Dive into a New Culture

If you are an experienced traveler and have decided to return to a spot that held good and special memories for you, do not hesitate to expand your horizons on your next trip. Of course, returning to special areas and rekindling the awe and inspiration of your first impressions is always good, but also call the adventurer within yourself to forge a different and new path that will also create new moments that will forever remain within your memories.

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Sometimes, that unknown place will be right around a famous corner. Other times, a long rambling walk through a new neighborhood or nearby city will reveal an establishment that beckons with soft lights and quiet laughter. Perhaps best of all is when you hear a voice singing or guitar playing, and you are lured around corners and down alleys only to discover true local genius that will offer you a night of entertainment and a memory that will last forever.

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Now take this very same idea and apply it locally. Yes, you have your favorite haunts and love to congregate with like-minded appreciators of music and cuisine, but every once in a while, you might want to scratch that adventurous itch and try something that is not your normal locale. Hit a neighboring city or simply go into a section of your town that you usually skip. Taste the magic and uniqueness of your own city and state and commune with your fellow citizens.

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Keep in mind that nor every adventure will end up becoming eternal in your mind. But at the same time, without leaving your own home town, you can travel to a new and as yet undiscovered world, where people thrive on getting together and having a fantastic time. Yes, even at home, you can dive into as yet undiscovered and special cultures!

Off the Beaten Path

Sometimes, by taking a path less traveled while on vacation, treasures can be discovered. Whether traveling locally or internationally, finding an out of the way spot that highlights a magical yet local venue is normally one of the most memorable experiences a traveler can have while traveling.
 

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Even in your own backyard there are special and astonishing venues that can offer a local flavor that is overseen by most residents. A neighborhood pub or jazz club will often highlight or promote a local group that really makes its mark as truly homegrown and vibrant. Sometimes, finding a small little eatery with almost family styled meals can open one’s eyes to the hidden treasures that our own cities tuck away in unexpected corners.

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The same holds true while traveling. Sometimes by stepping off the path of popularity and obvious tourist attractions you can end up in a special spot that glitters with its own magic and inspiration. And you become part of that moment, etched forever in your memory as well as the memories of every other attending person.

Of course, when traveling, there is great value in touring well-known and popular establishments. Walking across famous bridges or entering an ancient and well-known building can also etch permanent memories. But whenever a traveler stumbles across an unknown but honestly authentic diner or club, those are typically the experiences that hold a place front and center in our memories of our trip.

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In essence, whether at home or abroad, trust the adventurer in yourself. Discover places you cannot pronounce or remember how you came across it. Travel is always magical, but when you find a true paradise that even the locals often overlook, you can and will hold such an experience forever.

Never forget that a place that is off the beaten path is not less special than the spots where everyone who wants to be seen gathers. Sometimes, it is even more special!

REPOST: 5 Ways to Travel More Comfortably on a Budget

 Those who travel a lot are faced with the dilemma of stick to a budget.  Here are five helpful tips from this Entrepreneur article below:

Entrepreneur have to travel a lot, to business meetings, conventions, marketing seminars and, of course, in search of startup capital and continuing finance. While mobile devices and, just recently, wearable tech, have improved the travel experience, there are still plenty of pitfalls and booby traps that can sap your focus and your bank account balance while you’re on the road.

Consider these real (but often hidden) costs of business travel before you take the next red eye to LaGuardia or LAX.

1. Airport food.

Comedian Barry Sobel jokes about airport food, “Any place that has hundreds of captive, tired and hungry people wandering around is bound to have quality food at reasonable prices, right? I mean, who doesn’t want cardboard pizza or an asbestos sandwich that costs as much as a cruise in the Bahamas before boarding your flight? And compared to the stuff you’ll be fed on your flight -- maybe it DOES taste good!”

Try to plan having a good meal prior to arriving at the airport. Or make yourself a healthy, portable snack to munch on while waiting in line. While delicious, Cinnabon is NOT your home away from home.

2. Taken for a ride.

Taking a taxi to and from the airport, and to places in between, has long been an invitation to being ripped off. A recent newspaper report found that in New York City, a ride to the airport often costs $10 more than it needs to, because drivers took longer routes that didn’t save any time.

