History

Transitions Abroad, a planning guide for cultural immersion travel founded by Clay Hubbs in 1977, provides practical information on educational travel abroad and remains the leading magazine for independent travelers who want to extend their time abroad through work, study, or low-cost travel. Its title suggests the changes that result from immersion in another culture. Our writers provide the details and ("nuts and bolts") that readers need to make their own plans. In 2003, founding publisher and editor Clay Hubbs licensed the magazine to the current editor Sherry Schwarz. Extensive writer's guidelines for the many topics covered in the magazine and also on the website can be found here.

In 2004, Gregory Hubbs assumed the role of web content editor of TransitionsAbroad.com and began to expand upon his father's body of editorial work in order to create the first Web Portal for work, study, travel, and living abroad. TransitionsAbroad.com has a sophisticated international and domestic audience with more than 50 percent of its traffic originating from outside of the United States and is therefore expanding upon the core articles and resources listed in the magazine to meet the needs and interests of this growing Web audience. Iin 2006 more than 3.8 million unique visitors found some of the finest practical and inspirational travel articles, resources, listings, and websites.

What We Are Looking For

The Slow Food® movement, born in Italy, has demonstrated the intrinsic connection between ethics and aesthetics, responsibility and pleasure. In the new section we title Travel for Pleasure, we are looking to explore and expand upon this fundamental notion on TransitionsAbroad.com by emphasizing:

• Usable practical information gained from first-hand experience for readers who travel to immerse themselves abroad while respecting the culture and customs of the people whose countries (homes) are being visited and spending money in the local economies.
• Articles which inspire others to enjoy and explore off-the-beaten track travel which respects natives, their culture, and the land you are visiting.
• Sidebars which include resources not in the body of the article: e.g. websites and email addresses, contact names and addresses, telephone numbers, and costs.

The editors are unable to check all sources, so current and accurate information is essential. Well-researched supporting material and annotated web links in sidebars greatly increase the likelihood of publication.

What We Do Not Want

• Personal travelogues or lengthy descriptions of personal experiences (unless readers can use the practical details in your account to make their own travel plans).
• Articles that represent travel as a form of consumption and objectify the people of other countries.
• Information that is readily available in guidebooks or from government tourist offices.

Maximum length: 3,000 words. Average length: 800 to 1,500 words. Content must be information-based and not merely a travelogue or personal narrative description, though we will be happy to link to the author's blog or website from the article if so desired.

Articles submitted for the Travel for Pleasure section may cover the following topics:

• Adventure and Sports Travel
• Art Travel
• Festival Travel
• Spa/Relaxation/Meditation Travel
• Slow Touring
• Travel to Cook
• Travel to Drink Wine
• Travel to Eat
• Travel to Shop (for local produce and products)
• Vacation Homes Abroad

TransitionsAbroad.com has long been an advocate for independent travel and tours where money spent remains within the local community, and preference is given to submissions which demonstrate respect for the people whose homes, lands, and cultures are being visited.

 Well-researched supporting material and annotated web links in sidebars greatly increase the likelihood of publication.

.The following subsections will be featured on the website and are listed here alphabetically:

