Here's some new headlines about 'Pain at the Pump' I'd like to see thrown in the mix. How many hourly horror stories about $5 gas can we read before driving all our cars straight into the Hudson?
Fuel Surcharges Grounds Mile High Club
Passengers Request Emergency Landing in Cleveland Instead of Columbus to Save on Surcharges
Pump Like a Prude
Gas Hikes Usher in the Apocalypse
Eat Your Young to Save on Gas
Gas Crisis? Live in Your Office Instead of Commuting
BP Boasts Excessive Fuel Spill to Alleviate Consumer's Fear of a Shortage
The most innovative, non-complaining, non-apocalyptic tool I've seen for gas calculations is AAA's Fuel Cost Calculator. Plot in your make and model of your car, miles per gallon, starting point and destination to find out how much gas is going to set you back. You can also compare cities to figure out which makes the most sense and where you can save. For a real treat, see what gas costs in your area, then torture yourself by seeing where gas is considered 'cheap'. Of course cheap is a matter of pennies, but hey, we're all feeling pain at the pump.
A Horror Film for Today's Economy
Do you ever wonder what would happen if Stephen King re-released Maximum Overdrive? No one would be frightened, of course, not even young children. I mean come on, it's a Stephen King film after all. But what would really throw us for a violent, blood-curdling loop is how much gas those alien semi trucks were sucking down without even giving thought to Emilio Estevez's pain at the pump. Now that's a modern horror story.
How Many "Pain at the Pump" Stories Can We Possibly Bear?
Why You Shouldn't Trust Travel Writers
Hi. I'm a travel writer by trade and that's how I earn a living. But should you trust me? Maybe not.
Here's why. Travel writers make a lousy paycheck, but get incredibly addictive perks ranging from free airfare to the best suites to free drinks. Most smaller travel publications or websites, often rely on PR firms and the hospitality industry for freebies to generate content and establish contacts in the industry. And hotel markets, resorts, and tourism boards truly need those small publications. It's more likely someone writing about Columbus, OH for a small paper in Indiana will get more of a reaction than the LA Times. Those readers from Indy can drive over to check out the newest in Columbus museums whereas someone in LA will probably only file it away in their mind as a matter of interest. It's really not that hard to get on a press trip if you write for a publication with a circulation as few as 4,000.
But bigger rags like Travel and Leisure or Conde Nast strictly forbid any freebies of any kind. If the hotel concierge so much as opens a door for you, the editors are quick to panic that your review will be skewed. However, that doesn't mean you should assume established writers aren't ever sneaking perks, or trading perks. Is it so out of the question they would take a free room from a Marriott in Tahoe, with the agreement they'd check out a Marriott in Seattle and review it on their own? Though popular travel magazines tend to have a solid reputation journalistic integrity, you just never know what goes on behind closed doors.
Hee! We're all travel writers drinking free champagne....I just got back from a free trip and met a couple who runs a successful but small regional newspaper. They came right out and told me they never review the negative aspects of a trip, lest not get invited back again. They in fact specifically write about places, cruises, and hotels that they want to visit for their own personal pleasure. I found this shocking. While I do take on a certain amount of responsibility by taking a free trip, offering a decent review, and agreeing to play by the rules, I would never leave out negative elements I would find important to my readers. Nor can a property, resort, or PR firm obligate a writer or publication to do so.
However, I also expect my readers to be smart. I'll offer up all the positive aspects of a property or attraction, but also mention who wouldn't enjoy it. Toddlers, seniors, people who hate walking up steps, etc. etc. This is my way of pointing out the negative, but also keeping in mind that too much walking or lots of kids wouldn't be a negative to everyone. My approach is to mix in some of my own thoughts and perspective along with the facts and let the reader decide. No fence around the property? A parent will immediately zero in on that comment and cringe at the thought of their toddler running amok. But newlyweds would probably care less. But regardless of how great all the perks on a trip were, I would never say 'This was the best place ever!"
I think travel writing should be a way to open new doors, entertain, educate, and inspire. But to just take a writer's word that a property is fabulous is short-sighted. Do at least one more level of digging before handing over your credit card. I love Trip Advisor for unbiased reviews, but I read all the negative reviews too. If the negative comments are about the room being small, the hotel staff being rude, or a whole ten minute walk into town, I'm still game. I'm from New York, everything is small, everyone is rude, and you walk everywhere. Another reason to compare negative vs. positive? They're often the same comments. We stayed at the Hix House in Vieques and all the reviews were the same on both sides of the coin. People were either bitching or celebrating the rustic setting, camp-style lofts, wildlife, and lack of televisions. The reviews were the same, but the people giving them had opposite perspectives.
So you may not want to trust a travel writer on whether a hotel really is the best place on the face of the earth, but you might get some new ideas and fresh perspective for your next vacation.
Ship Your Luggage, Skip the Airport Hassles
Growing up as the daughter of an airline pilot, I grew accustomed to living out of exactly one suitcase while traveling. As a result of flying stand-by and never knowing if we would get on a flight, we were never allowed to check baggage. Nor did I ever want to. The thought of being separated from my Strawberry Shortcake suitcase, lost to the lords of baggage mishaps, was really just too much to bear.
These days, I rarely fly stand-by anymore since I got kicked out of the system of being a dependent of an employee. Now my stand-by status is the equivalent of winning the lottery when you're dead broke. Slim and stressful. And while I don't enjoy lugging my suitcase through airports and connections, I enjoy checking my bag even less. By the time I've reached my destination, the last thing I want to do is wait in line, praying my bag has arrived, hoping it's not damaged, and tacking on an extra 30 minutes to an hour on my journey.
Just looking for my boxers...The rest of the world seems to feel the same way these days. Traveling with anything except a change of underwear is hardly worth the effort of TSA screenings, pat-downs, losing expensive luggage, airport extra-luggage fees, and those dreaded quart sized bags. The travel industry has taken notice and developed luggage shipping services including Luggage Free and Luggage Forward.
Customers pack up their gear and shipping labels are mailed to them and a two to four hour window for a pick-up time is scheduled. Bags being shipped to or from a hotel are easily arranged by the concierge service. Larger luxury items including skis, bicycles, and golf clubs can also be shipped.
