Nomadic Matt is the BEST!

Nomadic Matt, one of the websites I check often has written a post about how many people think that when you don't fit the mold and spend one week a year in the Caribbean on a ship, you are running away from something. Of course I am paraphrasing. But I often have heard comments about my traveling as running away from something, but traveling is really my passion.

I think about travel everyday. I look at websites to see where I can get a cheap ticket. I love reading about travel experiences. I love hearing about new things. Travel is part of me.

In the coming weeks I am going to put together a FAQ about traveling and some of my experiences. I hope to prove the traveling can be most memorable when you don't spend much money and aren't running to see different sites. I hope it will help all the people that read my blog understand how great travel is, and how much of a lifestyle it can be.

But before that, you should read the story about Everyone Says I'm Running Away from Nomadic Matt.

NEVER RENT WITH AVIS!!!!

Here is a warning, you should never rent a car from Avis Rent a Car. Today, I was checking my credit card statement and noticed there was an additional charge from the company. They added the charge because I didn't drive over 70 miles, and didn't show a receipt for filling up the vehicle when I returned it.

First, I accept responsibility for not reading the contract completely. I have rented HUNDREDS of vehicles during work and personal travel so I thought I would be ok. I have never been charged this, and often didn't drive over 70 miles. But, is it a sound business practice to charge people $13.99 for driving only a few miles? Also, when I returned the car nobody asked me to produce a receipt when they looked at the mileage, and the gas was something like $3.00!

Where is the logic. You don't use the car very much, and are charged a fee for not using it enough? Come on, get REAL AVIS.

I guess this means I am going to stick with HERTZ!

Happy Pride Month!!! A New Link

June is a big month for Pride Celebrations around the world. The festivities in my home town of Des Moines were postponed due to the horrible flooding of the last couple of weeks, so it will be an autumn pride in Iowa.

I was introduced to a new gay website for travelers. The site is called Patroc and features 21 different locations across the world. From Munich to Prague to London and even Vienna.

Feel free to check out the new link!

PATROC

Last Minute Travel....

Kevin and I recently took a trip to Europe that was inexpensive. Rob Lovitt, a travel writer and contributor to MSNBC, wrote this article about last minute travel deals. There are savings out there, just look around.

---------------------------------------------------------
By Rob Lovitt
Travel writer
MSNBC contributor


Rob Lovitt
Travel writer
Ah, last-minute travel. To hear the online travel sites describe it, it’s all about theater weekends in New York, romantic getaways in Napa and beach time in the Bahamas.

Yeah, right. If you’re like most people, the only time you travel at the last minute is when work or family matters demand it. Either way, you just know you’re going to pay through the nose for it.

At least that’s what I thought until last week when a family emergency required us to travel from Seattle to San Diego on short notice. As I happily discovered, you can save big bucks on short notice — if you know where to look.
Story continues below ↓advertisement

Going soon without going broke
In our case, I started looking for airfare on Tuesday, planning to leave early Saturday morning and return late Monday night. I surfed the usual places — Expedia, Orbitz, Kayak, a few airline and rental car sites — but they all came back with similar numbers. Barring inconvenient timing or lousy connections (Seattle–San Diego, by way of Denver?), we were looking at about $800 for two plane tickets and a compact car.

That is, until I surfed over to lastminute.com, the Travelocity subsidiary that specializes in travel over the next two weekends. Entering our preferred plans, I was pleasantly surprised to find two Alaska Air tickets (non-stop going, a quick stop in Portland on the return) and a Hertz car for $580. It wasn’t the “up to 70 percent” discount that the Web site touts, but almost 30 percent off would do in a pinch.

The system, notes communications manager Giovanna Garlati, is pegged to the availability of distressed inventory, i.e., those airline seats, hotel rooms and rental cars that are in danger of going unsold by their original providers. “They usually release it two weeks beforehand,” she says, “when they see it’s not selling.” A steeply discounted seat (or room or rental car), after all, provides more revenue than an empty one.

Once the inventory is released, lastminute reassembles it (via software developed under the site’s predecessor, site59) and prices it for quick sale. Generally speaking, users can book travel from 14 days to three hours before departure. Says Garlati, “You can book right now and head to the airport straightaway.”

