tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36922108323905442912011-11-27T20:15:11.874-05:00Tired of anonymous hotels? Sick of chain restaurants? Want to broaden your understanding of the places you visit? Me, too. That’s why I’ve created this blog and its companion website, www.LaVidaLocal.com. Both point curious travellers to the many ways to explore a place beyond the traditional package tour--everything from house swap organizations to language immersion programs.Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.comBlogger1281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-2981104494973744252011-01-16T11:26:00.003-05:002011-01-16T11:33:43.117-05:00

All of you who have faithfully followed this blog over the years: thank you so much! Here's the latest news: I've just updated, enhanced and moved the whole blog. Please check out the new, much jazzier site at its own domain name, www.FacingTheStreet.com. I'll eventually close this Blogger blog, so please check out the new site soon. Thanks!All my posts from this blog are over on the new site,

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-68836071842063827582010-09-13T16:24:00.006-04:002010-09-13T16:49:41.601-04:00

Creative Commons photo by OliverN5 (Oliver Mallich). Visiting Toronto for the Toronto International Film Festival? Or do you live in T.O.? Either way, drag yourself away from the movie screens tomorrow and you could win a free trip from Intrepid Travel.Here's the scoop. The Australian-based adventure tour company will be placing a total of eight globes in various Toronto locations on Tuesday.

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-70402534934312299572010-06-30T10:11:00.006-04:002010-06-30T10:25:26.225-04:00

If you've ever thought, "Gee, chocolate bars would be great if they weren't cluttered up with nuts and caramel," then Max Brenner's is the place for you. The Australian chain of chocolate cafes (which also has shops in New York, Philadelphia and several other non-Aussie places) has the genius to serve chocolate in its most unadorned form: the suckao.The suckao costs $6.50 Australian and it's

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-48844855509705653002010-06-23T08:12:00.008-04:002010-06-23T08:59:41.496-04:00

As British writer David Aaronovitch points out in the introduction to his 2000 travel book/memoir, Paddling to Jerusalem, in the last few years writers have walked around England under the guise of just about every gimmick imaginable.From south to north, around the coast, up the middle, round the sides, in wheelchairs, on one leg, carrying heavy electrical goods, with no money, with a dog, with a

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-81262050607702816452010-06-20T09:53:00.005-04:002010-06-20T10:12:59.245-04:00

Does Al Gore know about this?The often-windy Iles-de-la-Madeleine in eastern Quebec are a hotbed for the sport of kite-buggying: basically, zipping along the beach in a buggy, powered by a parachute-like kite. The driver holds a set of lines made of super-strong Spectra. A tug on the left turns you left; a tug on the right turns you right.After a quick lesson on kite management from Eric Marchand

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-36567961679636433682010-06-18T22:18:00.005-04:002010-06-22T19:35:45.845-04:00

I have a strange fascination for oddball road signs, dating back at least as far as 1978, when my sister and I spotted a British road sign that consisted of nothing but a large exclamation mark and the dire words, "Warning: Road liable to subside."Since then, I've photographed an iguana crossing sign in Montserrat, a surfer crossing sign in Easter Island, an Amish volunteer fireman sign in

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-76987813841151233792010-06-09T08:49:00.009-04:002010-06-22T19:14:33.286-04:00

Warning: Those with squeamish stomachs might wish to skip this post. I'm just saying.Throughout my week in Peru, one dish popped out on almost every menu: cuy. I saw it on chalkboard lists on roadside stands in the Andes. I spotted it on fancy menus in Lima hotels. It came to seem like a challengeCome on, coward, it taunted me. You say you like to "live like a local." It's time to eat like one.I

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-52691900386526704812010-05-26T20:49:00.003-04:002010-05-26T20:59:47.837-04:00

Staying in a hostel doesn't necessarily mean you're going to travel any more "like a local" than you would if you stayed in a posh hotel. But it does increase the chances of running into fellow budget travellers, who may be able to point you to restaurants, shops and attractions a little off the tourist trail. That's one reason I've long been a hostel fan.And here's another reason to check out

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-9950029150558798772010-05-19T17:29:00.004-04:002010-05-19T17:46:02.462-04:00

Haven't you always thought that fitness races would be much more fun if they involved junk food?Well, have I got an event for you.The Chocolate Race in Port Dalhousie, Ontario--a cute village in the Niagara Region--attracted almost 600 participants in its inaugural year in 2009. This year's event includes 5K, 10K and half-marathon courses open to runners and walkers alike.But unlike most similar

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-64216880604987308812010-05-11T09:17:00.005-04:002010-05-11T09:29:17.525-04:00

I'm a bit behind on listening to my podcasts of the always-fascinating CBC Radio One foreign-affairs show "Dispatches," so I just heard an intriguing report from late March about the class differences in fast food in Pakistan.Western tourists (myself included) are often convinced that one way to get into the "authentic" culture of a place is to eat cheap fast food: noodles from tiny kiosks,

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-65158168554257745672010-04-28T09:06:00.007-04:002010-04-28T11:13:11.566-04:00

Quick, now: Name a use for nutmeg.I'm willing to wager the vast majority of the people reading this post immediately answered, "Eggnog!"And while the spice is indeed a vital topping for the Christmas beverage, it's used in lots of other things, too, from cookies to sausages. You'll even find nutmeg and its sister spice, mace--they're both made from the same fruit--in medicines and

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-77409773390939252442010-04-07T08:48:00.007-04:002010-06-22T19:15:55.244-04:00

