Posts filed under 'Travel'
Travel by air is constantly changing. Airlines have new restrictions on the size of your luggage and the weight permitted. Be sure to check with each individual airline on their weight and size restrictions prior to your reservation. Those cases you used in the past may not work today. How can you tell? The newest travel item is the portable 
Luggage Scale with Tape Measure. This easily weighs your luggage so you will not be charged at the airport. It is very easy to use. You put the hook on the handle of your luggage and lift the luggage slightly. The weight locks on to the scale for easy reading. You do not have to lift your heavy case all the way up to your eyes. Put the case down, take the hook off the luggage and look at the scale. The dial stops and it has locked in the weight. This handy item, which is under $10.00, also has a tape measure. Many of the airlines have a 62″ height plus length plus width size limit. If the luggage is severely overstuffed, it may go over the size restriction. If you like to shop when you travel, and plan to bring home a lot of souvenirs, you will need the scale for the trip home. The tape measure also insures that you comply with the new regulations. It makes it very easy to check the overall dimensions. Reset the scale to zero with a simple twist of the dial, and you’re ready to weigh another bag! Now you can start packing!
June 14th, 2008
According to the N.Y. Times there’s a new website especially for students traveling abroad. It’s maintained by the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs’ and is part of a campaign to promote safe and smart travel by students. The information included on the site includes what to do in case of a natural disaster or any other emergency. It also has contact information for victims of crime. There are also the locations of United States embassies and links to country information. Also included are travel alerts and warnings. Go to www.studentsabroad.state.gov for the complete information. On the website you’ll also find:
* Wallet card to fill out with emergency contact information
* Preparation checklist
* Packing checklist
* Directions and deadlines for applying for passports and visas
* How to vote in the U.S. while you’re abroad
June 1st, 2008
What to do if you are traveling to a foreign country and want to get along better? It, of course, helps if you speak the language. What better way than a Lingo translator, and one that actually speaks the language! This handy translator will translate over 30,000 words in a crystal clear human voice. It has an easy to use navigation wheel. It will also save your favorite phrases in memory. Included is also a currency and metric converter to help you convert the money exchange. This incredible travel item also plays hangman and quiz games and comes complete with a world time clock and alarm. Additionally, there’s sightseeing information for 12 countries. The twelve languages featured are English, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Turkish, Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese, Japanese, Spanish and Russian. The Lingo Navigator comes complete with two AAA batteries and an earbud, and is very reasonably priced. What more could you ask for in a travel companion?
May 23rd, 2008
Concerned about what to do when the lights go out? You won’t need to be as concerned if you have the newest solar powered, self-powered AM/FM/Weather band 
portable radio from Eton. This very handy hand crank or solar powered radio comes complete with a flashlight. You don’t have to worry about dead batteries - just crank the handle. It will even re-charge your cell phone so you can make calls. The Weather band will keep you advised along with the radio of what is happening outside. This 7.5-ounce lightweight radio gets all 7 channels of NOAA weather. It’s also tiny and easy to carry, only five inches in size! What a great item to keep on hand at all times. It is even convenient in the car or on a boat. This new emergency radio is ideal for all travelers and is brand new for the season! Make sure you have at least one on hand before the heat of summer causes power outages.
May 19th, 2008
The newest way to get all of the electronic gadgets organized at home is the valet charger . This doesn’t just hold your items, it charges them up for your busy day tomorrow. This is a wooden valet with a hidden power strip inside. Instead of plugging in your cell phone in the kitchen, and your ipod in the bedroom, everything can be in one convenient place. This valet charger wills charger five different gadgets at once. It’s complete with a surge protector. This is the most efficient way to recharge all of those important electronic gadgets that we no longer can do without. The valet neatly conceals the cords while charging. There’s also a lined shelf for other accessories like keys, watch, change, etc. It will safely recharge up to five electronic devices at once and you’ll always know where to look for your important electronics. The valet charger is a great item for home or in the office. The valet can be personalized with your name or initials on a silvertone plate. Your electronics will be in one place, fully charged and ready to go! It doesn’t get better than that.
May 17th, 2008
These are the 2008 best golf resorts based on an online poll and the editors at Golf.com. Newsday reported the resorts, and some of these are probably your favorites too!
1. The American Club, Kohler, Wisconsin
2. Sea Island Resort, Sea Island, Georgia
3. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, Oregon
4. The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
5. Pebble Beach Resorts, Pebble Beach, California
6. Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, North Carolina
7. The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado
8. The Boulders, Caarefree, Arizona
9. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
10. Four Seasons Resort, Lana’i at Manele Bay, Lana’i, Hawaii
May 8th, 2008
These are the top ten beach resorts for families on a budget as reported from Parents magazine. You may have visited some of these yourselves, and some may be your favorites!
1. Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya, Bahamas
2. Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
3. South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island, Florida
4. Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
5. Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, Florida
6. Beaches Negril Resort and Spa, Jamaica
7. Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, Hawaii
8. Ocan Edge Resort & spa, Brewster, Massachusetts
9. Loews Coronado Bay Beach Resort & Spa, San Diego, California
10. Rio Mar Beach Resort, Puerto Rico
May 7th, 2008
Yes, the sad news is airlines are charging more for extras that used to be included in the airline fare. Be on the look out for fees for checking a second bag. Several of the airlines are charging for this second bag including golf clubs. Currently, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, and US Airways charge for a second bag. American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Air Canada will add charging for a second bag beginning sometime this month or within the next few months. U.S. Airways is charing more for “choice seats.” Jet Blue and United are charging more for seats with extra leg room. Delta Airlines is charging more for baggage that goes over the weight and size limit. They will charge you for the extra bag, the over the size limit and the overweight bag. They will actually add three separate surcharges. American Airlines will charge you $3.00 for a snack of potato chips, or a chocolate chip cookie. Frontier Airlines has the same $3.00 snack fee. U.S. Airways announced that they will charge you for a new ticket if you miss your flight. You no longer can just wait to fly standby. U. S Air will also charge for a “choice seat” which is a window or aisle seat in the first few rows in coach. These seats do not give you any extra room, they are just closer to the exit. Almost every airline has a weight restriction. Some have a weight restriction on carry on bags as well. If you want to avoid the surcharges, be sure to check with your airline. Each one seems to have different regulations. What may be free, or a small fee, can be quite expensive on another airline. The regulations change, so even if you were on that airline several months ago, you might want to check prior to your next flight. Keep in mind that many of the luggage companies have 27″ sized Pullmans. These give you a little extra room, and usually keep within the fifty pound maximum weight limit. Prolite, Swiss Army Werks and Mosaic Travel Gear are three of the more popular brands featuring this size. And, good news is there’s still lots of wonderful places to visit! Just be practical, and realize that we are all being affected by higher fuel prices.
May 6th, 2008
Anyone who has traveled recently knows how busy the airports and airlines have been. 2007 was a record year and 2008 seems to be on track to be even busier. The top spots predicted for 2008 are (reported by Newsday):
Latin America - The dollar goes far, and Travelocity has reported bookings to Guatemala up considerably.
Canada - This was the number 2 destination for U.S. travel abroad in 2006. Vancouver will host the 2010 Winter Olympics, so it is predicted to be popular again in 2008.
Asia - Travel by U.S. residents to Asia was up 8.6 percent in the first nine months of 2007. China was the 10th most visited country in 2006 by Americans traveling aboard (according to the Commerce Department.)
Vacation Activities - Domestic travel is popular, and many vacationers are planning short trips of 4 or 5 days. Domestic travel usually benefits from the weak dollar. Lonely Planet, the guidebook publisher, picked the United States as its No. 1 destination for 2008. The United States has always been a favorite of mine. There’s so much to see and visit and learn about our own country. Yahoo! Travel predicted more trips to “small, weekend type destinations, with people staying closer to home and doing shorter getaways.” Don’t forget that Alaska and Hawaii are part of our great country and wonderful vacation and sightseeing sites.
April 23rd, 2008
What are some of the ways to check airline fares for those traveling on a budget or watching what they’re spending? You can check with each airline individually by either calling or checking their website. Remember that there is generally a fee when you book by calling the airlines that you can save when booking on line. However, some of the websites also have a booking fee. Keep in mind that travel agents are also a good source of budget fares, but some may charge for booking so ask before booking your ticket. Travel agents can also give many good suggestions if you are not traveling directly from point A to point B.
Check out the following websites as suggested by The Washington Post:
www.cheapflights.com
www.kayak.com
www.expedia.com
www.orbitz.com
www.travelocity.com
www.hotwire.com
www.priceline.com
www.smartertravel.com
www.independenttrtaveler.com
www.budgettravel.com
www.travelzoo.com
Some of the sites also offer fare alerts. Check expedia.com, kayak.com, orbitz.com and travelocity.com for this service. Also, for last minute specials try lastminute.com. Farecast.com will make predictions on airline fares. They also offer a Fare Guard that will lock in a price for one week. Farecompare.com and SideStep.com also will give you fare trends. I generally book my ticket on line directly with the airline I plan to fly. However, I have used the kayak.com site when looking for a fare to a destination that I do not travel often. I have found their website to be quick and easy to use.
April 22nd, 2008
Previous Posts
