A Few More Gnomes....

Now that everyone and his or her brother claims to be a travel writer, it's high time to improve the craft.  The response to a recent column I re-posted on travel writing taboos makes it clear that there's a demand for more travel writing advice. So, here goes.

GNOME

 2  [nohm, noh-mee]  Show IPA

noun

a short, pithy expression of a general truth; aphorism  

Let's talk more about the gnomes of bad travel writing. First, however, let me note that during the course of two decades of travel writing, a sharp-eyed reader might discover I have employed a gno-gno (except #1 below) on rare occasion. No one's perfect, but I try to avoid them like the plague (click link for my commentary on cliches). 
                                                      ------------------

1. Can a destination have something for everyone? NO, NO and NO

The Lake Lucerne region has something for everyone (e-mail from Lucerne Tourism)

Spain has something for everyone (a powerpoint presentation shown at Academic Travel Abroad)

There's something for everyone in Santa Barbara's wine country (Destination California supplement in Meetings and Conventions) 

Quintana Roo (Mexico) has something for everyone (Travel Weekly) 

Who knew? However, I beg to differ. Lake Lucerne does not have a nude beach; Spain does not have a desert; Santa Barbara's wine country does not have skiing; nor, for that matter, does Quintana Roo. No  matter how amazing a place is, I defy you, dear reader, to find  a location that actually has something for everyone. If you are an aspiring travel writer, my #1 piece of advice is to NEVER use this lazy phrase.

2. Awkward uses of words

While technically correct, writers often use words that are passé, grammatically questionable, or of questionable connotation. For example, I recently read that "Northern California is fraught with something for everyone, offering meeting planners all they could ever wish for." 

Let's ignore for a minute that my favorite phrase is used, and that the sentence ends in a preposition. As soon as I read the word fraught, my heart starts beating faster. True, it officially is defined as filled or laden, but in common parlance, it is usually used with a negative connotation (the mission was fraught with danger, it was a fraught situation). Therefore, using the word to connote a beneficial thing seems off.  

Similarly, a 20-something travel writer, in discussing his visit to Estonia, talks about the Communistic era. Yes, communistic is a word, officially, but never, in 20 years of writing about Eastern Europe, had I ever seen the word used. Try to redline words that make readers stop in their tracks. 

3. Redundancy

Re·dun·dan·cy
  [ri-duhn-duhn-see]  Show IPA

noun, plural re·dun·dan·cies.

1. Superfluous repetition or overlapping, especially of two words.

How about truly unique, absolutely essential, or old adage? I'd go on, but I don't want to be redundant.

4. Of quaint hidden gems nestled in breathtaking mountains populated by friendly locals...

...and all those other aggravating travel cliches.

5. And just because it bothers me...

Whether you love ice skating or swimming; whether you are into history or metallurgy; whether you are a man, woman or hermaphrodite, it is absolutely essential (see #3) to see Destination X. 

The whether/or construction is simply overused in travel writing. See whether or not you can avoid it.

#TravelToppers on Twitter is Back Today 1 PM ET

Do you ever feel like Mr. Bill when traveling?  If so, today's #TravelToppers on Twitter is for you. Top travel pros will be offering advice and answering your questions at 1 PM in New York; 6 PM in London. You can't be there? Mr. Bill says, "Oh, noooo..............."  For more on the chat, feel free to contact me on Twitter @dailysuitcase 

Q1: What’s the best piece of travel advice you gleaned in 2015? Please share.

Q2: What is your top travel tip for saving money?

Q3: What is your top travel tip for flying?

Q4: What is your top travel tip for travel planning?

Q5: What is your top tip for travel bloggers?

Q6: What do you foresee as three of the year’s hottest travel trends?

Q7: What topics would you like #TravelToppers to cover in 2016?

More Holiday Gifts for Your Favorite Traveler

It's getting down to the wire. If you are still searching for that perfect gift for the jet setter on your shopping list, here are a few original ideas. For more information, here I am on WJLA-TV in Washington describing the goods.

The AquaVault

It's happened to all of us. You're at the beach and you want to take a dip. But you have your car keys, and your iPhone, and other valuables to boot. What's a flip flop-clad gal/guy to do? Well, if she/he has an AquaVault, stuff can be safely stored in a lockbox while you hit the waves.

The AquaVault is basically a safe that attaches to a beach chair, a beach umbrella or other fixed objects. If it sounds familiar,  that's because it guest-starred on Shark Tank earlier this year. Sharp Shark Daymond John invested. If you want to invest in one, it's available on Amazon.com for $49.99. 

