Travel Editor

Dateline Mix-up time.

2007-01-30T17:10:00.001-05:00

Unfortunately for many travelers crossing the Pacific Ocean, a question of, “what day is it?” commonly arises among the dazed, jet-lag stricken crowd.
How did the mystery of the international dateline come about? The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, is the home of the site of zero degrees longitude. In 1884 there was international agreement that it would be the first point of measurement, but no one decided where each day stopped.

"If you look at the date line as it passes through the Pacific it is not a straight line because there are kinks to move it out of the way of the major land masses," said David Rooney, curator of Greenwich Observatory.

"And then as you go through the island groups of the Pacific you will see that it has changed over time, that individual groups can choose to move from one day to the next or backwards, usually not for any other reason other than they have got a new relationship with a different country, or with other islands in the Pacific," said Rooney.

Right now changing the dateline is impossible. They say that politics as much as geography determines its position. Russia and the USA may only be a few miles apart but it was decided to keep them a whole day apart by skewing the path of the line. And the Philippines hopped from one side to the other once their trade routes started to favor the U.S. instead of Europe.

We remember the rule of thumb: going east subtract a day, going west add a day. Unfortunately the dateline is fickle, with a known history of changing every so often, with countries and islands swapping sides. Noted recently was Kiribass who decided to move itself onto one side of the dateline in 1995 and acquired fame as the first place on earth to see the new millennium.

"It's a strange experience but it's not a particularly difficult one." Rooney told CNN.

"As the Earth rotates and as different times are held in different parts of the world, there is a point where the time is the same but you have to change the day. "

Take a two hour flight from Tonga to Samoa and you end up arriving the day before you left. All of it is mind-boggling really.

Faster, better, ways to travel.

2007-01-16T12:42:00.000-05:00

Apparently, Europe is finding new and efficient ways to travel. The department of Aerospace for Sustainable Engineering and Technology (ASSET) at Delft University in the Netherlands has come up with a unique form of public transportation. The sleek aerodynamic bus is being called the “Superbus” which suits the look.

This futuristic stretch limosine has the speed of an inter-city tain with the flexibility of a bus. The Dutch creators are hoping it will make traveling by bus seem cool and more liked by the common person.

"With speeds of up to 155 mph and offering point-to-point travel, this is a vision of environmentally-friendly public transportation of the future," Professor Wubbo Ockels of Delft University of Technology told CNN.

And so the Superbus has been designed in order to rescue us from congestion. It's the same length as a conventional bus, but some would say it looks to be the size of a football field. This is because the electrically powered machine is only one meter 60 centimeters high. That means that passengers can't stand up inside the Superbus, but they won't need to since it has 8 doors on each side. It is also intended to run on roads and dedicated high-speed tracks at over 150 mph.

Passengers will order a seat on the bus via a text message and be able to board rapidly from a pick-up point no more than a mile from where they live. An internal computer will sort through the text messages and compute the shortest route to pick up the person waiting.
Knowing what it’s like to sit in a stuffy, dirty bus where the only entertainment is a static-filled tv is what motivates the Delft University team make the Superbus as far from the experience of a long-distance bus ride as possible.

"Public transport shouldn't interrupt your life. Passengers will be welcomed by name, can enter the bus via an individual door and will find all the entertainment and connectivity that would find on an airplane," said Ockels.

To avoid breaking Dutch speed limits the Superbus would cruise along special high-speed tracks that they claim would be very easy to build into existing roadways. Compared to the cost of laying train or mag-lev rails, building a network of special tracks for the Superbus to drive on would be much more practical and cheaper. Running next to existing highways, they would also have less of an impact on the landscape.

The tracks themselves would also incorporate technology that has an eye on sustainability and increased performance. Utilizing geothermal heating, they would store heat in the summer and release it during the winter to avoid icing up. But it is the Superbus itself, rather then the infrastructure that is the focus for innovation.

For a smooth, safe drive, proactive suspension systems are being developed that can adapt to the roughness of the road and use advanced radar systems to scan hundreds of meters ahead for any obstacles or accidents.

"We've deliberately tried to keep the majority of the intelligence and technology within the vehicle and made the infrastructure, such as the high-speed tracks more benign," said Ockels.

"We know how to make light weight materials, how to design and make beautiful vehicles, how to use IT and SMS technology, so what we're trying to do is bring them all together."
Former BMW-Williams Formula 1 designer Dr. Antonia Terzi is now working on the Superbus, so it's no wonder it looks more like a batmobile rather than a rectangle on wheels. "What we're trying to do is provide the tools for people to make their future better," said Ockels.

Discount travel to Las Vegas

2007-01-10T10:33:00.000-05:00

I'm not the gambling type. I don't particularly enjoy the idea of sitting in one place and watching my money leave my hands for some game of chance. It's not really what I do. What I do like, however, is magic and the theatre. There are others who like to gamble, and watch magic, and watch theatre, or just like to shop and eat at fine restaurants, then go gamble, or watch a show, or watch a magician. What do those people and myself have in common? We can do it all and so much more in Las Vegas! What's even better is that Trip2Earth.com has different packages available for any of the scenarios above.

You may recall that a few blog posts ago I mentioned Lance Burton as one of my favorite magicians. Well, Trip2Earth.com has a package that's just right for me - The Las Vegas Shows Package. It features my favorite master magician, Lance Burton, and another show called V - The Ultimate Variety Show as part of their offering. There's even some buffet options and $200 in real gaming that I can use on slots (since that would probably be the only thing I'd actually play). Those who do like gaming, however, are also in luck. Trip2Earth's Roll with the Dice Package features $500 in real gaming, 2 buffet meals, and discount opportunities. That way those who like gaming can play to their hearts' content.

