The Best Comments Of The Month: January 2010

I’d like to thank all of you for commenting and bringing each of my posts to life. These are just some of the best comments of the past month.

• Although I was able to convince Monica to freeze her ass off, I don’t think Heather quite believes The Blue Lagoon is as warm as I say it is.

• Greg Stock recommends Cambodia and the temples around Siem Reap as places to visit on a weak dollar and David reminds us to be flexible.

• Barbara left a ton of useful information about planning an RTW that you should read if you are going to travel around the world.

• I really liked Shannon’s vision board concept on setting travel resolutions.

• You can start to learn how to take a motorcycle trip around the world and connect with like minds by reading Johnny Vagabond’s recommendations.

• Although I personally loved it, I agree with Akila and can see how the Guinness Storehouse wouldn’t make this list.

• Luke says you’ll fill up your backpack no matter what size it is.

• Go for the smaller hostels says Mark H.

I appreciate your comments, thoughts, and insights on each post, thank you!

[photos by: Roberto Berlim]

Part 2 Of My Interview With Roger Middleton About RoomAtlas

On Monday I posted the first part of my interview with Roger Middleton who helped create the very useful Google Maps mashup RoomAtlas. I was lucky enough to get geeky with Roger about RoomAtlas over on the Tech Guide Of Travel (one of my other travel blogs) which is reserved for those type of things. It’s a slightly technical discussion but if you’re wondering how some of these nifty travel tech tools work, or are considering developing your own, you’ll find it a fun read.

Some Other Tech Guide For Travel Posts You May Find Interesting

• Comparing The Traveling eBook Readers: Amazon’s Kindle vs. Barnes & Noble’s Nook
• Luggage Limits Lets You Find Out Just That For Over 55 Airlines
• A Traveler’s Guide To Hacking Wireless Networks [Part 1 of 2]

I’ve written quite a few tech posts and interviews here on foXnoMad as well, including with Ben Kazez about the free iPhone app HotelPal and with Ray Carcoana about TravelHolic Confessions.

[photo by: visual.dichotomy]

foXnoMad’s Most Popular Posts From 2009

These are some of my most popular posts in terms of page views and comments from the past year. I’ve also included some of my favorites that might not have been as popular but that I think are worth highlighting once more.

Most Read Posts

• Use Sun Tzu’s The Art Of War To Win Battles At The Ticket Counter
• Essential Software Tools For Digital Nomads
• Overcoming 7 Major Obstacles To Traveling The World – #2: You Think It’s Too Expensive

Most Commented

• 4 Word Combinations You Shouldn’t Neglect To Translate Before Your Next Trip (47)
• Overcoming The 7 Major Obstacles To Traveling The World eBook (39)
• Can You Stop Aging Out Of Travel? (39)

On a side note, I’d like to thank all of you for reading and continuing to support foXnoMad and my other travel websites. It’s been a wonderful year and this site has grown beyond all of my initial goals and expectations – none of which could be possible without you. All the best and wishing you a very happy new year!

[photo by: hapticflapjack]

Travel Bloggers Share Their Best Posts Of 2009

I read over 400 travel blogs regularly and I don’t often get a chance to highlight so many wonderful articles by these travelers. I’ve asked travel bloggers to send me their favorite or most popular posts from the past year and a little about why they chose them. I’m sure you’ll find many of these posts useful, interesting, and incentive to continue (or start!) traveling.

Andy Hayes | Sharing Travel Experiences

• You Deserve Time Off…Really

And with a title like “You Deserve Time Off… Really” pretty much is self-explanatory on why people really empathised with it. A lot of our newsletter subscribers forwarded it on to friends, who got in touch to say “Yes damn it, I do!” Doesn’t everyone deserve time off?

Stephanie Yoder | Twenty-Something Travel

• Go Now: Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Travel

It was actually one of the first things I ever wrote for my blog and I think it really encapsulates the entire message of my blog.

Michaela Potter | Briefcase To Backpack

• Michael Bontempi: How My Career Break Helped My Career

There is already a lot of great travel advice on the internet, so the fact that this particular post spoke to readers the most demonstrates how American’s really do want to embrace the idea of a traveling career break.

Diana | The Adventures of D

• I’ve Always Relied On The Kindness Of Strangers

My most popular post (and the one in which most readers commented) was “I’ve always relied on the kindness of strangers,” which tells the story just how amazing and kind strangers really can be … This post is a part of my Croatia “Adventures of D” stories.

Audrey | Uncornered Market

• 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Travelers

I believe its popularity is due to the fact that it combined the themes of travel and personal growth. People could relate to developing life skills through travel and bringing these skills back home.

Monica | A Pair Of Panties and Boxers

• Photo Friday: Kaifeng, China

I guess when it comes to words, less is more.