I discovered the St. Kilda Pier Kiosk cafe by accident. I'd strolled up the long pier in the beachfront Melbourne suburb of St. Kilda just to check out the view. And quite a view it is.The fact that I could munch on a decent, inexpensive sandwich while absorbing the scenery was a bonus. To be completely honest, I don't even remember what kind of sandwich it was! It simply dealt efficiently with

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-74043602437412553472010-03-13T14:49:00.006-05:002010-06-22T19:17:39.288-04:00

I'm just back from Wales and will put up some longer posts about my trip soon, but in the meantime I had to share my latest pastry addiction with you: Welsh cakes.Yummy-looking, yes?They're a bit like flattened scones and they are maddeningly addictive. I came to crave one at every tea break during my conference.In case you'd like to sample them yourself, here's a yummy-sounding recipe for Welsh

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-57671563874669665272010-03-07T17:06:00.009-05:002010-03-07T19:10:05.315-05:00

I've been in the U.K. for a few days now, and my likes and dislikes are becoming clearer by the minute. My likes are legion and my dislikes are few, and I'm passionate about them all.First, a few of my favourite things.1. TeakettlesI'm a tea drinker, partly because I can't abide coffee. So it drives me crazy when I check into a North American hotel room and find a container of lovely tea bags on

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-91141846189429067922010-02-02T07:35:00.004-05:002010-02-02T07:53:49.354-05:00

Heading to London, New York or Chicago soon? Looking for travel tips about the Everglades or Napa? Check out Sutro Media Guides, iPhone and iPod Touch apps that serve as pocket travel guides to destinations in North America and the U.K. While there are a couple of comprehensive guides, billed as "Essential" guides to particular cities, there are also more targeted apps, such as "Quirky London"

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-74233317983593170172010-01-26T08:34:00.004-05:002010-01-26T08:59:14.306-05:00

Buenos Aires.Last Friday, I ran part 1 of my e-mail interview with British travel journalist Vicky Baker, who now lives in Buenos Aires. The interview took place back in the fall; it's only due to my disorganization that it hasn't appeared here before now! Here's part 2 of our virtual chat. I was fascinated by your story about the Laotian village in French Guiana. Who knew? What were some

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-79702222925302671072010-01-22T09:30:00.001-05:002010-01-22T09:30:01.541-05:00

As promised, here is Part 1 of my e-mail interview with Vicky Baker, a Buenos Aires-based freelancer who blogs at Going local travel (a blog inspired by the “Going Local” series she wrote for The Guardian). Note that Vicky answered these questions way back in October 2009; the delay in posting them is all mine, and I’m very grateful that she took the time to respond in such detail!Vicky and I “

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-34530458791801369222010-01-21T17:31:00.003-05:002010-01-21T18:01:26.444-05:00

OK, so it's a new year, and it's time for a wee confession: I have been a terribly disorganized and erratic blogger lately. Well, that's probably not much of a confession to anyone who has been following this blog for any length of time; my posts haven't been very frequent over the last few months.I have as many excuses as a 10-year-old who didn't do her homework. Unlike the "dog ate my homework"

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-37637311405601151292010-01-06T12:47:00.004-05:002010-01-06T12:59:21.537-05:00

Sure, it's a promotional vehicle for Starbucks. But it's also a way to raise awareness and funding to fight AIDS in Africa. And it makes me smile like a fool. What more, really, do you need from a viral video?The video in question is a four-minute compilation of people around the world singing "All You Need Is Love," recorded all at the same time on December 7, 2009.What does it have to do with

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-40842478186227589712010-01-04T14:55:00.004-05:002010-01-04T15:04:28.223-05:00

Yeah, I know, Christmas is over and done. But if you can stomach one more cheery holiday video, check out this great YouTube clip of a surprise dance performance at the Lisbon airport by the staff of TAP Portugal and Aeroportos de Portugal. If check-in agents at my local airport came leaping over the desks to belt out Mariah Carey tunes and do a bit of Saturday Night Fever-style shimmying, it

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-34413757993396696632009-11-23T14:44:00.004-05:002009-11-23T15:04:24.553-05:00

Looking for an inside glimpse into some of Ottawa's liveliest neighbourhoods? Check out the submissions to the Picture It Downtown photo contest, which focused (pardon the pun) on the Glebe, Wellington West and other cool neighbourhoods.I wish I'd found out about this contest while it was still running--I would have loved to have entered!

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-37959665744078397842009-11-19T20:53:00.005-05:002009-11-20T09:17:50.836-05:00

I just got back from a European trip that included two stops in the Netherlands. And, once again, I've found myself captivated by Dutch cycling culture.Not only are there dedicated bike paths just about everywhere; there are also huge bike garages at many railway stations, where you can have a mechanic tune up your bike while you're at work. Public staircases include clever grooves parallel to

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-65249963385592367812009-11-05T07:09:00.010-05:002010-06-22T19:19:33.383-04:00

It's a doozy of a title: The Third Tower Up from the Road: A Compilation of Columns from McSweeney's Internet Tendency's Kevin Dolgin Tells You About Places You Should Go. And the cover photo of the Great Wall of China is a bit misleading. Yes, there's a funny, lovely column in the collection about Dolgin's adventures on the famous structure, but the bulk of the book covers other places,

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-27143695046645611022009-11-01T15:46:00.003-05:002009-11-01T15:54:23.275-05:00

