I'll Meet You In Hawaii, Ok?
Written: Sep 09 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good photos, stories, tips and discounts, has a national geographic edge.
Cons: Too many advertisements. Expensive shopping!
The Bottom Line: I like it and enjoy the reads it offers. Its got alot of pages and actually is VERY informative !
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| Melaney's Full Review: Travel & Leisure Magazine |
I thought I'd perhaps write some magazine reviews ... what better way to get the cramps out of my fingers and brain when it comes to writing and getting into the swing of things.
My first choice is Travel & Leisure magazine. Being an avid subscriber and lover of travel. Not much can hold me down from boarding that good deal of a flight to wherever my fancy chooses, within a budget of course.
So anyway...on to the magazine.
Travel & Leisure magazine gives us everyday people a look towards a dreamy locale of where we may want to go on our next vacation (many pennies saved, of course). It also caters to the very rich who have money to throw into gadgets, gizmos and the latest fashions and trends.
A basic outline of what this magazine offers is sectioned here for you to get a grasp on what it offers.
Like all good magazines there is the letter from the Editor...wishing us well and giving us their two cents and why we should buy the next issue. They sell the current issue to us within a few words
They sound almost political making us promises of what's in store for us as we will turn the pages to read on.
Of course this is after passing a good 20 to 26 pages of advertisements. I guess they figure if we've made it as to actually read what they have to say they may have a new subscriber. Little secret to Nancy...editor for this particular magazine....your "welcome" didn't interest me at all, in fact I just read it just now because I didn't want to leave anything out in this review! :)
The contribution section however was of a bit more interest as I like to see who is writing about what and what is exactly their background?
Most of the contributors are well experienced travelers who have gone to one locale or lived in a certain country for a good amount of time. They have the in's and out's of just what a certain place holds. Some are starving artists who are writing their first book to others are seasoned veterans, Ernest Hemingway style.
Then of course there are the regular middle class average Joe's whom love to write and that's what they make their bread and butter on.
Next is the letters section where you, the writer/consumer, get to share your two cents about the last issue/s. It's a nice section for the upcoming traveler to check out if perhaps they followed advice from the magazine and the turnout of what went well or not so well on their last trip.
Ask T & L is up next with its Travel Advice. You can send in your questions in hopes that you'll maybe see it before you leave for your next trip in the next issue of T&L. Not likely.
Travel Log,now this is an interest because it features locations a map and then there is a heading at top of each column broken up like this: Location, Weather, What a $1 will buy, Population vs. Visitors, Tourism Info.
Well, under each column it features neat little info in helping you decide where you'd like to go for example....
You want to go to NY?
Ok well right now weather is, chilly in the morning 60's and afternoons are 70's. Days are getting shorter. Duh. lol* What your one dollar can buy here? A ride on the Central Park Carousel! Yay!
Population....Well 8 million to 32 million visitors. Wow! Then it lists a website and phone number for tourism information. Now lets say you say...gee maybe not..too congested...lets pick another on this map.
How about Playa Del Carmen, Mexico! Hmmm. ok so maybe it rains half the month but the temps are in the 90's andddddd you can get the mango fruit cocktail drink for a buck! I like that buy for a dollar much better.
Population is lots less too with only 120,000 natives to about 406,000 visitors. Ok...thats getting better already!
I think this month though...I'd have to go with Positano, Italy...Its the most appealing to me although I don't have the pennies saved up just yet. Ok, so maybe I can dream a little instead :)
Travel & Leisure also features a website where you can download music samples, see photos of different places and you can even book hotels and view live webcams of selected features.
A section of this magazine that I find appealing is the Best Deals section. It gives it's pick of the month deals and features specials going on at select hotels and packages on discounted trips.
One cool thing is how it really does find some interesting little finds on for example ... ever wanted to fly first or business class? Try checking out 1st-Air.net.
It sells discounted first and business class seats! Hmmm...now tell me does your normal everyday travel magazine actually let you in on that secret?Nah....
I get most travel magazines and haven't ever seen that one before. I find this section quite informative and has lots of handy tips for the traveler.
A wonderful section is T & L reports....It tells you news on where to stay with colorful pictures and what to see and what to buy.
Basically....how to spend those saved up pennies but its a good researched section and features lots of great getaway places. All in all about 10 pages of reading nestled neatly in between advertisements.