Getting cheated not only steals your money, but also invites you to invest a lot of negative energy fuming over your predicament and guarding against further encroachments. That can leave you stressed and unfocused for your work. Jens Wohltorf, CEO and co-founder of Blacklane, a worldwide professional driver service, says, “Scheduling a one-way ride or an hourly car reservation when you’re traveling on business saves money, time and effort. You see the full cost when you book, and don’t have to worry about gratuities, meters or surge prices.” I use services like these on a daily basis.

3. Get help tracking your reward programs.

You need a central clearing house to keep track of things like frequent flier miles, hotel and credit card points, and other customer loyalty rewards for places like franchise restaurants. Trying to keep track of it all by yourself, or trusting it to a secretary, means you’ll probably miss out on some deals and discounts when they expire. Use a free online service to monitor and inform you of what you have.

4. Ask for better.

You don’t necessarily have to book an expensive hotel suite on every trip, but there’s no reason you can’t ask for a free upgrade. Be polite, say it’s your birthday (or anniversary or Saint Swithin’s Day), and, above all, wait for the desk to be cleared of other guests. If there are other people around, the concierge desk is not going to want to set off an avalanche of similar requests. Here’s the line to use: “I know the hotel is not full today. Do you think you could upgrade me to a suite?” If they say yes, you’ve just gotten better accommodations for zero dinero. If they say no, you haven’t lost anything.

5. Watch those luggage fees.

You may have found a super cheap flight to your next startup meeting, but you’re likely to lose whatever you’ve gained with checked baggage fees. Each airline has a different policy when it comes to checking in luggage. You can check here for the Ultimate Guide to Airline Fees. My personal rule is: learn to travel with just a carry-on bag -- you’ll also avoid any potential lost luggage hassle.

Follo Louis Habash on Facebook for more travel budget tips for the frugal traveler.

Be in the know: Travel scams and how to avoid them

While not all people are out to con or fool you, it doesn't hurt to be wary of strangers. Tourists are especially susceptible to scams but you can avoid falling for them by being learning about them and being careful. Here are some of the most common scams and how you can keep yourself from getting fooled:

Image Source: atg.wa.gov

Credit card scam

It could come as a call in the middle of the night in your hotel room. The person on the phone will ask you to confirm your payment details and give you a false credit card number. Never give out your credit card number on the phone, always do it in person when you can see what it's being used for. If there is really a mix up with your hotel paperwork, speak to the registration personnel face to face.

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Taxi scam

It's always such a hassle to fall in line for the taxi. If you're in a rush and don't want to be late, consider public transport or walking. If you don't know the way, stick to the taxi queue. Do not entertain any strangers offering to drive you around even if he looks like a decent person. Unless he has an official taxi number or company logo, be cautious. It's also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the right taxi rates so that drivers won't hike up the prices.
 

Image Source: telegraph.co.uk/

Travel deal scam

This could be a phantom hotel room (or a room in a hotel that doesn't really exist) or a shabby inn posing as a five-star hotel. It's never advisable to go for too-good-to-be-true travel deals because they are rarely (if ever) legitimate. Book your flights, hotels and tours on reliable travel offices.

Hi, I'm Louis Habash and I'm a travel writer. Subscribe to my blog to read more travel stories and other related articles.

Travel hacks for the health conscious

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Traveling, for any reason (be it for business, leisure or if you're just looking for adventure), can put a stopper on your fitness routine. In business trips, you would often run on hectic schedules with no time for a proper meal. On the other hand, when you travel for pleasure, trying out the unique cuisine is inevitable and may push you to eat more.

So how can you maintain your figure while traveling? Here are a few easy solutions:

Plan your meals

If you're trying to lose weight, the best way to continue shedding those pounds even on your trip is to eat less frequently and count your calories. Watching what and how much you eat is important to maintain a healthy body. Include a cheat day so you don't feel like you've missed out on anything.

Start walking

Get into the habit of walking instead of using a car or public transport. It can help you burn more fats and also allow you to see sights you won't normally appreciate in a moving vehicle. You can travel at your own pace while getting a workout.

Image Source: travelsmartblog.com

Find time for a workout

It will be difficult and you might be too busy but if you really want to maintain or lose weight, you will find the time. Even just an hour in the hotel gym can make all the difference. A couple of push ups and core exercises in your hotel room also count.

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Hi, I am Louis Habash and I'm a freelance travel writer from L.A. Like my Facebook page to discover more travel hacks.

