As I sat on the couch the other day after a taxing day at work, I was confronted with the inescapable truth that I am fan of the BBC program, TopGear. This admission might seem a little strange coming from a young woman with zero interest in cars. For instance, I certainly could not be considered the program’s core clientele. I am not a prepubescent boy with too many zits and an abiding passion for the latest and greatest Lamborghini. Also, despite what others may say, I do not find Richard Hammond attractive in the slightest; he is one of the aforementioned boys with pimples. Rather, TopGear has struck a chord with me, and presumably numerous other non-gearhead viewers, because it is humorous and often involves independent, budget, adventure TRAVEL.

The thing is, no one wants to have a passive travel experience anymore. Unlike our parents, whose sum total of globe-trekking was visiting Paris twice in their lives, we are not content to sit on the sidelines and let things happen to us. We don’t want to be a passenger on the tour bus, watching everything through a glass window, protected, cordoned off, quarantined. We don’t want to have our every move dictated to us. I came to this realization years ago; some of my best travel experiences involved renting bicycles or Vespas and heading off into the wild blue yonder, with only a Let’s Go or Lonely Planet guidebook in hand.

I had a beat-up station wagon in New Zealand that I lived out of for months. I’ve driven Land Rovers in both Patagonia and Tanzania (albeit briefly.) I’ve now driven across the country a number of times for bicoastal moves involving those dastardly Uhaul contraptions. Yet even that has been fun. Having your own, personal transportation gives an unparalleled dimension of freedom to one’s trip. And the big secret is that it is not necessarily out of your budget, even if you’re a cheapie like me. Really, personal transit is the new “must-have” accessory for the modern “flashpacker.”

TopGear has realized this, and turned their car program into a car and travel program. One of my favorite episodes involved their attempt to buy cheap, secondhand motorbikes and travel from South to North Vietnam in under two weeks. There were a fair number of crashes, but no one died. Injury is all part of the experience. Similarly, the fellows have gotten cheap cars and driven them across Namibia, gone rally-cross driving in Scandinavian regions, and even embarked on an odyssey of the American South in pickup trucks and old muscle cars.

The British TV program is not alone in noticing this new travel craze, however. Ewan McGregor and a friend drove around the world on their motorcycles, getting a television program and a book out of it. I recently learned about the Mongol Rally, in which you drive a sub-$1000, small-engined car from London to Mongolia. This is true adventure, getting into the nitty-gritty, away from the tourist buses, and out of one’s comfort zone. We are all becoming independent tour operators, accountable only to ourselves and our blogging community. And although it probably isn’t sustainable or eco-friendly, it sure is fun. Let’s face it: most of us cannot afford some of the absolutely crazy extreme adventure vacations that require Paris Hilton-esque wads of cash. But with some careful planning, and especially if you go with lots of friends to defray the cost, you can get that clunker and attempt to drive across Siberia. If you live, it’ll be a ton of fun. And it really is the only way to independently explore the last frontiers. Just bear in mind that sometime you do get hurt; my cracked ribs after an ugly episode in Baja California can attest to that.Samantha Berkin in no way shape or form recommends doing the stupid travel things she has done in the past. They are dangerous, and will get you hurt. Her motto, however, is nothing ventured, nothing gained. She is saving up money for an overland trek of Siberia in a Unimog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samantha_Berkin

Do you ever tell yourself I just need to book that exotic island vacation package I’ve always dreamed of? Which quickly turns into I just never find the time to getaway. It’s a common problem in today’s fast paced, hustle, fast food society. Too many times we simply don’t take enough time for ourselves, our family and friends.

We turn around look in the mirror and we are looking at a late thirties someone square in the face wondering, were did my life go? We remember in our teens and twenties we were much more adventurous and made more time to get away, but our thirties and beyond have been hijacked by our career, responsibilities, and playing catch up for some life mistakes. Our bright dreams of world travel get shelved with the news of junior on the way or a collapse in the American financial system.

Some hot trends emerging are sexy, affordable, vacation clubs which begin to paint the canvas of a lifestyle design. These clubs are founded on the concept of bulk wholesaling power. This is a business model used by companies like Costco or Sam’s Club. This same strategy is targeted towards the travel business which is a multi-trillion dollar industry. The vacation club builds a loyal membership base and goes out into world and uses bulk buying leverage to secure amazing deals on all kinds of vacations. These range from relaxing island vacation packages to affordable all inclusive vacation packages or just a quick weekend getaway.

