Visitors from specific countries are permitted to travel to the United States for a period of up to 90 days (for business or pleasure travel) without having to get a Visa.  There are specific requirements for countries to get on the waiver list, including security requirements, and the countries are generally considered developed economies.  Individuals from visa waiver countries must apply for travel through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, and meet a variety of additional requirements.

There are currently 35 Visa Waiver Countries:

Europe:  Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

Asia:  Brunei, Japan, Singapore, South Korea

Oceania:  Australia, New Zealand

US visitors to those countries also are not required to have a visa, as part of reciprocity agreements, although Australia does require visitors to file an Electronic Travel Authority.

Visitors to the US can learn more about the Visa Waiver Program, its applicability and requirements from the Department of State.  Likewise, US residents wishing to travel abroad should also check regarding visa requirements for countries not on the wavier list.

Photo credit:  SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

You know you need them for your laptop and other geek stuffy, but a carry on frequently does double duty as a purse, backpack, diaper bag, beach tote, and shopping tote.  It’s no wonder then that occasionally we like to change up the look and style.

Tote Couture offers two pleated totes in two fashionable colors.  Lani (in shades of green, tan and brown – almost cammo-like) and Lola (black and white).  Both have funky geometric patters in their respective color scheme,  and are made of coated canvas with rushed metal hardware, making them stylish and long-lasting.

The bags are perfect for carrying your laptop, as they offer a secure way to tuck in away, while still sporting lots of interior pockets that let you stay organized and clutter-free.  That’s always a problem for me, as my carryon is always a mess with papers, pens, magazines, peripherals, along with anything else that I pick up along my journey.  The laptop area is padded and has a velcro closure, (it will fit laptops up to 11: x 15 1/4: x 1 3/4”), and there is a side pocket unzips to allow you to slide the bag over the handle of your roller bag.  Metal feet on the bottom of the bag help prevent staining and damage.

Lani and Lola tote bags are available from Cool Computer Bags, who are offering a discount for all Flyaway Cafe readers.  Enter the coupon code FLYAWAY (must be in all caps) to receive a 10% discount on your entire order. They have lots of other cool bags, too, so be sure to explore a bit.

This is a good time to do a little holiday shopping, spreading out your purchases a little bit and saving some money in the process.

Which one is your pick?

Photo credit:  Courtesy of Cool Computer Bags

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

How can you put all those precious waiting minutes to good use?  You can keep a book nearby, but often you just get into the plot and it’s time to put it aside.  You can talk on your phone, annoying everyone around you and risking private information being overheard my many.  You can stare into space, day dream, or even try to come up a way to save the world.

But what if during all the waiting around you really could save the world?  Well, maybe not you alone and maybe not the entire world, but what if you could use the waiting time to support a cause that was important to you?

That’s part of the premise behind a new on-line game charity called GamesThatGive that launched earlier this week.  It’s a chance for you to play some of your favorite online games for FREE and while doing so generate funds for your favorite charity.   Funds are generated by the corporations who sponsor the site, who have agreed to donate 70% of its advertising revenue to charity.  All you have to do is pull out your smart phone or laptop, and choose your favorite game.  They say:  “70% of our ad revenue goes to your favorite charity. You play. We donate. No Catch.”

Who are the community minded businesses involved with the venture?  More are being added each day, but so far include Domino’s Pizza, Starbuck’s, Pepsi, Best Buy, Quaker Oats, Dial, and MasterCard.

There are about 9 games that you can choose from, including Solitaire, Blackjack, Gems, Bubble Burst, and Sudoku.  Pick your favorite, or try to learn a new one.  Although I’m not a big game person, when I could help raise money for Breast Cancer Network of Strength, Mercy Corps, or Ronald McDonald House Charities (just three of the charities you can choose), it seemed like gaming was a good idea.

There’s even a social media component, if you want to challenge your friends to beat your scores, raise more money, or get involved.

I just checked the site before writing this post, and it said that $3.147.87 had been raised so far.  If you’re hanging out with time on your hands, play a game or two and make that total go much higher!

Photo credit:  SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

I live in Seattle, and there are 5 haunted locales list in the state of Washington:

• The Bush House (Index)
• The Oxford Saloon & Eatery (Snohomish – I knew about this one)
• Murphy Family Farm, a private residence (Longview)
• Rutherglen Mansion Bed & Breakfast (Longview)
• Port Gamble (Port Gamble, near the Hood Canal Bridge – I had also heard about this one)

Belief in ghosts and paranormal activity is a common belief around the world, and is found in nearly every culture.  I’m sure many of remember our childhood, and tales of haunted houses, stories about spooky happenings in the local cemetery, or maybe about strange things that go bump in the night.  We told stories around the campfire, when we were camping in the backyard, or maybe when we were trying to scare a younger sibling or neighbor.

