What is a LandLoper?
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About Matt Long
06 July 2011 8:08 PM | No CommentsWho am I? I am a typical Gen-X professional who has a passion for all things travel. My site brings a unique perspective that is hard to find online. I am not a backpacker, nor am I living off of a trust fund. I am...
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Australia Travel Tips
10 January 2012 11:50 PM | 3 Comments -
New Zealand Travel Tips
01 January 2012 11:50 PM | 7 Comments -
Top Five Travel iPad Apps
06 January 2011 11:55 PM | 19 Comments -
Vatican City Scavi Tour
09 September 2010 2:59 AM | 13 Comments -
Don’t Be a Touron
29 June 2010 8:10 PM | 36 Comments
Top Travel Tips Archive
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Celebrating World Nutella Day with a Song and Video
Posted on February 2, 2012 | 8 CommentsIt’s that time of year again when we as a global community are bonded through our mutual appreciation of the choco-hazelnut spread Nutella. World Nutella Day is a time to recognize the greatness of the snack and the role it plays in the travel stories... -
Five Things I Wish I Knew About Travel When I Was Young and Stupid
Posted on February 1, 2012 | 13 CommentsAs I get older the more appreciative I am of just how big an idiot I was growing up. That’s probably not an uncommon feeling, most of us look back at our lives and cringe at the stupid decisions made and hard lessons learned. That’s... -
True or False – A Look at Six Stereotypes About Canada
Posted on January 31, 2012 | 10 CommentsI admit, in the past I may have made some jokes at the expense of our friends to the north. I seem to remember a quip involving America’s hat in particular. But those days are gone, I’m now an avowed lover of Canada and her... -
New Zealand Travel Apps
Posted on January 19, 2012 | No CommentsMobile technology has quickly transformed the way we do almost everything, including travel. There are many apps that are designed to help us learn about and navigate through new travel destinations, but they can be sometimes hard to find. To help your search for great... -
Importance of Supporting Local Communities When You Travel
Posted on January 16, 2012 | 8 CommentsA few weeks ago I published an informative guest post by Amanda Williams all about Sustainable Tourism. I particularly enjoyed the post because while it’s easy to bandy about the term ‘sustainable,’ very few people actually understand what it means to practice sustainable travel. I... -
Australia Travel Tips
Posted on January 10, 2012 | 3 CommentsAustralia Travel Tips Australia is a huge country that offers something for everyone, beaches, cities, deserts and everything in between. To get the most out of the vast continent/country would take years, and even then you’d be missing something. For the casual traveler though,... -
How to Get Cheap WiFi When You Travel in Europe
Posted on January 9, 2012 | 10 CommentsEarlier this year I wrote a review of Xcom Global and their MiFi Mobile Hotspot product as I traveled through Australia. Having strong and consistent access to internet while traveling is not just important to me, it’s essential. I was pleased with the MiFi service... -
What is a Travel Blog?
Posted on January 5, 2012 | 11 CommentsI don’t normally pontificate on LandLopers about travel blogs and social media, well not much at least. I usually save those not-so weighty thoughts for other sites and discussion groups. But this is a question I myself have been tossing about in my noggin and... -
The HomeAway Verdict – Are Short Term Vacation Rentals Worth the Hype?
