Tripper Travel Bargain Hunt Notification

Hey Trippers,

For those of you who are constantly looking for bargain travel, there’s a new search engine from a company out of Copenhagen Denmark by the name of Momondo.  They are a worldwide travel search engine that searches other aggregate websites and airline and hotel’s own websites for their latest bargains.  From their website:

We search across multiple websites at google style top-speed to within seconds give you an overview of the cheapest flights we can find.

and regarding booking hotels:

Our hotel search function is based on the same principle as the flight search engine. It searches more than 100.000 unique hotels worldwide across all categories from cheap hostels to the most expensive luxury hotels.

I liked what I saw there.  They don’t sell tickets or rooms and make their money through commissions on sponsor links and ads.  Not only do they find the fares but the specific flights on offer as well.  They also present a graph with the flight price trends.

So, visit them often to see what’s new.  It helps if you have a destination and a specific time you are looking for.

Happy Tripping,

Carter

This is a hot topic because changes are coming – yet again.  The reason it’s become a hot topic is because of passenger abuse brought on by the extra baggage fees imposed by the airlines.  (Not that abuse hadn’t gone on before this.)

An empty airplane soon to be crammed full with passengers and cary-on baggage

An increase in baggage fees was announced in early January 2010 for tickets bought for travel within the US/Canada and Territories on or after the 5^th of January 2010 for travel after the 12^th January 2010.  The first checked bag will now cost $25.00 ($15.00 old fee).  The second bag is now $35.00 ($25.00 old fee).  (A fee reduction is available if you check your bags in on-line in advance, $23. and $32.00)  For international travel two checked bags are included in the ticket price EXCEPT the second bag in economy to Europe.  Make sure you check with your individual airline before booking or packing for a trip.  On many airlines, these fees are waved with Mileage Program status.  This is yet another reason why frequent travelers need to work on acquiring and maintaining Airline status.

Because of the originally imposed baggage fees and now the increase, passengers are abusing the carry-on policy because they are carrying on bags that are bigger than allowed.

On every one of my recent flights I have seen gross abuses of carry-on bags allowances mainly because airline staff doesn’t enforce it.  Passengers are bringing aboard garment bags that are bursting, plus a carry-on, and a personal item.

Under Seat Space for your Personal Carry-On Bag and this is the Exit Row!

Read on for the policy from United Airlines →

Here are the Delta Airlines Policy for Carry-On baggage:

All Delta passengers are allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item that meet the criteria below. See Security Check-in for liquid and gel restrictions.

Size and Weight Restrictions

If your carry-on bag doesn’t meet these size restrictions it must be checked, and all checked baggage rules will apply. Your bag must:

Not exceed 45 inches (length + width + height), or 115 cm.

Fit easily in our SizeCheck® unit (approximately 22″x14″x9″, or 56x36x23 cm).

Fit in an overhead bin or underneath the seat in front of you.

Personal Items

You’re allowed one personal item from this sample list:

• Purses, briefcases, camera cases, and diaper bags
• Laptop computers (can’t be checked and must be carried on)
• Items of a similar or smaller size to those above

Other Carry-on Items Allowed

You may also bring these items onboard. They do not count toward your personal item.

• Food items for immediate consumption
• Assistive devices such as wheelchairs or crutches
• One box or bag of duty free merchandise

Carry-on baggage policies for all United travel

For worldwide travel on any United or United Express flight, you may carry on one bag and one personal item such as a purse, briefcase or laptop computer. Your carry-on bag…

• must fit under your seat or in the overhead bin;
• should not be more than 9 x 14 x 22 inches (23 x 35 x 56 cm) or 45 linear inches* (114 linear cm); and
• may be required to travel as checked baggage if the bag cannot be safely stowed on a particular flight.

The following personal items are not counted toward your one bag and one personal item limit:

• Assistive devices (canes, crutches, etc.)
• Child safety seats for ticketed children
• Infant restraint devices (infant seat with or without stroller, front pouch or back carrier)
• Outer garments (coats, hats, etc.)
• Reading material (a reasonable amount)
• Umbrellas (one per passenger)
• Food and beverages to be consumed onboard
• One musical instrument not exceeding a size of 45 linear inches*
• A coat, jacket, or umbrella

• Please note that items must be stowed in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you. They may not be stowed in the seat back pocket

With so many people not respecting and staff not enforcing the carry-on policies, you need to have a plan before boarding.  Short of tattling on passengers to staff (how tempting) you need to do the following to assure you’ll have space for your items:

Maximize your airline status before booking your ticket.  Check previous Blog Posts for tips on doing this.