Another favorite package, of which I love the idea, is the Couples' Paradise Romance Package. This Package is exactly what it says. What it involves is a trip down the Grand Canal of the Venetian Hotel, and lunch or dinner at the Venetian. I'm a romantic at heart so this package appeals to me. The package also includes a trip to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, which features very lifelike wax figures of several celebrities. It's a gigantic photo opp! I'd get to pose with The Rock, Jackie Kennedy Onassis and George Clooney, to name a few. They also have this Priceless Vacation Package, which you basically pay for your room, and then get the money back at the end of your trip. This oh-so-flexible package is actually pretty snazzy, if you're the free spirit type who wants to do your own thing while you're in Vegas. This package takes care of the room so you can enjoy Las Vegas the way you want.

For those who love to laugh, Las Vegas has great up-and-coming comedians, as well as already-established headliners that are absolutely sure to make your sides ache with laughter. The Las Vegas Comedy Vacation Package from Trip2Earth.com is the best value for comedy lovers. It features tickets to the Riviera Comedy Club, as well as tickets to your choice of Vinnie Favorito , Ronn Lucas and Mac King's Comedy Magic Show. Each of these headliners put their own spin on comedy, but they are all professionals and will leave you in stitches.

Like the Puu Puu Platter at your favorite Asian restaurant, Trip2Earth's Double Down Vegas Package features a little bit of everything. There's two shows (Folies Bergere and An Evening at La Cage), gaming credit to play at the casino, 4 buffets and a dinner at one of the most sumptuous Italian restaurants on the Strip, Cosmo's Ristorante.

As far as I can see, Trip2Earth is the only one that could bring these together, and no matter why anyone would go to Vegas, each of these packages has something in it for everyone.

Until next time... clear skies and happy times!!

Travel InfoHub

2006-12-26T15:20:00.000-05:00

Aspects of InfoHub Specialty Travel Guide

As I was surfing the net I found an intriguing site named InfoHub. InfoHub is a multifaceted travel site that offers the travel consumer many inspiring vacation planning ideas. Their home page offers a map of the world which allows you to click on each of their major regions of the world as North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia and Oceania that have countries displaying an array of destinations to choose from.

Before I lose you in all of the aspects of InfoHub, I must inform you that all of the destinations offered on their site are themed to help narrow down your search. Destinations are offered by many unique travel agencies from across the globe to themed sites in countries who are in the specific region you have chosen from the map on their home page or from clicking on a tag in the sidebar menu to the country or region of choice.

Destinations are offered in many different themes. Their themed destinations range from outdoor activities and sports such as hiking and trekking, scuba diving, and boating and sailing to only name a few to themes in the arts and crafts, culture and history, eco and wildlife, golf and spa, gourmet and cooking, and naturist categories. In addition, they list spiritual vacations, railway trips, and bicycle tours as well.

To help the undecided traveler pick which theme could possibly be the right vacation for them, InfoHub offers several options to help in the decision process. These options include travel stories, quizzes, travel articles, and forums.

The travel story section can be found on their home page. This section has stories written or posted by those who have traveled to the story's location(s) or members who eagerly support InfoHub. Each story gives an account of each leg of their journey including photographs and informative content which may inspire a similar vacation in your coming plans.

Quizzes on Infohub are designed to educate the average person with travel related information. There are a wide range of quizzes to choose from and I find them helpful in travel planning.

It's neat because this site is actually very similar to the new and improved Trip2Earth.com. Visitors to Trip2Earth however, may find it a tad more user-friendly in its organization than InfoHub. Trip2Earth also offers INCREDIBLE vacation packages at some of the lowest costs i've seen. They also have all the information that InfoHub offers, but with a few extra highlights and money-savers.

All-in-all, both sites are a tremendous help for all of your travel needs!

A Little Nugget About Travel Times

2006-12-11T15:59:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered when the very best time to travel was? Time and time again you find yourself waiting in long lines and dealing with mass crowds in airports and on the roads. Could it really be possible that there is a time when the holidays are actually suitable for travel? You better believe it! December actually has a "Dead Week." Apparently it produces some of the best prices and opportunities you will find all year. So when is this glorious span of days? Sooner than you think! As soon as you finish your last bite of Thanksgiving turkey, you better run to your room to go pack! The two weekends following Thanksgiving holiday are the best time to travel. After that you are headed for some holiday stress and chaos.

Availability will have you in chains, prices will shoot into outer space, airports will be flooded with tourists, and attractions will be making their money, all this going on through the new year. In 2006, "Dead Week" will actually be about three weekends long. Thanksgiving was on 11/23 which is one day away from the earliest possible date. Also, Christmas falls on a Monday so people won't be taking off of their jobs until the Friday before. This will give some of the longest and best travel time of the year.

Less amounts of people isn't the only benefit of pre-holiday travel. December is usually temperate as far as weather goes. Granted you won't be tanning in San Francisco but you won't be stranded by blizzards either. The ambiance that comes along with the cooler temperatures is breathtaking too.

"Favorable weather, low volume and superb deals make these three weeks a favorite of many frequent and seasoned travelers. By traveling in early and mid-December, you can skip the tourist hordes and high prices and still enjoy all the trappings of holiday travel: lights, decorated trees, candles and menorahs, the most dramatic storefront and household displays of the year, extraordinary civic and commercial exhibits, and, not least, enough good cheer to last all year." says Ed Hewitt of MSNBC, and it couldn't be more true.

Dealing with jet lag

2006-12-07T15:03:00.000-05:00

Besides the possible unknown factor of the food quality during your trip, what is the worst thing about trans-time-zone travel? The Jet Lag. Let's face it, no one likes feeling all groggy and gross after a long plane ride, and have to sleep at odd hours for a few days of a vacation because of a need to adjust to the whole hour difference situation. It stinks and it's probably one of the worst parts of a vacation.

