The Travellers Warehouse

One 45” bag and one personal item such as a handbag or briefcase. This is the norm for most airline travelers today. My first roll on bag was a TravelPro. They could be previously spotted when flight attendants and crew members walked by drooling passengers who were saddled with luggage that was cumbersome and hard to manage. That all ended in 1989 when Johnny Q. Citizen could purchase a carry on a bag with wheels. Not every wheeled bag is carried on to the plane. Airlines have pretty strict baggage regulations and these days they are not as lenient as they used to be.

My first wheeled bag happened to be a TravelPro. Friends bought it for me as a college graduation present. A standard 45” bag measures 22 x 14 x 9, and that is the regulated size for most airlines. Some bags that are odd shaped still need to meet the requirements set up by the carrier. Sometimes they are rejected, and have to be checked.

Be careful when shopping for a carry-on bag, because some retailers will advertise that a certain piece of luggage meets requirements when it really doesn’t. Make sure it is legal by doing a little researching prior to shopping. That is particularly important if you are traveling overseas. International carriers will not allow a bag on a plane even if it is an inch too large. Some retailers will give you inside dimensions instead of the full bag measurements. Remember that overhead space may not fulfill the carry-on requirements and the bag may not fit under the seat. I play it safe and get a bag that is a little smaller just to be on the safe side. Spaces underneath the seats are getting tinier by the day. The smaller spaces are that way because the airline can make more money on in flight videos and other amenities and gear for those things are often installed underneath the seats.

One other personal carry-on item can be taken on the plane. These might include a handbag, an encased laptop, a small backpack or a briefcase. No personal item can exceed 36”. I used to be able to carry Christmas gifts for the grandkids, but now I send them by mail prior to my scheduled trip because of restrictions. If you see an agent allowing a larger than normal bag on the plane retain that information when you check in, and if another agent won’t allow your larger piece to be considered carry-on luggage mention the incident. When something like that happens it means that the airline is not complying with their rules. If they won’t play fair and let you take your bag with you there is a place to complain.

Aviation Consumer Protection Division
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 7th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590

International airlines tend to have stricter policies than domestic carriers when it comes to weight limits. There is an additional charge for oversized or larger pieces of extra checked luggage. It is best to check with the airline to get the most updated information. Smaller commuter airlines may different regulations when baggage is involved, so it is best to take a few extra minutes and check out their website.

AirTran, Alaska, America West, American, ATA, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Northwest, Southwest, Spirit, United and US Airways all allow one carry-on bag and one personal item. Aloha Airlines sometimes doesn’t allow carry-on lugguage on inter-island flights. Normally, though, they follow the standard rule.

Technorati Tags: carry-on bag, carry-on requirements, personal carry-on item, carry-on luggage, International airlines, commuter airlines

There are a lot of single people living in the United States, and most of them travel alone. According to the most recent U.S. Census 26% percent of us live in a single household. That does not include singles living with parents or other relatives or significant others. It also does not include singles who are roommates. The actual percentage is a lot higher.

The travel industry seems to hold themselves aloof from these facts and works to appease couples, and families. This leaves the single person pretty much on their own. Here are some tips to make a lot easier.

The bane for the single traveler is what is known as the “single supplement” imposed by cruise lines on people traveling alone. Cruise lines typically charge solo travelers 125–200 percent of the per-person, double-occupancy price. Some of these tips on cruise travel as well as travel in general might help you to have a more pleasant trip.

1. Work with a travel agent when booking a cruise. They can find the best deals. Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harryman write for San Diego Westways, the publication for the American Automobile Association members in San Diego. They say some cruise lines will charge single passengers only 25% more that the double-occupancy rate. Agents are familiar with these companies. You may have to pay the agent a fee, but it would be well worth it.

2. Another way to get around these policies is to travel with friends or consider traveling with a tour group. They can sometimes work out arrangements with a cruise line.

3. I always say, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” It is a good adage to take along with you when traveling solo. In Istanbul once they wouldn’t allow me to tour a mosque because the greeter there thought my slacks were too tight. I had to put on a loose skirt furnished by him over the pants before entering. Do some historical research about the place you will be visiting, and then follow the local customs there.

4. Take along a small language dictionary. It never hurts, and it could be a life saver in an emergency.
If you have the time, learning the basics of the language opens up entire new vistas of experiences.

5. If you are going to another country know where the nearest U.S. Embassy is.The following website run by the State Department is loaded with good information for travelers.It is a very good resource for anyone traveling alone (http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips). Also you might take a look at their home page, http://travel.state.gov
and peruse the whole site for other travel information.