They include all of the popular destinations like Mexico, Hawaii, Europe, and Australia. The more exclusive luxury clubs offer trips to exotic locations like Dubai, Fiji, Costa Rica, or Tahiti. These premier clubs also offer luxury packages to major sporting events like the Superbowl or the US Open golf tournament. Other packages feature high profile celebrity charity events where meeting and mingling with sports figures and celebrities is part of the experience. Being part of a club doesn’t guarantee a change in old habits but it at least gets us dreaming of the possibilities again.

I challenge you to start living the life of your dreams. Life is short and it is meant to be lived, so remember to love, be passionate, and go travel!

Bryan Choate is a Dad, Dreamer, CEO and like you doesn’t tend to make enough time for world travel.

Island Vacation Packages.                   Vacation Clubs and Packages.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Choate

If you are looking for a great holiday idea, it is highly recommended that you backpack in Europe. It is a very unique experience that everyone should have at least once. Odds are, if you do it once you will probably want to do it again.

 When you are deciding when is the best time of year to backpack in Europe, there are many things you need to take into consideration. The summer is definitely the time of year when most people go backpacking. This is convenient because it makes it easier for you to gather up a group of people that want to go hiking with you. The downside to going backpacking in and around Europe in the summer is that the prices are higher at this time of the year. If you are going to go in the summer, it is important to make reservations ahead of time. Since this is the busiest time of the year, it is often booked months ahead.

 If you decide to go in the summer, it does not matter which summer month you choose, as they all will be generally priced the same. As for the winter, there are some obvious downsides to it. The weather is not as nice, and it is harder to find people to go backpacking with you! If you are on a budget, though, going backpacking in Europe in the winter is a great alternative.

 When you go on your trip, it is a good idea to get backpacker holiday insurance. This protects you and your gear in case of an accident. If a medical situation arises, the insurance will cover you. Also, if something is lost or stolen that is necessary for the trip, you will be glad that you purchased the backpacker insurance.

 When packing for the trip, it is important to take as little as you can with you. You may be worried about packing every little thing that you need for your trip, but that will make your pack heavier (a lightweight backpack can counter this). If you are staying at a hostel, they offer free or cheap laundry services, which makes the pack much smaller. It is good to take about 4 to 5 days worth of clothes with you. It is important to remember that if something happens to your stuff while on the trip, there will be an opportunity to replace it at a decent price.

 Now that you have planned your backpacking trip, all you need to do is select a destination. Your starting point is really not that important since you will be backpacking all over Europe. You will find that there are cheaper rates when flying to a big city, such as London. Before you go off on your trip is important to make some kind of an itinerary. Included in this, you want to have all of the must-see places listed. When making your itinerary, be sure to give yourself some freedom and extra time, that way if something arises that you want to check out, you will have plenty of time to do so.

 Tom Shurville is the main contributor to this website about backpacking through Europe. Find more information at articles at the link provided.

 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_A_Shurville

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Although it’s quite popular in Europe and Down Under, it’s a dream many Americans don’t pursue: Backpacking the world for months or years at a time. Perhaps it’s because we’ve been taught that you go to school and then get a job so you can buy things. What if we take a break for a while from our fast-paced lives and voracious consumer appetites and live with only what we can carry on our backs?

That’s what my sister and I did. We sold everything, bought airfare, traveler’s checks, and wandered around the world for a year and a half. Of course, we blew through our money faster than we had expected. Wanting to stay on the road for as long as possible, we came up with some ideas on how to make money while traveling.

1.   Submit your photographs to stock photography websites.

You’re taking photos anyway of everyone and everything you see. Why not upload them to several of the major stock photography websites and earn money? They pay you on consignment for each photo someone purchases for reuse in books, brochures, websites, etc.

2.   Become a seasonal fruit picker.

These jobs don’t pay very well, and it’s hard labor but at least you’re outdoors with other travelers getting in shape and earning money. The jobs are usually plentiful, depending on the season.

3.   Become a ranch hand or do odd jobs.

Such jobs are usually found just by word of mouth or calling ranches. Sometimes you can find jobs in a local newspaper, but usually you need to ask around about temporary work in whatever locale you happen to be in.

4.   Teach English.

Like fruit picking, these jobs are plentiful but do not pay very well. But sometimes they provide living accommodations and it’s a great way to get to know the local culture and make friends.