Hacks for first time travelers

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There is always a first time for everything. And when you're traveling for the first time, you might feel scared or excited or even both at the same time. To ease your worries and to feed your excitement, here's a list of travel hacks you need to know before you go out and see the world:

Research

Some may argue that researching and planning your trip to the last detail can spoil the fun and ruin your vacation. There's some truth to that. However, it's also important to learn about the place you're going to and to know what you can gain from your visit. This can minimize missed opportunities of doing something you would've loved.

Take it slow

Don't rush to do everything. If you're only staying for a couple of days, choose the activities you really want to do and do them first. If you feel that you should have done more, you should plan another visit. This is better than trying to experience everything at once. You might not enjoy the view if you're rushing to see and do too many things. Relax, take it slow and enjoy your new surroundings.

Image Source: huffingtonpost.com

Be polite

You may be a visitor to a new land but that does not excuse poor manners. Being a gracious guest and having a kind smile can go a long way when you're away from home. This will help you make friends who can help you in your journey.

Learn to adapt

You will go to a place where the traditions, beliefs, and culture may be drastically different from what you're used to. Do not force your beliefs on others and learn to adapt to local customs. The beauty of traveling is seeing and experiencing the world's diverse cultures.

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Hi, I'm Louis Habash and I love traveling to the different parts of the world. Find more useful travel tips by following me on Twitter.

REPOST: Traveling to food festivals for oysters, chocolate and beer

All of us may be trying desperately (or at least occasionally) to eat enough wild Alaskan salmon, leafy greens and quinoa salads. But let’s be honest; if we’re making the effort to pack a bag and book a flight in search of flavor, it’s going to be for something decadent.

The Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival in Ireland and the Salon du Chocolat in Paris are two more obvious choices for edible extravagance. Having just celebrated its 60th anniversary, the oyster festival has grown from a banquet for 30 to one of Ireland’s most celebrated events, with music, shucking competitions and historical tours marking the beginning of the oyster harvest (Sept. 25-27).

Salon du Chocolat hosts several events focused on the darling of indulgences, this year in Japan, Belgium, Russia and England; all amuse-bouches to the main course in Paris, a virtual fondue pot of international confectioners and pastry chefs mixing, tasting, building towers out of, and designing clothing with cacao (Oct. 28 to Nov. 1).

But some of the world’s richest treats aren’t quite as refined. Take, for instance, the “doppelbock,” a doubly strong version of an already thick and malty beer first brewed by the Paulaner monks in Munich in the 17th century. Oddly, it was brewed during Lent, when fasting allowed only the consumption of liquids. The more potent the beer, the more nourishment they got, or so the story goes, and the local flock was happy to follow their example.

Today, the tradition is celebrated during Starkbierzeit, or “strong beer time,” the first of Germany’s spring beer festivals (Feb. 27 to March 15). It begins each year at the Nockherberg brewery’s Paulaner beer hall and garden, former home to those crafty friars, with the tapping of the first keg of Salvator, the original brew, just as strong. Look for other varieties, as well as oompah bands and other entertainment, at any of Munich’s abundant breweries.

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival may have mile-long trains of crawfish bread and stuffed-mirliton, but the gumbos and gravies of the South Louisiana Blackpot Festival & Cook-Off in Lafayette win crowds with personality. Each pot entered in the festival’s 10th anniversary cook-off this year (Oct. 23-24) represents centuries of Acadian and Cajun history, family recipes tweaked and tooled over the years to compete for modern palates.

Crowds gather at competitors’ pots on Saturday evenings while the judges decide which wins the day in five categories: gravies, gumbos, cracklins (or “gratons”), jambalayas and desserts (yes, pies, cobblers and even cinnamon rolls cooked in cast iron).

Americana plays throughout, from the region’s best zydeco to Appalachian bluegrass, topped off with an accordion contest and square dancing lessons. And in the campgrounds, where most out-of-towners settle in for the night, there’s more grilled boudin sausage and fried catfish to be shared, most likely along with a fiddled fais-do-do from a neighboring tent.

REPOST: Graphic: Airport holiday travel survival guide

The huge crowd. The seemingly endless line. The security scanning. All of these can be overwhelming to air travelers especially during the holiday season. This article from USA Today shares tips for fliers who may be intimidated by the airport experience.

With the crowds, long lines and unpredictable weather, the stress of traveling by air during the holiday season can be enough to trigger your inner Grinch. This airport cheat sheet will help keep you calm, informed and — most importantly — merry during your holiday travels.

