Twitchhiker

It all began in the bread aisle of Paul Smith’s local supermarket. Somewhere between white and wheat, he decided it was time for an adventure. And not any ordinary adventure, Smith was determined to travel the world in 30 days without so much as buying a plane ticket or paying for a cab. He would rely solely on the kindness of people who follow him on Twitter, a social media micro-blogging site. Dubbing himself the “Twitchhiker,” Paul Smith set off from England to find out just how far the kindness and generosity of others can take you.

The adventure began in Smith’s hometown of Newcastle, and ended on Steward Island in New Zealand. Traveling by bus, train, air and car, Twitchiker made his way across the map. This 11,000-mile journey took him through Europe, the United States and finally on to New Zealand. Along the way he raised money for charity: water, a non-profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. Smith’s journey is a testament to many things the power of human kindness, as well as the actualization of social media. As he so eloquently put it, "The Twitchhiker project showed that kindness is universal, that the whole can be infinitely greater than the sum of its parts, and that social media may begin online but it will converge with the real world whenever and wherever you let it." Follow Paul Smith on his Twitter!

Win a return flight to LA from Australia

To celebrate the return of Virgin Money Australia we have teamed up with V Australia to offer you the chance to win a return flight for two to LA...

All you have to do is answer six quick questions on what you would or wouldn't do with your money (or in some cases, other people's money!) One lucky respondent will be picked at random to win a free return flight to LA, so what are you waiting for?

CAMPING OUT IS IN

SPURRED BY THE FESTIVAL SCENE, CAMPING HAS A NEW, MORE STYLISH, IMAGE

Music festivals like Coachella have glamorized camping, not so much for the opportunity to sleep under the big sky, but for the fashion and celebrity aura, not to mention cool gear, that comes along with it. Zandra Rhodes, has taken her love of textiles and nature with a capsule collection for camping gear store Millets. The stylish line of outdoor products, which includes tents, flasks and umbrellas are easily locatable amidst a crowded campground.

This year’s key festival accessory is a 19th century bell tent. The bell tent has drawn most adoptees to the utilitarian chic aesthetic ivory canvas covering. Growing legions of modern day campers are invoking not only their choice of shelter, but an experience that incorporates Moroccan throw pillows, homemade hummus, and champagne. The tents can be rented from several vendors; American companies like SoulPad are now selling them as well. Of course, one need not move into festival grounds to lounge in a bell tent, since furnished backyard model could be the alternative to a coveted home addition, minus the contractors’ and construction fees.

New travel website first of its kind in Australia

A website launched in July 2010 is offering Australians a unique option for finding accommodation in Europe. And with research showing that more than 84% of Australian travelers over 40 intend to travel overseas in the next three to four years and that Europe comes out on top of wish-lists of nearly one in two travelers, it couldn’t come at a better time.

Getaway Guru offers travelers a property portfolio of Australian owned holiday rentals across France and Italy. From an apartment in Rome, cottages in Burgundy, Languedoc and Provence to a luxurious farmhouse in Le Marche in Italy, there is something for every Australian traveler and every budget, with more properties being added weekly. “We’re offering a unique service,” says Getaway Guru Owner, Leanne Anderson. "There are no agencies, no tours being sold, just Australian owned property in France and Italy where you can deal directly with the owner. The site will save Aussie travelers time and money and make the search for their dream French or Italian holiday rental so much easier. “No more endless google searches to find the right property it’s all here, on one site, in your backyard, there’s nothing else like it in Australia," said Anderson.

Tune Hotels

Tune Hotels keeps costs down by using a self-service online booking system, minimizing staff and employing a pay-as-you-use system for various amenities such as air-conditioning. The chain currently operates five hotels across Malaysia and Indonesia, but aims to expand to 150 hotels around the world by 2012.

It already began in London on Westminster Bridge Road, close to many of London’s many attractions. The standard room will cost $57 canadian located in central London. Travelers should be aware that luggage stored, room cleaned, hair dryer, and towels will cost extra. The chain will open first London hotel on Aug. 30 and plans for up to 14 more, creating an additional 1,500 rooms across Greater London by 2017. Many travel observers view Tune Hotels as a “compelling” opportunity if you can get the room. According to the Daily Mail Online, the hotel chain will be offering a series of specials on “Tune Days,” when the room rate will be cut to just one penny a night when booked online.

Electronic Boarding Passes

Remember when you needed a case for your travel documents? Find another use for it. As the industry embraces the 2-D bar codes, you can utilize your phone as a boarding pass. Continental leads in the adoption of smart-phone boarding-pass technology, allowing passengers to board with electronic passes at 42 U.S. airports, followed by American (27 U.S. airports), United (18) and Delta (17).

Part-Time Voluntourism

Doing good while traveling has been a trend for years, but organizations have long required one or even two weeks' commitment, arguing that it takes time for people to get trained and make a difference. Organizations are discovering that a day of help is better than no help at all. Most U.S. national parks have cleanup days and other volunteer opportunities for which they put out a call, often on Facebook, for locals and visitors who want to donate four hours. It's not just the Teva-wearing set that's gotten on board: in 2008, Ritz-Carlton launched Give Back Getaways, in which every property has joined with a nearby organization for a social or environmental endeavor. Guests might spend half-days assisting staff and locals as they build facilities for street children in Jakarta or plant endangered indigenous trees in Tenerife, Spain. You can do good in the morning and kick back in the afternoon.

Disney World opening luxury pet resort

Pluto never had it so good: Best Friends Pet Resort scheduled to open Aug. 27, will offer not just boarding, but also bedtime stories and a water park for dogs. The luxury facility will accommodate way more than 101 Dalmatians, with 50,000 square feet of space, room for 270 dogs, 30 cats and assorted other animals, including birds, potbellied pigs and small mammals like hamsters and guinea pigs. (Sorry, no turtles, snakes or lizards.) Standard indoor boarding for dogs $37 nightly, there are upgrades and personal accommodations for extra cost. In addition to the water park, Best Friends offers play groups, outdoor runs, walking trails and areas for playing ball or Frisbee. Pets can be left for the day without overnight boarding, and owners can drop by to visit or play on their way from hotels to the park.