A whole new travelling experience

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the bare travel essentials

Chances are, if you have time to read this blog, you aren’t rushing to pack and catch a train/flight/boat (delete as appropriate). But last Tuesday morning I was and it was a whole new experience for me, and as tripbod.com is all about exciting new experiences I thought I’d share it with you.

I’m the the kind of person who likes to start packing days in advance, if not weeks. I like to write a list, then lay it all out, pack it once to see what the best fit is, then unpack and re-pack all over. But of course it’s not really the packing I’m loving, it’s the getting excited about my trip. For me packing is part of it and therefore lengthens my trip, but on Tuesday morning that pleasure was not to be had.

I received a call at 10am from Damian Cook of eTourism Frontiers, and it went a little something like this:

“Hi Sal it’s Damian”

“Hi Damian! Great to hear from you”

“Sal, what are you doing today? Or, rather, can you get to Heathrow in three hours time and come to Amman (Jordan) to give a keynote tomorrow?”

“………..”

“Sal? You still there?”

But I wasn’t, I was already packing. By the time the flight had been confirmed, I had precisely 22 minutes to eat/drink/wash for the first time that day (hey, I’m an entrepreneur, we wake up and work – don’t judge me!) and pack for four days in Jordan.

I learned two things, which might be interesting to share: the first is that, if you allow it, pressure can be a profound sharpener of the mind. It forces you to be brutal in your decision making which, in turn, can be greatly empowering.

As a result, I packed just 11kg, about half my normal bag size, and when I ran through a list in the taxi en route to the airport I couldn’t think of anything I’d forgotten, surprisingly.

I was still concerned that I wouldn’t have enough stuff, not least as I would be there on official business. However during the trip I wanted for nothing and it reminded me yet again, as travel has the tendency to do, that we actually ‘need’ so little.

A tweet from Heading There reminded us this week of the Solzhenitsyn saying: ‘Own only what you can carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag’.

I was to have an insanely busy and exciting schedule in Jordan (of which much more to follow) and never once did I feel I was missing any accessories. The only things you really need to take with you are: passport, credit/debit cards, your phone (with e-ticket details), visa if required, one full set of smart-ish clothes and you’re good to go. You can then buy mini toiletries at the airport and anything else you should need (in my case, ear plugs, which are an absolute travel necessity.)

I’m not sure if I’ll adopt this new-found packing behaviour for every trip. I might try it several days before I travel, pretending I have 22 minutes to leave the house, but you can bet your bottom dollar I’ll then unpack and repack several times over and I’ll still be late leaving on the day!

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Creating opportunities for all in travel

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Plan your trip to Portugal with an expertThere are many reasons why tripbod.com works: because a great local contact always makes the world of difference to a trip; because travel has become a commodity and maybe we don’t want to see and do the same thing as every other visitor; and also because everyone can be a Tripbod. Just living somewhere means you collect local knowledge, even if you don’t mean to, and that knowledge holds great value.

tripbod.com is a place where anyone can share their local knowledge and, in doing so, enjoy a pride-filled ambassadorial role which can also generate some extra income. We have long worked with travel writers, for example, who in recent years have suffered a dramatic change to their working life. Content is increasingly undervalued, hence so is their time. So what about planning your perfect trip to Portugal with the person who actually wrote the guidebook? Everyone wins.

There is a real problem in the UK, and no doubt further afield, with skilled writers finding rewarding work, so if tripbod.com offers an outlet for that talent, whilst ensuring time is fairly remunerated, then it’s a wonderful thing.

It doesn’t stop there, of course, and we are always interested in how tripbod.com can become a rewarding job for people who need flexibility. Full-time mums for example – your knowledge is immense! You could help families visiting your area plan how to get around with a pushchair, where to find the child-friendly cafes and great playgrounds, and much more besides.

So we’re really excited that the recent launch of the new tripbod.com could be a ground-breaking opportunity in employment, engagement and the giving everyone the chance to become an entrepreneur.

Join the tribe.