But what if we found out that all those stories were true?

That’s basically the purpose of this encyclopedia – to set out, in an investigative fashion, what the world’s leading paranormal investigators have discovered, and to share it with all of us.  All of the entries give a little bit of history and background about why it is believed that the location is haunted.  This includes details of who investigated the haunting, what was observed, interviews, research field notes, and additional anecdotal information.  Some of the locales are public buildings, while others are private residences, and I’ve been assured that this 2nd edition of the book includes lots of new listings.

After the geographical listings, there is a profile of paranormal investigator Dr. Hans Holzer (PhD in Parapsychology from the London College of Applied Science) who has studied this field for over 60 years.  And, if you think your house might be haunted, there is also a geographical listing of paranormal investigators.  I noted that there are three serving the Seattle area.

This is a fun book for the discovery factor alone.  If you’ve a particular interest in the paranormal or visiting haunted houses, graveyards, monuments and hotels, you’re going to love the book!  The first thing you’ll do is probably the same thing that I did, check out what’s near you, and then you’ll start looking for all the other places that you’ve “heard” were haunted.

The Encyclopedia of Haunted Places is 360 pages and includes photographs.  You’ll find it at your local bookstore, online at Amazon.com ($13.59), and from the publisher, New Page Books.

Photo credit: New Page Books

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

A.  It may seem like I’m always traveling, but really, I have quite a few days off at home every month!

But, to get to your question, keeping in touch with people is important to me, whether I’m traveling and keeping in touch with people back home, or if I’m at home and keeping in touch with friends that I’ve made while traveling.  Since I’ve become a bit of a geek, most of my keeping in touch involved technology of one sort or another, and honestly, I can’t remember the last time I sent a postcard or an actual letter.

Phone:  At home I have a VoIP service, which saves a lot on phone bills.  I also have an iPhone, and use my minutes freely.  When I’m in the car, stuck at an airport, or otherwise have fee time, I’ll pick up the phone and call someone.  Nothing beats the occasional pang of homesickness like a call back home.  And when I’m lying on a beach somewhere, basking in the sun, it’s also a bit of a treat to talk to someone back home in rainy Seattle.  If you travel a lot, spring for a phone plan with a decent amount of minutes so that you can keep in touch.

Email:  This is probably my primary means of communication, because it doesn’t involve coordinating schedules or time zones to make a connection.  While some may see email as impersonal, it’s often the best means to catch up with me.  It’s also a perfect way to share photos and say “wish you were here with me” or “hey, I’m lying on a tropical beach where it’s sunny and I hear it’s still raining back in Seattle.”   Since I always travel with a laptop and my phone, it’s easy to get a message to the people I care about.

Skype:  This is my primary IM service, and I use it daily.  I have a couple of Skype chat groups that I belong to, and popping in from the road helps me continue to feel a part of what’s going on.  I recently downloaded the Skype app to my phone, and gave it a try earlier this week.  I had a bit of a trauma going on, and joining in the group chat was a way to keep me focused on what I could control rather than what I could not.  Skype is also great for international calls that can typically rack up big charges.  Calling computer-to-computer is FREE, and calling land lines or cell phones has very cheap rates.

Text Messaging:  I’m not a big texter, nor is my circle of friends.  We’re far more likely to just send an email or pick up the phone and call.

Twitter:  I generally don’t Twitter when I’m traveling, and this is for a variety of security reasons.  Like not alerting all my followers that I’m not at home.  I will occasionally live tweet an event, but found that I’m far more active on Twitter when I’m at home.

Facebook:  While traveling in Europe earlier this summer, I posted photos and updates on Facebook.  Since I get to approve who sees the information, I was comfortable sharing where I was and what I was doing.  I tried to update with photos every day or so.  Some people asked if it was a hassle doing all of while on vacation.  Not at all!  It was fun for me to load the photos onto my laptop, take a look at them, and choose which ones to share.  I had a great time with it.

I rarely feel like I’m cut off from the rest of the world.  How about you?  What tools do you use for keeping in touch while on the road.

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I LOVE this store, and love the assortment of travel gear, clothing, and odds and ends that they carry.  And, it just so happens, I spend a lot of money at this store, too.  Which should serve as additional proof that I love the products.

