Posts Tagged ‘tips’

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Meet, Plan, Go! – In the News
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Meet, Plan, Go!We are less than a month a way from our Meet, Plan, Go! events and buzz is growing! Here is what people are saying:

WANDERING EDUCATORS – Extraordinary Travel Inspiration
We all know how important travel is – it can, literally, change the world. But do you feel stuck, waiting for your next sabbatical (or summer vacation)? Do you dream of making a life change to travel the world? Well – I’ve got an extraordinary resource for you. On September 14, 2010, a nation-wide movement will occur, to help people get inspired to get out there and follow your dreams of extended travel. It’s called Meet, Plan, Go – and it is groundbreaking. Meet, Plan, Go was founded by Michaela Potter, Tara Russell,  and Sherry Ott (our very own Photography Editor – Love her photos of the week!), and one of the hosts is our Solo Travel Editor, Janice Waugh. All these incredible, well-traveled intercultural writers and travelers working together? VERY COOL.

CONSULTING REHAB – Meet, Plan Go! Be There. Seriously.
Listen up.  This is important.  We want to tell you about an outstanding event that will be taking place on Sept. 14th in thirteen cities across the US and Canada called Meet, Plan, Go! Its entire purpose is to provide you with inspiration, contacts and resources to “plan the trip of a lifetime” – and then go.  You’re probably wondering how much something this awesome would cost.  Well, I hope you’re sitting down: this event is free.  If you live anywhere near one of these cities, we think you should go.

TRAVELS WITH ADAM – On Travel Meetups and Talking Travel
There are a few BIG travel meetups each year. Whether for professional industry travel writers, or for travel bloggers. And now there’s a new one to add to the mix: Meet Plan Go!. Of course, during its inaugural year, I’m on the road. But just like I lived vicariously through people’s travels while I was sitting at work, I can now live vicariously through these travel meetups while traveling. So, if you’ve even got an itch of desire to travel more, I’d suggest signing up to attend this free seminar.

For more links to Meet, Plan, Go! articles, visit “In the News”.
And you can follow the streaming conversation on
Twitter: #MeetPlanGo

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Posted in In the News | 1 Comment »

Hostel Tips for Career Breakers
Monday, August 16th, 2010

It was one month into my 15 month career break and for the first time I was alone. I had the first month to ease into travels first with my friends, next with my sister; but now I stood in front of the hostel in Capetown as my sister pulled away in the taxi.

[singlepic=1443,275,,,right]I was nervous, very nervous; this was going to be my first hostel stay in my entire 36 years of life. Suddenly I was overwhelmed with fears – fears I would meet no one, fears it would be uncomfortable, fears I would be the oldest person there, fears I was somehow going backwards in my life. After all, the last time I stayed in a shared sleeping arrangement (dorm) I was in college. However, I knew that if I were going to travel for 15 months, I would need to overcome those fears.

And I did…only to come to realize how irrational those fears were.

Hostels are a great option for career breakers of all ages, and more people then you think are utilizing them to keep expenses down, and provide social outlets as part of their career breaks. If you are like me and have never stayed in a hostel before because you think they are just for young partying backpacker types, then prepare to have that myth shattered.

Before you start your career break here are some strategies for easing into hostels as an accommodation for the first time.

Take a Test Run

You’d never buy a car without driving it first – so why not use that same idea and give hostels a test run? You don’t have to be out of the country to try out a hostel; did you know that there are many, many great hostels in the US? I recommend on your next short trip, instead of booking yourself into a Marriott or Holiday Inn, check out Hostelling International USA and see if there’s a hostel in your destination. This is a great chance to try one on and see what you can expect. Some of the hostels in San Francisco , New York City , Chicago,  and Martha’s Vineyardare in amazing locations with great facilities. You’ll find the staff is very knowledgeable about the tourist attractions, and you’ll probably save half the money you would have spent on a hotel to be used at a fabulous restaurant instead!

