Our Motto: Travel Frugally, Travel Wisely, Travel Often....

Being a traveler not just a tourist means different things to different people.This travel information site is geared for travelers that wish to travel often but do not crave necessarily either 5 star or cheap hostel type accommodations. Although the use of local guides is sometime warranted, traveling to us means exploring, learning, and appreciating the geography, culture and history of the places we visit.

Traveling to us involves some simple concepts:

Preplanning - Learn about the places you will travel to. For us, this is one of the best parts of traveling. Learn about the geography, the currency used, the language(s) spoken, the local customs such as greeting a person, etc. One of the more pleasant customs we encountered and attempted to respond to was the holding of ones hands in front and bowing in Thailand (sawat dee for Hello and la-gon for Goodbye)- how civilized, courteous and cultured! By studying travel guides, websites that specialize in travel information, and reading books based in or on the travel destination, your traveling will surely be enhanced.

Other things to learn about ahead of time include any dangers (e.g.. box jelly fish on the Australian coast from November to March) or Canadian government travel alerts such as political instability or health warnings. Learn also about what immunizations are needed to where you will travel or what medication your physician can prescribe to prevent problems, e.g. hepatitis shots or anti-malaria drugs. Most of all learn when local festivals or celebrations occur so that you can be part of them.

Your are the Foreigner - Real travelers know that they are the foreigners and not the locals. Real travelers  appreciate the "humanness" of others and realize that just because they speak a different language, wear different clothes, may be richer or poorer, or eat food we will not touch, they are above all fellow human beings who have feelings, pride and something to contribute. Remember you are the foreigner so do not expect the "locals" to be like you and do things "your way", Don't be like the obnoxious blond Texan woman who loudly berated our well educated, multilingual guide in the Vatican Museums that she could not understand the guide's accent and the guide should "speak better English" - it took all of my strength not to tell our fellow "tourist from Texas" that the guide's English, German and most likely Italian, where of much better quality than her Texan drawl! Become a better listener and observer when traveling and learn that others are worthy of consideration and respect.

Soak in the Local Atmosphere - Although friends of ours enjoy cruises and fully escorted tours of various places throughout the world, the real traveler learns to go "local". By that we mean, after reading up both in books and on the internet, find small local eating establishments like the "pub" on the canal in Bruges built in the 15 hundreds and serving 55 different types of beer and good local food. Or, eating in the courtyard of the oldest brewery in the world - Weihenstephan near Munich - built in 1040 and owned by the University!! Try local accommodations (you can find out how good they are by visiting sites such as Trip Advisor, Rick Steeves, etc.) which range from B & B's, pensions, self-catered apartments, baches, Ferienwohnungen, beach houses, canal boats, etc. When affordable and advisable, use local transportation - the trains in Italy are cheap and run on time. Use some of the "Back Door" approaches that Rick Steves recommends in Europe - that is how we stumbled on to some interesting spots in New Zealand and Australia. Stay in a B & B in a small place at the end of the subway or rapid rail line and save much money and get to know someone who knows what is happening locally. By all means even visit Harrods while in London to soak in the feeling of what it might be like to be really rich and have Harrods deliver things you want to your place. Eat in a local pub near Gatwick and learn what the average bloke in Britain does for nightly fare! Enjoy the Dorf Fest in Maria Alm - with bands, yodeling and Alp horns.

Pace your Travels   -  When traveling we try to avoid rushing through towns or cities. Even then, a 4 week trip of New Zealand left us with the feeling that we need to go back again. We attempt to stay at least usually 3 to 4 days in an area and use that as a base to visit events, places, and soak up local customs and culture. There is no rush - hopefully the days of the 1960's is gone when "if this is Tuesday it must be Belgium" type of traveling was the vogue. Sometimes when traveling long distances by car or rail, one day stops may be in order but keep that to the minimum. When spending months traveling, take a Holiday From Your Travels - find  a 5 star resort and spend at least 4 days unwinding and relaxing. Being on the road, trail or in the air (mostly airports) can be stressful. Learn to take a break and rejuvenate yourself. The rest of your travels will be enhanced.

-Erich Berndt
 June 29, 2009