Most fall and winter hats seem to be of the stocking cap, pull over your head and mat down your hair version.  Probably warm and comfortable, but could I get just a little bit of style?!

Then I saw the Devata Hat.  I tried it on a couple times, but really wasn’t sure.  Saw a bunch of other people try it on, and the variety of different ways it could be angled on the head, and I was sold.  It scrunches and adjusts on your head, and even has a cute little hat rim that can be flipped up or down.  Yes, it’s a little bit girly, but it’s did the job of keeping me warm and still looking good, and will look great in the city or country.

The Devata Hat is made with eco-friendly soy and wool, and comes in camel and light pebble. (I got the light pebble.)  Hand wash in cold water, and lay flat to dry.  $30.

Photo credit: Ex Officio

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

It was with that frame of reference that I picked up Cruise Confidential:  A Hit Below the Waterline: Where the Crew Lives, Eats, Wars, and Parties? One Crazy Year Working on Cruise Ships by Brian David Bruns.  Bruns left life on land to pursue life on the sea – all to follow the woman of his dreams, and this book chronicles his training and life as a waiter for Carnival Cruise Lines.

I’ve cruised many a time before, and while I knew there was a hidden side to life at sea, this book was a real eye opener.  Oh sure, there were the usual stories about silly and/or demanding passengers, tedious and mean co-workers, raucous exploits during precious downtime, and tales of schedules and life just not working out the way it was supposed to.  Working in the airline industry, I could relate and chuckle to the stories, although these guys have it much tougher than those of us in the air.

And while the front of the ship workers seem to have it pretty darn sweet, the wait staff, of which Bruns was a part, works grueling, seemingly never-ending shifts in pretty intolerable conditions.  From crappy quarters to sleep in, to barely any time to sleep at all, this book will give you a new appreciation for those who bust their butts to give you great service.

There’s also just enough stories of drunkenness, crew antics, infighting and sex to keep up the pace, but for me the real story was how passengers, taking advantage of all the cruise lines have to offer, actually make life difficult for the wait staff.  I never realized that asking for another piece of toast, or a lingering over a cup of coffee, made the job tougher for these hard working people.

But here’s the unanswered question for me:  Bruns bio says that he’s married, but never mentions his wife’s name.  I’m dying to know, did he wind up with the girl?

This is an easy read, full of fun and silliness, and not pretending to be more than it is.  Give it a go.

Photo credit: Amazon

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

—

I’m not well traveled and that’s a fact I plan on changing.  When I landed in Chicago for the first time in July of 2009, I felt like a real cosmopolite jetsetter.  I was only there for 48 hours.  But every time I go somewhere new, I’m increasingly more aware of how few things I’ve seen.

From time to time I check out a Lonely Planet book or read one of the Rough Guides.  Then I sigh and dream and…

No more!  I’ve made a goal to hit at least two countries in 2010.  These wonderful, affordable books helped me choose.  Oh, who am I kidding?  I’m a cheapskate librarian.  I checked them out at the library.

In A Sunburned Country

Most of my blogging mentors live in Australia.  But somewhere in between watching Crocodile Dundee and meeting my cyber-pals, I read Bill Bryson’s book In A Sunburned Country.

I was first exposed to Bryson by his epic tragicomedy A Walk In The Woods, about his ill fated, under prepared effort to hike the Appalachian Trail.

Sunburned feels similar, but is set in Australia and contains fewer disasters.  Bryson’s facts are funny and informative without being pedantic or condescending.  What I mean by that is: sometimes I read a travel book and feel like not only have I not been anywhere, I’m not interesting enough or smart enough or wealthy enough to travel.

But that’s my issue.  Above all, Bryson’s writing is passionate.  His love of travel is obvious and infectious.  I’m easily swayed when I hear someone rave about something.  Bill raves about Australia the way I talk about libraries and kettlebells, although he’s got a lot more skill in getting people to buy in than I do.

Hilarious, educational without being stuffy or boring, and absolutely perfect—In A Sunburned Country is helping me to take a big step.

I’m A Stranger Here Myself

This book is a fun crash course in the United Kingdom and modern-ish America.  After living in England for 20 years, Bryson comes home and settles in New Hampshire.

His description of how the British give directions was worth the price of the book for me, but I’m someone who can’t read a map.  Oh—I keep forgetting that I didn’t buy the book.  But I would!

His description of how much Americans eat is also perfect and sad.

Stranger wasn’t quite as funny for me as some of Bryson’s other work.  There’s a lot of contemplation and introspection here.  But it doesn’t hurt the book.  The wonderful thing about Bill Bryson is that his fans are never disappointed.

