Actually it was called: “Travel Through the Eyes of a Travel Writers,” but I kind of like my title better.

The above clip finds moderator David Farley asking panel members Tony Perrottet, Susan Orlean, and Don George, how they go about meeting locals in the places they visit.

The common answer? Alcohol. Bars, cafes, art openings, you know, places where social lubricants go a long way in making new friends.

Susan goes on to discuss in detail one booze-free option in Japan called Homestay in Japan, where visitors can shack up with local families and get a feel for the culture from the inside, and an option that is available in many places around the world beside Japan. (more…)

New York Times travel editor (for at least one more week) Stuart Emmrich moderated a panel featuring the various [insert adjective here] Travelers, including Matt Gross (The Frugal Traveler), Michelle Higgins (The Practical Traveler) and contributor Jennifer Conlin (no adjective needed I suppose). Let’s hope they don’t run out of titles. I’m not sure I want to read anything by “The Gassy Traveler,” or “The Pygmy Traveler” (however there may be a market for that somewhere in the world).

Jennifer discussed living in Cairo, as she does now with her family, and how surprisingly interesting and metropolitan of a city it is once you get past the crowds, noise and trash that the city is otherwise known for. A must-visit for any serious traveler. (more…)

One of the booths that caught my eye this year was the one for OneSimCard.com. As you know, I normally don’t shill travel-related products on the site, but this thing makes way too much sense to not mention it to everyone.

We Americans are kind of luddites when it comes to the whole SIM card thing (having being forced into locked phones here in the U.S.). But when traveling abroad we know all too well the importance of having cheap calling plans and accessible phones.

Normally, after arriving to a new country, travelers with phones have to scramble to find a local SIM card to stick in their phone, then load it up with minutes that are often never used. The OneSIMCard guys came up with a card that works in over 180 countries and that offers super-competitive prices (and 70 countries where minutes are no charge for incoming calls), freeing you from having to constantly buy new cards or load up on new minutes everywhere you go. A great idea for those on a multi-country trek.

Of course you could just unplug from the world and not bring your phone while traveling (something I highly recommend), but this is a great option for those who aren’t ready to take that leap just yet. Now to figure out how to unlock my iPhone.

[Update: To the Apple attorney that just contacted me. TheExpeditioner.com does not endorse unlocking your iPhone or breaking your iPhone license agreement. Please do whatever Apples instructs you to do. Can you please now release my friends and family from that undisclosed location Apple?]

Day two of the Travel Show kicked off Saturday morning with none other than the emperor of excursion, the maharajah of movement, the tycoon of travel himself, Arthur Frommer, and his spawn of sightseeing, Pauline Frommer, who presented their top budget destinations for 2010.

Arthur’s number one destination this year is Las Vegas where, he noted, just this winter there were close to 6,000 rooms dumped on the marketplace as a result of the opening of City Center, the massive condo/hotel/shopping complex. Consequently, Arthur’s been watching rates plummet as the recession-hit city has had to cope with this extra supply, with luxury rooms beginning at $150/night, and basic rooms at some of the less desirable locations (ahem — Circus Circus) coughing up rooms for under $50 (with even more discounts to be had by picking up coupons on the strip). (more…)

The last thing I’d normally think to do after waking up before 7 a.m. on my day off from work and seeing over a foot of snow gathered on the streets is, “I can’t wait to go outside and trek to that paved expanse with sweeping views of New Jersey, otherwise known as the Javits Center.”

But this isn’t just any day, today’s the beginning of those three magical days in February when tourism agencies across the world unfurl their banners, make those final touches on their brochures, and unpack their countless numbers of imprinted pens, key chains, and flashlights in support of their country/province/tour company at the New York Times Travel Show.

The show actually gets going tomorrow when it opens up to the public, but I came today to take in the pre-opening lectures and presentations for travel professionals (how did they ever let me in?). Beside the excellent cheese danishes that were made available this morning, the highlight was, as it normally is, running into all those random travel folk you don’t normally get to see during the year. (Shout out to Tripfilms, The Brooklyn Nomad, GrassTracks Safari, and Jeffrey of the Essential New York iPhone app: “Aren’t you that guy that did that Colombia video?” — it’s so nice to be recognized.) (more…)

There’s only one thing that’s getting me out of bed and trekking to Manhattan’s Far, Far West Side in the blistering cold at 7:30 in the morning on a weekend. Yes, it’s that time of year again: the 2010 New York Times Travel Show, the annual gathering where a lucky few (okay, those willing to shell out $15) can rub elbows with the likes of the Frommers, the Frugal Traveler, Susan Orlean, and more.

Though, sadly enough this year, there is one notable exception from that list of appearances, and of course I’m talking about Rick Steves. Where has our favorite khaki-clad, backpack-toting, PBS-guiding travel guide gone? Who am I supposed to make fun of this year when I blog from the event? I have too much respect for the godfather of travel, Arthur Frommer, and all those New York Times travel writers would probably just retaliate and beat me over their heads with their advanced journalism degrees and lucrative travel-writing contracts. And I’m not even going to get close to travel-radio show host Stephanie Abrams. She may look docile, but believe me, she packs a mean punch.

I will be live-blogging event this year, as I have in the past, beginning this Friday, including pictures, video, and of course, clever insight! Here’s a full list of speakers that will be presenting over the weekend, and be sure to check back often for new posts.

Going to be there? Come check out TheExpeditioner.com’s booth between 1:15 p.m. and 1:54 p.m in Section 600. I plan to be co-opting Azerbaijan’s table while they’re at lunch (they love taking long meals), and I will be passing out cards, bottle openers, and posing for photographs. Perfect for 2010 Christmas Cards!