Newsletter - April 2007
LIVE YOUR LIFE NEWSLETTER
Editor's Note - April 2007:
April has crept up on us and this means only one thing. The end of Lent and a whole lot of well deserved gluttony. With that in mind I’ve packed the newsletter with a whole host of exceptional delicacies to feed your brain and nourish your chocolate starved souls.
The cherry on top of the cake this month is a one on one interview with the most influential travel writer of our time, Bill Bryson. Check out Interview Time and read this one of a kind conversation where I asked him about everything from radioactive toilet seats to the charm of the Yorkshire Dales.
Dr. Bryson also picked the top 5 female reads this month and the charity feature about organ donation in the United Kingdom. He even worked his way into the top ten so be sure to take a look at Bath and find out how you can listen to Bill’s historically entertaining musings.
Other highlights in April include the top ten money saving tips tour of every single city on the St Christopher’s map, a new photo competition, an extract from a booker prize nominee and an especially special Ethical Travel feature about seeing the world and doing some good at the same time.
I’ve had some superbly styled submissions from a whole spectrum of travel writers and a lot of great suggestions about how I can give you more from your newsletter. Write Around The World takes us to South America in April and the Sneak Peak is definitely worth a gander to find out what will be winging its way into your inbox in May.
Finally a fond farewell goes out to Lisanne who has left the St Christopher’s bubble to finish her studies in Holland and many thanks find their way to Bill Bryson, GNER, Matfen Hall and Jesmond Dene House. Until next time..
- Rob Savage
Top Features
Interview
This month you get to see what Bill Bryson had to say when I caught up with him to talk about travel writing and radioactive toilet seats..
Top 5 Female Travel Reads
Check out Bill Bryson’s top five recommended reads on the road. Be inspired to be like Bryson.
Travel Top 10
Save money as you go with the top ten budget tips across Europe from St Christopher’s Inns..
Monthly Features
-
Charities
Learn more about Organ Donation, a cause that is very close to Bill Bryson’s Heart.
-
Travel Book
Be the first to get hooked on The Neon Rose, a 2007 booker prize nomination.
-
Ethical Travel
Join Massimo and Fabio as they drive across the planet and lend a helping hand.
-
Travellers Tips
Keep yourself safe on the road with some up to date travel tips from St Christopher’s.
-
Write around the world
Travel Story – Take a trip to the cities of South America and explore the north of England.
-
Going Green
Find out how the St Christopher’s Inns are giving something back to the planet.
-
Backpacker Bites
Bringing you the best hints and tips on how to keep healthy on the road.
-
Investors in people
Travel Story – Take a trip to the cities of South America and explore the north of England.
Write around the world: Travel story
South America
In April, by the power of the pen, or rather the good old keyboard, you are transported to the thriving and vivacious cities of South America. Wet your travelling appetite with Michael Zurakhinsky’s tales of Buenos Aries, Rio de Janeiro and Cusco. He gives you a sparkling, witty and engaging account of Tango, Politics and Geography. This month you are also treated to my very own, more localised experience of tourism in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
Try your hand at travel writing, send us your submission and if we publish it you get two free nights in a St. Christopher's hostel. E-mail travelwriters@st-christophers.co.uk
Ethical Travel
A Global Drive helping lives
On a recent hostel convention in Switzerland, Web Manager Duncan Robertson bumped into two rather inspirational individuals who are driving across the globe and helping the people they meet on the way. Inside this month’s article you can read the tale of Massimo and Fabio, their trip across Africa in a Citroen Mehari and their plans to go global.
There are no stupid questions, except the ones you don't ask. Especially when you're traveling. Try us at submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Female Travel Tips
Top 5 Reads on the Road
The hot list in April is something a little bit special because our top five reads just happen to be the personal favourites of Mr Bill Bryson. I twisted his arm and made him name the top five travel books of all time. He gave me some rather tasty recommendations so click through to find out all about the best accounts of comical mountaineering, Hawaiian hotels, Australian History and Amazonian exploration.