Whether he’s talking writing about the English language, science, Shakespeare, Australia, bears, wombats, crumpets, or what it means to be married, he’s always himself.

My favorite books are always the ones where I can tell the author had a blast writing them.  Bill Bryson loves to write, travel, and have a good time.

And with that, I’ve got to figure out how to get some money and time together and hit the road next year.  I imagine I’ll be back here at the blog often, pestering people for advice and asking questions about dingoes and English muffins.

—

About the Author: Josh Hanagarne writes World’s Strongest Librarian, a blog with advice about coping with Tourette’s Syndrome, kettlebells, book recommendations, buying pants when you’re 6’8”, old-time strongman training, and much more. Please subscribe to Josh’s RSS Updates and Stronger, Smarter, Better Newsletter to stay in touch.

Photo credits:  Barnes & Noble (book covers), Josh Hanagarne (headshot)

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

So I settled in for a good read.

Unfortunately, I didn’t make it past more than a handful before I began scratching my head.  OK, I remember that Lonely Planet is published in Australia, so maybe things are a bit different down under.  Still, they sell a lot of guides to a lot of people that aren’t in Australia, so there should be a broad perspective.

I kept reading.  OK, they tackle issues about packing, health and medical issues, and school quite nicely.  Pretty good stuff about preparing your little one and yourself for traveling.

But honestly, after that I pulled up short at the Transport Section, specifically by Air.  And the light bulb over my head came on.  AHA!  I know now why so many people on my flights are so ill equipped to travel with children – they must have read this guide and taken all the bad information and advice to heart!  Because this section reads like it was written by someone who hasn’t traveled since the 1970’s, or haven’t flown on a US airline in the past 10 years.

Here are a few of the gems you’ll find:

• Almost all airlines have children’s activity packs on board medium-to-long-haul flights which will complement the toys and activities you’ve brought.
• Plus, many airlines now have good audio and visual entertainment for children so they can plug into the children’s audio channel and also watch the kids’ movies or shows.
• Special children’s meals and activity packs are usually available
• Nappies and baby food are available for infants
• On most long haul flights, airlines will carry emergency supplies of nappies and, upon request, can provide jars of baby food.
• Car seat information that varied from having to buy a seat for it, not being able to use it for take off and landing, and paying a child’s fare for the seat.
• All airlines carry a number of bassinets or sky cots on long-distance flights.
• Some airlines insist that you wear an infant restraint belt to keep your infant in
• Most airlines will heat up bottles and also provide baby food, upon request.

And unfortunately, that’s where my enthusiasm for the guidebook petered out.  Although the remaining sections of the book dealt with specific types of vacation plans, and specific suggestions based on a variety of destinations, the errors in the initial part of the book made me hesitant about how much credibility to give it.

While some international carriers offer a few more amenities than US carriers, with the move to ala carte ticket pricing, the extras have gone away.  That includes things like activity packs and special meals.  On an international flight they might be available on some airlines, but to raise that expectation to the level of almost all or most is a true disservice to a parent.

The same goes for nappies.  At one time we may have had ONE diaper, but it’s long since gone away.  Other Flight Attendant friends say that maybe there will be one, but certainly a parent should count on it.

Baby food and bottle warmers.  I have never had baby food stocked on a flight for the 20+ years that I’ve been flying.  No one else seems to remember it either.  One friend said that she thought Emirates and/or Singapore might carry it, but no one that I talked to has actually seen it.  Ditto for the bottle warmer.  I’ve never seen one.  And we don’t have microwaves either.  If someone needs to warm a bottle, we try to put some hot water into a barf bag along with the bottle and get it to warm up that way.  Maybe some of the Asian or European airlines have these features, but with so much code sharing going on, and with so much of the audience for this book being US-based, the books leads you to conclude things that simply aren’t accurate.

Let me clear up a few other things –

Sky cots are available on some transatlantic and transpacific flights.  Check with the airlines in advance.

Inflight entertainment may be available, but it may or may not be child friendly.  Be prepared to censor.  And pay.

Child’s fares are rarely available any longer, except as part of a package where the hotel and air fare are priced in combination.  If you want a guaranteed seat for a car seat, you’ll need to buy a ticket.  If the plane isn’t full, you will likely be allowed to bring on your car seat and put it in an unoccupied seat at no charge.  This applies for infants under the age of 2.  Infants may be strapped into the car seat for take off and landing, a far safer place for them to be than on a parent’s lap.

I’ve never seen an infant restraint belt, although I hear they exist.  Policies on their use will vary from airline to airline, but a parent should not be surprised if they are not allowed.

