December 2004
Be sure you understand the meal plan of any tour you are considering so there are no surprises.
European Plan (EP) and Bed and Breakfast (B&B) usually include Continental breakfast.
American Plan (AP) includes three meals a day, whereas Modified American Plan (MAP) includes two meals a day.
Table d'hote is a fixed-price menu with limited choice.
Outside the United States, coffee or tea is rarely included with meals aside from breakfast. Expect to pay extra.
M. Porteous — South Boston, Massachusetts
November 2004
As soon as you enter your destination country, exchange some currency for small bills.
You won't waste money because you lack change.
D. Vale — Gainesville, Florida
October 2004
Getting your lodging through Priceline or Hotwire?
Make a point of taking along a copy of your confirmation, usually a printout of the Web page or an e-mail.
Either of them should have the Web site's toll-free number; you'll need it if any problem arises.
Z. Brown — Little Rock, Arkansas
September 2004
Pack and re-pack your things in exactly the same order. This will enable you to find what you want without completely
unpacking.
B. Justin — Bloomington, Illinois
August 2004
When planning a trip, I get an idea of travel costs by first going to FareReport.com
before actually purchasing my ticket on a travel Website.
This free tool will give you the average averages on over 6,000 routes and you can also discover cheaper alternate
routes.
Your editor took FareReport.com for a test drive. Here's what she discovered:
San Diego to New York Airfare Averages
Route: Approximately 2446 miles each way with 1893 daily passengers
Fares: Average one-way fare: $222 Average cost per mile: 0.09
Airline with the Largest Market Share:
- JetBlue
- Average Fare: $162
- Market Share: 27%
Airline with the Lowest Average Fare:
- JetBlue
- Average Fare: $162
- Market Share: 27%
M. Riley — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
July 2004
Airlines are going bankrupt. Here's something to remember: When planning a trip on an airline, try to protect
yourself from that happening by buying your ticket with a credit card. Note: You can cancel charges for services
not rendered for up to 60 days after you get your statement.
M. Bando — Rochester, New York
June 2004
If you're interested in flying on the cheap, check out www.flybudget.com.
It's a guide for cut-rate airlines worldwide that fly for less than the big airlines you always
see in the major airline booking engines like Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz.
J. Rightman — New Orleans, Louisiana
May 2004
Most hotels have a rate sheet where they can give a discount on a room if the hotel has vacancies. They would
rather rent out a room than have it be a loss income from not being used.
Simply asking for "the best rate" at the front desk will, in a lot of cases for hotels with vacancies,
give you a substantial decrease in room rate. It is not uncommon for me to get $100 rooms for $45.00.
I learned this travel tip from a friend that worked in the hotel industry.
D. Studenberg — Miami, Florida
April 2004
Flight cancellations seem to occur with regularity. Do your homework before you go to the airport.
If you have a travel agent, bring his or her telephone number, in case you have to book another airline.
Know what alternative flights go into your destination.
Remember a cancellation is not an airline employee's fault. (Sugar goes further than . . .!)
R.. Farmer — Providence, Rhode Island
March 2004
To avoid disappointments and inconvenience, make sure you're aware of the customs of the country(ies) you plan
to visit — French restaurants usually serve the salad last, in some countries, the mid-day siesta shuts down all
businesses, etc.
Y. Sentos — Cincinnati, Ohio
February 2004
I prefer to fly out of smaller airports — shorter walk to the
gate, not to mention quicker check-in and security lines, etc.
However, there are draw-backs that people ought to be aware of. Some of the airports are
swamped by rapid growth. I always used to be able to find parking at nearby garages — no longer. I almost missed
my plane when I learned this lesson!
Jetway boarding beats outdoor boarding, especially when it rains.
Don't count on being able to purchase food for a no-meal flight. Your hours may not be the
hours vendors are in business.
R. Alison — Los Angeles, California
January 2004
When I buy postcards for friends, I don't forget about myself. I select pleasing cards that capture my travel
experience, jot down a few details as a message, and mail them to my home address.
These nice souvenirs greet me upon my return. They're perfect for my "memory books."
G. Myster — Sarasota Springs, Florida
What solo travel tips have YOU discovered?
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