest place you've been? She's voting for the open sewer in Sukhumvit (Bangkok). What about you?




• Jaydeschizo is trying to decide - now that he's nearing the end of his undergraduate career, should he get straight to work to collect some "travel money," or go to grad school (which he'd like to do eventually anyway) in order to be better qualified to make more money down the road?




• Would you rather save for retirement so you can play when you're done with work, or work until you're unable to do it anymore, playing all along the way? Or is there another option?




• Does your pantry look like a travel guide? Can you whip up foreign dishes with the right spices at a moment's notice? Do you bring home food-related souvenirs when you travel?

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• Struggling with what to get for that vagabonding friend before their next round-the-world adventure? How about the Globetrotter's Logbook? Seriously, this thing looks pretty cool. And it's not prohibitively expensive, either!




• Most of us like to travel on the cheap, and that usually means staying with friends on occasion. Maybe we've even played the host role as well. The thoughts in this thread will help make sure that you're always invited back after a stay on your friend's couch. You could also pass it along subtly to the last person who shaved her legs in your living room when she stayed with you. (And no, I'm not kidding. Read the thread.)




• Now that airlines don't always offer the "freebies" they used to (full meals, in-flight movies), are you one of the people who springs for the "extras" when you fly?




• Unless you're very, very lucky (or perhaps you've made a deal with the devil), you'll experience jetlag after a long flight. Are there any tricks to avoiding jetlag that actually work?




• What are the best ways to get around that nasty currency conversion fee bank and credit cards charge? What cards have the lowest conversion fees?




• Returning "home" can be a serious adjustment after a trip, especially if you've been away for a long time. What are the best ways to cope with the returning-home blues?




• Smells can remind us of places we've been, and so can food. What's the best food you've ever eaten, and where were you? Come share, and make all our mouths water.

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Check out these topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• There are a few things that everyone has to deal with the world over, regardless of nationality, income, race, education... And one of them is using the toilet. Poochythedog has had some trouble with squat toilets in the past, and is looking for pointers. (Warning: Don't read this thread if you've got a weak stomach.)



• It's that time of year again... When people are planning their summer European backpacking adventures! Get educated on your Eurail options, and read one person's Eurail tips. You could save yourself money and headaches if you're well-informed!



• What is your travel personality? Find out and post the results!



• Bigmaude wants to take her three teenagers backpacking through Europe this summer and wants to know if she's nuts to even try it! She thinks she's going to have to drag them kicking and screaming because they want to go to Disneyland instead... There are already plenty of volunteers ready to stand in for her kids if they don't want to go! Can you offer any advice for her to get her kids interested in the trip?



• Time to reminisce - what was the first stamp in your passport?



• Madhu met a young American filmmaker while traveling who's making a film about aid, volunteerism and the passion that makes NGOs work - and also fail. This gal thinks that "2 week volunteer programs where you pay to go teach, or similar ones where you volunteer for a very short period fail...they harm more than they do good." What do you think?



• An oldie but a goodie - if you need inspiration to pack your bags and get outta dodge, this video should do it.

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Check out these topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• Sean posted a great list of the cities he visited in 2006, which inspired me to create my own. What does your year in cities look like?



• I've got a serious sweet tooth, so it's no wonder my favorite part of the grocery store is the candy section. What are your favorite foreign sweets?



• This is a timeless thread... When we're not able to travel, most of us like to dream about our next trip. What books help transport you when you're stuck at home?



• Do your experiences of "deja vu" increase when you're traveling? Houseblend says it's not necessarily the been there, done that kind of deja vu, but more of the "I've dreamt of this place before" kind of feeling. Is she the only one?



• Finally, scubamama's New Years resolution is to not date anyone who doesn't have a valid passport... Her date the other night asked if she'd ever be content with a life where she wasn't planning another trip. Yeah, I'd say that's a pretty red flag, too.

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Check out these topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• Not everyone is comfortable eating alone in a restaurant... So for you solo travelers, does it bother you to do that when you're on the road?



• So - where are you going in 2007? File your travel plans here.



• What would you put in a travel primer - something for everyone to learn from, not bashing any particular culture or nationality, just the basics everyone leaving home would be well to consider before stepping out the door?



• Do you know the touristy things to do in your hometown? And have you visited them? Orangelad wants to know.



• And to round out this last week of the year, trekker has started a thread asking for photos that tell a story or inspire you in some way. Her picture of the incense-selling woman at Angkor Wat is really wonderful, it certainly made me smile! What photo can you contribute to the thread?

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Check out these topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:

• At this time of year, it's fun not only to make "to-do" lists for next year, but to review the things you've accomplished this year. KPG did the latter, and it's a great list. What things are you excited to have checked off your list this past year?



• With the sad loss of life recently on our very own Mt. Hood, the question came up about how the sometimes extensive (and expensive) searches are paid for. And please, folks, remember to over-prepare for potentially dangerous excursions.



• Would a handbook help the proverbial "Ugly American" be less, well, ugly overseas?



• If anyone's going to South America - or is interested in going - and would like to film an independend travel show, check out Ptown Travel Hound's post... He's had the idea, just needs someone now with a little expertise in the whole filming department.



• Philip Blazdell asks another perfect year-end/year-beginning question: Where do you think will be "hot" in 2007?

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• Joey might think he's being cheesy, but I think his "thank you" message on the eve of his RTW trip is really, really cool. I can't wait to check in on his trip as he makes his way through Africa & Asia. Bon voyage, Joey!!



• So, what are your packing habits? Are you a hyper-planner, getting stuff in the bag months before you leave? Or do you randomly grab a few items as you rush out the door? Landire's put up a poll, let's see where you fit in.



• In the US we've gotten used to being able to find vegetarian options at most restaurants these days. But we know that's not true the world over. Will xxhughesxx have trouble avoiding meat in Europe (Western & Eastern)?



• Though watching television might not be at the top of many to-do lists when traveling, there are inevitably times we're drawn in by something on the boob tube, only to find out it can be a real cultural experience! KateL57 asks, "What are your favorite ads from abroad and at home?" She's shared a few of hers, and others have joined in. What are your favorite commercials? And can you find links to them so we can all have a giggle?



• I read an article talking about how an unexpected one-night "stopover" in Bulgaria turned into a three-day "stop" because the town turned out to be so charming. So, have you had any experiences where a place you thought you'd just be passing through was so wonderful as to make you change your plans and stay awhile?

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