Best Job in the World, Island Caretaker on Hamilton Island Australia, Video Entry Closed

The drama builds as the entry videos to the Best Job in the World closes. All over face book I am seeing people comment about waiting to see the results of cut #1 and who made the next group of 50 candidates, for caretaker on Hamilton Island. This campaign is said to have garnered close to 80 million in coverage. It has been covered in all types of media world wide. Perhaps I was most surprised at the article in the Tehran Times. Could this PR campaign bring the world closer together? Only time will tell, best of luck to all that entered, my flip video entry shouldn't’t be in the way at all.I still am drawn in to watch till the finish.

Update for Best Job in the World, Hamilton Island, Queensland

Just four more days till the application acceptance for the Best Job in the World, is over. Over 15,500 videos were sent in as of now though the exact number fitting the criteria I don’t know. I cannot wait to see who is a step closer to living for six months on Hamilton Island in the great villa I checked out. I really think the 150,000 Australian will take a sideline to the experience, I would use the bucks to do every excursion available in Queensland, flying in friends along the way.

I really enjoyed watching the video entries sent in, some horrible but some fantastic. I got to preview good buddy, Sony Stark’s entry recently. Being pro shows in her entry, go Pilot Girl. I got to watch tons of people jump into frozen lakes and rivers emphasizing their need for warmth. I plan on following this genius PR move till the very end, mate.

Radio Report about the Best Job in the World, Queensland on Around the World Travel Radio

I caught up with the archives of Around the World Travel Radio and listened to Sue Frause’s report about the Best Job in the World campaign. It was cool to hear it because I happened to be invited there to Hamilton Island for the Queensland launch. This Thursday before heading to NYC for the NY Times Travel Show, I will be phoning in my report about my trip to Hamilton Island, Lizard Island and Fitzroy Island. In fact it will give a little insight to what I actually saw on the Great Barrier Reef and maybe some tips to what they are looking for in a candidate.

The radio report can be heard live Eastern Time 1:50 PM on this Thursday if you click the blue here. It will later be on the archives here. This PR campaign from Queensland has me amazed so I am keeping track of it and the newest news I can find is that over 10,000 videos have been sent in. However more than half didn’t fit the guidelines so if applying follow directions.

Best Job in the World, Island Caretaker on Hamilton Island Australia, Apply Now, Not With Naked Photos

I wish I had some heft with the Queensland Tourism committee that is dealing with the Best Job in the World; the email from a girl from Spain was downright suggestive. She read this blog about me being there for the launch and bam I am cool. I was afraid to download the photos attached, what if my wife checked her email and saw a young Spanish girl trying to influence a judge? I am not a judge, just lucky enough to be invited to the launch.

I wanted to respond to her email and tell her that indeed it was a fantastic opportunity to explore the Islands of Queensland, but I was actually there, and with a face for radio entitled to soak up the experience then and there, naked pictures be damned. Okay so I got to swim, snorkel and live like an island god, hell it is my job! I have someone that I think would be perfect for the job and we have only shared laughs and experiences related to travel, certainly not nude photos. If you want to see some video entries for the job click here. Until I get my fake email address please mail entries to the officials.

A Travel Writers Lament, Home Sweet Home Remembering the Warm Hug of a Stranger

Ah… home sweet home peace, at last. That is except for the sound of water drops cascading from the new addition roof, pattering ever so loudly in the silence of very early morning. The comfort of your own bed only not quite as comfortable with your head propped up with multiple pillows to keep your stitches from pulling; skin cancer surgery is a bitch. Still you have that script of Xanax that the doc gave you but you have already stashed it in your ready to go travel bag. Sleep comes hard in coach! Still the drops echo loudly in your head so what the hell, one can only help.

Instead you go to Picassa to find that picture of the stranger whose hug you will forever remember, especially those deep eyes and long nails. You wonder just who the stranger is at this very moment embracing and a bit of jealousy rears its ugly head. You fool yourself into thinking that the stranger will never love anyone as much as you. Then you realize that a koala isn’t easy to keep for your own and you decide to head for the vial in your travel bag. Ah… home sweet home!

Even My Doctor Wants the Best Job in the World, Island Caretaker On Hamilton Island

Even as I could feel the scalpel cutting the nurses and doctor were doing their best to take my mind off of the operation. Knowing that I was a travel editor the questions were ones I usually get asked, favorite place, best restaurants etc. When the doctor asked me where I was headed next I answered immediately, bed ASAP. That cut some tension as they all cracked up.

Then one nurse asked if I heard about the caretaker job on Hamilton Island that is now open for entries for a six month gig learning about the Great Barrier Reef complete with a US salary of $105,000. I was just there for the world announcement I told them. Immediately they asked questions about entering. I told them as much as one can when their face is getting sliced up. I still may enter the application and video myself, complete with my new gauze mask, Lone Ranger look may even come back into style. If I won I would want Dr. Mulvaney and his exceptional staff on call, Australia has a high incidence of skin cancer. Thank you Doc and staff for making a bad situation better.

Best Job Follow Up, Hamilton Island Australia

The power of the blog is an amazing thing. This blog, Be Our Guest, is rated # 1 when you type in on Yahoo, How to apply for the best job in the world, Australia Hamilton Island. That is # 1 out of 1,370,000, Fox News, ABC and Yahoo News follow up at least today, proof that online even the little guy has a chance.