• Adventure and Sports Travel
  First-hand accounts or overviews of adventure travel experiences ranging from rafting to cycling to motorcycling to mountain climbing, from independent adventure travel to participation in small alternative group tours.
• Art Travel
  Detailed itineraries which chronicle independent explorations of various forms of fine art — whether the art takes the form of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theater, dance, traditional rituals or combinations thereof - as well as small thematic group tours through regions, countries, or cities.
• Festival Travel
  One of the best ways to immerse oneself in another country or to enjoy music and the arts in historical settings is through itineraries following festivals which spring up year-round. Detailed accounts of thematic festival travel and experiences in another land should be supplemented with supporting links and information to enable others to follow your trails. See some examples here.
• Spa/Relaxation/Meditation Travel
  Whether through yoga retreats in Asia, meditation stays in Buddhist monasteries in Nepal, or spas in European mountain villages, travel which allows the soul to regenerate itself in the company of welcoming hosts has historically been a great way to reconnect with the world. Please detail the locations, organizations, and people who made the experience possible.
• Slow Touring
  Touring via car, bus or train through the rolling hills of Tuscany, bathing in the famous light of the fields and hills of Provence, or boating through Greek, Thai, or Vietnamese islands at a leisurely pace is an aesthetic experience like no other. Please describe detailed itineraries, including connections with the natives, their food, culture, and customs such that the land visited remains in the foreground.
• Travel to Cook
  Cooking school vacations provide a chance to combine travel with educational activities which enliven all the senses. You can work with established native cooks, take in the smells of local herbs, admire the local lands where the food is grown, hear and learn to speak the local language of food, touch and work with local produce, and taste the product of your work. Details of such tours or independent travel which translate your experience such that others may be inspired and perhaps even follow your footsteps.  See some examples here.
• Travel to Eat
  Culinary vacations are growing in popularity as movements such as Slow Travel® highlight the link between ethics and aesthetics, and food is seen in its intrinsic connection to the land from which it is produced by natives. Detailed itineraries describing culinary travels and off-the-beaten-track discoveries of great local food. See some examples here.
• Travel to Drink Wine
  Traveling on wine tours, whether in small groups or solo, has long been one of the most relaxing ways to travel, as wines are being cultivated in more and more regions of the world. Detailed itineraries describing wine tours, including references to the people, land, and foods which accompany the experience.
• Travel to Shop (for local produce and products)
  Shopping in-and-of-itself is much more satisfying when the produce and carefully created material products are produced by natives who use the money to feed their families and continue the traditions which have created the very foods and arts and crafts. Detailed articles describing unique foods and arts and crafts within the context of the local markets and shops in which they are bought from natives.

Maximum length: 3,000 words.
Average length: 800 to 1,500 words (including sidebars).

• Content must be information-based and not merely a travelogue or highly personal narrative description.
• Send all submissions via email to webeditorial@TransitionsAbroad.com to be considered for publication on TransitionsAbroad.com.
• Attach only Microsoft Word documents. If you use another format, please cut and paste your article into the text portion of your email message.
• Include your name, address, telephone numbers (day and evening), and email address on at least the first page of your manuscript to insure that we can contact you.
• Include a short biographical note at the end of each submission, including links to your personal website or blog if you wish.
• Initial response time for all submissions ranges from one day to two weeks should we be interested. We cannot provide status reports by phone.

Photos: We recommend that you let us know whether photos are available with your article, as they may increase the prospect of publication. High resolution photographs sent in jpeg or tiff format via email are preferred.

Other submissions considerations: All material is submitted on speculation. We purchase one-time rights only; rights revert to writers upon publication on the TransitionsAbroad.com website. Since ours is not the usual travel website, writers may want to browse our large article archive. If interested, we will contact you within two weeks of your inquiry.

Send submissions to: webeditorial@TransitionsAbroad.com.

Corporate address: Transitions Abroad Publishing, Inc., 18 Hulst Road , Amherst, Massachusetts 01002

Payment is on acceptance, ranging from $50 to $150. Payment is via check or Paypal.

Many of our contributors are not professional travel writers but people with information and ideas to share; we are much more interested in usable first-hand information than in polished prose. Of course, a well-written piece is always appreciated. Historically, we have found TransitionsAbroad.com to be an excellent place for freelance travel writers to increase exposure. In addition, we are always looking for experienced professional writers to become regular contributors to the website and can arrange custom payments on mutual agreement for an ongoing relationship.

Payment rate:

• $150 for 1500-3000 words of edited text (all text including sidebars and bio)
• $125 for 1250-1499 words of edited text
• $100 for 1000-1249 words of edited text
• $75 for 750-999 words of edited text
• $50 for 500-749 words of edited text

Submit your article or query via email to webeditorial@TransitionsAbroad.com.