Blogger Spotlight: Journeywoman's Travel Tip Tweet-A-Thon

Evelyn Hannon, also known as Journeywoman, has been the go-to girl for women's travel advice since she founded her site in 1997. Over the years she has continued to inspire countless numbers of women, myself included, to travel the world. 

As an avid social networker this week on Twitter, Evelyn, surprised us with this tweet:  

"BE AFRAID! To all of you who followed me this #FollowFriday, I say welcome+beware. I will definitely lead you astray! (insert wicked laugh)"

What she really meant was that we were all in for a #FF tweet treat as she listed off a plethora of GREAT travel tips.

Here's a look at the Tweet-A-Thon in case you missed it:  

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Pick up fun postcards in museums or flea markets u visit. They make gr8 gift enclosure cards back home. #gifts #travel #museum

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Trace UR child's feet on pieces of paper. Now you can shop 4 shoes as U travel. #shopping #travel

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Tip to make U laugh;) In a pinch condoms can hold large amts of water. Can also be filled with ice to create icepack.

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Buy almonds+raisins in bulk. Create individual pkgs 4 ur trip. A healthy, energy producing, filling, inexpensive snack. #nutrition

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Good idea! RT @RunawayBrit @Journeywoman I often put one of my rings on my wedding finger too when traveling.

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Grilled cheese sandwiches as you #travel. Pack aluminum foil. Buy ingredients. Wrap sandwich in foil. Heat with the iron in your hotel room.

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

The travel section of your newspaper makes great wrapping paper for Bon Voyage Gifts.

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Keep a pair of slippers only for travel. This way U don't transfer dust/dirt on hotel floors back 2 UR home. #travel

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Sweet gift for toddlers-visit major university in town. They often have tiny tshirts with university logos.

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Like purses? The Museum of Bags in Amsterdam contains over 3500 bags+accessories http://tinyurl.com/l7d7z4 #Netherlands

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

UR travel research should include watching at least 1 film that takes place in the area ur going 2. #film #travel

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

ng a book in the train station? Put a cover on it so touts won't know which language to bug you in. #trains #travel

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Want to bring back gifts for teenagers when you travel. Look 4 cool locally designed tshirts in street markets.

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Going solo? Carry photo of a BIG man 2 show all who ask where UR husband is? Say UR going 2 meet him now. #travel

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Out 4 evening? Remove pads frm pushup bra, wrap cash in tissue+put it where pads originally were. $$ safe.

legalnomads Jodi Ettenberg

by Journeywoman

Security researcher files complaint w/ FTC alleging that Dropbox lied about data security: http://bit.ly/kim23N (via @BoingBoing)

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Flight attendants fly 2 the same cities often. Ask them 4 their experienced restaurant+shopping advice. #travel

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Travelling with a pal? Carry 50% of her things in UR bag + vice versa. If 1 bag is lost, UR both still OK. #travel

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

The more grungy & threadbare your backpack the better. Thieves will not be attracted to it first. #travel #backpack

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Pregnant? Be sure travel insurance covers possible pregnancy-related conditions+nursery care 4 premature infants.

legalnomads Jodi Ettenberg

by Journeywoman

@Journeywoman I also suggest a tiny plastic doorstop - easy to carry + extra peace of mind when sleeping in a room alone :)

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Wrap duct tape round+round your travel shampoo bottle. Tape is there when you need it.

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Pack hot water bottle. Takes little room but so helpful. Fill with hot or ice water depending on your needs.

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Seek out local universities for moderately priced cafeterias, clean washrooms & fun gift shops. #travel

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Always c.c. yourself when emailing on the road. These notes become your journal at trip's end. #journaling #travel

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Look like a local. Use grocery shopping bag bought at your destination to carry camera+stuff.

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Wrap birthday gifts U buy abroad in local newspaper. Add foreign BD card= original when you bring it back.

