While I haven't literally lived in airports, I grew up spending many a layover in the Chicago airport. My Dad worked for American Airlines and Chicago was their main hub. This meant about 99% of our travel included connecting in Chicago and waiting around as standyby's, hoping to get a seat on board. My parents would call an impromptu family meeting right at the gate to discuss which of us would go on and which would stay behind to wait for another flight if there weren't enough seats for all of us. It was reminiscent of the Life Boat game, only my brothers and I would wait to hear our fates from our own parents. Thus Chicago O'Hare became like a second home, and I spent many hours lamenting my fate and combating acute boredom. These were the days before WiFi, iPods, laptops, portable DVD players, blackberries, Gameboys, Nintendo DS, and cell phones. The horror.
I've learned that waiting in airports all day really sucks.
This week's holiday travel was no different and brought many hours of sitting around in an uncomfortable airport filled with anxious passengers, stale coffee, and the scent of airline fuel. The flight I had booked through Orbitz was nearly 5 hours delayed out of Newark Airport. Luckily I had registered my phone number with Orbitz when I purchased our tickets, and started receiving calls about the flight status that morning. I decided not to take our situation lying down and skipped trying to talk to Orbitz. Instead, I contacted Delta directly to see if there were any other flights available in a 40-mile radius. I was surprised to learn that there were two seats left on an earlier flight out of Laguardia. Because our original flight was delayed due to a mechanical problem and not weather (in other words, the airline was at fault), we were re-booked without a change fee. Had I called Orbitz, they would have charged me a $100 to do the same thing.
While my husband and I eagerly awaited our new flight to Atlanta, we discussed our good fortune of getting to leave early. We envisioned getting home in time for a glass of wine with my parents and tasty leftovers. I planned to watch a movie and take a hot shower, then turn in early with a good book. But as luck would have it, our new flight was also delayed several hours and because of the busy holiday weekend, there were no more flights with empty seats. It seemed impossible, but we were stuck and there was no other option but to wait.
But over the years, I've learned some tips to combat the airport blues. Here's a few tips to keep you busy if you're stranded:
Relax - There's very little you can do when a flight is delayed and getting worked up will only make your situation worse. Use the opportunity of being stuck as a chance to rest. We're all busy and working away at warp-speed, a flight delay may be one of the few times you can just rest and be alone (sort of) with your thoughts.
Call the Airlines - In many cases, it's easier to just call the airlines than talk to the gate agents, especially if there's a long line with annoyed passengers. Ask the representative if there are any other available flights. Be prepared to run to a new flight if need be, the airlines are not afraid to put you on a flight that's about to leave.
Talk to the Gate Agent - If calling the airlines doesn't work, find out when the next flight is departing yourself. Show up at the gate and ask if there are any available seats. The gate agents will either re-book you or offer stand-by status. Some airlines charge a nominal fee to do so, others will give empty seats for free. Keep in mind you can only get re-booked or fly stand-by on the same airlines you're already booked with.
Find a Comfortable Spot - Once you've made the rounds of trying to sort out your flight status, get yourself settled. Often the floor is a far better option than seats at the gate. There is usually tons of negative energy radiating from irate passengers and cranky gate agents. Not to mention the gates are almost always cramped and not at all comfortable. Lay out your jacket in a slightly out of the way area and sit down (make sure you can still see your gate to check for status changes and hear the gate agents' announcements). Get out a book, magazine, laptop, or cell phone and unwind. Sip on some water or if you really need to take the edge off, a beer.
Be Nice to the Airport Personnel - Gate agents, bag checkers, security, clerks, and airport personnel have a lot of power. Be pleasant, but firm with your needs. Always say thank-you and attempt to sympathize. Something as simple as "You guys must be swamped" can go a long way. If the gate agents see that you're trying to be positive, they're more likely to want to help. Likewise, a smile or pleasantry with the bag checkers (and maybe a tip) will up the odds of your bag being treated with extra care.
Do Something Productive - Much of time waiting at the airport is wasted being angry over delays. It's also extremely unmotivating to be stuck. Make a list of things you need to get done. If the airport has WiFi can you pay bills and catch up on your email? Return calls you've been neglecting, write a letter, re-pack your bag, make a future to-do list, and get organized. Even if you haven't accomplished a great deal, you'll feel energized getting something done that you've been neglecting.
Get a Change of Scenery - If you're not sure if it's safe to leave the gate area and risk a change in your flight status, just check with the gate agent. If you know you have some time to wander, stretch your legs and go for a walk. Walk briskly to raise your heartbeat and get energized. Visit some of the kiosks and thumb through magazines or window shop.
Drink Water - Many people complain of jet-lag on flights that are just 1-3 hours. In reality, they're suffering from dehydration. The change in altitude can also 'dry you out' so to speak. Drink a few glasses of water while you wait, allowing for plenty of bathroom breaks before your flight. You'll feel a lot better by the time you land.
Make a Friend - While we waited, we met a long-haired Datsun named Reuben and his owner. Reuben was extremely entertaining, affectionate, and curious. It was nice to have fun for a few minutes and forget about the delay. Most people are dying to chat for a minute and take their minds off the day.
Keep it in Perspective - Don't personalize the experience and say "Why me?" Thousands of people are delayed every day. The hurricanes Mexico a few years ago left tourists stranded for days inside the airport. During 9/11, no one in the country could get anywhere and were separated from loved ones and important matters for nearly a week. Remember that you'll get to where you need to go soon enough and in the big scheme of things, it's not the end of the world.
