Cool Bag Tags….

So after two years and numerous comments (that I still get) I have revamped the Travel Journal Review for 2010.  This has been one of my most popular posts, so I sat down and completed the task.  There are a total of 26 online travel journal/travel blog sites that I evaluated and ranked in my favorite order.  Based on numerous categories hopefully this will help you decide which online journal you wish to use for yourself.  Be assured I do not claim that this is 100% accurate or perfect.  I spent 8 days registering, evaluating, and ranking these sites, and everything was starting to look like the same toward the end.  Nevertheless, in order to be as accurate as possible, if you feel something is entirely wrong just send me an email ([email protected]).  You can read more about the sites and ranking by clicking on the salmon colored “i” circle.

Click here for the 2010 Izuno Travel Journal Review

Izuno Ranking (please note this is just my personal opinion…nothing more)

1. TravellersPoint.com (very powerful, do everything and more with this site, great travel content)
2. MapVivo.com (very cool mapping)
3. TravelPod.com (great usability)
4. OffExploring.com (I found very fun)
5. TravBuddy.com (great social network for meeting other travelers)
6. GoAbroad.net
7. FuzzyTravel.com
8. RealTravel.com
9. MyLifeOfTravel.com
10. Blogs.StaTravel.com
11. HostelWorld.com
12. Traveloblog.com
13. TripnTale.com
14. TravelJournal.net
15. GetJealous.com
16. TravelJournals.net
17. NomadicJournals.com
18. MyTripJournal.com
19. TravelBlog.org
20. TripDiary.com
21. CheckOutMyTrip.com
22. BootsnAll.com
23. TripsLog.com
24. TravelBlogr.com
25. FootStops.com
26. TravelPost.com

Click here for the original 2008 Travel Journal Review (now outdated of course).

This is now on my wish list.  The Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP.  It’s a 10 megapixel waterproof digital camera that is small enough to be put in with your travel sack.  I’ve read a lot of the reviews online and it seems the picture sharpness might need some work, but for underwater travel photography, there probably isn’t a better choice.  4 Colors to choose from and priced around $150.  My next snorkel trip this little guy will be with me.

Yes, that is a zip tie around 2 seats tray tables. Absolutely hilarious video showing a solution to stop people from putting their recliner seat back in your face. Or as the author Evan Roth titles it “How to Keep Motherfu#%ers From Putting Their Seat Back.”

I feel I need to play the disclaimer card here. In no way shape or form does Izuno Travel promote the use of zip ties to keep people from being able to recline. (Link to giant reusable zip tie)

I’m starting to hear some buzz about travel apps for the iphone.  Most everyone knows apps are about endless for the iphone, so this should come as no surprise.   I’ve posted a link to GeoNova Publishing as this looks like a pretty solid travel app.  It has a locater feature for those who get lost quite often, and a zoomable map along with attractions and trasnportation information.  Call me old school…but isn’t this cheating?

Airlinemeals.net has a ridiculously huge database of airline food information and pictures it’s a bit scary. Not only do they have a description and a picture of each meal, but they tell you which route it was served on, duration of the flight, comments by the author, cabin class, and aircraft type. Add that with a sortable list by airline, and I’d be willing to bet you have the largest, if not best site devoted to airline meals. I love it.

Lonely Planet has a new application on their site. A trip planner. I’m not ecstatic about it though, it’s just a simplified way to get their information on where you want to go basically through a new drag and drop interface. And like so many other applications, you have to register (it means you’ll be getting more email) and search for where you want to go. Maybe it’ll be worth it for a few of you and actually help.

I decided to create some icons of a few of the more traveled countries.  You can download them here.
I’ve been using them as folder icons for my pictures of the corresponding country.  I’ll be making more general travel icons in the future, and I will add more countries.  It takes a little while to create them.

Notice we say “Good CONTENT Site.”  Not “Well Designed Site.”  This overcrowded design is pretty typical of early sites with a lot of good information (they have to monetize it with ads and they want as much text on the home page as possible for good search engine ranking, and it ends up looking like crap. So if you can get around the eye sore that it is, DogFriendly.com does actually have good content for those traveling with pets.

Traveling with pets isn’t easy, but it is possible.  Here’s what you will need to do before going anywhere.  Check with your specific airline to see their rules and regulations, and check with your hotels/hostels to see theirs.  Everywhere is different, so it is important to get specific information for each party.

This is a good site if you’re into world music…and they have a terrific logo. Part of me is in disbelief I haven’t heard about it yet. Calabash Music is a site dedicated to helping the world musicians and fund them without using major record labels. All I know, is I can listen to many artists and get free tunes every week. Here are a few of their freebies you can download at the time of this post.

Andre Bourgeois and Mano Bap – Pentagrama

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Angelique Kidjo – Salala w/Peter Gabriel

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Radial Mundial – Tambor

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