After a long wait, and almost a year of work on the production side of Jet Set Zero we are incredibly excited to release the first episode from Season 5.  Season 5 is the product of an amazing effort by our new cast (Jen, Serene, Kris and Laurne) as well as our field producer and editor Evan Engel, and our stateside editor Jedidiah Mitchell.

Season 5 sees an entirely new cast join Jet Set Zero and travel back to Saigon where this all started almost two years ago.

We’ll let the new season speak for itself, so kick back, load up the brand new installment of Jet Set Zero, and let us know what you think (web@jetsetzero.tv).

It’s been 326 days from our last release, but its only 7 until our next one.  Check back here EACH AND EVERY FRIDAY for a new release.  Tell your family, tell your friends, TELL EVERYONE.  JET SET ZERO IS BACK!

NEW EPISODE HERE

So I have officially been in Quito for about a day and a half and I have a strange feeling that I’m gonna like this place.  Let me give you a run down of the last 36 hrs.

I arrived without a bag because it was lost in transit,  not the end of the world because luckily I speak Spanish and was able to be reunited with it the following morning.  Had this of happened in another country where I didn’t speak the language I imagine it would have been a little more of a frustrating experience.  We wandered around the picturesque cobble stoned streets of Quito’s “Centro”, watched street performers at “El Ejido” park, we climbed the spire at the gorgeous Basilica which afforded us some stunning views of the city, had some coca leaf tea, got stuck in an immense downpour,  got a cell phone and switched rooms at our hostel all before dinner time.  Altitude sickness is a real thing and just want to mention this to anyone traveling to Quito from a low elevation place.  I would probably describe it as that feeling you get when you take off or land while riding on a plane, it felt like my head was in a vise for a few hours but as you walk around and get used to the elevation any symptoms should subside within 24 hours.  Quito is bright, friendly, busy and definitely a place with its own charm.  All in all the 1st day was awesome and I can’t wait to meet the rest of my cast!

Dear people of internet, Hello my name is Ryan Preciado and I was told to write an introduction about myself. I Like long walks on the beach, ice tea, smooth jazz and fireplaces. My spirit animal is a sabertooth tiger and I am a Sagatarius.

I think you should know up front I will most likely be the dumpster fire of the show, and here’s why. Although I have a deceiving appearance I in fact do not speak any Spanish. Also unlike Everyone else on this cast I’ve never been on an airplane much less out of the country. Another reason is everything that could go wrong has, as far as getting my passport expidited , losing my birth certifacate and driving to LA to get it, forgetting about two tickets I have to pay off, having problems with my car right before I am selling it, and currently my ankle resembles a really bruised mango. So things seem to be going awesome.

I leave to Quito in what should be a week. Lets see if I can make that happen.

Two days until departure. They say no day is more productive than the day before you go on vacation. That’s the day when everything that has to get done, gets done. It’s one of those times when clarity is forced upon you, when you realize that the world will go on even if half of your to-do list doesn’t ever get done.

For me, that day is always frantic, because I am the kind of person who is always running late and breathlessly apologizing for it. And to be running late on the last day before you leave for a trip is stressful, despite having experienced it so many times before. This past week, I have lost and found my passport, broken my phone and reactivated my previous, incompetent one, and written and rewritten my to-do-before-I-leave list. I have finally booked my flight, bought the guidebook, and set aside the clothes I want to pack. At the moment, I’m trying to decide on a netbook to buy before I leave, contemplating whether I’m packing too much, and calling the airline to see if I get a free checked bag with my international flight.

Not enough time! So many people to say goodbye to. I said goodbye to two of my best friends last weekend as we shared some laughs and frozen yogurt. These are girls I’ve known for over half my life, who have seen me through my previous trips and welcome me back with open arms on every return. They were not surprised when I told them I was leaving for Ecuador as it’s a story they’ve heard before. My family gathered over a delicious meal of Japanese tapas, showering me with well-wishes and instructions to come home in one piece. My phone has been ringing with calls from friends wanting to get in a goodbye before I take off. It’s heartwarming to know that the people I will miss, will miss me too.

That’s all for now because as you know, I’m running out of time.

I’m going to get straight to the point on this one – our long time crew member, cameraman, editor, and good friend Kevin Land is getting married.  Kevin is old school, hard core Jet Set Zero and has been here from the beginning. So old school and awesome he wore the Jet Set Zero shirt to give her the ring.

Wearing the ring and the shirt. Yesssssss.

Kevin started out with us in Seattle and worked, traveled and lived alongside us for over one year in almost a half dozen different countries.  It was in the last one of these, Korea, where he met his bride-to-be Katia.  Katia lived across the hall from us, is from Mexico, and is also totally awesome.  Katia quickly became a fixture in our lives and nights out and before long… MAGIC!

Magic – Korean style.