At your terminal gate, get in line to board your flight well in advance.

Do not book a bulkhead seat.  There is not space in front of you to store any bags or personal items.  So, they will need to be stored in the overhead bins.

Once boarded, immediately store your items in the overhead bin.  After everyone is boarded and has stowed there carry-on, then remove your items you want with you from your carry-on bag.  But beware don’t turn your back!  We have seen passengers (creeps) jump up and slip their bag in when you’re not looking!  Can you say “confrontation”?

Of course, by now, everyone must know about the “3-1-1” liquid restrictions for carry-ons.  You can find the details HERE.

It may be worth it for you to travel with more outer garments than you need for the flight.  Just make sure that the garment has lots of pockets to store medications, electronic cords, portable external hard drives, jewelry, cameras, etc.  Also, make sure the pockets zip or snap shut so you don’t lose any items in transit.  You can maximize your allowances and work with or around any new restrictions imposed by the TSA or airlines.

Happy Tripping,

Carter

The Good Health Elixir To Go in Leak-Proof Containers

Now that you have the recipe for the Good Health Elixir, I wanted to share with you how to make the recipe while traveling.  Yes, I drink the elixir while traveling.  It becomes even more important because I’m expanding so much energy and working my body as much as ever.  My body is under a lot of stress and I’m eating foods I’m not used to eating at odd and irregular hours.

I pack the following items in my checked luggage:

• Green tea Powder (found in a well-stocked Asian Food store or Amazon.com)
• Ground Cinnamon (in original bottle or packet for security reasons)
• Apple Cider Vinegar (in pint jars)
• Lemon Juice (in small bottle or squeeze bottle)
• Baking Soda (in original small box)
• Fruit Pectin packets
• Empty Leak Proof Plastic Containers (found at a container store)
• Empty Liter Bottles of Water (For storing. See photo in previous post. Note: glass can be carried in a wine carrier)

Sometimes I don’t have enough room in my luggage for everything or I don’t want to have to declare the food products upon landing in a foreign country.  So, after landing, I go to a grocery store (bigger the better) for any addition items I need.  If you pack everything on the above list, then you will only need juice(s).  It may be surprising how hard it is to find unsweetened juices.  On my last trip to Spain, I could only find 100% pomegranate juice, which was fine.  I had to chase down lemon juice because it was not stocked with foods I’m used to.  Make sure you bring the pectin packages because they’re hard to find.

When traveling, chances are you don’t have access to a large bowl, so I wing it and eyeball amounts into my containers.  Be careful what order you add the ingredients.  Apple cider and baking soda can be extra foaming.  Add the juice to dilute first.

The small leak proof containers are a handy little way to carry around the 3-ounce servings of the elixir.  As the travel day progresses and you drink the elixir with your meals, rinse the container and fill with water to have on hand for a quick hydration.  I have used 8 oz. jelly jars as a container before.  They can break but they are sturdy and have leak proof lids.

That’s it, you’re good to go.  Have continued good health with the Good Health Elixir both home and away!

Happy Tripping,

Carter

Hey Trippers,

I have six important and effective tenets of good health.  The rules are in no particular order.  I guarantee if you do all six of these rules, you will not only be healthy but will also be built for the future.  You can pick and choose from the rules but you’ll find you won’t be at your optimum.  Do all six and in a matter of a few months you’ll be ready and in shape for meaningful travel.

