Welcome to the November issue of The Traveler!

Anybody had any turkey sandwiches lately?

Perhaps there's one in your lunch bag right now! Here in the states, turkeys all over the countryside are just now coming out from hiding, the recent Thanksgiving holiday now over and a new holiday season begun.

In the spirit of the shopping frenzy that descends this time of year, we at The Traveler invite you to sit back, relax, and get your Christmas shopping done the easy way. We've got everything you'll need for the traveler and adventurer on your list, so you can keep that car parked in the garage, sip a little eggnog, and do your shopping right here, right now. (Maybe hum a little holiday tune while you do it to really get you in the spirit of things...)

But before you do that, you'll want to explore this month's issue of The Traveler:

For our feature articles this month, our intrepid explorers start off by taking us to the lost valley of the Mayans in Belize, then we'll pop over to Edinburgh for an insider's look at the Fringe Festival, and finally - a real treat for the train lovers among us- we'll explore the alpine beauty of Tyrolean Alps aboard the steam-powered Achenseebahn (that's a train).

The title for this month's Travel Writing Pick-of-the-Month piqued our interest (Avoiding Prison and Other Notable Vacation Goals). We just had to find out for ourselves. A fun read!

We have an exclusive special feature this month that comes to us from Lori Appling, director of the American Writers & Artists Institute's travel writing program. The Ultimate Holiday Photo Guide gives 83 quick tips to make your holiday photos the best they can be. Preserve your holiday memories in their best light with this quick and effective guide. Thanks Lori!

Last but not least, we've got the latest in travel resources, ideas, and bargains for all your late winter and holiday travel and gift buying needs.

Enjoy!

Feature Articles

The Lost Valley of the Mayans
Explore the lost valley in search of clues of long-lost civilizations - and an excellent lunch

From the Inside: Performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Life on the fringe...

Railway Valley
Train freaks take note - others can just enjoy the Tyrolean countryside

Travel Writing Pick-Of-The-Month

This month travel writing pick takes us on journey through a young women's adventures - and ms-adventures. Most found this book humorous - even downright hilarious - others a bit self-indulgent. This is the kind of book The Traveler likes to read to find out for himself. Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals : Adventures in Love and Danger

“This is a very smart, very funny book. Wendy Dale is an extremely talented writer who can make even the scariest vacation sound like a good time. I’m off to buy a new suitcase and a few extra passports right now.”—Paul Feig, author of Kick Me

“Funny, impulsive, and alluringly naive, Wendy Dale is repeatedly swept into adventure and trouble and love, mostly when she’s looking the other way.”
—Rita Golden Gelman, author of Tales of a Female Nomad

“Mix David Sedaris, Lucille Ball, and a fifth of tequila in a blender [and] you get Wendy Dale, who is quite possibly the funniest travel writer since Homer. But strain off the foamy giggles and you’re left with a raw, smart, and passionate woman in search of herself and awestruck at the beauty of even the ugliest corners
of the earth.”

Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals : Adventures in Love and Danger

The Ultimate Holiday Photo Guide:
83 Quick Tips for Taking the Best Holiday Photographs Ever

Even an untrained photographer -- an amateur, who's only taken snapshots at birthday parties -- can learn how to take amazing pictures this holiday season. 
In just 23 short minutes you can learn to snap expert-quality family portraits and transform standard-issue Thanksgiving dinner shots into pictures you’ll pass down from generation to generation.
You’ll also learn the best techniques for photographing kids in the snow, opening presents, giving Grandma a kiss… and you’ll walk away with amazing photographs of holiday lights, fireworks and more…
Here’s how some readers are doing it: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/holiday/traveler

Travel Ideas, Resources, and Bargains

All Your Travel Needs In One Place -
Find a flight, rental car, winter vacation, weekend getaway, or the adventure of a lifetime! You'll find everything you need from airline tickets to vacation packages to travel insurance, foreign currency exchange, and passport processing.. It's all at TouristTravel.com!

Travel Clocks
That's right - travel clocks. The marketing team here at ToursitTravel.com has determined that travel clocks are hot this year and the perfect gift or stocking-stuffer for the world traveler on your list. No matter where you are in the world, you'll need to know what time it is eventually; you don't want to miss that noon camel ride or 6am wake-up call for the morning game drive do you? That's where a good travel clock comes in! We've got travel clocks of every shape, size, type, and price on our official TouristTravel.com travel clock page. Look no further for your next travel clock!

Thanksgiving Mystery: Does Turkey Make You Sleepy?
It's an urban myth that excessive amounts of tryptophan in turkey makes Americans take a nap after gorging on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and all the goodies for our Thanksgiving feast. Brian Handwerk reports the real story for National Geographic. Get the real scoop here.

Language Courses
Learn a new language in your spare time, these courses also makes a great gift for that international traveler on your list. Rosetta Stone gives you the flexibility to fit language learning into your life whenever it’s convenient. All it takes is a computer or an Internet connection.Find out all about the dozens of language programs offered by Rosetta Stone - Free 2-Day Shipping in the U.S.

Shermans Travel.com - Top 25 Travel Deals
A brand new partner for TouristTravel.com, subscribe to Shermans free weekly newsletter for This Week's Top 25 Travel Deals! 

The Gift of Travel - Better Than a Sweater!
This holiday season, give your family and friends a present they'll long remember — the gift of travel on a train. Amtrak gift certificates are good for travel on Amtrak and available in a variety of denominations. They're simple to purchase, easy to redeem, and sure to be a big hit!
To purchase a gift certificate, please visit the online Amtrak Store.

Think Smart - Travel Slow
Planeta.com is all about eco and sustainable travel. Learn about sustainable travel, explore your travel options, and stay informed in the emerging and important eco-travel industry. Start by exploring Planeta.com

Thailand Package from $1099
Nine day guided tour includes: Airfare, 7 nights accommodations: 3 Bangkok, 4 Phuket, transfers, breakfast daily, sightseeing. Get all the details from Gate 1 Travel.

Winter in San Luis Obispo County Offers Wildlife Viewing at its Best
Luis Obispo County is one of the most popular destinations in California for wildlife, especially in winter. Spot gray whales, watch elephant seals, or visit Pismo State Beach, the wintering grounds for thousands of migrating Monarch Butterflies. Get more information at the San Luis Obispo County website.

Feeling Like a Little Aloha After the Holidays?
Visit Hawaii early in 2006 and enjoy off-season savings from 4Hawaii.com.All the details are here: Hawaii Off Season Savings 5 Nts from $544 with Air!

What's New at TouristTravel.com

Have you seen our latest blog entry? Check it out here! We've got new stories posted on our website, make sure to check them out! Look at past web features articles (not shown here in The Traveler) out our monthly feature article index page.

Stay tuned throughout December for special holiday features!

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