But what actually is jet lag? In order to find out how to deal with it, we need to know what it is. According to Miriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, jet lag is

"a condition that is characterized by various psychological and physiological effects (as fatigue and irritability), occurs following long flight through several time zones, and prob. results from disruption of circadian rhythms in the human body called also jet fatigue."

The next question is what causes jet lag?

Jet lag is often caused by inter-time-zone travel, and generally going East is the worse than going West. Those who are used to change in their daily schedules, as well as children, are less susceptible to jet lag caused by this phenomenon.

Believe it or not, your condition before you fly is also a contributor to jet lag. If you are stressed, excited, sleepy, or even hungover before your flight, you are more likely to get jet lag as well. The best way to avoid that: Get plenty of rest and sleep before you travel. Your body will thank you for it.

For those who live in humid areas, another cause of jet lag is dry atmosphere. Dry atmosphere can also be irritating, period, not just a cause for jet lag. However, dry atmosphere in airplane cabins are a factor when it comes to jet lag. It can cause coughs, sore throat, or even the flu. The key to avoiding this is drinking plenty of water, or keeping water with you. This is tough what with the regulations for carry on fluids in the airline industry at the moment, but bring a few bottles of water on long flights to ensure that you're properly hydrated.

Alcohol and caffeine are a major source of jet lag! It's true! The effect of one glass of wine during flight at say... 30,000 feet has the same effect on your body as 2-3 glasses on the ground. Not only that, but alcohol and caffeine both dehydrate the body, which may lead to water retention swelling and whatnot. It's uncomfortable and it will be a sour start to your vacation.

Lack of exercise is another factor in jet lag. It's also one of the worst aspects of flying, especially on loooooong flights. If you have the opportunity and there's not a whole lot of turbulence, take a walk up and down the aisle, or stretch. It feels good, gets blood flowing, and eases some of your jet lag in the long run.

How can we deal with jet lag?

Firstly, make sure everything is all set before your trip. This way no bad surprises will make you all stressed out, and are not overly excited or tired. It is also a good idea to not go out drinking the night before, so you are not stuck with a hangover. If you must drink something, drink water and plenty of it. It's also alright to drink juice, but water is much more hydrating and preferable to your body's needs.

If it's an overnight flight you're going on, bring a blindfold or neckrests, and kick off your shoes to ease pressure on your feet so you can get a little rest during your flight. Some airlines provide sock like slippers, too. Another way to ease up on pressure on your legs and feet in a cramped space is exercise! If it's possible (i.e. no turbulence or something like that) take a walk up and down the aisle a few times. It will help with bloodflow and ease pressure in your legs.

Keep all this in mind the next time you do a trans-zone flight, and hopefully you'll find that your jet lag will diminish, letting you enjoy your trip more.

Happy times and clear skies!

Snow Happiness?

2006-11-29T09:36:00.000-05:00

Last winter I made my way out West to Steamboat Springs, Colorado (also known as Ski Town, U.S.A.) to visit family and hopefully snowboard with my nephews on Mt. Werner. I have to mention that it started snowing each day from when I arrived in late November, and didn't stop snowing until the day I flew back to sunny Orlando, Florida.

I arrived without a board or gear and lucked into my nephew's previous board, pants, and jacket since we were the same size. All I had to rent were the boots and bindings and I had to pay to get an edge and wax on my borrowed board. The resulting costs were not high, and I made out really well. My nephews took me to this really cool shop named The Click where I was able to rent and purchase what I still needed and spent less than $100. The fact that my nephews are loyal customers of The Click may have had something to do with the great deal I received, but they were very reasonably priced anyway. It was a blessing to be able to borrow a board since all of the shops were completely depleted of rentals.

My advice to you is to reserve or purchase your board and gear ahead of time because they do go quickly.

Throughout the whole trip, the most I shelled out was around $400 for lift passes, which wasn't too bad. Although, if I had bought my passes before I arrived I could have saved quite a few dollars. After beating myself up on the slopes and in the terrain park, I went to Strawberry Park to unwind by taking a dip in their hot springs. It was such a relaxing experience and a highly recommended stop. Steamboat is set in a relaxed atmosphere at 6,695 feet above sea level, and everyone I met there was extremely friendly and down-to-earth.

Other than spending most of my time on the mountain, I also enjoyed stopping in the shops that are owned and operated by locals in the downtown Steamboat area. (I mean, who really wants to go to the same old shops as they have back home?) One place I wandered into was the Off the Beaten Path Bookstore. In addition to being a Wireless Hot-Spot, they had a wide array of books to choose from and a wonderful coffee house, wine bar, and cafe combined under one name of "Elements".

A restaurant that I enjoyed was The Tap House Sports Grill. It's a family environment with great price lists on their menu, especially on "Wing Tuesday" with 3 wings for a dollar!

From the time I arrived until the day I left, over 300 inches of snow descended from the heavens. It was any boarder's dream made reality. Steamboat is a spectacular place to visit! And I would recommend scheduling as much time as possible to vacation there. With breath-taking views and all around enjoyment, what else could anyone desire on a trip?

Photo by Shaun Quinlan (lightbox) at Morguefile.com

Apple Makes Deal with Airlines

2006-11-28T16:47:00.000-05:00

The iPod is currently the world's best-selling digital audio player and its worldwide mainstream adoption makes it one of the most popular consumer brands. The creators, Apple, have teamed up with six different airlines to enable them to offer passengers seat connections that will power and charge their iPods during flight and allow the video content on their iPods to be viewed on the back of the seat's displays.

Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United, will have the option available in mid-2007, but those airlines probably will be just the beginning of many. Apple said it is working with Panasonic Avionics Corporation to bring in-flight iPod connectivity to more leading airlines. Apparently, they are going to be using a system that is solely ipod-friendly, so no other players will work. This gives iPod an advantage over its competitors once again.

Seemingly everyone (including myself) wants an iPod these days, making it well ahead in popularity of all other players, and it's no surprise that they've already sold 70 million units. Where in the world do these teenagers come up with $300 to spend so freely and guiltlessly?! When you find the answer please let me know so I can buy one! Apple's booming iTunes store online offers over 3.5 million songs, 65,000 podcasts, 20,000 audiobooks, 5,000 music videos, 250 television shows and 100 movies. I too have tapped into the wonder that is iTunes and must admit that it is a heavenly abyss of musical and visual entertainment.

Delta must agree because its expecting to equip its entire domestic transcontinental fleet with those little suckers, fully functional by 2008. Also, Delta gave the news about its fall launch of an upgraded transcontinental product that includes digital, in-flight entertainment with on-demand movies and live satellite television.

With the expansion of the iPod in this manner, the airline company expects to offer it to all travelers on domestic flights longer than four hours by the end of 2008. So get ready all you travelers who love iPods! A new generation of flights awaits you!

Orlando Is On A Roll

2006-11-28T15:40:00.000-05:00

Families with children have been flocking to Orlando for domestic leisure trips increasingly each year. Some 49.3 million visitors were reported visiting in 2005, generating about $29.6 billion from the tourist industry to the local economy. This information was researched by Global Insight. In 2005 alone, visitor statistics grew 3.3 percent from 2004 while spending grew by 4.2 percent.

The Orlando/Orange county Visitors Bureau, Inc. said that 46.6 million domestic visitors accounted for 95 percent of total visitation and 83 percent of visitor economic impact, totaling $24.6 billion. The area has 2.7 million international travelers which accounted for 5 percent of visitation, were responsible for 17 percent of visitor spending, adding a whopping $5 billion to the local economy.

Leisure visitation increased 3 percent to 36.2 million in 2005 and business travel shot to 4.2 percent to 10.4 million visits. Of business travelers, overnight visitors attending meetings, conferences, and conventions increased by 4.9 percent to 3.8 million.

Both domestic and business visitation to Orlando by Florida residents added up to 24.6 million in 2005, up 3.7 percent from 2004. Visitation by non-residents increased 2.9 percent to 22 million. The division between residents and non-residents of Florida remained unchanged from 2004 with Florida residents accounting for 53 percent of domestic visitation.

Overall, the number of domestic leisure visitors staying overnight increased by 3.2 percent to 23.6 million in 2005. The average leisure travel party in 2005 consisted of 2.9 visitors who spent an average of $1,585 over the course of 2.7 nights. Domestic overnight leisure visitors spent an average of 4.1 nights during their stay.

Families with Children accounted for 46 percent of domestic leisure travel, which was an increase from 41 percent in 2004. Sixty-five percent of domestic leisure travelers visited a theme park, making the attractions the top activity for visitors, which isn't a huge surprise.

Information from TravelAgent Magazine -Article by Joe Pike

Trip 2 Earth.com

2006-11-20T10:29:00.000-05:00

So I was thinking about traveling to Las Vegas to catch one of Lance Burton's shows, because you know, he's just an awesome magician (at least I think so, anyway) and I came across this site. It's awesome. It's so informative, and I had to blog about it. So here goes...

The site is called Trip2Earth.com. It's run by Attractions Wholesale Travel. It is waaaaaay ahead of its time. The developers of the site spent over a year in the design of the site, and it is actually the culmination of over two years of research, development, and conception. This site will revolutionize travel arrangements through the Internet.

So far, they have only launched three prime destinations, and many secondary destinations near those primary destinations. For instance, for their major Florida destination, Orlando, they have Trip2Orlandousa.com. The site also follows with trips to Tampa, Daytona Beach, Miami, Key West and other Florida destinations. For more details, check out Trip2Florida.com.

For Nevada, which was my destination, Las Vegas is the premier travel destination in Nevada, and is fully covered by Trip2Earth. Secondary destinations, Lake Tahoe and Reno, are also covered on the website with their own separate subdomains, complete with travel guides and accommodation information.

Eventually, I'm going to plan a trip to The Bahamas with my significant other, and lucky for me, Trip2Earth has all the information I need. Freeport is currently the location of choice on Trip2Earth, but Nassau and Paradise Island are soon to follow if their information page for The Islands of the Bahamas is any indication. Unlike Las Vegas and Orlando there isn't much of an event guide for Freeport. No one really goes to The Bahamas for parties or anything like that unless they are going for Spring Break or Junkanoo, which is sort of a mixture of Mardi Gras, New Year's, and Carnivale all rolled into one. When I go to The Bahamas I want to relax on a beach with an island drink next to me on a small table, and watch the sun set over the water. If I feel adventurous, I will go snorkeling in some of the clearest water in the world, or scuba diving through one of the world's top 5 largest reefs. If I'm in the mood for some shopping I'll head down to the International Bazaar in downtown Freeport. Trust me, heavy events and nightlife won't be the priority for that particular vacation. If I want that, I'll head to Miami, and not do the whole passport/international travel ordeal, but I want to live it up Island-style, so I'll do my relaxing in The Bahamas. However, if you do need to find events in The Bahamas, check out their Ministry of Tourism website.

