Get Sent on an International Assignment for a Change of Vacation

Posted on June 18, 2011 by Scott

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Business is global in scope and you don’t need to open up today’s newspaper to be reminded of that fact.  For those readers that work for an established company with both a domestic and international focus, it is almost certain that your employer has several overseas offices.  You may be under the impression that foreign assignments are only for the corporate executive type and your job title does not qualify you for a posting abroad.  I am here to say that for the indispensable go-getter working for a organization that values talent (and backs it up with targeted employee benefits), a temporary assignment outside the U.S. is well within your reach.

Thinking about a global assignment at work

This blog post is timely as my wife is just wrapping up her one-year work assignment in Ireland and the benefits to her career and our work-life balance living in Dublin are extraordinary.  An overseas assignment gives you the chance to embrace another culture and witness a refreshing attitude towards the separation of work and life.  You will be surprised by all the little differences between what is “normal” at your home office and how the work day is done at your international office.  And the best part…?  Working from a foreign city opens up a totally different set of possibilities for world travel and enriching pursuits.  Before you get scared about the prospect of putting your current life on hold and uprooting your family for the unknown, read on to appreciate the benefits of this life-changing experience.

International Assignment as a Way to Live Abroad

Living and working in a foreign country comes in infinite varieties, but what I am talking about here is your employer sending you to work at (not just visit) an office outside of your home country.  The assignment length may be as short as a few weeks to as long as a year or two.  The costs of your transportation, housing, work permits, and miscellaneous expenses will be covered by your employer and depending upon the type and length of the assignment, for your family members as well.  While you are living in a different country you will be expected to work a normal schedule, so like back home your evenings and weekends will (hopefully) be work-free in addition to any paid vacation days you decide to take.

Work-Life-Vacation Balance While Living Overseas

The benefits of working at an international location for your employer is two-fold.  First you will get to meet co-workers in person to learn about their work environment and way of life.  That is a clear benefit to your employer and your career, as you forge close professional relationships and share knowledge to improve business processes.  The second benefit is the revolutionary improvement to your own work-life-vacation balance.  Living in a foreign city for several weeks or months has a lot in common with being on vacation every day, even if you still have to immersed at work during business hours.

Vacation Opportunities with an International Assignment

  • An extended vacation in a foreign city allows you to go beyond the Top 10 tourist sites.
  • Live like a local citizen by commuting to work, going out for coffee in the morning or dinner in the evening, shop for food and supplies, … to become more than a spectator.
  • Take day trips to nearby scenic destinations that are not in the guide books; places that locals visit on the weekends.
  • Purchase discount train and bus tickets or fly on budget airlines to exotic places and ones you’ve never heard of.
  • Be there during festivals, cultural activities, sporting events, and the fun stuff that only the local population knows about.
  • As a newcomer you can count on  your co-workers taking you out to their favorite spots, sharing insider tips, and making you feel at home in their country.
  • Learn to speak a new language (at least a little bit) when residing and working in a non-English speaking country.

 

How to Seek Out International Assignments at Work

Before you decide to go after an international assignment, find out who else at your company has done one and learn from their experience.  How did they make it happen and what did they like and dislike about the entire experience?  Do they have internal connections that can help you take that first important step?  Once you make it your goal to land an international assignment find out the answers to these questions in order to gauge your chances of success.

International Assignment opens up Vacation Possibilities

  • Does your organization have an established program to send employees abroad?  This is the easiest route as the policies will already be in place on how to transfer employees and deal with the HR, financial, and immigration issues.
  • What international offices does your company have including number of employees in each, type of work done, and the interaction between your office and those overseas?
  • Do you have examples of people in similar roles going on assignment in recent years?  Was the end result positive and ultimately beneficial to your organization?
  • Do you regularly work with team members located at one of your international offices?  Can you make the case that collaborating in-person (and in the same time zone) will lead to better and faster results?
  • Have you built up a lot of organizational and industry knowledge that can be shared with teams located elsewhere to improve their productivity and increase global revenue?
  • Are you fluent in a foreign language that is spoken in one of your international offices and therefore can become a part of their team from day-one or perhaps help with translation and localization tasks?
  • Do you have international offices that are expanding and hiring lots of new employees who need immediate leadership or training on your the products, services, and processes at your company?

Your answers to the above questions will determine the approach you should take to pitch an international assignment to your manager.  The key is to write up a succinct business plan highlighting your accomplishments in your own office, how you can foster the same kind of success at another office, and the immediate need (or at a specific time of year) for your talent at that other office.  It is crucial that you document reasons why a short trip will not lead to the same organizational benefit as an extended assignment.  Working abroad for weeks or months at a stretch is the optimal way to produce real results by the end date and for the years that follow.

