On Travel Writing: Fair, Balanced or Puffery?

Traditionally, travel writing has gotten a bad rap. 

It's certainly understandable that it is often seen as being pure puffery. All too often, a most pedestrian place is praised as the greatest location on earth, a hidden gem with something for everyone.  Look, as an experienced travel pro, I do believe there's something to recommend about nearly every place. But let's not pretend every place is perfect (even when pictures make it look so).

Idyllic Iceland? 

Why does this happen? Perhaps because a writer got a free trip and thinks that the quid pro quo is to only write positive thoughts. Perhaps he thinks he will be blacklisted from press trips if he regularly reports on the negative (and in truth, this can happen). Whatever the reason, the negatives are usually left unreported, leaving the reader with a biased take.

Nosy to know if
your favorite travel blogger
is a Pinocchio?
(picture taken at the
Puppet Museum in Tallinn, Estonia)This notion is currently exacerbated by bloggers who are waxing enthusiastic about places and products in order to get or maintain sponsorships or strategic partners.  Not all travel blogs are pay-to-play. However, the fact is, the current model for making money in blogging is by gaining strategic partnerships.

Here's the rhetorical question, though: If a blogger is in bed with Marriott, will he or she write anything negative about the lodging behemoth?

Furthermore, will the blogger opt to ignore good news coming from competitors like Hilton or Westin?  Similarly, if one is being paid by the U.S. Virgin Islands, I doubt there will be much coverage about St. Lucia or Martinique.

Vive la Martinique

.

Trans-Siberian train track
along Lake Baikal

But for those dear, dear readers who still take an interest in journalism, the good news is, there is still room for fair and balanced travel reporting....and God forbid...I don't mean on Fox News. In recent years, I traveled far and wide, sometimes on press trips, sometimes on discounted journeys, and sometimes at full freight. Regardless of who is paying the bill, I make sure my reporting is just that...reporting, and not puffery.  Here are two examples. The Albania story appeared in National Geographic Traveler (October, 2008). The Trans-Siberian piece ran in Travel Weekly (October, 2013), the industry's leading trade magazine.

Please weigh in with your thoughts.

More Cool New Products from This Year's Travel Goods Show

For those of you who saw me on Let's Talk Live today, here's more information about the products discussed.  For this of you who didn't watch, here's the clip. 

Trying to get in an in-flight snooze, but there’s ambient light seeping into your eye mask? Occles keep the light out. And, if you use them with sunbathing, they’ll keep the UV rays out as well. Light, durable, strong and bridgeless (to avoid a tan line across the schnoz), the eye cover is padded with soft rubber, and the fit is adjustable to match your head size. Available in a variety of vibrant colors, a pair of Occles retails for $31.

4 A Clean Getaway provides the germ-phobic traveler with a washable, reusable, and fashionable seat covers for just $36. Simply slip the elastic end over the top of the seat and unroll. Voila, a clean seat. What's more, a zippered pocket lines the inside of the bottom of the cover, so you can stow books, bottles and devices germ-free.

Ever find yourself in one of those tiny hotel bathrooms where the only place to stash your toiletries is...the lid of the toilet? Yuck. Everything ORGO to the rescue. The ORGO Lite is an expandable, portable case that creates its own counter space. Unzipped, it spans across most sinks to create space, while closed and zipped up, it fits right into a small suitcase. Interior compartments are designed to hold everything in place. The suggested retail price is $40.

Baltimore Lights Up

Premiering on Monday, Light City Baltimore is the first large-scale, international light festival in the United States. Light City will provide a backdrop for the celebration of ideas, ingenuity and creativity through art, music and innovation.

In 1816, Baltimore was the first American city to illuminate its streets with gas lanterns, revolutionizing the urban landscape by transforming the city with light. So it's somewhat fitting that two hundred years later, Light City comes to Baltimore to shine light on the city’s creative, cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary talent. Light City’s programming is designed to inspire an ecosystem of ideas and learning during the day. Meanwhile, by night, lights, performances and live music re-imagine the Inner Harbor.

A 1.5 mile BGE Light Art Walk, stretching from the Inner Harbor to Harbor East, will be filled with 28 art installations on the promenade, in the water, and projected onto buildings. Along the way, visitors can check out street theater and musical performances. Hopefully...no mimes.

Light City U is bringing together innovators and thought leaders in four key industries during the festival.These change makers will explore one question: How do we become a more responsible and equitable society? It’s certainly a key question in today’s Baltimore and, in fact, in election year America.

Cool Suitcases from the Travel Goods Show

Looking for a new suitcase? Here are a few unique items coming to market this spring. They were showcased at the Travel Goods Show held in Las Vegas, Nevada in March.

Trunkster

Prior to its release to the general public this year, Trunkster had been getting a ton of buzz. First, the inventors raised nearly 1.4 million dollars on Kickstarter. They received another 1.4 million from Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner on Shark Tank. What's the ado all about? Trunkster is rocking the world of luggage design by dispensing with zippers. Instead, the suitcase opens via a roll-top sliding door. There’s also an integrated digital scale, a removable battery, optional global tracking and a super-sturdy handle. At nine pounds, the suitcase is a bit heavy for a carry-on. But seductive design doesn’t always come light....or cheap. A current website deal is running at $355.

