Vacation Travel Tips

Tips for Planning the Perfect Honeymoon

2006-12-14T20:27:00.000-08:00

There is one thing that all newlyweds have in common – they agree that their honeymoon is a once-in-a-lifetime event. To ensure that to-be-wed couples get the most from their honeymoon experience, the experts at HoneymoonTravelAgent.com are offering ten tips to help make the planning experience as fun and carefree as possible.

1) Pick a Destination – Open the lines of communication between partners talking about what each would ideally like to do and compromise making sure to include the top things on each spouse’s list. A travel agent can help narrow down the best destination choices as well as activities to do in each area that will meet the desires of both partners.

2) Budgeting – Set realistic expectations and stick to them. Setting a budget and being honest with yourself about your limitations is important to keeping this experience as stress-free as possible.

3) Hire a Professional – It is best to enlist the services of a professional travel agency with honeymoon or couples getaway specialists when planning a honeymoon. With billions of Web pages out there, having a trusted professional on your side is invaluable. What many travelers do not know, is that travel agencies do not charge a fee for their services.

4) Protect Yourself – Keep all important documents such as birth certificates, passports, and other forms of identification in a small bag to be used exclusively for this purpose. Other info that should be stored in the document bag is: data on travelers’ checks including the numbers and amounts, as well as date and place of purchase; and phone numbers for your bank and credit cards in the unfortunate event your wallet or purse is lost or stolen.

5) Travel Money – The most carefree and economical way to convert currency abroad is to make purchases using a major credit card. HoneymoonTravelAgent suggests leaving store charge cards at home and limiting to a single credit card for all vacation purchases allowing the traveler to easily catch errors on the bill. Before departing for vacations abroad, travelers should check with their bank to see if their ATM card will work in the country they’re planning to visit.

6) Preserving Memories – Take lots of pictures and consider using separate memory cards for digital cameras or rolls of film for each location. Keep a journal of your travels. It doesn’t have to be long – a few sentences about each day’s events or even a series of short blurbs about noteworthy things you’ve seen or done will keep those memories from fading.

7) Passports – Ask your travel agent if you will need a passport to travel to your honeymoon destination. If so, it’s never too soon as it can take as long as 12 weeks. The bride’s flight reservation should be made with her maiden name, so it will match all of her identification.

8) Plan Ahead – Buying tickets in advance to local attractions or tours often saves precious time. For things that weren’t planned in advance, use the resort’s concierge. Leaving things such as restaurant reservations to the concierge, frees up the honeymoon couple’s time.

9) Rental Cars – When choosing a rental car, travel agents often advise couples to pick the smallest car that would meet their needs including things they will bring with them as well as purchases they will make while traveling.

10) Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – This is a dream trip, have fun and enjoy every moment with your new spouse!

Visit http://www.HoneymoonTravelAgent.com to find out about their various travel packages for Honeymooners.

New EU air travel rules come into force

2006-12-06T20:51:00.000-08:00

In airports across the EU restrictions on liquids carried in hand luggage and stricter security checks come into force today (6 November), with officials advising travellers to arrive well ahead of their flights to avoid delays.

Under the new EU rules, air passengers can only take on board liquids - such as skin creams, hair gels or make up - of up to 100 millilitres kept in containers which must fit into a transparent, re-sealable plastic bag easily checked by security officials.

Some airports are planning to distribute the plastic bags to travellers for the initial period after the new measures enter into force and will also provide extra staff to help people through the change.

Passengers may also take baby food and medicines in their hand luggage without any quantity limitations, as well as drinks and perfumes bought in airport duty free shops, but duty free goods must be kept in sealed and unopened transparent bags.

On top of this, security officials will separately screen laptops and other large electronic devices, such as video cameras or radios.

EU-wide restrictions on the maximum size of hand luggage cases allowed on board - 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm, except for special cases, such as musical instruments - will come into effect next April.

Free leaflets listing all the new rules - to apply at all EU airports, but also in Albania, Iceland, Kosovo, Norway and Switzerland - have been translated into several European languages and distributed at airports.

They new rules were hammered out in late September in reaction to an alleged terrorist plot in the UK to blow up transatlantic airlines using explosives disguised in liquid form.

~Source: EUObserver.com

Tips for Keeping Kids Occupied on Road Trips

2006-11-12T06:16:00.000-08:00

(NewsUSA) - On the road, drivers must deal with constant traffic concerns, including glaring sunlight, blinding rain, traffic jams, street signs and other drivers. But one distraction you might not have thought about is your kids.

According to AAA, more than 1.5 million crashes have involved some kind of driver distraction, and 24 percent of crashes occur because of drivers having to deal with children in the back seat. Here are a few ways to keep the kids occupied the next time you hit the road.

* Books and children's magazines: Time passes quickly when children are engrossed in a story. Take this opportunity to teach your children the importance of reading. If your kids can't read in the car, try books on tape or compact discs.

* Crafts: Have the kids put together scrapbooks with items from the trip.
Pack instant cameras, glue sticks, markers and construction paper to get them started.

* Puzzles, board games and cards: At first these activities might seem unfit for road trips, but many newer versions are designed for travel. These games either come in compact cases or with magnetic boards to keep pieces from being lost in the vehicle.

* On-screen entertainment: Increasing numbers of consumers are purchasing vehicles with liquid crystal display TV screens for passenger viewing. Today, not only can your kids play video games and watch DVDs in the car, they can catch
their favorite television shows as well.