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Hello there! Louis Habash here! Please follow me on Twitter and share your unique experiences when traveling during the holidays..

REPOST: Want a raise? Try taking a vacation

 This article from Today.com talks about how taking vacations actually increases the chances for Americans to get ahead at work.

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As summer comes to a close, many Americans find themselves lamenting the vacations they didn't take.

Whether it's due to stress over the work that will pile up while they're gone, or concerns that their employer will realize that the company can get by without them, the U.S. Travel Association said last week that 40 percent of Americans don't use all of their vacation days.

But what if taking time off actually helped you get ahead at work?

According to internal research by audit firm EY (formerly Ernst & Young), employees who use more vacation days end up with better performance reviews.

"In the U.S. and Canada ... for each 10 vacation hours a person took, we found on average that performance reviews were 8 percent higher," said Maryella Gockel, flexibility strategy leader at EY.

Vacation also helped slow down employee turnover, with every 40 hours of free time extending employees' stay at the company by eight months, Gockel said.

Anne Weisberg, senior vice president at the Families and Work Institute, a nonprofit that examines the "work-life fit," said that while people know there is a correlation between taking time off and better work performance, there is little research into the connection.

"We all know this intuitively, that we are not performing at our best when exhausted," she said. "Taking a break can bring you back and increase your performance. People on some level understand that. The question is what is the tone being set by the team leader?”

Although it can be difficult to measure the correlation between taking time off and performance, Ken Matos, senior director of research at the Families and Work Institute, cited some findings that parallel the results discovered by EY.

A study published in 2001 by Psychology & Health found that among blue-collar workers at an industrial plant in Israel, levels of absenteeism in workers fell for four weeks following a vacation.

"From a practical standpoint, absenteeism represents a significant cost and source of disruption to the organization," the report concluded. "To decrease absenteeism, the organization should try to regulate vacations according to stressful periods."

Gockel, a 34-year EY veteran who describes herself as "a recovering accountant," and who knows the pressures of high-performance environments where employee time is billed by the hour, said she thinks the spread of always-on technologies has made it more challenging to make good decisions about work and time off.

"[Technology] enables us to do crazy things we weren't able to do 20 years ago," she said. "We have to figure out ways to manage this new way of working."

EY attempts to combat this always-on culture by sending messages encouraging vacations, and operating a resource center that helps people think about what vacations they can take, and how to find good travel deals.

The firm also encourages a culture of delegation, which has another positive effect for workers and the firm.

"When you delegate to others, other people grow while you are gone," Gockel said. "Vacations can be a very important opportunity for others on the team."

Follow Louis Habash on Twitter to know more about the many benefits of going on vacation and traveling.

REPOST: Why I am Travelling Light this Summer

Candace Davis of huffingtonpost.com tells us the benefits of packing light and how to successfully pull it off.

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Everyone thought I was either brave or crazy, maybe both, when I decided to travel through Europe this summer with a 25 L backpack weighing only 6 kg, but it was one of the best decisions I made and here's why:

Image Source: honolulumagazine.com

1. Stairs, stairs and more stairs. If you've ever travelled through Europe you'll know that there are often several flights of stairs to climb if you ever want to get, well anywhere.
2. Summer time. It's pretty easy to travel light when you're visiting a warm climate. I packed two dresses, three pairs of pants, four shirts, and a pair of pyjamas, plus my laptop, book, and toiletries.
3. Ease of movement. When you're travelling on your own, or with a tour group (I've done both on this trip) you often have to be really quick on your feet--running for the last train, rushing to get through a crowded square, beating the crowd through customs or getting out of a potentially sticky situation. Ease of movement is important when you're an independent traveller... you don't have anyone else you can count on.
4. Save money. When you don't have much space to put stuff, you can't really buy it. I have seen a few things that I would have otherwise bought but I couldn't due to limited space. Rather than seeing it as a missed opportunity, I just avoid the shopping areas altogether and check out everything else the city has to offer... especially by way of food.
5. Reduced waiting times. Goodbye waiting at the baggage carousel, wondering if your bag has made it half way across the world. I just take my bag as carry-on and hop straight off my flight and make my way through customs.