Next is the Restaurants section featuring a featured city and a bunch of restaurants of different cuisine for that particular place. You even get a little cute map to help you figure out where is what and what is where?
The thing I find that I like about this section of the magazine is that it features those hole in the wall places too that perhaps you just wouldn't normally read about or know to go to. You know, for example, that great little pub that has one hit wonders and one of a kind hot-dogs or the best coffee?
Then of course...Shoppinggggggg! Unfortunately, the shopping is a bit out of my range money-wise but, OK.
I'll just look for later when I hit the Lotto and have that fortune one day. ;)
Culture section is next.....and the name says it all. Its about living as a native. Going where they go and doing what they supposedly do on their free weekends.
Hmmm...you know what? I just noticed something...I haven't even begun to write here? In a way its a good thing because that just goes to show you that this magazine is quite thorough. Its some 250 pages or more and I've only chipped away at the cover and first 75 pages or so.
Seems like even the advertisements become storytellers themselves and make for a good read.
Next up...Mind and Body! Lets go to Hawaii! It shows every woman or man the next spa or exotic locale where they want to go for a nice relaxing and healthy get away. I think I'll go ...I need that mud bath anyhow. OK, how many pennies is that?
Nevermind..lets turn the page to the FOOD section, I'd rather eat. Oh cool....I'll have to tell my boyfriend my next choice on where he can take me for the romantic restaurant for two. This section does just that or it tells on just ...a great restaurant that isn't so typical.
Where Mom and dad and you can go for good food. I'd have to say though...a bit expensive so be willing to spend on their advice here.
Oh geez. more shopping. I wonder how many sections on shopping I can find in this magazine!!!! Ok, I admit it, I'm a subscriber but thats because I like the articles in here and the pictures aren't half bad either.
I like a magazine that makes me yearn to read more and find out more, learn about something more.
Hmmmmm..hey someone must have heard me because the shopping advertisements have stopped. I am reading a nice story on Affordable Iceland! Well, now....ok.Lets read on to the Travel Journal of this contributor. Very detailed and even with a mention to a volcano that inspires the Lord of the Rings. Not a bad editorial at all. I'm impressed.
For those of you whom like to drive and prefer to go on those really cool road trips this magazine also caters to you ... with driving plans and what you'll see and encounter along the way.
Very descriptive also and very detailed.
In this particular issue I'm looking at for a refresh of it fresh in my mind of what I read a couple weeks ago there is a report on which airlines are making the grade. Its the T & L. Aviation Report Card which gives its thumbs up to certain airlines and thumbs down to certain airlines as well.
Most are many that most people never ever hear of but it's all about INTERNATIONAL travel, right? Checkpoint screening and Baggage Screening, Safety, Runway Incursions, In Flight Collisions (if that happens, I promise you won't feel it).
There's even a section on just the business traveler.
For those of you looking to take a cruise there's a section for you too.
The "A" list section of this magazine, isn't half bad with giving advice on cruises, active travel such as: hiking, biking safari's, fishing skiing and much more.
My favorite in all of this magazine though are for the reads themselves. I like the National Geographic edge inspired articles with those really great photographs of people from Shangri-La and Hawaii, Italy, Mexico China. I just love those in your face, look at that native picture!
You get a sense of wow, they lead such a different life. I need to go there and see for myself.
Now that's what a travel magazine should do... It should want to make you want to go there, be there, soak in it's essence, if only from your chair....
This magazine does all of that. So, if you can make it past the BS of advertisements and the blah blah blah's of nonsense, you'll get a chance to learn a lot and see a lot and figure out where you might like to go on the next rainy day that you've got all your pennies saved.
You know ...I may even keep sending away for some more brochures...that are featured in back of the magazine to see some of these places they are talking about this issue.
Looking to know more on this magazine or some of it's features?
Go to www.travelandleisure.com > gives you in a nutshell the summary of current issue and pictures, downloads, webcams (some of the time).
There is also an archived section for good reads on past featured places.
There is also...
Currency Converter
Breaking News
Weather Reports
Interactive Maps
Overall I enjoy this magazine its got a nifty come travel away with me featured cover, great content, pictures, editorials and much more.
Thanks for stopping by to read my review! Gracias- Melaney*
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Melaney
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Reviews written: 23
Trusted by: 87 members
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