Of course every service has its price and Luggage Free runs about $4.15 per pound with delivery by 3:00pm for 1 day service. With a little advanced planning, 5-day service runs as little as $1.65 a pound with delivery by 7pm. Thus a 30 pound suitcase will run about $49.50 to ship for one-way, 5 day service.
But mailing luggage isn't a new idea. Back in my video editing days, my boss frequently FedExed his clothes and toiletries on business trips right to the hotel. He would write it off as a business expense and enjoy the airport without the hassle of luggage. But unlike going straight to FedEx or UPS yourself, services like Luggage Free do all the prepping of your bag, wrapping it, delivering it to the vendor, provide door to door service and are insured for up to $1,000, with unlimited additional coverage available.
So just how often do travelers lose their luggage and suffer checked-bag mishaps? In 2007, the Department of Transportation discovered that the airline industry misplaced 7 bags for every 1,000 passengers. And all those millions of bags often end up in a sea of lost items at the Unclaimed Luggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama....
Watch a fideo on frustrated travelers look for lost luggage in Wisconsin...
Barrow, Alaska and the Monster Films that Bring Us There...
When I first met my husband, I thought he was a kind, gentle soul who had a quirky sense of humor and eclectic interests. Then I found out about his vast knowledge of zombies, zombie movies, zombie history, and zombie culture. For example, zombies originated from the island of Haiti. Zombie Island if you will. Apparently they practice so much voodoo down there, it's probable they really are reanimating the dead three or four times a week, selling T-shirts about it, and otherwise holding meetings on what to do with these so-called zombie pests. I envision it much like our rat problem here in New York.
Haiti... Zombie Lovin' Since 1492.While I was never comfortable with the apocalyptic nature of zombie films, I slowly came around thanks to the likes of Shawn of the Dead and Dead Next Door. And then we saw 28 Days Later, where the psuedo-zombies sprint, jump, run, and otherwise scare the crap out of everyone with their sheer speed. I'm not sure how I feel about zombies not keeping in their conventions of slow walking, muttering, and being completely oblivious.
And so of course my husband started introducing me to other monster-esque films and culture as well including vampires, warewolves, and Italian horror movies. When we heard about 30 Days of Night, we decided to catch it on Movies on Demand, and pretend that Josh Hartnett wasn't in it. Turned out, he wasn't so bad.
The premise is pretty amazing. 30 days of darkness in the northernmost town in North America, Barrow, Alaska, brings a feeding frenzy of vampires. While I'm aware it was based on a comic book, I still didn't like that they used axes to cut off the vampire heads as opposed to good old fashioned stakes. The vampires were also not very hospitable, bursting into people's homes without even being invited first. And then of course the rancid gore and speed at which they fed. What's up with all the fast monsters these days in cinema?
Of course the moment the credits rolled, we both jumped on our laptops to look up Barrow. I'm embarrassed to say I wasn't even sure if it was an actual town. But in fact, it's a thriving little town 340 miles North of the Arctic Circle with nearly 4,500 residents who experience upwards of 324 days below freezing, and 65 days of night. Apparently there's a few hours of dusk each day, but the sun never really rises from November 18th through January 24th. But that means from May 10th to August 2nd, the sun never really sets. While 30 Days of Night paints a bleak, dark, ominous, isolating picture of Alaska, the film Insomnia depicts an even scarier version where the sun never sets all during a murder investigation that brings about paranoid delusions.
Chillin' in Barrow...So the films aren't accurate, even by a long shot, but I wonder how many people started looking to Barrow and Northern Alaska as a destination vacation after watching blood thirsty vampires ravage the town. To find out, hop a plane to Anchorage, then Fairbanks, and then Barrow. Because there are no roads leading into Barrow, locals drive their cars (I assume to stay warm) around the small town, but must fly or dog sled themselves out.
Tourists come for birding, hunting, whale watching, Inuit culture, cross country skiing, and winter sports. While bumping around online, I found a New Yorker (of course) who was complaining about how bad the food and restaurants were in Barrow. Only a New Yorker could complain about the food in an Arctic town, despite all supplies being shipped in from across the country and being exposed to intense cold, arctic desert winter temperatures. Don't go to Barrow for fine dining.
Tourism is surprisingly alive and well in Barrow with an Inupiat Heritage Center, Wiley Post Will Rogers Monument, Arctic Ocean, Point Barrow, Cape Smythe Whaling Station, archaeological sites, whaling festival, kiviq dance, and Spring festival. A handful of restaurants, hotels, tours, public bus, and taxis can help your winter vacation along. Arctic Tours or Point Barrow Tours for help planning your Arctic adventure.
How do I feel about discovering a town based on an inaccurate story about fictional monsters? I don't see how it's that much different than most of the films depicting NYC as bohemian and/or dangerous, with 20-something year olds living in Soho lofts, Friends living in a West Village apartment the size of a suburban house, and financial dudes in suits running the world.
See more about Barrow, Alaska....
Airport Wait Times
I read the TSA is just as peeved by long wait times as the rest of us and is testing 'Diamond Lanes' at some airports. Now whether you arrive at the gate with your shoes off, laptops out, and ready to be frisked; or come wondering if your shampoo is 8 ounces or 4, there's a line for everyone: Expert traveler, casual traveler, or families and special assistance.
Diamond (Lanes) are a girl's best friend...Sounds interesting, but the whole thing is based on the honor system. Reminds me of when Ned Flanders took over Springfield Elementary and put all the students on the honor system and banished detention, etc. It all makes me wonder why the TSA is even going to bother with their fancy Diamond Lanes if no one is going to actually enforce it. Travelers need rules. Left to our own devices at the airport, it turns into a scene from 28 Days Later. I just somehow doubt anyone, including parents with 16 toddlers, would wait patiently in a line deemed for slow travelers. The second there's long airport delays, everyone's going to make a mad rush for the shortest lines. No one's going to be yelling "Wait, I'm an expert traveler, and you are clearly just a casual traveler! Even though there are only 2 people in this line, you really need to go to that line with 260 people in it over there, for casuals."
The TSA is just setting the stage for classism and travel discrimination! I always knew they were jerks.
"I guess everyone else is stuck in security in the slowdiamond lane. I have the whole place to myself!"
- Pack light and organized. It's easier for screening purposes
- Don't check bags
- Bring an extra quart sized bag
- Take off shoes before you get to the security check-point
- Laptop out
- Take belongings outside of security before you put everything back together, letting everyone else have room while still dealing with security
But to know before you go, check the wait time at every security check point in every domestic airport at waittime.tsa.dhs.gov.