Reward Yourself - If you're on an especially long layover, you might want to consider purchasing a magazine. I like reading People, but only at airports or on the plane. It's my guilty-reading material and I rarely want to read it in every day life. If I've had a trying day and just want to enjoy part of it, even from inside an airport, I'll find a sports bar and have a beer or soda. Give yourself a little reward. Consider planning a special lunch when you get to where you're going, take a luxurious bath, or sleep in an extra hour or two the next morning.
Set a Budget - It's easy to overspend and overeat when you're bored or stressed. Make a budget beforehand and choose how to spend it. Airport prices are considerably higher since they're catering to a captive audience. If you have a tight budget, make a list of free things to do. People watching and trying to find those luggage carts to return for to the machines for quarters is always a fun pastime.
Our final fate? We finally made it to my parents house around 1am. The only consolation was knowing my original flight was so delayed it left more than an hour after we managed to escape. By contacting Delta right away, I at least saved ourselves a small amount of grief at the airport and managed to enjoy part of the wait.
What I've Learned From Living In Airports
Happy Holidays
My hubster and I will be flying to visit my family in Atlanta tomorrow, so this may be my last posts of the year other than a quick update here or there. I'm excited to get out of New York for a few days and into some warmer weather. It's been in the 70's in Georgia this month, but my Mom reluctantly said, "It's only going to be in the 50's while you're here!" After a long pause to see if she was kidding or not I said, "So?" After a few weeks of 30's and below in "The North" as she calls it, I'm sure we'll be toasty regardless.
It's been an amazing year and 2007 marked my start of working as a professional travel writer. I have consistent gigs with two travel sites, started making a modest return from the ads on my blog, and am in talks to do a travel column with a newspaper. (I'll tell y'all all about it when it pans out). But more important to me than the 'career' factor is being able to passionately enjoy what I do for a living. Of course I have a few non-travel writing clients including writing bad copy for an online retail store, but overall I'm very content with where my career is heading.
Writing and travel have finally crossed paths in my life and are now like two old friends working together to bring both enjoyment and financial reward. Before I felt like those two pieces of my life were on completely different planes, but once I got my head around the fact that I could actually make a living travel writing, they started to merge on their own. I truly feel that you have to believe you can accomplish something before the barriers in your life start to fracture and reveal the path to that goal.
I'm lucky enough to have a freelance boss who encourages me to use my status as press to seek out freebies like museum passes, event tickets, and tours when I'm traveling. In exchange, I can offer her fresh content for her publication and new connections. My husband is extremely supportive of my dreams, even though it meant taking a huge cut from being a video editor, but he also has the travel bug and works as a graphic designer. He uses our trips as an opportunity to meet new clients and gain inspiration from different cultures.
What will next year's goals bring? I hope to take some extended time traveling -- whether across the country or abroad. I've still never seen the Grand Canyon, Sedona, or Alaska -- and there's plenty more in this country I've yet to see. Next year I hope to reach 100,000 visitors and generate a reasonable part-time income from my blog, and even offer some kind of video or podcast contest to help others realize their own travel dreams. I'd also love to get more interaction from people stopping by The Innovative Traveler. Feel free to post comments and touch base with us if you need advice making traveling and/or writing a reality, or if you just have a great travel idea or lead.
Happy Holidays!
~ Susan
Jamie Lynn Spears Might Teach You Something... Besides Sex Ed
I wondered how long it would take the media to start talking about statutory rape laws regarding 16 year old Jamie Lynn Spears and her 18 or 19 old boyfriend. I was surprised it took 3 whole days for the rumblings to begin. As it turns out, her boyfriend's potential legal trouble depends on the state they had sex in: Louisiana or California (although I'm assuming they probably were getting it on in both states, and a few in between).
The idea of state to state, and even country to country laws is not just a cautionary tale for overzealous teens, but travelers as a whole. Remember the American, Michael Faye, who got caned for theft and vandalism in Singapore back in the '90's? Or the movie Broke Down Palace? Watching Claire Danes get the business from Thai prison guards, and seeing the aftermath of a roach crawling into Kate Beckinsale's ear is enough to make you want to stay home and skip the exotic adventure all together.
Then there's stories of Americans who were apparently minding their own business and faced frightening legal consequences abroad. An American man was arrested after getting into a car accident in Venezuela and severely hurting the other driver, though he was not at fault. An American businessman in the Middle East was arrested at an airport for having a pornographic magazine. A Connecticut man found himself in a Brazilian jail for 75 days in a cramped 18x20 foot cell with 16 other prisoners for stealing a meteorite -- even though he was a dealer in meteorites and acquired it legally.
The State Department estimates that nearly 3,000 Americans are arrested abroad, though the number is probably much higher. With millions of people traveling each day, that's a pretty small number. But if you're that one person, you won't care about the stats. Don't forget that being an American guarantees you nothing in another country, you are not there on diplomatic immunity and you are not entitled to follow your own laws and ignore the ones of the country you're visiting. Even the smallest amounts of drugs in some countries can land you in jails for years, regardless of if there is much legal basis for the claim. Japan has a ban on simple over-the-counter medications like Tylenol and Nyquil. Even seemingly innocent gestures like taking photographs of a government buildings and airports can lead to trouble.
Bribes are not necessarily frowned on, but giving one to the wrong person can be extremely dangerous. However, bribes can be a commonplace way to resolve issues. A simple 10 bucks could get you out of a speeding ticket or altercation with an aggressive officer. Your best bet when facing trouble is to ask to speak to the American consulate, but do not be arrogant or demanding or you'll make the situation worse. Always opt for travel insurance that includes 24-hour legal service. A charged cell phone and the insurance hotline number on hand can get you through a sticky situation. Call immediately at the first sign of trouble in case you are detained and cannot call afterwards. Your insurance should be able to put the correct legal counsel in touch. Finally, pick up the book Americans Traveling Abroad: What you Should Know Before You Go.
