Fringe benefits and all: Earning as a travel writer

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There is an illusion to travel writing that outsiders may have—that it’s just a lap of luxury. If you have the guts to become a travel writer, as was required of Louis Habash when I signed up for the job, then you should be able to endure stomach-wrenching local delicacies or bear sleepless backpacking trips just to get a good grasp of a first-hand story. But, it’s not like that all the time. Once you begin publishing your pieces, going on press trips, and establishing your names, freebies pour in as all-expenses paid travel, meals, and events admissions. Now that’s a way to fund your career, a.k.a your lifestyle as a travel writer. And then publishers and television networks start paying you for the stories and photos.

My task is mostly to churn out guest posts in other travel blogs. I write 500-worders per day and syndicate them, earning for just several hours of work. My work dynamics may differ from others, but I appreciate just how creativity cannot be dampened by being on the road, and learn from how others do it.

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Selling stories to travel magazines

John Beede sees this “most traditional way” as the least paying means to travel write. It’s also quite a tough ride to scour the market for interested magazines and publications and face the non-guarantee of payment.

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Floating online travel agency
 

Mika Hamilton suggests that you establish contacts with tourism departments and travel agencies. As you write travel stories, you can also book visitors for them online. That’s earning for you extra income right there.

Although it’s a hard career choice to take, sometimes mundane even, travel writing can be a lesson in chaos with the most satisfying returns to offer the adventurous.

Follow this Twitter account to get more tips on how to become a travel writer.

REPOST: More for Your Money: Be on the alert for travel scams

Be an alert traveller by knowing the scams and frauds that may come along your way as you step into a foreign land. Get tips from this LA Times article.

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If you have the money to travel, you'll want to spend it the way you want to spend it. That means making sure rip-off artists keep their mitts off your dough.

With this in mind, the members and editors of travel website VirtualTourist have compiled a list of the worst travel scams and schemes and how to avoid them.

Pickpockets: Pickpockets no longer limit themselves to the simple "bump and grab." VirtualTourist members mentioned that in many instances, pickpockets are working in teams: While one shows you a gold ring or points out mustard on your shirt, another cohort is stealing your wallet. Nowadays, there are many more things for thieves to steal than just your wallet — cameras and smartphones, for instance.

Distraction can also be a scammer tool. A woman will approach you waving a newspaper or asking for help reading something, but under the newspaper, she is palming your phone off the cafe table. If someone offers you unsolicited help, politely decline and quickly walk away.

Always keep your valuables (passport, important papers and extra credit cards) in your hotel safe, and make sure to record the serial numbers of any electronics. Some cities require a serial number to file a police report.

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Pickpocketing is rampant in crowded areas with a large number of tourists. VirtualTourist members commented that it was common in Barcelona, Spain, particularly on Las Ramblas, the central pedestrian street.

Gypsy cabs: Taxi scams can be as simple as drivers who are unlicensed and who overcharge or who take you the long way to your destination. Here are some tips to make traveling by taxi easier. If there's a taxi queue, get in the line. Many cities (Rome, New York) have a set fare from the primary airport to inside the city. Make sure you know this number and clarify it before you put your bags in the car. If you are leaving your hotel and going to a site, ask the doorman or concierge how much the taxi fare should be. VirtualTourist members note that Rome is a particularly bad spot for taxi scams, especially near Termini Station.

Volunteers with poor intentions: In a foreign country, "volunteers" may offer to assist you when you're making a transaction or using any automated machine. Be wary of any stranger who offers help too easily, particularly in high tourism areas or transportation hubs, such as Paris' subway and train stations, especially Gare du Nord. If possible, buy tickets in advance or through a window vendor at the station.