In Search of the Sabbatical and Anonymity
Why do I like to blog anonymously? Am I writing such hard, cutting-edge, in-depth travel vacation and news? Not really. But I just like the anonymity of a blog. I like being able to write about whatever and not over-edit or censor myself, nor care if I make some typos now and again. And while I doubt any of my freelance contacts would give a crap if I blog about them or my travel endeavours, I think it can potentially cause problems.
For one thing, I pitch big publications and all they have to do is google my name to find information about me. For the most part, this is cool with me. The primary information they would uncover are my writing clips from other freelance publications. But if I have my name all over my blog and I talk about how much working with a certain magazine sucks ass, then I'm asking for trouble if I try to pitch them.
Plus, what if I wrote a really lame post about hot travel trends in Ypsilanti and big shot editor thinks it's by far the worst thing she's ever read in her entire life? And all her past lives? And that she'd rather eat her own hand than publish such drivel?
Paranoid? Yes. But not entirely for these reasons. I'm also paranoid crocodiles and/or alligators will emerge from the sewers of Queens and slowly gnaw off my leg while I'm waiting for the G train to come on a Saturday afternoon.
Here's the deal. My husband works for a production company and went through a slew of interviewing last year for a new producer. On a whim, one of the administrative assistants googled someone they were interested in hiring. Google took them right to this person's blog who had actually made several entries about her interviews with the company. She wondered if the hot boss at my husband's work was gay (she sincerely hoped not!) and completely bashed some of the girls at the office who in turn did not take kindly to it. At all.
They didn't hire her.
And since I seem to be the only professional writer with my first and last name who comes up in google, I don't think it's so out of the question I could be eyeballed, mocked, and judged. Don't get me wrong, how hard it is to just poke around online and figure out what my name really is? If less than savory people are drudging up our social security numbers from thin air, then how hard can finding out my name be? Not that hard, I suspect. And I truly respect my reader's web saviness and nosiness. I'm just saying I doubt people, especially said big shot editor, would waste their time doing more than typing my name into google.
Speaking of sewer rats and mutated pigeons, the clever and witty blogger over at Escape From Brooklyn was so sweet to include me in her post today. We're kindred spirits looking to blow this ramshackle town. Perhaps my husband and I will adopt her (and I suppose her husband and cats) and force them on their own sabbatical.
Taking a Sabbatical
For the last 6 months, my husband and I have seriously been discussing taking a sabbatical. While most take a sabbatical from their careers, we want to take a sabbatical from New York City.
Why? Well, I've lived here nearly 8 long, grinding, years and the whole time it's been a bit of a struggle. Other times it's pure bliss. Most people I know who live here have an intense love hate relationship with New York, making most of us neurotic to say the least. Let me try to illustrate what I mean:
I love all the people, crowds, and energy here. But on any given day about 10% of the millions of people who live here, not to mention the millions that commute here, are having the worst day of their entire lives. They might be perfectly nice, respectable people on any other day. But today, they're pissed off, on a tirade, and pushing you out of their way and screaming. I'm sick of this.
There's tons of freelance work here. This is obviously a blessing, but it also means the competition is fierce. I'd really like to keep the freelance contacts I have and branch out into smaller markets. Big fish in the pond so to speak. As opposed to minnow in a sewer full of rats and mutated pigeons.
The subway takes you everywhere. It's a fantastic way to travel from point A to point B, especially if you want to enjoy some cocktails after work and don't have to worry about driving. But every day the express trains are running local, the local trains have switched lines and suddenly you're in the meat packing district instead of the West Village. You end up walking about 30 minutes out of your way to get anywhere. It also takes about an hour to go 10 miles. While it's certainly entertaining to have 'Ziggy' perform a Tracy Chapman number for you on the F train, you also get a lot of people who come on yelling "Right or wrong, we hustle hard!", kids doing back flips for money next to your head, girls pole dancing, and random fights. I've also seen a 2 minute magic show where a dude let a live dove fly around the car to an audience of trapped commuters, a guy sitting in a rocking chair (yes, on the train) and pull out 3 kittens from his coat, and people listening to their boom boxes at full blast. And as fun as watching humpback rats run around on the subway tracks is a total titillating blast, it gets kind of gross after awhile.
The city is constantly changing. This is a good thing since the city can be a sweltering hell hole in the summer with subway steam blasting up your skirt, and bitterly cold with polluted and rat infested snow in the winter. But someone is moving in and out of one of the apartments surrounding you just about every single day. Every time we go walking down Smith Street in Brooklyn, there's a new Brooklyn Industries or Flight 001 opening which simultaneously indicates a raise in your own rent since the 'hood is becoming even more gentrified. It's just hard to get a sense of community.
The city is incredibly safe. Since 9/11, New York has become the safest big city in the country. I have absolutely no fear walking down the street at 2am by myself or riding the subway in the middle of the night. That's all well and good when I just ate a midnight gyro and want to regret it all the way home on the train, but the city is also pushing out artists in droves. New York is quickly becoming known as a museum city that just houses art instead of producing it. Banking, finance, and retail are now the norm and urban wonders like CBGB's have been closed down and pushed out. Starbucks line the blocks and small businesses are closing up, only to be replaced by Citibanks, Chase Banks, Washington Mutual, Dunkin' Donuts, Crate and Barrel, and a slew of Jennifer Convertibles. Times Square is now a modified Disney World complete with tourists stopping traffic to pose in front of Bubba Gump Shrimp with The Naked Cowboy. I'd kill for a peepshow next to the gynormous Toys R' Rus with the hideous working Ferris wheel. Now the city council is talking about taking away our freaks in Coney Island and making it into another Times Square attraction. I shudder at the thought of losing The Freak Show Bar or Rudy's.
Everything you need is within a 2 block radius. It's pretty amazing to be able to get a sandwich, banana, snacks, beer, detergent, aspirin, lottery tickets, ice cream, toothpaste, rat traps, a cactus, firelight log, candles, vegetables, and an umbrella at any deli or bodega. But you're also at the mercy of bodega brands. Chicken flavored crackers, strange beer you've never heard of, dusty vegetables that may conceivably be left over from last season, and umbrellas that break the second you open them. But there's no available Wal-Marts around these parts to make a big haul. You end up dragging food home that you only sort of want and wonder what happened to the days when you could walk into a Kroger in your parents' suburbia and buy a month's worth of groceries, find a movie, pick up a coffee, sample some free cheese, stop by your bank, and half-furnish your house without ever leaving the Kroger Compound.