With T2E I can look up my destination, book my hotel, get tickets to a show (or theme parks, if I'm in Orlando), get airfare and all that jazz, and basically do everything I need to do in one fell swoop. It's like one-stop shopping for all my travel needs! I love it! Though they've only just recently launched with three main destinations, over time, Trip2Earth will launch different locations complete with travel guides, hotel information, and some will even have event guides. Their information will not just cover the United States, but will extend to include global destinations as well. It is just a matter of time.

Common questions about cruising...

2006-11-02T11:03:00.000-05:00

There are so many reasons people won't go on cruises, but many of them are fears that are unfounded. These are a few of the common sentiments of those who make excuses as to why they shouldn't go on a cruising experience -- (insert whiny tone here)

It's too expensive!
I'll probably sink like the Titanic!
I'll get seasick!
I can't bring my kids!
I won't be able to stay in touch with people from home!
I have a social phobia or a severe claustrophobia!

I am going to address these and add a bit of my personal experience in the matter, since I have actually gone cruising before, and let me tell you.. it was fun!

It's too expensive!

Okay, so it seems a little expensive at first. But you have to bear in mind this amount covers food, lodging, discounts on shore excursion options, possible lower airfare, shows, amusements, etc. (No, this doesn't include alcohol, sorry) If you really want to think about it, it ends up costing you less than a land based vacation (like a road trip, especially with the price of gas these days, sheesh!). Furthermore, if you book in advance, for instance, through a Travel Agent, you might actually be able to pay it over a period of time. When I went on my trip, it was with my mother, and she was the one paying, as it was a birthday present for me, but she had made arrangements to pay it in installments for nearly a year in advance, but it was more manageable than paying it all at once, and we had a great time!

There is also the possibility of having your trip during certain parts of the year, such as in the shoulder parts of the season (near the beginning or the end of a season) and it might be cheaper since it's not a high season kind of fare, which is usually more expensive. I'd recommend talking to a travel agent, or the cruise line booking representative.

I'll probably sink like the Titanic!

Uh.. no. You will not have a Kate and Leo "I'll never let go, Jack" moment on your cruise. That kind of occurrence is highly unlikely to the point of being nigh impossible. For one, since the Titanic, cruises do not "damn the lifeboats" for the sake of being more aesthetically pleasing. Rather, the lifeboats are actually visible on the outside around mid-ship. Secondly, as part of procedure, within 24 hours of your voyage you are required to partake in a safety drill which shows you how to get to your assigned lifeboat and includes usage of those lovely bright orange life jackets. For me, it was a loud, somewhat uncomfortable, hot, and echo-y experience. I hated it, but good grief did I ever appreciate it! I did take pictures of the process, as I was the official/unofficial photographer for our first cruise, ever (and my mom wanted pictures of everything!).

Safety is paramount on the seas, and thanks to the international regulations known as SOLAS (from the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) all cruises have fire extinguishing systems, and smoke detectors to further contribute to passenger safety. For more information on passenger safety, MSN Travel has an article on Cruise Safety.

I'll get seasick!

There's actually a fat chance of this happening. Ships are really huge, and they have these things called stabilizers which keep the boat from rocking too much in water, ensuring a relatively smooth passage. I say relatively because if you're going against the current or if there's a small squall (that's a storm to you landlubbers) the seas can get a bit rougher, and you'll feel the motion of the ocean a bit more. But generally, you hardly feel it.. trust me. (I get motion sickness and I didn't feel a thing.) However, if you are really afraid of getting sick, don't hesitate to buy some Dramamine or Bonine from your local pharmacy. I recommend the non-drowsy stuff myself, because who wants to miss anything on their cruise?!? If you are unsure about taking meds on your vacation, or you just don't like pills, head to your doctor before you go, and see if you can get a Transderm patch, so that you don't have to take any pills. There are also more alternative and rather holistic remedies, as well. These include ginger capsules (ginger is a natural stomach soother for those queasy moments) and acupressure wristbands, which can also be found at your local drugstore.

I can't bring my kids!

Oh yes you can! Cruise companies are aware that their target customers bring kids, which means they have kid-friendly cruises. There are all sorts of supervised activities for all ages, from tots to teens. Some cruises even have babysitting available if you want to spend a romantic evening for two on the Promenade.. or whatever tickles your fancy.

I won't be able to stay in touch with people from home!

Yes you can! Sure, it costs an arm, a leg and a couple of other body parts to make calls from a cruise, especially on international waters, but most cruises nowadays have Internet cafes where you can pay for some Internet time and keep up with e-mail and send digital photos of your vacation to all your jealous friends! ;) I did it, and it wasn't too expensive. I was still able to keep in touch, and check up on my e-mails, which was important since I was about to go back to the university the following week.

I have a social phobia or a severe claustrophobia!

Then you probably won't like cruises. Cabins are not necessarily huge (unless you have some kind of suite or something), so they might make you feel a bit hemmed in, especially if you have an interior cabin with no window as opposed to one with a window. As for those who don't like crowds.. well, cruises tend to be somewhat crowded, full of different kinds of people, old and young alike. If these are your phobias... you might be better off in a different kind of vacation.

So be adventurous, take your cruise and explore that horizon... you just may enjoy it and want to come back for a second trip!

Until next time, clear skies and happy times!

Fliers Breathe Easier in 2008

2006-11-01T15:50:00.000-05:00

Many fliers have experienced the dry, poorly oxygenated airflow on airplanes. It's not unbelievable that passengers would want to bring masks on board to filter out the filthy air in effort to prevent them from catching a cold. No wonder airplanes make us sleepy. There's very little oxygen in the air!

The creator of the Boeing 787 finally heard the cries of the people and decided to act on it. Much research was done and a decision made to make a new model the Dreamliner, a new long-range, mid-size jet scheduled to begin running in 2008. This new airplane will have the capacity to hold around 300 passengers and will contain more oxygen and humidity with less pollutants. This will make a much easier, more breathable flight for most fliers.