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Posted in Life On-the-Road, On-the-Road | 5 Comments »

Favorite Gear: Knopf MapGuides
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

[singlepic=1844,250,,,right]I’ve always been great at directions. During road trips, I always loved playing shotgun while flipping through road maps. But that was before GPS took that job away from me.

And even though I was won over by the iPhone for the map feature alone, I’m still a big fan of old school printed maps when exploring a new city. Even before leaving on a trip, I will carefully study maps of the destinations I’m going to – including locating places I’m staying and sites I like to see. This is unbelievably helpful for making me feel acclimated that much faster upon arrival.

I recently discussed how when traveling with a partner, it is best to recognize each others strengths. And for me, that is map reader and director. I love this role because if someone else is leading, I often don’t pay attention to our path. And being dependent on another person to get around fills me with a sense of helplessness, especially if we separate.

Of course I don’t like sticking out like a tourist by standing on the street corner with a giant unfolded map. That’s when studying a map before hand helps. But recently I found a more discreet, and extremely helpful map, that includes destination highlights – so you can even leave the guidebook at home!

During a recent trip to London, I picked up the Knopf MapGuide: London (Knopf Mapguides).

It is extremely compact and easily fit into my purse, so I could always have it with me. The sections are broken up by neighborhoods/districts, and in addition to the easy fold-out maps (which are inconspicuous), each section includes highlights like restaurants, bars, museums and other essential places to see. It also includes a map of the Underground, so taking public transportation was easy to navigate.

So on this trip I was definitely happy to put down the iPhone (with the roaming charges) and rely on my Knopf MapGuide. I’ll be certain to use these more on future trips!

[singlepic=1845,175,,,left] [singlepic=1846,175,,,left] [singlepic=1847,175,,,left]

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Posted in Favorites, Gear | 2 Comments »

How Long-Term Travel Strengthens Relationships
Monday, July 19th, 2010

Betsy Talbot of Married with Luggage ponders how long-term travel can strengthen a relationship as she is about to embark on her journey with her husband, Warren.

Can you imagine being with your partner 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for a whole year or more? (You, in the back, do you need a paper bag? Breathe in, breathe out.)

Travelers who embark on long-term trips dream of the excitement of new places, recapturing the romance in their relationships, and discovering new things about each other. Still others worry that minor personality conflicts will turn into big fights with too much time together. You know what? Both sides are right.

Warren and I have spent the last two years planning and saving for our upcoming trip around the world. We’ve learned to live with a pretty tight budget, let go of material possessions, and become fairly Zen about the whole quitting-your-job-without-a-backup-plan thing.

But how are we – two type-A people with different opinions on a lot of things – going to fare on the road? We asked some seasoned travelers for their tips.

MAKE A DECISION ALREADY: LEE’S STORY
Lee and Sachi LeFeverLee is a pretty brave guy when it comes to relationships. Not only did he and his wife Sachi travel for a year together, they also work together every day at Common Craft and they recently did an extensive remodel on their home. This is a couple with some experience to share:

“Relationships sometimes live or die based on a couple’s ability to make decisions. It’s hard enough in normal life to deal with coming to consensus on something as simple as dinner plans. Travel puts these decision points into overdrive. You wake up in a new city and have to decide your way through. From the moment you wake up to the moment you sleep, your day is filled with finding food, activities and rest with little to go on but a guidebook and advice from friends. It can be really stressful. Add some heat, hunger and a little attitude and it can be explosive.

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Posted in Featured Posts, Life On-the-Road, On-the-Road | 8 Comments »

What to Do: Career Break Secrets
Monday, July 12th, 2010

Many career breakers go into their travels with the anticipation of encountering unique experiences – whether it’s picking up a new skill, volunteering, or just seeing inspiring parts of the world. And for Jeff Jung, he experienced all that and more.

[singlepic=1841,250,,,right]Brave and crazy. That’s what people said about me when I told them I was leaving my corporate job, packing up, selling off my stuff, and heading out to travel the world. That was in 2006. Four years later, I don’t regret the decision one bit; here’s why.

