Saturday, February 6, 2016

Travel Tips for When Sickness Hits

Welcome to Travel+Experiment!

By Lynn Metler via Huffpost Travel; May 24, 2015



Plan Ahead
Thanks to her EpiPen, Jablon survived collapsing on the streets of Madrid. But along with an EpiPen, your first-aid kit should include items like a thermometer, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, antacid medication, vitamin C, B-complex, antihistamine medication and antibacterial ointment, according to Dr. Kristine Arthur, internist/family medicine physician at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center.

You'll also want to have all your regular medications, as well as a list of the dosages for each that you can provide an area doctor if necessary. "Be sure to have extra prescriptions with you in case you lose your supply of medicine ... particularly when visiting countries with basic medical infrastructure or remote places," Jablon said. She also reiterated one of the cardinal rules of air travel: keep all your necessary medications in your carry-on.
The Transportation Security Administration does allow medications in pill or solid form in carry-ons, and you can carry liquid medications in excess of 3.4 ounces, but you're required to notify a TSA officer and it must be separated in a zip-close bag.

Some medications are not as easy to travel with, but can quickly be found at the drugstore or even provided by your hotel. All Library Hotel Collection properties, for example, have in-room humidifiers. And at The Towers of the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, a concierge will go to the pharmacy for you and arrange doctor visits if needed.
Many hotels also offer grab-and-go convenience stores or kiosks that sell prepared foods and other items, meaning you might only have to go as far as the lobby to get what you need. At the new Market Place at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach, California, guests can pick up a wide selection of medicines to help with allergies, headaches, fever and cold symptoms, and even better, travelers can call down and have them delivered to their rooms.

If You Get Sick
If, despite your best efforts, you start feeling under the weather, there are a few things you should do. Arthur advises checking your temperature immediately and asking yourself a few questions to determine why you're feeling green like "Did I eat anything new or unusual?" or "Did I interact with anyone who was sick?" Then, share these answers with a medical professional. Increase your fluids, especially clear, non-caffeinated drinks, and try to avoid extra sugars, candy and junk food. Take a nap, and if possible, ingest vitamin C or B-complex.

You can also look to your hotel for a bit of help. Several properties provide special menu items and offerings tailored to those experiencing less severe symptoms like nasal congestion, colds or even a mild flu. At Le Salon in the Windsor Court Hotelin New Orleans, you can get a cup of tea with honey, turmeric, cayenne and cinnamon, which contains antibacterial properties to relieve sore throats and congestion, while also helping to lower fevers and eliminate toxins.
Westin resorts offer SuperFoodsRx dishes on their menus, which are low-calorie meals loaded with antioxidant nutrients and energy. Spa treatments, such as those offered at the Biras Creek Resort in the British Virgin Islands, can also help alleviate symptoms. Try the spa's ayurvedic treatments to strengthen the body's immune system and fight infection, or choose a one- to three-day sinus treatment to open blocked air passages.
When over-the-counter medications aren't doing the trick, it might be time to seek medical care. Dr. Tom Horowitz, family practice physician at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, advised finding a local doctor if you have a rash, chest pain, shortness of breath, a significant headache, a fever above 100 degrees or gastrointestinal symptoms that last more than six hours.

The U.S. consulate can offer recommendations on where to seek medical attention if you're outside the U.S. And if you're within the country, Arthur recommended calling your health plan to find a provider. Urgent care can also be a good option for symptoms like fever, chills, cough or minor sprains or fractures, according to Arthur. If you can, keep your doctor back home abreast of your situation.

If You Have To Travel 
If you do need to travel back home while you're still under the weather, limit your exposure to others and wash your hands frequently, Arthur said. Horowitz advised avoiding travel if you have a fever, cough or rash, and especially warned against plane travel for those with stomach, heart or lung problems.

For help at the airport, Jablon recommended asking for a wheelchair or shuttle to your gate, as staff are usually happy to accommodate. But if you're too sick to make it home at your scheduled flight time, you'll likely have to pay a change fee of $150 to $200, unless you're flying Southwest Airlines, in which case you'll only pay the difference in fare. Jablon also suggested using your frequent flier miles for emergency situations if you booked with an airline that imposes change fees.

Happy Travels!

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TSA's PreCheck enrolls 1 million travelers. Here's How You Can Apply

Welcome to Travel+Experiment!

By Mary Forgione via Los Angeles Times; March 26, 2015

Still disgruntled with long wait times at airport security checkpoints? Apparently thousands of you have done something about it.

The Transportation Security Administration reports that more than 1 million travelers have enrolled in PreCheck, which allows faster screening at the airport. The agency rolled out the program in 2011.

