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Best Travel Deals and News – May 18, 2010 – Bangkok, Athens, Crazy Vending Machines of the World, Travel Mistakes, Approaching Strangers

brian — Tue, 18 May 2010 09:01:00 +0000

Travel news and deals of interest to YOU from around the Web compiled and edited by NoDebtWorldTravel.com:

If you know any great travel stories or tips we all should read, please send it to me and I will put an acknowledgment of your contribution in the posting.

More Deadly Clashes in Central Bangkok

Jodi from Legal Nomads continues to update the situation in Bangkok. She simply states, “Let me reiterate: I would not be sitting here posting on this crisis if my life were in danger.”

Visit Greece despite riots, experts say

Another country in turmoil is Greece. I blogged about my time there when there were explosions in the streets. Exciting up until you realize that those explosions sometimes come with riot police and thrown bottles. And I stand out in Greece. No need to put a target on your back.

Travel Video of the Week
One Year in South America in Seven Minutes

World’s strangest vending machines

I thought Japan had the lock on world’s strangest/funniest/scariest vending machines, but Nippon, you have some competition. Catch a LIVE lobster from a vending machine and cook it right away? Ridiculous and fascinating at the same time.

Confessions of a frequent-flier program skeptic

Travel advocate Christopher Elliott is clearly unimpressed by frequent flier miles programs all the airlines tout. Airlines give special access to lounges, better customer support and better chances for upgrades. All you’ve got to do is dedicate all your flight travel with one airline. Sometimes I wonder if I should have used an airline alliance so I could get the frequent flier miles from my round the world trip. But I’m not sure if I would have used them or if they would been valid after a certain amount of time.

Plane views: the beauty of a window seat

Everyone has shots out the window of a plane. Take a gander and submit some of your own.

Lessons learned from your worst travel gaffes

I remember when I went from Honolulu to Tokyo. I got on the flight and examining the ticket… realized I was losing a day! I left in the early afternoon on the 16th from Hawaii and arrived at the next night on the 17th in Tokyo. The International Date Line got me.

How to Approach Strangers for Photos, Video or an Interview

One of the hardest things when you’re traveling solo is to get the right photos of yourself. How would anyone ever know you’ve actually been someplace if you’re never in the photo? Or how about getting some other people to talk to and take pictures of/with?

10 Days in a Carry-On

Flight attendant Heather Poole shows us what she packs for 10 days. I preach all the time, take just the carry-on. If you’ve got to check the bag and you’re not moving there full-time, you’re taking too much.

Passport tips every traveler needs to know

The big travel season is almost here, so get your passport renewed so you can hit the road. Americans, remember if you’re going to Canada, Bermuda, or the Caribbean you need a passport to travel to those locations by plane. By boat or by land, you can use a passport card.

Best Travel Deals and News – May 18, 2010 – Bangkok, Athens, Crazy Vending Machines of the World, Travel Mistakes, Approaching Strangers is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

More Shots of Ancient Greece

brian — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:02:00 +0000

Looking through the Temple of Hephaistos in the Ancient Agora

The Dionyssos Theater at the Acropolis

The entrance to the Acropolis – Notice the dog I mentioned before right below the white sign on the gate

Ongoing restoration work at the Parthenon

These workers hand chip a marble block to replace a crumbling one. Tedious work, but necessary to preserve the look of the structure, as the original Greeks intended

The long view of the Parthenon from downhill looking up

All of this done without modern tools, bulldozers, heavy cranes or computers…

More Shots of Ancient Greece is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

2009 Greece

brian — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:30:00 +0000

We all know about Greece’s ancient history, the fantastic monuments, etc.

Let me bring you into 2009…

I ran into a protest by farmers demanding more aid from the Greek government. With the worldwide economic downturn they are hurting and they are looking for their government’s help.

Notice how the pics are from a distance. The riot police may not take kindly to me taking photographs so I discreetly did it.

One thing about Athens you’ll find is the number of dogs just running the streets. If you’re scared of dogs, you might be a little nervous. But generally they seem docile, but I’m not going up to them to find that out firsthand.

So I did a little research (Google) and found out that years ago after a videotape of inhumane conditions at a pound surfaced and the mayor of the town was arrested and sent to jail, every other mayor dissolved his or her local dog pound to sidestep PERSONAL liability. Hence dogs running wild.

I saw the dog at the entrance to the Parthenon, I saw the sign and I said “Perfect!”

This is how many of the dogs look: just laid out, sleeping. They are well-fed and taken cared up. Most of us would consider them strays because they walk around without an owner, but this is how the Greeks do it.

2009 Greece is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

First Shots of Greece

brian — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:14:00 +0000

I spent my first day in Greece inside. The rain was pouring down and I made myself comfortable in my hostel to plan out my next day. Greece is in the low season and the hostel is nearly empty, meaning I’ve had a 4 bed room to myself. About $27US a night with bathroom and shower in the room. Nice!

Next day I hit the major site: the Acropolis. The Acropolis rises from the Greek hills and overlooks Athens, like a shepard watching his sheep.

You buy a 12 Euro ticket ($16US) that gets you into the Acropolis, as well as 5 other sites in and around Greece. Extremely good value. Since Athens is pretty compact, you can walk almost anywhere if you have the time and inclination.

The Acropolis was the center of Greek commerce and government in ancient times, but with the wear and tear of the elements is now undergoing a major restoration project. Hence the very modern scaffolding and equipment mixed in with the ruins.

These men are hand chipping this large marble block to replace a crumbling block that is currently in place. Tedious work, but necessary.

Me at the Acropolis overlooking Athens

Postcard Update – Athens

brian — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:07:00 +0000

Today at the Acropolis

Hey, Hey, Hey!

I’m in a great mood because I am currently in Athens, Greece, checking out the land of Hercules and Mount Olympus and the Acropolis. Postcards are out by this Thursday, but click on the link on the blog that says ‘GET A *REAL* POSTCARD’, send your physical address, and you’ll get a HANDWRITTEN card from yours truly. Will wonders ever cease?

Remember you don’t have to know me, just like getting postcards.

Postcard Update – Athens is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel