World Travel Mobile Applications

worldmate iphone application
I was recently advised by a frequent traveller to download and use the worldmate iphone application. This app is also available for Blackberry, Nokia and Windows mobile.

The features include: flight status, travel calender, weather, world clock, maps, LinkedIn, etc.....
Well worth a look at the site to see the benefits for world travellers.
Happy travels.........

iphone travel apps

21 travel applications for iphone

I was recently sent this blog link by a colleague, it has details of 21 travel applications that can be downloaded and used on an iphone, some are even free. Great information for all those who own an iphone and travel, whether for work or pleasure.

Portugal - what is it like there?

Portugal know-how
My first overseas business trip in 1987 and later my first expat posting in 1991 was to Opporto (Porto) Portugal.
What a dream first posting. Loved the food, loved the wine and especially the Port wine... chilled white or smooth warming red. Friendly people, great language, wonderful countryside and culture.
I would recommend a trip to anyone whether going for holiday, business or to live.
My colleague and I took a trip back there again in 2007 and saw that it has got even better in recent years, with improved road and infrastructure.

I was recently sent the above link by the same colleague and love the fact it contains great pictures and useful information about visitng Portugal, that echo my own thoughts and experience. As well as the fact that the information comes from a U.S fashion company photo shoot trip, as my working roots and what took me there are from the same industry.

Antarctica Culture?

Further to my Blog in January where I stated the trips that I would like to take in 2009, I received a link from a friend and colleague who has a cousin who has been working there. For those of you who are interested do go and take a look at his Blog -
http://frostofheaven.blogspot.com/
Wonder what type of cultural know-how would be required for that type of posting!
Anyone with first hand knowledge let us know all about it...........

Up in the Air

I went to see the new George Clooney film on Saturday called 'Up in the Air' and apart from the fact that it made me laugh so much I almost cried, it also made me remember what it used to be like travelling alone when I was employed by an American Corporation. I felt the film had been made for me and parts could have been about my life. A must watch for anyone who travels for their job and or anyone who has had to or will have to lay off/fire workers.

Travel guides for expats and others................

If you are travelling to a new country for a holiday, business trip or to settle and live there, then there are many places that you can now go to find out more about that country and what to expect from your visit. Country specific travel books, internet sites, intercultural training and cross-cultural training courses and websites.
I recently found the following website that has expat guides to over 34 countries;
http://www.expatarrivals.com/the-united-kingdom/moving-to-the-united-kingdom
Happy travels..........

New Year Travel

Its a New Year and a new decade (Happy New Year to all....sorry its somewhat late) and I have been sat here at my desk wondering what to write in my first blog of 2010.
I have been snowed in now for over a week, with all appointments having to be cancelled since I last had appointments to attend to before Christmas!
Now I am trying to remember why I returned to the UK after 20 years of living overseas in different warm climate countries, where the sun was nearly always shining and it never even got cold let alone snowed! I can remember many times wishing to feel cold as I overheated during the day or evening in many different locations.....
They say the grass is always greener on the other side and I now think that I may finally truly appreciate that saying. I came back home for many reasons and the weather was obviously not one of them and here is where I wish to stay, but I am thinking that some travel in the not to distant future is sounding rather like a good idea..........Can you believe that the next trips that I plan to take are the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train journey through France, the Swiss Alps and the Italian Dolomites and a cruise through the Antarctic to observe the penguin colonies, visit the Bay of Whales and Ross island........I clearly must enjoy the cold!
So I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has done either of these trips and what their experience was like, with any hints or tips on how to plan/prepare and also from anyone who has any cultural know-how of these countries that I should know about before I go.