Travel Tips

Scroll below for travel tips which will help make your holidays run smoothly...

One great way to save money on travel accommodation, especially for a large family, is to find a family with a home in a place you'd like to visit, then agree to trade a holiday at their home for one at yours.

If you arrange a swap with a family that has a home comparable to yours, you'll get the comfort you are used to at little or no cost, saving yourself a bundle on hotel fees. Most home exchanges last at least a month, particularly for retirees and Europeans who receive five or six weeks of holiday a year.

If you know someone with a home in a different state or country, ask whether they'd be interested in swapping with you. If not, look into joining one of the holiday exchange clubs that list thousands of homes all over the globe. Most clubs cost only $65 a year to join, a small price to pay for free travel accommodation.

Once you find a potential home exchange, make sure that you and the other owner agree on the terms before you make the trade. Decide about swapping cars, taking care of plants or pets and introducing your guests to some of your friends.

There are several major home exchange clubs, all of which you can find through any major search engine or directory: HomeLink, Intervac U.S., The Invented City, Trading Homes International and Worldwide Home Exchange Club.

Source: "The Bottom Line Bargain Book" (adapted)

* WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT A HOTEL, check your bags. Then go to the pay telephone in the lobby and call the hotel. Ask to have your reservation confirmed, give them your credit card number and go on your way. You'll sidestep conventional check-in lines.

* TO AVOID THE LONG CHECK-OUT LINE after the convention, go down to the desk very early in the morning, before official check-out time, to check out. You won't have to turn in your room key and you may still use your room until official check-out time (usually around 1 pm).

* IF YOU'RE WAITING FOR A CALL, DON'T STAY GLUED TO YOUR HOTEL ROOM. If you ask, the hotel operator will transfer your calls to another room, interrupt the call you're on for a more important one or hold any calls while you run out for a soda.

* SAVE MONEY BY NOT PAYING FOR THINGS YOU DIDN'T ORDER. Don't charge anything to your hotel room. It's too confusing when you're checking out to verify the list of room charges. And it's only too easy for the hotel to make a mistake. If you don't charge anything at all, you'll know that extra items on your bill can't be yours. Use your telephone credit card for calls, pay cash for room service, laundry, etc. Use your credit card for food.

* DON'T DEPEND ONLY ON THE HOTEL FOR SERVICES SUCH AS TYPING, film development and so on. Call the local convention bureau. It's specifically set up to help out-of-town businesspeople.

Source: Barbara Pletcher, "Travel Sense" (adapted)

* BRING A THERMOS AND BOTTLED WATER. One of the main challenges during a flight is to stay hydrated and this will help you. Avoid filling your thermos with anything caffeinated, as those are diuretics.

* OR BRING YOUR OWN LARGE COFFEE MUG, WITH A LID (like the kind used in cars, for driving). You will get more liquid at a time that way and the lid will both deter spilling and keep in heat.

* REQUEST AN AISLE SEAT. You'll feel more comfortable going to the bathroom frequently after drinking lots of liquids. You'll also be free to get up and stretch regularly, which is a good idea, especially on long flights.

* BRING AN EYESHADE WITH EARPLUGS. This will help you relax and sleep, regardless of what is going on around you.

* BRING A FOLDING SHOEHORN. This makes it much easier for swollen feet to fit back into shoes.

* BRING AN INFLATABLE PILLOW. They add to comfort and also serve to keep your head in place so you don't wake up on your neighbour's shoulder.

* WEAR A SHIRT WITH AT LEAST ONE POCKET. You want an easy place to stow pens, pencils, eyeglasses and so on without bending down to stash them in a carry on.

* ACCEPT HEADSETS OR BRING YOUR OWN. These function as a "do not disturb" sign to potentially chatty seatmates. (Bring alcoholic wipes to clean off airline headsets, just to be safe.)

* WEAR WRINKLE-FREE OR FASHIONABLY WRINKLED CLOTHES. Then you won't have to worry about seat-belt marks. And you'll look fresh when you deplane.

* DON'T OVERCLOTHE A BABY. Babies usually cry on planes because they're too hot. You'll do yourself and the whole plane a favor.

Source: Marion Buhagiar, "The Book of Secrets" (adapted)

Anytime you fly across several different time zones, you disrupt the body's circadian rhythms. The resulting jet lag should be thought of not as a special problem but as another form of manageable stress. Here are four ways to control it:

* AVOID ALCOHOL DURING YOUR FLIGHT. Alcohol, a depressant, can aggravate lethargy and fatigue, two classic symptoms of jet lag. It can also cause restlessness, which can disturb your sleep or keep you from sleeping altogether. And because it acts as a diuretic, alcohol can leave you feeling dehydrated.

* LIMIT YOUR CONSUMPTION OF CAFFEINE. Like alcohol, caffeine is a diuretic that can leave you feeling dehydrated and out of sorts. Too much caffeine can also cause nervousness, anxiety, tremors and insomnia.

* DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. Recent studies have shown that even slight dehydration can cause listlessness and fatigue and can even make you more prone to mental errors - symptoms similar to those of jet lag.

* ADAPT TO LOCAL TIME AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. If you arrive at your travel destination the morning after an all-night flight, for example, have no more than a brief 90-minute nap, then stay awake until it's time for bed. Schedule non-stressful activities and eat light, refreshing meals on your arrival day.

Source: "Bottom Line Personal Book of Bests" (adapted)

"I fly only first class and stay at the best hotels but I don't pay a premium to do so," claims travel expert Joel Widzer. "Last year, I took 35 round-trip first-class flights and paid on average only $243 per flight. I stayed in top hotels that cost on average only $122 per night." These are his secrets:

* Recognize the value of loyalty. You'll get the best deals by traveling on the same airline and staying at the same hotel chain as often as possible.

* Get "elite" status with airlines. Most large airlines have three elite tiers to reward their frequent fliers. If you travel at least 20,000 miles per year on one carrier, you qualify for elite status at major airlines.

* Join frequent-guest programs. Many of the best hotel chains offer discounts and free nights to guests who stay with them often. (You'll probably need to establish a relationship with several because no one chain will likely be everywhere you want to travel.)

* Save by paying more. Sometimes you can save more in the long run by paying more upfront. Staying at the Club or Concierge floors of fine hotels, for example, gives you access to free breakfast, free lunch, unlimited snacks and newspapers.

* Ask the gate agent for upgrades. If there are vacant seats in first class (or in business on international flights), the gate agent will almost always seek to fill them, as this generates goodwill for the airline at no extra cost. Hint: Dress as if you belong in first class - and be polite.

Source: Joel Widzer, "The Penny Pincher's Passport"

* PLAN TRIPS SUFFICIENTLY IN ADVANCE to get written confirmation of reservations. That gives you something extra to argue with, should you need it. If there's no time for a written confirmation, try to get a confirmation number when the reservation is made.

* GET "GUARANTEED" RESERVATIONS WITH A CREDIT CARD. This does obligate you to pay for the room even if you can't make it. At the same time, though, it reduces the incentive that a hotel clerk has to sell your room to someone else. Some credit cards and hotel chains have a reimbursement policy whereby you will be compensated for the first night's lodging in a comparable hotel room nearby and other related expenses.

* ARRIVE EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON after last night's guests have checked out but before the bulk of new arrivals.

* TAKE YOUR CASE TO A HIGHER-UP - probably the assistant manager on duty - because it's unlikely that the desk clerk will find a room after telling you that he has none. There are almost always rooms set aside for special purposes. Some seasoned travelers say that starting to make a loud fuss is often effective because hotels try hard to avoid drawing public attention to overbooking practices.

* AS A LAST RESORT, insist that the assistant manager call other comparable hotels to get you a room, at the same or lower price. Better hotels will usually accommodate this request.

Source: Marion Buhagiar, "The Book of Secrets" (adapted)

Have you ever taken a lengthy overseas holiday? Then you've probably run into "money troubles." The trouble isn't whether you have enough - it's protecting this money, securing fair exchange rates and transferring it on a regular basis.

A simple and effective solution to your "money troubles" might be to set up an overseas bank card account.

* Investigate banks prior to your trip. Inquire about bank cards, minimum balances, time requirements and closure penalties. (This research can be done cost-free over the Internet!) Then select a few banks for on-site research.

* Bring account information and bank telephone numbers on your trip.

* Visit selected banks as soon as you arrive. Double-check requirements and stipulations. Then select a bank, deposit or transfer money and pick up your bank card.

With an overseas bank card and account, you can save a bundle on exchange rates and transfer money directly between accounts, as well as carry and store less cash while you travel.

Missing your flight. Discovering you had no film in the camera. Losing your purse or wallet to a pickpocket. These are some of the classic travel tales of woe. Here are some ideas to help you avoid being the victim of a pickpocket:

* Don't carry anything around with you that you don't really need (that includes carrying around more money that you would possibly need).

* Men: Don't carry a traditional wallet with you, the kind you put in your pocket (front or back). Women: Avoid keeping valuables in a purse, which can be easily snatched off your shoulder.

* Consider using an "interior wallet", the kind that is either fastened around your neck, draped from a belt loop or worn with a velcro fastener around the calf or ankle. All three kinds are concealed underneath clothing.

* Prepare change as you need it in a front pocket so you don't call attention to your hidden wallet by taking it out and opening it up in public.

* Make sure you write down the entire contents of what is in your wallet and keep that piece of paper in another place. Record the credit card phone numbers you would need to call in the event of theft or loss. Write down both the toll-free and non-toll-free numbers, leaving a copy with someone at home whom you would be able to reach in any emergency.

* Exercise common sense: Don't travel in narrow alleys or poorly lit streets. When possible, avoid having crowds of people surrounding you.