In the end your company must be convinced that the actual cost of an international assignment is more than covered by the benefits to the organization and your overseas colleagues.  I am biased and strongly believe that sending results-oriented employees to the right foreign office are easily justifiable.  It is simply a matter of tailoring the length and goals of the assignment to match your job situation with global business objectives.  One final note…  when selling the plan to send you on a foreign assignment, skip the part about the advantages to your own work-life-vacation balance as that can be your own rewarding secret.

Happy Traveling…
-Scott

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What to do if your Spouse or Partner has More Vacation Days than You?

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Scott

You get more vacation days that I do!Traveling with a spouse or partner is one of the many joys in life and with the limited vacation time most dual-working couples get, coordinating time off schedules is essential.  However what if your partner gets three weeks off from work each year (for example) but you only receive two?  Would you feel cheated if your spouse used their extra (more than you) vacation days to book a solo trip or getaway with friends, leaving you behind to continue working for a living?

It does not matter whether you recently changed jobs, work in an industry that offers meager benefits, or simply haven’t worked long enough to get more than the minimum amount of paid time off.  The issue of fairness and wishing to spend more free time with your partner is important to your relationship.  To help remedy this common problem, consider the following ways to address Vacation Inequity and bring about Vacation Fairness between you and your spouse or significant other.

1. Use company paid holidays as additional vacation days

For the situation where your spouse or partner has an additional week or two of vacation above and beyond what you earn at work, consider leveraging paid holidays to virtually make up the difference.  On average employees in America receive between 8 and 11 paid holidays per year, the higher number more typical of U.S. and state government employees.  While your partner also receives a similar set of paid holidays, making up for fewer vacation days by thinking of holidays as true vacation days can help you feel like you have just earned just as much.  This option is best for those that prefer to travel during holiday periods and long weekends in order celebrate and spend more time with family.

What to do? Allocate five or more official company holidays as vacation days by simply calling them “Fixed Vacation Days” instead of paid holidays.  A floating holiday or personal day if offered can also be added to your totals.  Mark these days on your paper or online calendar as such and schedule your paid vacation time during these weeks.  You will feel like you have an additional week or more of vacation each year, making it seem more equitable between you and your partner.
As for what your spouse or partner should do with their additional vacation days that will be leftover, read on to #2.

2. Have your partner take their extra vacation days in single day increments throughout the year

As you schedule vacation time and utilize paid holidays for vacation purposes, your partner will still be left with “extra” vacation days that are above and beyond what you actually earn each year.  Since you want to take time off from work fairly and travel together as much as possible, I recommend that your partner take leftover vacation days in one day increments.  They should consult their HR handbook and talk with their manager to make sure single day usage is allowed and how much notice is required.  By taking an occasional (extra) day off over an extended period of time, you (the one with less paid vacation) will not feel as cheated by the otherwise lack of Vacation Equity.

What to do? Ask your partner to take a day or two off each month throughout the year to be used for both relaxation and to help you (the one that is vacation challenged) out.  Suggest they commute with you to your workplace to grab coffee together before you start your day or meet them for lunch near your office.  Ask them to run a few errands and handle household chores while you are working to relieve some of the burden from you having to work more.  And if your partner is smart they certainly won’t keep reminding you that they have more vacation days or they might be traveling alone next time ;-)

3. Request additional unpaid vacation days off from work

For those of you committed to taking as much time off as possible each year for family, travel, and enrichment (the VacationCounts way), find out if your employer is willing to offer unpaid time off.  Every employer and workplace is very different and your exact job responsibilities might make this easy or near impossible.  Are you a valued employee that rarely takes a sick day, puts in longer hours, and gets work done consistently?  If so you have a good chance of convincing your boss to grant “extra vacation days” which will be unpaid, therefore it will not have a noticeable financial impact on the business.

What to do? Consider your job performance, daily responsibilities, work habits, and relationship with your employer and use that as input for your “Unpaid Time Off Request” proposal.  Document your request including the number of days, what time of year you plan to take them, and how you will handle your work responsibilities while away.  When you are ready, meet with your manager or HR representative to present a clear-cut case of why you are making this request (mention your partner’s greater vacation benefit as the primary cause), how your past performance makes it feasible to take additional time off, and the lack of financial and productivity impact to all.

Couple happy with vacation equity

4. Find a job with better vacation policy

The ultimate way to equalize paid time off (PTO) between a dual-working couple is for the one with the worse vacation policy (and no improvement in sight) to get a new job.  Negotiating to receive better vacation benefits is very possible after you have secured a job offer and are in a position to ask for additional pay OR better benefits.  When vacation is your top priority, forgo the additional salary and make it clear to your employer that adequate time off to spend with your friends and family and pursue your outside interests (whatever that might be) is essential to your happiness in work and in life.  This is the time to mention exactly how many vacation days your spouse or partner earns annually .  Your goal is to get your new employer to match this vacation benefit from day one or as of the start of the next calendar year or accrual period.