Every year, the Society of American Travel Writers runs an online auction to raise money for its programs. This year's auction is online now, and items include a two-day stay at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler and a six-night Maine Windjammer cruise. Depending on the bidding, you could save a bundle off retail prices. Check out the auction website before the bidding closes on November 20. (Full

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-27820970115769811312009-10-18T08:57:00.005-04:002009-10-18T09:18:42.549-04:00

For 20 years, I used single-lens reflex (SLR) film cameras, but I've been using various point-and-shoots since about 2002, waiting for the price of digital SLRs to come down. Recently, the wait ended. And now, as the proud new owner of a DSLR, I'm avid to reacquaint myself with all the bells and whistles an SLR can offer: more control over exposure and focus, various lenses and filters, and

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-48432186411447679222009-10-17T21:52:00.006-04:002009-10-17T22:42:45.804-04:00

OK, this is THE coolest thing I've stumbled across on the Internet all week: a Finnish bhangra band!According to its website, Shava "is guaranteed to be the world's only Finnish bhangra group." I can't argue with that.I first came across them in an article chronicling their recent appearance on a Finnish TV network. But it turns out they were also featured in a documentary about bhangra music on

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-74014478903912629212009-10-15T13:13:00.002-04:002009-10-15T13:21:40.505-04:00

Ever wanted to run your own home exchange site? Do you have an artistic bent? Montreal-based ArtStudioExchanges.com is for sale (along with its French-language version, TrocAtelier.com). Aimed at artists and art teachers who need somewhere to stay for a vacation or sabbatical, the home-swap site is for sale because the owner--a full-time artist and picture framer--doesn't have time to promote it

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-41368147092910675172009-10-15T12:07:00.006-04:002010-06-22T19:22:14.972-04:00

Okay, I'll admit that part of the reason I was excited about visiting Gibsons, British Columbia, was the chance to check out the place where a hoary old CBC-TV series called "The Beachcombers" was filmed. Weirdly, I didn't even like the show when it aired from 1972 to 1990. It's just that Canada has precious few famous TV sites, so it was kind of cool to see one.And yes, indeed, you can still

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-13671475331971987242009-10-08T12:46:00.002-04:002009-10-08T13:11:04.068-04:00

I've just discovered three excellent blogs offering insider travel tips: Brazil for Insiders, Montreal for Insiders and New York for Insiders. When you've been there and seen that--or even if you haven't--you'll find inspiration for off-the-beaten path adventures.Brazilian-born, Montreal-based food and travel writer Alexandra Forbes writes Brazil for Insiders. She dishes up the scoop on things

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-4831856485887423612009-08-28T09:44:00.003-04:002009-08-28T09:48:50.821-04:00

Well, I'm not sure if it's everything you wanted to know about home swaps, but I've done my best to include lots of useful information in my recent article on home exchanging for SlowEurope.com. You'll find interviews with home exchangers, an annotated list of some of the leading sites with European listings, and more. And don't forget to check out the rest of the SlowEurope.com site as well--

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-90924172528741979932009-08-13T10:53:00.003-04:002009-08-13T10:59:13.444-04:00

Sorry I've been so incommunicado lately. I've been on holidays. I'm actually still out of the office for a few more days, but I came across some information on a travel writing workshop in New York's Hudson Valley that I thought might interest some readers out there.The instructor is Bob Haru Fisher, a columnist and contributing editor at Frommers.com. The workshop looks like it might be useful

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-41020629617344195592009-07-20T14:02:00.006-04:002010-06-22T19:25:17.811-04:00

When you think of Swiss chocolate, you probably think of slabs of sweet, light milk chocolate. Or perhaps you think of the global reach of Nestlé, the iconic Swiss company headquartered in Vevey, a small city overlooking Lake Geneva.But do you think of dark chocolate combined with lemongrass, pepper or wasabi? Likely not.Chocolatier Blaise Poyet, whose shop is a stone's throw from Nestlé's glass

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-27170279460324108412009-06-15T12:42:00.007-04:002009-06-15T12:57:05.741-04:00

Every time the economy hits a roadblock, a whole new generation of media and travelers seems to rediscover home swapping as though it had just been invented. The truth is, though, that this fun and frugal way of seeing the world has been around since the 1950s. Back in the day, swapping clubs published huge printed catalogues of members' properties, and prospective swappers set up trades by

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-32512258360980165812009-06-08T14:22:00.005-04:002009-06-08T14:33:32.426-04:00

A while ago, I wrote a blog post about the Caribbean island of Montserrat, where I spent a great vacation with my sisters and our husbands. I've just found out that our rental villa, Surf Sighed, has its own website. It's a lovely, affordable tropical rental with a pretty pool deck and great views. If you're looking for a laid-back destination where tourists don't overwhelm the locals, you can't

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-45287729784725147142009-05-23T07:24:00.007-04:002009-05-26T16:04:18.248-04:00

Looking for travel tips and ideas from fellow vagabonds? Not surprisingly, travel-focused social networking sites are springing up all over the place.Traveldudes is aimed at the backpacker crowd and, along with general travel tips, has numerous reviews of hostels, B&Bs and other accommodations. Members can post travel diaries as well.Dodo is a similar site featuring travelogues, travel tips,

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-43974236890614144282009-05-22T06:41:00.003-04:002009-05-22T07:06:36.294-04:00

CNN first aired this video on home swapping in 2005, but the tips and insights on are pretty timeless. And even though the woman profiled has a flat in Manhattan, don't think you have to have a home in a hot tourist area to swap! With a little work, you can probably find someone somewhere intriguing in the world who wants to visit your burg.By the way, I tried valiantly to embed the video link

