Travel Magazines. Who's the Audience?

When there are antlers and big mouth bass mounted on the walls, there's a Field and Stream on the coffee table. If you're sipping sweet tea in a sun room with the aroma of lilac and roses sweeping around you, check for the Better Homes and Garden on the wicker side table. Have a friend with five kids and a day care? Look for Parenting to be laying around somewhere...maybe under the teething ring and Cheerios.

Those are all certainly pretty broad generalizations, but there's a publication for every hobbyist. Including, of course, travelers. In reading over a well-known publication that I subscribe to, one thing kept entering my mind. Another pesky generalization that I was beginning to make about the writers and travelers of not only this publication, but others like it. I just kept thinking, 'These people sure seem pretentious." And I realized that is the reason that I don't often read travel magazines.

Magazines seem to be speaking to a certain type of traveler - and there are many different types to be sure. I feel as though to rate as a 'magazine traveler' you must be an architectural design major, a foodie, or an expert in the great arts of the world. That doesn't bode well for me. I know the difference between a door and a window, I don't even own salt, and my knowledge of art doesn't extend much beyond 'that guy who cut his ear off.'

So I'm already cut out of understanding or relating to a third of a travel magazine. Seriously. I skip large paragraphs because they contain words like 'compote' or 'fenestration.' Personally, I'd rather read about travel destinations and the different historical sites, fun excursions, or cultural experiences that a traveler should be looking for. But time and time again I get the travel magazine article blueprint (there's some architecture jargon for you) - flashy food place, hip art joint, and where the locals go.

It seems in order to be a magazine traveler, you should never, ever be a tourist. Forget about the well-known, ignore the quintessential. I say...no. If you're in New York City and you want to eat at Hard Rock in Times Square, then do it. If you're in Paris and you want to stand in line for hours with two hundred other people to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower, then do it. Tourist traps are not always bad things. I said it. Burn me at the stake. It isn't that I don't advocate digging for something deeper, and finding things off the beaten path - but is there really something so wrong with keeping on the worn path for a block or two and then veering off? Maybe more of an attitude of 'go where the tourists go and go where the locals go.'

There is no one right or wrong way to travel. There are those who like sit on the beach all day and never move, or sleep the day away so that they can experience the nightlife. Adventurers might look for the most outrageous, or dangerous outing possible and some just want to get cultural. Every one of those is a perfectly acceptable way to travel or vacation. But most travel publications speak to a small niche, which I do not feel I fall into.

Read most any of my blogs and they don't sound like a major publication article. There are many, many reasons for that and I don't need to delve into critiquing my writing, but I think it's mostly because I'm a laid back, accessible traveler. I don't have a lot of money to spend, I'm not trying to be hip, I just want to see the world and share my experiences. So honestly, I'm sort of hoping I never do write like a travel writer.

Mesa Verde, Colorado

I really laid off of my obsessive planning habits for my trip to Colorado. I was ready to just go with the flow, except for one thing. I pretty much insisted we make the two hour trip out to Mesa Verde.

We didn't know if we should drive ourselves or take a tour, but it ended up that taking a tour was going to be  much easier for us. The prices were reasonable for an all day trip, especially since it was a two hour drive. We were recommended Wilderness Journeys from a friend, and they were fabulous!

The tour left early in the morning with one pit stop on the way to Mesa Verde. Our park fee ($10-$15 depending on the time of year) was covered, but the tour guide, John, stopped to get tickets and picked us up brochures. We had a fairly long drive to the top (20 winding miles), but it was beautiful and John stopped often to allow us to take photos. We could see all the way to Utah  as clear as the day was...or maybe Utah just isn't that far.

Spruce Tree House

Because it was winter, the only cliff dwelling we could visit was Spruce Tree House. This dwelling is located next to the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum. Most of the year this would be a self-guided tour, but we met up with a Park Ranger to take the tour. They offer tours three times daily in the winter and I would recommend it. You'll learn far more. Several of the other cliff dwellings require a tour guide so be sure to check on times. Hours and tour times are listed for each dwelling here.

After the tour we had lunch in the cafeteria and visited the museum. Lots of interesting artifacts in the museum and a short, but good, informational video. And of course a gift shop!

Down in a Kiva - an underground room used for religious purposes

On the way down John took the Mesa Top Loop Road which gave us views of more dwellings - Square Tower House, Cliff Palace (the largest dwelling), and several surface dwellings. Not to mention some of the views we had of the surrounding mountains and valleys, which were amazing. John was able to teach us quite a bit as well.

A dwelling across the box canyon

Although I don't seem to have written much, this was a full, long, wonderful day. I slept all the way home (the biggest bonus of a tour!).

