Rookie Vagabonders

One of our vagabonders, Angela, found this great article on 9 of the craziest hotels around the world! And I thought sleeping in a castle was interesting pshhh…Whether you want to eat your meals with the giraffes in Kenya, or bunk it like Frodo in New Zealand, these places are definitely an experience in themselves. Thanks Angela!

What the new Eiffel Tower will look like

The French have decided to give the Eiffel Tower a beret for its 120th birthday next year. Well, not exactly, but this famous tourist attraction is having some work done.

The Societe d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel announced yesterday that Serero Architects of Paris has won a competition to redesign the Tower’s top-most viewing platform, expanding it to more than double its current capacity.

Luckily, this is only a temporary addition, or at least according to the New York Times. I don’t know about you guys, but this seems a little…unnecessary? They already attract 6.9 million visitors a year!

Plus, from afar, it kind of looks like a UFO has landed on the top of the tower, ready to take over the world. But that’s just me…

Make sure you book it to Paris soon if you want to see the Eiffel Tower in all its current glory!

Alrighty VBs, so you’ve been sightseeing for a couple days and it’s time to move on. How do you go about getting to your next fabulous destination? Why, by train of course! But before you start hopping aboard and playing the quintessential stowaway, might I suggest a EURAIL PASS instead? There are a ton of passes to choose from, but here are some of the most popular options: 1.) Eurail Select Pass, 2.) Eurail Regional Pass, 3.) Eurail Global Pass,    4.) BritRail Pass

Eurail Select Pass Still Life by Robyn Mitchell

The Eurail Pass is a fairly complicated and pricey investment, so I advise doing some research to find the exact one that fits your needs. Check out STA’s Travel Tips and Railpass FAQ for more information. From personal experience, here are some of the most important things you need to know:

• Each time you take a train between countries, it counts as one travel day. The more travel days you want, the higher the pass price, so know ahead of time how many travel days you’ll need.
• Remember to get your passes validated before you get on your first train! You can do this by going to the train’s ticket counter and having them stamp it with the date.
• Make sure you fill out the date of when you are traveling otherwise you could be fined (this almost happened to me, it wasn’t fun)!
• Night trains are a great option if you want to save money on accommodation and they will get you there early in the morning for a whole day of sightseeing!
• Take advantage of the bonus features that come with each pass, including travel discounts on ferries, buses and more
  

According to my muse travel blog, Travel Cuts, there are three things you must do when backpacking through Europe: (1) stay at a famous hostel like the Pink Palace or St. Christopher’s Village in London, (2) have a whirlwind romance with someone who only speaks a few words of English, and lastly (3) ride the rails with some version of the Eurail Pass! So get yourself one of these passes and book a night at the Pink Palace like I suggested and you’ll already have two of these under your belt. And who knows, maybe you’ll meet that special someone on the way!

Vagabonding is all about making the most of your travels, from the sights you see to the people you meet, and even the places you stay. So why limit yourself to white-washed walls and a bunk bed, when you could stay in a CASTLE? Or better yet, a TREE HOUSE? There are so many opportunities to stay in unique and interesting places that will make for some wild nighttime escapades. Here are some of the best places I found:

• Carbisdale Castle – Sutherland, Scotland: Beyond the usual bunk beds and cafeteria-style dining room, Carbisdale Castle also has a collection of fine art, a statue gallery and is even said to be haunted! Ask to stay in the Spook Room if you’re especially adventurous. It’s not the cheapest place to stay, but playing king or queen for a night (and the possibility of rubbing shoulders with past inhabitants) seems worthy of a few extra Scottish Pounds!

• Hostel in the Forest – Brunswick, Georgia: Located across 120 acres of forest and wetlands, this hostel is renowned for their geometric domes and 9 tree houses. And you might even be able to learn a little bit about environmental sustainability during your stay! If you’re into camping and want the chance to wake up at eye level with the singing birds (or to the crowing of their roosters), definitely book a night at this serene Georgian retreat. Check out their photo album!

• The Pink Palace – Corfu, Greece: structurally, The Pink Palace isn’t particularly different, but it is a legend among vagabonders. Overlooking a gorgeous beach, travelers have been flocking to this island getaway for years, drawn mostly by its reputation for putting on some of the best toga parties in all of Greece. While you’re waiting to dawn that pink sheet, you can fill your days with four-wheeling, cliff diving and of course, booze cruising. So if you’re looking to party in paradise, the Palace is definitely worth the trip!
  

With just a little research, you will find hundreds of new and remarkable places to rest your head for the night. From lighthouses to former prisons, hostels are quickly becoming an experience in themselves. So give your travels a little boost with one of these unique opportunities and you’re bound to leave with some great stories and maybe even some new friends…

For most people, the month of March marks the beginning of a new season, bringing with it the sunny faces of daffodils as they emerge from the soil and the sweet serenades of returning little birdies refreshed from their southern vacation.

One way to spend your spring break (MTVU)

But for the average overworked, sleep-deprived college student, March means oh so much more. You know what I’m talking about kids, say it with me now: SPRING BREAK! WoOoO! That’s right, time to get CrAzY with thousands of other twenty-somethings looking to get into some good old-fashioned shenanigans. What was that? You think I should dance on the bar with my posse of female friends? SURE, WHY NOT?!

But wait…didn’t I mention in my first post that we Generation Y-ers are more civil-minded and enjoy volunteering? Why, yes I did, and it looks like this trend might actually be true of our spring break choices as well. According to the Student and Youth Travel Association, college students are beginning to forgo their traditional part-ay trips to embark on a number of alternative, socially responsible spring break excursions.

What makes these trips so attractive to college students is the fact that they create a vacation experience out of volunteering. So, for those still looking to get a killer tan and enjoy beautiful beaches, why not go work with sea turtles in Costa Rica or teach kids how to surf in South Africa? If you want to stay more local, there’s always the possibility of working on a Native American reservation or helping with the relief efforts in New Orleans (and you can still let loose on Bourbon Street after you’ve put in a good days’ work!)

There are a ton of organizations out there that are jumping on this trend, but here are some of the best I found:

i-to-i logo

1.) i-to-i Volunteer Vacations: these guys offer a huge variety of international volunteer excursions that range from building homes in Vietnam to animal wildlife rescue in Ecuador. As an added bonus, a lot of these trips allow you to work in your perspective field and you may even be able to receive college credit! The only drawback is that these trips don’t come cheap, but the experience alone may well be worth the cost. To learn more about what i-to-i is all about, check out what Crislip has to say, or you can browse all their righteous trips for yourself.

2.) MTV: yup, the same MTV that promotes wearing whip cream bikinis and singing horrible karaoke in the name of public humiliation (and cash prizes). MTVU, their college channel, has teamed up with United Way in recent years to bring students to New Orleans. If you want to learn more about how to volunteer and possibly live out your dreams of being on MTV, check out here for all the deats.

And of course, there’s always Habitat for Humanity. It’s an oldie but goodie and they are constantly expanding their building destinations to include more international locations. Also, you might want to check out what your college offers in terms of alternative spring break options, because this is a great way to volunteer and make new friends at your school. As I say, people who volunteer together, stay together!

So vagabonders, before you book that all inclusive resort package in Panama City next year, why not try an equally awesome experience that you can also feel good about? And the best part is, you can still bring that sunscreen, new bathing suit and six pack with you, but just make sure you leave room for your passport, bug spray and of course, the knowledge that you’re lending a hand to those who need it most.

Have a great spring break everyone! I’ll be reacquainting myself with winter back home in the burbs of Boston.