Archive for the ‘tips’ Category

Tips for Surviving Atlanta’s (and the World’s) Busiest Airport

March 30th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations tips

Flying somewhere for spring break? Chances are that if you booked any number of cheap flights for anywhere in the vicinity of the Southeast, or even the east coast in general, you’ll find yourself in one of the terminals of the world’s busiest airport. That would be Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. According to a recent study just released by the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Hartsfield-Jackson resumed its top spot of handling the most passengers: 42+ million (Chicago’s O’Hare was second, but wasn’t even close with 31 million).

Serving as a primary hub for two top airlines, and with service to each continent (minus Antartica), there’s little surprise that it’s so frequented. But it can also be a little intimidating for those unfamiliar with it, seeing that it has more than a million employees, five different runways, two separate terminals leading to six concourses of 151 domestic and 28 international gates that total nearly six million square feet of space, and more than 50 Atlanta hotels surrounding the property. It’s big. Really big. And busy (which is very appropriate given it’s in The City Too Busy to Hate). Which can be a little intimidating. So how do you survive Hartsfield-Jackson while on your way to vacation? It’s not all that difficult—here are a few tips on navigating the world’s busiest airport.
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Books to Pack for your Beach Vacation

March 29th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
beaches tips

Packing for a week-long beach vacation cannot be taken too lightly. Well, for some people. For me, it’s just throwing in a couple of t-shirts, flip flops, baseball cap, and my bathing suit and I’m set. That’s why I sometimes get sunburned. Or wind up spending too much money at the local beach boutique or the gift shop of that Tampa hotel because I’ve forgotten all those little things: suntan lotion, beach towels, chairs, drinks, snacks for the kids, etc. Fortunately, my wife is a much better planner when it comes to that stuff.

We recently talked about the right types of shoes to take with you based on the kind of vacation on which you’re going, but there’s something else that should be given careful consideration when packing your bags: what books to bring. Speaking of my wife, she’s a voracious reader, often absorbing two to three novels a week. And when we’re lounging at the beach for a week, that number can easily double or even triple (especially if getting there involved any layovers for connecting flights). Reading on a vacation is great because 1) It’s something I rarely have time to do when I’m traveling at light-speed in the real world and 2) It allows you to escape even further from reality while you’re getting away from it all.

So to help you pack for the sand, sun, and sea, here are five classics to toss in the beach bag:
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Find the Right Fit for Your Vacation Plans

March 26th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
tips

This time of year, packing can be problematic. Especially when it comes to what goes on your feet. There are so many different great vacation packages out there right now during this spring break season offering a plethora of climate options. It could be snow skiing down the slopes of the Rockies or somewhere on the east coast, lounging around the pool of some Las Vegas resort, hiking down the Appalachian Trail, or chilling on South Beach. Regardless of what it is, you need to dress appropriately for the occasion.

That’s not implying there’s a dress code for vacation, but rather getting the most out of it by making sure your feet are happy (comfortable and protected) by wearing the right footwear. They say if the shoe fits, wear it—just make sure it matches your vacation. Here are five different kinds of shoes to pack for the specific kind of vacation on which you’re going (in addition to the easy slide on and off pair you wear to make those security searches before boarding your flights go easier):
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Earning Airline Perks

February 19th
2010
by Becky Youman
posted in:
South America news tips

Want free airfare for your unborn child? Try to give birth on one of Bolivian airline TAM’s flights. A couple of weeks ago a woman went into labor on a flight to La Paz and ended up delivering her baby at 24,000 feet. Luckily there were both a doctor and nurse onboard as passengers who assisted in the delivery. According to the Miami Herald, the child will be given free domestic flights on the airline until she reaches the age of 18. In a funny twist, the girl’s mother named the newborn Tami in honor of the airline.

While you might not be willing (or able) to go to those lengths to get cheap tickets or free airfare, there are other things that you can do to try to get airline perks.

Fly the Same Airline – A Lot: As we all learned from watching George Clooney’s character Ryan Bingham in Up in the Air, super-elite frequent fliers are treated like royalty by airlines. News stories since the movie came out have reported airlines that have private check-in areas and procedures for these fliers, as well as unique meal and boarding services. These VIPs get rebooked as soon as there is a flight delay and even have connecting flights held for them.

