Travel News & Tips
Top 10 Gourmet Destinations ~ Travel Dreams Survey
1) Paris
2) Rome
3) Florence
4) New York
5) New Orleans
6) Barcelona
7) San Francisco
8) Milan
9) Morocco
10) Madrid
..... Read More
Top 10 Wine Regions ~ Travel Dreams Survey
1) Tuscany
2) Bordeaux
3) Napa Valley
4) Champagne
5) Loire Valley
6) Cote - D'or
7) Sicily
8) Cape Winelands
9) Barossa Valley
10) Marlborough ....
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New Search Engine for Airfare
A new website has launched that offers consumers a unique format to view airfares for the major airlines. The results are shown in an easily readable format that compares cost, flight times, duration and stopovers. The data is provided by Orbitz. Check out
Hipmonk.
More passengers getting Bumped from flights
As airlines reduce flights in an effort to cut costs and decrease the amount of empty seats, fliers are getting bumped more often, and are sometimes left stranded at airports. Airlines routinely overbook flights and compensate bumped passengers with incentives like credit towards future flights and free meals. But that might not be good enough for someone who has to arrive on time.
So if you want to make sure you get to an important business meeting or vacation destination, leave plenty of time for any unplanned inconveniences. You may even want to fly a day early and take the worry out of traveling.
Read more...
Be careful of extra charges when booking online
Some of the online bookings engines have been aggressive in pushing extra charges on to consumers and are requiring consumers to "deselect" options, so as not to be charged. Most domestic flights are now booked online and the process can become automatic if you fly often, but check to make sure you are aware of AND want the choices you are being charged for.
Top 15 Vacation Destinations
Poll results for the Top Vacation Destinations outside the USA that Americans would like to travel to:
1) Italy
2) Australia
3) Ireland
4) Great Britain
5) France
6) Greece
7) Germany
8) Japan
9) Spain
10) New Zealand
11) Israel
12) Canada
13) Mexico
14) Netherlands
15) Switzerland
Are you paying big Credit Card charges while traveling? 
If you are concerned about added costs, and lets face it, who isn't these days; then try to prepay as much of your trip as possible to avoid Foreign Transaction Fees on your credit card. Although these fees may seem small, they can definitely add up if you plan on paying for the "big ticket" items like transportation and accommodations while in a foreign country.
Visa and MasterCard charge 1% of purchases as a foreign transaction fee. Most issuing banks however, add an additional 1 or 2 %, leaving your total fee at 2 to 3 percent.
Capital One is one of the few big card issuers without a foreign transaction fee. The 1 percent MasterCard and Visa fee is still processed, but Capital One absorbs the fee instead of passing it on to you.
Check with your card issuer for updated information on Foreign Transaction Fees and try to prepay the majority of travel costs before you go
.
Self-Boarding on Airlines is coming 
Continental Airlines has begun testing Self-Boarding at Houston airport without a gate agent. Passengers swipe their boarding pass at a gate kiosk, much like the "boarding pass" process.
Other countries have been using the system for some flights when the security checks have already been dealt with, in an effort to speed up the process. Gate agents will be freed up to handle more important tasks like ticket changes, seat upgrades, etc.
Private information isn't safe from the Government
A recent court ruling determined that your laptop, cellphone, camera and any other electronic gadget can be seized and inspected without a search warrant or probable cause when entering the country. At the border, Homeland Security does not have to abide by the 4th Amendment, which guarantees the right of Americans from unreasonable and unwarranted government intrusion. This may also include an area within 100 miles of the border.
Your property could be held for up to 30 days. Although the searches are rare, it makes sense to play it safe by making a backup of any important data and also to consider what you keep stored that might be of a sensitive nature.
US government has Phone Apps for travelers
The US government has phone Apps available that come in handy for travelers at home and abroad. "My TSA” gives you 24/7 access to information that passengers frequently request from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Another App lets you search, find, and contact the nearest U.S. Embassy anywhere in the world.
Check Tech Tips for the Traveler for more information
Passport and Visa Fees increase 
The U.S. State Department on July 13 will raise the price for visas, passports and other consular services, some by more than $300, to reflect what the department determined is the true cost to provide such services.
For an adult passport, the State Department will begin charging $110 to $35 more than the current price, plus a $25 execution fee, which is not retained by the department. Meanwhile, the cost for some visas will jump by even greater amount. For example, an employment-based immigrant visa will cost $720 under the new pricing scheme, compared with the previous $355.
It is expected that fees from most government agencies will be increasing in the months ahead, as the government seeks to raise revenue.
Spa Tips 
There is nothing quite like a visit to the spa for total relaxation. Many luxury hotels and resorts have spent the last decade upgrading their spas and with the slower economy are now offering incredible values for their services.
For those that haven't been to a spa, here are a few tips to make your visit more pleasurable:
Plan Ahead – You have a better chance of choosing your preferred time and therapist, if you make your appointment well in advance.
Go Early - Many spas have exercise facilities, steam rooms, sauna and hot tubs for your use, often without additional cost. Why not spend more time before and after your treatment enjoying the total experience.
Preparation - Don't drink too much before your treatment, so you can relax. But make sure that drink plenty of water or refreshing beverage after, as most treatments will require you to re-hydrate your muscles.
During the Treatment - Relax and enjoy the experience. Chose either a male or female masseuse, whichever makes you more comfortable. Wearing under clothes is a personal choice, but if going nude, know that you will only be exposed to the areas being worked on.