What to do? Start searching for a new career opportunity today by scanning the online job postings which mention vacation and time off policy.  Also talk to your professional network on LinkedIn or at local meet-ups and industry networking events to gather some real numbers about their own vacation benefits.  While it may not be appropriate to ask a peer their salary, it is certainly fine to ask how many paid vacation days they receive each year, roll-over policy, and the number of years of service before they move up a notch.
Bonus Tip: When you are ready to accept a new job offer with greater vacation time, negotiate for a later start date.  This will enable you to vacation for a week or two in between to make the transition easier and enjoy equitable time off with your partner.

As you can tell from this blog post my wife and I appreciate the chance to take vacations together and value having matching vacation benefits offered at work.  This makes the work-life-vacation balance fair to both of us now and throughout our careers.  Remember this advice next time you seek a new career opportunity and make it a goal to always seek Vacation Equity between you and your partner.

Happy Traveling…
-Scott

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Is a Compressed Work Week Your Solution to Getting More Time Off?

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Scott

Working a compressed week means you are putting in 40 hours of time on the job in four days instead of the usual five.  Employees that have made this full-time but flexible work option a reality enjoy a glorious three-day weekend every week.  This working style is not possible for all job types or industries, so first take the time to consider what you would do with every Friday (or alternatively Monday or Wednesday) off.  Can you can handle all your job responsibilities in four extra long days (say 10 hours or longer) each week and still meet or exceed expectations and have a successful career?

Weekly Time Sheet - Compressed with Friday Off?

Why a Four-Day Work Week?

I’m sure that many of you have heard of the bestselling Four-Hour Workweek book from Timothy Ferriss and while it is an aspirational approach to the work-life grind, a four-DAY workweek is a more realistic opportunity for the majority of the population that has a full-time job and a family to support.  Before you tell yourself that your boss will never go for a four-day work week, your first task is to think of the ways in which you would take advantage of an extra day off every week.  How would you spend this newfound time on travel, family, or enrichment that would make this flexible schedule worth pursuing?  Do you have a passion which is more feasible over a three-day weekend such as trekking to a home in the mountains or one that can only be pursued on a business day such as taking Italian cooking classes?

Let’s be clear that a four-day work week is not for people that prefer to spread their deliverables over five days, each with their own ups and downs.  Some days are crazy and others more relaxed and you may not want the added stress of a longer day at the office.  A typical 8 or 9 hour work day also means you have the ability to run errands any day of the week and be likely to arrive home in time for dinner each night.  Take out a weekly planner and sketch out a compressed work week to compare it with your current work and home reality.  Try your best to predict its effect on your co-workers and your family as well as on your own happiness in life.

Negotiating for a Compressed Work Week

Negotiating for Flex TimeYou may be lucky and your company already has HR policies in place to cover flexible work options such as a compressed work week, where you can earn every Friday or every other Friday off by working extra hours.  For the rest of us, the next action is to come up with a written plan and negotiate for it.  There are many articles and examples on the Web that explain how to document a business case and talk to your manager one-on-one to present your proposal.   The approach is the same regardless of whether you are negotiating a job offer, promotion, or new assignment.  Focus on the following benefits to make your case and get the go ahead to be that person who is fortunate to work a compressed week:

  • Prove with examples, metrics, and performance appraisals that you are an above average employee who consistently gets their work done and can be relied upon by co-workers and customers to meet their deadlines.
  • Show your commitment by summarizing your job history and how you have been flexible when it comes to meeting the changing goals of the organization.  You are simply asking for the organization to also respond to your own changing goals.
  • Explain how with Fridays off to pursue your outside interests you will be more focused, more motivated, and more productive during the four days you are in the office, and still outperform your peers.
  • Ask for a a trial period, where you work a compressed week for 4 weeks in a row, after which you sit down with your manager to evaluate the results and decide to continue or cancel the flexible work arrangement.
  • Offer some flexibility in exchange such as taking Monday or Wednesday off when asked in addition to sharing your contact details and being available on an emergency basis in the unlikely event that you are needed on your day off.

Take a Chance for Time Off Every Week

A compressed work week is not for everyone, as it requires discipline to work hard without life and social distractions for four days straight in order to get three days off in a row.  That means you probably can’t take a long lunch or leave early when you have had a stressful day or if you have plans to attend an event that evening.  Eliminating unnecessary meetings and cutting down on the office gossip is a tremendous help to stay on target.

The key is there must be a fit with the daily responsibilities of your job and your goals for taking more time off to enjoy life the fullest.  Some people prefer to work Monday to Friday with some built-in flexibility to handle personal stuff such as picking up the kids, shopping, or meeting friends for lunch.  If you are the kind of person who can’t wait for the next three day holiday weekend to engage in your favorite activity, go after a compressed work week and make your dreams a reality.

Happy Traveling…
-Scott

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Should the U.S. Government Promote Domestic Travel to Grow the Economy?