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Travelling with kids. Photograph them before entering crowded events. U have ID record should they get lost. #travel #children

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Make laser photocopies of your passport pix. They can be used for ID passes you might need on the road. #travel

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Ladies, stranger wanting more info about U than U want to give? Tell him you're a policewoman on holiday.

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Concerned about dining solo in India? Ask if resto has family room where women & children are served. #india #travel

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Dress down, not up. You travel to observe not to be observed. #travel

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Hide emergency $ in old vitamin bottle with few pills in it. Thieves not interested in your Vitamin C. #money #travel

Journeywoman Evelyn Hannon

Have a cardboard tube cut to fit your bag. Use it to protect artwork you're bringing home. #travel


If you have a favorite travel tip you would like to share on Journeywoman, be sure to check out this article before you send it in. What makes a great Journeywoman travel tip? 


With only a few weeks to go, I am really looking forward to meeting Journeywoman and so many other amazing travel bloggers, in person, at the 2011 Travel Blog Exchange in Vancouver.

For more travel advice go to her website Journeywoman.com or follow her on Twitter:

@JourneyWoman Evelyn Hannon is the CEO of Journeywoman, largest online travel resource for women+free tip newsletter going to 73,800 women in 240 countries.

She has even passed the love of travel on to her family:

@JWKid Journeywoman Junior -I'm a small fry with a big love of travel. I'm my grandmother's travelwriting assistant. I hope you'll follow me. I will offer a kid's point of view on travel.

Christmas Vacation Or: How I Learned to Leave Kuta and Love Bali

Bali Traveling Tips

1.  Don't go to Jakarta...ok, just kidding but, when you do be sure to always lock the taxi doors if you have a layover in this city.

2. Extra cash on hand for Indonesia's Arrival Tax: 40,000 Rp/Departure Tax: 150,000 Rp  

3. Do not take the first taxi you see once you leave the Bali airport. You will save yourself a lot of money if you walk 100 yards outside of the airport to catch a metered taxi.

4. There are many money changers in Kuta. Take your time and check a few out to find the one with the best rate that does not have a commission and make sure to count your money after each transaction.

5. To save money on food find a local Indonesian restaurant that sells Mi Goreng (noodles, vegetables and meat of your choice). It's delicious and can cost as little as $1 a plate.

6. Many private tour companies charge high prices for an island tour. However, many taxi drivers rent vans and hire themselves out as private drivers at a lower day rate. Just be sure to specify exactly where you want to go, avoid extra "market" stops and pay at the end of the day.

My friends and I stayed in Legian near Kuta, the tourist, shopping mecca of Bali. We found Kuta Beach to be great for surfing but it was a little crowded and dirty.  If I were to visit Bali again, I would stay in Nusa Dua. This area has more resorts and more resorts means cleaner beaches.  As well as being cleaner than Kuta, Nusa Dua is much quieter and the beach has fewer vendors which makes for a more relaxing beach experience. Close to Nusa Dua is the Monkey Temple which provides an excellent view of some sea side cliffs and gives you the opportunity to be attacked by real monkeys! When dealing with these well fed beasts remember to leave your snacks in the car or you might get up close and personal with one of these dastardly pickpockets! An hour to the center of Bali brings you to Ubud, an art-filled hub full of wood carvings, paintings, and statues galore. The art stores go on for miles. My question is: how do they sell enough of this art to have so many shops?  There were five stone statue shops in a row!  How do you get a five foot tall stone statue back home? I hope the island has a good shipping service.  Once you buy the artwork of your choice I recommend stopping by the Elephant Cave.  After a ten hour van tour of Bali's tourist traps I found the Cave to be my most interesting non-beach stop in Bali.

I enjoyed my holiday break in Bali but for all the hype (aka Eat. Pray. Love) I feel that the island was a little over-rated and personally, prefer Hawaii.

Mi Goreng - Yum!

Monkey Temple

Bali Volcano

Rice Terraces

Elephant Cave (Ubud)

Kuta Beach- Great for surfing!

Nusa Dua

Statues Galore

Upcoming Trips

Nha Trang, Vietnam (January)

Cambodia (February)