Travel Better

The Holiday Season In New York City! Even when I was living in Los Angeles, I was watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV and looking forward to visiting the decorated windows on 5th Avenue when I came home for the holidays. Here is my overview and advice about celebrating New York during the … TBP 0025 Holiday Season in New York City 2013 Read More » The post TBP 0025 Holiday Season in New York City 2013 appeared first on Travel Better.

Coffeehouses transformed how travelers experience their trip. Bathrooms are just one of the benefits of coffeehouses becoming popular with the growth of Starbucks in the 90’s. This is especially true in New York City, where you could spend hours in the 80’s searching for a bathroom. I vividly remember doing the pee-pee dance at the … TBP 0024 COFFEEHOUSES ARE THE SAVIORS OF THE TRAVELER Read More » The post TBP 0024 COFFEEHOUSES ARE THE SAVIORS OF THE TRAVELER appeared first on Travel Better.

In today’s Travel Better Podcast (#0023) I will be discussing the options you have for going through the TSA Security Checkpoints at airports. Most people think that you MUST go through the scanner at the TSA Security Checkpoints, but there are other choices that you can make that might appeal to you more and might … TBP 0023 TSA Security Checkpoints – Know Your Options… Read More » The post TBP 0023 TSA Security Checkpoints – Know Your Options… appeared first on Travel Better.

  VACATION IS A STATE OF MIND. This has always been my philosophy. It’s just that it is so easy to stay stressed when in a home environment that most people find it hard to reach that state. And it is also easy to blow off local adventures because there’s no excessive driving or flying. … TBP 0022 How to Plan A Staycation That is Awesome! Read More » The post TBP 0022 How to Plan A Staycation That is Awesome! appeared first on Travel Better.

This is a follow up to last week’s podcast, to round out the bits about Salem Massachusetts that I was not sure about. Most important additions to TBP 0020 (last week’s podcast): Parking (the main garage in the mall) is $20. Be aware of that so that you don’t get sticker shock. There is a … TBP 0021 Salem Salem Massachusetts – Trip in Review Read More » The post TBP 0021 Salem Salem Massachusetts – Trip in Review appeared first on Travel Better.

October and Autumn always makes me think about Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is very special to me.  It is a place where I find what I am looking for. There is definitely a special energy there. It’s a different vibe than Sedona and probably has more to do to the people that are drawn there then … TBP 0020 Salem Massachusetts – It’s October and I’ve Gone A-Witching Read More » The post TBP 0020 Salem Massachusetts – It’s October and I’ve Gone A-Witching appeared first on Travel Better.

  Today I discuss three separate areas of California where you can enjoy the slopes. The three ski/snowboard areas I will be covering today are: Big Bear/Snow Summit area near Los Angeles (also a nod to a few tinier snow hills) Mammoth Mountain / June Mountain Lake Tahoe – which includes 7 separate ski resorts … TPB 0019 California and the Sierras – Ski and Snowboard Read More » The post TPB 0019 California and the Sierras – Ski and Snowboard appeared first on Travel Better.

Winter is on it’s way! Time to talk skiing! SKI UTAH! Inspired by a mega Ski Group Meet-up in New York, I decided to create a show about Utah, one of my favorite places to ski. I got really jazzed when one of the groups was telling me about their upcoming trip to Brighton, which … TBP 0018 Ski Utah Powder Read More » The post TBP 0018 Ski Utah Powder appeared first on Travel Better.

Yes, I know I said I would never do a podcast about Chicago, and to tell you the truth, it took me a while to figure out how to I would present the city in an honest way – both celebrating the fun of traveling as a tourist while also being forthright about my learnings … TBP 0017 Chicago – A Nice Place To Visit… Read More » The post TBP 0017 Chicago – A Nice Place To Visit… appeared first on Travel Better.

Back in the day when people still read books for pleasure and information, I found Edgefield McMenamin’s in my trusty book of hostel reviews when I was looking for a place to stay around the Portland, Oregon area. Despite the glimmering review in my book, I had no idea how wonderful and unusual a stay … TBP 0016 McMenamin’s (Do Doooo Do Do Do) Read More » The post TBP 0016 McMenamin’s (Do Doooo Do Do Do) appeared first on Travel Better.

Whenever I would meet non-American travelers at the hostel in Flagstaff that were working their way across the country, I would ask if they were going to go to Los Angeles. I could give them tips about the city because I lived there for 7 years. Most of the international travelers I met said that … TBP 0015: Feel Los Angeles – It’s All About The Vibe Read More » The post TBP 0015: Feel Los Angeles – It’s All About The Vibe appeared first on Travel Better.

As I gazed at the sunset over Lake Michigan, I marveled at how different the atmosphere was compared to when I stood at the waters from the opposite side, in Chicago. More nature. Cleaner. Peaceful. Quiet. Desolate in early spring. These are the characteristics I yearned for during my road trips when I was living … TBP 0014: Western Michigan Offers Respite for City Dwellers Read More » The post TBP 0014: Western Michigan Offers Respite for City Dwellers appeared first on Travel Better.