Tips for travelling light 

It's not always going to be easy to travel light, and you will have to repack your bag at least every couple of days to make room for everything, but here are some tips to make things easier:

Image Source: cbsnews.com

• Roll up your clothes, you'll be surprised how much space you will save.
• Remember to only take toiletries less than 100 ml for all international flights (this also significantly reduces the weight of your pack).
• Put the things you will use the least at the bottom of your bag. It took me about a week to remember to put my toiletries and pyjamas at the top of the bag for easy access.
• Pack things you're willing to leave behind. I am willing to leave behind all of the clothes I packed if I find something better to replace them with. This also helps refresh your wardrobe, as wearing the same few outfits for weeks on end can get a little tiresome.
• Check the carry-on weight limit of your airline. I had some flights with 10 kg limits, but some were only 7 kg so I had to stick to the lower limit or risk paying for it, literally.
• Check the banned substances list--no batteries, toiletries over 100 ml, tweezers, nail files, razors, etc. can be in your carry-on.
• Hand wash your clothes. Unfortunately a lot of European hotels don't really support washing in the hand basin but I highly recommend finding a way. If I am staying somewhere for more than one night I will get the hand soap or travel wash out and give my clothes a quick wash. It saves time and money at the laundromat and if you only have a few outfits, you will be washing every couple of days.
• Re-wear your clothes. Okay, this one is a little trickier when you've had a big day on the town sweating your little armpits out, but you can quite easily wear your pants at least twice. This also saves on hand washing.

Visit this Louis Habash Facebook page to get more traveling tips.

Traveling dirt-cheap

Image Source: frugaltravelguy.com

When I stepped outside at 5:45 am to jog yesterday, my nextdoor neighbors, Mike and Lyn, joined me. They started talking about their vacation home in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, which of course awoke my yet sleepy senses. At this time of year, as city life becomes hotter and smellier, a beach getaway in Brazil would be perfect. More so now that Brazil is becoming increasingly popular as a travel destination. However, the expensive airfare and the high prices in the country are a bummer for me. As a frequent traveler, I’d like my beach destination to be as cheap as it is memorable.

That is why I ended up choosing a beach haven closer to home, as picturesque as Brazil but more affordable: Dunedin, Florida. Dunedin beaches boast green-blue waters and pristine white powder-like sand. They also host virgin forests for the hikers and the adventurers. My obsession is Caladesi Island State Park, home to one of the most undisturbed barrier islands in Florida. With a little maneuvering of my cost-cutting skills and whatnots, I secured this beach travel for a steal … A prudent decision, I should say.

Image Source: isitdunedinfl.com

For those who are on the lookout for vacation cost cutting advice this summer, The New York Times has a helpful compilation for you. Mind you, I do and swear by most of them, with numbers five and nine as my favorite hacks.

Cutting costs on the process of searching, booking, and traveling involve craft and skill, mastered by seasoned travel writers. That’s the essence of what I do.

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For more travel tips and related topics, visit Louis Habash’s Facebook page.

REPOST: 7 Travel Rules You Should Definitely Ignore

This HuffingtonPost.com article tells us that it's ok to break the rules sometimes, well at least in traveling.

You don't have to listen to everything your mother tells you.

As millennials, we've decided that some travel rules are more than okay to ditch.

"Know before you go." 
Detailing an itinerary before your trip is so last decade. The "must-sees" on travel sites or in guidebooks often turn out to be jam-packed with tourists, and they rob you of an opportunities to see through a local's eyes. Sketch a general outline of activities if you must, but stay open to scouting little-known gems once you're there and taking recommendations from people you meet.

"Take lots of pictures." 
Instagram has shifted our mindset from "I'm going to take a picture, because I'm having so much fun" to "I'm going to take a picture, because my friends will think I had so much fun." A trip, of all places, is where you should practice living in the moment. Go without the camera.

"Don't talk to strangers." 
While avoiding the obvious risks, try striking up a chat with any locals you come across. They've seen everything there is to see--so when they say they know of the best noodle house or cheapest ferry, you can bet they're right.

"Pack light." 
Those who can fit four weeks of clothes into their carry-on deserve a trophy, it's true. But aside from being painfully heavy to drag through an airport, squashing all your stuff together in a duffel leaves no room for extra items (like the forgotten parka you'll have to buy at your destination) nor souvenirs (like the vase that'd be perfect for your kitchen, if only you had room to bring it back). Quite a few airlines will check your first bag for free... put your pride aside and take them up on it.

