One of my favorite ways to research my travel destinations, as well as have a little enjoyment all year long, is a magazine subscription.

There are some great general travel magazines that I get every month, and additionally, if I know that I will be traveling to one particularly destination, I also like to subscribe to that city’s regional magazine.  It’s an easy way to get current information about what’s going on, new restaurant openings (that you won’t find in a guide book), current events, festivals, etc.  For a relatively small investment, you can learn a lot. 

And the small investment required just a got easier, with a special promotion from Amazon.

Through March 31st, Amazon is offering $5 and $10 bonus certificates with the purchase of selected magazine subscriptions.

There is a pretty good list of travel and regional magazines to consider, so take a look:

• Conde Nast Traveler
• Travel + Leisure
• Sunset
• Texas Monthly
• Los Angeles Magazine
• Coastal Living
• Atlanta Magazine
• Midwest Living
• Orange Coast
• Southern Living
• Indianapolis Monthly
• Cincinnati Magazine

Check out the full list of magazines offering bonuses to see if there’s something that’s just right for you.  This is cheap research!

Image credit:  Amazon

The confusion between a direct flight and a non-stop flight comes up all the time, so it’s worth a mention again.  It’s a key travel decision that you need to keep straight.

They are not the same thing, and if you don’t pay attention to the difference, you may find yourself on a direct flight from Miami to Seattle with all sorts of stops in between.

Here’s a simple explanation of the difference.

Non-Stop Flight:  You will travel from your Departure City to your Arrival City without any scheduled stops in between.  One take off, one landing, one airplane.  It’s the fastest way to get from one place to another, and often the most expensive.

Direct Flight:  You will travel from your Departure City to your Arrival City on the same flight, but there may be stops between the two.  There may even be a change of planes, although that is not typically the case.  Multiple takes offs, multiple landings, and potentially multiple aircraft.  This is a lengthier way to get from one place to another, and with every stop you increase the chances for delays, cancellations, weather problems, or mechanicals. 

And as a third option, you may be making a Connecting Flight.  You will travel from your Departure City to a Connecting City where you will go to another flight, sometimes another airlines, and get on connecting flight that will take you to your Destination City.  There are lots of factors that go into making a connection, so keep in mind minimum connection time.

Given a choice – I’d always recommend choosing take a direct flight.

Image credit:  SXC

With all the tools available for booking travel online, more and more people choose to do it themselves rather than use the services of a travel agent.

I think the ability to research, sleuth out the best and perfect deal, and make reservations yourself is a wonderful thing.  BUT – it also means that you have to take responsibility for those reservations, including the mistakes that you make.

One mistake that I’m seeing on a regular basis, is travelers not allowing sufficient time to make a connection.  This can have unintended consequence that can wind up costing you money.

Here are a few scenarios, and my recommendations on making sure you have enough time to make your connection:

You are traveling domestically on Airline A and are connecting to another domestic flight also on Airline A:

If it’s a large airport, I’d allow no less than 45 minutes.  That gives you time to get off one plane, walk to another gate, and board another.  It has a little built in room in case there’s a small delay.  I’ve seen people do it in 30 minutes, but I’d not take that chance unless it is a very small airport.  Under 30 minutes is just asking for trouble.

You are traveling domestically on Airline A and are connecting to a domestic flight on Airline B:

I’d probably go with 45 minutes unless I knew that the connecting gate areas were at opposite ends of a busy airport.  Then I’d allow an hour.

You have purchased two separate tickets (rather than one) and will need to get to another gate to make that flight:

This is the riskiest scenario of all.  Because you have two different tickets, and if you miss the connection, the second airline will assume you are a no show and will cancel your ticket.  Will you be able to convince them to reinstate it?  Maybe.  Will there be a fee associated with it?  Most likely.  If you are going to take this option, I recommend leaving lots and lots of time to make the connection.  Don’t try to cut it short and find yourself without a flight.  Depending on the airport and the airlines, I’d suggest hours and hours of a cushion.

