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Enter to win a signed copy of Andrew McCarthy’s memoir “The Longest Way Home”

posted: Mar 1, 2013 by: with: 2 comments

You’re not alone if our podcast with Andrew McCarthy, award-winning travel writer and actor, got you thinking about the transformative power of travel. After meeting Andrew in person at The Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show, I dove into his memoir, “The Longest Way Home.” I found it to be a tremendous and moving read from start to finish. So I asked Andrew if we could give away three signed copies of the book here on our blog, and he was happy to oblige.

Andrew’s authentic, intimate memoir is a very personal tale of self-examination and discovery written before marrying his fiancé of four years. Finding he was unable to commit to a marriage he knew he wanted, Andrew embarked on an adventurous journey to explore some of the world’s most exotic, beautiful, and well-known destinations, including Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Amazon, Patagonia, Vienna, Costa Rica, and more. Along the way, he also explored himself through challenging encounters that test him. This soul-searching, spiritual journey traces his transformation from actor to travel writer, and charts the internal conflicts of his life. Andrew’s book is a terrific and inspiring read for anyone who has ever experienced life-changing moments of discovery through travel.

You won’t want to miss reading this book, so enter to win below! I’ll pick three winners on March 18, and announce them right here on the blog. One entry per person, please.

UPDATE: We’ve chosen the winners! Congratulations to: 

  • Carolyn DeGirolamo
  • Dianne Ninh
  • Charlene Tarsney

We’ve contacted all three of you, so look out for an email from me on how to claim your prize. Thanks to everyone who entered, and look forward to more giveaways here on the blog soon!

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Travel writer and actor Andrew McCarthy explains how travel can help you overcome fear and connect with others

posted: Feb 8, 2013 by: with: No Comments

Have you ever been in a foreign country and stopped someone to ask for directions? If you have, there’s a good chance you were greeted with kindness and helpful tips to get you where you needed to go. This simple way of engaging with others is one of the easiest ways to interact with people, which Andrew McCarthy uses as one of his tactics when traveling abroad to break the ice with locals, even if he knows exactly where he is.

This is just one of many parts of Andrew’s travel philosophy, who is the editor-at-large for National Geographic Traveler; an actor in such films as “Pretty in Pink,” “Weekend at Bernie’s,” and “St. Elmo’s Fire”; and a director. When we heard he was going to be at The Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show to promote his first memoir, “The Longest Way Home,” we knew we wanted to hear more from Andrew on how travel has changed his life.

Andrew generously gave us a few minutes of his time after he spoke at the travel show to explain how going outside of your comfort zone can obliterate fear, the transformative power of travel, and how acting and directing has affected his writing. He also talked about how, contrary to first thought, travel actually makes him feel at home. Hit play below to listen to all the details.

Many thanks to Andrew for sharing a few minutes of his time to chat with us! Be sure to follow Andrew on his website and Twitter for the latest information on his travel adventures.

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The sights and tastes of Vietnam

posted: Feb 3, 2013 by: with: 1 comment

Known for its extraordinary beauty, charming people, and delicious food, Vietnam remains a favorite destination among travel enthusiasts. Previously, I mentioned that I invited some of our staff members to share their travel experiences on our blog in order to give our readers a snapshot of some of the most fascinating places around the world. Today Liz Hutchins, one of our reservations agents, shares her account of her trip to Vietnam:

“After months of preparation for my trip to Vietnam, I knew to expect certain things when I got there: lots of motor bikes, terrific food, and sights that I have come to know from countless movies and TV shows. What I didn’t expect was that I’d immediately fall in love with this beautiful country.

As soon as I landed, I was overwhelmed by the seemingly endless swarms of motorbikes, crowds, and food. People were either bustling about or sitting down to enjoy a delicious meal. Food stands selling Pho (a dish made of broth, rice noodles, a few herbs, and meat), broken rice, and Banh Mi sandwiches were everywhere, and I couldn’t wait to try them all!

