April 28th, 2008

BootsnAll T-Shirt Design Contest

By Jessica | 1 Comment »

It’s been far too long since we had BootsnAll t-shirts around to sell and give away to members, and we’re working on changing that. We’re also aware that our members are some of the most intelligent and creative people we know, so we thought we’d get them involved as well. With that in mind, we’re introducing the

Most Awesome Bootsnall T-Shirt Design Contest EVER!

You’ll find all the details in the post on the boards about the t-shirt design contest, but the idea is that you’ve come up with a good design for a BootsnAll t-shirt - whether it’s a saying, a slogan, a graphic, whatever - and you think it would be embraced by other BootsnAll members and other travelers alike. So you send in your design, and we’ll choose one t-shirt design from among all the entries - then that design will be available for purchase online. The winning designer gets a free t-shirt and major bragging rights.

The deadline for sending in your entries is May 18, 2008 by 11:59pm (that’s Pacific time), so dust off your artistic thinking caps and send us your best designs.

Good luck!

April 21st, 2008

Wend Magazine Now Available Online

By Jessica | 1 Comment »

Since BootsnAll is based in Portland, Oregon, we like to get to know other Portland-based companies - and there are some pretty cool ones. A particular favorite is Wend Magazine, an outdoors magazine full of gorgeous photography and great articles. But if you don’t live in a place where the printed magazine is distributed, or you just want to cut down on the paper you collect, you no longer have to go without Wend in your life - Wend is now available online.

To celebrate the launch of Wend going online, the magazine is offering a free online copy of the current issue. You can check out the current issue of Wend, and even download the entire thing to your computer so you can still read it when you’re not in range of a WiFi connection. The cover article for this issue is Iceland, and there are also articles about surfing in Midwest America, trekking through Afghanistan and “voluntourism” in Indonesia.

In addition to just being a cool magazine in general, this new virtual version of Wend does two great things - it will allow more people to get their hands (virtually speaking, of course) on the magazine, and it could help reduce the amount of paper that goes into printing the magazine. But perhaps the best thing about the digital Wend is that it costs less than the printed magazine. While a one-year subscription to the print version will cost you $21, a one-year subscription to the online version will cost only $12 for digital access to the same five issues. And who doesn’t like saving money?

Check out the free preview of the current issue of Wend.

April 14th, 2008

Thomas Kohnstamm: Lonely Planet Writer, and a Liar

By Sean | Add a Comment »

Lots of folks are buzzing this weekend and today about Thomas Kohnstamm (TK) and the move he pulled on Lonely Planet (LP). He seems proud of the fact that he deceived people. I feel for the folks at Lonely Planet. There products in general are awesome, and jack arses like this guy are gonna cause havoc once in a while.

Here’s a recap of what folks are saying around the web on this:
1st BBC article (where I found out about it)
Another BBC Article 5 minute audio on this one with folks from LP commenting on it
Gadling
My Blog entry on it

I’m sure TK is happy about all the free PR he is getting. If you are a blogger, don’t link to him or his book is what I say. If you do link rel=”nofollow” the link.

March 18th, 2008

Job Posting: Lead Developer

By Sean | Add a Comment »

BootsnAll Travel Network is seeking a talented web developer who can thrive in a fast paced environment creating web applications. We are looking for someone who enjoys beautiful code, a fun work environment, and taking ideas from concept to a robust and user friendly application. Applicants should have a portfolio of active web applications or sites that we can review.

Responsibilities:

- Developing web applications
- Working with a team of overseas developers
- Designing and planning databases
- Participate in the technical planning and strategy stage of BTN projects
- Learning about trends online and in travel applications

Requirements:

- 3+ years building web applications
- Expert in php, mysql, css, and javascript
- Knowledge of database design and performance tuning
- Knowledge of basic SEO principles
- Ability to learn quickly
- Experience with MVC architecture
- Ability to work with people in multiple time zones
- Experience with subversion or other source control
- Works well with team members both in-house and across the globe
- Excellent attention to detail while maintaining project deadlines
- Strong leadership skills
- Experience with open source cms and blog platforms such as Wordpress and Drupal

This is a full-time, salaried position available immediately
Preference will go to applicants in Portland, OR or willing to move here.

Please submit your cover letter, resume, salary history, and links to the web projects you have been involved in, along with a description of what you did on each project to devapps AT bootsnall DOT com with the exact subject of: “Lead Developer Applicant For BTN”

February 4th, 2008

BootsnAll Exclusive Adventures

By Hayden | Add a Comment »

Every year BootsnAll puts together trips that we think will give you the best of what a country or region has to offer. This year is no different. The next two coming up in May and June are going to be cycling through Thailand and traveling through Turkey as active adventurers.

Cycling through Thailand along the Chao Phraya River will give you a view of Thailand that most travelers never see. You will wind your way through the jungle and back roads as you explore this beautiful landscape to the big city. The River of Kings ride takes you from the north in Chaing Mai to the central part of the country to Bangkok. For an active traveling experience like no other.

You asked for an active adventure to travel through Turkey, we delivered! We will cover central and southern Turkey and see the Mediterranean in style with a four day cruise on an old world sail boat. Other activities to look forward to are horseback riding, cycling, and trekking. You will be able to enjoy the best of what Turkey has to offer.

February 4th, 2008

New Globe Trekker Shows for February

By Jessica | Add a Comment »

GlobeTrekkerTV is out with a new video preview of what’s available for the month of February, so I’m here to tell you about what you can watch this month. Now, normally February is altogether too short, depriving you of a few extra days in which you’d have time to check out the latest Globe Trekker shows… But this year is a Leap Year - so while it’s not exactly 31 days, it’s at least one extra day! So take a look at what’s on offer this month:

• Ian Wright tours Angkor Wat in Cambodia
• Megan McCormick gets covered in orange juice at a festival in Ivrea, Italy
• Sami Sabiti visits some of South Africa’s best vineyards
• Tyler Florence cooks up some Mole Poblano in Mexico
• Ian Wright (boy, that guy gets around) gets a close look at Uluru in Australia

Now, if you haven’t done so already, head on over to the GlobeTrekkerTV registration page - sign yourself up and you’ll get monthly notices telling you what’s new. Then you can download whichever ones you want to watch, on your own time. And remember, the previews are free!

January 24th, 2008

Travel Tips Video on New BnA Video Blog

By ethan | 1 Comment »

Check out our new Travel Video Blog and it’s 1st Video on Travel Tips.

We’ll be posting all new videos on that blog so they are all in one place and syndicating the appropriate ones throughout BTN.

January 23rd, 2008

Interview with Tony Wheeler

By ethan | Add a Comment »

Tony Wheeler, the co-founder of world famous Lonely Planet guide books stopped by our office for an interview. He is currently on a promotional tour for his latest book, Bad Lands. Sean, founder of BootsnAll, sat down with him for over an hour to discuss the book, travel in general, Tony Wheeler as a person and his role at LP, and technology as it relates to Lonely Planet in the years to come. It was a lot of fun.

January 22nd, 2008

New Hostel Features

By ethan | Add a Comment »

Links from the video.

BnA’s Hostel Booking Section
Amsterdam Hostel Map

January 18th, 2008

Sweet Child of India?

By ethan | Add a Comment »

Guns and Roses brings peace to the middle east!