Background Information and News

When I'm planning a vacation, especially to a place that I've never been before and don't know very much about, I always want to know as much about a place as I possibly can.  I look for movies from the country, books by local authors, histories, and also news about current events.  

I find that doing so really gives me an appreciation of the place that I just can't get in the same way when I am reading a travel guide.  For example, before taking a trip to Spain, be sure to watch a couple of movies by Pedro Almodovar (They can be graphic, so be advised).  You will have the chance to really see Spain, to see the Spanish and to understand aspects of the culture that you might otherwise miss.

Or, maybe you are thinking about travelling to south east Asia, and are surprised to learn (as I was) that many travel companies (and individuals) have decided to participate in a tourism boycott to Myanmar.

Before making any decisions it would be helpful to consider the reasons that Aung San Suu Kyi, the Democratic opposition leader has called for the boycott and why different people have decided to honor that request or not.  

Similarly, many places in the world are the host to controversy that may affect your decision to visit, or what activities you engage in while there.

Lastly, current events can have a profound impact on your experiences travelling.  Sometimes events can make it clear that you should postpone a trip, othertimes, recent newsworthy events can serve as a special incentive to travel.  

It is in the nature of news that it changes quickly and I cannot even begin to claim that I can do an adequate job of keeping you up-to-date on every issue as it breaks.  

Do not assume that a past news item (or lack thereof) means that the current situation is the same.  It is your duty to look into local safety at the time of your planned travel and decide for yourself if you are comfortable travelling.

My part in this process is to give you a starting off point to begin considering issues that you might not have been aware of and that will give you a place to start thinking about what is happening, has happened, and might happen in the future.

I will also include general news related to travel that I think is likely to be of interest to the independent traveller.  For example, if I hear that there are major changes to a major airline's rewards program in the works, I'll post about it here.

The pages linked to here are likely to change frequently and be updated as current events dictate.  I strongly encourage you to subscribe to the RSS feed for this site in order to be certain that you receive any relevant news.