Thoughts on summer driving vacations

Tips for travel by car include:

Plan itineraries and arrange accommodations well in advance. Reservations for hotels, restaurants and rental cars get booked quickly during peak travel times. Online mapping services like mapquest.com or Yahoo maps work fairly well for driving directions but compare these to a good road atlas.

Check with the hotels/motels and see if they offer any packages. Frequently they will combine discounted room rates, meals with local attractions & pass the savings along to you. For these deals it is best to contact the hotel directly instead of a toll free number or website. Also try the local tourism & visitors bureau for local packges and cost saving coupons.

If you're willing to take a gamble on space being available pick up the local hotel discount guides that are available at most public rest areas. Again here it is best to contact the individual property.

Have maps plenty of maps. These come in handy when traveling/navigating in unfamiliar surroundings. Contact the local tourism-convention office and they should be able to provide complimentary maps along with tourism information.

If you are renting a car be sure to reserve the size and category that will hold all of your luggage and treasures to be purchased on location. For those traveling internationally reserve your car stateside as this frequently guarantees the lowest rate and normally includes basic insurance. Speaking of insurance be sure check with your insurance and credit card company to see if your policy includes coverage abroad.

Get a tune up. Before any long-distance drive, make sure to have your oil changed and your brakes, fluids and tire pressure checked. The slightest deficiency in air pressure significantly reduces your car's gas mileage. On the flip side, too much air can result in a flat.

Get an early start to avoid weekend and holiday gridlock. Traveling during late night/early morning hours helps. The worst times to travel are after meals since most travelers postpone leaving until they've eaten with their families. Make sure that all drivers are thoroughly rested.

Take plenty of goodies to keep the non-drivers entertained. Books, games, DVDs and so forth help the hours pass peacefully. My laptop functions as a DVD player and with a currency converter I run it off the car’s electrical system.

Stock a cooler and picnic lunch it. Fast food gets old and expensive in a hurry. Snacks plenty of snack too! Shop the local market and enjoy fresh local products that may not be available at home. I often purchase local items that make gifts for family & friends back home. For example chili pepper stuff is normally impossible to find around here but it is everywhere in New Mexico & Arizona. Be creative!

I'm sure there are plenty more tips so please pass them on to our readers & post your comments on this site.

Happy travels!

Summer air travel thoughts & tips

Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of the summer vacation season and here are some thoughts and tips to help ease the stress and hassle of today’s travelers.

If your plans include air travel:

Reserve and pay for your ticket ASAP. The keys to securing the best deals are advance planning flexibility in travel dates and/or consider flying into an alternate airport and renting a car. If you wait until the last minute expect to pay a premium or wait for the airline weekend web specials. Traveling internationally make sure you have a valid passport on your person. Don’t pack it in checked bags. Make sure that you have all of the correct travel documentation required at your destination(s).

ARRIVE EARLY! I’ll say that again ARRIVE EARLY! By doing this you may be able to avoid crowded airport parking lots, standing in long lines at the ticket counter and security checkpoint. These factors should all be considered when deciding what time to arrive at the airport. Give yourself plenty of extra time. Waiting at the airport with boarding passes in hand and reading a good book sure beats sitting in traffic wondering if you’re going to make your flight.

Need some incentive to arrive early? Keep in mind that those who arrive earliest for an overbooked flight stand the greatest chance of staying onboard. The airline load factors are extremely high which means that they’re flying full planes this summer and bumping (denied boarding) may occur.

Keep a close eye on all your belongings. Pay attention and stay alert. Don’t put your brain on auto pilot just yet. Airports are packed with travelers and offer fertile feeding grounds for thieves. Be aware of your surroundings and maintain a close watch over tickets, wallets, purses, and other belongings at all times. NOTE: This vigilance applies everywhere as train stations, hotel lobbies, flea markets just about any venue can be targeted by the criminal element.

To avoid getting bumped: 1) Get an advance seat assignment. Passengers with seat assignments are typically only bumped if they arrive late and their seat assignment is released. 2) Check-in online. Most airlines allow you to do so within 24 hours of departure. Seat assignments that were not available at the time of ticketing may be available when checking in online. 3) Don't be late. If all else fails, get to the airport early. Some airlines reserve a portion of their seat assignment inventory for airport check-in. If you are denied a seat assignment at check-in, put your name on the "standby" seat assignment list.