There's plenty of people to hang-out with. True, but it's also like having a part-time job to maintain any kind of social life or friendship. People regularly break up for having a 'long distance relationship" between Brooklyn and Queens. Others move in together after dating for 4 weeks to save on rent. Our population of friends is scattered between Williamsburg, Carroll Gardens, Washington Heights, and Queens and it takes months to schedule one evening together.
New York City is the land of apartments. This can work out to your advantage because you don't need a lot of 'stuff'. There's no room for it. You also have a landlord that, in theory, should take care of repairs, heat, and hot water. But as far as buying an apartment? Well, even if you can afford the mortgage, you're looking at an additional $600-$1500 in maintenance fees every month. We're just not sure we're willing to pay upwards of $3,200 to live in a small crap box at the very edge of Staten Island in Tottenville. Incidentally, it's also completely normal to follow "So what do you do?" with "What do you pay in rent?" exactly 5 minutes after you've met a complete stranger.
Everyone here is intensely ambitious. Fantastic, it's part of the reason I moved here and it's motivated me to work harder than ever. But that situation breeds an intense level of careerism. I wouldn't even call it classism, but careerism. When the inevitable "What do you do?" question comes up, you hear a lot of this: "I'm an administrative assistant." (long pause) "But what do you want to do?" God forbid anyone in this place be content with a decent salary and an office job. You have to want to be a singer, artist, filmmaker, writer, top tier real estate broker, Broadway actor, playwright, make-up artist to the stars, fashion designer, socialite, TV host, celebrity assistant, or 'It' boy or girl on Page 6. While it's true I am a writer and my husband is a graphic designer, we still get a lot of flack from careerists. "Oh, you're a travel writer? But not for Frommers? You haven't had your own travel guide published?" etc. This is really annoying.
"I'm so successful! Muhahaha!"And so in light of these facts and that we've never felt quite 'settled' here, we decided to start making a list of why we're looking to leave the city:
- We've badly outgrown our apartment and are ready to buy real estate. Since we're not all that interested in cleaning out our savings to buy a crap box (see above) and living in an even smaller apartment than we are now, we'd like to city what's available in other parts of the country.
- We are absolutely done living below and above other people. Constant noise, music, fighting, and rude neighbors. Talking to them nicely does absolutely nothing but just acerbates the situation. They respond in kind by blasting TV's, stomping over us, and generally making our lives hell.
- While we have an abundant amount of work to choose from in the city, we're working all the time to sustain a decent standard of living. We'd like to slow down in life, have a cup of coffee once in awhile and drink it sitting down, and that can't happen if we're working to live all the time.
- We'd like to start a family soon. While plenty of parents happily raise kids in the city and can offer all the culture and urban perks available, I'd like a yard, a nursery bigger than a closet, and decent public schools that don't require intensive interviews for 4-year olds trying to break into the competitive world of pre-school.
- My husband is a graphic designer and would like a small letterpress. Even small ones take up room we don't have in the apartment. (For some reason our apartment came with a washing machine but not a dryer. And so currently we have to hang our washed clothes all over the kitchen and cook around them while they dry). Plus, letterpresses are generally very heavy and need to be kept in a garage or basement.
- We'd like to start side businesses including this whole idea of customized letterpress invitations and posters. I'd also like to start a commercial travel website to expand on my blog here and generate more sources of revenue. Right now I barely have time for a blog let alone all the ideas we have. If we lived somewhere cheaper, we could pursue other interests and ideas.
- Our sense of adventure tells us we want to try something different, have a fresh start, rename ourselves Trixie and Speed Racer and see other parts of the country for more than a 3-day weekend here and there.
- I pay out of pocket for my health insurance. I could technically receive benefits from my husband's work, but it would actually be more expensive than what I currently pay myself. This is just life in the 21st century. You have to go into near debt to have adequate health insurance and companies no longer offer it, or offer it at a costly premium, so they in turn can save money in their own nightmare of a faltering economy. My research shows that both of us could be on a health plan in another city for less than what I pay just for myself.
Scary insurance folder.Although we're not aiming for all these things (ie: family, side businesses, etc) during our sabbatical, we know we need some much-needed perspective on where we want to go next in relation to what we want from life long term.
But how will we make it work? There's income, bills, sanity, and housing to consider. At first, it all seemed quite overwhelming, but then we realized it couldn't be as overwhelming as living in New York for nearly a decade, and slowly the answers came. We've been able to formulate a reasonable plan with plenty of room for error. What does that mean? Well, we've never taken a sabbatical before, nor do we know anyone who has that can give us some pointers. We want to make sure we've allowed ourselves room for mistake. We want to be able to recover if something we planned to do just doesn't pan out. This is what we've come up with:
- Our lease is up in September and since we don't want to find a new apartment to rent around here, we can put all our furniture in storage and rent a furnished sublet in another city via Craigslist or a corporate apartment set-up.
- We pay more in rent than just about anywhere else in the country. After extensive research in all cities we're interested in trying, we're confident we can find a sublet for less than what we're paying now. Not to mention we probably won't have to worry about bills for heat (it will be summer) and cable is usually included in sublets and corporate housing.
- My husband is interested in teaching adjunct or part-time at a university or art college. We've been researching and contacting schools in other cities we'd like to consider. While he currently has a staff job in New York, he wants to go freelance by August and blow this pop stand. He's already freelancing on the side for several steady clients and makes a substantial part-time income. All his clients have offered him more work when he finally kicks his staff job to the curb. Going full-time, he should be able to sustain a decent income without much difficulty. To top it all off, his current employers have already indicated they will keep him on as a contractor when he leaves the company.
- I recently secured a column at the publication I freelance for. It doesn't pay much, but it will keep my clips healthy, give me some leverage to find other work, and keep my foot in the door with them. In addition, they are launching 2 new websites that will need extensive editorial work. I already work from home for them most of the week and am confident I can freelance for them out of state at least 10 hours a week, though I think it would be more like 25 or 30. Additionally, the other clients I freelance for could care less where I live. Of the 4 or 5, I've only ever met one face to face. Why should they care if I'm emailing them from NY or the middle of nowhere?