I really tried not to be too ethno-centric about this book.  But when it’s priced for US sales, I expect it to address issues for the US traveler.  And when it comes to air travel, it fails. . . miserably.

When I raised my concern to the Lonely Planet people who sent me the book for review, but questions were answered with a disinterested we’ll let the editors know.  I’ve waited to post my review to allow plenty of time for a further response.  It’s been long enough, and I’ve heard nothing back.

I know there are lots of other books about traveling with kids that have been written, so I’ve lined up another one to review.  I’m hoping that will lead parents in the right direction.

I cannot recommend the Lonely Planet’s Travel with Children based on these errors and/or misinformation.  I give it a 2 star rating, and that’s solely based on the country-specific suggestions that make up the second half of the book.

The book is available from Lonely Planet ($19.99), Amazon ($14.39), or from your local book store.

Photo credit:  Amazon

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

ecoLiving Essentials biodegradable travel booties

The company was founded by two moms, who, as frequent travelers. were concerned about their germ exposure when removing their shoes at airport security.  They saw the bins of plastic booties offered at a few of the airports, and although they admired the concept, were concerned about the amount of plastic being sent to the landfill.  (TSA allows booties to be worn through the security screen, but requires that they be disposed of in that area.)  Refining the concept, the two were able to come up with a disposable and biodegradable alternative that could protect travelers from germs and was still affordable.

A second travel product, the shower cap, attempts to accomplish the same thing – replace a commonly disposed item with a biodegradable option.  You can stop using the ones you find in your hotel room, using, and re-using, a biodegradable one.

The company claims, that in addition to the products themselves being eco-friendly, all the packaging is also naturally biodegradable, completely eco-friendly, BPA-free and non-toxic (the bags are made of plant material).  This means you can toss the products and packaging into the recycling bin, compost pile, or in the trash (if you must).  As an additional selling point, both packaging and products are made in the US with local materials.  Yay for creating local jobs!  While I think we all prefer re-usable products, the reality of travel is that we often are faced with making disposable choices.

The travel booties are priced at $5.95 for two sets of booties, and the shower cap at the same price point for three caps.

I was sent a sample of the booties for review, which gave me the chance to check out the packaging and product.

Biodegradable travel booties

The first thing I noticed was that the exterior package felt and crackled like cellophane (that really noisy crackling type of cello wrapping paper), and carried a choking hazard label.  I don’t know why that warning label bothered me, but it did.  I know that it’s important labeling, and packaging can be a serious danger to small children, but I guess I naively want my package to be both earth friendly and kid friendly, too.  It’s my issue, but needn’t be yours.

The booties are large (one size fits most), and heavy enough that you feel like you’re getting real protection on your feet.  These aren’t the flimsy kind that you pick up at the airport security bin, and they did make me feel like my feet were protected.  Elastic around the ankle area is designed to keep them on your feet, rather than slipping off, and with bare feet it worked fairly well.  With socks on, however, it felt like the booties were going to slip off.  They didn’t, it just felt that way.  The plastic was also textured enough that I didn’t slip and slide on the airport floor.

In short, the product did what it claims it can do – keep your feet protected.  And if walking through security in your stocking feet is a big gross out for you, then these booties are a product that you’re going to love.  It may also mean you can wear sandals or flip flops and not have to worry about going barefoot in the security area by putting on the booties.

For me, however, the germ issue when passing through security isn’t enough of an “ick” factor for me to spend the money (albeit a nominal amount) and time to deal with the booties.  I know all the arguments about germs on the floors, mats, etc., and I know that the security area doesn’t get cleaned nearly often enough.  But I work on an airplane.  I am exposed to more germs in one flight that many people are in an entire month.  I deal with it by taking steps to keep myself healthy, keeping my immune system in great shape, washing frequently, and by trying not to think too hard and long about all the germs.  In this case, denial helps me keep the issue in a neat little box, allowing me to do my job.

However, that’s just me.

If the thought of all these germs creep you out, if you have a compromised immune system, or if you’re prone to picking up every bug that happens by, that will be enough to send you running for booties.  And if you’re going to use them, I can recommend the ecoLiving Essentials booties.  $6 will buy you two pair, enough for a roundtrip, and plenty of peace of mind.

Overall rating:  3 1/2 stars (out of 5).  I think it’s a quality product, but am not sure that there’s really a need.  I’m not sure it’s one of those things that makes traveling that much easier and/or enjoyable.

Your thoughts?

Post from: Fly Away Cafe