Updates!

I'm not in much of a writing mood today, but I wanted to give you all some updates on what's been going on with me, my travel plans, theALTERNAtraveler's funds, and some more sh- uh, stuff.

If you're wondering why I haven't posted any reviews lately, it's because I haven't taken a trip anywhere since December. As you hopefully recall, theALTERNAtraveler's main goal is to save $10,000 to take 25 trips in one year. The reviews I've posted since theALTERNAtraveler began (in May of 2007) have been "practice runs" and have provided me with some interesting content for my site; content to keep people reading and browsing and donating to the project. I intend to resume taking some practice trips soon, but right now I have to be very frugal if I expect to put anything into the travel savings account for the future. I am looking into some side work that will hopefully **crosses fingers** up my monthly income by quite a bit. Wish me luck and remember, donations are ALWAYS welcome and just $5 will get you a free gift in the mail. Every little bit helps!

Another way you can help keep my site traffic flowing is to GUEST BLOG! If you've been somewhere awesome and feel like writing a brief synopsis of your trip or a helpful review of a cool venue or attraction you visited, please PLEASE do it. theALTERNAtraveler project is for everyone, and there's nothing I love more than posting a witty email or article written by one of my fellow anti-tourists. Link love all around, too! Get some hits on your blog from me, and I'll get some from you, all well you get the chance to show off your writin' skillz and help others to find some unique entertainment possibilities. You can submit through my MySpace mail at www.myspace.com/theALTERNAtraveler or through my regular email at theALTERNAtraveler@yahoo.com.

Mainly, I just want to assure everyone that this project has not been abandoned. As soon things improve monetarily, I will be back to posting deposit updates every two weeks. Until then, don't leave me! I'm working my butt off to give this project the time, money and interest it deserves. I can't wait until the day that I take off for my first of 25 vacations. I know it's going to be the most amazing feeling I've ever had. I know it.

In the meantime...

• Make a donation!
• Add me on MySpace!
• Email a guest blogging submission!
• Subscribe!

Ooh! Ooh! I almost forgot - I finally uploaded all the videos from my trip to Omaha and Iowa City (December '07). See below. Reviews from Iowa City are in the works, too.

theALTERNAtraveler - Omaha & Iowa City (Part 1)


theALTERNAtraveler - Omaha & Iowa City - Part 2


theALTERNAtraveler - Omaha & Iowa City - Part 3


theALTERNAtraveler - Omaha & Iowa City - Part 4


theALTERNAtraveler Kisses the Black Angel of Iowa City

ATTN: Aspiring Nomads

I just found an amazing article on www.vagabondish.com about how to work long-term travel into your life with little or no cost out of pocket. This is something I would love to do someday... after I've taken my 25 trips in one year, I think it'd be great to get away, write those memoirs, and not have to worry about bills for a while! It's really a wonderful article with tons of helpful links for any aspiring nomads out there. I highly suggest you peep it. :)

8 Tools to Travel Long-Term & Live Rent Free

I got a new jobby job!

Updates, updates, updates…

I got a new job! I started yesterday and so far it’s going well. I accepted a sales assistant position, so I will no longer have to worry about making a revenue goal each month. Why is this wonderful? Besides the awesome-ness of not having to guess what my take-home pay will be at the end of each month, due to the rise and fall of commissions, it also means that I will be able to make planned deposits to theALTERNAtraveler with every check. My budget is going to be so much easier to calculate from now on.

The only downside of taking on a new job is that my vacation time starts all over again. I will have to wait six months at my new company before I am able to take any vacation time, so for a while, weekend trips will be my only option. That’s not a bad thing, though – I love weekend trips! I am going to go somewhere between now and the end of May – probably to Wisconsin – and then I’ll take a longer trip over Memorial Day weekend – most likely to Killeen, TX, where my dear friend Nicki Brown now resides.

Good things are on the ALTERNAhorizon!

Stay tuned for another soapbox rant about supporting small businesses. My wide mouth is itching to blabber on and on about a beautiful experience I had at a local diner (Grandma Sally's in Naperville, IL) yesterday.

Cheers and a good day to all! I'm happy a pig in poo. :)

Finally - a deposit!

Well, in the midst of my financial woes, I had to retract some of the money I had put aside for my travel project. It's been a hectic month for me, and I think it will take a little time to get back on my feet... but I started today! I was able to put back $322.43 into the account. Once I get my tax refund back, I should be able to pay off a little personal debt and put even more back into theALTERNAtraveler, and hopefully buy us (me and YOU) a new digital camera for use on future trips!

TOTAL BALANCE: $904.65
** $90.43 from Donations **

REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $9095.35

Due to my money problems, any plane rides I had expected to be taking in the next couple months will have to be pushed off. I'm hoping to get in a cheap weekend trip once the weather warms up around here... maybe at the end of March? I'll keep you posted. My plans are constantly shifting and transforming, and I'm okay with that. Gotta keep on moving forward.