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The Origins of Tripbod.com

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passionate local expertsSince the launch of the all new tripbod.com last week, friends have asked what the difference is with the new platform. We have tried to answer this question on our Origins page, but I also wanted to give a brief summary here.

Since 2007 our goal has been to support and encourage travellers to ‘go local’ and ensure the benefits from tourism are felt at the the community level, when often they are not. We started with a gap year and volunteering website called YourSafePlanet, but it quickly became clear that the concept of a trusted local contact strikes a chord with most independent travellers, and so we launched tripbod.com: a place where we can all connect online with a like-minded local person in our destination to help plan the perfect trip.

We were over the moon when travellers told us ‘I could not have had the holiday I dreamed of without your help’ and then went on to tell us the best part of their trip was meeting their Tripbod for a coffee, a meal, or a wander around a local market….

We have learned that we cannot predict what wonderful experiences result from a simple connection, and so we have created a platform that allows for just that – for the community to decide what they want to offer as Tripbods, and for visitors to connect directly with Tripbods and request tailored advice and individual local experiences.

So the new tripbod.com is a bit like an eBay for travel…. but with soul! It’s about taking travel back to its roots and giving a voice to the people behind the places.

We believe travel is about exploration, adventure and learning from the inspiring people behind the places we visit. These people are Tripbods. These people are you.

Please join us.

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Thank you from Tripbod HQ

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It is exactly one week since we launched the new tripbod.com platform, and what a week it has been. We had some friends saying ‘so this is why you have been so quiet over the Summer, we thought you were on holiday!’ Well, we were by the seaside, but we were at Pete’s house on the South Coast of England working hard on bringing to fruition the big vision for tripbod.com: a place where anyone, anywhere who loves what they do and where they live can share that passion with visitors.

The new site is owned by the community, as each Tripbod can decide exactly what they want to offer visitors – from planning their perfect trip, through to meeting them when they arrive and showing them around. Our goal is to create a place for like-minded people in different parts of the world to connect and help each other have the perfect holiday. Because we are all locals, and we all know locals know best!

So it is with sincere thanks and much excitement that we celebrate the new era of tripbod.com and for the Tripbod community worldwide.

It’s true what they say: out of small acorns grow great oaks.

Thank you and bon voyage!

Sal, Pete and Liz

P.S. Now check our tripbod.com and join the Tripbod tribe!

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Eat your way around Italy | By GoLearnTo Founder Vanessa Lenssen

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Founder of GoLearnTo, Vanessa Lenssen, knows there’s no better way to immerse yourself in local life, than getting stuck in and learning directly from the people behind the places. And what better way to gain an insight into a new culture than through its cuisine?

The following post is by guest blogger, Vanessa Lenssen.

Love of food is the love of life and no one believes this more than Italians, a nation renowned for living life to the full. At the heart of every social interaction you will find food, punctuating daily life with delicious flavours.

On a cooking course, you get to hang out with the locals, explore the wonderful shops and markets for fresh, seasonal ingredients and cook up some fantastic local dishes under the guidance of talented Chefs who will let you in on a multitude of culinary secrets.

Every region of Italy has its own unique dishes based on local produce so to eat your way around Italy, take a look at our whistle stop tour for you as an anti pasti…


Tuscany and Umbria


Tuscany and Umbria are known for the spectacular verdant landscapes, olive groves, pretty villages and vineyards, all of which are reflected in the fine olive oil, wine, wild game, vegetables and truffles. Here you will enjoy parpadelle al lepre, long ribbons of pasta with a rich hare sauce, panzanella – or in Umbria; the mystical truffle, you can even have a go at hunting your own in this wonderful region.  And don’t forget to finish your meal by dipping your cantucci in Vin Santo, divine!

Cooking Tip: Try using grated parmesan rind in risottos, using much less cheese that packs a bigger punch in flavour


Veneto

Veneto lies in the northeast corner of Italy with the Adriatic Sea to the east  and mountains to the north. With seven rivers and the lakes including Lake Garda, and rice fields galore it is the spiritual home of Risotto, and the world famous vineyards that produce Prosecco, so why not try combining the two in a parmesan and Prosecco risotto for a true venetian feast?

