TravelWorld Budget Travel JanFeb 09

09.1 JAN.FEB

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Venezia WHERE TO STAY FOR LESS THAN 25 EUROS A NIGHT!

VIETNAM EQUALS

Value LONDON

Calling THE ABCS OF

Columbia CELEBRATE THE WORLD’S

First Novel IN JAPAN

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budget travel issue

O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E O F T H E N O R T H A M E R I C A N T R AV E L J O U R N A L I S T S A S S O C I AT I O N

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budget travel issue

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

09.1 JAN.FEB

FEATURES 10 CELEBRATING THE WORLD’S FIRST NOVEL The Tale of the Genji Turns 1,000: Make Your Own Pilgrimage to Visit Where It Was Inspired STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOANN GRECO

14 LIVING THE HIGH LIFE London and The Cote d’Azur on the Cheap

BY CHRISTINA BRIDGE

18 BUDGET TRAVEL IN VENICE How to Stay Without Emptying Your Wallet

BY STEPHANIE MORELAND

24 BOOMERS SAMPLE BUDGET TRAVEL IN VIETNAM Variety, Value and Beauty Entice Adventurous Travelers

BY MARY WALKER CLARK

28 THE ABC’S OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI Vacationing in a College Town STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOWARD HIAN

32 SOME PLACE TO HIDE ON JEKYLL ISLAND NATJA advisory board members discover that “the third time’s a charm” on the Georgian Coast

BY BENNETT W. ROOT, JR.

COLUMNS 4 5 6 8 38

GROUP PUBLISHER’S NOTE BENEFITS OF BEING A NATJA MEMBER FROM THE PUBLISHER LETTER FROM THE EDITOR SENIOR TRAVEL

Curaçao Offers History, Beauty and Few Crowds /

41

BY VICTOR BLOCK

SPA & WELLNESS

A Traditional Mayan Holistic Balance to Wellness /

44

SPORTS & SIGHTS

Historic Philadelphia /

47

BY DAN SCHLOSSBERG

ARTS & ARCHITECTURE

Spend the Night with Frank Lloyd Wright /

50

BY MICHELLE NEWMAN

DISABILITY TRAVEL

Budget Lodging Options /

52

BY CANDY HARRINGTON

SPOTLIGHT

Tips on How to Successfully Promote Your Book /

54

BY CHRISTINE GERMYN

BY ARLINE ZATZ

NATJA ON THE GO

NATJA Goes to the Inauguration!

56

LIBRARY 09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

* EXCITING TIMES FROM THE GROUP PUBLISHER

A New Look for Travelworld!

We are excited to present this new issue of Travelworld. It is a cutting

54

edge format that will taking our magazine into the 21st century. It allows our writers and photographers to showcase their work in a much more professional way.

It will also allow our feature writers, photographers and columnists more opportunities to leverage their work commercially. More on that later.

For too long, Travelworld has been an underdeveloped medium for travel journalism. Lacking promotion, Travelworld has not built its distribution, something we will be looking to expand greatly over the next two years. We want Travelworld to build a loyal reader base that will find the publication compelling for its sheer entertainment value and for its ability to inspire and guide travel decisions.

A big thanks to Jerri Hemsworth, our Publisher and NATJA Communications VP, for conceiving and designing Travelworld’s new look. And thanks to our Editor, Kim Foley MacKinnon, and the NATJA Advisory Board for their suggestions and encouragement in making the decision to re-launch Travelworld.

For this premier issue, Kim has assembled a wonderful array of articles and photographs for your enjoyment. These articles are written by our North American Travel Journalists members regarding their travels and also feature destinations that were visited by NATJA’s Advisory Board.

On another note, Kim and I have just returned from a wonderful trip covering the inauguration of our 44th President, Barak Obama, for this edition. We were special guests at various inaugural events. Please be sure and read Kim’s article on page 54. Washington, D.C. did a phenomenal job in handling and providing services for 1.8 million people. This would be a major challenge for any CVB, but they handled it with consideration and class. Kudos to the D.C. CVB! For the general public who are not yet familiar with our magazine, Travelworld International Magazine will offer valuable information on destinations and become a handbook for those of you looking for important travel information. For the industry, it is a tremendous promotional tool for writers and destinations. We look forward to growing into these goals.

Happy reading and travel well!

HH Helen Hernandez Group Publisher CEO of NATJA

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

The Benefits of Being a NATJA Member Travelworld International Magazine is the official magazine of the North American Travel Journalists Association Group Publisher Publisher Editor Art Director Art Intern Vice President, Marketing Contributing Writers

Helen Hernandez Jerri Hemsworth Kim Foley MacKinnon Jenny Yang Kaycie Lund Brian Hemsworth Christina Bridge Mary Walker Clark Joanne Greco Howard Hian Stephanie Moreland Bennett Root, Jr.

Contributing Columnists

Victor Block Christine Germyn Candy B. Harrington Michelle Newman Dan Schlossberg Arline Zatz

Editorial/Advertising offices Travelworld International Magazine 150 S. Arroyo Parkway, 2nd Floor Pasadena, CA 91105 P: 626.376.9754 www.travelworldmagazine.com Travelworld International Magazine is published bi-monthly by Travel Professionals Inc. 150 S. Arroyo Parkway, 2nd Floor, Pasadena, CA 91105

Volume 2009.1 Jan/Feb. Copyright ©2009 by Travel Professionals Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Advertising rates and information sent upon request. Acceptance of advertising in Travelworld International Magazine in no way constitutes approval or endorsement by Travel Professionals Inc. or NATJA of products or services advertised. Travelworld International Magazine and Travel Professionals Inc. reserve the right to reject any advertising. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and not necessarily those of Travelworld International Magazine or Travel Professionals Inc. Travelworld International Magazine reserves the right to edit all contributions for clarity and length, as well as to reject any material submitted. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. This periodical’s name and logo along with the various titles and headings therein, are trademarks of Travel Professionals Inc. PRODUCED IN U.S.A.

■ NATJA List Serve Contact more than 400 professional NATJA journalists and/or associates at one time through the NATJA List Serve.

■ Resource Center Review hundreds of travel publications. Includes editor’s name and contact information. .

■ Professional Development Annual programs geared to enhancing the skills of our working media and improve the effectiveness of our bureaus, organizations and other professionals.

■ eWire Service Send a query, story or press release to more than 250 major US/Canadian publications electronically via email.

■ Media Member Database—All Access Enhance your professional networking capabilities. Search our growing database of over 350 Media Members.

■ CVB and Associate Database—All Access Enhance your professional networking capabilities. Search our constantly growing database of NATJA members that include convention & visitors bureaus, hotels and resorts, airlines, restaurants, food industry and growers associations, wineries and wine associations, PR agencies, and marketing and public relations professionals.

■ Travelworld International Magazine Members have access to publishing and advertising opportunities. Travelworld International Magazine features stories and photos from our members.

■ The Wayfarer The NATJA official newsletter which includes industry news and media relation contacts.

■ Media Trips Information Press trips, events and story ideas are distributed monthly to members.

■ Personal Web Site NATJA Members can activate their own personal web page.

It’s free and it’s simple!

■ NATJA News Connection (NNC) Where active and associate members connect.

■ NATJA Media ID All members can receive a NATJA ID. ■ Annual NATJA Conference & Marketplace www.natja.org/conference

www.natja.org 09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

* A VISION FROM THE PUBLISHER

FOR THE FUTURE Traveling in New England during the month of October is a personal joy.

I’m sure that goes for a lot of people. But one particular trip in the Fall of last year put an extra skip in my step. I was being asked to attend my first NATJA advisory board meeting in Newport, Rhode Island. I was to outline my future plans for this magazine. This magazine being your magazine.

Having started my own graphic design and marketing company in 1996, I was well on my way to realizing a dream that I’ve had for some time. As a typesetter, production artist and graphic designer, I’ve had the privelege to work on and help design publications such as Outdoor Photographer, Golf Tips, Plane & Pilot, Active Outlook, and Southern California Physician. I’ve worked with publishers who loved to showcase the talent of their writers and photographers. I’ve also worked with publishers who didn’t care. I very much preferred the “showcasers.”

That was when I realized that the training and skills of my early career had prepared me to actually design and publish my own publications one day. My true love of magazine publishing had been born.

I was able to realize my dream in the last months of 2007 when Inside Latino Entertainment and Media Magazine was launched. As Editor-in-Chief and CoPublisher, I oversee the day-t0-day operations and editorial of this quarterly magazine. As a publisher, I have the enormous freedom to showcase the editorial in a way that makes not only the subject proud, but myself and the many readers of the magazine.

Now, I have the amazing honor to revamp and publish Travelworld International Magazine for you. As the talented writers, photographers, and members of NATJA, you deserve a publication to properly showcase your talents and travels. Through you, readers of your articles are transported through your eyes to destinations they’ve only dreamed of going. My job is to make that journey an enjoyable one.

One that makes you proud. One that makes NATJA proud. And one that makes the readers proud.

I look forward to showcasing your work and talent. I look forward to making you proud.

Jerri Jerri Hemsworth Publisher jerrih@natja.org

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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18

24

28

Welcome to the New Travelworld International Magazine!

Comments?

Questions?

Suggestions?

Drop us a line at Travelworld International Magazine by emailing kim@natja.org.

I am thrilled to be able to present the stellar writers of NATJA in this exciting, colorful format. This is only one of the many changes the new ownership of NATJA has brought about, with more to come!

This new style and format of TWI is pretty cutting-edge and will allow readers (and writers) to download single articles or the entire magazine to print in gorgeous color. In addition, writers can embed the magazine on their own website to promote their work. I urge you to explore the website www.issuu.com to learn more about all the other wonderful applications available.

This issue is focused on budget travel, a fitting way to start out in a year of recession. You’ll find tips on traveling in Venice (page 18), Vietnam (page 24), Japan (page 10) and closer to home, Missouri (page 28), plus a lot of other fascinating spots around the globe.

