The major US airlines have marketing and ticketing agreements with many global airlines. TIP: This allows for “one-stop” shopping for a multinational trip. United is in the Star Alliance, www.staralliance.com ; American Airlines is in One World, www.oneworld.com ; and Northwest, Delta, and Continental are all in the Sky Team Alliance, www.skyteam.com . Happy trip planning!
When using various travel web sites it is sometimes quicker to use the actual three letter airport designations that the airlines use. TIP: Use this web site as a resource to know what the three letter designations are for your travels: www.airport-technology.com/codes
In a previous travel tip I explained how staying near the airport can save you money on your rental car and provide you with extra sleep. TIP: I have found this web site to be a good resource for airport stays: airporthotelguide.com. If you have a favorite hotel brand, check their site as well. I have found that the above web site may not always provide 100% of the options but it is a good place to start.
Here is a tip regarding knowing the local car rental location versus just knowing the corporation. I recently forgot to follow this tip and wished I had. You never know when you may want to call back to the exact renting desk location. I have found that this information is not always on the documents they provide you – most of the numbers are Toll Free numbers to a corporate location or department. TIP: Jot down the local phone number of the rental desk you are at and the hours they are manned. It can save you the time of sorting through the typical 800 number maze.
I have always had trouble getting a good night sleep in a hotel away from home, by myself. I relayed this fact once to a gentleman in the seat next to me on an airline flight and he offered a suggestion. I have used this suggestion for many years and feel it definitely helps in getting a better night sleep. TIP: In a zip lock plastic bag fold up a small wash cloth which has been sprayed with your spouse’s usual perfume or aftershave. Seal it up and open it up later when you retire for the night on the side of the bed that your spouse usually sleeps on. This provides your brain with a subliminal message that things are “normal”. Try it and sleep better. Don’t forget to seal it back into the bag in the morning or the maid will surely dispose of it.
Confirmation Numbers and Itineraries
The result of planning is usually a lot of reservations, confirmation numbers, and itineraries. With travel planning these days this all involves electronic copies via e-mails. That’s a great tool for documentation, but hard to produce in a moments notice at check in. TIP: I print off all the electronic copies and put them in a pocketed folder for easy and quick access if needed. If changes have been made prior to the actual trip I also keep the original as well as the changes in case of issues during the trip.
Returning the car to the car rental lot before a flight can take more time than you had planned. When an early flight is involved it can also be a real unwelcome task. TIP: If at all possible return the car the night before and stay at a hotel near the airport that provides shuttle service to the airport. This saves you not only the time and hassle of refueling but it could save on the overall car rental fee.
Returning the car to the car rental lot before a flight can take more time than you had planned. TIP: As I leave the rental lot in an unfamiliar area, I mentally take note of where I can refuel when I return the car to this particular lot. This can save you precious minutes when catching the flight especially when you are a little behind schedule. Otherwise you might get stuck paying outrageous refueling charges.
The weather can be a factor in any trip, from potential flight problems to what clothes to pack. TIP: Check weather web sites for information for your home location as well as destination weather.
Thousands of web sites exist for specific destination planning. Searching these can be very time consuming. TIP: Need a quick search – go to the hotel web sites for local attractions and tourist information. For example, Marriott hotel sites have a link to attractions near a particular hotel or the city that the hotel is in.