Most people travel Vermont in the fall because of the foliage, or during winter to go skiing. What many people don’t know is that Vermont is a place that supports outdoor activities year round. It is definitely a state that focuses on getting out and appreciating nature, no matter what the season or weather is … TBP 0013 Travel Vermont: Four Wonderful Seasons Read More » The post TBP 0013 Travel Vermont: Four Wonderful Seasons appeared first on Travel Better.

When it comes to the best way to pack a suitcase that you plan to carry onto the airplane, the restrictions with airlines can be outrageous. Sometime of the rules probably do ensure a more safe journey, but many are simply a way for airlines to squeeze more money out of people the travelers they … TBP 0012 The Best Way to Pack a Suitcase (Part 2): Carry-On Luggage Read More » The post TBP 0012 The Best Way to Pack a Suitcase (Part 2): Carry-On Luggage appeared first on Travel Better.

If you Google “Best Way To Pack a Suitcase“, you will most likely come up with a number of sites presenting lists of what you should and should not pack and strategies to pack as much as possible within the least amount of space or to go as minimal as possible. This is great, but … TBP 0011 The Best Way To Pack a Suitcase (Part 1): Cars and Road Trips Read More » The post TBP 0011 The Best Way To Pack a Suitcase (Part 1): Cars and Road Trips appeared first on Travel Better.

I didn’t even think about pet travel when I got my first dog, but after my first trip through the desert from Flagstaff, Arizona to Venice, California, I realized that traveling with a pet takes more thought than just throwing Fido in the back seat and giving him a potty break half way to your … TBP 0010: Better Pet Travel Read More » The post TBP 0010: Better Pet Travel appeared first on Travel Better.

This week I went into New York City (or “the city” is all you need to say if you’re coming from Northern New Jersey) to sell some of my vinyl records at Chelsea Market. I decided to walk the High Line (see link below for more info) and ended up meeting a German tourist who … TBP 0009 New York City – Travel Less Expensive Read More » The post TBP 0009 New York City – Travel Less Expensive appeared first on Travel Better.

I had a rough time planning trips for Las Vegas the first few times.  I had always gone with people that were familiar with the city, so when it was my time to plan, I was surprised when I realized how little I knew. But now that I am a more savvy traveler and actually … TBP 0008: Las Vegas – Avoiding the Traps in the Most Touristy City in the World Read More » The post TBP 0008: Las Vegas – Avoiding the Traps in the Most Touristy City in the World appeared first on Travel Better.

This week I was talking with a friend who travels a lot but has never been to the Redwood Forest in Northern California. I had so much fun telling him what he he MUST do there, that I decided that would be a great Better Traveling show!   The redwood forest is tied with Sedona … TBP 0007: The Redwood Forest’s Sacred Peace and Beauty Read More » The post TBP 0007: The Redwood Forest’s Sacred Peace and Beauty appeared first on Travel Better.

This week’s podcast  is about alliterations… Just kidding (sort of)… One of the biggest concerns I had about going to Italy was pickpockets and thieves.  I had heard a lot about them and even a close family member had almost had his wallet stolen at the Colleseum. I wanted to figure out how to prevent … TBP 0006: Paranoid about Pick Pockets? Prevent Pickpocketing with Pick-Pocket Proof Pockets! Read More » The post TBP 0006: Paranoid about Pick Pockets? Prevent Pickpocketing with Pick-Pocket Proof Pockets! appeared first on Travel Better.

I recently was in contact with an old friend on the Southern New Hampshire Coastline, and it reminded me of all of the great things I love and miss about New Hampshire. I lived there for a while so I can give you some ideas of how to spend your time. The New Hampshire Coastline … TBP 0005: Who knows about the Southern New Hampshire Coastline? Read More » The post TBP 0005: Who knows about the Southern New Hampshire Coastline? appeared first on Travel Better.

Today’s podcast is about the wonderful world of hosteling – staying in hostels as you travel around the world. I have used hostels extensively through out the United States and in some parts of Europe because there are a number of benefits to staying in hostels. My podcast explains these advantages, tips for first timers … TBP 0004: Enjoying a Hostel Environment: Hosteling for Fun, New Friends, Travel and Saving Money Read More » The post TBP 0004: Enjoying a Hostel Environment: Hosteling for Fun, New Friends, Travel and Saving Money appeared first on Travel Better.

I promised last week that I would create a podcast about Arizona tourism and travel, so here it is! This podcast is ideal for individuals who have not yet visited Arizona because it is an overview. I lived there for two years and visited there for years before moving to that great state, and I … TBP 0002: Arizona Tourism – My 11 Travel Tips Read More » The post TBP 0002: Arizona Tourism – My 11 Travel Tips appeared first on Travel Better.

12 Things to Know Before Your First Trip to Italy (Travel Italy – Tips) I have been wanting to start a travel podcast for a very long time, and I finally did it this week! I just returned from Italy, and while I had a wonderful time and everything went fairly smoothly, there are a … TBP 0001: 12 Things to Know Before Your Go to Italy (Travel Italy Tips) Read More » The post TBP 0001: 12 Things to Know Before Your Go to Italy (Travel Italy Tips) appeared first on Travel Better.