Remember 3-1-1. New regulations limit the amount of gels and liquids passengers can take through security in their carry-on luggage to travel-size toiletries of three (3) ounces or less that fit comfortably in one (1) quart-size, clear plastic zip-top bag and the one (1) bag per passenger must be placed in the screening bin.

Know your limits. Pack light and know baggage limits. Some airlines now charge for a second piece of checked luggage. Lay everything out on your bed you are thinking about taking then only pack half of it. There’s probably a Wal-Mart near your destination so you can buy it there instead of paying additional fees for that extra bag. Consider shipping items like your golf clubs via UPS or other ground transportation service. This may be a less expensive option than paying the extra airline fees.

2008: Not a good start for airlines & their passengers

2008 ushered in a wave of new airline fees, mergers & consolidations and bankruptcies for the North American airline industry.

Low cost Columbus based carrier Skybus, Denver based Frontier and even Southwest Airlines deep pockets could not keep Indianapolis based American Trans Air in the air.

Legacy carriers Delta and Northwest have agreed to merge into what will become the largest US airline surpassing American Airlines for that distinction. The rumor mills have been active with mentions of United, Continental and USAirways as possible merger partners.

In today’s unregulated airline climate these business failures and mergers may not bode well for the traveler. Decreased competition will most likely lead to increased fares and possibly a reduction in smaller less profitable markets. Can you say Huntington Tri-State or Charleston’s Yeager Field are viable candidates?

As fuel costs spiral out of control the carriers are looking for additional revenues streams and it appears that al la carte pricing for services is the current trend.

The cost of your ticket may not have increased that much since that last time you flew but the extra fees might leave you breathless and a few (or many) dollars lighter.

I need to figure out how I can pack a week’s worth of clothes into my golf bag and carry on bag.

Here is a list for new fees and what may have been free services that you will now that to pay for. NOTE: This is not an all inclusive list and please be sure to check with the carrier or your booking agent to verify current fees and/or charges.

Air Canada: $25 each way for a second checked bag started May 15

AirTran: $10 each way for a second checked bag started May 15

Alaska Airlines and Horizon: $15 to book flights through reservation agents or airport sales desk starting May 21

American Airlines: $25 each way for a second checked bag starting May 12; $3 for snacks, $5 for "fresh light meals" on domestic flights (sandwiches or wraps, no vegetarian options); eliminated online booking bonus of 500 miles for round-trip first- or business-class tickets, and 250 miles for round-trip coach fares

Continental: $25 each way for a second checked bag started May 5

Delta: $25 each way for a second checked bag started May 5; airline provides complimentary snacks, but some snacks and meals cost an extra $1 to $8, depending on the item

JetBlue: $10 for extra legroom, and $20 each way for a second checked bag starting June 1

Northwest: $25 each way for a second checked bag started May 5

Spirit: $10 fee for checked luggage reserved online, and a $20 fee for luggage checked at the airport

Southwest: $25 each way for a third checked bag and $50 for the fourth through ninth bags

United: $25 each way for a second checked bag; $5 for snack boxes, with sandwiches and salads available at varying prices; increased ticket change fee; Saturday night stays are now required for tickets in 65 percent of the markets it serves

US Airways: $25 each way for a second checked bag; eliminated the 500-mile minimum mileage award granted for short-haul flights; will charge between $5 and $30 each way for aisle and window seats started May 7, matching other carriers.
Expect the airlines to uncover and add many more novel means of increasing their revenues.

For years in the US we have had a per piece free baggage allowance and the norm was two checked bags per paying passengers. Today the free bag allowance on most carriers has been scaled back to one. We travelers will have to learn how to pack more efficiently.

I’ve often told folks to lay everything that they plan to take on their trip then only pack half of it. A good friend frequently reminds me that there will be a Wal-Mart once we arrive and I can purchase my replacement golf ball on location instead of paying extra to transport them.

Happy travels!

Spain's brave "New World"

The Spanish being the 1st Europeans to “discover the New World” have definitely left their marks on many locations but perhaps the most magnificent tribute to the Spanish Empire is the “Zona Colonial” a UNESCO site in Santo Domingo, capitol city of the Dominican Republic (DR). The DR was pretty much off the tourist path until the last decade or so ago. American travelers now flock to the DR for the sun and frolic of Caribbean vacationing plus the great value that can be obtained here.