We've been getting tons of info from Solo-Female travellers and we're loving it! If you've got any questions or comments you'd like to pass our way send them to submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Snap for a Nap
Photo competition
Send your happiest photographic memories into the crew at St Christopher’s for your chance to win two free nights of accommodation, for you and a friend at any of our hostels. We want to see your history in the making and if your snaps put others to shame, then you’ll get our vote.
We are looking for great holiday snaps of you and your friends enjoying the whole travel and backpacking experience, enter our 'Snap for a Nap' competition and be in with a chance of winning 2 free nights accommodation for 2 people.. more info
Backpacking Travel Tips
Be Travel Smart
Work abroad without getting ripped off, combat the terrible effects terrorists have on your beauty regime. This stuff is more useful than a limitless snow machine when you’re stranded in the middle of the Sahara.
Got a travelling query? Want us to help plan your trip? Want to know the best tours, countries, pubs, restaurants, hide-away gems? Just ask: submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
The Interview
Bill Bryson
This is a real treat for every aspiring travel writer and anyone who has picked up a Bill Bryson book and got lost in a world of wit, fun and facts. Check out my one on one time with Bill and learn about the modern day equivalent to the radioactive toilet seats of 1950’s Des Moines. There are also some top tips for travel writers who aspire to reach the same dizzying heights as this monumental author. Keep you eyes peeled for the podcast of this interview, when it lands on the new St Christopher’s website in the very near future.
If you've got any questions or comments you'd like to pass our way send them to submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Travel Charities
A-list for a Heart
Bill Bryson took some time out to tell the world about a friend called Oli who has cystic fibrosis and urgently needs a heart and lung transplant. Sadly however the chances of a transplant for Oli, and others like him in the UK, are only 50/50. Read through the charity article this month to find out how Dr. Bryson is campaigning to tip the odds and get students onto the organ donor register.
Got a question, comment or smart remark? We're here to listen, so send us an email.
St Christopher's Top 10
The Top 10 Ways to Save and Survive Across Europe
I promised you a selection of inspired tips for saving money in the St Christopher’s cities and here they are. Make your shoe-string budget stretch to a few more pints or cosmos, by taking advantage of the offers brought to you by St Christopher’s Inns. Do it all in Amsterdam for less, over eat in Berlin without breaking the bank and make the most of your surroundings in Newquay with our super saver, bargain bucket, Top Ten Ways to Save in the St Christopher’s Cities.
If you've got a Top 10 to fill us in on, pass it our way, the world is full of travellers looking for the next big adventure. Send your submissions to submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Investing in People
Nine years and counting
In March we passed our third audit by Investors in People. This means the company has successfully invested in the potential and development of our employees for nine successful years. Kathy Sinclair from Investors in People said it was: “Very well deserved! Of the thousands of companies I've worked with since the outset of Investors in People, Interpub is definitely right at the top!”
Got a question, comment or smart remark? We're here to listen, so submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Travel Book Extract
Neon Rose
Another top treat this month is the travel book. This month you can read the first pages of The Neon Rose, a particularly powerful piece of work by Fred Johnston and a 2007 Booker Prize nominee. In a nutshell this book is the compelling tale of a young Irishman, murder charges, terrorism and the vibe from Paris. Fred Johnston is a Hennessey award winner and a strong contender for the Booker Prize, so don’t miss out on your chance to sample the work of this acclaimed author.
There are no stupid questions, except the ones you don't ask. Especially when you're traveling. Try us at submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Going Green
Super Supplements
St Christopher’s have been going green for a while now but we want to do more to give nature a helping hand against all that pesky pollution. Going Green will tell you what we already do, what you think we should do and the options that are out there for the future. We want to get our green policy right so if you have any extra ideas after you have a read, be sure to let us know.
Do you have any ideas to make St Christopher's Inns more environmentally and backpacker friendly? Tell us.. submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
