Before Your Trip

Here are just a few precautions you can take ahead of time:

• Make sure your immunizations are current.
• If possible, delay your trip if you’re not feeling well.
• If you’re prone to air sickness, ask for a window seat over the wing.
• If you have any health questions, or if you suffer from a chronic ailment, motion sickness, or fear of flying, ask for advice from your physician.
• Stress is bad for you. Reduce stress by allowing plenty of time to check in and reach your departure gate.
• Always carry your medication with you in your carry on luggage—never pack it in baggage you’re planning to check.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing and shoes for your flight.
• Make sure your carry on luggage has nothing breakable in it making sure that they are sealed properly in a plastic container.

During Your Trip

Here are a few things you can do to feel good while you’re flying:

• Eat lightly during your flight.
• Stay hydrated while you fly.
• Leave room under the seat in front of you so you can stretch out your legs.
• If conditions permit, try to stand up and walk around the cabin every once in a while.

Never accept the first fare quoted. Half the time, some other airline’s flight within hours of the one you booked has a special, less expensive deal.

Take advantage of “illegal” connections. These are connecting fights usually less than 45 minutes apart-too close for airlines to feel safe in making them connect. Result.- These flights usually do not even show up on the computer when your trip is being routed.  Have your agent write up your flight on two separate tickets. The second is for the illegal connection that originates at your transfer point.

Example: You arrive at O’Hare in Chicago on the way to San Francisco.
Instead of waiting three hours for the safe connecting flight, you already have a separate ticket from O’Hare to San Francisco on an illegal connection. If you miss the connection, you turn that ticket in for the next available flight. Cost for two separate tickets.- No more than one through ticket. Baggage.- Waiting for it to be unloaded can cost you valuable time on this tight schedule. Best.- Travel with carry-on luggage.

Some supersaver fares are so low that even if you can’t stay as long as their requirements (some ally seven days), you will save by buying two round-trip tickets-one from your home to your destination for the day you want to leave and one from your destination to your home for
the day you want to return. The total may be less than the regularround-trip fare.

If you miss your flight and there’s just time to catch another, go right to the other airline’s departure gate instead of to its ticket counter. If it has an empty seat, the second airline will usually honor the ticket for the flight you missed.

Best seat in the plane. After first class, the choices center on your priorities. For comfort and a smooth ride, pick a seat over the wings. For silence, sit as far forward as possible, but avoid the galley and rest rooms. For leg room, try the first row or seats beside the emergency exits.

Then sit back and enjoy your flight to your fabulous vacation!

Many luggage stores sell suitcases described as ‘carry-on’, but these suitcases are sometimes larger than the size most airlines will accept.  That’s why you should purchase Coleman luggage because all their carry on luggage fits all the pre-requisites of all the airlines today.  The safe maximum size is 45″, in the form of a 22″ x 14″ x 9″ bag.  Some airlines allow up to as much as 55″, but most do not.

Update mid 2008 With the airlines starting to charge for checked bags, more passengers are trying to beat these charges by carrying more items on planes - larger and heavier bags.  The airlines, in turn, now have a financial incentive to enforce their carry on bag limits, so be aware and anticipate increasing attention and enforcement of carry-on weight limits in the future.

All travelers should familiarize themselves with conditions at their destination that could affect their health (high altitude or pollution, types of medical facilities, required immunizations, availability of required pharmaceuticals.

Insurance, Medicare & Medicaid, Medical Evacuation

If your insurance policy does not cover you abroad, it is a good idea to consider purchasing a short-term policy that does.  There are health insurance policies designed specifically to cover travel.  Many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.

Bringing Medications or Filling Prescriptions Abroad

A traveler going abroad with a preexisting medical problem should carry a letter from the attending physician, describing the medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic names of prescribed drugs.  Any medications being carried overseas should be left in their original containers and be clearly labeled. Travelers should check with the foreign embassy of the country they are visiting to make sure any required medications are not considered to be illegal narcotics.

