Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Travel writers share tips for how to find lost luggage

 With a heavy heart, I waited for the baggage claim carousel at O’Hare Airport to circle one last time. Surely my duffel bag would magically appear momentarily. Afterall, this was a non-stop United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Chicago. I had checked my bag in two hours early. How could this be happening to me, and at 1:30 in the morning?

Sadly, I admitted defeat and went over to the steel machine where I was to punch in my luggage identification number and wait for it to spit out the delayed baggage report receipt. Dejectedly clutching my laptop computer, I shuffled off to find the airport shuttle to the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. The nice folks at the front desk hooked me up with some toiletries and I went to bed confident that my bag would be delivered before noon checkout.

As is the case of a lodging editor, I was moving on to review another hotel property the next day. Still no bag. After calling United Airlines 800 number, I was directed to their on-line site (which was down) to check the status of my bag. I checked into the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and was greeted with a friendly and sympathetic staff. A well-stocked toiletry bag was provided to me, but, alas, no duffel bag.

Eventually, I was reunited with my bag, but not before having to purchase a pair of dress pants and no-iron shirt for my BlogHer Travel Panel speaking engagement. I also need to send a shout out to Mary Kay Cosmetics and Public Relations Account Supervisor Jill Kleiner of Coyne. Her agency overnight Federal Expressed their entire make up line to me while I was staying at the Sheraton Hotel. And yes, Cat Lincoln of CleverGirls Collective saved the day when she slipped me some vital Yummie Tummie shapewear undergarments.

Rather than rant and rave, I’d like to offer some lost luggage travel tips from professional travel writers if an airline loses your luggage.

Travel Writers Share Lost Luggage Tips

Jennifer Leo: Los Angeles Times Travel Blog and Editor of Sand in My Bra series

Wendy Perrin: Conde Nast Traveler’s Consumer News Editor and Perrin Post blogger

Sean Keener: Co-Founder of the BootsnAll Travel Network 

Rosalind Cummings-Yeates: Freelance journalist and travel blogger

Kim Mance: Editor of Go Galavanting.com

Donna Hull: Freelance Writer and blogger at My Itchy Travel Feet

Lanora Mueller: Writing Travel blogger

Shannon Hurst Lane: Freelance travel writer

Posted by Nancy D. Brown

As I cruised the tables on the patio, I scanned the place cards to find my evening dining companion.  Tim Cahill’s name was neatly penned on a small white card  placed at the head of a folding table, cloaked in white fabric.  The chairs remained empty, but would quickly fill as students spilled out of the Book Passage event room.  I grabbed my notepad and camera and scored a seat at Cahill’s table.  Day one of a four day writer’s conference and I was breaking bread with my hero. 

“What’s on your bucket list?” I asked Cahill as we dined over California cuisine at the 2008 Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference. “My own backyard,” replied Cahill.

Nancy Brown's Dinner with Travel Writer Tim Cahill

The 65-year-old Founding Editor of Outside Magazine and author of books including Hold the Enlightenment and Lost in My Own Backyardsaid he’d be happy to stay home and explore Montana. When asked about what makes a story standout, Cahill said that research is important. “Tell us some interesting historic facts and something special about the people,” added Cahill.

Cahill, along with the who’s who of travel writers, editors and photographer’s shared their insider tips with students of the 17th annual Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conferenceheld August 14-17, 2008 in Corte Madera, California. The four day conference focused on newspaper, magazine and guidebook writing, as well as travel photography. Portolios were critiqued by Robert Holmes, Andrea Johnson, George Olson, Jeff Pflueger and Alison Wright.

In the evening, Wright earned a standing ovation for her slide show and tales from her latest book, Learning to Breathe. Author Eric Weiner, The Geography of Bliss, shared that “travel writing is writing about place and ultimately writing about people.” While Author Phil Cousineau, Art of Pilgrimage, noted that “the value of travel is that you give yourself permission to be a different person.”

Speaking of different people, Simon Winchester, in conversation with Conference Chair Don George, discussed his relationship with his mentor Jan Morris. Winchester, a wonderful story teller, shared some fascinating aspects of his friendship over the years with Morris.

Book Passage Travel Writers Conference with Jay Jones, Jen Leo, Michael Shapiro & Jeff Pflueger

Blogger rock stars Jim Benning, Jen Leo and David Lytle twittered and blogged their way to alltop.com where the best travel blogs are listed on the web. Pauline Frommerdiscussed writing for the on-line travel industry with David Lytle and Michael Shapiro, while Larry Bleiberg, Catharine Hamm and John Flinn explained how to work with an editor.

“It’s about relationships,” stated Hamm. “The people who are the best writers are easy to work with,” offered Bleiberg. “I treasure people who are good and solid,” added Flinn. “Deliver a good story with no drama.”

Yet drama is expected from Author Isabel Allende. “I think the hardest part of writing is sitting down,” laughed Allende. “I’m not organized. I don’t have an outline. That’s like making love with a manual!”

The last evening of the conference included karaeoke with students and facility.  Last year I returned to my room to work on a homework assignment and missed out on the fun.  This year I found myself in front of my laptop polishing a writing assignment and looking forward to sleep.  I left the writer’s boot camp exhausted, yet energized and filled with the enthusiasm of a college freshman.   I hope to see you at next year’s conference August 13-16, 2009. Early birds can register until October 1 for a rate of $575, after that date the cost moves to $635.

Have you been to a writers conference that left you inspired?  Post a comment.  I’d love to hear from you.