Cooking Tip: When leaving your risotto to rest cover with healthy slices of butter to preserve the creamy consistency


Rome

When in Rome, do as the Romans do and nibble throughout the day enjoying everything from a quick biscuit and espresso in the morning the saltimbocca alla romana (veal sautéed with sage), or the traditional Canneloni, sitting out on the pavement watching the wonderful mix of history and high fashion.

Cooking Tip: When you make pasta try gently frying some fresh sage leaves in a little butter to create a flavorful and simple sauce


Sorrento

The incredible Amalfi coast is the home to pizza and gelato producing over 56 million pizzas each week.  Base yourself in Sorrento and take advantage of this fantastic location to explore the coast, the countryside and the archaeological site of Pompeii.  Every flavour is intense and bursting with life, tomatoes dried in the blazing southern Italian sunshine, limoncello by trees randomly scattering volcanic slopes. Here the junk food is truly gourmet.

Cooking Tip: Never fry garlic in hot oil, always introduce the garlic to gently warmed oil to remove any bitterness


If you are feeling hungry, why not check out GoLearnTo.com’s delicious range of cookery holidays in Italy to tantalise your taste buds.

GoLearnTo.com also offer cookery holidays in France, cooking holidays in Spain, Island hopper breaks and cookery holidays in Greece and much more.

If Vanessa’s top culinary tips have pushed Italy to the top of your travel list, don’t forget to contact Tripbod for 1-to-1 tailored trip planning from one of our local Tripbod experts in Italy.

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Cheer like a local at the 2011 U20 World Cup in Colombia – let your inner Latin spirit shine!

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Colombia Tripbod Liliana shares her first-hand tips on how to experience the U-20 World Cup in Colombia, the local authentic way with plenty of parties!

Football is a world language. If you love it, no matter where you’re from, you can enjoy a match and cheer your team in a stadium near home or this time, in Colombia!

The following words are written with the help of a male friend, who is a real football fan and gave me all the inspiration.

Colombians are a very welcoming and passionate people, so this U-20 World Cup – 29 July – 20 August – promises to be a continuous party in all stadiums throughout the country ( though at the entrance to the stadium, you may be breathalyzed, so beers will have to wait for ninety minutes)!

To begin with, we say football is like sex – it is to be lived rather than to be seen or as we say in Spanish, “you have to put on the team’s t-shirt” to really enjoy it! Therefore, the first thing to do before a match, if your team is not playing, is to choose one to root for…

Traditional chants and cheers in Colombia

Visitors can feel like locals in every game! To cheer for the teams, we use many of the chants from Argentinian football.  Players and team names or colors are echoed: “Movete rojo, movete, movete dejá de joder, mirá que esta hinchada está loca, y hoy no se puede perder” (Move, red, move, stop jacking around, see this crowd is mad and today you can’t lose).

Also simpler chants are sung: “Oeee, oe, oe, oeee, Colombia, Colombia” (with open “e”, like “eh”) and so on.

Supporters also perform “The Wave” in successive groups during the match.  In some cities, they have live music in the stadiums to entertain fans before, between and after halves (salsa orchestras or folk music groups).

Typical stadium food in Colombia

In the stadium and its surroundings, you can find fast food, including Colombian typical fried snacks such as deditos de queso, which are small pastry sticks filled with melted cheese, or at the Caribbean Coast stadiums (Cartagena and Barranquilla), the arepa ’e huevo – a cornmeal cake filled with a fried egg.  Going to the stadium and not eating one of these is not having been there at all!

The best football stadiums in Colombia

The eight cities where games will be held are all amazing – each one of them has its own wonders inside and outside the stadium. However, this is what my Caleño friend (from Cali) said of my hometown:

“As I see it, the best city to live football is Barranquilla. The football party there is unique and women enjoy it more than anyone! A beautiful Barranquilla girl wearing a football team t-shirt is quite something! People are nice, they throw confetti from the grandstand and shout out playful sentences to the players: “Oye, mi hermano, deja ya esa vaina y vete pa´tu casa que tu mujer te está poniendo los cachos, no joda” (Hey, bro, quit messing around and go home, your woman is cheating on you, for heaven’s sake!)”.

