Travel News and Deals – August 4, 2009 – What To Tip Overseas, Amsterdam, India Train Travel, Virgin America Video, Buckle Up For Rough Air is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

A NoDebtWorldTravel.com Success Story!

If any of you have used an item from the blog to your benefit, please let me know. Even if you don’t want that information on the blog, I would love to know that what I do here is making a difference to people who take the time to read it…

This week’s Travel News and Deals included an item about jobs at hostels.

Jonathan is an American I met in a London Internet cafe and we spoke for about 5 minutes. He was also was doing round the world travel – RTW – and so we talked for a few minutes and went our separate ways. Jonathan connected to my blog and has been reading ever since.

He contacted me yesterday and said that he found a job at an Amsterdam hostel within a matter of days directly as a result of my posting on Tuesday!

Here’s is Jonathan’s email and tips on how to land a job like this:

After checking my e-mail and the updates at nodebtworldtravel.com i found a great new blog on ways to save money and useful tips for travel, but best of all there was a great link to an amazing resource for travelers looking for jobs, which had lots of advice and utilities to begin my search.

After reading the article and using some of the resources I sent a few letters and in no time i had great responses and communication between some fantastic hostels. All i had to do is be myself and be honest, make sure to list all of your skills even ones that you might not think to add on a usual resume. Be enthusiastic in your title and try to draw positive attention to yourself. These places have many applicants but the resources you will now have at your disposal will put you ahead.

I used www.hosteljobs.net which was just a few clicks away from Brian Peters blog. His site has aided me in my journey and brought new opportunities.

Jonathan

Congratulations Jonathan and glad I could help!

How I Helped A Traveler Stay on the Road Longer is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

My last night in Amsterdam was spent with Wytze and Ozlem, newlyweds in Amsterdam referred to me by loyal reader Allie.

In Amsterdam every meal MUST be had with a beer, so Wytze suggested a dark brew with a nice after taste. Had a great conversation with them. The story of how two people meet, fall in love and get married is always interesting and their story is no different.

A toast to the newlyweds….May your marriage be as long and enjoyable as our dinner! You know what I mean…longer than a couple of hours obviously!

Brian, Ozlem, Wytze and our beers

Some other shots from Amsterdam…

The Dutch love bikes. That is why they look so healthy…because they probably are. But they also take their traffic enforcement seriously, as this guy was caught riding on the sidewalk outside the clearly marked bicycle lanes that cover the entire city.

Some new friends in Amsterdam. And just like Vegas, what happens in Amsterdam…

Honey, better stop looking at me and look at the tram coming at you!

The Dutch. Wonderful people. Helpful. Kind. Speak great English. But WHAT is up with the fries covered in MAYONNAISE? I could feel my arteries closing just looking at it. But that’s what they do. I still love ‘em. The Dutch, that is…

Who Said Amsterdam was Boring? Not Me. is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

From the streets of Amsterdam…

Can You Tell What This Sign Is For? is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Like I was saying Amsterdam is much more than the Red Light District and smoking. Let me take you through a brief journey through Amsterdam’s history you probably have not heard…

By now you know you must do the Free Tours where ever they are available. Right now they are only in Europe, which I find surprising. If you Google free tours they are available in other cities run by different organizations, but I can’t vouch for their quality. This is my second one with the same company and they both have been great. This time we had a Brit named Alex who gave a 3 hour walking tour of Amsterdam.

Alex talked about the history of Amsterdam and how the Red Light District came to be. Amsterdam back in the day was a major port and trading post. Sailors out to sea for months at a time, they come into port…you get the picture.

Now the importance of the Catholic Church in these times cannot be overstated. To absolve you of your sins you paid a tax. If you knew you were going to mess up, you could pay in advance!

Amsterdam is a super liberal country because after World War II and the strict crackdown the Nazis imposed, the Dutch went to the other extreme after they were liberated. Hence the very lax rules on the Red Light District and smoking.

The tour ended at Anne Frank’s house, where she and her family hid from the Nazis during World War II. I haven’t read the book since I was a kid, but now I can appreciate the intelligence she wrote with at such a young age.

Also visited the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum. I am by no means an art connoisseur but I can appreciate the time and effort it takes to create something considered a masterpiece. At least the museums here have explanations in Dutch AND English. Most of the French museums only had French explanations for their exhibits.

Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Vermeer…all names I heard in passing but it was nice to see their works up close and personal.

Sorry they don’t allow photos of artwork. Unlike the Mona Lisa back at the Louvre, there is no protective glass to shield the paintings and sculptures from repeated camera flashes.

Bet You Didn’t Know…. is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

On this trip you never know when you’re going to run into someone again. That was certainly the case my first night in Amsterdam.

I had a 2 hour train ride on EuroStar from London to Brussels. Yes, the same Brussels that is home to the ‘Muscles from Brussels’ – Jean Claude Van Damme!

Then there was a 3 1/2 train ride from Brussels to Amsterdam. There are trains every hour and I totally miscalculated how long the trip would take, so I didn’t eat before I got on the train. Mistake.

On the train I got a text message from Leon, who I met in my hostel in South Africa and is from Holland. He was willing to meet me in Amsterdam.

I got to the hostel, dropped my stuff and ran out looking for something to eat. No problem because Leon met me at the restaurant near Dam Square.

After having an excellent and inexpensive dinner (Thanks Leon!), Leon took me on an impromptu bike tour of Amsterdam.

After dinner with the owners of the restaurant in Amsterdam

See in Amsterdam, everyone gets around on bikes. And I was on the back of the bike below while Leon pedaled through the cold streets of Amsterdam, pointing out places of interest for a solid 30 minutes. Above and beyond the call of duty my friend. I thank you!

Our chariot for the evening

The one thing about hostels that give it an advantage over hotels is that hostels have a built in way to meet people: the common area. You sit, you start chatting to the person next to you and suddenly you’re buddies with promises to keep in touch and drop in if you happen to be in the neighborhood.

Most hotels you go to your room, you sit until you go out and then you come back. Maybe you chat someone up in an elevator, but the elevator has a built in timer when the doors open. Mind you I love staying in a comfy room by myself and will gladly do it if the price is right. But the friendship and camaraderie are what make hostels such a nice place to be, even if you can afford the big room to yourself.

Pedaling Through the Streets of Amsterdam is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Yes, yes, I am in the home of the Red Light District and that special herb you don’t put on food. But Amsterdam has a lot more to offer, as I am finding out. In the meantime postcards are going out by Thursday, so send your snail mail address to the address listed in the link on the blog that reads, “GET A *REAL* POSTCARD”

Whether old friend or new acquaintance, you will get a card…many satisfied blog readers can testify to that!

Postcard Update – Amsterdam is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel