To Go or Not to Go, That is the Question

The more I get to understanding people's travel psyche, the more I begin to realize something: People are nervous about visiting most places. It's not uncommon for me to hear, "I won't travel there, it's too dangerous" many times a week in reference to places no where near the State Department's Advisory List. While most of the time I think their concern is off-base, the real question is, as travelers, what do we do with places like Thailand, India, Myanmar and Greece? We've all seen these countries in the news of late for various reasons and while not on Advisory Lists, instances of unrest in these destinations often creates an over-reaction from the general public.

So the real questions are:
Where should we be worried about traveling?
Where shouldn't we worry?
When do people need to just relax, put aside their anxiety, and just go?


Let me start with the obvious: Any destination engaged in some sort of international, civil, or insurgent-led war should be avoided. I think we can all agree that places like Iraq, Afghanistan and to some extent Pakistan are off-limits. Add to this the handful of countries that are so incredibly de-stabilized or lawless that one would be risking more than simply their belongings by traveling there, and we should add places like Somalia, Sudan, DRC, Zimbabwe, and largely Palestine. But what then?

One of my pet peeves is that if you watch or read the news, you'd think that every place on this planet is dangerous; anything international should be avoided:

Don't travel to Thailand, there are people that are protesting the government.
Don't go to London, they had those bombings,
Don't see the Louvre, the French hate us.
Avoid South America, they have all of those drug cartels.
Don't see China, it's near that crazy guy in North Korea.
Watch out for Peru, I saw that story about how Alpaca's will spit at you.
Definitely avoid Egypt, there are terrorists everywhere.
Steer clear of Southern Italy... all of those mobsters.
Don't go near the Mideast, Arabs hate us and will kidnap Westerners.
SE Asia is lawless. I heard that if you go most places there, you'll likely wake up in a bathtub without your organs.
Russia is crazy, after the collapse they lost all of their nuclear weapons, and they could be detonated at any time.
Never Indonesia; a tidal wave will sweep me away.
Nor Turkey. Crazy earthquakes, none of those buildings are built like the Japanese, they'll fall on me.

Ugh. My advice: Relax. Take a deep breath. Look around you. Realize our country has it's own dangers. There will certainly be instances of unrest, crime, natural disaster and pockets of danger anywhere in this world one travels. But ask yourself: How many crime reports do you see on TV here each day? How many streets exist in this country that you wouldn't walk down past dark? How many earthquakes/tornados/hurricanes/floods hit our country every 12 months? Would you ever tell someone not to come to America because it's too dangerous?

Make sure you do your research, and just go! Aside from the few places listed above, the countries in this world are overwhelmingly safe. The people there are overwhelmingly sweet, hospitable, and just like you. Buy a good guide book to steer you clear of the wrong parts of the city, avoid war zones, and just relax and enjoy yourself. Read more...

Travel Secrets

Today's post may be a bit off-kilter, but I wanted to comment on a few things I've seen more and more of since joining the "travel community." Oh heck, let's just get to the point: There are some really annoying expectations people have about travel. Now before I put my foot in my mouth any further, I want to make the compulsory public service announcement that everyone (including me) has expectations from time to time about what a place ought to look like, how much it ought to cost etc. etc. that aren't quite on point. Fact is, often times travel reality is the opposite of what we expected. That said, there are some things the general public needs to know. As a side note, if you travel frequently, or have not been locked in a box for the last ten years, you can tune out now. For the unfortunate few that do not, or have been, read on:

1. You can no longer fly from LAX to Paris for $399. Yep, shocking, I know.
Oh, what's that?
"You did it in college?"
Well guess what? Ten years ago: gas was cheaper, our dollar was stronger, and supply greater.

2. You cannot stay on the beach in Thailand (specifically Phuket, Ko Phi Phi, Samui, Krabi or elsewhere) for $10/night. And no, there are no secret communities of backpackers that have occupied an otherwise unknown island where days are blissful, and everything is free.

3. Tokyo is insanely expensive. Yes, worse than New York. And no, there's nothing I can find for you under $200 in that city anywhere near the sections of the city you'd want to be near.
"But why?!"
"That's insane!?"
"It can't be true!"
Answer: It just is, yes it is, unfortunately it is.

4. If you are looking to get "off-the-beaten-path", steer clear of Europe.

5. The combination of 4-5 star, centrally located, and very very cheap rarely, if ever, exists.

6. In remote parts of this world, you cannot always just fly from place to place - you have to drive.

7. There are ATM's in foreign countries. I know, totally crazy. It's almost as if there are banks in countries other than our own.

