Dear Reader,
Ecuador is the next Paris... at least for me.
I spent a semester in Paris in college and then returned to live there for a year in 2003. I fell in love with the city. And I made a promise to myself that I’d visit every year. I’ve kept that promise, too. I even got married there in 2007.
But now I find Ecuador quickly rising to join Paris at the top of my list of favorite places. I like it so much, in fact, that my husband and I are looking for property there -- either in Quito or on the coast.
It seems weird to talk about buying property in a foreign country when so many of us are trying to make do with less here in the U.S. But I’d argue that now more than ever, it’s important to expand our horizons.
The editor of Budget Travel Magazine, Nina Willdorf, shares this same sentiment in this month’s issue, saying: “... now more than ever, taking an adventure in search of the extraordinary seems crucial. Seeing places that have weathered storms of their own, like the Forbidden City in Beijing... or Turkey’s Cappadocia... puts our challenges in perspective.”
John Farey, the President and CEO of the National Geographic Society, offers a similar opinion. He writes...
“These are interesting times. The headlines have us battening down the hatches... hoping this storm passes before too long. People are looking inward, reevaluating their choices, defining what is important to them. Meaningful travel, I’d argue, is one of those things that shouldn’t be sacrificed. No matter what stage you are at in life... nourishing your mind is as important as ever. And a quality travel experience is one of the most rewarding ways to do it.”
It’s with this in mind that I’d like to challenge you to a little game of Deal or No Deal today. Here’s how it works...
With airline ticket prices dropping and hotels pulling out all the stops to attract customers, it’s hard not to give in to the allure of the well-priced tourist-trap.
But my challenge to you is to find better destinations -- those with the promise of a more fulfilling travel experience -- for a comparable price. Here are two examples...
EXAMPLE #1: Deal or No Deal?
A trip to Orlando with tickets to Disney’s Epcot Center for $1,766. (For that price, you can fly to Orlando, stay six nights at the Walt Disney Dolphin Resort, and spend five days in Epcot Center.)
Or, you could actually fly to Morocco, spend six nights at the beachfront Movenpick Hotel overlooking the Bay of Tangier and the Strait of Gibraltar (with breakfast) for $1,599. (Source: www.fittours.com)
EXAMPLE #2: Deal or No Deal?
A trip to Las Vegas with entertainment included for $1,444. (For that price, you can fly from the East Coast to Vegas and stay five nights at the luxurious Venetian Hotel and Casino. Included are a gondola ride and tickets to see the Blue Man Group.)
Or, spend just $250 more and fly American Airlines straight to Venice, travel from Venice to Florence and then to Rome, stay nine nights in total (with breakfast) for $1,699. (Source: www.fittours.com)
You see what I’m getting at here...
And I’d like to invite you to join us on exactly that kind of good-value trip -- to a place where you’re guaranteed an eye-opening, gratifying adventure: Ecuador... my Ecuador.
And this is a particularly special trip we’re hosting from April 27-May 3. Because Jennifer Stevens, freelance travel writer and author of our Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program, has agreed -- for the first time ever -- to take a small group of readers like you with her as she explores the country’s color-splashed villages and craft markets.
It’s the perfect way for you to discover firsthand just how easy it really can be to earn extra income while you travel the world... meet new people... and enjoy the freedom and independence of a writer’s life.
Jen will be there by your side to show you how it’s done. There’s nothing quite like an in-the-moment, on-the-ground experience, and that’s exactly what this is.
As an attendee in this workshop you'll find yourself immersed in landscapes with jaw-dropping drama, where volcanoes disappear into cloud forests and lush rolling hills plunge into rich green valleys. You’ll meet the welcoming, smiling people... wander and shop in bustling markets... experience a real shamanic healing ceremony...
And you’ll be traveling in the company of like-minded people. People who, like you, want to experience a place few others get to see... who want to discover a destination from the inside-out...
Plus, as a special treat, you’ll also get to enjoy a luxurious spa treatment at the world-renowned, La Mirage Hosteria. This beautiful hotel is set in luxuriant gardens full of tropical flowers and hummingbirds. And as a member of our small entourage, you’ll get to spend a half day there relaxing in the elegant covered pool and spa.
La Mirage Spa offers 11 different types of massages and treatments, including some with local flavor, like the Shaman Purification Treatment, or the Amazonian Bamboo Massage (who knew rolling sticks of bamboo across your back and feet could feel so good) plus other well-know treatments. Couples can enjoy a synchronized massage (complete with rose pedal bath) in private next to the fire.
Whichever you choose, the treat is on us... just suspend your cares and soak up the tranquility while you luxuriate. Or sit by the pool and work on your travel articles.
Throughout the program, Jen will be offering guidance, pointers, and feedback. She’ll give every attendee a list of six different types of magazines and trade publications looking for articles from freelance writers like you. And she’ll also give you her blueprint for success -- templates you can model to get started.
But mostly you’ll benefit from simply having her ear... she’ll show you how she herself turns her family vacations into paychecks and how you can easily do the same thing.
For more details -- including prices, pictures from my last trip to Ecuador last April, and a list of excursions with an itinerary -- go here: http://lorisentmeecuador.com/workshopdetails
-- Lori
P.S. To my mind, it’s always best to seek out rich travel grounds -- Ecuador being just one of them. And as I showed you up top in my two Deal or No Deal examples, you needn’t break the bank to do it. If you come across some more good-value, great-destination travel comparisons like the two I listed, email them to me here. If I publish your comparison on our website, I’ll send you a $15 gift certificate to our online bookstore where you’ll find titles such as:
Travel Better for Less: 101 Secrets for Traveling Well (And Even Getting Paid to Do It): http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tbl/website
Travel Around the World: How to Design, Book, and Enjoy the Ultimate Adventure… and Even Make it Pay for Itself: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/rtw/website
How to Bag the Best Freebies: 5 Real-World Tips for Scoring VIP Travel Perks: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/bag/cat
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