Posted on January 4, 2012 | 10 CommentsEarlier this year I innocently won a door prize at a conference, a gift card to HomeAway.com. HomeAway is the world’s leading online marketplace of vacation rentals, with sites representing more than 625,000 paid vacation rental home listings throughout more than 145 countries. They offer... -
The Last Post of 2011 Travel Bests and Worsts I Will Ever Write
Posted on January 2, 2012 | 8 CommentsI know what you’re thinking, yet another “Best of 2011″ post? I realize that I did a whole series on the topic as did every mainstream paper, magazine, TV show and of course blogger. That being said, I was tagged by a fellow travel blogger... -
New Zealand Travel Tips
Posted on January 1, 2012 | 7 CommentsNew Zealand Travel Tips New Zealand is one of my favorite travel destinations, and with good reason. Simply said, it has something for everyone, from world class museums to the best adventure travel in the world. To truly know and explore New Zealand would... -
2011 Favorite Travel Destination of the Year
Posted on December 29, 2011 | 6 CommentsThis was a tough one. Last year after careful thought I chose Israel as my favorite destination of the year, and for a while I thought the Middle East would get top honors again this year with Jordan. But the more I thought and reflected,... -
2011 Favorite Travel Experience of the Year
Posted on December 28, 2011 | 3 CommentsTravel has many faces and there are many factors which, when combined, create the perfect trip. Ultimately though it’s all about the experiences, what you see, do and enjoy while on your trip that is most important. I’ve been very fortunate this year to have... -
2011 Favorite Travel Food of the Year
Posted on December 27, 2011 | 2 CommentsYesterday I wrote about the importance of people in the travel experience and highlighted the remarkable Kathy Carroll from Lanai, Hawaii. Today I want to shift gears a bit and highlight a different aspect of the travel experience, but one that is arguably the most... -
2011 Favorite Travel Person of the Year
Posted on December 26, 2011 | 10 CommentsLast year I did a series of posts highlighting my favorite travel experiences, destinations, foods and people for the previous year and I decided to once again perform this bit of forced reflection. Rather than just serve as a gratuitous way to recognize people and... -
Sustainable Tourism: What is It, and Why Should We Care?
Posted on December 25, 2011 | 6 CommentsToday I am thrilled to introduce this extremely useful article by Amanda Williams, owner of the travel blog A Dangerous Business. I asked Amanda to write this piece because of her expertise in the area and to add some clarity to an issue that is... -
Four Fun Ways to Splurge on a Trip
Posted on December 14, 2011 | 5 CommentsA lot of people try to save money while on vacation, which is great. Even if you’re trying to keep to your budget though, there are still some fun ways you can splurge on yourself and add a little more enjoyment to your vacation. Here... -
Easy as 123 – My ABCs of Travel
Posted on December 12, 2011 | 8 CommentsI was recently invited by Ben from Adventures with Ben to participate in “My Travel ABC’s” – an alphabetized summary of my travels. Here’s my take on this interesting travel round robin. A: Age you went on your first international trip: Does Canada count?... -
When Should Independent Travelers Use a Tour Company
Posted on December 5, 2011 | 16 CommentsI’m a very independent traveler, meaning that I prefer to plan my own trips without much aid and travel on my own once I’m in a new destination. A few years ago though my eyes were opened to the benefit of a great tour guide,... -
Five Great Mobile Apps for Sustainable and Do-Good Travel
Posted on November 30, 2011 | 3 CommentsSustainable and responsible travel are more than just buzz words, they’re important ways to enjoy the travel experience while not impacting the destination in a negative way. I’m no eco-warrior though, I tend to instead make decisions that benefit the local community I’m visiting. There... -
Politics, Morality and the Responsibility of Travel
Posted on November 27, 2011 | 9 CommentsI’ve written about this topic before, so I’m not going to rehash an old argument for new circumstances. Instead of just waxing philosophically about traveling to this country or that country, I want to propose something for anyone traveling, well, anywhere. The other day I... -
Five Trips That Changed My Life
Posted on November 24, 2011 | 18 CommentsEvery trip is important, no matter where we go or what we do. Travel transforms us in ways that aren’t always apparent or even realized until long after we have returned home. But there are certain travel experiences that not only impact our lives, they... -
How I Travel Thankfully
Posted on November 22, 2011 | 6 CommentsTomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the United States, a time when families gather and nostalgically reflect upon everything in their lives for which they are thankful. While I am certainly thankful today, I will also be thankful tomorrow and I am indeed thankful every day.... -
Top Five Luxury Travel iPhone Apps
Posted on November 16, 2011 | 3 CommentsWhile it’s not a travel style for everyone, luxury travel is definitely a great way to see the world. If your pocket book can allow for it, there’s nothing better than flying first class, staying in a suite at the best hotels or dining at... -
Five Things You Should Do on Every Trip