The TracVision A5, created by Rhode Island-based KVH Industries, lets you watch live television while on the road. This in-motion satellite television system has a low-profile antenna that mounts to the roof of the car and a compact satellite receiver stored in the trunk.

Compatible with DirecTV service, it provides hundreds of channels of satellite television and music. It's also designed to be part of a versatile entertainment system that can include DVD players, VCRs, video game systems and digital video recorders.

The system sells for about $3,500. The monthly satellite service fee varies depending on the package selected but is similar to home programming. For more information, visit www.kvh.com.

Travel Tip: Check the Expiration Date on Your Passport

2006-11-11T07:44:00.000-08:00

More and more countries are insisting that visitors' passports have at least a six-month shelf-life. And they won't let you in if your passport expires sooner than that. So before your next international trip, make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your return date.

For information about renewing your passport, visit the U.S. State Department website (travel.state.gov/passport_renewal.html). Or check out these two online companies that will get you a speedy renewal for a fee: passportvisaexpress.com and passportplus.net.

Breathtaking Bosnia

2006-11-09T22:39:00.000-08:00

Looking for another road less travelled in Europe for yournext vacation? Try Bosnia-Herzegovina.

A decade after the world equated the Balkan nationwith internecine bloodletting, a commercial appreared recently on CNN presenting Bosnia's natural beauty and recommending tourists come visit.

"Enjoy breakfast, enjoy music, water, nature, silence ... peace, enjoy Bosnia, enjoy Herzegovina, enjoy life," is the message to be shown on CNN over the next three months. Each of the nine clips shows some aspects of Bosnia-Herzegovina beauty, from unspoiled nature and ancient monuments to good food and wine served in picturesque towns and villages.

"Bosnia-Herzegovina deserves to have the world's opinion about its change," said the head of Bosnia's Foreign Investment Promotion Agency(Fipa), Mr Haris Basic.

Part of Fipa's " Now is the time for Bosnia-Herzegovina" campaign, the clips should help "change the visual perception of Bosnia-Herzegovina as the country of war", Mr Basic said.

"Such a stereotype has been one of the main obstacles in our efforts to attract foreign investors ... We hope the images of these video clips will provoke the interest of international tourist operators to mark Bosnia-Herzegovina as a freshly discovered top destination in Europe," he added.

The promotion for which the country has spent some US$146,000 should definitely change the country's image in the world and bring in more tourists, said Bosnia-Herzegovina's Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic . "More and more tourists are coming here, even to places our citizens don't often go."

Bosnia-Herzegovina, bordered by Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, covers about 51,130 sq km of Balkans. Most of the country has a temperature continental climate, while the country's south, Herzegovina, has a Mediterranean climate.

Strongly infuencing the culture and traditions was the country's turbulent history from Roman and Byzantine times, through Slavic dominance, followed by the Ottoman Empire, Austro-Hungarian rule, a Yugloslav Kingdom, and communism, making for a unique cultural mix.

Get the Best Hotels on Your Travels

2006-11-04T04:36:00.000-08:00

By Michael Masterson

In our family, K is in charge of travel planning. She takes her job seriously, spending countless hours on the Internet researching flights, land-travel arrangements, restaurants, and hotels. And her reconnaissance usually pays off.

We've often stayed at new (and very good) hotels before they became popular. Doing this has three big advantages:

1. You don't have to wait months to book a room.

2. The cost is considerably less.

3. You don't have to battle crowds when you get there.

There are, of course, tradeoffs: The health spa may still be under construction and the staff is probably not yet as experienced as they should be. But if you are willing to take chances - and aren't willing to pay the crazy prices trendy hotels usually charge - it's well worth it to do some investigating on the Internet.

Before the rest of the world "discovered" them, we enjoyed the Hotel de Russie and the Hotel Art in Rome, the Charlotte Street and Soho hotels in London, and the Rivington and Hudson hotels in New York. This summer, we got a junior suite at Fortyseven (a brand-new hotel in Rome that's destined to become very "in" and expensive) for less than 220 euros, including tax and a full breakfast. (Number Two Son's standard room was just 175 euros.)

Yes, we are occasionally disappointed. Sometimes, the photos you see on the Internet do not accurately reflect the reality. Other times, there are problems you couldn't possibly anticipate.

During our recent trip to Paris, for example we decided to stay in a "penthouse" apartment near Place St. Michele. Based on what we read in the online brochure and conversations with the booking agent, we felt sure it was going to be perfect for us. But a few unpleasant details emerged when we got there:

Since our apartment was on the fifth floor, K had asked the booking agent - just to be sure - if the building had an elevator. "Mais oui!" was the reply. What he didn't tell us was that two people could fit into it only if both of them weigh less than 120 pounds. (Only one of us does.) Bringing the luggage up was like that brainteaser: "A farmer has to cross a river with a chicken, a fox, and a sack of corn ..."
Since Paris can be very warm in the summer, K had asked if our apartment was air-conditioned. "Mais, oui!" came the answer again. But he didn't tell us that the air conditioner, when operating, sounded like a garbage truck backing up in the closet.
Since one of our sons was going to be with us for a few days, K had asked if the sofa in the sitting room pulled out. "Mais, oui!" was the reply yet again. What he didn't tell us was that there were no sheets for it.
If you want to enjoy the best hotels at the best price, do what K does:

First, make it a habit to skim through travel articles on your favorite cities in your favorite periodicals. K's favorites are The New York Times, Travel & Leisure, Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report, Departures (the American Express travel magazine), and International Living. When you see something that looks interesting or is highly recommended, clip and store it.

