AT#125 - Volunteer Travel / Voluntourism

The Amateur Traveler talks to Kara from Miami about her hometown of Miami. Kara tells us Miami is not as it is pictured in TV shows like Miami Vice and Burn Notice (except perhaps that it is filled with beautiful people). She tells us about some of her favorite hotels and restaurants as well as cafes where you can sit and people watch. Miami is known for its beach life and Kara tells us where the daring can go to bare all or where you can find a quiet spot away from the tourists. Increasingly Miami is known for its fashion district and its food scene. The summers are hot but offer some of the best bargains on restaurants, hotels and spas… if you can deal with the humidity. Miami defines hot in all senses of the word. So whether you want to see snowbirds or eat stone crabs, Miami might be a place you should check out.NewsMuslim hostess and Disney still at odds over headscarfFrench Flight Attendant Arrested for Stealing Cash and Jewels From Sleeping Passengers’ Pockets and Carry-OnsShow NotesDiamond PRMiami ViceBurn NoticeHaulover BeachSouth Pointe ParkTop Ten Miami RestaurantsBrickell, MiamiKey BiscayneMiami MuseumsMiami Design DistrictVan Dyke CafeMiami Spice Restaurant MonthMiami Spa MonthNeighborhoods of MiamiMiami Design DistrictMichael’s Genuine Food and DrinkCalle Ocho FestivalSouth Beach Food and Wine FestivalMiami Public TransportationFontainebleauMiami HeatMiami Heat TicketsSmith and WollenskyRed, the SteakhouseJoe’s Stone CrabsAdrianne Arsht CenterSnowbirdsCommunityScott enjoyed the group interview in Travel to Namibia – Episode 243Tricia hits the roadAmateur Traveler guest post guidelinesAmateur Traveler site redesign to add countries Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 Aug 201029min

The Amateur Traveler talks to Christine Cantera about her time living in the Languedoc region of France in the city Montpellier. Montpellier is sometimes called the San Francisco of France. Christine shares with us a few thoughts about cafes, bars, which museums are worth it (and which aren’t), beaches, fortified cities, when to visit, and the one day of the year when nobody in France gets any work done. She discusses what are her favorite 3 places to see in Languedoc including one seaside town that still has jousts but with a very nautical twist.NewsSouthwest attendant takes baby after slap from motherAmerican Airlines to Charge for Front-Row SeatsNursing at SeaShow NotesFrance Travel GuideMontpellierLanguedocJardin des plantes de MontpellierLe Petit Train Touristique du Centre HistoriqueLanguedoc wineLe Jardin du Champs de MarsPaparazziLa Dolce VitaAigues-MortesCarcassonneParc naturel régional de CamargueMusee FabreAntigone DistrictPalavas-les-FlotsSèteNîmesBeaujolais nouveauBar le Saint-RochMissExpatria’s photostreamCommunity Sam was looking for a show on MaltaDon't use the first LukeDon’t use the first Luke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21 Aug 201043min

The Amateur Traveler talks to Carla, Jason and Janie about their trip to Nambia. While traveling in southern African to attend some of the games of the World Cup the three made a visit to nearby Namibia after hearing from friends that it was one of their favorite African countries. Come with us as we learn about a country that is perhaps surprisingly prepared for tourists. We will talk about seeing 4 out of the "big 5" safari animals. Our trio talks about miles of sand, sand storms and riding camels but also talks about visiting the show and seal colonies. The camping was easier than expected and the food was more diverse (you won't believe what they found on pizza). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14 Aug 201037min

The Amateur Traveler talks to Italophile Ira Bernstein who returns to the show to talk about day trips in Tuscany that you can take from Florence. We talk about visiting the walled city of Siena and its famous bareback horse race the palio, viewing the many towers of San Gimignano, climbing the leaning tower of Pisa (after you take the obligatory picture of someone holding it up), and walking on the walls of Lucca. Each town has its own character and attractions. Arezzo has a jewelry museum and the home of the “Father of Humanism” Petrarch. Fiesole is a rich enclave, a suburb of Florence with views of the city and a roman theatre. Montepulciano and Montalcino are both known for their wines. Ira talks about some of the events that the locals enjoy like the palios, flea markets and flag throwing competitions. So even if you just get as far out of Florence as Piazzale Michelangelo there are many places to explore in Tuscany. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

7 Aug 201038min

The Amateur Traveler talks to Dan Stromberg about his recent trip to Mali. Mali is a destination so remote that Dan says “I couldn’t imagine myself being here when I was there”. Dan started in the capital city of Bamako, before heading out to Bandiagara and Dogon country. The highlight of the visit was a trek along the Bandiagara Escarpment which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dan and his girlfriend, along with a guide, walked and hiked along the cliffs and then stayed in the local villages of the Dogon people at the base of this 200 km long sandstone cliff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

31 Juli 201027min

Chris, the Amateur Traveler himself, talks about a recent trip to New Zealand’s North Island where he went to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and took a dolphin watching cruise up by the Bay of Islands. He visited the Coromandel Peninsula with Cathedral Cove and Hot Water beach, toured but can’t talk about Hobbiton near Matamata, climbed Mt Maunganui, saw (and smelled) the geysers and baths at Rotorua, journeyed south to the Capital at Wellington, visited a ski area on a volcano and rafted the caves of Waitaomo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 Juli 201029min

The Amateur Traveler talks to Pamela Beck of the Department of Tourism for Prince Edward Island in Eastern Canada. Pamela describes Prince Edward Island (or PEI) as a get away from it all location that is easy to get to. Surrounded by beaches this 140 mile long island features wonderful seafood and champion oyster shuckers. It has miles of bike trails and relaxed helpful locals. Pamela also describes it as a wonderful golf vacation or a place where you can try your hand at lobster fishing (be ready to get up very early), oyster raking or chocolate making through one of their experience tourism programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 Juli 201029min

The Amateur Traveler talks to Melanie Waldman of TravelsWithTwo.com about a recent trip to the Cook Islands in the Pacific. Think of the Cook Islands as Tahiti without the French language and using the New Zealand dollar to make it more affordable. Melanie tells us about this corner of Polynesia with beautiful resorts that she and her husband visited for their 10th anniversary. They hiked the mountainous spine of Raratongo with Pa who knows all of the plants and their uses and cruised the small outer islands of Aitutaki with a guide named Captain Awesome. They also took an archeology tour, drove the ring roads, shopped in the farmer’s market and just hung out on the beach drinking the cocktails of the moment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3 Juli 201040min