DISQUS

Shree · 4 months ago

Who can pass up on a free trip ?? Not me....i would go away in a heartbeat. Leaving my husband and 3 kids to fend for themselves...

Stu · 4 months ago

I could pass up on a free trip right now ;) We are expecting little boy 32 in november and there is much to be done (Like saving for my wifes unpaid maternity leave)...

tempting but obligations take precedence :/

Krista · 4 months ago

I'd accept it if I felt I had enough space to design my own itinerary and that I could get away from any scripted bits on a very regular basis. I think any PR organization needs to be confident enough in their product to give you some leeway.

crambox · 4 months ago

Dave if my life was like yours of course I would, but once you throw kids and a full time job its hard to say yes I hope you take it thats so cool good luck.

Mike · 4 months ago

I couldn't agree more, Krista. If you're locked into someone else's schedule of what you're going to do every hour of every day, why bother going?

I have a feeling Dave would never accept such an offer though.

Best of luck with it, Dave!

lauren · 4 months ago

i have pretty similar feelings about colombia, and medellin (who doesn't though, really?). i think it'd be kinda fascinating to go a PR trip through colombia. you'll certainly see another side or it...

JHS · 4 months ago

The answer is "yes, for sure". Nevertheless, if you don't take it, please count on me to replace you.
If you take it, I will be expecting a fantastic detailed coverage about every place you and food that you try.

Are you taking it or I have to start preparing my bag?

Dennis · 4 months ago

Dave... I just got back from a (mostly) free trip to Colombia with four other journalists and I loved (almost) every minute of it! I only got to stay a week and I wish I would have had more time to explore Colombia's many charms, so I'm jealous!
The people who sponsored our trip did give us a lot of flexibility in what we did and tried to accommodate our various desires as best they could. We had a fair amount of time to ourselves (part of which I used to get lost in Cartagena at night).
I fell in love with Medellin immediately. As the great photo at the top of the page shows, it has a spectacular setting and it's a city working hard to overcome its violent past. I felt perfectly safe there and everywhere I went in Colombia.
Can't wait to read your posts... best wishes for a great trip!

Dave · 4 months ago

Lol, clearly we're kindred spirits Shree.

Dave · 4 months ago

Congrats Stu - that's awesome news!

Dave · 4 months ago

Good point Krista. Since this is my first experience with such travel, I'm probably going into it on the naive side, but I have a good feeling that it's going to be a cool project when all is said and done. Hope you'll continue to follow!

Dave · 4 months ago

I'm too naive to be jaded about the inner workings of PR and the tourism industry! I think once I can share more details, it'll show this isn't your average travel junket. :)

Dave · 4 months ago

Right - all the sides I was too tired to see when I was there earlier in the year! The tropical beaches of Parque Tayrona, islands off Cartagena, snow-capped volcanoes, and maybe even my first glimpse of the Amazon jungle!

Dave · 4 months ago

I'm absolutely taking it! I'm glad you'll stick around for my riveting coverage of a country I couldn't be more excited to further explore. :)

Dave · 4 months ago

Hola Dennis - thanks for sharing your experience. I'm really excited to be part of this project, and I hope to share more details soon. I think it's going to be a lot of fun to write about.

Gurran · 4 months ago

Yes and Yes!

Some opportunities, you just can't pass up. You are living the dream, man!

Erin · 4 months ago

You only live once! As I sit in my cube and long for my next adventure, I'll live vicariously through your tales!

Gurran · 4 months ago

I too am a cube dweller and this website has been a good friend of mine the past couple of years.

Wally · 4 months ago

Is this one of those free trips to Colombia where you have to carry their bags across the border? I smell a new Locked Up Abroad show brewing.

Andi · 4 months ago

I don't know if I could be friends with someone who could turn this oppurtunity down. I LOVE Colombia. What a country!!! I sure hope you take this oppurtunity! :)

Chris · 4 months ago

Free?!?! Just about anything FREE and I am in! Haha, congrats Dave! I will be looking for some new awesome posts about Columbia!