"Cross it off your bucket list."
The danger with bucket lists is they can make traveling seem like a chore. Go where you want when you want, and do what you want while you're there. Traveling is supposed to make you happy-- not proud that you checked off a list written decades ago.

"Bring a good beach read."
Society has officially moved past chick lit and into deeper intellectual realms. Use your lounge hours to dig into a meaty newspaper -- the Kindle edition won't blow around in the wind -- or listen to Podcasts on a topic you've always wondered about. If you manage to learn something during your downtime, you'll return home feeling pleasantly accomplished.

"Use the buddy system."
 Ok yes, there are circumstances in which traveling with another person is crucial to safety. But the buddy system fails as an all-encompassing rule... sometimes, places are better experienced alone. The best travelers are those who know these places when they see one, then summon the courage to fly solo.


Louis Habash writes articles on the places that he has visited. Read more articles related to traveling  by visiting this blog site.

REPOST: Smart Traveler, Smartphone

This National Geographic article shares that smartphone applications can be useful both before you leave for your trip and while you're traveling.

Image Source: intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com

If you want better customer service on your next trip — and who doesn’t? — then reach for your pocket.

But don’t bother pulling out your platinum card to impress a ticket agent, or a crisp bill to tip your bellhop. Whip out your wireless device instead.

Your smartphone is likely the most effective tool for securing the treatment you deserve when you’re on the road. Today’s iPhones and Galaxys are multipurpose tools for travelers, 
allowing us to send messages, calculate a tip, find a flight, and, oh yeah, make an actual voice call. And the built-in camera is for more than just the cute faces your kid or cat makes.

“Smartphone photos have leveled the playing field when it comes to customer service,” says Carlos Miller, publisher of the blog Photography Is Not a Crime.

It isn’t the digital images alone that prod companies into upping their game, but the potential of the images to spread across social networks. Often, photos broadcasting the moldy bathroom tiles or the broken airline seat offer a shortcut to the normal grievance process, eliminating the need to write a complaint letter.

Take photos of your rental car as if it were your newborn baby.

Companies will do a lot to avoid having their reputations besmirched by photos of broken toilets, busted TV screens, and unpalatable meals. Sometimes, you don’t even have to post the incriminating images online to encourage a business to do the right thing. Just the suggestion of your finger hovering over the Instagram icon is often enough. Karen Rinehart, a writer who lives in South Bend, Indiana, routinely photographs her hotel rooms when they are unclean. “When the staff sees me snapping away, someone usually offers to get the room cleaned or give me an upgrade to a better room,” she says.

Dave Nathan, a retired firefighter from Birmingham, Alabama, was disappointed when he used his Delta frequent-flier miles to purchase a first-class seat on a flight from Berlin to Paris on Air France, one of Delta’s code-share partners.

“It turned out that this version of first class was three-across coach seating with the middle seat blocked out by a flip-down tray,” he recalls. “My knees were firmly wedged against the seat in front of me.” He sent an image to Delta, which credited him with 9,000 frequent flier miles.

The phone is also your most loyal companion when you’re on the road. Take a broken parking meter, for example. Michael Edelstein snapped a cellphone image of his busted meter in Berkeley, California, and when he received a ticket, he sent the picture to the court. Case dismissed.

Also, take photos of your rental car as if it were your newborn baby. In an effort to boost profits, some car rental companies aggressively pursue every possible damage claim, even for minor dings and dents, and even when there’s no proof you did it. Your photos may be your only defense against excessive or specious charges. Make sure you take photos before and after the rental period.

At the airport, I opt out of the TSA’s full-body scanners at the screening area, which means I automatically receive a pat-down. Lucky me. Taking photos or a video of the manual search (or having a traveling companion do it for you) is perfectly legal, as long as local ordinances don’t forbid it and you don’t interfere with the screening process. I find that it makes the screeners conduct their search by the book (lest the images end up on Facebook).

But hang on, shutterbugs. Not everything can or should be photographed. “In the United States, as a general rule, if you can observe something from a public place you have the right to take a photograph,” says Mickey Osterreicher, general counsel for the National Press Photographers Association.

When it comes to private property like a hotel lobby or the interior of an aircraft, photography is sometimes restricted by policy. Osterreicher says the rules should be clearly posted. But there are documented cases of passengers being shown the door for taking photos of their airline seat. The scenario is even murkier overseas, where laws or customs can prohibit taking pictures even of public places.

