Visit Half Moon Cay (Holland America’s Private island) in the Bahamas the Amateur Traveler: This video shows the beach, activities like horse back riding and the stingray pool. This cruise was on Holland America’s MS Vollendam.

Show Notes

Save up to 75% on Holland America Cruises - Book Now!

Last Minute Cruises

Get up to $100 onboard credit, a Pinnacle Grill dining experience and a Free Onboard Savings Booklet on Holland America Cruises!

click here to download (m4v)
click here to download (Apple TV)

The Amateur Traveler talks to Marilyn about her recent trip to Madagascar as well as the experience of growing up in this remote and exotic destination. Learn about beaches, lemurs, vanilla, and beaches.

News

Europe - Packaged Tour Groups Pros/Cons

Show Notes

click here to download (mp3)
click here to download (iTunes enhanced)

Madagascar
Antananarivo
Tôlanaro
Ile Sainte Marie tourism
Île Sainte-Marie
Berenty Reserve (where the lemurs are)
Toliara
Malagasy Language
Madagascar Health Concerns
TravelBeyond.com - experts in travel to Madagascar and elsewhere (ask for Suzanne)
WildMadagascar.org
Music of Madagascar

Internet Resources

LateRooms.com - get a last minute hotel room
Travel Tip - to save money try and bundle your airfare and hotel when you are going to one destination

Community

Keith sends in a correction about Tunisian Visas
Lots of positive feedback on Iran show

The Amateur Traveler talks to Anthony Sandberg from the OCSC about the sport of sailing, sailing vacations and sailing in the Aegean. Learn about private beachs, pictureque fishing villages and how you can get involved in the sport of sailing.

News

Dear American Airlines
Patch 1 - Montezuma’s Revenge 0
Airline that Will Charge by the Pound?

Show Notes

click here to download (mp3)
click here to download (iTunes enhanced)

Olympic Circle Sailing Club (OCSC)
Hydra island off Athens, no motors allowed
Folegandros - an alternative to Santorini (Thira)
Folegandros
Cyclades map
Milos - “best beaches” in Greece
OCSC Flotillas
OCSC Nepal Adventure
OCSC Shackleton Adventure

OCSC Giving Back

Internet Resources

Airline baggage fees chart from AirfareWatchdog.com

Community

Nick writes form Ireland
Do you know North Carolina?
Prashant on London
London Walks

Please welcome Budget car rental as a sponsor of the show. Click on the ad to get 10% off your next car rental or $30 off a weekly rental.

The Amateur Traveler talks to Juliana who grew up in Lancaster County Pennsylvania about the Amish, the food and other attractions that draw tourists to this picturesque rural countryside.

News

American Airlines Charges To Check Luggage
TripAdvisor Blackmail

Show Notes

click here to download (mp3)
click here to download (iTunes enhanced)

Amish
Anabaptist
Mennonite
Dutch Wonderland
Rockvale Square Outlets
Pennsylvania Dutch
Kitchen Kettle Village
Good N’ Plenty Restaurant
Willow Valley Resort
Red Caboose Motel
Strasburg Railroad
the Maize Maze - a maze made in a corn field
Hershey’s Chocolate World
Hershey Park
Shady Maple Smorgasbord

Internet Resources

Lonely Planet will now sell you just a chapter from one of their guidebooks
Spend US$40 at the Lonely Planet Shop and receive free delivery and a free gift

Community

Richard rights about cruise, underwater video and the Amateur Traveler video show
Ghasem writes to say “Iran is proounced I as Indiana + RAN as run. Do not forget to visit Persepolice.”

The Amateur Traveler talks to himself about a recent visit to (England and) Greece. Hear about the Beatles Magic Mystery Tour in Liverpool, Some updates on London and then about Athens, Santorini and Crete in Greece. Where is the history, the shopping and how can you survive the driving.

News

Board post about ytb
YTB and Multi-Level Marketing Travel Agencies
The Home Travel Agent Podcast

Show Notes

click here to download (mp3)
click here to download (iTunes enhanced)

England 2008 photos
Greece 2008 photos
Episode 71 - Liverpool, England
Don MacAllister’s ScreenCastsOnline
Episode 118 - London, England
John Lenon’s first band played Skiffle Music
I met Crag and Linda of the The Indie Travel Podcast
Omonia Square in Athens, don’t stay here
We loved our stay at Mathios Village in Akrotiri on Santorini and the hospitality of our host Costas
Costas’ travel agency - Akrotiri Travel-Agency
Helen Swanston’s Swan’s Nest Bed and Breakfast on Crete

56 London Attractions - 1 Ticket: The London Pass

Book London theatre tickets - exclusive half-price and discount tickets from Official Agents Book London Theatre Tickets now!

Sightseeing Tours with British Airways Holidays

Click Here For Greece Discount Hotels

Greek Rail Pass

Browse Hotel Deals for Athens, Greece

Acropolis views. Unforgettable nights. The lowest hotel rates in Athens.

