New Year is here. Let’s face it, 2008 sucked, and optimism seems to be ringing everywhere right now.  In the travel publishing and news sector, nearly everyone’s been making ‘Top Places to Travel in 2009‘ or the ‘Top Travel destinations in 2009′ types of lists.  It’s easy to get caught up in the listmania and finding what different publishers or experts or recommending.

So I thought I’d compile a list of top lists for the best 2009 Travel destinations based on a variety of factors.  I’d love to make this the comprehensive list of lists, so if you run across another list or make one on your own travel blog, Comment and contact me, so I may put it in the post.

Kayak Trip Ideas: Best Cities for 2009 (via email newsletter)

1. Washington DC - Barack put DC on several lists.  Check out what  Obama’s effects be on travel for the rest of the nation though. (more…)

As I’m planning a little jaunt to somewhere in Latin America to be covered extensively here later, I ran across a very interesting and possibly free travel opportunity to Central America, and it is actually legitimate.  The travel opportunity is the Trek Research Study Program.  The program offers research participants up to $1500, depending on trip duration and completion, to travel to almost anywhere in Mexico or Guatemala.

So Free travel to Mexico or Guatemala. Got your attention yet? (more…)

As a business student, I’ve quickly learned that nearly everything is about the resume. Volunteering, student / community groups, steady jobs, etc. While surely they have other benefits, if you didn’t expect to get anything in return, I’d guess a majority of poor students and very young professionals would be less likely to participate in such activities when they could be working or partying.

So where does traveling fit in my resume boosting attempts? Well, nowhere yet, but here are some travel options for students or young professionals that can help out your resume.

State Department Internship

Arguably the most legitimate (more…)

I’m pleased to bring you a new, exciting budget travel and backpacking website that I think could become a timeless reference for all prospective travelers researching their destinations and making their travel budgets.

The site is BackpackAbility.com. What is it? It can be described in a multitude of ways, the following being my favorite:

• World Travel and Living cost index
• Comprehensive listing of travel and living costs for destinations worldwide

I’ve been developing the site off and on the past month or so, and it will initially be a simple listing of prices and costs for as many international travel destinations as possible, with part of this hopefully due to YOUR INVOLVEMENT. I’d love for the site to become a massive compilation of travel costs based on the recent experiences of budget travelers. So I really really encourage you to spend 35 seconds to submit some travel and living expenses to help the community.

So what are these travel costs listed? Initially, just the consumer staples + whatever else you submit. Including beer, hostels, transportation, hotels, cheap meals, apartments, and internet access. Other things that would be great would be visa costs, nice meals, cover charges at clubs, and major attraction/entertainment expenses.

There will be more…

Really, the site won’t too special right away - just handy price index reference that is easy to navigate and quick to use. But the future, I hope for two other features:

• Simple, definitive travel guides outlining good, relevant attractions for budget travelers and backpackers
• A credible and authoritative rating system that takes price, fun, and enjoyability into account to create an objective rating for a country’s backpackability

What there is now:

Roosh has kindly allowed me to use his South American living costs from his travel guides, but the rest of the world is struggling. Here are some examples of finished cost indexes, amongst some other destinations:

• Israel travel living costs
• Ecuador travel living costs
• Argentina living, traveling costs
• New Zealand cost of travel and living

Plus you get something in return.

So check out the site, spread the word, and submit travel costs if you can. If you have a travel site you’ll get a free link back as well in the post. If you don’t have a site, I can still give credit to you or give you a good ole shoutout of whatever in the post.

If you could care less about this cost index jazz, you can always check out the best budget travel and backpacking resources list I compiled.

Travel Guidebooks might be dead in some people’s minds since the internet has all the information we need for free. However, I still wouldn’t consider venturing abroad without a published, reputable travel guidebook. You’re not going to have internet access everywhere, and when you need some quick go-to backpacking or travel tips, a big fat travel guidebook from Lonely Planet, Frommers, Fodor’s, or Let’s Go is your best and easiest option, unless you’d rather hunt down an internet cafe to read some restaurant reviews. Now I present you…. (more…)

The topic of Europe getting expensive for budget travelers is getting beat to death with the Euros gains versus the US monopoly dollar. With political biases aside Ron Paul not in office and a weak dollar trend seemingly endless, finding rational reasons to visit Europe for fun is nearly impossible to do when more budget friendly options exist in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

But for those who just need to go to Europe and need to rationalize their decision, here are some excuses you can use to travel to Europe:

“I’m advancing my career” or “I’m furthering my education”- Take a very part time language course in Europe - German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch?? Slap your 1 week course name and description on your resume and there ya go.

“I’m considering a European business acquisition” - Buffet recently went on a tour of Europe searching for businesses to acquire under Berkshire Hathaway, so that’s a legit excuse, right?

(more…)