Perceptive Travel: Traveling with Babies and Drinking Scotch

January 26th, 2008 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

The new issue of Perceptive Travel features stories ranging from pole to pole, with some fine Scotch in between. As a new dad, I’m looking forward to reading Fawzia Rasheed de Francisco’s piece about traveling with children: “Is traveling with kids something to fear, fret over, and throw your old independent spirit out the window for, or does it just require a little tweaking?” (I’m hoping for the latter). Francisco is author of The Rough Guide to Travel with Babies and Young Children. Perceptive Travel is a “rag-tag” bimonthly effort to pull together a great collection of writing. I don’t read it as much as I should.

Planeta.com Book-of-the-Year for Moon Belize

December 6th, 2007 | By Joshua | No Comments »

A quick diversion from Nicaragua, and a look up the Central American coast: Thanks to everyone who voted for Moon Belize in Planeta.com’s Book-of-the-Year contest—and congratulations to the other winners and nominees! I appreciate your support and I wish you all very happy, occasionally scary, and always life-changing travels. Belize is one of the most fascinating little countries in the world and I am humbly grateful to be able to keep returning there. There is no place like Belize—there is no place like Nicaragua—and there is no place like any place in the world. I want to visit them all, just wish I had the time…

Moon Belize up for Award - Vote Now!

October 29th, 2007 | By Joshua | 2 Comments »

A couple of news items regarding my latest book, Moon Belize, 7th Edition:

Moon Belize is up for Planeta.com’s 2007 Book of the Year Award in the “Best Place-Based Guidebook” category. Visit Planeta.com (an excellent sustainable tourism resource), and if you’ve had a chance to check out my book and the other nominees, go ahead and cast your vote.

There’s also a new Q&A on Moon.com, where I answer questions about budget accommodations, cheap eats, beaches, diving, and Maya ruins in Belize. Enjoy.

Finally, if you’re planning a trip to one of the world’s best little countries, be sure to check out the Belize Travel Planner, featuring a number of suggested itineraries and must-see sights from Moon Belize.

Moon Nails 2007 Best Travel Series of the Year

October 18th, 2007 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Moon was recently selected as Booklist’s Best Travel Series of the Year. I am an author for Moon. These are my books.
The judges said: “Moon guides these days have such an easy feel in the hand: they open well, and the pages are just the right size, with lots of information presented in uncrowded fashion. And the information is full but precise, evaluative but not pompous. Such good spirit arises from the pages of a Moon guide that the reader can’t help but want to board a plane and make every trip a soulful experience.” (more…)

“Travel Blog Challenge” Winners’ Circle Announced: Tranquilo snags honorable mention

September 28th, 2007 | By Joshua | 2 Comments »

A website of vacation-rental timeshare enthusiasts (do these guys know how to party, or what?) asked readers to submit their favorite travel blogs in a recent “travel blog challenge.” I’m happy to see friends and colleagues in the winners circle, including Claire Walter’s Travel-Babel and Chris Elliot’s Elliot.org. Most of my favorite travel blogs are in the honorable mention list, including WorldHum, Gadling, BraveNewTraveler, CheapestDestinations, and a bunch of others. Happy clickin’…
[Link]

HOW TO TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD: Fourth Edition available for pre-order

September 23rd, 2007 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

Here ye! Here ye!

The fourth edition of Edward Hasbrouck’s Round-the-World Bible is here! I have yet to see the updated version, but Tay and I used the third edition of The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World while planning our big trip across the globe. The book is full of insight from one of the most knowledgeable experts in the travel industry. The new edition includes updates on airport security procedures, travel documents, entry requirements, and border crossings. There are also tips on how to find the best deals without getting ripped off, advice on choosing destinations, routes, and traveling companions, and how to make the time and money for extended travel.

In other Practical Nomad news, Hasbrouck testified before the Transportation Security Administration in Washington last week regarding an illegal government program that is secretly keeping dossiers on tens of millions of innocent international travelers to and from the USA. His testimony earned a mention on the front page of Saturday’s Washington Post in which Hasbrouck is referred to as a “civil liberties activist who was a travel agent for more than 15 years.”

Americans Do Their Business Abroad: I’ve Been Anthologized!

August 21st, 2007 | By Joshua | 3 Comments »

It is an honor to be included among my fellow Peace Corps writers in Americans Do Their Business Abroad: Stories By People Who Should Have Known Better But Are Glad They Didn’t, edited by Jake Fawson and Steve McNutt. From the book description:

“Herein reside seventeen stories (and one poem) written by Peace Corps Volunteers from across the generations and across the planet. Such writing often brings expectations for a certain type of book (heartwarming, uplifting, nice). Many books give you that experience. And we like those books. They are good books. The world needs those books. This is not that book.

Americans Do Their Business Abroad is a collection of stories a little too goofy, a little too personal (and maybe a little too gross) to belong anywhere else. Latrines. Goat eyeballs. Pickpockets. Whimsy. Wisdom. And arson in the name of hygiene.”
(more…)

Study Spanish in Nicaragua: My Article in BUDGET TRAVEL

August 15th, 2007 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

If you’d like to improve your Español in the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes, check out this article I wrote about how to choose a Nicaraguan Spanish school:

The best way to learn to speak Spanish is to go abroad and study. And you’ll find fantastic deals on language classes in Nicaragua, a cheap and safe nation in Central America. For about $150-$200 a week, Nicaraguan full-immersion schools generally offer 20 hours of instruction, room and board with a family, and field trips.

Read the rest of the article

BudgetTravel Blog Props for Tranquilo Traveler

Interview about Travel Writing

August 3rd, 2007 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

Liz Lewis is a freelance writer living in New Zealand. For years she has been saying she wants to write for a living, but has never really done anything about it. Until now. She describes her blog as “a journey from dream to reality as I work toward becoming a successful freelance writer. My ultimate goal - to drop the day job and become a travelling writer.” One of the things she’s done toward this goal is to ask a series of professional writers about how they accomplished their own publishing dreams. I am lucky enough to be featured in this month’s “Interview with a Travel Writer.” Enjoy.

Pre-Order New Edition of My Book, Moon Belize, Now!

July 16th, 2007 | By Joshua | 3 Comments »

Time to start stokin’ up the buzz for the seventh edition of Moon Belize! It’s not available till September, but why wait? Pre-order your copy today at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble: “Former Belize resident Joshua Berman knows the best way to experience Belize, from hiking the waterfall at Lubaantun and riding horseback to El Pilar to diving reefs at dawn. Berman includes unique trip ideas like Surf and Turf and Diving in Belize. Packed with information on dining, transportation, and accommodations, Moon Belize has lots of options for a range of travel budgets. Moon Belize gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience. With expert writers, first-rate strategic advice, and an essential dose of humor, Moon guidebooks are the cure for the common trip.” (more…)