Even if you don’t make the super-elite status, having any status at all on an airline is a good thing. People who qualify for the lowest level of elite status on US Airways for example, get free space-available upgrades, are allowed to check in via the always shorter first class lines, and are one of the first groups to board the airplane, meaning they don’t have to fight for overhead space. Another perk, not having to pay for checked bags, is a bonus with true monetary value these days.
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All Aboard: Take the Train on your Next Vacation

February 19th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
destinations tips

It’s been quite an interesting couple of weeks for air travel. Last week we had a rash of cancelled flights due to the bad weather, and there’s been all kinds of personal rights controversy as of late with how the full body scanners work that are in use at numerous airports now. And then there’s the latest beef, involving filmmaker / actor Kevin Smith who was removed from his flight because of his girth and forced to buy an additional ticket to accommodate his size. He responded by shedding his Silent Bob side and lashing out about the policy via Twitter which caused a media firestorm (interestingly enough, this topic is something that was hotly debated here nearly a year ago).

All that to say, you can avoid all of these issues by considering a different travel option—one that’s been used for nearly two centuries, and was instrumental in the social and economic growth of the U.S. in the late 19th / early 20th century. Can you say, “All aboard?” Or to quote the Quad City DJ’s, “Come on ride that train!” Still vastly popular across the globe (especially if you’re on a European vacation), rail service is a viable option here in the States as well, with service across each region of the U.S. and in most major cities. There are many reasons to consider taking the train for your next trip—not in the least because it can be a vacation within a vacation. Here are several reasons why:
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Traveling with Baby

January 14th
2010
by Becky Youman
posted in:
tips

Because my six-year-old daughter is an experienced international traveler with more stamps in her passport than many adults have, friends with babies often come to me for advice on traveling with small children. Many of them were intrepid explorers before the arrival of junior, but are now terrified to take to the skies or road with a potentially screaming banshee. They are afraid that the upside of any cheap flights or hotel deals won’t outweigh the hassles of traveling with their new offspring.

I always tell them that it’s usually much harder in their imaginations that it turns out to be in real life. While they will probably spend more time in their Acapulco hotels than they would pre-baby, there is absolutely no reason not to take those Mexico vacations.

Anybody about to embark on a trip with their baby can read one of the hundreds of lists available on the internet with tips about the need to be flexible, to bring plenty of food, to have extra diapers and the like. The hints I am about to offer are some of the little extras gleaned through trial and error when my own daughter was small. (She is now a traveling pro who can get through a security line as fast as George Clooney does in Up in the Air.)

Buy a huge box of individually wrapped sets of earplugs: This was the single best thing we did to help alleviate the stress (ours) of airplane flights. You can’t really control whether or not your baby is going to cry, but you can control how that affects the people around you. We would board the plane and pass out earplugs to the people in our row and to those in the two rows in front of and behind us. It totally changed the atmosphere. The “Oh God, here comes a baby” looks immediately changed to smiles and laughs. People totally appreciated the fact that we had their comfort in mind. (They also appreciated the earplugs when our daughter was wailing away on takeoff or landing.) I ordered an industrial-sized box used in factories and just loaded a big handful of earplugs into the diaper bag each time we flew.

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New Year’s Resolutions: Ten Travel To-Do’s for 2010

December 29th
2009
by Jessica Mordo
posted in:
U.S. Mid-Atlantic U.S. Northeast activities beaches food outdoor adventure tips

Everyone’s been making Top Ten lists for 2009, or for the decade. I’m jumping on the list-making bandwagon, but with a twist: I thought I’d look forward instead of backward and muse on my top Northeast travel recommendations for the new year. While the economic outlook still seems uncertain, I’m also pondering recession-friendly ways to get the most out of your travel dollars, whether it’s visiting a dreamy National Park instead of a fancy resort, touring by bicycle rather than renting a car, or visiting regional destinations vs. foreign ones. So here they are, my ten picks for Northeast travel in ‘10, state by state.

acadia1) Explore Acadia National Park
The crown jewel of the wild Maine coast should really be on everyone’s list of dream destinations. Situated on offshore islands in the Atlantic, Acadia has it all: mountains, sea, lush woodlands, and lakes, not to mention abundant wildlife, including moose and black bear. It’s an outdoor enthusiast’s fantasy, with ample terrain for hiking, cycling, kayaking, and other water-bound activities, and while camping is a popular option, cabins and other rentals are available for those who prefer to balance active days with cozier nights.