- I type 90 wpm and have administrative experience. I've drudged up coffee with semi-stale milk for the best of them. And I have no problem temping if we need to make ends meet. I'm also an experienced video editor and have worked on at least 100 advertising campaigns. Despite the fact that I constantly write posts bitching and moaning about how much advertising sucks and how awesome it is to be done with that and a travel writer now, I'm happy to freelance in that industry again, temporarily, for "The Greater Good". (re: Shawn of the Dead).
- We've been saving our income like crazy and have enough for a significant down payment on a house. Part of our killer savings is because as a freelancer, I never know what my income will be. Some weeks it's quite sizable, others it's rather pathetic. It all balances out, but we save almost 75% of my income to ensure we have a nice nest egg to get us through when my pay is sluggish. We're also incorporated, which gives us breathing room with our taxes. If needed, we could use a small portion of it to make ends meet during our sabbatical.
- In addition to the sizable down payment we've saved, we're also saving a small amount every month in a savings account attached to our checking. This will allow us to easily move money over when we need it on our sabbatical. By the time we're ready to leave, we should have enough for approximately 6 weeks of full expenses from this account, if we continue to live the way we do now. However, since all the cities we're interested in visiting are significantly cheaper than New York, we should have enough for 8-10 weeks. Our idea is we'll have this spare cash as an everyday emergency fund and not have to dip into our true savings. Plus if all our plans fall through, we'd have about 10 weeks to figure something else out before needing to dip into our other savings.
- My blog is continuing to make money. Nothing to live off of, but within the next 6 months, all signs of how it's growing indicate that it will become a nice contribution to our sabbatical. I'm also planning to launch a new website between now and August 15th, the date we're planning to leave.
- If everything goes right to hell in a hand basket, we have plenty of connections in New York and could move back, stay in a friend's spare bedroom or sublet via Craigslist and start looking for that home to buy.
"I'm a power seller! Can I show you something in a Colonial or Cape Cod?"So now that we have an idea of how this so-called sabbatical will work, we had to figure out where we want to go. Portland, Oregon was on the list, but I already lived there for a summer in my early 20's when I was studying video editing. We'd also like to be on the same general coast as our families so we can visit when needed. San Francisco was also a contender, but we've both been there a dozen times and it's nearly as expensive as New York. We'd like our sabbatical to be easier and cheaper than what we're doing now. Boston seems more expensive than New York and we already live in New England now. My hometown of Atlanta was on the list, but I've been there, done that, and am not all that interested in temporarily living there. We also considered my husband's hometown in the Midwest, but he kind of feels the same way about it that I do regarding Hotlanta.
What we do know we want is a decent sized city with stable economy, art, music, theater, decent housing, proximity to outdoor recreation, fine dining, and a place we've never spent much time in, if at all. And so we're considering..... Nashville.
Let me say that when I tell people I'm from Hotlanta, the first thing they say is "Say what?! But why don't you have a Southern accent?" These people are truly puzzled I am accent-less and do not resemble Blanche from the Golden Girls or the entire cast of Fried Green Tomatoes and Steel Magnolias combined. This leads me to believe they also expect everyone from the Midwest to talk like they're reenacting Fargo from beginning to end.
In any case, many people (probably the same ones I've just been complaining about) assume Nashvegas is all country all the time with the likes of Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus dancing their Achy Breaky Hearts right down Music Row. However, Nashville actually has a thriving jazz, folk, rock and Christian music scene. They even have live music at the airport. I like eclectic, this is good with me. It also means my husband could make connections to design more CD covers, which he loves.
I also like that Nashville has actual seasons. Though we'll be there in the summer and or fall, I still like knowing it's possible snow arrives in winter. There's plenty of nearby outdoor recreation via river and mountains, art, bars, restaurants, and a decent cost of living. These are all aspects we want full-time from a city, so it's possible we could consider relocating. However, right now our only intention is to explore another city and get some perspective on what it is we want out of life.
So while most sabbaticals are usually reflective of professional academia with paid leave, ours will be a non-paid, non-professional break from the city. The Boston University School of Theology's sabbatical guidelines are as follows: A sabbatical is an extended period of time granted for professional development and spiritual renewal away from normal ministerial responsibilities and in a manner that is not possible during the busyness of a typical work year. Sabbaticals are not vacations, but carefully planned periods of time devoted to study, reflection, rest, and renewal. They frequently become a path to understanding one’s vocation in new ways or as a vehicle for a transformed sense of pastoral identity. Some pastors travel, experience different cultures, learn new skills, or spend time reading during a sabbatical. It is also possible to think of even doing something like a semi-monastic retreat. This is a time to experience “being” in addition to “doing”; it should be a time of freedom and authenticity. One of the goals of a sabbatical is to return to the congregation renewed and refreshed.
We too would like to approach our sabbatical as a means of spiritual renewal, professional growth, rest, reflection, and a transformed sense of identity. We also may end up adding additional cities on our list to consider, but for now, we're thinking about Nashville. If anyone has taken their own self-appointed sabbatical or suggestions on cities to try, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
For more information on taking a sabbatical, check out some of the following books:
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Unveils Subway
The Caribbean's first underground rail subway launches on February 27th in Santo Domingo. The 16-mile, 9-stop subway is primarily aimed at commuters and President Leonel Fernandez hopes it will entice locals to stick around instead of fleeing for bigger cities like New York and Miami. Fernandez actually grew up in Manhattan and apparently got the subway bug. He thinks its time Santo Domingo take on a modernized functionality.
Okay. Well, I do hope it assists their locals in being able to work easier and make a 16-mile commute without costly cab rides or gas bills. But most of the press on this project is just bad. The budget spiraled out of control to over $710 million and most are wondering why this wasn't put towards fighting the country's poverty, frequent power outages, and pollution.
Although I'm perfectly comfortable taking the subway here in New York and in other cities, I'm not sure if I'd be open to taking the subway in the DR when it has a reputation for being seedy and dangerous off-resort. And it seems a $710 million project would need tourist dollars to not only balance but justify the expense.
We'll see how it goes. If it's anything like New York's subway system, it will forever be under construction, not working late at night or on weekends, and there will be fare hikes every 6-months. I'm thinking Santo Domingo would have been better off with a stronger bus system.