I swear that I'm still alive!

Things have been bonkers in my little world lately, hence the lack of posts and trip planning. My monetary state is still bothersome and I'm hoping it will straighten itself out soon. I've been in a position where I am not able to follow my number one financial rule - pay yourself first (or pay theALTERNAtraveler first, as it is). I will work it out. Traveling on a budget is my specialty, after all... the unfortunate part is that I currently have NO budget. This Friday, there will be a deposit, no matter how small. During these tough times, I need to remember that every dollar can count towards something fantastic, as long as I allow it to.

In other news, I went to see one of the free movies at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora and it was AWESOME! They've remodeled a lot since I was last there. The Godfather was playing, and it drew quite a crowd. Aside from the obnoxious mother yelling at her child in the seats right behind my friend and I, it was a great time (we ended up moving seats after half an hour and the rest of the showing was pleasant). It was my first time ever viewing The Godfather, and it turns out that I have quite the crush on the young Marlon Brando.

Tonight Jaws is playing, which I would love to see on the big screen, but I had a last minute doctor's appointment come up. I hope one or two of you will go enjoy it for me. It's a 7:30 p.m. Don't miss it!

Boo. :(

Due to some rather severe financial shortcomings, I was not able to deposit any money into my travel account last Friday. Hopefully my next paycheck will allow me to add more than my usual 10% next week.

In other, and happier, news, I am planning two trips for the beginning of 2008 - Texas in February and Reno/Las Vegas/California in March. I'll be visiting some of my best buds in each location and I can't wait!

As I think I mentioned before, my awesome parents got me a portable GPS for Christmas. I've been able to test it out a few times now and I LOVE IT! It is sure to become my most valuable travel accessory and I would recommend that anyone who is serious (or not so serious) about their road trips should pick one up. They are worth the money. Mine is a Garmin brand, and I am totally satisfied with its performace thus far.

Cheers to everyone, and I will be back soon... hopefully with a little extra cash!

REMINDER: Free movies at the Paramount started a couple weeks ago! Read the post here and come on by if you're in the area.

Money, money!

New account balance! I love watching it grow, don't you?

TOTAL BALANCE: $1555.98
** $90.43 from Donations **

REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $8,444.02

Thanks for the donations. I really appreciate it!

Another Deposit & Help Needed

Hey, everybody! I made another deposit today...

TOTAL BALANCE: $1,380.90
** $81.02 from Donations **

REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $8,619.10

At this rate, if I want to reach $10,000 by Dec. 31, 2008, I need to pull in approximately $22 per day from this point on. My average deposits every 14 days are 129.99, which works out to about $9.28 per day, which means I am QUITE behind. If you can spare it, donations are soooo helpful. If you can't spare it, which is totally understandable, you can still help by spreading the word about my blog:

1. If you have a "Links" section on your blog, post me there: http://www.thealternatraveler.com
2. If you're on MySpace, add me as a friend and put me in your Top 8 (or 12 or 16 or whatever): http://www.myspace.com/thealternatraveler
3. If you've stumbled across my business card, share it with a friend
4. If you're bored at coffee time, bring me up in conversation
5. If you're a regular reader, subscribe to my feed

Eventually, I will reach my goal, and your help will be invaluable in doing so.

Thanks, guys! I'll be posting more news about the upcoming Iowa/Nebraska trip soon. Keep on truckin'!

Money, Solo Vacations & Memoirs

New total en el banco!

TOTAL BALANCE: $1,228.61
** $81.02 from Donations **

REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $8,771.39

I've had some good ideas thrown at me about my trip next month... I think I'm going to head south a couple states, though still not exactly sure where. I'd like to take a nice eight or nine hour drive, alone with my thoughts, and enjoy a good cup of coffee once I get to my destination. Those are my only two requirements. =)

I'm excited to go on a solo vacation again. I haven't done that since May of 2006, when I went out to Vegas to look for a job and an apartment. I kept a journal on that trip, and I intend to do the same on this one. If I can find the old one in a timely manner, I will post it here.

As most of you already know, after I take my 25 trips in 2009, I plan on writing a travel memoir and trying to get it published. On this blog, I stick to mostly reviews, tips and recommendations, but the book will be a very personal account. If I post too many narratives on here after my launch date, you won't care to read my book when it comes out! You know what they say - why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?

By the way, what did everybody think of the videos I posted a while back? Did they make your experience with my blog more enjoyable? Let me know, because if you liked them, I will post more in the future.

Have a great weekend!

The Benjamins

More money in the bank for theALTERNAtraveler! Thanks, guys, for the donations that keep coming in and for the new subscriptions. If you've donated, you'll be getting your free gift in the mail soon (it takes a couple weeks to receive them)!

