Travel Writer's Cure for Jet Lag

"You're Amazing! Don't you ever stay home? I'd still be recovering from jet lag
if I'd gone to China - WAIT - is that your cure for jet lag? Like a deep sea
diver decompresses slowly - you go back 6/8 hours to recover? I went to France
right after I got home from Macau - it works!
Safe Journeys!"

I had to chuckle when I got this note from writer Richard Frisbee. He might have figured it all out. In truth I am just doing what I do. As Jimmy Buffet said, "don't try to describe the ocean if you've never seen it".If your going to travel write, travel! I have met some of the greatest people and seen some amazing places. That was a dream of mine 15 years ago. It can get tiring and it really is work, perhaps some down time will come.

Travel Writing Family Style

I can be a strange but wonderful thing to see your son’s byline. It recently was checking out GoNOMAD after a few weeks on the road in Italy and Brazil and there it was, Colorado by Chance St John. I actually was just reading the story and liking it when I saw it was by Chance, I forgot he went, my schedule is tough enough to follow. He has done several other pieces for us at GN but I really thought this his best. He will soon be done with college and I often wonder what road he will take. I smile thinking that it was my dad and his love of traveling that was past on to me. I guess that those trips to Mexico when Chance was a little tyke may have kept the shuffling feet moving. I also love that Max’s daughter, Kate and Steve’s daughter Sarah also do pieces for us. There really is a family feeling at GoNOMAD and that goes for all of the steady writers and bloggers. I hope that someday I will see another St John getting bylines perhaps for generations.

Missing Lapland, No AC Required

As I was picking out pictures for the GN piece on my recent trip to Lapland I thought I would post a few to cool us in the NE down. The heat index was at about 102% in Cottekill today and I sure thought about the well below zero March trip! As a travel editor I really do not let local weather affect me to much, after all when flowers started blooming here I spent days in April skiing in the French Alps. On the same note I have dealt with massive heat and humidity in Guatemala while my hometown buds were filling wood stoves. Lil and I are heading up the NE coast of Canada soon and I will pack for all types of weather, till then I will just write and wilt!

Travel Writing at the NY Times Travel Show

The NY Times Travel Show has been wonderful but is keeping all of us on our toes. Matt Link joined Max and I on our seminar about travel writing. The room was packed and the audience great. Being featured with other seminar speakers like Frommer, Ian Wright and Rick Steves was a heady experience.

So Many Thanks

I am truly amazed at the kindness of people that have responded to my recent entries about dealing with my skin cancer. I never realized how many fellow writers, editors and PR people check in to Be Our Guest from time to time. The amount of emails I have gotten has been so gratifying, it makes me feel like one of the luckiest people on the planet. Travel writing is a very competitive field yet I have met some of the nicest and compassionate folks on the planet doing it. I have always been amazed at how quickly small groups bond while exploring destinations. Just like family there are sometimes issues but all in all I really feel lucky to meet so many interesting folks. The emails have made me realize just how fortunate I am and it is something that I will forever remember. I have let enough self pity occupy my time over the last few days, it is time to move on and concentrate on what is really important, family, friends and a good dose of work. Gearing up for our first time participation in the NY Times Travel Show February 29th is just the ticket. A radio segment on Around the World Travel is set for Thursday and for now I truly have a face for radio. By February I should have a new improved look!

Kharma and it's Part in Travel Writing

I try to remember that kharma plays a big part of my travel writing and good things do happen unplanned. I love it when I am invited on a press trip because I was recommended by someone that either was on a trip with me or a PR firm that though enough of my work and actions to share my name. The King of Travel, Johnny Jet and my good friends from Spring O’Brien come to mind. Many Thanks Nora!

In fact my association with GoNOMAD came about with a phone call way back in 1999 from Lauryn Axelrod with an invitation to join the team, she found me by word of mouth. I often wonder what happened to the other six originals. Fate again played a part when Max Hartshorne bought GoNOMAD, I had worked on articles as contributing editor for Transitions Abroad where he served several stints as managing editor but we had never met in person. I decided to go up to his home to meet him in person and found a highly motivated guy that also happened to be fun to chat with, I found a home at GoNOMAD there and then. My travel column in the Lincoln Eagle also came about via a unexpected phone call.

Word of mouth over the years still plays a big part of my writing career I was recently asked to send a tape to Stone Entertainment for a possible host gig on a Travel Channel Show all because someone recommended me, I have no clue who. I most likely will not get the job but it was nice to be asked. Recently thanks to my friends at France’s Tourism office in NYC Katherine and Jessie I am writing a piece for their 2008 France Guide, a beautiful glossy that will be distributed around the world. I do not discount hard work and its part in travel writing success however a little good kharma never hurts.

A Travel Writing Lifestyle, On the Road

April is shaping up to be a very busy month on the road. It’s not every ones cup of tea but it suits me. I start off exploring the Florida Keys, with my favorite travel partner, Lil my wife. I haven’t been to the Keys since my spring break college days, yup along time ago.

Next is a trip to St. Lucia, a new destination for me. While many people think of the island as a honeymoon destination the fact is that St Lucia was named as one of the top 50 eco-tourism destinations in the world by Natural History Magazine. Besides the sea there are volcanoes, rainforest and mountains to explore, not to mention little fishing villages. It is said that there is a bit of a South Pacific feel on the island.

After a one night stay back in New York I then head to Lyon and the Rhone Alpes region of France. Focus for that trip will be châteaux stays and vineyard exploration. Food will figure in heavily as Lyon is the food capital of France. My last five days in France will be in Paris and the focus of that will be basing myself in Paris and taking day trips by train from the city.

Like I said it may not be for everyone but I sure am looking forward to heading out and checking some new places and adventures. It is very hard to travel write if you don’t travel.