A hotel room is a terrible thing to waste
Finding last-minute hotel deals may be even easier. “If an average of seven out of 10 rooms are full, that means three are empty every night,” says Clem Bason, travel expert for Hotwire.com. And since most hotels can predict future occupancy levels through historical data, they’re often eager to unload potentially empty rooms through alternative channels.

More Rob Lovitt Columns
Service George Orwell could get behind
The value of voluntourism
Comparison sites getting smarter
The agony of air travel
What’s up at Whistler and Cypress
Airline passengers’ bill(s) of rights take off
Border travel means more choices, confusion
D’oh! Flying high with Homer
Rent a car, save the planet
More Rob Lovitt columns
At Hotwire, last-minute deals can be accessed in several ways. Click on the Deals button on the homepage and you’ll find hotels (as well as flights, cars and packages) pegged to this weekend and next weekend. “Hotels start releasing inventory as much as 30 days out,” says Bason. “As the [specific] date approaches, they may offer increasing discounts on a daily basis.”

More recently, the site added what Bason calls an “embedded deal engine,” which pegs the homepage to a user’s home city and highlights the best deals that other users have found. If a provider drops a price, he says, the results will be posted on the homepage within the hour, along with the percentage savings over retail: “Check back often and you can find stellar deals faster than ever.”

In fact, such real-time technology is making it increasingly easy to track down good deals for a variety of interests and destinations. Need a room in Europe or the UK? LateRooms.com has thousands of them, many available from tonight on. If you’re heading to Asia, LateStays.com offers rooms in Indonesia, Malaysia and a dozen other countries.

Then again, maybe you’ve built up too much vacation time and the boss has told you to use it or lose it. As I was typing this, CheapTickets.com was offering a 9-night Southern Caribbean cruise from Miami for as low as $599 per person — although you have to be ready to go this Friday. (If you need a Thursday flight to Miami, check out the last-minute deals link under the site’s Flights tab.)

The key, of course, is being able to move fast because such deals come and go quickly. To improve your odds, subscribe to the free newsletters that many Web sites produce. Hotwire and lastminute, for example, send out weekly updates via e-mail on Mondays and Tuesdays, respectively. And earlier this month, CheapTickets revamped its Web site, posting new destination-based deals every Tuesday in a blog-style format.

Who knows, even if you can’t get away this weekend or next, one of deals you uncover this week might spark an idea for a future trip — you know, like when you have that next family emergency.

Welcome...Inside Trip

The gurus on travel websites are getting smart. The nation's airline system has trouble with on-time flights, overfull flights, aging aircraft, and minimal seat pitch. A new website called InsideTrip puts all the information in one spot before you buy. If you dislike the small regional jets or dispise a certain airline it is simple to search for a flight that matches your needs. The searches return the price and airline but other added information about comfort, speed, and ease of the flight. It is a website worth a look!

Inside Trip

Sleeping...

Sleeping in an airport can be interesting. I was lucky because I have only slept in an airport a few times. A writer recently did some investigating about the best and worst airports for sleeping...It is quite funny.

Airport Sleeping

The Blizzard...

We are having a near blizzard right now and everyone is sick. There are lots of ways to keep yourself healthy before and during that warm weather vacation this winter and spring. I am doing everything I can to stay healthy before our long weekend in Germany later in February.

Here are some ways to stay healthy

Healthy Airport Food...

Two years ago when I started heavy travel for my job, I put on a few pounds. It was too easy to pick up fried foods, ice cremes, and calorie filled flavored coffee drinks. I discovered a book written by Peter Greenberg that tells you how to eat better, exercise more, and have a good time traveling.

I quickly learned and went to the restaurants that Mr. Greenberg wrote about. When I flew American via Chicago there was a great Portobello Mushroom Sandwhich. When I would fly United there is a small frozen yogurt stand in Terminal C. I would look for Subway, have a McDonalds Sandwich, or go without cheese at Quiznos.

If there was ever a delay (I know, right) I would walk around the terminal. Several times in Minneapolis, Detroit, or Chicago I would visit every gate possible and got a decent walk out of the deal. It was a great way to pass the time.

You can pick up Peter Greenburg's book The Travelers Diet at any bookstore.



