I've recently found a great travel writer, Laura Byrne Paquet. What makes Laura unique is her intelligent discourse on all sorts of travel - from the social history of shopping or travel - to her sites that espouse living (and traveling) like a local. Her concepts make so much sense and can really enhance your travels.  Eachi time I explore her sites, I learn more. We were lucky enough to sit down and chat with Laura about her books, websites, travel, and more. Here's what she had to say...

WE:  Laura, you've got so many great websites and books - can you please tell us about your background...

LBP: I'm glad you like my work--thanks so much! My background is pretty ordinary. I earned a bachelor of journalism degree at Carleton University in Ottawa (graduated in 1987), then worked for a business newspaper and a magazine before going freelance in 1992. I've written for more than 80 publications in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, including National Geographic Traveler, Islands and Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel.

I live in Ottawa, Canada, with my husband and three slightly crazed cats.

WE:  Please tell us about your book, Wanderlust...

LBP: It was actually an outgrowth of two things. For years, I had been pitching magazine editors a story about the history of passports, with no success. I thought it was fascinating, the way they had evolved from letters that rulers issued to royal couriers (basically, a formal request that boiled down to "Don't shoot my messenger, or I'll come after you with my army."). So I'd had that idea in my head for a long time. In the meantime, I wrote a book called "The Urge to Splurge: A Social History of Shopping." (I got the idea for that one when I saw a reproduction of a painting of shoppers in the Palais Royale in Paris in 1815.) After that book came out, my agent asked me if I had any other ideas for books about social history. I'd been writing travel stories for years, so when I remembered my idea about passports, a book about the social history of travel seemed like the natural choice. (I was able to include a whole chapter about passports!)

Wanderlust is a very lighthearted look at the history of travel, from the days of the Roman Empire to the future of space travel. In between, it covers the Grand Tour and the Silk Road, the story of Thomas Cook (who got his start running package tours for teetotalers), the history of postcards and souvenirs, the story of the first commercial passenger flight (the passenger, who had won his ticket in an auction, got soaked in the open cockpit as the plane crossed Tampa Bay) and tales of the great interwar ocean liners.

WE:  Please tell us about your site for living like a local, lavidalocal.com...

LBP: The site is designed for people who want to learn a lot about a destination before, during and after their trip. As well as tips on renting a vacation apartment and arranging dinners in private homes abroad, it will eventually provide in-depth information on the culture of a number of popular destinations--everything from music and books to fashion and movies. I started with Paris. Next up will be either New York or Buenos Aires.

WE:  What does traveling like a local mean to you?

LBP: To me, it means getting outside the tourist "bubble"--that self-contained world where tourists rarely encounter activities, restaurants, sights and neighbourhoods that are commonplace for many residents. It doesn't have to be daring or complicated. It can be as simple as taking a city bus instead of a taxi, or asking someone you've "met" online to recommend a restaurant they often visit for a casual meal with friends. One of my favourite ways to travel like a local is to rent an apartment in an off-the-tourist-path part of town.  Of course, travelling like a local can go much further, depending on what people are looking for. Someone might decide to take an extended language-immersion course, for instance, or volunteer for a year on a development project. The key thing is to meet local people and to try local things.

WE:  How can travelers perpare for intercultural experiences?

LBP: I'm a big fan of using the Internet. It's an incredible resource.

First, I really do think it's crucial to learn a few basic words and phrases in the language of your destination country. If nothing else, it only takes a few minutes on the plane to master the words for "please," "thank you," "you're welcome," and "I'm sorry, I don't speak your language." Dozens of websites can show you the way, especially in the major European and Asian languages.

Second, many destinations have English-language newspapers and radio stations, even if that isn't the country's primary language. Go online for a week or two before your trip to find out what the big news stories are in the place you're headed. Is there an election coming up? Did the local sports team just win a big competition? Is some local celebrity involved in a scandal? Knowing the current topics can be a great way to break the ice in a pub or on a bus.

Third, social networking sites can help you make friends in foreign places before you even leave home. Once you arrive in your destination, you can meet for a drink or dinner (use your judgement when meeting strangers--a public place is probably best, particularly if you're travelling alone). Many sites (the most famous is probably couchsurfing.org) are designed to match travellers with hosts eager to offer a few nights' accommodation for free, just because they like meeting foreigners (again, use your best judgement).

Aside from the Internet, there are lots of other avenues of cultural immersion. Read books and see movies set in your destination. Track down local music. Talk to other people who have been there.

But the best preparation is to keep an open mind and remember, you're a guest in the foreign country. A smile and simple courtesy will take you a long way.

WE:  How can travelers give back, while they are abroad?

LBP: There are lots of organizations that will help you assess accommodations, tour operators and similar businesses to ensure that they are supporting the local economy and not simply sucking out money and sending it elsewhere. Good places to start your research include Make Travel Fair (http://www.maketravelfair.co.uk/), Tourism Concern (http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/ ) and Ethical Traveler (http://www.ethicaltraveler.org/).

You might want to consider "voluntourism," a catch-all term that can include a huge range of activities: an afternoon spent repairing hiking trails, a week-long trip to build homes with Habitat for Humanity, or a gap-year experience in a developing country. Sources of info include VolunTourism.org (http://www.voluntourism.org/), GapYear.com (http://www.gapyear.com/) and the "Volunteer Abroad" section of TransitionsAbroad.com (http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/volunteer/index.shtml). The following article offers a good perspective on voluntourism: http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2007/04/voluntourism.php

Of course, if you want to make giving back a life's career, don't miss Greg Mortenson's book, Three Cups of Tea (http://www.threecupsoftea.com/)! He went to Pakistan to climb K2 and has since spent over a decade building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

WE: Thanks so very much, Laura! Your work - and writing - are an excellent and intelligent resource. I LOVE the social history aspect of travel, and can't wait to read your books. 

For more information, please see:

www.LauraByrnePaquet.com
www.LaVidaLocal.com
http://FacingTheStreet.blogspot.com