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Scott

The U.S. economy continues to show signs of improvement, so how can telling Americans to travel more help stimulate the domestic economy?  Since consumer spending makes up as much as 70% of the US economy, getting the public to spend more is important but I prefer a more direct message.  What if the government ran an advertising campaign designed to convince workers to use more of their vacation time traveling in the USA?  Can spending tax dollars to promote local travel both help grow the economy and also serve to improve work-life balance?

Take Your Vacation Days in the USA Road Sign

Ad Campaign to Travel More in the USA

It is obvious that domestic travel generates significantly more tax revenue as compared with U.S. residents spending their money abroad, so there is little reason for the US government to promote foreign travel.  Countries around the world are already doing a terrific job talking up the benefits of traveling to far away destinations which I am certainly not discouraging here.  However it does make sound financial sense for the federal and state government to spend money advertising a “Travel More” message to people living in the United States.

Here are the benefits that result from Americans traveling more in the USA:

  • Money earned locally will be spent across the 50 states to support small businesses and create jobs in the tourism industry.
  • Struggling municipalities will earn the sales and hotel tax revenue needed to pay for essential local services such as schools, police, fire, and hospitals.
  • New businesses will be encouraged to open their doors to cater to the increasing number of visitors all year long.
  • Encouraging travel also promotes a healthy work-life balance leading to reduced absenteeism, less stress, lower healthcare costs, and happier employees.
  • Spending money on vacations leads to experiences and memories that last a lifetime which is a better use of discretionary income than buying products we are constantly told we cannot live without.

As it stands today, each official tourism bureau is responsible for promoting travel to its destination whether state, city, town, historic region, tourist attraction, or park.  What I am suggesting is a media-blitz effort on the part of state and federal government to advertise USA travel (beyond the DiscoverAmerica website) and back it up with tax-friendly public policy initiatives.  It will serve a patriotic purpose similar to a “buy local” message that creates jobs in every community.  The positive side effect is a greater awareness of the importance of work-life balance and the value of taking advantage of your well-earned vacation days.  Plus it is the green way to spend money on you and your family through cultural exploration and natural adventure, something much more valuable than the latest product fad that tends to promise more than it can deliver.

Travel More in the USA for Work-Life Balance

Who knows… once we are all told to take vacations more often whether a evening excursion, weekend trip, or 10-day getaway, there will be a greater demand for more generous paid time off (PTO) policies at work and maybe even guaranteed time off legislation.  The countries of the Europe Union have already embraced the benefits of domestic travel for the health of their economy and the well being of its citizens.  The U.S. can easily promote the “Travel in the USA” message by reminding us all to use our time off from work to support the economy and enjoy life to the fullest.  This small effort will quickly pay huge dividends all around.

Promote Travel to Grow US Economy

What do you think?  Should the U.S. government spend tax dollars to promote travel within the 50 states (and territories) in order to increase household spending on travel services?  Will this policy offer the ultimate combination of sustainable tax revenue and growing consumer confidence necessary to strengthen the economy in 2011 and beyond and at the same time raise our happiness ranking in the world?  I vote Yes!

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Taking a Vacation Soon? Get into a Vacation Mindset and Enjoy Every Minute!

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Scott

Vacations are credited with relieving stress and bringing about good times and happy memories, but how do you ensure your next vacation will lead to positive benefits right away? So many people begin their vacation stressed out and feeling unprepared but with minimal effort, everyone can start their vacation with the right mindset.  Take action before your next vacation to quickly turn off your work and life responsibilities and totally embrace a vacation mindset.

Let Go of Work-Life and Get Into Vacation Mindset

What is the Vacation Mindset?

Without a conscious effort to go into vacation mode, some people find it difficult to disconnect from both work and life and fully benefit from your time off. Whether you are embarking on a long vacation or a day or weekend trip away from home, it is essential that you change gears to enter what I call the vacation mindset.

What exactly is a “Vacation Mindset” and how will it help me? Think of it as serving the same purposes as stretching before working out at the gym or engaging in any sort of physical exercise.  By following some simple exercises, you can prepare your mind to be totally on vacation the moment your vacation actually starts.  There is no reason to waste the first few hours or even days of vacation trying to turn off the ever-present responsibilities of life and work.

Work-Life Balance + Vacation

First I need to quickly define “life” and “work” as the two concepts thrown together into the all too common phrase “work-life balance” but in reality should be broken down into three categories.  The third category is (you guessed it) “vacation” which in my opinion should be separated from life’s activities.

Ratio of Work, Life, Vacation Hours Per Year

Of course ”Work” is made up of those hours spent earning a living whether you commute to a place of employment or work from home.  Typically life was defined as everything left over, but the VacationCounts philosophy is leverage ways to stay balanced between everyday life stuff (must do’s) and vacation time (want to’s).