  • On my career break, I learned to speak Spanish fluently.
  • I learned how to ski for the first time.
  • I woke up to the sunrise and sipped wine while watching the sun set in the Galapagos Islands.
  • I went sailing on a felucca for 3 days on the Nile in Egypt.

But most of all, I got my life back.

Jeff now wants to help inspire other career break dreamers through his site Career Break Secrets, which will offer fun, informative video travel guides and resources to places and activities you want to know more about for your often-dreamed-about career break, sabbatical, or adult gap year.

The first season will cover Spain, South Africa, New Zealand, Patagonia (both Argentina and Chile) and Colombia.

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We’ll be covering three types of career break activities:

  • Those where you can pick up a new skill. For example, cooking school in Spain and sailing school in New Zealand.
  • Those where you can give back. For example, in South Africa, we feature volunteer programs at a AIDS/HIV orphanage and a monkey sanctuary.
  • Those that give you an interesting way to see a country. For example, walking the famous Camino de Santiago in northern Spain and taking the TransScenic rail across New Zealand.

All video guides will be downloadable to your iTunes library and available to watch on your computer, iPod or TV. And they are portable, so you can take them with you during your travels without worrying about the extra weight like guide books.

I personally can’t wait for Jeff’s video guides to come out. I’m already planning my next break to Patagonia based on the previews I’ve seen!

Until they are released, check out some of the Career Break Secret Rough Cuts.

[singlepic=1839,250,,,left]In addition to being founder of Career Break Secrets, Jeff Jung will be co-hosting the
Meet, Plan, Go! Austin event.


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Posted in Featured Posts, Preparation, What to Do | 1 Comment »

Meet, Plan, Go! Newsletter
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Last week we sent out the inaugural newsletter for Meet, Plan, Go! And if you missed out, we shared some exciting news that GAP Adventures, a leading small group travel company who focuses on cultural experiences when traveling, is on board as an event sponsor.

We are even more excited that they will be  giving away a FREE trip to one lucky Meet, Plan, Go! attendee!

The Big TripBy subscribing below to the Meet, Plan, Go! newsletter, you will be the first to learn event news as well as special updates and travel advice only offered to our newsletter subscribers.

And as an added incentive to subscribe, we will be giving away a copy of Lonely Planet’s “The Big Trip: Your Ultimate Guide to Gap Years and Overseas Adventures”.

Even though Meet, Plan, Go! isn’t until September, here’s your chance to learn more about career breaks now! If you are wishing/planning a career break in the future, then The Big Trip is a great resource to help you through some of the steps. By signing up for the newsletter you are registered to win the book. Then be sure to stop by Meet, Plan, Go! on September 14th to be inspired by real people who have done all of those steps!

Subscribe below through June 18 to be entered into the contest.

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Posted in In the News | 1 Comment »

Favorite Website: Amateur Traveler
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

You’ve decided to fulfill your round-the-world travel dreams and are ready to book your ticket – but where to go? Look no further than Amateur Traveler for destination inspiration.

[singlepic=1783,555,,,left]The Amateur Traveler is an online travel show that focuses primarily on travel destinations and the best places to travel. According to Chris Christensen, “It covers everything from knowing what to put on your Chicago dog to swimming with whales in Tonga.” In addition to a weekly audio podcast, Chris also produces a twice montly video podcast and blog.

We love Amateur Traveler because there is no better way to learn about a destination and what to do than from people who have actually done it. How often do you take action on something based on a friend’s recommendation – whether it’s a restaurant or movie? Well think of Chris and his guests as friends that are giving you great travel advice.

[singlepic=1784,150,,,left]In the past five years, Chris has interviewed over 230 guests for his podcast, has produced more than 60 videos, and has even added on a weekly travel show: This Week in Travel. That’s a lot of inspiration to pull from! He even interviewed Sherry Ott (pre-Briefcase to Backpack) back in 2007 about traveling solo as a woman.