But don't forget about state to state laws like drug possession, speeding, and intoxication. While you'll of course have much more control and ease in dealing with trouble in your own country, don't pretend like being on vacation gives you free reign to do whatever you please. Need an example? Just watch the Spring Break coverage from Panama City Beach or the latest installment of Girls Gone Wild videos. Most teenagers don't necessarily flash their goods on a quiet Tuesday night in their own hometown. (Some maybe, but not most). That goes for adult travelers too. I once saw a 40-something year old man wearing a shirt and tie jump off a pier in Key West. He was drunk and could barely swim to the ladder that was at least a football field away. Also be aware that there are con-artists, less than savory individuals, and just average Joe's who will take advantage of tourists. That includes pick-pocketing, slipping something in your drink, running a scam, mugging you, or just messing with you for the fun of it.
Here are some simple rules to follow while traveling:
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times
- Don't offer up too much information to strangers, even in polite conversation
- Explore in groups, especially at night. If you're traveling alone, stay close to your accommodations or join a tour group
- Keep a copy of your driver's license or passport with you and make sure someone back home also has a copy
- Keep the details of your travel insurance, or if you're still in your own country, the number of a lawyer
- Keep at least $100 in traveler's checks in your suitcase or hotel safe in case your wallet is stolen
- Have a 'Worst Case Scenario Plan'. If you get detained, arrested, or are the victim of a crime, who will you call and what will you do?
- Let someone back home know of your travel plans and ask them to check-in with you if they don't hear from you by a specified date
- Don't act like an idiot just because you're on vacation
- Travel smart
The Secret Lives of Travelers
Even the most seasoned travelers and travel experts keep an eye out for the latest deals and insider information, and pinch pennies all the while. It's definitely not cool to overspend on travel, the trend is finding an innovative deal to not only put money in your pocket, but to give you miles of bragging rights. Back when I was a newbie video editor in my last career, I barely had enough to eat, yet still had an insatiable appetite for travel. I had to be ruthless and creative about finding a way to support my dreams. For me, travel is a way of life, a philosophy, and getting the most out of my budget is a part of that lifestyle. If you think you can only get a good deal by knowing the ins and outs of the travel industry, well... you're right. But even the greenest of travelers can take a few minutes to school themselves on finding the best discounts, and learn ways to combat unforeseen travel mishaps.
Did you know that airline carriers are required to release new airfares to a clearinghouse called the Airline Tariff Publishing Company at certain hours? On weekdays, the best times to look for new and discounted fares are just after 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and midnight. Travel agents know that tickets that were reserved but never paid usually reappear just after midnight, so the selection peaks during the late night hours. But for weekends, don't kill yourself logging in every few hours, they're only updated once a day, around 5pm.
If you're going to buy travel insurance for a Caribbean or island vacation, do it early to ensure you're really getting what you pay for. Many insurance policies have a secret little loophole called the "named-event clause." In short, it takes advantage of the fact that once a tropical storm receives a name from the National Weather Service, companies don't have to pay its policy-holders who cancel their trips.
Check the booking fees. Most online search engines like Orbitz and Expedia have booking fees, while the airlines do not. Once you've found your fare, check directly with the airlines to see if it might be slightly cheaper. To those who find booking online a nuisance and would rather talk to a human, keep in mind that the booking fees will be even more expensive than the online fees, and you could miss out on Internet only fares. Delta, and just about any other airline, won't book a fare at a special Internet rate advertised on their site, no matter how many times you ask. You'll end up saving anywhere from $5 to a few hundred with online booking.
Always be prepared to get bumped. If you don't have a big budget for travel, always be eager, and even pray, to get bumped from your flight. Or volunteer to take a later flight so someone else won't get bumped. In exchange, you'll be compensated with an airline voucher, often moved up to first class on your next flight, and possibly even get a free hotel stay if you fly out the next day. Don't worry about holding out for a more expensive voucher. If the airlines are looking for 4 seats and you volunteer right away for a $300 ticket, and then ten minutes later it goes up to $400 for the remaining 3 seats, your voucher will go up too. Just double check with the agent at the desk when you volunteer to ensure this is their policy. If you're the only person volunteering and the airline only needs 1 seat, wait for the amount to go up. Just keep hovering by the desk and wait to see how high it will get so you can jump on it the second you see someone else considering it.
If you know your travel plans are set in stone, always check-in as early as possible. Most airlines allow up to a 24 hour advance check-in online. If the flight is overbooked and no one will volunteer to take a later flight, the last people who checked-in are bumped first. My in-laws found this out the hard way after our wedding.
Did you know the brilliant people at kayak.com devised a way to spend less time on the phone and more time traveling? Try Gethuman.com to find a list of loopholes in customer service to reach real live humans. For Orbitz, hit the # key four times to bypass all the automated phone garbage.
Your passport could expire early, despite what the date actually says. How? Many countries require your passport to be valid up to 6 months after you enter their country, so it really doesn't matter what your passport's expiration date actually says. Check online or with the country's consulate you're traveling to. It's always a safe bet to keep passport current to bypass any potential problems or new rules that could go into effect after you've entered another country. Don't forget to keep a copy of your passport, driver's licence, and any other important documents in a trusted friend or relative's hands while you're away, as well as with you at all times. To make your life easier, scan a copy and email it to yourself to be accessed anywhere in the world for easy emergency access.
If you're a cruise fanatic with a taste for luxury, skip the port of calls that are the least appealing to you and stay on-board. Most ships offer significantly discounted spa packages while at a port. Also keep in mind that you can book a category-guarantee reservation on most cruises. This means you'll get the lowest possible cost in the best cabin available in your category. However, you will only be assigned your cabin when all other rooms have been assigned, so you may risk not getting exactly what you want. But for a great deal in a specific category, you can't beat this system.