Barranquilla is rightly considered the Colombian National Team’s home.  And when locals win, you can be part of street parties, almost like carnival, in most of the city area.

Where to experience Colombian football fever outside the stadium

Anyway, parties are what Colombian people love the most and you can enjoy them in every one of our cities. If you can’t go to the stadium, there are also lots of places where people watch the matches on big screens, drinking and eating traditional football snacks merrily. In Bogota, for example, there are many pubs where you can find locally made beers typical snacks, such as fried squid, home pasties and patacones (crushed and fried plantains) and watch the game.

The best thing is that after the final whistle, it doesn’t matter if your team wins or loses, the locals keep partying anyway and you can be part of it!

Liliana Escobar (with the help of Chucky García)

Want to experience your personal football passion away from home and fancy a trip to the U20 world cup in Colombia? Tripbod Liliana offers 1-to-1 tailor-made trip planning on Tripbod.com and is on hand now to help you plan your very own authentic experience personally.

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New Tripbod Hristo introduces the best of Bulgaria through local eyes

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Hi Hristo – welcome to the Tripbod team!

Please describe Bulgaria in three words:

Pristine; must-see; different

What’s unique about Bulgaria?

Everything that is underdeveloped is unique in its own way. This is the case with the Sliven region as well. Here you can experience almost all the shapes and forms of alternative travel and go off the beaten track. In my view, unique elements to this area are plenty:

  • the cuisine
  • the local people and their villages (rural life)
  • the climate (there are four wonderful seasons)
  • the wine (including underground wineries!)
  • the cultural-historical heritage (burial mounds dating back to different centuries before and after Christ, house-museums of famous revolutionists under Turkish occupation)
  • the nature park Sinite Kamani (The Blue Stones, absolutely wonderful nature and wildlife)
  • the attractions such as eco-trails, mountain bike routes, buggy routes and horse-riding tracks.

But that’s just a summary…

Wow! There’s quite a lot to choose from! For you, what is your favourite Bulgarian weekend activity?

There are many I can choose from but in my local area it’s just to go out into the mountains and visit the nature parks either by foot, by bike or by buggy, have a picnic around the lake there and spend a relaxing time in the tranquillity of the nature.

It sounds magical. What is your favourite local tradition?

The Bulgarian tradition of giving and receiving Martenici is a wonderful way to welcome the Spring

For this question I take Bulgaria as a whole. We have one very specific and interesting tradition for the first day of March when everybody gives and gets “martenitsi” - a small piece of adornment, made of white and red yarn. The name of the holiday is Baba Marta. “Baba” is the Bulgarian word for “grandmother” and Mart is the Bulgarian word for the month of March. Baba Marta is a Bulgarian tradition related to welcoming the upcoming spring.

The month of March, according to Bulgarian folklore, marks the beginning of springtime. Therefore, the first day of March is a traditional holiday associated with sending off winter and welcoming spring. It’s continues up to the end of March and it’s wonderful and entertaining.

What a lovely way to appreciate the end of Winter! We’d love to hear more about local life…

What is a typical breakfast for locals in Bulgaria?

A delicious traditional Bulgarian breakfast of Mekici

If you go to a guesthouse in the Sliven region you’d most probably be served with “mekici”. These are made from dough and fried. They are very delicious accompanied by “ayran” which is stirred yoghurt with water. Mmm… you’ll love it !

And when it’s your birthday, where do you go to celebrate and what do you do there?

Every year it’s different but now what I’m thinking of is first going to a popular fish restaurant eating some specialties in an unforgettable high class atmosphere, where we finish with a special desert that is produced only here. As the clock ticks and it’s midnight we go to a thematic club, dressed in special costumes and enjoy until we drop… normally 7am. But why not consider a bonfire up in the mountain and music in a large open space ? Hm, that’s good as well!

