Best Travel Blogs: July 2014

July 31, 2014

6 Discoveries From Near and Far, Volume IV

I. Around the World Things I found on long walks in foreign cities, or perhaps when someone posted them on Twitter. Before You Know It Something’s Over — A beautiful essay on loss and identity Finding Your Father’s Ghost in an Old Video Game — A surprise (or two) when firing up a console from…

from The Art of Non-Conformity http://chrisguillebeau.com/6-discoveries-from-near-and-far-volume-iv/

Spending the Night on the North Island

The North Island of New Zealand I need to spend more time in the North! I feel so New-Zealand-Lame! I spend SO much time in the South Island, exploring all the mountains and everything… so I am feeling like I am a little lost up there, you know? I gotta get my act together! Daily […]

from Stuck in Customs http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2014/08/01/spending-the-night-on-the-north-island/

Hey, what happened to my hotel refund?

from Elliott http://elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/hey-happened-hotel-refund/

Fire Dancer in the National Dance Troupe of Sierra Leone in Freetown

from Everything Everywhere Travel Blog http://everything-everywhere.com/2014/07/31/fire-dancer-national-dance-troupe-sierra-leone-freetown/

An illustrated guide to flight

My favorite part is the progression of the seat back monitor.

from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/illustrated-guide-transatlantic-flight/

Last Chance: 20% SPG Airline Transfer Bonus Ending Tonight!

The 20% transfer bonus promotion announced by Starwood earlier this month was about as exciting as transfer promotions have gotten in a while. The promotion, which offers a 20% bonus on Starpoints transferred to US Airways or AAdvantage miles, is ending tonight at 11:59 PM (CT). What makes this promotion so lucrative is that the […]

from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2014/07/last-chance-20-spg-airline-transfer-bonus-ending-tonight.html

Expedia earnings: Strongest profit in a while — up 25%

Expedia Inc. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi had reason to smile today, as his company reported a second-quarter profit, due to sustained growth in ...

from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/expedia-3/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=expedia-3

How to be home

Home is the people who remind you of who you are.

from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/bnt/how-to-be-home/

T Magazine: Reed Krakoff’s East Hampton Essentials

The fashion designer has a home there, and will open a three-day summer pop-up shop at Glenn Horowitz Bookseller on August 7.

from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3d104511/sc/10/l/0Ltmagazine0Bblogs0Bnytimes0N0C20A140C0A70C310Creed0Ekrakoff0Eeast0Ehampton0Eessential0Elist0Eof0Eplaces0Eto0Ego0C0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

The Getaway: Zeroing In on the Female Traveler

A hotel package focuses on women without children. Could a trend be in the making?

from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3d0fe053/sc/1/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A140C0A80C0A30Ctravel0Czeroing0Ein0Eon0Ethe0Efemale0Etraveler0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

A Father-Son Fishing Trip on the Chesapeake Bay

Returning to the area where he grew up, the author joins his dad on a hunt for the treasured speckled trout.

from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3d0fe04f/sc/10/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A140C0A80C0A30Ctravel0Ca0Efather0Eson0Efishing0Etrip0Eon0Ethe0Echesapeake0Ebay0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Life as an ESL student in Ireland

No one will consider you crazy if you drink a Guinness at 11am instead of a cappuccino.

from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/7-experiences-youll-esl-student-ireland/

Do Not Trust Award Availability Displayed by the United Website

Phantom availability is the term used to describe award availability displayed by airlines’ web sites that does not actually exist. I am not sure what exactly causes phantom availability to be displayed, but most airlines will have some issues displaying the correct award availability at some point. However, lately, the phantom availability issues with the […]

from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2014/07/do-not-trust-award-availability-displayed-by-the-united-website.html

I Heart My National Park: Acadia

The first national park east of the Mississippi, Acadia National Park comprises nearly 50,000 acres of rocky coastline in southern Maine. This glorious patchwork of parkland, private property, and seaside villages seasonally fills with what residents call "the summer people"—visitors getting their fill of the scenic splendor and serenity that Acadia has to offer in spades. Here's an insider's guide to New England's crown jewel written by one of the park rangers that knows it best.

from Intelligent Travel http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2014/07/31/i-heart-my-national-park-acadia/

The travel sharing economy is having its Napster Moment right now

Remember 1999? Sure you do. The dotcom bubble was in full effect: come up with any idea, really any idea, and add ...

from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/sharing-economy-napster/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sharing-economy-napster-moment

Worst Case Scenario: Losing It All in Europe

When you’re evaluating a big decision, sometimes it’s helpful to ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that can happen?” Most of the time, the worst-case scenario doesn’t actually come to pass. But sometimes it does. Tera and Wes told us this story at Pioneer Nation: We got the dream job. The one our careers had…

from The Art of Non-Conformity http://chrisguillebeau.com/losing-it-all-in-europe/

The pro skateboarder with no legs

Meet Italo Romano. He lost his legs as a teenager in a train accident. But that hasn't stopped him from becoming a pro skateboarder.

from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/sports/inspiration-italo-romano-pro-skateboarder-legs/

New US rankings for travel apps: Delta, Uber, and Hotels.com top the lists

Tracking the success of mobile apps remains more of an art than a science. But comparisons and estimates are becoming more plausible ...

from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/hotels-com-delta-airbnb-top-new-travel-app-rankings/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hotels-com-delta-airbnb-top-new-travel-app-rankings

Jewish doula, Palestinian baby

One midday in July of 2000, in Hospital Meir in Kfar Saba, a Palestinian boy was born before my eyes.

from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/bnt/jewish-man-birth-palestinian-baby/

In Transit Blog: A New Volunteer Program for L.G.B.T. Travelers

Global Volunteers, a non-profit organization providing aid to communities around the world with the assistance of short-term vacationers, has launched International LGBT Volunteer Vacations, the first program of its kind in the volunteer-vacation field.

from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3d0e2cee/sc/38/l/0Lintransit0Bblogs0Bnytimes0N0C20A140C0A70C310Ca0Enew0Evolunteer0Eprogram0Efor0El0Eg0Eb0Et0Etravelers0C0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Adventure 101: Stand-Up Paddle Boarding

The fastest-growing water sport in the world, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) was born in the Hawaiian Islands, and with calm jungle rivers and 50 miles of beaches, Kauai is one of the best places for the sport. Here's the why and how.

from Intelligent Travel http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2014/07/31/adventure-101-stand-up-paddle-boarding/