The economy might have a tight hold on our wallets, but it doesn’t have to make gift-giving a chore.
Choose a mix of practical, fun, and affordable goodies, and make this a holiday season they’ll appreciate.
Today’s travel film selection comes from Matador community member, adamrussell.
This documentary film is the sequel to Endless Summer in which two surfers follow the footsteps of surf gods, Mike Hynson and Robert August.
In Endless Summer II, the goal of the trip is to find the best waves around the world in places such as South Africa, Costa Rica, France, Bali, and other exotic locations while avoiding the cold currents of winter.
Monster waves, hi jinx, attractive locals, and magnificent views of the film will “fuel” the wanderlust of any potential surfer or traveler.
Every time I feel the urge to travel, I watch Endless Summer to get my plans and ideas flowing.
Whether I plan to go surfing is negligible, but as a viewer, the movie’s direction takes you to great waves as well as through the culture of the places the guys surf.
Price: $17.99 | BUY
As you curl up comfortably in your favorite chair with a steaming cup of coffee on the table next to you, any one of these eight travel fiction books will aid you in flights of fantasy and imagination.
This year, going green is at the top of everybody’s minds, so what better way to say “Happy Holidays” than by signing someone up for a subscription to the magazine that cares about the environment? – Wend Magazine
Wend Magazine definitely practices what it preaches. Each magazine is printed on FSC certified sustainably sourced paper using non toxic, soy based ink.
It actively supports the green movement by donating 25% of subscription fees to its environmental non-profit partners.
As a great holiday offer, Wend is offering up half off a second subscription. So you can get a subscription for yourself and another for a friend or family member for half the price.
Visit Wend’s subscription page and get your hands on one of the best narrative travel adventure magazines out there.
To learn more, check out Wend’s website at http://wendmag.com
In many ways, the goals of travel are most purely realized through adventure.
Commenting on this, Mark Jenkins said that “Adventure is a path. Real adventure—self-determined, self-motivated, often risky—forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it.”
Here are eight books that are some of the greatest travel adventure stories ever told.
In Study Abroad: What Are You Waiting For?, Tanya Brothen makes the case for studying abroad in five solid points. Tim Patterson explores what it feels like to study abroad in an eco-village through an interview with Matador member Daniel Greenberg, founder of Living Routes.
Now you’re considering packing up your textbooks and heading overseas but you’re faced with so many destination choices. Why not consider Chile?
In the ultimate quest to make backpacks lighter during your travels, the Traveler’s Companion combines two essential packing list staples into one multifunctional tool.
In addition to providing a travel alarm clock and flashlight, a couple extra electronics are thrown in for good measure.
With the Traveler’s Companion, you get:
This lightweight travel gadget runs on 3 AAA batteries, and with a dimension of 1.2 inches x 5.5 inches, tucks away nicely and also saves you space.
Price: $19.99 | BUY
You’re heading off on the trip of a lifetime. You’ve been shopping for everything you need – you’ve bought your pack, your travel clothes and your earplugs, so you’re all set.
But chicks have slightly different needs than guys. Have you packed these small essentials?
Today’s book recommendation comes from Matador Travel community member, AdventureDoc
After I had gotten some European travel under my belt, I read this book because I was beginning to explore some areas of the world I had little experience with.
Pelton’s book not only equips travelers with practical information and tips for travel in “dangerous places” but he also includes some solid background on those regions.
His writing style is unique in that it presents a lot of potentially negative information in a humorous and frank manner.
Whether you’re stuck without water in a desert, find yourself face to face with predatory animals, or have just been kidnapped, there are tons of tips that prepare you to handle challenging situations.
This book should be read by all travelers looking to go to a distant land that (unfortunately) frequents newspaper headlines.
My husband David and I are on a mad quest to simplify our lives after traveling around the world for 14 months. On that amazing adventure, we survived with the bare minimum crammed into packs on our backs.
A nomadic lifestyle brings its own set of challenges, but it’s incredibly cathartic as well.
I recently taught a seminar at several Northern California REI stores entitled, “Tips for Extended World Travel.” Among other things, packing and gear graced my agenda.
The audience audibly gasped when I displayed the Kelty Redwing 3,100 backpacks we used for our year-plus journey – the same packs we carried for our 2005 three-month jaunt through Southeast Asia.
On its website, REI says the Redwing “is a natural for day hiking, commuting or school“, which makes our feat even more commendable.