Fitness Tenet #4 is maybe not the most important but key none-the-less.  The physical rigors of travel don’t begin when you arrive at your destination.  They begin before you leave.  Packing alone places demands on your body.  Your body is a machine that works 24 hours a day.  I’m accused of treating my body like the machine it is and food like fuel.  I started to think this way almost 20 years ago – I don’t recall what inspired me back then.  That’s when I took the philosophy into practice.  So, here’s Fitness Tenet #4:

Eat Every Two or Three Hours Throughout the Day

Using the example of your body being like a machine and it functions/works 24 hours a day; would you run your car until it ran out of gas, then fill the tank?  No!  You constantly refuel it to assure it’ll take you wherever you’re going.  Your body is the same way.  While you’re sleeping or completely at rest your heart never stops beating, muscles never stop working, nerves never stop reacting, and your digestive tract keeps extracting nutrients from what you’ve eating.  So, why would you deprive yourself of the fuel your body needs to keep it functioning?  All of this leads to one word – METABOLISM.  That’s what it is all about.  Keeping it simple:  you need to stoke your metabolism constantly so that it does not go into “storage” mode.  (As in STORING YOU EXTRA CALORIES YOU”VE CONSUMED AS FAT)  When you reach the point of hunger and starvation, experience and research has shown that your body slows down your metabolism because it is primally protecting you from starvation.   Keeping your system out of the metabolism slowdown will have your metabolism running properly to keep your body burning calories and full of energy when you need it.

I eat 5 times a day, more when on a full-on schedule.  I eat breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, and an early dinner.  On a travel schedule I eat more, especially the day traveling to/from my destination.

As I mentioned above, packing means yanking out a suitcase, running around the house gathering the items on your packing list, bending, stooping, reaching, twisting, turning for hours – and that’s just the packing bit!  Then you lug the suitcase and carry-on to and around the airport, practically strip for the security, endure a long flight, and start it all again when you land.  This work takes fuel!

Now for the FUEL part.  Just like you wouldn’t use watered down gas in your car, you shouldn’t use empty calories in your body.  You need real nutrition, not simple carbs, high sugar foods, sugary beverages, or diet drinks.  A bagel?!?! A candy bar?  A high sugar, low fiber granola bar?  A bag or tortilla chips?  Crisps?  Pretzels?  Get real!  These foods will only do in a near death moment of hunger to get you to real food.

Here’s a list of good “in between meal” fuel snacks I’ve carried with me while on a day of exploration.  Some of the items below are available at virtually all city’s grocers, Farmer’s Markets, Pharmacies, or supermarkets:

Eat Food Bars as a replacement when you don't have access to a healthy meal

• High Fiber Food Bars (I’m not endorsing brands) – but it should have higher than 5 gms fiber, less than 250 calories, carbohydrates not over 35gms, it needs to have more than 5gms fat, and no simple sugars.  Don’t worry about the fat unless it combined with simple sugars.
• Well-balanced energy/protein bars (avoiding high sugar/fructose corn syrup) – should have not less than 4gms fiber, no simple sugars, carbohydrates over 25gms, and less than 10gms fat.  Again don’t worry about fat unless it’s combined with simple sugars.
• Raw Nuts and Seeds (In small quantities!  Stay away from roasted – it’s okay in a pinch) – walnuts, pecans, sunflower, etc.
• Dried Fruits (In small amounts because they’re high calories but also packed with energy and fiber) – prunes, raisins, cranberries, blueberries, cherries, figs, coconut, and kiwi.
• Whole Fruit – whole apple, grapes, plums, peaches, nectarines, cherries, apricot, grapefruit, orange, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries (try and stay away from tropical’s such as mango, pineapple, bananas)
• Vegetables (cut up or whole) – Carrots, celery, bell pepper, pickles, spring onion, cherry tomato, and radishes.
• Cooked Vegetables (pre-cooked and eaten them room temperature) – sweet potato, carrot, beets, turnip, pumpkin
• Canned Goods (available in easy open snack size) – tuna fish, vegetables, and legumes (beans).

Locally, wherever you are, there is always fruit "TO GO" when traveling

A lot to digest!  So, I won’t even get into the NON-FAT DIET myth.  Just remember that you need fat for your machine to function, digest, and extract nutrients from your food.  FAT IS GOOD unless combined with simple carbs (think ice cream or hamburger and fries).  More on that in a future post!

Use Technology!

Today we have many electronic options to remind you to eat before your appetite gets into starvation mode.  Cell and Mobile phones!  And watches!  Most all have alarms or an application, which can be set for certain times to go off as a friendly reminder.  In an office situation use “vibrate”.  I have an iPhone/iPod Touch that offers several applications that can alert you to the time to eat every meal and snack of the day.  It can even accommodate weekend schedules.  There is no longer any excuse to skip a meal or snack.