TSA also says 4.6 million people have enrolled in some form of a trusted traveler program that exempts them from having to remove their shoes, belt and jacket and allows them to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bag.
Travelers can receive PreCheck screening at 133 airports in the U.S., including those in Southern California, according to the TSA.

Here's how to apply: Go online and download the PreCheck application. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, have a valid ID, and pay an $85 nonrefundable fee.
Once you apply, you'll receive an email to make an appointment at an enrollment center to be fingerprinted.
There are PreCheck enrollment centers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and off-site offices in Southern California (see below) where travelers can complete the process.
If you're accepted into the program, you'll receive a Known Traveler Number that you use when making reservations at 11 participating airlines: Air CanadaAlaska Airlines,American AirlinesDelta Air LinesHawaiian AirlinesJetBlue AirwaysSouthwest AirlinesSun Country AirlinesUnited AirlinesUS Airways and Virgin America.

Enrollment offices at LAX are in Terminals 1 and 6 (the office in Terminal 5 is closing Friday) as well as in or near Ontario, Long Beach and John Wayne/Orange County airports.

Off-site enrollment centers include:
Rancho Palos Verdes: 29050 S. Western Ave., Suite 102B
Glendale: 603 S. Brand Blvd.
Brea: 566 E. Lambert Road
Rancho Cucamonga: 7365 Carnelian St., Suite 112

(You can locate an enrollment center at the TSA website to find the nearest one you.)

PreCheck also is included in the Global Entry program, which hit the 2-million enrollment mark last week, according to a statement by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It requires applicants to have a passport, pay $100 and be fingerprinted to qualify for expedited re-entry to the U.S.

Happy Travels!

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11 Clever Tips For Bagging a Hotel Bargain

Welcome to Travel+Experiment!

By Alycia Simons via Huffpost Travel; May 20, 2015

Have you ever told the hotel reception clerk that it's your honeymoon in the hope of an upgrade? Or did you wait until the very last minute to book to try and score a discounted rate? We've all tried one way or another to reduce the cost of hotel accommodation -- it's such a big part of a holiday budget.

Finding the best deal can be a challenging and time consuming. But never fear, we've come up with a clever list of booking tips and tricks, to help you save money!

Be Flexible.
Flexibility with your travel dates will allow you to take advantage of fluctuations in room prices. Rates change and you may find that it's cheaper to stay at a hotel from Saturday to Tuesday than from Wednesday to Friday.

Book via Mobile.
Try booking using your mobile phone or app- some hotels offer "mobile only" rates. By using the HotelsCombined mobile app to compare your hotel options, you just might find a cheaper price.

Who doesn't love a free extra?
Keep an eye out for hotels offering complimentary breakfast, WIFI or cancellation. These added elements will save you a few dollars when it comes to settling the bill.

Book the Standard.
Standard rooms are generally the most affordable hotel rooms.

Think Independent.
Look beyond the big hotel chains. Independent hotels can offer excellent rates and services and are often up to 50 per cent cheaper than major chains.

Show You Are Loyal.
Joining Hotel Loyalty programs or membership clubs can be your ticket to discounted rates or upgrade offers. These programs are usually free to join and you'll be able to take advantage of the benefits (better room placement or amenities, discount codes and sales) for your next stay.

Check Your Rate.
Make sure the rate you are being offered includes taxes and additional fees. The prices listed on HotelsCombined include all of these fees so you know what you are in for, upfront.

Know Your Seasons.
Understand the peak seasons and the low seasons, and the events that will be occurring in the city you are travelling to at that time. These factors will affect the rate and availability of hotel rooms.

Plan in Advance.
Booking at least 30 days in advance will ensure you get the pick of the widest range of hotel room options. Not only can room prices can jump in the lead up to a particular date, but the availability and room choice will be limited.

Extend Your Stay.
While it's not necessarily cheaper to book more than one night at a time, occasionally hotels do offer a fourth or a fifth night free.

Shop Around Online.
Research is the key and you should be sure to check out as many options as possible. There are hundreds of sites there that offering different rates and options. HotelsCombined.com compares them all, simply and efficiently. You'll find the best room rate every time, guaranteed.

Happy Travels!

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What You Need To Know About Booking Your Flight

Welcome to Travel+Experiment!

By Ed Perkins via Huffpost Travel; May 09, 2015

For at least two decades, industry experts have been speculating about basic timing factors in finding the lowest airfares. The big question: When is the best time to buy plane tickets? So far, nobody has been able to come up with definitive answers that stand the test of time for very long. But that doesn't stop them from trying. There are numbers-based guidelines touted by travel experts. And there are tools and data that can help you ascertain the right time to buy. Here's the latest information on mastering the art of airfare booking.