CS · 4 months ago

Of course. I'd accept a free trip to Newark....and I don't even like Newark...hahaha!

Ivan · 4 months ago

Seems like yet another interesting way to experience travelling. Like it or not, it's two weeks and you're going to have a load of amazing stories.

Congratulations on the offer and good luck with the travels.

Cheers,
Ivan

TravMonkey · 4 months ago

Hi Dave,

That's brilliant news!

How come you decline? I'd certainly take the offer and enjoy writing about it. How many people get that opportunity!

Paul @
TravMonkey.com

Anil · 4 months ago

Yes, yes, and yes.

Dan · 4 months ago

Yeah I'd still take it up. Even if it was all preplanned there is bound to be more opportunity in it than in staying at home.

Dave · 4 months ago

Thanks Erin - while it has been almost 2 years, I spent enough time in a cubicle (reading travel blogs) to know how important they can be to staying motivated and inspired.

I'm glad you're enjoying mine. It means a lot and I hope the adventures will only get bigger and better going forward!

Dave · 4 months ago

Guarran - I hadn't heard from you in awhile but I knew I recognized that name! Glad you've been willing to stick with me so long.

Dave · 4 months ago

Hi Andi - great to hear from you. Hope you enjoyed NYC! I see you're a Jeter fan. I can hear my Dad watching the NY-Red Sox game downstairs. :)

*high five* for Colombia!

Dave · 4 months ago

Yes, it'd definitely be a different approach to traveling, and I wouldn't want to be close-minded about it! I'd regret the things I've done.... or better yet, have no regrets period.

Dave · 4 months ago

Exactly! And coming off 20-months of doing things *my way* it is not as though I can't afford a few weeks on someone else's itinerary. I can compromise...sometimes. :)

Dave · 4 months ago

That's definitely the right perspective. Wow, so far the "yes" responses far outweigh the "no's." I've even asked random strangers in bars....and the majority say YES.

marleneaffeld · 2 months ago

Pick me - I will go!

Dave · 2 months ago

Marlene - there was a contest which just wrapped up. All the winners have been chosen!

kandihart · 2 months ago

I just stumbled across this and saw that I'm too late, as a retired, mother of 4, grandmother of 6, can you keep me as a stand in for any that have to back out at the last min. ha,ha you never know... and I'm more than ready.

Dave · 2 months ago

Hi, thanks for stopping by. Unfortunately, the best I can do is publicize any future contests I become aware of.

tobecontinued · 2 months ago

of course i'd take it. a free trip anywhere sounds good to me :]

Kate · 1 month ago

I want to travel for my own experiences and I want to tell people about those experiences in a personal and honest way. I worry that a sponsored trip wouldn't allow me any of those things. Reading any number of other sponsored travel blogs, particularly where there are numerous sponsors, they often read like classified columns and I'm left wondering what benefit their experience gave to anyone except themselves. If you think carefully about what your sponsor represents and what they want from you it might be possible to create something worthwhile to share with the world. On the other hand it's a free trip so what the hey.

Deimante · 1 month ago

It is funny that I found this post. Because I want to go to Colombia soooo badly (particularly Medellin) for at least couple months, but I couldn't afford even a trip, not even talking about place to live, transportation, food etc. And I am desperatelly looking for alternatives to get there. I was looking for scholarships, internships, but everything turned out to be hopeless.
So I guess I don't even need to answer the question...
Of course I would take a trip and I would be the most excited and happy person in a whole world!

Dave · 1 month ago

Hi Deimante, thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Medellin is a beautiful city - I lived there for almost 6 months this year, and well worth the effort to visit if you can manage it.

marta · 2 weeks ago

I would never turn down a free travel wherever it might takes me I am up for it! The world is too big to be stuck in one place.

Dave · 2 weeks ago

Hi Marta -

I agree....though I realized in following the people who did eventually go on the Colombia Trip that you might not have the same degree of freedom you are use to. It's a tradeoff I'd be willing to take!

maya · 2 weeks ago

of course i'd accept it. can i have one, please?