One final note on this subject matter, it’s hard to remember to eat until you’re starving.  Before you know it, you’re in a museum or at an outdoor antiquity and you realize you’re hungry – and you’re quite a while from the next food source.  You get to your meal, inhale it, and then eat more and more, until you’ve eaten too much.  Eating regularly throughout the day stops the over eating by curbing your appetite.  Winning the battle means keeping your appetite away from that point.  I have a secret tool to help keep your appetite curbed while at home too . . . another future post!

Happy Well-fortified Tripping,

Carter

Hey Trippers,

Here’s a heads up to the new TSA airline passenger screening.  They want yet more information.  They will be asking you for your birth date and sex.  Redundant if you ask me.  I can’t be issued a ticket without my ID being approved anyway.  Washington Post article HERE.

Just a reminder:  When you book a ticket, always but the ticket using you name exactly as it is written on your ID.   This means same spelling, no nicknames, and middle initials.  If it isn’t the same you WILL NOT be allowed to travel.

Happy Tripping, Carter

Crammed in like sardines

Does the title tell you how mad I am?  And I know the ins and outs of the game.  I got a call from a good friend of mine asking about his seat selection for a flight he’s taking next week.  I told him to go on line to his airline’s website, enter in his Flight Confirmation Code, and change his seat.  He couldn’t do it!  The airline wouldn’t let him do it.  Three reasons:

Capacity - When your flight has reached 80% capacity all seat assignments defer to the airport check-in.  Even if you arrive very early, chances are the highly desirable seats won’t be available.   So, it is crucial you book the seats you want immediately when you book your flight.

Status – Your status with the airline is not high enough to allow you to make the changes.  Yesterday, I booked a trip to the East Coast and because of my status with the airline and my membership in the Mileage Program; I was assigned my seat preferences as default.  I prefer aisle seats so I can mover about the cabin easily and without disturbing anyone.  My seat preferences are in my profile with the airlines mileage program.  If you are traveling with someone who has a higher status and you book your travel together, you can tether to their status for better seat selection.

Revenue - Your Airlines hold back prime seating to SELL to passengers at the airport.  It’s come to the point where you have to pay through the nose for 5 MORE measly inches!  But to someone who’s overweight that could be the difference between agony and comfort.  If I had higher status with my airline I’m flying, I would have been defaulted to these seats at no extra charge.

All of this is a reminder for you to select your seating carefully when you book your flight – otherwise you can expect an elbow in both your sides or someone sleeping on your shoulder.

Seat Configuration Websites – Consult the following websites to help you with the process:

Seat Guru

Seat Expert

For more on an iPhone App to use as resource for seating information on-the-go.  CLICK HERE

Happy Tripping,
Carter

Hey Trippers,

One travel tip I’ve learned over the years I can pass on is flexibility.  Especially, when it comes to accommodation.   I have never understood how anyone can book two weeks of accommodation in advance.  I can understand it if you go for a weekend – or maybe a week away – in a popular destination’s peak season.  (But I wouldn’t recommend that you go during that time anyway.)

Open to Whimsy from Your “Hub”

When I run through many of my travel memories that have stuck with me and felt like a real sense of adventure, they happened when I practiced flexibility.   All too often I find that I enjoy a place too much that I want to spend more time there – or rarely, less.  If I have a week of reservations ahead of me that can’t be broken, I can’t enjoy that place longer.  I tend to book accommodation in a destination and look at it as being a hub.  I use the “hub” as a base and go in each direction exploring, then move on to the next “hub”.

Visit a Tourist Office and Use the Web!

I know, you think you don’t want to waste time going from hotel to hotel after you arrive at your destination.  Most destinations have tourist offices that are more than happy to assist you.  On this trip, we made sure we booked accommodation with Internet, either in room or lobby.  We used www.booking.com,  www.lastminute.com, and our “reward points” websites.  There was plenty of availability.  This trip showed me the value of having an iPhone or an Internet connecting PDA.  You can literally book while you travel.  This freedom allows you to stop, explore, linger, and stay – or – move on if a destination doesn’t meet your expectations.