Before making a decision, go online and take advantage of the many resources on the Internet. All travel publications have websites, and there are hundreds more that focus on specific locations and types of travel.

Then see what previous travelers have to say about the hotels you're considering by going to one of the many travel-review websites. K's favorite is Tripadvisor.com.

I asked Barbara Perriello, Executive Director of Agora Travel, if she had any additional recommendations. She thinks one of your best resources is your local travel agent, especially one who specializes in personal tours. "They can usually recommend hotels where they themselves have stayed," she said.

"Travel agents also usually have access to publications from professional organizations that you have to pay a fee to belong to," she added. "One that we use is 'Star Service,' which provides us with reviews of hotels all over the world."

Another advantage to using an agent is that they have access to hotel packages, which sometimes include flights and activities at your destination.

Barb also recommends checking out the special hotel issues of publications like Conde Nast and Gourmet and searching Amazon.com for specialty categories ("Hip Hotels," "Best Hotels in South America," "Best Beach Hotels").

If you take advantage of all these suggestions, you'll have what K and I've had over the years: a 90 percent chance of being happy with your hotel.

And there's something else you can do to increase your success rate still further - maybe to 99 percent. It's something K and I now do all the time: Visit hotels as if they're tourist attractions.

During our walks around Paris, Rome, Madrid, New York (Are they walks or are they treks? It depends on how thick K's tour guide is!), we make it a point to stop at hotels along our way. K keeps a list of the hotels she's read about and, when we are in the neighborhood, we stop by to see them. Sometimes we spy a cute little hotel we've never heard of. We check that out too.

It's a simple process:

1. You go in, say hello, and ask to see a brochure and a rate card. (It's a good idea to learn the French/Spanish/Italian/whatever for "brochure" and "rate card," but if they speak any English at all, they'll know what you want.)

2. Sit down in the lobby and look around. The condition of the lobby is your first clue as to the condition of the hotel.

3. Now read the brochure and rate card. Does the hotel seem like a good value? Read the advertising copy and look at the photos. These are meant to impress you. If they don't, leave immediately.

4. If everything else passes muster, go back to the reception desk and ask if you can see a room. Usually, they will be happy to accommodate you. If, for some reason, they tell you they can't do it, ask when you can come back to see one. (Some desk clerks are lazy. Asking them when you can return might cause them to collapse and show you the room.)

5. Note how far the room is from the elevator. You don't want to book one that takes 15 minutes to reach.

6. Ask the person who is showing you the room if the one he's showing is typical. Ask for his opinion on which are the best rooms and ask him why. Pay attention to what he's saying and write down the room numbers of his specific recommendations so you can ask for them later if you call for a booking.

7. Inspect the room carefully. Turn on every switch and ask every question that comes to mind.

And if you are lucky enough to have a spouse (or friend) who is willing to do most of this work for you, be sure to thank them for making your travel experiences so memorable. (I do.)

~ Article courtesy of Michael Masterson, Copyright ETR, LLC, 2006

Plan Early To Get Passport

2006-10-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

Beginning Monday, Jan. 8, U.S. citizens entering the country by air from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, Bermuda and parts of Central and South America must have a valid U.S. passport.

And land and sea tourists need the identity booklets no later than June 2009 -- maybe sooner.

A passport for people 16 and older is $97, and $82 for individuals 15 and younger. The booklets are available at various government offices, including Postal Service branches.

Adult passports expire in 10 years, while children have five years before they need to renew.

Residents may visit iafdb.travel.state.gov or call (877) 487-2778 to find the nearest location to obtain the identity badges.

It usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to get a passport, so do it at least 2 months before your intended travel.

Top Ten Beaches in the U.S.

2006-10-20T00:46:00.000-07:00

Looking for some golden tan this vacation? National Geographic Traveler recently listed the top ten beaches in the U.S. Here's your fun in the sun and miles of white powdery beaches:

1. Miami, Florida
2. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
3. Panama City, Florida
4. Waikiki, Hawaii
5. Tampa Bay, Florida
6. St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
7. Key West, Florida
8. Kaanapali, Hawaii
9. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
10. Naples, Florida

Use Satellite Maps to Plan Your Trip

2006-10-16T23:23:00.000-07:00

We’ve all had those moments where we wander outside and stare up at the stars, looking for comets or satellites and wondering what we look like from space. If that bright star were actually a martin spaceship, could they see us from there?

Though terraserver.com was one of the first sites to do so, now a number of different mapping sites are able to show you what your house looks like from space. By compiling images from a number of different satellite passes, usually from USGS mapping satellites, they are able to give a composite satellite map of the world we live in. Google Maps, Mapquest, terraserver, and a number of other mapping sites all use this satellite imagery; sometimes working off of the same images and sometimes using different satellite passes. The quality can vary depending on location and satellite coverage; while in one area you may be able to see individual cars parked in driveways other areas, especially rural areas, may not be covered as well. Depending on the area you may only be able to make out major roads and geographical features and not be able to make out individual houses or roads.