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-13093783923979076852009-05-14T20:05:00.010-04:002009-05-15T09:42:04.430-04:00

OK, this is a first for this blog: a recipe! But when I recently stayed at Tara Farms, a bed and breakfast in Brenham, Texas, I fell in love with their pecan pie muffins (even though mine were made with walnuts, they still had a pecan pie vibe). I fell so in love, in fact, that I wrapped up the last two mini-muffins on the plate, popped them in my purse and carried them halfway across the

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-76154468137524334362009-04-29T14:07:00.006-04:002009-04-29T16:48:49.545-04:00

Travel is a great way to meet people from other countries, but sometimes we don't have to leave home to connect with someone on the other side of the planet.A charity called Heifer International helps people give the valuable gift of a farm animal to a family in a developing country. Today, as a small way to help fight hunger--which has already claimed more than 3 million lives this year alone--

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-62874637800414997932009-04-22T10:48:00.006-04:002009-04-22T12:47:04.144-04:00

Joyce Copeland's love affair with vacation rentals started about a decade ago, when she was planning a vacation for her extended family and spotted a newspaper ad for short-term rentals in Lake Tahoe."I was astounded by how little money we'd have to spend, and we could bring the dogs," she says.Joyce often travels with husband Gary and their three canines.On her way to Tahoe from her home in

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-59888790241398575582009-04-08T09:36:00.007-04:002009-04-08T10:50:21.606-04:00

Many travellers who arrive in a foreign destination without a vehicle head straight to the rental car counter at the airport. While that can be the best strategy in some situations--if you're visiting a largely rural place, for instance--I'd argue that in many cases, you're better off taking public transit. Depending on the place, it's usually cheaper, faster and more fun. Plus, you get the added

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-51582018485247939832009-04-03T08:29:00.006-04:002009-04-03T08:57:19.213-04:00

The Caribbean island of Montserrat is one of my very favourite places to travel like a local. It's hard to do anything else; the island has only two hotels and they're only 18 rooms each, so even at a hotel you pretty much feel like you're staying with family.Private villas are the main form of accommodation, and even though the word "villa" may conjure up visions of a grandiose mansion, many of

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-24084756003118663962009-03-31T09:50:00.004-04:002009-03-31T09:55:08.218-04:00

Julie Ovenell-Carter's contest to win a free membership in a home exchange club continues to generate interest! Just this week, another home exchange website, 1stHomeExchange.com, offered to give away a one-year membership to her readers--and sent a link to 66 great tips for home exchangers. Head over to the contest post at theseboots.travel for details.

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-86407615875597497562009-03-30T08:28:00.011-04:002009-03-30T08:57:06.668-04:00

Looking to keep your eyes--or ears--on the wider world, even when you're curled up safe at home? Here are five great places to start.The Economist: This venerable, London-based magazine may be a bit stodgy for some, but there are few better consumer publications when it comes to covering just about every corner of the world. Not surprisingly, given the title, there's a strong business focus, but

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-31675491546313496072009-03-21T07:04:00.004-04:002009-03-21T22:24:38.139-04:00

My friend Julie Ovenell-Carter writes a great travel blog called These Boots, which is aimed at independent travellers, and she's running a contest. The prizes? One-year memberships offered by two home exchange organizations, HomeLink International and Intervac. All you have to do to enter is go to the blog post announcing the contest and leave a comment on the subject of home exchanges: a story

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-55657318648716116392009-03-19T08:14:00.009-04:002009-03-19T08:47:30.433-04:00

One great way to get a feel for the local vibe is to pick out one small part of it and focus on it while you're travelling. One avid traveller I know always takes a dance class, wherever she goes. Several people (including me) like going into grocery stores, just to see what's hot and what's not. A while back, I blogged about a lovely article written by a traveller who makes a point of visiting

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-28083342093610557062009-03-13T18:29:00.004-04:002009-03-13T18:47:35.379-04:00

Amnesty International--the same folks who brought you those rockin' concerts back in the 1980s featuring the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Tracy Chapman--have released a new song and video to mark the 60th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. And "The Price of Silence" is a great tune, featuring artists ranging from Stephen Marley to Hugh Masekela. If you don't believe me, check

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-41720807367893116442009-03-09T10:19:00.003-04:002009-03-09T10:28:23.958-04:00

Although I strongly suspect these two Aussie women, Pip and Kym, are playing up their Aussieness for the cameras, I still enjoyed this little video that tries to teach non-Australians a bit of Down Under culture--from how to make bush tea to what the heck "Good on ya" means.It's a promo to draw attention to their book, "How to Do It Like an Aussie With Tongs and Thongs" (make all the jokes you

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-45927334529195708512009-03-06T09:19:00.008-05:002009-03-06T09:45:04.489-05:00

OK, I realize I'm very late to this party--the book came out three years ago. But I just finished reading Three Cups of Tea, the story of mountain climber-turned-philanthropist Greg Mortenson, and I was captivated.For those of you who, like me, somehow missed this book when it first came out, here's the scoop. After a failed attempt to climb K2, Mortenson descends from the mountain ill and

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-16614896611529166202009-03-03T10:05:00.003-05:002009-03-03T14:20:27.283-05:00

I've long been intrigued by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation's extensive "insiders' tips" site, uwishunu.com (pronounced "You wish you knew"). It features a wide range of blog posts by Philadelphians, on everything from swishy restaurants to tattoo festivals. And the city promotes the site in all the usual Web 2.0 ways, from Twitter to Digg.The state of Pennsylvania has