TOTAL BALANCE: $1,152.41
** $81.02 from Donations **

REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $8,847.59

Thanks for reading! I'll be planning a new trip soon. In the meantime, check out some of my favorite blogs:

Debo Hobo
One Week Job
Rambling Traveler
Reason To Wander
Travel Betty

10% of Goal Acheived!!!

theALTERNAtraveler is now officially over 10% of goal savings!

TOTAL BALANCE: $1004.00 (10.04% of Goal)

** $9.10 from Donations **

I've given out my first free gift. You could be next! Just donate $5 or more and I'll get that bad boy out to you. Click here to donate.

REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $8996.00

It's all happening. I can't believe I'm already at 10% of my goal. Thank you, thank you, everybody. Keep reading, keep passing along the word. Ficky ficky now.

P.S. Two more posts should be up by the end of the day - reviews from last weekend and plans for the upcoming weekend trip to Milwaukee.

P.P.S. Want theALTERNAtraveler delivered right to your inbox everytime there's a new post? Subscribe below.

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MOOLAH Update!

Not only did I make another deposit today, but someone else did, too - I got my very first donation!!! I ordered some schwag yesterday from my personal savings... theALTERNAtraveler business cards and the first in the series of free gifts (for you!) should arrive at my doorstep any day now.

Here are the updated totals:

TOTAL BALANCE: $792.83 (8% of Goal)

REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $9,207.17

In other news, I have a friend who's moving to Texas soon, and I'm planning on taking a trip down there sometime in the first half of next year. I've been through Texas a couple times on road trips, but I've never really stopped to look around. Planning, planning, planning...

FREE Gifts from theALTERNAtraveler!

FREE Donation Gifts at www.theALTERNAtraveler.com!

theALTERNAtraveler merchandise is here!!!

With each donation of $5 or more, you will receive a FREE gift! Over time, a series of free gifts will be offered, changing as I run out of their limited quantities. After each gift series is finished, the item will only be available for full price through my new online store (opening as soon as Series 1 closes). New items will be added often, so donate today!

All profits will be deposited directly into theALTERNAtraveler fund.

As a reminder of why theALTERNAtraveler project deserves your hard-earned buckaroos, please see the Mission Statement below and take a look at www.theALTERNAtraveler.com.

theALTERNAtraveler Mission Statement

theALTERNAtraveler is committed to showing the "anti-tourist" how to have a great vacation, particularly when they are under strict time constraints, are lacking in funds or will be traveling alone. In 2009, theALTERNAtraveler plans to take 25 trips in one year, with a total budget of only $10,000. Until her "launch date," she will take you through every step of her journey, including choosing her destinations, saving money, arranging travel time and seeking out unconventional points of interest. theALTERNAtraveler wants to share all of her resources and stories with you through her blog – www.thealternatraveler.com – and plans to write a complete memoir of her travel experiences, with the hopes of having them published in 2010.

Just click the link below to make your $5 (or greater) DONATION and get your FREE GIFT ASAP!!!

Donate Here!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, fellow ANTI-TOURISTS!

- Rice -

Money in the Pot

I made a healthy deposit today of $164.04...

TOTAL BALANCE: $717.21

REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $9,282.79

I can't wait to see that first $1,000 sitting in my account! Seriously, I can't wait. I am very wrapped up with this whole project. I spend all my free time at work advertising it all over the web, updating my blog and MySpace, and thinking of ways to improve the planning. I admit, however, that I am slacking about getting the internet at my house. I keep forgetting to call Comcast. Boo.

Things to do:

1. Call Comcast about internet
2. Get business cards made
3. Convince people to make a donation =)

I have also been thinking about the rules and restrictions I will need to set for myself once my 25 trips officially begin. For instance, I will be working with a budget of $10,000 and I need to decide how to split it up per trip. Of course, some trips will be more expensive than others, so I can't evenly split the money into $400 per trip. I think I will have to set budgets on a per trip basis, but I will put a cap on my max per trip - $500 max, maybe? Also, will it be fair if I stay with friends for free in certain cities? I think that might be against my intentions of this project, which is to show EVERYONE how to take a cheap and fulfilling vacation, whether they "know people" or not. The same goes for any free things I could be offered. I am planning on telling people along the way that I will be reviewing and publicizing their businesses, but I need to make sure that no special treatment is given. I think if I am offered a free drink or something, I will just ask that the business put out some of my business cards to help me advertise. (Future recognition and business perks are already in my head. Uh oh.)

I am planning a trip to Milwaukee with my friend, Brown, hopefully in October. A little weekend getaway always does a body good. I have a three day weekend at the end of September as well, but I don't think I'll be traveling anywhere. I've recently moved into a new home and want to work on getting my office/art den arranged. That will be a vacation in its own right.