I think it’s only a matter of time before the travel industry embraces photos as a way to help customers. It sounds far-fetched, but some industries have already done so, according to Jordy Leiser, who co-founded an independent customer service ratings and analytics company called StellaService.

One confectioner asks a customer to send a picture of a damaged box of chocolates before it authorizes a refund. The most forward-looking businesses, Leiser adds, “use photos to enhance their efficiency and better serve customers.”

With every photo you take and post online, you’re pushing the travel industry toward a day when it welcomes your photos of its products — especially the ones that illustrate your disappointment — because it’s an opportunity to improve.

If that ever happens, I may be out of a job.

Louis Habash writes articles on the places that he have visited, its people, what to explore, where to dive and much more. Visit this Facebook page for more updates.

REPOST: 5 Days of Mother-Daughter Bonding in New York City

Traveling might be the perfect bonding moment for you and your family. Read about a mom and daughter adventure in NYC from this Escape Travel article. 

Image Source: escapisttraveller.com

I hadn’t been away with my mother in a long time, and New York City seemed like the place for some family-friendly female bonding with its exciting department stores, quirky cafes and countless museums and art galleries to explore. New York had always appealed to me, with its wide avenues lined with soaring sky-scrapers and beaming lights that never dim in the ‘city that never sleeps’. I had previously read a lot about the Big Apple, not to mention watched countless television shows and films set in the city, but had never yet been. I felt that New York was the perfect city in which to spend some quality time with my mother for a city break packed with endless things to see and do.

Getting our bearings on the first day, we collected our CityPASSES at the tourist information centre on Seventh Avenue. These passes are a great way to see some of the top attractions of New York City at a lower price, from the Museum of Modern Art to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Unfortunately, the latter was closed when we were visiting due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy but has since been reopened. There are other ways to see the iconic Statue of Liberty, however, and one of them is hopping aboard the Staten Island ferry. Departing from Lower Manhattan, this completely free of charge very gave us fantastic views of the symbol that everyone associates with New York and is a great option for those on a budget.

Image Source: escapisttraveller.com

Our first day also led us up to the highest point of New York City, the Empire State Building which has a fantastic observatory. Included in the CityPASS, ascending to the peak of this towering structure and peering down upon the panoramic views of New York below is a memory I will never forget and one that I am glad I shared with my mother.

As we are both Beatles fans, we took a stroll through Central Park later that sunny afternoon to stop off and pay our respects at the John Lennon memorial, Strawberry Fields, before heading to a little bistro for risotto and a chat over coffee. Soaking up the fast-paced atmosphere of New York City, we reflected on our first day in the Big Apple and were eager to see more of it.

The morning of our second day took us to the 9/11 Memorial which is a tribute to remember those killed during the terror attacks in 2001 and 1993. The memorial was truly moving and standing at the site of the twin towers, watching the water rush into the gaping holes that used to be where these towering buildings once stood, I felt an unspoken bond with my mum as we stood in silence and paid our respects to the tragedy that shook the whole world, let alone New York.

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After a spot of shopping in Century 21 for some bargains and later, Macy’s and Bloomingdales (we’re girls, it has to be done!), we made our way over to the Broadway Theatre that evening to see Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s fantastic production of Cinderella, a classic show which had previously not been seen on Broadway until now. Laura Osnes was incredible in the lead role with strong vocals in many of the brilliant songs of the show, and Santino Fontana as the Prince brought humour into this magical tale due along with Ann Harada as one of the ugly stepsisters.

With gorgeous sets of enchanting woodlands and elegant castles and incredible costume changes that sees Cinderella dress from her working rags to opulent gowns in less than a blink of the eye, it was a great show in which to take my mother to sample the delights of what a Broadway show has to offer. We were even treated to an ‘after show’ of a man proposing to his girlfriend on stage once the performance had finished. There were plenty of squeals of delight and a few shed tears all around the auditorium once his girlfriend replied with a ‘yes’!

Our third day took us out of Manhattan and into Coney Island which sits on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the borough of Brooklyn, to get a different taste of the Big Apple. We were visiting New York during Memorial Day weekend which is the official start of the public beach season of the city – perfect timing for a beach day and only 45 minutes on the subway. With amusement parks, fairground rides, candy floss galore and of course, miles of white sandy beaches merging into the ocean, it is worlds away from the ‘concrete jungle’ of the city and I couldn’t quite believe how quick it took to get to. After a couple of hours of sampling rides from bumper cars to the Cyclone rollercoaster, we decided to explore a little bit more of Brooklyn and headed out to the Smorgasburg Flea Food Market.

