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Check out this week’s Friday Funny from cartoonist Dave Blazek!
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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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Check out this week’s Friday Funny from cartoonist Dave Blazek!
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! Read more…
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Check out this week’s Friday Funny from cartoonist Dave Blazek!
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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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Check out this week’s Friday Funny from cartoonist Dave Blazek!
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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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Check out this week’s Friday Funny from cartoonist Dave Blazek!
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Check out this week’s Friday Funny from cartoonist Dave Blazek!
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