Internet Resources

10 Tips to Combat Jet Lag

Community

Support the show by using these Affiliates links
What do you think of the idea of a class on how to be an independent traveler?

The Amateur Traveler talkes to Heather from “heather on her Travels” about her recent trip to Valencia Spain. Hear about the modern city of arts and sciences, the old quarter and the fun of setting things on fire during the Fallas festival,

News

Come to Kenya, US ambassador tells US travelers
10 Most Comfortable Airline Economy Seats

Show Notes

click here to download (mp3)
click here to download (iTunes enhanced)

Heather On Her Travels
Heather’s pictures of Valencia
Valencia, Spain
Valencia, Spain on Wiki Travel
Santiago Calatrava
Hospitality Club
Couchsurfing
Gardian series on travelling
round South America using social networking sites
Notes from Spain podcast on the Fallas festival
Backpacker’s Hostel - Bario Carmen
Rooms Deluxe in Valencia

Internet Resources

Tourist Remover
The Geeky Traveler on Tourist Remover

Community

Chris will be traveling and that means reruns
Comments on “Iran by Bike”
Family on Bikes
feedback from an iranian student

Visit Como in Italy with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows the memorial to the victims of fascism, the funicular and the cathedral.

Show Notes

Como, Italy
Eurail France - Italy Pass

click here to download (m4v)
click here to download (apple TV)

The Amateur Traveler talks to twenty something vagabond Matt Kepnes about his trip to the less visited Western part of Australia. Hear about swimming with porpoises in out of the way 50 person towns, Perth, back packer buses, Uluru and Karijini National Park.

News

You Are Complaining About What??
Airlines Fly Slower, Save Gas

Show Notes

click here to download (mp3)
click here to download (iTunes enhanced)

Nomadic Matt - Matt’s travel blog
Matt’s pictures
Perth, Australia
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Australia Map
Backpacker Bus - Perth to Broome
History of Australia
Karijini National Park
Monkey Mia
Thorny Devil
Aussie Burger

Australia & New Zealand Travel Pack


Walking in Australia Guide


Going Bush: Adventures Across Indigenous Australia (Series 1 DVD)

Internet Resources

TVTrip.com - Video Hotel Reviews

Community

The Sydney Visitor Podcast
Gary likes the show and wonders where I find the time
The Croatia show did not work for Ardis

The Amateur Traveler talks to Barbara Egbert, her husband Gary and daughter Mary. Barbara is the author of “Zero Days: The Real Life Adventure of Captain Bligh, Nellie Bly, and 10-year-old Scrambler on the Pacific Crest Trail”. The book is about their adventure with then 10-year-old Mary who became the youngest through hiker on the 2500 mile long Pacific Crest Trail.

News

Eat for Free at Walt Disney World
Airline: “Sorry, Your Kid is not Dead”
Royal Caribbean Plans a Floating Park

Show Notes

click here to download (mp3)
click here to download (iTunes enhanced)

Zero Days: The Real Life Adventure of Captain Bligh, Nellie Bly, and 10-year-old Scrambler on the Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail
Pacific Crest Trail Association
Pacific Crest Trail
Tahoe Rim Trail
Captain Bligh
Pocket Rocket Camp Stove

Community

Chris interviewed by Cali Lewis for “On Location”

The Amateur Traveler talks to Friedel from TravellingTwo.com about a bike trip around the world. This episode focuses on the most hospitable country that have come to so far: Iran. Learn about ancient ruins, Tehran picnics, where to find kabobs and how to find something else when you get tired of them.

News

2007 - No Deaths on Scheduled U.S. Commercial Flights
Think Israel, Think Bikinis?
“The 10 best podcasts on the Internet” includes the Amateur Traveler

Show Notes

click here to download (mp3)
click here to download (iTunes enhanced)

TravellingTwo.com - Friedel and Andrew’s travel journal
map of their trip
Iran
Shiraz, Iran
Yazd, Iran
Zoroastrian

Iran Travel Guide

Internet Resources

Make and receive calls to ordinary phones with your computer. www.skype.com

Visit Lake Como in Italy with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows the lovely towns of Verenna, Bellaggio and the ferry ride between them.

Show Notes

Lake Como, Italy
Hotel Villa Cipressi

click here to download (m4v)
click here to download (AppleTV)

Click Here For Italy Discount Hotel Reservations



Italy Rail Passes

Best Life Magazine, a men’s magazine, just named a list of the “The 10 best podcasts on the Internet“.

In addition to two shows from NPR, the TED conference, the Economist, they named the Amateur Traveler. Cool.

Chris Christensen created “Amateur Traveler,” a weekly hour-long audio and video podcast, to keep you as far away from tourists wearing jean shorts and Big Johnson T-shirts as possible. Each episode explores world destinations with guidebook writers, journalists, and veteran nomads. You’ll learn the best place to find lobster paella in Barcelona, how to motorbike through India, and where to go for a far-flung family vacation. Whet your wanderlust by scrolling through the archive of more than 125 past broadcasts.