I first tried Vietnamese food around 12 years ago, and ever since, I have been obsessed. When I had my first crispy spring roll all those years ago, who would have thought someday I would be making them in a cooking class on the Mekong Delta? Vietnam is a foodie’s paradise, and every day is an adventure! (more…)

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Announcing the winner of a free trip for two to Costa Rica

posted: Jan 28, 2013 by: with: No Comments

We’re settling back into our everyday routine after a weekend of fun at The Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show, but we have one more piece of business we need to attend to. We collected names throughout the weekend to gift one lucky attendee a free trip for two to Costa Rica, and it’s time to announce the winner here on our blog.

We have randomly selected one winner, and the anticipation to announce the news is killing me. Drumroll please … The winner of our Captivating Costa Rica tour is Sue Dilella. Congratulations!

Sue, look out for an email from me soon with all the details on how to claim your prize. I’m sure you’ll have a blast. We’d love to feature your trip experience, and we’ll be in touch on how you can share updates and photos that we might post on our blog.

Thanks to everyone who braved the cold weather and snow to come out and see us at The Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show. We had a great time, and will be sharing more takeaways from the event on our blog in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned!

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Visit us at the Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show this weekend for a chance to win a trip to Costa Rica!

posted: Jan 25, 2013 by: with: No Comments

As the Northeast experiences its first bout of Arctic air this winter, many of us have started to dream of destinations with warmer climates, like tropical Costa Rica for instance. If you live in the Philadelphia or the tri-state area, you’re in luck! We’re giving away a free trip for two on our Captivating Costa Rica tour (a combined value of $2,658) at The Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show this weekend. Visit booth #422 to enter to win a trip to this beautiful and fascinating destination on us!

As an added bonus, all Travel Show attendees who visit the Friendly Planet booth will also receive a special $50 discount coupon for use on any Friendly Planet tour. And of course, the team and I will be there to answer questions and share knowledge about travel destinations all over the world, including Cuba and Myanmar to name a few.

I’ll also be presenting at the show again this year on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 11:45 a.m. I’ll be sharing 7 exotic destinations that you can experience for the price of a Vegas weekend. My goal is to encourage you to trade in that ordinary trip for an extraordinary vacation, and I’ll reveal global hotspots that you can visit for less than the price of a weekend in Las Vegas. Don’t believe me? Come see for yourself!

This year’s show will be held at the Valley Forge Convention Center at the Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia, Pa. on Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Jan. 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets for the show are available in advance for a discounted entrance fee of $5, or $8 at the door. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Travel Talk: Following your travel dreams, no matter your age

posted: Jan 11, 2013 by: with: 1 comment

If given the chance, would you quit your job, sell your house, and leave your friends and family behind to travel the world and see its wonders firsthand? This seems daunting, but there are days that I’d love to shelf my responsibilities and travel to my heart’s content. Gary Arndt, author of the travel blog Everything Everywhere, which was named by Time Magazine as one of the Top 25 Blogs in the World in 2010, has done just that.

He sold his business in 1998 to a multinational corporation, and after a whirlwind tour of their overseas offices, he was struck by the travel bug. Gary sold his home in 2007 and began to travel the world, for what he thought was going to be a one or two year trip. Five years later, his journey continues.

At last count, Gary has visited all seven continents, over 116 countries and territories around the world, all 50 U.S. states, 9 of of 10 Canadian provinces, every Australian state and territory, over 125 U.S. National Park Service sites, and over 180 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

We wanted to hear more about why Gary decided to start traveling, what he enjoys most about travel, the biggest lesson he’s learned, and where he’s heading next. Read on for these details and more.

1) What sparked your decision to sell your house in 2007 and start traveling? Was it a difficult decision to make?
I had reached a point in my life where I didn’t know what to do. I enjoyed traveling, so I decided to go travel. It was actually a very easy decision for me to make. I had nothing tying me down, so it wasn’t as big of a decision as it would be for most people.http://blog.friendlyplanet.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif (more…)

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Lucky #13: 13 travel resolutions for 2013

posted: Dec 27, 2012 by: with: No Comments

It’s the time of year to resolve to do things better in the new year. For many of us, this includes eating better, exercising more, and being kinder to one another. And let’s not forget my favorite — sticking with our resolutions beyond the second week of January.

