Skip to main content

Travel Tips

Over the years, I have learned a number of tips about travel. Some tips I have picked up from friends and relatives. Others have come about as a result of trial and error. Here are a few of the pointers that have helped to make my travels smoother and more pleasant:

General:
Expect issues. Travel almost never goes as smoothly as you would wish.
Seek the recommendations of people you know who have visited a destination.
Utilize internet resources, including airfare-related search engines.

Air:
Arrive at major airports at least two hours early.
If you are unable to reserve your desired seat when purchasing the ticket,
          look again when checking-in for the flight.
Join the airline’s loyalty program. Most are free and a great way to build
          towards discounted or free travel.
Purchase tickets online. Occasionally, airlines post lower fares on their websites
         than can be found through other avenues.
Avoid purchasing airfares over the telephone. Some carriers are now charging
         passengers to speak to an agent to book travel.

Hotel:
Call the reservations center or the hotel directly.
Always ask about promotions or packages. Some hotels seem hesitant
          to advertise these rates.
Remember to look into any possible sources of discounts. These include
          corporate affiliations and warehouse club memberships.
Be specific with regards to your room-type preferences.
Join the hotel’s loyalty program. These are an easy way to work towards
          free stays and other incentives.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Centennial

          It has been almost 25 years . . .and I still remember it crystal clearly.  It was a Wednesday morning in September and I was on my way to school.  I was in the front passenger seat of my parents’ minivan while my father drove.  We lived exactly one mile from the school, so it was not a long trip.  Typically, we would use the brief drive to talk about what was happening at school that day, but not on this day.  On this particular morning, we sat in silence, listening to the radio and waiting... waiting for something to happen half a world away.           At that very moment, in Japan, a ballroom full of people was waiting, as well.  They watched as the man stepped up to the podium and began to speak.  As we arrived at the school came the moment that will live in infamy . . .in my hometown, at least.  My father stopped the car at the edge of the sch...
Post a Comment
Read more

Olympic Memories

Twenty years ago this week, I - along with my family - was sitting in my house watching the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympics.  I have always loved watching the Olympics, but this time was different.  This time, the Games were not on some far-away continent.  These Games were in my own hometown!  In fact, just the night before, I had been in Olympic Stadium - now Turner Field - watching the dress rehearsal for what I was watching on tv.  Now, twenty years later, some of my most vivid memories remain: The seemingly always-crowded highways of Atlanta were practically desolate, providing a seldom-seen sight. Meeting the Frenchman who wondered if I had ever heard of the book about the Civil War written by an Atlanta woman named Margaret Mitchell. The dress rehearsal crowd cheering wildly during the parade of nations for the entry of the flag from (the nation of) Georgia. Attending the women's gymnastics podium trials, watching the Magnificent 7 prepa...
Post a Comment
Read more

When in Rome . . . or Seattle

What was I doing here? I do not even drink coffee. Besides, all of these places basically look the same. This place was no different, really. What was the point of my being here? I had no intention of ordering coffee. Yet, there I was, standing in a tiny Starbucks Coffee shop in Seattle. I was not alone. The store was packed to the point where I could hardly move. While most of the people in the store had a drink in hand, I spotted a few who, like me, were just looking around. In any other city, this might have seemed exceedingly strange, going to Starbucks with no intention of getting coffee. But, this was different. This was the first Starbucks. Seattle and coffee are somewhat linked. It was in Seattle that coffee became a pastime. What was once a drink largely reserved for mornings and evening meals, became a day-long obsession. Granted, Starbucks is just another large corporation. But, it was in Seattle that Starbucks began. Seeking out the first store see...
1 comment
Read more