Bicycling the Idyllic Island of Sylt, Germany

What makes for a perfect cycling destination? For me, it starts with a venue that bike friendly, which usually means myriad bicycle trails and motorists that respect cyclists. It also means a destination that's rich in bucolic landscapes and quaint villages. I found such a place in Sylt, Germany, an island that's usually mentioned because it attracts well-to-do Germans who flock to the upscale seaside resorts and sea-lapped sands. No wonder it's given the moniker -- and there are several that all convey the same idea -- the Hamptons of Germany.

Recently, I wrote about cycling on this idyllic isle for Donna Hull at My Itchy Travel Feet. Sylt is so much more than sun and sand. Here you'll find giant dunes topped with a network of foliage, mud flats that are protected for the plankton that call them home, archeological ruins that date back millenia, and centuries-old whitewashed churches. Anyone who spends their time on Sylt simply baking on the sands has missed so much more that this island offers.

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Winner of Travel Gear Giveaway

We have a winner of the travel gear giveaway! Jeff Dobbins will pick one of the products manufactured by the Clever Travel Companion that are all designed to thwart pickpockets. These products include underwear, t-shirts, tank tops, and long johns, all with hidden pockets. Congrats, Jeff. And thanks to everyone who participated. I really appreciate your support.

This was such a fun and practical giveaway that I'll be partnering up with the Clever Travel Companion again next year.

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More Travel Tips For Women + Much More

If there are a few travel items you can't do without what would they be? That's what Maria and Anthony Russo, founders of the Culture-ist magazine wanted to know, among other things when they interviewed me recently.

I don't go anywhere without my Mary Jane-type shoes. They can fold up or lay flat in my bag and work great day or night. There's also my tiny Victorinox wallet pouch that conveniently attaches to my belt, whether I'm wearing pants or a dress. It keeps all my valuables out of the hands of would-be pick-pockets.

Maria and Anthony also wanted to know about any concerns I have when I'm traveling along, which is most of the time. Yes, I'm an overly suspicious sort, let's get that out of the way right at the beginning. (For example, I never leave my drink unattended at a bar.) But I also dress and act according to local customs so that I don't attract undo attention. I also rarely carry a purse so that I'm not a target for thieves. And I trust my New York City-honed street instincts.

These are a few of the more than 200 tips you'll find in my new travel tips e-book, the Travel Authority: Essential Tips for Hassle-Free Travel. I've blogged about some of the things you'll find in this handy book.

Read the rest of the interview at the Culture-ist, where you'll also find well-crafted articles on travel, food, small business ventures and other topics that revolve around authenticity, sustainability, a green ethic, artisanal endeavors, and a respect for women's and human rights in general.

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JCreatures™ T-Shirts for Kids

Bet you thought that the only people wearing my JCreatures™ t-shirts are adults. After all, I've blogged about wearing my t-shirts that show different emotions or states of being -- happy, sad, frustrated, surprised, sleepy, hungry, and naughty -- when I teach English in Spain. They've  real conversation starters.

But, as you may already know, I originally designed these JCreatures™ when I was 10 years old. (I blogged about the history of the JCreatures™ here.) And I've been drawing them ever since, whether it was in my high school yearbook, on postcards I sent friends in college during my summers in Europe, or on the top of my students' exams when I was a teacher.  So it makes sense that kids of all ages, including toddlers and infants, can be found wearing these shirts, too.

Moms and dads or adults who are just kids at heart can find my t-shirts in an array of colors and styles, including long-sleeve, baseball jersey, girls cap sleeve tee, organic and the little onesie above, by visiting my store. 

And, because the holidays are fast approaching, if you buy one of the few toddler or kids tees or onesies offered here from today until New Year's Day, you'll also get a free copy of my new travel tips e-book: The Travel Authority: Essential Tips for Hassle-Free Travel. (Simply use the code HOLIDAYS when you checkout.)

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More Travel Tips E-Book Reviews

Do you want to know what people are saying about my new travel tips e-book?

Margaret Cowen offers authentic cooking experiences and wine tours all over Italy, from Venice to Sicily. She recently reviewed my e-book, The Travel Authority: Essential Tips for Hassle-Free Travel, in her food and travel blog.

Among the tips Margaret highlighted were my recommendations on purchasing pick-pocket-proof pants, and a scarf with hidden pockets. Find out more in her review here.

Another travel expert, Irene S. Levine is an award-winning journalist, author and blogger who also reviewed my e-book. In her review here, you'll find out when you should buy comprehensive trip insurance, why it's a smart idea to pay for your tour with a credit card, and more.

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Advise for E-Book Authors + More

What's the hardest thing about publishing an e-book? If you said writing it, you'd be wrong. It turns out that by far, after searching for a graphic designer to set the book into the different file formats for the various e-readers -- and I found her only after conducting dozens of interviews on Craig's List -- the most frustrating part of the entire process was submitting the book for sale on iTunes.

Top travel blogger Ellen Barone, no relation, interviewed me on this and many other things related to my new travel tips e-book, The Travel Authority: Essential Tips for Hassle-Free Travel. Read her interview with me here:

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More Travel Product Discounts - Travel Tips E-Book

As you probably know, I strongly recommend many products and companies in my new travel tips e-book not because any company asked to be in the book but because these are products, companies and services I stand behind in terms of their quality and performance. 

 

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about three companies that are offering discounts to anyone who buys my e-book.

Now two more companies are on board with very cool discounts. 

 

Pick-pocket Proof Underwear! Yes, the Clever Travel Companion that makes men's and women's underwear and t-shirts with hidden pockets is offering a 15% discount to anyone who buys my travel tips e-book. Plus, if you tell your story of something you lost while traveling (including if your purse or pocket was picked), you could win the Clever Travel Companion product of your choice. Check out my post here for the rules. The contest ends December 10.

And a company with a quirky name, Horny Toad, that sells comfortable, stylish and performance-driven clothing (some with organic cotton) for men and women is offering a 10% discount on anything in their inventory, but just until February 1, 2013. When I'm shopping, I often find that active wear sacrifices a fashion sense and vice versa. Not so with Horny Toad. From dresses to tees, pants and jackets, Horny Toad makes items that I take on all my trips – including a fuzzy vest that I virtually live in in the winter – because I want items that look good, and are comfortable all day long no matter if I'm getting sweaty running around a city or I'm on a hiking trail. And many of their items also wear well for after work activities. 

 

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My Top Travel Tip For Women + Much More

Ever wonder why I rarely if ever carry a purse? What made me fall in love with Spain, Portugal and Israel? What makes Washington state's Methow Valley so special? And, I bet you have no idea what motivated me to start traveling around the world once I graduated from high school?

You'll find out the answers to these and other things about my life as a travel writer by reading this interview I did with Dian Emery at GirlsGetaway.

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Essential Travel Tips For Every Trip

What if I told you that you could get an entire book of information that could take the worry out of your next trip and it would cost less than a cup of your favorite Starbucks latte? That's what blogger Charu Suri wrote about my travel tips e-book, The Travel Authority: Essential Tips for Hassle-Free Travel. She singled out five tips that she found particularly, including why you should always travel with a tube of Shoe Goo as well as the importance of bringing along two different credit/debit cards.

 Check out Charu's review here at her blog Butterfly Diary.

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