* If you insist on carrying a traditional wallet, keep it in your front pocket and place a rubber band around it. This will make it much more difficult for a thief to remove it from your pocket without your noticing. Carry a dummy wallet and put your money in your front pocket.

* Be aware of the pickpocket's favorite tricks: bumping into their victim, having something spilled on you or someone pointing out a spot on your clothing. Someone approaching you and asking for help or directions. Someone causing a disturbance that draws everyone's attention. Being surrounded by a crowd, especially if you are surrounded by groups of children.

If, despite your best efforts, your wallet or purse is still lost or stolen, try to file a police report, if at all possible. The report will serve as documentation later on for travel insurance purposes.

* Choose a flight that leaves at an off-peak time (midmorning or early afternoon on a midweek, non-holiday-period flight or some but not all overnight flights). Ask the reservations clerk or your travel agent how many seats are available.

* If you are traveling with someone else, book the aisle and window seats in a row. The middle seats are the last ones assigned. If you do end up with someone in the middle, chances are that you can convince that person to trade for one of your seats, so you can end up sitting next to your travel companion.

* Request a seat toward the back of the plane, an area that is usually filled last.

* When you arrive at the gate, ask the agent whether the seat next to yours is vacant. If it is not, politely ask to be moved. You may have to wait for the last moment to board but a friendly gate agent may be able to hold a row open for you and might even take the initiative to upgrade you to business or first class.

Keep in mind how many surly people gate agents are obliged to deal with each day. It comes as a welcome relief to encounter someone friendly and good-natured. Agents often respond with appreciation.

Source: Corey Sandler, "Secrets of the Savvy Consumer"

To minimize ear pain when flying:

* Avoid flying when you have a cold or nasal congestion.

* If you must fly with a stuffy head, take nose drops and an antihistamine a half hour before takeoff and a half hour before landing. Drink plenty of nonalcoholic liquids.

* Don't have more than one or two alcoholic drinks. (Alcohol dilates the blood veins and dries up infection-fighting mucus).

* Don't sleep during landing (because you won't swallow as much to relieve the pressure in your ears).

* Chew gum, to make induce more swallowing during landing.

* Consider taking your own small thermos or bottled water, so you can increase your intake of liquids.

Source: "Travel and Leisure" (adapted)

Travel agents and guidebooks are actually the sources of last resort for many savvy travelers who make all their getaways "dream holidays." To imitate their success, consider some of their methods:

* Collect information, year round, on interesting holiday possibilities, from a variety of sources, including articles, postcards and anything else that comes your way.

* Organize this information into files, by location, then subdivide, according to subject (e.g., ski vacations, tennis holidays, etc.).

* Use people, apart from professional travel agents, as a resource. Interview well-traveled friends, whose tastes you generally share. Talk with neighbors and clients. Think of exchanging visits with people you meet, both while at home base and on holiday.

* Eavesdrop on interesting travel-related conversations in public places. If you overhear something that sounds noteworthy, jot it down and check out the details later.

* When exposing yourself to books, movies and magazines, keep in mind that life can imitate art. Reading Henry Miller, for example, might inspire a visit to Big Sur.

In short, be creative. Give full play to your imagination, as you convert your holiday dreams into reality.

After the trip of a lifetime, it's time to relax and relive the experience by watching the vacation video. But before you've even made it half way through, you've had enough. The camera person's bobbing and weaving and unending out-of-focus pans have left your head spinning and your stomach churning.

It's time to provide the photographer with the following video photography strategies:

* Lighting - Aim for either full sun or full-shade shots. Lighting combinations within the same frame can cause distortions and poorly lit subjects.

* Focusing - Slow down! Zoom in or out slowly by counting to five as you change focus. Spend at least another five to ten seconds on this shot before switching to something else.

* Panning - Point your feet toward the place where you will end the pan. Then swivel back to your starting point, and begin taping as you slowly turn. When you reach the ever-important end shot, your body will be in a comfortable, stable position for a better shot.

With practice and a few easy steps, your next vacation video will be better than ever!

Source: "Bottom Line Personal," 15 October 1999

"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". This time-honored rule holds true for many situations with travel scams no exception.

Travelers can protect themselves from falling victim to most scams by following these guidelines:

* Pass up sales pitches that conceal or omit important facts, such as travel restrictions or regular charges. Additional hidden charges probably exist.

* Sidestep offers that pressure consumers to decide quickly. With today's timely fax and e-mail capabilities, no "deal" should require a spur-of-the-moment decision.

* Exercise extreme caution with vacation certificates that arrive by mail or suggest that you've won something. Typically, the cost of the trip increases, upon close inspection.

* Identify companies that have been around for several years.

* Ask detailed questions regarding additional charges such as meals, taxes, excursions, gratuities and air fare.

* Verify the company's reputation with the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) (1-800-275-2782) or the U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA) (1-212-599-6599).

If you still have questions or doubts, it's probably best to steer clear.

Source: Christopher Reynolds in The Los Angeles Times

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