5.   Become a freelance travel writer.

Write articles and submit them to magazines. If accepted, you will usually be paid per word. You can also write articles and submit them for free to article marketing websites. You’re allowed to put a link in the resource box at the end of the article to your personal website (see #6 below.) This helps drive traffic to your website. These articles spread virally through the Internet and are reprinted in blogs, ezines, and other places.

6.  Design a website with affiliate programs.

A great way to stay in touch with friends, family, and new friends you make while traveling is to set up a travelogue website where you display photos and stories about your travels. On such a website, you can get a little entrepreneurial. If you know that most of your friends like to shop at a certain online bookstore, for example, then sign up for that bookstore’s affiliate program. It’s fairly easy to do as long as you have a website building program that allows you to cut and paste an html link. After you sign up for an affiliate program, just cut and paste their affiliate link or banner into your website on a “resources” or “links” page. Then ask all your friends and family to click on that link the next time they wish to purchase something from that online store. You will get paid money each time someone clicks on that link and purchases something, and it won’t cost your friends and family anything extra. There are all kinds of products you can sell on your website. Generally, the more expensive the item – such as seminars, CD programs, or services – the more money you will earn.

7.   Become a WWOOFer.

It’s an international program that stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. You choose an organic family farm you’d like to visit, make arrangements with the family, work all day, and, in return, you get free meals and lodging for each day you work. It’s a wonderful way to learn about organic farming and the local culture.

The key is to be open and creative. Making the time to step out of your normal life tends to foster creativity and frees the spirit. You are only limited by your work visa and your imagination. Maybe host a brainstorming happy hour at a youth hostel to get some help from your fellow travelers. Other backpackers are a wealth of information. During your travels, remember the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”

Katie B. Marsh is author and publisher of the Books for Sharing series of Life-Changing Workbooks Bringing People Closer Together. If you are looking for the perfect gift for a loved one who is elderly, pregnant, or a new parent, then go to http://BooksForSharing.com/. The Parenting Game Plan – Negotiate, Compromise and Explore the Parenting Journey Together. A Unique Workbook to Help New and Expectant Parents. The Birth of Dying – A Sensitive Workbook to Help You Broach and Explore End-of-Life Issues with Your Terminally Ill or Elderly Loved One. Free gift wrapping available!

(c) Copyright – Katie B. Marsh. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katie_B._Marsh

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 I arrived Greece at the new Athens Airport built for the 2004 Olympics. Strait to Uncle and Auntie Christou s place in Glyfada, a coastal suburb. A delicious lunch and of I headed with Uncle Christou. Onto the senic Tram line to Panathinaiko Stadium, site of the first modern Olympics in 1896. Temple of Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch were great but my Highlight of course was to walk to the top of the Acropolis to the magnificent Parthenon.

Athens spreads out below the Acropolis, which glows under lights by night for a great view, I walk same stone pathway once traversed by the ancient Athenians as part of an annual rite, known as the Panathenaic procession, to the site of the grandest of temples of around 500 B.C. We climbed up past the ruins of the formal entrance, the Propylaia, and stood before the remains of the Parthenon, where a huge statue of the goddess Athena once stood. I was amazed at how much of the edifice is still intact, restoration is ongoing. Close by is the Erechtheion,  massive statues of women used as supporting pillars. Below the walls is Theatre of Herod Atticus, built in  A.D. 160. On to the Agora. The Stoa of Attalos, has a fine museum. Of original columns only 15 remain, their size shows that the Zeus temple was once larger than the Parthenon, and the largest in Greece.

To walk in the footsteps of Plato, Socrates, Aristotle through the old political center of Athens, Was a highlight for me and very inspirational. Made me feel so privileged to share their heritage !

Why are the Greeks so Happy !?

 I believe I know ; the constant Family celebrations for all manner of events. The spread of delicious Mediterranean cuisine, Name day celebrations, Everyone knows which friend / relative is celebrating, no need for Invitations or email,  All Greeks know where to go for a good time ! All the Life styles & systems they began : Physical Culture, Politics, Philosophy, Art, Mathematics, Democracy.
 

Two Famous Greek credos :  Know Thyself . Nothing in Excess.  I Live this everyday !

With So many cheap flights,cheap hotels,& Airline tickets available for International Travel deals,from Budget to Luxury. Booking Vacation packages online, is EASY.

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