Normally, air comes from the inside of the jet engines which is then cooled and sometimes filtered through high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters which then circulates inside the cabin. Because of the circulation within the cabin, you are basically breathing everyone else's air, including those who are sick. Not only that, but not all airplanes are equipped with filters. Only 75% have filters which capture bacteria, pollen, dust, and other kinds of contaminates. The other 25% of older planes have not been required to update their systems.

The new 787 system will be completely restructured. Currently the humidity in airplanes in 4% to keep costs down, but the new model will be able to give off 15% humidity because the air will be coming directly from the outside rather than the engine. Also, the cabin air pressure will be adjustable by the crew depending on the numbers of passengers. It will be possible to make it feel like you are flying at 6, 000 feet altitude rather than 8,000. Consequently, there will be 8% more oxygen being absorbed into the blood, making people feel a lot better.

Airlines are already crazy about the dreamliner. Approximately 400 have already been ordered. The new jet will be more efficient in that it will be lighter, faster, and cheaper than its competitors. On longer flights of 8 or more hours, occupants are expected to feel much more refreshed upon arrival. Comfort obviously makes a huge difference!

Self-Serve Check In/Out

2006-10-26T15:13:00.000-04:00

Many hotels are now following in the footsteps of the airline check-in counters with their own check-in/check-out kiosks. Like the kiosks in the airport, these kiosks are to ease the flow and the time of checking in and out by providing the opportunity to choose a room and provide the magnetic key card, as well as providing payment options and expedient check-out.

Will this finally replace the check-in desks at hotels? While it is a hope that it will decrease the labor costs because the process is handled by a machine rather than a person, it is not exactly a concrete guarantee.

According to an article in the June 27, 2005 issue of TravelAgent Magazine, the kiosks are just a service provided to customers so that they don't have to wait in long lines, and the person at the Customer Service Desk can help those who actually need to speak to someone.

More will come on this I imagine....

"An American Student in London" - Preparations...

2006-10-18T11:21:00.000-04:00

Seeing that this is a travel blog, and I have done some traveling, I wanted to share my experience as an exchange student in London during the summer between my junior and senior years of college. Now, let me establish that the university I was attending did have a study abroad program, but the locations were not what I wanted, nor were the classes offered, so I decided to go with my own. After a few months of research, I came across the American Institute for Foreign Study. Their all-inclusive package was the one that appealed to me the most, and made sure to offer the most information which was a relief to my mother. I won't bother to go through the process I undertook to get the classes that I was taking approved and accredited with my institution, as it is not relevant to this article, but I will say... be prepared for a lot of paperwork if you're a student who is deciding to go the same route that I did, especially if you're also adding financial aid to the mix!

I budgeted about... $12,000 USD for my entire trip. The program, including tuition, room and board, and airline travel expenses all were about $8,000 give or take a few hundred, so I had about $4, 000 to spend for six weeks on excursions, dining out, a few pints at some local pubs, a Tube pass for at least a month and a few weeks, souvenirs and theatre shows for my first class. I budgeted about $200 USD/week for needs after the Tube pass necessity was out of the way. Depending on the exchange rates while you're there, you might need more or less money depending on what you have to do. For up-to-date info on the exchange rates around the world check out XE.com.

When all the I's were dotted and all the T's were finally crossed, I found myself at the International Terminal at my local international airport (again not important to name names). Outbound from the U.S. to London's Heathrow, I didn't have too much trouble with TSA, just the usual security measures, and viewing of my passport. I was there uber early, though, about three hours' worth, just in case, but it wasn't too bad. About two weeks prior to my trip, I had received my information packet, including the letter that said that I was indeed accepted into the program and that I would be staying at a dormitory, and whatnot. This was very important to keep in my carry-on stuff along with my passport, and you'll see why later. The information packet also included emergency phone numbers (which did come in handy), a travel itinerary, some information about London, and, being an exchange student, safety tips, and information about our traveler's health insurance. This is information you should always keep handy. You'll never know when you might need it.

I was excited that I was going on this trip all by myself outside the country! It was my first time, and I was a bit intimidated, too. Just before I boarded the plane I talked to my mom on the phone -- the first of many phone calls during that trip! She was a little freaked, too. After all, her youngest child was heading off to England alone!

She wished me luck on my trip, asked me to call her when I got there, regardless that it would be 2 AM EST when I arrived at the airport! She wouldn't sleep well until she knew I was safely on the ground and in my dorms. She also asked that I keep in contact with home and send pictures of my adventures. Then.. I boarded the plane, said a quick prayer to God that I wouldn't drown or crash over the Atlantic Ocean, and met the other students that were from my area who were on the same program. After months of preparation I was off to Merrie Olde England!

To prepare for the trip I had a checklist provided by the AIFS, as well as other bits of information from the U.S. State Department and the British Consulate or Embassy. I wanted to familiarize myself with where I was going, both for the sake of safety, and because it was fun! I actually started gathering and packing stuff for my trip about 2 months in advance! I also had my mother make TWO copies of my Passport and my Driver's License. This is very, very important to do, and excellent advice! I did this because I kept a copy at home with my mother, along with any paperwork and travel information she needed, and I kept the originals and the copies with myself for my trip. While in London, I carried around the copy of my passport and my actual license for ID purposes, and I kept my passport in the lock up safe in my dorm room. Hierarchally speaking, my passport (with my social security number and vital citizenship info) was more important to me than my Driver's license (which has a number and some info, but not my SSN).