Over the course of the coming months, there will be new features in the magazine. We will still have our regular columns, but we look forward to adding other components. A much larger focus on photography will be a mainstay, so all you shutterbugs should think about submitting photo essays. Stayed tuned to see what other changes are in store. I will need your feedback and suggestions, so don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Happy and safe travels!

Kim Kim Foley MacKinnon Editor kim@natja.org

2009 EDITORIAL CALENDAR March/April . . . . . . .CRUISES . . . . . . . . . . . . .Deadline Feb 23 Submission?

May/June . . . . . . . . . .FAMILY . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Deadline April 5

Submit story and

July/August . . . . . . . .GREEN (ECO) . . . . . . . . .Deadline June 5

photography pitches

Sept/Oct . . . . . . . . . . .LUXURY . . . . . . . . . . . . .Deadline August 5

to kim@natja.org.

Do not submit images unless requested.

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

Nov/Dec . . . . . . . . . . .FOOD & WINE . . . . . . .Deadline October 5

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The Tale of the Genji Turns 1,000: Make Your Own Pilgrimage to Visit Where It Was Inspired STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOANN GRECO

Her straight jet hair hanging down her back, her multi-layered kimono a rustling riot of oranges and golds, Lady Murasaki Shikibu crept through the verdant pine- and mosscovered grounds of the Ishiyama Temple. Here, away from the court intrigues of nearby Kyoto, she could think.

On this particularly bright August

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

night 1,000 years ago, she settled into the temple’s moon-viewing pavilion and let her imagination wander. In heightened excitement, she scribbled notes and, gradually, a character took on distinctive traits. As his bold exploits became clearer, she bestowed a name on her “shining prince”— Hikaru Genji.

Or that’s what the folks at Ishiyama

would like us to believe. A marble statute of the author holds pride of place, and a vignette featuring a longhaired mannequin writing at a low table cements the legend: That it was on this hill that she conceived the monogatari which eventually became The Tale of Genji— Japan’s most celebrated written work.

While it’s certainly true that the site

The World’s First Novel

The signature vermillion of Heian Shrine, erected in observance of Kyoto's 1100th anniversary.

09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

Celebrating The World’s First Novel

On the verdant pine- and moss-covered grounds of the Ishiyama Temple, Lady Murasaki supposedly conceived of Genji's tale.

was part of a pilgrimage popular during the Heian era in which Lady Murasaki wrote, parts of the actual temple buildings, including the pagoda, the oldest surviving in Japan, are slightly newer (dating to the Kamakura period of the 1190s).

No matter. Now’s a perfect time to plan your own pilgrimage, one that pays homage to the novel and takes advantage of the exodus of autumn’s maple-viewing hordes. Blanketed in snow, the watery reflections, sloping roofs, and bright red torii gates of the region’s temples take on different aspects and silhouettes in the wintertime. These centuries-old parks and buildings make it easy to soak up some Heian atmosphere, but if that’s not enough, several of the area’s museums are running exhibitions in observance of the tale’s 1,000th anniversary.

Best, of all, this season is the cheapest time to travel in Japan.

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

This anniversary is a big deal, because not only is the book widely regarded as the world’s first novel, it also is a perfect encapsulation of the essence of things Japanese. It was in the Heian era that the aesthetic codes so critical to Japanese culture were formulated. Loosely gathered under the phrase “mono no aware”— a melancholy sensitivity to things— these codes include appreciation for everyday objects, ritualization of daily activities, and harmony with nature.

The book depicts a feminine society where a letter might be rejected because its paper, ink color, calligraphy, or scent caused displeasure, and where a woman might be mocked for her poor skills at mixing and matching the various layers of her ensemble.

But, equally important to this world, are the veiled subtleties of behavior (more than speech), the changing of

the seasons, and the observance of religious festivals.

It’s at the region’s temples where you can really feel that spirit. Byodin, in the small city of Uji, about 10 miles south of Kyoto, is the only surviving example of Heian temple architecture—and certainly one of the loveliest in this land of a thousand (and counting) temples. Like its more famous brethren, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, this building sits in the middle of the water, but it reveals itself gradually and its graceful horizontal lines and muted grey hues are the epitome of zen. An adjacent, but nicely tucked away, museum displays the interior’s fixtures and art, since the building is not open to the public.

Also in Uji—which is the setting for the novel’s little-read final chapters— is the newly-renovated Tale of Genji Museum (www.uji-genji.jp). It offers a brisk introduction to the era via films

A performer at Heian Shrine displays the famous

Byodin, about 10 miles south of Kyoto, is the only surviving

12-layer kimono worn by court ladies during

example of Heian temple architecture.

Murasaki's time.

and models, but includes only a few original pieces, such as an ox wagon and 12-layer kimono.

While in Kyoto proper, be sure to visit two of the city’s oldest shrines: Shimogamo, which lies deep in a forest near the Imperial Palace, and Kiyomizu, famous for its cantilevered position at the top of a hill near Gion, the geisha (or geiko, in Kyoto dialect) quarter. Both were popular sites during Murasaki’s time, and she set several pivotal scenes at each.

One of Kyoto’s newest temples, on the other hand, is also worth a Genjiinspired visit. The Heian Shrine may have been erected in 1895, but it was done in observance of the city’s 1,100th anniversary and as such is a careful attempt at creating a Heianera stroll garden. A Chinese-style covered bridge with bench seating and a stepping-stone pond crossing are among visitor favorites.

Finally, don’t forget to walk the streets of Gion, where wooden machi-ya merchant’s homes still ply their owners’ wares—from handpainted fans to lacquered pottery— and house tearooms, marked by red lanterns. These architectural treasures with their signature latticework, Japanese joinery, courtyard gardens (tsubo niwa), and sliding door entryways are the stuff of every samurai movie. And the 300 or so geiko and maiko (apprentice geisha) who frequent them—with their perfectly made up faces and their elaborate kimono—are the very ideal of Heian beauty.

features hands-on cultural activities, special Japanese culinary offers, time limited admission to historic facilities normally closed for public viewing, as well as events showcasing the unique beauty of the famous city.

Special hotel packages include the Granvia (www.granviakyoto.com), which offers guests private access to the Kamigamo Shrine (a sister to Shimogamo, mentioned above), and the Hyatt Regency (kyoto.regency.hyatt.com), which offers a fourth night free with any three-night stay.

JoAnn Greco is a freelance writer who has specialized in travel, arts and design, architecture and planning, and lifestyle since 1991.

For Further Information To learn more about Tale of Genji, see http://2008genji.jp.

The Kyoto Winter Special (www.kyotowinterspecial.com) campaign runs through this March and

She has written for National Geographic Traveler, The Washington Post, Art & Antiques, Conde Nast Portfolio.com, Newsday, Historic Traveler, CNN.com, USA Today, and many others. She is from Philadelphia, Penn., and can be reached at jphila@aol.com.

09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

TheHigh Living

Big Ben stands majestic at the north-eastern end of the Palace of Westminster in London.

PHOTO: MATTHEW DIXON/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

Life London and The Cote d’Azur on the Cheap

BY CHRISTINA BRIDGE

London and The Cote d’Azur are not normally places associated with budget vacations, unless you are travelling with the penny aware allowance associated with students and backpackers. However there is a delightful middle ground where you can stay in superb accommodations, enjoy gourmet food, visit main attractions and local festivals.

The best time to visit London, (it’s when I go, and I’m originally a Londoner), is September; the airfares have dropped considerably, the kids are back at school, and as has been the case in recent years London has enjoyed a wonderful Indian summer, warm T-shirt weather during the days, with only a light cover up for the slightly fresher evenings.

The most reasonably priced direct flights are with Virgin Airways from most major US hubs. Taking a nod from the corporate world you can stay in three-star serviced apartments in the heart of Kensington or Canary Wharf, London’s newest financial center for an average £120 (US $180) per night. Fraser Suites, one of the leading providers of serviced apartments across the globe has recently added these three-star properties to their four and five star portfolios. You can enjoy beautifully appointed apartments with equipped kitchens, maid service, cable TV, L’Occitane toiletries, and friendly and knowledgeable staff.

The major savings over a hotel are immense, you can order food in, you have your own fridge to stock with your

own purchases and no more $5 miniature bottles of water. There are no horrendous charges on phone bills, and the suites are on average two to three times larger than most hotel rooms.

There is a plethora of free things to do in London. You could easily spend a whole day visiting the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert which are all next to each other on Cromwell Road. The main museums are free with only a small charge for special exhibitions. The second week in September enjoys the Mayors Thames Festival, which celebrates life along the river from Westminster to Tower Bridge, with open air performances, music, dancing, sailing along the Thames, and a fireworks display. Here you get to ex-

09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

TheHigh

Life Living

perience life as a Londoner.

A must-buy is the London Pass which gives you access to over 50 attractions at an incredible savings over paying for each one individually. In two days, we managed to visit the Tower of London, Tower Bridge Museum Experience, the London Aquarium, London Zoo, Hampton Court Palace, take a riverboat cruise down the Thames to Greenwich, visit the HMS Belfast and St Paul’s Cathedral.

View of London at night as seen from the London Eye. PHOTO: CHRISTINA BRIDGE

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

Plump for the pass with travel, as this lets you jump on and off all London Transport at will. The London Pass also offers great discounts on restaurants, theatre tickets and shopping.

For those with a hankering for the theatre, the half-price ticket booth in Leicester Square offers on-the-day tickets from 10 a.m. There are 700 standing tickets at the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre for every performance from only £5 (US $7.50). If you book in advance tickets for dance and opera at the Royal Opera House can be had for that price as well and unsold tickets are offered at half price four hours before a performance.

There are numerous markets to visit in London, one of the most diverse is Portobello Road which on Saturday has an antique market that leads into a produce market, interspersed with one-ofkind boutique shops selling everything from funky home items to a whole store devoted to cookbooks. Other good ones to visit are Borough Market, Spitalfields, and of course, Covent Garden Market.

For further information: www.thelondonpass.com www.virginatlantic.com www.frasersuites.com www.squaremeal.co.uk ( a very good

SIDETRIP FROM LONDON site for honest restaurant reviews) www.interieurs-cour.com Born in London, Christina Bridge has lived, worked and traveled extensively in Europe.

