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Have You Gone Triptrotting Yet?
Sandy Zimmerman’s Discover the ULTIMATE Magazines includes the ULTIMATE EVERYTHING- Discover the Ultimate Travel, Discover the Ultimate Entertainment, Discover the Ultimate Dining, Discover the Ultimate Health, and Lifestyles.
Imagine traveling to a new destination. You’ve never been to Mumbai before, and you’re excited to experience the culture. What to do? What to see? Are you really interested in joining the same pre-packaged tours as the rest of the “tourists”? Now imagine having a friend ready and waiting for your arrival. Whether you meet for a meal or get a personal tour around town, this local might be similar to you in age, profession and interests—all determined by a very sophisticated pairing algorithm that helps you find people who like to do what you do. 
Travelers can meet up with like-minded local hosts
Locals can meet travelers and make new friends at Triptrotting events all over the world
Novia, a Triptrotting host from Indonesia, has always wanted to have a foreign friend but hasn’t had a chance to travel abroad yet. She says, “Triptrotting actually made one of my dreams come true! I really want to have real foreigner friends, but there is nothing I can do, I barely go out of the country or have the opportunity to hang out with any foreigners. Then Denisha send me message to meet up and now we are friends. It was an unforgettable experience!!” Many local hosts use Triptrotting as a place to meet new friends that they otherwise would have never been able to encounter.
Another Triptrotter who had a memorable experience is Sebastian, who has been traveling for over 5 months in Asia. He mentions how he not only got to spend time with locals, but proves that the relationships formed through Triptrotting become ongoing friendships, “I actually first met Anna and Annie back in October, and then again during a second unexpected visit to Hong Kong last week. I would absolutely connect with hosts again.”
These encounters don’t always have to be one-on-one though; Triptrotting has a global team of Local Advisors who curate meetups and group activities all over the world. These activities can be as intimate as an outdoor movie screening with 10 people, or as epic as a 600-person takeover of a local hot spot in your city! The global team embodies Triptrotting’s mission of connecting travelers and hosts in every corner of the world, and these events are guaranteed to be as attractive to locals as they are to tourists!
Discover the ULTIMATE
Don’t miss SAWADEE THAILAND SERIES – KAREN Long-Neck Tribe- Inside the bamboo hut, Meet the AKHA Tribe, ancient customs, Luxury in Thailand’s exotic region, Ancient world of Siam, making an offering to a Monk, Dine in a restaurant owned by royalty, visit an elephant camp, ancient Ayutthaya, ride a bamboo raft down a jungle river, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, meet the Thai people, off- the- beaten-path experiences, invitations to events, and more!
Watch Sandy’s television program’s celebrity interviews along the Red Carpet at the Academy Awards, Oscar Night-Las Vegas-Style.
Also behind- the-scenes celebrity interviews, Show Reviews, invitations to events, openings, Las Vegas;
http://www.discovertheultimate.com/?page=entertainment
You will enjoy dining reviews, interviews, top chefs, openings, invitations to events, wine and food pairings, wine tastings, settings for weddings, romantic restaurants, unique theme parties, Las Vegas, Thai cuisine, dining around the world. www.discovertheultimatedining.com
Discover the Ultimate Health features the latest news from doctors and health professionals from the minimally invasive hip replacement operation to fitness and spas. Discover ancient spa treatments, one-stop pain medical center, “Bleacher of the stars” Kim Vo, when you look for a spa think of your health first, and more!
www.discovertheultimatehealth.com
If you have any Suggestions, Comments, or Questions, please contact Sandy: sandyzimm2003@yahoo.com
Australia Day – the Dublin Way
By: Denisha Brekke
While Denisha seems to change her mind daily about her passions and career goals, there is one thing she will never change her mind about: she loves traveling! Born and raised just north of San Francisco, CA, she has competed in every sport from softball to surfing, celebrated her last four New Year’s on four different continents, and recently graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in international business.
During the fall semester of my senior year at the University of Southern California, I chose to take a break from Los Angeles and study down under for an exchange semester. So realistically, it was their spring semester, but for Melbourne you might as well call it winter. For six months I lived in Melbourne, Australia, where I surfed, learned the rules of footy, attended a lifetime of barbecues, and partied with Aussies wearing neon body suits or something else ridiculous, on countless nights. Am I forgetting something? Oh yeah… I also attended my classes at the University of Melbourne, of course.
How do you celebrate Saint Patrick’s day in your country?
By Augusto
St. Patrick’s – Porteño -style
Ireland may be half a world away from Buenos Aires, but every March 17th you’ll start to doubt it. Why March 17? Because it’s St. Patrick’s Day! In Argentina, it’s a chance for porteños descended from the country’s 50,000 Irish immigrants to celebrate their heritage, and for everyone else to dress in green, enjoy some traditional music, and drink fantastic beer.
