The Best City To Visit Travel Tournament 2010: Elite 8

After a very strong showing last week in the Best City To Visit Travel Tournament Sweet 16, the remaining Elite 8 are all European cities. (Istanbul is technically in Europe and Asia, but close enough.) New York put up a good fight against London and Paris continues to dominate but this week things get interesting. Vote for your favorite cities – Istanbul vs. Barcelona, Amsterdam vs. Venice, and two other match ups that will be decided this week. Voting ends this Friday March 19th at 12 noon US EST.

• Those of you reading through RSS or my daily email will need to click through to the site to vote.

You can take a look at the entire bracket so far below (or see the larger version).

The winner will be determined on Friday, April 2nd 2010. Missed this contest? I run a number of large and small contests throughout the year. Take a look at some previous competitions and prizes and find out about my next contest first by signing up to my bi-monthly newsletter.

Receive email updates:

[photo by: Kyle Slattery (top picture)]

The Best City To Visit Travel Tournament 2010: Sweet 16

There were several close contests and an upset in the Best City To Visit Travel Tournament Round of 32. Stockholm was back and forth with Washington DC all week before coming out on top the final day of voting, while David may have riled up the Zermatt fans to victory. Ho Chi Minh City also got past Berlin with a single vote to make it to the Sweet 16 round. Now it’s time to vote for your favorites – London vs. New York City, Istanbul vs. Sydney, Amsterdam vs. Rome – select which cities will make it to next week. Voting ends this Friday March 12th, 12pm US EST.

• Those of you reading through RSS or my daily email will need to click through to the site to vote.

You can take a look at the entire bracket so far below (or see the larger version).

The winner will be determined on Friday, April 2nd 2010. Missed this contest? I run a number of large and small contests throughout the year. Take a look at some previous competitions and prizes and find out about my next contest first by signing up to my bi-monthly newsletter.

Receive email updates:

[photo by: Eva The Weaver (top picture)]

The Best City To Visit Travel Tournament 2010: Round Of 32

Starting off with 56 cities from around the world, last week you voted for the top 32 leaving 24 cities behind. While some places like Prague, Vienna, and Los Angeles barely missed out it’s now time to vote for your favorites in 16 city vs. city match ups. The cities were roughly seeded based on the number of votes and there are some interesting contests between Washington DC vs. Stockholm, London vs. Chicago, and Dublin vs. Barcelona. Vote for your favorites between now and this Friday, March 5th 12pm US EST.

• Those of you reading through RSS or my daily email will need to click through to the site to vote.

You can take a look at the entire bracket so far below (or see the larger version).

The winner will be determined on Friday, April 2nd 2010. Missed this contest? I run a number of large and small contests throughout the year. Take a look at some previous competitions and prizes and find out about my next contest first by signing up to my bi-monthly newsletter.

Receive email updates:

[top photo by: urlba]

The Best City To Visit Travel Tournament 2010: Preliminary Round

Every Monday beginning today and throughout the month of March you’ll help take this group of 56 cities and narrow it down to the single best city to visit. The winner of the winning city will win $50 (or $100 if they’ve signed up to my RSS feed or email updates). Today we’re starting with the preliminary round, so choose your favorite 5 cities. The 32 cities with the most votes by noon US EST this Friday February 26, 2010 will advance to the round robin stage. (Seeded based on the number of votes as well.)

• Those of you reading through RSS or my daily email will need to click through to the site to vote.

The winner will be determined on Friday, April 2nd 2010. Missed this contest? I run a number of large and small contests throughout the year. Take a look at some previous competitions and prizes and find out about my next contest first by signing up to my bi-monthly newsletter.

[photo by: urlba]

How Many Posts A Week Would You Prefer? [POLL]

Over the last few months I’ve been contemplating reducing the number of posts I write per week from the normal 5 per weekday to something like 3 (not including picture posts), and I’d like you get your opinion on it. It’s not that I don’t have something to say, or ever post for the sake of posting, but think it may be easier for subscribers to consume. So, what do you think?

I already write for Tech Guide For Travel, How To Travel With Pets, and Travel Blog Advice so there are always new posts on my other sites (at least 5 a week total). I’ll also be adding more videos to the site as well as getting more of my pictures up to my gallery. There are other changes coming to foXnoMad and will start rolling them out over the next few weeks.

Tweetup In Amsterdam

• I’m still planning the details but will be in Amsterdam on Monday night for a tweetup. I’m hoping to meet Keith from Velvet Escape in the Leidseplein area and if you’re free around 7pm would love to meet you. Feel free to send me an email if you’re up for it.

Thanks for sharing your opinions and helping me improve the site!

-Anil

Did You Keep Your Travel Resolutions For 2009? [RESPONSES]

I suppose everyone isn’t keen on New Year’s resolutions although the comments indicate that your fellow travelers have big plans for 2010. In response to the question, did you keep your travel resolutions for 2009, I’d say it’s a middle-of-the-ground “sort of”.

• GoPetFriendly: “We did not make any travel resolutions in 2009 because we didn’t know how drastically are lives were going to change with our dogs AND starting up GoPetFriendly. Our resolution for 2010 is simply to travel as much as we possibly can (70-80% of the time) with Ty & Buster in our RV … being ambassadors for people traveling with their pets and showing them how easy pet travel can be.