Satellite maps are interesting tools since they give you a bird’s-eye (or martin’s-eye) view of our homes and other areas of interest. Most satellite map providers have links to points of interest like the Hoover Dam or the Statue of Liberty. It’s often interesting to see how big (or small) these features actually are when compared to the surrounding landscape. Google Maps even has an overlay feature where drawn street maps can be laid directly on top of the satellite map, giving users a clear idea of what they’re looking at and how the area in question is located relative to nearby towns and roads. This can be particularly helpful when looking in an area without many obvious geographical features like lakes and rivers.

Satellite maps aren’t only interesting diversions; they can be great for planning everything from road trips to backcountry excursions. Though they shouldn’t serve as substitutes for a good road map if you’re driving or a topographic map if you’re hiking, satellite maps can give an alternative, advance perspective into unknown territory. Many hikers and backcountry skiers have found them indispensable for providing another mode of getting information about unknown backcountry mountains and passes where the topographic maps may not tell the whole story.

Staying Healthy on the Road

2006-10-08T06:35:00.000-07:00

- By Virginia Thomas

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle at home is hard enough ... but it's even worse while on a business trip. You face a series of long luncheons and dinners with clients, not to mention the temptation to sink into bed at the end of a busy day and watch TV.

Here are a few suggestions that will help you lower the stress on your body while on the road:

1. Travel can dehydrate you, so make it a point to drink plenty of bottled water.

2. Make sensible choices when ordering in restaurants: yogurt with fruit for breakfast, a piece of grilled chicken or fish with steamed vegetables for lunch, and a large salad for dinner. And, of course, limit your alcohol intake. This will keep your calories down and energy levels high.

3. Try to avoid sugar and caffeine. Although both may give you instant energy, the "high" is only temporary and not worth the lethargic low that follows.

4. You may not be able to follow your regular exercise routine, but find a way to do something. Pack a pair of walking shoes and get out and walk between appointments. Take advantage of your hotel's exercise room or swimming pool.

5. Plan ahead and stick with the plan. When you return home, you'll feel great - and maybe even find that you've dropped a few pounds.

[Ed Note: Virginia Thomas is a fitness trainer and Pilates instructor. She'll be at ETR's Info Marketing Bootcamp: "Making a Fast Fortune on the Information Revolution," where she'll help attendees stay fit and healthy with massage, exercise, and stretching techniques.]

Avoid Holiday Nightmares

2006-10-04T06:16:00.000-07:00

Going on a vacation can be a de-stressing experience. Most look forward to it in anticipation as this is usually the most awaited occasion of the year. But things beyond your control can somtimes ruin your vacation.

Never think: "It won't happen to me". The most unpleasant surprises can pop up and spoil what you expect to be a blissfuil holiday should you be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Getting caught in a military coup or a blistering typhoon may seem highly improbable. But why should you leave it to chance especially if you plan to travel alone or stay in a country for more than a month. Unlikely that it might seem, sometimes civil unrest or natural disaster can occur without much warning.

Here are 2 important advice that you might want to consider taking:

When traveling, always find out more about the conditions in the country you are visiting.
Register with your country's embassy or consulate. By recording information about your trip, you will enable officers from your emabssy or consulate to contact and assist you should an emergency occur. It is advisable to leave your itinerary with them. This will enable consular officers to locate you when you might need them the most.

‘Appalachian Ghostwalks’ amongst the top ten ghost tours in America

2006-09-23T05:07:00.000-07:00

“Appalachian Ghostwalks” celebrated its first anniversary on September 1, 2006 with the announcement that the “GhostWalks” has been voted into the top ten companies in America offering haunted historic ghost tours. Haunted America Tours in New Orleans, Louisiana, has received over 2,200 email messages from website visitors favoring the local Appalachian group.

Join Appalachian GhostWalks as the group explores the mysteries of our mountain heritage. Travel back in time to visit and learn about the people of the past, strolling down Main Street in each of Appalachia’s oldest towns where you will enjoy tantalizing mystery, legend, intrigue, and fun family adventure.

These “lantern-led” tours will bring the Southern Appalachian region’s Cherokee Indian, Frontier, Revolutionary and Civil War history to life for all ages. Each guide is a highly trained and certified ghost hunter presenting a unique blend of science, history, and folklore. Your choice of “Haunted Historic GhostWalks” include:

Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town founded in 1779 where you’ll learn about the former President, Andrew Jackson’s encounter with the infamous “Bell Witch” of Adams, Tennessee - the subject matter of the new motion picture currently in theatres entitled “An American Haunting”; in addition, we offer Historic Erwin and the Nolichucky Settlement beginning 1760; in Johnson City we have three tours including the East Tennessee State University campus, Tipton-Haynes Historic Site, as well as a hiking adventure entitled “Legendary Buffalo Mountain”; our Historic Blountville, Rogersville, and Greeneville Tennessee GhostWalks detail ghostly true stories from the Civil War. Also available is our tour of Historic Abingdon Virginia GhostWalk just a few minutes drive from Bristol.

