I was feeling artsy last night, so I created a custom background for our Vagabond3 Twitter page. It’s nothing too fancy, but it’s a simple touch that instantly makes our Twitter account scream travel and adventure. Since our new background went online, several people have asked us to share tips on how to make their own. If you have some graphic design knowledge, this should be a piece of cake thanks to the template I’ve created to help you along. If you’re a graphics newbie, maybe now’s the time to experiment and learn something new! My basic instructions are included below; if this seems too overwhelming and you’d prefer to have someone else design it for you, I’ll be happy to offer Vagabond3 blog readers a custom Twitter background design for $25 – just shoot me an email.

The basics

• Sign-up for (or already have an account on) Twitter.
• Have graphic editing software at your disposal (Photoshop is my preferred application).
• Source some copyright-free images to integrate into your background, or create your own artwork to include on your new background. Continue Reading

It’s hard for me to admit this, but I don’t know the New York City Subway System as well as I would like to believe I do.  However, one thing that’s not hard to admit is that I don’t like to have to constantly consult maps; I think map checking is the sign of a naive tourist and makes me a target. Luckily, there is an app for that.

The iTrans NYC app runs $3.99 and works in two parts.  First, it is a handheld map of the New York Subway System, eliminating both the folding and unfolding of a paper map or constant searching the stations for a wall mounted one.  Secondly, it has a directions feature that allows users to find routes from/to a station, name, address, or intersection.  Both of these abilities come in handy for the native and the tourist.  Now, The iTrans NYC app didn’t start out a favorite, but won me over in the end.

I downloaded this app expecting to instantly become a captain of the NYC transit system, not so.  Instead, I first found it hard to locate myself or correspond the subway routes with the surface streets around me.  Upset with the limitations, I spent a few moments before bed one night familiarizing myself with the subway system and plotting my upcoming routes.  The next day my pre-planning was really paying off; I didn’t need the app, I was saving precious iPhone battery, but, eventually, I hit a snag and needed a subway map. I hesitantly returned to iTrans NYC, expecting to become frustrated, but having spent only a few minutes looking over the map the previous night, the apps utility came to life.  I now understood how the app worked and grasped exactly what information it was giving me.

I would highly recommend buying this app to people who plan on using the subway for more than a day or two. If you are in town on a very short trip, or you plan on only using the subway sparingly, this app might not be worth it. For me though this app is now a staple of my New York City kit.

As I was walking around the booths at the Los Angeles Times Travel and Adventure Show, the whole convention center was buzzing with energy.  From the hundreds of balloons surrounding the Taiwan Tourism booth to the dancers from Malaysia with their vibrant and fun costumes, crowds of people were excited and eager to explore all the different countries booths.  You could even zip line over the convention center and learn how to scuba dive!

We visited all the booths and sat through several of the talks and workshops gathering as much information as we could about what is happening with travel for 2010.  The talks proved to be the most informative with experts like Jen Leo from the LA Times, Johnny Jet and Rick Steves.

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The Apple iPad is coming. What does the iPad mean for travelers across the globe? Will it cut down on flight delays? Can it do anything to fix the global economic crisis? Can it make me breakfast? The answer to all these questions is definitely no, but it’s still a really cool gadget that you might be interested in purchasing. But should you buy one? It depends on what you’re after when it comes to a mobile computing device. Continue Reading