MeCam

The MeCam is the mini-me of GoPro and its ilk. Weighing in at one ounce and two inches in diameter, the MeCam takes pictures while being pinned to clothing or a backpack. The device can even shoot in low light.  This very 007 item is priced at $69.99. 


Alphaheat Battery Powered Heated Mittens

Alphaheat Mittens keep your mitts warm on the ski slopes or in a dog sled! Powered by an AA battery pack, these one-size-fits-most hand warmers can heat up to 120 degrees and can hold the charge for up to eight hours. They are available from The Warming Store for $49.99.







Bombata Bags

There are hundreds of cases available for iPads and laptops. But if  the jet setter on your list is the stylish short, a Bombata Bag might be the bomb. The Italian-designed line features leather-like vinyl in colors ranging from hot pink and lime green to more muted hues of blue, yellow and red. The MicroTablet briefcase goes for $55, while the Maxi bags start at $75.

Doppio Maxi Bombata Bag for 17 inch laptop

NapAnywhere

NapAnywhere is a new twist on the old neck rest.  In fact, it was a winner of the 2014 Product Innovation Award at the International Travel Goods Show. If you literally feel like nodding off, this flexible wedge can be molded to fit between the side of your head and your shoulder. It's held in place while you nod off with a strap that adjusts across your body. 

NapAnywhere costs $59.99 and comes in a range of colors, including hot pink, lime, cobalt, crimson and basic black.

Cloudz On-Hand Pillow

Cloudz hands travelers yet another take on the travel pillow. The On-Hand Pillow actually has multiple uses. You can stick your paw inside and cradle your head comfortably while sitting in the window seat. Or you can stick it behind the back for lumbar support.  The outer shell is super-cozy, while the inside, filled with microbeads, blends support and softness. It's available on Amazon for $15.99. 

Weego

How about a battery pack that not only charges your mobile devices, but your car as well? Weego is a pocket-size jump starter battery pack that can do it all. You can give juice to the main power pack at home or in your car (cables included), and then throw Weego in your glove compartment for those times when something in your car is in need of a charge. There's even a built-in flashlight. There are three Weego models, ranging in price from $99.99 to $289 (depending on type of engine you need to charge). Easy-to-follow-instruction are included, as are jumper cables. For the holidays, Weego is including an extra compact rechargeable battery pack with all purchases, a $19.99 value. For a store locator, visit www.myweego.com.

9 Things to Know About Martinique

1. Martinique is located in the Caribbean's Lower Antilles, between Dominica and St. Lucia.

2. No point on the island is more than 12 kilometers from the shore.

3. Ooh-la-la, it's French. Officially, Martinique is an overseas department of France.

4. Ooh-la-la, that means the locals speak mostly French, although Creole is also commonly spoken here. However, English is on the upswing, as the tourism bureau is encouraging more locals to learn English. 

5. That's because Martinique is suddenly receiving an influx of tourists from the United States. Cruise visits have jumped in the past few years, and this winter, East Coasters will be discovering the island big time.

6. That's because Norwegian Air is now flying non-stop flights from New York (JFK), Boston and Washington (the latter via BWI Airport) to Fort-de-France. Winter fares start as low as $79 one-way. That includes airfare and taxes, but you will pay extra for things like checked bags and water. Still....

7. The Euro is the currency here. And with the Euro almost on par with the dollar, that means Martinique, beyond the airfare, will be a bargain this winter.

8. Napoleon's main squeeze, Josephine, was born in Martinique. Folks here have mixed feelings about her, as this headless statue insinuates.

9. Local produce includes breadfruit, cacao, bananas, mango, sweet potato,guava, and passion fruit. Oh, and rum, if we can count rum as produce.

For more information, and awe-inspiring video, check out my most recent Let's Talk Live television segment.

More posts to follow soon.

The Gadget Guru: More Nifty Product for Travelers on the Go

Hope everyone caught my recent appearance on Great Day Washington. If not, here's the link. 

These are some of the innovative travel gadgets and gizmos we discussed. For more, see this post.

The AquaVault

It's happened to all of us. You're at the beach and you want to take a dip. But you have your car keys, and your iPhone, and other valuables to boot. What's a flip flop-clad gal/guy to do? Well, if she/he has an AquaVault, stuff can be safely stored in a lockbox while you hit the waves.

The AquaVault is basically a safe that attaches to a beach chair, a beach umbrella or other fixed objects. If it sounds familiar,  that's because it guest-starred on Shark Tank earlier this year. Sharp Shark Daymond John invested. If you want to invest in one, it's available on Amazon.com for $49.99. 