You are traveling domestically on Airline A and are connecting to an international flight on any carrier:

I’d allow no less than an hour at a smaller airport and 90 minutes at a major hub.  The reason?  You will most likely have to go to the international terminal, and that’s going to take some time.  Depending on the airport, you may have to go back through security (LAX for example).  That means you need to allow for time in line and clearing security.  You also want to make sure there’s time for your bag to make it as well.  And if you’re flight is early and everything goes smoothly, you can use those few extra minutes to browse duty free!

What about an international flight?  Any difference?

Read more

The best part about getting on the plane, is knowing that you’ll be getting off at your destination, and that you  have loads of great times ahead of you.

For many travelers, however, the landing and deplaning process can be just as confusing and challenging as the boarding process.

Here’s the scoop on how the landing process works and some tips that will make it easy for you to get off the plane.  Frequently flyers – pay attention, because you should take some of the suggestions to heart.

• Once the aircraft is on the ground and taxiing into the gate, most airlines allow you to use your cell phone.  What you cannot do, however, is stand up and get it out of the overhead, or unbuckle your seat belt and get it out from beneath your set.  If you’ll want to use it on taxi in, keep the phone handy.  And stay buckled up and in your seat.
• Even though the aircraft is on the ground, it takes awhile to get to a jet way.  The taxi time can change with inclement weather, so a short taxi last time does not necessarily mean a short taxi this time.  Stay in your seat, keep your seatbelt buckled, and leave all your carry on items where they are – which should be properly stowed.  If there’s a wait to get to the jet way Flight Attendants will be making this announcement again, and sometimes  it will come from the Flight Deck as well.  When we can see the end of your seatbelt hanging in the aisle, we know you’re not buckled in.
• Even though the plane stops, you might not be at the gate.  There can be lots of stops and stops before you get to the gate, so just stay in your seat, keep your seatbelt buckled, and leave all your carry on items where they are – which should be properly stowed.  (Are you noticing the theme yet?)
• When the seatbelt sign is finally turned off, it’s okay to unbuckle and start putting on your coat and gathering your items.  Stand up if you’d like to, but know that you’re not going anywhere for a little while longer.  As you move around and get your things, be careful not to bump and bang into other passengers.
• The jet way has to be attached to the plane, or stairs rolled up to the door if there are no jet ways, and that still takes a bit of time.  The front door doesn’t get opened until these are in place, so it’s going to be another couple of minutes before anything more happens.

Finally, though, the door WILL open.  There may be an exchange of arrival paperwork, and then passengers can deplane.  Here’s where it can get a little tricky once again.  Remember the process for boarding – well, think of the deplaning as the same process in reverse.

• Be very careful when taking your bags out of the overhead bins.  You may have heads below the bins and you don’t want to conk someone on the head. 
• First off the plane will be the first class passengers, because they are sitting up front and closest to the door.
• After that, proceeding in an orderly fashion, row by row starting with the row closest to the door, will make things move most quickly.  Let the people in front of you get off rather than trying to climb over them.  This seems like common sense to me, but every day I see people at the back of the plane try to make it off first!
• If you’re going to need a little extra time to gather your stuff and get off, let people behind you go by and wait for a break in traffic.  If you have kids that need longer, this will help them take the time they need and reduce stress for you, them, and the people behind you.
• As you slowly walk forward and off the plane, take a moment and thank your flight crew.  It’s a simple thing, but it will make our day.

You have finally arrived at your destination.  Let go of all your travel stress and forget about all the headaches involved in getting there.  Put on a new attitude, even though you may not feel like it, and be a fun, happy person to be around.

Happy Holidays everyone, and may all your travels be on time!

Photo credit:  SXC

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Although I check my bags on occasion, I’m very vigilant in not packing certain types of things.  Some things go in your checked luggage, some go in your carry ons, and depending on space, some things can go either way.

It doesn’t seem like I should have to spell this out, but most every day that I fly someone mentions packing one of these items in their checked bagged.  Usually, it doesn’t present a problem, but DON’T PACK THESE ITEMS IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE!