Plus, there is a new article from MSNBC about how to travel healthy.
How to find healthy airport food

Peter Greenberg Worldwide

20 Ways to Save $$$ in Europe...

We have a trip planned to Germany in just a couple of weeks. With the Euro costing U.S. visitors a lot more, Rick Steves put together several ways to save some money when traveling.



1. A B&B offers double the warmth and cultural intimacy for half the price of a hotel. You'll find them in most countries if you know the local word: Husrom is Norwegian for sobe, which is Slovenian for zimmer, which is German for bed and breakfast. In Haarlem, in the Netherlands, I save 33 percent by sleeping a 10-minute walk from the center with Hans and Marjet at Haus de Kiefte (double with a shower for 55 euros) rather than on the square in the cheapest hotel in town (Hotel Amadeus,
double with shower and toilet-85 euros).

2. Europe's 2,000 hostels have countless cheap dorm beds for half the price of beds in low-end hotels. And it's not limited to youths. Anyone can hostel. Most of my life I've shared hostels with American students and grown-ups from less wealthy countries. Now I'm seeing older Americans hostelling as well. And using the hostel's kitchen -- you can cook for the price of groceries -- is a huge savings for traveling families.

On Italy's Cinque Terre, Manarola's Ostello 5-Terre charges 23 euros per bed in a four-bed dorm, or 90 euros for a four-bed family room. Just down the street, the little Hotel Marina Piccola charges 95 euros for a double. Berlin's Circus hostel charges 25 euros per bed -- 7 euros less if you provide your own sheets and breakfast -- or 50 euros for a double (double-room options are becoming more common in hostels everywhere). The nearby Hotel Kastanienhof -- a budget hotel by Berlin standards -- charges 103 euros for a double.

3. Throughout Europe, budget-chain hotels are driving small hotels and guesthouses out of business by renting efficient, if forgettable, rooms at near B&B prices. The cookie-cutter rooms -- which cost the same for singles, couples, or even a family of four -- offer the greatest savings for traveling families. In London, where it's hard to find a regular hotel room for less than 100 pounds, the huge Travel Inn chain rents one-size-fits-all rooms for 80 pounds (a 20 percent savings for couples, even greater savings for a family of four). If your schedule forces you to spend a night near the airport, there's no need to spend a fortune. Heathrow Ibis charges 70 pounds for a double and the Gatwick Travelodge charges 60 pounds.

4. Save by choosing simpler hotels. A three-star place (with room service and a 24-hour reception desk) is a bad value for a budget traveler who's satisfied with a one-star place (e.g., no elevator, no restaurant and no shoeshine machines in the hallway). In Paris, getting a 55-euro double in the one-star Hotel de Nevers rather than a 120-euro double in the three-star Hotel St. Louis Bastille -- both in the Canal St. Martin neighborhood -- shows you can save big by taking a simpler room.

Want to save even more? Only the simple one-star hotels still offer some rooms without a private bath. All rooms come with a sink, and walking down the hall to use the toilet and shower saves 20 percent. At Hotel de Nevers, a double room drops from 55 euros to 40 euros. And the dumpiest little time-warp mom-and-pop places, such as Florence's Soggiorno Magliani, charge only 50 euros and offer no private facilities at all.

5. Pack the room. Funky European hotels have rooms of all sizes, and hoteliers are often happy to pack in extra beds. The more people you put in a hotel room, the cheaper it gets per person. All over Europe, the average cost per person drops by about 40 percent in a bigger room, whether you're in Paris (for example, Hotel Sevigne: single-66 euros, double-85 euros, triple-102 euros) or London (Vicarage Private Hotel: single-85 pounds, double-110 pounds, triple-140 pounds, quad-155 pounds) or Vienna (Pension Schweizer: single-70 euros, double-90 euros, triple-110 euros, quad-130 euros). Typically, two couples sharing a quad room will save 33 percent -- often 60 euros a night -- enough for a simple dinner for all.

6. Skip the hotel breakfast. Hotel breakfasts, while convenient, are rarely a good value. If breakfast is not included in the cost of your room, you can save money and gain character by joining the local crowd at the corner cafe. Most Paris hotels charge extra for breakfast (10 euros for a continental breakfast, 15 euros for a buffet). And one of the most charming things about a visit to Paris is enjoying its cafe scene (where you can get a coffee, juice and croissant for about 7 euros). In Madrid, just around the corner from where good hotels charge 8 euros for breakfast, you can eat traditional churros con chocolate with crusty locals for 4 euros. Add a wedge of potato omelet for 2 euros more. Result? You ate more memorably ... and saved 25 percent.