6.There are special considerations women traveling alone. It doesn’t hurt to invest in a self-defense course if you have to travel very often. A lot of women these days like to travel alone because there is such a sense of freedom and fun involved. Here are a few things to keep in mind. At the hotel ask for a room near the elevator, and don’t just leave your key on the lobby desk. Make sure the clerk puts it away. Arrive during the day. Most airports have shuttles and good transportation, but this becomes a real issue if a loner is driving or taking the train or bus. It is best to have someone you know meet you upon arrival. Use common sense when making new friends. Meet them in public places for a while. Keep in contact with someone at home. Telephone cards can be purchased almost anywhere, and there is internet access in most hotels.

• http://travel.yahoo.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Young-Female-Traveling-Alone

  http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/
  special_travel_needs/services_for_children/
  children_traveling_alone

  www.associatedcontent.com/article/128767/
  tips_for_seniors_traveling_alone.html

  www.continental.com/web/enUS/content/
  travel/specialneeds/minors

  www.ramblingtraveler.com/2007/05/
  traveling-alone.html

Sites for further research:

Technorati Tags: travel agent, American Automobile Association, tour group, language dictionary, traveling alone, travel alone, Telephone cards

So, you and your family are going to realize the dream of a lifetime, and taking a cruise down the California and Baja coast to Acapulco, Mexico. A cruise or any dream trip should be fun. Experts have come up with some common sense tips on travel safety whether or not your chosen mode of travel is by air, train, sea and even by automobile. In this particular article cruise safety will be featured.

First of all take care of your valuables by not keeping them in your purse. The best place for them is in a neck pouch or a waist wallet. These valuables should include your passport, traveler’s checks, credit cards and cash—anything that might prove useful to a thief or shop lifter. The closer you have these items to your body and how well hidden they are will save a lot of grief for the happy traveler. Purses and handbags are still useful for things like lipstick and toiletries. It is suggested that the globetrotter carry only a small amount of cash. ATM’s are available in most large cities and urban centers in the world. Major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere except in some place like the middle of the Belgian Congo. When I was in Brisbane, Australia all I had to do to get more cash was walk down to a local convenience store and use my Debit Card at an ATM. Modern nations have pretty much the same amenities as the United States, Canada and Europe. This is an area that needs to be checked out prior to any trip overseas. I carry a little cash in one of my skirt pockets along with coins that can be used to purchase tokens for subways or tips.

Another very important thing every traveler should do is leave any medical and contact information in the security area where other valuables are stored. That list should include a list medication allergies and it should be written in more that one language depending on where you are going.

In the event of choosing cruise travel the best resource to check before leaving home is the Vessel Sanitation Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They inspect ships and make sure that they meet strict standards for cleanliness, food preparation and storage. They also demand that a ship be in good repair, and they check the water quality. This is one website that has a ton of good information that will help the traveler remain healthy while enjoying the world. Each ship and cruise line does receive a grade for compliance which should be duly noted.

If you have an on going medical condition, check out the facilities available before leaving port. Injuries and previous medical problems are the most common reasons for visits to the office of ship doctor. There are a lot of situations that occur on cruise ships that do not happen elsewhere. Climate changes are a factor, and changes in diet can present challenges for some passengers. There may be a higher stress level, especially if someone has never been at sea before. It is best to consult with a physician prior to departure, and investigate some of situations a new cruise buff might encounter. Also, check with your agent or the cruise line and see what special medical equipment is on board. Do they have proper treatment for someone who needs dialysis?

Here are a few other tips that might assist the individual planning a cruise

1. Be aware of what is happening around you. Avoid dark hallways, and don’t accept gifts or drinks from complete strangers. Keep the awareness antenna up and fully operational. Remember, that common sense is the best teacher when in a new foreign environment. If something doesn’t look right notify the Purser’s Office.

2. Utilize the ship safe. It is provided so that passengers can store very valuable items in it. Remember, a cruise ship is a floating hotel. Would you leave your diamond necklace in a hotel room? Probably not. The same precautions apply on a cruise ship.

3. Be careful what you eat. This is a good rule of thumb whether you are on a cruise or not. While water on board may be alright the water on shore leave may not be. Carry a bottle with you on jaunts away from the comfort of the cruise liner. If you have the luxury of traveling with someone who is more familiar with the country you are visiting use their knowledge. I have found that the natives know the best home remedies for things they have to deal with all the time. If the situation intensifies see the doctor.

4. If there is gambling on board it is a good policy to periodically cash in your winnings, and don’t get too jubilant if the winnings are large. It draws attention to yourself and makes you a target for cruise predators looking for easy prey.

