Yes, it’s that time again. Time to start thinking about gifts for friends and family, and perhaps treating yourself to something nice too!

This year, we’ve joined up with our affiliate partner Magellan’s to feature some hot holiday gifts – all things that I am desperate to be in my stocking this Christmas.  Here are 10 must haves from Magellan’s extensive collection.

OOH, A COUPON: Magellan’s is offering all STE readers 15% Off on all orders OR 20% Off orders over $100, PLUS Free Shipping for orders over $50. Just use coupon code “BFCM” between November 23rd and November 28th!

Let’s get shopping.

1) Get Organized and GRID-IT

I saw this handy little gadget last year, and am excited to see they’ve expanded their product line from the large GRID-IT to include both a smaller version and a sunvisor size perfect for car road trips.

This looks simple, and it is simply a flat board with series of gridlocked straps with create a mesh of pockets, nooks, and crannies waiting for your gadgets and smaller items. I love that you can stuff cords and USB sticks and batteries into the straps and they stay snug and well packed without rolling all around the bottom of your case or pack.

Price: $14-29, depending the size and style.

2) Stay Charged with the Power Monkey

Power outlets in train stations and airports these days seem like territory for guerilla warfare, given our now insatiable need for power for those smartphones.  The power monkey helps save the day with a full top-up of your phone battery, though sadly it won’t juice up your iPads (you need a real outlet for that).  If you’re using your phone as a map or travel planner, this could be a lifesaver.

Price: $69 for the regular version, $189 for the “extreme” power version.  Both come with international adapters, a bonus!

3) ExOfficio for Under…There

One thing that can take up a lot of room in your luggage are socks and underwear.  Can’t go without (well, if you do – spare us the details). Plus, if you’re on an extended trip, you’ll probably want some extras, and perhaps a few things to wash and dry in the hotel sink.  ExOfficio to the rescue! I started swapping to their travel clothing last year, and I’d really like to upgrade to everything, because I love that their shirts/underwear/socks are comfortable, durable, and they wash up and dry easily.

4) Toothpaste Tablets to Avoid TSA Headaches

That whole liquid thing drives me nuts, and I try my best to skirt corners and avoid having liquids, because I mostly travel with a carryon — but I always like to have toothbrush/toothpaste on me while I travel. I think these new toothpaste tables are a genius idea, because they’re not liquid and yet they work just like, er, toothpaste.  My only complaint is the container is large, so you’ll want to grab a smaller carrying case (like this one) to slip them into your case.

5) USB Charger, for When the Outlet isn’t Free

I can’t claim to understand how this thing works, but as you can see in the photo, you can charge any USB-based device from an outlet that is currently in-use.  This can be great to double-up on a free airport power outlet or for when your hotel room’s outlets aren’t close enough for you to veg in bed with your devices.  Awesome.

6) Luggage that Kids will WANT to pack and Carry

Aren’t these so cute!  I saw a kid occupying his time on an airport delay a couple of month sago by driving his trunki around the gate area.  This is a great one if you want to get a wee one travel-inspired or if you’ve got a youngster yourself who isn’t too happy about packing and traveling.  Don’t forget to pack the coloring books!

7) The Coffee Lover’s Travel Extravaganza

There’s no other word for this one but extravagant.  But I want one.  Imagine being able to pull your own espresso shot from the comfort of your hotel room?  Granted you need the ground coffee, or hope the coffee pods in-room will suffice, but at $129, this certainly is a gift that keeps on giving.  (Don’t forget to pick up the carrying-case, and any other accoutrements  to make this gift complete.)

Don’t Forget your Hearos

I am a regular user of ear plugs when I travel – snoring drives me nuts, as do chatty passengers up all night on overnight flights.  I find them uncomfortable at times, but hearos (love the name!) are designed to keep the noise out while keeping your ears clean and comfortable.  And they’re very inexpensive – be sure to pack a few extra, just in case you lose one in your sleep!

9) GoToobs

Another great example of good branding (giggle), I love the fun colors of GoToobs, which help you identify those pesky liquids you’ve got to get past security.  They’ve got sturdy caps so no in-flight explosions, and the sizings are set so you don’t get into TSA trouble.  Reasonably priced too.

10) Luggage Scale

I always thought luggage scales were a waste of luggage space and money.  But, I broke down and bought one about a year and a half ago, because when you’ve got a big bag for a long overseas trip, or even if you are just trying to take some presents to friends and family back home, those darn luggage rules can get so complicated!  Know your luggage limits and use this handy scale (it’s lightweight too, heh, for when it goes back in your bag) to stay within the limits and avoid extra fees.

DON’T FORGET: Magellan’s is offering all STE readers 15% Off on all orders OR 20% Off orders over $100, PLUS Free Shipping for orders over $50. Just use coupon code “BFCM” between November 23rd and November 28th, so get shopping!

