From Dollars to Barging the Canal du Midi—Sailing Euros in the South of France by Robert H. Bestor by Nancy Bestor it was our transportation, as we traveled erhaps the question most asked about o start, I don’t think of myself 118 kilometers in seven days, navigating P European travel is “What’s the best T as a “boat” person. I’m not a sailor. I 65 locks. way to change dollars into foreign currency?” don’t know which side of a boat is “aft” or My list of The answer is simple; take your ATM debit which side is “port”. I had never been on a worries before the card to Europe and withdraw the cash you sailboat until I was almost 40. I don’t even trip was short but need from bank ATMs. Be sure you have own a cute striped sailor top, or Sperry significant: a four-digit PIN, and you might also want Topsider shoes. Thus it may come as a 1. How nasty to talk to your bank about raising the daily great surprise to you, as it was to me, that would the pump maximum amount that can be withdrawn. I absolutely loved our family’s summer toilets be on board? To pay for larger purchases, such as hotel vacation cruising the Canal du Midi on a bills, use a credit card, preferably one that self-guided barge in the South of France. 2. How hard would it be for us novices to navigate our 50 foot long boat doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee We rented a 50-foot long penichette through narrow locks? (Capitol One and a few others). from Locaboat (www.locaboat.com) for Not convinced? You’ve got company. one week with another family of four. 3. Eight people on a boat for a week. Some folks actually sing the praises of While not cheap (about $4400 total Would we still be friends when it was all exchanging large amounts of dollars for before gas and bike rentals for the week), over? euros here in North America, then carrying we justified it as such: the boat was our 4. 5. and 6. Repeat worry number them to Europe. Still others rely on traveler’s lodging, there were four bedrooms on three. checks or debit cards pre-loaded with euros. board that very comfortably slept all eight of us; it was also our restaurant as Turns out I had no reason to fear. continued on page 3 we cooked most meals in the small yet The pump toilets are fairly similar to flush nicely appointed kitchen; and of course continued on page 2 Travel Essentials News Winter 2010 Great Travel Products for the In This Issue The Best Carry-on Suitcase Page 5 2010 Holiday Season Lance Armstrong and the Tour Page 6 f you’re looking for the perfect gift Digital Luggage Scale Airline Censorship Page 8 I this holiday season for the traveler Balanzza’s Mini Digital Luggage Scale in your life, we’ve got some excellent ($24.95) is an easy-to-use, money saving recommendations! Some are brand new tool for every type of traveler. Recent products, and some are our all time fee-hikes and crackdowns on luggage favorites. All are designed to help you weights and sizes make it imperative to travel more efficiently, safely, and cost- know what your bag weighs before you get Your Retail Outlet for Luggage, effectively. We’ve listed just a few top to the airport. At a mere 3.2 ounces, it’s 252Travel East Gear, Maps Main & Travel Street Books products below, but for more great gift the smallest Balanzza yet. Simply attach it 252Ashland, E. Main St., Ashland,OR 97520 OR 97520 ideas, give us a call, or visit our website to the handle of your bag, lift and wait for (541) 482-7383 (800) 258-0758 at www.travelessentials.com. We’ll be the beep. Then you’ll know if you’re good 541-482-7383www.travelessentials.com • 800-258-0758 here, all season long (all year long for that to go! www.travelessentials.com©2002 Travel Essentials, Ashland, OR. All Rights Reserved. matter!), helping customers near and far. continued on page 4 [email protected] Barging the Canal du Midi... continued