Always double check the airline code shares before purchasing a ticket. Delta and Alitalia are code share partners and are free to set their own prices for tickets. You could end up saving several hundred dollars booking with Alitalia to the same destination Delta is offering on their site. Just about every airline has some kind of code share partner, so when booking on a site like Orbitz or Expedia, always check the fine print to see who the airline is actually operating with, then go to that operating partner for a cheaper fare.
The Internet is (shockingly) not the end-all be-all of travel. Many tour companies, travel agents, and vacation destinations will advertise dirt-cheap airfare in the newspaper (try the Sunday section). Other airline and tourist vendors will negotiate discounts directly with a travel agent to ensure volume booking.
If you're going to rent a car, check your own car insurance first. Many times, your own personal insurance will cover you against damages on a rental. If you're not aware of this, you'll get suckered into paying for unnecessary add-ons and nearly double the cost of your car. Also check Priceline and other booking engines for cheap rentals, where unbooked inventory is dumped at a fraction of the cost. (I once rented a small Geo in LA for $8 a day through Orbitz). Always book the least expensive car, no matter what. Almost always, economy cars are booked first anyway, meaning the car rental company will run out and be forced to give you a free upgrade to a fancier version.
As a pilot's daughter, I grew up flying stand-by, which was good and bad. You pay almost nothing for your flight, but you usually have to go on the first flight out to get a seat (6am), have to get to the airport earlier than other passengers, flights are frequently full, spend hours waiting for an open flight, and we often had to split up and take separate flights. But when I grew up and stopped getting Dad's travel perks, I still used stand-by status to get the most out of my travel. How? Once I paid for a ticket, I'd leave for the airport as scheduled. If I ended up getting to the airport early, or didn't want to connect and wished I had bought a through flight with no connections, I'd simply show up at a gate for an earlier flight. The flight has to be with the same airline you purchased a ticket with and be going to the same airport. Simply ask if they have available seats on the flight. Some airlines will charge $25 on up for this, others will just give it to you free. Keep in mind you may not get a seat until after they close the door to the Jetway, but just keep waiting until the agent has said the flight is officially closed. But if your flights are too close together, don't risk missing your real flight.
Another stand-by trick? I've never tried this as the airlines do not look kindly on it. Reserve a coach seat for your flight and arrive at the airport the day of your flight and see if you can get a standby ticket. If you do get a standby seat, you'll become a no-show on your reservation and get a full-refund if you've made a refundable reservation. It's easier to do this on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but it is tricky and few try it because travel plans are rarely that flexible and if the airlines figure out what you're doing, you could face some trouble. Keep in mind most airlines will outright cancel your itinerary if you're no-show, meaning your flight home could be nixed.
Always ask for a seat assignment. Most booking engines and airlines will allow you to do this when you purchase tickets. Pick seats near the front to cut up to 15 minutes off your schedule and avoid annoying waits in the back of the plane. Need extra room? Emergency exit rows are best because they have the most leg room (though children under 12 are not permitted to sit here, and they will move you once you've boarded). Keep in mind these rows often have seats that do not recline for safety reasons, so ask the airline about this in advance if it's an issue for you. You can also ask for bulk-head (the row directly behind first class), but there is no under the seat storage in these rows and the flight attendants will make you put your purse or anything else in the overhead bins during take-off and landing. Regardless of where you sit, make sure you have a seat at the time of booking. Sometimes airlines will overbook and while there's usually enough no-shows and cancellations to accommodate everyone, sometimes you'll find yourself stuck without a seat, end up in the dreaded middle seat, or sit way in the back.
Double your frequent flyer miles. My husband never bothered to sign up for miles, so we just share my frequent flyer number. I usually book our tickets separately and use my mile numbers for each purchase (once in awhile it's cheaper to buy 2 tickets together than 2 separately, so double check the price). If you try using the same frequently flyer number twice in the same purchase, the site will reject it. If you have friends and relatives who don't travel much and don't care about frequent flyer miles, ask them to use yours when they purchase tickets. You won't have any trouble getting people to oblige if you buy them a bottle of wine or send a nice thank-you card for their trouble. And when you redeem your miles for a flight with the airlines, talk to a live person if you can't find what you want online. You may pay a fee, but the airlines can tell you the best routes, connections, and what's available on a flight with their code share partners. It's worth the money for your 'free' flight.
It doesn't hurt to complain. Don't be a jerk to hotel concierge, but don't be afraid to make some noise, either. If your non-smoking room smells like smoke, complain about it and mention what a special occasion this trip was suppose to be. If you're next to a noisy ice maker or have loud guest next door, complain. You're likely to get a free upgrade if it's available (it costs them nothing to make you feel better by moving you to an otherwise empty room). If something goes wrong in your trip, make notes. I was once in a wedding and stayed at a Marriott where the hot water went out the next morning. The front desk kept telling me the hot water would be back on in 20 minutes, and 3 hours later, it still wasn't. Because I had been in the wedding, I had tons of leftover gel and hairspray in my hair. I ended up washing up with warm water I heated up in the coffee maker, which was extremely irritating. After I got home, I wrote a detailed complaint letter (including that the staff had promised me hot water numerous times and my coffee maker bath) and was given a 100% refund the same day. Just make sure and email your complaints to the headquarters of the hotel you stayed at first, which can be found on their main website. They'll deal with the local hotel themselves and you're more likely to get a positive response. I've also gotten $25 - $150 airline vouchers for complaining.
