Comments on: Hitchhiking, Hot Tubbing and Hobnobbing at TBEX https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/ Inspirational travel photography and stories for the independent traveler. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 22:46:08 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.1 By: Therunawayguide https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-569 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 19:58:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-569 Hey Travis, I have been thinking about heading to TBEX for a while and now I think I definitely will. I met up with Nomadic Matt the other day and a few other travel bloggers in NYC and had a great time. Hopefully I will meet you at the next TBEX. Thanks for the insight, Leif

]]> By: Anonymous https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-566 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:23:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-566 In reply to Jeremy Branham.

It was a great time overall.  Looking forward to Toronto.

You thinking about setting up a similar situation in 2013?

-T

]]> By: Anonymous https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-565 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:22:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-565 In reply to Anonymous.

I am by no means an expert hitchhiker :P  I’d just say be safe and trust your gut.

-T

]]> By: Anonymous https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-564 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:21:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-564 In reply to Anonymous.

Yeah, I’ve only been to Toronto once and am looking forward to going back.  Hopefully I can combine that with a stop in New York as well.

See ya there!

-T

]]> By: Anonymous https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-563 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:20:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-563 In reply to Anonymous.

Yeah, it was amazing.  Met some great people and can’t wait for next year.

So you’ll be in Toronto?

– T

]]> By: Anonymous https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-538 Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:36:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-538 Great event… It was actually good opportunity to share and meet wonderful bloggers. Its a great platform and get together of all the travel bloggers, this time missed , planning to attend next one. 

]]> By: Anonymous https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-533 Sun, 09 Sep 2012 23:10:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-533 Good review of the event. I have never been, but I just got my ticket for Toronto in 2013, so it is helpful to know what to expect. Should be no altitude and distance to the airport problems next year. They must have read this report.

]]> By: Anonymous https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-531 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:51:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-531 This is an amazing adventure…I wish I went with you haha. I really want to hitchhike across Canada. Any advice?

]]> By: Jeremy Branham https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-512 Sat, 07 Jul 2012 00:55:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-512 I liked the location overall as everyone was pretty much together so lots of opportunities to hang out.  I didn’t like it when I got up at 4 am to drive to the airport on Sunday.  I know a number of people hit traffic in Denver also so being far away was a pain.  The conference was better than last year.

I agree with you on the sessions.  I would have liked to go to more of them but was forced to choose which ones I wanted.  As for Pine Ridge, glad you enjoyed accommodations for the weekend! :)

]]> By: Anonymous https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-505 Sun, 24 Jun 2012 05:49:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-505 In reply to Scott – Quirky Travel Guy.

Yeah, you’ve got an excellent point.  I think I’m all for isolation minus the altitude and distance from transportation.  There’s gotta be at least a few places close to an airport while still limiting our nightlife options.

]]> By: Scott - Quirky Travel Guy https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-504 Sun, 24 Jun 2012 04:40:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-504 I initially disliked the location, but the more I think about it, the isolated location meant that when people went out at night, they all ended up at the same place, because there was nowhere else to go. And that was fantastic for networking purposes. If TBEX had been held in NYC, for instance, everyone would have gone their separate ways in terms of nightlife, and I wouldn’t have had nearly as many cool encounters with other bloggers.

]]> By: Anonymous https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-503 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 02:14:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-503 In reply to Graciel Cecilio.

I just dubbed us :)  I suppose it should really have been 8 but “The Pine Ridge Seven” has a certain ring to it, and I’m not sure Jeremy even actually set foot in the condo :P  

It was refreshing that I had no plans or expectations of who I was going to meet that weekend and came way meeting the two of you, pretty much at random, and having an amazing time :)  

Looking forward to the next hot tub get together.  

-T

]]> By: Anonymous https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-502 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 02:11:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-502 In reply to Robert.

Robert,

I’m not sure where you’re currently located, but I’d highly recommend going to Spain if you can make it happen.  I would totally go if I could afford the airfare to get out there, but coming so close on the heels of this recent trip I just can’t make it work.  That said, I’ll plan on being at the next US one in 2013, so hopefully I’ll see you there.

-T

]]> By: Anonymous https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-501 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 02:10:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-501 In reply to Lenore Greiner.

Thanks Lenore.  Yeah, I agree Vail Resorts treated us like kings and queens, and that was an amazing experience.  I just wish it wasn’t so high up and so far from everything :P  

]]> By: Lenore Greiner https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-500 Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:25:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-500 Greart post, Travis. Glad I’m not the only one who didn’t appreciate TBEX’s location & the distance from the airport. And I agree that the altitude was a killer. That said, Vail Resorts treated us so well that they created the best conference experience ever. And now my cowboy hat wistfully occupies a spot in my office.

]]> By: Robert https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-499 Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:39:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-499 Sounds like it was a great time.  I wish I would have been able to attend.  Hopefully I’ll be able to attend the next one in Spain.  

]]> By: Graciel Cecilio https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-498 Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:05:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-498 It was good to meet you and the rest of “The Pine Ridge Seven” (I didn’t know we had an official group name?). I wish we had a hot tub photo =) Also, wished I could have tried hitchhiking with you guys but then that would defeat the purpose of me renting a car!

Matt, can’t wait for your hitchhiking post. I think women like me are curious to know how safe safe it really is.

]]> By: Anonymous https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-496 Thu, 21 Jun 2012 06:21:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-496 In reply to Matthew Karsten.

Yeah, I’m certainly more likely to hitchhike again in the future, although this was pretty much a closed environment.  Maybe you’ll have to write a post on how to do it with pertinent info like how long you’ve waited on average :P  

As to the speed dating event, I’d agree, maps and/or names on the cards would have been grand.  That’s an easy fix though and I’m sure they’ll have that taken care of next year (or even at the Spain conference).

-T

]]> By: Anonymous https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-495 Thu, 21 Jun 2012 06:21:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-495 In reply to Matthew Karsten.

Yeah, I’m certainly more likely to hitchhike again in the future, although this was pretty much a closed environment.  Maybe you’ll have to write a post on how to do it with pertinent info like how long you’ve waited on average :P  

As to the speed dating event, I’d agree, maps and/or names on the cards would have been grand.  That’s an easy fix though and I’m sure they’ll have that taken care of next year (or even at the Spain conference).

-T

]]> By: Matthew Karsten https://flashpackerhq.com/hitchhiking-hot-tubbing-and-hobnobbing-at-tbex/#comment-494 Thu, 21 Jun 2012 01:25:00 +0000 https://flashpackerhq.com/?p=1186#comment-494 My experience was similar to yours Travis. I picked up some great tips & new ideas from the TBEX 12  sessions, met a ton of great people (including you), and made a few industry connections that will easily pay for the costs associated with attending the event.

The biggest complaint I have is the organization of speed dating sessions. A map showing where PR/Industry people were located would have been most helpful, especially if provided well in advance of the conference.

As for hitchhiking, you’ll only hear horror stories from people who’ve never actually practiced it. I hope you’ll consider it in the future too! A fantastic way to meet interesting people on the road.  :)

]]>