My mother, like many other mothers around the world, had plenty of pithy words of wisdom. One of them was about where to spend your money – and she always it is worth spending the money on good luggage. If you’ve ever taken cheap luggage on a trip abroad and found yourself with a crumbling pile of plastic bits far far away from home, you’ll no doubt agree. But how much should you spend? And on what?

Choosing luggage is a tricky game, because in my experience, spending a LOT doesn’t get you a lot more. I’ve spent the past month or two road testing Atlantic’s Ultra LITE 22″ Carry-On.  I wanted to find the best carryon luggage, and the Atlantic has left me impressed.  It must be half the weight of my previous case, and as a bonus it is easy to pack with my usual travelers tricks.  Here’s some further thoughts in my Atlantic luggage review.

But First: What to Look for in a Suitcase

I speak from experience when I say I know about bad suitcases, because I’ve had several blowouts over the years – usually at the most inopportune times, such as on a busy street or in the middle of an airport. It’s not just about being the lightest luggage – review a few sites like Amazon and you’ll see plenty of commentary otherwise.

Everyone’s preferences are different, but I think here are some things to think about when it comes to luggage:

• Take a closer look at the wheels.  I assume you’re getting something that rolls (I hope so!), and the wheels seem to be a soft spot with manufacturing.  Do they look sturdy?  Are they able to be replaced when broken?
• Sturdy zippers are important – esp if you’re a chronic overpacker.  Next to wheels, zipppers take a pretty  heavy beating sometimes.  Think about it: when you pack all those souvenirs in there you didn’t really need, the zipper is holding strong all the way home.
• Size is an important consideration.  Most brands come in all sizes, but keep in mind what size is going to be best for you.  As I mentioned earlier, I am using the carry-on, but I don’t like to check luggage, even on long trips.  (And I seriously think everyone should consider lightening the load.  Those huge bags?  You don’t need all that crap.)
• Lastly, look at the handle.  I’m kind of particular about handles for some reason (might be one of those weird left-handed-person things), but I like a good comfy handle.  In most cases, I have a bright blue handle cover that I use, which doubles as a great “hey man this is MY bag” identifier.  Also pay attention to handle height – very important if you’re short or tall, or if the bag handle is just at a crappy height.

Now, About the Atlantic…

So, as I said, I am road testing Atlantic’s 22 inch Carry-On.  I love it!  Here are some highlights:

• They say this bag weights only 6.5 lbs.  It is incredibly light when empty, and still very light when full. WOW.  This is the deal maker for me.
• The front storage compartments are very roomy, meaning I can get a lot into this which doesn’t fit into the main compartment.
• Sturdy wheels.  I waited a several weeks to post this review, because this is important to me, and the wheels are holding up just fine.  I’m very hard on luggage and you can see a few scuffs here and there, but they’re holding up just fine.

Now, just a couple of areas with room for improvement:

• The sides of the suitcase are made of a somewhat flexible material – part of the lightweight-ness – but I think the area around the zipper itself could use a little more padding.  That’s not to say it is flimsy, but it just means you cannot overpack this case. An easy fix would be to include that zip part which would let you extend the size of the case out another inch.
• I’m pretty particular about these things, but I don’t like the handle – I found it too small to hold comfortably.  I’m using my handle pad so it’s fine, easy to fix.

I haven’t tried them all, of course, but based on my experiences so far this must be one of the best carryon luggage options you have out there.  Great weight, great size, holds plenty.  (And yes, it does fit into the overhead bins!)

Get Yours

Looking for a new set of lightweight luggage on wheels?  Then go ahead and try out the Atlantic Ultralite, either the carryon size that I’ve been using or one of their larger options.  Amazon is one of many retailers that have them, though Amazon has the best price, plus you can shop in your pajamas.

What’s important to you when choosing travel luggage?  
Share your tips in the comments.

Special thanks to Atlantic for letting us road test this piece of great carryon luggage. Learn more about our editorial policy on reviews and sponsorships here.

When it comes to travel and vacations, there is a whole heck of a lot of “sweating the small stuff.” Luggage is one of them – or more specifically how to pack a suitcase. Language is another. And don’t forget your maps.

But one thing many travellers don’t pay a lot of attention to (and they should) is footwear. Have you ever thought about the best travel shoes for your trip? Many of us have desk jobs these days, and even myself – I’m quite active and run several days a week – have found myself with achy feet while on the road. How often you have had a sore or blister that all but ruins a long day of sightseeing that was probably going to be a touch grueling anyway? Here’s often how I feel at the end of a bleary travel day:

To combat this “lie flat and die” problem, I’ve been testing out the sexy (and in my opinion, best) travel shoes from Kuru. I am loving them, but why?