I don’t know a more down to earth and honest guy on this planet, or honestly a better couple.  I can say without doubt that Kevin and Katia are amazing together and I cannot imagine anything but an amazing future for them.

From everyone here, congratulations.  Here’s hoping we all find what you two have.

In a couple of days I will be moving out of the childhood bedroom that I grew up in and have been calling home for the past few days.  I’ve managed to have every food that I craved for the last year while living and traveling in Asia.  I have caught up with friends I hadn’t seen in a while, met new friends and have had a chance to spend quality time with the family.  I have been here for exactly a week today and I have just barely gotten over the jet lag that left me in a foggy stupor most of the time.  I have been running around your fair streets armed with my camera and transit card and have been thoroughly enjoying my city like a tourist.  There is no place quite like you in the spring.  I have been all over the place meeting friends for coffee,  lunches and dinners.  I have felt like the luckiest guy in the world seeing so many smiling faces, and it’s exactly those memories that will make the hardships of life on the road a little more bearable as we embark on our new adventure next week.  Thanks to all my family and friends who have made this week one of the best weeks ever.  Chicago, thanks for your hospitality! See you soon!

Love,
Freddie

We do a lot of research here behind the scenes. We always need to know just how to stretch our dollars, dong, yen, or pesos just as far as we can. Well, in the course of this research, I came across a rather startling deal: one that allows you to hit three continents for under $800. An important note: I am currently in the process of trying this out, so take care before following these guidelines. Also, be aware that signing up for new lines of credit could aversely affect your FICO score. Now, without further ado:

First, our three destinations are as follows: Quito/Bogotá, New York City, and Johannesburg.

I discovered this trick while browsing for international flights to Joberg on CheapoAir.com, which I’ve almost always found to have the best fares of the big aggregators. Turns out, you can snag yourself a one-way ticket from New York City for about $780 (taxes/fees incl.). That’s pretty straightforward– so here’s the trick.

You may have shredded a half-dozen or more credit card offers this week alone, but pay special attention to those that offer you bonus miles to sign up. I received an offer this week for 30,000 AAdvantage Miles (American Airlines) for a no-annual, high-interest card, but there are even better offers out there (like this 50,000-mile offer on Delta). As it turns out, 30,000 miles is almost exactly the rewards cost for a multi-city ticket from just about any major airport to Quito/Bogotá/Central America, and then on to New York City. I was looking for departures from Albuquerque, NM and found the rewards cost to be only 1.7k more than that.

The AAdvantage credit card offer requires you to make $750 of purchases before you earn your miles (Delta is only $250), which, lo and behold, is exactly the cost of your ticket to Joberg. Voila.

Step 1: Sign up for bonus mile credit card offer

Step 2: When you receive your card, head over to CheapoAir and book your ticket to South Africa

Step 3: 8-10 weeks later, use your 30,000 miles to book a multi-city ticket from your home airport to Central America and back to NYC

*REMEMBER: Be aware that there could be a 5-point hit to your credit score because of a hard-draw on your information. I’ve looked into the FICO scoring system, and believe it to be negligible, but you certainly will open this line of credit at your own risk.

Any insights into the deal? Any advice? Share it in the comments!

So what am I taking to Ecuador? You mean beside my hair dryer, straightening iron, skinny jeans, and matching shoes? Kidding.

The only two things I really, truly need on a trip: passport and ATM card. Everything else you could technically, though uncomfortably, if-push-came-to-shove live without. Unless, of course, we’re talking about medications that you actually depend on for survival, like insulin or an asthma inhaler in my case (ok, so maybe I need 3 things).

In Costa Rica a few years ago I met six Kiwis whose passports had been stolen from their cabina while they were sleeping. Now if I were a thief, I would not pick on such a large group of rather large men. The next day, one of their passports was found near the side of the road along with a machete wrapped in a towel. After hearing that, I figured it was probably for the best that they had slept through the incident. Unfortunately for the remaining five, the nearest New Zealand embassy was in Mexico, meaning they had to cross through Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala – without passports. How’s that for a detour?

I’m quite happy to be taking along my newly acquired, perfect-for-traveling ATM card. I’ve been searching for an ATM card that doesn’t add insult to injury by tacking on exorbitant “out-of-network” ATM fees along with a 3% “international transaction” fee. Citibank charged me a 3% fee on my last international flight just because the carrier is based in another country, despite the fact that I bought the ticket online in the US and paid in US dollars. So finally, the perfect card that reimburses me for any fees incurred from using other ATMs, and no international transaction fee! I’m thinking with the extra savings I should be able to buy an extra guinea pig or two….

Along with these 2 most important of important items, I will be taking along my money belt to keep my passport, credit/debit cards, and cash hidden on bus rides or weekend trips.  One thing I’ve learned: Keep what you care about close to you. Better yet, on you. And hidden.

