Apologies to those who have been visiting throughout the summer only to see that the search function is not available…long story but we’ve had to put much of Passport Junkie aside while we work to pay the bills!

We’re working on revising the site, refreshing the content, and launching our next iteration by 2011.  However, until then, we’re answering travel questions on our facebook wall – we’ll do what we can to get you the help and information you need.

Thanks for your patience…

Many travelers are on the lookout for local, unique events that can further enhance the cultural experience during a trip.  While large events like Oktoberfest are internationally known, there are hundreds of smaller events that can be a bit more difficult for the foreign visitor to discover.  For travelers interested in these types of events, we recommend you check out Joobili, a directory for festivals and events in Europe.

Though it’s funky name might make it a bit hard to spell and remember, in reward for doing so you will find  festival and event information for most European countries (from what we can tell – not a ton of info provided on the FAQ page!).  The initial page seen upon visiting the site is simple to understand – just choose a date window corresponding to your trip and hit the “Inspire Me” button to see the results.  The site appears to have additional personalization features so you can add an event to your personal “to-do” list, check an event off as “done”, or submit your own review of the event.

From what we can gather, Joobili is a growing startup so it will be interesting to see where the product evolves from here – but so far, it looks like the information service they provide could have good value for budget travelers – allowing us to plan trips around certain events, or allowing us to change direction mid-trip to hit up a potentially interesting party.

As of 16 June 2009 and through the end of the year, Deutsche Bahn (the German national rail company) is offering train ticket specials that are worth consideration:

If you are travelling solo or in an odd-numbered group, the Dauzer Spezial should be of interest.  It allows the purchase of one 2nd-class return ticket anywhere within Germany for only €29 EUR!  These tickets are limited and come with a few not-so-oppressive conditions:

• Must book at least 3 days in advance
• Night trains will require a supplement
• Can purchase over the internet or at a DB vending machine (it is an extra €5 EUR for booking over the counter or telephone)

We’ve also heard (but sadly have not been able to confirm) a similar special that is an even better deal for those travelling as a pair or in an even-numbered group – the Germany Special ticket.  For only €49 EUR you get two 2nd-class return tickets anywhere within Germany (€24.50 per person)!

Once you have compared your tranport options with Passport Junkie and have decided that the train is how you want to travel – take advantage of these offers!

Two of the most popular stops on west-coast travel through the United States are San Francisco and Los Angeles. Until the proposed high-speed rail system linking these cities is built (don’t hold your breath), travelers have several options, all of which offer daily departures between the two cities.  Below is a brief description of each.

You can use Passport Junkie’s search page to find the specific airlines, train lines, bus lines, and car hire agencies that offer services for travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

By Air (about 1 hour, $110 USD)

• Fares for this route tend to be stable – last minute fares are usually available for around $150 USD, and advance purchase fares typically cost around $60 USD.
• The typical aircraft flown on this route is a Boeing 737 (mid-size passenger jet) – smaller “regional jets” may be used, but no propeller planes are used on this route.
• San Francisco to Los Angeles flights may depart from any of 3 San Francisco area airports: SFO (San Francisco International), OAK (Oakland), and SJC (San Jose)
• San Francisco to Los Angeles flights may arrive at any of 5 Los Angeles area airports: LAX (Los Angeles International), LGB (Long Beach), BUR (Burbank-Bob Hope), ONT (Ontario), and SNA (Santa Ana/Orange County/John Wayne)

By Train (about 9 hours 10 minutes, $55 USD)

• The long duration for this route is due to the many stops made en route and the likelihood of delays, which are common
• San Francisco to Los Angeles train service departs from the Ferry Building in downtown San Francisco (though additional pickup locations are available)
• San Francisco to Los Angeles trains arrive in Los Angeles at Union Station (downtown)
• All of the “train” routings offered on this route require at least one travel segment by passenger bus – these segments can be as short as 30 minutes or as long as 6 hours
• Although some trips are overnight, the trains and buses used do not have sleeper compartments, only regular seating

By Bus (about 6 hours 30 minutes, $60 USD)

• The fare for this trip can be as low as $25 USD when purchased in advance
• The vehicles used for this trip are typical, large passenger buses with economy seating
• San Francisco to Los Angeles bus service departs from downtown San Francisco (either the Transbay Terminal, Union Square, or Chinatown)
• San Francisco to Los Angeles buses usually arrive at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, though some services offer a stop at the Santa Monica HI Youth Hostel

By Rental/Hired Car (at least 6 hours, $250 USD)

• This option tends to be the most expensive due to the “drop off fee” charged by car hire agencies for one-way rentals
• The fastest driving route to Los Angeles follows Interstate 5 in the middle of California (through farm country) – the same route buses take for this trip
• The most scenic driving route is along the famous Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) along the California coast – for this route, expect to spend an additional night along the way

By Car (Rideshare) (at least 6 hours, $25 USD)

• As an alternative to scheduled transportation, one can use websites like craigslist to find a rideshare – typically riders must split fuel costs for the journey.
• Exercise the same caution with ridesharing as you would with hitchiking – be sure you are comfortable with the situation before hopping in the car

Recently we made our first StumbleUpon discovery – a useful South African magazine about youth and gap year travel. Though the traditional definition of a gap year is that year between secondary school (high school) and university, in practice “gap travel” can apply to any traveler (student or not) taking an extended break traveling and working abroad.

HalloCrazyWorld appears to be a monthly online & print publication which provides articles, information, and resources for people interested in working abroad for a stretch, such as:

• Explanation of the foreign worker/working holiday schemes/rules  applicable to gap year travelers in several (popular) countries
• Information on the popular jobs for gap year travelers (ski resorts, au pair/nanny, teaching English, etc)
• Planning advice and recommendations on visas, insurance, and other topics

If you’re interested in learning about gap year travel or are already in the planning stages, HalloCrazyWorld might be a useful resource for you – check it out!

For Americans, gap year travel is less common than in other countries (the reasons for which are worthy of a separate discussion entirely).  Although it may be unconventional by American standards, we assume the experience would only benefit young people by better preparing them for balancing the academic, fiscal, and social responsibilities of the university experience; in addition to helping individuals become more cognizant of the world outside of the USA.  The current crop of university graduates in the US is facing fewer job prospects; perhaps this situation will encourage more consideration of a gap year experience before entering the working world?