Orthopedic Shoes That Don’t Look like Orthopedic Shoes

Have you seen them: those orthopedic shoes that have extra-special foot support, but the’re blinding white, scarily so, and let’s face it: ugly. Nobody wants to look like a tourist jerk, and nobody wants to be the tourist jerk who is wearing really-omg-awful-shoes.

I’m terrible about wearing good footwear on the road. Often I just wear my Havianas sandals, which are actually really bad for you when walking around all day. (They are comfortable….but not 6 miles later.)

What I found by wearing my Kuru’s – I’m testing out the Insight style – it was like walking on a breath of fresh air! I know it sounds cliche, but it’s true. The soul really does have an orthopedic-styled support, or what I would think it would be like, since I haven’t actually worn an orthopedic shoe. I was actually a little worried they might be too supportive, to the point of being uncomfortable; kind of a too-stiff shoe problem, if you know what I mean. But having been on several trips now and walked a few miles a day in them, they still look brand new and feel great. No achy arches, no blisters, nothing. Awesome.

Attention to Detail

Kuru really has given these shoes some attention to the details where your regular shoe fails to pass muster. Specifically:

• The shoes are quite water resistant. (That’s different than waterproof – no you can’t go swimming in them – but in a downpour, my feet stayed dry.)
• They handle sweaty feet really well. No slip-sliding inside which is where blisters come from.
• No smelly feet at the end of the day either. The shoes are nice and breathable.
• Sturdy traction on the souls so you aren’t skidding around on wet or slick surfaces, but it doesn’t look like you’re walking around town with hiking boots on.

There’s a whole lot of technology and engineering going on in these shoes and I’m not even going to pretend to understand it. But here’s the scoop from the friendly folk at Kuru:

KURU was founded on the idea that nature evolved your feet to cushion your body perfectly. Unfortunately, most walking shoes are flat, with a flimsy foam insole. This flat shape smashes the fat pad under your heel, removing its ability to cushion your body. KURU’s patent-pending KuruSole™ midsole dynamically cradles your fat pad, keeping it under your heel bone.

Translation: Kuru makes your feet feel good under travel duress.

Other Awesome Shoe Tips

Foot problems can really turn a good vacation into a nightmare. Here are a few other recommendations I have found after years on the road, besides getting a pair of proper travel shoes.

• Have a few bandages in your carry on luggage for any unexpected blisters or foot problems. If you catch a blister early on, you can prevent it from getting worse, and if you have them you can skip the “how do you say bandage in XYZ language” routine.
• Shoes are important, but also look at your socks – are you wearing too thin or too thick of socks that are causing issues?
• Before you leave home for a lengthy, heavy walking trip, do some training at home. Walking around your neighbourhood, or finally get into the gym. Don’t overdo it, but signal to your body that it’s time to walk!

So, ready to try on a pair of the best travel shoes out there? Then check out Kuru – you’ll love ‘em.

Special thanks to Kuru for letting us try their shoes out. Learn more about our editorial policy on reviews here.

Photo Credits: Menage a Moi, Kuru, anolobb

I have had a smart phone for about two years now, but it was only most recently had an opportunity to try the very ‘en vogue’ paperless boarding pass – that is, a pass that you download on your phone.

It was surprisingly hassle-free (I was half expecting people to look at me in disbelief as I waved my phone around), but everyone understood the procedures and the technology seems well tested. Many airlines are offering bonus miles for you to try it out (a little trick from Chris Guillebeau’s snzzy guide to frequent flyer miles), so if you’ve got an eligible flight in future I would encourage you to try it out.

Mobile Checkin

I actually checked-in “Online” not on my phone. I got an email from United to let me know check in was open, and I was eager to do so as I wanted to make a quick seating change and knew I could get some good seats during early check in. Hopped online, and then selected the option to get a “mobile boarding pass.” What happened is that United sent me an email which allowed me to open up a secret webpage with my pass on it. The pass has a QR Code which can be scanned at security checkpoints and gates. Here’s what mine looked like:

Security Check In & At the Gate

This is where I was expecting some hassles – after all, this is TSA territory, and we all know how well that is going. Surprisingly, they didn’t bat an eye – in fact, it was almost less hassle than the paper pass; maybe these are harder to fake or perhaps the terrorists haven’t heard about them yet.  Dunno.  Anyway, every time it was no hassle and no questions.  They have a mobile QR scanner at the checkpoint, sort of a big bulk thing that looks very para-military, but it worked just fine.

Same story at the gate.  The gates at United all are using the same type of scanner, so my phone waved over the same scanner as did the paper boarding pass.  No hassle, no questions, nobody blinked an eye.  I was like, really, wait, something has to go wrong! Stop!

The Pro’s and Con’s of the Paperless Boarding Pass

Despite my breezy experience (and the mileage bonus to boot), there are of course some pros and cons to the paperless boarding pass.