Therefore “Vacation” means ANY activity that brings you personal enjoyment or fulfillment regardless of whether it involves travel, costs money, or meets the old fashioned definition of a vacation.  Those home and family tasks, the ones you spend countless hours dealing with such as paying the bills, household chores, running errands, visiting the dentist, even sleeping, is what I call “Life.”

Step 1: Create a Plan Before You Leave on Vacation - Why?

  • By listing your top vacation goals, you can focus your mind on accomplishing what you desire by taking time off
  • To encourage you to research all the trip possibilities and craft your perfect itinerary
  • To enable you to share your travel plan with family, friends, and co-workers and build anticipation and excitement
  • By putting in so much effort and reminding yourself that vacation is an essential part of life, you will be less likely to cancel at the last minute
  • So that you can be open to discovery while on vacation and make quick decisions to go off plan when opportunity arises

Step 2: Disconnect From Work and Life – How?

Turn Off Work and Life to Be On Vacation

  • Wrap up all loose ends at work by completing tasks, handing over responsibility, and informing your co-workers
  • Create and follow a checklist to confidently wrap up all life and home tasks before departing
  • Put your computer and cell phone in vacation mode by either not bringing them or using them only for travel purposes (I promise to write a blog post on this subject soon)
  • Ask one person to be your eyes and ears back home so that you will only expect to hear from this person if anything comes up that you must deal with while traveling
  • Make a promise to yourself that you will not bring work or life on vacation with you (ask the same of your spouse, kids, or traveling partner)

Step 3: Refresh At the Start of Every Vacation - Steps

  • Upon arrival both relax and awaken your vacation senses by doing one of the following: take a leisurely stroll, meditate, read, sit at a cafe, or simply head directly to your ideal vacation spot and let go
  • Eat out or pack a picnic meal to nourish your stomach during the journey or when you first reach your destination
  • Think about the purpose and goals of this trip and remind yourself of the promise to put work and life on hold
  • Review your vacation itinerary to fill your mind with the many wonderful experiences you have planned, and push out the nagging work+life stressors

Summary

Welcome to Your Vacation TimeIt is all too easy for the realities of work and life to creep into your vacation day wherever you are, and that isn’t fair to you or your family. This is why I wrote down my guidelines which are designed to lead you into the vacation mindset and ensure your next travel experience begins on the right track. You don’t want to wait until day 2 or 3 to truly feel like you are “on vacation”, so you owe it to yourself to switch into a vacation mindset right before your trip and from the moment you arrive. Only by separating vacation from your normal activities of work and life can each of us have an ideal Work-Life-Vacation balance.

Happy Traveling…
-Scott

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Take Back Your Time – My Book Review and the Movement to Take Back Your Time

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Scott

The non-profit organization Take Back Your Time exists to tackle what they call the “epidemic of overwork” in the United States and Canada.  Their initiatives address the growing amount of time people spend at work at the expense of everything else in life.  They promote a public policy agenda which should hardly be considered controversial, and as a reader of VacationCounts I hope you agree they are smart work-life and HR benefit policies to ardently push for.

Time To Care Agenda (from TimeDay.org)

  • Guaranteeing paid leave for all parents for the birth or adoption of a child
  • Guaranteeing at least one week of paid sick leave for all workers
  • Guaranteeing at least three weeks of paid annual vacation leave for all workers
  • Placing a limit on the amount of compulsory overtime work that an employer can impose
  • Making Election Day a holiday
  • Making it easier for Americans to choose part-time work

As you can guess I am particularly in favor of at least 3 weeks of vacation, though I would consider it a success if every full-time employee was guaranteed at least 2 weeks of paid time off (PTO) every year. As it stands today, paid vacation that is earned by working full-time or part-time is an optional employment benefit. Companies in the U.S. can choose to offer any amount of PTO or none at all, with no law granting workers the right to vacation days and in stark contrast with an overwhelming majority of countries around the world. Clearly the absence of laws to guarantee time off from work for fun, family, and health reasons, not to mention to take the time to vote in every election, is an ideal that eludes American society.

Besides lobbying for change from workers, employers, and the government, they sponsor Take Back Your Time Day on October 24 each year and publish numerous resources as well as an electronic newsletter (subscribe here).  A branded YouTube channel offers several recorded videos and their creative staff and volunteers have designed dozens of Take Back Your Time posters to spread this important message by employing both seriousness and humor to get the point across.

The primary publication of the Take Back Your Time organization is a book called, you guessed it, Take Back Your Time.  It is referred to as the “Official Handbook of the National Movement” and the goal stated by editor John de Graaf on the cover is “Fighting Overwork and Time Poverty in America.”  I read this book recently on my Android mobile phone using the Amazon Kindle app (an excellent way to build up a virtual bookshelf of books to read on the go) and posted a review to share my thoughts.
Read my full review on Amazon.com.