• Shannon OD: “I didn’t set any for ‘09, but I let my ‘08 ones carry over for me. In ‘08 I did a whole vision board where I cut out images and created a picture of what I wanted my next couple of years to look like – and RTW travel was on there…And to that end, yeah! I met them all!

• Mark H: “None made…none broken…”

• Heather On Her Travels: “I did achieve most of what I wanted, but perhaps didn’t progress as quickly as I might have liked, mainly due to the fact I was working full time and there just weren’t enough hours in the day…By the way Anil, I’d find you a nightmare to travel with if you’re always cutting it fine for flights. As a natural born planner, this would blow my stress levels – how does your wife cope with you!”

• Brooke vs. The World: “haha, I think my resolution was to get the hell out of Ukraine! Resolution: Completed.”

• Gourmantic: “As for 2010, well, I don’t believe in resolutions just because it’s the New Year. I keep the vision and the plan I’ve set out and work towards it, reassessing as I go along.”

I’m also not one for keeping resolutions based around the New Year but set a variety of specific personal and professional goals for myself throughout the year. I didn’t really make any travel resolutions that I remember for 2009, except to continue traveling full time. As for my personal travel resolutions for 2010 they include making my way to Ecuador (and nearby) this spring, perhaps stopping in Central America, and on to the United States. I’ll stay for a few weeks including a stop at the Travel Blog Exchange in New York this June. That’s only for the first part of 2010 and perhaps our paths will cross.

Where are you headed in 2010?

[photo by: millicent_bystander, E.Bartholomew]

Did You Keep Your Travel Resolutions For 2009?

At the beginning of 2009 I took at look at some travel resolutions that we could all stand to make at one level or another. Personally, I know not cutting it so last minute was a goal I had set for myself. All I was really able to accomplish was perfecting being late to an art. I can’t count the number of times I’ve walked right on to a plane as they were shutting the gate doors behind me this past year. Leaving that behind I’ve resolved to take more pictures and also set a number of travel blogging goals.

What I’d like to hear from you is, did you keep your travel resolutions for 2009?

Perhaps you never made any or have just set some for 2010. Feel free to share your most important travel resolutions and how you fared. Announcing them might make them easier to keep or encourage others with their goals. I’ll be sharing some of these in a post later on next week and your contributions are invaluable.

[photo by: mare.bowe]

Do You Use Credit Cards To Finance Your Travels? [POLL RESULTS]

Several weeks ago I introduced you to the hidden underbelly of traveler debt and asked if some of you are using credit cards to finance your travels, and to what extent. I was a little surprised that only a few of you responded you’ve got some debt on your accounts, but glad that’s the case.

Debt is difficult to manage and can help you travel in the short run but negatively effect your plans down the road in a big way. There are many good ways to reduce debt and save for your travels like cooking peasant meals, cutting your electric bills in half, or using some unconventional methods. Personally I recommend the direct approach and overcoming debt all together.

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.

Receive email updates:

What Gadgets Can You Not Travel Without? [RESPONSES]

It seems as though many of you are traveling with at least 2-3 travel gadgets that you just can’t hit the road without. As for me I probably travel more ‘digitally heavy’ than most but then again, based on these 14 responses to what gadgets can you not travel without, I’m not so sure.

• Voltage adapters: 2
• Rechargable batteries: 2
• Laptop: 8
• Camera: 9
• Mobile phone: 3
• Music speakers: 1
• External drives: 4
• iPod: 2

• RennyBA’s Terella: “I just need my laptop and mobile phone – then (with WiFi), I’m always on, are able to do my work, connect with people and take pics.”

• ATravelAroundTheWorld: “I am a full time traveler, for me is essential to always have with me an international plug adapter, 4 spare rechargeable batteries (you never know), of course laptop, photo camera, mobile phone,my fishing rod and some clothes.”

• AirTreks Nico: “I also like to travel with a set of mini-speakers. Gotta have some tunes to wake up to!”

• Stephanie: “If I don’t see things through my camera lens I feel like I haven’t seen them at all.”

• Dan: “I take my netbook (Samsung NC10), camera and spare batteries everywhere.”

• Mark H: “For me, it is only a camera but most trips are accompanied with a laptop as well.”

• Gourmantic: “Rather than hog your comment box with the list, here’s the link to my essential travel gadgets. I’d also add the iPhone to the list now that I’ve got one.”

• Priyank: “Camera and ASUS EEE, thats it!”

• Nomadic Pinoy: “I don’t bring much gadgets as I try to travel light but my trip won’t be complete without my camera and Ipod.”

• Sherry Ott: “I use an old ipod (no one wants to steal it) that is 80G – so I also use it as backup storage for my laptop. Plus – I keep my ‘best’ photography uploaded on it so that when someone wants to see it – I can easily whip out and show them my portfolio of work!”

• Shannon: “I travel with a travel-sized power strip that folds up easy and gives me a few extra outlets in a hotel room.”

• Nisha: “My digicam, universal plug adapter, 4 spare rechargeable batteries, my mobile phone, Pen drive.”

Personally I always carry a laptop, voltage adapters, iPod touch, and a host of USB, ethernet, and other cables. Since my office travels with me I bring as much of it as I can because it’s so hard to predict what will be available at the next destination. I bring these items because I work from the road (yes, and I love technology) but what are some of the reasons you travel with gadgets?

[photos by: MacDavid Pro, Flashpacking Life]

Next Page »