from page 1 was the extent of our strenuous exercise the whole of our small town fireworks toilets, you just have to pump water in for the week. extravaganza. It was hugely impressive, when you are finished to flush the waste We certainly ate and drank our and all the more fun because we watched out. And after a small mishap at the first share (perhaps more than our share?) of it from the deck of our own boat, sipping lock (my apologies, beautiful pink sun bread, cheese and wine during the week. wine on the Canal du Midi. umbrella, for forgetting to take you down It was fun walking or biking to the local Barge Rental Details when we slipped narrowly under the groceries and markets to choose the day’s • We rented bikes for every member of bridge), we became piloting pros, even pairing of regional wines and cheeses. our group. About $50 per bike for the Our average week, and worth every penny. daily baguette • Barges can tie up anywhere along consumption the canal for the night. See a lovely was four. You tree shaded spot? Tired of driving? know life is Pull over to the side, hammer in your good when stakes, and enjoy a lovely and quiet your biggest evening with a splendid view. concern is when and • Locks are open from 9 am to 7 pm, where you and closed for a one-hour mid-day can get more lunch break. Each had an operator fresh bread. working the lock system, but you are expected to navigate your own boat, I’m and tie it to the cleats on the sides of certain we the lock on your own. (In many cases, would all as my teenage daughters can attest agree that to, the operator was a handsome the highlight young shirtless French man. I did not of our week notice. That’s my story and I’m on the Canal sticking to it.) was Bastille Day, July 14. Unbeknownst to us when • Many lock stations sold provisions, when it came sharing the tight spaces of we booked our trip, our itinerary put us including wine, fresh eggs, produce, the locks with as many as three other large in Carcassonne on Bastille Day, France’s ice cream, water and more. It was boats. Finally, although the interior spaces answer to the United States’ 4th of never a problem to acquire groceries. of the boat were a bit cramped, there were July. The fortified city of Carcassonne, We were always within a short walk plenty of different lounging spots on the complete with castle, towers, drawbridge or bike ride from a market. exterior decks to escape to and read a and more, celebrates Bastille Day with • A barge cruise is not for anyone book, lounge in the sun, play cards or just a 30-minute fireworks show better than sip a glass of wine. And yes, we all still who likes to get anywhere in a hurry. any I have every seen or could imagine. As mentioned before, boats travel liked each other when we split up after Now our hometown of Ashland, Oregon our week together. celebrates Independence Day in grand continued on page 7 The Canal du Midi is postcard style, with a small beautiful, and as we slowly glided (never town parade, a concert faster than five miles an hour) through in the park and a fun sunflower fields and vineyards, drinking fireworks show, but the red wine on the sun deck, I couldn’t help Carcassonne fireworks but think that all vacations should be this show is something relaxing. If anyone wanted a break from entirely different. Part of being on the boat, we’d simply pull over the show simulated the to the bank and let them out to walk or walled city under siege, ride a bike along the path that runs the as it “caught fire”, then length of the Canal. One morning Bob the “fire” was slowly and I rode into a small village boulangerie put out by “water”. for fresh croissants and baguettes. And In the finale alone, other than using my arm muscles to work Carcassonne lights off the ropes when we were in the locks, that more explosives than