Two Must Nights to Pre-Book Accommodation

The one area I don’t allow any flexibility in my accommodation booking is the day I land and the night before I take off.   I book the first night or two and the last night – well before I leave.  The reserved accommodation will be near my first day destination and near the airport of my departure on the night before.  I make sure I’m booked the first night because I won’t be in any condition to book or search for a hotel when I land (given the time change and the length of air travel).

A Dangerous Landing

On this trip, I landed at Heathrow airport, rented a car, and drove two hours to my hotel that was pre-booked in Birmingham, Midlands.  I was traveling with someone who, thankfully, did the driving.  If I were alone there would have been serious problems.  I could not keep my eyes open.  I was exhausted from the long flights, not enough sleep, and the pre-departure preparations.  If I were alone, I would have stopped to nap in the car after leaving the airport.  It was that bad.  So, plan well.  Evaluate how you really are when you land on the first day of your trip.  Packing and negotiating airports and public transport is exhausting.

Ensure a Delightful Finish

The final night of my trip is booked because I do not take any chances with my getting to the airport on time.  I would not recommend being any further than one hour or less drive from the airport you’re departing from, especially, if you have a departure before noon.  What could happen?  Lots . . . . You could be ill after an exhaustive trip or exposure to a virus or bacteria.  You could be involved in or delayed by a car / public transport accident or delay.  You could have left a belonging / electronic / camera lens, passport along your trip and need to go back for it making you late for your flight.  At least if you have a room reserved, you could stop to rest and regroup for your departure flight.

Still Able to Maintain Budget

Booking a room at a hotel near the airport doesn’t have to be expensive.  Most accommodation caters to business travelers.  You will easily find a better rate on weekends.  There are less expensive hotels located a bit further from the hotel that often offer a free shuttle as an incentive for you to stay there.  (Book that shuttle in advance, if possible)  Rates on weekdays will be higher but usually a busy international airport will have a wide variety of nightly rates and amenities.

On this trip, I booked my final night at the Sheraton Frankfurt Hotel & Towers.  It is literally attached to the airport.  What a pleasure it was and a great way to finish my trip by waking, having a good breakfast, and walking over a skybridge into the airport terminal.  I booked a room using a Starwood Preferred Guest “Cash and Points” scheme.  I used 4000 Starpoints and paid US$60.00(€42.00) for the convenience.

Upgrade!!!

When, I arrived, I checked into the spacious room with modern amenities – and found it was dirty from the previous night!  I called down to the front desk.  They apologized and assigned me another room with a room upgrade.  I was now on the Executive Floor!  This gave me access to the Executive Lounge.  The lounge was spacious, included (at no extra charge) all the chef-prepared food, snacks, beverages (soft drinks, wine, beer, liquor), and a breakfast buffet in the morning.  What a way to finish a trip!

Happy Tripping,

Carter

Part 3 in a series of how I traveled to Europe and back for three weeks on a budget.

Hey Trippers,

Today I will focus on using hotel points, awards, how to acquire them, and when to redeem them.  Hotel costs regularly exceed airfare and transportation costs on any holiday.  This is an important way to reduce your trip overhead.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT ENDORSE ANY PRODUCT BELOW.  I am using them only as an example.

Join a Rewards Program and CHOOSE CAREFULLY – Choose a reward program and think it through.  Personally, I keep my hotel choices within hotel groupings that are in only two programs.  I do have memberships in a few other programs but focus on Hilton Honors and Starwood Preferred Guest.  For the most part, these two programs fulfill my needs domestically and internationally.  (I fill in the gaps with local hotels that are culturally significant at reasonable rates)  Both Award Programs have a spectrum of accommodation rates and property quality from BUDGET to LUXURY, which is what you want the programs you choose to have.

Hotel Reward Program Credit Cards – Sign up for a Hotel Rewards Credit Card (See programs below) for a group of hotels that have a broad spectrum of accommodation classes.  Personally, I have a Hilton Honors American Express and a Starwood Preferred Guest American Express.  Some of the credit cards charge yearly fees and some don’t.  Makes sure you confirm the one you use.  DO NOT do this if you cannot pay your credit card balance off in its entirety every month (interest rates approach loan shark rates) or if you are prone to be late paying bills (penalty fees are ridiculously high).