The Amateur Traveler talks to Amanda Castleman about a trip to the less explored parts of Croatia: Trogir, Plitvice Lakes, Mount Medvednica, Marija Bistrica, Krapina.

News

Airlines Ground Flights - 100,000+ Travelers Effected
Another Airline Down - Skybus Closes

Show Notes

click here to download (mp3)
click here to download (iTunes enhanced)

Croatia
Croatia map
Croatia National Tourism Board
Edward Readicker-Henderson
Mount Medvednica
“Whiter Shade of Pale” by Amanda Castleman
Castle Hotel Bezanec
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Frommer’s Dream Vacations
Hotel Arcotel Allegra
Esplanade Hotel Zagreb
Current State Department Travel Warnings
Krapina - Neaderthal Site
Marija Bistrica, Croatia

Eurail Austria and Slovenia/Croatia Youthpass

Elizabeth who is a Walt DisneyWorld VIP tour guide and was our guest for Episode 131 - Walt Disney World joins us for the 2nd live episode where we take questions, reminisce and generally talk about both Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida.

Show Notes

click here to download (mp3)

Yesterland.com - Disney Nastalgia
Disneyland
Disneyworld

The Amateur Traveler talks to Hoylen about a recent trip to Tunisia. Hear about the berber and Carthaginian ruins, the medina, the dessert landscapes and also some of the locations used to film Star Wars.

News

Aloha Airways - Aloha Means Goodbye
Air Travel A La Carte
Heathrow Headaches

Show Notes

click here to download (mp3)
click here to download (iTunes enhanced)

Hoylen’s Tunisia Trip website
Hoylen’s Tunisia Travel guide
Tunisia
Official Tunisia Tourism Site
Tunis
Wiki Travel - Tunisia
Wiki Travel - Tunis
Carthage
Sahara desert
Bardo Museum
History of Rome podcast
Star Wars Locations
More Star Wars Locations

Internet Resources

National Geographic Traveler Photography Seminar

Community

Live Show on TalkShoe - April 12th - noon PT, 3pm ET
2008 Travvies Nominations: Best Podcast or Video Blog
John’s Letter
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
2008 Travvies Nominations

Visit the Cinque Terra on the Italian Coast with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows the northern most three towns (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia) of the five picturesque towns of Italy’s Cinque Terra National Park.

Show Notes

Cinque Terra

click here to download (m4v)
click here to download (Apple TV)

The Amateur Traveler talks to Elizabeth who is a VIP tour guide at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Elizabeth will share some of her wisdom on things to do in the park, best hotels, best restaurants, Disney runs, fireworks cruises, etc.

News

US Amends Kenyan Travel Warning
Europe’s Dirtiest Cities

Show Notes

click here to download (mp3)
click here to download (iTunes enhanced)

Walt Disney World
VIP Tour Service
DisneyWorld Park Overview
Magic Kingdom Tips
Animal Kingdom Tips
Epcot Tips
Extra Magic Hours
Contemporary Resort
Yacht Club Resort
Runs at Disney World
Epcot DiveQuest
Boating at WDW
WDW - Special Dietary Requests

Internet Resources

How to Book a Cheap Flight

Community

Live Show on TalkShoe - April 12th - noon PT, 3pm ET, Elizabeth who was our guest in this episode will join us.
Allison and a shy listener from Seattle requested information about Lancaster County Pennsylvania and Georgia

The Amateur Traveler talks to Melissa about her current home Finland. Hear about saunas, summer cottages, mid-Summer celebrations, Helsinki, Turku, and day tripping to Tallinn.

News

Dinner in the Sky
latest “Fly With Me” by Joe Dion
Don’t Threaten to “Kill the Crew”

Show Notes

click here to download (mp3)
click here to download (iTunes enhanced)

Mellssa’s pictures
more of Mellssa’s pictures
Finland
Visit Finland (Official Finland Tourism site)
Virtual Finland
Helsinki
Helsinki (WikiTravel)
Finno-Ugric languages
Alvar Aalto - Finish architect
Suomenlinna - fortress in Helsinki
Tallinn, Estonia
National Art Gallery
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art
Omena Hotels - budget hotel in Helsinki
Unicafe Ylioppilasaukio - student restaurant in Helsinki
Turku Finland

Internet Resources

InsideTrip.com article

Community

Welcome new Amateur Traveler Video AppleTV version watchers
Please remember to review the Amateur Traveler on iTunes
Google Earth file - Amateur Traveler episodes
Click to review Amateur Traveler in iTunes
Live Show on TalkShoe - April 12th - noon PT, 3pm ET
Joseph and Amy write in

Visit the Italian Riviera with the Amateur Traveler: Rapallo near Portafino, the ferry from La Spezia to the Cinque Terra. Also visit the southern most of the 5 towns in the Cinque Terra which is Riomaggiore.

Show Notes

Portafino
Cinque Terre

click here to download (iPod)
click here to download (Apple TV)