Check out FareCompare.com for Yup or Q-up fares, which are first class seats that are seldom much more expensive than a walk-up coach fare. Until now, few were ever advertised to the public, but somehow farecompare has the skinny and you can take advantage of it. Don't forget to check first-class when you book. Most assume it's thousands of dollars, but often there's deals that are actually -less- than coach. Airtarn frequently has decent deals in business class on all their flights.
To avoid long waits at the airport, log onto waittime.tsa.dhs.gov first. It will give you the wait time of every security checkpoint in every US airport. You might find the T-gate security at the Atlanta airport is nonexistent compared to its main gates. Simply get on the airport tram and speed over to your correct gate and save time. Always print out your boarding pass from home or use the self check-in kiosks at the airport to cut down on your wait.
Where Does All The Lost Luggage Go?
I was watching 20/20 last week and discovered a segment on what happens to lost airline luggage. As much as I claim to know about travel, it had never occurred to me to think about where exactly lost luggage goes. Had I spent any time with the concept, I probably would have guessed that it was donated and given to charity in some way, shape, or form.
Instead, I was startled to learn that all the lost luggage goes to Scottsboro, AL, not to be sorted and donated, but to be sold! Although the airlines claim only about 1% of luggage is "lost" forever, that's still a lot of luggage with over 2 million people flying each and every day -- approximately 36,500 bags a year. And all those bags are full of a lot of stuff.
And all that stuff goes off to Scottsboro's Unclaimed Luggage Center, where each and every day more than 7,000 items ranging from designer duds to jewelry are available for sale, pricing their merchandise anywhere from 20%-80% off the retail price. But considering the merchandise never rightfully belonged to them in the first place, the retail prices seems like a moot point. The whole scene is a feeding frenzy of people picking over new inventory flow in and out each day. Everything is also dry cleaned or inspected before it goes to the floor.
Is it just me? It seems highly unethical to sell off people's stuff through no fault of their own. Shouldn't those lost items be donated to a good cause? Or couldn't the airlines use the money selling off lost bags to lower their airfare? Or better yet, given to customers who never find their luggage? Why aren't the customers compensated for the airline's misguided profit? What exactly do the airlines do with all that money?
Allegedly the airlines have a research department to try to find lost luggage's owner before it's turned over to the Unclaimed Baggage Center. Yet 20/20 found several owners of lost luggage that the airlines claimed they couldn't find. How did the reporters find the owners? Simply by looking at names inside a Bible, a hat, and the phone number attached to a wheelchair in not 1, but 3 different places -- they found their ecstatic owners.
The official website of the Unclaimed Baggage Center even has an Unpack the Bag button so you can see some of the hidden treasures the center has uncovered. I was utterly depressed to see a 5.8 diamond carat ring had been found inside a sock and was being sold off. Of course, whoever packed a 5.8 diamond carat ring inside a sock, put it in a bag, and willingly handed it over to the airline to be checked is insane, but no one deserves to lose their treasures and sentimental keepsakes just because they want to travel.
The airlines sell off their lost luggage to the Center (seems like a conflict of interest that they can make money off of items that they accidentally lost), which is then handed over to appraisers to set prices, cleaned up, or even dry cleaned. It's become one of the largest tourist attractions in Alabama drawing over 800,000 visitors per year. There's even a museum and a Starbucks on the premises when you need a break from picking over other people's stuff.
How did it all start? An insurance salesman, H. Doyle Owens, borrowed $300 and a pickup truck in 1970 and bought a 100 bags or so left on Greyhound buses. He brought them back to Scottsboro and sold them off at a few card tables to the town of about 15,000. The Center now covers an entire city block and employs over 100 workers.
If you lose your bag, file a claim immediately. Make sure and attach a colorful tag or something to clearly identify your bag, especially if it's a typical black bag. Usually your bag will find its way to you within 24 hours. Keep calling the airlines and keep complaining, write letters, and complain some more. This will keep the airlines on it, and you're likely to get a travel voucher for your troubles, as well as monetary compensation for a permanently lost bag.
Typically the airlines will only pay about $9.07 per pound with a maximum of about $640 a bag. So what you put in your checked bag should cost less than what the airlines will compensate. Keep this in mind before buying a $1,000 suitcase and stuffing it with 5.8 diamond carat rings in your socks.
Travel insurance: simple & flexible
Don't forget to purchase travel insurance to cover your lost luggage. You can buy, extend and claim online even after you've left home. Recommended by Lonely Planet, World Nomads travel insurance is available to people from over 150 countries and is designed for adventurous travellers with cover for overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and activities such as skiing and snowboarding.
Learn How To Get A FREE Airplane Ticket Nearly Every Time You Travel.
Free Travel Seminar
For those living near or traveling around Edmonds, WA on Saturday, January 19th -- sign up for Rick Steves Travel Festival. Rick Steves writes a variety of travel guides, sells travel gear, and has his own podcasts and has hosted various travel shows. His Rick Steves' Rome guidebook was indispensable on our trip in 2006 and was one of the few guides that had extensive information on staying in a convent. (which we did, see the post about it here).
Rick will be hosting three seminars at the Edmonds Center for the Arts and his staff of travel guides will be doing seven others. Best of all, it's free! Advance registration is required, so sign up now.
He'll be hosting his first ever, "Travel as a Political Act." In addition, he'll be speaking on European Travel Skills and Italy. Other classes, include the popular Packing Light & Right, European Art and History and classes on France, Ireland, Spain-Portugal, Eastern Europe, Great Britain and Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Travel Festival classes will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Edmonds Center for the Arts and the Edmonds Theater in downtown Edmonds. For more information, sign-up form, and directions, click here.
Discover How To Travel The World And Stay In The Finest Hotels Free
...And Get Paid To Go.