Posted on November 14, 2011 | 22 CommentsThere are countless articles on how to see New York in a day or the best restaurants in Paris, and they‘re generally very helpful. Regardless of where or how you travel though, there are a few things that everyone should do when they visit a... -
Five Unusual Souvenirs from My Travels
Posted on October 30, 2011 | 13 CommentsI’m not a big shopper, so spending hours perusing boutiques around the world holds absolutely no interest for me whatsoever. However, I do find myself attracted to quirky little items when I travel, usually some craft or ceramics piece, that just instantly appeals to me.... -
Top Destinations – My Travel Wish List
Posted on October 25, 2011 | 22 CommentsI’m constantly asked about my travel bucket list, to the point where I wrote a post explaining why I don’t believe in travel bucket lists. Simply put, I want to go anywhere I haven’t been before. I love exploring and learning and there are no... -
Top Five iPad and iPhone Apps for Holiday Travel
Posted on October 24, 2011 | 3 CommentsHoliday travel can be stressful, whether you find yourself on the interstate or navigating international airports. Instead of hitting the airport bar or screaming at the kids in the backseat of the car, use these apps to help ease some of the hassle that is... -
Eisenhower Spoiled Me – An American Driving Abroad
Posted on October 10, 2011 | 8 CommentsFor a few decades I somehow avoided driving abroad. The thought intimidated me; foreign signs, unknown rules and in some countries left hand side driving. This year I had a few opportunities to drive abroad, and I soon realized that President Eisenhower made me lazy.... -
Are We Destroying the World? – The Impact of Travel
Posted on October 9, 2011 | 19 CommentsAn article I read last week in the New Scientist rekindled concerns I’ve had about the effects we as tourists have on the world around us. The piece highlighted the Altamira cave paintings in Spain and the fact that reopening them to tourism could in... -
Three Ways Travel Makes Us Better People
Posted on October 3, 2011 | 17 CommentsI don’t think travel is necessarily an elitist activity. I think certain trips and forms of travel can be, but that can be said of anything. Great travel experiences can equally happen close to home or on the other side of the world. Regardless of... -
The Importance of Wildlife Tourism
Posted on September 27, 2011 | 7 CommentsI was going through some of my archived posts recently and noticed a trend, there are a lot of pieces about animal experiences. From camels in Jordan to being kissed by a koala bear in Australia, it seems I always manage to gravitate towards wildlife... -
Boat Tourism – Seeing the Other Side of a City
Posted on September 22, 2011 | 5 CommentsI love exploring new cities; finding hidden alleyways and cool shops are some of the best travel experiences anyone can have. One of the best ways to learn more about a city though is by leaving it, sort of. Exploring a city from the water... -
Top Five iPad and iPhone Travel Food Apps
Posted on September 21, 2011 | 1 CommentFood is arguably one of the most important aspects of any travel experience. Not only is it a necessity, but the regional differences teach us more about a country and its people than any book or tour could ever hope to. It just makes sense... -
Internet Access When you Travel – A Review of a Cheaper and Easier Way to Connect
Posted on September 6, 2011 | 13 CommentsA major concern on any trip is how I will connect to the internet while traveling. This is further exacerbated when I travel overseas when my iPhone suddenly becomes an impossibly expensive way of staying in touch. Hotels are notorious for outrageous internet connection fees... -
Giving SuperShuttle and ExecuCar Another Chance
Posted on September 5, 2011 | No CommentsI’ve never actually hit anyone, a fact of which I’m fairly proud, although I have been close to blows a few times. One such time was with a SuperShuttle driver. We were leaving on a long planned, expensive trip to Thailand and Singapore and the... -
Three of the World’s Best Walking Tours
Posted on September 5, 2011 | 12 CommentsEven though I love unique and sometimes unusual ways to experience new travel destinations, one of the best ways to learn about a new place is through a classic walking tour. Organized tours can highlight a neighborhood or entire city, while self-guided walks offer precious... -
People are Dumb When They Travel But You Don’t Have to Be
Posted on August 24, 2011 | 6 CommentsMaybe it’s because I live in Washington, DC, but while I generally believe in the inherent good nature of most people, that doesn’t mean I think they’re smart. I’m not talking about a certain level of education, I’m talking about common sense and a general... -
Taking the Pretension Out of Winery Tours
Posted on August 9, 2011 | 6 CommentsIn college I had what is arguably one of the best part-time jobs ever, I worked at a winery. Located just a few miles from the historic core of Williamsburg, Virginia is the Williamsburg Winery. It was there in the tasting room that I learned... -
Subway Etiquette – Four Tips to Be a Better Train Rider
Posted on August 8, 2011 | 7 Commentsphoto credit: BuffaloPundit I love subways, the underground, metro or whatever one wants to call them. Initially my love was borne from convenience, they’re usually the best way to get around a city and are cheap. Over time it turned into real love of this... -
Travel Case Study – What Does Luxury Travel Really Mean?