St. Patrick’s Day celebrates Ireland’s most famous patron saint, who — according to thе legend — freed the island from an infestation of snakes. You won’t find any reptiles in Buenos Aires; instead, a festive parade will slither its way across the neighborhood of Retiro from 7-8pm, beginning at Suipacha and Arroyo Str and ending in Plaza San Martin.
Downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina celebrates St. Patrick's Day 2010 (Source: http://society.ezinemark.com/)
From there, the fun moves on to Guinness-soaked Reconquista Str, home to many of the city’s traditional Irish pubs. It’s a rollicking way to pay homage to two of everyone’s favorite figures — San Patricio and Santa Cerveza!
Saint Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in some places like the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador as well as Montserrat. In other countries where there’s relatively big Irish Diaspora people also celebrate the holiday – Great Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand, among others. Some people even claim that St. Patrick’s Day is probably the most widely celebrated saint’s day in the world.
How do you celebrate Saint Patrick’s day at your country? Share your stories and photos on our Facebook Fan Page or on Twitter
5 Soles
Rachel has lived in 8 different countries on 4 different continents. Growing up in the US, she often dreamed of traveling and pursued a career in international business, specifically emerging markets. After extensive traveling around the world and moving to many major US cities while working in the US, she moved back to South America. Rachel loves trying new foods and wines, studying languages, sailing, water skiing, photography, running, and horseback riding. Her goals are to be trilingual or a millionaire. Having achieved the latter (in Colombian pesos), she is now actively pursuing the former.
Lima, Peru – gastronomy capital of South America, jumping off point to Machu Picchu, and where I lived for most of August. Unlike the typical tourist which arrives in Lima, stays a day and quickly departs to Machu Picchu, I was the odd person who actually lived in Lima, watching others come and go discussing the wonder. While others awed over breathtaking views of ruins, I spent my time searching for a job, price comparing coffee makers, negotiating phone contracts, and normal day-to-day boring stuff. I admit, I indulged in a 12-step, 3-hour tasting menu at Astrid y Gastón as well as consuming massive amounts of choripan, camote frito, churros, and pisco in the name of experiencing culture through food.
Besides memorable eating experiences, what I’ll take away most from living in Lima is the amazing memories of hanging out with my friends Kelly & Christian. The one thing I wanted but didn’t take though was 5 soles, the rough equivalent of $1.81.
Week 4 of the Winter Travel Photo Contest!
By: Triptrotting Team
It’s week 4 of Triptrotting & Let’s Go Travel’s winter traveler photo contest and we are loving the submissions! Our weekly themes have been: see, touch, taste, and smell. The next and final week’s theme will be “hear”! Did you know that when you submit photos you are automatically entered to win cool prizes? The first prize is a $50 Amazon.com gift card and a Citizens of the World t-shirt. The runner-up will receive a $20 gift card and a Citizens of the World t-shirt as well. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your pictures to other travelers and inspire them to embark on new journeys. Triptrotting and Let’s Go Travel will feature the winning photos on their websites, Facebook pages, and to their Twitter followers! We’re itching to pack up our bags and travel after seeing these photos… where should we go next?
See
We want a Triptrotter to win Urban Adventures’ London Gold
By: Triptrotting Team
We know all of you Triptrotters are believers in local travel. So when our friends at Urban Adventures started an exciting challenge, we couldn’t wait to share it with our community. Brace yourself, it’s a big announcement, an incredible opportunity, and we want a Triptrotter to win!
Urban Adventures is giving away their London business for the rest of 2012, and not only will the lucky winner have the experience of a lifetime, they’ll keep the profits along the way. Yes, you heard us right. London is one of Urban Adventures’ most successful destinations, and they’re looking for someone to take the helm of operations for a year.
To enter, simply upload a video or a photo that showcases your signature London tour on Urban Adventures’ Facebook page under #LondonGold. Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen amazing photos and videos that you guys shared on Triptrotting’s Facebook page! If you see London like Urban Adventures and Triptrotting see London, you’ll have no problem creating a unique, local perspective of one of the world’s greatest cities.
Facebook voting will determine two finalists, and an Urban Adventures judging panel will determine three finalists. The five finalists will then be interviewed by the General Manager of Urban Adventures, with one winner striking #LondonGold just in time for one of the busiest tourism summers London has ever seen!
If you win, not only will you get to lead your signature tour for the rest of 2012 (yeah, that’s right, people will be paying to see your London), you’ll also get to manage the rest of the London Urban Adventures operations, which includes a portfolio of seven other unique, popular tours and a group of awesome local guides.
The winner will be in charge of London Urban Adventures from 1 May to 31 December 2012, and at the end of it all, any profits made are yours to keep. Income is virtually uncapped, when you consider the massive influx of tourists into London this summer. If you can tap into some good local sales and marketing strategies, you’ll be set. Urban Adventures supports all their destinations with global sales and marketing, so you’ll be covered from all ends.