Akila | The Road Forks

• The Pre-World Trip Freak Out

I think it encapsulated a lot of our fears and many long-term travelers’ fears about taking the giant leap. This year, I plan to write a follow up post about how our fears have panned out.

Andrew | Brooklyn Nomad

• All You Need Is Love (And A Passport): 9 Beatle-riffic Destinations

My “9 Beatle-riffic Destinations Around the World” caught the attention of many music loving travelers.

Nico | AirTreks

• Why Travel Around The World

I think people click through to it most often because it revitalizes the idea of why traveling is important, as if we didn’t already know this. I think people just like to be reminded why so much of their lives revolve around either actual travel or travel-related ideas.

Heather Cowper | Heather On Her Travels

• Cakes Outside The Mosque in Sidon – Lebanon

My favorite post was this one about the cake I was given for free by the stall-holder outside the mosque in the backstreets of Sidon in Lebanon. It brings back happy memories of my road trip with my girl-friend who lives out there, eating mezze in a small shop in the souk and then being shown kindness & hospitality which epitomizes my memories of that trip and the lovely Lebanese people.

RennyBA’s Terella

• Mini Cruise On Oslo Fjord In Norway

The theme of my blog is to show Norwegian traditions, culture and habits. On this perfect fall day, my wife and I took a cruise on the fjord and where able to show my readers; Oslo in a nut shell.

Barbara | Hole In The Donut

• Beauty, Bells, and Beasts In Central Florida

Hard to pick just one. I [also] really like the post about lesser known Boke Tower Gardens in central Florida.

Donna Hull | My Itchy Travel Feet

• Hiking To A Green Sand Beach In Hawaii

One of my favorite posts, and also very popular with my readers, was about hiking to a green sand beach on Hawaii. It’s a glimpse of the Big Island that many resort guests never see.

Sherry Ott | Ottsworld

• The Motorbike Diaries vol. 14

My most popular post was in a series I did on ‘How to drive a motorbike in Vietnam’. Learning how to drive a motorbike in Saigon was my New Years Resolution last year! It’s a series of 17 posts from the acquisition of the bike to the assimilation into the culture. But the favorite was The Motorbike Diaries vol. 14 – The Great Horn Divide.

Alex Highland | See The Southwest

• Mysteries Surround Formation Of Grand Canyon

I think our best post was a series we did on the Grand Canyon. The series covers the canyon from native heritage to geology and everything in between.

Dan’s Adventure

• Around The World – The Highlights Part 1

It was really difficult to narrow down all the fantastic experiences to just ten and everyone of them brings a smile to my face every time I think about them. I already have so many more for inclusion in the next set of highlights!

Lisa | The World Is Calling

• Romantic Italian Getaway

We loved discovering this part of Tuscany–a part that is rarely touted in the guide books. And the whole Etruscan/historical angle…up until a couple of years ago, I didn’t even know about them or their society!

JoAnna Haugen | Kaleidoscopic Wandering

• The National Park Debate

One of my favorite posts (and one that I hope we keep discussing in the upcoming years) is The National Park Debate.

More Best Travel Posts Of 2009

I received so many great links from other travel bloggers that I could have run an entire series spanning this past week. Here are just some of my favorites that I came across that are worth taking some time and reading over.

• Exile Lifestyle: I Punched A Local In The Face
• The Unlost Wanderer: Cultural Observations Of Buenos Aires Part 1
• The Jet Set Girls: Planning The Best Bachelorette Part Ever
• PassportChop: 5 Tips To Avoid Getting Ripped Off By Prague Taxis
• Kerala India Travel: Kerala Houseboats The Essential Guide (Part 1)
• Students In Europe: The 12 Pubs Of Christmas
• Don’t Forget Your Passport: Reminisces Of Southeast Asia
• Greg Stock: North To Hanoi
• Flip Nomad: Flip’s Top 10 Misadventures
• Travel With Teens and Tweens: Hawaii’s Big Island Offers Something For Everyone

The list grew incredibly fast and are still being added to the original post where I asked travel bloggers to send me their best links of 2009. You can keep up with the expanding list and add your own link if you have one. I appreciate all of the travel bloggers who sent me their link and look forward to reading more in 2010.

The Cheesiest Travel Photo Contest Part 2 [POLL RESULTS]

It never ceases to amaze me how active contest voting gets close to the deadline and it was Lindsay Dever’s photo #6 from the Pyramids in Giza that took the top spot. The Cheesiest Travel Photo Contest Part 2 winner will receive $150 cash via Paypal. The second place winner, Zhiqiang and his wax sumo buddy will be getting an iPod nano. Stephane, I’ve got a $25 Amazon.com gift card for you. I don’t think you’ll have to split it with any crazy Romans though.