“The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.” — JULIA CHILD

Page 2 • Winter 2010 From Dollars to Euros... continued from page 1 the inter-bank exchange rate was 1.45. She dispense such items as rail and parking probably paid 1.55. Thus her 3,000 euros, tickets require a credit card with an Bill Clinton won an election by if purchased that day, cost $4,650. But last embedded chip. Generally speaking, adhering to the phrase, “it’s the economy, spring the dollar did something a lot of European credit cards have the chips and stupid.” When it comes to changing money, people didn’t expect. It got stronger. In the North American cards do not. These are it’s the exchange rate, stupid. summer of 2010, the exchange rate ranged called “chip and PIN” cards. In some cases Recently a man headed to Europe from 1.19 to 1.31. Let’s figure an average of you’ll be OK if you can enter your PIN, so for the first time asked me what I thought 1.25. Using that number, had our Venice- be sure you know your credit card’s PIN. about purchasing one of those cards pre- bound traveler used an ATM to obtain At a rail station you can usually buy from loaded with foreign currency. He wanted money as needed, her 3,000 euros would a real person at a ticket window, but in 2,000 euros. The balance on the card would have cost her about $3,750, a difference other circumstances you may be out of luck; diminish as the card was used. Sounds safe of $900. Of course currencies fluctuate your card may not work at automated gas and easy and, in fact, is. But there’s just constantly and given other circumstances stations, toll-road collection stations, and the tiniest catch; it would cost him about she might have made money. But, just as unattended parking garages. $400. Here’s how. To get a card pre-loaded it isn’t smart to “time” the stock market, Some travelers are also encountering with 2,000 euros, he said, would cost “about it’s not prudent to try to guess the future the “chip and PIN” problem in restaurants $3,000.” I noted that the exchange rate that value of currencies. Buying euros a few at a and hotels. If that happens, insist that your day was one euro to $1.30 and the company time is akin to dollar-cost-averaging when card number be entered manually. investing in stocks or mutual funds. That that wanted to sell him the pre-loaded card There is yet another way to lose more was charging $1.50 for each euro. With an way the averages work in your favor. You might not make as much but you also don’t money than necessary on currency exchange. ATM debit card he could get close to the 1.3 Here’s how it works: You’re using a credit exchange rate. Thus the difference in cost card to check out of your hotel, pay your between using his ATM card and buying the You should never, ever restaurant bill, settle your rental car or pre-loaded card was $400. There might, of swap money at a buy something in a store. You are asked if course, be some ATM transaction fees, but you’d like to pay in dollars instead of euros. far less than $400. currency exchange booth Sounds good, doesn’t it? This way there’s no Traveler’s checks? Remember those in an airport, rail station, waiting for the credit card statement to know bygone days when we used to buy them or on the street. the exact dollar amount. Unfortunately, in foreign denominations; deutschmarks, there a big downside. This is called Direct pounds, francs (both Swiss and French), Currency Conversion (DCC) and will add and lira. No changing dollars in Europe. lose as much if things don’t go your way. It’s an additional three to five percent to your They worked well, were accepted by most the same with foreign currency. Buying a transaction, a cost that may not be itemized businesses, though the rate of exchange our little bit at a time is prudent. Of course the on your credit card statement but instead U.S. banks, Thomas Cook and American elephant in the room in this discussion is buried in a poor exchange rate. Often you Express gave us was well above the inter- the incredible naivete of traveling in airports won’t even be asked which currency you bank rate we now get with ATM and credit and foreign countries while carrying large prefer, the charge slip in dollars will simply cards. But that was then, this is now. Try to amounts of currency…of any denomination. be put before you for signature. DCC is one cash a traveler’s check in Europe and you And, you should never, ever swap of the true scams of overseas travel. Though may get a shrug and a shake of the head, money at a currency exchange booth in an some may find it convenient to know the even in a bank…provided one’s open when airport, rail station or on the street. exact amount in dollars that will appear you need money. So, other than the lousy on next month’s credit card statement, is exchange rate and the difficulty in cashing For bigger purchases abroad, hotel it worth $15 to $25 on a $500 hotel bill? them, traveler’s checks are perfect. bills, restaurant meals, etc. (not rental cars; I don’t think so. This is a phony, non- prepay those before leaving for Europe), I A woman who regularly posts on a service designed to milk extra revenue from like my credit card. Yes, it costs me three- unsuspecting travelers. The proceeds are popular travel website I follow claims buying percent (two-percent with Amex) in foreign a few thousand euros before leaving for shared by the merchant and the companies transaction fees, but I get frequent flyer that sell them DCC. Don’t fall for it, insist Europe is the way to go. No worries about miles, a record of my transactions, the best finding ATMs or banks, and every business on paying for everything in Europe in local possible exchange rate, and I usually don’t currency. accepts them. Last winter she wrote that have to pay for several weeks. If I had a she had purchased 3,000 euros to use for Capital One card there would be no foreign —Robert H. Bestor is the father of Travel spending money during six weeks in a Venice transaction fees. Don’t take a Discover card Essentials’ co-owner Bob Bestor. For 24 years, apartment this summer. She viewed the to Europe, it won’t be accepted. he has been the publisher of Gemütlichkeit dollar as weakening and expected to make (www.gemut.com), the travel newsletter for money on the deal. On January 15, 2010, One note about credit card use in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Europe: many automated machines that