See why we want a Triptrotter to win? Have a look at the video and head to http://www.urbanadventures.com/london for more the details and the almighty terms & conditions (basically, you have to be over 18, fluent in written and spoken English, be legally entitled to work in the UK, and you’ve gotta know London like a local).
Enter on Facebook at facebook.com/UrbanAdventures, and click on the #LondonGold tab on the left.
Don’t forget to share your entry via Facebook and Twitter – you’re going to want your friends to cast their vote for you!
Contest closes 29 February 2012 – what are you waiting for?!
Questions? Contact london@urbanadventures.com
Free walking tours all around the world!
Let’s be honest… Who doesn’t like FREE stuff, especially when we are traveling? Tight budgets, thousands already spent on transportation and almost nothing left to spend in the travel destination. It could be rather frustrating… That is why our friends at Free Sofia Tour decided to put together a list of all Free Tours that they could find around the world, from Vilnius to Sydney to Mumbai. It’s truly amazing.
So here you go, sorted by city name (if you know any other tours, please email us and we’ll add it here):
- Amsterdam, Netherlands – New Amsterdam Tours
- Athens, Greece – Athens Free Walking Tour
- Barcelona, Spain – Runner Bean Tours
- Barcelona, Spain – B Side Free Tour Barcelona
- Bath, UK – The Mayor of Bath’s Corps of Honorary Guides
- Belgrade, Serbia – Belgrade Walking Tours
- Berlin, Germany – Alternative Berlin Tours
- Berlin, Germany – Brewer’s Berlin Tours Free Express Tour
- Berlin, Germany – New Berlin Free Tours
- Brasov, Romania – Guided Brasov Free City Tour
- Bratislava, Slovakia – Be Free Tours
- Brussels, Belgium – Brussels Greeters
- Brussels, Belgium – New Brussels Free Tour
- Bucharest, Romania – Guided Bucharest
- Budapest, Hungary – Free Budapest Walking Tours
- Budapest, Hungary – Free Budapest Tours
- Buenos Aires, Argentina – BA Free Tour
- Copenhagen, Denmark – New Copenhagen Tours
- Cusco, Peru – Free Walking Tour Peru
- Dublin, Ireland – Pat Liddy’s Walking Tours
- Dublin, Ireland – New Dublin Tours
- Edinburgh, Scotland – New Edinburgh Tours
- Florence, Italy – New Florence Free Tour
- Hamburg, Germany – New Hamburg Tours
- Istanbul, Turkey – Istanbul Free Tour
- Istanbul, Turkey – Free Walking Tours Istanbul
- Jerusalem, Israel – New Jerusalem Tours
- Krakow, Poland – Free Walking Tour
- Lima, Peru – Lucid Lima
- Lisbon, Portugal – Lisbon Free Tour
- Ljubljana, Slovenia – Ljubljana Free Tour
- London, UK – New London Tours
- London, UK – Alternative London Free Tour
- Madrid, Spain – My Madrid Free Tour
- Madrid, Spain – New Madrid Tours
- Melbourne, Australia – Melbourne Free Tour
- Melbourne, Australia – Meltours
- Milan, Italy – New Milan Free Tour
- Moscow, Russia – Free Moscow Tour
- Mumbai, India – Let’s Walk Mumbai
- Munich, Germany – New Munich Free Tour
- New Orleans, United States – Free Walking Tours of New Orleans
- New York, United States – NY By Foot
- Odessa, Ukraine – Free Tours Odessa
- Paris, France – City Free Tour
- Paris, France – New Paris Tours
- Paris, France – Paris Walks
- Philadelphia, United States – Free Walking Tours of Philadelphia
- Pisa, Italy – Free Pisa Tour
- Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Free Plovdiv Tour
- Porto, Portugal – Porto Free Tour
- Prague, Czech Republic – Prague Extravaganza Free Tour
- Prague, Czech Republic – New Prague Free Tour
- Prague, Czech Republic – Royal Walk Free Tour
- Riga, Latvia – Yellow Free Tours
- Reykjavik, Iceland – Reykjavik Free Walking Tour
- Rome, Italy – New Rome Free Tour
- Rome, Italy – Rome Free Tour
- Saint Petersburg, Russia – Saint Petersburg Free Tour
- San Francisco, US – San Francisco City Guides
- Santiago, Chile – Free Tour Santiago
- Santiago, Chile – Spicy Chile
- Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Free Sarajevo Walking Tours
- Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Sarajevo Insider Free Tour
- Sevilla, Spain – Sevilla Free Tour
- Sofia, Bulgaria – Free Sofia Tour
- Stockholm, Sweden – Free Tour Stockholm
- Sydney, Australia – I’m Free
- Sydney, Australia – Peek Tours
- Tallinn, Estonia – Yellow Free Tours
- Tampere, Finland – Tampere Free Tour
- Tel Aviv, Israel – New Tel Aviv Tour
- Tokyo, Japan – Free Tokyo Tour
- Tokyo, Japan – Tokyo Free Guide
- Toronto, Canada – Tour Guys
- Utrecht, Netherlands – Utrecht Free Tours
- Vancouver, Canada – Tour Guys
- Venice, Italy – New Venice Free Tour
- Vilnius, Lithuania – Yellow Free Tours
- Washington, US – DC By Foot
Winter Travel Photo Contest
Who said that pictures are only good to look at? Triptrotting, in partnership with our friends at Let’s Go, would like to challenge you to enter A Winter Traveler Photo Contest. Every week you can submit a photo that fits the theme of the week here in the categories listed! The winner of the contest will win $50 Amazon Card and Citizen of the World T-Shirt and the Runner up will get $20 Amazon Card and Citizen of the World T-shirt! Best photos will also be featured on Triptrotting and Let’s Go sites, Facebook and Twitter! GOOD LUCK!