Point Acquisition – The programs will award you anywhere between 10 points and 1 point per dollar depending on what you spend your credit card on; the hotels themselves, gas stations, credit cards, on-line malls, or grocery stores.   You can usually acquire the most points for actually paying for a hotel stay and dining on the property.

Pay Low Redeem High - The trick is when it is on your dollar; you stay in one of their accommodations as cheaply as possible to earn points.  When you go away on personal business, visiting Grandma, or other non-holiday hotel stays, that’s when you stay in a modest accommodation within the hotel reward program.  Then, during the dream trip or holiday stay in the more expensive or popular hotels using points.  For instance, when on non-holiday accommodation stays; stay at a Hampton Inn or Hilton Garden Inn and when on your dream trip stay at the Hilton or Conrad using points.

On my trip, while in England and Austria, I paid to stay at Hilton Hotels (2 – 3 Star) at great rates (earning points and stays).  I found and booked the Hilton Hotels in England on-line and booked the Innsbruck Hilton last minute (most stays included breakfast).  The England Hilton stays ranged between £69.00 (US$113.00) in Bromsgrove, Midlands, £89.00 (US$146.00) in London, and Innsbruck, Austria, €89.00 (US$127.00) per night.  Both hotels included breakfast as part of the room rate.  In London, my Hilton Honors status enabled me to get a room upgrade and breakfast included.  I used Starwood Preferred Guest points to stay in a Venice 5 Star Hotel.  I redeemed points for my 5-night stay at The Europa and Regina Hotel on the Grande Canal.  The Premium Deluxe Room I stayed in was €380.00 (US$540.00) per night when booked on-line in advance.  The breakfast buffet was €52.00 (US$74.00) per person and I used points for that – only once!  Overeating is no way to start a busy day of exploring.

Double Dipping - This is a good way to acquire double points.  When staying at an accommodation, use the same Reward Program Credit Card to pay for your stay.  Many of the hotel chains also award a block of air miles for each stay (one or more nights consecutively).  Many Rental Car Companies also award hotel points.  Check before you book.

Advance Booking - Redeeming points for hotel stays has to be done WELL IN ADVANCE.  The programs are popular!  There are only so many rooms they set aside for point redemption.  Peak times at popular hotels have the fewest point redemption rooms available.

Optimizing Redemption – Starwood Preferred Guest is the only program offering “Free Night Awards”.  This aspect awards you a fifth night free with every four nights you book with award points.  There is limited availability, so book ASAP.

Remember to optimize the points you acquire when making large purchases; furniture, cars, electronics (including computers), home repairs, landscaping, etc.  Negotiate as a part or all of payment to be able to use a credit card.  When I purchased my last car, I negotiated as a part of the deal to charge $10,000.00 on my Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card.  That is a 5 night stay on many of their  properties.

Membership or Status Levels – Within a particular Reward Program, if you stay enough times and or acquire enough points (within a calendar year) your status within the program will get you additional perks.  Example: Hilton Honors has (lowest to highest) Blue, Silver VIP, Gold VIP, and Diamond VIP. Depending on property and availability, Gold VIP and Diamond VIP will get you an upgrade to the Executive Lounge Floor, which (depending on property) will afford you complimentary breakfast, snacks, and drinks throughout the day and evening.

Here’s a list of hotels and their programs;

Starwood Preferred Guest Program – Hotels include: Meridien, Four Points by Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, St. Regis, Sheraton, aloft, and the Luxury Collection

Hilton Honors – Hilton, Conrad, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites, The Waldorf Astoria Collection, and Home2 Suites

Priority Club Rewards – Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites, and Candlewood Suites

Wyndham Rewards – Wyndham, Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, Wingate, Baymont Ins & Suites, Howard Johnson, Travelodge, Knights Inn, Microtel, and Hawthorn.

Marriott Rewards – Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, and Fairfield Inn.

Choice Privileges –    Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Cambria Suites, Main Stay Suites, Suburban, EconoLodge, Rodeway Inn, and Ascend Collection

Best Western Rewards – (Earn Points or Air Miles) Good at over 4000 Best Western Hotels in 80 countries.