7. Avoid touristy restaurants with "We speak English" signs and multilingual menus. Eateries that are filled with locals aren't always cheaper, but they serve better food at a better value. Restaurants open only workdays for lunch (such as Rome's Enoteca Corsi, a block from the Pantheon) are invariably serving savvy locals a fine-value meal. At Enoteca Corsi, you'll get great 6-euro pasta and 9.50-euro main plates, easily 20 percent cheaper than the forgettable "budget" cafeteria around the corner. In Vienna, you can enjoy rustic food and wine with the locals literally in the vineyards at a Heuriger wine garden. For instance, at Beethoven's hangout at Pfarrplatz, you'll get a quarter-liter of wine for 2.20 euros, a buffet dinner for 10 euros, and strolling violinist ambience to boot.

8. Picnics save you money: $20 buys a hearty picnic lunch for two anywhere in Europe. Stock your hotel room with drinks and munchies upon arrival. You can pass train rides enjoyably over a picnic meal. Many grocery stores have fine, even elegant, deli sections -- giving you the ingredients for a classy picnic for much less than a restaurant.


9. Throughout southern Europe, drinks are cheaper at the bar rather than at a table. The table price can be a fine value if you'll linger and enjoy the view. But those just tossing down a quick drink can save 40 percent by standing (or leaning) at the bar.

10. 7-Eleven-style convenience stores are the rage in northern Europe, but bigger grocery stores will save you 30 percent on snacks, drinks, picnic fare and take-away food. Grocery stores can be hard to find in the high rent, big city centers -- they hide out in the basements of big department stores.

11. Some of the best cheap eateries are in or near open-air markets. They cater to market workers and savvy local shoppers. At Barcelona's Boqueria market, Juan's Pinotxo Bar has spinach tortillas and great people-watching, while the Kiosko Universal Bar -- famous for its 12-euro fresh fish meals -- is open only at lunch and always has a line.

12. To save money in restaurants, couples can order two side salads and split an entree. To save more, request tap water instead of mineral water, drink the house wine and share a dessert. Know the local word for tap water and communicate it clearly, or you'll get it in a bottle and pay for it. These cheap tricks go over better if you eat early (before the European diners come out) and don't tie up the table all evening.


13. Don't over-tip. Only Americans tip 20 percent in Europe -- even when it's already included or not expected. When in doubt, ask locals (customers rather than restaurant employees) for advice. In much of Europe, many travelers save that 20 percent by simply going local and forget the tip.


14. Fly "open jaw" -- into one city and out of another -- to avoid a needless, costly, and time-consuming return to your starting point. If you'll be traveling through France, Spain and Portugal, don't be afraid to pay $150 extra to fly into Paris and out of Lisbon. The "cheaper" round-trip ticket will force you to take a 20-hour, $200 train ride back from Lisbon to Paris.


15. Cars are worthless and expensive headaches in big cities. Pick up your rental car after the first big city you visit, and drop it off before the final big city of your trip. You'll pay 20 euros a day to park in Florence and 25 euros a day in Paris (paying $35 a day to park a $50-a-day car while touring a city is a pricey mistake). For a France tour, sightsee Paris, pick up your car as you leave, drop it upon arrival in Nice and do the Riviera by train without a car. In Italy, you don't want a car in Venice, Florence, Rome or the Cinque Terre.


16. Buses, while generally slower, are about half the cost of trains. Buses are especially economical in Britain, home of Europe's most expensive train system. For instance, traveling from London to Edinburgh costs roughly $195 by train (second-class, 5 hours) and only $60 by bus (9 hours).

17. Use public transit for airport transfers. Every major airport has efficient, money-saving alternatives to taxis. Most train, metro and bus services will take you from baggage claim to the city center in about 30 minutes, saving you enough cash to cover dinner. Here are a few comparisons: London (Tube-4 pounds, train-15.50 pounds, taxi-50 pounds from Heathrow), Rome (train-11 euros, taxi-40 euros), Barcelona (train-3 euros, bus-4 euros, taxi-20 euros), and Amsterdam (train-4 euros, taxi-45 euros).