Holiday Romance in a Sea of Consumerism
Holiday-Rentals.co.uk currently boasts romantic getaway destinations around the world with cozy "cottages" designed to reconnect with your loved one. The accommodations range from self-catering apartments with mountain and beach views, comfortable beds sleeping as many as 8 (and sometimes more) guests, bathrooms, air conditioning, swimming pools, and plenty of other amenities. Their properties in Bali caught my eye. The word Bali alone just makes you want to rev up the romance and get frisky on a secluded beach. Some of Holiday-Rentals Bali properties have extra perks like tropical gardens, 5-minute walks to the beach, bed and breakfast options, waterfront views, and bungalow designs. Prices are reasonable, but get innovative -- you could even entice another couple to split expenses with you in an apartment sleeping 4 or more. Don't worry, you'll still have plenty of privacy. Think you're well-traveled? You won't when you see some of these locations. It really makes your last trip to the Hamptons or Colorado look simply pedestrian. How about a romantic getaway to the Croatian Dalmatian Coast? You can choose from more rural areas near the sea or a close proximity to town for culture and sight-seeing. Try properties near Trogir, Rogoznica, Milna, Brac-Supetar, and more. There's 377 listings in this Croatian section alone. Best of all, when booking through Holiday-Rentals you skip all those annoying broker and agent fees, saving you up to 40% off the rental fee. There's over 45,000 properties to choose from with destinations ranging from Sardinia, Mauritius, St. Lucia, and more.
When my friend Kate told me she and her husband were going to spend the holidays alone in their Brooklyn apartment, I was intrigued. My hubster and I have always tried splitting up the Christmas and New Year's holiday between two families and two states. Finding that exhausting, this year we decided to spend a week in Cleveland for Thanksgiving and are planning a week at Christmas in Atlanta. Between travel, Christmas shopping, parties, cookies, and sending out cards, passion can fall by the wayside. So it had never occurred to me that the travel industry might market romance travel during December, but it all makes perfect sense. Cold weather, fireplaces, snow, stress-free family dinners, stunning views? Or better yet, a romantic week by the sea in an exotic village? Who knew the holidays could be so romantic?
New Podcast Documentary Contest
Looking for a free trip to Cambodia? Want to gain internatonal acclaim for your own personal travel narrative? Me too. Unfortunately, I'm not a sparkling student with keen intrepid journalistic skills. But maybe you are. And if you are, I'd love to live vicariously through you. Let me know if you apply and we'll feature your progress here, too. Read on to get all the information:Podcast Documentary Scholarship, 2008
Do you dream about being an intrepid journalist seeking out stories from remote parts of the world? Then here is the opportunity for you!
WorldNomads.com will send one exceptional student on assignment to visit a Fred Hollows eye camp in remote, Cambodia. You will receive training from ABC Radio Journalist and Executive Producer, Tim Latham. Staying at the eye camp for three days witnessing sight restoring cataract surgery to local villagers and gaining special access to interview The Fred Hollows team and local villagers, you will seek out your own unique story to be recorded on your new mobile digital recorder.
Post assignmnet you will enjoy a 6 day Intrepid Tour of Cambodia' to delve deeper into their rich history and culture. The Scholarship covers airfares from your nearest international airport to Phnom Penh, mobile digital recorder, travel vaccinations, visa costs and per diems.
Once you have returned home, you'll create a 10 - 15 minute Podcast Documentary which World Nomads will submit to a number of international radio programs, podcast channels and partner sites such as Intrepid Travel, The Fred Hollows Foundation and Lonely Planet, giving you the chance to have your story heard by thousands of travellers.
What you'll be doing
- We'll fly you in from your country of residence and you'll have to be available to be in Cambodia between February 16th and February 28th 2008.
- Prior to leaving you will be mentored by journalist Tim Latham to guide you in how to approach finding your story.
- In Cambodia, you will be given unique access to interview members of The Fred Hollows team and be assisted by a translator to interview patients and local community members.
- Post assignment you will enjoy a 6 day Intrepid Independant tour.
- You will keep a daily diary about your time on the trip and upload this plus pictures you've taken to your World Nomads travel journal.
- On your return you will receive further mentoring from Tim Latham to assist in editing together your story. You will then upload the 10 - 15 minute documentary podcast to the World Nomads web site within 2 months of your return.
- Most of all, you'll be experiencing what it's like to be journalist in a remote location in one the most beautiful and friendly countries in the world.
Where you'll be going
- You will fly to Phnom Penh in Cambodia and travel by 4WD to the Kampong Thom Province. This is the real deal! Travelling to a remote area involves a full day's journey on dirt roads, not for the faint hearted!
- You will stay in a basic hotel in Kampong Thom Province and travel daily to and from the remote eye camp in the Baray District. (approximately 2 hours each way, so you must be prepared for some rustic travel!).
- Your Intrepid tour travels from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap taking in all the sights including the magnificent temples of the Angkor Complex.
Who can apply
- To be eligible you have to be a journalism, media, radio, arts/communications student at a recognised educational institution and speak fluent english.
- Minimum age 18.
- You should be a mad-keen auteur with a lust for adventure and a desire to enhance your journalism skills.
- You must be prepared for lots of overland travel in rustic conditions!
Femme Travel And More
Those of you familiar with Bust Magazine probably know it best for its femme slant on everything from bands to women entrepreneurs to she-commerce and their boobtique. I didn't realize that they've added their own travel section. Encouraging a communal beat, you can add your own haunts and favorite activities, and even cities, to their Let's Go Girl guide.
I typed in Brooklyn, NY and found this entry:
Beacon's closet: sell your clothes at either the Williamsburg or Park Slope location and either get cash money or you credit to spend on many, many lovely clothes. Go to Brighton Beach for cheap produce, I got plums for 39 cents apound. also the borough hall farmers market on tuesdays, thursdays, and sundays is a great place to get heirloom tomatoes and many kinds of apples. Beat Street is close. I don't like hipster Williamsburg much; explore deep into Brooklyn, the best borough.