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-75751316117526191312009-03-03T08:57:00.006-05:002009-03-03T09:42:33.701-05:00

Given the economy, more and more people are considering house swapping as a great way to save money on their next trip. (Of course, "like a local" sorts have been doing it for years, as much to get a taste of local culture as to cut down on expenses.)On your next swap, here are five ways you can make yourself--and your guests--more comfortable.Do those minor home repairs you've been putting off,

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-65279922755419759722009-03-01T14:10:00.004-05:002009-03-01T16:41:49.592-05:00

For all of those who (like me) stood up and cheered when Slumdog Millionaire won the best picture Oscar, here's a weirdly compelling little video about life in Mumbai made by three boys, aged 8 and 9. They call themselves The 3 Musketeers, which I suspect is a shout-out to the film.The video, which focuses on ordinary life in streets and homes, fascinates me in the same way an old after-midnight

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-55631831133712824242009-02-28T07:27:00.010-05:002010-06-22T19:27:38.215-04:00

I'm sure most of you who have been to Europe have done some part of the "famous old churches" circuit. Westminster Abbey? Been there. Notre-Dame? Seen it. Lovely as they are, once you've seen 10 of them, they all start to blur together a bit.Another problem with some of Europe's historic churches is that they seem more like museums than places of worship. You get the sense that much of the life

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-33556254128102491112009-02-22T08:37:00.001-05:002009-02-22T08:40:02.876-05:00

My book draw is now closed, and ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! I did the random draw this morning, and Colengal will be receiving a copy of my book, Wanderlust: A Social History of Travel. Colengal, I will be e-mailing you privately to get your snail mail address.Thanks so much to everyone who entered--all 75 of you! This was my first contest, and it was a lot of fun.

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-60581064910295423322009-02-22T08:15:00.005-05:002009-03-01T16:46:12.711-05:00

So you've been to the Empire State Building, seen the Metropolitan Museum of Art and gone to Carnegie Hall. But you've just scratched the surface of everything New York has to offer--Manhattan is just one borough, after all! This video by Peter Greenberg offers good tips on some offbeat things to see and do, the next time you're in New York City:

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-74575606204815054332009-02-21T18:29:00.006-05:002009-02-21T19:06:24.810-05:00

It's not easy being green, and it's not easy blending in with the locals when you're travelling, either--particularly if you're surrounded by a very different culture. But camouflaging yourself can have all sorts of benefits. You'll feel less conspicuous, so it will be easier to relax. You won't stand out as a target for pickpockets and scam artists. And you may have the chance to try out a

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-79940592120960223162009-02-19T17:31:00.009-05:002010-06-22T19:30:16.445-04:00

I've long been a fan of B.C. Ferries' scenic routes, ever since I took my first trip from Vancouver to Victoria (well, from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, if you want to get technical) over two decades ago. And my enthusiasm was rekindled earlier this month when I had the chance to hop aboard several ferries on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast. The scenery rivalled almost anything you'd see from the

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-2023014193460348852009-02-18T09:26:00.004-05:002009-02-18T10:02:13.895-05:00

It's one of many weird things about the Great White North: we produce quite a few movies, but it can be devilishly hard to find them on Canadian movie screens. Mainly that's because every jumbo-plex has multiple screens devoted to the latest Hollywood action flick or slasher movie; partly it's because a disturbingly high percentage of Canuck flicks seem to involve dysfunctional families stuck in

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-40065185019184773312009-02-17T10:19:00.001-05:002009-02-17T10:31:18.183-05:00

The couchsurfing craze continues to spread, as this recent article from the Times of Malta shows: Want to become a couch-surfer?The Maltese traveller profiled in the piece fits the usual couchsurfing stereotype--20-something, single and footloose--but he claims even families are jumping on the bandwagon.

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-63683272102290527582009-02-16T09:31:00.004-05:002009-02-16T09:38:46.091-05:00

Sadly, I haven't had the chance to stay in a Japanese ryokan (guesthouse) yet. With luck, I will in the future. In the meantime, I did stumble across an English-language website that handles bookings for ryokan across the country, JapaneseGuestHouses.com. It gets praise for good service in two reviews on Trip Advisor (even if the reviewers were less than complimentary about the actual

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-27185501682759670862009-02-15T20:58:00.004-05:002009-02-15T21:40:50.667-05:00

It all started when I began wondering where passports came from. I pitched every magazine editor I knew on a story about the history of passports, but no one--and I mean no one--was interested.Fine, I thought. I'll broaden the concept and make it into a book.The history of passports eventually became a chapter in my book Wanderlust: A Social History of Travel. The book also answers such burning

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com87tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-10660508051204936392009-02-03T21:02:00.008-05:002010-06-22T19:31:26.879-04:00

I arrived in Richmond, B.C., this morning for a conference jet lagged and hungry. So after checking into the conference hotel, the River Rock Casino Resort, I asked the concierge in the casino where I could find some good Asian food within a short walk.Even though the hotel lies on the edge of Richmond's "Golden Village"--the modern Chinatown that's a focal point for the 60 percent of Richmond's

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-74454419323150293312009-02-02T18:13:00.003-05:002009-02-02T18:20:33.346-05:00

Welcome2France.com, which specializes in luxury apartment rentals in Paris, has just announced last-minute discounts of up to 25% on some of its properties. Most of the deals are valid February 1-15 and March 1-15, but there are a few available in late March. Many owners require a minimum stay of five days or a week. See the special offers section of the website for details.