Giving the book the highest rating of 5 stars, I recommend it to business leaders and HR professionals that are interested in all aspects of the work-life balance debate as well as individuals that seek ways to take some/more/better time off from work to improve their life or the lives of others.  Each of the 30 essays are written by experts and grouped into several categories relating the declining work-life balance with its negative effect on our lives, society, health, and the environment.  Of course not every article will resonate with your situation, so flip around and take action to improve the life side of your work-life balance equation or become inspired to get involved with the Take Back Your Time movement to effect change in your local community.

To be clear, I have no relationship with Take Back Your Time and the intent of this blog post is to highlight a non-profit organization fighting for an important cause and to review their comprehensive handbook which successfully sells the importance of sustainable work-life balance and mandated time off benefits.  The core philosophy at VacationCounts remains fulfilling the goal to take more time off from work and finding smart ways to leverage our careers and employ technology to benefit from vacation time for travel, family, and enrichment.

Happy Traveling…
-Scott

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Going On A Photo Safari Vacation Step By Step

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Scott

The concept of going on a “Photo Safari” may not be familiar to many, however you will soon learn it is an excellent way to take a vacation even if only for an afternoon and in your home city.  What is a Photo Safari? Well traditionally it was used to describe a trip to Africa, where one of the major goals was to “capture” the Big 5 animals (and dozens of others) on film.  Travelers who embark on a wildlife focused photo safari tend to have fancy cameras with monster size zoom lenses.

Taking Travel Photos with your Digital Camera

What I am talking about here is an outing to any destination with your camera in hand, with the goal to take pictures of whatever you find.  Unlike a traditional vacation where you take photos of your family and travel partners, the focus of a photo safari should not be on yourself.  The photos you decide to take could be scenic, oddball, exotic, inspiring, insightful, or just plain fun.  The point is… well to point your camera at people and scenes that meet your own definition of photo-worthy to capture the photographic journey.

The Equipment: A Digital Camera – Check!

Digital photography has made it possible for everyone to become an amateur photographer and capture life’s events as well as vacation memories with ease.  Almost everybody has at least a low cost digital camera these days, whether pocket sized or built into your mobile phone (e.g. iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, etc…).  So you already have the proper equipment required to take a photo safari.  Of course after going on several of these mini-vacations, you may decide to upgrade your camera (Steve’s Digicams is a great resource for reviews) as well as take classes on how to be a better photographer.

Go On A Photo Safari Steps

1. Select A Destination

It could be a neighborhood, park, festival, or local attraction in your home town or a nearby city, or go out into the countryside and head to a state or national park, or an area of natural beauty.

2. Decide upon a Photo Safari “Big 5″

Set a few goals for your outing so you can seek out specific places and experiences to capture in photos.  Doing so will help you tune into the destination and find targets for your camera.  Think of it like making a shopping list before heading out to the supermarket and checking off each item you locate and purchase.

On Photo Safari Snapping Flower Pictures

Examples of a overarching theme for your Big 5 can be simple or go beyond your imagination.  Here are some of my favorite subjects for a Photo Safari:

3. Pick a date and time

Saturday or Sunday is the obvious time for most, assuming that you normally have the weekend off, but consider taking a half or full day off from work as true vacation time to avoid the crowds and change the experience.  Of course your choice of date and time will be influenced by your destination and goals, so for example sunsets can only be captured at certain times and locations and the same goes for a scheduled event such as a local farmer’s market.

4. Go On Safari

Taking Photos on Safari in the CityBefore packing your camera and heading out, make sure the batteries are fully charged or fresh and the digital memory card is not already full.  Bring a backup battery and extra memory card if you have one just to be safe.  Head out to your chosen destination and seek out the Big 5, or be totally spontaneous and see what happens.

For extended outdoor and nature photo safaris, dress appropriately and take food and drink in addition to your cell phone.  It is always good advice to tell a family member or friend where you will be when trekking alone.

5. Process Your Digital Photos

I am sure you are an excellent photographer but even great pictures can use a little tuning.  First plug your camera or digital memory card into your computer and copy the photos so you can make some edits.  Next open your favorite photo editing and storage application and try out the digital tools such as crop, straighten, brightness/contrast, red-eye reduction, and photo correction filters to perfect the images.  I recommend that you take this opportunity to make a backup copy to an external hard drive or an online album.

6. Post Your Pictures Online

While this step is not required, sharing your photos online with at least your family and friends is a nice way to make them part of your vacation experience.  You have a multitude of choices available to store and share your photo albums with select people or everyone on the Internet such as Picasa, Facebook, Flickr, Kodak Gallery, and Shutterfly.  In addition you can try out blogging software (Blogger and WordPress are popular options as well as TravelPod) which allows you to be a writer while framing each photo to tell a story.

To offer an example of some photos taken on safari, the pictures below were taken in San Francisco and posted to Sidewalk Safari, one of many travel themed blogs that I follow.