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Terrified of Traveling with Children?
I freelance for a family travel website and after perusing our comments area, manuscript submissions, and travel questions, I get the distinct impression that parents are terrified of the mere thought of towing their tots off on a family vacation. Of screaming meltdowns, of whining, of throwing food, of projectile vomit.
I'm here to tell you there's no reason to be afraid of your own children.
Through my tenure of researching family travel, I've discovered that this niche is evolving at the speed of light. Kid-friendly use to mean a children's menu and kiddie pool, perhaps with a storytime or recommended babysitter. Then it gradually inched its way towards organized activities for 5-12 year olds, then clawing its way into the tween and teen market (I suspect Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are responsible for that). And then finally, Kids Clubs for infants and toddlers emerged. There's actually day-care for babies as young as 6-weeks at some ski resorts, including Smugglers Notch. Not sure who is skiing 6-weeks post-birth, but more power to you.
All-inclusive vacations like Club Med or Sandals are usually a safe family-friendly bet, but I'm personally not a fan. I prefer getting off the 'island' so to speak and paying for everything including meals and activities upfront makes me feel obligated to use it instead of exploring on my own. However, all-inclusive resorts almost always have kid programs, unless they're an adult-only resort.
Innovative alternatives include finding a property where you have access to your own, private , certified nanny. Franklyn D Resort in Jamaica offers such service with their all-inclusive price and evening babysitting is available for a mere $4/hr. The nannies will hang with your kids from 9:00am - 4:40, keep your place stocked and tidy, and also leave you alone when you want privacy.
Other families might opt for apartment style set-ups with a kid-friendly atmosphere. There's plenty of corporate style apartments, but won't necessarily have cribs and baby supplies ready. The Anthaneum in London provides a full-apartment set-up, DVD library, iPod docking stations, baby supplies, milk and cookie turn down service, and toy chest for the kids.
If you're opting for a property with Kids' Club, here's what you need to look for:
- Certified day-care providers, CPR training, and a small child to staff ratio. Infants should have a 2:1 or possibly 3:1 ratio. Research the state or country laws where the resort property is located to find out about child-care laws. It's okay to have a higher child to staff ratio for older groups.
- Age-appropriate activities in small groups. Do not throw your unsuspecting 10 year olds in with a group of 5 year olds. Look for clubs that separate teens from tweens, pre-teens from children, and toddlers from infants.
- Gage your child's interests. Ski resorts now offer lessons to guests as young as 2-year olds and snowboarding to 4-year olds. If your child hates the cold and snow, listen to them and respond by arranging fun activities.
- Always ask the management for information on their safety procedures. This is more to make sure they have one than to scrutinize it with a red marker.
- Discuss any issues or fears your child may have with the staff.
Also, decide what you want your family vacation to be all about. You may want some group independence for your child where they can make friends and have their own mini-vacation. Or you might want a 'togethering' vacation where the family does everything together. You might opt for a culturally or creatively enriching vacation for your kids and want art related activities. Whatever you want it to be, make reservations for your child and make sure their favorite activities are available before you get there. Don't promise horseback riding to a beaming 3-year old and and then find out when you arrive that you needed to make reservations 6-weeks before.
My experience in family travel has shown me that most parents are most concerned about safety, a caring staff, appropriate activities, healthy diet alternatives to kid-favorite chicken fingers, and ease. They need it to be uncomplicated. That means no drop-offs to obscure daycare locations 20 minutes away, no pick ups in the middle of the most adult-favored activity at the property (like dance classes or cocktail hour), and no diaper duty. Some kid programs on cruises actually won't change diapers, forcing the parents to be attached to a beeper all day, including port stops. So before you book your vacation, ensure you're getting the experience that you want and not just your child's.
Kids like routine and stability and offering them a fun environment with new friends is a good way to keep them happy while you enjoy your own adult vacation. Now that you've got the kids set-up for the trip of your life, make sure the adult activities are just as fun as finger painting and kiddie snowboarding lessons.
More family travel tips....
Visualizing Your Way to Travel?
I subscribe to the belief that meditation is helpful to reduce stress, clarify goals, and become more comfortable in your own skin. When I do it for just a few minutes a day, I feel more centered and content. However, I also get lazy or busy or prefer distracting myself by spending more time trying to figure out who is part of the Oceanic Six on LOST than I do on the art of meditation.
However, I recently decided to start making a list of certain goals I would like to meet, including personal fulfillment. I then started visualizing some of these goals and how they would make me feel. Well, some of you may know I live below an elderly couple and their 40-something year old daughter. They spend their days fighting, screaming, and stomping around from the time they wake up until bed. It's worse than living below college kids. We haven't moved because we like our space and are both gone frequently and occasionally we get waves of silent relief.
In any case, I put the word 'Quiet' on my list and imagined how peaceful it would be to not have obtrusive neighbors. I had also been thinking about an anniversary trip with my husband come April. For the last 2 years, we've been able to go abroad to Rome, Venice, Edinburgh, and Dublin. But this year travel wasn't looking possible due to time constraints, general budget, and the fact that we have a wedding in Scotland to attend in the Fall. We had discussed returning to Montreal because of its close proximity to New York and our newfound love for the city. However, we haven't been able to motivate ourselves to move forward on plans due to our busy schedules as of late.
So a few interesting things happened this week. The elderly couple upstairs? Gone. No idea where they are and when they're coming back, but I've only heard their daughter make a brief ruckus when returning home. It's been absolutely and completely silent. In the past, we've gotten brief waves of relative quiet when they're watching a movie (with the noise bleeding through our ceiling) or are too tired to argue. But it's never been so still and serene in the nearly 3 years we've lived in this apartment. I've also discovered that I no longer want the TV on morning, noon, and night to distract myself from their noise and negativity. I've been enjoying days of peace and quiet, reading, blogging, and catching up on freelance projects.
My stress has dissipated, I've been more content, and arrived at work yesterday feeling refreshed. At the end of the day, my editor approached me and asked if I wanted to take a short press trip to Montreal and that she could probably arrange for my husband to tag along. The dates? Our anniversary weekend.
In addition, I'd recently been wishing I had more return visitors to my site. I use a stat counter that allows me to view the number of returns. Instead of lamenting my fate, I started visualizing waking up and seeing the 'return visitors' number growing every day. Yesterday I woke up and my returns had grown 5-folds.