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A substitute for a tourist attraction: In certain parts of Southeast Asia, VirtualTourist members noted, locals may approach tourists, noting that the "palace is closed today because of" (fill in the blank with a religious ceremony, royal function, cleaning, etc). Then they'll steer you into a nearby tuk-tuk (or motorized rickshaw), offering to take you to a gem factory or another tourist attraction. Sometimes these not-so-do-gooders might even have on a uniform. The palace/site/wat is probably not closed today, so before you turn around and embark on a tuk-tuk ride to commissioned jewelry stores and tailors, check for yourself. There are numerous member reports of this at various places in Bangkok, Thailand, including the Grand Palace and Wat Po.

The math genius: The math genius is often a waiter or taxi driver, which helps (him, not you) since he's already provided you with a service for which you need to pay. Here's how it works in a taxi: You owe the driver 15 euros, and you pay with a 20 euro bill (about $25). He switches out the bill you gave him for a 5 euro bill, which looks similar. He holds it up and argues that you owe him 10 more euros. You apologize and give him the 10 euros, and only after exiting the car do you realize you essentially paid twice the taxi fare. Many travelers have fallen for this trick because of exhaustion or unfamiliarity with the local currency. Although this can happen everywhere, VirtualTourist members say it is common in Istanbul, Turkey, and New York City.

Want more travel and safety tips? Visit this Louis Habash Facebook page.

New travel app Spun is not just for tourists

Have you been “Spun-ed?” Read about this travel app for newbie travelers and well-seasoned jetsetters from this NBCNews.com article.

Spun is the latest iPhone app aimed at travelers, bringing hundreds of news sources together in a 3D interactive display. It shows you what's hot in 11 big cities across the country, maps destinations and sends reminders to your phone when you are in the vicinity of a place you've marked as a must-see spot.

Spun's navigation is built around a spinning prism. One facet holds "top stories," while the other three contain stories by topic, including Arts & Entertainment, Food & Drink and Lifestyle, a catch-all for other interesting things to see around town. In San Francisco, you can find the best free Wi-Fi hotspots in Hayes Valley, or catch a polar bear frolicking in man-made snow at the San Francisco Zoo. News is updated regularly, so you'll never run out of things to do.

Tapping a story’s image opens the full text, along with a map and multimedia content. Like what you see? Tap the faceted heart and the location will be saved to your favorites. If you get close to the location, the app will send an alert, which can be especially helpful for more-spontaneous travelers. You also can share your finds to Facebook, Twitter or by email.

While Spun has been touted as an app for visitors, locals might find useful to point out things to do that they otherwise would have missed.

Spun currently includes news about New York; Boston; Philadelphia; Washington; Miami; Chicago; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Portland, Ore.; Austin, Texas; and Seattle. It can be downloaded for free from the App Store.

Source:http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/travelkit/new-travel-app-spun-not-just-tourists-1C7319909

France's SNCF to deploy 'polite police' on trains to tackle bad manners

Read about the deployment of polite police in France, one of the the country’s government’s efforts to stamp out ill-mannered passengers in public transportations, from this article released by Telegraph.co.uk.

 

France's state-owned railway operator is to deploy an army of almost 3,000 inspectors with tough new powers to eradicate bad manners on the nation's trains.

SNCF employees are being tasked to tackle the exploding number of complaints about rude or unruly passengers that have rocketed by 25 per cent this year. Traveller gripes include spitting on and insulting ticket inspectors, putting feet on seats, pulling emergency alarms without reason, speaking loudly on mobile phones and playing music and damaging train interiors. SNCF boss Guillaume Pepy said a "line has been crossed" in "uncouth behaviour and delinquency" blighting the lives of many of the four million people who use his company's trains every day.

"Impolite behaviour generates a feeling of anxiety and discomfort," said Mr Pepy, adding that it posed a "real obstacle" to weaning the French off their cars in favour of public transport.

To stamp it out, some 2,700 inspectors will impose a new array of tougher fines. Passengers caught with feet on seats will pay 45 euros (£36); those who smoke will be fined 68 euros and anyone pulling the emergency break without reason can expect to pay between 165 and 700 euros.

