From explorations of Berlin all the way to Bangkok’s Grand Palace, this edition of the Gen Y Travel blog carnival really covers the gamut.

And this makes sense considering there were dozens and dozens of entries. (It felt like over a thousand!) And although the process of triaging the entries felt tedious at times, it completely paid off; and I’m very happy with the result. The entries below are the cream of the crop. They are the diamonds in the rough.

How does the Gen Y Travel blog carnival work?

If you’re not familiar with how Gen Y Travel carnival works, here’s how: Each month, travel bloggers submit their favorite post they’ve published from the past month. The blog carnival host (i.e. me for this edition) goes through the submissions and weeds out things that break the guidelines (spam, articles instead of blog posts, etc.). Then once a month, an edition is compiled featuring the best submissions, providing you an easy way to discover new, quality travel writers. And usually, you’ll come across something that’ll blow your socks off. (And if you’re a writer, checkout the bottom of this article to find out how you can be included in a future edition of the Gen Y Travel Carnival.)

As I said before, this edition covers a lot of ground, and if you’re open, it will challenge your assumptions about travel. Especially the last article which is about travel philosophy. Reading that one is especially recommended. Oh, and if you’ve been included in this carnival, please remember to stumble and retweet! It gets more attention to this edition which in turn gets more attention to your site.

So buckle your seatbelt, Dorothy; because Kansas… is going bye-bye. 😉

Destinations

Zhu presents:
Bangkok’s Grand Palace posted at Correr Es Mi Destino, saying,

“So, did I fall in love with Thailand? I can’t say I did, for a few reasons. I must stress it’s partially my fault: I don’t speak the language (I only picked up a few words) and don’t know much about the culture. We wandered there like tourists and it was the first time neither of us could read or speak the language. While most people spoke basic English, it was obviously harder to communicate properly.”

Zhu presents:
Ko Phi Phi Ley posted at Correr Es Mi Destino, saying,

“Ko Phi Phi Ley, Phi Phi Don’s little sister, is a popular day-trip once your hangover is over. Pretty much all of the travel agencies in town sell a half-day boat trip to the small island for 250 baht (about $8). Still curious to see why people liked the area so much, we signed up for it.”

Everything Finance presents:
Berlin: on a budget in the German capital posted at Travel-Eat-Sleep, saying,

“Popular with holiday-makers throughout Europe for its cultural offerings, modern hotels and exquisite cuisine, Berlin is a truly cosmopolitan city that boasts a nearly endless supply of things to see and do. As Germany’s capital, it serves as a centre for government and politics by day while, by night, Berlin’s vibrant club and music scene is known worldwide for its ground-breaking festivals and exclusive venues.”

Beth Blair presents:
American Girl Store at Mall of America posted at The Vacation Gals, saying,

“The American Girl store at the mall of America is so popular, it’s basically a tourist destination unto itself for families.”

Lana presents:
Day 1: Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas, Chile posted at Lana Renee Photography.

Travel Stories

Steve Chasey presents:
Mining the Centuries in Hampi posted at S&S Travel the Long Way Round, saying,

“My wife and I are in the middle of a trip around the world. Hope you enjoy this tale about Hampi, India.”

Michael Hodson presents:
Worst hotel I have ever stayed in? posted at Go, See, Write – Overland RTW Adventure Travel, saying,

“Has anyone stayed in a worse hotel or hostel than this lately?”

James Louie presents:
Valencianos love to blow things up. posted at Plus Ultra, saying,

“Detailed account of one of Spain’s biggest festivals. Enjoy!”

Erica & Cassi presents:
How I Found the Enchanted Highway posted at Nonstop World Travel. (Site down.)

Aoide-Melete-Mneme presents:
Bringing the Faraway Home – Part 2 posted at The Lady Traveller.

Ali presents:
Keep Your Coins. I Want Change. posted at Global Basecamps blogs.

Money & Finances

Emma presents:
Bittersweet Sensibility posted at GohemianTravellers, saying,

“A bit of advice from a girl with too much wanderlust. My blog celebrates solo women travellers and all that goes with planning an around-the-world trip.”

Money Crashers presents:
Mardi Gras in New Orleans: Tourist Tips for Hotels, Food & Parades posted at Money Crashers, saying,

“Mardi Gras in New Orleans deserves its status as the “largest party in the United States.” With its lavish parades, masked balls, and late-night parties, it’s an unforgettable experience for anyone who visits.”

Travel Philosophy

Erin McNeaney presents:
Travel as Pleasure and How To Avoid It posted at Never Ending Voyage, saying,

“Why travel for travels sake is not always enough.”

Want to grow your blog’s audience?

If you write well (and you’ve written something that relates to travel) and you haven’t submitted to the Gen Y Travel Blog Carnival before, what the heck are you waiting for? Blog Carnivals are an intelligent and free way to get more exposure to your work, so you’d be a silly homunculus if you didn’t try it.

I know this from firsthand experience because blog carnivals have been incredibly helpful in spreading the word about this site. So if you’re a writer, and you’ve written something that relates to travel, why not submit a piece you’re proud of? After all, it will expose your site to people who have never seen it before.

Here’s How

To request an article you wrote to be considered for inclusion next time, please submit your article to the next edition of the Gen Y Travel carnival using the Gen Y Travel carnival submission form. The deadline for any given edition is the last day of the month. And remember, to be accepted into the carnival you must submit a blog post that provides real value to the reader. No spammy articles will be accepted. (Past posts and future hosts can be found in the blog carnival index.)

Once again, thanks to everyone who submitted. This carnival wouldn’t have happened without my fellow (and truly amazing) travel writers. And a big thanks to Emily (founder of this blog carnival and creator of Maiden Voyage Travel) for giving me the opportunity to host this excellent compendium of travel stories and advice!

Now after you’ve perused the articles, don’t forget to stop reading, go outside, and embark on your own enlightened adventure.

After all, how else can great travel stories be born?