8. You get what you pay for. Simple enough, right? If you want to spend $75 a night on a hotel abroad, don't expect much. Furthermore, don't write a review on Trip Advisor once you've stayed at that $75/night property that the valet was poor, breakfast incomplete, or room not very big.

9. Iceland is not covered in ice, and Greenland is not really green.

10. Cancun is dirty, gross, not very foreign, and chalked full of drunk college kids. It's not an ideal family vacation spot. Read more...

Super Rad Organization II...

Hello loyal readers. Awhile back we profiled one of the many organizations (Invisible Children) that we make travel-related donations to for our clients. If you'd like to know more about how this program works, please click here. Today I want to draw attention to another one of our partners near and dear to our hearts: Surfrider Foundation. Like Invisible Children, Surfrider definitely falls into both Jessica and I's self-proclaimed "rad" category. This is an organization that started here in Southern California and has blown up throughout the country as a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide. Basically, Surfrider started as a bunch of surfers just wanting to make sure our beaches and waves are safe, clean and protected. Yes please.

Surfrider spearheads numerous projects, and if you'd like to see many of their recent successes click here, but I want to talk about one in particular today: their Rise Above Plastics Campaign. Now if you're like me, you hear facts about pollution etc all of the time and 99% are forgotten two seconds later. A lot of times I can't adequately understand or put into context the scope of the problem, and hence forget all about it. Jessica and I recently went to a Surfrider chapter meeting and were made aware of one of the most disturbing facts I have ever heard. Here it is (straight from Surfrider's site):

There is a section of the Pacific Ocean twice the size of the continental United States called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Within it, 100 million tons of plastic swirl in a vortex of currents. There is so much plastic in the water that it outnumbers zooplankton by six to one! This plastic ends up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals. In fact, one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die globally each year due to ingestion of or entanglement in plastics.

Twice the size of the U.S.!! I almost fell out of my chair. Worse still, this plastic dump was only the size of Texas four or five years ago. This situation has gone haywire; totally out of control. Surfrider needs help from each of us to help curb the madness. There's currently a member from their team touring with Jack Johnson (who backs Surfrider 100% and wants to get their word out to the masses), trying to educate the public. I was recently at a concert of his where he dedicated a song to Surfrider, and even wore one of their shirts throughout the whole concert (Save Trestles!). We donate a portion of any of our client's vacations that are coastal or onboard a cruise ship to Surfrider. Surfrider has a section of their Web site where you can pledge to help this massive problem with plastics, and get involved today:

- Using reusable bottles for my water and other drinks. By using just one reusable bottle, I will keep 167 single-use plastic bottles from entering the environment.

- Using cloth bags for groceries and other purchases. For each reusable bag I use, I will save approximately 400 plastics from being used.

- Recycling the plastic bags and bottles I already have. For every thirteen plastic bags I don't use, I will save enough petroleum to drive a car one mile. Read more...

What is your favorite travel guide?

When I first starting traveling on my own, I bought my first travel guide. It is a 'Let's Go Spain' and honestly it is so beat up, ragged and over-used, but I cannot imagine throwing it away. I used it for a whole year to get around Spain and I literally brought it with me everywhere. Of course when I bought the 'Lets Go' version, I did it specifically because it had a plethora of information about hostels and low budget accommodations.

Now that I am considerably older and hostels don't hold the same place in my heart as they once did (perhaps it is the fact that you have to sleep in the same room as 12 strangers), I tend to stay away from the 'Lets Go' Travel guides. Since most travelers purchase books to read up on their destinations I am curious to learn, what is your favorite travel guide?

Here is the quick synopsis of some of the most popular versions:

Lets Go: A great option for those on a tight budget. I love the options they give because they find places at a great price that do not appear to be budget lodgings. Plus, they take into account younger travelers and their needs/wants, so this book always includes the best bars, trendy restaurants and other pertinent tips.

2. Frommers: Wonderful for travelers who are looking for mid to high priced accommodation options. Truth be told, this is now my favorite of all travel guides. I feel like their strength lies in describing a city before you arrive. They give a fair account of what to expect and especially the 'must-do's' that the region.

3. Eyewitness Travel Guides: I know so many people that swear by this book, because of the vivid pictures and maps included. I do admit that this guide includes more visual material than any other, but I think there is a big lack of content. I never find these books very helpful once you get to the location, plus I find the layout very confusing.

4. National Geographic Traveler: Obviously the photography in these guides are stunning, so be aware you experience might not be quite as beautiful. I love this guide because of the historical references it includes. These books tend to be a bit more expensive, but well worth it for a genuine understanding of the region in which you are traveling.

So what is your favorite travel guide? Read more...

Alternative Energy for Cruise Ships???