I also made sure I met the luggage requirements for the airline I was traveling. The two major carriers for the U.S. to U.K. travel are Virgin Atlantic and British Airways. In addition to all that, also had to make sure I had enough medicine and toiletries for six weeks, and I had enough room in my luggage for all of it. I know that stores in England would have what I needed, like shampoo and other hair care products, and pretty much anything major that I needed, but I'm pretty picky about stuff for my hair, and since I was going to a foreign country, then I wanted to make sure I knew what I was using. For the most part, however, if you're staying longer than two weeks, just buy your toiletries over there.

Another piece of good advice that I received was to have at least $200 USD in British pounds sterling (they don't use the Euro) as free money divided among my person and things. It would be useful to have some cash on hand at least at the beginning. Trust me, it was very useful!

Finally, I had to make sure I packed correctly. I wanted to bring back souvenirs for family and friends, and I needed to make sure I'd have some room in my luggage for the t-shirts, shot glasses, and other memorabilia.

Photo of the British Phone Booths courtesy of Mirakel G. Mayoral (latinspaceangel), Morguefile.com

Etiquette at 30,000 feet.

2006-10-17T16:07:00.000-04:00

As airplane passengers, anticipation and excitement (or dread) usually comes with being unaware of who you will be placed next to when you board a plane. If you fly frequently, you're sure to have experienced the seat adjacent to the crazy old grandma, the snoring narcoleptic, the crying baby, or better yet, the insomnia-stricken blabbermouth. Unfortunately, airlines don't provide a little red button reading "trap door" to send your seatmate into a cloudy abyss, but if you dig a little bit, you will find that there are many advantages to simply knowing how to interact with strangers.

Flying is a perfect place to pick up ideas and trends, especially in technology. In striking up a conversation, you may find that this new seatmate of yours would actually be a potential client and you may find yourself giving him your business card. A few good etiquette tips are: be sure to speak softly, avoid personal questions, and read the person's body language. Somehow being confined to a small space for a number of hours gives people a sense of togetherness and it's not hard to find something in common (like how horrible the flight is).

However there are some perils to provoking even small-talk with a complete stranger. An example of this would be listening to seemingly endless hours of nonsense about the person's last surgery. In these cases you must be prepared with escape techniques. You may use gestures and body language to do this rather than rudely ending a conversation and being stuck in an "awkward silence" position for the rest of your flight. Putting on headphones, reading a book, or faking sleep, are all not-so-rude techniques to get out of a fix.

While terror attacks and bomb threats have decreased tourist activity in the past few years, numbers are once again rising. Airlines are beginning to replace their 136-seat MD-80s with 188-seat 757s in order to better accommodate the mass quantities of travelers. So in the midst of your travel to a new and exciting land, be sure to be friendly because you'll never know the treasures you'll find!

The 'Ugly American'

2006-10-17T14:57:00.000-04:00

We love to travel, but how do other countries see us? Even more of an issue is how do we not stand out as the "Ugly American" or even as an American in foreign countries we are visiting?

Recently MSN's Travel Editors published an article talking about the "Ugly American" and it is now a debate topic on the MSN message boards. Many of us don't see (and some don't care) about how the world views American tourists. Over the past decade views of American tourists have worsened around the world, mostly due to our government's actions, but also due to the collective cultural identity that we have established over the course of world history. When we go overseas we represent the United States in some way, and while the outspoken American is valued here in the States, it may not be so around the world.

It seems that we have somehow obtained the collective personality of being crass, boastful, arrogant, and disrespectful of the local culture. While some people are like that, not everyone is, but a few bad apples ruin the bushel.

An organization named Business for Diplomatic Action was has published the World Citizen's Guide as a tool to suggest proper behavior when traveling abroad. Some might think there is no need for such a guide, and that Americans should be able to act any way they please, but the BDA seems to feel as the economy and business go global, it is imperative to take a look at how the rest of the world views us, and take a long, hard look at how we act when visiting another country. It's like being in someone's home. You don't want to go into someone's home and insult them, do you? By the same token, don't go into another's home country and insult the culture! It's called the Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

Some of the tips they offer on their website include:

Be humble. No one like a braggart, and in many countries it's considered rude to boast, so keep the fact that you have money or power to a minimum.
Keep from lecturing. If it's not a compliment, or even necessary, don't say anything. No one likes a know-it-all. Who knows? You might learn something!
Keep your voice down. Being loud is considered rude in a lot of countries, especially those with a particularly reverent kind of people or religion.
Keep your words clean! There are a lot of places where even casual profanity is frowned upon, or even implicitly unacceptable. Keep the profanity to your hotel room, or save it for your private moments, but don't go offending the local populace, even accidentally.
Appearance is everything. In many countries throughout the world there are standards of dress. For example, while here in the U.S. it's perfectly allowable for women to go around in shorts and a tank top, there are other countries that will find that kind of attire disrespectful to their culture or their beliefs.

My advice is simply to do your homework before you go anywhere that's not in the United States. Make sure that you know a little about the place you're going (or a lot if that's your preference ^_^) . Learn about some local customs, local foods, or even local ways of saying hello, thank you, etc. If we can all make an effort perhaps the negative "Ugly American" stereotype will start to change.

Mini tour of Israel

2006-10-12T15:31:00.000-04:00

When entering one's home, a visitor abides by the invisible rules of respect and courtesy in exchange for the host's hospitality. The same applies to a tourist in a foreign country; you would not want to disturb the citizens of Israel in their own homeland. However, foreigners are encouraged to ask questions because the friendly natives are more than eager to share about their heritage, politics, and religion. Just be sure you are talking to trustworthy people who won't take advantage of your naivete. If you take a trip to Israel, the one phrase you will probably learn return home with is shalom which means "peace" but is used as a greeting.

