Veteran guidebook author, travel editor, and adventure columnist Reid Bramblett uses a combination of tales, tips, and tools to explore alternatives to the traditional in every aspect of travel, from lodging and transportation to sightseeing and experiences. ReidsGuides.com aims to bring true adventure-whether cultural or physical, cerebral or culi... nary-back to the art of travel so that we can each return home from vacation with a richer, deeper understanding of wherever our travels take us. What do I mean by Travel Beyond Vacations? Well, you could spend your vacation in the deepest rut of the tried-and-true tourist path and a fabulous time, returning home with great snapshots of all the glorious sights. Or you could get out of those ruts and out of your comfort zone, get insights into the local culture, try something new, and end up having the trip of a lifetime. What you'll find on ReidsGuides.com ReidsGuides.com is focused on European trip planning, with emphases on money-saving tips and alternatives to traditional travel techniques, such as lodging options beyond hotels, no-frills airlines, short-term car leases, and sightseeing for free. Not that the site ignores the other, traditional aspects of European travel, with everything you need to know about trains and railpasses, rental cars and cruises, passports and packing, tours and travelers checks, itineraries and ATMs, safety and tourist offices, haggling techniques and health concerns, and, yes, good old-fashioned hotels, airfares, and sightseeing. It also serves as a repository for Reid's stories of adventure, both physical and cultural, around the world, and is currently developing destination coverage with city guides to Paris and London-and (now on the sister site ReidsItaly.com) Rome, Florence, Venice, and other Italian destinations-with more on the way. Awards and accoladesRead More