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-56672722982059334012009-02-01T09:52:00.010-05:002010-06-22T19:41:43.173-04:00

My husband and I stood uncertainly on the front step of a tall, 17th-century canal house in Amsterdam’s infamous Red Light District. We’d never done anything like this before, and we weren’t at all sure how it was going to turn out. We’d even come up with a signal we could use if one of us was ready to go home.We took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.I know what you’re thinking. Get your minds

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-46010629210312034272009-01-29T11:08:00.004-05:002009-01-29T12:44:03.262-05:00

Image courtesy of Wendy Bumgardner, About Walking Guide http://walking.about.comThink of London and what pops to mind? Big Ben, the West End, Piccadilly Circus?That's how many tourists experience it, but most Londoners themselves live in rather more ordinary surroundings. And, if Monty Python is to be believed, few are more ordinary than the suburban Sussex town of Esher. (In one Python episode,

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-31502308196074724652009-01-28T08:31:00.006-05:002009-01-28T09:03:52.622-05:00

Until very recently, if you Googled "house swapping," you'd generally uncover sites such as HomeLink and Intervac: organizations that focus on helping vacationers switch homes for a few weeks at a time.Lately, however, I've been hearing about more people arranging longer exchanges. Swaps of six months to a year have long been a small niche of the home exchange industry, but they appealed mainly

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-42910494548553124342009-01-26T18:26:00.004-05:002009-01-26T19:06:07.879-05:00

OK, I hear you saying. First she writes about some posh resort (see my post earlier today about reggaelates), and now she's writing about bus tours? Isn't this the blog for people who want to get beyond the usual tourist spots?Bear with me. These bus companies appear to go far beyond the usual "And on your right you'll see our beautiful city hall" ordeals.In Los Angeles, Esotouric offers a bunch

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-78360039982074666562009-01-26T12:48:00.004-05:002009-01-26T13:00:55.135-05:00

OK, this post deviates a bit from my standard "like a local" fare, but a press release just crossed my desk that made me laugh. The world has officially gone mad.The spa at Jake's, a boutique hotel in Jamaica, has just launched "Reggaelates": Pilates classes set to reggae music.Somewhere, Bob Marley is sighing a big, puzzled sigh.

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-32738832956162125452009-01-25T18:58:00.008-05:002009-01-25T19:28:42.203-05:00

I've heard of people travelling from city to city as serial house sitters, but I'd never heard of someone doing so as a pet sitter...particularly when the "pets" in question include rabbits and chickens as well as the more common dogs and cats. But a recent story in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune profiles Minnesotan Anne Estes, who has done pet sitting gigs in Ireland and London. Estes tells the

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-12240382983903268592009-01-23T08:45:00.006-05:002009-01-23T09:23:11.201-05:00

British ex-pat Steve Jackson writes a somewhat colourful, often cranky and usually entertaining blog called Our Man in Cameroon, documenting his life as a VSO worker in Africa. In a recent post, he wonders why the development charity is having trouble recruiting the 10 people needed for his location in Bamenda, and grouses that many people are willing to pay lots of money to join a voluntourism

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-14510659133652170462009-01-18T18:43:00.005-05:002009-01-18T20:51:57.358-05:00

I've always wished I could play a musical instrument. But I'd never thought much about how music can bridge the gaps between cultures until a friend passed along a link to this video at Global Post, an online digital news service. Reporter and accordion player Gregory Warner gets an auditorium full of Afghans clapping along...with a little help from Johnny Cash.

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-2906219465357499682009-01-17T08:57:00.005-05:002009-01-17T09:51:41.531-05:00

Interested in renting a house or apartment for your next vacation, but nervous about dealing with total strangers in a rent-by-owner arrangement or a big agency? Don't despair. According to a new PhoCusWright study of the vacation rental market, there are 1.26 million homes available for short-term rental in the U.S. alone and--here's the interesting thing--about a quarter of those are rented out

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-25401470086066791892009-01-16T18:44:00.004-05:002009-01-16T18:59:28.868-05:00

A recent article in The Independent by Simon Calder successfully puts a cheerful spin on the dire state of the British pound. Calder points out that cash-strapped Britons can economize while travelling by taking public transit, shopping in local markets and pursuing all sorts of other "like a local" strategies. He argues they'll not only save money; they'll also have a more enjoyable vacation.

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-597065705032817762009-01-12T14:30:00.005-05:002009-01-12T14:48:11.467-05:00

Roomorama.com, a peer-to-peer site for arranging short-term room and apartment rentals, is expanding. The site, founded last fall, matches travellers with renters in several North American cities. Its new incarnation--dubbed, not surprisingly, Roomorama 2.0--adds a new calendar, new pricing options and a jazzier design, among other tweaks.The latest upgrade also expands the service to Vancouver,

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-80105250965301749092009-01-12T09:13:00.004-05:002009-01-12T09:19:32.404-05:00

Is couchsurfing is too cushy for you, with all that central heating and indoor plumbing? Then check out SingleSpotCamping.com, a Swedish-based site that matches DIY travellers with the owners of backyards and garage entrances where wanderers can pitch their own tents. You still meet locals--you just don't have to sleep under their roof. For more, see this TreeHugger post.