How Far In Advance Should I Book My Flight?
Several sources publish data on the correlation between advance purchase period and airfares. The ideal time to buy a domestic ticket is 54 days in advance, says CheapAir, or seven weeks ahead, says Expedia, which are essentially the same findings. For international trips, the ideal period is 171 days ahead of departure, according to the same Expedia report. CheapAir refines the estimates: 96 days before trips to Europe and 96 days prior to Latin America trips. Both sources indicate that you can come close to the absolute lowest price over a wide range of dates: CheapAir's "window" for good deals on domestic tickets is 27-114 days in advance; Expedia's window is 50-100 days.

Avoid booking too early and too late. Too late is especially bad; you pay a huge premium for buying within a week or two of departure--even on airlines that nominally assess no advance-purchase limit.

What Time of Day Should I Book My Flight?
According to urban legend, you should buy on Tuesday mornings because airlines dump new fares and seat allocations on Monday nights. It's also rumored that travelers shouldn't buy on weekends, as consumers lap up the seats allocated to the lowest fare buckets on Saturdays and Sundays, leaving less low-priced inventory.
Here's what George Hobica, founder of our sister site Airfarewatchdog, says: "No one can accurately predict where airfares are heading any more than we can predict the stock market."

Hobica's blog points to a quote from an airline revenue manager on the subject: "To say that there is one time of the day or one day of the week that is better than another is false. Plus, fares are so dynamic, since they are based on market conditions and the actual number of passengers who are currently booked on a specific flight, that they can change rapidly at any time."

But the manager goes on to contradict himself a little bit: "Many airlines tend to announce sales on a Monday, leading other airlines to match certain fares the following day, but this is not a hard and fast rule."

When Do Plane Tickets Go on Sale?
The best time to buy an airline ticket is when it's on sale; that means you have to stay on top of the airline marketplace. Airfare sales crop up at random times. Typically, the purchase window is short--sometimes just one day, often a few days to a week--but the sale fares are usually good for a month or more.

As Hobica puts it, "Pounce when there's a deal." And remember: With almost all U.S. airlines, you can cancel your ticket within 24 hours of booking at no charge. Even if you've already bought your fare, you can keep looking for a better offer within that 24-hour window.

How Do I Stay on Top of Fare Sales?
Unless you enjoy the prospect of spending much of every day searching airline and OTA websites, the best way to keep on top of airfare sales is to subscribe to one or more airfare alerts. You have a range of choices. And we can help. Start with our own free fare alerts, our sister site BookingBuddy, and Airfarewatchdog's famous fare alerts. In addition, many individual airlines, big OTAs, and metasearch systems offer airfare alerts or promotional bulletins.

Keep two important factors in mind when you search: First, Southwest fares are not available from any OTA or metasearch system; you can get these alerts from the SmarterTravel, BookingBuddy, and Airfarewatchdog links above or from Southwestdirectly. Second, any time a big airline announces a sale, competitors usually match it, at least where they compete directly, within 24 hours. So always take some time to shop around before you book.

What Are Some Other Ways to Get Fare Alerts?
You can get fare alerts directly from your favorite carrier. Many airlines offer weekly or periodic email notifications of special sales and other useful information. It's a good idea to set up alerts from an airline with which you frequently fly, especially if you collect miles.

Many OTAs and metasearch systems also offer regular airfare-deal bulletins, including the two giants, Expedia and Priceline.

Or download an app. Airfarewatchdog and Skyscanner are two apps that tell you when to buy.

Happy Travels!

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Saturday, January 16, 2016

10 Secrets to Ultra-Cheap Travel

Welcome to Travel+Experiment!

The Huffington Post by Smarter Travel; April 8, 2015

Seasoned budget travelers aren't "cheap" in the traditional sense of the word -- they're just good at stretching every dollar. Here are 10 secrets every budget traveler should know about seeing the world on the cheap without skimping where it really counts.
Walk Everywhere
Pack a good pair of shoes, because walking is the best way to save money and take in a new destination. Learning and using your destination's public transit system is another budget game-changer. Consider paying a bit more for centrally located accommodations, as these can turn out to be less expensive than a cheaper room farther afield that necessitates cab rides or train tickets.
The point is: Don't overpay someone to chauffer you around town when a little self-powered locomotion will enrich both your experience and your budget.
Consider Alternate Airports
Where you fly is almost as important as when you fly. Many major cities in the U.S. and abroad are served by alternate airports that are often home to low-cost airlines. If your final destination is somewhere outside of a major city, consider flying to an outlying airport that might even bring you closer to your destination.
Sometimes the best alternate airport is the one you depart from. I live near Boston and regularly search for departures from Manchester, New Hampshire, whenever I'm benchmarking prices to my destination. Often I find better prices from Manchester.
Pack Light
If you can fit everything you need for your trip in a carry-on bag, do it. If you can't, it's time to reevaluate what you think you need for your trip. Expert budget travelers save money by skipping checked-bag fees, which can add up quickly on even the most basic itineraries. If you're flying anywhere in the U.S. on United, Delta, American, and other major carriers, it will cost you a bag fee of $50 round-trip for a single checked bag.
Our advice: Make a packing list, eliminate anything you absolutely don't need for your trip, and waltz onto the plane with a truly ultralight bag. (A few airlines, such as Southwest, still allow up to two free checked bags; I still recommend packing just a carry-on, though—it's not just a good habit, it's also good insurance against lost or delayed luggage.)