Appalachian GhostWalks invites you to “take a haunted vacation!” Discount accommodations for the group’s tours are provided by several area hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, RV Parks, and campgrounds. Special Discount Vacation Planning Packages called “Spook and Save” Packages are available which offer discounts on many other recreational venues including area caves, museums, whitewater rafting, and parks. Please visit the website at www.AppalachianGhostWalks.com for more information. You can go directly to our “Spook and Save Discount Vacation Planning Package page by going to http://www.AppalachianGhostWalks.com/vacationpackages.html

If you and your family are looking for a really FUN weekend, Appalachian GhostWalks can put together a “Ghost Hunter Weekend” Package which includes our “Ghostology”, or “Ghost Hunting” 101 class, as well as one more of our Haunted Historic GhostWalks and Tours located all across the Southern Appalachian Mountain region. These can include a stay at a haunted bed and breakfast, presentations in your home, or at your place of business, birthday parties, and endless other possibilities.

What better time of year to enjoy a GhostWalk than the fall? Enjoy the leaves, cooler temperatures, the Unicoi County Apple Festival and the beginning of “Halloween Season.”

Travel Tip with a Difference » Virgin Galactic’s Space Travel Tips

2006-08-27T20:35:00.000-07:00

Word from Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Spaceline group is that SpaceShipTwo (SS2) and WhiteKnightTwo are taking shape. “The spaceship is bigger, faster, and pretty gorgeous looking. She has many more new and improved features,” although specific details are still hush-hush – such as what’s behind a new, bigger, rocket engine design.

SS2 will carry 6 passengers and two pilots. First flights are expected to be out of Mojave, California before the move to the new Spaceport America in New Mexico, the Virgin Galactic update notes.

Also, look for a “conceptual interior” of SS2 to show up in late September in New York as part of the Wired NextFest alongside a scale size replica of SpaceShipOne.

According to Virgin Galactic, more than 60,000 people have now registered an interest in becoming Virgin Galactic Astronauts, with 30% from the U.S., 15% from the U.K. and 10% Australia. The number of people who have paid a deposit continues to rise. Virgin Galactic Founder Astronauts come from a range of 13 countries, with around 55% from the U.S. with an approximately 80/20 split male/female.

Source >> Virgin Galactic’s Space Travel Tips

Is it a vacation if you don't actually vacate?

2006-08-24T09:43:00.000-07:00

Anybody out there on vacation this month? If so, you may be a member of an endangered species.

Americans have lost their knack for getting away, kicking back and chilling out on some stretch of sunburn-worthy sand, I keep reading. One survey after another reports on the declining national vacation rate. About two in five of us, it seems, will take no break at all from work (or whatever) this summer.

For those who do drag themselves away, trips are growing shorter and more modest, while the urge to stay in touch with the office by telephone, cell phone, e-mail or carrier pigeon is all but irresistible. Instead of picking fresh ones, we furtively peck away at our electronic BlackBerries when we're supposed to be off enjoying the sights and spending quality time with our families. It's a collective techno-neurosis.

Read the full story here >> Is it a vacation if you don't actually vacate?

Australia Issues Travel Alert Over Terrorist Threat in Pakistan

2006-08-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

Aug. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Australia advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Pakistan, citing possible terrorist attacks against western hotels in Islamabad.

Australians should reconsider travel to Pakistan because of a ``very high threat'' of an attack, the Foreign Affairs Department said in a statement.

Full Story >> Bloomberg.com: Australia & New Zealand: "Australia Issues Travel Alert Over Terrorist Threat in Pakistan"

UK airport travel chaos spreads into sixth day | 24dash.com - Communities

2006-08-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

Passengers at London's three main airports had to endure cancellations and delays today as travel chaos spread into a sixth day.

Airport operator BAA had hoped that the Government decision to allow hand luggage back on flights would mean an end to the travel misery.

But British Airways had to cancel 41 flights at Heathrow and 11 at Gatwick, while budget airline Ryanair scrapped eight services at Stansted.

It is thought that BA was forced to cancel today's flights as it was not told early enough yesterday by BAA that a normal service could be resumed.

Full story >> UK airport travel chaos spreads into sixth day | 24dash.com - Communities

What happens when lightning strikes an airplane?

2006-08-15T03:03:00.000-07:00

It is estimated that on average, each airplane in the U.S. commercial fleet is struck lightly by lightning more than once each year. In fact, aircraft often trigger lightning when flying through a heavily charged region of a cloud. In these instances, the lightning flash originates at the airplane and extends away in opposite directions. Although record keeping is poor, smaller business and private airplanes are thought to be struck less frequently because of their small size and because they often can avoid weather that is conducive to lightning strikes.

Full story >> Science & Technology at Scientific American.com: What happens when lightning strikes an airplane?

New U.S. travel rules issued

2006-08-14T21:45:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - (AP)August 4, 2006 -- Air travelers were handed new rules Sunday, given permission to carry small amounts of liquid nonprescription medicine onto a plane and instructed to remove their shoes during security checks.

The shoes have to be placed on an X-ray belt for screening before passengers can put them back on.

Later Sunday, the Homeland Security Department reduced the threat level for U.S.-bound flights from Britain from red, for "severe," to orange, for "high." All other flights within or destined for the United States are at orange.

"The security measures already taken have allowed us to address an imminent threat of attack for flights between the United Kingdom and the United States," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a statement. "Let me be clear: This does not mean the threat is over. The investigation continues to follow all leads.

"In particular, we are remaining vigilant for any signs of planning within the U.S. or directed at Americans," Chertoff said.

The eased restrictions on medicine and the mandatory shoe removal were among several measures the Transportation Security Administration ordered Sunday in response to the thwarted terrorist plot in Britain involving U.S.-bound airplanes.