Knirp's Travel Umbrella

Umbrellas of a different sort are sold by Knirps. This X1 Pod is an umbrella that fits inside a sunglass case, making it easy to throw into a carry-on bag or even a purse. 

Where to Buy: For a store locator, go to www.knirps-usa.com.  List price is $49.95 

NapAnywhere

NapAnywhere is a new twist on the old neck rest.  In fact, it was a winner of the 2014 Product Innovation Award at the International Travel Goods Show. If you literally feel like nodding off, this flexible wedge can be molded to fit between the side of your head and your shoulder. It's held in place while you nod off with a strap that adjusts across your body. 

Where to Buy: www.napanywhere.net for $59.99. Colors include hot pink, lime, cobalt, crimson and black.

#TravelToppers

Greetings to all. Do you want travel advice from the pros? Do you have travel advice to share? Please join me as I host #TravelToppers on Thursday, December 3 at 1 PM Eastern Time/6 PM London Time on Twitter. The discussion this month focuses on Presents & Predictions.

I'm tweeting as @dailysuitcase

Here are the questions.

Presents:

1. What's the best gift to give your favorite traveler?

2. What's on your travel gift wish list?



3. Present at the airport without presents?  What do you purchase as last-minute gifts?

Predictions:

Q4: Which country or continent will see the largest tourism increases in 2016? Why?

A giraffe bellies up to a watering hole in Namibia

Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site

Chile's Easter Island is one of the
most remote places on earth

Q5: What U.S. city will experience the largest tourism increases in 2016? Why?

San Francisco

Chicago

Q6: Which country will experience the largest decreases in tourism numbers in 2016? Why?

Istanbul, Turkey

Jerusalem, Israel

Paris, France

Beijing, China

Moscow, Russia

Q7: What will be the hottest tourism trend in 2016?

Tourism, Terrorism and Tactics for Travelers: Nine Tips

In the wake of the recent terror attacks in France, Mali, and to some extent, Lebanon, travelers are once again faced with the question, "Should I stay or should I go?" I have a rather unique perspective on this issue. In addition to covering travel for the likes of CNN and other national outlets for more than 20 years, I assisted the Travel Industry Association of America* (TIA) in media outreach after 9/11.

Much of the effort to get people traveling again was focused on the international market. At the time, the Internet, was not nearly as ubiquitous as it is today, and outlets like Twitter and Facebook, et al, did not even exist. Imagine that, Millennials.

Media messages, therefore, were mainly delivered via print and television. For international television outlets, I produced a video news release starring the President and Bill Marriott. The message--the USA was safe and open for business. I also wrote articles that were placed in international travel publications. For the domestic market, TIA tasked me with developing special See America travel supplements for USA Today. 

Three days after the recent attacks in Paris, I attended a media luncheon held in Washington, DC by Atout France, the country's tourism promotion arm. I was glad to see the event was not cancelled, as it sent a message that France was staying strong and carrying on. All travelers should follow suit. Yes, the U.S. State Department just put out a travel caution, but it really doesn't say anything new....and it certainly isn't very specific. For more on this, check out this op-ed from ETurboNews.

If you are considering a trip overseas, I would suggest the following:

1. Do check government websites for country-specific travel advisories and travel warnings. For Americans, the place to start is travel.us.gov.  At times, State Department travel advisories may be tinged by politics, so I suggest cross-checking. The Canadian government site is http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories, while the United Kingdom's advisories are housed at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. The Australian government's website, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx, may offer added insight into countries located in southeast Asia.

2. Do consider staying at a non-Western hotel chain....or one that doesn't advertise its chain affiliation on its sleeve. 

3. Do buy travel insurance. If you have to nix a trip due to terrorism, or are stuck in a place because of events, travel insurance policies often cover trip cancellation and expenses borne from delays in getting home, including extra hotel nights and added flight costs. This USA Today story offers more details.

4. Do be vigilant. Be extra-aware of your surroundings. Avoid political demonstrations and mass gatherings.

5. Do be aware of anniversaries of political and/or controversial events within a country.

6. Don't publicize your nationality  

7. Always have a hard copy of emergency contacts with you. Include in the contact list the address and phone number of your country's closest embassy or consulate.

8. More advice from MI5, the United Kingdom's noted security intelligence agency, is here. 

9. In offering this last piece of advice, I must serve up a cliche, thereby making an exception to my rule of avoiding trite and banal phraseology. Here goes: If you stop traveling, the terrorists win. So, go, go, go.


*TIA was the predecessor to the US Travel Association.