Wednesday, December 16, 2009

My Three Best Kept Travel Secrets

TripBase, a very popular travel blog, recently started a tag-you’re-it game across the travel blogosphere. The idea is to collect a cool list of across-the-globe travel secrets from as many travel bloggers as possible. At some point, this list will be a Creative Commons roundup that I’ll be able to share with you once it's available.

I’ve just been tagged by two of my favorite travel bloggers, Melanie of TravelswithTwo and Robin of MyMelange to contribute my top three travel secrets.

Here they are:

1. Florida's Panhandle sometimes gets a bad rap, often because overdeveloped Panama City gets so much attention as a haven for spring break revelers. But there's that other Florida Panhandle, the authentic one that presents so many opportunities to explore some pristine beaches you might have difficulty choosing which ones to lay down your beach towel. In fact, over the past many years, some of these beaches have made it on to Dr. Beach's Best Beaches in America list -- a list with some 50 key criteria, including water color, scenery, urban development, sand quality and more.

Here are some of my favorite picks where blinding white sandy beaches are the rule and where, depending on the time of the year, I've found sections with more shorebird tracks than footprints.
Nine miles of dunes make St. Joseph Peninsula State Park particularly appealing. Shallow waters make also make it ideal for novice kayakers and a haven for migratory song birds, though it's also possible to spy hawks soaring overhead. St. George Island State Park is blessed with miles of sugar-white sands bordered by salt marches and oak and pine forests. Off the beach there's also good fishing for red snapper, mackerel and pompano. At Grayton Beach State Park, you can swim in emerald green water, gaze at sea-oat covered dunes, and hike through a lovely pine forest. St. Andrews State Park gives you the choice of swimming in the gulf or in a quiet tidal pool. From the beach, snorkelers are treated to multi-colored fish among the granite boulders of the jetty.


2. Surrounded on three sides by the sea and ringed by defensive Genoese watchtowers, Alghero makes for a picturesque town, especially given its fortified ancient quarter. Yet, many of those who visit Alghero with its fortified quarter never seem to leave their beach blanket. Set along the less developed west coast, Alghero has so much more to offer than swaths of sand and aquamarine waters that are perfect for boating. A sense of history pervades the old quarter that's still surrounded by Genoese watchtowers. On a self-guided audio tour, I climbed to the 20-meter-high terrace of the 16th century Porto Terra Tower for the panoramic views.
Though the beaches lining the coast of this resort town as well as those in nearby Fertilia get all the tourist attention, there are an array of day trips (many within cycling distance) sure to delight those who care little about sunning on Sardinia's sands. For example, I picked up an audio-guide at the Palmavera Nuraghe and meandered these ruins in this prehistoric village, one of the most complete of these Bronze Age complexes. Drive or bicycle through the little-visited Regional Forest of Porto Conte and you'll quickly understand why the protected land of oaks and pines is dubbed Noah's Ark. Unique white donkeys, small horses and Tibetan goats are just a few of the curious creatures wandering about. Though most visitors sign up for a boat tour to reach the famous Grotto di Nettuno with its cave network, a more memorable journey is to take the 654 steps of the Goat's Stairway down the cliff face. Not far away at Porto Ferro, three Genoese watchtowers guard Sardinia's longest beach where surfers flock to take on the crashing waves. Bird watchers often drive or bike to nearby pine-fringed Lake Baratz, Sardinia's only natural lake, where you may spot grebes and mallards.


3. Barcelona, Madrid and Andalusia get so much tourist traffic but it's the little visited Extremadura region -- one of Spain's least visited regions and the birthplace of Cortez, Pizarro and other Spanish conquistadors that provides so much inspiration for me with its rural landscapes of olive trees and Holm oaks, craggy mountainsides coated with pines and chestnuts trees and historic towns, Guadalupe, Merida, Trujillo, Zafra and Caceres, laced with labyrinthine streets. Each has a distinct character and is worth a visit: Trujillo http://www.spain.info/ven/otros-destinos/reportaje/trujillo.html?l=en for its palaces bearing the coats of arms of prominent families; Guadalupe for its massive monastery that's a UNESCO World Heritage site and one that houses a wealth of museums with elaborate embroidered vestments, reliquaries, ancient books of Gregorian chants; Merida that has some of the most complete set of Roman ruins around - so much so that I was able to jog along the periphery of the Roman Circus where chariot rides once took place; and, every June in Caceres, the capital of the province and another UNESCO World Heritage site, hosts the Classic Theater Festival where the works of the gold age artists can be experienced.
In whitewashed Zafra, though I didn't stay in one of Spain's most impressive paradors that's housed in a 15th century fortress-palace, I enjoyed the property's best feature: it's white marble Renaissance patio where I dined one evening on guinea hen in puff pastry. Instead, I stayed at Hotel Huerta Honda, the next-door property that was once the site of the castle's farm. In fact, the hotel's restaurant retains the original brick archway that was part of the fortress in the late 1400s. I also was lucky enough to visit during an annual event, De La Luna Al Fuego, when I took a historic tour of the fortress' impressive ramparts. I would've hung around longer to watch the sun set when an unexpected lightening storm cut our explorations short.


