In case you are wondering what happened to this Web site last year …
I just needed a little time to think about this whole travel writing, blogging and commentary thing that I’ve been doing for more than a decade. In 2004, a few of my friends approached me about creating a new Web site, Tripso. It meant I that would have to stop publishing my personal Web site for a while.
That seemed like a great excuse for a sabbatical.
I stopped updating Elliott and eventually approached HeftyMedia.com, one of the most innovative Web design firms working today, about doing a top-to-bottom redesign of my site.
The new Elliott would be something different from the old one: edgier, practical, but also opinionated. Something with a strong voice.
The redesign coincided with some professional changes. During the last year, I’ve started working with several new media outlets, and some of my existing columns, such as the Travel Troubleshooter, have expanded into new markets.
Making a clean break from the old site was important to me.
A lot of readers had begun to expect the same professional detachment on my Web site and newsletter as I delivered in some of my columns. With this site, it is impossible to be left with the impression that I am going to be impartial or nonpartisan.
I liked having a year off. It gave me a chance to figure out what was meaningful — and what wasn’t. Hopefully, this site will be a better place because of it.
Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.
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