The TSA had previously banned all liquid medications; now it will allow up to 4 ounces of liquid nonprescription medicine.

The alleged conspirators had planned to blow up as many as 10 planes flying from Britain to the United States using liquid explosives, which the TSA's security equipment can't detect in carry-on luggage. The TSA also said it would let flyers carry on low-blood-sugar treatments, including glucose gel for diabetics; solid lipstick; and baby food. But it said all aerosols are prohibited.

Money-saving travel tips

2006-08-12T02:07:00.000-07:00

Money-saving travel tips I learned the hard way ~ by Megan Robinson, from New Zealand

International travel is an eye-opening joy and a wallet-opening one, too. Learn from other’s mistakes and you will re-write the ripped-off tourist books to stop history repeating itself. By saving dollars in your travel plans you can have more to spend on some treats –not to mention all the great shopping when you get there.

Drink at the bar not at the seat

Travel in shoulder-season

Catch the local transport not a taxi to your hotel from the airport

Don’t tip if it’s already included in your meal bill. Tourists can over-tip

If you’ll be in England for quite some time and enjoy history and cultural sites, The National Trust annual pass means you get unlimited entry for £68 so after 10 visits it’s paid for itself.

Share a carafe of house wine instead of a bottle of fine wine

Hotel breakfasts are a waste of money; an Italian hotel breakfast can be 7 Euros whereas a coffee and croissant is half that at the bakery next door

Book flights online for 10% savings

Join award programmes for free nights in hotels.

Pack people into a room –the more in a hotel room the cheaper it gets

Stay at Bed and Breakfasts for half the cost of hotel rooms

The Paris Museum pass means you can waltz past the queues and it pays itself off with 3 museum trips. What I like is that you would go see things you normally wouldn’t bother with, because now they’re free to enter.

Ask for a better rate on your room if you pay cash or are staying more than 2 or 3 nights.

Shop at supermarkets not delis and save loads by making picnic lunches in a park and get to experience the local scenery.

Check your restaurant bill for things you did not order.

Drink tap water and refill a water bottle each morning at your hostel to save on expensive mineral water during the day.

Wash laundry in the sink

In England VAT is 17.5% so get a refund for large purchases from the shop when you purchase it for a cash refund when you leave.

Packing Advice for Air Passengers

2006-08-12T01:55:00.000-07:00

The Department for Transport has issued advice to air passengers travelling from the UK after a suspected plot to blow up planes was prevented:

"Following this morning's police action, security at all UK airports has been increased and additional security measures have been put in place for all flights.

With immediate effect, the following arrangements apply to all passengers starting their journey at a UK airport and to those transferring between flights at a UK airport.

All cabin baggage must be processed as hold baggage and carried in the hold of passenger aircraft departing UK airports.

Passengers may take through the airport security search point, in a single (ideally transparent) plastic carrier bag, only the following items. Nothing may be carried in pockets:

Pocket-size wallets and pocket-size purses plus contents (for example money, credit cards, identity cards etc (not handbags)

Travel documents essential for the journey (for example passports and travel tickets)

Prescription medicines and medical items sufficient and essential for the flight (eg, diabetic kit), except in liquid form unless verified as authentic

Spectacles and sunglasses, without cases

Contact lens holders, without bottles of solution

For those travelling with an infant: baby food, milk (the contents of each bottle must be tasted by the accompanying passenger) and sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight (nappies, wipes, creams and nappy disposal bags)

Female sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight, if unboxed (eg tampons, pads, towels and wipes)

Tissues (unboxed) and/or handkerchiefs

Keys (but no electrical key fobs). All passengers must be hand searched, and their footwear and all the items they are carrying must be X-ray screened.

Pushchairs and walking aids must be X-ray screened, and only airport-provided wheelchairs may pass through the screening point.

In addition to the above, all passengers boarding flights to the USA and all the items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, must be subjected to secondary search at the boarding gate.

Extra time

Any liquids discovered must be removed from the passenger.

There are no changes to current hold baggage security measures.

Regrettably, significant delays at airports are inevitable. Passengers are being asked to allow themselves plenty of extra time and to ensure that other than the few permitted items listed above, all their belongings are placed in their hold baggage and checked in.

These additional security measures will make travel more difficult for passengers, particularly at such a busy time of the year. But they are necessary and will continue to keep flights from UK airports properly secure.

We hope that these measures, which are being kept under review by the government, will need to be in place for a limited period only.

In light of the threat to aviation and the need to respond to it, we are asking the travelling public to be patient and understanding and to cooperate fully with airport security staff and the police.

If passengers have any questions on their travel arrangements or security in place at airports they should contact their airline or carrier."

Source: BCC News; 10 August 2006

AIR TRAVEL: Terror plot sparks chaos

2006-08-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

A TERROR plot has caused mayhem for hundreds of city residents planning to fly out of the country for their summer holidays.
Heightened security is causing severe delays at airports and the threat level has been raised to "critical" by MI5.

People woke today to the terrifying announcement that a major terrorist attack had been disrupted by police. Today, Peterborough's local authorities confirmed that their Major Incident procedures were all in place.

There have been reports that terrorists may have been planning to attack up to 10 aircraft, but there has been no official confirmation of this from Scotland Yard.

Home Secretary John Reid warned that the country was facing its most sustained period of serious threat since the Second World War.