Now, I'm tagging 5 other travel blogs to share their top 3 best-kept travel secrets:

EllenBarone: Ellen's website and blogs have something for everyone. I've had the pleasure to travel with her and find that she's a real Renaissance woman who always gives me great tips and something new to think about.

JourneyWoman: Evelyn is a supreme resource for all things any woman will need when she's on the road, whether it's staying well or wondering what's appropriate to wear in different international destinations.

CiaoBambino: Ami provides a wealth of family-friendly travel advice. I don't have kids but, if I did, this would be one serious resource.

EuropeUpClose: Terri's just got so many fab tips, deals, news items and advice on so many European destinations. I'm in Europe frequently and I always find something here I didn't know.

Italylogue: Jessica rounds up an amazing array of everything you need to know about traveling to and enjoying Italy.
continue reading "My Three Best Kept Travel Secrets"

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Two Cool Healthy Travel Devices

Two problems have always plagued my travels: my ears bother me when the plane is descending and I'm prone to motion sickness when I'm in small planes flying under turbulent conditions or I'm in a boat. And, because I love gadgets, of course I've found two devices that have basically taken care of these two problems.

EarPlanes is an inexpensive, disposable set of silicon/ceramic ear plugs that I put in my ears before the plane changes altitude and I keep them in until we land and the cabin doors open. Sure, I may look a little weird with these odd-shaped plugs sticking out of my ears. But, they've banished my ear pain so appearances don't matter. It may take a bit of getting used to them, but they have the added advantage of blocking out some noise as well. I find it's best to use a new set with each flight.

The other device is ReliefBand, a watch-like gadget that I wear on the inside of my wrist. This is a very sophisticated device and shouldn't be compared with the inexpensive elastic bands that drug stores sell. Once you turn on this battery-powered device, it delivers a mild electric shock to the acupressure point that has an anti-nausea effect. Interestingly, ReliefBand is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to relieve the nausea associated with surgery, pregnancy and chemotherapy. It also happens to work with motion sickness. I've worn it under some very unpleasant conditions on the sea, and I'd say I was significantly more comfortable with it than I had been without it. In fact, last summer when I was in Croatia, almost everyone on my yacht became quite ill when we sailed to a particular island. Those who weren't ill were taking drugs that put them to sleep. I sat on deck comfortably reading while wearing my ReliefBand. But you have to wear the band tightly on your wrist, you have to position it so you feel the tingling in your fingers, and you have to crank it up to a level that relieves the nausea. Do all that and you should be pretty OK.



Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'

Caravan & Giveaway!
Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:

LuxurySafariExperts.com Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to win folding noise-cancelling headphones courtesy of Magellan's Travel Supplies.
continue reading "Two Cool Healthy Travel Devices"

Monday, December 14, 2009

More Travel Tips For Savvy Packing

Because I tend to travel frequently and sometimes for long stretches, I need to be super organized when I'm packing. And Eagle Creek is a company that sells a myriad of cool sacs, folders and kits that help me easily navigate through airport security, deal with wet bathing suits, organize all my documents and manage all my toiletries and small items so that nothing gets lost.

The items I'm most fond of include their Pac-It Sac (I use the small black one for documents), the Custom Travel Bottle Set (this is the way to deal with the "liquid issue" when flying), the Pac It Folder (perfect for keeping shirts from getting wrinkled) and the Compression Sac (there's no better way to cram a down jacket into your bag and still have plenty of room).


Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'

Caravan & Giveaway!
Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:


EuropeUpClose.com Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to win a Fujifilm FinePix J28 10MP digital camera with 3x optical zoom.
continue reading "More Travel Tips For Savvy Packing"

Sunday, December 13, 2009

More Travel Gear I Recommend

First I want to congratulate luckysunset for winning the Mountainsmith camera bag. Luckysunset, whose name was picked at random from the many comments left on my blog post on December 10th, will be receiving the camera bag shortly.
Over the years, I've purchased many supposed waterproof jackets that never seemed to really do the job. And, when they did, they were bulky, hot and didn't pack well. So, when I need to stay dry, I wear a Mountain Hardwear jacket. I like the bold lime color which stands out well in forest -- no mistaking me for an elk. (Though they've got other functional waterproof jackets in more mundane colors.) Plus, it's got plenty of zippers for ventilation, it's lightweight and packs reasonably small in my carry-on luggage. And, of course, when I'm bicycling or hiking in a drenching storm, Mountain Hardwear keeps the rain out.

Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'

Caravan & Giveaway!
Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:

MyItchyTravelFeet.com Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to win two great prizes: a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card, which may be redeemed at all Barnes & Noble stories and online at BarnesandNoble.com, and a "Library Edition" of the most recent season of "Rudy Maxa's World,"including six DVDs containing 13 shows on destinations in India, Turkey, Japan, Thailand, St. Petersburg, Estonia, and Argentina ($112 value)
continue reading "More Travel Gear I Recommend"

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Another Great Piece of Travel Gear

Packing everything in a carry-on bag certainly requires a lot of planning. It also means making decisions as to what items are better left home, such as special night wear. Generally I just bring along a long t-shirt that can also be used in the gym or as a pool cover up. But I just received a cool nightwear product to test out and it fits perfect with my packing scheme.

Made by Cocoon, the Adventure Nightwear is made of comfy Egyptian cotton. I never expected to find something quite so light. And, the short sleeve top and shorts roll up into an ultra-tiny sac. (They have a men's and women's version.) Since I travel to many hot, humid environs all around the world, this product will get a lot of use. I just took it on my trip to Panama and promptly retired my old t-shirt.


Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'

Caravan & Giveaway!
Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:

EllenBarone.com Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to win a day pack from First Ascent, a new extreme adventure line of gear and clothing form Eddie Bauer and partners.
continue reading "Another Great Piece of Travel Gear"

Friday, December 11, 2009

A Possible Life-Saving Cool Product

You probably know by now that I write a lot about healthy travel. Whether you're traveling or hanging out on your home turf, accidents can happen. I know I've been at home and had friends or their children fall of bicycles, cut themselves while cutting vegetables in the kitchen, or suffer a laceration in the backyard while weeding.

Then, again, I'm often in the backcountry where it's easy to fall and get cut while on the trail or in the campground. And, given that so many people are taking aspirin to protect their heart, or they may be on anti-clotting medication for other conditions, being able to stop bleeding fast is important.

That's why I recommend a unique bandage called KytoStat. It's so small you can place it in your pocket, or carry it in your purse so it's always available. The same technology that makes this bandage able to stop bleeding quickly and efficiently (by pressing it to the wound for 2 to 5 minutes) has been long used by the U.S. military and emergency medical technicians.

KytoStat is such a small product that's easy to use that I think everyone should think about carrying it, whether you're into cycling, hiking, skiing or any other sports or you're a parent who wants a product that's a must-have in the home first-aid kit.


Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'

Caravan & Giveaway!
Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:

CruiseDiva.com Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to win a copy of Fodor's The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises and a World Grounding Adaptor Set courtesy of Magellan's Travel Supplies.
continue reading "A Possible Life-Saving Cool Product"

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Travel Bloggers' Caravan "Stop of the Day": JtheTravelAuthority.com

With the holidays fast approaching, I've banded together with 14 other travel bloggers to celebrate the season and give all of our readers the chance to win some fun prizes, including hotel gift cards, overnight stays, digital cameras, travel guidebooks, DVDs, luggage and camera bags. This 2009 Travel Bloggers' Caravan has been going on since December 1 and will continue through December 15. And today, the caravan stops here at J the Travel Authority.

Those of you who have been following this blog know that I'm a very big fan of Mountainsmith gear which I've been using for 15+ years. In fact, I travel with one of their small backpacks plus their fanny pack as my only two pieces of luggage -- which I carry on and bring on all my trips. Their gear has never let me down. That's why, because the Caravan stops here today, I'm giving away a Mountainsmith Tour FX Camera Bag (a $99 value).

