Based on the advice I received from this post, and the direction in which my life/writing/career is going, the best choice for me was to create and develop myself as my niche

So change your RSS feed to AbbieMood.com and head on over – there are some big things going on!

People will be jealous that you get to travel for free, but they don’t realize that the trips are a lot of work and a lot of schmoozing.  Some people find that fun, anyway, and luckily I am one of those people

What tips can you add?

Spencer – I would add taking a credit card you don’t use. Something with like a $500 or $1000 limit on it. Although these are “press” trips, hotels still typically run your card and put an authorization for “incidentals”. You of course get that back, but it shows up on your card until after you check out. I’ve had places I’ve gone on press trips before run it for as much as $400. You don’t won’t that showing up on your debit card!

AdventureRob – Don’t make long distance calls using phones at all, use Skype, much cheaper, especially internationally.

It started with me signing up for Travelzoo, the BEST resource for a traveler ever.  Each week they send an email with their top 20 travel deals.  These travel deals are not southwest sales, they are serious.  I randomly signed up for Travelzoo a month before my trip to San Francisco for the Yoga Journal conference, and immediately got a great deal – $39 each way on Virgin America.

Virgin America has the reputation of being the cool kid of the airlines (and if not, as of right now, they do), and I was psyched to be flying with them.

I breezed through the airport, as I usually do at the Orange County airport*, got my Starbucks and moseyed my way down to Gate 14.  Our flight ended up being delayed for 10 minutes, but nothing could put a damper on my mood – not today!

the fantastic lighting

I stepped onto the plane and was bathed in a soothing indigo light, instead of the blinding fluorescent white lighting on those other airlines.  The seats are sleek and black with adjustable headrests, although the flight attendant had to advise me on how to push up my headrest (use your shoulders, not your hands).  Which brings me to my next point – the flight attendants were almost all men (and young ones at that).  That’s right single ladies, more male flight attendants than women!  Not sure if it’s a Virgin standard, but it happened to me, so there’s obviously a chance it could happen to you.

Some other happy highlights – movies, music, and games, including DOOM.  If you don’t know what DOOM is, it’s an old school first person shooter game that I played in 5^th grade.  I think we had to use MS-DOS to access it.

Not so happy lowlights – if you are in a regular cabin seat, you have to pay $5.95 for internet for the flight.  Not really worth it on an hour flight to San Francisco, but totally worth it for a cross-country flight.  If you fly often, it’s also a better value ($12.95 for 24 hours or $29.95 for 30 days).  Considering that Virgin is the only airline to offer wifi in-flight (so far, I think someone else is adding it soon), the opportunity to have it at all is pretty sweet.

Note: if you ever come to Orange County, come through SNA, not LAX.  You will not be sorry.  I have never waited in security more than 10-15 minutes, even during the holidays.

Another note: The flight attendants on the way back were primarily men as well.

Disclaimer:  See title.

Photo Credit: Marc_Smith

But then again, maybe you’re wondering why I don’t (ever) wear jeans/a skirt/heels to the airport.

For me, flying is about comfort in every aspect – leg room (I am 5’10” after all), comfy seats (an adjustable headrest is a plus), nobody encroaching on my armrest.  Therefore, it is logical (and much more practical I might add) to dress down for the flight.

My usual outfit choice is not only for comfort, but for ease of getting through security, another major part of the “airline experience.”  First, I prefer to wear flip-flops.  They’re not only convenient for security, but also if you like to take off your shoes during the flight.  But Abbie, one might counter, you live in Southern California!  Of course you can wear flip-flops. Doesn’t matter.  I’ve worn flip-flops to Philadelphia in the winter, and I’m wearing them right now, despite the fact that it was less than 60 degrees outside when I arrived at the airport.

It’s also important to note that while sneakers are a good choice (and the best if you have to sprint through the aiport to make your connection), it’s definitely easier to hike around the terminals in flip flops that in heels.  Just sayin’.

Second is pants.  No jeans or belts for this traveler, I usually wear stretchy yoga type pants.  The organic cotton ones from lululemon are among my favorite, and I get style points.  Since my stretchy yoga type pants are usually black, I can pretty much wear whatever top I want, and I like to layer because you never know if the airplane is going to be cold or hot.  I usually wear a tank top with a long sleeved shirt on top, and carry a jacket just in case.

What if you really are going out for a night on the town when your plane lands?  My suggestion is to pack a nice outfit in your carry-on and change in the airport’s bathroom when you land.  Nobody will be the wiser!

Photo Credit: {eclaire}

This past July I volunteered for 10 days in Cambodia through United Planet, one of many non-profits that organize volunteer trips across the world. I learned more about the country and the people than I could have ever learned on a sightseeing-only trip. By creating relationships with the people of Cambodia, I was able to gain a connection to the country unlike any other place I’ve visited.

children playing outside the English school

Once you’ve decided to going on a “volunteer vacation”, ask yourself these questions – what are my interests? What country do I want to visit? How much volunteering per day do I want to do?