Similar punishments have been introduced in Britain, where London's rail and Tube passengers who put feet on seats or play music too loudly face £50 on-the-spot fines. Under draft plans, more serious offenders may also be sent on "citizenship courses" to be taught good manners, while 500 new "politeness mediators" will be trained to deal with unruly youths. Another 460 staff will raise awareness among 220,000 schoolchildren next year.

A special national hotline will be launched for victims of bad behaviour. With a growing number of commuters turning up to work in tears or taking sick leave after a harrowing train experience, a special club of "businesses against impoliteness" has been launched.

"Our aim is to record bad behaviour we're all victims of and to understand the general malaise of our staff and our customers," said President Stéphane Volant. The scheme comes days after a French mayor introduced new rules to oblige visitors to respect "social norm" by saying "please", "thank you" and "goodbye" to town hall staff or face being thrown out. 

Gerard Plee, mayor of the village of Lheraule, northern France, population 163, said no French law obliged people to be polite so he took the matter into hand. Visitors are greeted by a sign to the "eternally discontented, grudge-bearers, the persecuted and other moaners" informing them that anyone who "manifestly and voluntarily" fails to respect the rules of common courtesy will be "asked to leave the premises".

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9721264/Frances-SNCF-to-deploy-polite-police-on-trains-to-tackle-bad-manners.html

Go for the road less travelled

Louis Habash image credit: news.yahoo.com

Being a travel writer like me, Louis Habash, is not really as glamorous as most of you think. Sure, you get to see the world, have your own adventures at your own pace, and write about them. However, after the novelty of traveling wears off and the weariness kicks in, travel writing tends to get tedious pretty quickly. To prevent that, you need to get off the tourist trail and go for the road less travelled.

Although visiting famous tourist places like the Taj Mahal in India, the bustling city of Bangkok in Thailand, the Bali beaches in Indonesia, or the majestic Ankor Wat in Cambodia while going through Southeast Asia is somewhat obligatory, going for less popular tourist attractions in these countries took me on unforgettable adventures.

Louis Habash image credit: english.samaylive.com

I, Louis Habash, remember being pelted with colored powder by children and adults alike during the Festival of Colors in Gujarat, one of the least visited but most rewarding places in India; dining with the locals in Isan, which is often labeled the poorest province in Thailand, to experience the “real” Thailand; walking through the pristine beauty of the Jatiluwih rice terraces in Bali; and listening to the sounds of wildlife while breathing in cool, fresh air at the Kep National Park in Cambodia.

Louis Habash image credit: fathomaway.com

Taking the obvious tourist path can sometimes be rewarding, but the stress of dealing with huge, unruly crowds that usually dot the tourist trap landscape is, most of the time, not worth it. There are always hidden gems out there, waiting to be discovered.


For more information, follow my Twitter page.

Tips for travel writing

Check out these handy tips about travel writing from the Guardian Travel team.

• Write in the first person, past tense (or present if the action really justifies it), and make your story a personal account, interwoven with facts, description and observation. 
• Many writers start their piece with a strong – but brief – anecdote that introduces the general feeling, tone and point of the trip and story. Something that grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to read on. Don't start with the journey to the airport – start with something interesting, not what happened first. 
• Early on you need to get across the point of the story and trip – where you were, what were you doing there and why. If there is a hook – a new trend, discovery or angle – make that clear within the first few paragraphs.
• Try to come up with a narrative thread that will run throughout the piece, linking the beginning and end; a point you are making. The piece should flow, but don't tell the entire trip chronologically, cherry pick the best bits, anecdotes and descriptions, that will tell the story for you. 
• Quotes from people you met can bring the piece to life, give the locals a voice and make a point it would take longer to explain yourself. Quote people accurately and identify them, who are they, where did you meet them?
• Avoid cliches. Try to come up with original descriptions that mean something. Our pet hates include: "bustling markets"... "azure/cobalt sea"... "nestling among" ... "hearty fare" ... "a smorgasbord of...". 
• Don't use phrases and words you wouldn't use in speech (such as "eateries" or "abodes"), and don't try to be too clever or formal; the best writing sounds natural and has personality. It should sound like you. Don't try to be "gonzo" or really hilarious, unless you're sure it's working. 
• Check your facts! It's good to work in some interesting nuggets of information, perhaps things you've learned from talking to people, or in books or other research, but use reliable sources and double-check they are correct. 
• Write economically – don't waste words on sentences that could be condensed. Eg say "there was a..." not "it became apparent to me that in fact there existed a...".
• Moments that affected you personally don't necessarily make interesting reading. Avoid tales of personal mishaps – missed buses, diarrhea, rain – unless pertinent to the story. Focus on telling the reader something about the place, about an experience that they might have too if they were to repeat the trip. 