The Pros

• I loved not having a piece of paper to stuff in a pocket, crumble in my bag, or spill coffee on.  And one less thing to throw away at home.
• It’s super easy to get a new boarding pass – just click refresh.  I can imagine this a huge time saver when dealing with irregular ops and airport mayhem.

The Cons

• The browser on my iPhone tends to refresh a page automatically when you open it, which is annoying all the time, not just when you’re opening your phone to check in at the gate.  So be mindful of this.
• It goes without saying, but you do need a smartphone, and you need a full battery.
• Paper is pretty low tech.  Mobile introduces more opportunity for mistakes and mishaps.  Inevitable.

This feature I think will become more and more of a “regular” feature, considering it’s a win for everybody involved.

Handling Changes

I had read that the mobile (paperless) boarding pass actually will refresh if you have changes en route, and I even got to test this out!  I was upgraded to First Class (benefit of being the travel guy, you see), and when I went up to the desk, I handed my phone, and he said, “oh, just refresh - a little Christmas gift for ya.”

I said I was actually reviewing the entire process so I’d be curious to see if this works, and his colleague at the desk overhead me and told me that they have had few if any problems and that it’s all worked really well.

Refreshing the page finished, and boom – new boarding pass.  Couldn’t have been easier.

Try It Out

So next time you’re at the airport, try it out – and ask if there’s a mileage bonus too!

Many travelers, after a few international trips, find that they long for a richer, deeper, and more satisfying cultural experience when they travel.  Overseas volunteer opportunities have been around for over 40 years but since 2000, this kind of travel has exploded with so many choices that it is easy to become overwhelmed.  You can spend hours with thousands of links on Google, or you can save time with a step-by-step process to narrow the options to a manageable number.

There is no one project that fits every volunteer. When you thoughtfully answer these first three questions however, you will be on your way to find the perfect fit project for your travel and volunteer goals.

Q1: Why do you want to volunteer?

Many people take advantage of the many overseas volunteer opportunities without giving it much thought.  They see a need, feel they can fill it, and dive in.  To maximize your time as an international volunteer however, ask yourself if you want to:

Use an existing skill?

or

Learn something new?

When using an existing skill, you arrive with experience and can jump in more quickly at the new location.  At times, you need credentials, certification, education, or a degree to be a volunteer.  For example, Doctors Without Borders or projects where a second language is required.

If you are interested in learning something new, arrive with an open mind, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn.  The international agencies know you may not have special skills. They are prepared to train you and show you how to accomplish the work at their location.

What do you want to learn?

A new language?

Experience a new culture?

Develop a new job skill?

Explore a possible career or field of study?

Find out more about yourself?

Once you choose between using an existing skill or trying something new, you are ready to move on to what.

Q2: What do you want to do as a volunteer?

There are so many overseas volunteer opportunities and they all look interesting. This can cause people to lose heart about finding the right project.  Focus on one of the following areas to determine if you prefer to work with:

People (infants to seniors) – education, human services, health, business, social justice.

Animals – farm animals, pets or wildlife – science or rehabilitation.

Nature/Conservation – plants, research, or trail work.

Building – roads, bridges, schools, wells.

Inanimate Objects – art, anthropology, archaeology, records, data, business systems.

Once you have found an interesting project, read the project description to see if it is in a location you want to visit and make sure the start dates fit your calendar.  If there are several projects that interest you, this can take some time. But if you pick projects that really fit your interest, it can be fun exploring the possibilities.

You goal is to find a project that fits both you and the foreign agency, as you want your volunteer trip to be a win/win experience for everyone.  Before you commit, read the information carefully to determine what the agency expects of a volunteer and that you can fulfill the job duties.

Next ask yourself…

Q3: How will you measure success?

What will give you the greatest personal satisfaction about your volunteer trip?  Is it that you will return feeling like you:

Made a difference? If so, what was that difference?

Saw evidence of progress during the project?

Have a better understanding about the culture or country?

Acted as a citizen diplomat for your country?

As you depart, you may think you have a clear idea of what you think your success will look like.  But don’t be surprised if the answer has changed by the end of your trip. Once you have spent time abroad working on a volunteer project that fits your heart, you will most likely find that the rewards you take away are much greater than you could ever have imagined.

You can do it!  You can find a great project for you! So, get out there and hold the world in your heart and VOLUNTEER!

Nothing ruins a camping trip faster than a little bit of rain.  If you are ever unfortunate enough to have had rain interrupt a family camping trip you know that staying dry is only half the battle – managing your children’s morale is really the ultimate goal.

Unless you are camping in the Arizona deserts, there is a decent chance that camping in rain could be a potential problem when on your next family trip. Here are a few tips for dealing with inclement weather, both back at base camp as well as any excursions like hiking, biking, and boating.