This kind of community based design (complete with real person typos) made me consider the delicate balance between expert advice and off-the beaten path local voices. It seems nearly every popular travel site from Frommers to Lonely Planet has an area for its readers to contribute, making it possible for everyone to be a travel writer. It's also a great way to get noticed. Start adding your own comments to various travel blogs and sites and take the time to polish your post and give it some energy. Editors are always looking for new talent and fresh ideas and it's always possible to get noticed from your own shining work.
In the meantime, keep researching your special niche interests. I love the idea of Bust doing a travel section with a feminist slant. Curious about what other woman run travel sites were out there, I did my research and found Travel Girl Magazine. It's got a great vibe with content ranging from interviews with luggage designers, escape vacations, exotic vacations, travel with men/pets/kids, armchair escapes, and lifestyle experiences. It's mission isn't to exclude men, but to celebrate women. Their site is welcoming and easy to use, check it out and pick up one of their latest issues. Here is their printed mission statement:
Freedom is a word renewed with value since the events of September 11th. The freedom to travel is a multi-faceted gem. It’s defined by the look on a child’s face the first time he sees the ocean. It means a vacation with old friends, filled with laughter, nostalgia and serious talks about today’s changing world. It shines when an over-worked executive bites into a pastry on the Rue de Rivoli, or when a honeymoon couple shares a succulent piece of lobster gazing out on the Cape Cod shore. With an unprecedented emphasis on valuing time, today’s travelers cherish their holidays as treasured moments meant for escaping the pressures of the modern world. What’s more, they want to feel secure making the decision to leave home in the first place. travelgirl will make it easier to find that feeling of comfortable escape. We will explore exotic lands, lead you to amazing places in your own backyard, and help you make the most of your business trip. Our goal is to bring refreshment to the mind, body and spirit. It’s a new world of travel. Discover it with us!
Looking for more Women Centered travel? Check out this list of resources:
Women's Travel Club
Transitions Abroad
Gutsy Women Travel
Adventure Women
Journey Woman
Women Traveling Together
Women's Travel
Women Travel Tips
Go Nomad
Girlfriend Travel
Active Women
Adventure Divas
Ex in the City
Tam Tam Femme
Travel Alone and Love It
Wanderlust And Lipstick
Women on the Road: Adventure Travel for the Intrepid Woman
Vocation Vacations
I had read about a new trend of 'working' vacations and just assumed it meant working on vacation, and as a travel writer, I'm a big advocate of mixing travel with work as much as possible. You might as well get paid to hang-out in a museum and tell someone else about it. But Vocation Vacations takes it a step above and beyond, introducing otherwise unexplored careers to the travelers. In essence, it allows you to test-drive a career for a week and assess your interests and skills.
What's so appealing is the universal truth that passion often doesn't pay the bills and it takes true innovation to ever break free from the 9-5 shackles. How can you really expect to explore a new career when you're tied down to your current career crap.
When I first discovered Vocation Vacations, their services mostly stopped at your dream job vacation. But now they offer all kinds of resources and coaching:
- Choose from over 130 different careers with 250 mentors across the country.
- For one to three days, join an expert in your chosen dream job.
- Take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator online personality assessment to assess your interests.
- Participate in one hour of pre and post Vocation Vacation career coaching from an accredited career coach.
- Receive a pocket--sized journal to document your dream job, share lunches with your mentor.
They've also put out a book called Test-Drive Your Dream Job, building on their vacation vocation philosophies. There are opportunities in both the US and UK with a wide variety of 'jobs'. Want to be an actor? You can hang with Jack Plotnick for $1349. Who's Jack Pltonick? Looks like he's been in tons of comedy circuits, a few films and commercials. But you're not going to hook up with Dinero on your vocation vacation, unless J. Plotnick is buddies with him.
Other cool vocations include Alpaca Rancher, Animal Therapist, Architect, Cheese Maker, Cheesemonger (What's the difference between a Cheese Maker and a Cheese Monger?), Guitar Maker, Make-Up Artist, Meteorologist, Model, Resort Owner, Restaurant Owner, Wrestling Ring Announcer (cool!), Vet, Voice-Over Actress, Weaving Studio Owner, Wine Maker, Wine Sommelier, Yoga Studio Owner, and several dozens in between.
The website is nice and organized with easy access to all the information you're looking for, including bios on the mentors you'll be chilling with on your trip. While not cheap, it's a far better investment than singing up for career counseling and filling out tests to figure out what you want to do with your life. Might as well pay to see it all firsthand, gain valuable experience, and make some connections.
But it's not just for career-hoppers. Some of their vocationers are just looking to try something different, satisfy their curiosity, and brag to their friends how cool their vacations are. The founder, Brian Kurth, had that same kind of career wanderlust. After working in corporate America and a stint in Estonia helping set up an office for the post-Soviet period (who hasn't?), he spent his long commutes in Chicago wondering what it was like to be a wine maker, dog trainer, tour guide, etc. He tried finding a company that offered adult internships for this sort of thing and realized it didn't exist. So after getting the pink slip from a dot.com he worked at, he went on a six-month journey throughout the US and Canada and eventually launched his company.
If they're not laughing all the way to the bank, I'm sure they will be in the next 5 years. Wish I had thought of that kind of that kind of travel innovation. Just shows you can combine anything with travel if you're determined.