Hyatt Gold Passport – Hyatt, Hyatt Place, and Hyatt Summerfield Suites

This should be a good start for you.  I know it can be complicated at times.  But once you get the hang of it, it’ll make sense.  There is more Hotel Reward Programs listed in the KNOW YOUR BUDGET download on the KNOW YOUR TRIP HOME PAGE.

Happy Point Acquisition,

Carter

Hey Trippers,

So much has been written about the incredible story of US Air Flight 1549.  One thing that the episode has shown is that experience trumps even the best training.  Experience enabled Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and his crew to keep their cool and guide that massive and fragile machine into the Hudson River.  Sully used his glider pilot experience and transferred that knowledge to a multi-ton aircraft.  Miracle?  Call it what you want.  It is fate that that pilot and crew were on that flight under those circumstances.

There has not been a flight I’ve taken where I don’t stop at every take-off and landing and think of those I love and whether they’re all right if something tragic happens.  If disaster strikes, the statistics overwhelmingly show that it will be during the take-off (12%)* or landing (45%)*.

I’ve culled an important testimonial from the preponderance of coverage of this amazing outcome.  I found a useful account by a passenger who was on the flight.  He tells quite a story (if you want the whole story, e-mail and I’ll send it) and I found his final observations the most useful to what I hope I’m accomplishing with this blog and knowyourtrip.com.

(This is from a Partner at Heidrick & Struggles in New York who was on Flight 1549.)

There is a great deal to be learned including: Why has this happened 
to me? Why have I survived and what am I supposed to do with this 
gift? For me, the answers to these questions and more will come over
time, but already I find myself being more patient and forgiving, less
 critical and judgmental.
For now I have 4 lessons I would like to share:

1. Cherish your families as never before and go to great lengths to 
keep your promises.
2. Be thankful and grateful for everything you have and don’t worry 
about the things you don’t have.
3. Keep in shape. You never know when you’ll be called upon to save
 your own life, or help someone else save theirs.
4. When you fly, wear practical clothing. You never know when you’ll
end up in an emergency or on an icy wing in flip flops and pajamas and
 of absolutely no use to yourself or anyone else.

Words to take to heart.  Fitness is important to every aspect of travel and now, first hand, you see a testimonial from someone who lived it.  Clothing is always a consideration.  Every flight I take, I see someone with flip-flops.  Every overnight flight I see someone under 18 in pajamas!  Stop them!  It’s for their own good, their safety – and yours.  You may need their help. And as you travel in foreign destinations, don’t think of what they don’t have but all they DO have.

Word to take to heart, remember all that you do have, and you may be embarrassed . . . .

Happy Tripping,

Carter

*When accidents/fatalities happen, this percentage is based on the overall flight from taxi to landing.

Hey Trippers,

This isn’t a political blog and rarely will I ever go there.  I just returned from a six day trip to witness the Swearing-In of Barack H. Obama as the 44th President of The United States of America in Washington, District of Columbia.  What I can do is provide you a link to a photo gallery from the trip.  If you’re interested, have a peek HERE.

What I will share with you is my preparations.  When you plan a trip to a destination that will have more people visiting then any other time in history, you have to make extra special preparations.

Weather and as a result, clothing, was my biggest concern.  We knew that it was going to be outdoors, the temperature range could be between – 14C (7F) and about 10C (50).  It could be raining, snowing, or dry.

Walking was also a big concern because the Metro Underground train system was going to close stations. There could be unannounced closures because of the 2 to 5 million people visiting the city.  All it would take is someone to fall on the tracks (It happened) and then you’ll end up walking. I was in London attending the Millennium Celebrations and it was a huge fiasco (a story for another time).  I learned from it and applied my lessons to this trip.

The day of The Inaugural Ceremony roadways in and out were closed.  Coaches, Buses, Passenger Vans were only allowed in so far.  The National Mall was fenced off on all sides with temporary fences – starting the day of The Inaugural Kick-Off Concert two days before.  The public could go in an out freely but only at certain gates.  All this meant a lot of walking – miles of it.

Restaurants were busy.  At the popular ones, it was common to have to wait in a long time.  Fast food and Starbucks were mobbed – forget sitting down.