1. Itinerary.  Keep a copy of your itinerary in your checked bag, but make sure that you have a copy with you as well.  If your bag does go missing, you’ll need to know what reservations you have, confirmation numbers, phone numbers, etc.  I keep my itinerary on my phone and computer as well, but have it on paper as well. 
2. Ticket.  People actually pack these away, and I want to scream WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?  Take all tickets with you, from plane and rail tickets to admission and concert tickets.  Treat these like cash.
3. Money.  And while we’re on the subject of cash, why anyone would pack money is beyond me.  This goes for any form of cash, too – credit cards, travelers checks, bearer bonds, whatever!  Keep it with you!
4. Identification.  You need it to get through security, but make sure that you don’t send any with your checked bags.  If it’s lost or stolen, don’t given anyone additional information that could lead to identity theft.
5. Jewelry.  A few months ago, I saw a woman with a bag too large to fit in the overhead bin refuse to give up her back to be check because it had all her jewelry in it.  Good move.  But a better move would have been to pack it all in a carry on that would actually fit on the plane.  When she took out all her jewelry there was so much that she had to put it in a large shopping bag.  Think twice about packing that much of the good stuff, even when it’s in your carry on, as you may be making yourself on a target for theft.
6. Fragile items.  Glassware, antiques, and other expensive goo-gaws should be in your carry ons.  If they’re too large to carry on, you should arrange to have them packed properly and shipped.  But don’t trust their safety to the baggage handlers.
7. Camera gear.  If you are traveling with a large amount of professional gear, you already know how to pack it for transport.  You may decide to check it, or you may decide to use one of the shipping services that will have it waiting for you at your destination.  For the rest of us, don’t pack your gear or film away.  Why trust your precious memories to someone else.
8. Perishables.  Food should go with you.  Mayo gone bad or a rotting piece of fruit is going to stink up the joint.  Don’t let it stink up your clothes.
9. Medication.  This falls within an exception to the 3-1-1 liquid rule (check the TSA website for more details).  If your bags are delayed or lost, you won’t want to be caught without medications that you need.  If you must travel with large amounts of medications, consider shipping them ahead to your destination, or arranging to have prescriptions filled on the road.
10. Keys.  You’ll want to be able to get into your car or into your house if your bags are delayed.  And you certainly wouldn’t want your house keys falling into the hands of a thief.

The above items are the MUST go in carry on list!

But be sure to save room for some items that will make the flight a little more enjoyable – reading material, a few toiletries, a bathing suit or lightweight change of clothes, iPod, snacks, and games or toys for the kids.

Image credit:  SXC

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Welcome to the December 7th, 2008 edition of the Carnival of Travelers!

Our theme this month was Holiday Travel & Events, and we have a handful of great posts representing this theme.  From tips for holiday travel, to holiday events, to great holiday sights, these travel bloggers joined into the holiday spirit, sharing travel with you.

Enjoy!

• Byteful Travel presents The 7th Annual Holiday Extravaganza posted at Byteful Blog, saying, "I travel to Dallas Texas in the winter to witness the musical experience of a lifetime: The 7th Annual Holiday Extravaganza, the perfect balance of symphonic pop and holiday music. An album of high resolution photos is included."
• Jon Rochetti presents Christmas at Mount Vernon with Mrs. Washington posted at The DC Traveler – Washington DC travel & tourism information, saying, "Visit George Washington’s Mt Vernon estate just outside of Washington, DC and check out the live Christmas camel, just like the one George Washington had at Mt. Vernon during the Christmas season of 1787."
• Audrey Berger presents NYC Events to Think About This Holiday Season | Cracks In Sidewalks posted at Cracks In Sidewalks.
• Travel Advocate presents Family Travel Lanes Take Off In Time for Holiday Travel posted at The Travel Advocate.
• Patrick @ Cash Money Life presents How to Get the Best Holiday Travel Deals posted at Cash Money Life, saying, "How to get the best deals on holiday travel."
• My post here at Flyaway Cafe, Holiday Dinners on the Road, will give ideas for people working over the holidays as well as preferring not to cook;
• And my post at The Seattle Traveler, Parade of Christmas Ships Light up the Holidays, about a wonderful Seattle holiday tradition.