Genius Pack Carry-On Spinner

Hauling around dirty laundry is the bane of the traveler who doesn’t want to get soaked by hotel dry cleaning prices. The Genius Pack 22-inch Carry-On Spinner can’t wash dirty clothing, but it can compress it to take up less room in your suitcase.

Laundry Compression Technology works by expelling unwanted air through a valve integrated into one compartment of the luggage. When you get home, take out the dirty laundry bag and throw contents directly in the wash. Other novelties are a built-in slot for umbrella storage and a strap designed to secure a jacket onto the suitcase handle. The case weighs in at less than eight pounds and retails for $258.  

Flyte

Tired of toting your kid's carry-on through the airport? Let him/her ride it, instead. Flyte is a safe and sturdy scooter, a swift pull-along trolley, and a compact piece of cabin sized luggage all in one. Perfect for children between the ages of four and eight, Flyte’s best feature is an easy-to-fold footplate, which fits snugly in the back of the case. The suggested retail price is $100. Now, if they only had one of these for adults.

Chicago Just for Pun

See how many puns you can find in this Ode to The Windy City.

I recently traveled to Chicago.

Soldier Field
City of Chicago

First, I wanted to go shopping along the Magnificent Mile. The weather was cold, but I donned my white sox and soldiered on.

I bought far too much....in fact, I signed my John Hancock on credit card machines numerous times. No bull.

John Hancock City
ChooseChicago

I was a happy human bean. I exclaimed to no one in particular, "Hull, this could easily become a Daley routine."

Adam Alexander Photography

The next day was warm and sunny. I had to shedd my layers as I walked along the banks of Lake Michigan. Such a nice lakeview. Then, I got so thirsty that I felt loopy. I saw a mirage--it was Jack Black hawking hockey pucks. I couldn’t bear the thirst. My need to drink water towered over all other considerations. That stick of Wrigley in my pocket just wouldn’t cub it, nor would a Pilsen.

Later on, I went to hear Lincoln Park play at Lincoln Hall. The crowd was united in its love of alternative barack music. Midway through,  I noticed all the men and thought, “What the el...this is a boystown.”   

In terms of dining, well,  I did try the deep dish pizza. My first bite contained something resembling a filament.  “O’Hare”, I exclaimed, but it turned out it was only a thread-like strand of cheese. Next, I went to a Greektown eatery.  When the saganaki sears, everyone yells, “Oprah!”

Adam Alexander Photography

Navy Pier
Choose Chicago

The next day, I took an architecture tour on the Chicago River.  Looking at the city’s towering skyscrapers left me feeling truly humboldt.  There were a lot of military men aboard. I think they were Navy piers. Hunky men and architecture...all was Wright with the world.

Pun Count: ?? In the comments section, tell me how many you found...and add some more.

Go, Cubs 2016!

,

Now and Then: #TravelToppers is Back on Twitter on Thursday

The topic of the monthly #TravelToppers chat on Twitter is Now and Then. 
Start reminiscing now. Then join in Thursday, March 3 at 1 PM Eastern Time; 10 AM Pacific Time; and 6 PM London Time. Here are the questions.

Q1: Where are you checking in from and what's your generation (Millennial, X, Y, Baby Boomer)?

Q2: What was easier about traveling in the pre-Internet/pre- cell phone era? It wasn't that long ago, after all.

Q3: What was more difficult about traveling back then?

Q4: What is more difficult about traveling now?

Q5: What no longer exists, but is something you wish you had been able to experience/see? (IE: The Concorde)

Q6: What topics you would like to be discussed during upcoming #TravelToppers chats?

Travel Gadgets and Gizmos for Winter Travel

Taking a trip this winter? In previous posts and on Let's Talk Live this week (click link for video), I address the specific challenges of winter travel. Here are some products to help you stay safe, warm and moisturized during this cold, dry season. 

Do you suffer from the heartbreak of dry skin during the winter? Even if you normally don't, anyone who heads to the mountains is likely to notice that an otherwise peachy complexion goes to the pits on the ski slope. The fact is, when traveling, you should not only NOT forego the normal hydrating routine, but you should actually beef it up. Especially when going to high altitudes in the middle of winter, extra tools of the trade are useful.

Crane USA is royalty among the humidifier set. The company has several products perfect for the global nomad.  The Small and Mighty ($49.99) is a personal ultrasonic cool mist humidifier that increases air moisture. The 1.8 quart water tank runs quietly for up to eight hours.  If you are traveling by car, or if you are carrying a large suitcase, pop it in the trunk.

Small and Mighty

Crane Travel Humidifier

For carry-on types, The Travel Humidifier ($29.99) fits the bill. It consists of a portable tank, a misting probe, and a power adapter that works with both outlets and USB ports.  














Another vital winter weather need--staying warm. This AlphaHeat Battery-Operated Scarf ($29.95) runs on three AA batteries, heating up to nearly 120 degrees. The heating element is on the back of the neck. There are also pockets on the scarf to keep your hands toasty.



Heat Holders claims its thermal socks ($15.99) are "7x warmer than regular cotton socks and 3x warmer than ordinary thermal socks." I can't prove those stats, but I can tell you these socks have kept my tootsies warm during this frigid winter. The company also sells hats, tights and thermal underwear perfect for layering up and keeping in the heat.

Finally, no winter traveler, or any traveler for that matter, should hit the road without travel insurance. Not only does it cover you for unexpected travel and medical expenses, but some policies even reimburse for things like lost or damaged skis. Check out this article from Allianz Travel Insurance for the scoop.