Today’s post is a quick trip planning update and travel tip. After accumulating 280,000 Delta Airlines Frequent Flyer Miles, I’ve cashed them all in for 2 round-trip tickets from Orlando to Sydney in just over 200 days! Now that the dates have been selected comes the monumental task of planning the itinerary.

Sure there are lots of online trip planning websites, but sometimes a book is the preferred medium. Books tend to be more comprehensive, can be written on, are compact and can be taken anywhere. My #1 brand is Lonely Planet, followed by Frommer’s.  The downside to travel books – they can be quite expensive – for a book.

Enter your public library.

Back in high school and college the library was a common place to study and retrieve information. But with the growth of the internet and the disappearance of 20-page term papers, people’s needs to visit the library dwindle. Each time I tell people I get books at the library they look at me like I have 10 heads.

Why I Love the Library

The Orange County Library is magic. Here’s why I love going there.

1. They mail books to my house. – Yes I can be lazy and don’t even have to make a trip to the brick and mortar building. I just have to put pants on and open my front door – and sometimes I don’t even do that!
2. I can preview books before I purchase them. - Try before you buy. Why buy a $30 city guide when I can check it out, review it and decide them if I want to purchase the real thing.
3. Great Selection - Even if some of the books are out of date, I can get a good sense for what attractions and itineraries are out there. But surprisingly, the Orange County Public Library System has current titles.
4. It’s Free! - Yes, that’s the purpose of the library, to have free books. But when you consider that most people pay for what you’re getting for nothing, you can’t stop but wonder why people pay for you got for nothing. Make sense? It’s one of the many ways I save money in order to travel.

So…do you have a Library Card? When was the last time you used it?

Today’s Lesson: Your local public library is an excellent source of free travel information! Get yourself a library card and start planning your next adventure!

I’ll see you out there…! In section 910.

adventureswithben.com is supported by The City Scramble. If you'd like to race, click on the image to register.

1. Watch an American Film in the Theater - This is one of the best techniques I’ve found, for a few reasons. Movie theaters are essentially the same no matter where you are in the planet. So even though I may be in South Africa, it feels like I’m in the United States. Watching a first-run movie keeps you current on pop-culture. Finally, the actors don’t have accents! And here’s a fun South African Movie Fact: Theaters don’t have butter-flavored shortening for their popcorn, but instead have flavored salts.
2. Watch a movie on your computer – If you can’t get to the theater, sometimes sitting in your hotel room watching your favorite films on your computer is enough to make you forget that you’re so far from home. Download from itunes or bring your DVD collection. A guaranteed 2 hour escape into the fantasy world of your choice.
3. Set your homepage to your local newspaper – Every time I log on I am brought to the landing page of the Orlando Sentinel. While I’m not necessarily interested in the gossip and trash of the day, it just feels nice to know what’s going on. I’m not missing out on anything.
4. Listen to your favorite music – My computer and iphone are loaded with my favorite tunes so I can rock out when I need to. Singing when no one is around to hear you is a great energy release and fun.
5. Call Home – Talking to friends and family is always a treat. If you keep the same call schedule as you do when you’re at home it doesn’t feel like you’re missing something. I call my parents 3-4 times a week and try my best to do that when I’m away. It doesn’t always happen, but the intention is there. Sometimes it’s an online chat instead.
6. Video Chat – Skype and iChat are quite cool. I’m on the other side of the ocean, at the bottom of the planet, yet it feels as if I’m in the living room of my family. Once you do it the first time you’ll be hooked. It’s free too! Technology is amazing.
7. Read Magazines – I carry a stack of magazines with me. Time, Business Week, etc. The best part is when you are done, you can throw them away and lighten your load – and make room for all those souvenirs!
8. Continue a Routine from Home – Check your Facebook, go to the gym, have a walk, drink a nightcap, read the morning paper, do whatever you normally do at home. Routines bring us to our familiar place.
9. Have an adventure - Going out serves as a great distraction. You’ll keep yourself busy all day and tire yourself out at night. Plus you’ll create memories that will last a lifetime.

Do you have any advice on avoiding homesickness while traveling? Share your favorite habit or technique by commenting below.

I’ll see you out there…!

If you’d like to stay current on all my adventures, follow me on Facebook!

“Africa ain’t for sissies” I was once told.

And though I’ve been building up my courage since my first game lodge experience in 2007 where I was almost attacked by a lion, this adventurer still has moments of fear and anxiety in the African Bush.

Living in the United States of America, one doesn’t need to worry about deadly snakes, scorpions, spiders and other creatures finding their way into the home (at least in the parts that I’ve grown up). Africa on the other hand, has some pretty creepy wildlife that may decide to call that comfortable bed of yours home. And that’s the last thing you want to come home to late at night.

After returning from yesterday evening’s drive, I took my flashlight (in South Africa it’s called a “torch”), and searched my room for things that didn’t belong. See for yourself in this YouTube video.

Ahhh…I can rest easy for one night!

So for those of you with a vivid imagination. For those of you that are easily frightened. For those of you that are sissies. Consider today’s travel tip if you ever spend the night in a game lodge. For everyone else, I hope that bravery you showed by neglecting to inspect your room at night is just as strong when you wake up in the morning with a spider crawling all over you – or a snake in your shoes – or a scorpion on your toilet seat – or…

What’s the worst surprise you’ve ever found in your bedroom at night – living or not? Share by commenting below.

Did you like today’s tip? Why not continue that on Facebook?  It’s really easy. Just follow this link and click “Like”.

I’ll see you out there…!

Welcome to Pilanesberg National Park and the Ivory Tree Game Lodge; Our home for the next few days. Pilanesberg is a great park to view all the African animals in your field book. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do. It’s Africa Week here at adventureswithben.com and each day I’m going to bring to you some highlights from my time game spotting at the park.

To get things started, I thought I’d share with you my home for the weekend that I visited. The Ivory Tree Lodge is a luxury game lodge. Prices start around $400 per person per night (but that includes all your meals and game drives too). Now before you start thinking that I’m a high roller, I had the privilege to stay here on a business trip. My client picked up the tab as part of my full-time job responsibilities. Take a look in this YouTube video.

What did you think? Not a bad way to spend a few days huh? Every time I watch the video or view the photos I’m reminded to savor every moment in life. I could not afford to do something like this on my own – at least not right away. Whenever I have an adventure – whenever you have an adventure, remember to pause and appreciate it. Celebrate the hard work it took to get there, relish every moment and capture it forever. Adventures only happen when we work for them. That’s what makes them special. Never forget that. I try not to.

Speaking of special adventures, I’d like to know what your most favorite adventure is. Share by commenting below.

Tomorrow we’re going on our first game drive of the evening. You’ll want to be sure you’ve packed everything you’ll need. Here’s a YouTube video with some travel tips to get you ready.

There’s lots of photos coming up from South Africa on my Facebook Fan Page this week. Become a fan here to view them! And once you’re a fan, I’ve got a few more from the Ivory Tree Game Lodge posted here.

I’ll see you out there…!