Currently residing in South Florida, she continues her travels, and has published articles in the yachting and travel press, imparting her unique style to subjects such as cruising itineraries, food, career tips for yachting crew, investigative pieces, and other adventures. She has been published in Dockwalk Magazine, Crew Life Magazine, AAA magazine, and Yacht Essentials. She can be reached at www. myspace.com/christinangel69.

Afternoon view from the sun terrace at villa azzure looking down towards the Bay of Cannes and the Cap de l'Esterel.

PHOTO: CHRISTINA BRIDGE

he most affordable way to the South of France from London is with Easy Jet from three London Airports where if you can book in advance for prices from as low as £28 (US $42) to Nice, the gateway to the Cote d’Azur. This is the perfect city to base oneself to take advantage of all that this dazzling region has to offer.

Once again, for luxury at a small price, a serviced apartment is the frugal traveler’s friend. Mid-season prices are about 450 Euro (US $600) per week.

Just a stone’s throw from Place Massena and the Promenade Des Anglais we found the most uniquely designed and welcoming one- and two-bedroom apartments called Interieur cour. The interiors of the themed Nature, Kenya, Tribal and Siam apartments were welcoming and lived up to their names; some have hot tubs and even a beautiful sun terrace, which in the heart of Nice is a rare find indeed.

Rue Massena is ideally situated about 10 minutes walk to the train station which is the ideal way to travel up and down the coast, with frequent trains to Monaco in one direction and to Cannes in the other. Take a boat trip to the Illes de Lerin just off Cannes, Wander the quaint streets and the Picasso Museum of Antibes. Then stop for lunch wit h the locals at Le Brulot where all the fare is cooked in the wood-fire oven, and served with much ‘joie de vivre.’

Nice has a very cosmopolitan feel, with a superb offering of museums, the Chagall, the Matisse and the Picasso are the main ones. The sweeping Baie des Anges offers miles of sandy beaches and the incredible blue sea that reflects the clarity of light that Provence is so famous for. A hike around the parc at Mont Boron offers stunning views and a pleasant way to pass the afternoon. In the evening the many superb and reasonably priced restaurants along Rue Massena offer a wide variety of Mediterranean cuisine. La Maison de Marie is possibly one of the most romantic, while dining under candlelit bougainvillea food prepared by Chef Alain is served by genuinely friendly and charming staff.

On the way to Monaco, take a visit to the Sunday antique market at Villefranche-sur-mer. Equally, Beaulieu sur mer, which is a quaint seaside town is worth a stop, the walk around to St Jean de Cap Ferrat takes you past villas of the rich and famous as well as a visit to the Villa Kerylos. The well-preserved medieval village of Eze, perched high above sea level, offers unparalleled views from St. Tropez to Italy and Corsica. A charming place to spend the afternoon, wandering around the cobbled streets, transportation here is by foot or donkey. Whilst Eze is known as being relatively expensive, you can enjoy inexpensive home cooked food at Le Nid d’Aigle and, of course, the views are free.

A South of France vacation wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the tiny but world re-known Principality of Monaco. The sheer romance and class associated with this tax haven is built upon an era of nostalgia and decadence.

Take a coffee in La Condamine Market and watch the Monegasques go about their daily routines. If you are here in late September the Monaco Yacht Show is a sight to behold, with some of the most sophisticated floating gin palaces on show in the gleaming harbor. There are numerous walks that take in each quarter of Monaco, and a visit to watch the changing of the Guard at 11:55 am daily at the Place de Palais is a wonderful reminder of Monaco’s history. •

T

09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

Venice Budget Travel in

How to Stay Without Emptying Your Wallet

BY STEPHANIE MORELAND

The thought of gliding down the Grand Canal in a hand-crafted gondola or sitting in Piazza San Marco at a sidewalk café enjoying an Italian espresso conjures up images of excitement and romance for travelers who dream of visiting Venice.

Every year, roughly 15 million tourists swarm to this global icon of a city to see what all the fuss is about. They come, they experience, and they fall in love with its history, timelessness, and the unique ambience that is so characteristic of this city. These visitors come and they leave changed individuals forever. The downside, however, is that most visitors also leave with unnecessarily empty pockets.

The romantic bubble can quickly burst when visitors realize that they have just paid 10 Euros for a glass of wine or eight Euros for a cup of coffee, which would cost less than half that TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

price in many other destinations in Italy. The biggest challenge for travelers, however, remains in finding an inexpensive place to stay in Venice. It seems all but impossible for travelers on a budget to take a trip to this notto-be-missed city.

Recently, my friends and I had the good fortune of stumbling upon one of the great treasures of budget travel in Italy: Camping Fusina. Although the word “camping” might elicit some cringes and a few groans from the average hotel traveler, the place that we found far exceeded any expectations that we had. The accommodations surpassed many hostels, motels, B&B’s, and pensions that I have had the good fortune of visiting. This place is without a doubt the best way to see Venice for those that like to leave this city with good memories and some spare change.

PHOTO: DNY59/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

Venice Budget Travel in

Camping Fusina Village Venice, although not located directly in the city of Venice, is found at the waterfront of the Venice Lagoon at the end of the Brenta River. Easily reachable by any direction—and by train, car, bus, boat, or airport—the camp site is a short 20-minute ferry ride from the city of Venice. The ferry landing is a fiveminute walk from the campsite, with ferries that leave on the hour and breathtaking views of the city by boat. This is an incredible way to enjoy the Venetian air. The ferries drop visitors at an ideal spot in Venice—a short walk from Piazza San Marco and many of the other major attractions.

Although they offer tent camping and RV parking, the site also has private campers that can be rented for only 25 Euros a night. The cabins are twin-bedded rooms complete with linens, nightstands, and bathrooms with hot showers. They also have heating and air-conditioning (which is more than even some hotels and hostels in Europe). For people traveling in groups, visitors can also request adjoining rooms as there are two separate rooms for campers.

There is also no single supplement charge for solo travelers (most hostels charge a single person the same prices as two people sharing the same room). Also, this campsite is for people from all walks of life, so there are no exclusions. We saw singles, married couples, and groups of people from all over the world.

The campsite also comes complete with Wi-Fi, and internet café, a gym, laundry facilities, a supermarket, a restaurant, a bar (which turns into a disco at night), and a pizzeria which TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

Gondolas make getting around the canals a charming adventure.

PHOTO: STEPHANIE MORELAND

09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

Venice Budget Travel in

Piazza San Marco.

PHOTO: STEPHANIE MORELAND

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

The dock near Camping Fusina.

Take a ferry to get back and forth from the camp.

PHOTO: STEPHANIE MORELAND

PHOTO: STEPHANIE MORELAND

from sightseeing in the city, the campsite is also a 25-minute ferry ride from a lovely public beach.

There are many reasons to fall in love with Venice, but the cost of accommodation is not one of them. I can say that after my Venetian vacation experience, this is the only place I would ever consider staying again. Besides, with the money I saved from staying in such an inexpensive place, I had enough left over to buy a Vene-

tian glass necklace and a new pair of leather boots.

Stephanie Moreland travels extensively throughout the US and internationally. She is a regular contributor to Endeavour Lifestyles magazine and Absolutely Magazine, as well as writing for other publications such as Where Rome magazine, Talking Travel, and Offbeat Travel. She hails from Houston, Texas, and can be reached at stephanie@morelandwrites.com.

PHOTO: JENNIFER TRENCHARD/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

serves delicious pizzas for less than 9 Euros. For those travelers that want a little nightlife with their vacation, live entertainment like karaoke nights are hosted several days a week. Venice is not notorious for any nighttime activity—in fact the city virtually shuts down at night—so enjoying a coffee or beer at the bar of the campsite, or dancing in the disco, is the perfect way to end a day in Venice. For those that need a break

09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

Boomers Sample

Budget Travel in Vietna

BY MARY WALKER CLARK

The poor dollar seems to take

PHOTO: JAKOB LEITNER/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

am

Variety, Value and Beauty Entice Adventurous Travelers

a beating wherever it goes. Many Americans are letting their European cousins visit them this year. Others are dusting off their campers. But there is good news. In Vietnam, the dollar’s value has stayed steady over the last year. In fact, with an exchange rate of around 16,000 dong to the dollar, a $100 bill can make you an instant millionaire. The even better news is that it is an economical place to travel.

Vietnam as a travel destination was discovered by the young back packer set at least 15 years ago. They found a country with beautiful beaches, deltas laden with boats, motorcycle-packed streets, interesting ethnic mountain tribes, hand-tailored silk suits, and ruins from an advanced civilization hundreds of years old. Halong Bay took their breath away and Saigon’s night life beat most anything in the United States. Hotels and food were cheap and the Vietnamese people welcoming. It was like Europe in the early 1970s.

The older traveler has now caught on and Vietnam is experiencing a surge in tourism. Tour groups and even cruise lines have added Vietnam to their itineraries. The French have embraced their former colony and are coming in large numbers. Older Americans, however, first had to be convinced that they would be well received by the Vietnamese. Since 70 percent of the Vietnamese population is under 30 years of age, most Vietnamese only know of the “American War” from their history books. We’re treated as any other tourist, which means they want 09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

Boomers Sample

Budget Travel in Vietnam

us to enjoy ourselves and come back.

On this visit, what I noticed was the number of older independent travelers who were venturing out of the luxury hotels and were really taking advantage of the low cost of travel here. The budget hotels in the “backpack” areas of Saigon and Hanoi are no longer just for the young. Hotel rates in these locations ranged from $12 to $25 per night. This buys you a clean room with a private bath, a small, stocked refrigerator, air conditioning and a televi-

areas where a pizza and a glass of Australian Shiraz can be had for $6.

Even the high-end travel scale in Vietnam is reasonable. On my last evening in Ho Chi Minh City, I treated my traveling companions to a nice night out and was determined to spend $100 on the three of us. After drinks at the Saigon-Saigon bar on top of the elegant Caravelle Hotel, we enjoyed a meal at the Temple Club, a renovated former Chinese temple, where we retired to their drawing room for dessert and coffee. It was only with a large tip that I was able to spend the last of my $100.