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Lovers of gastronomy will adore Smorgasburg and its countless market stalls selling delicious cuisine from sources from New York City and beyond. We went on the Sunday where the market is based on the DUMBO waterfront in Brooklyn Bridge Park, but every Saturday it can be found on the Williamsburg waterfront at the East River State Park. Both my mum and I are big food lovers and purchasing fantastic cuisine from mini cheesecakes and marble ice cream to noodles, pizza and refreshing slushies was definitely an afternoon well spent!

On our fourth day we decided to venture into the borough of Queen’s which was easily reached by the East River ferry from Midtown Manhattan. The largest borough of New York City is extremely diverse with restaurants serving ethnic food from around the globe from the immigrants who have settled here over the years. We explored the gorgeous neighbourhood of Astoria which has a large Greek community and stores selling vintage-chic items of clothing. The Athens Square Park is lovely for a mid-afternoon stroll and after a lunch of fresh seafood, my mother and I made our way back to Manhattan to experience another Broadway show.

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The Winter Garden Theatre is home to one of the world’s most successful musicals, Mamma Mia!, and because of the theme of this feel-good show I thought it was the best way for me and my mother to spend our last evening together in New York City. Telling the story of a 20 years-young bride-to-be and her search for her father, Mamma Mia! uses the songs from popular Swedish group ABBA in this fantastic musical.

Felicia Finley played the role of Tanya with wonderful humour and the right amount of sexy vulgarity as she stole the show, but both Judy McLane as Donna and Laurie Veldheer as Sophie were excellent in their mother-daughter roles of the performance. Having seen the West End production of the same show in London, I can say that both were equally filled with the same volume of vigour and life that a show such as Mamma Mia! needs, and we left the theatre feeling happy to have experienced the musical together. ‘Does my mother know’ I love ABBA – she sure does now!

After four days of exploration, discovery, relaxation and soaking up the history and culture of New York City and some of its boroughs, we decided to spend our last day visiting a couple of places we hadn’t had the chance to see. We started off the day with a tour of the magnificent Grand Central Station and then made our way over to the neighbourhood of Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan. After a quick (okay, long!) stop in Bettie Page Vintage and Retro Clothing, we had a lovely stroll through Washington Square Park and then embarked back to the hotel and to our journey onwards from New York.

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New York City is truly one of the greatest metropolises in the world, and exploring it for the first time with my mother, soaking up the history, shopping, architecture, food and fun of the Big Apple was a trip I could easily (and probably will!) repeat.

Louis Habash is currently a freelance travel writer based in Los Angeles, California. Log on to this Facebook page for more updates.

Kathmandu: The ancient city of wonder

Image Source: AllNepal.com

If you love ancient cities, then you’ll love Kathmandu, the capital of the kingdom on the roof of the world—Nepal. The city is more than 2000 years old and is located 4,600 feet above sea level. Enclosed within a valley, Kathmandu is a sight to behold.

Image Source: LonelyPlanet.com

Kathmandu is the best place to experience Nepali culture and tradition. I found many Hindu and Buddhist temples just by walking around, which is, by far, the best way to experience Kathmandu. The famous Pashupatinath Temple can be found in Kathmandu, near the banks of the Bagmati River. You can also visit the Durbar Square, which is one of the oldest squares in the world; walk around Thamel, the city’s bustling tourist city; climb the 365 steps to the Swayambhunath, the so-called monkey temple; and visit the King’s palace, which is now a museum.

Image Source: TripAdvisor.com

However, despite the abundance of things to do and places to visit, the best thing to experience in Nepal is the food. Food here is cheap and plentiful, and most of those I tasted were heavenly, to say the least. My favorite was the Dal Bhat, which is a meal that consists of a lentil soup, mixed vegetables, chili, pickled vegetables, more vegetables, and mutton. Notice the amount of vegetables? It’s no wonder why Nepalese people are so slim. Food in Nepal has a little bit of Indian influence, which means that people with really sensitive stomachs should be wary.

I love Kathmandu. I think it is a great city with so much to offer, and I will definitely come back—if I get back from Mt. Everest alive, that is.

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