“We don’t go anywhere. Going somewhere is for squares. We just go.”—MARLON BRANDO, THE WILD ONE

Winter 2010 • Page 3 Great Travel Products for the Holidays... continued from page 1 Eagle Creek Pack-It Set versatile rolling tote designed to fit under think it’s time for ladies to take a stand? plane seats. Offering plenty of room Give the gift of organization with Silk Sleep Sacks Pack-It Sets from Eagle Creek. The for all your on-board needs, the Cabin Ultimate Packing Solution Set ($29.99) Bag ($229) is big enough to house a Dreamsacks Silk Sleep Sacks (starting is great for dressier clothes and includes 15” laptop and easily attaches to larger at $65) are soft and comfortable silk a Pack-It Folder 15, a Pack-It Cube and wheeled bags. Exterior pockets provide a Small Pack-It Cosmo Pouch. The handy organization while a TSA-friendly removable liquids pouch ensures that you’ll breeze through security. Global Puzzle We love the Global Puzzle. It’s a fun and interesting way to learn world geography. This 600-piece puzzle ($19.99) is made entirely from recycled travel sheets that are great for traveling, camping or use at home. Worried about Organized Traveler Cube Set ($19.99) dirty or rough linens? Pack your own clean offers excellent organization of all of your silk sheets and sleep in luxurious comfort small stuff with a Pack-It Cube, a Pack-It wherever you go. Dreamsacks also work Half Cube and a Pack-It Quarter Cube. great as a super-soft sleeping-bag liner. Packable Daypack The Ultra-Sil Keychain Daypack ($29.95) is the ultimate packable daypack. It’s waterproof, weighs a measly 2.4 materials and measures 3 x 1.5 feet ounces, packs up small enough to fit in when completed. 193 countries, all 50 the palm of your hand and opens up to a U.S. States and 13 Provinces of Canada are included along with capitol cities, populations and sizes. Go Girl! For women on the go who need to Briggs & Riley Rolling Cabin Bag go, GoGirl is the answer. Yes ladies, men The Transcend Rolling Cabin Bag from Briggs & Riley is a spacious,

have stood up since the dawn of time and now it’s your turn. This feminine roomy 18” x 10” x 5” of handy carrying urination device ($9.95) is neat, discreet space. Its amazingly strong Ultra-Sil and hygenic. The GoGirl is reusable and fabric is waterproof, reinforced in all the comes in a handy canister that fits easily right places and guaranteed to handle the in a purse, daypack or pocket. Don’t you continued on page 5 “When setting out on a photographic holiday, always provide yourself with two cameras, one to leave in the train going and the other to leave in the cab coming back.”— W.C. SELLAR & R.J. YEATMAN

Page 4 • Winter 2010 Great Travel Products for the Holidays... continued from page 4 ($29.95) combat all of these health issues disguise. Its stylish yet unassuming looks heaviest of loads without a problem. with finesse. Their magic lies in their conceal high tech features like a padded Go-Toob Leak Proof Travel Bottle ability to apply graduated pressure over 15” computer compartment, protective Huzzah! Finally a leak-proof, travel- the entire ankle and lower leg thereby neoprene and fleece lined electronics size squeeze bottle. GoToobs (starting gently forcing your blood to re-circulate. pockets and a tamper resistant zipper at $6.50) are easy-to-use, easy-to-clean, Best of all, TravelSox accomplish this on its organization panel. It offers two leak-proof, and available in three carry- while looking like a stylish dress sock. carrying modes, backpack or shoulder on approved sizes and five colors. Every Magnetic Chess bag and pockets for just about everything GoToob is made from high-quality food- from books and maps to keys and pens to If you’re looking for a game of chess iPhones and iPads. on the road, this handy little Magnetic Chess Set ($11.95) could be just the Briggs & Riley Transcend Wide-Body ticket. Its simple design zips open to reveal We’ve talked about it before, and a chessboard and some basic instruction we’ll talk about it again. The Briggs & for beginners. The pieces feature magnetic Riley Transcend 20-inch Wide Body (or bottoms with printed tops to indicate TD-520XW) is our favorite carry-on size bag. This smart newly redesigned bag has the same capacity as a maximum carry- on size bag (the standard 22-inch), but is two inches shorter so it can fit “wheels in” into an airplane’s overhead compartment. Weighing nine and a half pounds, the grade silicone and includes a labeling collar to identify the contents of your bottles. Perfect for lotions, creams, soaps, shampoos, conditioners, even mayo, mustard and more! rank. The magnetic design makes it easy Travel Compression Socks to save an interrupted game and there are More and more, doctors recommend even a few extra blank pieces in case you that travelers on long flights wear misplace one on the road. Hitch Shoulder Bag/Laptop Bag The Hitch from Eagle Creek ($95) is a sleek and organized laptop bag in

