Travel Minx » Read http://www.travelminx.com Resources and inspiration for fellow wanderlusters. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:52:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 “Don’t Bother”: When To Listen To Travel Advice http://www.travelminx.com/dont-bother-when-to-listen-to-travel-advice/ http://www.travelminx.com/dont-bother-when-to-listen-to-travel-advice/#comments Mon, 23 Jul 2007 11:44:03 +0000 travelminx http://www.travelminx.com/2007/07/dont-bother-when-to-listen-to-travel-advice/ The Sydney Morning Herald has run a clever blog article called Things Not To Try Before You Die (found via Vagabondish) about disappointing travel experiences or destinations the writer recommends we skip.

What’s just as interesting is the article has elicited many replies from people with their own ‘don’t go’ tips. The commenters suggest we avoid:

  • Heathrow and Gatwick Airports
  • Renting a buggy in Brazil
  • Visiting Africa
  • Wearing bling in Saigon
  • Flying in the US unless you have to
  • Cardiff
  • Bucharest
  • Dodgy public toilets
  • Food poisoning in awkward places
  • Vienna
  • Pisa
  • Athens
  • Dunedin, New Zealand
  • ..and many more. Read the whole article.

The question is, how much do you take other people’s tips into account? I’ve visited places based on recommendations and been disappointed (eg. I was a little underwhelmed by Montreal, which is pretty, but so are other places).

The fact is, such advice can be a godsend or it could prevent you from having an amazing experience because you didn’t find out for yourself. If I really wanted to see a place, my excitement may be curbed a little by a bad review but I wouldn’t let it stop me.

What about you?

]]> http://www.travelminx.com/dont-bother-when-to-listen-to-travel-advice/feed/ 6 Where Are The Best Travel Articles? http://www.travelminx.com/where-are-the-best-travel-articles/ http://www.travelminx.com/where-are-the-best-travel-articles/#comments Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:39:16 +0000 travelminx http://www.travelminx.com/2007/07/where-are-the-best-travel-articles/ Where do you like the read travel articles – newspapers, magazines, online or all of the above? I mostly prefer magazines, simply because you can curl up on the couch and let yourself mentally drift to an exotic location. Sitting at the computer isn’t quite the same.

Still, as Brand New Traveler points out in their weekly round-up of the best travel tales online, people who post their own articles don’t have a hidden agenda unlike some MSM. And it’s easier to start a conversation with the writer about their trip.

As a writer, it’s still best to be published in print if you want to get paid. As a reader, well, it’s fun to browse the web for treasure. I’ve been reading a few such articles which people are submitting to my first-ever Carnival of Travel Articles. In fact, I’ve had so many that I might put them up a little earlier than planned…

Some Great Travel Articles

]]> http://www.travelminx.com/where-are-the-best-travel-articles/feed/ 2 The Art Of Waiting At The Airport http://www.travelminx.com/the-art-of-waiting-at-the-airport/ http://www.travelminx.com/the-art-of-waiting-at-the-airport/#comments Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:16:40 +0000 travelminx http://www.travelminx.com/2007/07/the-art-of-waiting-at-the-airport/ If you’re a keen traveler, you’ll have spent a fair chunk of your life waiting at airports. It’s generally quite a dull time (although, with cars crashing into airports, a dull time can be a good time).

But there are ways to pass the time more enjoyably.

  • Get access to airport lounges via club memberships
  • Find a great book. You’ll be so absorbed you’ll forget your surroundings
  • Surf wi-fi via your laptop, watch movies on your PlayStation Portable, or play with your new iPhone
  • Listen to the announcements – you never know what you might hear
  • Browse the shops and find the silliest souvenir
  • Read the paper and catch up on the day’s news
  • Chat to the person waiting next to you, if they want to be chatted to
  • Enjoy one of the rare times when it’s acceptable to do nothing. Reflect on the miracle of air travel

Don’t:

  • Lose track of time or forget your passport and ticket
  • Forget to label your luggage, especially if it’s black like everyone else’s
  • Freak out when your flight’s delayed. Happens all the time. Be Zen about it

Related Sites:

Sleeping at airports – When your flight’s delayed and you gotta stay, be prepared

How to kill time at airports from eHow, with user comments below

Got kids? Use some fun airport activities

How do you make airport waits bearable?

]]> http://www.travelminx.com/the-art-of-waiting-at-the-airport/feed/ 6 How To Take Awesome Travel Photos http://www.travelminx.com/how-to-take-awesome-travel-photos/ http://www.travelminx.com/how-to-take-awesome-travel-photos/#comments Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:11:47 +0000 travelminx http://www.travelminx.com/2007/06/how-to-take-awesome-travel-photos/ I’m not a professional photographer but I have had travel pics published along with my articles. These are my tips:

1. Invest in a good camera.
Obviously. You need one with good zoom ability if you’re photographing wildlife. But don’t just buy the camera; the real work is learning how to use it! Read the manual and practice different settings.

2. Take a class.
This has been on my to-do list for a while. Even online courses can be free.

3. Consider the time of day.
Midday light can often lead to hazy photos. Early morning or evening are generally the best times.

4. Don’t just photograph the sights.
The best photos can be the unexpected, or the minutiae. Take lots and lots of photos. At least a few will be great.

5. Photograph locals, but respectfully.
Always ask first. In some cultures having your photo taken is undesirable. And avoid having people pose, in general. It looks awkward and boring.

6. If photographing the Sistine Chapel, or any priceless work of art, turn your flash off!
Not only will you have a better photograph you are not contributing to the fading of priceless works.

7. Learn to touch up using Photoshop.
I’m not a fan of fake photos, but a few touch-ups using basic Photoshop tricks can do wonders.

8. Take batteries and a charger and keep charging!
It sounds like a no-brainer but my camera went dead in the middle of a glorious two-day boat trip. To picture it I’ll just have to use my memory.

9. Consider layout.
There are sites below that go into more detail, but the basics are, don’t include lots of wide empty space, think about balancing elements in the picture, what you want to be in focus etc. Play around before your trip. The beauty of digital is that you can click and erase at will.

10. Upload ASAP.
A couple I know traveled the world, used up 20 rolls of film, came home, he got drunk and passed out on the subway with his bag full of them, bag got stolen, he was on the couch for weeks. ‘Nuff said.

11. Use different angles.
Low-angle or high-angle adds a different perspective and can change everything.

12. Check your framing.
Is someone about to walk into your amazing photo? Is your hair blowing into the picture? Should you zoom in/out?

Further Reading:

]]> http://www.travelminx.com/how-to-take-awesome-travel-photos/feed/ 1