Being an older independent traveler

destination for $15 to $30 per day. The other nice choice is to custom-build your holiday through a consolidator.

We found an operator recommended by responsibletravel.com who helped with hotels, transportation and occasional guides, all on the economic level we requested. Even with their 25 percent cost added on, it was still reasonable and saved a lot of time.

With baby boomers retiring and having time for an extended vacation, Vietnam offers both variety and value.

A little investigation, determination, and adventurous spirit will land you in a beautiful country where your dollar goes a long way.

Two young members of the Red Dzao tribe outside Sapa are comfortable

Painted eyes on this Mekong Delta

with the emerging tourist population.

boat are meant to frighten off animals.

PHOTO: MARY WALKER CLARK

PHOTO: MARY WALKER CLARK

sion with CNN and BBC stations. Some even throw in a continental breakfast and if you’re really lucky, that includes the wonderful Vietnamese drip coffee.

All travelers enjoy the low cost of the food. The Vietnamese traditional soup, Pho, is as varied as Italy’s pasta, and is served all day long on the streets and in many restaurants for under $3. We got hooked on Bun Thit Nuong, a grilled meat salad with a rice vinaigrette dressing which cost a whopping four dollars. International food is now available in the larger tourist TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

doesn’t mean you have to buy every ticket and book every hotel yourself.

Vietnam is loaded with travel agencies. I counted 10 in one block of Hanoi. They have a variety of day or multi-day tours to explore the Mekong Delta, Halong Bay, Hoi Ann or the ethnic tribes in the mountains of Sapa.

An overnight stay on a wooden junk boat in Halong (including food) can cost between $35 and $150, depending on the elegance of the boat. These tours can be booked after you arrive.

Tour guides may be hired for each

For further information: SinhCafe Travel Agencies—long time reputable company with many locations, visit www.sinhcafe.com.

For recommendations of local travel agents, www.responsibletravel.com.

For very personalized service, contact Ninh through www.haivenuvietnam.com.

Mary Walker Clark writes a twice monthly travel column for the Paris News. A resident of Paris, Texas, she can be reached at marywalkerclark@hotmail.com.

In the colorful riverside market of Can Tho, fresh produce from the Delta and recently caught fish from the Mekong River are sold.

PHOTO: MARY WALKER CLARK

Vietnam’s flag now flies over luxury junk boats in beautiful Ha Long Bay. PHOTO: MARY WALKER CLARK

09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

The Mizzou Campus (University of Missouri) in the spring.

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

ABCs

The

of Columbia, Missouri

Vacationing in a College Town

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOWARD HIAN

As a travel writer, I’m always on the lookout for new places to explore. College towns often offer very interesting and inexpensive travel opportunities in terms of local restaurants, theater and the arts, sightseeing and, of course, shopping. But, I must admit my main reason to visit Columbia, Missouri is that one of my grandsons lives there. Here’s an inventory of some of my favorite things to do in and around the city.

A is for Activities and the Arts Columbians are serious about their outdoor recreation. America’s longest “rails-to-trail” reclamation project, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Railroad’s bed and track, has been transformed into a 227-mile path running east to west. The Missouri portion, known as the Katy Trail (from the last two letters of MKT), runs smack through Columbia. It is a favorite of walkers, runners, bikers and equestrians; over half of the trail follows Lewis and Clark’s passageway along the Missouri River. In town, the Parks and

Recreation Department operates and maintains more than 2,000 acres of land spread over 51 sites. They offer a handy list of trails located in neighborhoods, community parks, along greenbelts, in nature areas and adjacent to wetlands. The campus of the University of Missouri (Mizzou) offers a myriad of choices for walking. Pick up a copy of their Tree Trails, a guide featuring the gardens and horticultural diversity found on campus.

The Missouri Theater and the YouZeum span the spectrum of the arts. The former, completely renovated and reopened in May of 2008, is an example of the ornate baroque and rococo style of Louis XIV and XV. Originally built in 1928, it was designed to resemble the Paris Opera House; it now anchors the arts in Columbia. The YouZeum, also opened in May of 2008, is a successful example of the private sector and government working together. It is an interactive science center focusing on fitness and health and wellness that was the vision of the Boone (think Daniel)

County Medical Society Alliance. It’s high-tech, informative and great fun for kids of all ages.

The District is the name given to Columbia’s exciting downtown core. It features historic buildings, restaurants and bars, live music and theater. The District is made livelier by its location, nestled between the three hometown colleges; Mizzou, Columbia College and Stephens College. More than 100 shops and galleries make the area a shopper’s delight. One of my favorite places is Poppy, which offers one-of-akind crafts and folk art in clay, glass, fiber, metal, and wood. Another suggested stop is Bluestem Missouri Crafts. They exhibit and sell the work of over 250 craftspeople from Missouri.

B is for Barbecue, Butter Burgers and Buck’s Show-Me Bar-B-Q is a smoky, sweetsour barbecue sauce produced by a local character with a passion for his craft. Harry H. Berrier, DVM, manufactures it in his basement in Columbia (talk about homemade!). It can be 09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

ABCs

The

of Columbia, Missouri

found in most supermarkets around town and is also available via mail order. Buckingham Smokehouse Bar-BQue features oversized servings of smoked ribs, brisket, pulled pork, pit ham, chicken and turkey. My favorite is their Sloppy Buck sandwich, a mixture of pork, beef, ham and turkey burnt ends blended together in a heavenly concoction fit for the BBQ gods. The smoked pit beans and horseradish coleslaw are my two standard sides.

While we’re on the subject of food, my favorite all-around place to eat is Culver’s. Their butter burgers are terrific, the custard outstanding, the service friendly and fast, the menu is interesting (look for their daily specials) and the prices are cheap. Buck’s Ice Cream Place on the Mizzou Campus also deserves mention. It is part of the Food Science and Engineering Unit in the College of Agriculture. They have an ice cream production facility which allows students to experiment with flavors that they manufacture and sell to the public.

C is for Columbia Contacts Here’s a guide to sources to help you learn more about Columbia.

The Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau is a great resource and eager to help. Call them at 800-6520987 or visit online at www.visitcolumbiamo.com. Request their Visitors & Area Guide and plan your getaway around one of the many sporting events, festivals and/or art fairs in the area.

The Missouri portion of the Katy Trail can be found online at www.katystatepark.com or call 800334-6946. Biking enthusiasts search www.BikeKatyTrail.com. Columbia TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

Park and Trail Guides can be found at www.gocolumbiamo.com.

University of Missouri campus information can be found at www.mizzou.com or by calling 800372-6822. There is a wide range on activities year round. Historical Note: During the Civil War, armed home guards, known as the Tigers, protected the small towns in Missouri from plundering gangs, thus the sports team’s nickname.

The Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts (the official name) is the artistic home to 13 local groups from Belly Dance United to the Missouri Symphony Orchestra. The Web site is www.motheatre.org or they can be reached at 573-875-0600 for information.

YouZeum hours and special events can be found at www.youzeum.org or call 573-886-2006. There’s always something going on.

Special Note: The True/False Film Festival, held in February, is one of the most influential documentary film showcases in the country. They feature interesting and quirky films. Contact them at 573-442-TRUE or online at www.truefalse.org.

Finally, my suggestion for a place to stay is the Marriott Courtyard. Enjoy their comfortable, well appointed rooms, great made-to-order breakfasts, friendly staff, reasonable rates and convenient location. Their local number is 573-443-8000 or call 888-2362427. Don’t forget to ask if they are featuring any specials. The Web site is www.courtyard.com.

Howard Hian is regular contributor to three Lee Enterprises newspapers in Central California.

Online, his features have appeared at Just Say Go, Travel Savvy News, Greatest Escapes, SoGoNow, and Offbeat Travel. A resident of La Jolla,Calif., he can be reached at hian@znet.com.

"Phun Physiology" at the YouZeum.

The historic Missouri Theater.

The True/False Film Festival is the largest documentary venue in the United States.

09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

PHOTO: BENNETT W. ROOT, JR.

Some

Jekyll Island is a barrier island off the Georgia coast located halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville. It offers visitors a unique and beguiling blend of rich history, recreational opportunity and modern day tranquility. Now in its third incarnaTRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

tion, Jekyll’s special charms are themselves a slow-cooked Southern concoction of plantation life, high society and restoration. A place to work and a place to play, the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) brought its Advisory Board here to

plan a growth strategy for the future.

The destination could not have been better.

In its first incarnation, Jekyll Island took its name from an English benefactor to whom George III was indebted. King cotton was to be the

ePlace to Hide On Jekyll Island

NATJA advisory board members discover that “the third time’s a charm” on the Georgian Coast

BY BENNETT W. ROOT, JR.

driver and a plantation was established on the north end of the island.

But the island was not suited to cotton’s economics and ownership passed to a French émigré seeking refuge from excesses of the French revolution.

A bit of financial intrigue lead to the island’s second incarnation: Home of the very chic and exclusive Jekyll Island Club. The Club’s members included Mellon, Carnegie, Firestone, Pulitzer and many other magnates of the early twentieth century. Here

deals that created fortunes were made; here the financial structure of our country took shape in the secret plan to create the Federal Reserve.

The Club’s buildings and grounds were designed by New York’s finest architects and builders. No expense was 09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Jekyll Island Club’s Queen Anne architecture greets guests (PHOTO: BENNETT W. ROOT, JR.); Sunrise, eastern shore; Morning beachcomber, NATJA board member Kathryn Farrington; Beach treasure, illuminated by dawn’s breaking light (PHOTOS: KIM FOLEY MACKINNON).

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

LEFT: Jekyll Island Club Annex.

BELOW, LEFT: NATJA advisory board unraveling island history.

BELOW: Croquet is taken seriously at the Jekyll Island Club.

LEFT: The octagonal ceiling in one of the common rooms at Jekyll Island Club intrigues the guests.

ABOVE: While relaxing on the porch, guests can take advantage of the dappled afternoon light facing the river at the Club.

PHOTOS THIS PAGE: BENNETT W. ROOT, JR.