He said the security services and police alone could not guarantee 100 per cent success in combating terrorism and only a common effort from all sections of society could ensure the safety of our communities.

>> Full article

Travelers urged to get passports now - or risk vacation delays later

2006-08-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

Local travel agents have a tip for those already planning a winter cruise or a spring break getaway in 2007: Don't leave home without a U.S. passport.

Beginning Jan. 1, all air and sea travelers to and from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Central America and South America will be required to have the secure document, according to a plan proposed by President Bush.

The requirement, which travel agents expect to be approved by Congress this year, was designed to make sure tourists move freely and terrorists don't, according to a statement by Bush on the White House Web site www.whitehouse.gov.

Three different bills related to passports are in subcommittees at this time, said Lindsey Beck, legislative assistant for U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Flint. One version would increase the type of documents accepted as proof of identity to obtain a passport. Another bill would delay the new rules for a year.

On Jan. 1, 2008, the proposed passport requirement also would extend to all land-border crossings to Canada and Mexico.

Some travel agencies are encouraging those considering a trip to purchase a passport just in case the bill is passed into law by Congress.

VirtualTourist Reaches 2.5 Million Photos in Its Database of Travel Reviews and Tips

2006-08-02T23:26:00.000-07:00

VirtualTourist, an unbiased source of original, user-generated travel content, now features 2.5 million photographs in its database of worldwide travel information. From the Statue of Liberty to the beaches of Maui, from Paris restaurants, to the salt lakes of Western Australia, all photos are contributed by VirtualTourist members, real travelers seeking to share their travel experiences.

Manhattan Beach, CA (PRWEB) August 2, 2006 -- VirtualTourist.com , the popular online travel research site and travel community, today announced the addition of the 2.5 millionth photograph to its extensive database of travel reviews, tips and advice.

Photos found on VirtualTourist's online travel guides range from hotel rooms, recognizable sights and unusual attractions, to exteriors of hard-to-find places, street signs, restaurant menus and food, local culture and more. And unlike images found on other photo sharing websites, the images on VirtualTourist aren't simply bulk uploads, but instead travel photographs linked to real travel tips and advice intended to help others plan and research trips.

Five million unique visitors went to VirtualTourist.com to research and plan upcoming trips and vacations in May, 2006, according to comScore Media Metrix World Wide data.

Photos round out VirtualTourist's user-generated travel tips by adding an impartial view of the setting and surroundings. Among the VirtualTourist community there are expert photographers and advanced hobbyists, but the majority are just amateurs documenting their travels; as a result, their photos capture the scene as it actually exists, without professional equipment or lighting. Many photos on VirtualTourist also contain people, which lend a sense of scale. In a hotel brochure, for example, it can be hard to discern the size of the hotel room, pool or fitness area. But when there's a person in the photo, it's easier to get accurate idea of just how big or small a space actually is.

"Hired photographers can make any place look great because they can find the best angle. Take the pyramids in Egypt; promotional photos often give the impression that you'll be way out in the desert on camels. But the fact is that the pyramids are on the outer edge of Cairo, with an urban backdrop of cityscape and smog. Photos on VirtualTourist capture that and paint a realistic image for fellow travelers, travelers who have no stake in embellishing or filtering the info they share" said Giampiero Ambrosi, General Manager of VirtualTourist. "Photos document a trip; but they also help and inspire other travelers."

In total, VirtualTourist's database of travel information includes more than 1.3 million travel tips and 2.5 million photos on more than 25,000 worldwide destinations.

"There's a joke among the VirtualTourist community that ‘You know you're a die-hard VirtualTourist member when …' and one of the qualifications is: ‘You carry a camera at all times, and at restaurants, you take a photo of your food before you take a bite,'" Ambrosi said. "VirtualTourist members make a big effort to document their travels so that they can share them. This has helped to develop a loyal, engaged, altruistic community that is focused on helping each other to travel smarter."

About VirtualTourist.com

VirtualTourist is one of the largest online travel research sites / travel communities in the world, and a premier resource for traveler's seeking an insider perspective. On VirtualTourist, real people share real advice on places they've traveled as well as their hometowns; they research and plan trips and vacations, and they interact with other avid travelers via forums and email. By the numbers, VirtualTourist boasts 1.3 million travel reviews and 2.5 million photos on more than 25,000 destinations worldwide. Unbiased, user-generated content on Hotels, Attractions, Local Customs, Tourist Traps and much more is posted entirely by VirtualTourist's 750,000 registered members from over 220 countries and territories. Among VirtualTourist's awards and accolades: "Recommended Travel Forum," Time Magazine; "Most Popular Guide," Yahoo!

Start preparing for holiday travel

2006-07-31T23:48:00.000-07:00

"For her family's last ski vacation in Vail, Colo., she waited too long to reserve flights and wound up paying nearly triple that of early-bookers who scooped up discount fares far in advance." Read Susan Pollack's full story here >> Start preparing for holiday travel.

Planning for a smooth connection

2006-07-31T07:47:00.000-07:00

Here's an travel tip about how to plan for smooth connections:

Always allow adequate time between flights. One hour is generally the minimum necessary to allow for the possibility of a delayed arrival, to make your way from one gate to the other, and to have your checked luggage transferred between planes. Some airports require greater margins even for domestic flights, and more if the journey involves an international connection. Be wary of signing up for routings that involve tighter connections.

