Booking airline tickets has become an art form. One day too late, or choose the wrong layover, and you're paying hundreds more than you need to. It takes a lot of sleuthing and a bit of finesse to get the seat you want, the price you need and the dates you prefer. Here's how to get from point A to point B--on your own terms.
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Step1
Start your search at least 21 days ahead of time to take advantage of advance-booking fares. Travel midweek and stay over a Saturday night whenever possible. Stay on your toes: The cheap seats always sell out first.
Step2
Look for flights on your frequent-flier carrier first and compare its cheapest rate to those on sites such as Priceline.com, Expedia.com and Travelocity.com. Also check out consolidators such as AirTravelCenter.com and auction sites. Many airline Web sites offer lower Internet-only fares.
Step3
Consider flying through a secondary airport. Orange County and Burbank are alternatives to LAX, and Newark International can substitute for the busier and oft-delayed JFK or LaGuardia airports. You may have to drive further, but if flights are impossible to get or impossibly expensive, you might be surprised by the ease of use and friendlier prices of smaller airports.
Step4
Request your seat preference (aisle or window) when buying your ticket. You could find yourself with a middle seat if you wait until check-in. SeatGuru.com has detailed maps of the best and worst seats on specific planes, so you can avoid seats that don't recline and keep an eye out for those with extra leg room.
Step5
Request any special assistance or equipment (such as a wheelchair) for disabled travelers prior to arriving at the airport.
Step6
Keep the length of the flight, the layovers, the amount of gear you're carrying and the time of day in mind when deciding whether to buy a seat (often discounted) for an infant. Domestic carriers permit you to hold children under 2 years of age on your lap, while international flights require a ticket and a seat for every passenger.
Step7
Place special meal orders at no extra charge, if they are offered on your flight. For example, United offers diabetic, low fat and low cholesterol, low-calorie, high-fiber, low-protein, low-sodium, kosher and vegan meals. There are also meals for children. These special meals are often tastier than the regular fare.
Step8
Find out whether tickets are refundable, transferable or changeable (and at what cost) before you buy. Get e-tickets when possible. Having paper tickets mailed usually involves an extra fee, and they're like cash: If you lose them, they're gone.
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Sunday, August 17, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
How to Be a Good Houseguest in a Foreign Country
Being a guest in another's home is a wonderful way to experience a foreign country. It Momay take special efforts to be a good house guest in an unfamiliar culture, but the payoff for friendship and enhanced cultural intimacy makes it worthwhile.
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Step1
Research ahead of time appropriate gift-giving customs of the locality you'll be visiting. Consult with local guide books, general guide books, cultural readers, Web sites pertinent to the region, and other travelers.
Step2
Do some homework on appropriate behaviors between various categories of people such as men and women, adults and children, and seniors and juniors. Read and talk with other people, and make your own observations once you arrive.
Step3
Limit your stay to just a couple of days if you are spontaneously invited as a guest to someone's home. Your host may be culturally required to insist you stay longer, but this may inconvenience the host's life and family economy.
Step4
If you admire something within a person's home, they may feel obliged to give this to you as a gift in some cultures. Be very careful about the ways in which you communicate your appreciation for your accommodations, and never accept something used in a home as a gift.
Step5
Observe how people behave in their homes and use this as a model for your own behavior. Pay attention to when people bathe, how frequently and for how long; when people get up and go to sleep; what is considered appropriately modest dress in the home; whether or not shoes or hats are worn indoors.
Step6
Be aware that your stay may be a severe economic burden on your host family, so do what you can to mitigate this burden: Pay attention to foods the family purchases and buy these in the market; treat if your host offers to accompany you while you go sightseeing; eat as many meals as possible away from the home; limit your use of hot water and fuel; limit your stay.
Step7
Expect to pay for a meal if you invite someone to eat with you. The custom of splitting a check is considered insulting in many cultures.
Step8
Give your host numerous opportunities to accept your offers of gifts or to make purchases for the household. In some cultures it is customary to refuse a gift or payment several times before finally accepting it: Your host may actually be expecting a third or fourth offer.
Step9
Stock up on relatively expensive non-perishable items that your host family can appreciate after you have left; consider coffee, sugar, tea, spices, rice or other staples.
Step10
Take plenty of photos and send these to your host family along with a thank-you note once you have developed the film.
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More articles......
Step1
Research ahead of time appropriate gift-giving customs of the locality you'll be visiting. Consult with local guide books, general guide books, cultural readers, Web sites pertinent to the region, and other travelers.
Step2
Do some homework on appropriate behaviors between various categories of people such as men and women, adults and children, and seniors and juniors. Read and talk with other people, and make your own observations once you arrive.
Step3
Limit your stay to just a couple of days if you are spontaneously invited as a guest to someone's home. Your host may be culturally required to insist you stay longer, but this may inconvenience the host's life and family economy.
Step4
If you admire something within a person's home, they may feel obliged to give this to you as a gift in some cultures. Be very careful about the ways in which you communicate your appreciation for your accommodations, and never accept something used in a home as a gift.
Step5
Observe how people behave in their homes and use this as a model for your own behavior. Pay attention to when people bathe, how frequently and for how long; when people get up and go to sleep; what is considered appropriately modest dress in the home; whether or not shoes or hats are worn indoors.
Step6
Be aware that your stay may be a severe economic burden on your host family, so do what you can to mitigate this burden: Pay attention to foods the family purchases and buy these in the market; treat if your host offers to accompany you while you go sightseeing; eat as many meals as possible away from the home; limit your use of hot water and fuel; limit your stay.
Step7
Expect to pay for a meal if you invite someone to eat with you. The custom of splitting a check is considered insulting in many cultures.
Step8
Give your host numerous opportunities to accept your offers of gifts or to make purchases for the household. In some cultures it is customary to refuse a gift or payment several times before finally accepting it: Your host may actually be expecting a third or fourth offer.
Step9
Stock up on relatively expensive non-perishable items that your host family can appreciate after you have left; consider coffee, sugar, tea, spices, rice or other staples.
Step10
Take plenty of photos and send these to your host family along with a thank-you note once you have developed the film.
Find Real Lovers
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
How to Be Safe From Fire in a Hotel or Motel
Knowing your fire exits and fire safety when on vacation is just as important as it is at home. When staying in new hotels and motels, the first thing you should do upon entering your room is take a few minutes to go over the fire exit plan.
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Step1
Read and understand the fire safety information provided in your room as soon as you arrive. It's usually on the back of the entrance door to the hotel or motel room. If you have any questions, call the front desk.
Step2
Ask the people at the front desk what sound the fire alarm makes.
Step3
Locate another exit in your room other than the front door.
Step4
Try unlocking your front door in the dark, as well as finding it without the lights on.
Step5
Walk outside your room and find your closest emergency exit. Try it to make sure it works.
Step6
Find a fire alarm pull box close to your room.
Step7
Never take an elevator during a fire - always take the stairs.
Step8
Leave fire doors in the hallways closed. They can stop a fire from spreading.
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Find Real Lovers
Step1
Read and understand the fire safety information provided in your room as soon as you arrive. It's usually on the back of the entrance door to the hotel or motel room. If you have any questions, call the front desk.
Step2
Ask the people at the front desk what sound the fire alarm makes.
Step3
Locate another exit in your room other than the front door.
Step4
Try unlocking your front door in the dark, as well as finding it without the lights on.
Step5
Walk outside your room and find your closest emergency exit. Try it to make sure it works.
Step6
Find a fire alarm pull box close to your room.
Step7
Never take an elevator during a fire - always take the stairs.
Step8
Leave fire doors in the hallways closed. They can stop a fire from spreading.
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