If you wear eyeglasses, take an extra pair with you.  Pack medicines and extra eyeglasses in your hand luggage so they will be available in case your checked Coleman luggage is lost.  To be extra secure, pack a backup supply of medicines and an additional pair of eyeglasses in your checked luggage.

If you have allergies, reactions to certain medications, foods, or insect bites, or other unique medical problems, consider wearing a “medical alert” bracelet.  You may also wish to carry a letter from your physician explaining required treatment should you become ill.

  Places to Receive Mail

If you will be abroad for an extended period, you may want to arrange for the delivery of your mail.  Some banks and international credit card companies handle mail for customers at their overseas branches.  In addition, post offices in many countries will hold mail for travelers under their General Delivery services.  U.S. Embassies and Consulates do not handle private mail.  Check with the embassy of your destination country to see if that will be possible there.  A listing of foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. is available on the Department of State’s website.   Foreign embassy and consulate contact information can also be found on the Country Specific Information for each country.

I hope you find this information useful and helps you in planning your next extended vacation.

As an avid traveler, I’ve become accustomed to the hustle and bustle of people, airports and security that accompany any vacation where it’s necessary to fly. I consider myself an observer as I make my way through the terminal, watching the rest of the population struggle to walk and carry their bags at the same time. Although somewhat amusing, I feel sorry for these people as they try to survive the chaos of airports. So, as an expert voyager I think it’s best that I share my knowledge and experience with those who fall below par.

For the sake of everyone’s attention span, I’ve condensed my advice into a short list of tips for the inexperienced traveler. Here we go…

First and foremost, arrive to the airport on time! And when I say on time I mean at least 2 hours before your flight; remember, all flights board 30 minutes ahead of their scheduled departure time.

Secondly, don’t purchase cheap luggage – and when I say cheap, I don’t mean inexpensive. The last thing you want is to have your poorly made or tattered suitcase losing a wheel or handle as you scramble through the airport. Inexpensive luggage sets that are also durable are easy to find.

And finally, if you don’t have to check your bags, don’t! If I had a quarter for every time an airline has lost or damaged my luggage, I’d be close to retirement.

Check out our luggage store by clicking on the image below.

Eventually, if your luggage doesn’t arrive, you and the airline will have to face up to an ugly truth - your luggage has disappeared. 

First thing you have to do is put in a claim, itemize the contents and value including the cost of your suitcase.  Don’t exaggerate because if you do it can be very embarrassing if they find your suitcase and what you told them isn’t true.

 It will almost certainly take more than a week for your red luggage set to be deemed lost, and perhaps as much as a month.   It also depends on the airlines how this is handled, whether it was a domestic flight, international flight etc.   If you require more detailed information go to google and type in lost luggage.

Wherever you’re headed, you’ll want to feel healthy and strong.
Here are some helpful tips for not being under the weather when you’re
 going above the clouds.

Here are just a few precautions you can take ahead of time:

Make sure your immunizations are current.
If possible, delay your trip if you’re not feeling well.
If you’re prone to air sickness, ask for a window seat over the wing.
If you have any health questions, or if you suffer from a chronic
ailment, motion sickness, or fear of flying, ask for advice from your
 physician.
Stress is bad for you. Reduce stress by allowing plenty of time to
check in and reach your departure gate.
Always carry your medication with you—never pack it in baggage you’re
 planning to check.

Wear loose, comfortable clothing and shoes for your flight.
Want to read about some other ways to get ready for takeoff?

 Learn more about healthy travel tips, Before Your Trip not after when it’s too late…….

And while you’re looking into those Healthy Travel Tips you should check your attic to see if you require new luggage……If you do then please, stop by our online store to see all the new colors and styles for 2009…… Enjoy the new” SPECIALS ” we have on our new lightweight 3 piece luggage set.

Shopping the Internet can be the quickest and best way to compare many Rental Car rates. If you are planning on purchasing extra items such as a damage waiver or insurance, you should also comparison shop those rates.

Make sure their mileage policy is favorable to you so you can avoid extra charges.