If you choose to go through an organization, be sure to do your background research to avoid getting scammed. In most circumstances, you will pay a flat fee which often includes airport transfer, lodging, and some meals. For me, this was the best choice. I was already nervous about traveling to a country by myself, so having some of those details taken care of let me focus on what I was there to do. My trip was 10 days, but most organizations can hook you up with anything from one week to one year. This is a great option if you’ve considered joining the Peace Corps but just can’t sign up for a two year commitment away from family and friends.

There are critics out there who claim that voluntourism doesn’t actually benefit the communities and that volunteers cannot make a difference in just one week, but I disagree. There’s no right way to make a difference, and there’s no formula for how long it takes to make a difference.

For more information and resources on volunteering nationally and abroad, check out Idealist and Transitions Abroad.  There is also a great list of Voluntourism Guides and Books at 52PerfectDays.  Verge magazine is another great resource, a magazine dedicated to “travel with purpose.”

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” Ryunosoke Satoro

They feature a different blogger everyday, so if you’d like yours to be featured, email a couple paragraphs about your blog and a picture to louiseb@travelpod.com or find her on Twitter @travelpod.

Thanks Louise!

Or maybe it’s to travel.

Why?  Running is one of the most intimate ways to get to know a city, and within 3-5 hours (for most people) you get a pretty good tour of the major attractions, without worrying about traffic.  Besides the major attractions, you can usually see some of the lesser known parts of the city or the suburbs, too.

A marathon is a half to full day event, so you might as well make it a weekend trip (or longer).  Marathoners burn thousands of calories, so it’s also a great reason to splurge at a new restaurant.

Checking my watch sometime towards the end of the L.A. Marathon

When I run the Marine Corps marathon in October 2010, it will be my 4th marathon.  San Diego Rock ‘N Roll was my first marathon in June 2007, followed by the Los Angeles marathon in Spring 2008 (both with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program), and the Athens Marathon in Greece in November 2008.

After finishing the Athens marathon, at the top of the Olympic Stadium with the Parthenon & the Acropolis in the background.  Oh and an olive branch in my visor

I haven’t been to Washington D.C. since high school, and don’t remember very much of it.  When I run there in October, I’ll get an up close and personal view, and am actually training and running with a couple friends from high school.  D.C. is also close to Delaware, where I grew up, so it will be the first time my mom will be at any of my races!  Training starts in February

Photo Credits: LA Marathon photographer, and Eric Lang

January – San Francisco for the Yoga Journal Annual Conference

Fisherman’s Wharf in SF

February – tentative trip back to the east coast with Eric to see the fam

May- La Paz, Mexico as Carina’s guest with the Outdoor Writers Association of California

Spring/Summer – Girls’ camping trip with some other travel writers

June – NYC for TBEX ‘10!

August – possibly relocating to Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado

October – Washington, D.C. for the Marine Corps marathon

Other possibilities somewhere along the line – Hueco for some rock climbing, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite

Where are you going this year?

Photo Credits: Abbie Mood

I was tagged by JoAnna of Kaleidoscopic Wandering in a “best travel secrets” Tripbase Blog Tag started by Katie over at TripBase.  That’s it, the whole background.  Now the moment you’ve been waiting for…

1.  Lub*d – The best hostel in Southeast Asia, if not the world.

Granted I haven’t stayed in any other hostel, Lub*d came highly recommended and there’s even a Matador article about it.  When I went, there was a buy 1 night get 1 free offer, so I was able to get a two person room for the cost of one.  At the time, I didn’t have my netbook, so the computers in the lobby with free internet came in handy.

2.  Order a special meal on international flights.

Vegetarian, kosher, low-calorie, any special meal that strikes your fancy, go for it.  Here’s why – you get your meal first.  The flight attendants will bring you your special meal and you can practically finish before your neighbor even catches a whiff of his meal.

3.  Try not to look like a tourist.

Take a map, but never look at it in public.  This will automatically mark you as a tourist, therefore leaving you open to harassment by vendors, drivers, and anyone else.

Don’t EVER wear the typical American tourist outfit – hat, polo shirt (tucked in), khakis/jeans, sneakers, and a fanny pack of some sort.  Or any kind of shirt with one of the other places you’ve visited on it, much less the location you are currently visiting.  Again, it will automatically mark you as a tourist.

Exhibit A:  This tourist thought sunglasses vs. a hat would make him “less American”, but the tucked-in Harley shirt, khakis, and map sticking out of said khakis is a dead give away.  Thanks, robby-T.

I now tag 5 other bloggers to share their travel secrets:

miss.adventure

Candice Does the World

Lonely Girl Travels

The Travel Nerd

Dirtbag Writer

The road to Vegas and beyond!

Sadie wondering why I’m taking a picture of her instead of watching the road.

Daisy!

More desert and mountains… as in 4 hours of desert and mountains on the way to Vegas…

Zzyzx Road – One day I’ll take that exit to see what’s down there!

The world’s tallest thermometer in Baker.

Sadie second-guessing her idea to put her head out the window at 75 mph.

Why I love going downhill in a Prius… note the current mpg.

Best speed limit ever.

Cows in fields, cows on hills!

Snow in Utah.

Getting close to Orangeville!

Our exit!  Finally!

On the way home…

Snowstorm!

Need Starbucks on a drive like this!

They slept *almost* the entire 10 hour drive home!

All photos taken by me from the car!