I suppose anyone could argue that my neighbors will return any day now with a vengeance and that it's not unusual for a travel writer to get a travel assignment. Not to mention I do take the time to submit comments on blogs I enjoy with this url and submit to blog carnivals. Inevitably, I'd have to gain some return visitors along the way. All very true. But just because I'm visualizing it doesn't mean I think that sitting around all day and not taking actions will put my goals into motion. My thought is that I'm opening myself up to new ways of making those goals become reality. So regardless of why it's all happening, it's happening shortly after I visualize it, making me content and deliciously curious.
I'm going to keep travel on the forefront of my imagination.
Meditating for Beginners
- Find a quiet space
- Keep your back straight to avoid become sluggish or sleepy (you can sit in a chair if you like)
- Keep your eyes partially closed and focus on your breathing
- Breath through your nose and feel the sensation of it, listen to the sound of it, continue to let your mind let go of distractions
- When your mind does wander, simply return your focus to your breathing
- Continue meditating for at least 5 minutes a day, working your way up to at least 15 minutes or more
Visualization for Beginners
Visualization is an important tool in getting your mind to line up with what you truly want. When you visualize your life and actions in motion, you'll automatically start moving towards your goals with ease. You might even consider that the Universe is answering the call. Regardless of what you believe, it's a fact athletes, successful business people, etc. use visualization to achieve their goals.
- Start meditating for 5-15 mintues a day
- Write down your goals in a list and look over the list every day
- Think about your life in motion, achieving those goals
- Don't yearn for your goals as if they'll never happen or are torturing you. You'll end up believing it and putting those actions in motion.
- Think about how you'll feel by achieving your goals
- Imagine that you've already realized those goals
- Do not allow others doubt, or your own self-doubt, to distract you
- Do not get caught up in the how of those goals happening, trust that you will begin to see ideas and answers everywhere you turn
Check out this story about visualization and travel:
Motion Sickness - Tricks of the Trade
As you know, my father is a retired pilot, and my brother currently flies for Airtran. They could fly upside down, through turbulence, and without any ventilation and feel just peachy. I, on the other hand, break into a sweat at the first signs of bumps. Thus the flying gene somehow skipped over me.
Motion sickness is caused when your inner ear perceives movement but your vision doesn't. It creates an inner disagreement that can cause nausea, increased heartbeat, sweats, and a myriad of other nasty side-effects. I've experienced all of them, and it's not fun.
Although I love the thrill of being somewhere new, exploring a foreign culture, and the euphoria of stumbling upon a great travel deal - I can't stand the process of getting from A to B. The stress of packing, getting to the airport, fighting crowds, security lines, and flight delays are bad enough. But stepping onto a hot, stuffy plane with a funky stomach is the worst fate. I've tossed my cookies before on a flight, but not since I was a little kid. Over the years I learned a few tips and tricks that have gotten me through many an upchuck potential situation.
Medicate - You might want to try some Dramamine (make sure it's non-drowsy or you'll be out for half the day) before a flight. However, few, if any, drugs truly take away the motion sickness feeling completely. I've personally found Dramamine at least takes the edge off. An episode of Myth Busters on Discovery Channel tested various anti-nausea drugs by being blind-folded and being spun around in chairs until they puked. However, ginger pills seemed to be the only remedy that actually worked for them. My neighbor also swears by them and starts taking ginger a week before her annual cruise.
Eat light - My mother-in-law is both Midwestern and 100% Italian and loves to feed us. Once she made chili and ribs for lunch, shortly before a flight. I ate light, but my husband indulged and paid the price. He nearly lost his lunch numerous times. Instead, opt for something small and somewhat bland. A simple sandwich can do wonders.
Rethink 'Bad' Foods - Often a small bag of simple chips or plain crackers will soothe my stomach while onboard. I avoid any juices, fruits, or veggies that have the potential to create an acidic or gassy environment in my stomach.
Stay Cool - For most people, staying cool can acutely reduce nausea. Crank up your vents and always ask for ice in your drink. In a pinch you can wrap an ice cube or two in your napkin and place it behind your neck.
Don't panic - It's easy to feel like the world will end when you're rockin' an upset stomach. What's the worst that will happen? You'll puke. The end. Instead, focus on something else and clear you're head. I like to take deep breaths and eye the tray table latch in front of me, clearing my head completely. If I'm feeling especially bad, I let my husband or travel companion know I need a minute. That allows me to just focus and stay calm.
Go to Sleep - I'm not very good at sleeping just anywhere, but I've learned to put myself into at least a snooze when I'm feeling ill. In fact, it's usually the only time I can fall asleep on the plane. I just close my eyes, force my thoughts away, and focus on sleep.
Reverse the Symptoms - NASA did a study with its astronauts (who are also prone to motion sickness) that showed you can greatly reduce the symptoms on your own. If you're heart is racing, take deep breaths and focus on calming down. If you're burning up, turn on the vents and suck on some ice. Visualize your body relaxing and returning to normal.
Don't Be Afraid to Sport the Bag - There's no shame in using a barf bag, friends. If you're prone to nausea, always check the seat back in front of you when you first sit-down and make sure there's a bag there. If not, swipe one or ask the flight attendant for a spare. If you're feeling the grumblings and can't go to the bathroom, don't fight that not so friendly feeling too long. My pilot brother pointed out that many people are too embarrassed to get out the bag and end up puking on the floor, or worse, their neighbor. Interestingly, this sets off a chain reaction and other passengers start to feel ill and begin their own puke fest. If you use the bag, it can easily be disposed of and the event is over.
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The Good Mood "Diet" and Travel
Like most travelers, I tend to over-indulge, have that extra cocktail (or 3), nibble on cookies and order the basket of fries with a Guinness while on vacation. It's easy to forget that being away from your "real life" doesn't mean you won't face the consequences of indulgence once you get back to that "real life". Too bad my travel isn't done on one of those virtual worlds like Second Life, then I'd never gain weight. Of course, I'd only get to see the sites through a computer screen, too.
But weight gain isn't really the problem, a few days at the gym and lots of water usually reverses whatever I've done to celebrate my vacation (room service, candy bars, Scottish beers). It's more the feeling sluggish, bouts of low energy, and overall blue feeling when I return home to Brooklyn. This feeling tends to also sprout up after a stressful week at work, a round of taxes (cringe), non-stop fighting of the neighbors upstairs, or trying to track down clients who owe me a check.
