Doors open: 6:30pm (note: Tickets will not be sold at the door. Only a few tickets left, so act fast!)

Presentations start: 7:00pm

Hey, Boston travel enthusiasts! Wish you had more time or money to travel? Always wanted to travel the world and just weren't sure of the best way to start? Or perhaps you’ve already spent some time globetrotting and are always looking for new ways to find the best undiscovered destinations, killer street food, or deserted beaches? We know how you feel!

Come join a lively group of passionate travelers for a night of travel buzz, featuring short presentations by guest speakers:

• "Using Technology to Plan Your Trip and Cut Costs" by Caitlin Condon
• "20,000+ Miles: Cycling from Alaska to Argentina" by Paul Gareau
  
• "Solo Travel in Greece and Peru" by Kim Scheltz
• "Breaking into Traveling: Backpacking Around Western & Eastern Europe" by Joshua Rottman
• "Working and Living Abroad: Tokyo, Berlin, Brooklyn..." by Jocelyn Gonzalez
• "Cultural Immersion through Couchsurfing" by Kristof Redei
  All speakers will also discuss cost-cutting tricks and tips for staying healthy and safe
  

Breakout tables, hosted by travel experts, will include these topics:

• Off-the-Beaten-Path Traveling
• Solo Travel
• Planing Your Trip: Where to Start?
  
• Health and Safety
  
• Volunteering Abroad: Teaching, WWOOFing, Conservation, etc
  
• Extended Travel and Round-The-World Trips
  
• Alternative accommodation: homestays and couchsurfing
• Ethical Travel
  
• Advanced Travel Tips for Experienced Backpackers
• ... and more!

RAFFLE AND FREE GIVEAWAYS! 1 raffle ticket included w/ entrance fee.

Raffle prizes include cool gear from Trip Advisor, a free 6-wk foreign language class from Boston Language Institute, a Steripen, and copies of Nomadic Matt's book on budget travel!

This event is open to anyone interested in world travel, whether you're a novice or an experienced traveler.

All proceeds will be donated to Shanker Foundation and Cultural Survival, two grassroots, non-profit organizations dedicated to educating communities and advocating for under-represented populations. See FAQ below for additional details.

Event format: After an hour of short presentations, we'll have breakout tables with different topics. Each table will be hosted by travel buffs, ready to share their experiences, provide resource lists and tip sheets, and answer your questions! We're also looking forward to hearing about your travel experiences (or wishlists) and learning from you.

Event hosts: Travel Buzz is hosted by a group of experienced travelers who are always searching for new ideas and the next offbeat destination. We travel adventurously and independently on a budget, and we want to help you do the same. We also host Boston's largest non-commercial travel meetup—Boston Expat and World Travelers.

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Additional Details / FAQ:

• How do I get there, and is there parking? The Asgard is located on the 1 Bus line, and a short 5-10 min walk from Central Square T-station on the Red Line. Street parking is available, and validated parking in the University Park/Hotel garage behind the Asgard on Green Street is available for $5.
• Will food or drinks be provided? The Asgard serves delicious food and drinks from around the world, which will be available for purchase during Travel Buzz.
  
• Do I need to print a ticket? No. We try to save everyone paper! Just bring your ID, and we'll have your name on the guest list.  
• Will you sell tickets at the door? Nope. Tickets are only available online and in advance at the monthly Boston Expat and World Travelers meetup.
• Is there an age requirement? Our venue requires that you must be 21 years of age or older to attend.
• Do you have a refund policy? If your plans change and you cannot make it to the event, please send an email (Subject: refund request) as soon as possible to Kristof at bostonexpatandworldtravelers@gmail.com and we will issue you a 50% refund within two weeks. Please let us know as soon as you can if you are unable to attend, since attendance is limited and we can make your ticket available to someone else. No refunds will be issued after February 13.
• Do you arrange tours or group travel? Nope! We promote independent travel and are not affiliated with any tour companies or other commercial organizations.
• What does my ticket purchase go toward? Proceeds from ticket sales will be used to cover the cost of the venue and to raise funds for Shanker Foundation and Cultural Survival. Organizers of Travel Buzz are unpaid volunteers.
  

• Shanker Foundation is a grassroots non-profit organization based in Darjeeling that works for the rights and dignity of those living with HIV/AIDS. Darjeeling, India, is known primarily for its tea and its stunning Himalayan mountain range. Unfortunately, India also has the world's 3rd-largest population suffering from HIV/AIDS. Many people living in the Darjeeling region who are HIV+ cannot afford life-saving antiretroviral medicine. Shanker Foundation provides supportive services, advocacy, access to medical care, and transportation for people living with HIV. They assist with food and education for children of those who are HIV+. They also conduct awareness programs and campaigns in the Darjeeling area to raise awareness of HIV, combat stigma, and educate people in the community on how to prevent HIV transmission. Most of Shanker Foundation staff are HIV+ themselves and are unpaid volunteers, so even small donations go a long way to helping to fund their educational and medical programs.

• Cultural Survival  is a non-profit based in Cambridge. For 40 years, Cultural Survival has partnered with indigenous communities around the world to defend their lands, languages, and cultures. They publicize Indigenous Peoples' issues through their award-winning publications; they mount letter-writing campaigns and other advocacy efforts to stop environmental destruction and abuses of Native Peoples' rights; and they work on the ground in Indigenous communities, always at their invitation. Cultural Survival seeks to 1) increase global understanding of indigenous peoples’ rights, cultures, and concerns; and 2) to empower indigenous peoples to be better self-advocates, and to partner with them to advocate for their human rights.

• What if I have other questions? Email us, post on our Meetup page (requires registration), or tweet at one of our Twitter-crazy co-organizers. We'll answer your questions to the best of our ability.