Travel and Safety Tips

If you’ve done any traveling over the past couple of years, you are sorely aware that most, if not all, airlines charge travelers for every checked piece of luggage.  Revenues accumulated by airlines from these fees are in the BILLIONS of dollars – so they won’t be disappearing any time soon! To avoid paying the...

“To Exchange or Not To Exchange….That IS the Question” You’ve scrimped and saved and are finally able to make that long-dreamed about trip to Europe!  Good for you!  Now, you need to decide how you will pay your expenses as you travel: Traveler’s checks?  – They have pretty much gone the way of the dodo...

The Rolling Stones sing, “Time is on my side, yes, it is” – and, since they’ve been around for what seems like 125 years, they just might be right about that!  But if reaching your vacation destination involves crossing the International Date Line and flying through several Time Zones, you might end up feeling that... 

“To Insure….or Not to Insure”….that is the question! “Expect the best, plan for the worst” is perhaps the best advice there is when it comes to travel.  Included in your ‘plan for the worst’ may be the purchase of a travel insurance package in the event of incidents and accidents that can occur when you’re... 

Airports and flights have lost nearly all of the romantic appeal they once held for passengers.  So many airports are massive in size and making your way from the check-in counter to the luggage drop-off area and, finally, to your gate can feel as challenging as going through a corn maze!  Patience, good manners and... 

Approaching the Customs Officer at the airport may cause many of us to feel a little bit anxious – even though we have nothing to hide and have done nothing remotely illegal or even improper!  If you’re honest and declare all you need to, there really is no cause to feel any apprehension.  Here are... 

Being stranded at an airport at either the beginning or the end of your holiday can be a real ‘Debbie downer’- but it doesn’t HAVE to be!!  Here are some fun ways to keep yourself – AND airport staff, AND other stranded passengers – entertained and smiling! If you’re stranded during the winter holidays, go... 

Are you already stressing about how you are going to survive this Christmas with your family? Are you mentally going through all the topics that you should NEVER bring up because it will surely start a fight? Or practicing your smile in the mirror so it doesn’t appear too fake when your mom mentions how... 

On my tenth birthday, I received a beautiful, super stylish, tweed carry-on bag as a gift (oh, I wish I still had it!). It had this tiny little lock on it and as any 10-year-old would, I locked all my “important” stuff in it – away from my sisters’ prying hands. As I got older and... 

If you have travelers on your gift list, you’re in luck….and so are THEY!  Most of us who love to travel are VERY easy to shop for – just give us something travel related and we’re happy campers!  We love the latest in travel gear – anything that doesn’t take up a lot of space ... 

There are so many things to think about as you plan your vacation, like which restaurants you’ll be eating at, which tours you’d like to book, or maybe which beach you’ll set up camp up at with a cocktail (or 2) and not move for a whole week. While luggage security doesn’t always rank high on that...

Recently a number of major US airlines, such as Delta, United, American and Southwest, raised their domestic fares by $2 for a one-way ticket. While you may not think that this will impact your holiday flight plans you may feel the punch if your luggage, packed with all your Christmas gifts, weighs over the airlines...