New Mexico as a Travel Destination-Part II

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New Mexico is unique among the states of this country in that it is a majority minority state. In other words, Hispanics are in the majority and Caucasians the minority. There is also a healthy number of Native Americans in the state. The benefits for the traveler are that you can enjoy the cultural mélange deriving from this situation. You will not feel racism or schisms between races like you do in other states. You will enjoy seeing art everywhere (all public works require a set aside for accompanying art). And the food… well, it is incomparable.

Part I of this series focused on the city of Santa Fe, also known as “the city different” to its inhabitants. This article will take you through Albuquerque, the other major city in New Mexico.

Celebrating its tri-centennial in 2006, Albuquerque was founded by the Spanish and remained a sleepy, little town until the railroad came through. Over the past 125 years, the city gained a major university, an air force base, a national research facility, and a population of more than half a million.
Everywhere you go in the city, you see representations of the mix of cultures and the sense of history.

Image Source: en.wikipedia.org

The National Hispanic Cultural Center officially represents the city’s Spanish heritage, but the bilingualism, the focus on red and green chile, and the adobe structures bring that feeling into everyday life. The Zia symbol that is everywhere brings the Native American culture into the mix.

Walk along Nob Hill, which is the neighborhood surrounding the university and you will sense the creative spirit of the area. Funky, one-of-a-kind shops displaying art, food, and paraphernalia will capture your attention. Walk on the campus and you will see a wide range of architecture, some of which is clearly from the early 1900s and Hispanic in origin. At sunset, look at Sandia mountains, which are crystal clear and a palette of changing colors.

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Visit New Mexico and make sure that Albuquerque is part of your vacation. Part III of this series will take you through a few of the other notable sights of New Mexico.

Louis Habash writes as a freelancer about travel. A resident of Los Angeles, Louis Habash is a lover of photography, hiking, water sports and nature, and is able to combine these interests with travel.

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.

Image Source: cnn.com

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.

New Mexico as a Travel Destination-Part I

Image Source: santafe.org

When somebody mentions travelling to the southwest in the US, most think of Texas, Arizona and southern California. For some reason, many do not include New Mexico in that category. This is a shame because they are missing a state with a long history, interesting culture, great topography, and amazing food. In this first of a three part series, you will learn about the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico and why natives call it “The City Different.”

As you explore Santa Fe, you will note the many contrasts of the city. Sitting on the central plaza of the city are Native Americans selling jewelry displayed on blankets. The sellers are sitting on the ground, one right next to the other. Often, they sit in the shadows of very high end stores where you can buy custom-made, leather jackets at $5,000 each. Just down the street are galleries selling beautiful sculptures and paintings for thousands.

Image Source: theepochtimes.com

Wandering these shops and the square, you will encounter panhandlers, as well as tourists. Interspersed, you will see people who look like they have no money, but could easily be millionaires in their own right. If you move past the square and onto Canyon Road, you will find dozens of high end art galleries spaced almost on top of one another. It is an area that draws tourists from around the country. During your walk, you can eat at nationally-ranked restaurants or at tiny holes-in-the-wall.

Within a few blocks of the square, you can tour the Georgia O’Keefe museum and several other art and historical museums.

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_O'Keeffe_Museum

Santa Fe is the City Different because of its history and mix of cultures. Native Americans have inhabited the area for 10,000 years. About 400 years ago, the Spanish visited to look for gold and many stayed. About 150 years later, Anglos settled in the area. This mix of cultures bred a tolerance for differences and a love of the cuisines that resulted.

Part II of this series will explore Albuquerque.

Louis Habash writes about travel as a freelancer. He lives in Los Angeles. A lover of photography, hiking, water sports and nature, Louis Habash is able to combine these interests while travelling.

Route 66: A Slower Way to Enjoy Your Cross Country Vacation

Image Source: en.wikipedia.org

As a society, we tend to focus on reaching our destination versus enjoying the ride. People want to become millionaires or they want to get married or have children or reach any of hundreds of other objectives. Eastern religions focus more on enjoying or learning from the experience. When it comes to travel, it is important to know whether your mindset is one of reaching the destination or enjoying the process. If it is the latter, you might consider a trip along Route 66.


The road, one of the country’s first highways, was opened in 1926. Because it was gravel or graded and because autos in that era did not move very fast, Route 66 is fairly ancient in terms of modern highway standards. It is still the case that travel along this road will slow you down in terms of miles per hour and in terms of a circuitous route.

Image Source: bestroadtripever.com

On the other hand, you will enjoy this slower, road less travelled. It will take you past landmarks, motels and diners that few get to see. Stop at the U-Drop-Inn, an art-deco landmark near Amarillo Texas, that has been restored and serves drinks and snacks. Visit the Painted Desert and the Meteor Crater in Arizona. If you enjoyed the parts of the movie “Cars” that displayed bypassed towns that were living in the past, you will like your Route 66 trip.


If you are in no hurry to arrive at your destination and you enjoy viewing the remnants of a time gone by, Route 66 is the way to go. Better yet, rent a convertible, buy all of the versions of the eponymous song, and listen to them in the open air as you make your way from Chicago to Santa Monica at 50 mph.

Image Source: driverabroad.com

Louis Habash writes about travel as a freelancer. He lives in Los Angeles. A lover of photography, hiking, water sports and nature, Louis Habash is able to combine these interests while travelling.

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.

Image Source: travel.aol.co.uk

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

Image Source: womenshealthmag.com

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.