09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE, LEFT: The staircase at the club harkens back to the days of the magnates of the early twentieth century; Advisory board members Dan Schlossberg and Kim Foley MacKinnon enjoy the afternoon sun; NATJA CEO Helen Hernandez relaxes between sessions in one of the many patio rooms at the club; The Spanish moss adds the the charm of the Club.

PHOTOS: BENNETT W. ROOT, JR.

spared. The party lasted until 1929 when Jekyll Island’s second incarnation, and the rest of the country came crashing down.

Today, Jekyll Island is enjoying its third incarnation: Restoration of the historic Jekyll Island Club and preservation of the island’s native beauty and inheritance. A Georgia state park, the island boasts unmolested shoreline, dunes and wetlands and a gentle tranquility long lost at other barrier isTRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

lands captured by developers. To be sure, there are some private residences, small hotels and a variety of restaurants from those featuring local fare to those offering the finest cuisine, but here there are vast areas to be alone with the island, its beaches, marshes, Spanish moss swaying in the afternoon breeze. Sunrise and sunset can be magical, private times or times spent with friends away from the clatter of our usual existence.

NATJA brought its Board here to plan its future in a destination that is both beautiful and inspiring. The Jekyll Island Club provided a spectacular setting for our work while allowing us to escape for an early morning walk or a tete-a-tete at sunset. We found it a special place both to refresh the soul and set our course for the future.

Bennett W. Root, Jr. is the Executive Vice President & General Counsel of NATJA.

* CURAÇAO SENIOR TRAVEL

Offers History, Beauty and Few Crowds LOW-PROFILE ISLAND HAS PLENTY TO OFFER TRAVELERS

By Victor Block

.

Photography Courtesy of Curaçao Tourism Board

I knew the Caribbean destination to which I was flying is unfamiliar to many people from the United States, but the cabin attendant’s announcement still surprised me. Reading a list of connecting flights from Miami as we prepared to land there, she came to Curaçao, stumbled over its pronunciation then admitted, “I don’t know how to say the name of that island.”

Maybe the challenging pronunciation of its name (cure-a-sow) is a turn-off to some. But the relative trickle of vacationers from the United States who join those in the know there from Europe and South America are richly rewarded.

Curaçao combines an intriguing history, some of the best shopping, diving and snorkeling in the Caribbean, and an architectural gem of a mini-city that combines European and tropical touches. Adding to the list is an enticing choice of outdoor activities, a sprinkling of casinos for those who like to test their luck, and extremely friendly and welcoming people.

There also are factors that make it an easy place to visit. Most people speak English, the U.S. dollar is accepted, and prices are reasonable compared with more pricy Caribbean destinations.

I’ll grant that Curaçao lacks the large number of outstanding beaches found on some Caribbean islands, but there are 38 that vary from broad stretches of white sand to tiny swatches perched in little coves beneath craggy cliffs. And after all, how many beaches does one really need during a stay of a week or two?

Curaçao’s history and culture are closely entwined TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

with what today is the Netherlands. After the Caiquetios, a tribe of Arawak Indians who lived there as long as 6,000 years ago, the next inhabitants were Spanish explorers who arrived in 1499. Finding no gold or other treasure, they included Curaçao on Spain’s list of islas inutiles (“useless islands”).

The Dutch, attracted by Curaçao’s deep-water port, captured the island in the early 17th century and made it a colony of the Dutch West India Company.

That launched Curaçao’s long tradition as a trading center, including slave trade that helped make it one of the most prosperous islands in the Caribbean.

Trade also was responsible for attracting immigrants from around the world, creating the ethnic melting pot that today includes people representing more than 50 nationalities. While Dutch is the official means of communication, Spanish and English are widely spoken. Island residents also converse in Papiamento, a colorful mixture of Dutch, Spanish, African and other dialects.

Early Dutch settlers built stately plantation homes and used slave labor to grow sugarcane, corn and indigo. Some of these landhuizen (land houses), which date back to the mid-17th century, have been restored and today serve as restaurants, galleries and museums. It’s well worth a visit to at least one to recapture that period of the island’s past.

To delve more deeply into the island’s history, Willemstad, the storybook capital of the island, should be your starting point. Architecture is the city’s primary claim to fame. It boasts a delightful tropical adaptation of 17th-century Dutch design

The floor of the Mikve Israel-Emanuel Some small beaches on Curaรงao

Synagogue is covered with sand and is said

are nestled in coves protected

to symbolize the wandering of Israelites in

by rocky cliffs on both sides.

the desert during the Exodus.

The Queen Emma Bridge with the colorful buildings of Willemstad in the background.

09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

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SENIOR TRAVEL

adorned with fanciful gables, arcades and columns.

Buildings are painted in a virtual fruit-salad of pastel colors including peach, raspberry, mango and grape, both purple and green.

Willemstad is best seen on foot. The two main neighborhoods, Punda and Otrabanda (“the other side”), are linked by the Queen Emma Bridge, one of three spans named after Dutch monarchs. Because the pontoon bridge swings open to allow ships to pass, it’s affectionately nicknamed “the swinging Queen.” The other two are the Queen Juliana and Queen Wilhelmina bridges.

A colorful Floating Market consists of small wooden boats from that “The pièce de résistance is the dock along a small canal.

Their crews sell fresh fish, Kura Hulanda Museum, a fruits, vegetables and handicrafts from stands splendid collection that would erected on the sidewalk adjacent to their vessels.

Of greater historic interbe at home in any major city.” est is Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, which was built in 1732 and lays claim to the honor of oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere. The sand that covers the floor is said to symbolize the wandering of Israelites in the desert during the Exodus, and to recall that way of muffling sounds during the Inquisition period when Jewish people had to worship secretly. A museum in the courtyard displays scrolls, bibles and other religious objects.

It is one of several museums that, while small, are little gems in terms of their collections. The Curaçao Museum provides an overview of the island’s lifestyles and customs. Exhibits range from geological history and the first Indian inhabitants to the arrival of Europeans.

The Maritime Museum traces more than 500 years of seagoing history of Curaçao. On display are authentic nautical charts, original maps from as long ago as 1666, navigation equipment and a number of highly detailed ship models.

Especially intriguing to me was a book with this hand-written notation from 1713: “We will not be making a profit this year. Curaçao has had to pay the French privateer Jacques Cassard 115,000 pesos to leave the island.”

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

The pièce de résistance is the Kura Hulanda Museum, a splendid collection that would be at home in any major city. One focus of its somewhat eclectic collection is the history of slavery, including slave trade, Africans in Latin and North America, and Abolition. Especially moving is the full-size recreation of the hold of the kind of ship in which captured slaves were transported to the New World in greatly overcrowded and appalling conditions. Among other exhibits are pre-Columbian gold and 4,500-year-old bronzes and ceramics from the Middle East.

It doesn’t take long after leaving Willemstad to encounter a very different environment. In contrast to the multicolored hues of the city, much of the surrounding landscape is barren and dry, the victim of sparse rainfall. Undulating hills are blanketed by rock outcrops and cactus that grow as tall as trees.

In a few places, the terrain more closely resembles a moonscape than a Caribbean island.

One place to enjoy this setting is Christoffel Park, an expanse that was created by joining together three former plantations and which is laced by inviting hiking trails. I chose to skip the heart-pounding climb to the top of 1,230-foot Mount Christoffel and opted instead for the tranquil setting of more level terrain, serenaded by birds and joined by countless small lizards and an occasional iguana that slithered across the path.

That hike was followed by a refreshing dip in the sea. The beach from which I swam was pleasant enough and, unlike many on other Caribbean islands, virtually deserted. Maybe, I concluded, there’s something good to be said for Curaçao’s low profile as an inviting Caribbean vacation destination as yet unknown to many vacationers from the United States.

For further information about Curaçao, call 800328-7222 or visit www.curacao.com.

Victor Block is an established, award-winning travel journalist whose work has appeared in a variety of major outlets for over a quarter-century. His specialties include off-beat travel, overseas destinations and seniors travel. He augments basic information with an introduction to the people, culture and essence of places he visits. He currently focuses on newspaper travel features.

He is based in Washington, D.C., and can be reached at shayphred@aol.com.

*

SPA & WELLNESS

A Traditional

MAYAN HOLISTIC Balance to Wellness A SPECIAL PLACE TO RETREAT, RELAX AND REJUVENATE IN MEXICO

By Christine Germyn

.

Photography courtesy of Ceiba del Mar Beach & Spa Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico

The Ceiba del Mar Beach & Spa Resort in Puerto

The spa and the grounds offer endless ways to escape your cares.

Morelos, Mexico is a tranquil retreat located just 20 minutes from Cancun Airport. The setting of the beautiful sapphire Caribbean sea and the deep green of the

level. With the movement of the Biotensor, the spa therapist will recognize which oil is for you.

The Meridian Stress Assessment is the latest treatment at the spa, which is a complete readout of valu-

surrounding jungle landscape makes the spa an ideal refuge to harmonize mind, body and spirit.

Ceiba del Mar offers innovative and new technologies to assess the body’s needs along with a unique combination of holistic and aromatherapy oils. With these oils, a Biotensor technique is used as a spa therapist selects the most relaxing and healing of more than 50 essential oils to use during each treatment to best suit your needs. The Biotensor technique involves a long wire wand to determine your energy

able information about the body’s vital functions in an un-invasive way. The primary objective of this procedure is to disclose patterns of stress while providing feedback to use in a program helping restore each system and meridian to an appropriate balance.

The protocol includes an accupoint reading, balancing products, Q chart (top 10 meridians back to balance), body cleanse session, and a printed report along with medicine to take home. The body cleanse session rids away any unwanted toxins by putting 09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

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SPA & WELLNESS

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

Luxurious treatments and surroundings are hallmarks of the resort.

your feet in warm water for 30 minutes while an electrode sends positive and negative ions to start the detoxification. Afterwards, the color of the water is a rusty brown as toxins are released.

Combining this holistic approach with the signature treatments, I enjoyed the Balsamic Maya massage. This treatment is designed to balance, body, mind and spirit, restoring peace and vitality. Your spa therapist begins with a welcome ritual footbath followed with a Copal ritual blessing asking to give you help for the four elements: earth, fire, water and air.

