|
|
Last Chance Trips
If you have considered our Dogsledding in the Northwoods trip (2 spaces left), our Joshua Tree Rock Climbing trip (registration deadline is Wednesday), or one of our Boundary Waters wilderness canoe trips, but thought to yourself- "Gosh I'd like to do it but I'll have to wait until I (pick one): am in better shape/have more money/have more time/can persuade a friend to come/am retired/have the kids out of the house" - I regret to tell you that 2010 is the last year we will be offering any of these trips. Really, as sad as we are to say goodbye to trips we've offered for over 10 years, they will not be on our calendar ever again. So next year, if you say to yourself that this is the year you'll finally do it, don't say we didn't warn you.
|
|
Laura Bly's Packing Advice
Laura Bly is my favorite travel writer, a friend, and one of the very few people left in the newspaper business who is employed full time (by USAToday) to write solely about travel. So I was quite taken when she told me that she never checks a bag, even on a 3 week trip. With the recent increase in baggage fees, I thought this would be a good time to ask her advice. This is what she had to share:
"I'd been a committed carry-on traveler long before the airlines started charging to check a suitcase, but with many carriers now adding $25 each way for the first bag, I'm even more convinced that traveling light is the only way to go.
According to the eminently useful site OneBag.com, wheeled luggage is a no-no because it sacrifices too much space for the added weight (a major consideration if you're flying internationally, since many carriers limit carry-ons by weight as well as size). That said, I'd never give up my Victorinox rolling backpack, which has served me well on trips ranging from three weeks in India to an 8-day jaunt around the world (where the zip-out back straps came in handy for negotiating steep stairs in the Paris metro).
For lightweight, travel-friendly clothes, I'm a big fan of Travelsmith, Chico's and Magellan's - where I recently bought a tropical-weight Scottevest jacket with zipoff sleeves and 18 inside pockets. (The good news: It kept me cool and organized on a 24-hour stopover in Dakar, Senegal. The bad: I still wound up getting pickpocketed, the first time in more than three decades of professional travel.)
Some other tricks in my carry-on bag: No more than two pairs of shoes (Crocs may be ugly, but they're great for everything from questionable shower stalls to casual hiking) one color scheme (black), and a large pashmina shawl - it works as an airplane blanket, beach sarong, and evening wrap."
In addition to the baggage fees, I can't tell you how often I have seen people struggling with more luggage than they need. Traveling light is not only cheaper, it provides a tremendous sense of freedom.
|
|
Our first Facebook Contest!
Calling all Facebook Fans! We are starting to feel the effects of the long winter in the office and imagine many of you are beginning to feel similarly. We thought a fun contest might be a great spark to the grey days, and keep us dreaming of those future trips, as well as the ones that we have taken.
So here's the scoop:
We want you to post as your Facebook profile a picture showing you (or anyone in the photo) wearing an Adventures in Good Company t-shirt. Then write something on the wall of our Facebook Page like "This is me on the Exploring Utah's Canyons trip". Judging will be done by the office staff and guides, with points going towards the visibility of the AGC logo, the overall composition of the photo, and the feeling. We will run the contest through February 20th and let you know who won by the end of the month.
The winner will get her choice of $50 off her next Adventures in Good Company trip (or a current trip if the balance is still outstanding); or a Thermarest chair adapter. This will turn your Thermarest into a nice lounge chair for seating comfort on your next camping trip, picnic, or in your living room.
What if you haven't been on an AGC trip yet? No worries! Post your favorite adventure travel photo of yourself, write on our Facebook Page where it was taken, and the winner will get an AGC t-shirt.
|
|
Website of Interest
One piece of good news in the travel industry recently is that the Department of Transportation has adopted a more consumer protection-oriented approach - like telling airlines that they really can't leave people in airplanes stranded on the tarmac for 8 hours with adequate food and bathroom facilities. And as part of this effort that have launched a new website: airconsumer.ost.dot.gov. Besides having lots of useful information, you can even file a complaint. Right now it is limited to aviation complaints but they do track grievances against large travel agencies (e.g. Orbitz, Expedia) and it may expand to other areas. (For more details, read Chris Elliott's column).
Unfortunately I think some companies don't do the right thing because they don't have to and you as a consumer have had no recourse. But now you do.
|
|
Book of Interest
If you're looking for a good read, I highly recommend "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova. It's a little hard to summarize but let's just say it's historical fiction with aspects of mystery and thriller and, in the most uncliched way possible, vampires.
This book is a bit outside my usual guidelines but I'm recommending it anyway because it was written by a woman, it is beautifully written, and part of it takes place in Bulgaria. Bulgaria!! One of my favorite places, a country of unsurpassed mountain beauty, absolutely fascinating history (which the book helps bring alive), and lovely people - and a country most Westerners have vaguely negative thoughts about if they have any thoughts at all. I had that thrilling moment of recognition when the story was taking place in the Rila Monastery and I knew exactly what the area that was being described.
If you love hiking in mountains, don't want to see any other American tourists, and want to fall in love with a new country, join us for Climbing Bulgaria's Mountains. And don't be put off by the 5 rating- if you have experience hiking in mountains and you aren't sure about the trip, give us a call and we'll put you in touch with women who have been on it previously (incidentally, there are still 2 spaces available at the discounted rate).
|
|
A Couple of Website Changes
If you haven't visited our website recently, I want to point out 2 changes. The first is that we have replaced the small pictures on the home page with a slideshow of some of our best pictures. I often find myself gazing at it when I need to relax and recenter and remember what's important.
The second change is that we have plastered our toll-free number everywhere. Email is great, but it doesn't replace conversation when the question doesn't have a simple answer. I finally realized that while we told people to call, we didn't make our phone number very obvious. So really, if your question is more than yes or no, call us. You have our commitment never to try to sell you a trip.
|
|
Happy Ground Hog Day!
Yay, January is over and spring cannot be far behind! I do have a question about GroundHog Day though. Is 6 more weeks of winter supposed to be a short time or a long time? I mean all you Minnesotans would be delighted to only have 6 more weeks, while us Baltimorons would think Spring was never coming! Whatever you think, have a great rest of your winter.
-- Marian, for all the guides at Adventures in Good Company
|
|
|
