nerd’s eye view

Lessons from a Press Trip that Did Not Happen

June 28, 2009 – 8:29 pm | by nerd's eye view

1. Everyone screws up. Even the most seasoned of travelers has a story about that one time when… And if you are nice enough, those sheepish travelers will share their disaster stories with you. It will make you feel a little better, but it’s a bit like putting iodine on a scrape. Ouch.
2. People will take pot-shots at you if you accept the terms of writing in exchange for travel. Let them. It’s your call, pal. There’s a lot of contention about bloggers and press trips and you’re going to have to find your own way.
3. Not every one practices disclosure. I happen to think that indy bloggers and reviewers should state the terms of their stay. If it’s on the house and you’re being wined and dined by the PR folks, you should say so. I’m starting to wonder if I’m in the minority on this, but also, I have no intention of changing my policy.
4. If you have the kind of friends who will take you to the airport at midnight, you are a lucky person. Yup, that’d be me. I have the best gay boyfriend on the planet.
   
5. Military time is underutilized. It’s a lot easier to mentally digest those post-midnight flights if they’re listed in 24 hour time. See you in Terminal A at oh dark hundred!
6. Do not say yes to the trip until you have seen the itinerary. Oh, sure, it’s all fun and games until you’re in Houston for nine hours on a stopover.
7. Enlightened PR folks aren’t interested in having everyone write the same story. It’s boring for readers and doesn’t add insight into a destination.
8. The public library is an amazing asset for pre-trip research. It’s how I know that what I really missed out on was the opportunity to buy a perfect Yucatan “matrimonial” hammock and how I learned about the wonder that is the Mezoamerican Barrier Reef. Also, The People’s Guide to Mexico is truly an amazing guidebook. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.
9. My home town is way the hell out there. Because of the diversity, because almost everything I could want is here, I don’t often think about the fact that we really are in the northwest corner of the country. And yet, here we are, awfully far away from so many places in the US. It’s easier to get to Asia than it is to get to middle America. In spite of that…
10. Seattle is freakin’ awesome. Okay, I knew that already, but in seeking out consolation prizes for missing this trip to Mexico, I found a perfect Mexican moment a mere 20 minutes from my front door. God, I love it here.