Contrary to popular belief, you won't find the majority of the country walking around in jet-black suites with curls streaming down their heads, running around reciting words from a little prayer book all day long.

Israelis are dressed, for the most part, casually. Exceptions are in religious holy places where modest attire is appropriate for the occasion. If you want to see the Orthodox in mass quantities, go to the infamous Wailing Wall where you will find many people bowing and praying or writing prayers on little pieces of paper which are then shoved into cracks in the wall.

Customs are slightly different than that of other countries, especially America. Almost everything shuts down for shabbat which is the Jewish Sabbath, or religious high holidays. Shabbat always falls on Friday nights at sunset until sunset the next day. Most people stay indoors during this time, for it is a holy time, so you won't find buses running or shops open, and very few people will be on the roads. You will want to find a place to stay and rest, keeping in mind that smoking is usually offensive to the Orthodox Jews on this day.

Cuisine in Israel is absolutely amazing. The different styles of foods, from spicy to sweet, represent the different places Jews have come from all over the world. Most restaurants follow the original dietary laws and are labeled kosher which means "fit to eat." These dietary laws stretch back thousands of years. Even though prescriptions are specific, there is room for interpretation in many cases. Don't be weary, you may find some places that will serve a pile of bacon and a cold glass of milk, you just have to search.

As for transportation, buses are the most efficient automobiles to get from place to place because of how cheap and fast they are. Many citizens do not even own cars, but rather use the bus transportation system provided by the government. Two bus companies EGGES and DAN are the most popular.

For a guided tour of the land, go here. You may build your own dream tour and go to the places you personally would like to visit. Ofcourse you may have to do some research of your own to find a less expensive price.

All-in-all this country is not one you would want to miss when traveling the world. They say if you ever get a chance to travel anywhere in the world, go to Israel. It is rich in religious diversity and is overflowing with enriching historical facts and sites that can even be found in the Bible.

Baby's First Passport

2006-10-04T17:30:00.000-04:00

It has been decreed by the powers that be (aka The United States Department of State) that now everyone traveling outside the US needs a passport! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that means that your 3-month old child needs a passport if you're taking them over the border to Canada to see Niagara Falls. On the U.S. DoS website, under "Minors under age 14" there is a list of documents needed for all minors under the age of 14, including infants, to get their first passport.

For minors under the age of 15, a passport is valid for 5 years, while for those 15 + it's valid for 10 years. It is a good idea, however, to get Baby's passport renewed every few years if you are the type of family that travels a lot.

Something to remember: First-timers under 14 years of age need to have certain documents, as well as both parents' signatures in order to make their application official and satisfactory. If the child is under the custody of one parent only, then that parent must show notarized proof (such as a court order of custody, including travel) that he/she can sign for the minor without the other parent being present. If that, or any of the forms listed in the "under 14" section of the site, is not available, then the parent will have to fill out a separate form - the DS-3053 which also needs to be notarized.

Another reminder: It is now required to have an appointment with a Passport Agency (if you decide to go that route instead of, say, your local post office or any other public passport acceptance facility). Each one is designated a specific area and being found in Boston, Chicago, Colorado, Connecticut, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C.

So if you want to take your new baby to your family's home somewhere outside the U.S. for the holidays, you better start the passport paperwork now, as it takes approximately six weeks for all the processing to go through.

More to come regarding passports and international travel...

Happy traveling and clear skies!!

Passport Photograph by Kevin Connors - Morguefile.com

Space Travel - the idea takes flight!

2006-09-29T16:08:00.000-04:00

Thursday, September 28, 2006 - Richard Branson, Virgin, announced that they are launching a program to take travelers to space for a mere $200,000 per seat. They are in the planning stages with Mojave, California-based Scaled Composites and aerospace designer Burt Rutan.

SpaceShipTwo spacecraft will begin testing in 2008 and they are hopeful to have the spacecraft in production and taking passengers into space in 2009.

The vehicles will be three times larger than Rutan's SpaceShipOne (pictured above) and will carry six passengers and two pilots from a modified Boeing 757.

More to come I imagine.

Happy Liquids!

2006-09-27T12:56:00.000-04:00

Many of you will be happy to know that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has loosened up with some of their stringent rules as far as airport security with regard to liquids and gels in carry-on airplane transit. Now, instead of carrying no liquids (which was bad news for the people traveling with babies and small kids, as well as anyone who has to travel with liquid medication of any kind) a traveler is now able to carry 3 ounces or less of travel-sized toiletries in one clear quart-sized zip-locked baggie. The TSA doesn't see that rule changing any time soon, according to their website.

This is bad news for all those travelers who don't like travel-sized toiletries, or those who are staying longer than a few days. Those who don't like travel-sized toiletries, or the brands available for those toiletries are either going to have to buy those small travel bottles and fill them with their own products, or, put the larger bottles (if they have them/need them) into checked luggage. For a list of items you can and cannot bring onto a plane refer to the TSA's Permitted and Prohibited List.

People with medications and those who are traveling with babies are also able to travel with their respective liquid needs, like insulin for diabetics, or baby formula for moms. These items are also prone to inspection, but instead of being inspected through the X-ray machine, they are to be taken out of their bags, pouches, etc. and handed to a TSA agent so that it could be inspected and marked.

The TSA offers ideas for a smoother security experience on their website, and even have some videos to show what to expect when going through the screening process to make it go by a little bit faster. The best plan is to declutter your carry-on making it easy for the machine to go through X-ray and for the TSA agents to do their job.

On another more upbeat note, now items you buy after the security checkpoint, such as water or juice in those little kiosk things, just before you head to your gate, are allowed on the flight as well. This means that you or your kids don't have to go thirsty on that two hour flight anymore!