 

Sidewalk Safari Photo Top Pics (San Francisco)

Photos courtesy and copyright of SidewalkSafari.com - All Rights Reserved

 

Guided Photo Safari Tours

For those of you on a mission to become an expert travel photographer or act like one for a day or two, many companies offer scheduled and custom photo safaris which are a combination of guided tour and photography lesson.  Search online for “photo safari” or “photo tour” plus a particular place name such as New York, Paris, New Zealand, Hawaii, or a theme such as fall foliage, wildlife, or flowers.  You can also search for “photo safari blog” plus a place of interest to read what others have accomplished, appreciate their photos, and gather new ideas.  To learn more check out this article – “Safaris Where the Hunt Is for the Perfect Picture” or visit Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris.

Photo Safari Sculpture - Man with Camera

I hope you are inspired to take a short vacation break and go on a photo safari with the tips and suggestions offered here.  For those of you who have turned going on photos safari into a hobby and posted your photos online, add a Comment in the reply section below with a link to share with readers of VacationCounts.

Take time off and make your vacation count.

Happy Traveling…
-Scott

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How to Protect Your Privacy When Posting Your Vacation Plans Online

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Scott

Sharing your vacation plans with friends, family, and co-workers is a wonderful way to gain excitement about upcoming trips while letting others know when you will be away.  With today’s instant modes of communication and the public nature of social networking and the Internet, it will do us all good to stop and take basic precautions to protect our privacy.  This concern won’t go away anytime soon but with some basic knowledge and useful tips, you will depart on your next vacation with minimal worry.

Social Networking and Vacation Privacy

There are many ways that we all stay in touch online with the people we know including the most popular social networking site Facebook.  Other places where people may post vacation plans include LinkedIn, MySpace, Twitter, FourSquare, Meetup, Yelp, and too many other general and specialized sites to name.  Wikipedia offers a comprehensive list in case you are curious and a simple search for “social networking” plus the a word or two to describe your interest will reveal more.

Social Networking Privacy While Traveling

What does this all mean?  Why should you be concerned about privacy when discussing your vacation plans?  The most often cited example of risk is if a criminal found out when you are not at home and took advantage of this opportunity to rob your house.  While there is no strong evidence this is actually happening, it makes common sense to keep your travel calendar private and between friends and relevant people from work at all times.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has a full article covering the topic of locational privacy that is worth a read.

Fortunately many social networking sites have taken a serious look at privacy controls and offer settings that you can adjust to keep certain kinds of personal information and status updates hidden from all but your inner circle of connections.

As promised, here is my list of ways to stay safe when telling others about your travel plans and when you will be away from home on vacation.

Home Safety Tips

  • For Facebook and similar social networking sites, avoid posting status updates that make it obvious you are on vacation unless those messages are only visible to your friends.  Review your privacy settings and do a test to verify what is visible to friends and what is visible to friends of friends and everyone on the Internet to be sure.
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  • Do not check in using FourSquare, Gowalla, or other popular geolocation apps on your mobile phone when visiting a far away destination unless your username is not your real name nor easily found with a Google search against your profile information.  These location-based services offer many ways to discover fun and interesting places nearby as long as you are smart on how you sign-up and check-in locally.
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  • For those of you that made it a habit of connecting with everyone that asks (not just friends and colleagues) or if you typically post online to a large group of connections (e.g. LinkedIn Groups) or followers (e.g. Twitter), consider waiting until you return from a trip to share.  This means holding off on posting updates, tweets, photos, and videos while on vacation and connecting with your vast network of friends once you are back home.
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  • Check which of your social networking sites are pinging others with status updates and disconnect or turn off these automated messages where appropriate.  For example if you tweet under a pseudonym while traveling and you have activated an app to auto-post them to your Facebook wall, your cover may be blown.  Consider creating a separate account without using your real name so that you can continue to blog, tweet, and check-in while on vacation without the world knowing.

Work Safety Tips

  • Do not mention on your out-of-the-office voicemail and auto-response email that you will be out of town or where you are traveling to.  Only mention that you will not be available during a specific date range (work days only) and share work related details pertinent to your role such as who will be handling your responsibilities and who to contact when a call is urgent.
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  • Do not send out a vacation notice to the “ALL” email list group at your workplace because you think it is the fastest way to get the word out.  Only communicate with select co-workers and colleagues that need to know you will not be at work.  Of course if you can discretely find out which fellow employees have visited vacation destinations that you will be visiting, reach out and arrange a coffee break or grab lunch together to gather ideas and advice. 
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  • Avoid checking your work email from your vacation destination and if you must do so, follow the same rule to only mention that you are not at the office.  Try to avoid talking about how you are sunning yourself on the beaches of Hawaii or gambling in Monte Carlo (two very typical examples, I’m sure).  While I understand the desire to share, it will appear more professional if you simply handle the issue and explain how you will follow up further when you are back in the office.

The purpose of this post is not to make you worry about communicating via social networking, email, and smart phone apps while on vacation, but to raise the issue of privacy so you are well informed.  Technology is changing rapidly and we are constantly asked to take responsibility for our online lives as what we share with others is a major part of our identity.