Have a Backup Plan

I can’t stress this enough.  Every vacation should have a backup plan.  Things go wrong, even if it doesn’t involve the weather, and when they do – well, look out. If you are on a family camping trip, staying in a tent, research local hotels or motels, just so you know you have a fallback option.  Planning an outdoor excursion for the day? Well you’d better have an indoor option lined up as well.  If your kids are expecting a fun filled afternoon, they just won’t respond well to rain ruining their fun. Hope for the best, plan for the worst, as the saying goes.

Bring an Umbrella

I know this might sound like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many times a family starts their activities for the day, forgets an umbrella and has to show up soaking wet back at the car.  This is an instance where a little preparation can go a long way.  Even if the forecast doesn’t call for showers, pack a few ponchos and an umbrella in a bag.  It’s not a lot of extra weight and will get your family out of some tight jams. So many parts of the world – Northern Europe, the Pacific Northwest, amongst others – are prone to rapid weather change, and who wants to obsess about the weather predictions anyway? Put it in your bag and leave it there, even if you’re in one of the sunniest places in the world.

Don’t be a Hero

I can’t even begin to tell you how many times my dad used these words…”It’s only a little bit of rain” or “it will blow over soon” only to have our family stuck in the middle of a crazy rain storm where spirits quickly turned sour.  I’m not saying to run at the first sign of trouble, but the purpose of a family vacation is to have fun, not to play a guessing game with Mother Nature. If there is any chance of bad weather, listen to your gut and go to your backup plan when it suits.  Sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Hope for Rainbows

If you follow these steps, you can salvage your trip, even when the rain just won’t let up.  Hopefully, you never have to get stuck camping in rain, but if you’re reading this, chances are you’ve gotten drenched at least once before. Here’s to hoping it never happens again, or if it does, you at least get rewarded with a nice rainbow!

Photo Credit: longhorndave

So, we’ve talked about how to pack a suitcase like a travel ninja. My advice was, and is, unequivocal: less is more.

But with the cornucopia (never a dull moment when that word comes out to play) of travel gear, travel gadgets, and just STUFF MARKETERS WANT YOU TO TAKE WITH YOU PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, it’s hard to decide what the heck actually makes sense to buy and take with you, versus the things that are just fluff.

I’d like to explore this topic briefly in what I call the history of travel gear.

The “Old” Days

Back ‘in the day’ (read: less than ten years ago), we did not have entire stores dedicated to travel goods, let alone entire websites and blogs! Choice was limited because information was limited. I remember two distinct sources where you would find out about travel gear:

• Department Store Catalogue: Remember when stores printed that gigantic book once a year with all the stuff in side, so you didn’t even have to go to the store to look at it? You could get anything you wanted in here.
• Those “Werid Stuff” Direct Mail Booklets: I know you know what I’m talking about. Back when it was en vogue to bombard people’s mailboxes (the not-so-virtual kind) with special offers and AMAZING specials, there were those catalogues that seemed to have gadgetry built and ship direct from foreign civilizations on other plans.

It was a bit wanderlusty to flip through these books, their pages filled with slick photography, clever headlines and pop copywriting. Was every suitcase really “lonely” without the doodgamaflop? Would my travels “never be the same again” without those waterproof fullangies? Really?

Modern Travel Gear Shopping

So, flash forward to today. Those bubbly catchphrases are still around, and so is the slick photography. But in Matrix-like style, we’ve now been surrounded by choice. The Internet has made it a lot easier for entrepreneurs to setup shop to market their niche products, and outsourcing is a lot easier these days so you don’t need a billion dollars to work out in the kinks in making your latest waterproof must-have.

But this means we have a heck of a lot of choice. A lot more than we did before. And instead of all that friction in making a purchase – going to a store, or filling out the coupon in the catalgoue and signing a check – gasp! – you have “1 click shopping.” Careful not to add the wrong thing to your online shopping cart!

How to Choose What Gear You Need

So, how do you decide if that gadget is worth hauling on your next long haul? Here’s what I ask myself:

• Does the “convenience” make up for any additional “hassle” factor? For example, a waterproof camera case, which takes up just as much room as the regular camera case.  Are you really going to take that many underwater pictures?  Maybe, maybe not.
• Am I buying this just for the cool factor?  If yes, then stop right now.  That travel wallet might seem ultra sexy, but is it just more weight when the one you already have works just fine?
• What problem does this solve?  Did I complain or feel the pinch of this problem on a previous trip? Just because the brochure says it will change your life doesn’t mean it will.
• Does it really work? Scope out some reviews.  Do those ear plugs really help you sleep, or will you just wake up with a headache?

Please comment:  How do you choose your travel gear?