After the Copal ritual, I rested my body along a flat cushion situated on the floor.Ten essential oils were applied over my back and along the vertebra. Each drop of oil was rubbed into each muscle group with a medium touch massage. During this relaxing massage, a hot towel was placed over my mid-back with hot stones soaking up the warmth. While I relaxed, the spa therapist played a harmonious instrument known as “Palo De Lluvia.� This calming sound of music put my mind

at ease allowing me to adjust to this blissful massage.

This amazing Mayan Balsamic massage is credited with giving enormous benefits to the immunology and circulatory systems helping to strengthen the nervous system. Your body will feel energized and the benefits of this treatment are supposed to last for approximately one month. I ended my day with a Facial Deluxe treatment. This new treatment is composed of two different masks, helping to significantly reduce the appearance of fine lines. With this facial, you receive a face massage stimulating all the muscles, including a neck and shoulder massage.

Forfurtherinformation,visitwww.ceibadelmar.com.

Christine Germyn is a luxury travel writer from Vancouver, B.C. She has written for Personal Success Magazine and the Vancouver/Sun Province In addition, she is a certified yoga instructor and conducts yoga retreats in luxurious locations. She can be reached at Travelwithchris@hotmail.com.

09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

*

SPORTS & SIGHTS

Historic

PHILADELPHIA WHERE THE NEW COMPETES WITH THE OLD

By Dan Schlossberg

Although history seems to ooze from every nook and cranny of downtown Philadelphia, the new is giving the old a run for its money.

The kid-friendly Please Touch Museum opened the doors to its new home on October 18 in Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park. The structure, built in 1876 for the Centennial Exhibition, triples the museum’s space. The Franklin, which sliced the word “Institute” from its title, will headline Galileo, Medici, and The Age of Astronomy from April through September 2009, displaying the scientist’s telescope and exploring his other-wordly discoveries.

Coming soon after that are the President’s House Commemorative Site, where George Washington lived from 1790-1797 during Philadelphia’s tenure as capital of the United States, and the expanded National Museum of American Jewish History, which will occupy its new five-story home on July 4, 2010.

Also planned for 2010 is a vast expansion of the downtown convention center.

Founder William Penn would be thrilled to see how the city has evolved since he arrived at what is now Penn’s Landing, along the Delaware River, in 1682. Penn designed Philadelphia to be a “greene countrie towne,” with trees, trails, and parks plentiful within the urban confines.

The bronze Penn statue atop City Hall was the tallest point in the city for more than a century before the 62-story Liberty Place topped it in 1987.“Billy Penn’s Hat,” once considered one of the world’s architectural wonders, stands 37 feet high and 33 stories above the bustling world of Broad & Market.

Penn deserves that prominent and permanent place: He wanted Philadelphia to be the first city on the planet to grant tolerance to all religions as well TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

as the world’s first planned city—designed before it was occupied. Squeezed between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers on its east and west, Philadelphia has five parks within a short walk of every compass point. North-south streets are numbered (except for Broad) and east-west streets are named after the trees that were so important to Penn (Chestnut, Walnut, Locust, Spruce, Pine, Cherry, etc.). Penn’s grid street design made the city walkable, while his Quaker ideals and of religious tolerance yielded a nickname that fit: “The City of Brotherly Love.”

His promise of a haven for all obviously worked: There are 111 neighborhoods within the city limits of 129 square miles. The surrounding suburbs swell the metro area population to 5 million, making Philadelphia the sixth-largest city in the United States and second-largest on the East Coast.

It has been a river town, a railroad town, and a manufacturing hub but has also established a reputation as a center for education and the arts.

Philadelphia has more colleges than Boston and so many cultural venues along South Broad Street that the strip is also called Avenue of the Arts.

Philadelphia fans are certainly enthusiastic; they’ll boo anything that moves—even hometown heroes who fall into temporary slumps. It’s part of their charm. At least the baseball Phillies, a playoff team in the past two years, perform at peak levels. The heavy-hitting Phils, who play in a four-year-old bandbox called Citizens Bank Park, are one of nine professional sports teams in town.

The others include the Eagles, who play football at Lincoln Financial Field, to the NHL Flyers and NBA Sixers, who also play in the South Philadelphia sports complex. Other local clubs include the Kixx

(indoor soccer), Wings (indoor lacrosse), Phantoms (minor-league hockey), the Soul (arena football), and the Barrage (outdoor lacrosse).

Getting to and from the sports facilities is simple; the red line subway runs straight down Broad Street from City Hall. In fact, Philadelphians don’t need cars.

The city has a diverse and comprehensive network of streetcars, subways, buses, and rail links, including one that connects downtown to Philadelphia International Airport.

The list of attractions is almost endless. Independ-

ence Hall is still the focal point of Independence National Historical Park and the heart of an area the National Park Service calls “the most historic square mile in America.”

The Constitution was debated, amended, and approved at Congress Hall, home of the United States Congress when Philadelphia was the nation’s capital from 1790-1800.

Visitors can admire the 2,080-pound Liberty Bell, displayed in a pavilion one block north of Independence Hall,and read its inscription:“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land upon all the inhabitants thereof.”

There’s a neon Liberty Bell at Citizens Bank Park, which drew groans from pitchers when it opened for business in 2004 but cheers from fans when it gongs after a Philly hitter homers.

While other metro centers may be desolate and deserted after dark, Philadelphia swings. South Street, popularized by the 1963 Orlons song, claims to be “the hippest street in the world.” It’s the place to see

ABOVE: Catch a Phillies game at the Citizens Bank Park.

LEFT: Quack your way through town on a Duck Boat.

PHOTOS: DAN SCHLOSSBERG

09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

*

SPORTS & SIGHTS

and be seen, with dozens of shops, boutiques, and restaurants expressing their social and political perspectives in a wide variety of ways.

Philadelphia’s European influence is evident everywhere. Flag-lined Benjamin Franklin Boulevard, the broad diagonal avenue that links Center City with the main museums, bears a striking resemblance to the Champs-Élysées of Paris.

Reading Terminal Market, opened in 1893, is the nation’s oldest continuously-operating farmer’s market.

More than 100 merchants sell farm produce, pre-

Memorial Hall, constructed to be the Art Gallery of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition and first home to the renowned Philadelphia Museum of Art, is the new home of Please Touch Museum, the nation’s first museum for children ages seven and under.

PHOTO COURTESY PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM AT MEMORIAL HALL

pared foods, and quick meals ranging from Pennsylvania Dutch breakfasts to Philly cheesesteaks.

The restored City Tavern, where George Washington once dined on West Indian pepperpot soup, provides a true escape from the 21st century. Called “the most genteel tavern in the colonies” by John Adams after its 1773 opening, it also played host to Thomas Jefferson and members of the first Continental Congress. Waiters in 18th century garb serve fare that suited the tastes of nation’s founders, from peanut soup and sweet potato biscuits to fried oysters, glazed duckling, and venison.

The inn, rebuilt by the National Park Service in 1975 after painstaking research, features 10 dining rooms and lush gardens. Those who prefer seafood served in the style of the city’s early years will find The Old Original Bookbinder’s (circa 1867) across the street.

One of the best shows in town blends high technology with colonial history. “Lights of Liberty,” a one-of-a-kind walking sound and light depiction of

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

the American Revolution, shows visitors how it happened and where it happened.

Races and religions have always mixed in Philadelphia. But the city is also famous for many other firsts: it gave the nation its first public school (1698), library (1731), fire company (1736), lightning rod (1752), flag (1777), bank (1780), daily newspaper (1784), circus (1793), theater (the still-active Walnut Street theater, founded in 1809), and zoo (1842).

Also introduced in the city were the ice-cream soda (1876), the X-ray (1890), and the first air-conditioned building (1932), not to mention the Thanksgiving Day Parade (1919).

More than 30,000 Mummers march on New Year’s Day, two weeks before the annual kite-flying festival pays tribute to Benjamin Franklin’s famous-butdangerous experiment of discovering electricity by flying a key-rigged kite in an thunderstorm.

Getting around is easy. Downtown is only two mile squares and well-planned perimeter routes avoid the traffic, stoplights, and narrow streets of Center City.

There are easy highway and rail connections from New Jersey via the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

Neither Washington portrait painter Gilbert Stuart, who dubbed Philadelphia “the Athens of America,” nor Alexander Graham Bell, who exhibited the telephone at the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition, would recognize Philadelphia today. Nor would the artists who created so many covers of the locally-produced Saturday Evening Post.

Even W.C. Fields might not be so reluctant to spend time in his hometown. Asked whether he’d rather be in Philadelphia or in his grave, he thought for a minute, then quipped,“On the whole, I’d rather be in Philadelphia.”

So would a lot of other people.

For further information, contact the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, Suite 1710, 30 S. 17th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103 (P:215-5990776, F:215-599-0773, www.gophila.com) .

Dan Schlossberg is a former AP newsman and writes about travel and baseball from his home in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

He is he author or co-author of 34 baseball books. Visit www.danschlossberg.com or reach him by email at ballauthor@optonline.net. He is also president of the NATJA Advisory Board.

* SPEND THE NIGHT ARTS & ARCHITECTURE

With Frank Lloyd Wright PRICE TOWER: A SKYSCRAPER AHEAD OF ITS TIME Story and Photos By Michelle Newman

For $145 you can spend

the night with Frank Lloyd Wright at the Inn at Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 15 miles south of Kansas. This is the home of Wright’s only skyscraper in the world.

A unique property listed as a National Historic Landmark, the Price Tower offers guests an unforgettable lodging experience. You’re surrounded by

Frank Lloyd Wright designed furniture that looks as good now as when he designed it.

architectural history and will find Wright’s signature Cherokee red, abundant triangular shaped light fixtures, sharp odd angles, patina copper, builtins, and cantilevered overhangs that seem to magically suspend. So much of this geometric masterpiece had to be custom-made. Where else would you ever be able to find triangular shaped A/C vents?

Architects, engineers and students come from all over the world to tour and study this super structure.