Five more tips from Guardian travel writers 

Author Giles Foden says he always feels travel writing benefits from a cinematic approach, in that you need to vary the focus – wide lens for setting and landscape; medium lens for context and colour; zoom lens for detail and narrative – and switch between the views in a piece. It may sound a bit precious, but it's a very handy tip for varying the pace of an article. Andy Pietrasik, head of Guardian Travel 

Travel journalism should add to the wealth of information already out there in guidebooks and on websites, so try to seek out the more off-the-beaten-track places to eat, drink, visit – often the places locals might frequent. Revealing a new or different side to a destination will give your story a richness that you won't get with a description of a visit to the tourist cafe in the main square. Isabel Choat, online travel editor 

What sets good travel writing apart is detail, detail, detail. Which cafe, on what street, overlooking what view? You must sweep the reader up and carry them off on the journey with you. Paint an evocation of where you are so we can experience it along with you. Be specific and drop "stunning", "breathtaking" and "fantastic" from your lexicon, otherwise it's just a TripAdvisor entry. Sally Shalam, Guardian hotel critic 

An important rule of creative travel writing is to show, not tell, wherever possible. Readers want to feel as if they're eavesdropping on a conversation, or being shown something secret and magical. People don't like being told what to think. If a child wearing rags made you sad, for example, describe the child, their clothes, the way they carried themselves. Assume readers are sentient. If you write it well, they will "feel" what effect the encounter had on you. This is much more powerful than saying, "I felt sad." Mike Carter, Guardian contributor and author of One Man and his Bike 

My golden rule when writing a piece is to include as much visual description as possible. It's easy to presume a lot, but your readers don't know what you've seen. So explain it as vividly as possible. Don't ever describe something as "characterful" or "beautiful" – this doesn't mean anything to anybody but you. Describe things as if you were explaining them to a blind person. To say a building is "old" isn't good enough; explain the colours, the peeling stucco, the elaborate, angular finishes on windowsills, the cleaning lady in a faded blue smock who was leaning out of a second-storey window with a cigarette dangling from her mouth. There is a thin line between elaborate, colourful, evocative writing and pretentious tosh, but it's better to lean towards the pretentious tosh side of the spectrum than to be dull and presumptuous. Benji Lanyado, Guardian writer and blogger 

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/sep/23/travel-writing-tips-expert-advice

Louis Habash: A life of trips, not traps

“Louis Habash is a realist,” as I often tell people. I’ve almost spent half of my adult life in the road writing about the world, but I never bore illusion that what surrounded me at various moments of my journeys were pure ugly or beautiful.

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Life could be a trap or a trip, and what falls on our lap at the end depends on how tight and often we’re willing to wear travel boots and write our life in the road. Just as what American novelist and poet Jack Kerouac once said: “Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” I could tell you, Louis Habash here has learned that the hard way. Indeed, life is a long journey I’ve learned to anticipate every waking hour either on my desk or in my car.

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If there’s anything I learned as a travel writer, it’s the fact that my job come in ebbs and flows—no dry run, yet no dry spells either. So I keep hitting the road and exploring life. In many ways, realism has taught me to accept some things as they are while taking others with a grain of salt. This is my journey.

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