Thanks for reading, and please continue to fill out those surveys so I can post a few more. Have an awesome weekend!

DE to the POSIT

I made another deposit today... at least 10% of my total income is being devoted to this project, so it damn well better be a success!!! You can help that happen by keeping up to speed with my blogs, leaving comments, and, last but not least, donating through that handy little PayPal button to your left...

TOTAL BALANCE: $552.74

REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $9,447.26

Whoop whoop!

Also, I'm still working on finishing the map from my previous entry. I only have internet at work right now, which is making it impossible to finish entries and upload photos... HOPEFULLY I will have it at home in the next week or so.

Have an adventurous weekend!

ALTERNAfunds Explained

I desparately need to get internet hooked up at my house. I’ve already been home from Las Vegas for a week and still have yet to put up reviews and photos. There is only so much I can do from work, which is the only place I currently have internet access. I'm very sorry about the delay.

In addition to sending out a brief apology for my sluggishness in posting details on my recent trip, I also wanted to delve into the topic of funding theALTERNAtraveler.

I assume that it has been assumed that I am paying for this project out of my own pocket. Quite right, sirs and ladies. My original plan was to put aside $250 from each paycheck and cross my fingers in hopes of receiving donations from some kindly strangers. As my budget would have it, $500 a month has turned out to be more than a comfortable stretch. Instead, I am now taking 10% of each paycheck and depositing it into the travel account. Worries of not meeting my launch date for 2009 are already popping up...

To make some extra moulah as the months pass, I plan to make some buttons and t-shirts that will be sold for an affordable price, with all proceeds making their way into my travel fund. Any other fund raising ideas? I’d love to hear them. And, as always, you’re welcome to click that PayPal button to the left side of your screen and send a donation my way… small or large, it all helps.

I’m hoping to buy a laptop before my launch date, just to make updates quicker and more efficient. That’ll cost me a little extra, too.

Anywho, here is the new account balance after last week’s deposit:

CURRENT BALANCE: $477.62
REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $9522.38

Whoop whoop! Stay in touch, everybody, and add me as a friend on MySpace, if you haven’t already.

www.myspace.com/thealternatraveler

Mo' Money & Vegas Photos

My account has grown!

TOTAL BALANCE: $345.42

REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $9,654.58

I also just got back from my birthday trip to Vegas. I am in the process of posting some photos on http://www.myspace.com/theALTERNAtraveler, so take a look at what I have uploaded so far.

I'll be adding another post in the next few days to tell you all about my recent vacation...

1st Deposit Made!!!

Today I made the first deposit into my Travel Savings Account!

TOTAL BALANCE: $250.00
REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $9,750.00

We're on our way! (Donations welcome, BTW...)

A welcome and an introduction...

Hi, everybody! Thanks so much for showing an interest in my project. theALTERNAtraveler has been a wonderful concept floating around in my skull for a couple of years now, and yesterday it was finally born!

However, long before its conscious conception, theALTERNAtraveler was already inside of me...

No matter what town I've ended up in, near or far, whether for an hour, a day or a week, alone or with friends, I've always had a knack for finding the interesting local spots. In fact, I've never had much of an interest in any conventional "touristy" attractions - for example, when I graduated high school, my friend, Brown, and I went to England to visit a foreign exchange student that we were friends with (and just for the record, I will end a sentence with a preposition whenever I feel like it!). We spent 10 days there and never came within 20 feet of a well-known landmark; the closest we came to a tourist attraction was when I took a photo of Stonehenge out of the car window as we blurred by on our way back from the airport. I worried that once I was older, I would regret the fact that I had traveled across the sea and spent 10 days getting drunk in local pubs, sipping coffee, eating chip baps, snogging old men and napping all day. But you know what? I never have. Those 10 days made for one of the best vacations of my life.

I suspect that once other people begin exploring outside of the commercial constraints of a "vacation," they too will have some of the most memorable and satisfying experiences of their lives, and I'd like to help them.

Until next time, when I'll tell you all about Milwaukee and why I'd name it as the father of theALTERNAtraveler...

theALTERNAtraveler Mission Statement

theALTERNAtraveler is committed to showing the “anti-tourist” how to have a great vacation, particularly when they are under strict time constraints, are lacking in funds or will be traveling alone. In 2009, theALTERNAtraveler plans to take 25 trips in one year, with a total budget of only $10,000. Until her “launch date,” she will take you through every step of her journey, including choosing her destinations, saving money, arranging travel time and seeking out unconventional points of interest. theALTERNAtraveler wants to share all of her resources and stories with you through her blog – http://www.thealternatraveler.com/ – and plans to write a complete memoir of her travel experiences, with the hopes of having them published in 2010.

You can also visit her at http://www.myspace.com/thealternatraveler.