The Broadway Strike and Unexpected Travel Interruptions
Living in New York, I've been surrounded by the tense faces and deflated spirits of picketing writers and Broadway stage hands for weeks. My husband works in Times Square and watching little girls cry over their beloved Wicked closed down, and hearing heartbroken tourists telling stories of waiting to see 'Phantom' for over a year has given the city a bristly, forlorn, confused, and irritable energy. Of course... it always kind of feels that way, but now it's amplified.
You probably know the Broadway strike is finally over and cost the city about $2 million per day in lost revenue. Most of the city seemed to support the strikers and hoped there would be a fair and proactive agreement within a few days. But aside from the politics of Broadway's unions and the effects on the city, how do travelers protect themselves against interruption? How many tourists from rural America are going to have the inside scoop on the trends of Broadway to figure out if a strike may or may not happen?
And what about the more familiar interruptions? Despite keeping your fingers crossed, it's impossible to know when you might get ill or when an emergency will arise. Most would-be travelers are now using services like priceline, orbitz, and expedia, as well as Internet airfare deals straight from the airline, which do not compensate for emergencies. I'm sure you've all discovered the hard way that tickets and hotels from any kind of discount provider are rarely refundable. And don't forget about the tours you may have booked in advance, tickets to shows, and other special events.
The price of travel insurance is worth protecting yourself from unforeseen interruptions. But you can also protect yourself by researching all refundable policies relating to your travel. Will the airline charge a $100 change fee (which is better than losing your airline ticket outright). Does the hotel have a cancellation policy? Keep an eye out for the small box on sites like Expedia that allow you to pay extra and insure your ticket against emergencies. Always make sure to purchase any show tickets from a reputable vendor like Ticketmaster who will refund or credit your money in case of cancellation -- or strike. Also check with your credit card company and find out what their policies are on insuring your goods and services bought on credit.
But just as important as the monetary compensation is having an innovative back-up plan. When I went to Paris for the first time, the Metro and all the museums (that's right, including the Louvre) were on strike. What started out as an extremely stressful misadventure turned into loads of fun. It was my first time overseas and I had no idea what to do. My roomie at the time had a brilliant idea to use the hop-on, hop-off tour buses to get to all the attractions. They were surprisingly uncrowded and took us everywhere we wanted to go. We were out of luck with the museums, but sat down with a guide book and looked at other attractions that we would have otherwise missed had we been slugging through museums all day. I like to have a certain element of spontaneity and go with the flow while traveling. If you pin all your hopes on just one event, you're likely to be disappointed.
As far as the poor tourists who missed out on their favorite shows, they hopefully stumbled upon the TKTS booth in Times Square or in the Southstreet Seaport. These booths sell Broadway and off-Broadway tickets at discounted prices for a performance of the same day. They may have discovered 8 shows were still running and a variety of other performances were available. And if all else fails, there's always the drag queen shows at Lucky Cheng's to keep even the most conservative of tourists entertained.
Find the best deal, compare prices and read what other travelers have to say about hotels in New York City
A New Generation of Carbon Offset Travel
Back when I was freelancing as a video editor, I worked on a few campaigns for what I will refer to as Big Oil. (I know, I know, it's a hideous thought, right? That's why I fled advertising for travel writing.) In any case, the words "carbon footprint" frequently brought blank stares during their man-on-the-street interviews. Just two years later, carbon footprint and carbon emissions are in mainstream vernacular and effect just about every aspect of our life. I recently read that the show 24 was going 'green' and would practice minimal impact business. My filmmaker friend came back from a festival circuit complaining the venue was teeming with green films. And if you don't recycle, you might as well be burned at the stake.
So it's no wonder the concept of green travel has sprung up across the globe promoting environmentally conscious accommodations, activities, and advice on leaving minimal impact while on vacation. And I'm personally all for reducing pollution and changing societal lifestyle. After all, if we can live our day to day lives without mucking up our planet, why shouldn't we?
But one thing I find curious is the purchase of carbon offsets in relation to travel. Many sites, including Al Gore's, provide carbon calculators, lifestyle calculators, and travel calculators to chart your trip from city to city and find out just how much carbon you're contributing. After your calculations are complete, there's an area that lets you know how much you should donate to offset those emissions. Those donations go to projects funding wind power, methane projects, and other sources of renewable energy.
Okay. So I support making donations to better our environment and to raise awareness on just how much we really are polluting to maintain a travel lifestyle. But I think it's dangerous to offer people some kind of nice and neat "solution" allowing people to sweep the issue under the rug. Can we really still travel as we please and not make a serious impact? And what evidence is there that these carbon offsets will truly make their own impact? If everyone contributed to these carbon offsets, would the problem of pollution and global warming ever resolve itself? Or are we just further ignoring this complex problem by putting a feel good band-aid on it all?
I suppose no one has the answer and in about 10 years carbon offsets will either become mainstream thus raising acute awareness and ample funding for renewable energy, or it will be a colossal failure and an embarrassment to the next generation who comes up with a better way to clean up the planet than to calculate emissions.
While it's true many corporations and organizations, including Al Gore's, have gotten some heat in the media for abusing offsets, Native Energy is one company I'm going to keep my eye on. A privately held company by Native Americans, this organization offers the usual calculators, activities, and information on their site. However, their philosophy also draws on the age old wisdom of Native Americans caring for the earth and environment. I also admire their specific community goals and desire to give back to farming culture, all while tending to their tribal needs. This is a project that I admire and support on levels that go beyond the question of what to do about carbon emissions. Be mindful that we've entered an age of environmental competition allowing us the freedom to pick and choose where we put our time and money. So if you're going to get behind an organization that's trying to change the world, take a close look at the values being practiced and make sure they match your own intentions.
Regardless of how you feel about global warming, pollution, our environment, or carbon offsets; just remember to be responsible travelers and global citizens.
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