The building’s interior is fabulous and the rooms have a serene Zen-like ambiance thanks to New York architect Wendy Evans Joseph. Influenced by the building’s architectural elements, Joseph created a contemporary version of Wright’s vision for the furniture and décor. She claims that she is “flirting with Wright.” Shades of celadon and mint green with touches of coral red are the main colors used throughout the rooms. Complementary colored carpets and pillows were custom-made to accent the wood and copper furniture Joseph also designed, following in Wright’s footsteps; he loved wood and wasn’t interested in new materials.

Originally built in 1956 as a multi-use space housing retail, office, and residential, the Price Tower was way ahead of its time. Designed so there was a work space next to a living space, the building would be income-producing by having retail and residential space in the same space. Now, more 50 years later, the rest of the world has caught up to this innovative architectural concept.

Inspired by nature, and known for using local natural materials, Wright was obsessed with geometry, according to Scott Perkins, curator and executive director of the Price Tower Arts Center. He explains that all of the details throughout the building were designed by the master himself, Mr. Wright. Even the office furniture, decorative copper embossed accents on shelving, exterior copper tiles, textiles, and hardware has Wright’s signature look. Speaking about signature, this is a ‘signed’ building; a 4" x 4" red tile 09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

FAMILY TRAVEL Price Tower: Wright’s first and

CITY FOLKS

only skyscraper that he claimed

was “the tree that escaped the

Down On The Farms

crowded forest”

of New York City.

A FARM VISIT WAS THE PERFECT ENDING TO OUR WEEKEND IN THE COUNTRY.

By Deborah Stone

.

Photography By Deborah Stone

Rures incredibiliter frugaliter agnascor matrimonii. Quinquennalis quadrupei aegre infeliciter circumgrediet satis gulosus fiducias, etiam Pompeii conubium santet oratori. Concubine divinus miscere vix tremulus suis, utcunque oratori iocari Medusa.

Parsimonia zothecas fermentet incredibiliter verecundus catelli, etiam parsimonia ossifragi fortiter amputat verecundus oratori, quamquam apparatus bellis deciperet adlaudabilis syrtes.

Vix pretosius matrimonii iocari suis, quod bellus rures imputat catelli, semper fiducias fermentet suis, utcunque oratori corrumperet utilitas umbraculi.

Chirographi circumgrediet Caesar. Pretosius saburre deciperet apparatus bellis. Quinquennalis ossifragi corrumperet bellus matrimonii.

Satis lascivius chirographi miscere perspicax fiducias, etiam Medusa fermentet zothecas, ut tremulus saburre miscere rures, semper Caesar libere fermentet vix utilitas syrtes, quod saetosus oratori imputat lascivius zothecas.

Pretosius matrimonii fermentet incredibiliter fragilis suis. Lascivius agricolae praemuniet adfabilis fiducias. Saetosus quadrupei circumgrediet fragilis agricolae, quamquam zothecas plane neglegenter conubium santet Pompeii.

Quadrupei circumgrediet zothecas, et lascivius agricolae fermentet Octavius.

Oratori amputat catelli.

Quinquennalis suis pessimus celeriter agnascor catelli, etiam adlaudabilis apparatus bellis praemuniet bellus suis. Plane verecundus cathedras deciperet Pompeii.

Syrtes praemuniet Aquae Sulis.

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / WINTER 2009

Quinquennalis cathedras frugaliter corrumperet Medusa, quamquam vix pretosius chirographi praemuniet quadrupei, quod umbraculi neglegenter senesceret parsimonia zothecas, iam quinquennalis ossifragi aegre fortiter deciperet agricolae, semper oratori verecunde imputat saetosus matrimonii.

Quinquennalis suis pessimus celeriter agnascor catelli, etiam adlaudabilis apparatus bellis praemu Rures deciperet lascivius suis, quod Augustus miscere fragilis agricolae. Octavius agnascor matrimonii. Lascivius agricolae corrumperet apparatus bellis. Quadrupei suffragarit syrtes, quamquam saburre corrumperet Aquae Sulis, quod perspicax concubine suffragarit tremulus suis, ut quadrupei imputat saburre, etiam perspicax suis circumgrediet cathedras.

*

*

ARTS & ARCHITECTURE

plaque is signed by Wright to add authenticity to his original design.

Wright originally designed an earlier version of the Price Tower in the 1920s for St. Marks-in-theBouwerie project as a cluster of four apartment buildings. Wright’s project was shelved when the

Frank Lloyd Wright original furnished corporate apartment.

Great Depression came along, until years later, when H.C. Price, owner of H.C. Price Company, decided to build corporate headquarters in Bartlesville, a major center for the oil industry. Price’s sons were interested in good design and encouraged him to retain Frank Lloyd Wright as architect for this monumental project. Wright adapted his St. Marks project for the Price Tower.

Wright’s inspiration for the building was a tree and explained that his first and only skyscraper was “The tree that escaped the crowded forest,” the forest being New York City. The 19-story vertical reinforced concrete structure and the four elevators being the tree trunk, with all of the weight centered in the cen-

ter of the building. The tree’s branches were the floor and ceiling; the leaves being the green patina copper.

Perkins explained that Wright was obsessed with geometric shapes and that his designs were all about geometric shapes and incorporating nature into his buildings. The Price Tower is all built on a play of right angle triangles and Wright’s color schemes are taken directly from nature.

This wonderful property houses the Copper Bar & Restaurant on the 15th floor featuring a full menu and a cozy ambiance. Terraces accented with patina copper louvers keep the heat out and provide an intimate setting for a drink or appetizer.

Another bonus while staying at the Price Tower is the outstanding Price Tower Center of Arts, a two-story exhibition space, curated

by Perkins. The impressive permanent collection is on the second floor and features original aluminum office chairs, desks, textiles, carpet, and copper wrapped outdoor furniture. This furniture is so stunning in its understated simplicity that Wright’s designs from 1956 could easily be adapted to today’s market. They are classic with a contemporary twist.

For further information, visit www.pricetower.org or www.visitbartlesville.com.

Michelle Newman is a designer, writer and photographer focusing on art, craft, design, fashion, and cultural destinations.

She has written for Better Homes and Gardens, Womans Day, Belle Armoire and Expressions.

Based in San Antonio, Texas, she can be reached at michellenewmandesigns@hotmail.com.

09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

* BUDGET DISABILITY TRAVEL

Lodging Options GETTING CREATIVE TO HAVE A LOW-COST VACATION

By Candy B. Harrington

.

Photography By Charles Pannell

Is it really possible to travel on a budget? Well of course, that depends on your budget. Seriously though, it never hurts to stretch your travel dollar; and the best way to do that is to rein in those ever-escalating lodging costs. The good news is, it’s still possible to find lodging that’s both affordable and accessible.

offers a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge, at a very affordable price. Says manager Rick Young, “We sought input from a number of local disability organizations during the construction of our accessible wing.It took a little longer, but it was well worth the effort.”The accessible wing features a barrier-free kitchen, a bathroom with a roll-in shower and two dorm rooms. It’s very nicely done, and a bargain at only $23 per person.

Accessible hostels are not limited to the US; in fact, I’ve also found them in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Access varies from hostel to hostel, so contact each property directly for detailed access information. For more information, visit the Hosteling International website.

HIT THE Y

Historic Pigeon

HOSTELING FOR EVERYONE

Point Lighthouse

First stop—hostelling; an idea which first gained popularity in the 1970s as an inexpensive way for young people to see the world. Today hostels are open to travelers of all ages, and many hostels are nicely accessible.

For example Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel, which is located south of San Francisco, charges just $20 for a dorm bed and $55 for a family room. Housed in the former lighthouse keeper’s quarters, this hostel includes the accessible Dolphin Dorm, which features good pathway access and a very spacious shower room with a roll-in shower. As an added bonus, if you go during the winter, you can sit outside and watch the migrating gray whales in the Pacific Ocean.

And then there’s the Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel,which

is also home to a wheelchairaccessible hostel.

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

The YMCA is another budget lodging option that’s often overlooked by disabled travelers. Although sometimes grouped with hostels, the thing that sets the Y apart is the availability of on-site recreational facilities at most locations. Most Ys have swimming pools and some even have weight rooms.

Although access varies from site to site,the properties that offer accessible rooms also usually have access to their recreational facilities. For example, the Salisbury YMCA in Hong Kong not only has four accessible guest rooms, but it also has wheelchair-access to one of their swimming pools.Visit the YMCA website to search their on-line directory of properties;then inquire directly with each property to determine their level of access.

BUDGET HOTELS On the more traditional side, many hotel chains, such as Microtel and Motel 6 offer accessible rooms at very reasonable rates. Microtel gets the highest marks for

consistent access, as all Microtel properties are constructed from the ground up with access in mind.

Motel 6 also offers good access in their newly constructed (post ADA) properties. Best bet is to look for Motel 6 properties constructed after 1992, as some of their remodeled properties have access obstacles.

And if your travels take you across the Big Pond, you can’t beat Premiere Travel Inns for access and value in the United Kingdom. They’re not luxury properties, but they are clean, affordable and accessible. Rates start at a very affordable $91.

THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX For a zero cost lodging bill, consider a home exchange.

The principles behind home exchanging are pretty simple. The idea is to find somebody with a lifestyle similar to yours, in another part of the country or world; and then simply exchange homes with each other during your vacation. The big benefit of home exchanging is that you each pocket the money you would have otherwise spent on lodging arrangements. As an added bonus, most home exchangers also exchange tourism information about their local areas.

Unfortunately, most home exchange directories don’t list accessible homes; however the Institute on Independent Living in Stockholm has a great bulletin board filled with accessible options. There’s no charge to view or post a listing, and this helpful resource keeps growing. A list of accessible vacation rentals is also contained on the website.

If you enjoy the great outdoors, consider renting a yurt on your next vacation. Although yurts are available at state and regional parks across the country, the most affordable and accessible ones I’ve found are located in Oregon. These permanent domed structures have plywood floors, framed doors, electricity and skylights. Accessible yurts with ramped entrances and wide doorways are priced at just $27 to $30 per night. Advance reservations are a must;

and make sure and specify that you need an accessible yurt when you call.