As for me, I’m adding 13 travel resolutions to my list for 2013. I describe them all in my latest contribution to the Huffington Post. Click over for the list in full.

What are your travel resolutions for 2013? Let us know in a comment below or on our Facebook page.

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My big upset with the big upsell

posted: Dec 19, 2012 by: with: No Comments

One of the open secrets of the travel industry is what we call “the big upsell.” You are probably familiar with this sales technique, just didn’t know it had a name. The “big upsell” is the term coined for a “bare bones” vacation package that is sold at a dirt-cheap price. Travelers who fall for this trick end up paying extra for everything, like transfers or an upgrade to a decent hotel, and they typically end up paying much more than they originally intended.

The “big upsell” is one of my biggest pet peeves in the travel industry, because it is designed to lure you in for a price you’ll never actually pay. And it’s so unnecessary to market this way. Friendly Planet doesn’t need to resort to tricky pricing, because our deals, while including great hotels, transfers, and much more, are always carefully priced with a focus on huge value for money.

Anyone who takes the time to read our inclusions and make even a superficial comparison with other similar packages can see that they actually provide everything a traveler needs to have an amazing vacation. Our travelers don’t have to worry about paying for extras later, and we take pride in this.

Before you fall for a tour price that is simply too good to believe, please check out “The Big Upsell” piece I wrote, which was published on the Huffington Post last week. Read it to find out more about ‘deals’ that trick travelers into over-paying.

Have you fallen victim to an upsell when booking a trip? We want to hear your story — leave a comment below.

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Holiday traditions around the world

posted: Dec 18, 2012 by: with: No Comments

We all have holiday traditions that are unique to us and our families. Some might have been passed down from ancestors and through culture, and others we might have created last year with friends. Either way, in my mind, traditions are what make the holiday season come to life.

I wanted to share some holiday traditions from around the world with you. Some are specific to our Friendly Planet team, some are driven by culture and our communities, and others have been carried on by entire nations for generations. Read on for a look at how some of us celebrate this wonderful time of year.

North America. Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Chanukah are all celebrated in December in the United States by people of different faiths (though Kwanza can end in the beginning of January, and Chanukah sometimes begins at the end of November). A special Christmas tradition for many is the Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner on Christmas Eve, which is Italian in origin and commemorates the wait for the birth of baby Jesus on Christmas Day. Many also attend midnight mass after the seven-course meal.

A tradition that’s unique to those who celebrate Kwanzaa is dedicating each of the seven days to one of the seven principles — unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith — which are believed to have been key to building strong, productive families and communities in Africa.

A member of our marketing team, Leora Hafri, shared a personal Chanukah family tradition with us: (more…)

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A visit to every country on Earth — in less than 2 hours

posted: Dec 10, 2012 by: with: 2 comments

I’ve devoted the past 30 years of my life to giving people a taste of the breathtaking beauty and infinite diversity of this planet. As the president of a travel company, I’ve had the satisfaction of giving thousands of Americans an opportunity to do just that. So it was rather humbling when I learned last week that I’d been completely outdone by two ambitious young men with a crazy idea.

Four years ago, Kyle Ruddick and Brandon Litman embarked on a fantastically brazen project to create a feature-length film with footage shot in every nation on earth — all captured in a single day. Now absorb that for a moment. This would be the first-ever simultaneous filming event occurring in every country of the world. If it sounds like a project worthy of a filmmaker like James Cameron or Ridley Scott, consider this: Kyle and Brandon, two graduates of The University of Southern California, had no budget and had never made a film before.

And yet, somehow, they pulled it off. Last week, I had the opportunity to watch the result — the 105-minute documentary film “One Day on Earth“ shot entirely on Oct. 10, 2010. It was quite simply one of the most sweeping, stunning, inspiring pieces of cinema I’ve ever witnessed. So how did they do it? Crowdsourcing, of course.

(more…)

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About Peggy

Peggy Goldman is a specialty tour operator and travel expert, who owns and operates Friendly Planet Travel, a full-service company that specializes in tour packages to exotic worldwide destinations at affordable prices.   More about Peggy

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