And if you sign up for the newsletter, you will receive his free eBook: “How to Save Money Booking Your Travel Online” – which serves as a nice supplement to our post “Let’s Go: Round the World Tickets”.

So check out Amateur Traveler and get ready to be inspired!

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Posted in Favorites, Websites | 6 Comments »

Let’s Go: Round the World Tickets
Monday, May 17th, 2010

Brian Peters of No Debt World Travel has shared with us how he transitioned from Briefcase to Backpack and also offered some great resources in his eBook “No Debt World Travel: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the World”. He now shares with us the art of booking round-the-world tickets and how you can travel around the world for less than you thought.

[singlepic=1779,250,,,right]One thing that stops people from traveling around the world is the PERCEIVED high price of airfare. Going to 5-10 different locations all on one ticket must be super expensive and only for rich folks who have the last name of Trump or Hilton.

Far from the truth.

A round the world ticket can cost LESS that $2500US. A year of Starbucks or cigarettes can pay for RTW air travel. Really. It all depends on the locations you pick and the times of the year you travel.

There are two options for purchasing a round the world ticket.

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Posted in Featured Posts, Let's Go, Preparation | 7 Comments »

Overcoming the 7 Obstacles to Traveling the World
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

You are probably reading Briefcase to Backpack because you have a dream; a dream to take a break and travel. Ahhh…but there is a battle going on; raging in your psyche dropping bombs and waving white flags.

angel-and-devil-doodle.png

Image property of Bill S. @ doodler blog

The ‘good angel’ says

“Do it, take that job and shove it! See what the world has to offer. Other people do it, so why can’t you?”

The ‘devil’ says

“It’s too expensive, you have to be rich. What will my family say? It’s irresponsible!”

Anil Polat has taken the bombs that your devil drops and addresses them in his E-Book – Overcoming the Seven Major Obstacles to Traveling the World. Anil is someone who has done it; he worked in a traditional job for 6 years and then decided to shake up his life and combine his love for travel with his work. He has overcome these obstacles himself. Sure, everyone’s circumstances are different, but if you need a little push, then Overcoming the Seven Major Obstacles to Traveling the World may be the nudge you need.

Traveling the world is not a luxury for most people – it’s a choice. You can overcome each and every obstacle you face and travel with good planning and by making some choices you’ll find hard to make.

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Posted in Letting Go, Preparation | 4 Comments »

Travel Tips: Budget Your Trip
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

[singlepic=1720,250,,,right]Betsy & Warren Talbot shared with us the secrets of how they saved money for their career break travels. But how do you stay on track with the trip budget you planned for?

During their 10 months of travel, Laurie and Bryan Tighe traveled through West Africa, the Middle East, India and Nepal. Along the way they were meticulous in keeping to their budget. And with their computer programming skills, they were able to develop an online calculator to keep track of their money and budget. And now they are sharing that with others with Budget Your Trip.

[singlepic=1719,200,,,left]Budget Your Trip is designed to help travelers track their spending and expenses. After registering you can create a trip and enter your daily expenses. The website creates charts and tables that break down costs by category and location. The layout lets you find out if you’re spending more than anticipated on transportation or which country ate away more of your budget.

Furthermore, the website’s budget calculator allows users to estimate the cost of future trips. The budgets provided by other travelers are used to determine the average cost of countries, cities, and categories a traveler might visit. Visitors to the site can search for the average daily costs of accommodation, food, and numerous other categories for cities and countries around the world.

[singlepic=1722,200,,,right]Budget Your Trip also offers a “Travel Cost Calculator Widget” so travelers can search for travel costs directly on your website.

Be sure to check out Budget Your Trip for future trips. And if you have budgets from previous trips, be sure to enter them and help out your fellow travelers!

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Posted in Favorites, Travel Tips | 4 Comments »

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Career Break Guide Table of Contents

Who we are
About Us Our Why Contact us
 
What is a Career Break?
What is a Sabbatical?
by Sherry Ott
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