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-7735504809326340322009-01-11T18:13:00.002-05:002009-01-11T18:56:31.923-05:00

None of us can go everywhere we'd like to visit. But in some cases, our dollars (or euros, or pounds, or whatever) can go there instead.I rarely plug causes on this site, but I'm a big fan of Kiva.org, a microlender that supports entrepreneurs in developing countries with small loans advanced by people all over the world. Here's a video (with great music!) that shows how Kiva's loans work:A

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-71855428290599020682009-01-11T14:13:00.006-05:002009-01-11T16:23:00.936-05:00

Ottawa is one of those tourist towns with a pretty standard circuit of sites. Visitors tend to come and check the iconic places--the ones that show up on stamps, money and calendars--off their list. Parliament Hill--seen it. Rideau Canal--done it. Big spider at the National Gallery of Canada--check.But as anyone who lives here knows, there's more to this burg than meets the eye. As a local since

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-36471208609048421842009-01-09T18:06:00.008-05:002009-01-09T20:23:52.403-05:00

The current online issue of The Atlantic Monthly includes an article by Lisa Abend on the charms of learning Euskera, the ancient Basque language that has no apparent links to any other tongue. Whenever I read about people studying a language--any language--abroad, I'm immediately gripped by a desire to run away to another culture. I picture myself perusing menus with fellow students in an

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-7760492084776379492009-01-09T09:18:00.003-05:002009-01-09T09:22:35.941-05:00

Stacy Johnson of MoneyTalksNews.com is the latest in a series of reporters who have realized that house swapping makes financial sense in a tough economy. His video focuses on a Florida couple who have swapped 20 times.

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-89846089698558099822009-01-07T09:37:00.003-05:002009-01-07T10:15:13.341-05:00

On both sides of the pond, vacation rental companies are reporting a spike in business from value-conscious travellers. In particular, people seem to be looking for self-catering digs close to home.Boston-based FlipKey says that vacation rentals in ski resorts that draw largely from a local area--such as Loon Mountain in New Hampshire, whose clients are mainly New Englanders--are up, while those

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-52889963031687619322009-01-01T13:53:00.005-05:002009-01-01T14:07:13.997-05:00

"Dispatches," one of my favourite CBC Radio programs, recently re-ran reporter Nancy Greenleese's piece about Home Food (scroll down to "Culinary wrongs made right"). The Home Food organization, which started in Bologna and has now spread to other parts of Italy, allows travellers to enjoy a meal in an Italian home for roughly the same price as a good restaurant dinner. The focus is on

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-70415336119426515962008-12-17T08:15:00.003-05:002008-12-17T08:21:26.046-05:00

Just wanted to mention that Kim Mance, editor-in-chief of the online women's travel magazine Galivanting, linked to my advice on home swapping in an article for MarieClaire.com. Her story has lots of excellent advice for people looking to save money while travelling. And these days, isn't that all of us?Thanks for the link, Kim!

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-8195800030652927792008-12-17T08:00:00.002-05:002008-12-17T08:02:18.921-05:00

Thinking about house swapping? The NYC TV station NY1 recently ran a good two-part report on the topic with lots of solid advice.Part 1Part 2

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-75690340272731544212008-12-16T17:51:00.005-05:002008-12-16T18:12:14.919-05:00

For people who want the inside scoop on a destination, the websites of local TV stations are an often untapped source of information.For instance, my friend and fellow travel writer Katharine Fletcher was interviewed last month on "Living in Ottawa," a local CBC-TV show, about an ecological preserve called the Mer Bleue Bog. It's a great peek at a corner of the city known mainly to locals. The

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-89920584530263617082008-12-12T16:36:00.004-05:002008-12-12T17:07:24.482-05:00

Around this time of year, many snowbound Canadians start dreaming about the sunny Caribbean. Here's are a few fun Caribbean blogs to get your imaginations going...Bati Bleki: Restaurant news and social gossip about ArubaMullins Bay Blog: News from the Platinum Coast of BarbadosSpeaking Boricua: Puerto Rican current events, culture, politics and moreSimply Trini Cooking: Trinidadian recipes--with

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-14260838657788333962008-12-09T13:10:00.004-05:002008-12-09T14:06:26.923-05:00

Feeling virtuous because you drove from Ottawa to New York instead of flying? Patting yourself on the back for driving a hybrid car on vacation instead of taking the bus? Don't be so hasty.According to a report released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), the greenest choice isn't always the most obvious one. It all depends on where you're going, what route you're taking and how

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-88164543894351502802008-12-08T09:55:00.004-05:002008-12-12T17:14:06.617-05:00

I've been raving about the benefits of vacation rentals for years to anyone who will listen. So what's so great about staying in a house or apartment instead of a hotel room? Here are my top five reasons to go local.You can discover new neighbourhoods. In many cities, hotels are clustered downtown or in touristy areas. Not that there's anything wrong with either, but sometimes it's nice to see

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-29684815789921234262008-12-07T13:26:00.005-05:002008-12-07T13:33:45.789-05:00

A group of travel bloggers has banded together to launch Passports with Purpose: an online raffle for some very cool prizes. Profits go to support Heifer International, a charity that fights hunger around the world. Tickets are $10 and prizes include a Flip video camera, three nights in a Hawaiian hotel, and a cooking class and dinner for four in New York City. The raffle ends December 29. Good

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-24403552030081707092008-12-06T08:54:00.005-05:002008-12-06T09:42:15.905-05:00