I'd actually been looking for a 'diet' that would elevate my mood and keep me feeling balanced. I don't really care about the weight loss, though like most people, I could easily stand to loose 5-10 pounds. I was primarily concerned about boosting my energy without going on an actual diet. Diets suck, and I'm not a fan. At all. In fact, they rank up there with sitting around in airports all day and being stuck in the middle seat on a plane with no ventilation. Yet I couldn't find any eating plan that matched my desire until I read an article about The Good Mood Diet written by Susan Kleiner and Bob Condor. Like any good frugal blogger trying to save money for travel, I bought it on ebay.
The Good Mood Diet talks alot about eggs and fish. They love their fish. And luckily, I love it. But they also let you have chocolate and some alcohol within reason. Intrigued, I skipped around the book to get a better look at the menus and braced myself for the worst. Turns out, I'll have to figure out where to buy flaxseed, which was the only annoying thing I saw on the plan. The diet provides weeks worth of menu suggestions including lean turkey, fruits and veggies, skim milk, strong coffee, green tea, olive oil, yogurt, soy, edamame (yum), peanut butter, hamburgers, pizza, pasta and of course the fish and eggs. Their 'bad foods' list is refreshingly short and features refined sugars, too much caffeine, alcohol... all the usual suspects.
The author has worked with a lot of athletes, including one with hankering for dove ice cream bars and cartons of ice cream. Eventually, all he wanted was healthy snacks on this new plan. You know, because he just felt so good. The authors suggest eliminating all "bad foods" on their list the first two weeks, but mainly to prove how good you'll feel and show you that you won't want the booze and candy bars by week three. I still think I might want a Bellhaven, but they make allowances for occasional alcohol. Honestly, I think any diet would eliminate your carvings for booze and sugar by week three (but not without a psychotic break-down). But this diet claims that you won't miss any of your favorite junk foods because you'll feel so good without them.
Makes sense. Most people eat to feel good on some level whether it's to relax, feel satisfied, alleviate stress, cope with depression, or just out of boredom. But unlike most diets that make you feel too weak to function or so guilty you're eventually convinced that you're responsible for the state of the world, there's no guilt complex here. The authors really don't give a crap if you just ate an entire cake before reading this book, they just want you to try their green tea or skim milk and cocoa suggestions afterwards. They take comfort in knowing you won't care about the next cake if you're feeling good.
A good deal of this diet is common sense. Don't eat sugar, it's a downer. Or drink alcohol. We all know these rules as fact... and do it anyway. But there was a lot in this book I didn't think I'd ever see on any diet. Caffeinated sodas (they try to convince you to try coffee and tea instead, but reluctantly allow it if you must), glasses of skim milk, burgers, cheese, whole wheat pastas and pizza crusts. Hell, the fact that bread is on here at all is enough reason for abandoned celebration. It also reminds you to eat every 2-3 hours to avoid hunger and creative recipes for seemingly yummy smoothies and sweet tooth alternatives.
So I'm going to give it a shot and see how it works. The book claims you'll feel different after the first day. Again, my goal is to feel energized and feel better, primarily while traveling. I have a press trip next week in Nevada and would love to have the energy to feel confident doing my job and speaking to media reps. I won't be able to bring flaxseed with me, but this day in age, I bet any resort features it somewhere on their menu to keep up with the hoards of healthy-spa-seeking-travelers. But tomorrow it's wheat toast, eggs, coffee, and yogurt for breakfast. Considering I usually only eat candy masquerading as Sweet and Salty breakfast bars each morning, it should be interesting to see how this all works out.
Would love to hear your comments!
Battling the Winter Blues
Anyone else having trouble re-adjusting after the holiday travel madness? We went from a restful week in Georgia and New Year's in the Hamptons to utter chaos. We live in Brooklyn, NY and our upstairs neighbors are an elderly couple who have lived there for 50 years. That's right, 50! They raised 4 kids in a 2 bedroom apartment and their bizarre 50-something year old daughter still lives with them. They're also very loud, negative, abrasive, fight constantly, and wear what sounds like steel toed boots all hours of the day and night. Our landlord's wife ran off with the baker down the street and our neighbor tries to order us to do her errands. Did I mention the old ladies don't speak to me, only my husband, and the old men on the block sweet talk me and ignore my husband? Oh, and we live next door to a mafia restaurant. No one's every eating there, yet people are always coming out of the back. It's like living in a bad Brooklyn movie.
How have I been coping? Well, I've been eating Honey Maid Mini S'mores while looking at my latest travel plans and watching the Travel Channel. I find the combination of both does wonders to improve my mood. (But not my waistline). I have a press trip in Reno/Lake Tahoe next week and am going to try to see my grandmother in Illinois shortly after that. I've never been skiing or snowboarding, so I'm looking forward to trying something new. I've actually never even been to Nevada before and was eager to get some warm gear for my trip. Luckily I waited until after Christmas to buy ski pants at a steal - $15 from Modell's.
If you're dying for a winter escape, you're not alone. Wonder what January travel say about you? Statistics and research on seasonal disorders show that January 24th (my Mom's birthday) is considered the worst day of the year. It all has to do with post-holiday blues, bills coming in, newly broken New Year's resolutions, and cold weather. It's also one of the most popular days of the year to book a trip. And why not? Who wouldn't want to escape feeling like utter hell with a trip to the Bahamas, Mexico, or Hawaii?
Travel also happens to be one of the most accepted forms of escape. You don't need to booze it up, act irresponsibly, or quit your job to change your life. You only need a change of scenery to feel like a new person once in awhile. In fact, it's more socially unacceptable not to take a vacation than to splurge on one once in awhile. But we don't promote expensive travel here at The Innovative Traveler. We encourage you to travel smart... and cheap.
Right now Norwegian Cruise lines is offering a 5-night cruise from Miami, Cozumel, George Town, and back to Miami for $429. Depart on January 20th and miss that dreaded January 24th. Looking for something a little cheaper? Try a 4-night cruise on Carnival fromLos Angeles, Catalina Island; Ensenada, Mexico, and back to LA. Total cost for an inside cabin? Just $199. Leave on January 21st or the 28th.
To take advantage of these last minute savings or to see more winter deals, visit Expedia.
What I've Learned From Living In Airports
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.
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.
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