And your dream day: you have 24 hours in Bulgaria & unlimited money to spend, what would you do?

Money can’t be unlimited, unless you’ve won the lottery, but in this case these 24 hours are going to stay in your memory forever… I’d start from Nova Zagora where I’d do some kayaking in the Tundja river. After that I’d go to Karanovo to see the two burial mounds and the golden chariot dating back to 4 century after Christ. There is a wonderful guesthouse where I’d eat some of the Bulgarian specialties like “guveche” or even “banica”!

Then I’m going to Elenovo where I do wine tasting at one of the best Bulgarian wineries with numerous international awards and export covering almost the whole world! I’d do some buggy riding in the area with a professional guide and in the meantime some bird-watching. After that I’d visit Sliven and its cultural-historical sites to feel the spirit of the revolution and the Turks. Then I cannot wait to go up in the nature park with the chair-lift, one of the few operating in Bulgaria, and take some precious panoramic photos on the way and from the top.

From here I’d take an eco-trail leading through the park to Itchera village, which is famous with the freshest air to breathe inBulgaria. There I’d visit a guesthouse with a swimming pool to unwind for a bit and to taste another of the big choice of specialties on offer.

What’s next? I’d take a bike to Jeravna village which is a stunning architectural reserve – authentic is the only word that describes it! I’d then leave the bike and have a walk on the cobbled streets surrounded by the strong smell of old wood that’s coming from the houses on both sides of the small and narrow streets. Maybe I can take a horse cart to go around the village and relax a bit, then I’d definitely take a horse and ride it up to Kotel passing Medven and Katunishte villages which are small but a real must-see by horseback.

Kotel is a city you’d love because of its tranquility – it is nestled in a large forest and it appears as if the time has stopped. Of course from there I’d head to a guesthouse to sleep a bit and to recharge my batteries for the next 24 hours…maybe I’d do the same thing but including some paragliding, which is absolutely breathtaking.

This is my Bulgaria!

Bulgaria Tripbod Hristo offers tailored 1-to-1 trip planning on Tripbod.com. Contact Hristo directly to plan your personal local experience.

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Paris with personality: An individual take on the big city

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Paris Tripbod Charles brings a very individual breathe of fresh air to this well-travelled destination.

Reacquaint yourself with Paris, the city you thought you knew, through the eyes of a local personality.

Paris in 3 words:

“Vous etes Belle!” (You are beautiful)

The unique thing about Paris:

The amount attention always given to “Food and wine” by everyone. Every comestible and grape is worthy of a nod, comment or rating, no matter what its source or situation.  Come armed with plenty of food and wine opinions and you’ll fit in nicely.

Favourite Paris weekend activity:

Besides the Café Culture, walking. Walking in search of an urban adventure and sometimes urban adventures finds you. Ditch the map, wander and don’t forget to look up.

Favourite Parisian tradition:

Shopping. For some hetrosexual men shopping is a debacle, especially if it isn’t part of your fabric or routine. A premeditated shopping day is known as a “Happening”. Whether its for Xmas, a birthday, Valentine’s or a day of spending during France’s bi-annual sales. A well planned shopping day is essential.

A typical local Parisian breakfast:

Un express s’il vous plait! (An expresso if you please!) But if you have time to eat; add a croissant, a tartine ( baugette with jam and butter) freshly squeezed OJ, and perhaps a yogurt. To fit in with the native, “Bon jour Paris team”  a “Kir” (white wine and some syrupy sweet liqueur) always works well.

A birthday in Paris:

I refer to a birthday as a super-conscious day. You awake and the day is automatically focused on how would you like to be acknowledged.  I would start and end at La Creamerie located on rue des Quatre Vents in the 6th district. La Creamerie is an old fashioned wine tasting boutique converted from a real Dairy Moo shop. I would select a very super-conscious wine deserving of a Birthday from the 2500 bottles from the cave at the midday hour. Lunch,  I would leave up to Serge and all the charcuterie, but most of the time I prefer wine from France, cheese from Italy and some Iberian pig to nosh on for an afternoon of “Wine Tasting.” The journey of the day would taste better with stimulating conversation with Serge, my companion, or the many patrons that decide to swing-by.