Christopher Columbus described this lush land as "a beautiful island paradise with high forested mountains and large river valleys". He did not mention the splendid beaches but his statement is still as true today as it was in 1492. In addition to the natural beauty of the DR Santo Domingo also boasts some of the best preserved Spanish Colonial architecture in this hemisphere. Nestled along the Ozama River, the Zona Colonial region features cobblestone streets and an impressive array of buildings dating back to the 16th century. This protected region of Santo Domingo permits you to travel back through more than 500 years of history and architecture. Built with the wealth of the new world these impressive palaces, offices and warehouses have been converted into fascinating museums, quaint bars, shops, small boutique hotels and fantastic restaurants offering Spanish, African & Caribbean cuisine. The food, music and the energy of this section really comes to life when the sun goes down so plan on spending an evening here.

I stayed at a nearby beach resort and day tripped into the capitol city but if you yearn for the big city life then plenty of hotel options are available.

Mexico’s Colonial Trail also offers another excellent example of Spain’s New World but that is a whole new story to cover in a later post.

So yes you can still get your tastes and flavors of Europe in the New World. In addition to these wonderful destinations there are plenty of locales in the US, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America that still have the feel and flavor of Europe and beyond.

For vacation packages to Victoria BC, Quebec City or the Dominican Republic contact your travel agent or thetravelprofessor@gmail.com.

Old France in the New World

As I have commented in the past the US dollar just doesn't buy much these days in Europe. So let's get our European feel in the New World with a jaunt up north to Canada.

Francophiles also can head up to the great white north and Quebec City. This exquisite destination is celebrating their 400th birthday with special shows, extravaganzas and a broad array of activities. Here one can walk the cobblestone streets of a walled city, sip wine and eat baguettes at the many sidewalk cafes and bistros or just simply experience and enjoy life as it exists in a mid sized French village. Menus, street signs, newspapers everything is printed, written or spoken in the official tongue French. French, British and American military history comes to life here on the ramparts of the fortress and Plains of Abraham. There is plenty to see and do and the Hotel Manoir Victoria is a unique European style property conveniently located near everything in the heart of old town Quebec City. I found that this was a great value and a perfect location to strike out on foot and explore old town. Visit www.quebecregion.com for more information and travel ideas.

Next time we'll take a look at the Spanish Empire's heritage in the northern hemisphere.

A little bit of England in North America: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

As the dollar values continues to slide against the English Pound we can still experience a slice of jolly ole England up north in western Canada.

Where? For the Anglophiles it is the charming very English Victorian city of Victoria located in British Columbia, Canada. Victoria's unique character is deeply rooted in its 150 year history and its British colonial heritage is still very much in evidence. Today this one time colonial trading outpost is alive with cosmopolitan dining, superb shopping, colorful nightlife and a full complement of cultural offerings. English tradition is observed at the ivy covered Empress Hotel a 477 room landmark property that has been overlooking Victoria's Inner Harbor since 1908. The hotel is known for serving high afternoon tea in its elegant upper lobby along with its beautiful public spaces. The British penchant and passion for gardening is evident everywhere. Downtown Victoria's comes alive with hanging flower baskets that adorn the city's lampposts in a celebration of scent and bright colors. Flowers bloom year round in Victoria, which makes exploring the outdoors here enjoyable in any season. Ferns and lichens color the forest floor throughout the winter; come spring, an explosion of trilliums and calypso orchids heightens the effect before giving way to bushes lush with huckleberry, salmonberry, trailing blackberry, salal, and Oregon grape. Plan your own Victoria BC getaway today and experience a slice of jolly ole England in North America.

Experience Europeans charms in the New World

The value of the US dollar abroad continues to decline with no apparent corrections coming in the near future. To use McDonald’s one dollar menu to illustrate this decline in purchasing power it would be the $2.00 menu in Great Britain and over on the European continent it would be the $1.60 menu. Not a lot of bang for your buck and not a very good time for Americans to cross the big pond.

If you still desire to explore and experience the charm, elegance and heritage of the Old World without spending a small fortune then take a look at some of the interesting foreign destinations in the New World. You will not be able to see sights that date back thousands of years but you will be able to sample history and heritage dating back over 500 years.

We are going to head up north of Canada then down to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola to experience some English, French and Spanish charm, culture, cuisine and more.