Take my advice as a starting point and based on the sites and apps you visit on a regular basis, come up with your own list of rules about staying in touch and taking reasonable precautions before, during, and after a vacation.  Also ask your employer if there are official policies that all employees are asked to follow.  You’re in control, so be smart with your vacation plans and share with care online.

Happy Traveling…
-Scott

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Planning your Vacation Calendar for the New Year

Posted on December 30, 2010 by Scott

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all of the VacationCounts readers, supporters, and followers on Facebook and Twitter!

I truly hope that you had a wonderful holiday season and did not personally experience airport distress or cancelled flights due to the extreme weather conditions in many parts of the U.S. and Europe. Now that 2010 is coming to a close, it is time to start thinking about your paid vacation benefit for 2011. Get out your calendar and start planning!

Next Exit 2011

For me the end of the year has traditionally been the time that I purchase a new monthly calendar, grab a blank notebook, and write down all my vacation ideas to consider for the upcoming year. Since you follow the VacationCounts philosophy and took advantage of all your 2010 vacation days, 2011 brings with it a fresh slate of vacation days for you to plan, book, and enjoy.

First things first – check your final paycheck stub and see how many vacation hours you are carrying over from 2010 to add to your totals. Double check the latest vacation rollover policies at work to take into account the rules for carrying over days into the new year and limitations on when they may expire (e.g. they must be taken within the first 90 days). Don’t wait until HR tells you that you have reached some magical limit. Make it your responsibility to keep and use all paid time off since you will be working hard during the year to earn every hour of it. I recommend that you add a recurring reminder to your work calendar (with notification via email or text message if possible) to review your current vacation benefit accrual and time off usage policies at the end of every quarter.

I find it inspiring to reflect upon the vacations I took in 2010 as I open up my vacation notebook with a blank slate for 2011. Whether you prefer to use pen and paper or do all your tracking online, now is the time to get your holiday ideas written down before you make any decisions. Only by writing down all your ideas while consulting a calendar can you accurately determine which vacations are feasible given the constraints of work and family to reach your travel goals for 2011.

Vacation Calendar and Planner

Wall Calendar for 2011 Vacation Day Scheduling

Old School: Pen and Paper Planner

  • Buy a paper calendar (wait until after the New Year for 50% off deals at your local shopping mall), preferably with a travel theme.
  • Get out your map of the world or globe and all the travel guidebooks on your shelf to pick out destinations that are at the top of your list.
  • Grab a pad of Post-It notes (multiple colors if you have them) to be used to tentatively mark dates on the calendar and allocate vacation days.

New School: Digital Planner

Regardless of which approach you use, old or new school, the vacation documentation and scheduling process is the same.

Vacation Scheduling Step by Step:

  1. Make a list of all the vacations you took in the previous year or two to bring to mind vacation memories from the past.
  2. Make a list of every destination, type of vacation, and rewarding activity that interests you for the upcoming year.  Check out TravelMuse to Get Inspired based on your travel likes and dislikes.
  3. Prioritize your vacation idea list after thinking through the possibilities, socializing with others, reviewing travel books, and doing research online into costs, weather, transportation options, trip lengths, and other factors important to you.
  4. Mark all the company paid holidays and other fixed days off on your calendar, using a separate color or indicator since these non-work days are unmovable.
  5. Flag days on your paper or online calendar with proposed trips until you run out of vacation days, trying to avoid times you know it will be difficult to get away from work.
  6. Play around with dates, travel ideas, long holiday weekends, major events, and seasonal preferences to get the number and timing of vacations just right.
  7. Finalize the allocation of vacation days, leaving a few days “in the bank” for personal use or last minute travel opportunities.

My advice is to use the list of where you vacationed last year as a starting point, but focus on only those trips that fulfilled your unique goals for vacation time. What is it about those vacations that made you happy and produced the kind of benefit you are looking to repeat? Try expanding beyond the specific locations you know about to destinations that offer similar desirable experiences.  For example if you enjoyed having spa treatments at a resort hotel on the beach, consider other types of travel that can offer similar benefits. This can range from mountain resorts stays, trips to historic European spa towns, or booking alternative spa-like treatments overseas.

The outcome of this exercise is to fill your vacation calendar for the next 12 months with a realistic starting point. As you take time off and use actual vacation days, return to your calendar to keep it up to date and in sync with your actual accrual of vacation time. Your list of trip ideas will become more important as you find travel deals, get inspired by a specific destination, or simply decide that you are due for a fun and relaxing vacation right away. Most employers require at least some advance notice or manager approval of vacation periods so be prompt to request your vacations as rules dictate.

Make the best New Year’s resolution and start planning your vacations for 2011 as the clock strikes midnight. Return to work refreshed and motivated AND with the anticipation of amazing vacations visible on the horizon.

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