5. All of the experts suggest that it is best not to just blindly trust the crew. Most of these folks work hard like everyone else, but as in any occupation there are those who will take advantage of someone who is unfamiliar with their new surroundings. TV cruise dramas paint a rosy picture. Fantasy is not always reality.

6. Cruise lines normally have their own tours, but if you choose to look around a port city or island alone bone up on negotiating skills, or find a more experienced shopper to do it for you—preferably someone you know has traveled in the area before.

7. Do report anything that looks suspicious. The crew normally will take it seriously and look into it.

All of this may seem ominous, but most of it is pretty practical. Bon Voyage!

Technorati Tags: travel safety

I never leave on a trip these days without taking my Airborne along especially if I fly through the friendly skies. During the last few years each time I flew I would come home with a cold or just not feel very well. There are those who would chalk it up to jet lag or some other travel phenomenon. Airborne was developed by school teacher Virginia Knight-McDowell when she no longer wanted to fall victim to second grade germs. Some may find that it doesn’t work that well for them, but it does for me. Another thing that always goes with me is a light, non-habit forming sleep aid. Equate is the one I use. I found it at Wal-Mart. Sleeping in a strange bed is always hard and it does seem to help. Of course, anyone needs to read the labels and make sure there is nothing in the formula that might have an adverse reaction. What works for one person is not always right for someone else, and a doctor might need to be consulted.

There are other things a traveler can take along with them like Chamomile tea bags. I also look for smaller sample products when going on a trip. The nice thing about that is that you can leave them behind if you run short of room in the luggage, and it leaves more space to place small gifts for friends and family back home.Traveling is supposed to be fun and trouble free. Getting a cold and a fever really puts a snag into an otherwise pleasurable trip. Sometimes, it can’t be helped—like the time my friends and I took turns getting infected with a nasty form of flu found only in Caracas. Certain countries in South America, Mexico, some areas in Asia and Africa need special attention. Before traveling to these places check with the U.S. State Department for latest updates on health and political conditions. They always have up-to-date advisories.

Some years back I went to Ghana and one advisory warned that buying food in some supermarkets could be risky. They suggested that if food needed to be bought that it be purchased from a street vendor because it was likely to be fresher. But, even then one does need to be cautious.I have always been pretty careful about food consumption when traveling to other countries. It is also a good idea to check and see if the country has its’ own water treatment plants. A good rule of thumb is to stay away from fruits and vegetables that grow along or under the ground. In some places contaminated water is used to irrigate the fields. Something like watermelon or cantaloupe is probably alright because the fruit comes encased in a thick skin. At best, make sure that items like carrots and beets are cooked almost to death.

Once in Bogota I ate beets which looked like they were cooked, and in fact, they were marinated. This was one time I really got sick. It pays to know someone who lives in the area when something like that happens. There is no better source than a local resident who deals with these types of issues all the time. My friend took me back to my room and sprinted down the street to the local market and came back with several large South American papayas. Papaya in those areas can be eaten safely because it has a thick covering. It should, however, be eaten right away. My friend surprised me by bringing all the seeds in a bowl and told me to chew them up. This did actually help along with some supplements another friend gave me. I was lucky. If someone gets a really bad case of food poisoning, especially if it is a child or an older person, they should go to a doctor. Following are some other tips that will most likely help to keep a globetrotter healthy. Other tips may appear throughout this website.

• Wash the hands. Yes, it is simple but effective.
• Drink a lot of water. These days bottled water can be purchased almost anywhere.
• Antiseptic wipes are a good, cheap investment.
• Bed sheets are more likely to be cleaner than blankets in a hotel room. Travel experts suggest that the sheets should closest to your face.
• An N95 mask is carried by some travelers. I never use one myself, but it could come in handy if someone is just recovering from a cold and does not want to pick up other maladies from fellow plane passengers.

Check out these websites for more information.

• www.cdc.gov/travel
• http://www.healthytraveler.com/

So travel healthy — practice these travel health tips and really enjoy your trip!

Technorati Tags: travel healthy, travel health tips

A few years back when Northwest Airlines decided to re-vamp their frequent flyer program it turned out to be a boon for me. I had a lot of Northwest miles racked in their World Perks frequent flyer program. There was a wonderful opportunity to go to China. When I called them to check out what I could do with my credits they told me that because of the new changes I had enough to get me to Hong Kong with one intermediate stop either in Manila or Tokyo. I grabbed the chance to stop in Tokyo for a few days and then fly on to Hong Kong. From there, along with friends, I took another airline to Beijing. The trip consisted of the stuff that dreams are made of because I bothered to ask the right questions, and it saved a lot of money.