Check out the details here!
Ultimate Adventures: From EU to LA…
After flying across three continents, two oceans, and exploring much of Eastern Europe in just a month, it seemed fitting that my Ultimate Triptrotting Adventure end where it started just a few short months before: in LA. City of angels, of beaches, of aspiring actors and actresses from around the globe. Far more relevant to my time there, however, was LA as base for the Triptrotting office! This is where it had all began, the idea for the contest, the launch, the votes, the decision to send me abroad as am ambassador-of-sorts for the company. Here is where the founders live, work, and lay the foundations for travelers around the world to connect and to gain the ‘local’ experience. How truly symbolic that my ‘local’ experience in LA happened to be with the very people who inspired it all!
Triptrotting Team and Yolanda having fun in the office 🙂
And boy did they hook me up! From staying in a typical LA apartment, complete with pool and access to shopping and celebrities at the nearby Grove, to invites to excusive guest-listed clubs and afterparties, to wine-tasting of some fabulous California wine, to night time drives up the hills to see LA spread out below, and beyond. I’m talking Michael Jackson tributes, the grand opening of an ice-cream parlour, Mexican restaurant hopping, Korean BBqs, lounging on Santa Monica Beach, partying with some of LA’s finest at the exclusive birthday party of a well-known event planner, and a day spent at Walt Disney studios (normally off limits to members of the public). Not to mention tours of the Triptrotting office, where so much magic happens! Photo shoots with the team, time spent giving interviews in the studio, the chance to see an album being recorded by an up-and-coming Seattle hip-hop duo Striking Back. Oh, and in case you’re not convinced that my time in LA was suitably awesome, Triptrotting also invited me to the very first TRIPup event in LA. There, I had the chance to meet up with other locals and travelers at the beautiful W Hotel in Hollywood. All-in-all, not a bad introduction to the city of LA!
You don’t wanna hear it from me though, check out video evidence on Triptrotting TV instead!
TRIPup rocks Milan and Sofia!
By: Aigerim Duis
What do Milan and Sofia have in common? They have hundreds of Triptrotters who got together this month for an amazing night out in town with locals and travelers! Great food, drinks and awesome new friends… What else can you ask for?
TRIPup Sofia
On October 17, 2011 Triptrotters together with the Free Sofia Tour rocked Sofia’s Club Culture Beat! Thanks to an amazing Location Adviser Boyko, who has put the event together! According to Sofia Tonight “Culture beat is not just a nightclub or boutique- café, not just a bar or a place, where you can eat something tasty. It’s all taken together and before that- it is the new home and cultural center for artists and people who feel such as them. Culture beat is a crazy strong mix of styles. Sofia’s industrial, street vintage and socialism in contrast of elegant and aristocratic elements which have been sited in one great culture chic. Moreover, the entry in Culture beat, the first thing that you can feel is the flowing sense of comfort and coziness” It was a perfect venue for Triptrotting event! Locals, young professionals and students from Sofia and Tilburg Universities came to hang out with travelers and expats in the city.
TRIPup Milan
On October 14 another Location Adviser, Anna, hosted TRIPup in Milan at a local Mag Cafe in the heart of the city. The beautiful photography and art design of the Mag Cafe were perfect reflections of the eclectic culture of Milano! TRIPup Milan brought together locals and travelers – Students from University of Milan and Bocconi, young professionals from local companies and backpackers got to make new friends and enjoy awesome Aperitifs from the Mag Cafe. We are definitely hosting more events in Milan soon!
To see all of Triptrotting’s past TRIPups and even apply to host one in your city, visit our new Triptrotting Events page!
Triptrotting 