Transcend Wide Body is also more likely to comply with international carry-on restrictions. It measures 20 x 15.5 x 7.5 inches, sells for $299, and is available in two colors, rainforest and sunset. It is backed by the Briggs & Riley “no matter what” warranty. If anything goes wrong with your Briggs & Riley bag, Briggs will compression socks to avoid leg pain, repair or replace it, free of charge, no swelling and blood clots caused by poor matter what. Shop before December 31, circulation. TravelSox Compression Socks 2010 for a $50 instant rebate!

“Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” — GUSTAVE FLAUBERT

Winter 2010 • Page 5 Spinning Our Wheels at the Tour de France by Nancy Bestor and fans were either walking, hiking or in full biking gear who didn’t look like hen Bob and I realized we’d be biking up to find a choice spot to watch they could ride any distance, let alone up W less than 100 miles from Stage 14 the racers ride by. This was the final an 8.3% incline, going by with relative of the 2010 Tour de France, we knew we climb of a 184.5-kilometer stage, and ease, or costumed boys in lederhosen (and just had to detour to spend a day at the at an average gradient of 8.3%, it was little else!), there was always something world’s biggest bike race. I had watched the steepest climb of the 2010 Tour. It entertaining to watch. portions of the Tour on television before, was tough just walking, let alone riding! About 90 minutes before the racers and knew people stood on the roadside Much to the utter delight of our teenage were due, the Tour Caravan began. cheering as bikers pedaled by, some daughters, we really wanted to get a fair waving flags of their home country, others way up the mountain before choosing our running alongside their favorite cyclist spot. We hiked up and up for about an like a crazy person for as long as they hour and a half, stopping many times in could. What I didn’t know was what a fun the shade to rest, as the temperature was and exciting spectacle the Tour de France already quite warm. It was an amazing really is, even in the long hours before the atmosphere with bike fans and partiers first riders appear. from seemingly every European country We booked a hotel in Andorra, less represented. Many had obviously arrived than an hour’s drive from Ax-les-Thermes the night before to set up their cars, tents, and the mountain finish of the 14th stage, campers, RV’s, barbecues, picnic tables, as hotels in the small towns nearer to and more. While the lower slopes of the the day’s finish were completely booked. climb were the most crowded, further Other than experiencing the duty-free up it was only slightly less populated. I like atmosphere of the capitol city of expected booths selling food, drinks, and Andorra la Vella (see related story in box Tour souvenirs to be lining the route, but on page 7), our stay in Andorra and drive other than a t-shirt station at the bottom to the stage was uneventful. We arrived of the climb, there was nothing for sale. in Ax-les-Thermes at about 10:30 am, Fortunately, we had packed a hearty and even though the riders would not picnic with plenty of drinks for our long Unbeknownst to me, at every stage of be coming through until nearly 5pm, afternoon in the sun. the Tour, before the first cyclist arrives, the small town was already hopping. With a fair amount of pressure a parade of advertising floats entertains We found a parking spot and joined the (complaining if you will) from the girls, onlookers. The elaborate floats are we finally stopped in the sponsored by various companies, and middle of a long, steep most throw out free goodies. We were straightaway, a little less than lucky enough to score laundry detergent five kilometers to the finish (I know, great score right?), candy, line. We spread our extra keychains, drinks, hats, t-shirts and large microfiber towels that biking shirts, nuts, bottle openers, bags, double as blankets, and sat and more. It was great fun to dance and down to enjoy the parade of wave to the caravan in the hope of being walkers and bikers heading continued on page 7 further up the course. In some cases entire bike clubs, with members young and old all dressed in matching cycling outfits, were slowly riding up the steep climb. I couldn’t help but think how much pressure I would have to not get off my bike and walk in hordes of people and their coolers, chairs, front of all these racing fans, as the road umbrellas, and such, and began hiking up was so steep! the climb towards the finish line. The long wait until the racers came The route was closed to non-official by (almost five hours) went by surprisingly tour vehicles from early in the morning, fast. Whether it was large European men