Airport fees can be quite large so you might see if it is worth it to use an off-airport facility. However, if the off-airport company picks you up at the airport, you’ll probably still have to pay some of the fee.

You can check their national reservation centers and their local offices; one may be offering a better deal than the other. ASK, if this is the best rate they have available.

Make your reservation as soon as you have decided on plans. Most Rental Car Companies increase their rates as reservations come in and their fleets become booked. Also, certain classes of cars will sell out and you may have to end up reserving and paying for a larger vehicle than you want.

Being flexible about your travel plans can save you money. Rental Companies that focus on the business or replacement market customers often have great weekend specials. The best rates are found during the off season and at other times when the Rental Companies have extra cars sitting around.

Check into booking your vacation as a package. You might be able to save by booking your car along with a certain airline, hotel or attraction ticket package.

Book the smallest car that you will need and hope for a free upgrade. But, remember you may get stuck with that small car.

Check into other size class vehicles. They may have extra cars in a certain class and be offering discounts for that size class.

Use coupons, but read them carefully for exceptions. Most upgrade coupons are “based on availability”, so if you have an upgrade coupon that you wish to use and also have a monetary discount coupon, bring them both. If they can’t honor the upgrade, they may still give you the monetary discount. Also, remember to book any coupons or discounts in your reservation.

Apply any special discount programs for which you are eligible.

When you get to the counter, ask if there are any upgrade specials available, they might have some good deals.

Please take care when you travel anywhere but before you do make sure that you purchase the 2 piece or 3 piece luggage set that suit your personality & your needs.

Staying at a Hotel? very good info be sure to read

Always take a small magnet on your holiday; they come in handy at the end of it. Thought you all needed to know this…. This is  pretty good info. Never even thought about key cards containing anything other than an access code for the room!  

HOTEL  KEY CARDS
 
Ever wonder what is on your magnetic key card?

Answer:
a.  Customer’s name
B.  Customer’s partial home address
c.  Hotel room number
d.  Check-in date and out dates
e. Customer’s  credit card number and expiration date!

When  you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for  any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner..
An  employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device,  access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your  expense.

Simply  put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an employee reissues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time, the new guest’s  information is electronically ‘overwritten’ on the card and the
previous guest’s information is erased in the overwriting  process.

But  until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in a 
drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!

The  bottom line is: Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy them.  NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them  into the front desk when you check out of a room.
They will not charge you  for the card (it’s illegal) and you’ll be
sure you are not leaving a lot of  valuable personal information
on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader.

For the  same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket.
Take it  home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through the
electronic  information strip!

If you  have a small magnet, pass it across the magnetic strip several times.
Then  try it in the door, it will not work. It erases everything on the  card.

Information  courtesy of:  Metropolitan Police Service.

HERES YOUR SECOND TIP OF THE DAY….When ever or Where ever you decide to fly to and stay ….you will be needing a good set of luggage or maybe just a carry on piece…with that in mind…check out this link for the best buys @ http://www.heresyourluggage.com  Read what others have to say when you stop by.

No one wants lost or damaged luggage sets. Here are some tips to help you and your luggage have an effortless trip.

Before Your Trip
Put your name and the phone number of your destination on the inside and outside of your bag.
Don’t wrap your gifts since all luggage is subject to inspection.
Travel light when you can. Try bringing one carry-on bag that will fit underneath the seat in front of you.
Don’t overstuff your bag. That makes it more likely to get damaged.
Make sure your bags don’t have any straps or hooks sticking out that could get caught on something and damage your bag.
Stay within the Baggage Allowance.
Carry valuables, medication, and travel documents in your carry-on luggage.
Pack anything that might leak inside an air-tight plastic bag.
Know the rules for any of your stuff that might be considered Dangerous Goods. That includes what to do with those spare batteries.
Know the requirements for the Security Checkpoints where you’ll be traveling. There are still restrictions on Liquids and Containers.
During Your Trip
Check with our airport agents if you need extra Packaging.
Check as many as your 5 piece luggage set as possible to make clearing Security Checkpoints smooth and fast.