18. Do most of your shopping in the cheaper countries where gifts are more interesting and your dollar stretches the farthest. The difference is huge: For the cost of a pewter Viking ship in Oslo ($200), you can buy an actual boat in Turkey.


19. Anywhere in Europe, big department stores sell folk art, souvenirs and postcards for 20 percent less than shops and stands on the streets and at the sights. Department stores (such as Spain's El Corte Ingles) also come with inexpensive cafeterias and free bathrooms.

20. Use ATMs rather than travelers checks. You'll get your cash cheaper and faster. While ATMs give the best possible rates, they do come with transaction fees. Minimize these by making fewer and larger withdrawals. Changing $400 once rather than $200 twice cuts your bank fees by 50 percent. The downside is that you'll be walking around with more cash, but you can store it safely in your money belt. Another fee-cutting rule of thumb: Use your debit card exclusively for ATM withdrawals and your credit card for purchases -- not the opposite.

What shouldn't you cut? As you seek out money-saving opportunities, remember that your vacation time is a precious resource (yes, time is money). Plan as much as you can before you leave home. And don't go to a country just because it has a reputation for being less expensive. The best value is found by traveling smartly in the country where your travel dreams are taking you. Don't whine about the weak dollar -- enjoy spending it wisely. You'll save more money, make more friends and create a more memorable -- and truly richer -- experience. Happy travels

Travel Tips when Flying

There are ways to make travel via airplane more enjoyable and simple:

1. Remember Your Lot
Take a picture of your car, or write down the level and location where you are parked. I can't tell you the number of times I was looking like an idiot for my car at the airport parking ramp.

2. Use the Toilet
Airplane toilets are disgusting. And you don't want to be holding up a line on the way to the bathroom so use the facilities before you leave.

3. Walk On By
If the flight isn't full (which rarely happens these days) be the last to board. You
will still get precious overhead space and you might find a better seat.

4. Check Bags at the Gate
If the flight looks crazy full, check your bags at the gate. The person checking in the flight can help you out so you know it will be on that plane. I have actually done this before on a Northwest flight in Minneapolis. It works GREAT!

5. Bring Earplugs
They drown out airplane noise and chatty Ken or Kathy sitting next to you. I have heard that airline crews believe they are the worlds greatest inventions.

6. Layer It
Wear lots of layers. The airplane will either be too hot or too cold, never just right.

7. BYO
Face it, there isn't any food on airplanes unless you are going international or first class. If you have a special diet, or need other things (like diapers) don't expect the airline to help you out.

8. Safety in the Lav
Full of bacteria the lavatory is a dangerous place. Remember to always wear shoes, don't try the squat (use the stool protectors), and when leaving, use a paper towel to open the door. That way you won't get sick or some creepy bacteria.

9. Backup
Your computer battery won't work for an entire flight (unless it is short) so bring a book or magazine to make your flight better and more occupied.

10. Learn to Love Lotion
It helps make you feel fresh. Keeps the airplane dryness from becoming a problem. And if you put a little bit under your nose they smelly person next to you might smell like roses.

11. Deplane Calmly
If you don't have to connect, sit tight and wait for a good time to deplane. You will only be waiting for your bags.

12. Keep a Positive Attitude
Think of nice anecdotes, quotes, or cliches to make the travel seem more enjoyable.

Solo Travel...Solo Dining...

I have done a vast majority of my traveling alone. I have done solo trips to Australia, New Zealand, England, Germany, Czech Republic, and to many states on the east coast of the United States. I love to travel alone. It is important that the people I travel with share the same values. Simple eating, simple accomodation, a simple life. I have been fortunate that my co-travelers have shared those values.

I have done a lot of travel alone. I LOVE it. I have often heard friends ask, "How can you eat by yourself?" "How can you go places alone?" I have found some of my best experiences traveling alone. Once, I was on my way to England via Dallas Fort Worth International and having a lunch at a T.G.I Fridays. I was sitting at the bar having a good meal when I looked over and David Letterman was with a group of guys getting some food. I made lots of glances over at him to confirm it was him. The traveler sitting next to me was asking if I thought it was David Letterman. I confirmed my suspicions. I got to chatting to the business traveler even more. I told him about my trip to England and Europe and that I had a long connection at DFW. He traveled to Europe and Asia several times a month and invited me to the Crown Club. He wanted to have a drink and had a free guest pass. We went to the desk, checked in. He showed me the elevator and left, he was on and earlier flight. I got free reign over complementary drinks, free internet, and free telephones. I started calling people and telling them about what was going on. I was freaking out. In a good way. Seeing David Letterman and getting into the Crown Club wouldn't have happened if I were with someone else.