Check out these other great travel gear posts:

• Top Ten Travel Gift Recommendations for 2010 at Wandering Educators
• Gearing Up at Nerds Eye View
• These are a Few of My Favorite Travel Things at Traveling with MJ
• Holiday Gifts for Travelers at Wanderlust and Lipstick
• Travel Backpack Review: the Smart Alec Backpack by Tom Binh, at The Vacation Gals
• Omni Hotels and Travel Gift List at Ciao Bambino

Photo Credits: dybarber, missy

Last week, the US State Department issued a travel warning for all Americans travelling to Europe.  The “alert” states the following:

The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to the potential for terrorist attacks in Europe.  Current information suggests that al-Qa’ida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks.

Shouldn’t we kind of assumed that anyway?  I mean, it’s stating the obvious.  And the alert couldn’t have been more generic.  They might has well have issued a statement to the affect of a Chinese fortune cookie: “Careful stepping outside your front door today – there are people out to kill you.”  Not exactly helpful.

Same goes for the UK, who issued this helpful piece of travel advice:

The updated travel advice says that like other large European countries, authorities continue to consider that there is a high threat of terrorism, and that like other large European countries, Germany has a high threat of terrorism. Our travel advice for Sweden is that there is a general threat from terrorism.

Have these people ever travelled before?

Understanding Security Theatre

To understand this issue, we need to first look at the phenomenon of security theatre.  This is the very real situation of where we (mainly governments) implement security procedures that do not actually make you safer, but the effect of the implemented measures make you think you are.  Note that this is not entirely bad – sometimes it’s just as important to feel safe as it is to be safe, particularly in situations when the element of risk cannot be removed.

We live in a world of security theatre.  Maybe you live in a gated community.  There’s nothing to stop someone from cutting those those bars, sneaking in after a car, or just jumping the fence.  But the fence makes you feel safer.

Airports are the IMAX of security theatre.  Do you really think a security guard with an automatic machine gun (which usually isn’t loaded) makes you safer than one without?  Or how about no bottles of liquid bigger than 100mls – though feel free to load up your contraband in separate bottles.

Here’s the bottom line, folks:  our world is a scary place, and we’re all going to die at some point.  We are fragile human beings, and there are lots of things competing to kill us off.  However, you are more likely to die outside of the security theatre.  The biggest killers in the developed world are things like heart disease and automobile crashes, NOT airplanes and terrorist attacks.

Understanding Fear and Dealing with It

Fear, and the need for security theatre that it drives, is understandable.  It all comes back to how our brains are wired. The oldest part of our brains is called the reptilian brain.  It is this part of the brain which controls our very basic functions – sex, eat, drink, shelter, fight/flee.  Yup – those things that you almost don’t even think about.

The thing is, the reptilian brain is really old, so it doesn’t know how to distinguish the risk of a terrorist blowing you up compared to a saber-toothed tiger.  Understandable, and that’s why we have that fancy new brain wrapped around our old brain, right?

Sort of.  That’s the idea, but when it comes to those basic, primal emotions, the old brain has override controls.  That’s why people do stupid things when it comes to sex, why people can become overeaters, and of course, why we can’t accurately understand our risks of death.

How to deal with it?  It’s simple:  Acknowledge It.  Yes, I could die from a terrorist attack from the hotel I’m writing this in.  I could die on the airplane home tomorrow.  I could die on the bus back to my apartment.

I could die, and eventually I will.  But worrying about it won’t change anything – so why add the stress?

What You Can Do

Firstly, I’d like you to ignore these ridiculous security “alerts” which do nothing except to provoke terrorists into a rush, making a mistake and perhaps outing them to the authorities. (Or at least, that is my opinion on how this part of their security theatre works.)

Secondly, acknowledge your real risks.  You are far more likely to be killed by slipping in your shower, or being hit by a car, than dying in a plane or by a terrorists.

Lastly, stop worrying about that which you cannot control.  Easier said than done, but I know you can try.

I leave you with these sage words from a book we previously reviewed, The Only Road North:

There are things in this life that are far worse than death.  A grave awaits each of us, and in the grand scheme of things, is being alive for eighty years any longer than eighteen years?  Our life is just a breath, whether we die old and gray or young and vibrant.  When death comes for us, it will not matter how many years we managed to preserve our existence but rather what we did with the short time we were given on this earth.

Photo Credit: Christian Haugen

The house exchange community has discovered the secrets of travelling the world for free, simply by extending an invitation to total strangers to swap homes. Attracted to a long hot summertime without peak season accommodation prices, we set out on our first house swap in the summer of 2008 and haven’t looked back. Seven swaps in and we’re hooked – with up to six months of the year spent swapping.

How Does a Home Exchange or House Swap Work?

Home exchange is basically like online dating – for houses. You upload your profile to a choice of home exchange websites, and push its most outstanding features. Of course you can specify how many bedrooms and bathrooms you have, but you will also be promoting your home’s location and it’s useful to include data on local attractions. The aim is to make your house sound attractive enough to appeal to visitors from your preferred destination. As well as selecting the country you wish to visit, you will also have the opportunity to specify deal breakers such as; children/no children; pool/no pool; internet/no internet and so on.