Could it be possible? We have seen some people convert their cars to biofuel (used cooking oil as a source of clean burning energy) but can it be, Cruise Ships are now using this method?

Well...no, not really. But, one cruise company, Fred. Olson, a company out of England, is trying to get one step closer to this endeavor.

Fred. Olson has signed an agreement with Bio Driven of Canterbury, a start-up company which is involved in creating high-quality bio-diesel. Under the agreement, waste cooking oil from Olsen cruise ships will be collected and transformed through a carbon negative process into a clean and efficient fuel. Matt Grimes, Director of Logistics for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said: “We are very excited to be working with Bio Driven, as we are always looking for ways to make our operations more environmentally friendly and to recycle our waste material, so this venture is a “win win” situation for everyone.”

Basically alternative energy is still in its infancy, but it is wonderful to see companies making positive steps. Since Fred. Olson produces about 40 tons of waste cooking a year, I think this is a much better use than simply dumping it. I wish more cruise companies would follow suit. Read more...

Some Real Travel News....

Most of the time I find "travel news" pretty boring. Go to any travel section of a major news source and you'll find the oh-so-trite headlines of such scintillating things as "London's Happening Side", "Best Summer Getaways", or "Best New Hotels". Blah blah blah. And so travel news goes: The same articles recycled each season and highlighting all of the same places. I mean, who doesn't know that Hawaii has great beaches? Anyhow, enough with my rant and on to the real point: In my opinion, this week there have been three really interesting stories that truly embody interesting travel news.

As you are all aware by now, adventure travel (in its many definitions) is fascinating to me. I love when the travel envelope is pushed so to speak; partly because I always wish it were me doing it, and partly because that envelope is so hard to push nowadays. As per an earlier blog entry of ours alluded to, there aren't too many unconquered or great adventures left. So the first two articles that I am going to cite certainly caught my eye this week:

1. 16-year old attempts to be youngest to sail solo around the world: Umm.... RAD. This kid's itinerary alone is enough to make me jealous for the next week and a half, not to mention the incredible undertaking. I'm not sure what is more amazing: A solo sail around the world, or the fact that he's 16. 16! I could hardly be trusted to operate a broken down vehicle at 16, let alone a 36-foot sailboat with expensive (not to mention complicated) equipment, in the middle of high-seas, with no other human being onboard. By the way, my favorite part of this story is his Mom's proud declaration with her arm around her son that, "He's already got a gallon of teriyaki sauce." I'm pretty sure that's the least of his worries...

2. Man to spend 300 days alone on an isolated island: A French guy plans to spend 300 days with nothing more than a swiss army knife and a camera on an isolated island in the South Pacific. Crazy? Probably. But none the less, a pretty cool thing to try that certainly isn't seen nowadays. As a side note: I've been reading bloggers all day downplaying this by saying it's not a big deal, it's for publicity, it means nothing because humans used to live off the land, etc etc. Are you kidding me? Go back behind your keyboards and keep thinking that.... None of you could last two days in similar circumstances. Look I don't care if any of the above are true, if I guy can live on the land for almost a year with just a knife, it's pretty frickin amazing.

3. "Uncontacted" tribe spotted in the Amazon: This one could be my favorite of the week. This tribe was spotted by a plane (that subsequently had arrows fired at it) in search of finding tribes like this one: untouched an unspoiled by the modern day. The best part of this story is that Survival International and other such groups will not allow people in to see the group, and are trying to protect them against loggers encroaching on their territory. Pretty cool. It's kind of a weird catch-22 where on the one hand it would be interesting to watch a documentary on a group not previously seen before, but the other (stronger) emotion I have is to let them be, protect them and let them live as they always have. Read more...

Pangaea According to Fox News.....

For all of my Mensa friends out there, here's a question: What do Fox News, rising gas prices, and Pangaea Travel have in common?

Guess #1: Absolutely nothing. Ummm.... close, but no.
Guess #2: They are all rad. No. Clearly, Pangaea only qualifies as rad. Fox News gets a "neat", and rising gas prices... well, I don't really want to say what I think about that.
Guess #3: I'm not sure, but there was a news story on this last Friday. Bingo.

Yep, last Friday we had a brief feature on the local Fox News 6 station here in San Diego. Our green measures are being noticed! We think our eco-commitment and carbon offsetting initiatives are big news, and it's nice to see others picking up on it. To view the feature, please click on this link and play the video on the right side of the screen. To read more about the environmental incentives of booking with our company, check out our Web site.

Taking a cruise? A tour? Flight? Booking a hotel room? Let us book it, and we'll make it GREEN! It'll be the same price, and there's no additional charge... Why not! Read more...