That’s it for this edition of the Carnival of Travelers.  Thanks to everyone for participating, and I hope you’ll all take the time to visit these blogs and check out the other great stuff they have to say.

The theme of the next edition of the Carnival of Travelers will be New Year’s Resolutions:  What is your new year’s travel resolution?  All posts must be related to the topic to be included. 

You can submit your blog post to the next edition of the Carnival of Travelers using the carnival submission form.  Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

I travel with my laptop most every time I hit the road, so I have a pretty good idea of what it’s like to balance the need to get work done with the regulations of using electronic equipment while traveling.

Here are 6 simple tips to make using your laptop at 40,000 feet as simple as using it at your desk:

1. If you have wi-fi access, encrypt it.  You should not have it enabled on the airplane, but most of us have booted up and seen a number of networks available.  If you don’t encrypt, someone may be seeing more than you want them to.
2. Keep wandering eyes away from your laptop screen.  There are privacy shields that can keep your screen from being viewed by others.  Or, as a friend suggested when I complained about the wandering eyes of a seatmate, do your typing with a small font that is impossible for them to read.  Of course, I’ll then have trouble reading it as well, but at least I can get my thoughts down and do editing later.
3. When you’re working on your laptop, don’t extend it into the aisle.  Flight Attendants are pushing large carts through the aisle, people are walking back and forth, and there’s always the possibility of turbulence.  Don’t run the risk of having your laptop become a casualty of flight — keep it within your personal space.
4. Close the top of your laptop when the Flight Attendant is serving your row, or the beverage cart is nearby.  Do not hold your glass out for a refill over your keyboard.  (People actually do this!)  Flight Attendants try very hard to avoid spills, but it happens.
5. Use earplugs.  Even better, use earplugs that work.  If your music, movie, or other audio can be heard by a Flight Attendant walking through the cabin, you will be asked to turn it down or off.  You may really love that song you are listening to, but not everyone around you will feel the same way.
6. No adult content.  Whether it’s video or photos, adult content is not acceptable for the airplane.  If you can’t figure out that this material is best viewed in private, a Flight Attendant will remind you.  If you still can’t figure it out, you will be told to shut it down.

Photo credit:  SXC

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Welcome to the November edition of the Carnival of Travelers.

My attempts to organize this month’s carnival took a beating, and rather than have posts centered around a theme, this month is sort of a free-for-all of travel information.

There’s lots of good stuff here, so pull up a chair and settle in for some good reads.

• GrrlScientist presents In One Month, I will go to HEL and Back posted at Living the Scientific Life, saying, "My upcoming trip to Helsinki, Finland, including some sights I am planning to see and reader suggestions for other sights to see (feel free to give me more suggestions!)"
• Marilyn Terrell presents Arkansas: Sweet Mountain Music posted at Intelligent Travel, saying, "You don’t have to go to an expensive music festival to hear great live music in Arkansas: just show up almost any night of the week on the courthouse square in Mountain View, weather permitting."
• RandomSanDiego presents Kids Free Days at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park posted at RandomSanDiego.com, saying, "Take advantage of the Kids Free Days promotion: free admission for kids to the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park during the month of October."
• Matthew Paulson presents Travelers Seeking Colorful Getaways posted at The Travel Advocate.
• The Traveler presents New York Tours posted at Ellis Island - Statue of Liberty, saying, "Some tours you should see while visiting the statue of liberty"
• Scott Miscall presents My Top 10 London Restaurant Recommendations posted at londonelicious: a London restaurant blog, saying, "Well, after doing this blogging thing all over London for the last four years, I figured it was time to commit to my top 10 London restaurant recommendations. This list is subject to change as I review additional London restaurants, and you must remember that I am a "food for the people" kind of gal."
• And finally, my posts When Flying and Alcohol Don’t Mix posted here at Flyaway Cafe,
• and my post about the Washington State Convention & Trade Center posted at The Seattle Traveler.