Posted on August 3, 2011 | 12 CommentsNomads, backpackers, flash packers, DINKs, family travelers, GLBT travel, solo travel, multigenerational travel, agritravel, ecotravel, sustainable travel, voluntourism – these are just some of the many different phrases we use to describe a rich variety of different travel styles. One of the oldest terms is... -
Five Must Have iPad Travel Apps for Long Flights
Posted on July 28, 2011 | 4 CommentsLet’s be honest, long flights can be hell. You’re trapped there with a few hundred strangers, many of whom may or may not own deodorant, and taking your mind off of the experience can be a challenge. Fortunately, we live in an age where boredom... -
Four Travel Styles Everyone Has to Try Once
Posted on July 27, 2011 | 21 CommentsThere are people whose sole career is to write about exciting and unique experiences travelers just ‘have’ to try. They’re usually right, but many times travel is more than just about specific destinations, it’s about experiences that can be done all around the world. Here... -
Ten Travel Words That Weren’t Around Ten Years Ago
Posted on July 25, 2011 | 25 CommentsTo some of us it may seem that travel is fairly similar to the way it was ten, even twenty years ago. But in fact a lot has changed and many of the words and phrases we use every day have in fact been around... -
Why I Don’t Like Solo Travel
Posted on July 12, 2011 | 32 CommentsI hadn’t considered solo travel as a viable travel option until last year, when I took advantage of an amazing deal and spent a week in Israel. Since then I’ve been on a couple more solo travel trips, giving me the opportunity to think more... -
Top Five iPhone City Guide Travel Apps
Posted on June 27, 2011 | 5 CommentsEven though getting to your travel destination may be half the fun, the real trip doesn’t begin until you’ve checked into your hotel and are ready to explore. Many of us are urban travelers, and there are thousands of iPhone apps designed to help us... -
Diary of an Overpacker and the SCOTTEVEST Challenge
Posted on June 22, 2011 | 10 CommentsEveryone has their faults. Some people are drug addicts, others spend more than they earn on pretty, shiny things. I am a horrific, gratuitous, disgusting overpacker. I think my packing disorder probably stems from my tendency to overplan. Both are the result of a need... -
UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Our Responsibility as Travelers
Posted on June 20, 2011 | 7 CommentsThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was one of the first UN bodies to be created in the 1940s, and its roots can be traced back to the League of Nations in the 1920s. It wasn’t until the 1950s though that UNESCO... -
Travel Question – Do I Need an International Driver’s License
Posted on June 19, 2011 | 11 CommentsEven though I’ve been traveling internationally for a couple of decades, I have somehow managed to avoid driving overseas. When I was younger, it was a matter of budget. I didn’t have much of one. As I got older though, I enjoyed using the public... -
Travel Obstacles for Gay and Lesbian Travelers
Posted on June 19, 2011 | 9 CommentsI’ve written about how the travel industry relates, or doesn’t, to the gay and lesbian traveler and how in general, the GLBT community doesn’t fare well when it comes to good travel marketing. I’ve also discussed the immense buying power that the GLBT community represents...