This is even more important these days, when fuller planes make it harder for airlines to put passengers who miss their connections onto later flights. Airlines are not required to hold planes for incoming passengers on delayed flights, although they do so on occasion.

Consider the size of the airport when accepting minimal connection times. At big hubs, airlines do not necessarily assign arrival and departure gates based on the convenience of connecting passengers.

Check out your flight's on-time performance history. Some flights almost always arrive late, and airlines are required to provide statistics on late arrivals.
Understand the difference between "direct" and "nonstop." Flights listed as "direct" will make stops en route but will continue with the same flight number. During severe travel disruptions, even direct flights can have a portion of the route canceled.

Avoid flights during peak travel hours, and seek out those that depart early in the day. Flight delays tend to get worse as the day goes on. Flights that start the day at an airport are listed as "originators" and are less likely to be delayed since they don't depend on a plane to arrive from another location.

Article source: http://www.post-gazette.com

Thailand Travel Tips -- Top 10 Secrets to truly visit Thailand

2006-07-28T19:51:00.000-07:00

Read about the top 10 Thailand Travel Tips . New points of view concerning traveling to Thailand. The tips cover prominent tourist spots i.e. Phuket, Koh Samui, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Chang, Koh Samet and new tourist spots that are unknown paradise.

Full story >>

Travel News - Google offers live traffic maps for mobile users

2006-07-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

Google on Tuesday began offering mobile phone users in more than 30 U.S. major metropolitan areas the ability to view highway maps with live traffic updates.

The users can get partial information for smaller cities as well, Google said. Full Story >>>

Tips for less work stress when returning from vacation

2006-07-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

The folks of Internet job search Web site Monster.com are out with a few ideas to ease your apprehension about taking time off, if fear of the horror show you'll face upon your return is what's keeping you chained to your desk.

First, keep in mind that its normal for the transition from vacationer to worker bee to be a tad rocky, especially if you've been on R&R for a few weeks. The average worker needs a day and a half to get back up to normal efficiency levels after time away from work, reports Monster.com.

Full story >> Buffalo News - Tips for less work stress when returning from vacation

Travel Tip - Recharge, you deserve a vacation...

2006-07-25T05:49:00.000-07:00

Erin Krause, travel expert for Expedia, a travel planning company, said Expedia believes all Americans need and deserve a vacation.

"We found through the survey people aren't taking or making full use of their vacation," Ms. Krause said. "Work is a reoccurring theme as to why people are not taking time off."

She provides some tips for planning a more relaxing trip. "Choose days far enough in advance so there is a good deal of time for others to be prepared for you to leave," she said. "Make the planning as easy as you can. You don't want your vacation to be stressful and the more organized you are the more relaxed you can be." Full story >> The Frederick News-Post

Travel News: The hidden costs of flying

2006-07-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

From seats and baggage to food and entertainment, airlines are charging for more ‘extras’ than ever before.

Cheapflights.co.uk today launched a new ‘hidden extras’ consumer resource on its web site. This convenient tips page helps consumers by disclosing how much airlines charge travellers for items such as food, entertainment, seat selection and baggage. Cheapflights.co.uk users can now 'click' the relevant tab on its "Travel Tips" sections to access tip sheets for over twenty top airlines. This innovation arrives the same week that EU transport commissioner Jacques Barrot unveiled new European Union proposals designed to enable passengers to compare like-for-like prices by forcing airlines to include all charges - including airport, wheelchair, baggage fees and fuel surcharges - in the headline price.

The new tab can be accessed by navigating in from the Cheapflights.co.uk home page “travel tips" section or entering cheapflights.co.uk/travel-tips/airline-extras.html on an internet browser.

Cheapflights.co.uk, pioneered independent online travel price comparison and travel deals publishing in 1996 and is now the UK's leading international internet travel deal search company and a major sector player in the US. Apart from publishing over a million deals for comparison from hundreds of travel companies each day, the Company has always included useful additional travel information for consumers to access via its award-winning travel sites.

CEO David Soskin said: "Cheapflights believes that consumers deserve the opportunity to compare like-for-like when purchasing airline tickets. This airline extras sheet is another example of Cheapflights giving consumers the tools to make informed decisions. Low-cost may not be so low once you add charges for extra baggage, entertainment and a sandwich onto the ticket price, but purchasers should be able to make their selections based on their priorities. After all, a business traveller with a single briefcase requires different services than a family of four with two hungry children."

He added: "Barrot’s decision to demystify airline ticket pricing is a step in the right direction. We’re glad to see that consumer demands are being met – and Cheapflights is determined to lead the way to make air travel less confusing and more affordable."

Welcome to Vacation Travel Tips Blog

2006-07-23T04:37:00.000-07:00

The American Heritage Dictionary defines vacation as :

1. A period of time devoted to pleasure, rest or relaxation, especially one with pay granted to an employee.

a. A holiday.

b. A fixed period of holidays, especially one during which a school, court or business suspends activities.

Vacation is one of the most important event on everyone's calender. Travel and vacation planning is key to avoiding last minute preparation burnout. If your vacation truly is "a period of time devoted to pleasure, rest or relaxation," then don't leave everything on your "to do" list for the night before you leave. Planning ahead is key to avoiding last minute preparation burnout. When you plan it well, chances are you will have the time of your lives.

Here you will find useful travel tips to help you plan your dream vacation. Wishing you a memorable trip ahead.