I once traveled with a girl in Panama who kept her cash stashed in an empty can of bug spray. When I saw her pop off the top to reveal wads of rolled up bills, I thought, Clever. As long as no one is looking to looking to steal your bug spray.

Korean green card

I am just getting back to Chicago today after a long day of travel from Korea and my head is spinning from the fact that I taught my kids all day yesterday and today I am in my mother’s dining room having tacos al pastor and a glass of refreshing horchata with the whole Orozco familia.  Couple the culture shock with a good dose of sleep deprivation and I can’t begin to even fathom that I will be back on the road for South America in less than 2 weeks! What a life!  I haven’t even begun to unpack from the trip yet but I will start preparing for my next adventure over the next few days.  Here is a list of my top 4 essential items for JS0: Quito

1.  Extra Battery for DSLR camera

I will need it to photograph Quito’s Old City, which as I recently learned is a UNESCO World Heritage site and looks absolutely stunning.  I can’t wait to be let loose on the streets of Ecuador and snap some colorful shots of the colonial architecture and locals for all of you.  I have had  batteries dying on me mid shooting before on other trips so I am making sure I am covered this time!  I want to be prepared for capturing our hiking on the Andes, island hopping in Galapagos and exploring the rain forests.  I don’t want to miss a beat!

2. Lonely Planet Guide: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

This will be my bible as I roam  about  the country.  I have religiously used books from the Lonely Planet library for all of my trips from Italy to Tokyo and they have yet to let me down.  They are always reliable and full of great information that often times is completely missed in other guidebooks.  Although I was raised speaking Spanish, it hasn’t been my primary language since I was about 5 or 6 so it might not hurt to get myself a phrase book too!

3.  Waterproof/ windproof jacket

Quito is nestled high in the Andes mountains and its climate is described as being “springlike” year round with temps never straying too far from high to mid 60′s during the day but often dropping quite quickly in the evenings.  Spring has always been my favorite season and if it’s like that all year I might just fall in love with the city and never leave.  From what I hear the area is known to get hit by rain pretty regularly so I want keep as dry as I can because a wet and cold Freddie is an unpleasant Freddie.

4.   Travel Insurance

I’m not exactly sure what kind of  policy to take out for Ecuador  as I’ve never even thought about doing this before on my travels but I do think it’d be a wise investment for this trip.  I’m not sure if it’s just me growing up but after seeing some of the other JS0 guys run into medical issues on the road I would be naive to think that something like Matt’s injury could never happen to me.  Can anyone recommend an insurance company or point me in the right direction? I’d appreciate any information.

That’s all I have for now in addition to the usual travel stuff, I think I should be set.  Can’t wait to be in continent number 3 this month! Think I need anything else? Drop me  a line!

This entry is the fruit of bitter revenge. This is to say that the little black keys clicking away under my fingers only receive the words of this entry because my ex-wife forbid me to buy them while we were married. Let’s step back.

When I got off the plane in December 2008, I stepped out of the sweltering heat of Ho Chi Minh City into the monochromatic deadness of wintertime Minnesota to face down my demons. I was all set to rendezvous with my ex at a café in the crowded, Christmastime Mall of America for “closure” or God knows exactly what. When you’re an angsty, recent divorcee the word “closure” has some kind of mystical meaning that only a year later do you realize is a puff of fart from a decrepit psyche.

Throughout our 2-year marriage, I’d been fairly desperate to replace my aging, rusting, sputtering, smelly old laptop with something that wouldn’t require as much patience as alternating current, but I was denied time and again by my more fiscally minded spouse. So I did what many divorced men are likely to sympathize with: I bought a fucking MacBook on my way through the Mall.

Well, in the end, I’ve turned out to be the butt of that joke. Clearly, I didn’t have the money for this little jewel of mine (oh, I love you baby), so I slapped down a MasterCard and promptly pretended it never happened, just as I did for my roundtrip ticket to the States, just as I did for 1,300 miles of gas and two hotels. And food. And debt has a way of snowballing your life.

So, in an effort to destroy the beast that is my credit card, I’ve been back working for the last few months. Accumulating things got me into this mess, and now I find myself at home having just purchased some $180 jeans wondering how that consumerist plaque caught up with me.

You have the privilege of perspective when you’re on the road to keep your pecuniary priorities plumb. Sorry, that was way too cute. I often wondered, choking down on crackers and tuna while traveling, how I could have ever spent $15 on a lunch back home or wasted a hundred dollars on some piece of crap I never needed, when every dollar means a day or a week abroad. And now I’m home again accumulating crap.

It’s a disease people. I admire anyone immune to it, because I am sure that the majority of us are full-fledged victims. Myself included.

Don’t take this for an anti-consumer, or worse, an anti-capitalist rant. I love crap, but boy do I hate how it interferes with my priorities.