It's made of recycled plastic bottles. And, as usual, Mountainsmith has thought of everything: there's a place for your airline ticket, a water bottle and plenty of room for additional carry-along items, including your iPod, GPS unit and so forth. The bag is a variation on the fanny pack that I have long been using and adore. This camera bag, like their classic fanny pack, can be worn around your waist or on your shoulder, thanks to a removable strap. It's got compression straps to help you carry the load better. And, you'll be able to carry plenty, thanks to the ultra-spacious interior. Plus, a real benefit is that you can open it up and remove camera gear while the pack is still fastened around your waist.



Win a Mountainsmith Tour FX Camera Bag
One lucky reader will be randomly chosen from all eligible entries to win a Mountainsmith Tour FX Camera Bag. The contest starts at midnight on December 10 and ends the same day at 11:59 pm. You must have a mailing address within the United States in order to be eligible to enter and win.

How to Enter
Comment on this post between 12:00 am (midnight) and 11:59 pm on December 10, 2009. You'll need to include your e-mail address so I can get in contact with you if you're the winner. Good luck!

Win More Prizes This Month!
Don't forget to enter the daily Travel Bloggers' Caravan & Giveaway. The Caravan stops at CruiseDiva.com tomorrow. Visit, comment on the post of the day, and win a copy of Fodor's The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises and a World Grounding Set (courtesy of Magellan's) See the entire Travel Bloggers' Caravan schedule here.
continue reading "Travel Bloggers' Caravan "Stop of the Day": JtheTravelAuthority.com"

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

More Travel Gear I Love

I love gadgets, particularly those that will make my life easier, more comfortable and safer while I'm traveling. So when I found out about a pen-shaped small device that can purify water in seconds, I bought it. I've been in situations where the tap water is not drinkable and it's the middle of the night and no bottled water in sight. Or I've been hiking and can't find any potable water and I don't want to deal with foul-tasting tabs or the hassle of a pump purifier. SteriPEN is the product I rely on. It uses UV light to purify the water of all manner of disease-causing organisms, including the dreaded Giardia parasite.


It has been extensively tested and it kills more than 99.9% of bacteria, viruses and protozoas, like Giardia. I carry it on many of my trips and, it's so small, it's easy to pack in my sole piece of luggage that I carry-on.




Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'
Caravan & Giveaway!
Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:

What a Trip. Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to win an Otterbox cell phone case or a Baseline 20-inch carry-on expandable wide-body upright suitcase.
continue reading "More Travel Gear I Love"

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Some More Fave Travel Gear

I love my clothes to look good and function well. That's why I've been choosing shirts, pants and even underwear made by Ex Officio. I just got back from Panama where there was 100% humidity and I was perfectly comfortable in the jungle wearing my Ex Officio long pants and long sleeve shirt.
And at night when dining out, when there was still high humidity, I wore their sleeveless tops which worked perfectly well with jeans or dress pants. I choose to travel with their wickable fabrics because they don’t absorb and retain moisture easily so you stay dry as you’re racing about town or on the trail. They also dry relatively quickly when you wash them. I hand wash my wickable underwear, pants, shorts and shirt and they dry in no time. They have a great life expectancy, are comfortable, light, perform well and look great.


Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'
Caravan & Giveaway!
Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:
Johnnyjet.com Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to win Alaska and Seattle Toursaver books and a $50 Magellan's Travel Supplies gift certificate.
continue reading "Some More Fave Travel Gear"

Monday, December 7, 2009

Travel Tips3

I love wearing comfortable, functional clothing, especially if it can be worn both on the trail and at night. (It all helps with being a savvy packer.) That's why I love wearing the marino wool tops made by two companies: SmartWool and Icebreaker. I wear a black SmartWool long-sleeved crewneck and pair it with a black Icebreaker hoodie when I'm on the plane. But these two items work together or separately at night or during the day, winter and summer, when I'm walking, hiking, biking, skiing or going to bars and restaurants in the city when they're paired with a skirt, jeans or dress pants. The great thing about these merino wool products is that they wick away sweat so that you don't feel cold and clammy after a run. I've found both of them to be comfortable, breathable and never itchy. And, another interesting feature is that if I'm in the backcountry and can't do laundry, you could wear these for several days and not worry about any odor. When I travel to Iceland, these are my tops of choice but I also bring them to Spain in the summer.


Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'
Caravan & Giveaway!
Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:


CiaoBambino.com. Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to win a Napa
Valley Getaway with a one-night stay at the Westin Verasa and a gourmet lunch for two aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train.
continue reading "Travel Tips3"

Sunday, December 6, 2009

More Travel Tips

I'm one of those women who's just not into a multitude of shoes, especially when I'm traveling. And, in order to travel for more than a month with only carry-on luggage, clearly shoes have to be kept to a minimum. Basically, except when I'm traveling in the winter, I only carry two pairs of shoes, and both of them are made by a company called Keen. The one I wear on the plane is a Newport model that's a a very rugged and functional sandal. And, once I land, I wear it for long walks and even light day hiking -- though I have also climbed a volcano wearing these sandals -- as well as for long multi-day bicycle trips, kayaking and for days at the beach. When I dress up at night, I wear their Madrid Mary Jane model that looks perfect with a dress or nice pants and it's comfortable for long walks, even on cobblestone paths on the way to hotels or restaurants.

Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'
Caravan & Giveaway!
Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:



The TranquiloTraveler.com. Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to
win a copy of Moon Belize accompanied by personal travel advice from the author about your trip.
continue reading "More Travel Tips"

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Cool Travel Gear

All of you know that I never check luggage, even when I'm traveling for 7+ weeks. And, to do that, I'm a big fan of gear that serves several functions. So when I'm out at night in a big city, I prefer not to carry a handbag -- which might be a target for purse snatchers -- to carry my hotel keys, credit cards, money, cell phone, and other valuables and necessities. A scarf -- a very special one, at that -- to the rescue. The XUBÁZ is a functional piece of neck wear with a handful of concealed zippered and snap pockets. They're so hidden, or at least at least they're not so obvious, that there's no chance of a pickpocket thinking, of all things, that I've got valuables in my scarf! In the summer, I even wear the World Traveler model in lieu of a jacket to keep me warm at night -- it's made of a special material originally designed for NASA that absorbs and then releases body heat.

Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'
Caravan & Giveaway!
Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:



TheBrooklynNomad.com. Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to win Imagine: A Vagabond Story by Grant Lingel and a $50 Magellan's Travel Supplies gift certificate.
continue reading "Cool Travel Gear"

Friday, December 4, 2009

Portugal's Stylish-Budget Inn

Wouldn't it be great if a budget accommodation didn't suffer from a lack of style. Well, you don't have to make that kind of compromise in Lisbon where I've found some stylish accomodations that could fit into just about anyone's slim travel budget. I recently guest blogged for Michael and Allison at Darn Good Digs that focuses in on cool accommodations under $150. Check out one of my fave budget accommodations in Lisbon that's not short on style.

Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'
Caravan & Giveaway!
Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:

NovelDestinations.com. Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to win
a literary prize pack, including a tote bag, the book Novel Destinations, Bliss travel kit, notecards, tea, bookmarks, and a key chain.
continue reading "Portugal's Stylish-Budget Inn"

Thursday, December 3, 2009

New York City's Hidden Oasis

Even in New York City, it's possible to find peaceful oases that remain almost a secret. At least that's the way I feel about Central Park's only private garden, the Conservatory Garden. It's amazing the number of native New Yorkers who have never heard of this lush haven. I recently guest blogged about the Conservatory Garden for Keith Jenkins at Velvet Escape. Once you read that post, you'll see why I find it a source of inspiration.


Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'

Caravan & Giveaway!
Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:



DreamofItaly.com. Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to win a one-
year online subscription to the Dream of Italy newsletter and a DVD.
continue reading "New York City's Hidden Oasis"

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

My Secret Travel Tips

As I mentioned yesterday, until December 15, I'll be doing something a little different here. Each day, I'll have a short post (either highlighting a product I adore and that I bring on most of my trips or mentioning one of my very recent guest posts on hidden treasure travel). In addition, at the end of each of these, you'll find a screen shot of the travel blog that's featured as part of the Travel Bloggers Caravan that I'm participating in. Just remember to click on the Travel Caravan banner on the right or visit the Luxury Cruise Bible blog to find out more about the entire schedule and prizes.

My trips are always full of adventure and discoveries. For example, who knew that an immense garbage dump in Israel is being turned into an eco-center complete with walking and biking trails, or that hiking in Corsica's interior might bring a close encounter with wild boar hunters. Andy Hayes at Sharing Travel Experiences recently interviewed me on some of my favorite authentic spots around the world. I've included tips on visiting, Portugal, Spain, Iceland, Israel, Turkey, Corsica and more. You'll find out why I can't wait to visit Bhutan and what trips I'm planning for the near future.

Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'
Caravan & Giveaway!
Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:

LuxuryCruiseBible.com
. Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to win a $100 Marriott gift card.
continue reading "My Secret Travel Tips"

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Holiday Travel Bloggers Caravan-Win Prizes

Join the 2009 Travel Bloggers' Caravan & Win Cool Prizes

For the next two weeks, I'll be doing something a little different. I want to give you a heads up that I'm participating in the first Travel Blogger's Caravan. Starting today and until December 15, I'd like to invite you to follow 15 top travel bloggers (including myself) for a chance to win a motley array of prizes, perfect for celebrating the holiday season.

Caravan Banner displayed on the right side of my blog for the next 15 days.

The prizes include digital cameras, noise-canceling headphones, hotel gift cards, overnight stays, luggage, camera bags, DVDs and travel guidebooks. Magellan's Travel Supplies is sponsoring this event. So if there's a traveler on your holiday shopping list, check out the array of unique gifts available at Magellan's website.

Each day between December 2-15, a different travel expert's blog will be featured in this round robin even. You'll have a chance to win one of over a dozen prizes by reading and commenting on the daily blog post.

This blog, JtheTravelAuthority, will be featured on December 10. So mark your calendar and be sure to comment on my post that day so that you'll be entered in this giveaway.

Complete Travel Caravan Schedule

December 2: LuxuryCruiseBible.com (Andrea M. Rotondo)
$100 Marriott gift card

December 3: DreamofItaly.com (Kathy McCabe)
One-year online subscription to Dream of Italy newsletter & DVD ($79 value)

December 4: NovelDestinations.com (Shannon McKenna Schmidt & Joni Rendon)
Literary Travel Prize Pack
(A tote bag, book, travel kit, note cards, tea, bookmarks, and a keychain.)

December 5: TheBrooklynNomad.com (Andrew Hickey)
Imagine: A Vagabond Story by Grant Lingel and $50 Magellan's gift certificate

December 6: The Tranquilo Traveler (Joshua Berman)
A copy of Moon Belize, accompanied with personal travel advice from the author about your trip

December 7: CiaoBambino.com (Amie O'Shaughnessy and Kristi Marcelle)
Napa Valley Getaway
(One-night stay at the Westin Verasa in Napa, California,
plus gourmet lunch for two on the Napa Valley Wine Train)

December 8: JohnnyJet.com (John DiScala)
Alaska and Seattle Toursaver books ($198 value) and $50 Magellan's gift certificate

December 9: What a Trip (Nancy D. Brown)
Two Otterbox cell phone cases ($50 value each)
and
Baseline 20” Carry-On Expandable Wide-Body Upright ($369 value)

December 10: JtheTravelAuthority.com (Jeanine Barone)
Mountainsmith Tour FX Camera Bag ($99 value)

December 11: CruiseDiva.com (Linda Coffman)
Fodor's The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises and a World Grounding Set (courtesy of Magellan's)

December 12: EllenBarone.com (Ellen Barone)
Day pack from First Ascent, a new extreme adventure line of gear and clothing
by Eddie Bauer and partners ($79 value)

December 13: MyItchyTravelFeet.com (Donna L. Hull)
"Library Edition" of the most recent season of "Rudy Maxa's World",
including six DVDs containing 13 shows on destinations in India, Turkey, Japan, Thailand, St. Petersburg, Estonia, and Argentina ($112 value)

December 14: EuropeUpClose.com (Terri Fogarty)
Fujifilm FinePix J28 10MP digital camera with 3x optical zoom

December 15: LuxurySafariExperts.com (Andrea M. Rotondo)
Folding noise-cancelling headphones courtesy of Magellan's Travel Supplies

If you love exploring new destinations and revisiting old favorites, you won't want to miss the Travel Bloggers' Caravan & Giveaway! You just may discover a few new favorite travel blogs to bookmark.

Win a Lingo 16-Language Translator
Help us kick off the Caravan right now! Follow @luxcruisebible on Twitter and then tweet about the Travel Bloggers' Caravan between December 1 and 15. Include a link to this blog post and the #caravan hashtag and you'll be entered to win the Lingo 16-Language Translator, courtesy of Magellan's Travel Supplies. Entrants must have a U.S. mailing address. Entries must be received between December 1–15, 2009. One winner will be randomly chosen from eligible entries on December 21, 2009. Winner will be notified via Twitter DM (direct message).

Just log onto Twitter and tweet something like this: Check out the Travel Bloggers' Caravan. 15 travel bloggers and tons of cool prizes to win. http://bit.ly/6zfZEr #caravan
continue reading "Holiday Travel Bloggers Caravan-Win Prizes"