Posted by Nick on June 10, 2011
If you want to organize your next trip all from your iPhone, iPad or iPod, you may want to give the TripDoc app a try. It is normally $4.99, but it available for free download this weekend only.
I’ve never used this app, but it looks like you can put everything you want to see/do, including your hotel location, on a map in the app. This might be a good way for you to plan excursions from the hotel each day or just to make sure you don’t get lost trying to get back to your hotel.
It looks like it uses Google Maps, so you have to use this with the knowledge that Google Maps is not always correct with its locations of places. All in all, it seems like a good freebie. I’m downloading it myself for my next trip.
Posted by Nick on June 7, 2011
If you are planning some travel to a country where English isn’t the native language, you can still get acquainted with what is going on in the local area.
Thanks to the Newspaper Map website, you can translate the local newspaper at your destination into English (or other languages.
This is a great way to learn what is going on before you arrive. An instance of when this may be helpful is if a transit strike is expected to happen or something similar. Or, you can just play around with the newspapers of the world for fun. Enjoy!
Posted by Nick on April 25, 2011
As a frequent traveler, I always travel with a lot of electronics. Usually I have my iPod, my laptop, my cell phone and my digital camera. (as well as lenses, tripod, extra batteries and memory cards!) If you’re like me, you try to minimize what you bring by having only the very best items to travel with. Actually, it’s more like the best your budget can afford.
For a while, I traveled with a point and shoot Canon SLR digital camera (SD1100 – newest version of same camera is the ELPH 300
). I actually still own the SD1100 as it is an excellent little point and shoot digital camera. The thing about it is that it is terrible in low light, like sunsets, and just wasn’t offering as professional-like quality images as I wanted. So, I upgraded. I stuck with the Canon brand and had a budget of under $1,000. Here’s what I got -
It’s the Canon EOS Rebel T3i
SLR digital camera. It is considered an upper entry level SLR camera. That just means to me that it has a lot of features that took me a little while to get the hang of! I was nervous about spending this much on a digital camera, but after using it on a couple of trips, I am *so* freaking glad I did! The image quality is really amazing when you compare it side-by-side to my older SD1100. I know that they are two totally different classes of cameras, but the difference truly is something to be seen. My travel photos look a million times better now.
And one of the things that I really love about this camera is that it records HD video. I took a great looking video of a hula show on Waikiki Beach last month with it. Awesome.
If you’re considering this camera, I recommend Amazon for the Canon EOS Rebel T3i best price. I compared prices at B&H Photo, Buy.com, Best Buy and Amazon when I was checking the for cheapest EOS Rebel T3i price. The bonus for me about Amazon was the free shipping and no sales tax. You can check the price on Amazon to see.
I honestly think this is THE best SLR digital camera for travelers. To complete your travel package, I recommend the following (which is what I currently have):
The backpack is great for hauling your photography gear, plus there is plenty of room to stash your iPod and cell phone in the bag. Of course, it will also hold extra lenses, the gorillapod, extra batteries, etc.
Here’s a recent shot of the Grand Canyon from the EOS Rebel T3i camera:
If you’re interested in more reviews of the camera, here are a few I found (or you can check the price on Amazon now):
Posted by Nick on March 11, 2011
When traveling alone, or with one or two companions, chartering a private flight may not be cost effective. However, if you are planning a trip with multiple friends or family members, and intend to fly, a private flight may be equal or even less than the cost of travel on a commercial airline. If you would like to charter private flights in Michigan, you can do so through a few different companies.
Check out Flagship Private Air out of Ann Arbor if you are in the Detroit area. Flagship private air has a fleet of three planes, which can accommodate between five and eight passengers, and pricing is done by an hourly rate, which covers pilots, fuel costs and basic meal options. Get a quote for your private flight through Flagship Private Air by filling out the form on the “Contact” page of the company’s website with the details of your trip.
Contact Aerodynamics Inc if you are in the Detroit Area as well. The company, based out of Detroit suburb Waterford, offers charter jets in a variety of sizes. Get a quote for a chartered flight from Aerodynamics Inc by filling out the quote form on the “Flight Ops” page of the website.
Charter a large passenger plane or a cargo plane through nationwide charter company, National. National offers charter of Boeing 757 jets, which provide seating for more than 150 people, as well as two cargo jets, the Boeing 747 cargo jets, which provides space for 40 pallets of goods, and the Douglas DC-8, which provides cargo space for up to 18 pallets. Fill out the quote form on the National Airlines website to get a quote for your passengers or cargo jet charter.
When chartering a plane, be sure to ask about the additional costs related to your destination. Some airports charge a fee for private planes to land, which you can expect to be added to the cost of your charter.
Posted by Nick on January 14, 2011
When you’re packing for your trip overseas, toilet paper may not be listed on your packing list. It should be. Along with some hand sanitizer gel.
Depending on where you are going, you may encounter some foreign toilets that are nothing at all like the ones you’re used to using at home. In some countries, you will encounter toilets without toilet paper and that do not flush. You may not even have a place to wash your hands.
Squat Toilets
The most common foreign toilet that will alarm you is the infamous squat toilet.
Toyko squat toilet by pnoeric
You can encounter a variety of different squat toilets, which are most common in Southeast Asia. Some do not flush. Some have special porcelain places for your feet while you squat. Most don’t have toilet paper. Some have a bucket in the back where you’re supposed to put soiled toilet paper. Some have a bucket of water to be used instead of toilet paper. In really remote areas, it will just be a hole in the ground. And squat toilets almost never have doors for privacy. That’s right – everyone can see you doing your business in all of your glory – but just from the side. And don’t forget the smell – which can be downright putrid in some places.
With a squat toilet, you need to get as close to the hole as possible – without falling. If you’re worried about privacy, you can wear a long skirt or tunic – just be careful not to get it in the hole!
If you’re worried about the smell, you can dab some minty lip balm under your nose before entering.
Coin-operated Toilets
Pay toilets are another common occurrence when traveling abroad. You’ll likely see these in large cities such as Paris and Amsterdam. They are slightly larger than a phone booth and you must insert exact change. Once you do, the door will slide open for you to enter. When you’re done, press the exit button and the door slides open again.
Never try to save money by letting a friend go in the toilet as you come out. After each use, water sprays from the walls to clean the entire toilet. This means that anyone that tries to sneak in gets a surprise shower.
Some train stations in Europe also have public bathrooms that require exact change to open the door.
Train Toilets
Trains themselves actually have toilets on-board as well. You don’t have to pay for these and they are usually fairly clean. Of course, as the journey progresses the cleanliness decreases. Some toilets on trains actually empty onto the track, which means you shouldn’t use the facilities while it is still in the station – unless you really dislike the place.