That’s it for this edition of the Carnival of Travelers.  Thanks to everyone for participating, and I hope you’ll all take the time to visit these blogs and check out the other great stuff they have to say.

The theme of the next edition of the Carnival of Travelers will be holiday travel.  All posts must be related to the topic to be included.  You can submit your blog post to the next edition of carnival of travelers using the carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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For many people traveling is a once a year type of thing.  It’s the big vacation, saved up for and planned for and dreamed about for a long, long time.  Many travelers relieve the stress and celebrate their vacation with an alcoholic beverage or two.

And that’s fun!  But there are times that flying and alcohol just don’t mix, and being aware of some rules regarding alcohol use will help ensure that your vacation is truly a time to celebrate.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re getting ready to order another round:

• It is against the FAR’s (Federal Air Regulations) for a carrier to board a passenger who appears to be intoxicated.  That means if your a red-eyed, slurring your words, loud, obnoxious, and having a tough time navigating your way through the jetway that you probably are not going to get on the flight.  I’m not saying you’re drunk, but if you look like it – you’re not going!
• Once onboard, you cannot open your liquor that you purchased inside of security or at duty free.  I’ve heard that there are some international carriers that allow this, but none of the U.S. carriers do, and I haven’t been able to confirm this with any of the international carriers.  Keep your booze in your bag, and all is good.  Start serving from your own stash and your headed for trouble.
• Flight Attendants want you to have a great time on your flight, and we’re happy to serve you an alcoholic beverage or two.  But when you demand a double before take off, can’t wait your turn to be served, or start getting loud and obnoxious, warning lights start to go off.  We cannot continue to serve a passenger who appears to be intoxicated.  Again – we’re not saying you’re drunk, we’re making an observation of your behavior.
• If you’ll be driving when you get to your destination, keep in mind that a couple of drinks at 40,000 feet will have a different effect upon you than those same drinks on the ground.  Think about whether or not you’ll be getting behind the wheel of a car before ordering another round.

Please have a happy and celebratory flight.  But keep in mind, flying does not mean a free for all when it comes to alcohol.

Photo credit:  SXC

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If you want to stay at a special hotel or resort, and your date and time are not negotiable, book early.  Availability goes down as you get closer and closer to the date. 

However, if you haven’t planned ahead, and now your special hotel is sold out, there are still a couple of options worth a try.  It is possible to get a room at a sold out hotel.

• Call the 800-reservation line for the hotel.  Generally speaking, they handle most of the room inventory for the property, and will know about blocks of rooms that may be held for conferences or special groups.
• If that doesn’t work, try calling the head directly.  If there’s an onsite reservation desk, ask to talk to someone staffing that desk, however don’t get routed back to the central reservation system.  If there’s not a dedicated reservation agent, talk to the front desk and ask if there is any availability.  Pleading your case to sympathetic personnel (you forgot your anniversary, you’re planning to propose, etc.) may go a long way to getting them on your side.  They can’t create availability, but they can put you on a waiting list in event of a cancellation.
• If there is no wait-list option, ask the hotel staff if it’s okay if you check back in a day or two.  Of course, you don’t need their permission, but by enlisting them in your plans you encourage them to help you remove the road blocks.  In other words, get them on your side and wanting to help you and find you a room.
• It’s also a good idea to check back with central reservations every day or so as well.

If, despite all efforts, you’re still turning up nothing, don’t give up.  There are still a few options.

• Find out what the cancellation policies are at the hotel, specifically noting when cancellation penalties occur.  This is generally 24-48 hours before arrival, but occasionally is as late as noon the day of arrival.
• Things often “come up” and people are forced to cancel reservations, but they’ll usually try to cancel before any penalties apply.  Armed with this knowledge, you once again hit the phones, both central reservations and the hotel directly.

You’re not likely to get a super low price in a sold out situation, but if you MUST stay at a particular hotel or resort, you may be able to scoop something up using these techniques.

Have you been successful using any of the techniques?  Or maybe have a few of your own?  Please share them with all of us in the comments.

Photo credit:  flickr

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