Dream 24 hours in Paris

Can I take dream literally?

I’d proceed to the George V Hotel to secure a suite. I would have lunch and libations there, take an afternoon nap, swim, work-out in their in house pool & spa.

The limo would then take me to the legendary Tour d’Argent Restaurant for a dinner fit for Napoleon and a million man army. After the Champagne course and dessert first, I would request the chef de cusine, Laurent Delarbre, to prepare a grand sampling of the entire menu and be the first in Paris to be serve a 22 course extraganza.

After supper, its time for a digestive and dancing the night away at the historical Maxim’s De Paris on rue Royale.  I would probably knob-hob with all the eccentrics and artists and flex our sense of humour.

Paris Tripbod Charles offers 1-to-1 tailored trip planning on Tripbod.com. Contact Charles directly to plan your unique Parisian experience.

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The Real Greece: Remote beaches, Saint days & Local Tavernas

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Greece Tripbod Nick Edwards, spent 8 years living in Athens and travels back each year to write about his second home. Author of the Rough Guides to Greece, Corfu & the Greek Islands, as well as a regular contributor for Greek locations to easyjet’s  Traveller Magazine – there’s no better travel expert to tailor-make your trip to Greece.

Below he tells us about his favourite local traditions and why he’s adopted the country as his own.

What’s unique about Greece?

Greece is at once deepley rooted in its ancient past, yet a proud member of modern Europe. Its people are overwhelmingly friendly and bluntly short-tempered by turn. Food is delicious but don’t expect it hot or to arrive too quickly. There’s a great zest for life that overcomes its problems.

What’s your favourite weekend activity in Greece?

Getting out to a remote beach – of which there are many if you know where to look – and swimming, soaking up some sun and enjoying a local taverna and/or bar.

What’s your favourite Greek local tradition?

A penegyri – the celebration that takes place at a local church on the respective saint’s name day. It’s a fantastic time to be in the country.

What’s a typical breakfast for locals in Greece?

Breakfast’s not big in Greece – just some bread with feta, olives or maybe honey and yoghurt.

While you’re in Greece it’s your birthday – where do you go to celebrate?

If I’m in Athens, as my birthday’s in winter, I’d go to my favourite taverna, O Pinaleon, which has a warm atmosphere, great food and often live traditional music. Otherwise, any great local taverna – there really is nowhere better.

You have 24 hours in Greece & unlimited money to spend, what would you do?

I’ll imagine I’m in my favourite island of Lefkada at the end of summer. I’d hire a car for the day and take off for the mountain village of Englouvi to have a late breakfast in one of the traditional cafés, then head over to the west coast for a great afternoon lazing on near-deserted Egremni beach and walk round the headland. After a snack and aperitif at Panorama in nearby Athani, I’d end the day with an evening meal at Regantos in Lefkada Town and perhaps a nightcap in a seafront bar. Perfect!

Greece Tripbod Nick offers 1-to-1 tailored trip planning on Tripbod.com. Contact Nick directly for personal travel advice and co-create a bespoke trip itinerary for your authentic local Greek experience.

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Tripbod makes the grade: Voted #12 in Independent Top 50 Travel websites

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We’re beaming like proud parents here at Tripbod HQ having been named #12 in the Independent newspaper’s Top 50 Travel websites this weekend.

And we’re in great company – the extensive list covers everyone from big industry players Google maps and Twitter, right down to special interest travel sites like Go Learn to, Couch Surfing, and new site on the block, Local Okel.

We’re happy to see some of our favourite friends from the travel industry make the grade too: Green Traveller, One Fine Stay, Travel Rants and Mr & Mrs Smith would certainly all get our votes.

Check out the full list of recommendations here for the most up to date who’s who of top travel websites, to inspire and plan your next holiday. (Just remember who your first stop should be!)

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