“When I was very young and the urge to be someplace was on me, I was assured by mature people that maturity would cure this itch...In middle age I was assured that greater age would calm my fever...Nothing has worked...I fear the disease is incurable.” —JOHN STEINBECK

Page 6 • Winter 2010 Spinning Our Wheels at the Tour de France continued from page 6 rider that went by, being so impressed After all the riders passed by, we by their athleticism and concentration began our walk back down, along with thrown some swag. Much to the chagrin as they powered up the incline. I’m sure the thousands of others who had joined of my 13-year-old daughter, the more you Lance Armstrong heard me call his name us on the mountainside. The road is now danced, the more you got, so as usual, I open to cars, but most people who were as embarrassed her but got a lot of stuff! high as us (or higher) were on bike or on Once the caravan had gone by, and foot. As hundreds and hundreds of bikers the excitement had built up, the real flew past us down the hill, we were quite event began. We first heard helicopters surprised to see Tour racers start going by getting closer, their cameras following the as well. Apparently, some of the big racers racers up the beginning of the mountain. like Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck Then we heard the cheers and shouts of and Lance Armstrong come down in cars encouragement from the crowds below. It or helicopters, but the majority of racers honestly gave me goosebumps. Looking hurtle down the hill they just rode up, down the steep straightaway, we saw riding at amazingly high speeds right next the motorcyclists turn the corner and to hordes of amateur bikers! behind them, the first cyclist. He powered We were all a little let down that by, and was soon followed by another. our fun day was over, and if we had the About a minute later came a small group time, agreed that we would have liked with Andy Schleck right on Alberto to become Tour de France groupies, and Contador’s back wheel. They were so head to the next day’s stage and do it all close I could touch them (Bob held me over again. Alas though, all good things back). People were yelling and screaming, as he went by, and I know he wanted to must come to an end. Au-revoir, Tour de taking photos and running next to the look and thank me for coming, but he was France. Until we meet again. riders. It was crazy, fun and a huge energy just a little busy at that very moment. I’m rush. I couldn’t help but cheer for every sure he remembers me though. —Nancy (Travel Essentials’ co-owner) keeps waiting for Team Radio Shack to call and thank her for being such a big fan. Any day Want Cigarettes & Jewelry? Then now they’ll call. Any. Day. Now. Barging... Head to Andorra! continued from page 2 realized fairly quickly when I started stations. Then blocks of retail stores, and no faster than five miles an hour. I looking for a hotel near Stage 14 more retail stores, and more retail stores. At times there can be a significant of the Tour de France that February was Turns out Andorra is not only income tax wait to take your turn through a quite late for booking a “Tour” hotel. All free, but also duty-free. Thus the duty- lock. But this gives you more time to of the small hotels I emailed said they free, airport-like shopping atmosphere. explore the surrounding area, as well were fully booked for July, and had been The downtown streets were packed with as visit with other boaters. fully booked for some time. Bob, how- people, all with bags of merchandise. Hard • I recommend having at least four ever, discovered a slew of available rooms to believe the European economy is strug- adults willing and able to navigate outside of Andorra La Vella, the capital gling after looking at all the money being the barge. This way if two people of Andorra, just 50 miles from Ax-les- spent in Andorra La Vella. want to ride bikes or walk along the Thermes, at quite amazing deals too. We Our hotel turned out to be as good canal there are at least two others booked a two bedroom “apartment” hotel as promised, but finding groceries in this available to drive the locks. with a full kitchen and washer/dryer for super-rich, “shopper’s paradise” was no • There is little skill required to drive about $55 per night. Nervous that this easy task. You could buy as much jewelry, a barge. When we first arrived, deal was too good to be true, we drove to name brand clothing, cigarettes, and high Locaboat gave us a brief tutorial, from our hotel with some trepidation. priced automobiles as you wanted, but a gentleman who spoke little English, Driving over the border from France buying groceries was more tricky. We did and that was really all the direction into Andorra, we quickly discovered the finally find a grocery store, and it did stock we needed. “allure” of Andorra. The first thing we groceries, behind aisles of Costco sized • —Nancy Bestor co-owns Travel saw was a row of huge liquor stores. This cigarette boxes, perfume and makeup. Too Essentials with her husband, Bob. Both was immediately followed by a row of gas bad we’re not smokers. agree they would happily take a barge vacation again, Nancy will just be better “One certainty when you travel is the moment you arrive in a foreign country, the accessorized. American dollar will fall like a stone.”—ERMA BOMBECK