And in just the same way as you might meet your consummate mate through a dating site, there will be a perfect house swap for you. We’ve been surprised and charmed with each of our house exchange destinations – all of which have been a mystery to us beforehand. And that’s one side of house swapping that we really adore – that we get to visit towns and villages we’ve no idea exist. Spending the summer under blue skies and a hot sun with a foreign language as a soundtrack can’t be recommended highly enough. To combine that with our career and the family’s education – we’re living the dream, oh, yes we are!

Our First House Swap – Catalonia

Our very first house swap in 2008, was in the mountains of Catalonia, about 30 minutes west of Dali’s birthplace, Figueres.  We arrived to our location – a modern bungalow surrounding by romantic old buildings, uninhabited. It was nestled in the mountains in a beautiful location, with nearby breathtaking mountainside villages and only an hour away from the beach!

We’d made the trip to Barcelona city centre before, and when our son Ruaridh was only one, we spent a week on a very cheap package deal in the Costa Brava – but neither of those experiences could have prepared us for the Catlonian house swap. We were in the mountains – in a tiny village without even a bread shop. This was going to be all about getting in touch with a simpler life. Time here just slowed down – it was magical (and helped along by a power cut!)

We’d been on a very tight work deadline prior to leaving for this first swap, which we’d just made by the skin of our teeth – but we couldn’t rest on our laurels and needed to get straight onto the next part of the project. Only a few days in, on a particularly electric weekend, we lost power. And that was when it hit us. You don’t travel all the way to this beautiful highland village with free range cows, chiming their bells outside your door and expect to keep up a frantic pace. So, prevented from working online due to the power cut, we chilled out – and looked around us. We took lungfuls of fresh mountain air. We played rounders, football and badminton in the vast garden at our disposal. We burnt pizza in the BBQ oven. We read lots of books, and we danced and played limbo in the tiny living room at night. We laughed a lot – and we relaxed.

House Swap Number Two: Chemaze, France

Our second home exchange found us crossing the Dordogne north to the Mayenne region of France and the small village of Chemaze.  Again, the experiences were endless:  we we played in the fountains, challenged the locals to Ping Pong, resisted chocolate temptation extraordinaire, visited the most amazing museum I’ve written about here before – the Robert Tatin Museum.  And went bike riding almost every day – even in the rain!

Travelling so far north was delayed a little with some visits to friends in Bordeaux and a detour to visit the folks soon we’d be swapping with on our 4th swap, so we were very ready to get online and connected again. Fortunately, the house was fully equipped with an office for two, and a hard wire to the Broadband for each of us. Better still, the village was abundant with children on holiday, and all ready to play with Ruaridh – the exotic visitor from Scotland. This northern village was on the outskirts of the attractive town of Chateau Gontier, and the theme for this swap was work and play.

The location was actually so similar to our home set up that we vowed not to do this type of swap again – and instead look for something different – but what we took was far more important than that, we discovered how we would like to live when we were at home in the UK. Not a bad result!

Swapping Again:  Home Exchange in Montauban

Montauban, 30 mins north of Toulouse was the location of our third home exchange in 2008.  It is a beautiful town on the River Tarn and we stayed in 50′s townhouse.  Lapping up the French lifestyle, we relaxed in the pool, spent a lot of time in the medieval town centre, enjoyed countryside art installations, and made lots of new friends with whom we went kayaking.

A town-centre location, this swap took place during the month of August and because Montauban is not known as a tourist centre, it was so empty we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves! Having access to deliciously cold dipping pool in this urban garden was a great touch, in the high summer heat – and we made use of it almost every day the sun was beating down. We also took advantage of the multiplex cinema (in French) on the outskirts of the town; the numerous cafes and bars in the town centre; and drank in the breath-taking scenery of the Aveyron, whilst kayaking with some great new friends the day before we left.

We loved Montauban and the families we met there so much that we went back to stay with them in 2009, where Ruaridh went to school. Just one of the long-lasting friendships we’ve made during our adventures – where the people have become so much part of the learning and growing experience.

House Swap Number Four:  The Atlantic Coast

Our fourth house swap in 2008 was on the Atlantic coast, just south of La Rochelle in an area famous for its mussels and oyster farms. We stayed in a 2 hundred year old restored Charentaise farmhouse on the edge of a nature reserve, and our senses were delighted with endless things to see and do.  We fooled about in the hot tub, raided the vegetable garden for produce, all near the ancient village of St Sornin, famous for its church where we rounded off the trip by getting married!

The wedding itself was organised almost in its entirety by our swap host couple – even so far as providing the witnesses!