Frequent flyer programs were originally started by some airlines as a promotion, and they have evolved into standard features on most airlines. They include partnerships with foreign carriers, hotels, car rental companies and some cruise ship lines. For the avid traveler these programs are well worth it. I have a friend that got her credit card through a special program where miles were credited to her frequent flyer account. This helped when she wanted to visit family members across the country, and take trips to conventions.

Check and see if the hotel accommodations share a contract with any airline frequent flyer programs. If they do, your visit could give you more miles in a program. Also, some hotel perks might include late checkout, free breakfast, and in some cases an upgrade to a better room. Many car rental firms also have special considerations on frequent flyer promotions that could get customers a larger car without having to wait in long lines. It is good to check and find out exactly what is covered in the program.

Most programs are pretty good. Some, of course, are better than others. The best thing to do is find out where an airline flies. Do they go where you want to go? Business travelers may have different criteria because sometimes a company will send an employee to a lot of different places. Even if an airline does not fly to your preferred destination they may have a partner who is part of their alliances that do. Maybe an airline has alliances with several partners and the frequent flyer miles might be interchangeable. Airlines do make the rules regarding a frequent flyer program and they can change it any time they want to. So, it is good to periodically get updated information. Here are some other tips to remember about frequent flyer programs.

• I always keep my cards with me because I never know when I might need them. It is always good to have them on hand when checking in. When the reservation was made the agent should have made inquiries about a frequent flyer number. Make sure that it shows up on your itinerary or ticket when you check in.

• Check out all the alliances in the program including hotels and car rentals before you leave home.

• Redeeming miles is usually very simple, but keep in mind that there are blackout dates where the frequent flyer program cannot be used or unusual restrictions apply.

• If you can afford it, and a ticket is not too expensive, opting to spend the money and adding miles to the account may be the better way to go.

Flying used to be exciting and a lot of fun. I loved the days when families or friends could meet me at the gate, and the airline served meals as part of the travel package. In those days we called it good service. Today very few airlines have these services available on domestic flights. Passengers pay for everything except coffee and soda. These days I take my own snacks on board or have a meal in the airport or I eat before leaving home. The meals served on most airlines are not worth the price. I don’t pay for anything extra when I fly. Crossword puzzle books, novels and yellow ruled pads for writing out manuscripts have become standard carry-on items for me. Some people carry their laptop computers while others use the time in the air as a chance to catch up on sleep rather than shell out more money for poor service.

The seats on most airlines today leave a lot to be desired. In order to save money the designers put in smaller seats with less backing and very little leg room. Let’s face it—ordinary people like you and I are forced, as a rule, to fly Economy Class. Once in a while we get lucky and end up in First Class.

Check the information about the advantages of your frequent flyer program if you belong to one. Airlines may be able to provide a loyal patron of the program with better seating arrangements. It still may not get the traveler into First Class, but could get them into choice seating in the Economy section.

There are tips from seasoned travelers on how to make a trip more pleasant and trouble free. Of course, it is best to do your homework beforehand, and in some cases it is best to use an agent. Being a member of the American Automobile Association (www.aaa.com) can really help when planning a trip. Membership depends on the type of plan you need. I have a Primary Membership in the AAA Plus Plan, and it runs $76.00 a year. Members receive special consideration when using any of their services and the discounts they provide do help on any domestic trip. AAA has a special travel division, and the agents can give good tips on air travel.

Another very good source of information that I have found is on the travel site at the MSNBC website (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ ). Christopher Elliott is a Travel columnist and a regular MSNBC contributor. He talks about creeping delays. He writes: “Have you ever sat in a terminal – or worse, on a plane – and been assured by a bored voice on the public.

“It’s called a creeping delay. Airlines used to do their best to prevent them because they drove passengers quietly mad. But this year, strangely, creeping delays have been re-imagined as a tool to deflect the anger of air travelers and divert attention from the incompetence of air carriers. With each update, another party is blamed for the delay: air traffic controllers, the weather, lack of available gates. By the time the flight actually departs, passengers are so confused that they don’t know where to direct their wrath. Mission accomplished!” He goes on to point out that the traveler does not have take this condition lying down. Do your homework. Check the airline website, call the airline and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Learn something about the Traveler’s Bill of Rights. In cases like this the airline may owe you a meal and a hotel.

I wish I had known more about the Contract of Carriage provisions when being stranded in the Pittsburgh airport all night a few years ago. Their excuse was that several big conventions had come to town and they could not put us up at a hotel. The problem stemmed from the fact that there was a very real security issue when coming out of another airport and passengers missed their connecting flights. Flyers can find out more about the Contract of Carriage on the airline website. Read the fine print.