All three prize winners have travel blogs and you can read more about Lindsay, PassportChop, and Spageau on their respective websites. Below is the final vote count.

Thank You

I’d like to thank all of the participants, your photos were wonderfully cheesy. For those of you who missed this contest I’ve got another one (with a different topic) coming up and I’ll announce more details mid-February. As for the cheesy travel photos, I got so many after the deadline I might have to do a part 3 in June. For that contest I’m hoping to secure a trip to Iceland as one of the prizes.

Your Thoughts

Since this is the second time I’ve run this particular contest I’d like your feedback for future competitions. I’d appreciate your opinions on the following:

• Contest prizes
• Selecting the winners
• Any improvements or changes you’d like to see

To keep up with future posts you can follow me on Twitter, sign up for my bi-monthly newsletter, or subscribe to daily updates below.

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Travel Bloggers Send Me Your Best Links Of 2009

I’m looking for your best post from 2009 for an upcoming list I’m compiling. I’d like to publish a collection of your favorite 2009 links from your travel blog in in the next few days. If you don’t have a travel blog, that’s ok too, just send me your favorite post from any travel blog. You can leave your links in the comments below or send me an email.

I plan on organizing the list sometime tomorrow (on the 30th) so don’t wait to send me your best material and 1-3 lines on why it’s you chose it.

EDITED [12/30]: I’ve gotten many great links and have already begun putting together the post. Please leave your links in the comments if you haven’t gotten in touch already.

Some Popular Recent Posts To Click If You’re On Holiday

Many of you who’ve been reading for some time know that I tend not to post on major holidays in the US (although I’m not there at the moment). That’s because many of you aren’t online and it’s one of the smart breaks to take from travel blogging. For those of you who are online today though, I’d like to point you towards some posts here on foXnoMad and my other travel blogs you might have missed recently.

• Find out what I did to travel the world and how you too can do the same. From now until January 1rst, my eBook Overcoming the 7 Major Obstacles to Traveling the World is only $8. You can get a second hand opinion by reading Barbara Weibel’s review of my eBook at Hole In The Donut.

• Also, don’t forget to vote for the cheesiest travel photo – the contest is very tight and you’ve got until next Monday to choose your favorite.

• Got a brand new iPhone for Christmas and worried about how you’ll use it overseas? Don’t worry, it’s really easy to jailbreak your iPhone and iPod touch.

• Perhaps you’ll be taking a day or two off to start your own travel blog? Here’s how to create a successful travel blog.

• Over the summer, into the fall I ran a guest post series by Marina Villatoro. Spend part of the day reading her engrossing story, How I Got Robbed in Guatemala and Other Hard-To-Believe Escapades.

I hope you enjoy these links and will have a new post come Monday.

[photo by: (davide)]

Vote For The Cheesiest Travel Photo Part 2 [POLL]

All last week I posted the entries to the second iteration of the Cheesiest Travel Photo Contest and now is the time you can vote for your favorite to determine the winner. The poll is open through Monday, December 28th.

To vote, all you have to do is register here. The only reason I require this is to cut back on fraud and invalid votes, I don’t do anything with the registration information and will delete it 10 days after the contest is over.

In case you don’t recall the entries, here they are again:

Entry #1 Entry #2 Entry #3 Entry #4 Entry #5 Entry #6 Entry #7 Entry #8 Entry #9 Entry #10 Entry #11

-Remember, you must register for your vote to be counted.-

Good luck everyone and thank you to everybody for submitting your votes. I’ll announce the winners next Wednesday, December 30th. Also, don’t worry if you missed this contest, I’ll be kicking off my next one (with a different topic) next February.

To keep up with future posts you can follow me on Twitter, sign up for my bi-monthly newsletter, or subscribe to daily updates below.

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The Cheesiest Travel Photo Contest Part 2 – Entry #11

All this week I’ll be running the entries into The Cheesiest Travel Photo Contest Part 2. Check out the other cheesy photos including entry #1, entry #2, entry #3, entry #4, entry #5, entry #6, entry #7, entry #8, entry #9, and entry #10. You can vote for your favorites beginning Monday, December 21rst.

“Spot the difference.”

Submitted by: Nisha (Le Monde)

To keep up with future posts you can follow me on Twitter, sign up for my bi-monthly newsletter, or subscribe to daily updates below.

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The Cheesiest Travel Photo Contest Part 2 – Entry #10

All this week I’ll be running the entries into The Cheesiest Travel Photo Contest Part 2. Check out the other cheesy photos including entry #1, entry #2, entry #3, entry #4, entry #5, entry #6, entry #7, entry #8, and entry #9. You can vote for your favorites beginning Monday, December 21rst.

“These Romans are crazy!”

Submitted by: Stephane Pageau (Spageau)

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