Winter 2010 • Page 7 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID 252 East Main Street PERMIT NO 125 Ashland, OR 97520 MEDFORD OR 541-482-7383 • 800-258-0758 www.travelessentials.com [email protected]

News, Tips and Advice for the Traveler

• I’ve always questioned the and post it on youtube...... • It’s not easy to redeem frequent flier recommended “arrive two hours early • USA Today recently reported that miles. I recently tried to book tickets for an international flight” guideline more airlines are reducing business for next summer (10 months away!) from various airlines, especially since and first class seats to make room for from Medford to Rome, Italy, and I travel out of the Medford, Oregon more seats for the everyman. In 2009, only one return date was available airport, a small airport by most “premium” traffic on international in August. I try to be extremely standards. On a recent international flights dropped 16%, according to flexible when I want to use miles, and flight, my family arrived at the the International Air Transport often am willing to fly into or out of United counter one hour ahead of Association. I’ve been fortunate a variety of cities to use my award our scheduled departure time. We enough to fly both business and first travel, but apparently, Rome 2011 is had checked in online from home class in my lifetime, but it’s not worth a hot ticket, at least on frequent flier miles. I’ve never been tempted to use the night before, but since we were it if you have to pay for it! For the full story, go to www.usatoday.com/travel/ my miles for things other than travel, checking our bags, we still had to such as free magazine subscriptions, wait in a line. We got to the front of flights/2010-10-18-firstclass18_ST_ N.htm. but a recent New York Times article the line with 45 minutes to go, and reports that American Airlines will were told that we might not make • Jared Blank, of www. soon let members of its frequent flier our flight, because we had not arrived onlinetravelreview.com, expressed program use their miles to book car two hours before our scheduled flight surprise with two words bleeped rentals and hotel rooms. And Delta time. The United attendant then out of television programming on a soon plans to allow members to use proceeded to take other customers recent American Airlines flight. From miles for Gap and Land’s End gift (who were behind us in line!) before an episode of The Office, the word cards. Read more at travel.nytimes. continuing to check us in. We did “porn” was censored, and from 30 com/2010/10/31/travel/31prac- finally get checked in by the surly Rock, “circumcision.” In his October miles.html?ref=trave;/. Magazine attendant, and made our flight with 18th blog, Mr. Blank wonders if those subscriptions instead of flights? No time to spare, but needless to say, we traveling to a Bris should fly another thank you. But car rentals or hotel were not happy United customers. airline. bookings? Maybe. Maybe I should write a song about it,