alan bluehole: BootsnAll Holiday Party 2008 Member Interview

We wanted to highlight some of the awesome BootsnAll members that will be in attendance at this year’s BootsnAll 10th Anniversary Party.

BootsnAll Screen Name: alan bluehole
Member since: April 8th, 2007
Post Count: 3

What was your first passport stamp?
France, on a trip to Paris.

How did you find BootsnAll, &/or what attracted you to it?
I live in Portland, so I like the global view from my home city.

What keeps you coming back to BootsnAll?
Great advice! And last year’s party was an amazing coming together of people with similar interests. It wasn’t anything like other web-related meetups I’ve attended.

Is there a destination you have really liked in spite of it having a poor reputation?
St. Thomas, USVI — just passed through and stayed one night on the way to St. John. I had an amazing time at a hotel near the airport. It had a good restaurant, great snorkeling, and nice people. I’d heard that the locals could be rude, but I found quite the opposite. Wish I’d stayed longer.

Do you have any upcoming trips? Where is next on your list?
Thailand/Cambodia in December!

What is a place you’ve been to that you would go back to tomorrow given the chance?
There are few I would not go back to, but I’ll say South Africa.

How many miles will you be travelling to be at the BootsnAll Party?
Only two or three miles.

Any tips you found on BootsnAll or from other members on the forums that helped you on a trip?
Hayden Thompson kindly gave me some great Thailand tips recently. I think he’s talked me into getting certified to scuba there — we’ll see.

SouthAfricaBlog gave me the best tip I’ve ever had for travel: self-drive in Kruger National Park. It saved me thousands of dollars, and I got to see all of the animals at my own pace. I loved that trip! (photo above)

Have you been to a BootsnAll party before? If so, what survival tips can you offer to any newbies?
Yeah! I met great people - all ages, all kinds of travel experiences. As with any social gathering anywhere in the world, take part in the rituals. I chose beer.

Thanks for sharing, alan bluehole. Be sure to say hi to him if you’ll be joining us at the party!

• Become a BootsnAll member and join all the fun
• Submit your own member interview
• RSVP to the BnA Party