Travel Tips Blog and Statistics
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Asiana Airlines: where was the crew?
I was on an American Airlines Boeing 767 years ago, where there was an engine loss over the Atlantic. The crew was everywhere helping, talking, comforting, holding passenger hands when needed. They were amazing, putting their training into action. In the Times article about Asiana this morning, this crew/pilot assistance is missing according to passengers interviewed.
A frequent flyer on the Asiana route, a Mr. Levy, describes how he opened the emergency door, helped 30-40 passengers leave the plane and never saw or heard a crew member.…
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Choosing the least crowded airport
If you can choose between more than one airport, choose the long distance international one for long weekends and the short haul domestic one for long vacation periods.
Here is the example, on July 4 weekends out of NY, JFK is empty but LaGuardia mobbed. Most people are traveling for 3-4 days short distances from LaGuardia. So if you can find a flight from JFK to your destination, use it for a less crowded terminal experience. On traditional longer holiday period like Christmas / New Year the opposite might work out better.…
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Should Hotels Be Fairer to Solo Guests?
[polldaddy poll=7219256]…
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Warning on Egypt! But will insurers refund you?
There is a huge difference in the urgency of State Department announcements. Some are mere advisories but the one on Egypt today is serious. Do not go to Egypt on nonessential travel says State. And the UK Foreign Office concurs.
A further hint of danger is that the US has ordered the evacuation of nonessential government workers from Egypt. This is a giant red flag.
Does your insurance allow you to cancel and get refunded in cases like this? That is debatable and the grey areas are the definition of terrorism and the exact incidents that seem dangerous to the traveler.…
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How to Make Your Birthday Trip-Gift Fantastic
Some ideas to make a Birthday Trip-Gift last a long time.
For your sense of confidence, take a trip that has a little sizzle: a boat on the Ganges? an elephant ride in Northern Thailand? a walk through a Dowry Market in Pushkar? a visit to a poignant museum about apartheid?
For introspection: travel solo but in a group. You will learn new dynamics away from friends and away from home. You will also concentrate on yourself for a change.
For health: swear off all sugars and alcohol during the trip.…
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Solo Travel Tips: Are You in Danger?
Even if you are traveling with others, there might be a time when you go out alone. These tips will help you stay safe.
1. Check street safety in the English language newspaper of your destination. There are many sites with lists of these local papers.
2. Use Google translation to understand news in other languages before you leave.
3. Check not just the US, but also UK, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand Foreign Ministry news reports.4. If you go out with anyone you do not know extremely well, make them leave their national identity card with contact.…
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Statistics on Travel for Women
This email comes from The Women’s Travel Group/ SITA World Tours. Our luxury tours for women are ideal for this market. Please contact Phyllis Stoller for marketing ideas and Mary Barnett for agent commissions and bookings if you are a travel agent.
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“The number of women traveling solo is on the rise, according to figures from Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), who are recognizing the potential of this growing global trend and are now actively catering for women travelers.…
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Hating Fellow Travelers
Summer brings heat, humidity, thunderstorms, and delays. I hate everyone within two feet of me, under those circumstances, even more so, in a crowded airport with pesky passengers.
Create your own “dome” with a– good junk book preferably paperback so you can toss it after the flight. b– your own bottles of water even at crazy prices paid in airports c– some nibbles that are half healthful half naughty (Trader Joe’s trail mixes are full of good and bad ingredients) d- clothes with easy slip-on slip-off shoes and minimum zippers (give in to elastic waistbands here), e- an attitude that allows those in more discomfort to go ahead of you.…
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Turkey Travel Safety now Cancellations for Brazil?
Twitter and social media are spurring riots in both countries. Should you cancel your trips? Let’s assume you are NOT getting your money back from your travel vendor.
We have talked about this before. First, make sure the rioting is exactly where you are going. If so, is it in one neighborhood or city-wide?
Are airlines canceling flights there? Does your hotel website have a notice about problems?
In some cases, riots are limited to university areas, so avoid them when you book your hotel in fragile places.…
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Horrible Hotel Amenities?
Even if you do not use the products, take hotel amenity bottles home. Why?
They have measurements on the labels showing their liquid content.You can refill them with your own products, in order to pass TSA liquid carry on security standards. If you are taking a quick weekend trip, say over July 4, you might want to go carry on. An obstacle might be the size of your personal products. Most plastic bottles sold as ‘travel kits’ have no labels and will NOT work for carrying on even if tiny.…