Couch surfing is getting a lot of attention these days--even here on this blog. The latest entry is a short report about the phenomenon by the CBS affiliate in Dallas.KOLN-TV in Lincoln, Nebraska, also posted a news report on couch surfing, which included an interview with local police chief Tom Casady. Casady pointed out that couch surfers should take precautions while couch surfing--checking

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-17052903427743955282008-12-04T09:20:00.004-05:002008-12-04T09:28:18.775-05:00

Looking to escape the tourist trail in San Francisco or Philadelphia?The Quirky San Francisco blog is currently offering a free 43-page biking itinerary of the Bay area. Aside from that, you'll find regular tips on offbeat restaurants, shops and more from long-time SF resident Randy Schroeder.On the other side of the country, uwishunu.com (pronounced "You Wish You Knew") is a hip and trendy blog

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-87483447612950033992008-12-01T08:35:00.003-05:002008-12-03T10:34:28.281-05:00

Following up on my recent post about world news podcasts, I thought I'd post a list of cool online audio travel resources. Not all of them are podcasts; some of them are live streaming files. Indie Travel Podcast: Created by a New Zealand couple with a mad passion for travel, this podcast series is usually updated once a week. It's a great source of audio information on topics like couchsurfing

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-16510430097062821002008-11-28T17:45:00.004-05:002008-11-28T18:06:06.752-05:00

Here's a trend I like: hotels offering shared cars to their guests. Not only does it save guests the hassle and expense of renting a car, it also introduces many of them to the concept of car sharing. And it encourages travellers to use a blend of car trips and public transit--a great way to see a city like the locals do.One of the first properties to jump on this idea was Toronto's Pantages

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-87435838260216773552008-11-27T19:41:00.006-05:002008-11-27T20:15:21.962-05:00

Courtesy of WorldNomads.com, an Aussie travel insurance and travel services company, comes this great 25-minute documentary about a volunteer project to build a bridge and a water faucet in the village of Qelqanqa in the Peruvian Andes, southeast of Lima.A page on the WorldNomads site provides more details on the project. The trip was organized by World Expeditions, which runs Community Project

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-27351210699294670922008-11-27T16:23:00.003-05:002008-11-27T16:57:38.403-05:00

When I was a child, my dad and I used to sit in our basement tinkering with an old radio that, for reasons still unexplained, had incredible powers of reception. Late at night, we could pick up stations far from our home in suburban Toronto--New York City, say, or Chicago. The idea that sounds had travelled over such a long distance fascinated me.As a young adult, I discovered the world of

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-9693997868020005662008-11-26T19:53:00.003-05:002008-11-26T19:59:27.716-05:00

I posted an item earlier today about homestays in India; I'd been captivated by a fascinating website describing opportunities to stay in private homes and meet local people throughout the country. That was about an hour before terrorists attacked Mumbai. I'm shocked and saddened, as so many are around the world, by the news coming from the city. And as so many are, I'm hoping that the chaos and

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-74490715326918429102008-11-26T10:59:00.002-05:002008-11-26T11:13:05.873-05:00

Mahindra Homestays is a new venture from one of India's most powerful families (they're involved in all sorts of businesses, from auto making to finance). The website, aimed at European travellers, allows you to search by region, price, type of building or type of activity--you can specify that you'd like to stay somewhere where you can go bird watching, practise yoga or enjoy an Ayurvedic

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-18240436792137537262008-11-26T10:23:00.004-05:002008-11-26T10:43:02.865-05:00

As regular readers of this blog know, I'm a huge fan of vacation home and apartment rentals. I've rented properties on three continents and, fortunately, have never been the victim of a scam. But fraudsters are out there, as shown by this recent CBC story about a Gatineau, Quebec, family who lost $4,000 while trying to rent a Florida vacation home.What's particularly galling about this scam is

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-29412693869836112272008-11-25T17:51:00.004-05:002008-11-25T18:40:40.380-05:00

One way to get unique, unvarnished insights into foreign cultures is to read blogs and articles written by students participating in semester-abroad programs. Today I stumbled on a recent post by American student Laura Ashbaugh, who is currently living in Amman, Jordan. In her post, she reflects on her conflicted relationship with her host family's Sri Lankan maid, who is close to Ashbaugh's age.

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-6828606935860092692008-11-23T09:04:00.015-05:002009-01-05T10:03:04.531-05:00

As the sun came up, I peeped through the window of our guest house onto a timeless vista: fields of potatoes and other crops, rimmed by hills and mountains. In the distance, a farmer was already at work behind a horse-drawn plow. In the village of Huamacchuco in the Peruvian Andes, many people wake and sleep with the sun; without night-time distractions such as television, the Internet or movie

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-18974825481573231962008-11-04T19:20:00.004-05:002008-11-04T19:37:37.318-05:00

The Association of Scotland's Self Caterers (ASSC) has launched a well-designed website, Embrace Scotland, to link travellers with more than 2,500 vacation rental properties. You can search by region, number of people, property type (apartment, lodge, cottage and so on) and star rating (currently assigned by VisitScotland). Check boxes allow you to specify that you're looking for a green,

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692210832390544291.post-42128899784741507162008-10-31T13:53:00.003-04:002008-10-31T16:09:28.319-04:00

The vacation home rental industry must be coming of age: it's poised to get its own reality show.PineRidge Film and Television (producers of Samantha Brown's show "Passport to Europe," among other programs) and Discover Vacation Homes have created a promo video for a proposed new show, "Living Large on Vacation." According to Discover Vacation Homes consultant Rick Fisher, who is helping develop

Laura Byrne Paquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17936843947318780260noreply@blogger.com3