By Roberta Lasky
Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” – Anonymous. This is a motto I try to live by.
Upon seeing the cover of this month’s Traveler magazine while sitting at the doctor’s waiting room, I contemplated the next destination for my trip this summer.
There are a slew of magazines & periodicals in the travel category. Magazines in this category cover the alphabet from A (Afar) to Y (Yankee) magazines. Magazines afford you the ability to sift through pages of information at your own pace. Dog-earring or placing a yellow sticky note on a particular page of interest is another big plus of magazines. You can learn about new restaurants in a far-off distant land or somewhere close to home.
Some of my personal favorite magazines are; Caribbean, Departures (American Express Publishing), Food and Wine, National Geographic Traveler, Traveler (Conde Nast Publications), and Travel + Leisure (Exposure Media Marketing).
Popular fashion magazine such as, Elle, Family Fun, InStyle, Parents, and Vogue often have travel-related stories as well as a devoted monthly section.
Regional and city publications, such as; Bedford, Atlanta, Gotham, Hamptons, New York, The Washingtonian and Westchester magazines, give you in-depth information on that particular location.
Cities, markets, regions and magazine titles can be found on the City and Regional Magazine Association web site: http://www.citymag.org/City-and-Regional-Magazine-Association/CRMA-Membership/Member-Directory/.
Newspapers are an excellent source of all things travel as well.
Every weekend I look forward to reading The New York Times Travel section. On Saturday mornings (with home delivery affords you get the benefit of sneak peeks ahead of Sunday) I immediately read this section first. My family knows I have ‘first dibs’ as well. My eyes automatically gravitate to the “36 Hours In” column. These articles are a great way to discover hotels, sites and restaurants in the city of that week’s focus. I wonder what next week’s city will be. “The Getaway” column by Stephanie Rosenbloom is all about outstanding tips and unique deals.
The Wall Street Journal has a dedicated Travel section both in print and online. USA TODAY is another excellent source.
Books are popular sources of travel information to navigate your journeys as well. Checking-out books from your local library is a breeze and free.
Fodor’s Travel Guides discuss an array of books on various cities & countries. Fodor’s also has a line of books, “Around,” written specifically with families in mind. These lightweight books feature popular sights for children, practical tips, a little area called “Side Notes of Trivia”, “Eats for Kids” filled with unusual & kid-friendly cafes as well as outlines for walks. “Making The Most of Your Time” and “Keep In Mind” are also mini-sections filled with pertinent information.
Frommer’s, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides and Rick Steves’ books are all excellent. Steves’ has a series of guidebooks as well. “Read Before You Go” and “Phrase Books” are jam packed with vital info to pre-plan your voyage before boarding that airplane, train, cruise ship or starting your automobile engine. Lonely Planet guides are superb for discovering affordable destinations and money-saving tips while traveling on a budget.
It goes without saying that there are a slew of online versions of the above magazines and books as well.
Speaking of money-saving tips, I highly recommend Cindy Greenstein’s, AKA The Points Mom, website, subscribing to her weekly newsletter and following her on Facebook to learn the ins and outs of earning points with certain credit cards.
What is your ‘go-to’ source for travel ideas, discounts, special offers, info and tips? Let us know.
Remember, “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” – Anonymous
and “You don’t have to be rich to travel well.” – Eugene Fodor.
Whether you are saying Hello, Aloha, Assalamu Alaykum, Bonjour, Ciao, Hola, Konnichiwa or Shalom, you are bound to have a great experience on your trip.
As Dr. Seuss once said, “Oh the places you’ll go.”
Safe travels!
Other blogs by Roberta
Blowing Off Steam In Vancouver
New Yorkers Find Nirvana In Seattle
Brand New Experiences in Newport, Rhode Island
Paris & Provence Welcomed Us With Open Arms This Summer