Do Your Research
Knowing where to eat, where to shop, which neighborhoods to visit or stay in, which days you might pay discounted entry fees to parks or museums, and how to navigate your destination are all critical skills of a seasoned budget traveler. It's not glamorous, but thoroughly researching your destination before you arrive is one of the most important things you can do as a budget traveler. Take advantage of online resources such as the TripAdvisor community forums to learn as much as you can about saving money at your destination.

Travel Off-Peak or Shoulder Season
To really save money on vacation, travel during your destination's off-season. If summer is the most popular time to visit, go in winter—you'll save money on everything from flights and accommodations to meals and rental car prices. Of course, there's a reason the off-season is less popular with tourists, and that often comes down to weather. If that's a factor in your decision, split the difference and travel during the shoulder season (often during select weeks in the spring and fall) when everything's still open, the weather's just on the cusp of turning and the crowds are noticeably thinner. (We promise, you'll still save money—just maybe not as much.)

Fly on a Weekday
It's cheaper to fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday than any other day of the week (unless that Tuesday or Wednesday happens to fall on or near a major travel holiday like Thanksgiving or Memorial Day). Planning a weeklong vacation? Make a habit of taking trips that span Wednesday to Tuesday rather than Monday to Sunday and you'll find yourself with a much bigger budget to spend at your destination.

Benchmark Prices
One of the most important things you can do as a budget traveler is to recognize a deal when you see one. That's why benchmarking prices (on accommodations, flights, bundled airfare-hotel vacation packages, etc.) is so important.
Doing it yourself requires patience and persistence—you'll want to track prices over a period of time to get a sense of what your trip should cost and identify an opportunity to save when a flight or other big-ticket expense goes on sale. For a less hands-on approach, subscribe to a fare-alert service for flights to your destination so you'll be automatically notified when the price drops.
Look for Refunds When the Price Drops
Contrary to popular belief (and naming conventions), nonrefundable flights are fully refundable within 24 hours of booking, with one small exception. Consider this your window for buyer's remorse. You've booked your flight and you feel good about the price, but don't stop shopping around. You might just snag a better deal the next day. Make use of your entire 24-hour booking window.
The refund potential is even greater for car rentals and hotels. Did you know most rental cars are fully refundable right up until the day you're scheduled to drive off the lot? If your trip requires a rental car, book early for peace of mind—but keep shopping, too. You might just snag a better deal closer to the day of your trip. As for hotels, book with our sister site Tingo for guaranteed refunds every time the price on your room drops. (Bonus: Even if the price doesn't drop, Tingo will continuously search for bigger rooms with better views or amenities at the same price point as the room you've booked, and the site will send an email if anything good pops up.)
Rent a Vacation Home or Apartment
Some studies indicate that you can save about 30 to 40 percent when booking a vacation home or apartment versus a comparable hotel. That's just the upfront price. You'll save even more by eating some of your meals (breakfasts and dinners, perhaps) at your rental property. Shopping at neighborhood grocery stories, cheese shops, and bakeries also lets you experience a slice of the local life. Rental units often have laundry facilities, which will help you pack light. And try haggling with a property's owner or manager: Negotiate price, length of stay, arrival and departure dates—it's all up for discussion. And those discussions can lead to great savings.
Pack a Lunch
Meals are a secret budget buster. They add up quickly, especially if you dine out frequently on your trip, and they can handicap even the best-planned budgets. The simple solution: Pack a lunch. Or a breakfast. Or both. This is especially easy if you're staying in a rental property or hotel suite equipped with a kitchen. The money you'll save by packing your own meals and snacks will give you flexibility in your budget to splurge on something else you'll remember long after your chicken sandwich is a distant memory.
Alternate budget solution: If food is a big part of your vacation, consider splurging on lunch at an expensive restaurant (prices tend to be cheaper than dinner) and then going for something light or homemade at dinner time.
Happy Travels!
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