Accommodation was pretty well booked up months in advance. Long waits for Taxis and Cabs to get around.  Our hotel service was exceptional despite being full.  We booked our hotel a distance away from the action.  We wanted to be nearer the airport and yet close enough to walk to and from the District of Columbia Center – in case anything disastrous happened.

Museums were busy but no long lines until the day before and day of The Inauguration. We’re glad that we went a few days earlier.

The guided tours of the U.S Capital Building were available on demand in the days leading up to the The Inaugural Kick-Off weekend, which was very surprising given the amount of people in town.

You have the background, now here’s the preparations for the miles and miles of walking the streets, museums, and the hectares (acres) of the sights:

• Gortex covered well-cushioned running shoes by Adidas. (Fashion was not considered while spending hours outdoors).  I think the gortex waterproof coating kept in the heat.

• Foot Warmers – Oxygen activated pads that adhere to any part of your foot.  They last for up to five hours.  These were needed by everyone in our group except me because my shoes keep my feet warm.  This could be a circulation issue as well.

• Hand Warmers - Chemically activated little pillows that slip into your pocket or gloves and last up to 8 hours.  I brought a case with me and almost used everyone between the members of our group.

• Long Johns ( tights to wear under trousers) – made out of a moisture-wicking spandex skin tight material to keep in heat and wick out moisture.

• Double lined Trousers with many pockets – Many events did not allow back packs.  Okay, we had cases for our digital camera and video, but what about our other necessities?

• A Merino Wool Undershirt to keep warm.  It wicks moisture too.

• A Long John Thermal Top made of cotton.

• A shirt made of moisture-wicking material.

• An Eddie Bauer Rain-resistant Outer Jacket that gathered at the sleeves and the waist to hold in heat.

• Scarf to wrap around face and neck to protect from the wind chill.

• Gloves – double lined, rain-resistant, heat retaining, with enough space to accommodate the hand warmer.

• Hat, double-lined wool or fleece and long enough to stretch over my ear.  I prefer the Nike Hat Phones to listen to music on my iPod and to keep warm at the same time.  The iPod stores on the inside of the hat in a pocket – so no cords.  You may want to consider ear muffs.

• Extra Pockets around my waist (not a fannie pack!)- I bought a set of these brilliant little things at The Portobello Road Market in West London. They are made out of a khaki material and fit securely with velcro around your waist  It adds six extra pockets for you to fill.  The velcro-ed flaps and zippers keep everything in there safely.  I would not use them for to hide wallets or valuables.    I gave up searching for them on the internet, so I’ll just have to go back to the

• Adult Diapers – That’s right, diapers.  It reminds me of when Senator John McCain was asked what kind of underwear he wears while on the campaign trail.  His answer?  “Depends . . . .”  I came up with the idea when I was at The Inaugural Kick-Off Concert (U2, Beyonce, Usher, John Legend, Tom Hanks, Garth Brooks, Jamie Foxx, Steve Carell, Bruce Springsteen, Denzel Washington, Shakira, Mary J. Blige, etc. performed for us)  I was attended by over 500,000 people.  I arrived four hours early and had to stand in a tiny spot being abused from all sides as people tried to get closer, back to their spot, or had to go to the toilet.  Trouble was once you left, there was no way you could get back.  So, in addition to the four hours waiting, I stood another two hours for the show and the aftermath.  I couldn’t imagine what to do during The Inauguration Swearing-In Ceremony when there was supposed to be a couple million+.  So, I wore adult diapers and DIDN”T NEED THEM!  I arrived at 4:30AM with a few hundred thousand others, got as close as possible without a ticket, and waited for seven bitter cold hours for the ceremony to begin.  Once in position, it was too cold to worry about how close you were.  It was about staying warm.  We had plenty of room to get to and from the toilets.  I didn’t regret wearing the adult diapers because they kept me warm.

Hope some of this helps you prepare for hours and hours in the cold, walking around, with only a freezing cold ground to sit on, or a bench if you’re lucky.  I was thrilled to be there because the six days were a memory of a lifetime – if not an endurance test.  I’m glad I was prepared because it made it all that much more enjoyable and bearable.

Happy Tripping,

Carter