How to Eat Alone
1. Bring a Book, Notepad, or journal
There have been hundreds of times when a good book kept me from going crazy waiting for a delay or in a restaurant.
2. Eat at the bar
Most restaurants will let you order food at the bar. This is a great way to have a new best friend (bartender) as well as talk with other solo travelers.
3. Find a Community Table
These are relatively new spots in lounges where solo travelers can sit with others

Solo dining can be great, so try it!

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

My Biggest Secret

Kevin and I are going to Munich next month. We won't check any bags and will only have one main bag when we go. We will be packing light. This isn't a skill given to you by God. It is a science that you have to experience to learn.

The Sydney Morning Hearld put together a list of ways to pack lightly.

How to Pack Lightly

Border Travel is Getting Interesting...

Earlier this year the US State Department had some issues with issuing passports. Because of a rule change it became required that US citizens needed a passport when departing or arriving to the US from Mexico, Canada, and non-US Caribbean spots. It created an huge influx of those needed passports and in turn a huge backlog.

There are changes happening in 2009 for sea and land crossings will require certain documentation (suggestions are a passport). Here are the highlights and the latest news:

1. Before you make any decision about getting a passport (or other WHTI-compliant document), know this: Starting January 31, all travelers, including American citizens, who enter the country by land or sea will need to show some sort of documentation. (Air travelers already have to show a valid passport.) Oral declarations of citizenship, which were previously accepted on a discretionary basis, will no longer be allowed.

2. The government continues to move forward on its plans to implement its proposed passport card, or PASS card, which is designed to be a less expensive alternative to a traditional passport. This is being developed for those that travel across the border often.

3. Several states are working on Enhanced Driver’s License and Identification (EDL/ID) programs. Like the PASS card, these wallet-sized cards will include an embedded chip that can be read wirelessly; likewise, they’ll be valid for land and sea crossings, but not air travel.

So, my advice is to get a passport, you never know when an abroad travel opportunity might come up!

Travel Food...

We all know airlines don't tell you what is in their food, if there is food, but there are some secrets. If you are lucky enough to sit in first or business class there will be more opportunities for food, and sometimes great food. CNN highlighted travel food in a recent online report.


5 Things Airlines Won't Tell You About Food

2008 Travel Trends...

USA Today has a great list of travel trends for 2008. The article talks about hotels, cruises, adventure travel, and destinations. One of my favorite parts of the article is about Croatia. Croatia facinates me and is on my list of places to see, even if it is becoming a big tourist destination. It seems like a raw place, with a new democracy, and interesting people.

2008 Trends

European Hostels...

European hostels can be good, but also bad...I have only had great experiences at hostels around the world, except in the US (that is another story). If you are looking for a place, that might have a bit of luxury (hostel style, remember) then check out the list from the Travel Channel.

Travel Channel Best Hostels in Europe

Saving Travel $$$$

Europe is expensive, domestic airfare are rising rapidly, so how do you still travel and save your budget? Head to South America, Central America, Africa, or Asia. You can still find some great deals for accomodation, food, and transportation in places like Thailand, Mexico, Belize, and South Africa.

I have traveled many times to Belize where they have a fixed currency with the US dollar. It is always 2 Belizean Dollars for every 1 US Dollar. These places can provide great economy. In Belize you can get a great meal (typically Red Beans, Rice, and Stewed Fish/Chicken) for only $5.00 BZD. That is $2.50 USD! Hotels out on Caye Caulker can be rented for as low as $70.00 BZD. And they might even have hot water!

So do some searching, you can still have a GREAT trip and not spend a fortune.


How to Travel Well on a Weak Dollar

Travel Tip #2

Traveling Alone

I have done some traveling by myself. I love it. But I found a great article on CNN about travel tips for traveling alone. Check it out!

Solo Travel