VTmaple2) Savor Vermont’s culinary offerings
Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is known the world over as Vermont’s finest, but the Green Mountain State is famous for other delicious products that are best straight from the source. You can learn about the magical processes of tapping maple syrup and crafting sharp Cabot Cheddar cheese–and, of course, do some taste-testing. Good thing there are abundant places to experience maple and Cheddar yumminess throughout Vermont, so you’ll have a workable sample size. Pfew! (more…)

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Thanksgiving Road Trip Travel Tips

November 24th
2009
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
tips

trafficGet your motor running, and head out on the highway—along with the other 38 million Americans (as estimated by AAA) this week for Thanksgiving related travel. While you can still try to get a cheap flight with some last minute deals, the majority of holiday travelers will be crowding the roads and driving 50+ miles or more to see relatives, dine on turkey, and watch the hapless Lions play football.

It’s something I’ve sworn off for four years now, following back-to-back years of gridlocked interstates and drive times doubling from the usual seven hours to 14 (and with justifiably irritated kids crying in the back seat—you can only take so much Elmo or VeggieTales after all). But after initially planning to serve turkey at home, we made a late decision last week to brave the highways this Thanksgiving—higher gas prices, gridlock, I-75 road construction, and check engine lights be darned—and visit family for the holiday.

So to help us all with our cross-state or cross-country travel frustration (because you’ll get enough of that having to sit next to that cousin you don’t like all that much or your weird Uncle Ted at the dinner table), here are some Thanksgiving road travel tips to make sure you won’t be belly aching before taking that first bite of turkey.

Know Where You’re Going – GPS is great. But it never hurts to have written directions that you’ve confirmed with your destination host, whether it’s the concierge at the Orlando hotel where you’re staying, or your Aunt Martha. Nothing’s worse than being lost when you’re stuck in bad traffic—well, almost…
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Navigating Cancun’s Airport

November 5th
2009
by Becky Youman
posted in:
Mexico destinations tips

planeMaking my way through the obstacle course of Immigrations, Customs, timeshare salesmen, and taxi drivers after landing at the airport on my last Cancun vacation, it occurred to me that the experience might be overwhelming for somebody accustomed to traveling within the United States. I think one of the reasons that so many travelers start pounding Mexican beer as soon as they arrive to their Cancun hotels is the craziness they experience at the airport.

With that in mind, here is a step-by-step primer for making your way through the Cancun airport:

Before You Land: Customs and Immigration Paperwork

Make sure that you have your paperwork filled out correctly before you get off the airplane. That means entering your information in both the top and bottom sections of the immigration form. You will keep the bottom section with you while you are in Mexico and return it when you leave. Make sure that you turn the form over and sign it in both places that require your John Hancock.

There are people stationed to check your paperwork when you get off the plane. If yours is filled out correctly they let you continue, but if not you have to correct it there. Having your paperwork filled out the right way the first time usually allows you a jump on the other passengers when you arrive to the Immigration line.
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Seeing New York City on a Budget

September 21st
2009
by Jessica Mordo
posted in:
U.S. Northeast tips

I have a running joke about New York City: from the moment you arrive, money starts uncontrollably spilling out of your pockets. To be sure, the Big Apple is an expensive place to visit, what with its world-class attractions, bustling nightlife, exquisite eateries, and the convenience of hailing one of the city’s ubiquitous taxis. However, don’t fret–your New York City vacation can be done on a budget. Read on for the city’s top free and low-cost attractions, discounted performances, and cheap eats. The best part is, all of these savings will allow you to splurge some more on a fabulous New York City hotel.

Museums & Other Attractions

met rooftopAt select times, many of Manhattan’s top museums waive their usually steep admission fees to offer free or pay-what-you-wish entry. Friday evening is prime time for free art, as the Museum of Modern Art opens its doors gratis from 4 to 8pm, the Whitney Museum waives admission from 6 to 9pm (and offers live music and other free events to boot), and, starting at 5:45pm, the Guggenheim Museum asks for a donation amount to be determined by the visitor. Several museums–including the legendary Metropolitan Museum of Art and American Museum of Natural History–always have a suggested donation amount that most visitors pay in full, but in reality museum-goers can pay the amount they wish. (more…)

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