If you're planning a visit most importantly you need to check the online schedules to see what is open and when tours from Park Rangers are offered. Also see which tours are self-guided, and which require a Park Ranger. Getting to the dwellings can be difficult. Trails are steep so make sure you are of able body. John assured us that the park is crawling with people in the summer and much more enjoyable in the winter months. Even though we could only visit one dwelling, the views of the others made me agree that winter would be best. There are a ton more things to do that I'm not even getting into, so spend some time perusing their website http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm to learn more!

Are You Traveling Somewhere Safe?

Every now and then a horrible story will hit the news about a traveler who is beaten, kidnapped, killed (most recently in Brazil). This certainly decreases travel to those areas, as expected. Some places are just better left alone and not visited. And not all those places may be immediately obvious.

When planning a trip the first thing you should do is research to make sure your destination is safe for tourists. Check again right before you leave for the trip. It may be that certain areas should be avoided, or maybe just after dark. But following the advice of Foreign Affairs agencies should be a major priority for any traveler.

The following site is maintained by the Government of Canada...but hey, not safe for Canadians equals not safe for Americans. Each country shows the level of caution that should be taken, as well as if travel should be avoided all together. Clicking on a country will show international advisories and reasons caution should be employed.

http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories

A map of advisories is also available on the site.

United, US Air, or JetBlue?

In the past month and a half I've been on 10 airplanes. I realize for some people that's nothing (people like...pilots for instance), but for the average person that's a lot. Six of those planes took me to and home from Colorado, and those were all United Planes. Two of the planes took me to and home from New York, both JetBlue. And finally US Airways took me to New York again, with JetBlue taking me home. So how do these three airlines stack up against each other and which would I recommend hands down? Let's find out.

United is a perfectly fine airline. I had no problems per say - but they will nickle and dime you to death. Only  using dollar bills and fives. First of all there's a $25 for checked luggage, and that's your first bag. The second bag is $35 and increases with each consecutive bag. Not uncommon for airlines these days though.

Then you get on the plane and have the pleasant surprise that there's live Direct TV in the back of the seat in front of you. At least most likely, not all planes may have been upgraded to this yet. Either way, unless you're going to shell out another six bucks you aren't watching that tv. After about 30 minutes of teasing the tv shuts off unless you swipe a credit card. At least they provide you with free headphones to listen to your paid-for-movie or the free radio in your arm rest. The headphones are in the seat pockets if you're wondering. If you get an older plane, back when they gave you entertainment for free, you might be watching a pre-selected movie on the tvs that drop down from the ceiling. They apparently haven't figured out a way to charge per customer for that.

Now comes the beverage cart. You'll get your drink for free. But that's it. If you want something to eat you'll have to pay for that too. And nothing comes cheap.

I had several delays (including an hour on the tarmac) with United, but with bad weather being a factor I don't know how much was avoidable. My luggage did make it to Durango before I did, and while that's better than later, how come I couldn't be on the earlier plane? I also encountered my only rude stewardess on a United plane, for whatever that's worth.

Skytrax, a global program that measures airline quality through detailed audits, gives United a 3 Star rating. Click here to see their full ratings.

JetBlue starts off on the right, and cost-effective foot by offering customers their first checked bag at no cost. The money saving continues on the plane as you're served drinks and snacks for free. Snacks are varied, as are drinks (although they're missing the cran-apple drink that is my airline favorite). If I remember correctly drinks are pre-poured into a plastic cup and you don't get the entire can, but that seems like a small trade off. They also get drinks three or four at a time, which seems to go faster and there's no drink cart bashing in people's elbows. On the last flight one of the flight attendants was passing out water before everyone was even in their seat. How nice.

Entertainment? Sure, how about some more live Direct tv? How about not paying for it? Watch tv for free, or purchase a movie, you're choice. They'll get you $2 for the headphones though, which you can purchase at the gate or on board. Or simply bring your own for the tv or radio. JetBlue also has more leg room than the other airlines. They must just make longer planes.

In my experience: no delays, friendly staff (friendliest I encountered all together), and an extra $40 in my pocket when I landed. Skytrax gives JetBlue a 4 Star rating. Click here for more detail. A note that out of over 681 airlines only 35 are 4 Star and only 6 are 5 Star.

US Airways is not much different from United. A charge for luggage, a charge for a snack, and (at least on the plane I was in) no entertainment at all. The only perk you're gonna get here is a free drink.

I encountered another hateful employee who chastised me for my carry on luggage. I've been using the same bag for three or four years and never had a problem, but she told me not to use it again (everything short of wagging her finger in my face). Rude.

Skytrax awarded US Airways 3 Stars. Click here for details on their rating.

So who wins the battle of the airlines in my book?

JetBlue. Hands down.