Travel Writer, Quinn &Co. Melissa Braverman and Queensland Tourism

I’ve just gone through a bit of reading of Travelwriters.com in preparation for the New York Times Travel Show presentation that Max and I will be giving, last years worked well. Often many of the posts are questions about press trips, etiquette and getting invited amongst other questions. It is going to be part of my shtick, how to get and maintain connections in the travel press world.

I have just come back from a fantatic trip to Queensland that was organized by a great PR firm named Quinn & Co. and a new friend, the account rep Melissa Braverman. She was a perfect host and very competent. Such behind the scene planning goes into making a trip work for both writer and place reps. She done good! Better yet she got my name from one of my favorite people in the European Travel Board circuit. Produce and be nice works, and has for close to fifteen years and 80 countries. Understand all sides of the business and do your best to get along, leave the ego home, we all have them. Kudos to Melissa, Queensland Tourism and Quinn & Co. for a job well done, for more insight checkout Melissa’s blog, learn as much as you can.

Traveling With Women on Press trips

The ratio of women I travel with on press trips compared to men is about four to one. It is often a pleasure to mingle with the opposite sex; I think you learn a lot about life across the gender line if not just a different perspective. The dinner conversations seem more open then just sports and adventure. Discussions often are about real life situations and open. I also think that women in many ways are more focused on just what they are doing.

That said I have also met some great guys to share the experience with and I think they would agree. That same ratio also works on male bonding and I have been very lucky especially on my last couple of trips. On a trip to Champagne and Burgundy I met the eloquent Joel Berliner, the Devil Dog could make me laugh even if I lost all my money with Bernie Medoff, I didn’t but if I did I know he would ease the pain. His writing is fantastic, so much so that I put a link to his blog on my page.

This past trip the other male was probably one of the most successful writers I’ve ever traveled with, Donavan Webster. He has several top selling books and pens for magazines such as National Geographic, Vanity Fair and other top of the line publications. His conversations and experiences provided many pleasant passages of time in Queensland. The one thing I noticed we all had in common is we liked traveling with women and are all in love with our wives, it is a common thread for a successful press trip.

Leaving Lizard Island by Private Plane Video

Advice From the NY Post for a Leo Travel Writer

When I finally got home from my long trip back from Queensland, Lil had the NY Post waiting. After a 12 hour flight from Brisbane to LAX and then a 6 hour one to JKF followed by my under dressed walk to the car in long term parking, it was great to walk into the home I love. The end of my Post horoscope stated that for me a Leo, life is for living, and loving and laughing. As a Leo I try my hardest but a travel day with such long stretches makes it hard sometimes, until I realize that I am living life to the fullest, the opportunities I have make to do so unthinkable.

Australia is a long way to go to spend 6 nights, unless you realize that the chance to explore some far flung destinations with fantastic islands is included in the time frame. I also thought about the amazing team of writers and photographers I bonded with, more about them later. With the international dateline fitting in with this trip I wasn’t sure if I was getting my horoscope today, yesterday or tomorrow. I do know that it was great advice.

Friendly Queensland, Australia

While the activities of my trip through Queensland were tops there is another aspect that I think I should mention, the nice people factor. Australians are so friendly and amicable that I feel like Sally Fields did when she won an Oscar. I wanted to scream, “You like me, you really like me”. I have been called mate so many times that I feel like it is my given name. Conversation, smiles and courtesy are part of life here and it was a welcome part to me. Thanks Queensland for the great memories, see you later mates.

Lizard Island, Best on the Great Barrier Reef, Austalia

I am sitting on the 15th floor of the Hilton with the lively city of Brisbane below. It is time to pack up for the long journey home, almost 30 hour trip coming up, with the memories of three great Islands of the Great Barrier Reef to sustain me. Hamilton, Lizard and Fitzroy were all different and all great but I think Lizard was my favorite. Maybe it was the tranquil setting or the rustic luxury. It certainly had some great snorkeling and picture perfect waters, a place to truly get away from it all.

Last Island in Australia, Fitzroy

Flying to the Beach, Queensland

Forget pulling up to your favorite club in a limo, its nothing compared to pulling up to one of the world’s best beaches in a sea plane. That was today’s travel lesson and one I certainly enjoyed learning. We took off from Hamilton Island in Australia and flew over the Great Barrier Reef for a look see, bloody fantastic and enough to make you go tropo. As we landed on the water we drew a crowd of beach goers and the cameras were clicking. The champagne and fruit lunch was a topper.

The guys in the funny suits were especially glad to meet us. The suits aren’t due to cold water but protection from Irukanjdi Jelly Fish. Not to worry though it doesn’t happen often and the Aussies always find a way to overcome problems. As in the saying, “no problems mate”. Loving Queensland!

Travel and Leisure's Top 500 Hotels, Heading to Queensland and Voyages Lizard Island

I am a confirmed hotel ho, a man in love with special places to bed down, to hideaway in splendor and comfort, to revel in special settings designed solely to pamper. Yes a hotel ho! I was pumped up to see that Travel & Leisure just did their top 5oo Best Hotels of the World and one of the places on my upcoming trip to Queensland took best in Australia, Voyages Lizard Island. It is a private island with 24 beaches surrounded by tropical bushland. I will be living the not rich or famous but lucky lifestyle, doubles start at $2,056. Others on the list that I have bedded in recently are the Shelbourne in Dublin, Hotel de la Cite in Carcassonne and the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia. Actually I’ve done quite a few of the top ones, just another day in the office.