We rediscovered our love of the coast during the month or more we spent in this wonderful farmhouse. During September, most of the holiday makers have packed up and headed home, and so our greatest pleasure was the ability to enjoy the wild, ruggish land in peace. To visit the coast was only a 20 minute drive from the tiny hamlet nestled in glorious woodland in which we stayed for the duration. And to cycle to the small village of St Sornin amongst the blackening sunflower fields, on the tiniest of roads built upon the reclaimed marshland was as romantic as it sounds. The locals would probably not be so happy to hear of their village described as such, but to us there was the definite feel of the wartime France. Without any of the horror, distrust and other associations, but with all the romance.

Looking Back on Our Experiences

Our hosts went beyond the call of duty and we were introduced to many fine people, both locals and ex pats, and the ease with which we find ourselves being married made the experience absolutely unforgettable! This year we hope to return for a visit, as one of the swaps this time around is only an hour and a half inland. Yes, the world is a big place, and there’s plenty of other locations for us to visit as we did last year, but these locations and the house swappers we have met along the way are so very special and have made such an impact on our lives, that we cannot help but return, share stories and enjoy the good life.

If you’d like to get some house swap action, here are a few websites you might find useful:

• http://www.homeforexchange.com
• http://www.1sthomeexchange.com
• http://www.geenee.com
• http://www.homebase-hols.com

We’re just about organised for our third season of swaps – 12 weeks of sun, sea and people and experiences we hope we’ll never forget… You’ve still got time to arrange yours! We can gift you a voucher for trial membership of one of our favourite sites. Just leave a comment at the bottom of the article and I’ll get it organised for you.

All photos copyright Julie Gibbons.

I would be the first to admit that I’m not great at sitting still. I like to be doing things. Ideally, I like to be doing lots of different things, so that I can switch when I get bored. Generally, I’m happiest when I’m writing or walking.  You do have a travel journal, right?

When I’m faced with a four-hour train journey or a ten-hour flight, I’m antsy. I don’t tend to take my laptop out when travelling, partly because it might get nicked, but mostly because the thought of anyone watching me write brings me out in a cold sweat.

So, I inevitably have a book or three along for the trip. I haven’t yet cracked and bought a Kindle, so the choice of what to take with me is tricky.  There has been plenty of recommended travel reading featured here, but a few factors come into play when I make my final book selection:

Size of Book

Obviously, a hardback copy of War and Peace isn’t your best travelling companion. You want to go for books which can fit easily into your hand-luggage, or which you can slip into a jacket pocket. The size of book also depends on the size of font: some books are padded out with wide line spacing and large text, and you’ll finish them disappointingly quickly.

Related to size, don’t take a book which you’ve already almost finished. You’ll be lugging around a load of pages which you have no intention of reading.

Consequences of Losing Book

When debating whether or not to take a particular book travelling, ask yourself whether it’s your book. If it’s been borrowed from a friend, you might want to rethink. If it’s been borrowed from a library, leave it safe at home. If it’s a particularly pricy book, ditto.

It’s very easy to put a book down on a chair, or to tuck it into the seat pocket on the plane – and to forget all about it. Books are also vulnerable to being squished and mangled in bags, or soaked in spilt drinks.

Likelihood of Book to Cause Emotional Distress

If you are of a nervous disposition, and a book features a devastating crash/failure/trauma related to your mode of transit, I’d suggest leaving it at home. Don’t read Anna Karenina on a train. Don’t read Lord of the Flies if you’re flying.

Take your fellow passengers into consideration, too. Reading about anger management, for instance, may not reassure those sitting near you…

And, for obvious reasons, “Hijacking a Plane for Dummies” is probably best avoided.

Immersive Nature of Book

One of the great joys of reading is that it can block out your external surroundings. Your crowded coach or those squealing kids on the plane fade into the background, and what you’re reading absorbs your attention.

This means picking a book that’s engrossing. I find fiction tends to work best for this, but if you’re a non-fiction person, find something with voice and enthusiasm and interest. (The company’s latest report on widget sales probably isn’t going to do it for you.)

Complexity of Book

You want a book which will take some reading – rather than one which you can skim through in five minutes. However, attempting to read Ulysses is probably a mistake, as is trying to read anything with a very complex plot or a huge cast of characters (especially if they have Russian names).

You’re inevitably going to get interrupted and distracted multiple times while reading: when your flight boards, when the assistant brings a meal, when the cabin crew make an announcement over the tannoy and so on. There’ll probably be long gaps when you don’t read at all. Find a book which you can dip into and out of without struggling to remember what the heck was going on.

Willingness to Dispose of Book When Read

Some books, you want to keep forever – either to re-read because you loved them, or to display on your bookshelves to let people know how wonderfully erudite you are.

Other books, you can bring yourself to part with. You’ve finished them, and they don’t need to take up valuable backpack space any more. Let them go off on their own travels (try BookCrossing), and treat yourself to a new book for the journey home…

How do you choose what to read when you’re travelling?

Photo by James Wheare, ashleigh290