Last but not least, for a 50 percent discount at National Park campgrounds across the US, get your America the Beautiful Access Pass. It’s available at all National Park entrances, to any US resident with a permanent disability. The pass also provides free admission to all US national parks; and best of all, the price is right—it’s free.

ABOVE, LEFT: Accessible yurts, which are available at many Oregon state beaches, offer an affordable lodging option.

ABOVE, RIGHT:

IF YOU GO

Accessible

Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel (650) 879-0633 • www.norcalhostels.org/pigeon Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel (415) 771-7277 www.sfhostels.com/fishermans-wharf Hosteling International www.hihostels.com YMCA www.YMCA.net Microtel (800) 771-7171 • www.microtelinn.com Motel 6 (800) 466-8356 • www.motel6.com Premiere Travel Inns www.premiertravelinn.com Vacation Home Exchange Bulletin Board www.independentliving.org/vacex/index.html Oregon Yurts (800) 452-5687 • www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/ rustic.shtml#RUSTIC_YURTS America the Beautiful Access Pass www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm

hostels are not unique to the US, as evidenced by this vacancy sign in New Zealand.

Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of 101 Accessible Vacations; Travel Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkers. She blogs regularly about accessible travel issues at www.BarrierFreeTravels.com.

09.1 JAN.FEB / TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE

Tips On How To Successfully

PROMOTE YOUR BOOK NATJA AUTHORS SHARE THEIR SECRETS

By Arline Zatz

Having a book published is an incredible accomplishment, and having your publisher announce the book in newspapers and magazines is a sure ego-boost. However, the sad news is that after the initial press releases have been sent out, publishers usually go on to the next book, and the next.

Basically, as most authors have discovered, if they want the book to sell, authors have to find ways to promote the book themselves and keep finding new ways to do it.

Below are several successful promotion tips that NATJA members have used—as well as ideas that haven’t worked out: “My secret marketing weapon,” explains Linda Ballou, author of Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawaii, “is Denise Cassino of Web Wizardry fame. I’ve discovered that having a platform in place before publishing is an absolute necessity.

“Cassino helped me build my Web page (www.lindaballouauthor.com), and we worked together to create an aesthetically pleasing site that viewers would enjoy visiting, add comments and, hopefully visit again. I gave her the content; she massaged it into a nifty online media page that I used to create a really nice pamphlet. I hand them out to those who might invite me to speak, or to a book seller who has expressed interest.”

Ballou says, “I knew I couldn’t do all the online marketing that requires regular updates TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

on social sites and blogs, so I made a deal with Cassino to help me keep bulletins up-to-date with announcements to my page. From the virtual book tour she put in place, we got six online interviews, other writing sites, and four radio interviews. I feel we accomplished a lot since my book was released. A press release was sent out to everyone we could think of. As for actual book sales, I think it all takes time, persistence, and tenacity to put your best book forward.”

In marketing Paris Revisited: The Guide for the Return Traveler, Gary Lee Kraut (www.parisrevisited.com) has found that what works best, as a general rule, is that “the closer my promotion is to my target audience, the better the sales. My book is intended for travelers who already have been to Paris, so my best promotions are those that are directed to experienced international travelers. Furthermore, any promotion/article/review that presents me as an expert on the destination that I’m writing about enhances sales.

“What works best are direct sales when I give lectures to experienced travelers at universities and libraries and to Francophile groups. Since I’m the publisher as well as author, such direct sales allow for the greatest return on investment. Making contacts with Web sites that might review or mention my book or my work also works well. I know this because I receive a sudden burst of sales on Amazon shortly after the book is mentioned. Building a Web site that provides information that isn’t in the book also helps sales since the book and the site are then seen as complementary.”

PHOTO: ALEX SLOBODKIN/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

*

SPOTLIGHT

What hasn’t worked too well for Kraut? “Bookstore promotions and efforts to get bookstores to order more copies because it’s too time-consuming to be worthwhile. Kraut knows which promotions have worked. “At my lectures, I know the number of sales immediately. Otherwise,” notes Kraut, “I can tell by the burst of purchases on Amazon, or early on in the life of the book through purchases by wholesale distributors to bookstores.”

“Book promotion is usually left up the author, since publishers invariably have more books than publicists,” notes NATJA advisory board president Dan Schlossberg.“As an author of 34 baseball books, I have found promotion varies widely—but is almost always directly proportional to the size of the publisher. My current publisher, Penguin Books, has many imprints and a big publicity staff. They are the first publisher to have asked me to do a podcast, which will be released to coincide with the baseball postseason. They also found a new niche for my books—the ‘family market,’ positioning baseball as an attraction families can enjoy together. “Penguin also insisted I set up a Web site (www.baseballbits.com) which is now online, and is a real showcase for the book.”

After authoring eight books, I’ve benefited from several promotional ideas, such as creating a Web site (www.funtravels.com). I offer those who contact me an opportunity to purchase an autographed book. Handing out business cards to people I meet directs them to my Web site. Stopping in at bookstores, gift shops, sporting goods stores, etc., where my books can be displayed sometimes entices the manager to order the book. Creating brochures describing each of my books has helped tremendously.

These are left at libraries and anywhere that handouts are distributed.

My most successful promotional effort has been the creation of slide/talk shows based on my book topics. These are presented, for a fee, to schools, garden clubs, and various organizations. After each presentation, I offer my books for sale at retail price.

Often, individuals in the audience tell others about the presentation and I’m invited to other places.

Arline Zatz is the award-winning author of Best Hikes With Children in New Jersey (The Mountaineers); 30 Bicycle Tours in New Jersey (Backcountry); Horsing Around in New Jersey (Rutgers University Press), among others.

Her features and photographs appear nationally in newspapers and magazines.

* NATJA GOES NATJA ON THE GO

To The Inauguration!

NATJA CEO Helen Hernandez and Kim MacKinnon, editor of Travelworld International magazine (NATJA’s member publication), traveled from Los Angeles and Boston, respectively, to attend the 2009 inauguration, along with 2 million others! Despite the frigid temperatures, the collective mood of Washington, D.C. seemed to be one of exuberance.

Here are some of the photos from their trip.

THIS PAGE: Both the Capitol and a pedestrian show off their colors.

OPPOSITE, Clockwise from upper left: Helen Hernandez and Kim Foley MacKinnon in front of the Capitol; a map with directions to the Inaugural Balls; actress Jessica Alba at the "Declare Yourself" event; singers premiere the song “Born Again American;” and Norman Lear.

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

*

LIBRARY Baseball Bits The Best Stories, Facts, and Trivia from the Dugout to the Outfield

Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawaii: Her Epic Journey

Paris Revisited: The Guide for the Return Traveler

Dan Schlossberg

Linda Ballou

Gary Lee Kraut

Facts, stories, and anecdotes about legendary players and managers, teams and games to remember, and everything from spring training to winter dealing.

Casual fans and hardcore baseball buffs will enjoy.

Price: $14.95 Available at: www.baseballbits.com

Through the eyes of high chiefess, Wai-nani, experience the Hawaiian society as it existed when Captain Cook arrived at Kealakekua Bay in 1779.

Price: $17.95 Available at: www.lindaballouauthor.com

A true insider's guide intended for those who enjoy fine informative travel writing, whether returning to Paris, looking to get it right the first time, or savoring Francophile fantasies from home.

Price: $18.95 Available at: www.amazon.com

Horsing Around in New Jersey: The Horse Lover's Guide to Everything Equine

30 Bicycle Tours in New Jersey

New Jersey's Great Gardens

Arline Zatz

Arline Zatz

Discover the heart of the Garden State—its farmlands, beaches, pine barrens, lakes, and canals—by bicycle! Tours contain directions, detailed maps, and informative descriptions of the natural, cultural and historic features encountered along the way.

Price: $16.95 Available at: www.funtravels.com

Explore the gardens of the Garden State.

The 125 gardens include rose, colonial, herb, Shakespeare, demonstration, education, bird, butterfly, and wildflower gardens, plus one-of-a-kind gardens in unexpected places.

Price: $19.95 Available at: www.funtravels.com

Arline Zatz The first guidebook to everything equine in the Garden State, this book is for horse lovers— from the novice who yearns to go horseback riding but doesn't know how or where to begin, to the experienced equestrian seeking new trails, campsites, and challenges.

Price: $19.95 Available at: www.funtravels.com

Boston For Families: A Comprehensive Guide to the City Kim Foley MacKinnon This edition delves into what the Hub has to offer. In addition to family favorites, everything from theaters that welcome children to special deals even locals don't know about is covered!

Price: $9.95 (e-book); $15.95 print Available at: www.booklocker.com

TRAVELWORLD MAGAZINE / 09.1 JAN.FEB

Promote Your Book in the TravelWorld International Library!

Now NATJA members can promote their books in the TWI Library. Let fellow members and readers worldwide know what you’ve published.

To request rates, place your order or gather more information, contact: librarian@natja.org

Doubletree’s Newest Hotel in Downtown Cleveland At the Doubletree Hotel Cleveland Downtown/Lakeside, we have an eager, attentive staff that is genuinely friendly and always willing to oblige. We’ll do whatever it takes to make the most out of your stay.

• 379 guest rooms (5 suites) • Executive Level Floors featuring a concierge lounge offering breakfast and a manager reception • Stadium 3 Bar & Grille • Complimentary shuttle service within the downtown area • Business center and Fitness center by Precor • Heated indoor swimming pool and whirlpool • 10,347 square feet of meeting space including a 5,643 square foot ballroom accommodating up to 600 • Starbucks® coffee shop So just kick back and enjoy comfortable surroundings, a caring staff and a warm cookie at check-in.

A Member of the Hilton Family of Hotels.

1111 Lakeside Avenue E., Cleveland, OH 44114 Reservations: 1-800-222-TREE Hotel Direct: 216-241-5100 www.clevelanddowntownlakeside.doubletree.com Hilton HHonors® membership, earning of Points & Miles®, and redemption of points are subject to HHonors Terms and Conditions. ©2009 Hilton Hotels Corporation